Chapter 7
When the woman dropped, I couldn’t move. I wasn’t able to fucking breathe as her body was swinging lightly from the gallows. It was as if my airways were blocked by the noose. I was completely frozen, something that had never happened to me before.
Why weren’t the others acting? We had a plan, and nothing in it involved the woman actually hanging!
Finally, I broke free from the weird paralysis holding me captive, and I couldn’t stay inactive for even a second longer.
Just as I jumped into action, three arrows burrowed themselves into the rope, weakening the integrity of the material.
Finally, Antas had woken up, godsdammit.
Those arrows weren’t enough to cut through the rope entirely, and it still held the young woman suspended in the air.
Her face had already turned into a deep shade of red.
She would need to breathe soon, or our mission—and her life too—was over.
Fuck subtlety, fuck consequences. Fig could rage at me later. Let him, I didn’t care. I was done considering diplomacy.
I reached inside myself to the part I’d suppressed for the last months.
My power answered my beckoning eagerly, jumped to the surface in submission to my will, and within the blink of an eye, the whole town square was drenched in complete, utter darkness.
Sorry, Fig—your orders sucked, and I was done following them.
The crowd’s terrified screams were the most beautiful symphony to my ears, fueling my rage and wrath. Of course, no one understood what was going on. They were all fools, having long forgotten magic existed.
Oh, how I relished in the thought of what each and every one of them would feel. Terror, confusion, and fear so thick I could almost taste it from the crowd.
My grip on the darkness was absolute, and I jumped on the stage. No one would witness what I was going to do. I might have been the only one to see just fine, as my magic wouldn’t dare to take away my vision. Every other person couldn’t claim to be so lucky.
Within seconds, I was at the female’s side and wrapped one arm around her middle, lifting her up to ease the pressure of the rope on her neck.
The earlier feeling of rightness returned in full force, and my head was spinning again. My skin burned as all my senses were assaulted at once. I growled and shook my head in an attempt to clear my thoughts as my free hand reached for the rope. After I’d gotten a solid grip, I pulled.
Antas’ arrows had weakened the material, and it was easy to rip it apart, even with only one hand.
I jumped off the stage, holding the woman tightly to me, and my free hand deftly loosened the remnants of the noose. She was unconscious and barely breathing, but still alive. Thank the gods, I’d acted in time.
Once we were on the ground, I ran, dodging everyone around us. The crowd was completely lost in my darkness, and the music of panicked screams resounded all around me. I smirked and felt more alive than I had in ages. If that made me a sick bastard, I couldn’t care less.
As I looked down at the unresponsive bundle in my arms, my expression fell and hardened.
I adjusted my hold so it was easier to run while ensuring that her prone form wasn’t put under unnecessary strain.
“Breathe, girl,” I growled, commanding her heart to beat on.
“If you die on me now, you’ll be in major trouble. ”
Of course, I received no response, but at least her chest was still faintly rising and falling.
I was running for what felt like forever, but it’d only been a few seconds since I’d grabbed the woman. We arrived at the eastern edge of the town square where the field of darkness ended, and I rushed into the dim light of a small side street.
Exhaling deeply, I let go of the power I’d been holding, and the darkness faded away. Hopefully, the chaos and terror would keep the authorities busy for a while longer.
Perhaps I should have waited to stop wielding my magic, even if it might have cost me. My power was far from depleted, but I had to avoid too much drainage. Only the gods knew what would happen in the upcoming hours. I might need to use more later.
Down the road, I spotted Thain and Ireas waiting on their horses, holding the reins of the other three, and I’d never been more relieved to see their faces.
It took me precious seconds to mount my horse while I carried the tiny female in my arms, but in the end, I was astride and held her somewhat securely in my grip.
She was still shackled, but I didn’t dare to take the time to free her from her restraints.
We had to escape from here as fast as possible.
“Ireas, come with me.” It wasn’t my place to give him orders, but I didn’t care. In a matter of life or death, the chain of command could go fuck itself.
