Page 125 of Sun Warrior

“Thank you, Lily.” Dove felt weak with relief.

“Where shall we go, Mistress?”

“Anywhere that is not ruled by Death.”

***

“Odysseus!” Thaddeus looked around, thoroughly annoyed. It was already dark. He’d found the perfect tree to spend the night in—it had a serviceable nest, one that hadn’t been discovered and packed with the sick or wounded. There were even blankets left on the sleeping pallet and they didn’t reek of smoke—or at least they didn’t reektoo muchof smoke. He’d rigged a rope sling and was ready to pull himself and Odysseus up for the first decent night’s sleep they’d had since that Scratcher bitch had caused the forest fire—and somehow he’d lost Odysseus. Again.

Thaddeus put his hands on his hips, whistled sharply, and focused his mind on calling the Terrier to him.

He felt Odysseus then and with a small jolt of surprise realized just how weak his connection to his Companion had become. Thaddeus began searching around the base of the tree in earnest, sending more energy to their bond.

He heard the whimper before he saw the canine. Lifting the torch he was holding, Thaddeus moved toward the sound. Finally, Odysseus’s eyes caught the torch’s firelight.

“There you are!” Thaddeus hurried to the Terrier. “What are you doing over here in the dark? I thought you were right behind me. Come on. I found a habitable nest. Let’s get up to it before some do-gooder decides to pack it with people.” Thaddeus slapped his thigh, expecting Odysseus to trot up to him, as usual. But the little Terrier only whined again and turned his head, trying to lick at the stained bandage wrapped around his flank.

“Yeah, I know it’s sore. But if you don’t use it, it’ll never get better. Come on, Odysseus!” he commanded.

With a pain-filled yelp, the Terrier staggered forward, dragging his wounded leg.

Thaddeus sighed. “Oh, okay. I’ll carry you, but only this once.” He went to Odysseus, carefully picking him up—and noticed instantly how warm the Terrier felt. “Hey, I think you might be worse. How about some water?” He carried Odysseus back to the base of the tree, where he’d placed a pack filled with food and a water bladder. Thaddeus put Odysseus down, then poured water into his cupped hand, offering it to the canine.

Odysseus lapped a little of the water before turning his head away.

“Hey, you’re going to have to do better than that, but it can wait until we’re up there, snugly in bed.” Working efficiently, Thaddeus slung the pack over his shoulder, placed the torch in a holding spot built into the tree, and then picked up Odysseus, who felt limp and hot in his arms.

Thaddeus tried not to worry. Instead, he focused on putting one hand over the other as he used the pulley system he’d rigged to lift himself and Odysseus up to the welcoming, familiar, arms of a giant pine.

Then Thaddeus set about lighting a small hearth fire and heating up the rabbit stew he’d confiscated from one of the two remaining warrens while Odysseus lay silently at the end of the pallet.

“Hey, buddy! Food’s ready!” Thaddeus called to Odysseus, but the Terrier barely raised his head before closing his eyes, tucking his nose, and going back to sleep. “Are you sure? I’m gonna eat yours if you don’t wake your butt up.”

This time Odysseus didn’t even stir.

Thaddeus frowned at his Companion as he ate his way through the stew. Odysseus was definitelynothimself. “Because of that bitch. All of this is because of that bitch,” Thaddeus muttered softly. It really pissed him off. Odysseus wasalwaysat his side.Alwayslistening to him.Alwaysin agreement with his Companion. And now what was he? Tired… hurt… miserable. “All because ofMari.” Thaddeus spoke the name as if it tasted bitter. “Well, I’m not going to let her get away with it. She needs to be stopped, and Nik needs to pay for being a traitor.”

Odysseus’s eyes slitted open and the Terrier sighed heavily, in agreement with his Companion.

“That’s right!” Thaddeus bent forward, gently ruffling the dark fur around the Terrier’s ears. “We’renot going to let either of them get away with it.”

Thaddeus leaned back, chewing his stew contemplatively.But how do I stop someone who can call down sunfire?

You can have more. You deserve more. All you need is power…

Unbidden, the words drifted through Thaddeus’s mind. He’d had the same thoughts earlier, when he’d confronted that arrogant asshole Wilkes.

Of course he needed more power—enough to defeat sunfire. But how?How?

“I’d give anything to get rid of Mari and Nik.” Thaddeus ground the words between clenched teeth as he watched his Odysseus sleep fitfully. “Anything…”

CHAPTER 28

“So, there are twenty-eight of us, not counting our Companions,” Antreas said.

“That many? Really?” Sora looked pale.

“You did invite everyone,” Antreas said.