Chapter 15: The Great and Terrible: Chapter 15

Only two rebels followed my ragtag team out of the forest. Their horses galloped in the opposite direction. The men were wounded, but not nearly as badly as Jasher. He required immediate tending. If the arrow had pierced his heart… if he had other wounds… He must. Blood soaked him. But stopping to provide medical assistance would get us both killed. So on we ran. The forever key’s burn only intensified.

Cursed to die a violent death for entering the forest? Yeah, the possibility seemed more likely by the minute.

Jasher tripped over a rock, barely preventing a face plant and obviously weakening. I wrapped an arm around his waist and forced him onward. Finally, we cleared the trees. A field of wildflowers loomed ahead, seeming to stretch on for eternity. Golden sunlight bathed the beautiful red petals, turning them into a sea of blood. Bones dotted the countryside, lending veracity to the illusion.

“It’s us or the poppies,” a male boomed out, satisfaction underlaying his tone. It was the same guy who’d taunted us earlier. “We, at least, might let you live. All we want is the girl.”

Leona and Patch decelerated, and Jasher commanded, “I didn’t say stop.”

“We should take our chances with the armed madmen,” Patch cried.

“The glens are a death sentence.” Leona huffed a ragged breath.

I knew nothing about the poppies, other than the warning issued by the bath babes. If you can’t go around the poppy glens, well, you die badly.

“Keep going,” Jasher commanded, his teeth gritted.

Then and there, I made a decision. Trust him, rather than anyone else. He’d kept his word from the beginning, never lied to me, even when the truth stung, and he hadn’t betrayed me. “Keep going,” I emphasized. “But someone tell me the problem with poppies.”

“They are like the sirenes, but worse.” Sweat poured over his face. We leaped over a fallen log, and he winced. “The more you move, the more they strike, injecting you with venom that slowly cooks you from the inside out. Liquified remains are their favorite food.”

A fate worse than death! “Why aren’t the glens plowed and salted?”

“They have been. The poppies only grew back stronger.”

We passed a set of human remains and entered the thick of the field. “Stop,” Jasher commanded.

Boom! A new explosion detonated behind us. The ground shook Jasher to his knees. Since I refused to let him go, I went down with him. Both girls toppled, but we all remained frozen where we landed, too afraid to move. We waited as dark smoke billowed and thinned, unveiling the flowers surrounding us. Their sweet scent proved detectable despite the lingering fumes. Small, sharp pebbles littered the grass—no, not pebbles. I scanned the bits of white and gagged. They were bone shards.

“The smoke is laced with a sedative that only affects the poppies,” Jasher grated, careful to speak for our ears only. “They are currently asleep.”

Did the soldiers know? How much time did we have before the sedative stopped working?

I jerked my attention to the armed combatants, spying them through an overabundance of stems and blooms. Both had stopped just shy of the flowers. One paced before the dividing line, while the other hung back a few feet away. No longer did they flash in and out of view.

“You won’t get far, enforcer. Not with the poppies feeding on you, your wounds bleeding nonstop, and the arrowheads leaking poison into your veins,” the pacer called, his satisfaction redoubled. “Give us the girl, and I’ll give her serpens-rosa, saving her from the poppies. If you beg enough, I might let you and the others crawl away.”

I perked up. They had the all-curing medicine. Hopefully enough to heal Jasher and my father.

“You’ll have to wade through the poppies to get her, Osvaldo.” Pain coated Jasher’s slurred voice. He dropped his backpack and stretched out on the ground, being careful not to jostle the protrusions. “If you use your few remaining arrows on me, you’ll have none for the rabdog when he comes for you. And he will come for you. I hear him stalking through the trees even now. Do you?”

As if to prove his words, screams spilled from the forest, accompanied by frenzied growls. Nugget was ending any survivors, no doubt about it.

Leona whimpered and curled into herself. “I can’t die here,” she whispered. Fat tears streaked down her cheeks. “My sister needs me. If Drogan is right, she’s alive. Sold at a governor’s auction three months ago. ”

“Sorry, but your sis is probably dead. What?” Patch snapped when Moriah glared at her. “Three months is like three years in substitute time. And she didn’t end up with West, the most merciful of the bunch.”

“She’s alive,” Leona hissed softly. “No one in their right mind would kill her.”

The redhead spread her arms, as if the other woman had just made her point for her.

“Quiet,” I demanded as the second soldier notched his bow and scanned the forest. Six other missiles waited in his quiver. I couldn’t, wouldn’t let him use them to harm my fur-baby. Which meant I must take them—or him—out. First, I needed to stabilize Jasher.

“I’m not surprised you know my name,” Osvaldo called. “My reputation precedes me. I’ve rid the world of dozens of your kind.”

What a horrible person. “Do either of you have medical training?” I asked Leona and Patch.

Leona shrank back, shaking her head.

“Not me,” Patch said.

“I won’t allow a royal guard to win the Guardian’s prize,” Osvaldo announced. “Do you hear me? If I must die to prevent you from escaping with her, I’ll do so.”

Jasher’s brow wrinkled with bewilderment, but he said nothing. So. My tinman hadn’t known of the prize as Iris inferred.

