Chapter 27

CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN

I stirred some time later and found myself still lying in Dakin's bed. A thick layer of blankets still covered me, but my lithe hot water bottle had left my side. I tried to sit up, but my taxed muscles gave such a complaint that I dropped back down. "Owie. . ."

"You won't be hopping out of bed any time soon," a voice spoke up.

I turned my head in the direction of the entrance and found Dakin still seated at his indoor campfire. He clasped a pipe in one hand as he stared into the flames. The curtain behind him was still shrouded in darkness, telling me that it was still night.

My heart gave a leap as I realized someone more than Qita was missing. "Where's Ben?"

"Gone off to finish some business. Said he'd be back in a few minutes," Dakin assured me.

I dropped my head back onto the pillow and sighed. "Thank goodness. . ."

Dakin blew on his pipe as he looked at me out of the corner of his eyes. "How's the rest of you feeling?"

I flexed my fingers and toes and winced. "Like I was tied to two qasi and stretched."

He stared back at the fire and nodded. "That can happen. You hungry?"

I cocked my head to one side as I studied him. "What exactly did happen?"

Dakin took a deep breath and exhaled. "Whatever's in the water didn't like your magic and attacked you. Not in the way you were attacked in the river, mind you, but something deeper." He blew out a puff of smoke and the white mist drifted into the air. "Some people call it a fight between souls. That's what shook you so bad that it nearly tore yer body apart."

A contemplative expression crossed my face as I continued to stare at my host. "Then you think I have magic, too?"

He took a puff on his pipe and a smile touched the corners of his lips. "Is that so hard to believe?"

I turned my attention to the ceiling and shrugged. "I don't know. I just. . .I just don't feel that special."

"Well, you aren't." My mouth dropped open and I whipped my face back to him. He chuckled before he wagged the mouth tip of the pipe at me. "There's plenty of folks who have magic in these parts. It says something to the people on this island that the king is only now getting desperate in his search for sacrifice. So you're not special in having magic, but ya might have a touch that's just what we need."

I blinked at him. "Come again?"

He nodded at my lower half. "Whatever magic didn't like you is what our enemies are using against us. That means you can fight it with your own magic."

I dropped my head back onto the pillow and snorted. "I don't think I did a good job the last time I came into contact with it."

"You should try winning next time."

I glared at him. "I don't even know what I'm doing. How does somebody even control their magic?"

Dakin put down his pipe and took up a bowl and ladle. He poured some of the contents of the pot into the bowl and stood. "It's different for everybody, but not acting like a frightened cat every time you run into trouble would probably help."

"Did someone call?" a voice piped up, and a moment later Qita slipped beneath the curtained door and trotted across the room. He hopped into the empty chair beside the bed and curled his tail around his front feet. The feline then proceeded to groom his face.

Dakin eyed him with a mixture of amusement and annoyance as he walked over to the bed. "What news, hairball?"

Qita glared at him. "I will ignore that detestable nickname this time. As for your question, it's a rather chilly morning in more ways than one."

I lifted an eyebrow. "What do you mean?"

The cat turned his head to face me. "There's an unusual chill in the air that often isn't felt for several more months, and dark rumors are spreading of a sickness among the people."

"Then you should eat this before it gets cold," Dakin insisted as he took a seat on the edge of the bed. He slipped one of his burly arms behind me and lifted me into a seated position where he then handed me the bowl with a spoon. "It'll put some more muscle on those bones, too."

I took up the spoon and stirred the contents. Bits of black meat and unknown brown vegetables floated to the surface. I swallowed hard to keep the bile from climbing up my throat. "What is it?"

"My own soup," Dakin told me as he returned to his seat and took up his pipe.

Qita leaned close to me and his nose twitched. "Those aren't bits of dakhma, are they?" The color drained from my face as I recalled that strange anteater creature.

A mischievous smile slipped onto Dakin's lips as he took a puff on his pipe. My shoulders sagged, but I spooned out some of the soup and gingerly touched the utensil to the tip of my tongue. An array of spicy flavors hit me, but none of them were unpleasant.

Qita stuck his tongue out at me before he looked around the room. "The other human isn't back yet?"

Dakin shook his head. "No, but he'll be here soon, and hopefully without the trouble that seems to catch him."

True to his prediction, Ben stepped into the cave a few minutes later. I had finished my soup and Qita his preening. I was thrilled to see him, but the weary look on his face dampened my joy.

He plopped himself on the side of my bed and managed a small smile. "Good morning."

I looked him up and down and pursed my lips. "Is it?"

Ben draped his hands between his open legs and sighed. "Not as cheerful as I had hoped. There are clouds on the horizon and not just the usual ones. Something's stirring in the shadows and the soldiers have been posted in dozens of places."

My heart skipped a beat. "Looking for you?"

"And anyone else with magic," he confirmed. "All of the patrols are carrying aqasa with them and they're stopping anyone who manages to make the ball glow even in the slightest."

"That means there's trouble at the Thaqiba," Dakin mused.

"Faris also mentioned a shadow creeping around the eastern archway," Ben added as darkness settled on his brow. "Apparently it frightened the guards enough that they retreated into the city and nearly barred his son from entering."

My eyes widened. "Salil! I forgot about him! Is he okay? What about the wagon?"

"The animal returned to his young master while we continued on our way to the ghasl," Ben told me. "They waited for several hours before they returned to the city. I was just there assuring the pair that I hadn't meant to break my word."

I looked down at the empty bowl in my lap. "So what now?"

Ben sighed and his whole being appeared to droop. "Now I see if the vial was worth the effort."

"You mean we'll see if it was worth it," I insisted.

He turned to me and gave me a small smile. "I would prefer you stay here."

"I'm feeling better," I assured him as I held up the empty bowl. "Dakin saw to that."

"Ahem," Qita spoke up as he puffed out his chest. "It was I who stayed by your side these long three hours."

I snorted. "And Qita, but I do feel better."

Ben pursed his lips as he looked me over. After a short while he ran a hand through his disheveled hair and shook his head. "I don't know why I bother to argue with you on this point."

I set a hand on his shoulder and smiled at him. "Because you care. The minute you stop asking me to stay behind is when I'll start being worried."

"Then we should be off," Ben returned as he stood and helped me out of bed.

"Wait a moment," Dakin requested as he stood and drew out a small vial from his pocket which he held out to Ben. "Take this with you."

Ben lifted an eyebrow but accepted the gift. "What is it?"

"Just a little bit of insurance in case that stiff trader doesn't like your vial," Dakin told him as he watched with some concern as I wobbled a bit on my feet. "A child could catch you right now, so try to stay out of trouble long enough to get back on your feet."

I grinned at him. "We make no promises, but we'll try."

And fail. Miserably.