Heiress: Birthstone Series Book Two (23 page)

“It doesn’t really. It’s just all I hear about right now.
People are changing their lives and risking death because of some rumor that
she’s arrived. It seems ridiculous to base all their hopes on one person even
if she is real.”

I smiled. Aylen had said those very things herself. “Believe
it or not, she would completely agree with you.”

“So not even the Gem Heiress has faith in the Gem Heiress?”
Nil asked with a quiet laugh.I thought for a moment, searching for the best way
to respond.

“I have faith in her,” I said. “When someone who loves you
recognizes your value, you can’t help but reach your potential.”

Nil didn’t answer. I waited for a while but began to drift
off again right before he let out another sigh. This time, it was exaggerated.
“Let’s hope we find a rebel camp soon. I don’t want to listen to some sappy,
sob story any longer than necessary.”

I seethed in my blankets while Nil snickered and rolled
over. I thought about inviting him to leave, telling him we would figure things
out on our own. Just as I opened my mouth to tell him to get lost, I wondered
about his past and why he was a lone trader with nothing but a bird for a
companion. For being independent, he had latched onto our group rather quickly.
It was obvious he had interest in Faema, but there had to be a more compelling
reason to attach himself to all of us. No doubt Nil had his own secrets. At
that moment, I decided I would do whatever it took to find out what they were.

With a grunt, I turned my back to him. “Yeah, well
you
asked,” I said.

He didn’t respond before I fell back asleep.

The next morning we were somber as we packed up our gear and
prepared to leave. I wondered if everyone else felt the same apprehension I
did. We were about to enter the throng of another world- a place that had only
existed in legends for as long as my people could remember.

I worked to conceal as many of my weapons as I could while
keeping them readily available if needed. Lirig and I had already wrapped our
spears in dark green strips of cloth to make them look like simple, sturdy
walking sticks. After examining our handiwork one more time, I adjusted and
buttoned the itchy white shirt Nil had given me and threw a heavy brown vest
over it to cover some of the weaponry strapped to my body. The long tan pants
I’d been given were somewhat loose, but a thick strand of twine fixed the
problem nicely. My boots were the only thing I was truly liked. Nil had found a
durable pair that felt as though they’d been made for my feet. The leather was thick
enough that my toes hardly felt any of the nip and bite of Miranasch’s dewy,
cold air.

“You know this clothing is ridiculous, right?” Haji said as
she attempted to loosen the tight crisscross ties on the front of her dress.
She kicked once, sending the hem of her long skirt swishing around her ankles.
“How am I supposed to fight in this?”

“You don’t fight,” Nil said. “People get arrested for
fighting.”

“But if there comes a time when I have to defend myself. .
.”

“Let your friends take care of it. You’ll be better served
appearing innocent and helpless in this kingdom.” Nil strapped his pack around
his body and ignored Haji’s groan.

I walked to where she stood with her fists on her hips. I
placed a hand on her arm to sooth her. “Tuck your sleeping darts in the front
of your dress behind the ties,” I whispered. I passed her one of the small
knives I had hidden within my sleeves. “Strap this to your waist inside your
skirt and if you need to run, use it to split your skirts.”

“What about my arrows?”

“I’ve got mine tucked in my bedroll. Only the ends are
visible so I can pull them out if necessary.”

She gave me a pained smile and moved to rearrange her gear.
Lirig had been listening close by and nodded in approval when I glanced his
way. Immediately he began to rearrange his weaponry to make it more accessible.

By the time we were all ready, Nil was huddled near Faema
trying to make clumsy conversation. I caught his eye and motioned for him to
lead the way. Without a word, he strolled past me and set out into the trees.
We fell in line behind him.

Faema stayed close to me, her eyebrows knitted together in
thought. She didn’t speak and her frown never left her face. After an hour or
so, I checked to make sure Nil was out of hearing range, leaned into her, and
whispered, “I don’t trust him.”

The corners of her lips lifted in amusement. “Neither do I,”
she said.

I nodded, relieved. “Can you defend yourself if anything
happens?” I looked pointedly at her gear.

