CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE
The Girl of Fire and Lightning
I recognized the ceiling from somewhere. It sloped upward, blurring into focus as I opened my eyes. Little rays of sunlight peeked into the room, warming my face. I'm back in the tower. How had I gotten here? I sat up in the bed, but my arms were stuck. When I looked down, I saw why: my wrists had been chained to the bedpost. Panic flashed through me. Had Traum captured me? Where was everyone?
The door opened. I squinted as light flooded the room, and a shadow walked toward me. "Kaybree? You're awake!"
I sighed in relief. "Galen!" His coppery hair gleamed in the light and his uniform was neat and pressed. I smiled into his bright, caring eyes, glad to see he had recovered. I glanced down at my wrists, shackled to the bed. I managed to sit up and even smoothed my dress a little. Someone must have dressed me after the relics burned my clothes off. "Are you all right?"
"Fine," he said, putting his hands on my shoulders. "They told me what happened when I was released. We were worried about you."
"How about Henri and the others?" I asked. "Are they okay?"
Before he could answer, another figure strode into the room. My blood froze. It was my mother, and her face was an angry mask chiseled from steel. "Leave us, Galen," she said. He hesitated for a moment and then gave me a smile before departing. He shut the door, and my mother came to sit at the edge of my bed. "How are you feeling?"
"My head hurts," I said. "And I'm kind of sore."
She inspected me with a searching gaze. "No permanent damage was done to you, it seems. We have that much."
I studied her boots. Rigid and austere, like the rest of her uniform. "How is everyone?" I asked. I wasn't sure I wanted to know, but waiting any longer would be unbearable.
"The sagekeep and Vormund tower were damaged as a result of the fighting," she said. "Brother Jans, your Angel, was found dead. And there was one casualty among the guards. We lost Henri in the explosion."
I paled. "Henri?" I blinked back tears. "I'm sorry."
My mother stared back with a steely gaze, but I noticed pain there as well. "You made a choice. He understood that."
I looked away. I didn't want to look into her eyes now, or anyone's, for that matter. I wanted to crawl into a dark hole and disappear. After all of that, I hadn't even been able to protect the one who'd relied on me, who'd stood up for me against the Angel?
"I still wonder at why you came in the first place," she said. "You should have stayed far away from the tower until the business with Traum was finished."
"I thought . . . I thought that's why you called me here. To help you in your mission."
She leaned closer and grabbed my shoulder. Her nails dug into my flesh, and I felt more scared than when I'd seen Giles kill Father Kraus. Because I had no Weapons now. "If I'd wanted your help, do you not think I would have brought you here years ago?"
I was shocked. "What about all of my classes?" I asked. "You've sent me all across Nordgard, made me take every class I could fit into my schedule—"
"To keep you occupied," she said. "Whether you learned anything or not was of no consequence. Because that is not your place. You do not lead: you follow." She released me and pulled back. Her expression softened, and she placed a hand over mine. It was like being caressed by a rock. "Has Galen told you what we're trying to accomplish?"
"Just a little." I thought about Giles's words, of her using my power for her experiments.
"You have to trust us," she said, her voice subdued. "We seek to achieve something that will save all of humanity. Something that will teach us to cure the flensu of the peasantry, to feed the starving masses, to halt the wars between nations. The Angels are trying to stop us. We need you to stand between us and them."
"But why can't you find someone else?" I asked. "You've seen me; I'm terrible at this. I can't use a sword. The Weapons go out of control and hurt people when I use them. Just let me have a normal life."
My mother straightened her coat and stood. "That is the one thing you can never have," she said, all emotion drained from her voice. She was back to the mother I knew very well. "Whether you are suited or not, it is your task to bear. Every century, a Witch is born—but only one. You will fight the Angels, or all of us will die."
"Then let me join Vormund," I said. "You've been teaching me how to control my powers. If I can't have a normal life, then this is my destiny, isn't it? Henri trusted me enough to fight beside me. He believed in me, Mother. Why can't you?"
