Bitter Winter, page 8
part #5 of Ilyon Chronicles Series
The guards looked at him as he approached their table, and he said, “I need to talk to Captain Dagren.”
They nodded, seeming unconcerned about his sword or any other weapons he might carry. Jace would have to mention that to Trask. While he didn’t want to think anyone in camp might try to murder their captives, he knew how grief could lead to actions one might never take otherwise.
His steps echoed as he crossed the hall toward the captives. Dagren watched him the entire way, his cool eyes narrowed. Jace stopped a few feet short of them, and the man stared up from a mat on the floor. His captain’s uniform was wrinkled and stained with other men’s blood, but he sat with a stiff arrogance, as if he were still far superior to Jace, even as a prisoner. Jace forced a hard breath into his lungs that had begun to tighten up. This was even harder than he’d anticipated. Yet it must be done. He cleared his throat.
“Two and a half years ago, you sent a company of men to Kinnim to find Rayad. You gave them orders to kill anyone found with him.”
Dagren lifted his chin slightly and didn’t deny it.
“Your men killed a man and woman. An innocent elderly couple.”
Dagren sneered. “Anyone who associates with criminals and traitors isn’t innocent.”
Jace squeezed the hilt of his sword, fighting old temptations and to keep his voice calm. His throat clogged, but he pushed on. “I loved them. Dearly. They were my family.” He cleared his throat again. “I’ve wanted to kill you for what happened to them. I wanted to kill you when we fought… Instead, I’ve come to tell you . . .”
He grimaced. It was so hard. His mind would barely form the words, let alone his lips, but he forced them out. “I came to tell you… I forgive you.”
He breathed out heavily. He might not feel it completely, but he meant every word, and a burden lifted with the declaration.
Dagren released a harsh bark of laughter. “You think I care about your forgiveness, half-blood?”
Jace didn’t react to the intended insult. Such words held no power over him anymore. He shook his head. “No. But I’m not doing it for you. I’m doing it for myself.”
Since he’d accomplished what he had set out to do, he turned to go. His gaze snagged on the General. He didn’t look anything like the commanding man who’d had Jace whipped and beaten half to death at Fort Rivor. He looked… old… worn… remorseful. Perhaps that wasn’t what he felt but something like it weighed on his expression, deepening the age lines in his lean face. Though still projecting a stubborn pride, his eyes contained a troubled look.
They held each other’s gaze for a moment before Jace spoke again. “I forgive you, too.”
He didn’t wait for a response this time.
Leaving the meeting hall, he walked across camp to his cabin. The weight of the last week dragged on him, but getting back to work seemed to be the best thing right now. Tyra trotted along with him, his always-faithful companion. He hadn’t visited his cabin since the attack. The cleaning buckets and brushes still sat in the corner where he had left them when he’d heard the firedrake. The water had turned to ice, and he lit a fire to melt it.
Tyra found a cozy spot near the hearth, and Jace went to work scrubbing the floor once again. He was almost half done when someone knocked on the door. It was more of a light tap, obviously female. He pushed up from his knees and walked to the door. When he opened it, Anne waited on the other side, a bundle of fabric in her arms. Holden stood behind her, carrying an even larger bundle.
Anne smiled. “I found a couple of things for you.”
He let them inside, and Anne set her bundle on the table. “I went through our supplies and found these curtains. I know how Kyrin likes blue.”
She lifted one of the curtains made of a soft, sky blue fabric. Kyrin would like them indeed.
“I also found a nice rug.” She gestured at Holden, who set the roll he carried on the floor. “Trask said he can help you carry over some furniture later.”
“Thank you,” Jace said, brushing his fingers along the smooth curtain material. “I really appreciate it.”
Anne smiled again. “I’ll hang the curtains.”
As she crossed the cabin to one of the windows, Jace turned to Holden. His friend grinned at him.
“I saw you coming over here. It didn’t take much to figure out what you were up to.”
Jace’s own smile broke out. Something about his friend knowing made his plans feel more real.
Holden surveyed the cabin. “It’ll be nice once you get some furniture in here . . .” he looked back at Jace, a twinkle in his eyes, “and permanent female company.”
Jace agreed, but his smile faded. “It would’ve been nicer if the attack hadn’t happened.”
Holden sighed and nodded but gave Jace an encouraging clap on the back. “It will still be good for both of you to start your life together.”
A few minutes later, Anne finished smoothing out the last curtain. “There, much better.”
Jace looked around at each of the windows. Just the simple addition of color made a big difference in transforming the empty cabin into the start of a home.
“I’ll see about getting a nice quilt and linens for the bed,” Anne said, buttoning up her coat.
Jace thanked her again, and she left the cabin. Holden, however, stayed behind and helped Jace scrub the floor. Jace appreciated his company, especially after the emotions he’d had to deal with that morning. By the time they finished cleaning and arranging the rug and table, it was nearly noon. Banking the fire, they headed out to have lunch.
Nearing their cabin, Jace caught sight of a large group of men gathering around the meeting hall. Tension knotted his stomach. Had one of the soldiers tried to escape or cause trouble? He glanced at Holden and they hurried to join the others.
