Page 24 of Lake of Sorrow
A vine whipped toward Jankarr’s face. He ducked as he struck it, barely gouging its green flesh. “Tell that to… What is this thing?”
“A plant.”
“There’s no way it’s just a plant. Plants don’t attack people, Vlerion.”
“Just back away.”
The rangers retreated down the hallway, Vlerion carrying Kaylina and Jankarr swinging defensively at vines that lashed out, trying to impede them.
Kaylina lowered her hand to look at the spot where the leaf had plastered her. It still burned, and she gaped at her darkened skin, smoke wafting from it.
Envisioning a hot iron had been appropriate. The plant had marked her with a smaller version of one of its star-shaped leaves, the tiny stem pointing between her middle knuckles.
“What happened?” Vlerion asked as he jogged down the stairs, Jankarr right behind.
“It branded me,” Kaylina said numbly.
7
Threats to the herd are threats to all.
~ Elder Taybarri Seerathi
“Do you want to go back to headquarters and see the doctor?” Vlerion asked as he gently wrapped a bandage around Kaylina’s hand.
It had stopped steaming, but the burn mark continued to ache. Gingerly, she flexed her fingers, grimacing as that small movement hurt.
“It’ll be dawn soon, right?” Kaylina looked toward the eastern sky, Jankarr’s dark outline more visible in the shadows of the courtyard than it had been a few minutes ago. They had shut the front doors—hard—and he stood guard with his sword out while the taybarri milled.
“Yes,” Vlerion said.
“I’ll be all right. Let’s continue on to the preserve.” Not only was Kaylina more at risk of being spotted under the light of day, but if the Kar’ruk were plotting something, every hour moved them closer to whatever it was. “The sooner I can show you the Kar’ruk footprints, the sooner you can hunt them down and make sure the city is safe.”
Vlerion lifted his gaze to her eyes, though he still clasped her hand gently. “I understand why Targon wants you to become a ranger.”
“Because he’s a dick who will use anyone to further his goals?”
Vlerion snorted softly. “That’s not untrue, but I meant… you have a noble heart.”
“Not that noble. It’s hard to open a meadery in a city being besieged by horrible horned enemies.”
“Ah, of course.” He kissed her on the cheek, his lips warm in the cool morning air, before releasing her.
Even though Kaylina was drawn to powerful and aloof Vlerion, gentle and encouraging Vlerion made her insides melt, especially since he didn’t seem to be that way with many people. He could never risk letting his guard down—letting himself care. Maybe it would have been better if he didn’t care for her either, but she couldn’t wish that.
“Thank you for risking the plant’s ire to come get me,” she said.
“Any time.” Vlerion helped her onto Levitke’s back.
Jankarr mounted his taybarri and pointed to Kaylina’s hand. “What does it mean?”
He’d glimpsed the brand before Vlerion bandaged it.
“I have no idea,” Kaylina said as they rode out of the courtyard, her hood up again. “I thought the plant was pleased with me.”
“It might not appreciate the company you keep,” Vlerion said grimly, looking back at the tower.
It continued to glow red as they rode away. Last time, it had taken hours before the color changed, so Kaylina wouldn’t yet consider this a failure, but being attacked by the plant—marked by the plant—filled her with doubt. She struggled not to feel this was a step backward, a step farther from lifting the curse. Both curses.