Blood of Innocents (Book Two of the Sorcery Ascendant Sequence) (7 page)

He shrugged and felt the hilt press into his back. Simmon had managed to break the hold of coercive sorcery, for a little while, and his first action had been to hide the sword. Was the
trinket
that important, or was hiding it the only thing he could accomplish in the little time he had free of the sorcery’s hold over him?

Behind him, Caldan could hear the others had stopped while he’d been deep in thought. Gently, he grasped Miranda’s shoulders and halted her shuffling steps.

She blinked a few times, and her head quivered. “Wh… ” She swallowed convulsively, and he stroked her hair until she calmed. The others could wait a few moments.

“Why… stop…?”

In recent days her condition had deteriorated, albeit very slightly. She’d initially improved a little, her mind probably adapting to the fracturing, learning how to get around the disruption in some way. But any progress she’d made was now regressing.

He patted her on the shoulder. “Wait here,” he murmured. “I won’t be long.” As always, when talking to her, he tried to keep his voice positive, rather than reflecting the sorrow he felt.

Leaving her standing there, he looked back to see Amerdan, Bells, and Elpidia all staring into the distance, back the way they had come. A plume of dark smoke spiraled into the sky from the direction of their abandoned camp. A signal or a warning? He couldn’t begin to guess.

Elpidia frowned and then brushed past Caldan. Taking Miranda’s hand, she helped her to resume walking and continued along the road.

Bells gave Caldan a mock look of sorrow, bottom lip jutting out. “Poor little Protector,” she said.

Amerdan turned to him and spoke; a smile played across his mouth. “The smoke’s coming from our camp. Whoever was following has only just realized we didn’t stay the whole night. They’re signaling they know what we’ve done. They want us scared. Scared and careless. If we continue to keep Miranda and Elpidia with us…” He trailed off.

“I will not abandon them,” Caldan said firmly.

Amerdan shrugged. “Then we need to find more people to mingle with, as camouflage and confusion. Out here—” He gestured at the countryside. “—we’re easy to spot and have nowhere to hide.”

“I can help you,” chimed in Bells, her voice smooth. “If you let me go, I can—”

“Be quiet!” hissed Caldan. He raised his hand to her then stopped, aware of what he’d been about to do. Trembling, he clamped down on his emotions. By the ancestors, he’d been about to strike a bound woman.

Without acknowledging anything had happened, Amerdan continued. “Let’s hope there is an inn or town just ahead and we can acquire some horses or join another group traveling west.”

Caldan gestured for them to resume walking. “And how can we acquire some horses? We don’t have many ducats left, and I can’t sell any of Bells’
crafting
s.”

“You’d better not,” warned Bells.

Amerdan smiled thinly. “Leave the horses to me.”

They approached the crossroads with trepidation. Around the intersection, a few buildings crowded close together, and a sizeable market had sprung up at the side of the road. Local farmers had set up dilapidated wooden stalls and displayed their produce in baskets and crates: trays of eggs and chickens in cane cages, and vegetables and fruits.

Over the years, the place had obviously become a way station of sorts. No signs adorned the wooden structures, but from the look of them, at least two of the buildings were inns. One of them was built from stone and had a wooden stable attached to the side.

Caldan spied a number of Quivers patrolling the makeshift market and sighed with relief. Two of the soldiers disappeared into the stone building, which he surmised was their garrison.

He motioned for the others to follow and stepped confidently toward the building. A strong hand gripped his shoulder.

“Make sure you know what you’re doing,” Amerdan said.

“What do you mean? There are soldiers here. We need to tell them about the invasion in Anasoma.”

“And how are you going to explain Bells and why they shouldn’t take her off your hands? How will you heal Miranda when they do?”

Caldan felt the blood drain from his face. “You’re right,” he admitted. “What do you suggest we do, then?”

“You need their help, and as much as I don’t like it, we don’t have much choice with whoever has been trailing us. They want to rescue Bells first and kill us a close second. As we are, we’re vulnerable.” Amerdan gestured toward Miranda and Elpidia. “Can you convince the Quivers Bells is too dangerous to leave without you to counter her sorcery? We should be able to persuade them to give us an escort, and that will be safer for all of us.”