She looked into my eyes, a strangely calm expression coming over her features. "I wouldn't trust myself with the power you wield," she said. "And yet, perhaps you are ready to understand." She tossed a key onto my bed. "You are to sleep in chains from now on, and never to leave the sagekeep. It will serve as a reminder of the temptation you face each day. You are not prepared to take the Vormund Oath, but I will keep you within the walls of the Order. If you learn obedience and discipline, there may be a place for you here among us."
Her voice became lower, almost emotional. "I will not lose you, Kaybree. You are the only chance we have." She took my chin in her hand, and it could have been a trick of the light, but a tiny mist of tears seemed to appear in her eyes. She looked like she was about to say something else, but instead turned on her heel and left, shutting the door behind her.
I unlocked the chains and rubbed my sore wrists as her words sunk in. I was the only Witch in all the world. But why did the Angels not want us to cure the flensu, or stop wars? And as distant as my mother had always seemed, I had felt real affection from her. Was I a tool or a daughter to her? Perhaps both, and that was why she found it so difficult to talk to me. While she still hadn't told me everything, she'd made one thing clear: there was no going back to things as they were. I was the Witch of Kant Vakt, and until the Angels stopped attacking, they had become my life.
But now, I finally had somewhere I belonged.
I washed my face and hands, changed into a coal black dress that suited my mood, and threw on my coat. I found the hallway outside empty, and only encountered people when I passed through the wrecked tower keep. The windows were completely gone, and the roof had been blasted away like some giant had torn it off and left a melted mass of stone on the sides. Workers in vests and loose trousers chatted as they took measurements and compared pieces of stone to the damaged tower. Vormund guards in their black and red uniforms patrolled, keeping the workers out of the hallway.
They stepped aside and let me pass. I put on my hood and kept my face down, in case anybody knew me. I heard some of the workers' conversation. "So did you see what did this?" one said.
"Heard it was an Angel," said another. "Came down from the forest and crashed into the tower. Big fiery thing, looked like a girl. Killed a bunch of people too."
"Naw, that's just hearsay. Angels?"
"Yeah, Angels. Like that one that came a few weeks back."
"What happened to it?"
"Don't know. Maybe Lady Staalvoss stopped it again. They say she has . . ."
Their voices faded as I left the tower. So they'd seen me. Rumors were probably floating around the city. What would they think when they realized that I was still here? Would I be the queen of the evil Angels, a harbinger of misfortune? Or something else?
I exited into the foyer. One of the guards stepped in front of me on my way out, startling me.
"I'm sorry, Miss Andresdatter," he said. "Lady Staalvoss ordered that you stay here until further notice. She seems quite worried about your safety."
I smiled back at him. "It's okay. I'll be fine. She told me I could go anywhere in the sagekeep. I'm just going down to get my things."
"But we've brought everything up from your rooms. She said you'll be staying here now." He nudged me back, and his partner's hand slid down to his sword. "Come along."
I let the guards escort me back into the tower. I was locked here, it seemed, aside from classes. The only other exceptions my mother was likely to grant would be tr
aining with Galen or battling an Angel. I plopped down on one of the couches in the entryway, rubbing my forehead. It still hurt from where I'd smashed into the tower. The nails on my right hand were worn down to stubs from clawing my way down the spire. I was still in shock. I'd killed Henri, even if it was by accident. And I'd killed Giles—on purpose. I'd let my power fly out of control. What would I say to Henri's wife and children? And what had happened to Mikael, who'd betrayed Giles to save me?
I heard footsteps on the stairs. "There is no admittance for those outside the Order," said the guards in the foyer. "You may send a message inside if you wish. There's parchment over there."
"Well, you see, I'm looking for someone who can't read. And she's not really bright either, so it would be best if I just went in there and let her see my face. You can keep your swords out the whole time, if you want. Keep me blindfolded too."
I recognized the voice. "Will?"
