Edge of Darkness ~ A Darkness & Light Novel Book Three (37 page)

CHAPTER FORTY-SIX

Ciara followed Ferris to the creek to water the horses. Bolin's reaction to her presence frightened her, but not nearly as much as the depth of the fear emanating from Ferris. The Sciath's hands shook as he loosened Beya's bridle and let the bit drop from her mouth. He startled when Ciara laid a gentle hand on his arm.

"Ferris, what's wrong?"

He cleared his throat and rubbed the bottom of his jaw as he tipped his head back toward the fire. "How's the Guardsman?"

"He'll be fine. I had to work a sleeping spell on him. He's as stubborn as Bolin sometimes. Now, tell me what's wrong."

Ferris blew out a ragged breath and squeezed his eyes shut as he visibly fought to bring his emotions under control. "As long as I've known His Lordship, I've never once not felt his… his presence, I guess you'd call it. To stand before him, to touch him, and not
feel
him, was one of the hardest things I've ever faced."

"We'll get him back," Ciara said with more conviction than she felt. She looked to where Bolin lay stretched out on the opposite side of the dwindling fire, wrapped in a cloak, his eyes fixed on her. She knew what Ferris meant. Where once Bolin's presence would have wrapped about her without any effort on her part, it now seemed a vast empty chasm had opened between them.

"You should get some rest as well, m'lady. We can do nothing until the Emperor arrives."

Ciara nodded absently and gathered Toora's reins to lead the mare away. When she turned, she caught a glimpse of the side of Ferris's face and something in the angle, or the way the light hit it, brought Andrakaos's words back.
Blood of his blood.
Ferris hadn't so much as blinked at that. In fact, he'd bolted straight past it. Andrakaos's meaning suddenly became startlingly clear.

"It's you, isn't it?" Ciara could see it in the line of his jaw and the shape of his nose. "Blood of his blood. I thought Andrakaos meant the Emperor. But he didn't, did he? He meant blood of Bolin's blood, and that's you, isn't it?"

Ferris drew in a deep breath and ran his tongue along the edge of his teeth, staring into the distance. "Aye."

"So you're…" Ciara looked from him, to Bolin, and back, and when Ferris turned toward her again she wondered that she hadn't seen it more clearly before. "I thought you were probably related, because you're a Sciath and all. I just never thought… I didn't know… I mean, I knew there must have been other women. Obviously there were other women. I mean, Bolin's--"

Ciara waved a gesture through the air. Her cheeks warmed, and she had a sudden desire to be somewhere else. Anywhere else.

"Our relationship is not something many know," Ferris said. "Though easy enough to guess at, I suppose. Most would say my temperament is more my mother's, but my looks definitely favor him."

"And who is she? Your mother, I mean." Ciara shook her head as quickly as the words were out. Part of her didn't want to know. Not now. Not when so many more important things vied for her attention. "It doesn't matter. I shouldn't pry."

"You've a right to know," Ferris said. "But it should come from him. I will tell you that, for a great many years, my parentage was kept a secret, even from me. I was fostered to the steward of Cearnease and his wife shortly after my birth. It was an unsettled time, and because of my parents' positions within the empire, it was felt I could've been used as a pawn against them. My grandfather wasn't at all pleased with my birth. Furious, I believe. To hear it told, he considered me a foolish mistake. Had he his way, I'm not certain I would have lived beyond infancy. He loved his daughter, though, and for her sake, wanted to keep me safe. When I was old enough for my gifts to become apparent, I was sent to Nisair to study with Lord Thadeus."

Ferris's expression softened as some distant memory played out behind his eyes, and he chuckled. His mouth tipped in a crooked grin, lightening the mood surrounding him. He gave Ciara a jaunty wink. "That didn't go as well as anyone hoped. I was a bit of a handful. I'll tell you a couple stories someday, just don't mention them to Lord Thadeus. I don't believe he's ever completely recovered from having me as a student.

