Page 185 of Sun Warrior

Thaddeus’s mean eyes narrowed at the Warrior, but before he could respond several people began clamoring to be heard.

“If there is even a small chance she can heal us do not harm her!” called another Tribesman.

“Let the Scratcher heal us!”

“Give her a chance!”

“Fine!” Thaddeus shouted over the noise of the crowd, so that they began to quiet. He turned his malicious gaze on Mari. “Then do it. Heal them.”

“Not until you let Nik go.”

Thaddeus laughed. “And once I let him go, what then? What if youcan’theal anyone? No, that’s not happening.”

“I should have been more specific. Untie Nik. Let him join me. Then I will heal any of the Tribe who wish to be Washed free of disease. If I do as I promise I can, only then will I leave with Nik.”

Thaddeus’s eyes glittered with victory. “Why not? I don’t think you can do it anyway—and then we’ll truss you up beside your lover and get back to target practice. Emma!” he shouted up at the platform where Nik was bound. “Cut Nik free—for now.”

A young woman who was obviously ill moved slowly, painfully, to Nik. She sawed through the ropes at his wrists first so that Nik was able to loosen and then slide the noose over his head. Then, with a litheness that had Mari feeling much better about his wounds, Nik bent to grab his travel satchel, but Maeve’s spiteful voice cut across the clearing.

“No! That satchel has stolen Mother Plant pups in it! Don’t let him take them!”

Mari rounded on the older woman. “If Nik doesn’t take the plants. I don’t heal you.Ever.It’s as simple as that.”

“Let him take the plants. The Scratcher bitch can’t possible heal everyone, so they won’t be going anywhere.”

Maeve started to say something, but Thaddeus turned his back to her, ignoring her completely.

Nik slung his satchel across his bleeding shoulder and hurried to her.

She wanted to run into his arms and sob her relief. But not yet. They weren’t safe yet.

He stopped in front of her, bending to greet Laru. When Nik straightened, their eyes met.

“How badly did they hurt you?” she asked.

“Scratches,” he said.

“I’ll make them pay for every one of them.”

“I love it when you read my mind,” Nik said.

“That’s enough!” Mari and Nik turned to see that Thaddeus and his men had crossbows trained on them. “Get to healing, or I don’t care what the rest of the Tribe says—I’m more than ready to put you out of my misery.”

Mari saw Nik’s gaze flick to the sky that still blushed with the colors of sunset.

“Remember.” She spoke her mama’s words softly to Nik. “Whether you can see it or not, the moon is always present.” Mari raised her voice, saying, “All who wish to be Washed of the sickness that has infested this Tribe, bow your heads and place your hands over your hearts.”

“Wait! What of people like my father, who aren’t conscious?” asked the young Warrior Renard.

Mari met his eyes, finding compassion as her answer. “I’ve lost both of my parents,” she told the Warrior, being sure her words carried throughout the clearing. “I will not ignore those who are so gravely ill that they cannot accept the Washing willingly, though I do believe that some of this Tribe are pleased with their sicknesses. It is to those people I speak.”

“Some of us aren’t sick—we’re better, stronger, faster!” Thaddeus shouted at her defensively.

“Really?” Mari took a turn at laughing humorlessly. “You seem very sick to me, Thaddeus. But as you and your men don’t want to be free ofwhat you have done to yourselves, I will not heal you. Those of you loyal to Thaddeus, move to stand with him and my moon magick will not touch you.”

The four men whose canines bore flaying wounds moved quickly to stand behind Thaddeus. Then, more slowly, several Hunters who were still sick—still coughing and weak—shuffled to him as well. Several Warriors, with Shepherds moving slowly, hesitantly, at their sides, joined Thaddeus’s group until by Nik’s count about fifty people and almost as many canines stood with the Hunter.

Mari nodded. “So be it. Let what happens to you and your people as a result of choosing anger and hatred be on your conscience, Thaddeus, not mine.”