"What weaknesses?" Amber asked. "Your men seem to think they're anything but weak."
"The bodies don't last long in this climate," Moragon said. "But most of all, they require a fearful amount of essence. Their leader, Dain Barden, is fielding an army of draugar so large he can hardly control it, and we're providing the essence from our new supplies, but even that isn't enough. With the Akari dependent on us for essence, we can curb their power at any time."
Moragon reached behind him. "Much as I enjoy speaking with you, the reason I'm here is that I brought you a gift," Moragon said, handing her a covered basket.
"Open it," Moragon said.
Amber cautiously lifted the lid on the basket. She saw brown curls, a simple face, a grimacing expression, and the horrible flaps of skin and gashes of red that remained when a head was taken off. Amber recoiled in horror and pushed the basket away from her.
"No," Amber said. Who could do such a thing to a woman? "Not Casey."
"You're very crafty," Moragon said. "I gather you must have been jealous of her, taking care of your child, so you gave the simple girl a task you knew would see her killed."
"That's not true."
"Now that she's dead, who's going to feed the boy? You've killed your son's wet nurse, and now he's going to starve."
"Please, no. Give him to me."
"Bring the boy!" Moragon called.
A moment later the baby was in Amber's arms.
"Let's hope you can feed him," Moragon said. "Else I'll need to find a new wet nurse, and it'll be your head we deliver to the next girl as a warning."
Moragon left the basket with Casey's head in the corner of the room. Amber continued to shake, but she realised the position was in. If her milk had run its course, Moragon would do the same thing to her he had done to Casey.
Amber hated him. She hated him with all her heart.
As the babe made sucking motions and little urgent noises Amber gave him her nipple and prayed.
Her prayers were answered when she felt him taking from her greedily.
The next morning when Amber woke with the babe in her arms, the basket with the head was gone.
47
"THREE men," Layla said, "and one woman who struggled. Her arms were tied behind her back but her legs were free." She pointed out the tracks, but all Miro saw were slight scratch marks in the dirt.
"How long ago?" Miro asked. His blood ran cold at the thought of Amber being under the power of these men.
"Three days. They were moving quickly."
Miro didn't know how the Dunfolk healer had found out about Amber's abduction but as he'd left Ralanast she was suddenly there beside him. He'd tried thanking her and releasing her to go home — it would be dangerous, heading into enemy lands, he told her — but Layla had said she owed him a debt for helping her people against the nightshades.
The soldiers who had taken Amber had found a way down to the Azure Plains from the tall cliffs above. It was tough going and Miro's heart reached out to Amber; the journey would have been a nightmare, and she would have been filled with constant dread about what would happen at the end.
Why were they so interested in her? Miro was thankful that they hadn't just killed her and left her by the side of the road, but he realised there must be some reason for the special interest these soldiers had taken in her. What would happen to her once they reached the Black Army's encampment?
"There it is," Layla pointed.
From their rocky trail still high above the plains Layla was pointing at a cluster of black spots against the blue haze on the horizon. Miro realised it was the enemy encampment. There was no doubt the soldiers had taken Amber somewhere Miro would never be able to free her.
"Stop," Layla said, holding Miro's arm when he tried to continue forward. "There is nothing for you here."
"She's in there somewhere!"
"There is no way for you to get in, and you have no way of knowing if her journey ended here. You do not keep your prisoners with your soldiers, do you? They would have sent her away, wouldn't they?"
Miro knew he couldn't answer Layla's questions, because he didn't know why they had taken Amber in the first place. Layla was right though; it stood to reason that she would have been taken to another prison camp rather than being kept with the men. Miro had a duty to his command, back with the army. Every part of Miro's reason told him to turn back with Layla.
But his heart told him he had to try.
"I need you to go back," Miro said. "Go and see Marshal Beorn, and tell him I'll be behind you."
"There is a big battle coming," Layla said. "You might be too long."
"I know," Miro said. "But I can't leave her. I have to try."
"I understand," Layla said, "but if the battle is fought and lost, without you there, you will never forgive yourself."
"You're right," Miro said, "but if I don't try to find her, I'll never forgive myself either."
~