Golden rays of the sun topped the rise of the hills, bathing the treetops in light and setting them aglow. The air seemed to grow chillier with the ascension of the sun. Nobody spoke. Besides the morning songs of the birds, only the snorting of the horses and their heavy footsteps could be heard. The quiet lulled Rell into a relaxed state. She continually scanned the surrounding woods, searching for anything out of the ordinary, but nothing seemed amiss. Not even Icarus’s presence registered against her senses. She wondered if he watched from afar, purposely keeping far enough away and avoiding detection but worrying about where he was and what he was doing was a waste of time. She refocused her Tell on the area around her and pushed Icarus from her mind.
They’d been traveling for about an hour when a woman’s cry shattered the quiet. Gregory held up his hand, stopping the line of horses. Jerked from her relaxed vigilance, Rell’s body tensed when her Tell came upon the caustic gnawing of the Banes’ presence. Gasps rippled through the group, but were quickly hushed. Gregory made a motion to dismount.
Rell untied her cloak and let it pool on the saddle before dismounting. If she had to fight, she wanted as much freedom as possible. She placed a hand against her horse’s neck, sending calming thoughts to the animal in order to keep it quiet. The horse remained still even when the woman’s cry filled the air once again.
Gregory turned and pointed to Juna, Rell, and Siban, and then made a motion to move forward with him. Instantly Brita was beside Rell, taking the reins from her hand and leading her horse toward the back of the group.
Rell followed Gregory and Juna in the direction the scream had come. The blood quickened in her veins and she gave a slight start when Siban’s hand touched her shoulder. His stare was intense and worried, but she was ready for this. She gave a weak smile, trying to assure him she could handle the encounter. It’s what they had trained for.
The four moved in a single line, creeping through the dimly lit forest. Thick undergrowth threatened to trip Rell. She opened her mind and let her senses skate forward. Information rippled back to her, warning of the possible branches or deadfall that might cause her problems or snap and thus alert the Bane to their presence.
The urge to rub her arms was almost unbearable but she resisted by focusing on her Tell and assessing the information it was feeding her. A familiar sensation brushed against her awareness—Siban. He was with her, gliding forward and searching just as they had practiced at the manor. Together they scanned the area several yards in front of their group, foreboding growing, the closer they traveled to the scream.
Then she felt it. The black void of a demon. No, not one demon—four. She held up her arm, extending four fingers. Her companions nodded. Gregory indicated that they should spread out. She and Siban moved to the left. Juna stayed in position and Gregory moved farther to the right.
The woman screamed again, her cry originating approximately twenty yards in front of them. The grunts and laughter of the demons filtered through the trees. The Bringer group increased their pace until they reached a line of oaks ten feet from their target.
Four Demon Bane had trapped the woman. An unconscious man lay on the ground next to an overturned basket. The demons slashed at the young woman each time she lurched toward her companion. Tears streamed down her cheeks and sobbing pleas heaved from her.
Rell scanned the Bane, her focus landing on the largest of the group. Her heartbeat quickened and fire rushed through her body, pooling in the palms of her hands. She ground her teeth together in an effort to control her Bringer reaction. She knew this Bane—Nab. When she’d first been brought to the Shadow World and changed, he’d been one of the demons that had held her down. His foul breath had spilled over her like rancid soup and he’d taunted her with threats of torture and rape. Nab had sliced her gown with his talon, peeling it away from her body and had brutally groped her breasts, cutting her skin. His rough tongue had slithered along her cheek, his sharp fangs had scraped against her delicate skin.
Rage filled her and her vision shifted to a haze of red, blocking out all rationalization. Thoughts of revenge swelled inside her. Without waiting for Gregory’s command, she straightened from her crouch and strode forward. Vague awareness of Siban’s horror beat against her but she ignored it, letting her fury carry her forward.
It took several seconds for the Bane to notice her. She stopped just beyond the line of trees and cleared her throat, causing the demons to halt their torment of their victim. “I see you’re still torturing women, Nab.”
His yellow eyes narrowed and he stepped away from the group, moving toward her. The demon wore a thick leather vest, studded with metal points. A black brand that looked like two arrows jutting from a spiral had been burned into the gray skin of the demon’s forearm. He was just as repulsive as he had been thirteen years ago.
The need for vengeance spurred Rell to open her mind, letting all her Bringer powers rush through her in a giant wave. Euphoria gripped her. It was as it had been when she was a demon, powerful and unstoppable. Before Nab went three steps, she hurled a fireball at his head, purposefully missing him.
All four of the demons dove to the ground. A rush of pure joy coursed through her. “I suggest you let the lady and her companion go before I incinerate all of you.”
The other three demons scrambled to their feet and started to back away.
“Stand your ground, idiots.” Nab rose to his full six feet, his yellow gaze driving into her. “I’ve seen you before.” He took a step toward her. “Where do I know you from?”
She leaned her shoulder against the tree and crossed her arms and legs. Siban’s anger pounded against her. Instead of ignoring it, she let it wash over her, giving her strength. “I’m hurt that you don’t remember our time together. Let me refresh your memory. Thirteen years ago.”
He stared at her and she could see him trying to place her face. After a few seconds his eyes widened. He ran his black tongue along his misshapen lower lip, smacking as if about to eat something tasty. “You’re that Bringer girl Gust brung in.”
She smiled sweetly. “So nice of you to remember.”
“But you were turned by one of Vile’s private guards.” His head wove from side to side like a snake. “Ain’t no way that you’re the same girl. Maybe she had a twin.”
“No.” Rell pushed away from the tree and lowered her arm to rest her hand on the hilt of her sword. “I’ve no twin and I’ve waited thirteen years to repay you for what you did to me that day in the Shadow World.”
Fear flashed in Nab’s eyes but he quickly recovered and laughed. “You think you’re gonna to take us four on with that tiny sword and those little balls of fire?”
Juna’s presence was suddenly inside her mind, commanding that she stand down. Unlike Siban, whose demands were not strong enough to breach her own desires, Juna’s order left no room for argument. Like a net being cast over a swarming school of fish, Juna captured her powers and reined them in, taking with it her elevated bravado.
“Absolutely.” She shrugged, acting as if she hadn’t just lost her courage. “Well, me and my friends.”
The three Bringers moved from between the trees to stand on either side of Rell.
Gregory pulled his sword from its sheath. “And you won’t be returning to the Shadow World, demon.”
Fire raced along the blade. He’d always worn the sword but Rell had never given it a second thought. Of course it would be an immortal weapon. He was the Bringer King. At least until they found his brother.
The three demons turned and ran. Juna and Siban raced after them, though as far as she knew, neither carried anything other than a mortal sword. Sensing his defeat, Nab turned and bolted in the opposite direction of his companions. Something powerful and foreign welled up inside Rell, demanding its release. The restraints Juna had put on her snapped and ancient words spilled from her lips. She lifted one hand, pointing it toward Nab. As if hitting a solid wall, the demon slammed into an invisible barrier, his body frozen in a state of fleeing.