Chapter 4
Stolen Time
Rosaline had no idea how much time had passed as she thought about the discussion with Itzel and the wider implications. She ate and slept little as she tried to work through the doubt. No one disturbed her during this time, so the druid got more and more tangled up in her thoughts.
Feeling exhausted and defeated, she sat down on her bed. Rosaline had never felt like this before, and she had no idea how to deal with it. After the mission, she had felt different, but she didn’t feel as conflicted as she did since talking with Itzel.
You felt conflicted before that, you just didn’t admit to it. She tried to disregard the thought, but knew that she couldn’t entirely dismiss it. Placing her hands across her chest and lying down, Rosaline fought the urge to bite her lip. It was already swollen and tender. She didn’t want to do anything else to make it obvious that she was having trouble once she finally did leave her quarters. Right now, everyone assumed that she was learning from the mission, developing better emotional control. Fortunately for Rosaline, no one knew what was really going on.
I wish I could talk to Ignacio. He always seems to know how to calm me down. The idea shot through her mind like a bolt of lightning. Blinking at the ceiling, she knew that talking to him was impossible, but that didn’t mean she couldn’t see him. While he was in training, she had occasionally monitored him, so she knew how to reach him without him being aware of it. All she would need to do is make sure that she could see him. As much as she wanted to hear him, Rosaline knew that was a little too risky because any sounds she made would give her away. Of course, she shouldn’t be monitoring him at all. It was wrong; she knew it was wrong. She just didn’t care.
Willing herself to sleep, her mind slipped out into the world and sought his own subconscious.
She could see the world in all of its splendor, but was unable to enjoy any of it as she desperately sought the one person who had taken an individual interest in her as a person instead of as a priestess or advisor.
When Rosaline finally found Ignacio, she was mortified. Standing only feet away from a group of Unwashed, he watched silently as they went about their business. Even in the darkness, she could see Ignacio’s solemn expression as he judged each human present, and she knew that despite how badly he wanted to kill them, he would stay his hand.
Why? Why is he letting them go? I know he can take on more men than are there. So why isn’t he?
Their preparations done, the men hid. Not long after, a cloaked figure crested a hill and headed toward them. It was obvious from the way the figure moved that it was a woman, and given the location, Rosaline felt certain she was a seer. The figure stopped, and Rosaline’s mind turned toward Ignacio as he stepped out of his hiding place. All of the Unwashed would be well out of ear shot since they had hidden further in the cemetery, but that did not make Rosaline feel any better as the cloaked figure pulled her hood back and showed a gorgeous woman with an entirely too welcoming smile. Wishing that she could hear them, Rosaline tried to understand the exchange as much as possible, but it was no use.
Then the pair had headed towards a wooded area. As they walked, it was clear they were talking, and to Rosaline’s annoyance, Ignacio was animated and lively, just like he had been with the druids. It was clear that the woman was special, Rosaline had heard Darius and Orion say as much, but seeing it was something else entirely. Perhaps a part of her hoped they were wrong, that they were exaggerating. Watching him now made it clear that they had been right.
The entire encounter bothered her, but as the pair sat down to talk, Ignacio’s reactions because more concerned. Rosaline did not need to hear his words to know that he was trying to get the woman—Dulce—to leave with him. He was actually extending a hand to her, and seemed to be almost begging her to leave. Rosaline felt herself bristling, thinking that the woman deserved whatever happened for obviously causing Ignacio pain as he tried to take her away from certain death. A small part of the druid felt like the seer deserved what was going to happen to her if she could ignore his pleas.
Then everything got worse.
The seer drew some powder out of a pouch, and Rosaline had no way to warn Ignacio. He was hit full in the face, and began to stagger until he could no longer stand. Rosaline could feel her nails digging into her palms as she watched the horrible seer catch him and place him gently on the ground. He was losing his ability to talk as sleep took him. Then the seer did something that was unforgivable in Rosaline’s eyes.
As the woman drew magic out of the assassin, Rosaline tried to think of some way to stop her. Even in her sleep, the druid could feel her fists clenching, drawing blood from her palms, as the woman who was supposed to be the assassin’s friend cocooned him in his own magic. A low growl caught her attention, but she wasn’t exactly sure how that was possible. Ignacio couldn’t possibly be making the sounds as the woman—the seer—had knocked him unconscious. He had gone down faster than Rosaline would have thought possible, considering he was an assassin. The powder must have been something worse than anything Rosaline had learned about in her training as a priestess. Not that they had covered much, as it wasn’t an area where they were expected to have practical experience. Living in Marlyon was like living in a cocoon that they would never leave for long. For the high priestesses, it was more like a tomb.