"In any event, I stayed in Nisair for a time after that. Lord Bolin saw to it I learned to ride and use a sword. He showed me what honor and duty were. He had my loyalty, trust, and admiration long before I knew our bond. That won't ever change. He is my liege, and will be until death unless he chooses otherwise. What would it have ever gained me in the long run had I exploited my lineage? I've freedom now I wouldn't possess were I known by my parentage. I prefer a simpler existence, with far less responsibility than those associations would have offered. I'm not cut out for a life at court."

He studied Ciara for a moment. "You look on me differently now."

Ciara's brow furrowed. "How can I not?"

He sighed and scrubbed a hand across his scalp. "Titles and position mean nothing, m'lady. Forgive my bluntness, but I've known sons of lords I wouldn't have pissed on were they on fire, and beggars I'd have lain down my life for. A man's birth is an accident. A whim of the Goddess. A man's life is what he makes it."

"Did you know you were his son when you made your oath to him?" Ciara didn't mean for the question to sound like an accusation, she hadn't really meant to ask it at all.

Ferris stroked Beya's dark face, and Ciara half-hoped he would choose not to answer.

"I did," he said softly. "And regardless of anything that has passed between His Lordship and me, I pray every day I'll never have to carry it out." He reached for Toora's reins. "Get some rest while you can, m'lady. I've a feeling we'll need your full strength for what's to come."

***

Ciara tried to take Ferris's suggestion, but even when she found a comfortable place to lay, rest refused to come. She wanted to be next to Bolin, something neither he, nor Ferris, allowed. So she checked on Berk, gave the horses a thorough rubdown, and eventually built up the fire and scrounged together a hot meal from what remained of their provisions.

Donovan kept his distance, though Ciara could feel his gaze on her whenever he wasn't watching Bolin, or glowering in Ferris's direction. The Sciath chose to ignore him. He busied himself with sharpening his weapons while trying to appear as though he wasn't keeping an eye on each of them, especially Bolin, who bounced between long periods of utter stillness and restless pacing.

Well after mid-day, Ferris joined Ciara beside the fire. "Anything from the gy'lafrei?"

Ciara shook her head and poked at a smoldering log with a long stick, watching Bolin through the shooting embers. He had gone still again, stretched out on his back, one arm twisted beneath his head as he stared, unblinking, at the sky.

"I don't mean to cause undue concern," Ferris said, pitching his voice for Ciara's ears alone. "But I think we need to have a plan in place should the priestess arrive before the Emperor."

Ciara went as still as Bolin, Ferris's oath first and foremost in her mind. "Oh?"

"Is the Guardsman fit?"

"For what?"

"If we can't sense His Lordship, I would wager the priestess won't be able to either. Power calls to power, and his is hidden. The priestess can't find what she can't see."

Ciara gave Ferris a long, searching look. "You mean to hide him somewhere?"

"If the Guardsman is up to it, we should send him and Lord Bolin into the village. They can hole up somewhere until the Emperor arrives. If the priestess comes, it will be Donovan's power, and yours, that draws her first."

Ciara forced down the lump in her throat. "And then?"

"And then, we keep her occupied as long as we can."

"What's brought this on?"

The Sciath glanced around their camp, then lowered his voice even further. "Something feels…off. It's very faint, like a ripple in a pond. I've no clear idea what's caused it, but it's not familiar to me."

A shiver chased up Ciara's spine. "You should be the one to go with Bolin. The blinding can't be undone without you, and if the priestess does get to him…"

Ciara bit her lip and looked away, blinking furiously to fight back the tears prickling the backs of her eyes. She couldn't believe she was suggesting Ferris carry out his oath, but she knew Bolin wouldn't want to become a pawn.

Ferris laid a hand on her shoulder. "You are incredibly brave, m'lady."

Ciara sniffed. "No, I'm incredibly terrified."