“What’s going on?” Jace asked when they reached the edge of the group.
Aric turned to them. “One of the soldiers has fallen ill.”
Jace frowned. He’d seen their captives only hours ago. None of them had shown any apparent signs of illness.
Their attention shifted to Trask, who asked Josef, “Do you know what ails him?”
A cold premonition took hold of Jace at the way the old physician’s face grew taut.
“I’m afraid it’s Miner’s Fever.”
Chapter Eight
The knot in Jace’s stomach constricted, and a visible reaction swept through the others. Murmurs rose around them. Jace prayed to Elôm that Josef was wrong. How could they deal with something like Miner’s Fever when the attack had already devastated them? The cold that had overtaken him chilled him right to the core with a sudden wave of helplessness. This was not something he could fight against to protect those he loved.
“Are you sure that’s what he has?” Trask asked, his voice calm yet hinting at uncertainty.
Josef nodded regretfully. “I wish I weren’t, but this fever strikes much more swiftly than less serious condition, and one of the earliest symptoms is a red rash along the neck and chest, and sometimes arms. A rash this soldier, unfortunately, has.”
“Have you dealt with Miner’s Fever before?”
“I have seen some cases in Samara.”
“Can it be treated?”
“There is a remedy; however, we do not have it here, nor can I make any with our limited supplies.”
Trask’s expression hardened in determination. “Then we must find where we can get some.” He traded a glance with Jace and the others. Marcus had told him of the situation with Davira and the remedy yesterday. “Surely we can find some somewhere.” He refocused on Josef. “If we can’t get the remedy, what can we do?”
“We must quarantine the soldiers and any who have been in close contact with them.”
Jace hung his head. That included him.
“How likely is it to spread?”
“That is uncertain. It seems to strike at random, but when it spreads, it spreads rapidly.”
“And for those who do get it, what are their chances?”
“Without the remedy?” Josef shook his head. “The prognosis is not good. While some do survive it, many more do not. There is no way to know for certain. Young and old alike have succumbed to it.”
After a silent moment of consideration, Trask gave a short nod. If he felt the same deep fear of this new threat as Jace did, he did not show it. “All right. We’ll use the meeting hall as a quarantine for the sick. We also need to isolate those who have been exposed.”
Jace stepped forward. All his plans were about to be dashed again, but it must be done. “My cabin. Those who have been exposed can stay there.”
Trask nodded gratefully at him. “Thank you, Jace.” He looked at Josef again. “How long will they have to remain in isolation?”
“If there are no symptoms within a week, they should be safe.”
Jace clenched his fingers. A whole week separated from Kyrin. He glanced skyward. Why now when she needed him most? If only this were a physical threat he could just fight and be done with. Please just protect the people in this camp, Lord. They had already suffered so much.
Trask turned to Warin, Balen, and Daniel. “Get word around. Everyone who has had close contact with the soldiers in the last couple of days needs to move into the vacant cabin. We must take every precaution to contain this. Until we do, we need to limit contact with the other camps. No close contact with anyone here.” He rubbed his forehead. “We also must keep anyone from panicking.”
“This will make many even less charitable toward the soldiers,” Balen warned.
“I know,” Trask sighed. “But there’s nothing we can do about it now. We just need to deal with this and pray it doesn’t spread.”
* * *
News traveled swiftly around camp. Jace helped several of the men move into his cabin, one of them being Marcus. Kyrin’s brother took this new threat with a steady acceptance of the facts, as he did everything. While Jace wished Marcus didn’t have to be here, he was thankful to have his companionship for the next week. He wasn’t nearly as well acquainted with the other men.
After getting them situated, Jace left the cabin to get a few of his own things from Holden. Along the way, someone called his name. He turned to find Kyrin hurrying toward him. Her taut expression betrayed her concern, and it hurt deeply to have to hold up his hand to stop her. He didn’t know if he could spread the fever already, but he wouldn’t risk it.
“You probably shouldn’t come any closer,” he said gently.
Her face crumpled, and her eyes filled with tears. She appeared too overwhelmed to speak for a moment. Finally, her voice made it past her lips, though it wavered. “I can’t believe this is happening.”
Jace ached to reach for her but held himself in place. He had to be strong, even now. “These are just precautions. If we can keep it contained to the meeting hall, I’m sure everything will be all right.”
Her shoulders drooped. “How long until we know . . .” she cleared her throat, “you won’t get sick?”
“A week.” Just saying it hurt. A week would feel like eternity, every uncertain moment torture for both of them.
She closed her eyes as if to hold back the tears.
“Kyrin.”
She met his gaze again.
“We will get through this.”
Sucking in a breath, she straightened and nodded. He had to smile. She was so strong, even after all the heartbreak she had endured. It was one of the uncountable things he loved so much about her.
“Where will you be?”
“We’re using a vacant cabin for anyone who was exposed.” He gestured toward his cabin—their cabin—if he could only get to proposing to her without some calamity postponing his plans. He was tempted to tell her now, but not under these circumstances.
“And Marcus is there too?”
“Yes.”
