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child and practically scared out of her skin? She nudged the hunter farther
away. Go tend to your hound before it chokes itself on its tether.
Once Josa had shuffled back to the heart of the camp, the woman placed fists
on her hips and ran her eyes up and down Vira ni. Her voice was warmer than
the tone she had used with the man. Now, child, don t fret. My name is Betta.
You re safe here. Just take a few deep breaths and calm yourself.
Vira ni straightened and moved a few strands of black hair from her face. The
fire& she began, but her voice failed her.
VV 1 1 C
H
JAMES LLEM1NS
I guessed that from the soot and ash all over you. So you came from the wood?
Were you traveling alone?
Yes& no& my children! Vira ni could not stop the flow of tears from bursting
from her eyes.
Betta swallowed Vira ni in her large arms just as her legs finally gave out.
Vira ni sank within her embrace, allowing the woman to support her for a few
ragged breaths. It felt so good to unburden herself. Only another woman could
truly understand the pain a mother felt at the loss of a child to carry a life
in your womb and see the world destroy it. She sobbed uncontrollably into
Betta s chest as the woman stroked her hair and whispered words to soothe her.
Betta led her into the camp, sweeping her into a tent for privacy. Once the
woman had settled Vira ni into a nest of pillows and ordered a cow-eyed woman
to fetch a cup of tea, Vira ni began to regain control of her emotions. She
allowed Betta to wipe her face with a cold wet rag, clearing soot and tears
from her cheeks. Vira ni tried to speak, to let her know how much she
appreciated the kind attention, but
Betta placed a finger across Vira ni s lips to silence her. Drink this; then
we can talk. Betta handed her a small cup of hot mint tea. Its steam and
aroma seemed to seep into her bones and give her strength.
Vira ni savored the tea in silence, allowing it to warm her tongue and hands.
Once she had finished, she felt vigorous enough to speak without crying. She
handed the small cup back to Betta. Thank you, she said shyly.
Betta settled to the pillows beside her. Now tell me what happened. Are there
others of your party that
we should search for?
Vira ni studied her hands, willing her voice not to break with the sorrow.
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No, I traveled only& only with my children.
Did they not escape the fire?
She shook her head. It caught us by surprise. It was too fast! I couldn t& I
couldn t save the others.
Her voice began to rise until Betta placed a hand atop hers.
Hush, now, do not blame yourself. You had to save who you could, she said,
nodding toward Vira ni s bulging belly. Now, I want you to rest. You must be
strong for the child you grow now.
Vira ni sniffed back the tears that threatened, and nodded.
Betta pushed to her feet and began to leave.
The fire rages fierce, Vira ni said before the other woman left the tent.
It might yet cross to the meadows here.
Don t you fret. We know these lands. These spring meadows run wet and will
stanch the fire s path beyond the wood. And we ll have watchers out to keep an
eye on the flame. If it threatens, we can break camp and be all on horseback
in a blink. So you sleep. We will ot let anything happen to you or n your
unborn child.
You are most kind, Vira ni said. She began to settle back into her pillows
when a pain reached up from her belly to grip her heart. Her vision blacked,
and a gasp escaped her throat as the fire ripped through her. For the briefest
moment, she saw with the thousand eyes of her forest children:
A small woman atop a horse
...
her right hand raised, glowing like a small ruby sun& Death rained out from
her and consumed all
&
a death more horrible than flame& a death born of dire magicks
!
As quickly as it came, the pain and vision vanished, leaving only a dull ache
and hollowness in her chest.
Betta was leaning over her, concern etched in every plane of the woman s face.
What is it, child?
Vira ni stayed silent, picturing again the woman s fist aglow with wild
magicks. She knew who approached, burning her way through Vira ni s children.
It was the wit ch! The one the master craved!
One trembling hand reached up to finger the lock of white hair nestled within
the black. She had not forgotten her duty. The master must be served!
Her face paled as she realized how close she had come to failing her Dark
Lord. The wit ch had driven her from her post and almost slipped past her but
the wit ch had made a mistake. The master had attuned Vira ni to the woman s
black arts. With her magick s first touch upon the Horde, Vira ni s own body
had felt its searing fire, warning her to the wit ch s presence. Foolish
child! Now alerted, Vira ni would not fail her lord a second time or her lost
children. She would make the wit ch suffer and writhe as all those spiders had
upon their flaming webs.
But she needed help Vira ni raised her face to the worried eyes of Betta and
recognized a potential ally, someone to help her with her duty. Especially
with a little coaxing&
Vira ni allowed tears to rise to her eyes. I remember now! she moaned
loudly. My mind tried to erase& to deny the horrors& But now it comes
tumbling back in a dreadful rush! Fire and death! She pushed up from the
pillows and clutched Betta s arm. Those who set the fires and murdered my
children
come this way.
Betta s eyes grew wide, then narrowed with fire. You know who set this flame
upon our wood ?
Yes& yes& Vira ni stared into Betta s reddening face. She comes with many
others. I saw a wagon. Vira ni forced her shoulders to shudder. They murder
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all in their path.
Who are they?
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