Майкл Салливан - Deep Magic. Fourth Collection

“WE SHOULD HAVE killed her for what she did,” one of the men nearest Anna grumbled. He was older than the others, yet had fewer scars. As if Anna needed any more evidence that he was a coward.

“She’s worth more to us alive than dead,” the dark-haired man who needed his tongue cut out said.

Each of the two men held on to the ropes binding the women together by their irons. It was difficult enough for Anna to keep her feet as they were jostled about, let alone plan her escape. She’d ended up next to the red-haired woman, but had been granted no opportunity to speak with her. On her other side was a blonde girl, likely still a teenager, whose eyes never left the ground.

The rest of the remaining men walked further ahead or behind, confident the two men would have no trouble herding seven women in irons.

Anna’s gaze occasionally flicked the the daggers strapped to the dark-haired man’s wrists. If only she’d been placed at the end of the line of women, she could stand a chance of disarming him.

Of course, that was exactly why she’d been placed in the center.

As they trudged onward, her eyes darted about for anything else she might use. There were some small rocks on the dirt trail, and a few branches here and there, but nothing that would do her much good. Her eyes landed on a few oddly round, brown pebbles at they passed them. No, not pebbles, mushrooms. She was not well versed in foraging, and so, did not know their type, but she imagined it was unnatural for them to just be sitting on the side of the trail like that.

She subtly scanned the surrounding woods as the men grumbled amongst themselves, paying little attention to anything other than their tired feet thumping down the path. She nearly gasped at a flash of movement in the low shrubs. She could have sworn she’d seen . . . Kai?

She kept walking, wondering why her eyes were playing tricks on her.

“What are all these mushrooms doing on the path?” one of the men ahead of her asked.

The party stopped walking, giving her a chance to scan the foliage once more, but she did not see the movement again. Yet, what if it had been Kai? Could he actually be planning on rescuing her?

She looked down at the mushrooms as a few of the men knelt to pluck them from the side of the path. Could Kai have placed them there? If so, why ? She didn’t imagine he’d be out to feed the hungry mercenaries.

Suddenly an idea dawned on her. It was far fetched, but she really didn’t have anything to lose. She strained against the ropes tethering her to the other women, barely managing to pluck one of the mushrooms from the ground.

A moment later, the dark-haired man swatted it from her grasp.

“What the Horned One’s name do you think you’re doing?” he growled.

She glared at him. “What in the Horned One’s name do you think? You didn’t give me any breakfast.”

He glanced down at the fallen mushroom as the other men watched on. “How do you know they’re safe to eat?”

She rolled her eyes. “I’ve lived in these woods for a while. I eat them all the time. Another traveler must have gathered them, then dropped them accidentally.” So she might be tricking them into eating harmless mushrooms and she’d feel like a fool. If they weren’t harmless, she’d feel quite clever indeed.

The man watched her, calculating. After a moment, he sneered. “I don’t believe you.”

Blast it all . Perhaps she’d underestimated his intelligence.

“If you don’t want them,” the red-haired woman began from her side, “can we have them? My da’ used to make a hearty stew from them. The sweet taste reminds me of home.”

The dark-haired man shifted his gaze to her, pondering. After a few seconds, he smiled triumphantly. “Gather the mushrooms, lads,” he announced. “We’ll be havin’ a bit more than stale bread tonight!”

The men all laughed and set to gathering the mushrooms sprinkled along the side of the trail. When all of their backs were turned, Anna flashed the red-head a quick smile, which the woman returned, her pale eyes sparkling with excitement. Perhaps she knew more about the mushrooms than Anna, or perhaps she thought Anna knew more about them than her.

Either way, they’d find out that evening.

ANNA GRUNTED AS her back was slammed against a tree. One of the men pressed a rope against her chest, then handed the ends to another standing on the other side of the trunk. It would have been the perfect opportunity for her to head-butt the man in front of her, steal his dagger, then stab the other one, but the dark haired man was watching on, his friends just behind him, starting a fire. The gathered mushrooms were piled in the dirt next to a large iron pot.

As one man finished tying her ropes, the man who’d unceremoniously slammed her against the tree sauntered off toward their nearby supplies, then turned and tossed her a hunk of stale bread, which she barely managed to catch with her shackled hands.

“Eat up,” he growled, then ambled off toward the fire.

The other women had once again been tied to a separate tree, too far away for Anna to pinch the red-head as she watched the men preparing the mushrooms a little too eagerly. If they noticed her gaze, they might become suspicious, yet Anna couldn’t quite help herself as she too turned her eyes toward the mushrooms, the hunk of stale bread lying forgotten in her shackled hands.

HAD HE BEEN wrong? Kai had watched on as all the men partook of their hastily-made mushroom soup, yet they seemed none the worse for it. He’d been so sure the mushrooms were poisonous, and had nearly cried out in excitement as he spied Anna tricking the men into gathering them, but now it seemed his luck had run out. Perhaps the heat of the fire had rendered the mushrooms edible. Now the men had full bellies as a reward for their foul deeds.

He touched the knife at his belt. He could always resort to Anna’s original plan, killing the men in their sleep…but they’d likely be on their guard, knowing he could still be watching them. Plus, it wasn’t like he’d been able to muster the courage before, why would that night be any different?

He pressed his back against the tree concealing him as his mind raced for another option. It would be dark soon, and the time for decisions would come.

“What is that!” one of the mercenaries shouted.

He tensed, had he been spotted?

“I could have sworn I saw a horse,” the voice added in disbelief.

“I feel unwell,” another groaned.

A grin slowly spread across Kai’s face.

Someone in the campsite began retching, as another questioned why the trees were spinning.

It was time to make his move.

ANNA HAD NO time to celebrate her small victory. The dark-haired man stumbled toward her, murder in his eyes.

“What did you do to us?” he hissed as he staggered into her, pressing her more firmly against the tree. His body odor hit her nose, making her gag.

“I did nothing,” she said sweetly. “Why, are you unwell?”

She noted his wrist daggers as he placed his hands on either side of her face, but her shackled hands were pinned flat to her body by the weight of him. Perhaps she could grab one with her teeth.

“ Look at me ,” he growled. She whipped her gaze away from his left dagger to his face. His pupils were tiny pinpricks, barely noticeable in his deep brown irises. Sweat beaded at his temples despite the cool evening breeze. “ What did you make us eat?” he demanded.

The other men seemed to be hallucinating behind him. She sensed movement from the women too, but could not focus on them as a hand wrapped around her throat and squeezed.