Kiki stared at me for a moment. Then turned her head toward Rusalka, doing her silent horse communication thing. Rusalka snorted in either agreement or disagreement. It was hard to tell.

When I mounted Kiki, she twisted one ear back. “We’re going to search for that plant Devlen...er...Changed Man showed you. Do you remember it?”

She flicked me with her tail as if insulted that I’d question her memory.

“Good. I’d like to get to the plains as fast as possible.” This earned me another long gaze. “I have to leave to keep Reema safe. Okay?”

Just when I started wondering what I’d do if Kiki refused to take me, she trotted from the stables. I let her pick a path through the empty streets. Scanning the surrounding area for potential problems or for anyone following us, I stayed alert until we reached the plains two hours after dawn.

The panic released its vise grip on my heart and I drew a deep breath when we entered the vast grasslands of the plains. My family and friends would be safe. And as long as I stayed away, they’d live. The reason for my conviction eluded me, but just the thought of returning to Fulgor sent waves of fear along my spine. Sorrow weighed heavily on me. I already missed them so much it burned inside me. I imagined it would consume every part of me, leaving behind a hollow husk. And I couldn’t even think of Valek right now or I’d collapse in a puddle of misery and never move again.

Kiki broke into her gust-of-wind gait. We sailed on a river of air. I closed my eyes, enjoying the rush of the wind on my face. It banished the sadness if only for a moment. After being up all night, it didn’t take long for me to doze in the saddle.

Kiki woke me when she stopped for a rest. The plains stretched in all directions. Clumps of small scrub trees dotted the landscape. A few rocks littered the sandy soil. Kiki sipped water from a narrow depression—all that was left of a streambed.

Despite the desolation, I felt safe. Or was that because of it? When she finished drinking, I fed Kiki grain and then I groomed her. In two days, the warming season would officially start and, halfway through, shedding season would begin. The amount of hair raining to the ground would triple in another month’s time. Every year I’d been amazed that Kiki didn’t turn bald by the warm season.

After I washed the horse hair from my hands, I ate a quick meal. Quick because I didn’t have much food with me and it would soon be gone. My bo staff and switchblade were useless for hunting, but I might be able to use my Curare darts. Or could I? If I ate the meat of an animal frozen by Curare, would I also be affected? Perhaps I should stick to edible plants and roots. If I found them.

While I waited for Kiki to reenergize, I searched for recognizable vegetation. My thoughts drifted, wondering how Leif and the others had reacted to my sudden exit. Were Leif and Hale chasing after me? I hoped not. Just being near me would endanger their lives. And while my heart ached to see them, I refused to give in to such selfish desires.

I poked around the sparse clusters of greenery. Nothing matched my limited list of safe plants. Perhaps I’d find some at the next stop. Wrapping my cloak tight around me, I lay on the ground near Kiki. The sun warmed the dark fabric, lulling me to sleep.

Kiki nudged me awake a few hours later and we resumed our journey. Did she know where the reedwither plant grew or was she searching for it? For the thousandth time, I longed for my mental link with her. Finding souls and guiding them to their final destination had been satisfying, healing others had been rewarding and even examining a person’s soul served a purpose. But my ability to communicate with Kiki, Irys, Bain, Leif and even Valek had been such a deep part of me for so long, I felt disconnected. Adrift. Lost.

Recovering my magic, however, didn’t elate me as much when I realized I still wouldn’t be able to see them or they’d die. At least I’d have Kiki and I could resume helping souls and others in need. The hardest part would be avoiding Valek. No doubt he’d hunt for me. No doubt he’d find me eventually. I dreaded that time.

We stopped two more times before I located a few edible berries and roots. At our fifth rest break on the second day, instead of moving away to find water to drink, Kiki pawed at a patch of crabgrass. Odd. I moved closer. Long thin leaves grew from red stems. The reedwither plant.

“Kiki, you’re brilliant!” I hugged her and fed her a peppermint. Then I knelt next to the cluster and considered. Should I dig around the plant to harvest the roots or pull it out like a weed?

Perhaps I shouldn’t touch the leaves or roots. I dug into my pack for a pair of gloves and returned. I would try yanking out a small section first, and if that didn’t work, I’d dig around the base.

I grasped a handful.

“Stop,” a male voice commanded behind me. “Let go of the reedwither.”

I hesitated. A dagger slammed into the ground near me.

“Let go or my next knife will not miss.”

21

VALEK

With Wilona safely tucked into a bunk next to her friend Cewen in the women’s barracks, Valek returned to the private’s room. Not wishing to alert anyone to his presence just yet, he’d had Wilona tell her friend that she’d decided to take action on her own.

Extinguishing the lantern, Valek stretched out on Wilona’s bed. He longed for a blond wig. It would add to Timmer’s confusion. However, the captain failed to visit her room that night.

In the morning, Wilona reported to training, acting as if nothing had happened, and Valek spent the day investigating Timmer’s network of supporters. The layout of the base matched all the other military complexes in the Territory of Ixia—the Commander insisted the bases and the General’s manors be identical, which aided Valek and his corps.