The Lioness of Newsham

Chapter 16

Timus' soldiers returned from the valley with nothing to report. They found no sign of Maro and Ronan. No clothing. No trinkets. No bodies. Karina feared the worst, that somehow Shorgut had raised them for his army. It was hard enough knowing they were gone, but it was another matter entirely knowing she might meet them in battle... on opposing sides. The only thing worse than losing both Maro and Ronan in one night was losing the one thing that gave them an advantage over Shorgut. When Ronan fell, the Grand Stone had been in a pouch tied around his waist. The Grand Stone had been their one hope in defeating Shorgut. Now, Jaina's moonstone would have to do.

Jaina's words still abused Karina's ears. She knew there was no true choice in the sacrifice. How could she ask any of her men to lay down their life when she refused to do the same? She thought that facing death would cause more fear and panic, but it merely put things into perspective for her. Ever since that strange half-dream in which the goddess gave her the moonstone, she found that a lot of her fears had quieted down, slipped into the background of her mind. They were not gone, not in the slightest, but somehow they had been... muted. She saw things clearly when fear was not constantly whispering in her ear. She saw how a relationship with Timus would only hurt him, especially if she only had days to live. In a way, she had protected Timus last night in pulling away. There would still be heartache when she was gone, but at least he would not have felt like he had given something away that could never be retrieved. Even if it was something as little as a kiss.

It took three days to ride to the Valley of Shorgut. They set up camp several miles outside the Valley of Shorgut. Even with that fair distance between them, they felt the taint of the valley. Timus selected five men and sent them to scout the perimeter of the valley and spy on the denizens within.

It pained Karina to see her company so bedraggled. With three dead and one avoiding her so desperately, she felt gutted. The constant fighting had ripped something from her. Her only companions were Maxen and Starlight, though the silent giant and the horse hardly made for suitable companionship.

Karina stood at a makeshift table in her tent, studying a rough sketch of the Valley.

"Captain Karina!"

Karina turned and swept aside the tent flap. A messenger stood outside her tent, reminding her—with a sharp pang—of Ronan.

The messenger saluted and said, "Captain, a lone rider has been spotted on the horizon."

Karina straightened up in alarm. "From the Valley of Shorgut?" she demanded.

"No, ma'am," he replied. "He comes from the south."

The south? Karina stepped out of her tent and followed the messenger to the outskirts of camp. Sure enough, a horseman was galloping towards them amidst a cloud of dust.

Is he an enemy or an ally? Karina wondered, squinting at his face.

All other questions died on her tongue as his features became clear. Everything within her still as she recognized his face, her face. Without another word to the messenger, she raced to find her horse. Starlight nickered a panicked greeting as Karina heaved herself onto the mare's milky back, not bothering with a saddle or bit. She dug her heels into Starlight's sides and the mare took off, forcing Karina to lean over her neck and grip her silky mane.

Tears stung her eyes as the wind whipped her face, ripping her hair out of its braid. She felt wild, unbound, as she raced to meet the man who had molded her into this warrior, who inspired her every day of her life.