“I’m prepared. Probably not as much as you, but when it
comes down to it, I’ll be all right.”

“Of course you will. We’re in this together.”

“Until you find Aylen, of course,” she said.

“Faema, you knew. . .” I began but was cut off when Nil
motioned for us to halt.

We waited in silence as he ran toward us.

“The village is just beyond those trees,” he said. “It’s not
far from the city of Banthen which is where we may be able to find some
information on the rebellion.”

“Can we stop to eat somewhere first?” Lirig asked.

Nil shrugged. “Sure. I know someone that’ll help us out.”

Nil took off again down a dirt path leading out of the
trees. Once more, we followed him, silent and anxious.

As we rounded a bend the first few homes came into view. The
roofs were thatched much like those in Vairda, but with straw instead of vines
and palms. The homes were made of wood and mud, and were similar in size and
shape with little variation. Most had animals close by grazing in the grass or
lounging in the sun.

The path led us past several cottages and fields, taking us
closer toward the cluster of homes that made up the main part of the village.
There was nobody to greet or to question us as the houses began to grow in
number.

“Where is everybody?” Haji asked.

“I’m not sure. It usually isn’t this quiet when I come through,”
Nil said. He scanned the area, turning around once. “This isn’t right,” he
murmured. With a shake of his head, he looked toward the crowded area of homes
and shops in the distance that made up the main village. Then he began to run.

We chased after him, our clunky gear weighing us down with
each step. As we drew closer to the village, our ears picked up conversation.
When slowed just behind a row of houses, we heard even more. Pleading, arguing,
crying.

Nil halted behind a building and crept forward to peer
around it. He motioned for us to be silent.

“What’s happening?” I asked. I inched closer to him and
glanced around the side of the cottage. Most of my view was blocked but I could
see the familiar black armor of one of the king’s knights, sitting high atop a
creature similar to a Nethran kelpie without fins. The king’s soldiers had been
dressed the same way when they’d invaded Vairda.

“You know the consequences for lying to the king,” the
soldier said. “If you can’t tell us where your brother is, you and your family
will pay the price for his abandonment.”

“Sir, it’s not the fault of the sister,” someone in the
crowd called out. I heard several murmurs of agreement.

The soldier’s laugh was followed by the sound of several
more rumbles of laughter nearby. “Perhaps you would like to take it up with the
king then?” he asked the woman’s defender. “Or maybe we should punish the
entire village. It seems you’ve all been lying to us.”

“No!” a woman cried. “I’ll take responsibility for my
brother but leave the rest alone.”

Before I could hear anymore, Nil grabbed my shoulder and
wrenched me backwards. “Change of plans,” he whispered. “How good are you with
your weapons?”

“Do you know who they’re looking for?” I asked.

His face blanched and he peeked around the side of the
cottage one more time before turning back to me. “Later. First I need your
help.”

“I thought you said we were supposed to avoid fighting.” I
folded my arms and glared.

“Sure, if you have that luxury. But that’s gone now.”

I gave him a hard look. “What do you expect us to do here?”

Nil ran a hand through his hair. “These people need to be
protected. We just . . . we need to stop the soldiers. Whoever they take will
never come back alive.”

I sighed and peered around the building again. Past several
ragged villagers, I could see a woman being restrained by one of the soldiers.
Another coiled thick rope around her wrists. Her freckles stood out on her
pale, drawn face and her eyes were wide with fear. Even amidst the commotion,
the flailing of arms and legs and voices, the ripple of terrified people
clustered together, I noticed her sharp resemblance to Nil.

“You’ll owe us more than a few changes of clothing after
this,” I muttered under my breath, just loud enough so Nil could hear.

I motioned to the others.

“Faema, Haji, is the sleeping poison on your dart tips
fresh?” When they nodded, I glanced at Lirig. “How is your spear?”

“Ready,” he whispered.

“Apparently we’re going to intervene.” I turned my head to
look at Nil. “Do you have any fighting abilities at all?”

Nil hesitated. “I have good aim with a knife.”

