The Allseer Trilogy

by Kaitlyn Rouhier

  The forest, devoid of the soft glow she’d been so accustomed to, seemed dark and unwelcoming, a twisting maze of green. Shifting in her saddle, Kirheen gave a final glance to the town she was leaving behind. Her eyes wandered over the simple wooden structures, watched the curls of smoke drift lazily from chimneys. Somewhere, in a home by himself, Garild sat. Perhaps he could see her, his eyes looking for her just as she looked for him. Was he upset that she hadn’t said goodbye? Or was it a relief to watch her leave, to see his pain and torment disappear over the hill and into the fog? It was possible she’d never know. Once she crossed that threshold, there was no telling if she’d ever see her friend again.

  Benny shifted beneath her, bumping his hindquarters into the dappled mare Tomias rode. It seemed to break them both out of their thoughts and to the road ahead.

  “You ready?” Tomias asked.

  Kirheen gave a curt nod. Kicking softly with her heels, she nudged Benny forward into a gentle trot. He led the way eagerly, excited for a chance to roam. Tomias followed close behind, his mare keeping pace. They hardly encountered anyone on the road, few coming and going so far north. With little to force them to haste, they took the travel at a leisurely pace.

  It wasn’t long before they reached the forests edge. Kirheen twisted in her saddle, pulling a weathered but otherwise legible map from one of the packs. She unfolded it, balancing it over the saddle horn while she traced a finger over hills and mountains, valleys and rivers, and cities both big and small. The forest was known as Wicker’s Way, a wide expanse of trees that arced from north to south. It was a day of easy travel through densely wooded groves. Their destination was a small inn at the very edge of the forest known as Wicker’s Rest.

  The forest was alive, buzzing with life and so vibrant, Kirheen could only stare in awe. Lush vegetation covered the ground, ferns and flowers bursting with foreign color. It was a strange sight compared to the pale blue she’d known all her life. Small, furry creatures bounded through the underbrush, played in the branches above, sending leaves skittering to the forest floor. Recent rains had stirred up the smells of the forest; dirt and pollen and tree sap intermingling into a relaxing scent. The morning fog burned away, shafts of sunlight cutting through the mist.

  As the morning wore on, they passed a few travelers, weary merchants making their way back from the larger southern settlements. Their carts were laden with supplies and they cast a cautious eye upon them as they passed. They stopped mid-day, pulling off the trail and settling just off the path. There was a small break in the trees and a clearing beyond. They tied the horses, giving them the moment to rest and graze. Kirheen dug in one of the packs, pulling out a loaf of bread and a jar of sweet red jelly Leann had stuffed away for them. She’d also seen fit to provide them a pouch of rare spices and a few fine pieces of jewelry to trade once they reached the city. Splitting the loaf of bread in two, she handed half to Tomias who accepted it graciously.

  They’d spoken little through the forest, both lost to their own thoughts. Settling on a fallen log, Kirheen eyed her surroundings. The clearing sent her thoughts fluttering to months prior, to a moon-lit night in a forest not so unlike the one that surrounded her. Green eyes. The scent of apples and spices. She felt her stomach twist and the piece of bread hovering in front of her face lost its appeal. She tossed the bite of bread on the ground and hoped some bird would come along and enjoy it more than she would.

  A hand appeared in her view and she looked up to see Tomias hovering. He pointed a finger at the bread she was holding and she handed it to him with a sigh. Without a word, he stuffed it back in the packs, then came over and sat next to her.

  “What’s floating through that head of yours, Kir?”

  She didn’t really want to talk about it. Ian was a touchy subject, a feeling of heart break and loss that she hadn’t quite figured out how to deal with. He’d been her first crush, the spark of her rebellion, the drive to want more than Sanctuary had to offer. He’d been the catalyst for change, but the price of that had been his life. And it hadn’t ended well. Herzin had nearly killed them both, and yet, the Allseer had seen fit to spare her life and not his. She wasn’t sure she’d ever understand why.

  “Just thinking about the past,” she said softly, watching the leaves sway in the surrounding trees.

  “Anything in particular?”

