Lupi 04 - Night Season

calls up whole entire ley line, then cuts through part of spell. You messing ups everythings!”
    Wen said something that wasn’t in English, but Cynna got the gist. He was pissed, and not at them.
    â€œMy ring,” Cullen said quietly.
    Cynna handed it to him. She could make out the figures pretty clearly now. The big one was definitely Tash. Her size, her sword, and her tusks made her hard to mistake. Wen was carrying the gnome and something else…oh. She swallowed so she wouldn’t start giggling. Her denim tote was slung over his shoulder, and it looked almost as funny there as it had in Mika’s mouth.
    â€œCynna,” Timms called, “Ms. Wright’s not doing so well.”
    That wiped out any silliness. She raised her voice. “We’ve got injured. You kidnapped us. You’d better have some plan to take care of our wounded. We need shelter, too.”
    â€œShelter is at City, where we would be if sorcerer fool not messing ups—”
    â€œWho is injured?” The light, fluting voice cutting across the gnome’s tirade came from Tash. She spoke much better English than the gnome. In fact, she sounded like a TV news anchor—no accent at all. “I am not a true healer, but I have some skill.”
    The gnome squawked something in his language.
    â€œYou will heal,” the big woman said calmly. They were twenty feet away now, close enough for Cynna to see a dark stain on the woman’s shoulder. Blood. “Humans don’t heal well on their own. Who do you want me to help?”
    Cynna chewed on her lip briefly. It could be a trick, but she didn’t see why they’d bother. They’d gone to a good deal of trouble to get a bunch of humans here. Why turn around and kill them? “We’ve got two injured, but Marilyn Wright is in the worst shape. She’s over there”—she pointed—“with Gan and Timms. What about you? You’re bleeding.”
    â€œThe wound is not significant. Wen clouded the man’s reflexes. I will see what I can do for Marilyn Wright.” She set off at an easy lope.
    â€œSteve!” Cullen called. “She’s going to help! Don’t shoot her.”
    Good point. Cynna looked at him. “Maybe you can go see about Ruben. He thought it was his tibia—that’s the calf bone, right? And his left wrist. I guess we’ll need splints, but I’d like you to have a look.”
    He was watching Wen and the gnome. “I’ll stay with you for now.”
    â€œOkay, I didn’t make myself clear. That wasn’t a suggestion. You wanted me to be in charge. If you won’t do what I say, the others won’t, either.”
    Cullen looked at her, his expression unreadable. He glanced at Wen, almost upon them now, his hands full of gnome and bag. “All right. If your ladyship pleases, though, you might come over and try putting your pain-block spell on him.”
    Cynna hadn’t thought of that. She had a spell that blocked pain completely. Problem was, it also stopped healing, so it couldn’t be used for most things. “Okay, but I don’t know if he can learn it that fast. He’s not a caster.”
    â€œIt’s worth a try. Getting a bone set hurts.”
    Cullen moved away just as Wen stopped in front of Cynna. She put her hands on her hips, glaring at the gnome. “For a change, you’re going to try telling the truth. I want to know why you tricked us—about the spell, about speaking English, about pretty much everything.”
    â€œNot everythings.” The gnome didn’t look so hot. His legs dangled limply and his face was pasty. “Daniel Weaver is being in Edge, Cynna Weaver. He is fifteenth assistant to chancellor, very important position—highest status human in the City. The City where we is supposed to be. Also true we is needing you to Find something. Also needing the sensitive.” His face spasmed in what might have been anger or pain. “She did not come through gate?”
    â€œNope.”
    He heaved a sigh. “We in big mess. I tell you more truths, but not now. Is not safe here. We supposed to be arriving in the City, but the Seabourne’s messing change this. We not being certain where exactly we is, but too much away from river. Dangerous place. Wen has call his people. They arriving maybe three, four hours. I telling you all truths then.”
    Suddenly Wen stiffened.