Hosea had said no one could help me, that I had to ask myself what demon haunted me. It was no secret. She whispered to me every night. Fall down with the first blow, okay? She kicks like a donkey. She was in my head and in my heart. My constant companion—myself. Don’t plead, but grovel and play dumb. Can you hear me?

My hand shook as I withdrew the silver pin. It glowed like a crystalight. Taking a breath, I pressed the tip to the large vein at the side of my neck. I began to sob. I closed my eyes and pressed harder. The first pang of pain registered in my mind. Dear God, it hurts. If only I had the strength to wield the Helix! Biting my lip, I forced myself to press harder. The skin of my neck was nearly broken when Hosea Khan’s voice pierced the darkness.

It’s not about swords, Cobane. It never is. When you achieve perfect alignment, you will have long since stopped relying on swords.

I hesitated, opened my eyes and saw it. There, high in the sky above me, the sun shined and wind blew through the trees—like a breath. My fingers, slick with sweat, dropped the pin.

I don’t know how long he stood there, watching me in the dirt. He didn’t make a sound, however, as he crept toward me. My only warning of his presence, a twig snapping beneath his foot, came too late. I had just enough time to turn and see his face, black but painted white, as he threw a sack over my head. I managed a single shout before he hit me. I opened my mouth and let loose the first thing that came to my mind. A cry for rescue. Not please, or help, but, “William!”

The Journey Back

THE JOURNEY BACK

I awoke, suffocating. The blindfold, meant for my eyes, now covered my nose, and my mouth was sealed shut. I remembered running from Hosea right before he, the White-Face soldier, came upon me. From the feel of it, I was folded into the sack he used to cover my head. Inside, without air, I was already faint. If I lost consciousness once more, I doubted I would wake again.

I tested the ties around my wrists. He’d tied my feet as well, and he’d knotted the two ties together, taking no chances. Suddenly, the ground moved and I tipped from my sitting position. I was being dragged on my side, like a sack of vegetables. I rocked and grunted, trying to get my captor’s attention. He’d taken me alive, so surely he didn’t want me to suffocate—not yet.