Shadows and Embers

by Lindsey Richardson

  Finally at the back of the tent I started to cut into the fabric. The first tear sounded loud enough to wake up the entire town, and I winced before continuing.

  “Did you hear something?!” Jolis asked, shuffling where he stood.

  I tore the rest of the fabric, and at least if they figured out I was there I might have enough time to cut Nicia out of the ropes. When I peered inside the pole was empty and no one was there. They had tricked us; wherever Nicia was, she was already closer to the stake than we were. I started to turn around to warn Celestria, but then a spark of ember flew across the ground just barely missing me. Glancing up, I saw that I was no longer alone. Wilhem and Jolis stared down at me both in a stance to fight.

  Jumping up, I prepared to fight both of them. I considered calling out to Celestria, but when I glanced over to her hiding spot I did not see her. Glancing over my shoulder, I realized she was behind me. Summoning a spell, I waited for my dagger to light up a dark blue and then aimed it at Jolis. Celestria ran toward Wilhem, but I hoped for her sake she was able to fight him off without my help.

  A circle of fire lit up around Jolis, and the sparks jumping off from it threatened to hit me. I dodged as many as I could, rolling across the ground before they sunk into my skin. Several, however, were impossible to miss. Though still on the ground, I aimed my hand toward the fire and cast the spell, tithuim. A layer of ice covered the flames, freezing them in place, but my opponent was quick and heated up the ice until it melted away. I aimed my dagger again, but a gust of wind tore it from my hand. Jolis leaped over to where I was and touched my chest with his hand. The fabric of my tunic burned away and the heat explored my body, causing sweat to leak down my chest. I pushed him away from me, though the burning had not stopped, and searched for my dagger. My vision blurred with the stinging, and it felt like Jolis's touch alone was enough to burst my body open. Several more flames were aimed toward me, and though I attempted to dodge them, my speed was decreasing.

  I fell on the ground, landing flat on my face. A thin stream of blood started to pour out of my nostrils, but I opened my eyes and could see the dagger from where I lay. As I extended my hand to retrieve it someone else grabbed it before me, and then a sharp stinging entered into my arm. I let out a cry and kicked with my feet until at last I heard my attacker fall over. Blood dripped off of the tip of the dagger, but I lodged myself toward Jolis and tackled him. Holding my hand against his neck, I watched as ice started to form on his skin. His eyes watered and dirt covered his face, but he refused to release the dagger.

  “Leal!” Celestria cried from nearby.

  I narrowed my eyes on my opponent. I couldn't afford to waste any more time here when Nicia's life was at stake.

  “Stay away; I'm handling this!” I called out.

  Jolis coughed. “W-what are you going to d-do, Leal? F-freeze me to d-death?”

  The ice spread further up his neck, and I kept my full weight on his body so that he could not move. There were footsteps approaching, and I could only hope that it was Celestria and not Wilhem. I didn't have the time to look; the spell was draining my energy and costing my full attention.

  “What are you doing to him?” Celestria asked, kneeling down beside us.

  I growled. “They're willing to burn Nicia. How is this any different?”

  She gasped and said, “You're going to kill him... like this...”

  Jolis's lips moved like he was trying to say something, but I placed my hand closer to his neck and continued with the spell. The smell of fire rose in the air and voices were carrying on in the distance. They were taking the woman I loved to her death; they were going to kill again and get away with it if we didn't stop them.

  “I won't let you do this,” Celestria said, pushing me so that I fell onto the ground. I started to get up to reposition myself, but Celestria held out her hand and stopped me.

  “What's wrong with you? When did you decide that we owe forgiveness to them?!” I asked. The ice was melting away from my opponent's neck; in a matter of minutes he could be stabbing me with the dagger.

  Celestria closed her eyes and let out a sigh. “We have to be better than this. This battle isn't about defense; it's about revenge. I know you're angry, and believe me I have a lot against them too. Killing them with that madness in your eyes? That's no way to stop this. We have to stop... We have to stop fighting them with their own fire, and for once just turn the other way.”

