“Go with him, Brock, just in case.”
“Good idea.”
“Change into the monk’s robes,” Nivel ordered Gillespie. Then to me he said, “With the hood of his robes up, he can pretend to be Brother Carry. You’ll need to drain the stablehand of his
kajh
. After Gillespie has a horse, bring our horses out front. Then meet me in the dining chambers.”
“I am grateful,” Gillespie said. “But I can make it from here on my own.”
“Nonsense. Let me help you until we reach the woods at least. This was my promise to your father. I’d rather leave you knowing you had indeed escaped in case I ever cross his path again.”
“May the gods speed you on your journey,” Nivel said as he clasped Gillespie on his shoulder.
Nivel nodded and left.
“What did he mean, drain his
kajh
?” Gillespie asked as he removed the robe off the dead monk’s body.
“It’s my curse.” I waited at the foot of the stairs for him to change. My atrocity, I thought.
Moments later he rushed past me to the stairwell. I chased him up the stairs and into the corridor.
“Which way?” His hood covered his head. To avoid suspicion, he hunched down, for he was taller than the dead monk.
“Left, down the hall. Two more lefts then a right and we’ll be in the kitchens.”
Thankfully, Nivel must have corralled all the monks in the dining chambers, for none blocked our path. Rather we get out of here soon. I was anxious to find Celeste again and I worried about this Warloc getting his hands on her. My temper faltered. But was she any safer with me? I, who had to kill her?
Busy with cleaning from the meal, the cook and monks did not even notice us pass.
Outside, I saw the stables yards away. Before I could blink, a monk towered over us.
“Where are you going?” he slurred and I smelled the liquor on his breath.
“Brother Carry escorts me to ready our horses.”
“Did Father Morgan give you permission to leave?”
Gillespie nodded.
“What’s wrong with your tongue Brother Carry?” His finger’s brushed back the hood. Bloodshot eyes blinked, as if at first not believing the sight.
Gillespie’s hand shot out. The blow hit the monk in the throat.
Tears watered in his eyes as he sunk to the grass. His hands over his neck as his mouth worked, but no sound came.
“Help me get him inside the stables before someone sees us.” He replaced his hood and grabbed one of the monk’s arms.
I grabbed the other arm. Tingling flooded into pain. My power wanted to devour this man, but his clothes protected him for now. And I staggered ahead, dizzy from the denial.
Inside, I dropped the monk’s arm and backed away.
“Watch where you step,” a grovel voice called out.
I spun around. Another monk sat before me. His back was to the door as he worked loose a mare’s shoe.
Before I could call out a warning, he turned and then gasped.
“What happened to him?” Then as if seeing Gillespie, his face paled. His voice traveled on the wind as he screamed.
“Quiet him — take his
kajh
. Whatever, just shut him up.” Gillespie was holding the wheezing monk.
The stable monk stumbled back, his face red from screaming.
Never did I ask for this curse. With wild eyes the man watched me approach. I held out my hand and felt the tugging behind my flesh.
“No,” he screamed. “You’re the demon from before. The one who attacked Father Morgan.”
But I didn’t recognize the man. Obviously, he was one of the monks present when I was brought here and met Celeste.
He scooted into the corner of a stall. Then Gillespie removed the stallion stomping his hooves against the screaming intruder.
After the horse was moved, I stretched out my hand, and clamped down upon the monk’s bare leg.
In an instant, his screaming stopped. My power licked him as if my thirst would never quench. Smelled the hay and horses around me and the scent of tobacco on his robes.
Then I knew him. Saw as he coddled young boys, then hushed their cries while he perverted them. Since he knew he would be found out, he then killed them. Buried their bodies underneath the boards of the stable floor.
My stomach rolled at the sights, but I could not stop. This monster was more dangerous than I.
“Time for your judgment,” I said into his pale face. My power quickened, but I fought to slow the devouring. Wanted him to feel each draw from his
kajh
until he was no more.
Too soon blood poured from his eyes, nose and mouth, and still I drank him in.
If not for Gillespie’s words shouting in my ear, I’d watch him rot.
“Leave him be, he is dead. We have no time for this.”