  “Would it offend you if I said I didn’t want to talk about it?” she asked, leaning back on her hands and tilting her head towards him. He gave her a sad smile but shook his head.

  “Of course not. I understand the feeling. Regardless, I’m here to talk. We’ve a long way to travel. We can’t have either of us drifting into despair, all right? This trip will be gloomy enough without us both moping.”

  Kirheen snorted. “Okay, fine. Guess we can keep each other in line.”

  The rest of the way through the forest was spent in a daze, her mind lost in the gentle clip-clop of the horses and her own breathing. Day faded, turning the forest into a hazy orange and yellow. The grass came alive with the sound of crickets, creating music that spoke of the approaching night.

  They found Wicker’s Rest just as the last of daylight was slipping away. A torch shone bright in the path before them, and beyond it, they could see the inn. The inn was roughly put together, a mixture of stone and wood and wear. It was obvious the place had been there for some time, a steady presence the forest hadn’t been able to eradicate.

  As they stopped near the inn, a young man stepped towards them holding up a torch. The fire created a bubble of light around him, a warmth he enwrapped them in with his approach. “Hello there! You looking to stop for the night?” he questioned, squinting into the dark. “We’ve rooms available.”

  “We are,” Tomias called, giving a friendly wave before swinging out of his saddle. He hit the ground with a huff, giving his mare a few pats as he took the reins and approached the boy. The boy gave Tomias a strange look, his eyes lingering on his white hair. He took the reins cautiously and then turned to Kirheen. She slid from her horse with some effort, gathered a few packs off the horses and threw them over her shoulder. The boy took the horses, leading them off to a well-tended barn to the right of the inn.

  “I’ll take good care of ‘em,” he said kindly over his shoulder. He could be heard introducing himself to the horses as he led them away and it made Kirheen smile.

  “My lad ain’t lying,” said the innkeeper from the doorway, startling them both. “He’s good with the horses. Got a knack for it. Come on in, got stew cooking.” The innkeeper was a tall, burly man with reddish hair and a thick beard. He moved slowly, as if in a constant state of pain, his right leg dragging behind him. He grimaced with each step, but despite the pain, his eyes shone with a warmth Kirheen hadn’t been expecting.

  The front room of the inn was small, a few tables hugging the outer edges of the room. There was a rustic bar, its base made of stone and topped with a beautiful slab of wood, polished to a bright sheen. The room was filled with the scent of warm stew and it made her stomach grumble. There were no others in the room, no sign of any other travelers having stopped for the night.

  The innkeeper beckoned them to the chairs at the bar and they approached. He disappeared around the corner and came back with two steaming bowls heaped with a thick stew. He set them down on the bar and handed them both a wooden spoon. “Eat your fill. You both look hungry.”

  “That’s kind of you. Thank you,” Tomias smiled. He wasted no time digging into his soup. Kirheen was quick to follow, her lack of sustenance getting the better of her. Her stomach groaned and she picked up her spoon, scooping hefty chunks of beef and vegetables into her mouth with glee.

  When they had finished, the bowls were cleared and mugs of sweet cider were put in their place. Kirheen sipped at her drink, satisfied now that her belly was full. “Thank you for the meal,” she said to the innkeeper, giving him a smile. He nodded, wiping the bar down in lazy circles.

  “The name’s Fern.
My boy out there taking care of your horses is Davin. What brings you this way? Looks like you came down from up north.”

  Tomias nodded. “Yeah, we did. We took an extended visit with our uncle up in the Greenspur. You might know him. His name is Therin. He’s traveled this way a time or two.”

  Fern shrugged. “Can’t say I do. See lots of folk up and down this road. Get to know very few of them. You live down south? People are fleeing in droves, especially you young folk with stuff to lose. Surprised you’d want to go back.”

  Questions, just as she’d feared. Questions were dangerous, deadly. Questions revealed secrets, things better left unsaid. They’d worked out details, talked over what to do in a situation such as the one they now faced, but it still wracked at her nerves. She inspected Fern with a critical eye over the lip of her raised mug. His tone wasn’t that of a prying man looking to accuse them of anything. He seemed genuinely curious, concerned even. There was nothing menacing in his eyes, his stance, the set of his jaw.

