Gavril had been guarding the exiles that night, and he'd seen her give her dagger to the boy. Then he'd held on to that knowledge . . . to use against her.
She'd asked him to let her go into the forest. No, not asked. Shame heated her cheeks as she remembered. She'd begged him. Moria would only follow the party--she wouldn't interfere. She would let Ashyn know she was there, so Ashyn could relax and do her job. That was all.
He'd refused. If she went, he'd tell the governor about the dagger, and her father would be punished. That's how it worked--they couldn't punish the Keeper, so her father took it in her stead. For such a crime, he might even be exiled.
How could Gavril make such a threat when his own father had been sent into the forest?
"You'd best hope your sister finds that boy's corpse," he said. "And that she has the sense to hide your blade."
She looked at him, stone-faced. "You can leave now, Kitsune. You've done your duty, checking on me."
"I'm here to make sure you stay within the walls and don't go flitting after butterflies."
She fought the urge to shoot her fist at him. She'd used that excuse once, when he caught her up to trouble. I was only chasing butterflies. Now he kept bringing it up, and she wasn't sure if he knew she'd been lying or if that was truly how he saw her--a child chasing butterflies.
"The flare isn't coming," she said. "I'm going to speak to the commander."
Ten
Moria hadn't been the only one watching the sky. When they reached the barracks, her father was coming out, the commander at his side. They were assembling a search party.
By the time the party was ready, there was little doubt that something had gone wrong with the Seeking. The moon was halfway from zenith to the treetops now.
"I'll need a blade. I couldn't find mine this morning," Moria lied as she adjusted her boots. "If there isn't an extra dagger, I'll take a sword."
The commander shook his head. "The Keeper is not permitted a sword until she passes her eighteenth--"
"Then a dagger will do." She walked to Gavril. "I'll borrow yours. The spirits demand it."
He looked at her, as if surprised that she'd dare single him out when he knew she'd not misplaced her blade that morning. What she truly meant, though, was: If you're going to tell them what happened to mine, then do it.
"I can't give you my dagger, Keeper, because I'm going into the forest." Gavril turned to one of the sleep-woken guards. "I'll take your place."
"Then I'll take your blade," Moria said to the same guard.
The sleepy guard handed it over. Moria looked at her father and held her breath until he gave a slow nod. She hugged him and whispered, "I'll bring her back." Then she hurried after the others.
Moria strode through the dark forest, holding a frayed length of red ribbon.
"The rest has to be here." She turned to see Levi, Oswald, and the other guard--Jonas--clustered around, watching her. "You have lanterns. Look for it."
"We have." Levi's voice took on a whine. "The ribbon is gone. We need to head back."
"The village is that way." Moria pointed into the darkness. "Anyone else who thinks saving the Seeker and the governor is too much work can go with him."
Gavril had not stopped searching for the ribbon. After a moment's pause, the other three joined him, while following the trail of cut and broken branches.
It should have been dawn by now. The others were probably telling themselves that the rays of weak light were the rising sun, but Moria knew it was the moon. Night was her time. The Keeper. Bond-mate of the cat. Protector of the night. Daughter of the moon.
Moria had been in the forest before. Not far. It was the Seeker who ventured in while the Keeper guarded the mouth. But those short trips to the second guard tower had told her what to expect. The cold, hollow weight of death.
They kept walking until Levi said, "Does anyone else hear that?"
Before Moria could reply, something darted through the trees. She glanced at Gavril. His grip tightened on his sword. Daigo's growl rose until it vibrated through the air.
A shadow bolted past, so close that Daigo spat, fur rising. Two of the lanterns flickered. The third sputtered out.
"Everyone back!" Moria said. "We just passed a clearing. Retreat to that. We can fight there."
Fight shadows? With what? Swords?
When Gavril opened his mouth, she tensed for argument, but he barked, "Get back! Move!"
Moria and Gavril herded the others to the clearing. There they clustered in a ring, backs together, blades out. Shadows wove and dodged through the forest around them.
