Gems of Fire: A Young Adult Fantasy Page 12

  Anna furrowed her brow. The knots in her empty stomach weren’t accepting the scant breakfast well.

  “Get some rest,” Jack said to her, sliding his hat down over his dirty face. Anna took her hair down and let it fall around her neck, providing some small amount of warmth. As uncomfortable as she was, soon she was asleep.

  When she awoke, Anna figured it must be mid-afternoon. The wind had died down, and Anna gratefully greeted the warmer air. Jack was gone. She stretched and rubbed the kinks out of her arms and shoulders. She thought of all her warm baths at home. No, perhaps it was better not to think about it. She smoothed her filthy hair as she put it back up. It was too cold for a bath, but she found a stream and washed her face and hands. She dried them on her dirty clothes and found Jack rubbing down Avery.

  “How’s he holding up?” Anna asked cautiously.

  “They deserve a long vacation in green pastures, that’s for sure.” Jack gave Avery a pat. “We need to keep an eye on your mare,” he said. “She’s losing weight.”

  Indeed, she was. Anna had noticed she was pulling up the girth further than a few weeks ago. She led Star to some grass. The mare devoured it, tugging on the rope.

  She let the mare eat for several hours, then loaded her up as the sun started to set. Jack was already on Avery.

  “You finish with her, and I’ll be right back,” said Jack. “I want to look around before we start.” He handed her the sword which she tied to the saddle. Anna watched him slip daggers into sheaths on either hip.

  Anna finished tacking up Star and packing her few things onto her back. She stroked the mare’s neck as a chill crept up her spine. Anna shook it off as the darkness enveloped her. Leaves rustled behind her and she felt the strong sense of being watched. A twig snapped on her other side and Anna looked expectantly for Jack. She mounted Star and turned her toward the noise. The horse skidded to the side and snorted. Anna pulled her back around and came face-to-face with a huge, solitary gray wolf.

  He blinked and opened his mouth. His long red tongue flopped out between huge white teeth. This was no ordinary wolf. He was more than half the size of Star.

  Anna froze.

  Star swerved to the side while Anna fumbled for the sword.

  “Easy, girl.” She couldn’t let her bolt and trigger his predator instinct. Jack would return and shoot it.

  The temperature dropped at once and Anna could see her breath plume into the night air. Anna shivered as she started to sweat. His horrible red eyes held her gaze and drilled into her mind. Anna sensed a great intelligence behind them. Black hair stood up on his neck like a mane. Anna’s heart froze as she fixed a death grip on the reins. Oh, please go away! Her heart hammered against her chest.

  Then, as if he had read her mind, he disappeared. Anna let out her breath. She slipped her sword back into the scabbard strapped to the saddle. She let Star move a few steps forward. Anna didn’t want to go far and miss Jack’s return. Darkness closed in around her. Its malice pricked her spine. Where was he? Again she heard a noise and horse and rider startled together. Now not one pair of red eyes gleamed at them, but at least ten! Star bolted through the trees, directly north toward the soldiers. With the wolves on their tail, Anna pulled her to the east, away from the armies. The snarling beasts were having no trouble keeping up as they crashed through the trees. Anna attempted to avoid tree limbs, but thickets and small branches were grabbing her, whipping her face and threatening to pull her from the saddle.

  Her legs gripped Star like a vise. She couldn’t fall.

  To Anna’s relief, the forest opened up into a large field. The mare dashed into the bright moonlight, frantic to outrun the wolves. This was nothing like riding Farley in the cup. She barely hung on as Star lurched and pitched forward. She darted to the side to avoid snapping teeth. She was running for her life in full-out panic.

  The wolves were not slowing. Some were biting and snapping at the mare’s hind legs. Others ran ahead of them, slowly closing them off. The horse screamed in terror and pinned her ears. Anna strained and grasped her sword. She managed to pull it out without cutting the lunging horse. She leaned back and swung it at the closest wolf. He easily dodged it and came back a moment later, trying to launch onto Star’s flying hindquarters.

  My, how fast she runs.

