The Scourge of Muirwood (Legends of Muirwood #3)

Lia touched Reome’s arm. “Go back to Muirwood.”


Reome’s lip trembled. Tears dribbled down her cheeks. “He will not…take me back…not after all I have done.”

Lia was not sure if she meant the local blacksmith or the Aldermaston. “If you stay in Comoros, you will die. So will the babe. It is true, Reome. You must believe me. A great sickness is coming. It will sweep over every land, every kingdom. There is only safety in Muirwood. The Aldermaston will take you back. I promise you he will. Did Dieyre promise to bring you to Dahomey?”

Reome sniffled and nodded. “He has a manor there. Better than this one. He promised I would never work. That I could live there and raise the child. I was told he sent for me. That I would leave on a ship. Tonight.”

Lia angered at the lie. She knew the truth as soon as Reome had spoken. She saw it flash in her mind like a blaze of lightning. “No. He will keep you here. You are the decoy. It is Marciana who is leaving tonight in your place. You are her disguise. Do you see my friend over there? The tall one in the shadows? He will show you a safe place to go. Where are they hiding her? In the keep?”

Reome shook her head.

“You must tell me.”

Reome flinched. “It will be my death if I do.”

“I will protect you. Believe that. I will take your place and go inside. Let me free her and you can both go back to Muirwood. Please, Reome. You must tell me where she is.” Lia pushed the thought at her – along with her will, her intentions, her desire to protect Reome and her child. The Medium throbbed in the air and softened the look on Reome’s face.

“The east tower. That one,” she said, pointing. “But Lia, you cannot get to her. She is guarded day and night by a man. He…he frightens me. He said he would kill me if I told anyone she was here. They say…he kills mastons.”

A kishion.

Lia sighed deeply. She clenched her jaw and nodded firmly. The Medium would protect her. She pulled on the basket. “Give me your shawl.”

“Lia, I know you are a hunter…”

“You cannot go back there, Reome. Muirwood is the only place you can save your child. Do you have any money?”

“I have a little.”

“Then go home, Reome.”

She bit her lip. “How do you know…that Dieyre is lying? He is a noble. He would not abandon me.”

Lia stared her in the face. “I know Dieyre better than you do, Reome. I know about his false promises. You see, he tried to kill me. Quickly, give me your shawl.” The urgency to rescue Marciana burned inside her, compelling her to act quickly.





*





In the courtyard at the center of the Lambeth grounds was a giant oak tree, leafless and dying. Maybe the choking air had finally destroyed its growth. Perhaps some wasting sickness had struck its branches which were huge and pointed every direction like a sharpened hedgehog burrowing in the mud. Moss grew on one side and clumps of mistletoe buds were thick in the boughs. It was a dead thing – a shell of a tree. For a moment, it reminded Lia of the oak forest surrounding Muirwood and a chill went through her heart. The scarf covered her hair and she had traded cloaks with Reome to hide her hunter leathers. She had no time to conceal her bowstave, so she had given it to Reome to hold and sent her away with the arrow quiver. Lia carried her dirk with the hand supporting the basket beneath and had her unsheathed gladius hilt in the other hand, the blade resting atop the damp garments but underneath the wrap to conceal it. She wanted two weapons ready when she faced the kishion.

Martin had trained her well. She knew all the locations where to stab a man and kill in one thrust. She realized she might only have one chance to kill him. It was kill or be the victim herself. The Medium had led her to Comoros. Strangely, her life felt as if she were a small boat bobbing on a river rushing wildly through a maze of rocks and rapids. It pulled her quickly, no matter how she longed to slow it.