Page 75 of A Fractured Song

Marieke glanced back at the farm, the gate barely in view now. She could only hope Zev was right. The destruction of his family wasn’t something she wanted on her conscience.

Chapter

Nineteen

“That was a good one,” Zev said encouragingly. “Try again.” He held up his hand, palm toward her.

“You didn’t even flinch,” Marieke said skeptically, although she balled up her fist as instructed. “How good a punch could it be?”

Zev laughed. “You’re hitting my hand, Marieke. Did you expect to really hurt me? It’s not like you’re punching me in the face.”

“I’m just saying,” Marieke muttered. “If you punched my hand, I’d flinch.”

Zev’s lips twitched. “Would it help your pride if I did?”

“No.” Marieke let out a sigh. “I have no pride in this area. My acknowledged lack of physical strength is the whole reason we’re doing this, right? We need to make my punches stronger so that it’s more convincing for me to look like I’m physically attacking as misdirection for actually attacking with songcraft.”

She would much prefer to keep working on the art of using her songcraft to increase the strength ofZev’sattacks, but shewas mastering that much more quickly than her own punches, so was less in need of the practice.

“That’s the idea,” Zev agreed. “No offense, but if you punched like you were doing earlier, no one would be distracted by it.”

“What makes you such an expert on fighting, anyway?” Marieke asked suspiciously. “Get many bandits attacking your farm?”

“No,” Zev said simply. “I have a brother.”

“Fair enough.” Marieke adopted the stance Zev had taught her, bringing her fists up in front of her. “I’m going to make you wince this time, though.”

“All right.”

Zev spoke mildly, but she could see the hint of smugness beneath his smile. Narrowing her eyes, she tried to remember what Kaine had taught her at the same time as holding all Zev’s tips in her mind. She pulled in a deep breath as she drew her arm back, then released a rapid song as she brought her fist forward.

Her fist connected with Zev’s hand as expected, with about as much force as her previous punch. But in addition, power shot through the ground, seizing on the root of a nearby tree and yanking it upward. It emerged from the ground under Zev’s feet just far enough to make him wobble. He didn’t fall, but he did give a sharp gasp of surprise, his face twisting in a—

“Aha!” Marieke pointed a triumphant finger at him. “You winced!”

Zev blinked rapidly as he stared from the now-docile root poking out of the earth to her grinning face. His surprise changed slowly to amusement, taking his defeat in good humor.

“All right, I did,” he acknowledged. “But you cheated.”

“Using magic isn’t cheating,” Marieke said. “It’s my primary weapon. My primary tool, really.”

“Well, it felt like cheating to me,” Zev said. He grabbed his pack from the ground, hoisting it over one shoulder. “Look, there’s the coach. Right on schedule.”

Marieke made a noise in her throat in acknowledgment of the joke. They’d been waiting by the side of the road for two hours, well past the time the public vehicle was supposed to come by. But at least it had arrived. She’d been starting to think they’d have to continue on foot. And after a week of travel, with the southern jungle finally within reach, she didn’t want their journey to slow now.

“If this one is full,” she said, as the coach rumbled toward them, “it’s my turn to go on the roof seats.” She shot him a look. “Don’t try to be chivalrous, either. Last time I had a portly woman sleep with her head on my shoulder and her chicken on my lap. I’d rather be up top and risk being thrown off at any sudden stop.”

Zev grinned. “Did you expect the journey to be glamorous, lady singer?”

“No, actually.” Marieke’s eyes were thoughtful as she watched the coach slow in response to Zev’s signal. “It’s actually been much easier than I expected. Smoother and quicker. Everything sort of falls into place for you, doesn’t it?”

“I don’t know if I’d say that.” Zev sounded startled.

“I would.” There was no time for more than the simple reply, because the carriage had come to a stop.

Happily, this far south, the routes were less popular. It was why it had been difficult to find a public vehicle, but it also meant that the lumbering coach wasn’t full. They were able to sit across from each other, with only two other passengers for company. Marieke leaned back and closed her eyes. Uncomfortable as the seat might be, she was tired enough that sleep triedto tempt her. It was a relief to be moving while sitting still, at any rate. And with Zev on hand, she didn’t feel a moment’s fear for her safety with the strangers.

But sleep wasn’t actually within reach. Thoughts of their journey kept her awake as much as the jolting of the carriage did. She’d had ample time as they traveled south to observe the prosperity of Aeltas. On more than one journey through Oleand, it had felt as though disasters followed in her wake—the first time she’d returned from Aeltas, it had been so marked that she’d even wondered whether she’d brought a curse back with her.

---