“I know they can do it. I’ve seen it done. I’m not good at sending visions, but I’ve been on the receiving end. It’s better than the mail here in the forest,” Rio said.
Drake nodded in agreement. “Visions are dicey things, Rachael. You have to be adept at interpreting them.”
“Rachael?” Rio arched his eyebrow at Drake in warning.
“She asked to be called Rachael,” Drake pointed out, looking innocent. “I was being polite.”
A strange odor rose from the pot where Tama pressed leaves, petals, stems and roots from various plants into a thick paste. It wasn’t unpleasant, but smelled of mint and flowers, orange and spice. Fascinated, Rachael watched carefully, ignoring the exchange between the men. “What is that?”
Tama smiled at her. “This will prevent infection.” He tilted the pot so she could see the brownish-green paste.
“Will it work on Fritz?” Rachael asked. “His wounds are draining and Rio’s been worried about him.”
“The leopard attacked him, nearly killed him,” Rio supplied. “He knew enough about me to know I’d choose to save Fritz and try to track him later.”
“So he’s familiar with the way you hunt.” Drake sounded worried. “Not too many people know the clouded leopards go along with you when we’re pulling a victim out of the bandits’ camps.”
Kim looked up from where his brother was applying a thick poultice to the worst of the lacerations on his chest. “Only your unit and a couple of my people, Rio.”
“No one in our unit would betray Rio,” Drake said. “We’ve been doing this together for years. We all depend on one another. I know if I’m wounded Rio’s going to pull
WILD RAIN
119
my butt out of there. And if I’m captured, no one’s going to rest until they get me free. That’s the way it is, Kim.”
“And we do not sell out our friends for any amount of money,” Kim said quietly, with great dignity.
“No, your people would never consider money over friendship, Kim,” Rio agreed. “I don’t know where this traitor came from, or how he knows of me, but he is definitely one of ours, not one of yours.”
“He is of the forest then,” Tama said.
Drake scowled when Rio nodded. “It would be unlikely that you wouldn’t recognize the scent.”
“The stench is still on Fritz,” Rio challenged, “see if you can tell me who it was.”
“Send Franz out,” Drake said. “He looks hungry.”
“Be careful,” Rachael warned, “he attacked me. Viciously, I might add.”
Drake’s scowl deepened. “He attacked you?”
Rachael nodded. “And he bit me, so just be careful around him. He has teeth like a saber-toothed tiger.”
“It wasn’t Franz,” Rio pointed out, “it was Fritz that actually bit you.”
“Does it matter?” Drake burst out. “The animal really attacked you? You’re lucky to be alive.”
“I want Tama to take a look at her leg after he finishes with Kim,” Rio said. He peered at Rachael’s face closely. “You’re breaking out in a sweat. Are you getting too tired, because I’ll put you back in bed. She hasn’t been up at all yet and I don’t want her to overdo.”
“Let me see,” Tama said, looking up from where he was smearing paste over his brother’s bare back.
It was Rio who pulled the blanket away from Rachael’s leg, revealing the swollen mass of punctures and lacerations. The two puncture wounds drained continually and it wasn’t a pretty sight. Rachael was embarrassed.
Drake winced visibly. “My God, Rio, that must hurt like hell. Does she have an infection? We have to take her to a hospital.”
120
Christine Feehan
Rachael shook her head, shrinking back into the protection of Rio’s larger body. “No, I told you, Rio, I can’t go to a hospital.”
Kim and Tama examined her leg carefully. “She’s right, Rio. If you take her to a hospital, even under a false name, one of Tomas’s spies will hear of it and let him know. Some are paid, some fear him, some just want the association, but they will give her up to him. You cannot protect her in that environment.”
“I don’t want anyone to risk their life by trying to protect me,” Rachael protested. “My leg is healing fine. I’m way better than I was a few days ago, ask Rio. As soon as I can travel, I’ll be on my way. I won’t have anyone risking their life for me.”