Chapter Ten #2
I couldn’t stop myself from looking over my shoulder. Hollows had been here recently. What if they still lingered?
“We keep moving,” Taio said.
“We should track those Hollows,” Nize said. “We don’t want them surprising us later.”
“No. Keep moving.” Taio started west again, leaving the deer behind. The Zulenii followed him.
“He’ll get us killed,” Finnrey muttered. “Gaz is right. Protocol says we track and kill the Hollows.”
“That’s on patrol,” I said, watching as Gaz and Nize put their heads together and walked. Now what were they planning? “If we hunt Hollows now, it may take days to find them. The faster we move, the better.”
“I hope you’re right.”
I hoped so too.
***
WE REACHED THE FIRST patrol outpost with an hour before dark.
Jolen had told Gaz and Nize that, unlike patrols in the south and north, western patrols had reinforced outposts where they slept at night.
Teams might venture out for a night or two, then return to the outpost to resupply before going out again.
There were outposts in other areas of the kingdom, but Jolen said after the coordinated attack in the west, the outposts here were strengthened and fortified.
The land was so flat that we saw the outpost an hour before we reached it.
That meant they could see us as well. If we’d been Hollows, the patrol would have plenty of time to form a unit and attack.
Instead, a couple of women I vaguely recognized from Highcastle called down from the top of a wall made of tall wooden poles carved from tree trunks.
As I’d seen few trees on our journey thus far, I realized the tree trunks must have been brought in from another area of the kingdom.
“Gaz!” one of the women called. “Is that you?”
He shielded his eyes and looked up. “It is. I have Nize, Lady Finnrey, and Lady Mara with me.”
The women leaned over further and nodded to us. Then their gazes went to the Zulenii. I could tell when they spotted Yung and the drawings on his face. The women drew back. “With whom do you travel?”
“These are people from Zulen. They passed this way a few days ago and we are escorting them back.”
The women nodded. “Yes, we heard about them!” the one who knew Gaz called down. “I’ll open the first gate.”
“Who are they?” Nize asked.
“The one with the round face is Dilla,” Gaz said. “I think the other is Zil.”
I wondered what sort of relationship Gaz had had with Dilla, but my thoughts were cut short when I heard the sound of the crank and the enormous outer wooden gate swung open.
Dilla and Zil looked down at us as another woman and a man stood before the inner gate, which was also made of wood but not as tall.
We began to file in, but the guards put up their hands.
“Stop right there,” the man said. He was short and stocky, his shoulders so rounded he looked hunched forward.
“You four step forward for inspection.” He indicated Gaz, Nize, Finnrey, and me.
They moved forward, but Taio put a hand on my shoulder.
I’d known he was near me. I always knew where he was.
It was as though my body could sense him even when I didn’t want to.
The guards inspected Gaz and Nize for bite marks. Then Finnrey stepped forward and Gaz looked back for me. “Mara, go ahead.”
“She stays with me,” Taio said.
Gaz’s expression hardened. “Mara,” he said. “Go forward for inspection.”
But I didn’t move forward, even though Taio kept his grip on my shoulder light. I did not like being put in the middle, but right now there seemed no other choice.
The inner door opened and Finnrey and Nize passed through, obviously clearing inspection. Gaz waited. He said something to the stocky male guard, who gestured at me. “Lady Mara, you are next.”
I looked at Taio, and we both moved forward.
“Just you,” the guard said. “Not him.”
“Both of us,” Taio said. “Or neither.”
The guards looked at each other. “Neither then,” the woman said. “You aren’t welcome here.” She stared at Taio.
“What are you talking about?” I demanded. “If they aren’t bitten, they should be allowed inside. We’re traveling together.”
“You are welcome, Lady Mara,” the male said. “Not them.”
“Let’s go.” Taio turned, but I pulled away.
“This is ridiculous.” I marched to the guards. “They are Zulenii, not Hollows. They were guests of my father. The King.” I emphasized the last in case they had forgotten who I was. “You owe them hospitality.”
The male guard shook his head. “The king isn’t here, and they aren’t our guests. They can sleep outside the walls. You are welcome, but they are not. Make your choice.”
I looked at Gaz.
“Mara, come inside.” He held his hand out. I looked at it, aching to take it. But I couldn’t leave the Zulenii outside, and I knew, without being told, that Taio wouldn’t allow me to separate from him. Blood would be spilled if I went inside the outpost without him.
I knew what honor dictated. “I want to speak to your patrol leader.”