"Young Lord Matthias," said the guard, sounding annoyed, "the last watch told us you would try again. I'm sorry, but you'll get the same answer from us. No."
I walked out into the foyer and saw Will and Mira there, looking at me with a mix of awe and surprise. "Will! Mira! You're all right!"
The soldier frowned at me. "You know these two?"
"Yes, sir. They're close friends of mine. I asked them to come and tell me what I missed in class."
He stroked his chin, glancing at his companion. "They cannot be allowed inside, you understand."
"Can we talk out here?" I asked, gesturing at the couches in the foyer. "You can watch me. I promise I won't leave." He and the other guard nodded at each other and waved their assent, so I walked out and took Mira and Will's hands. When we'd sat down at one of the couches, grinning like children, I whispered, "I'm so glad you're alive. When my mother told me about what happened to Henri, I thought . . ."
Will shrugged. "What can I say? With you around, I don't think either of us seemed like much of a threat."
I smirked. "Even though I'm illiterate and not very bright?"
We laughed, and Mira squeezed my hand. It felt wonderful to laugh again. "How are you feeling, Kaybree? We watched for as long as we could, but after that blast, we had to run. Sages and archers were coming."
A thought struck me. My mother had never mentioned them when I'd asked if everyone was all right. "Did anybody see you? Sages, or guards from the tower?"
Will glanced around, like a burglar making sure the coast was clear. "Don't think so," he whispered. "I know you said your mom wouldn't like it if other people knew about you. Hope you don't mind us leaving you like that."
"No, no, it's fine!" I said. "You might want to practice your abandoning skills. You'll need them next time too."
Mira cleared her throat. "So, did Jans . . . say anything? Or do you not want to talk about it?"
I shook my head. "I'll tell you guys later. I'm still pretty confused about all of this."
Will stood up. "Yeah, we should probably let you rest. You're still looking kind of pale." He leaned over and grinned. "Oh, but now that you're up, you won't miss my maiden performance."
"Your what?"
"Apprentice night at the Bard Song. I finished my song while you were asleep, and I want you to hear it. It would mean a lot to me, really." He shifted his feet and glanced away. I'd never seen Will this nervous before. "So, can you make it? It's tonight."
"I'd love to!" I said. Then I remembered my mother's rules. "But, actually, I'm not allowed to leave the sagekeep."
Will winked at me and nodded at Mira. "Not gonna be a problem." He pointed at the entrance to the tower. "Meet us out here at nine. We'll think of something."
I put a hand on his arm. "No, Will, I'm serious," I said. "Until I learn to control my powers, my mother has forbidden me to leave. And you know what? Maybe this once, she's right. I'd love to see you sing, but it'll have to wait. Okay?"
Will glanced at Mira. She took my sleeve and we walked over by the corridor, out of Will's hearing. I put on a smile. "I really want to go, but—"
"Kaybree, he really wants you to hear this song." She glanced back at Will, who paced in front of the couches. "His palms are actually sweating."
"What's he singing?" I said, giving her a sidelong look. "Has he shown you the lyrics?"
"Nope. But he says there won't be any more lame antler references. He spent all day working on this costume that would make him look like he'd walked through a fire. He's poured a lot of time into this, so I hope he pulls it off. I'd hate to see him embarrassed in front of the whole tavern. Remember those guys with the braided beards and the billowy cloaks? They're other bards. They come to Bard Song to scout for new members."
I sighed, wishing I could make her understand, wishing she could feel the dark pit in my stomach. "I killed someone, Mira," I said. "Henri died because I lost control. I don't like my mother's rules, but I need to keep them."
She bit her lip. "All right, I understand." A gleam came into her eye. "So you're stuck in this tower all night?"
"Right."
She smiled. "Then I guess that's how things have to be."
She led me back to Will, shaking her head. He sighed and ran a hand through his hair. "Maybe we can push it back," he said. "Can we come visit tomorrow?"
"Of course," I said. "And I can go to classes and the mead hall too. But only on days when we actually have class."