Moria channeled her energy and commanded the spirits to be gone. The men shifted and muttered under their breath. When one of the shadows passed close, Levi lunged at it.
"No!" Moria shouted. "Stay in formation!"
Oswald yanked Levi back. Then, from deep inside the forest, came a voice.
"Moria!"
"Ashyn," she breathed. She started to take a step in that direction, then stopped herself and looked back at the others.
"You think it's a trick?" Levi whispered when she hesitated.
No, but I think if I leave this clearing, you'll all be dead.
She could hear someone crashing through the bushes. She looked down to see Daigo leaning toward the noise, ears up, tail swishing, poised to run.
"Go," she whispered.
The wildcat shot off noiselessly through the woods. Moria waited, her heart thumping. Please, please, please.
"Daigo!" Ashyn called.
The sound of running footsteps resumed, and Moria had to fight to stay where she was. When she saw her sister's pale hair, she relaxed. Then she saw her sister's eyes, wide with terror as she ran. There was a shape right behind her. A dark shadow--
No, not a shadow. A flesh-and-blood being with a blade in his hand. Chasing Ashyn.
The moment Daigo and Ashyn stepped into the clearing, Moria hit her sister's pursuer square-on, knocking him to the ground, pinning his arms as a blade flashed.
Her gaze flew to that blade first. It was her dagger.
"This feels familiar," said a voice below her.
She looked down to see the young exile she'd given her blade.
"Moria," he said, grinning, as if she'd knocked him down in a game of catch-me.
She wrested her dagger from his fingers. "Is this how you repay me, boy?" When he tried to get up, she pressed the tip to his throat. "You used my blade to attack my sister?"
"Moria, no," Ashyn said. "He's with me. We were fleeing whatever's out there."
"And you just happened upon him?"
Ashyn seemed as if she'd like to say yes, that's what happened, but she could not lie to her sister. "His uncle captured me. Briefly. No one harmed me, though, and his uncle is dead. Now let him up. Please."
Daigo padded over and stood guard as Moria rose. Her sister fell into her arms, head on her shoulder. Moria didn't ask if she was all right. Physically, she seemed to be. In other ways? No, she would not be all right. Moria held her sister until Ashyn sniffled and stepped back, dry-eyed and fighting for composure.
"Save the tears, Keeper," Gavril said, though she'd given no sign of crying herself. "We need to go."
As much as his words and tone grated, he was right. Moria turned to the exile. "My wildcat is watching you, boy. No sudden moves."
"My name is Ronan."
She snorted as he rose and brushed himself off.
"May I have that dagger?" he asked.
"I think you've had quite enough use of it," she said.
"Not yours. That one." He pointed at the one she'd been using.
"No. Now walk in front of me."
He sighed and started around her. Then he stumbled on a vine, his hand shooting out to brace himself against her. As she shoved him away, the lantern light glinted off a dagger in his hand. Her fingers shot to her belt, and she cursed.
"Give that back," she said.
"Don't, Rya," Ashyn said. "You ha
ve yours. Everyone ought to be armed out here. He knows how to use it, so obviously he's a warrior. He ought to have a blade."
Ronan's expression confirmed that, as Gavril had guessed, the boy wasn't warrior caste. Yet even if she didn't think a blade would help against the shadows, no one should be defenseless.
"What about the others?" Levi said. "The governor and the rest of the Seeking party."
"They're gone," Ronan said. "Your governor. Your guards. Your villagers. They've vanished and all that's left is blood."
"Who attacked them?" Gavril asked.
"Those . . ." Ashyn waved at the shapes flitting through the woods. "Those things."
"Shadow stalkers," Moria whispered.
Ronan shook his head. "They're black smoke."
"Which is one form that shadow--" Moria began.
"It doesn't matter what they are," Ashyn cut in. "The Seeking party is gone."
"Can we stop talking and start walking?" Ronan looked out at the forest. "Running wouldn't be a bad idea either."