“Thain, you’ll wait for the others and then follow us north-eastward. If we don’t find each other before then, we’ll meet up tomorrow at the caves where we’ve camped near Henalah.”
It was a full day’s ride from here to the small but very hidden cave system where we’d stayed for one night before arriving in Credenta.
Although it was doubtful we’d make it there before dark and for sure would be forced to spend the upcoming night in the forest, I wasn’t too worried.
I was more than capable of keeping us safe and hidden.
Having said everything that had to be said, I turned my horse and rode off. I hadn’t even waited for confirmation from the others.
“Damn it, Dion. If you don’t slow down, our horses will keel over. And has it ever crossed your stubborn and broody mind that the woman could be half dead and might need medical treatment, or at the very least, some comfort? It’s been an hour!”
I growled at Ireas even though he made sense. The woman in question hadn’t made a single sound apart from faint but labored breaths.
“She’s alive. I checked.” I was constantly doing so.
“Good, but I still want to stop and examine her so she stays that way.”
“Soon, Ireas.” I was able to feel his disapproval radiating in waves, but I ignored it.
Once we discovered a suitable spot, I’d pause and allow Ireas to tend to her wounds or whatever he had to do. Luckily, I spotted no signs of a pursuit so far.
When the immediate danger had passed, the tension inside me gradually faded away.
Not hiding my growing irritation, I glared down at the bundled female in front of me.
I was finally able to think clearly again and wanted to kick myself for what I’d done in the town square.
Fig would be furious and demand an explanation as to why I’d broken his number one rule—no magic.
And well, I couldn’t give him a satisfying one. Some things were better left unsaid.
Ten minutes later, I slowed my horse down and steered the animal off the path behind the treeline. The woman’s eyes were still closed, but her breath had steadied. “I think whatever they gave her is slowly leaving her system.”
“My best guess is that they used Hirla.”
“Never heard of that. What does it do?”
“It’s a very rare herb that only grows deep inside the Lannear Wildwood and kicks in when breathed in deeply.
It traps your mind in your body for a few hours and makes you pliable and calm.
In a way, you could compare it with Laiga, only that you don’t have to drink Hirla, and Laiga juice traps you in euphoria instead of apathy—hmm, maybe they aren’t that much comparable after all, apart from both being nasty, forbidden, and behavior-altering drugs.
But well, Hirla has at least no long-term effects, only mild hangover-like symptoms for a few hours. ”
I nodded. Ireas knew a lot about medicine and herbal remedies, which was why I’d picked him to accompany us instead of Thain. Well, and because I’d prefer Ireas over Thain any day.
Scanning the area, I led my horse deeper into the green canopy of the dense forest. We’d find a clearing, and then it would be time to deal with the woman I’d saved.
Once more, I observed her face and frowned at the angry red teeth marks visible on her pale skin.
Someone must have bitten her cheek at some point.
What kind of sick bastard did such a thing?
At least it seemed as if it was healing without a sign of infection, but Ireas would better put a balm on this wound as well.
I shook my head and suppressed my anger.
Something about her was making me uneasy.
Even though she had something to do with our reason for being here, my gut feeling told me she was some sort of poison.
I had to keep my distance from her as much as possible.
There was no way I’d get involved with this woman more than necessary from this point on.
The first sensation I noticed when my consciousness stirred was the fresh, clean air filling my lungs and a soft, damp something running over my face.
“I think she’s waking up, Ireas. And it’s about time. We need to be back on the road.”
Someone near me was speaking, and the male voice sounded deep, low, and rumbling.
I frowned, still half unconscious, as the memories trickled back in. The gallows! Was I dead? My eyes flung open as terror crept into my mind, and a sudden wave of pain raced through my body as I failed miserably to sit up.
“Easy there.” The dark voice carried an unfriendly and harsh undertone.
I wanted to answer, but my mind blanked as my eyes focused and spotted the owner of the deep voice.
He was probably a few winters older than me and scowled in my direction as if I was a nasty insect he had found under his shoe.
A few strands of shining, deep black hair fell into his face.
The rest of it was bound together with a simple strap of leather in a long, low ponytail.