“I need some space,” Kyree commanded, tendrils of Air magic coiling around him. “Rada, if you could assist me. Bele, stay and hold him down until the magic takes effect.”
The healer’s authoritative voice left no room for objection. Everyone complied, though Tristan’s face clearly showed his reluctance. To my surprise, Rada immediately pulled out her Water stone the moment the others were gone. Kyree took it without comment, so he clearly knew she had it in her possession. With a swift spell, the Human was rendered unconscious once more.
Rada and Kyree deftly passed thelyr-stone between them as they treated Khendrik’s remaining wounds. They were not as severe as they had seemed at first glance, the bleeding stopping as the pair bandaged Khendrik up after a few healing spells. Yet I suspected that what truly plagued the farmer was far more sinister than the physical wounds inflicted by Deira’s vines.
After we had brought Khendrik outside to the wagon, I made space for Tristan, who immediately hurried to his brother’s side.
“He’s been touched by the Other. Its magic has seared through his mind,” I murmured, watching as Kyree and Rada prepared the wounded Human for the return to Dalath. While the Water stone had been able to heal part of his physical injuries, the aftereffect ofhaving too much magic flow through his mortal body was something else altogether. Not even Namtaz had been able to mend a mind broken that way during the war.
“You’ve seen this kind of thing before,” a voice said beside me. It was the soldiers’ commander, Adesh, his sharp green eyes assessing.
“I saw many things in the war,” I replied evenly.
“I don’t know if Rada mentioned it yet, but the mayor asked her to train our soldiers.” He eyed my simple dark tunic and the broadsword at my side. “Would you help her?”
I grunted in surprise. “You don’t even know me.”
“If Rada vouches for you, that’s enough for me. You both fought in the war, right? We need someone with actual combat experience.” A slight smile tugged at his lips as he gestured to the three soldiers who hovered nearby. “I’m the oldest of this bunch, and I could barely wield a sword when the war ended.”
I glanced over at Rada, weighing my options. Part of me still believed that leaving the area swiftly was the safest strategy. Yet she wasn’t wrong: we had to confront the Chiasma eventually. And… I couldn’t deny that I had been moved by her plea for me to be her ally. To fight at her side, to face whatever the world threw at us together, no matter the odds.
“It wouldn’t be the first time she and I trained together,” I said slowly.
“Oh, really?” asked Ria, the small brunette, whose pointed ears hinted at an Elvish heritage. “That would be amazing. Dolores said you’ve been a merc for years. I bet you have a lot of tricks up your sleeve. And Rada knows how to fight. On the day of the last farmer’s market she took out that Cave Troll all by herself—”
“She did what?”
My harsh tone made Ria stop abruptly, her brown eyes widening.Stars above! I could strangle that impossible woman. She hadn’t forgotten to mention that little detail by accident.
“Oh, good, I see you have already talked about us coming to Dalath.” Rada had approached us, clearly unaware of my rising anger.
“Would you excuse us for a moment?” I forced out between clenched teeth, grabbing her arm to drag her off to the side. She went along for a few steps before digging her heels into the ground, pulling against my hold.
“What are you—”
I did not give her any opportunity to complain. “You can’t honestly expect me to allow you to risk your life like this,” I snapped, barely remembering to keep my voice down. “Again, if what I just heard about you fighting Trolls on your own is true.”
Rada’s face flushed with indignation as she faced me. “Allow me?” she exclaimed, a fierce light awakening in her silvery eyes. “I am the mistress of my own fate. I fought and bled to make it so, and I won’t let anyone else dictate my path ever again.” A deep intake of breath, her lips a thin, uncompromising line. “Not even you.”
I knew that look. She wouldn’t relent, no matter what I said or did. She was determined to save this bloody village, even if it meant her life. And since I wouldn’t abandon her, she had me well and truly cornered. This was the catch to her offer of allegiance. She would be my ally and fight with me against the Chiasma, but only on her terms.
“You’re the most stubborn creature in all of Aron-Lyr,” I growled, my helpless frustration only stoking my anger.
Her expression hardened, my ire doing nothing to weaken her resolve. “You should know,” she retorted.
For a long, breathless moment, silver and black eyes locked in a relentless struggle, neither of us willing to yield. Why couldn’t she see that it wasn’t myself I feared for? That I only wanted to protect her?Because if the shadows of my past consumed her, it would destroy me utterly when nothing else had had the power to do so.
Suddenly, Rada’s harsh expression softened, as if she glimpsed a hint of my thoughts. She stepped closer, her hand gently closing around my clenched fist, her fingers stroking over my knuckles. “Remember,” she murmured, so quietly that the others couldn’t hear, “you always said we could be glorious together. That we could achieve the impossible.”
Curse it, she was good.
I forced myself to tear my gaze away from the sweet temptation of her hopeful face and looked over to the waiting soldiers. She was still my greatest weakness, and she always would be. Knowing it didn’t make me any more capable of resisting her, though.
“Fine,” I answered, not hiding my displeasure as I freed my hands from hers. “Have it your way. But don’t expect me to go soft on anyone.”
“Of course not. You can be as bad-tempered as you want.”
At least Rada had the sense to quickly stifle her triumphant smile as she made her way over to Adesh. I only half listened as she informed him we would come to Dalath tomorrow after preparing the farm for someone else to take over. Instead, I busied myself with fetching Nacin and readjusting the straps on his saddle, trying in vain to convince myself this wasn’t a terrible mistake.