I flung my arm away from the monk. Then stood up: I was fed. But I knew the fullness of his
kajh
would not last long. I noticed Gillespie already had the stallion saddled.
“Thank you for your help.” He mounted. “If anything comes in which I may repay the favor, just ask.”
“First, we wait for Nivel by the river.” I wiped the sweat from my brow. Was it just my imagination, or did the monk’s corpse seem to smell as if days old?
Gillespie clicked his tongue, and the horse galloped out of the stable. He had saddled our horses already. No doubt he knew which ones were ours, for all the others were a muted brown color.
Hopefully Nivel kept the monks amused for a while longer.
Nivel swept from the dining room when he saw me approach. The monks laughed as they sat at the tables, at some story he finished.
“Ah, I see my son has returned and our horses are ready. I wish you farewell while I return to my estate to prepare for my son’s return with our fortune.”
Like roaches scurrying after food, they rushed closer.
“Allow us to walk with you to your horses.” The red-faced monk smiled.
Nivel nodded.
As we walked, Nivel chatted with them. Any moment someone may spot Gillespie galloping away. It was miles to the forest. Or check on Father Morgan and call out the alarm.
The stone floor seemed to stretch before us. Counted the stones along the floor until we reached our escape.
Did they notice Brother Carry did not return with us? What if they led us into a trap? Make us think we were safe and free. An ambush, perhaps they were just waiting for soldiers. I’d fight until I had no breath left. At least then I wouldn’t have to kill Celeste. Was there no other way to rid myself of this curse and help my people?
One of the monks opened the door for us.
Outside, Nivel dipped into a bow, which the monks returned. Relieved to leave this vile place, I clambered onto my horse. Waited while the monk and Nivel whispered to each other.
“After my possessions are sold,” Nivel’s voice floated on the wind, “then my son, and I if I’m still alive, will return. At that time, he will begin his studies.”
The ruddy monk seemed pleased with this, for his smile broke his face.
Beneath me, my horse pawed at the ground, as though sensing my desire to leave.
Nivel waved at the monks who lined inside the tower door. Then he mounted and set his horse to a saunter.
When we’d traveled out of ear shot, I edged closer to him. “They’ll check on Father Morgan soon.”
“Yes.”
“Then they’ll send men after us.”
He nodded.
“Shouldn’t we move faster? Or would you rather have a battle now after all the time you spent avoiding one?”
“Guilty men run.”
“Withered roots,” I cursed and he glared at me. “We are guilty. Need to put as much distance between us and them.”
“The tower stretches above the trees. Two monks watch us now.”
My head turned partway, before his words stopped me.
“Don’t. Trust me, they’re there.”
I shrugged.
“Over the next hill, then they’ll not see us anymore. And Gillespie will be safe.”
As we dipped over the second hill, we led our horses into a gallop.
At least if I couldn’t kill Celeste, one of my tasks was done. Never thought I’d fulfill my promise to the man in the village who swore dragons flew.
Then I saw a flash of something ahead of us. Gillepsie’s horse. As we approached, I saw him waiting for us in the bushes.
“Were you followed?”
“Nay.” I answered.
“How did you do that?” He mounted his horse and rode with us. “Killed that monk back there. You barely touched him.”
How many more times would I have to explain my curse? I paused. Until Celeste was dead by demands of the prophecy. Then I would be healed on the outside, but on the inside, I’d be the one dead.
“My stain, if you will. I have been given this disease to drain the life of anyone I touch.”
“If I hadn’t seen it with my own eyes, or you, Elvin, I would not believe either was possible.”
“Pray that you never have to feel my curse for yourself.”
He nodded.
We rode through the rest of the afternoon and into night. The next day, Gillespie bid us farewell and left. I hid his trail just in case the monks followed. Rather they stumble upon us than an unarmed man.
• • •
Two days passed before Nivel held up his hand for us to stop. Until then, we walked the horses when they tired. We must have thrown the men chasing us off the trail, for there had been no sign of anyone.
After I dismounted I eased the saddle off my horse. Brushed her down and scratched her underneath her chin.
