The Sworn by Gail Z. Martin Read Free Book Online Page A

forest, horses awaited the mortals. A few of the
vyrkin
were well enough to ride in human form; the rest, Jonmarc and the others strapped carefully behind their saddles, wrapped in blankets.
    “I hate to think what Carina’s going to say when she sees this,” Jonmarc said to Sakwi as they swung up into their saddles.
    Sakwi smiled. “Since she’s been married to you, I must say that her vocabulary has grown. She’ll do what she always does. First, she’ll curse like a merc, and then, she’ll send the rest of us running to fetch her healing supplies.”
    “I wish I didn’t bring her so much business. At least, not this kind.”
    “How many more like this do you think there are?”
    Jonmarc shook his head. “They’re like rats. Everytime you think you’ve found all the nests, another one shows up. We won’t know until we find more of the day crypts violated. The Blood Council’s issued a warning to their families, but Dark Haven’s been getting so many refugees—living and undead—because of the plague, we don’t know where the newcomers are going to ground. Same with the
vyrkin
. They move here to keep from being hunted in Nargi or Dhasson, and before they can find a safe place for their pack, the Shanthadurists are on them.”
    “Can King Staden help?”
    Jonmarc shrugged. “He’s sent some troops, but I get the feeling he’s stretched thin, keeping peace as the refugees pour in. There’ve been some outbreaks of plague near the Dhasson border. Plague’s gotten so bad in Margolan, Staden’s closed that border.”
    “Didn’t Cam just leave for Isencroft? He’s got to cross Margolan to do it.”
    Jonmarc nodded. “Carina wasn’t too happy. Said she didn’t fix her brother up just to have him catch the plague, but Cam’s as hardheaded as Carina.”
    “They are twins, after all.”
    “Cam’s a soldier first. He’s fixed up well enough to return to service, and Lady knows, King Donelan needs him. Anyone who can escape Isencroft’s Divisionists and live to tell about it can get across Margolan in one piece.”
    “He was barely in one piece when he got to Dark Haven.”
    Jonmarc grimaced. “Yeah. Only Cam would blow up the place where he was being held prisoner to warn the king.”
    They rode the rest of the way in silence. Finally, they reached the forest’s edge and saw Dark Haven loomingin the distance. The manor house was large, austere, and foreboding. Jonmarc reached up to brush a strand of long brown hair from his face as the wind swept across the flatland that separated the forest from the manor.
Vyrkin
in their wolf form went first, intent on flushing out any surprises lurking in the high grass. They howled an all clear for the others to follow.
    When they reached the manor gates, Jonmarc was not surprised to find Carina waiting for them. He swung down from his saddle and went to her. Short, dark hair framed her face, and even the full cut of her healer’s robes could not hide that she was well along in her pregnancy. Jonmarc knew she was appraising him as he approached, looking with a practiced eye for injuries.
    “How bad?” she asked as he reached her.
    Jonmarc laid a hand on her shoulder. “Our side got lucky this time—no injuries. Laisren’s informants had good information. Sakwi took down their magical protection, and we were on them before they knew what was happening.”
    Carina’s green eyes searched his, and he knew that she could tell he was evading a full answer. “And the prisoners?”
    “It’s bad. Real bad.” She started to move past him and he grabbed her arm. “Carina, please, let the other healers help, at least with the
vyrkin
. If you collapse again…” He didn’t finish the sentence, but he glanced down toward her belly, growing large with twins. “Please,” he repeated quietly, “be careful.”
    Carina nodded, but her gaze was already going to where Laisren and the others had begun carrying the limp bodies into the manor house. “I know.