David Wells - Cursed Bones

Isabel started casting her spell. Moments later, just as the sergeant brought his sword overhead, she unleashed her light-lance, burning a hole through his chest and dropping him at her feet, dead.

The rest of the men became far less certain, backing off and raising their shields.

“You’ll pay for that, Witch,” one of them said.

“Can I assume that you’re in command now?” Isabel asked.

He looked to the others for support. They were only too happy to have him do the talking, given the fate of their previous sergeant.

“I am,” he said, puffing up a bit past the fear in his eyes.

“Good, send a man to fetch your commander … or join your sergeant,” Isabel said, raising her hand toward him. “Your choice.”

He flinched, then shouted impatiently at one of the soldiers, “What are you waiting for? Go get the lieutenant!”

The man hesitated for a moment, looking first to Isabel and then back to the new sergeant before hurrying away toward the walled village.

Isabel waited silently with a dozen men standing nervously in a loose cordon around her. She didn’t have to wait long before a Regency officer came from the village, with the soldier sent to fetch him trailing close behind.

He appraised the situation as he approached and wary anger started to build on his face. “What is the meaning of this?” he demanded as he stopped in front of Isabel, his fists planted on his hips. “My man told me you’re a witch, but I’ve met one of the witches, and you’re not even close to pretty enough to be one of them.”

Isabel filed that little piece of information away for future scrutiny and fixed the lieutenant with her flashing green eyes. “My name is Isabel Reishi. You will assemble an honor guard and escort me to Prince Phane at once,” she demanded.

A little of the color drained from the lieutenant’s face. When he noticed the cauterized hole burned through the chest of his dead sergeant, his face went whiter still.

“Lady Reishi, you have my most sincere apologies for any mistreatment you’ve suffered at the hands of my men. Prince Phane has issued strict orders to all Regency forces on Karth that you are to be treated with the respect accorded a queen and brought to him at once. He has been anxiously expecting your arrival.”

Isabel inwardly breathed a sigh of relief mixed with trepidation. Phane was expecting her. She knew he had ways of gathering information, so it could be that he’d been watching her, or it could be that he knew Azugorath’s darkness was overpowering her free will. Either way, her plan suddenly became very real. Her resolve hardened. The only path to salvation lay through Phane.

“How long before a suitable honor guard can be assembled for the journey?” she asked.

“First light tomorrow at the earliest, Lady Reishi,” the lieutenant said. “I’ll need to summon men from a nearby garrison to ensure your safety. The jungle is dangerous, all the more so with the insurgent threat.”

“Explain,” Isabel said. She’d decided to play the part of a queen, even if it wasn’t in her nature to be so demanding.

“When we invaded under Prince Phane’s command, Karth’s army melted into the jungle without much resistance. Since then, they’ve been waging a war against us from the shadows, never standing to fight, bleeding us a nick at a time. We’ll be most vulnerable on the road, hence the need to summon additional troops.”

“Very well, Lieutenant,” Isabel said. “Show me to my quarters while you make preparations.”

The rest of the men were clearly unhappy with the turn of events, but nonetheless, they obeyed the lieutenant’s orders, sending riders to the closest village to gather more men for the journey to the Regency headquarters.

“I’m Lieutenant Febus, commander of the garrison here,” he said as he escorted her into the village. “You can have my chamber for the night, Lady Reishi. It’s the most comfortable and secure room in the village.”

Isabel nodded absently, taking in the people of the village. They lived in a state of terror, scurrying from the path of the soldiers, never daring to make eye contact with any of the men from the Regency. They were a subjugated people, broken and cowering in fear of their occupiers. A few cast furtive glances her way, appraising the newcomer and likely wondering if her arrival would change things.

She nearly spoke up when one of the soldiers kicked a woman, knocking her to the ground and spilling her freshly washed laundry into the muddy street because she didn’t get out of his way fast enough. Several of the other soldiers laughed at the shaken woman scrambling to collect her laundry without giving any further offense. Isabel kept her a face a mask of indifference while her emotions roiled within. She reminded herself that she couldn’t risk her ultimate goal by going to the aid of a woman who wasn’t in any real danger … but the behavior of the Regency soldiers galled her.

Just as she arrived at the barracks building, she caught Baqi looking at her from a hiding place under a wagon. She met his eyes and shook her head ever so slightly, warning him to stay where he was. He frowned but nodded and remained hidden.

The lieutenant’s quarters were obviously confiscated from the village elder who had once guided the people of this little community. The decorations and furnishings were carefully crafted with great attention to detail and pride of workmanship. Isabel got the impression that most of the art was made by the hand of the man who had once lived there. She wondered if he was still alive.

“I’m afraid it’s not much,” Lieutenant Febus said, “but it’s the best we have to offer so far from civilization.”

“It’ll do,” Isabel said, sniffing and wrinkling her nose. “Send a meal and hot water so I can get cleaned up.”

“Of course, Lady Reishi,” Febus said, bowing as he left.

The dream had her again. She was standing over her husband, preparing to plunge a dagger into his heart, unable to stop herself. Her eyes snapped open and she realized someone was on top of her, pinning her down with her blanket and covering her mouth so she couldn’t call for help … or cast a spell.

His breath was sour and hot. She felt the coarseness of his unshaven face when he slowly licked her cheek. Panic threatened to claim her, but she shoved it aside and called up the rage she would need to cast a spell, if she could only speak past the hand clamped over her mouth.

“You killed my brother out there today. Febus says we have to take you to the fortress, but I have a few ideas of my own.”

He pushed his knee between her legs, forcing them apart. Thankfully, the blanket was still between them, but it also held her arms pinned to her sides, rendering her nearly helpless.

“They tell me you’re a witch,” he said from just inches away, his breath foul and acrid from too much to drink. “I’ll just have to make sure you can’t say anything,” he said. “Should make it easier to have my fun with you without drawing attention, anyway.”

He stuffed a filthy sock into her mouth, then tied it in place with another. Isabel fought the urge to vomit.

“That ought to do it,” he said, sitting on top of her, using his knees to keep the blanket firmly in place, pinning her to the bed. She could almost see him smile in the dark before he hit her across the face with an open hand, then he swiftly backhanded her across the other side of her face.

Isabel stopped struggling and went limp, closing her eyes and reaching out with her mind, searching for an animal to call to her defense. Kolo was sleeping at the foot of Baqi’s bed. She called to him, rousing him with a start. He came bounding out of Baqi’s quarters, running through the night.