Read Online The Healing Wars: Book III: Darkfall by Janice Hardy - Free Book Online Page B

house.”
    I looked at Danello. Hoped I didn’t look that scared.
    “What do we do?” the guard said.
    The soldier frowned and glanced over at us. “We follow orders and guard the prisoners.”
    Sunset turned to dusk. I couldn’t see what was going on outside, but the noises came and went. After a while, the door opened and another soldier came in, sergeant bars on her collar. The guard leaped to his feet; the other soldier rose casually.
    “We have trouble,” she said. “Looks like the Shifter might be in the area.”
    Shiverfeet raced down my back.
    “Coming after the Healer?”
    “Wouldn’t be the first Healer she’s killed.”
    Danello squeezed my hand. They thought I was here to kill Healers? What in Saea’s name had the Duke said about me?
    “She didn’t kill them, she saved them,” the guard said. Both soldiers turned their gazes on him. He stepped back. “Well, that’s what I’ve heard.”
    The woman snorted. “Tell that to the dead.”
    The guard said nothing. I wanted to say something to defend myself, foolish as it was.
    “The Wardens told Betaal that the Shifter was seen at a farm a few days’ ride from here,” the woman said, “but the place is abandoned now. They’re convinced she came this way.”
    They must have arrived at the farm right after we’d left. Someone must have told them I was there, one of the aristocrats who’d seen me. A spy in Little ’Crat City with some message birds maybe. They couldn’t have gotten there so fast otherwise.
    “I’ll keep my eyes open. What am I looking for?”
    “A girl, short black hair, sixteen or so.” She paused, then reached over and yanked the reward poster off the wall. “Like this, actually. Memorize this face , but do not approach her on your own.”
    “She’s really that dangerous?”
    “Ask Gemid. She almost killed his whole squad.”
    “Of Undy —I mean, Wardens? I thought they were invulnerable.”
    “No one’s impervious to everything.” She glared at him and slapped the poster against his chest. “You see this girl, you find us. Clear?”
    “Yeah.”
    She raised an eyebrow.
    “Yes, Sergeant.”
    The guard sank onto his stool the moment the door thunked shut. “I like my sergeant better,” he muttered.
    Danello looked over, but his it’s-all-going-to-be-okay smile didn’t make me feel any better. The guards had looked at the poster. As soon as they looked at me again, they’d recognize me.
    I had no pain to use unless we hurt ourselves. Even if we did, they might see me before they came close enough for me to shift it. And if one of them got away and told the others…
    Hurry, Aylin, hurry.

Dusk turned to dark. Nervous murmurs and the occasional scream drifted in through the window. The Undying were probably questioning everyone in the town. Folks had seen me in the coffeehouse and when we’d gone to see Soek. If they told the Undying about a dark-haired girl who’d been arrested…
    “I can probably handle the soldier if I catch him by surprise,” Danello whispered. “Can you take out the guard?”
    “Maybe. Definitely if he stabs me.”
    “Are you allowed to play cards?” the guard asked the soldier. “Or will your sergeant disapprove?”
    “You got coin?”
    “Enough.”
    “Deal then.”
    On the third hand of cards, the door flew open. The soldier was on his feet in seconds, his sword out. Aylin jumped and squealed, her surprise faked. The guard nearly fell out of his chair.
    “I saw her!” Aylin cried, flapping a hand out the door. She was dressed as nice as a merchant. Where had she gotten the clothes? “The Shifter, she’s out by the blacksmith’s, doing something to the forge, I think”
    The soldier looked her over—her black hair, her fancy dress. I doubted she’d have his attention if she looked like she normally did. “Are you sure?”
    “Yes, she looks like that poster they’re showing everyone.”
    “Did you see anyone with her?”
    “Maybe a man and another girl. Come on,