Firewalker (Worldwalker 2)

Lily could easily read what Rowan was feeling. He was broadcasting it to her loud and clear. He wasn’t jealous—not exactly. He knew that Lily couldn’t lie to him in mindspeak and that he didn’t have a reason to be jealous. Nothing had happened between her and Tristan. He just really didn’t like seeing Lily in Tristan’s arms. It bothered him on a gut level that no amount of rational explanation could ease.

“Change out of that slip,” Rowan said curtly as he dropped a pair of boots and a bundle of wearhyde clothes at Lily’s feet. “And remember to recast a face glamour when you leave the tent.”

Rowan spun and left them. Lily rubbed her aching head and sighed. “Great. The only thing worse than having a pissed-off boyfriend is having a telepathic pissed-off boyfriend—’cause you know just how pissed off he is.”

“Sorry,” Tristan said, but Lily could tell he wasn’t sorry at all. He was grinning from ear to ear. “Do you need help changing?”

“No,” Lily said emphatically.

“You’re still shaky, and it’s not like I haven’t seen you naked,” Tristan said with a flirty smile.

“Out,” Lily said, turning him by the shoulders and pushing him through the tent flap. She couldn’t help but laugh with him. It had been a long time since he’d acted so playfully with her. He hadn’t been his lighthearted self since Lily had come back, and she wondered what had revived his old spirit.

Once Tristan was gone, Lily managed to get into her bartered clothes even though her hands were shaking. She needed salt badly, and as she left the tent—glamour intact—she immediately sought out Rowan. When she touched his mind she felt tension, but it had nothing to do with Tristan or her. There was a fight brewing. Lily heard raised voices and tried to run in their direction, but all she could manage was a stiff jog at best. Everything ached and her head pounded with every step.

Lily rounded the bend in the tracks and came upon the main group at just the wrong time. Mary turned on her.

“Who are you, really?” she asked, her voice low and dangerous. She pointed to the cauldron of water-purifying potion. “Your mechanics tell us that this one cauldron could clean enough water for an entire year of use. Do you expect us to believe you’re more powerful than the Salem Witch herself?”

Lily’s eyes sought out her coven desperately. Each of them was surrounded by the largest and strongest boys and girls the tunnel had to offer. Two of the teen boys had grabbed Una by the arms. Lily could feel how much her friend loathed being touched without permission, and a protective instinct kicked up inside her. How dare they touch her mechanics?

“If I’m so powerful, then maybe you should think twice before you threaten my coven,” she replied through gritted teeth. Mary recoiled, and Lily felt her smoke willstone flare with agitation. It wanted to be used, and it started sucking heat from every nearby torch and barrel fire in anticipation. A witch wind stirred, moaning down the tunnels, hot and dry, and Lily wondered briefly if her willstones were alive in their own right. She heard Rowan’s voice in her head, cutting through her anger and her throbbing headache.

Lily. We don’t want to hurt these people. They’re frightened, and that’s why they’re hostile. Please, calm down.

Lily met Rowan’s eyes and nodded. She took a deep breath and the witch wind died. Mary stared at her, jaw dropped and eyes so wide they looked nearly all white.

“Let my mechanics go. We don’t want a fight and neither do you,” Lily said, loud enough for everyone to hear.

Mary looked over her shoulder and nodded once. Una yanked her arms free and shoved the kids who’d held her. Rowan, Tristan, Breakfast, and Una joined Lily, standing behind her in a semicircle. Lily felt calm now that they were near. She looked at Mary and sighed, planting her hands on her hips.

“I gave you serum and water purifier to help you,” Lily said.

“Just to help us out of the goodness of your heart?” Mary repeated doubtfully. “You don’t want anything in return from us or from our men on the ranches? No riots? No votes for your favorite councilman?”

“Take our gifts, use them—or be a fool and throw them all away,” Lily said tiredly, not entirely understanding the complicated politics of how the poor were exploited in this world. “As long as you keep your mouth shut about where you got them, I don’t care what you do.”

Lily saw something in Mary’s eyes change. She realized Lily was only trying to help, and she hated her all the more for it. “Get out,” Mary said hollowly.

“Just show us the way,” Lily retorted.

Riley separated himself from the crowd quickly and led Lily’s coven away, closely followed by his munchkin entourage. From the look on his face as he hurried them down the tracks, he seemed as relieved to get out of that situation as Lily’s coven did.

“She’s thankful, really, even if she didn’t say it, sir,” Riley said nervously to Rowan. “Mary’s just got this way about her, you know? Not so helpful when dealing with a lady witch, but it’s dead useful when we’re bargaining with other groups.”

“It’s alright, Riley, I understand,” Rowan replied. “Charity from witches isn’t something my people trust, either. It usually ends up costing more than it’s worth.”

“I thought you were an Outlander. It’s the way you stand,” Riley said, narrowing his eyes and trying to peer through Rowan’s glamour. Rowan smiled, confident that Riley couldn’t pierce his glamour unless he allowed it. Riley gave up and turned to Breakfast. “You’re an Outlander, too, aren’t you? What tribe are you from?”

Breakfast looked momentarily baffled and changed the subject. Lily felt Rowan’s fingers brush her wrist in that gentle mechanic’s touch.

You need salt badly, Lily. And you haven’t eaten anything substantial in days.

I know. I’ve got a raging headache.

“Stop,” Rowan called to the group, even though they hadn’t traveled more than a few hundred feet from the main group.

He swung his pack off his back and pulled out the jar of olives. Lily sat down on the tracks, too tired to care how dirty they were. She ate the last of the olives and drank the brine while her coven watched anxiously. It helped, but it was still a long way from satisfying her.