Page 94 of Storms & Sacrifice
I tilt my head at thequestion.
“Are you sure he’s in there?” the female asks.
“You saw how he defended the captain. He has to be.” He does not sound sure of himself.
They look suspicious as they move closer. They both pick up weapons discarded on the ground, and I immediately lift my sword and snarl.What are they getting at?My growling makes them both freeze, dropping the weapons back to the floor. No longer trusting them, I begin to pace back and forth in front of my master, watching the two carefully. They need to get out of myway.Now.
“What the hell was that?” It’s the man’s turn to ask.
“He does not trust us.” The woman shakesher head.
“But heknowsus.” He sounds incredulous.
“I told you—I do not think he is all there.” She shakes her head again.
“How are we supposed to get everyone help if he won’t let us get near them?” He’s getting frustrated.
“We need him to calm down.” She holds her hands up to me insurrender.
I don’t have time for this!Just as I ready to drop into an attack stance, shuffling behind me makes me turn around.
“David,” my master croaks out from his spot on the floor. Khazak croaks out.Wait, who?“It is...okay. I am...okay.”
I watch him on the floor, one arm reaching for me. It’s like he and the rest of the world are coming back into focus. I shake my head, hearing the sword clatter to the ground at my side. What... What happened? I look around the room and see Ragnar and Glasha watching me, frightened. I see some of our friends bound and unconscious against one of the walls. And the bodies. So many bodies. So much blood.
Whatdid I do?
“Khazak?” I barely have time to look at him before I feel myself falling, and everything fades to blackonce more.
Chapter 19
It’s dark, and I am once again in the forest. This is allso familiar, and I’m not surprised when the large black wolf comes slinking toward me, the two others right behind it. As its red eyes lock onto mine, I stand my ground. I’m not afraid of these things anymore. Still, it’s hard not to feel nervous when it crouches to attack, or panic when it leaps at me. Just as I expect to feel its jaws connecting with my flesh, there’s a flash of light and a crack of thunder, and the only ones flinching are the wolves. They look on in anger as the bright light surrounds me, snarling as they return to the forest from wherethey came.
“Nngh... You better fucking run...” I mumble, waking frommy dream.
“David?” A concerned voice on my left asks. “Heis awake!”
“Oh my god, really?”
“Itoldyou he would bealright!”
“Why are you all yelling?” I open my eyes just enough to make out a green shaped blur before I close them again. The light in the room is way too bright.
“Why are we...” Khazak laughs before reaching out and squeezing my arm. “We are just happy youare okay.”
“Why wouldn’t I...?” My eyes finally adjust to the room, and I realize I’m not at home. I’m lying alone in a huge bed with all my friends crowded around me. Like, everyone: Adam and the rest of my team, Ragnar and Nylan, some of Khazak’s family, the other rangers.What?“Where are we?”
“The healer’s clinic,” he answers for me, looking concerned. “David... Do you remember what happened in the forest? In the temple?”
“No, what—”
“David, you’ve been asleep forfivedays.” Adam says on my right. “They saidyoudied.”
As soon as the word is out of his mouth, the memories flood back. Covering for Ragnar in the forest. Getting attacked at the campsite by other rangers. Finding Murbank and his cult in the temple ruins. Rescuing Nylan and getting a giant sword through my chest as a thank you. I quickly look down, surprised to see it unbandaged. Instead, down the center of my chest, right over my heart, is a jagged, golden colored scar. It stretches from below my collarbone to right under myrib cage.
“What is this?” I run my fingers over the scar, unsure of why I’m not feelinganypain. “Five days? Whathappened?”
“I would like to see if I can figure that out myself,” a new voice from behind the crowd answers, bodies parting to make room for who I assume is the healer. “But first, I am going to needeveryoneexcept the captain and the two of you to exit the room.” She points at Adam and Corrine with two fingers.