When my horse and Nivel’s mount drank up water from a nearby stream, I dug a fire pit. Started a fire while Nivel chewed on the bread I gave him from the monks. After emptying all the bread stuffed inside his pouch, he crawled beside the fire.
Then when he had eaten, he bathed while I scouted the area to ensure no one followed us.
“Wake me at dawn.” His silver hair was wet and dripped down his fresh robes. Didn’t he have any other clothing besides robes? This one was a dark green and if not for his hair, he’d have blended into the forest around us.
I nodded, then took my own bath in the stream. Undressed, the water set my teeth to chatter even though I was only up to my knees. Clean, I dried off and dressed for tomorrow’s ride.
Since I needed no sleep, I washed our clothes from the journey and hung them over branches to dry.
Nivel’s snores rang through the trees. If anyone followed us, they’d hear him for miles. But perhaps they’d fear what beast could make such a sound and leave us be. A smile curled my lips at the thought.
In the distance, mountains rippled like land waves. I had no idea where this Bramad was. But my heart quickened at the thought; we were close. Closer to Celeste.
Hours passed as I watched the clouds drift overhead while Nivel slept. Prayed Celeste was safe. And perhaps in another life she would forgive me.
At dawn, we packed. Buried our evidence of the fire underneath dead leaves and snow. Nivel swung upon his spotted mare. And I mounted my own horse. With the snow mixed with dead leaves and grass, our horses’ grey and white spotted coats blended into the background.
Even though the horses rested last night, I felt their steps slow from the hard pace set before them. Nivel noticed it as well, so we allowed the horses to go their own tempo.
Within the day, we’d enter the valley of the mountains at the edge of the forest — closer to the Warloc’s home.
We rode through the forest. Robins and sparrows chatted down at us, as though to blame us for the snow when there should be flowers, bees, and worms. But the month of Avred brought no warmth to the land.
• • •
As the forest opened up in the distance, the silence pounded against me. And in reverence, I did not break the mourning with my voice.
The disease of the land spread through the outer edges of the forest. Our horses’ hooves crunched the dead leaves and shards of trunk beneath their steps.
No birds made nests in this graveyard. There was no sound except our breathing and the steady hoof beats of our mounts. Constantly, I glanced around me. Felt like something was making my skin itch from the inside out. Even though all was dead here, I couldn’t shake the suspicion that someone, something, watched us.
Outside the forest, my hands loosened on the reins. Grassy hills spread before us. In the distance, the mountains resembled purple dunes.
The horses must have appreciated the open sky, for they pranced forward. Or perhaps they sensed our fear of the dead forest behind, and were glad to be away from the cursed place.
“Three days,” Nivel shifted his weight in the saddle, “until Beltane.”
I tasted bile in the back of my throat. Three days before I must kill Celeste. If we found the Warloc and dealt with him in time.
Her grey eyes and how she looked at me heated my skin. Unlike any other human, or even Liana, had ever done before. As if I was an equal and perhaps something more. But the last time I looked into Celeste’s eyes, her anger at my betrayal haunted me.
Looked up to see Nivel watched me as though to read my mind. I gave a weak smile.
“Don’t falter in your destiny.”
“I won’t.” Wind chilled my flesh as hollowness grew inside me.
“Should reach the mountains tonight. Then we’ll ride straight into to Bramad.” The tone in his voice when he said the name caused my head to swing toward him. His mouth narrowed, and he stared ahead as if analyzing.
“What do you know of this place, this Bramad?”
“Enough.” He grimaced. “It’s the place where this sickness began.”
I’d never heard the word until Father Morgan spoke of where the Warloc lived.
“Where evil reigns without justice. But you drawing the witch’s blood will purge the evil and disease.”
Heaviness settled over my heart. I felt the weight of despair, and my shoulders knotted under the pressure. When would my life be simple, as it was before? I cursed my wandering feet. If not for my curiosity I’d be married to Liana. But then, I’d have never met Celeste. She’d be in the Warloc’s grip now. Dead, perhaps.
“Brock.”
My name sounded like a moan on the wind. At first, I thought I imagined it, but Nivel called me again. I glanced over. His green eyes locked onto mine, and I didn’t look away.