Ronan studied Ula as she rubbed her ointment into his shoulders. Her leathered face was one he’d grown to know well. He recalled the younger version of herself he’d seen when she fought the Sledgers and wondered why she didn’t use her magic to make herself appear like that always. But perhaps she had nothing she felt she needed to hide.
“You are wondering if I am the one who undid your magic.” Ula did not look up from her hands. Her fingers dug deep, relieving his muscles of their tension as she applied the medicinal ointment.
“It’s crossed my mind.” Ronan glanced across the campfire at the others. His eyes found Fiona’s. She was gazing at his bared torso with hunger in her eyes. He forced himself to look away from her. He could not take the chance. Not when he did not know who the betrayer was.
“I am a sorceress. I haven’t the magic to change a wizard’s spell, even one who has no training like you.” She dipped her fingers into the salve and then placed the cool of it against his arm. The ball of her hands kneaded into him and he grunted at the deep pleasure it brought to his arm.
“Then who was it?” Ronan asked but she shook her head.
“I don’t know. It is as much a puzzle to me as it is you.”
“Fiona?” Ronan asked, lowering his voice. Her black eyes finally lifted reflecting two tiny campfires in each.
“Fiona is not of the dark forces. She has spent her life trying to keep from being as weak as her grandmother had. This is not the first time she’s taken a sword to a wizard.” Ula massaged her healing concoction into his skin. “The liar will show himself soon enough I would imagine.”
“I don’t know who to trust,” Ronan admitted and frowned.
“Trust yourself.”
Ronan nodded but she didn’t look up at him. Hers were wise words and the only course of action to follow. He shrugged away from her hands and she reluctantly moved away from him. He lay down on his blankets, hand resting protectively on the hilt of the King’s Sword. The betrayer would be a fool to try to take the sword when surrounded by so many suspicious persons. Ronan closed his eyes.
Robusk huddled in the corner of the dark place. There had been no light to open the darkness for him for two weeks. He’d been given only one meal since he was thrown down here and shackled. One meal of molded bread and a tin cup of dirty water.
Shivering, Robusk looked up as the door of his prison unlocked and swung open revealing his captor. “It’s almost over, old man.”
“Indeed it is.” Robusk’s voice sounded weak to his own ears. “The wizard blacksmith is not as stupid as you thought he was.” He tried to summon his power but lack of nourishment, the cold, and a protective shield of magic prevented him from doing his will.
“No but those he travels with are. Except for one, of course.” A smirk moved closer and Robusk tried again to hurl magic at the man. “You are only wasting your energy, you know. I am more powerful than you.”
“If that is true, why am I locked away and deprived food and water?” Robusk met those cold eyes with a smug smile. “Because you aren’t nearly as powerful as I am, Sleagan.”
SleaganSleagan clicked his tongue. “Stupid old man. Don’t you know? You killed my father. In doing so, you gave me the throne over the dark forces. That is the only reason I have not delivered you to death already.” SleaganSleagan knelt in front of Robusk. “But you did kill him. So I’ve decided to watch you die. It’s a small fascination of mine. Death, that is.”
“You will not get away with this,” Robusk warned and the man before him laughed wildly.
“I’m already getting away with it. But it is to be expected. The first stage of dying is denial. It is interesting but I particularly enjoy the following stages. Pleading. Teetering on the brink of madness. And finally acceptance.” SleaganSleagan sighed heavily, shaking his head. “You grow thinner now, you are fading fast. I’d hoped you wouldn’t and allow me a few days extra of toying. But I cannot control the effects of age. If you were younger, it would bring me more satisfaction.”
“Sorry to disappoint you.” Robusk spat in his face. A slender hand lifted and wiped the saliva from his eyes but his expression did not change.
“Is that all the fight you have left? You are supposed to be the great high wizard Robusk. I expected more from you.” SleaganSleagan rose and stared down at Robusk for a few moments before turning and heading back toward the door.
“I’ll come for another visit tomorrow, to see how you fair,” he called before closing the door firmly. Robusk heard the lock turn and looked down at his hands. Chained where he was with dark magical shackles. There was no escape for him.
Hurry, Ronan. He thought past the walls of his prison in desperation. The safety of Meris depends upon you.
–
Ronan had expected the hills of Johran to be as breathtaking as those of Jobi but he’d been wrong. Scowling, he gazed out at the brown grasses and gray rocks. The trees did not grow tall and lush, the foliage was sparse, and there was dryness in the air that made Ronan’s mouth water.
