“It occurred to me when I was speaking with Old Ceba,” I said slowly, “that we have no idea what the world looks like outside of our borders.You heard the prince talking about a large group of Hollows at the base of the highlands.What other information could I gain in Zulen that might be useful to us?For almost a century we thought their kingdom decimated.How have they survived?How many are there?”My heart beat slightly faster as I imagined seeing so many new things and living amongst an entirely new people with their own culture and language and customs.I couldn’t stop myself from being excited at the prospect, but I didn’t want Gaz to know that part of me was thrilled at the opportunity to leave, even if I was forced to as the bride of the man I’d rather have killed.
“We will know nothing once you disappear into their land,” Gaz said.
“I’ll return,” I whispered.“I swore it to my mother, and I swear it to you.”I swore it to my people silently.One day I would return and take my rightful place on the throne.
Gaz’s gaze met mine and held.He lifted a hand and touched the bruise on my jaw.I wanted to close my eyes and lean into his touch.Why had he waited so long to touch me like this?Now it was too late.
“Hands off her, Loverboy,” Taio said, his voice making me jump.Feeling guilty, I stepped away from Gaz and turned back to face the room.Taio had won me in the Claiming Rite.I would tamp down my feelings for Gaz.
“This fighting only helps the Hollows,” I said.“We must protect each other if we wish to survive.I vow to risk my life for any of you.”I pointed to Nize, Gaz, then Yung, Omira, and Kintle.Finally, I gestured to Taio.“My life for yours.”Taio made a sound of surprise, but this phrase was something we commonly said when on patrol.I looked at Nize and Gaz.
The men looked unhappy, but finally they both repeated the phrase.I couldn’t help notice Gaz only looked at me as he spoke.
“What is happening?”came a familiar voice.Finnrey had opened the door and entered the room without any of us noticing.My mother stood right behind her, holding my pack.
“Yoursister”—Jolen jerked his head to me—“hatched a plan to see you killed.”
Finnrey looked at me, confusion in her dark eyes.
“Finnrey—” I began.
“She chose you to accompany her on this suicide mission to Zulen,” Jolen said.“That’s your reward for all these years of being kind to her.”
Finnrey looked at me.“Mara?”
“You don’t have to come,” I said.“I tried to get them to allow us a full patrol, but they would only agree to numbers that equaled theirs.Gaz and Nize are coming.I should have asked you before I said your name.”
Her shoulders went back.“No need.Of course, I’ll accompany you.”
Jolen cursed under his breath.
“The four of us have fought together many times.You made a wise choice, Mara.”She stepped into the room, careful not to look at Taio or the Zuleniis.I could not tell if she hated them or feared them.Perhaps both.
“We were just looking at the maps,” I told her, moving back toward the writing desk.Slowly the others moved back as well.“Taio says the best way is northwest and through the forest.”I glanced at him, standing across from me.“I think we should defer to him as he has traveled that way already.”I looked at my friends and hoped this was the right decision.If I was wrong, I would cost us all our lives.“Gather what you need for the journey and meet here at first light.”
They began to shuffle away.When they reached the door, Jolen turned back.“Say your farewells, Finnrey.Mara has just signed your death warrant.”
***
AFTER THAT, THE ZULENIISbanished everyone from the chamber, including my mother, who’d only just arrived with Finnrey.She barely had time to hand me my pack before the door closed in her face.Since the Zuleniis began speaking rapidly and angrily (or so it sounded to me) in their own language, I went through the pack.Finnrey had made sure I had the necessities for the journey.I saw my mother had packed a few items as well, including a lightweight gown and a necklace of tertanium.I could hear her telling me now that I must look my best when I met the rulers of Zulen.I should probably take the gown and necklace out.They were light, but after days of walking, even one or two pounds began to feel like twenty.I tucked them back anyway and removed a clean tunic and leggings.It looked as though I would never get that bath I’d hoped for.
I set the pack on the couch beside me and listened to the Zuleniis arguing.No doubt they were saying what Gaz, Nize, and Finnrey were probably saying wherever they’d gone—how we couldn’t trust each other and the Hollows were the least of our worries.
The next thing I knew someone was stroking my hair.I opened my eyes, feeling the pain in my head throb to life again.The chamber was dark, lit only by the hearth and a candle on the writing desk nearby.
“Your bathing water is here,” Taio said.I looked up, unnerved at his closeness and his touch.He withdrew his hand quickly, as though touching me had soiled his flesh.I caught the scent of lemon and looked at him again.He’d changed into loose black trousers and a sleeveless black shirt.The drawings on his arms seemed to dance in the flickering light from the hearth.His dark hair was pulled back into a queue again that was damp and gleaming.He must have washed and changed while I’d slept.The thought of him naked was even more unnerving than his touch had been.
I forced the thought from my mind and scanned the chamber.Beside the hearth sat a large metal tub.How had I slept through that being delivered?Was that where he had washed or had he availed himself of one of the dousers, which were hanging faucets that emitted water when a cord was pulled.Dlyenko most likely had one in his toilette closet, but they were good only for a quick wash, not getting off grime and dirt that had been rubbed in at the arena.
Had the others washed too?A quick perusal of the chamber showed me Taio and I were alone.“Where are the others?”I asked.
“The one called Finnrey took my team to the kitchens to pack food for the journey.She also brought this.”He moved to the writing desk, his long lithe body reminding me of the cat he wore on his coats.Lifting a wooden goblet, he brought it to me.“She said you should drink it.”He held it out, keeping his distance from me.He probably didn’t want my dirt contaminating him.Before the fight in the arena, he had seemed attracted to me, but that had either been a ruse or he’d become disgusted by me after I had allowed Cameed to take my place.
I took the goblet gingerly and sniffed.It smelled awful, probably something one of the healers prepared to ease some of the pain and swelling from my bruises.I’d taken such tonics before, and I knew the best way to drink them was quickly and with my nose pinched.But this time I hesitated.What if Taio had put something in the drink?What if he’d added a poison or some herb that would alter my mind?
“If I wanted to harm you, I could have done so while you were sleeping,” he said, correctly interpreting my hesitation.“The potion is from your Finnrey.If you do not wish to drink it, I will send it back.”
“I’ll drink,” I said, not wanting to show weakness.More importantly, I needed something to dull the pain in my head and the rest of my body.I pinched my nose and tipped my head back, unable to drink as quickly as I would have liked because my throat was swollen.But I managed to swallow it all and only to gag a little.