From Darkness Won - Jill Williamson [96]
“No. But you can.”
Within moments, they were descending into blackness. The bird dropped them outside the door of a small cabin. Cracks of light spilled through gaps in the shutters.
This time Sparrow dragged Achan by the hand. She led him through the thick door, past where Gren and Noam sat at a table, and into a small room. Achan craned his neck to see Gren through the open doorway, but Sparrow’s voice pulled him away.
“See? Here lies my body. Tell me how to claim it.”
Achan turned to the bed. Sparrow’s body lay under a thin brown blanket. Though she looked no different from the spirit form beside him, something in his gut quickened at the sight of her pale skin and thick eyelashes. He knelt at the bedside and let his hand fall through her real one.
“None of that, Master Cham. We have no chaperone.”
He grinned, liking the conflicted look on her face. “Come here and listen. Once you return to your body, you will not see me, for I will still be in the Veil.”
“Will I remember you if I see you again?”
“When you see me again. There will be no if about it. I’m guessing that your memory will return in full when you reenter your body. I will pray for it every day until I hear you say it is true.”
“Such passion you have for my memories.”
“Aye, for they include me.” He blew out a short breath. “Listen. Gren and Noam can be trusted. Harnu, I’m not so sure. My army is not far from here. Should you wish it, I’ll send men for you and Gren.”
“And what will two women do in a war?”
He laughed. “I know not. The moment you remember, please tell me what you had in mind by setting out for Armonguard with—as you like to put it—no chaperone.”
Sparrow coughed out an indignant gasp. “Surely we were not alone. There must be another explanation.”
“You are an odd duck, Sparrow. I’ve never met anyone quite like you. You never act the way I expect.”
“Just how would you expect me to act, Master Cham? I am separated from my body and I—”
“Enough.” Achan grabbed her Veil hand and tugged her close. “Listen to me. Simply concentrate. Focus on looking out of your own eyes. That should put you back where you belong.”
She glanced at her limp body, her brow furrowed. “That is all I must do? But how do I—”
And she vanished. Sparrow’s hand, which had been limp, moved. Achan turned back to the bed to find her already propped up on one elbow. She stared through him, her free hand groping for his. “Are you still there?” she whispered.
You can’t feel me when I’m in the Veil. But now I’ll leave you. Until we meet again, my beloved flower.
Achan went back to his own body and opened his eyes.
He lay prostrate on the floor of his tent. He rolled to his side. “Sparrow is in a cabin in the Sideros Forest.”
Sir Eagan crouched to help him stand. “You found her?”
“Her soul and body are reunited, Sir Eagan.” Achan couldn’t help the grin that spread across his face.
Sir Eagan beamed. “Well done, lad! I shall inform Nitsa at once.”
Achan faced Sir Caleb. “Help me change for the war council, Sir Caleb. We must discuss Esek and his threats.”
“We are not terribly outnumbered,” Sir Caleb said, “though all my tallies are speculation. Who can make a fair estimate in Darkness?”
Achan and the generals sat around a long table in the meeting tent. “Where is Esek’s army exactly?” he asked. “Allowntown? Mahanaim? Somewhere in between?”
“My bloodvoice scouts sense the largest number outside Mahanaim,” Sir Gavin said. “There is also a vast army between Xulon and Armonguard.”
Achan’s thoughts drifted to his uncle. “Has Prince Oren been warned?”
Sir Gavin nodded. “He has.”
“How will we be getting our army to Armonguard, then?” Inko asked. “Will we be riding on the boats?”
“Captain Chantry’s ships have not yet reached the isle of Nesos,” Sir Eagan said.
“And we cannot afford to tarry,” Sir Gavin said. “We’ll travel east of the king’s road, stay in Light as long as possible. We can move faster that way and avoid the bulk of Esek’s army. Perhaps we may even pass over the eastern Reshon Gate