“This is the ugliest place I’ve ever seen,” Arien said as he glanced around them and Ronan nodded with agreement. “It is no wonder they are cannibals. Nothing grows here to be used for food.”
“Which brings up a fine point.” Ula looked at Ronan. “How are we going to get past this tribe of flesh eaters?”
Ronan kept his eyes straight ahead. “They do not eat their own. So I will become one of their tribe.”
“What?” Ula reached out and touched his arm causing him to look at her. Her black eyes were rounded as she stared at him and her lips formed the word ‘no’.
“It is the only way.” Ronan kicked his horse forward so she had to release his arm. “And I’ll not hear any arguing about it. I’ve made my decision. It is the only way to save us from becoming someone’s breakfast.”
“It sounds of madness.” Of course Keegan would not keep quiet just because Ronan bid it of them. “Even if you do convince them to make you one of their tribe, you realize you will be expected to eat with them. As you say, they do not eat one of their own. That means one of us will be part of your meal. ”
Ronan swallowed but did not look at the horseman. “I have already thought of that.”
“And?” Keegan demanded.
“I will convince them that none of you can be killed because of the mission we are on. The outcome of this journey does affect the way of life of their tribe as much as anyone else’s. They will have to listen to my reason.”
“You should start talking now.” Mikel pointed from Bryan’s back to the three men who stood on the hilltop ahead of them, each holding a spear that was longer than any of them.
“Fall back,” Ronan ordered and for once, no one argued. They all obeyed allowing him to ride ahead. Hold your hands out so they see you have no weapon aimed at them. Ahearn thought from behind him and Ronan did as he suggested. The others followed suit.
The men did not move, even as Ronan’s horse approached then stopped directly in front of them. “I wish to speak to the leader of your tribe,” Ronan said to the man who stood in the middle but it was the one to the left who responded.
“You have trodden upon the soil that belongs to the Johran people. By doing so you seal your fate and provide our tribe with nourishment and…”
Ronan dropped his hands impatiently. “I provide your tribe with nothing until I am granted an audience with your leader. The alternative is for me to cut you down where you stand.”
One of the men smirked and Ronan’s lips pulled. “You think I cannot? What weapons do you have that are so powerful to strike against the King’s Sword?” They blinked and Ronan knew he had their attention now. “Spears? You may use them well but you should be warned that I am a wizard and I travel with two changelings and a sorceress, each very dangerous creatures.”
The one to the left spoke again. “You are the King’s Guard?”
“He is the stone wizard, Ronan.” Keegan’s voice bellowed from behind Ronan with force that would have moved a mountain. The stone wizard? And then Ronan almost laughed as he remembered Keegan had caught him playing with the small stone at the lake in Jobi Hills.
“You will take me to your leader now,” Ronan commanded.
“No one comes to Johran unless they wish to become a meal to our people,” The man argued. “It is the law we live by.”
“As your hunted are we taken to your leader?” Ronan asked, making a quick decision and praying he did not regret it later.
“Yes.”
“Then we surrender to feed your people. However I stipulate that no one is to be cooked or served until I speak to your leader myself.” Ronan crossed his arms. After a moment the man inclined his head and turned to lead them the way.
“I hope you know what you are doing,” Keegan murmured lowly. Ronan did too. He’d just placed them all in the midst of what could become a very dangerous situation.
“How far?” Ronan called after an hour and a half had passed.
“Two days and a night to camp,” one answered and Ronan gritted his teeth. He’d assumed that he would be speaking to the leader tonight.
“I’m famished,” Arien said as they finally stopped for the night. “But I doubt there is anything to hunt around here.”
Ula glanced at Ronan and he gave her a nod so she rose and stepped off into the dark. She wasn’t really hunting, he knew. He’d guessed it when she brought the elk back for the harpies. She was using sorcery to manifest food. Obviously the others hadn’t guessed the trick though for when she returned they all made a big deal over how great a huntress she was.
“If you are my betrayer I am going to be thoroughly disappointed,” Ronan murmured when she sat down to skin the rabbits she brought back, “for I would starve to death without you.” Ula’s lips twisted and her black eyes glittered but she said nothing.
The three men that led them had kept their distance but when she fashioned the meat over a spit, they neared, licking their lips hungrily. They obviously hadn’t had a meal for several days, bodies thinned and gaunt. Ronan sighed.
“Do you think you can manifest enough to feed them as well?” Ronan asked Ula in a low voice.
“I can.” She nodded and Ronan tilted his head in thought.