  “It’s not an ideal situation, by any means. We were hoping to stay with our uncle indefinitely, to stay away from the southern cities, but work has been hard to find. As much as we’d like to stay safe, to stay out of the conflict, we have to do what we can to survive, even if it means a little danger to contend with.”

  Fern gave a hearty laugh. “Your extended stay must of knocked some sense loose. Things aren’t good down there. And it isn’t just Val’shar either. Things are starting to spill out of the city. It’s getting out of control and nobody can do a damned thing about it. Even here we’re feeling the strain. People rarely stop anymore. They drive themselves until their horses nearly drop dead, ‘fraid of being accused. It’s a mess.”

  Tomias glanced at Kirheen, his eyes tinged with concern. “The situation was bad when we left, but we thought… It’s painful to hear things have just gone from bad to worse. We’ll have to be cautious.”

  “You aren’t kidding. Wherever you called home before, it’d be wise to make it a little further north. I’d steer clear of Val’shar and its bloody walls. You’re too young to go throwing yourselves in that fire.”

  “Thank you for your concern,” Kirheen said, trying hard to ignore the looks Tomias was throwing her way.

  “Sorry to get in your business,” Fern said. “It’s the dad coming out in me. I hate to see what this damned war against the cursed has done to you all. Youth is hard enough without having to be paranoid wherever you go. Just stay safe, no matter where you go. Certainly isn’t my bloody business.”

  Tomias waved his hand, dismissing the notion. “It’s fine. In fact, we appreciate the information and the concern. We’ve heard little being so far north. It’s refreshing to hear news, even if it isn’t the kind we wanted. Your kid, Davin, he said you have a room available. Can we claim it for the night?”

  Fern grinned. “Of course. Room is yours. It’s not much but it’ll do. Just the one bed, hope that doesn’t bother you none.”

  Tomias shook his head and handed over the money, exchanging it for a room key. Fern pointed towards the stairs. “Up there, last doorway on the right. That lock sticks a bit. Just give the key a little jiggle.”

  “Thank you again,” Kirheen said earnestly. She made a mental note to thank Tomias later. He’d handled the questions with finesse, barely hesitating when she would have stumbled over the answers. His silver-tongued wit was going to come in handy, so long as she kept her mouth shut.

  “Of course. Just holler if you need anything.”

  Kirheen led the way, taking the stairs with tired, achy legs. Riding a horse, while not a new experience, was one she hadn’t spent considerable time doing. She had a feeling by the time their journey was over, she’d never want to be on a horse again. As Fern had said it would, the lock stuck. A couple shakes and she felt the key turn. The room was small but cozy. The bed was set up against the window; a small dresser, chair, and end table made up the rest of the furnishings. An oil lamp was already lit and the warm glow made Kirheen sleepy. Tomias set their bags on the floor next to the chair, turned the lock, and kicked off his boots. He gave an exaggerated stretch before sitting down on the bed.

  Kirheen sat on the chair and unlaced her boots. Her fingers were sluggish and uncoordinated, and she fumbled with the laces. When she’d gotten them loose enough, she flung the boots away and they landed with a thud near the door. She curled and uncurled her toes, relishing in the feel of being barefoot. It felt good to stop and not have the constant swaying of the horse or the biting of insects.

  “It sounds like the situation in Val’shar is getting worse,” Tomias said, knitting his fingers together and resting his forearms on his legs. He gave her a concerned look, one that questioned the validity of their choice. It was stupid to deny the danger. They’d heard enough bad tales in the Greenspur about the situation to the south. And with each day, the tales seemed to become worse. “You still think this is the best choice?”

  She couldn’t possibly know and her reasons for going seemed to become muddier by the minute, but she wanted to see, needed to see. That much she knew. She wanted to see the things done to her kind, to witness it for herself so that she’d know what she gave up. If she was going to spend the rest of her life pretending not to have powers, she at least wanted to know why.

  “It’s stupid and dangerous and I’m not certain of the why, but I want to see it. I have to. I can’t explain it.”

