Danny kept up his brave front and returned Kerrick’s grin.
But Zila burst into loud sobs. “You killed her,” she shouted, then ran from the room and slammed the door.
Kerrick and Danny exchanged a glance.
“She’s eight,” Danny said. “Her reaction is understandable.”
The nanny poked her head in, asking what happened. Kerrick told her.
She scowled at him. “They’re children. If I’d known what you were here to talk about I’d have stayed with them.”
“They hardly knew her.” Kerrick tried to defend himself as Berna hurried from the room after Zila.
Danny gazed at him with a pained expression. “She rescued us from Tohon.” He gestured to the room. “We went from lab rats to being spoiled rotten. Doesn’t matter how much time we spent with her. She’s …” He swallowed. “She will always be special to us.”
“Yeah. I get that,” Kerrick said. “Sorry.”
Berna returned flustered and red-faced as if she had been running. “Zila’s disappeared. Don’t just sit there, help me look for her.”
When Berna turned her back, Danny rolled his eyes. “Berna gives up too fast,” he whispered to Kerrick. “Come on, this shouldn’t take long.”
Kerrick followed the boy from the room, marveling at the boy’s ability to shift back and forth from a child to a young man in moments.
However, Danny would be wrong about the search. It would extend for hours, enlisted dozens of seekers and covered the entire fifty-room castle without success.
A new worry swirled in his chest. If they couldn’t even find an eight-year-old, how would they fare against Tohon’s army?
CHAPTER 4
Ursan flourished his knife, threatening me. “Talk, or I’ll start cutting off body parts.”
“Yours? Or mine?” I kept my voice steady despite my insides twisting into goo. “It’s an important distinction.”
Grabbing my left hand, he pressed the blade against my wrist. Blood welled as the sharp steel cut into my skin.
“I see.” I craned my neck to meet his gaze a good six inches above me.
He was as solid as an oak tree. He even had muscles in his neck. A square-shaped head added to his sturdiness. His intent to harm shone in his eyes. I would have been terrified, except he held my hand. Skin contact was all I needed to defend myself. Except if I shocked him, then what would I do?
“I’m Irina of Gubkin Realm. I volunteered—”
“Bullshit. You’re one of Tohon’s magicians.” He drew in a deep breath. “I can smell it.”
Oh, no. He was a magic sniffer. I cursed my rotten luck. The day had just been too easy.
“He sent you to spy on us.” Ursan’s knife cut deeper.
I hissed in pain. “Why would I offer to help train your men if I worked for Tohon?” I sensed a softening. “He’d want me to sabotage your efforts, not aid them.”
“But you’re not an ordinary girl, are you?” Ursan sniffed my hair. “Not a water mage or air …” Another snort. “I smell forest magic and life magic.” His grip tightened. “Only one life magician in the Fifteen Realms, which means you’ve been with Tohon.”
I thought fast. “And there’s only one forest mage left. And they’re on opposite sides.”
“Prince Kerrick disappeared. No one knows where he is. He could be dead or Tohon’s prisoner.”
So Ursan knew Kerrick was a forest mage. I wondered what else he knew. However, this had gone on too long. I made a quick decision and zapped him. He grunted but failed to let go. Sending another blast, I forced him to his knees. What was it with these big guys? Didn’t they feel pain? The third assault loosened his grip on the knife. I yanked the weapon from his hand, then released him.
I stepped back as he sank onto his heels, panting and sweating.
When he regained his composure, he asked, “What magic is that?”
My initial instinct was to lie, but all he had to do was notice the already healing cut on my wrist to figure it out. “I’m a healer.”
A variety of expressions crossed his face. From surprised to suspicious to confused and then back to suspicious. “The healer with Prince Kerrick also disappeared.”
“Obviously, there’s more than one healer.” I waved my left hand. “I can prove it to you in a few hours.”
His confusion returned. “Why are you here?”
“Tohon lifted the bounty on healers and I was sick of hiding.” I shrugged. “I wanted to help.”
“Why aren’t you helping in the infirmary?”
Good question. Did I have a good answer? “Healers are still not welcome.”
“Not around here. That other healer was here for a few weeks last year. She saved a bunch of lives. We owe her.”
Nice to know I’d been appreciated. “It’s still a big risk. And one I’m not ready to take.”
He gestured to the forest. “Who taught you how to go silent?”
“No one. I’ve been on the run for four years. I’ve learned a few things.” I glanced around. The light was fading fast. “What are you going to do?”
“Me?”
I laughed at his shocked expression. “Yes, you.”
Ursan stared at me. “I’d thought you’d … disappear.”
“Then you thought wrong. I’m tired of running and want to help. I’d rather teach your squad for now. But if you want to expose me … I won’t stop you.” Handing him his knife, I waited.
He clambered to his feet and once again towered over me. The desire to cut and run pulsed through me for a second, but I steadied my nerves.
“All right,” he said. “We’ll do it your way for now. But if I see you doing anything suspicious, I’ll drag your ass to the major. Understand?”
“Yes.”
“Good.”
As we headed back, I said, “Lieutenant Thea knows you’re a magic sniffer. She asked you to sniff me out, right?”
“Yes, but not many do. We don’t want too many people to know just in case Tohon sends one of his magicians undercover.” He gave me a pointed look.
“It’s a good strategy. I’m sure Tohon has spies in camp.”
“You’re sure as in you know, or you’re sure as in you think?”
Now it was my turn to give him a pointed stare.
“Yeah. Dumb question. No doubt he has spies.”
We joined the lieutenant and the other sergeants a few minutes after sunset. All five of them turned to us. I kept quiet just in case Ursan changed his mind.
“She found me,” he said. “We’ll begin training my squad in the morning.”
The lieutenant said, “What took you so long?”
Ursan grinned. “I cheated.”
Thea failed to see the humor. “Explain, Sergeant.”
“It’s war, sir. Rules don’t apply.”
I followed Sergeants