Will gave me a wry smile. "Get some rest, then, Lightning Girl. You'll need it."
I spent the rest of the day sleeping in my new room. Trapped in the tower, with only a tiny window to see the snow piling up outside and the peasants coughing and dying of the flensu. Maybe this isolation was a blessing, but I missed seeing the outside world. I had no one to talk to, nowhere to go, and only a couple of books to read. At least no one had noticed that one of the books they brought up was my father's journal. I wasn't sure how much more use it would be, but it was nice to have it around.
Someone knocked at the door. "It's me, Kaybree," said Galen's voice. I blinked, wondering if I'd imagined it out of delusion. "Can I come in?"
"Of course," I said, glancing into the mirror to fix my hair as he entered. His coppery hair was smoothed down, and his black surcoat neatly pressed. "It's great to see you. How did you get away from Traum?"
"You had something to do with that," he said, smiling back. Why did he have to be betrothed to Danelle? I wished I could find someone like him someday. Find someone I could talk freely with, who I felt comfortable being myself around. Our particular connection, however, only belonged to those who fought the Angels. "When the borders were overrun with monsters, he had to let us go. We're the only ones who know how to fight them."
"Does he still suspect anything?"
"Of course," he said. "But with Jans gone, he'll have a hard time getting any information. Did he tell you anything when he attacked?"
"He told me my powers were dangerous. That they could be used to start another War of the Angels."
He met my gaze with one of firmness and conviction. "Your powers can also save people. So can other things the Angels have stopped us from creating. The Angels have ruled over us for all these centuries, pretending to be our benefactors, but really controlling us. They fear you and your power. They fear what your mother is creating. They fear a human race that can defend itself." He smiled. "I have faith in you. We can do this."
I smiled shyly. As eloquent as that sounded, I was starting to fear his epic speeches. "Okay. I'll do it. But keep the 'you are our only hope' rhetoric to a minimum, all right? I really don't need the extra pressure."
He winced. "Sorry. I do that sometimes." He met my gaze. "I have to go, Kaybree. You'll be all right here tonight?"
"Sure," I said with a smile.
"Ready to start training tomorrow?"
I gave a dramatic sigh. "We're defending humanity, right? How could I possibly say no?" He gave me an odd look, as if he thought I was mocking him. Well, maybe I was. I grinned back, and he
smiled slightly as he left.
I wandered the tower halls all night, unable to sleep. I stepped into the tower keep. No torches were lit, and the only light came from the glow of the moon outside and the pale orange lamps of households not yet gone to bed. A draft blew in through the cracks in the wall where the workers were repairing it. They had left a heavy canvas over the spot, and tools were stacked on the side next to a pile of bricks.
I stared out at the night, watching the stars appear in the sky as my vision adjusted. I could see the forest now, dense foliage stretching for countless miles south of us. The city slept, but danger lurked in the forest beyond. How could I protect everyone? I was just one girl with powers I didn't understand.
A shadow shifted on the wall, and my head snapped to the side. "Hi, Kaybree," said a voice as a figure stepped into the light. Rugged hair, long cloak, smell of moist greenery. It was Mikael.
I met his gaze, gauging his intentions. Or wishing I was good enough at reading people to gauge his intentions. "Hi, Mikael. What are you doing here?"
"Giving you a message," he said. "That's what I do, remember?" He stepped closer and nodded out the window. "You can probably hear them now."
I glanced down at the city below. It wasn't far, so I could see people moving through the night streets. "Who's down there?"
"Your friends wanted me to tell you to open your window," he said. "The bard and that Eastern girl."
Will and Mira had talked to Mikael? I stared at him, not understanding. "Do they know . . . what you are?"
"No," he said. "Just that I'm a friend."
"I thought you were a messenger."
"I can't be both?"