  Tomias smiled and shrugged. “Well, talking you out of it was worth a shot. Futile, but worth it.”

  “You’ll still go?”

  “I said I would, Kir. I might not think it’s the wisest decision we’ve ever made, but I won’t go back on my word. I’ll be by your side through this.”

  Kirheen smiled. “Thank you,” she said. “Now, will you move so I can sleep? I’m exhausted.”

  He chuckled, standing so she could climb into bed. “If it’s too uncomfortable, I can sleep in the chair.”

  She snorted, picking up the pillow and fluffing it gently. “By the Allseer, Tomias. This is the first time in months we’ll have had a proper bed. Don’t waste this chance.”

  “Ah, you’re so right.”

  “Always am,” she teased, and he didn’t argue.

  She settled under the covers, pulling the blanket up to her chin. The bed felt soft and plush and having a pillow under her head was the best thing she’d felt in some time. She was already drifting off when she felt the bed creak as Tomias slid in next to her. It was his steady breathing that lulled her the rest of the way to sleep.

  CHAPTER 5

  Garild watched through the window as Kirheen did a final check of her supplies. Seemingly satisfied, she pulled herself up onto Benny, settling into the saddle. Tomias was at her side, his horse stomping its hooves impatiently.

  It should have been him by her side. He’d been by her side through everything else. Through growing up and being matched, from training to battles, to her betrayal and the truth. He’d been there when everything had fallen apart, braving the unknown with her when they’d had to flee, and he’d lost his hand in doing so.

  It should have been him.

  Instead he sat in the dark, in a home that was empty more often than not. He was alone with his anger and his hate and they festered, digging into his soul and calling it home. He was tired of feeling lost, of feeling helpless. The loss of Sanctuary had been tolerable, even knowing his whole life had been a lie. But his hand - that loss had been catastrophic. And now losing Kirheen felt like the nail in the coffin.

  Why would she stay with someone like you? He’d shown her nothing but bitterness and anger. His malice towards her and everyone else had done nothing but push her further and further away. She’d tried to fix things, to apologize, but he hadn’t wanted to hear it. Anger had blinded him, forced him to be cruel and unkind.

  And so she’d left.

  There was a soft sensation against his walls, a breath against his forehead. Kirheen was turned in her saddle, her e
yes searching. She was looking for him. He ducked away from the window, his heart hammering in his chest. He put extra strength into blocking his walls, into becoming invisible to her. He didn’t want her to know, didn’t want her to feel the guilt he felt.

  He took a few deep breaths, letting his heart settle before creeping back to the window. He caught the swish of a horse tail, the last hint of her existence before she disappeared over the ridge. Anger was the first emotion to greet him. It was powerful and overwhelming, a flood of red and heat. She hadn’t even bothered to say goodbye. She didn’t want him, didn’t desire his friendship. She’d forgotten about him. And what was he left with but a useless stump and no direction in his new and terrifying life. He gripped the windowsill, squeezing tightly until his knuckles turned white.

  He turned away from the window and stumbled, his vision clouded by tears. His foot caught on a chair leg and he spilled onto the floor, curling into himself where he landed. He let his tears fall unhindered, let the sobs rattle him to his core. He didn’t hear the creak of the door, didn’t know Trista was there next to him until she spoke. She shushed him gently, her voice cracking. “I know,” she said. “I know it hurts.”

  CHAPTER 6

  Tomias woke in the early hours of the morning, pale light trickling through the curtains. He tried to shift his arm and had a moment of startled confusion when it didn’t obey the command of his brain. Kirheen, still sleeping peacefully, was curled up against him, her head resting against his shoulder and effectively pinning him in place.

  The proximity was alarming, the closeness of her both comforting and overwhelming. It wasn’t the first night they’d spent huddled together. He’d wake from nightmares to find her pressed against his back, her hand gripping his arm reassuringly. It was nice to have a human touch, a warm body next to you to help make it through the bad times. She was his closest friend and she was there for him when he needed her most. But there was something different about this, the curl of her body against his own, the smell of her hair and the tickle of her steady breathing against his neck.