"And yet you still put others before yourself. In this case, however, I think it best I remain at your side. I fear this battle will require all our weapons."

His fingers clenched on her shoulder and he twisted to look behind them.

"What is it?" Ciara asked.

Ferris got to his feet. "I'm afraid we're out of time."

CHAPTER FORTY-SEVEN

"You can't stand against her," Bolin said after Ferris hastily explained their intentions.

Ciara listened to the exchange as she helped Berk into his mail and bolstered her healing spells. She hated doing that. Healing needed time, even when guided by magic. Rushing the process always seemed to take more of a toll on the patient than normal, but they didn't have much of a choice.

"In this instance, I must agree with the general," Donovan said.

Ferris glowered at him. "It's not up for discussion, so I don't really care who you agree with. We'll lead her off and keep her occupied until the Emp--"

Ciara felt the surge of power the same instant Ferris spun half-way around. The Sciath brought a hand up in a quick swipe, and the remains of a nearby building exploded, peppering them with shards of rock, and choking the air with dust.

"For the love of the Goddess, go," he shouted to Bolin over his shoulder. "You can do nothing here."

Bolin flinched at Ferris's words. The helplessness on his face tore at Ciara.

"Bolin, please," Ciara implored him.

He looked ready to argue further, but then his expression closed off and he gave a short nod. He glanced Berk's way, gestured him to follow, and headed into the village at a jog.

A gust of wind hit Ciara with force, and sent her staggering into the wall. The fire's embers swirled upwards, stinging her face, filling her nostrils with the scent of singed hair. Another blast of power skittered away from them thanks to Ferris. Then another. Ferris's breath hitched as he deflected the third one.

A woman's shape emerged from the dust-filled air. She sauntered across the rubble toward them, seemingly impervious to the shards of rock and wood beneath her bare feet. A hungry smile played across her sharp features, and her violet eyes glowed, as though lit by some inner fire.

"Impressive," she said, her gaze locked on Ferris. "I could make use of someone like you."

The Sciath reached out to draw Ciara toward him, and the movement caught the priestess's attention. Her smile widened, chasing a shiver down Ciara's spine.

"What is it you want here?" Ferris asked. He stepped forward, sidling over to put Ciara behind him.

"You. Her. The one you sent running."

"He's not for you," Ciara said.

"Oh, but he is, sweetling. Light has had him long enough. It's time for him to seek what he desires most. Do you think you can keep me from taking him?"

"Try me and find out."

Her laughter echoed around them as she prowled closer. "I like you, child. What say we have a contest, just you and I? If I get to your precious morsel first, I get to keep him and all the rest of you as well. If you find him first, you can try to keep him from me, you can hand him over, or I can kill him, and all the rest. Or. I'll take you, and everyone else gets to go free. For now. Doesn't that sound like fun?"

"You can't stand against us all," Ciara said.

Ferris made a sound in his throat.

"There's only the two of you." The priestess took another step forward. "And, so far, you're more of a nuisance than anything."

Ferris's arm twitched as he deflected the power the witch sent toward Ciara. The tree along the base of the wall split wide with a resounding crack.

The priestess's scowl turned his way. "You're quick. I'm quicker."

Ferris grunted and dropped suddenly to one knee, arm thrust downward, knuckles braced against the ground. The air stilled, and the hair on Ciara's arms stood on end. She stepped between Ferris and the priestess, palms sweating, throat tight, and let her hands fall open at her sides, fingers splayed. Swallowing past her fear, Ciara reached for her power.

"Last time we met you had a beast," the priestess said. "He's one of mine. Did you know that? Light had no hand in his creation."

  Ciara's fingers moved, carving sigils through the air. When she brought her hand up in a quick motion, a brilliant stream of power sped toward the priestess. It hit the woman in the chest and lifted her, flinging her backwards across the rubble. In the next instant, Ciara's feet whipped out from under her and she landed on her back, the air bursting from her lungs. An array of bright, shooting lights flared across her vision as her head bounced off the ground. Before she could recover, hands caught her arms and pulled her to her feet.

