The Blood Forest (Tree of Ages #3)(33)
Slàine glanced at the man felled by the arrow, then struck again.
“Stop!” Finn cried out, still atop Iseult’s dancing steed.
Maarav wasn’t sure if she was ordering someone specifically, or just shouting in vain at everyone. Either way, her pleas were ignored, and his attention was once again drawn away as Slàine landed a slice across his bicep. He’d never hoped to fight the one who had taught him everything he knew. She seemed able to predict his movements with ease.
“Stop!” Finn called again. This time, the ground rumbled beneath Maarav’s feet.
The fighting ceased for a split second. Everyone glanced around for the source of the rumble, but the earth had stilled. Nearly as one, they resumed motion.
“Just stop fighting,” Slàine hissed, crouching back into a defensive stance.
“Stop this now!” Finn echoed, her screams competing with the sound of clashing of blades.
The earth began to rumble again, but this time did not quiet. The ground erupted where they stood, sending many of the assassins flying. Maarav and Slàine both dove aside as the soil beneath them exploded, but they were not fast enough.
Their bodies were flung aside in different directions. Maarav lost sight of both Finn on her horse and Slàine as he landed with a thud. Massive roots, dripping soil and flinging snow, coiled toward the cloud obscured sun above him. Regaining his senses, he pushed himself away from the quaking earth toward the still tree line, watching the roots in awe as he stumbled to his feet. They struck like vipers, coiling around the suddenly frightened assassins, ensnaring their limbs before hauling them upward. Slàine grunted frantically as she fought against the root that sought to imprison her, but her blades were no match for the thick appendage. Soon, Slàine and her assassins were all held immobile, their feet dangling off the ground.
Maarav had a moment to feel relief, then another root darted up, quick as a speeding arrow, and ensnared him like the others. Suddenly dangling in the air from a root around his torso and arms, he craned his neck to see Finn still atop her prancing mount, red-faced and looking close to tears.
Iseult and the others slowly climbed to their feet on the turned earth, avoiding the vines dangling black forms all around them. Kai clutched at the wound in his side, and would have fallen had Anna not darted in to hold him steady.
Sativola muttered curses under his breath, glancing between Finn and the silent, dangling assassins. His left leg slowly saturated itself with blood from a gash on his thigh. He also seemed to have an injured hand. His wide-eyes finally settled solely on Finn, seeming to have deduced the roots were her doing, though it was clear he’d never seen such a scene before. Ealasaid wore a similar expression, her gaze lingering on Tavish and Rae, somewhat distinguishable through their hoods, caught up in the roots side by side. Maarav wished he had noted which side they had fought for, though he knew they’d likely turned on him.
He twisted against the roots to watch as Finn finally broke down and started weeping, though he was unsure why she was upset. She’d just bested an entire swarm of assassins. She should be beaming with pride. The captured awaited her next move with bated breath, likely terrified to even speak, lest she order the vines to crush the life from them.
Bedelia, who’d managed to keep her mount like Finn, trotted her horse toward the remaining startled horses hiding in the nearby trees. She obviously wanted no part of the dealings soon to come.
Maarav wished he could join her.
Iseult, uninjured as far as he could tell, moved to stand beside Finn atop his mount. He stroked his hand across the horse’s neck to calm the nervous beast, then scanned the clusters of assassins until his eyes found Maarav.
Their gazes locked. “You were part of this,” he stated.
Maarav struggled against the coarse root, but its spindles had wrapped around him multiple times, suspending him above its base, as thick as a tree trunk. “I know them yes, but I had no part in setting up this ambush,” he replied. “I had no knowledge that Slàine hoped to collect Finn’s bounty.”
Slàine cast him an evil glare. He knew that glare all too well. She’d tried to explain herself, but he hadn’t listened. Now she was about to take him down with her. “He knew,” she lied. “He’s been secretly communicating with us, planning the perfect time for an ambush.”
“She’s lying,” Maarav argued, but his heart wasn’t in it. He had already seen the suspicious glances of his party members days before Slàine attacked. Those same suspicious gazes were aimed at him now. All they needed was an excuse. The roots flexed around his midsection, threatening to crush him. They might as well. If Iseult left him with Slàine and the others, he was as good as dead.
Iseult turned his attention from Maarav to Slàine. “Now that you have been bested, will you call off your hunt, or do we have to kill you?”
Slàine glared at him. Her cowl had fallen to reveal the grim line of her mouth. Finally, she nodded. “I suppose I have no choice.”
Iseult took one last look at his brother and those dangling around him, then took his horse’s reins. “Let’s go,” he ordered, then began to lead the horse, and Finn by default, away. Bedelia had gathered the rest of the horses, and now led them toward where Anna and Sativola waited with Kai.
Looking between Finn and Iseult, Kai’s group, and Maarav, Ealasaid scurried around the roots in her way to catch up and block Iseult’s path. “We can’t just leave him here!” she argued, glancing once more at Maarav. “He’ll freeze to death come nightfall.”