Chapter 26
A s soon as they left the smith’s shop, Celina began to feel uneasy. A tickling sensation at the edges of her senses warned her that something was off. Rodric guided her around the obstacles with a tight arm at her waist. She’d told him it was nothing, and yet… she couldn’t shake the feeling.
Glancing around as they entered the clothier’s shop, nothing seemed amiss. Pushing the sensation to the back of her mind, she pulled on her Lady Blackwood persona. The kindly couple quickly set off to find the thick winter cloaks, clothes, and boots she requested.
It was a small thing, but Celina knew from working with the refugees that shedding everything related to their captivity was part of the healing process for many, especially for the older children. She remembered one teen who had begged to cut her hair off, as the guards had used her long braid of hair to control her movements. Another young boy hadn’t taken thick-soled boots off for a year, having been kept barefoot with sharp glass and rocks scattered on the floor to hinder any escape.
Clean, unsoiled clothes that represented their rescue were absolutely necessary in her mind. Getting them physically out of danger was the top priority, but only the first step on a long journey of healing. With the goal of keeping the children hidden until they crossed into Calderre, there would be no opportunity to stop for such things once they began the journey.
Her already deep respect for the Lightning Teams grew with each new day. Their efforts were incredible, and even more stressful than she imagined. Already her mind was spinning with ideas to improve the way the teams operated in relation to teaching them new tactics to begin the process of trauma healing on the road.
A pile of clothes was brought to her, and she made quick work sorting through them with the help of the clothier. At the bottom of the pile was a heavy red cloak that matched the bracelet Rodric carried in his breast pocket. Setting it aside for Brenna, she quickly selected the other sets of clothing. Hopefully, the other two children were sized in between the little girl and the three young teens they knew were present. The other sizes were a guess based on her experience with the refugee program, but as basic travel clothes, they would fit close enough.
Her mind started to tingle again as she paid for the items, hastening her movements with urgency. There was not an ounce of premonition magic in her, but sometimes she swore she’d inherited her mother’s gift anyway. Or maybe it was intuition and wasn’t related to her mother’s magic at all. Either way, she was growing increasingly certain that something was indeed wrong.
Rodric waited, still and stiff by the door, his relaxed manner in the smith shop having evaporated while she gathered the clothing. Approaching him with the packages, she glanced outside to follow his gaze. Across the market was a group of soldiers, aggressively milling about near the food stalls selling morning fare. As the clothier’s shop was at a dead end, there was no way to slip around them undetected. Tensing, she followed Rodric out into the courtyard, acquiescing when he put her on his outside, farther away from the men.
Walking slowly became a challenge, her heart beating so fast she thought she might pass out. Raucous laughter sounded as they neared the group, and Rodric stiffened more than she thought possible. Jaw clenched tightly, Rodric kept his head facing forward, his eyes raging.
One of the soldiers looked their way, eyes catching on Rodric and staring. Celina felt the weight of eyes follow them all the way through the courtyard. Unable to help herself, she glanced back as they turned the corner and found hard eyes still on them.
Grabbing her hand the instant they were out of sight, Rodric pulled her after him, jogging down the path toward their meeting point.
“How did he recognize you? I thought no one saw you at the fortress.”
“I didn’t think so, but that was the captain I saw. He must have come straight to town after the command group departed.”
They moved as fast as they could without drawing attention until they made it back to the courtyard where they had parted ways with their friends.
“I don’t see Cass and Sev.” They could be anywhere in town since it was before their designated meeting time.
Rodric pulled Celina into a shadowed alcove between two buildings. He took the heavy pack of clothing from her and slung it over his shoulder.
Dread coiled in her stomach. “What do we do?”
Rodric framed her face. “You’re going to find a quiet corner to hide in while I lead them away. Cass will find you and get you out of here.”
“You can’t confront them!”
“I don’t plan to, there are too many of them. But I can lead them on a chase before I disappear.”
“This isn’t the woods. It’s too risky.”
His eyes held a calm confidence that made her catch her breath. “Trust me, Celina. I’ll get away. But they can’t get to you. Promise me you’ll stay hidden.”
Swallowing hard, she nodded. “What direction should I go?”
“Toward the stables, there are more places to hide. I’ll head deeper into town.”
Rising, she kissed him hard and sent her fierce love to him through the bond. “Don’t you dare get caught, Rodric.”
“Stay safe, love,” he whispered against her lips. “I’ll see you soon.”
Turning away, he slipped quietly onto the street.
After a few calming breaths, Celina gathered her courage and peeked her head around the corner so that she could determine where to go.
Shouts and commotion erupted across the courtyard, and through the bodies of the townspeople, she could just glimpse some of the guards fighting with Rodric. Turning away was terribly hard, but she knew the commotion was for her benefit. She had to use the time he was giving her to escape.
