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Chapters (58)
  1. Title Page
  2. Copyright
  3. Dedication
  4. Part One
  5. Chapter One
  6. Chapter Two
  7. Chapter Three
  8. Chapter Four
  9. Chapter Five
  10. Part Two: Three Months Later
  11. Chapter Six
  12. Chapter Seven
  13. Chapter Eight
  14. Chapter Nine
  15. Chapter Ten
  16. Chapter Eleven
  17. Chapter Twelve
  18. Chapter Thirteen
  19. Chapter Fourteen
  20. Chapter Fifteen
  21. Chapter Sixteen
  22. Chapter Seventeen
  23. Chapter Eighteen
  24. Chapter Nineteen
  25. Chapter Twenty
  26. Chapter Twenty-one
  27. Part Three
  28. Chapter Twenty-two
  29. Chapter Twenty-three
  30. Chapter Twenty-four
  31. Chapter Twenty-five
  32. Chapter Twenty-six
  33. Chapter Twenty-seven
  34. Chapter Twenty-eight
  35. Chapter Twenty-nine
  36. Chapter Thirty
  37. Chapter Thirty-one
  38. Chapter Thirty-two
  39. Chapter Thirty-three
  40. Chapter Thirty-four
  41. Chapter Thirty-five
  42. Chapter Thirty-six
  43. Chapter Thirty-seven
  44. Chapter Thirty-eight
  45. Chapter Thirty-nine
  46. Chapter Forty
  47. Chapter Forty-one
  48. Chapter Forty-two
  49. Chapter Forty-three
  50. Chapter Forty-four
  51. Chapter Forty-five
  52. Chapter Forty-six
  53. Chapter Forty-seven
  54. Chapter Forty-eight
  55. Epilogue
  56. Acknowledgments
  57. About the Author
  58. Keep Reading for a Sneak Peek at Umbertouched

Jesmin’s brows furrow. “There’s not much hope in the front room, I’m afraid. The patients brought in are greatly weakened from their time exposed to the elements. The lucky ones emerge rosemarked. We haven’t had anyone recover completely in years.”

“Still, a little hope is better than none,” I say. “And perhaps I can ease the suffering of the rest.”

He considers my words, and nods. “Very well, then. The choice is yours.”

Chapter Thirteen

I trail Zivah at a distance as the soldier leads her to the rosemarked compound, squinting into the sun and trying not to stir up too much sand as I follow. Once she’s through the gates, I turn back. I can’t help her once she’s inside those walls, and I need to be where the crows can find me.

I rest for the first half day, close enough to Sehmar to see it, but far enough so the gate guards are just dots by the wall. I’m twitchy, so close to the capital, and every glimpse of its walls puts an unpleasant taste in my mouth. Slicewing flies back and forth over the hills, and now that I’m alone, worries about the mission start crowding into my head. I can take care of myself out here—as long as I keep my wits about me. But between the flashbacks and the potions, my wits aren’t exactly reliable. There’s nothing to do for it though, except remember to take my potions and stay out of sight.

By late afternoon I’m restless. Preener and Scrawny still haven’t returned, and you can only oil your weapons and throw pebbles at unsuspecting lizards so many times before it gets tiresome. I’m even starting to miss Zivah. There’s something to be said for company, even if it’s the company of a Dara healer. When the sun is low enough to make wandering more comfortable, I pack up my things and strap them on my back again. I want a better sense of my surroundings, and the crows should be able to find me as long as I don’t stray far.

I find some dusty trails through the hills, lined with the occasional bush or gnarled dwarf tree. At least one of them ends at a watering hole. There’s also the occasional fire ring or hut. The grass clusters around them are well-trampled, so I make a note to avoid these areas. Hunting and trapping don’t look good though. I see hardly any tracks, and the few birds around are as skittish as unblooded soldiers. If I run out of food, I could forage enough to stay alive, but probably not comfortably.