“If you see an opportunity and there’s no other option, take
it. In the meantime, stay out of the way.” Quickly, I told them my plan and
instructed them to get into place. Voices rose on the other side of the
cottages. I asked Nil to be a lookout while we shifted our positions.

When Nil gave the all clear, Haji and Faema clambered up the
sides of two cottages opposite from each other and lowered themselves flat
against the roofs. Lirig placed himself in a small, shadowed alleyway close to
where the land kelpies were gathered.

 From my vantage point atop the cottage, closest to the
soldier who appeared to be in charge, I counted nine of the king’s warriors.
Most were dressed in poorly made armor pieces that seemed random in their
placement. Their clothing wasn’t much better than the villagers and I wondered
if they were a less important branch of the royal army. Still, a blazing stag
head, the royal insignia, was embroidered or engraved on most surfaces of their
attire. Just as when Vairda had been invaded, I wondered what it meant.

Below me, several villagers tried to convince the soldiers
to give the woman more time to find her brother. From what I could see, it
wasn’t going well.

Finally, a stooped elderly man came forward, his voice
gentle and low as he tried to intervene. The soldiers, already incensed with
the crowd’s refusal to comply with their demands, weren’t willing to listen.
One of them shoved the old man to the ground and lifted his sword as though to
strike. Several villagers jumped forward, screaming, their hands raised to
defend the elderly villager.

Seeing our moment, I motioned for Haji and Faema.

The darts were almost too fast to be seen. They sped through
the air, whistling with speed, and embedded into the bare cheeks of two of the
soldiers who had just raised their swords. I waited, unable to breathe as they
both paused. They stared at the darts protruding from eachother’s faces,
confused. I had just a moment to wonder if our island poison had lost its
potency on our journey before they collapsed to the ground.

The protests grew silent as the soldier in charge glanced
toward his fallen men and back into the crowd.

“Who did this?” he yelled. Then even louder, “Come forward
now or you will all suffer the consequences!”

He was answered with more silence. He shifted on his mount,
glared angrily at the crowd and raised his hand to motion for his men. Before
he could command them, the land kelpies near Lirig began to shriek and stomp. A
second later, they took off in multiple directions, snorting and plodding
through the crowd. I smiled at Lirig’s handiwork.

As people ran for cover, I crouched and made my way across
the roof of the cottage until I was staring down at the head soldier.

I gripped my spear between two firm hands and jumped.

As I landed on him, I thrust the sturdy handle of my spear
into his chest, using it to shove him off his animal. I tumbled off the beast
after him and fell hard on the ground. From somewhere nearby, I saw a flash of
green. A Warrior Gem! I didn’t hesitate. I scrambled away from him, drew my
spear in, and firmed my stance.

Behind me, I heard Lirig leap into the fray. Haji and Faema
weren’t far behind.

When the soldier jumped to his feet, his whipped out a
sword, turned my way, and charged. I didn’t move. He swung high and fast,
aiming for my neck. I saw it coming. I’d practiced with Tereg and Aylen enough
to know what to do. Before his sword could connect with my skin, I dropped
beneath the swing of the blade and jabbed his thigh with the sharp tip of my
spear.

He yowled in pain, stumbled backwards, and paused. After his
eyes moved from my weapon and then back to my face, they narrowed.

“You’re a foreigner,” he growled.

“Fortunately,” I said.

With a guttural shriek, he ran toward me again. This time, I
turned slightly, flipped my spear so the blunt end was facing him, and rammed
it into his nose. He yowled in pain as the bone cracked and blood spurted from
his face. Before he could react again, I spun the opposite direction, shot my
leg out, and kicked him in the stomach. Hard.

He fell back and landed on the ground with a clunk. I ran
toward him and seized his sword. After I kicked away the helmet protecting his
head I aimed the tip of my spear for his throat. He stared into my eyes, his
face cold with loathing. The feeling was mutual.

He represented everything I despised. His people had come to
my island and nearly destroyed it. They’d killed and injured my friends. It was
their fault Aylen had needed to leave Vairda in order to save this land.