The Summoner

Chapter 21: Loss

The journey back to town should have only taken a few hours, but with Terran in the litter they were forced to travel much slower. It was high noon by the time they made the outskirts of Iltkirt, and Kaylen had reached the limits of her patience. Kylihr did his best to distract her: he teased and tormented and continually hinted at what they had done the previous night. Kaylen was forced to listen closely whenever he opened his mouth in case he became too obvious.

She would have been annoyed but she knew he was doing it to keep her mind off their infernally slow pace. Now they were so close she found herself worried; there had been little time between keeping the soldiers alive, summoning Kylihr, and dealing with her demon to fret about Auden's condition, but now there was plenty. So she played Kylihr's game and was grateful to him.

He was successful enough she forgot to worry about the villagers' reaction to him.

Even before the Betrayal, the Knights and their demons were looked upon with a mix of awe and fear. They were the kingdom's strongest warriors: those that were sent out when entire military units failed. After the Betrayal the fear remained and the awe was replaced by hate. Her own comfort with demons and the now familiar antagonism of the soldiers lolled her into forgetting.

A woman's scream woke her to the reality.

Jessa, the baker's daughter, dropped her basket of goods and ran back to her father's shop. The further they rode gasps and startled exclamations grew in number. Doors were slammed as women ushered gawking children inside while the men congregated in groups whispering and pointing.

The captain, Pierce, Allen, and Elon formed a guard around Kaylen and Kylihr that kept the men to hushed voices and clenched fists. Kaylen frowned as new worry stiffened her muscles. She glanced at Kylihr trying to see him as the villagers must. His strong wings were folded behind him and their black contrasted starkly with the grey of the deceased-Niall's mount. Thick horns that she'd seen firsthand slit the throat of a giant, curled among his ebony hair. If those two traits didn't give him away his unearthly beauty and the power radiating from him would.

He looked dangerous.

Her gaze swept the growing crowd and she wondered if it was wise to stay in town.

Before she could consider the issue, Talon appeared. The sight of him caused a pang of guilt and trepidation, but the emotions felt distant as if more time had passed than actually had since their fight. Kylihr's leg brushed hers, and she realized he'd guided his horse nearly on top of G'ldrae. When she looked at him he was watching her steadily. His regard eased the vice around her heart and she exhaled. Shooting him a brief smile, she dismounted G'ldrae and drew his reins over his head. The soldiers and Kylihr followed suit, and Brenden halted Talon at the edge of the guard despite that he must remember the healer.

When no one moved to let him through or even acknowledge him said formally; "Captain Brenden." He inclined his head but the gesture was unusually stiff for someone so open and social. Kaylen felt uneasy. "I need to speak to Kaylen."

Still Brenden didn't move, so Kaylen waved the captain off. Warily he allowed Talon through. Talon didn't acknowledge Kylihr beyond a startled glance nor did he greet Kaylen. The pain in his expression froze her heart. As did his words.

"Kaylen. I'm sorry. The calabar seemed to work at first. His fever was down and the wound's infection eased."

No.

No, he wasn't sorry about Auden. That would mean Auden was –

"Then the third morning after you'd left his fever spiked. He began vomiting and convulsing."