Caldan hesitated. He couldn’t show the Quivers destructive sorcery, but maybe there was a way to convince them not to take Bells into their custody and out of his hands. He had to. If they took her, then he would have no hope of healing Miranda on his own. He nodded.

“Yes, I can probably manage that. They won’t know much of sorcery, so will have to take my word.”

Amerdan waved dismissively. “Lie, whatever you need to do.” He laid a hand on Caldan’s shoulder. “The quicker we get to Riversedge, the better. Elpidia can leave us and do whatever she wants. But… don’t you worry that the authorities there will take Bells from you? Lock her up for questioning, and you won’t have access to her?”

Lying to the Protector’s didn’t sit well with him. They’d been nothing but good to him. He didn’t want to, but if it meant healing Miranda… “I’ve been thinking the same thing for the last couple of days. They probably would. She would be too important to them, and I have no rank of consequence. I’m not even a journeyman, so they’d not leave her with me. I might get access to her, but… it’s doubtful.”

“They won’t allow you access to her. You know that. Bells is your best chance to heal Miranda; you can’t let them take her when we reach the city.”

Caldan bit a thumbnail. “What, then? I can’t pretend to deliver her to them then run off with her.”

Amerdan raised his eyebrows. “Why not?”

“That’s…” sputtered Caldan. “I couldn’t! She has information on the Indryallans and the invasion that could be vital.”

“Then you have to choose what’s more important: Miranda, or some scraps of information the Protectors might get out of Bells, if they break her, and if they can trust what she says. It’s up to you.”

Caldan’s thoughts churned furiously. It was unlikely Bells would give her questioners any details of the invasion. And Amerdan was right: Caldan certainly wouldn’t have access to her once they realized he was only an apprentice.

He turned to regard Elpidia and Bells, who both returned his stare with blank expressions. His whispered conversation with Amerdan couldn’t have been overheard by them. It would only take a day or two to reach the city, and he had to find a way to get Bells to talk by then or… he might have to do something he regretted. Not a situation he was comfortable with at all. If Bells didn’t respond to threats, did he have the courage to use force? And would he be justified?

“I’ll decide what to do before we arrive,” he said finally.

Amerdan nodded, a thin smile on his face. “I’m with you, whatever you want to do.” He glanced toward the market. “We need more supplies, and I have a few ducats left. While you convince the Quivers to help, I’ll buy a few things.”

With a grunt of assent, Caldan wandered over to the others, while Amerdan headed for the market. Quickly, he outlined their plan and took charge of Bells. Elpidia placed an arm around Miranda, and they moved down the road and into the stone garrison.

Inside, a few Quivers sat around a table behind a wooden counter, playing cards. Only one of them looked experienced, a middle-aged man who sat apart from the rest in a rocking chair—probably their commanding officer. The rest were young, barely able to shave. Swords and cudgels hung on one wall, along with bows and quivers of arrows, and iron wrist and leg shackles.

Seeing Caldan and the others enter, the Quivers all looked up before going back to their card game and conversation. One of the young soldiers sighed heavily and levered himself up from his chair, approaching his side of the counter. His gaze traveled over them, taking in their unkempt and dirt-stained appearance. His eyebrows raised in mild interest as he noted Bells’ bound hands.

“What can I do for you?” the young Quiver asked in a bored tone. “And make it quick.”

Caldan lowered his dust-covered saddlebags to the ground. “We’ve come from Anasoma as fast as we could. There’s been an invasion.”

His words hung in the air.

The officer closed his eyes and continued rocking.

The young Quiver rolled his eyes. “We haven’t heard of an invasion, and I’m pretty sure we would have. Whatever game you’re playing, I suggest you leave now, while you still can.”

“I’m telling the truth! They’ve barricaded the city, and no one can get out.”

Beside him, Elpidia nodded. Bells shook her head. He glared at her.

“We haven’t had a communication from Anasoma for a few days, and that is unusual but not unheard of. I’m more interested in why you have this woman bound.” He pointed at Bells.

Caldan turned his attention to the commanding officer, whose eyes remained closed. “Sir,” he pleaded, raising his voice. “I beg you to listen to what I’m saying. We—”

“Help me!” screeched Bells. She backed away from Caldan and Elpidia, eyes wild, a distressed expression on her face. “This man robbed me and took me prisoner! I don’t know what he’s up to, but please help me!”

“What? No, I didn’t—”

“Liar!”