  She wanted me to ignore the White magicians, to act like they did not exist? They were the people who had taken away everything from us; nothing ever stopped them or made them think to turn the other way. Why was I the villain here? Jolis attempted to sit up, and Celestria backed away to give him the space.

  Once he was sitting, he turned to her and handed over the dagger. “If you let me go I'll look the other way. I hate ice magic as much as you hate my kind. Let me go, and I'll leave here and return home to my daughter.”

  I snickered. “Oh, now you have no interest in killing me?”

  He ignored me and continued to address Celestria. “Please, mistress, my daughter lost her mother. I wish only to return to her, not to be a casualty of Christopher's war against you.”

  I bit down on my lip, waiting for Celestria to make her decision. If the humans ever accepted us into their society it would be because of her. I felt nauseous, and I wanted to be done with Jolis already so that we could find Alaire and Rostland.

  “Go,” Celestria whispered, and at that our opponent stood up and ran toward the forest. There was still a chance that he could find Christopher and inform him of what happened, but for the time being it didn't matter. Fortunately I did not have to hear a lecture about the poor choices I had made. Instead she helped me up and we started running to find Alaire and Rostland. She explained on our way there that Wilhem had escaped during battle, and there was no telling if we would ever see him again.

  The smoke was rising up into the sky, and the unmistakable smell of wood burning filled my lungs. I held my breath at times, hoping that Nicia was nowhere near the fire yet. When we reached the crowd it was impossible to see where our friends could be. However, that was the least of my concern when I saw that Nicia was already tied against the stake. A pile of burning wood surrounded her, and it appeared that all of Christopher's magicians were standing guard to both sides of the fire. The locals watched with horrified faces, though some cheered on the process. I pushed past all of them, ignoring Celestria's calls to me as I made my way to the front. Christopher stood at the front and upon noticing me he held up his hand, forcing that I stay where I was. I tried counter spells to release me, but my feet were stuck in the dirt. The other magicians also held out their hands to strengthen the spell, and I was forced to stay still like a statue. Rostland, Alaire, and Celestria stood nearby on the sides with the crowd, but it appeared they too were being restrained by the statue. Nicia glanced down at me and offered a faint smile, though there were tears rolling down her face. The sparks from the fire roared; the smell was strong enough to numb my thoughts. I knew I had to save her; it was the one selfless act I had to do.

  “And let it be known on this day Nicia Ripnu is sentenced to her death for the practice of unlawful magic. Any other individual practicing Dark magic will be seized and meet the same fate. Perhaps God can forgive them for the sins they've committed, but let it be known that this is not the end. I will not rest until these monsters are punished,” Christopher said, looking into the faces of individuals in the crowd. He made eye contact with me, and then lowered his hand. The spell released, and I fell to my knees as the flames roared and the fire consumed the entirety of the wood. There were murmurs and gasps amongst the crowd, but I kept my face lowered to the ground. I stared at the dirt, and I silently cursed at it. I silently cursed at everyone in the crowd for looking directly at her while she burned to death as an innocent victim.

  Christopher had only been right about one matter: it was not the end.

  Chapter Thirty-Three<
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  An Army of our Own

  Four weeks later...

  I never knew what it was like to be lost until I lost her. We take people for granted; we assume that they will be around long enough to forgive and forget the wrongs that they made. Then one day we wake up and reality cuts in, and then time has come to a standstill and the words you once meant to say no longer matter. Life can take it all away from you; it can end one life before another in a matter of seconds.

  Whether it had been four weeks or four days since the incident, I was no longer in a position to determine. The pain in my chest begged me to stay secluded in Nicia's bedroom for eternity. Spending the rest of my days in the place she once called her home didn't sound all that threatening. I was safe here hidden away from the society that had easily closed their hearts and opened their eyes to violence. I had no desire to see the humans for the monsters they were or to see the White magicians’ parade with their victory over a woman's death. Instead I laid in the bed occasionally glancing around at the room that held such few amounts of personal items. I should not have expected anything more; Nicia lived for Destin, and when that was taken away from her she lived to protect the people she once fought beside.

