Free To Darkness Fled by Jill Williamson

my love.
    Vrell stepped around the tree and stared at the hooded man. She closed her eyes and pictured him. I am ready.
    Sounds invaded. Swords clashed in the clearing. Men yelled and grunted. Boots skidded over rocks. But just as she had before, on the day Achan had jumped through her, she saw nothing, felt no different. Did this mean it was working? Vrell wanted to pray, but breaking concentration might ruin Mother's plan.
    So she sensed a prayer, knowing in the back of her mind Arman was with her, holding her up, protecting her. Peace flooded her body, easing the sting of her bruises, silencing the sounds of battle. A song rose within, not from any instrument or voice she had ever known. A joyful song of hope swept around her, lifted her in its arms like pollen in the wind. She wanted to laugh, safe, free, and floating out of her body and up above the clearing.

    * * *

    "Vrell?" A hand pressed down on her shoulder, igniting sharp pain from a bruise there.
    Her eyes flashed open. She lay under a large charcoal tree lit with faint yellow torchlight. The moist ground cushioned her rear and legs. Gnarly tree roots bit into back and shoulders.
    A shadow loomed above, breathing heavily. She could not see his face. "Are you well? We almost lost you to the Veil."
    Sir Gavin.
    "Yes." A sharp root poked into Vrell's lower back, but she did not feel seriously injured.
    "Who are you?" Sir Gavin asked.
    "My memory is fine, sir. I am Vrell Sparrow and we are in Darkness."
    "Aye, but who are you really?"
    Her breath snagged. "I...what?"
    "Together you and I stormed the mage. We couldn't find his body. He must have had more men in the woods. Where'd you learn such a trick? I had been trying to battle his mind as I fought his apparition with my sword, but it wasn't until I had help that I could put an end to his mischief. Did Macoun teach you to storm?"
    Vrell's heart lurched. Storm?
    A torch flamed to life back in the clearing. Sir Caleb held it above Inko, who still lay on the ground.
    Sir Gavin reached a hand down to Vrell. She gripped his calloused palm and he pulled her to standing.
    "Make no mistake," Sir Gavin said, "we'll talk more of this."
    Vrell pushed past Sir Gavin and found her satchel at the edge of the clearing. She carried the bag to Inko's side, dug out her safflower salve, and tried to help him sit.
    He shook his head. "Be seeing to the others, boy. I'm being fine."
    She approached Sir Caleb, who had a gash over his left eye. He held his torch toward the forest. "See to the prince."
    Of course. Vrell turned and found Achan propped against a tree on the edge of the clearing. She scurried to his side and knelt gingerly on the sharp rocks. "Are you hurt?"
    His lips parted, baring a wide, toothy grin in his blood and dirt-covered face. "How'd you like yer firs' battle?"
    "What makes you think it was my first?"
    "Lucky guess?" Achan chuckled, then closed his eyes and moaned. The cut on his left cheek had been torn open.
    "If it hurts, stop talking." With shaking hands, she opened her water jug and wetted a fresh cloth. She wanted to know what Mother had done, but forced the worry away for now. She dabbed the dirt and blood from around Achan's wound and grimaced at the sight of the swollen skin. She hoped it would not get infected. "For your information, Jax, Khai, and I met eben resistance on the journey from Walden's Watch."
    Achan flinched at her touch. "And yeh hid 'hind a tree?"
    Why did he always want to play? She acquiesced, only because his cheek looked incredibly painful. " In the tree, actually. Now be serious, Your Highness. Where else are you hurt?"
    Achan groaned. " Sp'rrow . If yeh call me that one more time, I'll see that yer hurt."
    "Just answer the question, stubborn boy."
    Achan met her eyes and coughed out a laugh. "Me? I'm notta --"
    "Look." Vrell nodded to Sir Caleb. "They are injured but will not hear of being treated until you are, so stop wasting time and let me help you so I may help them."
    Achan