“Wait. She’s the one who’s lying. Don’t believe a word she says.” He looked at the young soldier. “She’s one of the invaders.”

The young Quiver frowned and held up both hands. Behind him, his fellow soldiers were grinning and watched with amusement while his commanding officer now had one eye open.

“Please, sir, don’t leave me with them. He touches me…”

Hard eyes turned on Caldan.

“I…” he sputtered. “I didn’t.” He took a step toward Bells.

“Don’t move,” commanded the soldier. “Back away. Good. You—” He pointed at Bells. “Move to your right, against the wall.”

“Thank you, kind sir.” Bells smiled at him, and the soldier blushed.

Elpidia shook her head disapprovingly at Caldan.

“You have to listen to me,” Caldan pleaded.

“Be quiet.”

With a curse, Elpidia spoke. “He’s telling the truth; she’s dangerous.”

“We’ll be the judge of that. She doesn’t look dangerous to me. Now, you stay quiet as well.”

Elpidia subsided with a sulk and looked at the floor.

Caldan glared at Bells, whose expression was even more miserable. She was ignoring him and focusing on the Quivers. The situation was rapidly sliding out of his control.

“Please untie me,” she implored. “I can’t feel my hands.”

With a groan, the commander pushed himself out of his chair and approached the counter. “Do it,” he said to the young Quiver in a gruff voice, then pointed at Caldan. “You’d better have a good reason for doing this. Talk. Now.”

“There was an invasion in Anasoma,” began Caldan, watching as the soldier skirted around the counter and drew a knife. “She’s one of the leaders. We escaped after capturing her and made our way here as quickly as we could.”

The soldier cut through the rope binding Bells’ hands, and the rope dropped to the floor.

She rubbed her wrists, a pained expression on her face. “Thank you, good sir,” she purred. “Would you be so kind as to bring me a cup of wine or ale? They didn’t treat me well, and I’m parched.”

“Of course, my lady.” The soldier nodded to Bells then went to fill a mug from behind the counter, pouring wine from a jug.

Elpidia pointed at Caldan. “He’s telling the truth. You have to believe him.”

“So,” said the commander, “you expect us to believe Anasoma has been captured by an invading army, and you happened to capture one of their leaders and escape?” He shook his head. “I admit to a certain scepticism.”

Bells accepted the mug from the soldier and sipped. “He’s lying,” she said casually. “He stole my
crafting
s; they’re in his bags and pocket.”

“They’re not yours,” Caldan said, a note of desperation in his voice.

The commander’s eyes opened wide at the mention of
crafting
s. He waved Caldan silent and regarded Bells. “You’re a sorcerer?”

She met the commander’s gaze. Approaching the counter, she placed her mug down, leaning on the surface. “I am, a Protector. And I can describe each one of the
crafting
s. The runes and glyphs on each, their size, and what they are made from.” She grinned at Caldan. “Can you?”

He hesitated.

Elpidia stomped her foot and growled at him. “This isn’t going well,” she whispered. “Do something.”

“I… can’t describe them in the detail she can,” said Caldan. “But I can prove I’m a sorcerer.”

“So can I,” said Bells.

The commander looked at each of them in turn then sighed. “Well, boys, looks like we won’t get much relaxing done this morning. Take them all into custody until we figure this out.” They stood and approached.

“No!” said Caldan and Bells at the same time. They looked at each other.

The commander cleared his throat. “Until we get to the bottom of this, you’ll have to be confined.”

This wasn’t working out. Desperately, Caldan tried to think of something he could say that would convince them of the truth. He had nothing to identify him as a sorcerer or Protector, which he would have if he was a journeyman. Whatever Bells’ plan was, he was sure it would involve him and all the soldiers dead, with her reunited with her
crafting
s and swiftly back in Anasoma. His chance to heal Miranda would vanish with her.

The Quivers moved close, and two latched onto his arms. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Bells lift a finger and dip it into her mug, then place the tip on the counter’s surface. She rapidly sketched two runes in front of the commander then backed away.

“No!” shouted Caldan, voice booming around the room.

Elpidia flinched at the sudden sound.

Struggling against the soldiers holding him, Caldan thrust his hand into his pocket and opened his well, linking to the shield
crafting
bell. Across the room, he sensed Bells access her well as the scent of lemons pervaded the room.