“What’s the prize?” Patch called. I snapped my teeth at her, and the redhead spread her arms again. “Truth is power.”

“Something you won’t need if you’re already dead,” Osvaldo responded. “A lifetime without fear of being killed as a sacrifice.”

Both Patch and Leona gasped, but Jasher didn’t seem to hear. I skimmed my gaze over him. His usually dusky skin was ashen. Glazed irises told a story of inner agony. I couldn’t leave him in this condition, medical training or not.

“The Guardian overrules the governors. He can save my sister with nothing but words,” Leona whispered, and it was clear her mind had already cobbled together a plan. Turn me in for a different reward.

“You can’t trade me for your sis if we fail to defeat these rebels, so, help me, please. Distract the men. Don’t let them shoot at Nugget.”

She chewed on her bottom lip and nodded. “I’ll do it, and you’ll let me turn you in.”

“Same.” Patch popped to her knees and tossed a handful of bone shards. They clinked, drawing Osvaldo’s attention. She repeated the act again and again, in different directions, keeping him busy.

I dug through Jasher’s pack for anything useable. Clothes, no. Weapons, not yet. Strange things I couldn’t identify, no. Toiletries—yes! A first aid kit. Hakeldama version of one, anyway. Inside I discovered clean bandages, a needle and thread, two pieces of a metal ring, salves, and vials of liquid, some fuller than others.

“You don’t happen to have an antidote to their poison in here, do you?” I asked Jasher.

“No antidote. They used phobina.” He grimaced as veins bulged in his neck and cords pulled taunt. “Makes you feel like you’re being frightened to death. Fatal in large quantities. In small doses, it keeps a body stressed, slowing the healing process, keeping you weak.”

“You’re dying, I get it. Now do as the girls and help me save you. I’ll score us some serpens-rosa and we’ll neutralize the poison.”

He flashed his teeth at me. “Do not endanger yourself.”

“Sure. You get better first.” I prepared the bandages, then uncorked the label-less vials to sniff the contents. When I found the one that smelled of disinfectant, I set it aside, at the ready, and wrapped my hands around the arrow in his shoulder. “On the count of three, it comes out.”

He drew in a deep breath. “Fit the pieces of the metal loop around the shaft’s base.”

“Look at you, talking dirty to me,” I teased. I also obeyed. A jolt of electricity shot up my arm the moment the two devices connected. “Uh, what just happened?”

“The arrowhead is shrinking. And when I talk dirty to you, princess, you’ll know it.”

“Something to look forward to then.” I drew in a breath and held it, ready to act. When the arrowhead finished shrinking, I should be able to remove the object without difficulty.

“Why is this taking so long?” he snarled.

“It’s only a few seconds, Jasher. We’re good.”

He bared his teeth. “This is a waste of time. Head north. Soon the smoke will thin, and the poppies will wake. You must be clear of the glen by then. You’ll make it if you run.”

“Just let me know go time.” A click sounded a few seconds later. “Never mind. I can guess.” Yank.

A hoarse shout barreled from him as he bowed his back. I hurried to pour the disinfectant and press a bandage into the gushing wound.

He panted as he met my gaze, his irises glazed with anguish and perhaps a spark of fear. “Run,” he croaked. “Please.”

My stomach and heart traded places. “Stop being a baby. There’s just one more.” I performed the same task, fitting the metal loop around the arrow’s shaft. Another jolt of electricity lifted the fine hairs on my body.

“I’m finished, Moriah. We both know it.”

I shook my head, refusing his offer of grief. “I know nothing of the sort.”

As the contraption did its thing, he continued as if I hadn’t spoken. “One soldier will stay with me, the other chase you, going around the glen. There are quicksand groves he’ll have to navigate, buying you an eight-hour head start.”

Eight hours. Both forever and a too brief blip. “I’m not leaving you,” I snapped. “You will recover, or I’ll bury the compass.”

Glaring at me, he snapped, “You’ll die if you stay here. So will the others. Even if the rebels are dealt with, you can’t go back the way we came. Nugget has enjoyed his first kill. He’ll attack you.”

“Wrong. Nugget loves me. He’ll protect, not harm. And I’ll get that serpens-rosa. Somehow.” Nothing would stop me.

The compression finished. Yank. Jasher released another hoarse bellow. While he wheezed and panted, I cleaned and bandaged the second wound.

“Sounds like time is running out for you, enforcer,” Osvaldo called, smug.

“What if there are more explosions?” Leona demanded of Jasher, inserting herself into our conversation.

“Yeah,” Patch said, nodding. “Even if Nugget isn’t a factor, we can’t risk setting off any more landmines.”

“You’ll be…fine.” Pants worsening, Jasher gritted out, “I caused explosions. Have traps…all through…forest.”

“No more talk of leaving you behind,” I snapped, wishing I’d taken Iris up on her offer. I could’ve misted the rebel into cooperation. But no matter. I had a plan. It was risky. Beyond risky. I didn’t care.

I unsheathed the blade anchored to my side and passed it to Patch. “On my signal, throw this at the guy with the bow and arrow. Your goal is to stop his shots.”

