Firebrand

“Cade?”

“You left me behind.”

“No, you told me to—”

He pointed a bloody finger at her. “You left me to suffer! You left me!”

LEAVING THE GREEN CLOAK

“NO!” Karigan flung herself into a sitting position. “No!” she cried again, and then she doubled over hacking uncontrollably and weeping.

Gentle hands held her and bathed her face with a damp cloth fragrant with soothing herbs. When she calmed and the coughing subsided, she found it was Enver who held her. Estral knelt before her, her face a mask of concern.

“That must have been some dream,” Estral said.

“I left him,” Karigan said in a hoarse whisper, tears flowing anew. “I left him to suffer.”

There was no questioning of who the “he” was that she spoke of, just comforting words. Enver tried to get her to take a drink, which she discovered was not water, but a cooling cordial. It soothed her throat, which had become so raw from smoke and coughing.

“He let you go, remember?” Estral said. “He wanted you to come home.”

As the dream lost its immediacy, Estral’s words made more sense. The real Cade would not accuse her of leaving him to suffer. Remember, came words into her mind, those of a dark nature will try to trick you and take advantage.

She shook herself, trying to find some equilibrium after so wrenching an awakening. Who was tricking her? Ghosts, she vaguely recalled.

You cannot let them control you.

Now she knew she could have prevented the smoke ghosts from trespassing on her. By using her will. She placed her head in her hands. My life is so strange.

Estral squeezed her shoulder. “You should try to eat some breakfast. I have it warming over the fire. Some tea, too.”

Karigan readied herself for the day. She still coughed from time to time as she went about her ablutions, but it was not as hard as the racking cough of before. Finally she sat down to the very welcome tea, but had little appetite for the porridge Estral had prepared. Enver offered her a Dragon Dropping, but even chocolate did not appeal.

“I am thinking perhaps we should stay here another day so that you can rest,” he said.

“No.”

Enver and Estral exchanged glances.

“I don’t want to stay here another night,” Karigan said.

“You are in rough shape, if I may say so,” Estral said.

“I am all right. I can travel.”

“Then we should discuss our path,” Enver said.

“I intend to take the path that leads to my father,” Estral said with determination. “Even if it leads to Second Empire.”

“I do not think—” Enver began.

“Estral is right,” Karigan said in her raspy voice. They both looked at her in surprise. “They were here—Second Empire. The ghosts showed me. They killed the lumbermen. Second Empire would know Lord Fiori’s fate.” She looked steadily at Estral. “You must be prepared for whatever that fate may be.”

Estral looked down at the tabletop.

“What of the p’ehdrose?” Enver asked.

“We haven’t had contact with the p’ehdrose for a thousand years. A few more days won’t hurt anything. I believe King Zachary would want to know what became of Lord Fiori.”

She also knew the king and Captain Mapstone would not be happy about her coming to this decision. She was supposed to use caution when it came to Second Empire, but that was before they had known Lord Fiori was involved. Sacor City was too far away to seek instructions, and if Lord Fiori was in Grandmother’s clutches, time was of the essence.

Across the table from her, tears glistened on Estral’s cheeks. “Thank you.”

“Do not mistake me. I am not suggesting that we go rushing into the Lone Forest on a rescue mission.”

“What are you suggesting?”

“That I scout ahead and see if Second Empire is indeed in the Lone Forest, and see if I can detect any sign of Lord Fiori from a safe distance. If the answer is yes to either, then we fall back, return to the River Unit and get help.”

Estral did not look happy. “That would take too long.”

“There are three of us,” Karigan said, “and possibly hundreds of them. It won’t help your father if we act rashly and get caught ourselves.” Her statement was followed by a coughing fit bad enough that it made her eyes water. She sipped tea, which helped.

“Enver,” she said, “this is not part of your mission. I don’t blame you if you wish to go on to the p’ehdrose without us.”

“Galadheon, I am your guide and tessari, so it is my mission, too.”

His words were of an immense relief to her.

“I would feel better, however,” he said, “if you would eat some chocolate.”

She smiled, but demurred. “We will have to establish a secure camp outside the forest. We need to go slow, and keep alert. If they see us first, we’ll be in trouble.”

On that portentous note, they set to packing their gear and readying the horses. As they rode out, Karigan took one last glance at the remains of the pyre. A fitful breeze lifted ash and whirled it into the air, then settled.

Some aspect of the men who had died here remained in her rough throat and irritated lungs, but they were at rest now. She knew it to be true, by whatever odd circumstance. She had told their restless spirits to sleep, and for some reason, they listened to her.

• • •