“Ara, stop. Look at me.”
I turned to see Fen standing on the bank of the water, and then my head snapped back to the Fen in front of me. Only it no longer looked like him. I stared back at vacant eyes and elongated yellow teeth. I drew in a breath to scream, but it was too late. The water wraith dragged me under, the small bit of light from the surface vanishing within seconds.
Chapter 22
TEMIR
The cries and shouting grew louder until I reached the open cavern of the rebellion meeting room and took in the horrific scene. Fae lay dead and wounded with trails of blood, leaving the rough finish of the floor red and slick. I searched the crowd for familiar faces and found Rhogan and Rook hovering over an injured fae. I squeezed my way through the chaos. Stalagmites hung above like great swords from the ceiling, and the jagged finish of the natural walls shimmered as the light from the sconces cast dancing shadows. I’d never noticed how horrifying it truly was until this deadly scene was painted within it.
“They have to be quiet, Rook. I could hear the screaming from the entrance.”
“I’ve tried.” He paused, looking around. “They are scared.”
“Rhogan, come with me.” He fell into step with me as we moved to the front of the chaotic room. “I need you to bat your wings. It will be loud enough in here to grab everyone’s attention.”
“Got it.”
He did as I asked, and the rush of air through the cave as he lifted from the ground caused everyone to pause.
“Listen!” I yelled. “I will come to those quietest first and heal them. I could hear you above, which means that a soldier on patrol will hear you. If you don’t all want to die down here, then stop and think. I want those who are healthy and uninjured to meet me at the front of the room. If you are injured, please stay where you are.”
Rhogan landed beside me. “What now?”
“You’re going to have to sneak out of here and bring back blankets, pillows, food, and water. As much as you can without getting caught. Can you manage?”
“I’ll have to.” He ran for the door.
I looked to Rook, who stood stunned, watching me.
The fae in the room began to move, just as I had asked them.
As the unwounded gathered around, I gave precise instructions. “I need you all to wash your hands. Then you will need to find an injured fae. You have to evaluate them. I’m only one person, so I can’t do it all. If they have a non-life-threatening, non-emergent injury, stay with them and hold up an index finger whenever I call out. If they are bleeding but still coherent, you’ll raise two fingers. If they are unconscious and you aren’t sure what is happening, raise three fingers, and anyone with a fae who is close to dying, please remain standing next to your patient. Can you all handle that?”
Some nodded, some looked back and forth between each other.
“Hands washed. Now.”
They sprang into action. Within minutes, we had a general evaluation of the medical attention needed. I pulled and pulled at my magic as I moved through the room. Some of the wounds were fatal, and the rebellion had lost four warriors before I even arrived. I healed gashes and removed arrows, healed a broken back and managed to save a female who had a lance through her middle. After the most severe cases, I had to take a break. Rest was the only way to preserve my magic, so I began to heal with more traditional methods. Stitching, bandages and the rebellion’s generous supply of alcohol.
“Get these floors cleaned,” Rook called from beside me.
I looked up to see him watching me again. Finally, he had done something productive.
“Mind telling me what happened?” I wrapped a shattered leg until I could do more.
“We heard there was a small town just this side of the mountains who wanted to join. The messengers said they wouldn’t do anything until we showed them proof of numbers. We’d been hearing that a bit now, so I sent forty rebels. We had no reason to fear.”
“No reason? I warned you. I told you the king was going to figure it out. I told you what he made us watch. He knew we were poking around in that little town.” I stood and shook my head at him as an icy revelation melted over me.
Rook stepped backward. “I realize that now. It was obviously a trap, and though our guys figured it out, we still did not leave unscathed. I was cocky and wrong.”
“Considerably,” I bit out. “But it’s worse than that. Now you have about two hundred fae locked in an underground chamber with only a handful of exit tunnels. If they were heard, if anyone saw the devastation as the wounded poured in, this place is a ticking time bomb. Eadas is smart. The king is smart. I can promise you they are watching. They probably even had sentries waiting to follow behind. Your hideout is compromised. You need to find somewhere else to go, and you need to start moving right now.”
“I can’t move the ones who are still badly wounded.” His eyes grazed the horror scene in the room again.
“I’ll stay behind and do my best to protect them. Do you have anywhere in mind in the meantime?”
“The space isn’t as big, but there’s a spot north of here I’ve been working on.” He faced the quiet room, and everyone shifted to face their leader. “We have to leave right now. Anyone who can move needs to split up between the tunnels. If you are well, help carry supplies or help the others. If you are injured but mobile, use caution. We are headed to Bryer’s Keep. Do you all know where that is?”