  Sinking my teeth into you will be so much fun.

  The voices howled and snickered in her mind. Anna’s panic transferred to Star and the horse sprang forward with a new surge of speed.

  Anna knew her only option was to run. Their numbers were too many to fight.

  Think, Anna!

  But there was no way out, and Star was tiring. Foam splashed on her shoulders and onto Anna’s knees. Now the wolves were easily keeping pace alongside them, with their lips curling into snarls that Anna swore were more like sneers.

  Run, run, still she tries! One voice sang out in her mind.

  Run, run, until she dies! Another answered.

  A more distant wolf howled its delight.

  Muscle and flesh.

  Blood and bone!

  All will be crushed.

  With our teeth of stone.

  The wolves toyed with her. Some circled ahead, causing poor Star to dodge them or trip to the ground. She was fully winded now, roaring her exhale and still mad with fear. It was time to stop and fight, or Star would be run to death.

  Using all her strength, she pulled Star around to face the wolves. She swung her leg over Star’s neck and landed on her feet, driving her sword into the side of the closest wolf. It whimpered and fell. Star screamed as she kicked, bit and struck the attacking wolves. Her fighting instincts were strong. These desert horses were amazing. The wolves broke into two groups, one concentrating on the horse and the other on the rider. The murderous voices pushed into her skull, all jesting aside now.

  We’re going to rip you to shreds.

  One large wolf lunged at her throat. She dodged him, as he did her sword. She heard the mare scream in pain as a wolf sank its teeth into her hindquarters and then went flying as Star put her head down and kicked it off. Her ears were flat against her head and her eyes were wild with fear.

  Fight, Star. Fight!

  Anna put her back to the mare and stretched out her sword. Her heart sank. There were so many wolves circling them. Too many.

  Another wolf left the ground, lunging at the horse’s throat. Anna stuck her arm out, and the beast thrust itself on her sword, which was ripped out of her hand as he fell to the ground. Star screamed and reared. Anna pulled her sword out of the wolf and stabbed the side of another one, barely dodging its snapping jaws. Star swung around and kicked it in the head. It fell dead, and Anna was grateful Star hadn’t hit her.

  Another wolf charged her. She swung the sword, missing its neck and jamming it into its mouth against all hope as he knocked her to the ground. His breath was hot and foul. She saw Star rear above her and strike another wolf with a foreleg. She landed a foot from Anna’s head. Anna kicked at the wolf on top of her, but his jaws snarled and snapped against the sword. She braced for the killing bite, but it never came. His weight was crushing her. Why didn’t he kill her? She pushed against him, but the wolf’s massive body wouldn’t move. She saw Star spin and charge off. This one must have choked to death. She tried to pull her sword out to no avail. Anna moved further under his body to hide from the others. Horse hooves pounded the earth. At least Star still runs. A trickle of blood dripped from the dead wolf’s mouth. Anna closed her eyes. The others were strangely silent or had dashed after Star. Poor, dear little Star. She had a big heart. Cold air rushed by in a gust. An evil fear jolted through her—screaming in her mind. Then it was gone.

  All was silent. Then in the distance, she heard a voice calling softly.

  “Anna?”

  Jack.

  “I’m here!” she yelled at the top of her lungs and struggled to get out from under the wolf. She called again, “I’m here, Jack.”

  She heard Avery slide
to a stop. Jack leaped down and pulled the dead wolf off Anna. He helped her up, pulled her to his chest in a quick hug and then held her at arm’s length.

  “By the gods, Anna. Are you all right?” His face was pale.

  “I think so.” She ached all over.

  “I thought you were riding Star. When I saw her bolt, I followed and killed the wolves chasing her.”

  “Thank goodness,” Anna said, gesturing to the one that had fallen on her. “You saved my life, again.”

  “You did pretty well on your own.”

  “They would have killed Star and come back for me.”

  “I’ve never seen wolves go after a horse and rider before,” he said. He let Anna hold Avery and strode off to catch Star.

  “These weren’t ordinary wolves,” Jack said. His voice shook a little.

