Page 88 of Lake of Sorrow

You haven’t enough blood of the ancients in your veins to control him, the same voice as before said, grave instead of dry. He will slay you as he has slain many others. To kill is embedded in the curse, in him. It is the punishment for his line, for all humans in the area. Even the taybarri know not to disobey the mandates of the druids. The desperation of the humans made them foolish.

As the beast’s claws ripped into her torso, such pain blasted Kaylina that she woke screaming.

Utter confusion scattered her thoughts as she stared up at a wooden ceiling bathed in purple light. She lay on her back, her chest heaving, and touched her abdomen, expecting to find it bloody with the deep gashes made by the beast.

“Kaylina.” A hand shook her shoulder.

It took her a moment to recognize Frayvar kneeling over her, alternately staring down at her with worry and glancing at a vine hovering in the air near her head. The same vine that had touched her temple? It withdrew without bothering her further, but the visions it had delivered would disturb her for a long time.

“Here. Smell this again.” Frayvar waved a vial of something pungent under her nose.

Its odor was almost as offensive as that of the sewer, and Kaylina jerked her head away. “What is that?”

“Doc Penderbrock’s smelling salts. He said they can wake up rangers who pass out drunk.”

“I’m not drunk.” Kaylina did feel hung over. When she pushed herself into a sitting position, she realized daylight mingled with the purple glow. “How long was I out?”

“Hours. I went to ranger headquarters and got the doctor, but it took me a while since I had to dodge guards that were out searching for you—or searching for trouble in general. Either way, I didn’t want them to see me. Doc Penderbrock came back with me but wouldn’t come in. He said Targon forbade any rangers from entering Stillguard Castle. I think the doctor was tempted to disobey that order, but I told him it would be a bad idea. He gave me this.” Frayvar squinted at her before corking the vial.

“Well, at least I got that night’s sleep I’ve been needing.”

If only Kaylina felt refreshed. She rubbed her gritty eyes, weariness making her wish for her bed back home. Her bed where curses and troubling visions rarely disturbed her.

Lately, her life had been so harrowing that she couldn’t help but feel she’d made a mistake in running off to the north. Oh, there wasn’t anything wrong with having a quest or a desire to prove herself, but she’d let her emotions and grievances with family members motivate her. That had been foolish. In comparison to everything that was happening here in the capital—even here in this castle—a few arguments with family were such minor concerns.

Of course, if she hadn’t left home, she wouldn’t have met Vlerion. And he was…

Memories of him kissing her, wrapping his arms around her, and protecting her from threats filled her with warmth. But the emotion was fleeting as the plant’s vision reared up in her mind, bringing the horrifying memory of the beast tearing her to pieces.

“I didn’t,” Frayvar grumbled, oblivious to her thoughts.

“Sorry. You got to sleep the last time the curse knocked you unconscious though.”

“Oh, yes, how could I forget about that delightful evening?” Frayvar bared his teeth. “Can we get out of here? You fed the plant, right?” He waved at the honey-water pot, which had almost disappeared under vines, branches, and leaves. “It’s feeding itself.”

“I see that. I guess we can leave the pot up here.”

“I would.” Frayvar shuddered. “Did your, ah, gift result in anything useful?” He waved at the pot.

“I… maybe?”

“You can’t answer a question with a question.”

“The plant gave me a vision. Two visions. I don’t know if they were foretelling the future or were a warning of what might come to pass if I…”

If she what? Went off into the mountains with Vlerion? If she went anywhere with him?

The thought of avoiding him completely depressed her, and she tried to focus on the first vision. It had conveyed that the taybarri would help if she could find the elders.

“If you what?”

“If I can’t avoid certain situations,” she finished. “At least one of them.”

Frayvar looked at her as if she were being illogical. Or might have hit her head when she fell. At least he’d stopped waving the foul vial under her nose.

“Yes, we can leave. I just need one more moment.” Kaylina shifted to face the plant. “You must know by now that we want to start a meadery here.”

“And eating house,” Frayvar said with a wistful look in the direction of the kitchen.

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