Edging quietly along the row of buildings, she kept her pace steady as she exited the courtyard and took the lane that headed toward the outskirts of town. No one looked at her twice, their attention focused on the commotion Rodric had caused.
She made her way around to the horses at the opposite end of town, sticking to the shadows formed by the shop buildings and houses to stay out of sight as much as possible.
A prickle of unease along her spine was the only warning she had before two men turned into the lane ahead of her.
She froze for an instant, but it was enough to convince them to look closely.
“That’s her!”
Turning, Celina bolted down the path, winding between buildings as fast as she could.
It wasn’t fast enough, though.
A hand yanked her to the side of the path. She stumbled, off balance, as the man slammed her into the side of a building. Biting her lip to keep from crying out in pain and rage, she sent her magic through her body, focusing on the arm where she was shackled.
It took two tries because her mind was panicked, but her assailant staggered and went down.
Shoving the unconscious man off her and onto his friend who was hovering close behind, she ran.
The second man shouted a curse, following close behind her as she navigated the streets.
The stables were close. If she could get to her horse, maybe she could escape.
Breathing deeply, she tried to settle the stark panic wrapping her in dark, nightmarish anxiety. The guard following her had to be close behind. She couldn’t turn back.
Moving as quickly as she could in a low crouch, Celina rounded the far side of the horse pen. Peering through the corral, she saw a few more men prowling aggressively, searching amongst the horses and calling out to each other in their search.
Kavesh! Of course they staked out the stable. They must have split their group, hoping to catch her and Rodric.
Once she reached the stable wall, she paused to gather her magic in a fiery gold rush. Her fingertips felt hot, sparking with magic under the surface. If she was going to get caught, it wasn’t going to be without a fight.
“Over here! I got her!” the man who’d been following her shouted as he came into view, stalking toward her with a dangerous expression.
Which meant he was clueless as to why his friend had collapsed, or dumb.
Either worked for her.
Sending a wave of love to Rodric, just in case, she stepped out from behind the wall and hit the man coming around the corner head on.
Zap! She slammed the sleep command into his lifeforce, already moving around him to touch the next guard as the first one fell.
She ran the longest stretch of fence toward the pasture gate in the opposite direction. If she could get far enough away to see them coming, she still stood a chance. Her magic raged through her in a steady stream, letting her feel the strong heartbeat pulsing in her fingertips.
A new guard launched himself at her from the left, getting an arm around her. She growled in rage, twisting her arms to keep them free. Gloved arms dug into her, blocking her access to his skin. Dammit!
Dropping her body like dead weight, she slipped toward the ground as the guard struggled to hold on to her. Reaching up when he bent to catch her, she slammed her head into his face, her forehead making contact with his cheek as she released a wave of magic. Zap!
An instant headache bloomed as he fell to the ground, but she kept going.
Spinning to defend against the approaching soldier, she tripped over the tangle of the fallen guard’s legs. Grabbing her around the waist, the new soldier wrestled her to the ground, pinning her beneath him. Gloved hands again secured her arms, and this one wisely dodged her head, keeping just out of her range.
“Careful! She’s using magic. No contact,” he yelled as the final soldier approached—the man from earlier in town. At least she was making things difficult for them.
Deep inside their bond, Rodric’s rage lit her soul and fueled her to keep fighting. Screaming her rage, she glared at the man pinning her—the captain who had recognized Rodric.
He shook his head. “You put up a better fight than your friend, but you’re going to regret it.”
“Never.”
He nodded at someone behind her. “Do it.”
The heat of a hand hovering over her skin had her turning her head just as the pinch of a needle jabbed her neck. She flooded the spot with magic, blocking her feeling to the area and increasing her body’s resistance long enough for her cheek to make contact with the bare hand at her neck. Idiot.
He jumped back, staggering with a drowsy swaying motion that told her she hadn’t given him quite enough.
Her magic faltered as it came into contact with whatever drug they’d injected, fluttering and vanishing under the assault. Feeling returned in a rush, the drug burning from the inside as it seared through her body, darting in fine lines through her chest.
Celina screamed, this time in pain, writhing away from the awful sensation. Tendrils of fire raced through her body, swirling like snakes around her core. She pushed gold against the fire, only for it to grow into a murky wall encasing her magic. Each attempted use of her magic increased the livid pain and added fear to her frantic movements and terrified cries.
The man pinning her increased the pressure on her arms, settling more of his body weight over her to quiet her bucking movements as if having expected them. He kept his eyes on her, lips moving, but her pain-drenched mind refused to interpret the words he said.
Desperately, she reached for Rodric through their bond and felt his answering roar as the world went dark.