The Blood Forest (Tree of Ages #3)(13)

Maarav walked ahead with the two men in question, while Anna, Kai, Sativola, and Ealasaid walked a few paces behind, leading the two horses. Iseult was glad Ealasaid had come to her senses, and seemed to want to be as far from Maarav as possible. At least she was fazed by the events of the night. Maarav couldn’t seem to care less about any of it, including the deaths.

Iseult knew Maarav had been trained from a very young age to be a killer, and Rae and Tavish were likely the same. He also suspected there was some sort of hierarchy within their secret city that caused them to defer to Maarav’s wishes, as the two men clearly would have branched off on their own otherwise.

Iseult would gladly encourage their departure, along with Maarav. The others, well, Finn had made Anna a promise, allowing her to accompany them on their journey, and that apparently meant Kai as well, and he knew Ealasaid had nowhere else to go, but the other crewman . . . he felt they would be better off without them, now that they were no longer in need of a ship and crew. Still, it seemed ignoble to force them off on their own after what they’d seen in Migris. There was safety in numbers, as long as you weren’t betrayed by your own.

Finn sighed beside him. Iseult thought for a moment she was sharing his thoughts, until she asked, “Where do you think àed is? Do you think he could have been in Migris when . . . ” she trailed off, then bit her lip. Her eyes suddenly welled with tears.

“The old man is far too clever to have gotten caught up in that,” he comforted, believing his words. “I’m sure he’s tracking us as we speak.”

She looked to him hopefully. “Do you think he’ll be able to find us, even if we make it all the way back to Garenoch?”

He nodded. “He was able to track you across great distances before. I would not worry.”

She smiled, and seemed to relax. Naoki, trotted by her side, free of her cloak for now, though Finn kept it ready in her arms should they happen upon another caravan.

“About what happened in Migris-” she hesitated.

“You seemed to remember something at the Grogoch’s mention of elementals,” he observed.

She nodded. “Not a memory exactly, but a feeling. Something to do with them in my . . . previous life.”

“That memory wouldn’t have anything to do with how to fight them?” he asked hopefully.

She shook her head. “They cannot be fought. They are pure embodiments of elements, fire, water, wind, fueled by earth magic. I think perhaps the Dair can control them to an extent, since they control nature.”

He went silent, pondering her words. He wondered if perhaps her roots were a form of elemental magic, or if the roots were elementals themselves, animate all on their own. Perhaps they chose to come to her call. He decided against speaking his speculations, not wanting to add to her list of memories to search for.

Gazing at the men walking ahead of them far out of earshot, she whispered suddenly, “Do you think we can trust them?”

“No,” he replied simply.

“But he’s your brother,” she argued quietly. “Do you believe he will betray us?”

“I cannot say,” he sighed. “We had not seen each other since we were small children. I have no way of knowing what sort of man he’s become, and I do not trust the place he and his men came from. I do not trust how he happened upon you in Migris, nor his reasons for standing idly by when Anna kidnapped you.”

“I’m glad you said that,” Finn muttered. “I feared I was the only one to feel that way.”

Iseult glanced over his shoulder at those walking behind them. He supposed they might be close enough to catch a few words of their conversation, but found he was not entirely opposed to the idea. Though it would be difficult for him, it would be best for he and Finn to foster trust with Kai and Anna. He disliked Kai, but the knave would undoubtedly protect Finn. He’d proven that much, at least, but Anna was another story. Yet, while her motivations revolved entirely around herself, and hence she could not be fully trusted, if she believed she was trusted, then managing her would be easier.

Still, he preferred the pair, and even their remaining crewman, to Maarav and the others.

“You are not the only one,” Iseult assured, turning his gaze back to her. “I would never have taken up company with him to begin with, except I needed a ship to reach you, and he offered his.”

“And why does he travel with us still?” she questioned softly. “Surely he has better things to do.”

Iseult smiled softly at her. “You must remember, he is of my blood, so he is just as cursed as I. He does not seem motivated by vengeance, but there is no way to tell for sure. He recognized you when he first saw you, and could have harmed you then, but did not. He either follows out of curiosity, or his hopes are the same as mine.”

“To remove the curse from your bloodline,” she muttered.

“Yes,” he answered, “but the place he comes from may have altered his perceptions. Perhaps he has darker motivations unbeknownst to me.”

Finn sighed. “I’m just glad this will all be over soon. All we need to do is reach my meadow.”

Iseult gazed at the stormy sky above them, tasting the rich scent of damp earth on the back of his tongue. He did not believe things would be anywhere near over once they found the Faie Queen’s shroud. Finn still did not have her memories, and he believed the loss of her child in her previous life was the reason. Her devastation had caused her to lay a curse upon his people before she retreated, never to be seen again . . . until now. There was great power within her, and he could only hope her memories would not change the bond he shared with her, lest his quest end in his death.