SpringFire by Terie Garrison Page B

Then the old lord died shortly after that, and Rennirt took his place. He purged the house of anyone who still supported my parents.”
    “And this Rennirt, his lands are nearby, and it’s his healers who are nearest?”
    Shandry nodded her head miserably. “The road skirts his lands.”
    “I still don’t see why it’s a problem,” I said. “No one knows who you are.”
    She looked straight at me now, fire smoldering behind the tears in her eyes. “You really don’t get it, do you?”
    “No! I don’t!”
    “Why can’t you just believe me that we don’t want to come any closer to that man than possible?”
    “Because we’re talking about my best friend being hurt!” I was shouting now, not caring about the noise.
    Shandry shouted back. “Has it occurred to you that there are more important things?”
    “No! No, it hasn’t! Because Traz is almost the most important thing in the world to me right now.”
    “Well, that’s your problem, isn’t it?”
    “It’s your problem, too! We’re all three stuck here, in case you hadn’t noticed.” She didn’t say anything to that. “So what if this Lord Rennirt is as horrible as you say? What possible difference does it make?”
    We stared at one another, tension boiling up between us. Shandry’s jaw worked for a moment, then she finally blurted out, “Because he’s my father.”
    My anger instantly evaporated as her words left me speechless. I felt like I’d just been punched in the stomach. Shandry rose to her feet and left the hut, letting the door slam behind her. I stared at it for a few moments, torn between understanding her reluctance and wanting to get help for Traz.
    When it occurred to me that she’d left without putting on her cloak, I went to the door and called out to her. No reply. I put on mine and took hers, then went outside. I called again, but still no answer. It was too dark to go looking for her, but I made a circuit of the hut anyway. She didn’t come back, so I went back inside.
    I still hadn’t resolved the dilemma of what to do when she returned an hour later.
    “You must be freezing,” I said. “Why don’t you wrap up in both our cloaks and get some sleep? I’ll take first watch.”
    Shivering, she nodded.
    I took a double watch, thinking she needed the extra rest to get over being chilled. When I woke her to relieve me, it felt good to lie down and fall asleep in a warm room.
    I dreamt of Anazian. Watching me. Laughing at me. My mouth was dry, and I felt thirsty deep in my soul. Oh, so thirsty. A rattling noise, and then something shook me, hard, as if to tear my flesh from my bones.
    But, of course, it was only Shandry shaking me. It must be time for my next watch. The dream had been disturbing, and I didn’t feel at all rested as I sat up.
    “Sorry to wake you so soon, but it’s Traz,” she said. “He’s mumbling in his sleep.”
    I scooted over to him. His lips moved, and random, unintelligible sounds came from his mouth. His voice grew louder and stronger, as if it were getting used to speaking aloud again after a long silence, but the words were no more distinguishable than before.
    Then, without any warning, his eyes flew open and he sat up. If his leg hadn’t been immobile, bound to his staff, I was sure he would’ve sprung to his feet.
    “What?” he cried out. “Where? Who?”

    I am trapped like an animal in a cage. I pace round and round in an endless circle. To my surprise, I find I’m crawling on all fours. Have I become an animal? Tears stream down my face, and I lick them, their saltiness filling my mouth and increasing my thirst.
    “We have only just begun,” says a voice nearby. Is he speaking to me? Of me? My thoughts are vague and dim. “All will be well, and you will learn the error of your ways. Then we shall dance together with joy. You will see.”
    But I cannot dance; I cannot even stand. I can only pace. Round and round and round I go as that which makes me human flees.

I put a hand