A sound strategy. No guesswork involved.
He knew his former sensei. Understood his methods and had studied his ways. Certain knowledge coupled with brutal experience. So now he must decide. Henrik shifted in the saddle, adjusting Cosmina in his lap as two options played tug-of-war. What to do . . . what to do? Which route should he take? Avoid his former sensei, make for Drachaven, and gather the others? Or scout Halál’s position and attack in the hopes of killing the Druinguari leader?
Cut off the head of the snake. Watch the body die.
Seemed like the best plan. Hunting and killing, after all, suited him better than running and hiding. He’d done enough of the latter tonight. Way more than he ever wanted to do again, but that didn’t solve the problem. Two options: attack or evade. Different strategies dependent on the same things—his ability to ensure Cosmina’s safety and the Goddess of All Things’ cooperation.
Neither of which were sure bets.
Nudging his warhorse into a canter, Henrik upped the pace. Halfway down the laneway, a ping echoed inside his head. The prickle ghosted over the nape of his neck, then skittered down his spine. His gaze narrowed on the trail end where the trees thinned and branches lifted, funneling into what looked like a clearing. Wind blew in, rattling low-lying shrubbery. Old leaves tumbled over frozen dirt, kicking the smell of must into the air. The scent and brittle crackle joined the rustle of slithering vines as he sensed Thea rise.
Habit made him reach for his knife.
Sliding one arm from around Cosmina, his palm settled on the hilt strapped to the outside of his thigh. Ears tuned, eyes narrowed, he adjusted his grip. Leather creaked, and the warriors riding behind him shuffled, the thump of horses’ hooves loud in the silence.
Steel zinged, leaving multiple sheaths at the same time.
“H?” Sword in hand, Shay came alongside him.
“What is it?” Kazim asked, deep voice full of menace.
Andrei rode up on his other side, bumping him with his knee. “Trouble.”
Henrik shook his head. He didn’t know yet. The vibration seemed familiar, and yet felt foreign too. More than out of line. A touch left of center as though the buzz played jackrabbit inside his head, jumping all over the place. As it spun into a death skid between his temples, he bared his teeth and bore down. Something was off. By a lot? By a little? He couldn’t tell. Not with his magic skipping from one mental node to another, defying his ability to get a read on the approaching threat.
“Something’s headed our way,” he said. “Something big.”
“Merde.”
Kazim palmed his throwing stars. “Not good.”
Not even a little, but—
Vibration erupted into a roar inside his head. Henrik frowned and, using a hand signal, told his comrades to settle. All went quiet as he unleashed his magic, trying to get a hold of the signal, hunting for trouble as moonlight broke through the thicket of branches overhead. Illumination spilled between the cracks, joining the glow of fireflies. Iced-over evergreens sparkled in the burst of moonglow. His focus narrowed on the trail’s end. Aye. Definitely. Trouble. The kind that carried static and—
A dark shadow flew over, staining the ground black.
Henrik glanced up. “Tareek?”
Blowing out a ragged breath, Andrei sheathed his weapons.
Kazim grunted. “About time.”
“Thank God,” Shay murmured.
“Finally,” his friend growled through mind-speak. “I’ve been searching all over for your sorry arse. Flipping Limwoods. There’s too much magical interference. Couldn’t connect or track you from a distance.”
“Likewise. Been trying to reach you for hours. Are you all right?”
“Better now that I found you.” Wings spread wide, Tareek banked into a tight turn overhead. Moonlight bounced off blood-red scales. Squinting to combat the glare, Henrik watched his friend circle back around. “We need to talk. Got some information. You stopping soon?”
“What’s up ahead?”
“Naught. A small clearing, no more.”
“We’ll rest there.”
“Good,” Tareek said. “I’ll find a spot to land.”
“Not the best idea.” Henrik glanced left. Thea stared out of the shadows, unearthly gaze fixed on him, snakelike tentacles slithering alongside the path. She wanted blood. Then again, mayhap that was simply paranoia talking. Not a bad way to lean. He had every right to be leery. The thing loved Cosmina. One false move, and Thea would act. Tear him apart. Scatter his remains from one end of the Limwoods to the other. But not before causing him a serious amount of pain. “We’re not alone down here.”
“Vines?”
“Aye. Nowhere near friendly either.”
“Hell.”
An understatement. A dangerous one considering Thea’s violent disposition and nasty skill set. She wouldn’t welcome Tareek, never mind permit him to land. At least, not without attacking. The Limwoods liked to keep what it found and kill what it caught. Instinct raised the warning. Knowledge clanged the bell, presenting him with two options. One . . . wake Cosmina. Or two . . . put Kazim’s gift to the test.
The second alternative appealed to him more than the first. No way did he want to place Cosmina back in danger. She’d endured enough. And after hours of discomfort—of shivering against him, twisting in the saddle, and hiding the pain—she was finally asleep, so exhausted no amount of jostling disturbed her. Add that to the fact the forest struck without mercy or looking to see who it hit and—aye, no question. The farther he kept Cosmina from the fray, the better he would feel.
Tareek banked overhead. “Henrik . . .”
“Hold on. I might have a solution.” Twisting in the saddle, Henrik glanced over his shoulder. “Kazim.”
Serious dark eyes met his. “What?”
“Tareek needs to land. Do you think—”
“I can handle Thea.”
“Are you certain?” Henrik asked, eying his friend. “No room for error.”
“Trust me. I’m not sure what is happening, but I can feel the forest breathe. The vibration is in my veins. I am connected to the earth, Henrik . . . able to make things grow and call upon the trees.” Dark gaze narrowed, Kazim searched the vegetation on the north side of the trial. “Even the wolf pack tracking us acknowledges my dominion.”
“Wolves?” Shay asked, looking nervous as he glanced around.
“Don’t worry. The pack is now under my control. And Thea?” Kazim raised his hand. Magic rose, swirling in the center of his palm. Wolves howled somewhere nearby, making Shay twitch in his saddle. Henrik grinned. All right then, point proved and well taken. Kazim knew what he was doing. Was 100 percent in command as he murmured, coaxing Thea out of the shadows. The forest spirit purred, the sound one of bliss as vines stroked over his friend’s hand. “She’s half in love with me already.”
Andrei snorted.
Shay shook his head. “Too confident.”
“Simple fact,” Kazim said, spurring his mount forward. The scent of hollyhocks rolled as Thea followed. At the lip of the path, Kazim met his gaze and tipped his chin. “Tell him to wait for my signal.”