"Time to go."

Ferris's voice had a hollow ring to it that may have been due to the buzzing in her ears. Ciara found it hard to tell. She managed a few stumbling steps but her knees wobbled as though they'd come unhinged, and then she found herself unceremoniously draped over the Sciath's shoulder. Her limbs flopped about like a child's rag doll, and her head bounced off his back with each jarring step. A surge of power ripped past them, followed by a vehement string of Cearnease, and Ferris pitched forward, catching himself at the last moment.

Ciara braced her hands against his hips. "I can walk."

"Walking isn't an option," Ferris said, sounding winded. "We need to run."

"Then I can run. Truly."

He didn’t argue further. He stopped long enough to lower Ciara's feet to the ground, put a hand between her shoulder blades, and propelled her ahead of him.

"Move!" He jerked suddenly and his back arched. Ciara reached for him, but he shoved her forward. "Go."

They ran without direction, choosing the clearest path to avoid tripping over the debris. There were stretches it couldn't be avoided, and at one point or another each of them tumbled to the rocky earth only to be hauled upright by the other. By the time they stopped to catch their breath, they were both scraped and bruised.

They stood at the edge of what had once been a large open square, the remains of a fountain at its center. Ciara slouched against the corner of the one mostly-intact building, watching back the way they had come. A soft curse drew her attention to where Ferris stood, bent over, hands braced on his thighs, eyes closed. He didn't move when Ciara went to him and placed a gentle hand on his back.

"She's incredibly strong," he said between shallow pants. "And I get the feeling she wasn't showing us even a fraction of what she has."

"Do you think she's still following us?"

"I don't know. I feel her everywhere but not close by, if that makes sense." He straightened carefully, sniffed and then swiped at his nose, frowning at the streak of blood it left on his hand.

"You can't keep doing this, can you?" Ciara asked.

"I can't keep missing. She's caught me a couple of times. Just glancing blows, but they're not doing me any good."

He turned to look over his shoulder, brow furrowed in concentration. "Someone's--" He whipped around, making a wide sweeping gesture with one arm. The fountain exploded, showering them with sharp bits of stone.

A voice whispered in Ciara's ear, "Stop me if you can."

Tendrils of power slid around her, searing her flesh. She cried out and pushed at them, using a blend of earth magic and Andrakaos's power to slice through the cords. Laughter followed, and then a sharp intake of breath not her own.

"Such a pretty, this one." The priestess stood behind Ferris, one arm around his waist, her other hand under his chin, her fingernails gouging into his flesh. She peered at Ciara from past his shoulder. "It's not fair of you to have them all."

"Let him go."

"I think not." She tipped her head to study the side of Ferris's face. "You're proving to be quite the pest. Now, tell me, where did my prize wander off to?"

"Rot in the hells," Ferris said, and bit back a cry when the priestess dug her fingernails deeper.

"I'm going to have to teach you some manners." Her gaze slid back to Ciara. "Or should I just kill him and be done with it?"

Ferris gaped, struggling to breathe, but when he caught Ciara's gaze he gave a quick wink, and then rolled his eyes skyward. Ciara glanced up just as a scream of challenge split the air. Andrakaos roared again, and the priestess's face suddenly twisted in pain. She hurled Ferris from her with enough force to send him tumbling through the air, limbs flailing, then whirled and dropped to a crouch, snarling like a cornered beast to face the Emperor. He strode into the square, his power surrounding him in an opalescent haze.

"Better and better," the priestess said. She rocked from side to side, the fingers of one hand trailing loosely above the ground. "All the pieces are marching so predictably into place. We'll continue this, but first, time to find the lynchpin."

She raised her arm and the Emperor's power surged out to engulf her. When it cleared, the priestess was gone.