Light the Reign (The Forgotten: Book 3) by Laura R Cole Page B

reach us. Even those who don’t turn are
likely to be killed by others that have. Are you willing to bet
your life on it? Your sons’ lives? Those of any of your
people?”
    The crowd that had gathered around them
murmured to one another now, looking around as if trying to
determine by sight who might have his bloodline.
    “The Dark King was compelled by the evil
within him to spread his seed, and he did it well. There are few in
this world who can claim not even a distant relation. Do you truly
believe that every single one of them that can’t deserves to suffer
for his crimes?”
    “They were meddling with blood-magic,” the
Kanza sputtered, trying to regain his platform.
    “A very small group of people who the leaders
were trying to oust and eliminate. Our ancestors lived in the same
country as the Dark King, were they also responsible for his
actions? Should we then punish ourselves as their descendants?”
    The Kanza leader grumbled. “You know not what
you ask.”
    “On the contrary,” the other man disagreed,
“I know exactly what we ask of you. Is there not a way we can
convince you to give us the stone?”
    The Dena’ina leader and the Kanza leader
exchanged a glance. “We cannot simply give up the stone,” he said
finally, “But there might be a way.”
    “What is it?” Petra, the exiled woman, spoke
up.
    Katya couldn’t determine the emotion behind
the Kanza leader’s expression as he looked at Petra, it might have
been contempt or affection. Or both.
    He turned his stare back to Katya. “There is
rumored to be a plant that will erase the modifications. A man long
ago stumbled upon it and found that all the changes made by the
Dark King’s magic had been erased when he ate it. Unfortunately,
none were ever able to find this particular plant again and though
the man claimed to have found a field of it, he got himself killed
before locating it for the rest of us.”
    “How did he die?” Katya asked, wondering if
it was the price of stripping the people of their afflictions.
    “He was always putting himself into danger,
not staying within the village like he ought to have done. One day
it caught up with him,” he shrugged. “The most we know is that he
was wandering to the north when he came across it. Many have tried
to find it since, but none have succeeded. If you bring us back a
plant to prove you have found the field, and can provide us with a
map to the place, we will give you the stone.”
    “And Petra?” Katya asked, wondering what the
girl’s intentions were. Katya couldn’t imagine embracing those who
had thrown you out, but then again, she had felt nothing but love
and pity for Gareth when she had found out about her tarnished
past. Petra’s mother had been happy to see her, but Katya didn’t
get the feeling that she would be welcomed back quite so easily by
the rest even if she were to want to stay.
    “I’ll go with you,” she stated firmly,
pulling herself away from her fawning mother. “You’ll need someone
to test it on,” she looked around the crowd, “and I don’t imagine
there are many volunteers.”
    Katya watched as head after head ducked away
from her searching stare, each looking resolutely at the ground.
Despite the reaction that their party had received from the people,
she was surprised that not even one of them would be curious enough
of the plant’s existence to put aside their differences and travel
with them.
    “Excellent,” the Dena’ina leader clapped his
hands together in finality. “Might we impose on your hospitality
for the night to learn what we can of this field and rest up for a
fresh start to our quest in the morning?”
    The Kanza leader did not look happy with this
arrangement, but broached no argument, saying simply, “Of
course.”
    Besides showing them a tent to place their
things and sending a few sleeping bags, the Kanza’s hospitality
extended no further. They wisely decided not to venture out into
the village, instead