Ronan bent his head toward Ula so that the others could not hear. “Perhaps before we reach the leader, you can come up with a bit more to carry as a peace offering. If the tribe is as starved as these three, it might make my task a bit easier to offer something they need.”
“A good plan.” She nodded again.
Ronan straightened. He had to rely on her again. And after he decided he would not accept help from any of those traveling with him again, not until he found out who the betrayer was. But this world was too dangerous to go at it alone. Reluctantly he admitted to himself that he needed each of them to make it to Merisgale.
When he looked at Ula, his eyes dropped to find that three more rabbits had appeared where there had only been two before. “Are you men hungry? Ula has outdone herself and there will be more than enough food for us all tonight.” He brought his gaze to the three tribesmen. They moved closer and knelt near the fire.
“We’ve been hunting these hills for days. We found nothing.” The one who’d spoken before addressed Ronan. “Now your woman has more food than we’ve seen for many months.”
“Ula is a bit better at hunting than most I’ve ever met,” Ronan told him. “I did not realize that cannibals also ate animal.”
The man’s eyes narrowed. “We eat whatever we can to survive. When we have the chance to eat flesh it is a sacred ritual.”
Ronan raised a brow, curious now. “Really? How so?”
“To eat of the flesh cleanses our people’s bodies and souls. Your centaur is no good to us, for he is half animal. But the rest of you will be sacrificed so that our people remain pure of evil,” The tribesman explained.
“What is your name?” Ronan inquired after a few moments of considering the reasoning behind the cannibalism.
“I am Yarro and these are my sons, Gu and Plae,” He answered. “And you are the stone wizard Ronan.”
Ronan slanted a gaze at Keegan just in time to see the grin snake across the horseman’s face. “I prefer just Ronan.”
“Why do you wish to speak to our leader? Most do not come this way or have any business with us.” Yarro drove the blunt end of his spear into the ground and then sat down beside it, across from Ronan.
“I wish to join your tribe, so we may cross into the moors freely.” Ronan decided it wouldn’t be wise to mislead. He didn’t know how big their tribe was and a lie would be found out quickly enough.
Yarro’s eyes widened. “A wizard wants to become a Johran?” His sons dropped to his side, their eyes locked on Ronan now. “We’ve never had a wizard among us. Such a great honor. And would you protect us from starvation?”
Ronan felt his chest constrict. His mouth was dry as the image of his dying mother filled his head. Her body had been skeletal and her voice weak. No magic, she had whispered, respecting her husband’s wishes long after he was gone.
“I would,” Ronan answered blinking from the painful memory. “I plan to strike such a deal with your leader that will keep those that travel with me safe as we pass through your land.”
Yarro studied him for a long moment. “I am the leader you seek. What you propose is interesting, Ronan. You want to travel through Johran lands to get to Merisgale and deliver the sword. Normally we would allow you to pass but not your companions.”
“You are the leader?” Ronan stared at the thinned man.
Yarro smiled. “Expected something more?” He had too gentle a face to be the leader of such a primitive people. “You realize that becoming one of us means you would accept and respect our ways. You would be expected to eat the flesh of someone who was not one of our kind.”
Ronan’s stomach turned. “I understand.”
Yarro regarded him thoughtfully. “Would one that travels with you sacrifice meat of their bones for you?”
“I will,” Arien jumped to his feet.
“I would as well,” Keegan said from his spot near the horses.
“Not me.” Mikel the Hort glanced around and then looked apologetically at Ronan, “There’s not much of me here anyway!” Ronan’s lips slanted, and then sobered as he looked at the others.
“I would give you my arm if it is what you need,” Ula offered softly.
“You travel with many who honor you, Ronan.” Yarro observed the others before looking at Ronan. “There is a ritual to be performed before the members of the tribe. If you are willing to become part of our tribe, to provide for us and call us your family, I can see no reason why we should not grant you and your companions free pass through Johran.”
“Then it is agreed.” Ronan held out his hand and Yarro grasped it firmly. The world around them suddenly rippled, glinting silver for a moment, before changing from the barren hills. Ronan blinked. They were standing in the middle of a large village with small huts not much different than the thatched houses of the Jobi village.
“An illusion. Very clever,” Ula said without rising. She turned the meat over the fire that Ronan could see was started just in front of the door of one of the huts. Tribe’s people were gathered all around them.
“We must protect our village as best as we can,” Yarro explained as he released Ronan’s hand. “This way, no one can form a plan of attack against us without us knowing full in advance.”
“How many in your tribe?” Ula asked.
“Only a few hundred,” Yarro answered.