  Someone knocked on the door. It was the first time anyone had bothered me. When Rostland brought food or drinks he would step inside, set them down, and then walk away. Whoever was at the door continued to knock as if they deserved a moment of my attention. Groaning, I rolled over on my side.

  “Go away,” I said.

  The knocking came again, and I stood up and crossed the room to open it. Whoever it was they were out of their mind, and I had half the heart to tell them too. Opening the door, I realized it was Alaire. I stumbled back, having not expected to see him. When we had found him after the burning he held onto Celestria, allowing her to cry into his shoulder. They comforted one another, but Rostland and I stood there in silence with no one and nothing left to lose.

  “We've been worried about you. We need you to return home, and I realize that's not something you are willing to do on your own. I would not ask this of you, but I'll be leaving for a while and someone needs to protect Celestria,” he said.

  “Protect her? If I see Christopher I'll rip him apart. I'm not certain that leaving is the wisest choice right now,” I replied bitterly.

  He crossed his arms. “I'm leaving to find Dyanna, but if I told Celestria she would want to come with me. I promise to return as quickly as possible; this town is too dangerous to stay in for much longer.”

  “Fine...” I sighed. The idea of leaving our hometown permanently sounded refreshing. I didn't want the memories or the reminders of everyone and everything that died here, and with that in mind I followed Alaire outside. I took in a whiff of the air, realizing how different it was to breathe fresh air. Vinur and Muta were waiting directly outside for Alaire. He mounted the white horse, and then waited as Muta circled around them.

  “I love you, brother,” he said, and then the three of them disappeared.

  “I love you too... brother,” I whispered, though there was no one in the street to hear me. It was early in the morning, and the sun was just beginning to rise. I walked through the street, but being outside again brought back memories of Christopher. He was right; we weren't at the end because of Nicia, and now more than ever I was ready to raise an army of our own. He wanted war, then let him have it.

  Once I reached the house I realized the door was cracked open. Reaching down, I felt around my belt for the carrier. It was empty; someone had taken my daggers. Cautiously, I pushed the door open the remainder of the way and stepped inside. The house was silent; there did not appear to be anyone in sight. I glanced across the foyer, wondering where the maids and servants were but saw nothing. What had happened since the time Alaire left to visit me? I slowly made my way to the staircase, but this was undoubtedly a trick of some sort. The stairs creaked as I ascended, and if someone was waiting for my arrival they could most likely already hear my every step.

  At the top of the stairs there was still not a single noise that could be heard. It appeared that I was alone, and if someone wanted to kill me they hadn't done so yet.

  “Celestria?” I whispered, hoping to hear some kind of response. I was desperate to hear anything or for her to run out and explain what happened, and that I was not indeed losing my mind. However, after a few minutes the silence crept into the house again.

  Abruptly a gloved hand wrapped around my mouth, something hit me, and I fell to the floor. Everything blackened, voices murmured, and the darkness engulfed me.

  ***

  In the dream there was an ancient church building on the verge of falling apart. Behind it was a sea that stretched out for miles. The waves crashed into the rocky landscape below the church, and every sound in the distance was swallowed by the angry sea. There was a seagull who flew high above the water, but he only glanced down once to consider diving in for a drink.

  There was barely enough oxygen in the room to keep me alive. I lay on a cold floor as a prisoner of a place that had once been holy. The woman next to me screamed, running her hands through her knotted hair. I was the only one who heard her; the only one who could relate to her pain. A tear slid down her cheek and dripped onto the floor. Her sorrow echoed through the empty building, but that echo was a memory of Death, who waited by the door to our cell.

  I opened my eyes, but I realized none of it had been a nightmare. Celestria sat in the corner of the cell, crawled up in a ball. Her eyes were wide; the horror glistened in her jaded eyes that stared motionless at the wall. Carefully, I crawled toward her and extended my hand. She jumped and hissed, though I found her behavior no longer frightened me. Though she glared at me, I advanced and tried once more to offer my hand. Another tear fell from her eye when at last she accepted, but her skin was cold and raw against mine.

