Gail Martin - The blood king

Tris grimaced. "It's all risky."

A DAY LATER, Vahanian made his way down the stairs to join them. It was more bravado, Tris thought, than an indication that the fighter was truly ready for action. Two days later, against Carina's strident protests, Vahanian proclaimed himself ready to ride if not to fight. He would hear no more of going back to bed to recuperate.

Although Tris chafed at the delay, he had to admit that the rest had made a visible difference in Carroway, who looked to be himself again. Something had also changed between Carina and Vahanian in the wake of Vahanian's close call. The two were now clearly a couple. Tris was glad for them. While the road afforded no real privacy and few enough opportunities for conversation, he knew how much it meant to him to have Kiara.

By the Dark Lady, Tris thought tiredly, I guess the journey is getting to all of us. Only a complete fool would be unafraid.

At sundown on the day they were to leave, an insistent rapping sounded at the door to the back room. "There's a visitor for you," Jolie called, and stood aside to reveal a thin, flaxen-haired man in a dark cloak.

"I'm glad I reached you before you left," Gabriel said as he swept past Tris, foregoing any kind of greeting. "I received the message Sakwi sent with

the wolf only yesterday. It was a considerable distance to cover in such a short time."

From his seat at the table, Vahanian shook his head. "Sure, no problem," he murmured. "A land mage rides out of here on a stag and sends a wolf to fetch a vayash moru. What's so strange about that?"

"Stop that," Carina chided.

"So glad to see you survived your encounter with the forces across the river," Gabriel said. "You had merely a taste of what my kind have experienced for centuries at their hands."

"You and I almost had being dead in common," Vahanian quipped darkly.

"The Lady guards her servants well." He returned his attention to Tris. "I intended to meet you downriver to help you cross Margolan. I've been successful in securing a promise of safe passage through the holdings of my fellows on the Blood Council. Many vayash moru are sympathetic to your quest. They're joining up with Soterius's fighters. Some have offered to escort us on the road. We've lost a great deal to Arontala's forces. With or without the approval of the Blood Council, they were ready to take up your cause."

"jonmarc found out that Jared made an alliance with the Nargi," Tris told Gabriel. "He intends to use Nargi troops to make up for the desertions in the Margolan army."

"How interesting," the vayash moru mused. "My people hate the Nargi even more than they despise Jared. It might be most helpful to have vayash moru patrol this side of the Nu River. It should pose an effective deterrent to having Nargi cross over into Margolan. Not all of their charms and wardings work as… consistently… as the Nargi like to think."

"I've been hearing the tales from the river ghosts for days now. The ones that didn't drown by accident died fleeing the Nargi, or were dumped into the river after the Nargi killed them. Many of the ghosts have asked for a way to help with the coming battle. If the ghosts were to help the vayash moru hold the river border, we might be doubly protected." Tris paused. "I'll speak to the spirits that didn't want to go to their rest."

"And I'll make arrangements immediately with the vayash moru," Gabriel said in agreement. He looked around at the preparations for the road. "It appears you're ready to leave. I'll join you."

Nyall's eyes were big as saucers. "Don't worry, Nyall," Vahanian cracked. "Gabriel finds his own provisions on the trail."

"Dark Lady take my soul," the river pilot swore.

Gabriel fixed the uneasy boat master with a stare. "Pray that she does not." He turned back to Tris. "We have little time, and a great distance to cover. Let's go."

Jolie waited for them at the river. She had already gifted them with fresh cloaks and clothing, and seen to it that Nyall had all the provisions he required. Now she huddled in her woolen wrap on the bank, watching their preparations as if her attentiveness might ensure their success. She bid each of them farewell as they boarded Nyall's boat, kissing Vahanian on both cheeks and admonishing him to take care, although her voice and expression made it plain she did not expect to be obeyed. Jolie also

gave Carina a peck on the cheek and said something the others did not hear, something that made the healer flush scarlet. Jolie looked toward Vahanian with a motherly smirk.

Tris, the last to board, stopped and took Jolie's hand in both of his. "Thank you for everything," he said gratefully. "It was a risk for you, taking us in."

"The day I start worrying about risk is the day I should get out of the business. The Lady's hand be upon you."

The unlikeliness of that luck lay unspoken between them. "Get going," Jolie urged, breaking the silence. "I'll be looking for news of you. I'll hear. Jolie hears everything."

Nyall pushed the gangplank away. Tris and the others took their places, long poles in hand, as the river pilot guided them out into the swift waters. The lights of Jolie's place remained visible for quite a distance, until the river changed its course, whisking them along in its current, deeper into Margolan.

NEAR DUSK ON the first day they glimpsed a dozen soldiers riding together not far from the river. The well-armed men lacked both flag and livery, raising Tris's suspicions. Tris and Vahanian poled their raft toward the shallows and waited in the thin cover of dead reeds and overhanging branches until the guardsmen were gone. They traveled the rest of the night in silence, scanning the riverbanks. Though they saw no more guards, the camps of ragged sojourners dotted the forest's edge, more refugees fleeing Margolan for whatever the road might offer. By night Gabriel traveled with them, his enhanced sight aiding Nyall through the shallows and rocks of the swift river. By day Gabriel disappeared, leaving them to their wits to navigate the difficult river.

The deeper they traveled into Margolan, the more Tris felt the ghosts of his homeland tugging at his senses. Their restlessness became mirrored in his own. The rivers' ghosts drifted near the raft, substantial enough that the others glimpsed them through the spring fog. Fearing the dreams that plagued him nightly, Tris slept little, pushing himself until Carina chided him and exhaustion gave him no choice. But he could not evade the dreams, the sound of Kait's plaintive call in his mind, the memory of the desperate look in her eyes. Worse, the images of the dark sending haunted him most nights. He finally let Carina use her healing magic to put him into a deep sleep while Gabriel stood watch. It was the first dreamless rest he could remember in a fortnight.

THEY BEACHED THE raft on the banks of a deserted fishing village in the waning light of the moon. A feeling of dread settled over Tris as he helped Carroway wrestle the heavy boat far enough onto the beach that the horses could be unloaded safely. Without Sakwi, Carina had been preoccupied for the journey keeping the horses calm on the raft. Now she led the animals one by one down the gangplank and onto dry land, working in relay with Vahanian until the horses were safely ashore.

The wind changed, and a foul smell drifted down toward the river. Nyall waited nervously near the raft, making it clear by his stance that he would go no further. Tris dug into the pouch he carried beneath his tunic for gold, and added half again to what was promised to the river pilot.

"Thank you for your trouble," Tris said, pressing the coins into the boatman's hand. With a mumbled word of blessing and a nervous glance in Gabriel'-.

direction, the river pilot sprinted across the gangplank, pulled the boards up behind him, and poled back into the current.