I studied his relaxed expression. He'd deceived me into trusting him, betrayed me . . . but then saved me. I knew why he'd attacked me; he was an Angel. It was the saving that confused me. "I don't understand," I said. "Why did you help me back there? If you're—" I glanced around. No one in earshot, but I lowered my voice anyway. "If you're an Angel, why did you turn against Giles?"
"He was a Domari, a Judge," he said. "I am of the Syd'Kurir, a Vision Bringer in your speech. You call us all Angels, but our forms, as well as our purposes, are different. Man has come to resemble the Syd'Kurir, and we guide you toward the light of the Almighty. You have come to fear those who strike out in judgment against sin."
"Was that the real Jans? The real Giles?"
"Yes," he said. "You call them monsters, but they have a purpose in the Almighty's creation. So do we."
"How do I know I can trust you?" I asked.
Mikael walked forward, leaning closer. His breath felt warm on my face. "I'm here to help you." His face glowed, as if he was letting me see part of his Angelic nature here in the hallway. I recognized the beauty I'd seen that first day, during my vision in the woods. His words carried sincerity, even though I knew he was my enemy, and his radiance reminded me of how close to the Almighty he was. "I want to guide you. I want to help you make the right choices."
"But I'm a Witch," I whispered, firmly meeting his gaze. "I kill Angels."
"You don't have to," he said. "Witches manifest their power in many ways. I don't believe you need to die to save humanity. But you do need to be careful—your mother is doing things that are dangerous, things that could threaten everything humanity has built, and everything the Angels have protected."
"But she needs me to do it," I said. "Without me, the Angels can stop her. Why didn't you let Giles kill me?"
He looked away, his face a stoic mask. "Why defend mankind if we destroy all that's worth protecting?" He motioned at the corridor. "Hurry back. I'll be watching." I heard a commotion outside and turned to look, but I could see nothing from this vantage point, only a flicker of torches. When I looked back at Mikael, he was gone.
I remembered his message and returned to my room. I shut the door behind me and grabbed my coat, buttoning it tight. What did Will and Mira want me to see? I unlatched the window and opened it; my mother hadn't yet padlocked the windows, as she didn't expect me to fly out of my own volition.
The night was cool, though the snow kept the air warmer than it would have been without. Sages patrolled the grounds of the sagekeep at night, and Traum's Knights of Valir strode along the streets with drawn swords. I pulled my hood over my head and put out the lamp next to my bed, peering into the night. Just outside the confines of the courtyard, by a series of flat boulders, a crowd had gathered. I strained to hear their voices, and caught a glint of light. It stung my eyes, and I realized someone was reflecting torchlight through a mirror at me.
It was Mira. She noticed my gaze and waved, stowing the mirror into her cloak. She had her hood up, but her dark hair stood in stark contrast to those around her. She smiled a shy, mysterious smile, and pointed to the boulders ahead. The crowd held tankards and jostled one another for the space before a high ledge. Torches of bright blue flame had been set up alongside the ledge, and panels of wood were placed around it, similar to the stage at the Bard Song. Will had told me that they did that to project the sound outward.
The crowd quieted down as someone walked out onto the ledge from behind, hooded and cloaked. He carried a lute in one hand, and his coat and trousers were worn and tattered as if from a long journey. The cloak had burn marks on it. He stood there for a moment while the crowd fell totally silent. The figure threw back its hood to reveal Will's face. His cheeks had dirt smudges and his hair looked singed on the ends. His eyes were glazed, as if staring into the distance.
Like Mira had said, the costume made him look like he'd just jumped out of a fire. The makeup also highlighted his cheekbones and made his skin look smoother. He strummed a chord on the lute.