The redhead nodded, understanding and accepting her mission. “You sure you want to go this route?”

No, but I was doing it anyway. I glanced at my finger and double-blinked. The ring. No longer a shadow but an actual ring. The ring. My mother’s, just as I’d suspected. It now circled my finger, the seven gemstones sparkling.

“What should I do?” Leona whisper-yelled.

“Put the pack back together.” The ring wasn’t my main concern at the moment. “I’m giving myself up. Be ready to exit the same route we entered. We’ll go around it and brave those quicksand pits. You two will be Jasher’s crutches at first.”

“Moriah,” Jasher hissed.

Ignoring him, I stood, stretched up my arms and called, “I’ve had enough of the poppies.” Not exactly a lie. “I’m coming out. But only after you show me the serpens-rosa and promise to let the others go.”

Osvaldo withdrew a pouch from his pocket and waved it through the air. “Done.”

Liar. Still, I navigated out of the field, faking a wince with each step, as if I’d been bitten. Just in case this plan failed, I didn’t want the rebels plunging into the flowers to grab my companions.

As soon as I cleared the poppies, Osvaldo shoved the pouch back into his pocket, grabbed my arm and jerked me against him, putting my back to his chest. He pressed a blade against my throat, and yes, he patted me down. “You know what, enforcer? I changed my mind. I’m not leaving until you’re dead.”

“Who could’ve guessed that totally unexpected development?” I searched the treeline for any sign of Nugget. Though I didn’t see him, I proceeded with part two of my plan, anyway. “Help!” I screamed.

As hoped, he sprang from the shadows, zooming toward me, and oh, wow, he’d doubled in size again. His eyes were fully red, the tusks at least twelve inches long. Fresh blood and other wet things coated his fur.

Patch popped to a stand and tossed the dagger a split second after the rebel unleashed his arrow. The rabdog dodged, and the missile sailed past him. The redhead’s aim proved true. Down tumbled the archer, a hilt protruding from his shoulder. Nugget dove through the air, landing on top of him. The man died screaming.

Tremors rushed through Osvaldo as the rabdog turned his attention on us and growled, sharp teeth bared. “M-make him stand down.”

“You’re on your own.” On purpose, I went limp. Unable to hold my weight as well as the knife, exactly as I’d hoped, Osvaldo released me in favor of extending the weapon toward the rabdog.

Nugget leaped, biting off the soldier’s hand while it still clutched the blade. He took the screaming soldier to the dirt and finished him off.

Nugget turned his sights on me. My eyes widened. His constricted to slits. He prowled closer.

No, no, no. I climbed to my feet and extended my arms. “G-good boy. I love you. Love doesn’t make you weak, it makes you strong. Good boy,” I repeated, trembling.

Lowering his snout and baring his teeth, he stepped into my personal space. We stared at each other. Maybe I should have looked away in surrender. I didn’t. I reached up, tentative, and grazed the wet fur on his brow.

His nostrils flared, and he stiffened.

“I love you.” Tears stung my eyes, blurring my vision. “I will always love you.”

Low, guttural noises rumbled from his chest. I didn’t stop stroking, and he didn’t strike. Seconds passed with agonizing slowness, my insides quaking.

“Always, always, always,” I whispered.

With a gut-wrenching cry, the rabdog spun and raced off.

I swallowed a cry of my own. He took a piece of my heart with him. But I couldn’t mourn. Not here. Jasher needed me, and he needed me now. I hurried to him, opening the pouch along the way. Two grains waited inside, and I whimpered with relief. Medicine! One for the executioner, and one for Daddy. This couldn’t have been more perfect.

Jasher had gone still and quiet. Don’t panic! I dropped a grain into his mouth and worked his throat with my fingers, forcing him to swallow.

“Wake up. Please!” If I’d gotten to him too late⁠—

“Hi. Moriah?” Leona said, all kinds of fear dripping from her words. “I think the poppies heeded your command. Their petals are twitching.”

Time had run out. “Jasher!” I bellowed. “Wake up now!”

His eyelids popped open, and he jolted upright. Relief bombarded me, a forceful flood that swept me into his arms. We hugged, just for a moment. Just long enough to right my world.

Color returned to his skin, on the heels of concern. “We must go.”

Right. “Let’s move, people.” As fast as humanly possible, I helped Jasher to his feet.

He led the way out of the glen, with Leona on our heels, carrying the pack, and Patch directly behind her.

Jasher and I exited successfully! Leona, too. The redhead released an ear-piercing shriek as she cleared the edge of the field. Her knees buckled, and she toppled, writhing in pain as soon as she hit the ground. Multiple petals adhered to her bare calves.

Without hesitation, I swiped up the dagger Nugget had spit out and sliced the plants at their stems. The petals withered, falling away.

Jasher scrubbed a hand over his face. “This complicates matters. She can’t travel like this.”

I didn’t give myself a chance to think. There wasn’t time. No telling how many rebels were still out there, determined to finish what they’d started. I removed the final grain from the pouch and shoved it into Patch’s mouth. The girl ceased writhing.

“Now we’re even,” I told her. “Let’s go.”