  “No. More red eyes and as crazy as it sounds, I could hear their voices—just like in Anwar’s palace.”

  He glanced back at her. “Evil is being drawn to you. Somehow Anwar is using these gems to hunt us. Hunt you.”

  “How?”

  “The animals crossing our path aren’t natural. I don’t know how, but something unnatural is possessing them.”

  “Is that possible?”

  “A month ago, I’d have said no every time.” He frowned. “But what else could it be?”

  Anna glanced at the moon, shining almost full like a giant clock ticking in the night sky. “How long do we have to get home?”

  “A month at most,” said Jack, sitting down and putting his head in his hands. “Every decision I’ve made has been wrong.”

  “That’s not true.” She put a hand on his arm.

  “We run into enemy men at every turn. I almost let you get killed and look at our horse. She’ll be lucky to live a week.” He stood to examine her.

  “Please, don’t say that. She’ll make it.” Anna tried to calm her badly shaken horse. She stroked Star’s neck while Jack ran his hands over the horse’s body. “They got her in her hindquarters.”

  He found the wound and cursed.

  “It’s bad then?” She’d seen the blood pouring down Star’s leg.

  He gave her shoulder a small squeeze.

  “You are going to have to be strong.” He grabbed his cloak and threw it over the shaking horse. “Try to keep her warm.”

  Anna talked to her in soothing tones. The mare relaxed a bit, but was limping badly. Anna stopped and rubbed her with her hands, working through her muscles.

  Please, Star, don’t die.

  Jack started a fire and heated some water in a small pot. He cooked a cloth and drew it out of the boiling water with a stick. Steam poured into the air.

  “Try to hold her still,” he said to Anna. “This is going to hurt.” He pressed the cloth into her wound and the mare kicked plenty close to Jack’s head.

  “Be careful!” Anna warned.

  After the wound was cleaned, Anna walked Star until she stopped shaking. She then gave the mare some water, tied her up and sat by the fire. Jack was already there, staring into the smoldering embers.

  “Unfortunately, we need to let this fire go out,” he said as she watched it slowly dying. “We could easily be spotted out in this field.”

  “Okay.” Unexplainable tears welled in her eyes and slipped down her face. Her legs felt wobbly. Jack put his arm around her, shaking her slightly.

  “Hey, I’m sorry about the ranting. We’re going to be okay. And no matter what, I’m not leaving you again—for any reason.”

  The truth was Anna couldn’t have explained why she was crying even if she had tried. It had been a long couple of days. He pulled her chin up and forced her to look him in the eyes.

  “You did well, Anna. You killed half the pack all on your own. This whole thing was my fault, not yours. Possessed or no, most animals I can handle. From now on, we will be safe.”

  “It all happened so fast.” Anna wiped her face.

  “You said you wanted to be in a battle,” he said. “Well, that was your first.”

  Anna looked at the dead wolves. She felt a little sick as she remembered killing two of them with the sword. She had always thought wolves to be intelligent, noble beasts. That was probably because she’d never been on the menu before.

  “I am sorry about Star,” Jack nodded to the mare.

  “When do you think I can ride her?” Anna asked, hoping Jack would say something different than what her heart told her would be true.

  “I don’t know yet what we’re going to do. We may have to leave the mare behind.”

  “No! Not after all she’s brought us through!” Anna’s eyes threatened tears again. She slid to the ground. Not Star.

  “I need to think,” he said, rubbing his brow. “Why don’t you clean your sword and get some rest?”

  She saw her sword was smeared with blood and gray hair. She stared at it a moment, tasting stomach acid in her mouth. Jack leaned across her to take it.

  “I’ll clean it,” he said. “Try to get some rest.”

  Anna took him up on the offer, laying her head on the hard ground by the dying fire. She tried to rest but kept seeing those red eyes boring into her. Her eyes snapped open. It’s not real, she told herself. Jack is close. She swallowed hard and closed her eyes again. Now gleaming white teeth and hot breath lunged at her throat. She gasped and sat up quickly.

  Jack was at her side in a moment.