“Yore, build us some more fires. I will have to come up with something more than rabbits tonight.” Ula lifted her hands and Ronan stepped back watching them glow with a blue light. Ronan smiled as a skinned and prepared Elk began to appear on the ground.
“My sorceress will feed your people tonight.” Ronan turned from her as she continued manifesting food for the village. Yarro’s eyes were wide as he continued to watch the woman.
“Before we feast, you must be made one of the Johran,” Yarro said as he tore his eyes from the magic that moved around them. “One of your companions must offer you some of their flesh.”
Before any of the others could move, Fiona had drawn her sword. Black tipped spearheads pointed at her from every direction. Ronan realized the obsidian tips of the spears were poison.
Fiona didn’t even flinch. She placed her hand on a nearby stump, lifted the blade of her sword and brought it down swiftly. The fine metal made a clean cut, slicing off two of her fingers. She closed her eyes to the pain and the tip of her sword hit the ground. She leaned against the hilt, speaking through gritted teeth.
“Is that enough for the ritual?”
“It is.” Yarro nodded. Ronan could only stare for a moment, and then he was rushing forward, ripping material from his shirt to wrap her hand with, to stop the flow of blood that poured onto the stump.
“Dragon’s Blood! Fiona, what have you done?” He slipped an arm beneath hers as she swayed.
“I’m a Serpentine. It’s a small wound. They will grow back in a few days.” She murmured as her lips paled. “I wanted you to know I was not the one who betrayed you. I would not.”
“Ula!” Ronan cried out and the woman moved forward quickly.
“I could not betray you.” She fainted dead away in Ronan’s arms.
“Give her some of that broth you gave me. She should not feel the pain of what she has done.” Ronan scooped Fiona up and passed her to Bryan.
“You may take her to that hut.” Yarro directed the centaur and sorceress to one of the small buildings. “There is more than enough food here and we have women that can cook it for us. Tend to your woman. She was very brave.”
Ronan watched Bryan carry Fiona away with Ula following before lowering his eyes to the two fingers left on the stump.
“I’m going to be sick,” Arien said, turning and pushing through the crowd of tribesmen, clutching his stomach. Keegan and Mikel the Hort just stood staring as if disbelieving what they had just witnessed.
“I’d have had to have someone else do it for me,” Keegan finally said.
“Bring me the flesh,” Yarro called. “The ritual must be completed.”
Ronan carefully picked up the slender fingers and turned to step toward Yarro. The leader took one from him and began to smear marks of blood from it on Ronan’s face and then on his own.
He spoke beneath his breath in a dialect that was unfamiliar but Ronan barely heard him anyway. Fiona had made the sacrifice without hesitation. She’d said she loved him.
“We must both eat of the flesh.” Yarro reached forward and ripped the nail off the finger.
“Without cooking it?” Mikel the Hort looked horrified but Ronan felt numb to everything. He’d never had anyone shed blood on his behalf. Fiona had done it without him having to ask her. He looked down at the finger he still held. If he did not eat it, Fiona’s bloodshed would be for nothing.
His stomach clenched but he brought the pink flesh to his lips. Closing his eyes, he stifled the feeling of nausea that threatened and bit into the meat. He imagined a tough piece of gristle on one of the fowls Ula had cooked days ago, imagined that was what he ate. The taste was salty and a bit sweet but he kept his mind locked on the taste of the bird. He did not stop until there was no meat left on the small bone.
“You only needed to take a bite but you show your devotion by ingesting it all,” Yarro said when Ronan held out the bone for his inspection. He felt lightheaded but pushed the dizziness aside.
“You are cleansed. We welcome you Stone Wizard Ronan of the Johran.” Yarro smiled and took the bone from Ronan. He tossed it along with his into the fire as if to seal the union. Cheers rose up from the crowd and the tribesmen rushed forward, each wanting to embrace the newest member of their family.
Ronan sat by Fiona’s cot, staring down at the delicate features of her face until she stirred from sleep. “Well hello there,” he said when her lids flicked open and she smiled up at his face. “If you wanted to rest, you could have just told me so. No need to chop off your arm to get my attention.”
Fiona’s smile widened and she lifted her wrapped hand. “Funny. I don’t really feel any pain.”
“Ula’s magic broth,” Ronan told her and she let her hand fall back to her side. “Good for stab wounds and missing fingers.”
“Are you Johran now?” she asked as she moved to sit up. Ronan leaned away from her, sliding the candle on the floor closer. He nearly laughed when he realized it was stupid to do. She could see as well in the dark as in the light.
