Freedom's Knife by Daphne Moore

Author:Daphne Moore [Moore, Daphne]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Vaughn Publishing LLC
Published: 2019-12-25T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter Ten

In the chaos of the Fall, Ridden rolled over the bridges on the Mississippi. On March 21, 2090, an impenetrable barrier of mist walled Kentucky and portions of the surrounding states from the rest of the world for a century.

—After the Fall, by Antione Morales

Eastern Union/Kentucky Border, mid-June

Moss and lush plant growth covered tumbled stone as I picked my way through the ruin, a harvest of spring greens tucked under my arm. I’d set up camp in the wild country where the low hills claimed by the Union met the mountains. The white stones of the borderline swung around the edge of what had been the outermost foundation.

Ethan set them, centuries ago, just before the barrier protecting the Commonwealth from the world ended. I found this place years ago, when I started sneaking into the Union. The upper area held nothing of interest, but the basement, sealed by magic, remained sound and offered a perfect camping site.

I was almost out of the rations in the satchel Silver had tossed me. While I’d thought on the situation until my head ached, the time had come for decision. Decisions on what to do about the Wolves; what to do to track the Wendigo; how to ensure Dmitri’s safety.

Robert and Elise would die before they let Dmitri be taken, and they’d been warned. As long as I remained away, he was safe, but never seeing him again wasn’t an acceptable solution.

I slid around the bushes that had grown up in front of the broken pipe, which was wide enough to walk down. The thin light of the camp lantern picked out the remnants of small animals that had denned here since the settlement had been destroyed.

Further in, where wards had been set, no animals ventured. I crossed the boundary onto smoother concrete floor. The pipe led into a room, had probably once been some kind of emergency exit. Why had they needed one from a basement?

After putting the greens into the electric cooking pot, I paced the length of the room. Wooden walls dampened the sounds of my boots on concrete. If I crossed back into the Union, the blurring from scrying provided by the boundary would fade and the Wolves could target me or Dmitri. I could go to Ethan, but he would not—could not—intervene on Union soil. He’d pushed it with what he did for the swampers.

I’d have to bring Dmitri to Kentucky. And fight Robert to do it. Killing him wasn’t what I wanted either; Kara would be very hurt by it. Every path went in a circle. Indecision was worse than slides.

The sound of a shoe scuffing. I spun, crouched, knives out.

“Boo,” said Emory from the steps.

“How’s Kara?”

“Better. Robert’s an ass, isn’t he?”

“Yes,” I answered with feeling. My mouth curved. “But then, you bring it out in people.”

Emory folded his arms and leaned against the wall. “You’re just relaxing here? Greene’s family hired the best. Tech and magic. Go home to Ethan, Lissy. You’ll be safe there. Do I have to carry you?”

“If you touch me, I’ll gut you like a trout.

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