“It won’t change things,” Dilla called from above. “The patrol leader is my sister, and she won’t let them in either.”
“Then tell her the king will hear of this.” I would make sure of that somehow.
“Mara!” That was Finnrey’s voice. “What’s happening?”
I looked at Gaz. “Make sure she stays inside.”
“Mara!” Finnrey called again.
“Don’t do this, Mara,” Gaz said. “Don’t choose him.”
I began to tremble as I turned and walked back through the gate.
The Zulenii trailed me. The safest place to sleep was in the shadow of the outpost, but I was angry and stomped some distance from it.
“I cannot believe this,” I said as I clomped away, shaking from rage and fear.
Why hadn’t Gaz argued to allow the Zulenii inside? Why hadn’t he supported me?
“Can you not?” Taio said from behind me.
I turned to face him. “When my father finds out about this—”
“He will not find out,” Taio said. “Especially if Loverboy kills me as he’s planning.”
My jaw dropped open. Behind Taio I spotted Dilla and Zil walking along the wall of the outpost and moved back further. I didn’t want them to overhear.
“Gaz wouldn’t kill you. He’s angry, but he’s not a murderer.”
“Will you stop him if he tries?” Taio asked.
I looked away. In the distance, the sun was low on the horizon.
The waving grasses would make it difficult to detect any approaching Hollows in the dark.
I knew what Taio was asking. It wasn’t enough that I’d chosen him tonight—not that I had any real choice if I didn’t want an all-out battle between us and the Zulenii—but he wanted to know if I would keep choosing him.
My every instinct was to choose Gaz. We’d known each other all our lives.
I’d admired him for years, and not just as a woman admires a man.
I admired his strength, his principles, his honor.
But if Gaz tried to kill Taio, he’d be breaking that code of honor. There was nothing to admire in that.
“It won’t come to that,” I said, hoping I was right.
Kintle had moved away from us and now said something I didn’t understand. Taio nodded and gestured for me to move ahead. “He says we can sleep there.”
I trudged after Kintle, noting that he’d managed to find a slight rise.
It would give us a better view when standing, but once we sat or lay down, we’d be swallowed by the tall grasses.
Insects buzzed and flitted about as the sun dipped lower.
I’d probably have hundreds of bites by morning.
I dropped my pack, glad to be free of the weight.
I’d unlatch my bedroll and spread it out once we all chose spots and sorted out the watch.
What I really needed was a fire and hot tea so I might add the herbs the healer had given me.
My entire body hurt after the long day, but my neck was the worst. I almost wished Taio could have just knocked me unconscious.
I think I’d have preferred a pounding head to the aching soreness in my neck.
“Mara!” Finnrey called from the wall. Her voice seemed to echo over the grass, and I cut my glance to her and held my finger to my lips.
Did she want to attract every Hollow within hearing distance?
We hadn’t seen any, but that dead deer was evidence of their presence, and I’d rather not risk attracting any still in the area.
“I’ll be right back,” I told Taio and jogged over to the wall to look up at Finnrey.
“Mara,” she called down, her voice muted. “Please come inside. Either that or I’ll come out there.”
“No and no,” I said.
“We’re sisters. I’ll stay with you.”
I spotted Gaz behind her, his hands on his hips, and his expression angry.
“Finnrey, listen to me.” I was aware Gaz and anyone else inside who was near the wall could hear our conversation.
I couldn’t speak to her like I would privately.
“I should never have asked for you to accompany me. I shouldn’t have asked Nize or Gaz either.
” Especially not Gaz, as his presence here was making everything more difficult.
“This is my journey to make, not yours. These are my risks to take, not yours. Stay there tonight. Be safe. I feel guilty enough for bringing you. I’d feel worse if anything happened. ”
“And how do you think I’d feel if anything happened to you? I’ll talk to the patrol leader. I’ll make them let the Zulenii inside.”
I shook my head. If I was a Zulenii, I wouldn’t go inside the outpost now.
Taio was a proud man. I’d learned that much about him.
He wouldn’t take the hospitality of the outpost at this point even if the patrol leader begged him.
And the patrol leader would not beg. I doubted she would even listen to Finnrey.
“Don’t waste your time,” I said. “Rest and I’ll see you in the morning. ”
“At least let me send you some food.”
I glanced back at the Zulenii. They were watching and listening, not even pretending to give us privacy.
“I wouldn’t refuse that or hot water for the herbs the healer sent.”