“I am. A cannibal stone wizard by night, blacksmith by day.” He slanted a smile of good humor and she chuckled.
“Why stone wizard? What made Keegan come up with something like that?” Fiona swung her feet to the earthen floor. Ronan spotted a pebble in the corner, lifted it with his will and twirled it in the air in front of Fiona.
“He caught me tossing stones in the lake at Jobi. It was just his way of poking fun at me,” Ronan admitted letting the pebble drop. “It’s the only thing I know how to do right now.”
“Cute and it’s a clever name.” Fiona glanced around the sod hut. “How long do we have to stay here?”
“Only a few days. It was Yarro’s request and in return he will give us a guide through the hills to the moors. I guess there are greater dangers here than the being eaten.” Ronan stood when she rose to her feet. “That was very brave thing you did, Fiona. I’m not sure what to say about it.”
“Thank you?” she suggested with a grin.
He leaned toward her and brushed his lips against her cheek. “Thank you. But you must promise me never to do anything like that again,” he murmured, “I’ll not have you returning to Merisgale in pieces.”
Fiona giggled. “Not to worry. I do not plan on having any other parts of myself removed.”
“Good. It would be a waste.” Ronan leaned away from her. “No need to rise. The others are all still asleep.”
“Except for you.” Fiona pointed out watching him glance around the small hut.
“Yes, well, too much excitement in the day and I can’t settle my mind enough to rest.” Ronan shrugged as he reached for her injured hand. He lifted it to his lips and kissed the bandage.
“They will grow back. It is not a limb so it’s not permanent. In two weeks I’ll have two new fingers, good as the others.” Fiona bit her lip when he didn’t release her hand. “How did I taste?” She smiled crookedly when he raised his gaze to her face.
“Good.”
“They say once you eat of flesh…”
“I thought of that water fowl that Ula served us as I was eating. She’d spiced it enough that it was easy to recall the taste and texture,” he interrupted then grinned almost evilly. “Afraid I enjoyed it and think to have another bite?”
“You are Johran now.” Fiona smiled at his teasing.
“Yes, I am.” He grew serious. “It is quite odd to suddenly be a part of such a large family of people. And they all have treated me as if I’ve always been one of them.”
“It is nice to belong to someone.” Fiona nodded, then looked down at her hands. “I know that you suspect I am the one who betrays you…because of my past with Diato. But it is not me. The farther Diato is from me, the happier I am. What was between us has been over for six months. I wouldn’t help him lace his boots much less attempt to steal the sword.”
Ronan said nothing.
Fiona sighed. “I do not know how to convince you that I tell you the truth. I suppose I cannot. And I am not so sure that I would believe me either if I were you.”
“I want to believe you,” Ronan admitted. “I want to believe that none of you would do this. But the truth is there and I must face it. As Ula says, I can only trust myself now.”
Fiona nodded. “She is my first suspect.”
“Really?” Ronan tilted his head. “Somehow I doubt she is guilty just because when I asked her, she said she was certain you were not the one. Someone who meant to betray me would not clear someone else’s name.” Fiona stared at him.
Ronan released her hand and turned toward the door. “I need your help,” He called, waving a hand and indicating that he wanted her to follow him. “This place offers no nourishment to the Johran people. The earth is dryer here than other places.” He stepped from the hut, staring out at the edge of the village. Fiona stepped beside him, following his gaze.
“Ula said that Serpentines were excellent farmers.” Ronan looked at her. “Any suggestions?”
“Something with a dry root,” she murmured. “And doesn’t grow very tall. Shrugbush or Dalroot may work here. Both can be served raw, cooked, or be made into stew.”
Ronan smiled approvingly. “I’ll have Ula conjure me up a few seeds if she can. You can show them where to plant and tell them what needs to be done.”
“Go back inside and rest. I need time to think,” he told her and after a moment she left his side. He walked out into the village, surveying the dusty land that surrounded it. If there were some sort of water source available it would make Johran life much easier.
You could manipulate the landscape. Ahearn stepped toward Ronan. There is an abundance of water is Merisgale. You could create a river that stretched from Merisgale through the moors and ended here into a lake.
“Perhaps a dam at the edge of Johran that would prevent flooding in the valleys.” Ronan shook his head. “But I do not know if I am a strong enough wizard to do that.”
Robusk is. Ahearn answered. When you deliver the sword to him you could request his help. Ronan nodded. It was a good plan.
“Thank you, Ahearn. You are a remarkable creature.” Ronan scratched the horse between the ears. Ahearn snorted and then moved away again.