Moria hesitated, then nodded. "Form a line. Gavril at the end. Daigo and I will-- No, you--" She pointed at Ronan. "Get in front, where you can't stab anyone in the back."
His face darkened. "I wouldn't--"
"I'm not taking that chance. Now move."
Eleven
The sun still hadn't risen. If anything, the forest had grown darker and the air colder. Moria's breath puffed as she walked.
Shadow stalkers.
Did she truly believe that's what she'd seen? She wasn't sure. As much as she loved chilling tales, they were simply delicious paths for the imagination to wander.
And yet . . .
She peered into the forest and gripped her dagger tighter. She was still scouring the woods when one of the lanterns flickered. The light wavered again . . . and went out.
Oswald called for the procession to halt while he relit it. Moria gazed out into the surrounding grayness. The swirling shadows were gone. They had been since they'd begun the return trek. While the forest beyond wasn't a pleasant sight--gnarled trees, hanging moss--it was empty.
"It won't ignite," Oswald said.
"Here," Jonas said.
As he tried to light Oswald's lantern, his own went out.
"That happened to us earlier," Ashyn whispered to Moria.
Moria nodded. "If you can relight them while you walk, then do so. Otherwise, keep moving and--"
Jonas pitched forward, the lantern sailing from his hands and crashing to the ground. Then the guard disappeared, flat on his stomach, arms flailing as something dragged him into the undergrowth.
Moria and Daigo charged after him.
Moria raced through the forest as she clawed vines aside.
I shouldn't have left Ashyn. I know it's my duty to protect everyone, and Ashyn can keep the spirits at bay. But I shouldn't have left her.
Her foot caught on a vine. She didn't have time to even break her fall before she went down hard, chin hitting the ground, blade flying from her hand. She leaped up, but the vine held her fast. Daigo fell on it, snarling, pulling it so hard she fell again, tears springing to her eyes.
Tears? Truly?
She pushed Daigo away and managed to sit up, swiping at her eyes and cursing.
When she heard a noise, she looked up to see Gavril hacking his way through the vines.
"Here!" she called.
As she struggled to cut herself free, Daigo hovered anxiously and Gavril had to shove him out of the way. The wildcat snarled but backed off.
Gavril dropped to his knees and slashed the vine so angrily she expected the blade to go right into her leg. When she was free, she leaped to her feet, looking in every direction, straining to listen.
The forest was silent. Jonas had been taken. She'd been his only hope and she'd lost him. Because she'd tripped. Over a vine.
She bent to Daigo. "Where is he?"
The wildcat looked back the way they'd come.
"No. Where is Jonas?"
Daigo butted her legs, again in Ashyn's direction. When Moria ignored him, he caught her breeches and tugged, growling.
"Your wildcat is telling you that your duty is back there, Keeper," Gavril said. "With the others. Protecting them. Not chasing after--"
She spun on him. "If you tell me I'm chasing butterflies, I swear I'll stake you to a tree and leave you for the shadow stalkers."
"Is that what you think they are? Shadow stalkers?"
His tone had softened, and she deflated. "I don't know."
"Your duty is to protect the group, not the individual. The group is back there with your sister. That's what your cat is trying to tell you. You can't help Jonas."
"I was too slow. I should have grabbed him before they dragged him off."
He exhaled, almost a sigh. "No one else could either."
"I'm supposed to be better than that. I need to be."
She found her blade and let Daigo lead her back the way they'd come. As they walked, Moria caught Ashyn's voice.
"Ignore it," Ashyn was saying. "Stay close to me and don't--"
"They're closing in! We need to run!" It was Levi. The fool.
"Not without my sister."
"Then you wait for your sister."
Running footfalls sounded. Levi had bolted.
Moria started to run. Gavril leaped in front of her and barreled along the path.
"No!" Ashyn's voice. "Oswald! Don't go after him!"
Moria heard Oswald's and Levi's pounding footsteps as they took off, deeper into the forest.
"By the spirits!" The snarled shout came from the boy, Ronan. "Are you both mad? Get back--!"
