Reign of Shadows (Reign of Shadows, #1)(25)

I looked down at Luna, my hand closing around hers. “Come. They’re gone.”

“Midlight is over,” she announced dully, almost as an afterthought.

I lifted my face up to the darkness. “So it is.”

We walked swiftly to the tower. I was still aware of her trembling beside me.

A movement to the right caught my notice, and I turned, watching as a dweller clawed itself free from the dirt, gray, talon-like fingers churning soil. Its square-like head broke the ground’s surface, the receptors on its face shaking loose dirt as it tasted air.

I hurried our pace. We’d be inside before the creature could reach us.

Perla supported Madoc, guiding him to walk. Sivo lifted Dagne’s body in his arms. He looked up as we approached, his shoulders slumping in obvious relief. For the first time I saw him as he perhaps was: a tired, old man. “Luna”—he breathed her name—“you’re safe.”

Perla squeezed her hands together in prayer. “Heavens be praised.”

More dwellers stirred the ground behind us. I stepped forward and took over supporting Madoc. “Let’s move inside.”

Perla glanced around, her eyes rounding in terror. “Yes, of course.” She ushered Luna into the tower. I followed with Madoc.

Sivo brought up the rear. He lowered Dagne’s lifeless body to the ground with a grunt and then bolted the tower door behind us. “Wouldn’t be right,” he muttered. “Leaving her out there for the dwellers. I’ll bury her tomorrow.”

I didn’t bother pointing out that the dwellers would find her either way—buried in the ground or left above. Inhaling, I smelled the faint odor of the soldiers who had invaded this space. Leather, horse, and sweat. Those had been the smells of my childhood. At one time comforting, but now they only reminded me of pain.

Sivo’s gaze connected with mine, grim and brimming with emotion. Perla’s, Luna’s, and Madoc’s steps shuffled away, fading as they made their way up the stairs.

“They killed Dagne. They simply struck her down.”

I nodded. It was senseless. But I knew that violence in these men did not have to make sense, especially when it came from the likes of Henley.

“They found us,” he declared, looking a little dazed. “More will come.”

I inhaled a deep breath, knowing this to be true, and knowing I shouldn’t care. I wasn’t supposed to care. What happened to these people . . .

It changed nothing. I was leaving, and they would have to continue to survive on their own.





ELEVEN


Luna


PERLA DISAPPEARED INTO my bedchamber with Madoc. I took the bag of nisan root to the work table and began tearing the petals and dropping them into a pot of water. I was still shaking, but I had to keep moving. If I stopped I would think about what happened. I’d think about those soldiers. I’d hear that sing of blade on the air and Dagne’s scream.

If I did that, I would start to cry and I wouldn’t be able to stop. I should have given her more ribbons. A sob welled up in my throat. I should have done that. I should have done more.

“Luna!” I realized Sivo had been saying my name.

I nodded jerkily. “Yes. I’m fine.” I continued tearing the nisan into bits. Satisfied that I had enough, I moved the pot to the hearth, brushing past Fowler and hooking it into place so that it could reach a proper boil. I returned to the table and began weaving the herbs onto twine for drying.

“Can you stop for a moment?” Sivo asked.

I shook my head. “We need to get this into Madoc.” Considering what had just happened, his will to fight the fever plaguing him was likely low.

“Well, you’ve set the pot to boil now. The rest can wait.” Sivo’s heavy steps advanced on me anyway. He pulled me away from the table and into his arms. I resisted, but his arms wrapped around me. For the first time, I noticed that his biceps and forearms weren’t like before. When I was younger they reminded me of tree trunks, so solid and strong. Now they were half that size. Somehow over the years they had diminished. I hated this. I hated the evidence of his age and growing frailty.

I relaxed against Sivo, conscious of Fowler in the room. I could feel his eyes on me. I imagined he thought this display of emotion weak. He wouldn’t succumb like this. He was too hardened.

Madoc’s sobs floated from my bedchamber and I stiffened in Sivo’s arms.

“Never thought I’d be happy to have you disobey me,” he said against my hair, his bearded cheek rustling the strands. He meant me sneaking out of the tower. I tried to smile, but the curve of my lips felt brittle and pained.

I inhaled, smelling the molding stone. This place had hemmed me in all my life, but for once, I was glad for its walls.

Not that it had saved Dagne.

I pulled back from Sivo’s embrace. Fowler stood near the hearth, holding his hands out to the fire. I could smell the salt on his warming skin. I suppose he was accustomed to death.

I sucked in a deep breath, something new occurring to me.

If Fowler hadn’t come, then I would have been here when those soldiers came. It could have been me instead of Dagne.

Also perhaps he wasn’t as selfish as he claimed. He had led me to the nisan weed, and he had pulled me back on that hilltop when I wanted to charge into that group of men.