Ignacio was so young and still so naïve, which was becoming increasingly clear to Rosaline—that was when she realized that the growling sound had not come from the young assassin, it had come from her. She was beginning to slip back into consciousness, which she decidedly did not want to do. Rosaline had to watch over him until he was conscious because someone had to know where he was and what had happened. Seers had no idea what they were doing when it came to real magic. What if that woman pulled too much and left him on the brink? What if she did something wrong and Ignacio became more vulnerable? What if someone found him in that vulnerable state?
That final idea almost caused her to sit up and seek Darius, despite all of the issues that would cause. Her dream self took a deep breath and continued to watch. She wasn’t even supposed to be watching this. If she were to talk to Darius, there would be no end to the questioning both by druids and assassin. She was overstepping her bounds by doing this, and it would not help Ignacio at all. Resolved to stay until he woke, Rosaline tried to contain her anger at the seer.
Why is it bad? Being in a dream state, Rosaline didn’t have all of the facts about what was happening, so it wasn’t like she should have been as angry as she was. The fact that Dulce seemed to be trying to protect him said something about how she felt, and she certainly did seem to know what she was doing. Rosaline had seen the look on Ignacio’s face and knew that he was set on bringing Dulce there, even if it meant taking her against her will. Perhaps that was the reason for her reaction, as extreme as it was.
But why does she even have that? Only someone with malicious intent would walk around with something like that. Even as she thought it, Rosaline knew that was wrong. Dulce lived in Ishtar, and the fact that Ignacio had found her in a cemetery suggested that the seer was not unaware of the constant danger she faced. Rosaline did not like to give her the benefit of the doubt, but the look on the woman’s face made it difficult for her to remain angry. Before leaving Ignacio on the hilltop, she seemed to apologize for what had happened. Rosaline watched the woman walk away and wondered just what had been between them. Looking down at Ignacio, she decided to follow the strange seer so that she could recount the death. Dulce certainly had not made a friend after what she had done, but there was a determination in her eyes that made Rosaline curious.
The return to the cemetery was much quicker, and the seer showed no surprise when the Unwashed greeted her. There was no fear in her face, just resignation as one of them spoke.
Then everyone’s head spun to look at something. Cursing that she couldn’t hear anything, Rosaline tried to see what they were watching. Time froze for her when she saw the sword sticking out of the chest of one of the Unwashed.
She mouthed the word “Draven” even before he was visible. Rosaline hardly had to watch as he finished off the Unwashed without any real resistance—just like an assassin, he gave them no time to respond to his presence. As he finished off the last of the Unwashed and spoke with Dulce, Rosaline’s mind worked. Small pieces began to click into place. Darius and Orion seemed concerned that the champions had left a seer for dead, and that was why they had let Ignacio go to her. However, if the assassins were worried about her, there was no doubt that the champions were also working on something to free the woman. The question was why did they take so long? Why wait until she was nearly killed to take her away? Did they know that she was going to be attacked? Or was it dumb luck that Draven appeared when he did, just as it had been dumb luck that Ignacio had been there?
Caspian. Rosaline didn’t even need confirmation. Caspian had trained Draven, and had probably planned the whole thing from start to end. The question remained, though, why did they wait so long? Rosaline watched as Dulce tried to drug Draven, but she never had a chance. Unlike Ignacio, Draven trusted no one and was always ready to react to an attack. The difference between the assassin and the champion couldn't have been more different, but their roles were wrong. Ignacio should not have been emotionally invested because it blinded him.
What bothered Rosaline most was that Dulce seemed ungrateful for what Draven had done. He had saved her from imprisonment, yet she seemed angry. Rosaline felt very angry on Draven’s behalf. Even though she didn’t know him personally, Ignacio had talked about him—highly, even comparing him to Darius on a couple of occasions. That had seemed odd to Rosaline because she could see how being like Darius would be considered beneficial.
They both can control their emotions, keep them in check. If you really wanted to follow the path you are on, you would be aspiring to be like them, not scoffing at their approach to the world.
