Page 8 of Sun Warrior

“Rigel’s with me because I’m his Companion.” Mari tried to sound as nonchalant as possible. “I guess you didn’t notice him earlier on the dock.”

“I did. I thought he was with the young Tribesman—the one who came for Jenna yesterday. I think his name is Nik. I—I don’t know for sure. Today, after you Washed us, was the first time I could think clearly since shortly after they took me.”

“You’re right. Nik is his name. His Companion’s name is Laru. This is Rigel, Laru’s son. He belongs to me, and I belong to him.”

Isabel’s gaze went from Rigel to Mari. “But that’s impossible. You’re not a—” She saw the jolt of shocked understanding as Isabel reallysawher. “Your hair—your face. It’s you and it’s not you,” Isabel said slowly. “You look like one of them.”

Mari squared her shoulders. “My father was a Companion—a member of the Tribe of the Trees. Mama and I hid that from the Clan. But now Mama’s dead and things have changed with the Clan. I have stopped hiding.”

Isabel clenched her hands together while she continued to stare at Mari. Finally she said, “Are you part of them now? The Tribe of the Trees.”

Mari snorted. “Did it seem like I was part of them when they were shooting arrows at me?”

“No, but the young guy—Nik. He and the Sun Priest seemed to be with you.”

“They were. They are.” Mari shook her head and then corrected herself, continuing sadly, “Well, Nik is. The Sun Priest, Sol, was his father. He died on the dock protecting me.”

“I still don’t understand how all this happened.” Isabel’s gesture took in Mari and Rigel.

“It’s a long story that I have no problem explaining to you, but I’d rather wait until we’re not in the middle of a burning forest.”

“Okay, okay, I agree. And anyway, we need to get back to the others,” Isabel said.

“Others?”

“I left a group of Clanswomen in a clearing not far from here. I was scouting ahead and trying to figure out where we are. It’s all this smoke. We can’t tell which direction leads home. It’s odd to say, but thank the Earth Mother that you are his Companion.…” Isabel paused and jerked her chin in Rigel’s direction without actually looking at the young canine. “He does know the way home, doesn’t he?”

“Rigel? Of course.” With an effort Mari stopped herself from smacking her own forehead and declaring herself as simple as a babe.Even Isabel knows Rigel can follow his nose home. What’s wrong with me? I should have thought to have him track our way home much sooner!She could almost hear her mama reminding her to be kind to herself—to not waste time berating herself but act instead. Mari strode to Isabel. “Lead me to the other women; then I’ll have Rigel take us home.”

“This way. I marked the trees so I could find my way back to them.” Keeping Mari between herself and Rigel, Isabel fell into step beside her as she lifted the long piece of flint she held and pointed at a slash mark she’d made in the bark of a nearby tree.

“Good thinking.” Mari watched the younger girl whose gray-eyed gaze kept flicking nervously from the trail to Rigel. “You really don’t have to be afraid of him. He’d only hurt you if you attacked me.”

“I wouldn’t do that! You’re special. You’re our Moon Woman.”

“Isabel, you and I aren’t so different. We’re both marked by eyes that prove we have a Moon Woman legacy.”

“But you can actually call down the moon. I can’t.”

“I wouldn’t be so sure of that. For right now, how about we focus onour similarities instead of, well…”—Mari paused and made a conciliatory gesture toward Rigel—“our obvious differences.”

“You sound a lot like your mother,” Isabel said with a tentative smile.

“That is the nicest thing you could have said to me. Thank you. Does that mean you agree?”

Isabel’s smile widened. “No one in their right mind would disagree with Leda.”

“I’ll take that as a yes,” Mari said, thinking,One more Clanswoman has accepted me—how many more to go?

They walked on in silence, following the slash marks that seemed to glow through the murky, smoky light. Mari waited until Isabel had stopped sending Rigel frightened glances and seemed to be more relaxed before she asked, “How many women are with you?”

“Twenty. They were all I could gather. I—I don’t know how many of the rest of them made it out of the Channel. The current was just too strong. And with the smoke added to the chaos the Companions caused, I think they got confused and couldn’t find the shore. They drowned. A lot of them drowned.” Isabel paused to swallow hard and wipe at her eyes. “I found bodies. Too many bodies.” Her voice broke on the last word, ending with a sob.

“Oh, Great Goddess, no!” Mari pressed her lips together, fighting a tide of guilt. “I didn’t think. I should have been smarter. I was just trying to help.…” Her words trailed off as she wiped away bitter tears.

“Mari.” Isabel stopped and took her hand. “It wasn’t your fault. Truly.”

Mari blinked through tears of guilt and sadness. “I didn’t mean for it to happen. Not like that. I healed Sol’s nephew of the blight. He said I could ask for a favor—for anything. I told him what I wanted was to Wash the captives of Night Fever. I was going to pressure Sol and the rest of the Companions into freeing you—all of you—in exchange for healing members of the Tribe of blight. I swear I was.”