Page 133 of Sword & Shadow
Deckard ran a hand over his jaw, expression tense and haunted. “We can’t risk it,” he said. “It’s almost light. Someone is going to see all those...those bodies we left behind on the road. A force of Mages that large couldn’t be defeated by ordinary travelers. With Blount’s writ, they’ll know it was us, and they’ll track us.”
“But we can’t go anywhere,” Thom said. “Not until Ilain’s recovered.”
“No, we can’t,” Auden agreed, then added, “Not all of us.”
Evylin’s brow furrowed. They all turned to gape at him, confused.
“What do you mean?” Deckard asked.
Auden mussed his hair, long enough to hang over his collar after their time traveling. He gave a forlorn glance toward Ilain. “The Order of the Wind was clever,” he said. “Either by their own means or with Blount’s help, they outwitted us, waiting for us to make it out of the Keep and return weakened. They knew we’d make a break for the kingdom’s boundary, and they were prepared. The only reason we survived that attack was because of you, Jonn. And while your magic gives us the semblance of an upper hand...”
He paused, expression darkening. “I fear it won’t be enough next time.”
His ominous words hit Evylin like Blount’s kick in the Water Keep. Tears sprang to her eyes, and she blinked furiously to drive them away. If Deckard’s magic wasn’t enough...they’d all die the next time.
No,Evylin realized with a frightening start,not all of us.She was a female Warrior. Blount would keep her alive to Bond with her. He’d kill the rest of them. She’d lose them all—she’d losehim—and be alone for centuries.
Her heart squeezed with panic.
“So what are we supposed to do?” Thom asked with his usual irreverence. “Give up?”
Auden’s sharp green eyes narrowed. “No,” he insisted. “We will never give up. You see the control Blount has over the Orders, over the whole country. If he gets the Relics... No, this is bigger than any of us. We cannot stop. And if we die, we die.”
The somber declaration caused the Ephrian soldiers to dip their heads. But it caused Evylin’s mind to riot.
She couldn’t do it again. She couldn’t lose more people. She couldn’t be alone.
Evylin clamped her jaw tight. Auden was right; there was no stopping, not when Blount would perpetually hunt them. If Blount was desperate for the power of the Relics—if Bonding could give him even more power—there was no doubt he’d pursue her to the ends of Terraeus as well.
“What do we do then?” Evylin demanded.
Auden sighed reluctantly. “I believe,” he said, “we should split up.”
“No,” Deckard said immediately. “That’s too dangerous.”
“Staying together is too dangerous,” Auden argued. “First, we have to wait for Ilain to recover before moving her. As you said, they won’t have any problems tracking us here from the gates. A smaller party would be easier to hide while we wait for her to wake. Second, we’re conspicuous as a team of seven. Blount listed our numbers on the writ. That means people are looking for a large party. If we split, we make ourselves harder to find.”
Auden drew in a tense breath, his lips quirking down. “Third and most importantly, we’ll split the Relics as well. If one party is captured...” He shrugged. “Then the other will still have a chance to succeed.”
Silence descended as they all took in his reasoning. Evylin chewed on her lip, considering his logic. All his points were valid; they were strong. But the idea of going into the Wauldenforests separated from her troop unnerved her. So many things could go wrong. If one team were taken, the other would have no way of knowing, no way of rescuing them. The seven of them together could defend themselves; they’d proven that tonight.
The thought sent Evylin’s eyes darting back to Deckard. He’d begun to pace, hand still working over his beard in frustration. Yes, his magic had saved them tonight. But what if Auden was right? What if, next time, Blount’s forces were too large? The Keeps were becoming more difficult, and their exhaustion afterward was more severe. What would happen if Blount truly outsmarted them at the next Keep?
Her heart ached at the memory of all she’d lost and the fear of what she still stood to lose.
An idea took root in Evylin. Whether or not they succeeded at the Time Keep, whether or not Blount outwitted them all, she knew one thing: She had to protect herself against the certain death looming nearer each day. She couldn’t allow herself to be destroyed when Deckard was taken from her life for good.
After Dunneshead, after the pull of the magic between them, Evylin had to be free of him. She had to break this enchantment that threatened to connect their souls, only to leave her in desolation.
“It makes sense,” she said, breaking the silence.
The men looked at her, surprised. Deckard’s brow pinched together in that worried way of his. Her heart ached at the sight of it.
She drew her shoulders back, giving confidence to her claim. “It isn’t ideal, but it’s our best chance.”
Ethenn sighed. “I agree,” he said, resignedly. “You said it yourself, Colonel. We can’t all stay here waiting for Highlady Calder to wake up. Butsomeonehas to.”
Deckard hesitated, his pacing coming to a halt. His eyes flashed between the two of them. “I take it you’re both saying this from a strategic position as Warriors?”