"Tales we spin of legends long past," he said, switching to another chord, deep and somber. His voice came into my window as if he was singing right below me. Had he convinced the patrons to listen to his song . . . outside? "But few know the tales that lie in our midst." He stepped forward, starting a slow arpeggio of notes as his eyes swept the crowd. His gaze turned upward, toward the scene of my battle with Giles atop the sagekeep, but stopped at my window. Our eyes met, and I barely saw him wink. "Someday men will sing of things that we see." He snapped his body forward. "Let legends be told, then, of what soon shall be." His lute rang out over the courtyard, and he began to sing in a powerful, resonant voice:
The monster arose from the blackest abyss
With robes dripping red, a serpent's kiss
A dragon devouring with flame
Neither child nor priest nor beggar to spare
As murder approached in its glory
Claws taut to end my life story
Through torrents of rain you appeared
A beacon of hope shining, stopping all fear
The sky blazed bright on the sagekeep tow'r
As you fought with your life and all of your pow'r
I never asked your name
But I know I shall see you again
You're the girl made of fire
Soar on through the night
With thunder bolts flashing
I'll bask in your light
When demons and Angels strike
A thousand hearts screaming, you rush to the fight
Though evil's array may stand in your way
You're the one who will save us tonight
He was singing about me, a heroic ballad of a girl who was hardly a hero. But as the people in the crowd joined in on the chorus, their voices echoing across the courtyard and into the forest beyond, I noticed something. They loved the song, in spite of Will's ludicrous lyrics. They sang with fervor and passion. About me. Did they know that they were talking about the fiery monster that had wrecked their town? Or were they caught up in Will's music?
I never asked your name
Though your face appears in my dreams
I know I shall see you again
For I will never forget
You're the girl made of fire
Soar on
through the night
Oh, girl made of lightning
Blaze trails through the sky
Our future rides on your light
As ten thousand demons turn dust when you strike
And with you we stand, protecting our land
Together we'll ride to the fight
You're the one who will save us tonight
When the music ended, the crowd thundered with applause. Will executed a sweeping bow, and finally looked out across the courtyard and smiled at me. "Thank you, everybody!" he shouted over the applause. "And thanks to that special girl who saved us all." They roared even louder.
I smiled back at Will. My eyes welled up with emotion. These people weren't just clapping for his song; they were clapping for me too. For the mysterious girl of fire and lightning who defended their city against the Angels. I gazed out over the city, with its thatched-roof houses, cobblestone streets, and stubborn goats that chewed on the scraps of winter foliage. At the excited children who crept from their homes into the night, boots crunching through the snow, searching for the source of the impassioned singing. All of Kant Vakt was my home now, and I vowed to do my part to protect it. Even if I made mistakes, even if I was the worst Witch in all history, they still appreciated me. And I couldn't let them down.
I could be the Witch my mother wanted me to be. I might not be able to live up to Will's song, but I could fight my best. A little trickle of tears flowed down my cheek. I was the one chosen to do this, whether I wanted it or not. For their sakes, I had to keep fighting.
So that's how I became a Witch. That's why I patrol the streets of Kant Vakt with a relic on my wrist and a dead heretic's bone hanging around my neck. To most people, I just seem like a normal girl, with Danelle and Father Traum making my life miserable and Galen and Mikael making it complicated.
But I don't live a normal life. I'm Kaybree Andresdatter the Angel Killer. And whether I like it or not, I'm humanity's only hope.
END OF BOOK I
About the Author
Harrison Paul has worked as a heavy metal musician, a Chinese translator at Nanjing University, a math and science tutor, and a morning custodian. He has also served as a full-time missionary for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Taipei, Taiwan, and currently teaches middle school and high school Mandarin. He has written 19 novels to date (Kaybree versus the Angels is #15), and plans to release more of the Angel Killer series in ebook form as soon as possible. 他也希望做一个中文翻译。
Connect with Harrison Paul
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Links to Other Books by Harrison Paul
Kaybree the Angel Killer Series:
Kaybree versus the Angels
My Very Own Witch Hunter
Girl of Fire and Lightning
Steel Fox (coming Summer 2014)
Twilight of the Angels (coming Fall 2014)
Here's a preview of the next episode in Kaybree's journey...
My Very Own Witch Hunter
Available wherever ebooks are sold
Kaybree Versus the Angels Page 25