She rubbed her arms, though he doubted her chill came from the weather. “Will you come out and see me every day so I know for sure you’re all right?”
“Of course.” Jace couldn’t imagine anything else, as long as they maintained a safe distance.
His attention shifted when another feminine figure approached. Elanor reached Kyrin’s side, her face showing signs of distress as well. She looked longingly at him, her blue eyes, which were just like their mother’s, a little watery.
“Elian told me.” Her lips thinned. “Do you think you were near enough to them to get sick?”
Jace shook his head. “I don’t know. I was only near them for a few minutes.” Whether that would make a difference or not, he couldn’t say. He attempted a slight smile, wanting so much to cheer them up. “I’ll be fine. My ryrik blood usually prevents illnesses.”
This did seem to bolster them.
He grew serious again. “Just make sure to stay clear of the meeting hall until this blows over.”
They both nodded, and Kyrin promised, “We will.”
* * *
Kyrin rubbed the dull ache that wouldn’t leave the pit of her stomach. Four more of the soldiers and one of their guards had fallen ill since yesterday. She felt as though she had spent every minute praying that the fever would be confined to those in the meeting hall. The fear surrounding the first outbreak in Valcré hovered in her mind. No one had been allowed to leave Tarvin Hall for over a month. Kyrin had been terrified of getting sick, but at least there they’d had access to the remedy. In a community like this, with no cure, it could wipe them out.
Kyrin pulled herself from these depressing thoughts and set her focus determinedly on the work before her. She had started a new shirt for Jace to replace one of his older ones. Making something helped with the pain of losing Michael and the fear of more loss. It comforted her to think of Jace wearing it. And he always seemed to wear the shirts she made more than those she hadn’t. This succeeded in bringing the slightest smile to her lips. She really did enjoy doing such things for him. It made her feel… like his wife.
She glanced at her mother, who sat across from her, also sewing. With three camps full of people, more men than women, mending was a never-ending job. She then looked over to the corner of the cabin where Ronny sat on his bed fiddling with a toy dragon Jace had carved for him. He didn’t even seem aware of what he was doing, his face cast down. Kyrin let out a slow sigh as her chest constricted.
A moment later, the door opened, cold air rolling in ahead of Liam. He closed it quickly and stepped toward the table. Something in the hesitant way he moved and his pensive expression sent a jolt through Kyrin’s heart.
“Is someone else sick?” Her thoughts turned immediately to Jace.
“No,” he quickly assured them.
Kyrin released a long breath, as did their mother, yet Kyrin’s anxiety didn’t fade completely. She waited, her heart still thumping an anxious rhythm. Liam rested his gloved hands on the back of a chair and looked at their mother, whose face paled.
He didn’t speak immediately, which was agony, but finally he said, “I’m going to help Josef and Leetra with the sick.”
Kyrin’s heart plummeted, and their mother sat very still for a moment before her mouth opened to speak. However, Liam stopped her, raising his hand.
“I know it’s a risk, and I know how hard it is for you, but if any more of the soldiers fall ill, Josef and Leetra will be shorthanded. And what if one of them gets sick? They need help. I haven’t spent all this time training with Josef to stand aside now when there’s a real need.”
Again, their mother just sat silently but moisture gushed into her eyes. Though her lips trembled, she nodded. “You’re right. You should help them if that’s what you want.”
“I do.”
Kyrin struggled with a combination of pride and fear as her heart both swelled and ached in her chest. So many people had deemed her brother slow or incompetent over the years, completely missing his strengths—his bravery, compassion, and desire to help people. This was his passion. She would have fought anyone who stood in his way.
“I came to gather my things,” he said more quietly. “I’ll have to stay at the meeting hall until the threat of the fever has passed.”
That could take weeks. First Jace and Marcus were separated from them, and now Liam. The cabin was starting to feel depressingly empty.
Doing well at holding back her sorrow, their mother pushed away from the table. “I’ll pack food for you and the others. I’m sure it’s difficult to prepare meals while caring for the sick.”
Kyrin set the incomplete shirt aside and rose to help her. All the while, she prayed for Elôm to protect her brother while he served so selflessly.
After Liam had filled a pack with his belongings, they all gathered near the door. He gave Ronny a hug first. Though their youngest brother fought hard to hold back tears, a couple slipped out that he quickly swiped away. He knew as well as they did that they could lose Liam too.
“Everything will be all right,” Liam told him with a comforting air of confidence.
He then gave their mother a long hug, speaking encouragingly to her as well. Finally, he reached Kyrin. She tried to give him a smile that would show how proud she was of him, but she was afraid she didn’t quite accomplish it. She stepped into his strong arms, relishing one of his almost-too-tight hugs.
“Help take care of mother,” he whispered in her ear. “I think you’re the strongest of all of us.”
Kyrin raised her brows. She felt anything but strong lately. Parting, she looked up into his eyes. A hand seemed to close around her throat as she asked, “Will you be all right around the General?” Just the thought of their grandfather intensified the sick aching in her stomach. He’d always been so cruel to Liam.
He nodded, though just a hint of uncertainty lurked in his eyes. “I’ll be fine.”
