Maria Snyder - Taste Of Darkness

“We managed with just Hogan,” I challenged.

“And a dozen Lilys.”

True. And if we ran into an enemy patrol, I didn’t want Quain or Loren to be harmed or captured. Actually, I wanted them and Flea in a safe place like Alga Realm with Kerrick’s brother. But they’d just refuse.

“Wait here, I’ll talk to him.” Muttering under his breath, Odd strode away.

“Do we want to dash while Odd is distracting the L.T.?” Quain asked.

“Tempting, but Cellina is after Avry. And while we can easily handle a dozen...” Loren gave us a wry smile. “If she sent her dead-ufa pack after us, we’d be—”

“Snack food,” Quain finished.

Odd returned. “You can go as long as my squad goes with you. Let me guess, you want to leave now.”

“Yes.”

“I’ll go wake them up. This had better be important.”

“It is.”

Odd’s gaze met mine for a long moment. He nodded. “Give us a couple.”

While Odd roused his men, I consulted the Lily map. East would be the ideal direction to avoid any nasty encounters with the enemy. According to the map, a cluster of Lilys grew a day’s walk roughly northeast.

It seemed as if hours had passed before Odd and his squad were ready. I led them into the forest surrounding the cave. We all went silent and the odd squad practically melted into the darkness. A half-moon shone enough light so we didn’t stumble.

Odd stayed by my side. “Are you going to tell me what this is about?”

“It’s for a patient.”

“And it couldn’t wait for morning?”

“Yes, it could, but I like to bother everyone and drag them out of bed.”

“Okay, dumb question. Give me a break, I’m tired.”

“Sorry. Thank you for coming along.”

Odd grunted.

“I should warn you,” I said.

“This ought to be good.”

“You’re not going to get much sleep in the next two days. A man’s life is at stake.”

“Yeah, I figured. I’m not that tired. Lead on, boss lady.”

Boss lady? That was new. Was Odd being sarcastic? Or just being...well, Odd? He kept pace with me, moving with easy, graceful strides. No signs of tension. I relaxed.

No one said much as the sun rose and traveled across the sky. I spent most of the trip to the Peace Lilys mulling over a number of scenarios. If the Lily gave me its serum, should I inject it all? Or a portion? If the serum killed my patient, would my touch bring him back to life? What if the Lily refused? Tohon had harvested the serum using his life magic, stealing it from the Peace Lilys. Those he injected it into had remained dead, but the serum preserved their bodies, preventing them from decaying. One thing I did know, I wouldn’t steal from the Lily.

We reached the cluster of four Lilys a few hours after sunset. In the cooling air, I smelled the familiar scent of vanilla. None of them moved or hissed as I approached. They were all Peace Lilys.

This might be harder than I’d thought. The single time I’d communicated with a Peace Lily had been after Noelle died. I’d attacked the plant when it refused to save my sister. Remembering the vision of Tohon placing his hands on the base of the Peace Lily’s flower, I copied him. Smooth and thick, the white petal was cool under my palms.

Nothing happened.

I concentrated on why I needed its serum, forming a picture of the dying patient in my mind. Suddenly the petals parted and I lurched forward as my right hand disappeared into the heart of the plant.

Barbs circled my wrist, jabbing into my skin. Ice flowed into my arm, up my shoulder and stabbed into my head.

One only. Learn, it said.

Then it released me, expelling my hand. I fell back. Odd and Loren pulled me to my feet.

“Well?” Loren asked.

I relaxed my grip. A single grape-size blue ball rested in the center of my palm. Except for the smaller size and color, it resembled the Death Lily toxin’s sack—squishy and durable.

“That’s good, right?” Quain asked.

“I’m not sure.” Remembering the Lily’s words, I examined it. Learn what?

“When will you know?” Odd asked.

“When I see the results. Let’s go.”

“No can do,” Odd said. “My men are exhausted. We need a few hours of sleep or we’ll be stumbling into things and making a racket.”

I glanced around. His men had built a small campfire. A few huddled around it and a couple already snoozed nearby. Loren and Quain drooped with fatigue, too, but they’d never admit it.

“All right. Four hours max. You can sleep as long as you like when we return.”

Odd left to organize a watch schedule. I placed the serum in an outside pocket of my pack. Unable to resist the lure of a warm fire, I joined the others. Wrapping my cloak tighter around me, I settled next to flickering flames, using my pack as a pillow. I’d just rest my eyes for a moment.

“How’s that for proof, my dear?” Tohon asked as he led me around the dance floor.

I wore the green silk gown with the plunging neckline and open back. The heat from Tohon’s fingers seared my skin, but I couldn’t break away from him. Music filled the air like a mist, swirling around us.

“Proof of what?” I asked.

“That part of me resides in you. Why else did the Peace Lily open for you?”

“I needed—”

“It doesn’t care. You placed your hands in the exact same spot I did and it worked. Proof.”

“But it gave me its sack, I didn’t steal it.”

“Trivial details, my dear. And not worth ruining our evening over.” Tohon increased his pace, twirling me in circles.

The other dancers blurred by. When Tohon finally stopped, we stood in the garden. My head kept spinning. Tohon hooked his arm in mine and walked me along the stone paths. When my vision cleared, I noticed the once-manicured bushes and plants were now overgrown and wild. Weeds grew everywhere.

Tohon tsked. “Such a shame. Look what happens when the gardener is gone.”

“Kerrick’s not gone.”

“Then where is he, my dear?”

Cold drops struck my face. Water ran along my jaw. The sound of sizzling matched the steady shushing of rain. I groaned and opened my gluey eyes. The others stirred, as well. Darkness remained. Smoke billowed from the wet embers.

“Ah, the joys of camping,” Quain said. “Waking up in a puddle.”

“Yeah, sure, it’s a puddle,” Loren teased.

“Grow up.” Quain pulled his hood over his bald head.

“I’m not the one with the puddle.”

“That’s enough, gentlemen,” I said. Every muscle in my body ached. I clambered to my feet. Rain dripped into my eyes. I yanked my hood up. Icy water splashed down my neck. Lovely.

“Welcome to the rainy season,” Odd said. He swung his cloak around his broad shoulders.

Quain peered into the dark sky. “I told you the weather last year was unusually dry.”

“And how does that help us now?” Loren asked.

I ignored their bickering. My thoughts returned to my nightmare as Odd gathered his squad and prepared to leave. Tohon’s magic couldn’t be inside me. Could it? No. I’d never heard of such a thing. Then again, that shouldn’t be a surprise; my knowledge of the other eleven types of magic was limited. Perhaps it was mentioned in Ryne’s book about the various magical powers. I’d have to ask the next time I saw him.

The rain continued as we traveled back to the infirmary. The darkness turned into a grayness. The sound of raindrops striking the leaves interfered with our efforts to match the noise of our passage with the forest’s song. We stopped often to listen for intruders or signs of an ambush. At each stop, I touched the greenery without thought, seeking Kerrick’s magic. Nothing.

While I understood the need to be cautious, my frustration over our slow speed grew as the day progressed.