  “Celestria?”

  She shivered at the sound of my voice. I pondered for a moment the possibility that perhaps she no longer recognized me. I saw against the wall next to her, considering that maybe I was losing my mind and she was part of my imagination. Glancing down at my body, I recognized that my clothes were ripped and tattered and dark bruises ran down along both of my hands.

  “I feel trapped,” she said at last, though her voice sounded husky and unfamiliar. I could not remember the last time I heard her voice, but she sounded like a complete stranger.

  “I feel trapped. My bones ache, and I yearn to fly, yet my wings are useless. I'm locked in this cage, and I keep banging my head against the bars, thinking that I can escape. I don't have the key; I fear I lost it a long time ago.” Celestria turned to me, though she would not look directly into my eyes, and I could see there were bruises and scratches on her skin as well.

  I couldn't remember anything. All I remembered was searching an empty house for her, and now I was in this cold place bearing markings that I could not explain. I looked around, trying to regain any memories of what this place was. The walls were old and cracked; the floor was solid, and the only light that shone in was from a distant window. I could hear the sound of the waves crashing against land, and thought back to the dream I had. Perhaps I wasn't losing my mind after all. Extending out my hand, I considered using my magic.

  “I wouldn't do that if I were you,” a female's voice said from nearby. It sounded familiar; I knew it from somewhere, but couldn't place a face with the voice. Turning my head, I saw that there was someone outside of the cell standing in the shadows. She stepped into the light, revealing her true identity.

  “I tried to warn you. You should have left while you had the chance,” Nathalie said with a smirk.

  I gasped. “You? Why have you done this?”

  She tapped her index finger against her lip as she thought for a moment. Then, she replied, “About thirteen years ago there was a man, Ewan Irvine, who double-crossed my family. He promised us safety, worked with us, and then turned us over to his friends and nearly wiped out our entir
e family. You remember what happened to him, don't you?”

  I growled, and she laughed.

  “Little did anyone ever expect that one day Ewan's son and I would cross paths. My father and uncles took care of your father; now I'm taking care of the rest,” she said. Turning swiftly, she walked away and into the next room. I watched her go, but now I was even more determined than before to escape.

  “Use your magic with me,” I whispered to Celestria as I pushed my hands against the floor to stand up. My back ached and my legs quivered, but I managed to maintain my balance. Though I extended my hand out to Celestria, she refused to move.

  “Don't you remember? We have tried this before, and every time we get caught. I can't do it...” she said, wrapping her arms around her knees. There was a glimmer of light that reflected in the sunlight, and I looked more closely to see where it was coming from. There was a silver ring on Celestria's finger; one that I had never seen before.

  “That ring... Is that-”

  She held up her hand and nodded. “Alaire asked me to marry him before he left. He said he wanted to do it before the war, though now I suppose we may never be home in time for the wedding.”

  I turned to the cell door and held onto the bars, casting a spell to freeze them. My head started to spin as soon as I started, and it would be pointless if I tried to do it alone. Before I said anything Celestria was standing beside me, awaiting instructions.

  “We're using an ice spell. It'll freeze these bars, and then we can break through them,” I explained.

  “I've never used that kind of spell,” she admitted, dropping her head.

  “Follow my lead. The word is tithuim; say it, think it, use it,” I said, and I gestured for her to touch the bars with me. We chanted the word together, though it looked like the spell was draining her as easily as it was me. Even so, ice was beginning to cover the bars and if we were lucky it would be over in a matter of minutes. I kept thinking about the wedding and that nothing was going to force us to miss it. The ice crept further up the bars, and then I stepped back and placed both hands in front of me. Celestria moved out of the way, I waved my hands in a circle motion together, and then the bars shattered. The shards of ice scattered across the floor, sounding loud enough to reveal what we had done.