Sudden Backtrack
Page 4

Did what work? she whispered, almost oblivious as she stared at the trees overhead.
The curse! Did it fixate on Kalla? Will it spread like a plague to the rest until theyre all infected and can bear nothing but a child destined to fail?
I . . . I, she stammered, and then, Why are we running?
Gally frowned. Maybe youll remember later, he said, not knowing what he was going to tell Daliif they managed to survive. That she was alive was a miracle. You hit your head really hard. Maybe thats why you didnt fry your brain doing the curse.
Curse?
The faintest thump of hoofbeats echoed against the insect-laden air. Instinct pulled him to a stop, his eyes darting upward as a light exploded into existence. Blinking profusely, Newt lifted her head, her black eyes glinting. It was Kalla. He was close, or he wouldnt have given his position away.
Were not going to make it, Gally said, shifting her light weight to set her feet on the ground. Well have to hide and hope they pass us over. Here. Down here!
On the dirt? she protested loudly, and his expression twisted.
Just do it! he whispered, dragging her down with him and covering her with a fold of his dirty robe.
But she wouldnt stay still, head cocked as she fingered the moss before her nose as if never having seen it before. The scent of her clothes reminded him of a fresh winter night. She dug beneath the green, lips parting when her fingers came away red, as if shed found the earths blood.
Were in the ever-after, she whispered.
Will she just shut up? he wished, wondering if the clean smell of her was going to give them away. Yes, were in the ever-after. And the elves are alive and hunting us. Just . . . bear with me. You hit your head. Its bound to come back. And be quiet unless you want them to catch you and beat you.
She became still, the moving moon finding her face and lighting it to show her sudden confusion. I dont remember. The Goddess is laughing. Can you hear her?
Will you close your mouth!
I remember . . . I was alone, Newt said, shaking her head again until Gally put a thick, scarred hand on her skull and shoved her face down. She said she could fix that. If I trusted her, she finished, muffled and whispering.
Trust the elves Goddess. Thats what had started all thisbelief in something that never existed. Hand still on her head, Gally listened. The insects were silent. Either shed shut up or hed knock her unconscious. Maybe shed burned her brain out after all. He couldnt believe she was alive.
What did you do to your thumb? shesaid, and he stiffened when she ran a slow finger across the missing tip.
If you dont be quiet, Im going to kill you myself He gasped, fire lighting through him as the strength of a line jolted him. His hand ached, and he snatched it from her, only now seeing that her cracked and damaged skin was whole and unblemished.
She is communing with the lines, he thought, the impossibility pushed out by another. My hand is whole!
Shocked, he felt his hand, jerking back at the sensitivity of it. How . . . Who taught you that? Grabbing her wrists, he traced her clean skin. Your burns are gone! Newt . . .
I, ah, did a healing charm, she said, the moonlight showing those eerie black eyes of hers. Something was very wrong with Newt, something more than a knock on the head.
Did she steal a healing charm from Kalla, or is this just another one of his traps to snare all five of us? The first hints of mistrust trickled through him and he let go, peering into the silent, foggy night and wondering if the hunters had gone by and they were safe to move. Maybe you should hit your head more often. If we survive this, youre teaching me. Can you walk? Its not far.
I can walk. Yes, she said, but her upward motion froze and she flung herself backward.
Instinctively Gally spun the other way, finding his feet only to come to a helpless stop. Kalla stood before them as if hed been there for some time, his smile curling cruelly.
Here! Kalla called, a burst of light in his hand making razor-edged shadows. Ive found them!
Run! Gally shouted, but his leap to the darkness was cut short, and he felt the ground hit him before he even knew hed fallen. Pain lanced through his eyes, and he groaned, unable to move as Kallas magic wormed its way through his aura to find his heart and squeeze. His defiance had been for nothing. He was a fool to think theyd even had a chance, and the bitterness of that seeped into him like a stain.
Predictable, Kalla said, the soft thumps of his hunters falling like rain about him as they searched for Newt. Wait here for my convenience. I have just the buyer for you, Gally.
You have already . . . lost . . . , Gally panted, gasping for air as Kallas hold on him tightened. If he could only tap a line, he might be able to do something, but he could not. Helpless, he watched as Kalla jerked to a halt as his hunters returned, shoving Newt pliantly before them. It was done, then, and the addled demon couldnt even tell him if the curse had been spun or not. By the looks of it, he didnt think so.
You should have run, he whispered, then groaned as Kallas foot jammed into his middle.