  “Are you all right?”

  “Yes, just…” She was embarrassed to explain her fear to him. “When I hear you moving around, I think I’m hearing something else.”

  “I’m finished until morning. I’ll stay with you until you sleep.” He unrolled the mat, and Anna crawled on it. He sat next to her.

  She took a deep breath. Eventually her fatigued body surrendered to sleep.

  Before dawn, Jack gently shook her awake.

  “We need to get out of here before sunrise.” Anna willed her stiff, sore body to sit up. She took a sip of water.

  Jack had packed up Avery with everything except Star’s saddle. Anna joined him, and he handed the mare’s reins to her.

  “Let’s go,” he said.

  “Where?” Anna asked.

  “I’ve spent the whole night thinking about just that question.”

  Chapter 12

  “First,” Jack said, “we get out of this field and find some cover.” He started leading Avery to the northwest. The sky in the east was just turning steely gray. Anna followed a little behind with the limping mare. “Second, we make some decisions. There doesn’t seem to be a way to cut back west without running into enemy soldiers.” He paused in thought, grimacing.

  Anna drew up next to him. She sensed his tension. “We are so far east now, and with the mare hurt, I don’t see how we can make it to the king in time,” he muttered.

  Anna’s heart dropped. “Those woods up ahead.” She pointed. “Are they part of the same forest we left?”

  Jack shook his head. “No, that is the edge of the Black Woods.” He wouldn’t meet her eyes.

  “The Forest of Mor,” Anna shuddered. “We can’t go there.”

  “No one who enters there ever returns, so the old superstition says.” Jack’s voice was quiet, his shoulders slumped.

  “And why are we heading straight for it?”

  “Sneaking through the forest is our only hope of getting to your father in time,” he said. “It’s a shortcut to the base of the mountains. We go through the mountain pass on the other side of the forest, and we’ll find the river that flows in front of your castle.” He stopped Avery. “It’s what I must do, but I don’t want to put your life at risk.” He closed his eyes briefly. Those normally cheerful blue eyes now reflected great weariness.

  “What do you want me to do?” Anna whispered.

  “Make a terrible choice. I honestly don’t know which is worse for you. Either follow me into the forest—and with any luck, home—or flee to the north and east where you could find refuge in the
kingdoms there.” His lips pressed together. “I would somehow find you later. I know I just told you yesterday I’d never leave you again, and here I am proposing just that.” His brows pulled into a frown, and he rubbed a hand over his ashen face. He stopped walking and looked down, with his shoulders rolling forward.

  Anna blinked. She thought about wandering alone, pursued by angry beasts. There wasn’t a choice.

  “Of course I’ll stay with you. If I must die, I’d rather it be trying to help my people,” she answered. “I can’t run away when they need me the most.”

  He squeezed her hand and nodded as if he had known that would be her decision. Devastation was in those blue eyes.

  He thinks all is lost.

  She frowned. He shouldn’t be blaming himself. “I should have stood up to Seamus long ago, and none of this would have happened.”

  His face clouded.

  “You were too young.”

  “I suppose, but I should have done a lot of things differently,” Anna said. “I’m going to change when I get back.”

  “You’re not the girl I remember racing around the palace, that’s for sure.” He frowned again and sucked a deep breath into his lungs. “I just can’t believe this evil choice is upon me.”

  Anguish radiated off him, and Anna longed to shoulder some of it. He was young, too. She touched his arm. He didn’t flinch. Her hand trembled as she let it travel down to his hand. She laced her fingers into his.

  “You are skilled and brave and have done everything possible to keep me safe. This is the only choice now. Whatever awaits us in this forest we will face—together.”

  He wiped a stray hair out of her eyes and cupped his hand around her neck. He lightly brushed his thumb across her cheekbone. For a moment she thought he was going to kiss her, but instead he pulled her into a close embrace with his hand behind her head. She breathed in his scent—pine and leather mixed with wolf blood and dirt. She pulled even closer to him, sinking her face between his collar bone and chin.

  “Let’s go, then.” He kissed her hair and released her.