“They don’t attack me. They recognize a kindred soul.”

“But you don’t take life. Wouldn’t Tohon be more compatible?”

Annoyance creased his large forehead. “I know death well, that is what they respond to. I’ve no idea if they’d go after Tohon or not.”

I debated if I should ask the next question, but I was too curious not to. “Have you…been in…communication with them?”

Sepp stared at me as if I had asked him to make friends with Tohon’s dead. “They don’t communicate. They grab and kill all but a few lucky souls.”

Which meant he’d never been inside one, or else he would have bragged about living through the experience. “What I meant was, can you pick out the Death Lilys among the Peace Lilys?”

“Yes. The Death Lilys smell…different.”

“How different?” Lilys emitted a strong scent of honey and lemon.

“Why do you want to know?” Sepp asked.

“Didn’t you ever think others could smell it, too?”

“No. I’d assumed it was due to my magic. Plus I have to be almost on top of it. Too close for another to risk.”

“Does it smell like death?”

“Morbid curiosity?” Sepp asked.

Not sure how much I should reveal, I hedged. “Before the plague, the Healer’s Guild had been trying to figure out why a healer couldn’t heal a person poisoned by the Death Lily’s toxin. As you can imagine, experimenting with the live plant is impossible.” Although they had managed to get the seeds.

“I remember. They asked me to assist. When I found out what they needed me for, I refused on the grounds that the Death Lilys are a natural part of our world. They cull the idiots who don’t have the sense to avoid them.”

As if it were that easy. I clamped down on a sarcastic retort. Sepp was one cold bastard. I had called Kerrick that, but even he wouldn’t agree with Sepp’s sentiment.

“In my opinion, the Healer’s Guild were delving into areas they shouldn’t,” Sepp said. “Performing experiments and calling it research, they kept pestering me to help.”

Made sense. His powers would have been a great benefit to the healers. Yet, he’d refused. While Tohon had worked with the healers when he had time.

Sepp continued despite my silence. “They were mucking about with things they should have left alone. I wouldn’t be surprised if the Guild had really started the plague by doing one of their experiments. And by the time they realized what they’d done, it was too late.”

His speculation touched on one of my worries. The map of the early plague victims appeared to prove his suspicions. Yet, I needed more evidence. Either that, or I was in denial.

When we reached another set of fields, instead of bypassing them, Sepp led us along their edge. No doubt he wanted to prove his claims about the Death Lilys. We passed a number of the huge flowers. None reacted, but their perfume filled the air. I wondered if a Death Lily would recognize me or attack me. The flowers were all linked through their roots. Perhaps I’d be safe.

Sepp stopped at the corner of the field. “Smell that?”

I inhaled. Honey and lemon dominated. Ignoring those scents, I focused on a slight spice in the mix. “Anise?”

“That’s what it is! I knew it was familiar, but couldn’t put a name to it.”

I scanned the area, counting four Lilys nearby. “But which one smells like anise?”

He turned this way and that, sniffing the air. Sepp pointed to a Lily to our left. “That is a Death Lily.” Striding up to the plant, he stood underneath the flower.

The cone-shaped bud quivered and moved away from Sepp.

“See? It’s afraid of me.”

Or didn’t like his scent. I moved closer, but he held his hands out. “Stop there or you’ll be dinner.”

A low rustle sounded. I halted.

“Let’s go before it tries to get you.” Sepp headed west.

I tripped when I stepped to follow. The Death Lily’s vines had curled around both my boots, which explained the rustling. Unable to break the Lily’s hold on my legs, I pulled my stiletto as it reeled me in. Sepp kept walking. I considered yelling for him, but didn’t. When I reached the base of the flower, the petals parted and covered me.

A thorn jabbed into my neck. I grunted. Last time the Lily had been gentle. This felt like impatience. As my mind and body separated, I relaxed. Instead of flowing along its roots and seeing beyond its petals, Tohon’s image loomed. Unpleasant feelings of fear, revulsion and loathing rolled through me followed by the urge to stop Tohon. To pull his roots from the earth. To fix the wrong.

When the Death Lily released me onto the ground, I held two small liquid-filled sacks. Orange in color, the outer hide didn’t break when I squeezed it. I had no idea what they were, or what they were for, but I knew it was important. Storing them in my knapsack, I mulled over the encounter as I searched for Sepp.

I caught up to him a short time later.

His gaze flickered to me. “What was the holdup?”

“My strap…I had to adjust it.”

“Next time let me know. Kerrick would be mad if something happened to you before we reached Tohon’s.”

I noted his use of the word before. “If I were you, I’d be more worried about Belen.”

“Belen doesn’t have any magic.”

“True, but he’s very protective and will tear your arms off if he thinks you’re responsible for hurting me.” I smiled at the vision.