Rosaline watched as Draven lifted Dulce up and walked out of the cemetery. As curious as she was, Rosaline was more concerned with Ignacio. Adjusting her mental state, she returned to his side. As the night progressed, she sang to his sleeping form, the songs ones that he had taught her over their missions together. When he had tried to explain that singing helped to make a person feel more at peace, she had not believed him. Some of the songs were funny, and others were just strange, but he failed during those trips to prove his point. She had felt her heart racing a little as he had sung, but something told her not to mention that to the assassin. Orion would join in when he was with them, but his songs were also more sedate, probably the songs he sang to children that were occasionally in his care. Rosaline couldn’t help but think that he viewed both of them as children too, but she didn’t mind.
Rosaline imagined sitting down next to Ignacio. Wracking her brain, she tried to think of a song that he had enjoyed, though she quickly dismissed them because they did not feel right for the situation. Nor did any of the songs Orion had sung seem right. Though she knew that she should want to sing one of the songs she had learned as a priestess, Rosaline did not even consider them. Choosing the melody of one of the more mundane songs, she began to improvise her own lyrics to a song. The words flowed on their own as the night passed into morning.
Finally, Ignacio began to stir. Rosaline moved close to him and realized that there was something off about him as he struggled to wake. She watched him for a few moments, unsure what was wrong, but she had seen him wake several times, and there was definitely something off. Turning her complete attention to him, she looked him over and detected a strange poison in his system. She frowned, and looked around. It could have been the air or something he ate on the way there. Or perhaps there was something in the powder that was causing his body to react.
Back in Marlyon, her body shuddered as Rosaline pulled herself away. Her hands were translucent as she reached out for Ignacio. “Purge. You must purge, Ignacio.”
His eyes seemed unfocused as he looked around. When Ignacio’s eyes finally met hers, Rosaline knew that he could hear her. “Purge.” She placed her hand on his.
Ignacio looked around, “What happened?”
“I will tell you once you are done, but not a moment before.”
“I’m hallucinating. Or you are a trick.” His eyes were cold as he looked at her.
“Why would anyone use me to trick you?” She sat down next to him and pushed her shoulder against his. It was a faint touch, but it brought a smile to her face. “When you talked to me about the mission, I hadn’t realized just how much it had affected me. It made me wonder how obvious it was to everyone else because you noticed and pulled me off into a private location. I’m still not sure why you did that, but I am grateful for it.” She turned to face him and smiled.
Ignacio was looking at her, his mouth open a little. “I’m definitely hallucinating.” With a laugh, he shook his head and stood up, “But that means that I am telling myself that I need to purge.” Taking a deep breath, he held out his arms.
“You need to take down the shield first.”
“What?” He looked down at her as she smiled up at him.
“She drew out your magic to make sure you wouldn’t get hurt. As heartless as I thought her at first, she clearly cares about you.” That last part was hard for Rosaline to admit, but it was clear that Ignacio was having trouble remembering what had happened.
“She?” He frowned, then his eyes went wide. “Dulce! Shit!” Quickly waving away the shield, he tried to run down the hills. The way he ran almost looked human, and Ignacio ended up placing a hand on the tree as he put a hand against his forehead.
“You have to purge or you won’t be able to do anything.” She continued to sit on the ground, her eyes watching him as she felt a sadness she didn’t understand. “Besides. She is fine. Draven killed all of them and forced her to go with him.”
Ignacio frowned at her, “I don’t understand what is going on, but I’m not sure I can trust whatever you are.”
The way he looked at her was unlike any of the looks Ignacio had ever given her. In person, he was always so caring and sweet. Now he was glaring at her with a look of repugnance.
“You need to purge or you will…” Rosaline tried to tell him about the poison, but there was something that was pulling her back to her body. She noticed how her voice had faded away as she tried to finish speaking to him. Before she realized it, Rosaline felt herself being slammed back into her own body.
Her eyes flew open, and she found herself looking into a pair of pinkish-blue eyes that were on the verge of tears. “Oh, thank the gods!” Itzel slumped down on the bed. “You are still alive.”
A movement to the side caught Rosaline’s attention. Her head felt like it was made of lead as she turned to look. Leaning against the wall was a guardian. She blinked a few times, trying to understand why a guardian was in Marlyon. Her voice was hoarse as she whispered, “Tiger?”
The figure pushed away from the wall and approached her, a finger resting on his lips. “Itzel, I need you to go cover for her. Whatever you want to report will be fine.”
Rosaline’s eyes were wide as she stared at the bright pink eyes that were watching her under the brilliant white hair. In her peripheral, she could see Itzel leave, closing the door behind her.
“Darius?” Rosaline whispered.