Page 112 of Lake of Sorrow

Levitke took them to Vlerion’s side and dropped them.

“You guys are really smart, aren’t you? I don’t know who implied you don’t gain intelligence until you become elders… Maybe the rangers aren’t as observant as they think.”

On his back with his blue-furred belly to the sky, Crenoch yawned, hunched his spine, and used a hind paw to scratch his armpit.

“Or maybe you’re goofy enough that they underestimate you.”

Crenoch lolled his tongue out at her.

“Levitke and I need to find your people in case they can help with the Kar’ruk. The plant told me— Uhm, I have a hunch your elders will be able to assist us.” Kaylina doubted the taybarri would judge her for taking advice from a sentient plant, but it sounded silly in her own ears. “Crenoch, can you go back to the city and warn the rangers about all these Kar’ruk in the mountains? It’s possible more are on the way. You can take Vlerion with you, and he can do the talking.” She hoped he would wake up first so she could explain everything to him.

“Vlerion will go with you,” he spoke from the ground, his head turning to find her with his eyes.

“Someone with a human mouth needs to explain everything to Targon and the king and whoever else will listen.” As Kaylina knelt to squeeze his shoulder, relieved he was awake, she summarized what she’d seen with the Kar’ruk. She also found the paper with the silver powder on it to show him. “Did you see my note in the tower? About this stuff?”

“Yes. It explains much.” After touching her hand gently, Vlerion groaned and extricated himself from under Crenoch’s head. Blood dripped from his wounds, but that didn’t keep him from pulling her into a hug and resting his face against the top of her head. “I’m relieved you’re all right.”

“Me too.” Her body leaned into him, relishing his embrace, as it always did.

“I left other rangers back at the tower. They also saw your note and understand the threat. They’ll defend the city. You said the taybarri elders can help? I will go with you to find them.”

“I have no idea how long it will take. The, uhm, plant didn’t say.” Kaylina briefly explained the vision, surprised he was willing to go with her and didn’t insist they both return immediately to Port Jirador.

“Before this, I’d never heard of magical plants giving people visions, but I can sense your power and believe…” Vlerion leaned back to gaze into her eyes. “Based on what’s happened so far, I believe that what the plants are sharing with you is worth heeding.”

“Maybe not all of it.” Kaylina thought of the vision that involved her killing Vlerion, but that had come from the plant in the tower. So far, the vegetation she’d encountered in nature had been more inclined to help her than manipulate her for her own good.

“Whatever they share should not be trusted without question,” he said, “but it may be considered.”

“That sounds reasonable.”

“As I strive to be.”

Vlerion leaned his face against her head again and took in a long breath. It was different from the animalistic way the beast had inhaled her scent but did bring that to mind. Vlerion’s muscled arms weren’t as thick, and definitely weren’t furry, but the way he held her conveyed the same interest, a desire to protect her. To claim her.

Maybe she should have objected, but she leaned into him again, wanting his protection. The last couple of days without him had been fraught. How many times had she almost died?

“I’ll send a message back with Crenoch. He knows his way home and will find Captain Targon, let him know what we’re doing and that we’ll return. Once we finish, we’ll go back to help the city.” His voice grew softer as he added, “I won’t be parted from you again.”

Kaylina clasped his hand, touched that he cared. “I want you with me too.”

“Good.”

After Kaylina found her sling and knife, and Vlerion his sword and torn clothing, she used the Kar’ruk bandages to patch him up, at least temporarily. Doctor Penderbrock could do a better job when they returned. Assuming he and the rest of the rangers were still alive by then.

Levitke didn’t object when they both climbed on her back. As Crenoch headed back toward the city, she turned to leave the valley and travel deeper and higher into the mountains.

Vlerion rode behind Kaylina with his arms around her. Even as she appreciated it and felt safer traveling with him, she thought of the plant’s vision of her and Levitke greeting the taybarri. Vlerion hadn’t been in it, and she worried his presence would change their willingness to help. Had he been any other ranger, it probably wouldn’t have, but the taybarri could sense the beast within him. That might be a problem.

30

The relief after a storm is great, but new clouds ever lurk on the horizon.

~ Tholegar, captain of the Kingfisher

“I’m relieved that you were alive when I reached you,” Vlerion said as they rode, his arms around Kaylina. “After finding the dead ranger—Corporal Oxten—in the tower and all those Kar’ruk prints, not to mention your taybarri coming back terrified and bloody with wounds, I was sure you were already dead.” His arms tightened. “I barely refrained from changing right there. If there hadn’t been others with me, colleagues I care about, I might have let myself lose control. I managed not to until I was alone, save for poor Crenoch. I know he was alarmed.”

“Having someone change into a beast while on my back would alarm me too.”

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