A scream cut him short. Moria had once heard a terrible scream once when a guard lost his arm during a drunken sword fight. This was beyond that. And it was Levi's voice.
Moria tried to push past Gavril as they ran. When he wouldn't move, she ducked, but his arm shot out and she ran into it with an oomph.
"It's too late," he said.
"It's not. You go to Ashyn and take care of her. I--"
"No."
She let out a hiss of frustration and dodged past him. He grabbed for her, but she was too fast. She ran, as Daigo cleared the way so she wouldn't trip again.
When she stumbled, Gavril grabbed her cloak, but she'd already recovered. She'd simply tripped in surprise as the forest opened into a small clearing.
They didn't have a lantern. The only illumination was that sickly gray moonlight. But when Moria stepped into that clearing, she could see, and what she saw was blood.
It was everywhere. Small pools on the moss underfoot. Droplets coating the ferns and saplings. More dripping from leaves.
Moria stood in the middle and turned in a slow circle.
"It can't be," she whispered.
"It is."
She shook her head. "That's not possible. There's so . . ." Her voice hitched. "So much."
Daigo butted against Moria's legs, growling under his breath.
"Your cat is right," Gavril said. "You should get back to Ashyn. Levi and Oswald are--"
He stopped. She turned to see him staring down at a patch of brush. In it, she could see a boot, so polished the leather shone in the faint light.
"Do you like them?" Levi asked, pointing at his boots.
"They're very . . . shiny."
"The best your father could procure. My family sent me money, and they said I ought to spend it on my uniform. Father says it makes an impression, and I need to do that if I'm going to advance--"
She grabbed him by the tunic and pulled him into a kiss, mostly just to make him stop talking, but ever after that, he was convinced it was the boots, and wore them even in the summer's heat, always polished to a gleam.
Now she looked down at that boot, at his leg above it, at the blood--
Gavril pulled her back, his grip so tight it hurt. She tried to pull away.
"I need to make sure he's--"
"I will." He yanked her behind him as he c
hecked. "He's dead."
Beside her, Daigo let out a strangled yowl. Moria dropped her hand to his head to comfort him.
"We need to go," Gavril said.
She nodded and returned to her sister.
Whatever was in the forest let the four of them leave. Even the path was open and clear, almost . . . helpful. That made Moria uneasy. What could she say, though? That some Keeper instinct told her she shouldn't leave? Daigo understood. He kept up a low, growling hum as they walked.
We should find out what's in here. That's my job. To fight, not to flee.
But flee she did. She had to. Get Ashyn to safety. Tell the village what had happened. Then go back in. Find survivors--or the bodies. That was the sensible order of things.
"The sun," Ashyn whispered. "At last."
Moria looked up to see shafts of sunlight piercing the canopy.
"I see the second watchtower," Ashyn said.
As Moria passed, Ronan caught the back of her cloak. She spun, but Gavril was faster, knocking the boy's hand off her.
Ronan glowered. "I was getting her attention, Kitsune."
"My name is Gavril. If you wish to speak to her, use words. You do not touch the Keeper. Not if you'd like to keep your hands intact." He turned to Moria. "Call out a greeting. To warn the guards."
"So they can come and kill me?" Ronan said. "No one survives the forest. Do you know why? Because you don't allow--"
"We have nothing to do with it." Ashyn's voice was soft, but it silenced him. She turned to Moria. "There was another survivor. The governor said he was infected, and the guards killed him."
"He was not infected," Ronan said.
"Did he seem to be?" Moria pressed.
"He did not," Ashyn said after a moment.
Moria turned back to Ronan. "You can tell the rest of your story to the commander. I will make sure you are allowed to do so. If they claim you are infected, I will ensure that you are properly quarantined, not killed." She cleared her throat and called to the guards.
Twelve
Ronan was being taken into the prison cells where they kept the damned when conditions weren't right for the exile journey. Clearly he wasn't pleased.
"Think of it as quarantine," Moria said as they climbed down the ladder to the subterranean cells.