Daughter of Lies and Ruin

by Jo Spurrier

  ‘Okay.’ The ring bore an angular shaped stone that flickered with streaks of orange and red. The shield ring had a dull grey stone that looked a little like quicksilver turned solid. I could feel power in the stone, and after a couple of tries I managed to activate the enchantment within. The shield sprang up around my hand, a glowing, translucent disk a good two feet across.

  ‘There you go,’ Aleida said. ‘You’re not wearing earrings, are you? Best take them out.’

  ‘I’m not,’ I said. ‘I can’t, my ears aren’t pierced.’

  ‘Oh. We ought to do something about that, one of these days. Ready?’

  I shook my head. ‘No. Do we really have to do this? I don’t want to fight anyone, I really don’t.’

  ‘That’s too bad,’ she said, flatly. ‘You want to stop this, don’t you? Or would you rather load up the wagon and drive away? Because it’s not too late.’

  I shook my head. ‘No,’ I said in a small voice. ‘We can’t just let it happen.’

  ‘Exactly. If you want to make a difference, you have to be prepared to get your hands dirty and take a few knocks.’ She looked down at me, sadness in her dark eyes. ‘Look, Dee, I’ll be honest; you’re probably going to get clobbered. There’s just no way to do this without taking that risk. But you’ll need to pick yourself up and keep going. I’ll patch you up once it’s all over.’

  I looked down at the rings and my wand, and bit my lip. Lord and Lady, what am I doing here? I’m not a fighter.

  Her face thoughtful, Aleida reached into her bag again and pulled out a little glass vial, sealed with cork and wax. Inside was something dark brown and oily. ‘Damn it. All right. I’m in two minds about this, but what the hell, we’re probably going to need any advantage we can get.’ She passed me the vial. ‘Drink it.’

  I hesitated. ‘Don’t you need it more? I don’t want to take something you could use.’

  ‘I’ve already had some, this is for you. Drink it, and you could smash your thumb with a hammer and barely even notice. It’s dangerous, mind you, it’ll let you ignore an injury that could kill you. So take care, all right?’

  I took the glass tube and broke the seal with my thumb. Then, with a shrug, I drank it down. It was thick, like molasses, bitter and sweet at the same time, and when it hit my throat it burned with a searing heat.

  ‘Ready?’ Aleida said.

  ‘No, but we’re out of time, aren’t we? Aleida, will you promise me something? Promise to get her da out of there, if you can?’

  ‘No, Dee. It’s going to take everything I have to stop this ritual. You get him out. Once he’s out of danger, Kara will stop fighting you. Your job is to get them out and get them to safety, all right? Leave the rest to me.’

  To my relief, Aleida didn’t ask me to bring us right into the basement again. I didn’t ask why, but she volunteered the explanation anyway. ‘It’s never a good idea to use the same trick twice. She’ll be prepared for it this time, and I don’t know her well enough to know what she’s likely to spring on us.’

  ‘All right then, but where?’

  ‘There’s more rocky outcrop north of the place, as I recall. Bring us out there.’

  When we stepped out into the deepening dusk, Aleida cracked her knuckles and stretched her arms over her head. ‘Well, well. Someone’s been doing some renovations.’

  The fading light had cast everything in shadows, but that was less of a barrier now than it had been a few months ago, before I’d begun my apprenticeship. The crude fence around the ruins was gone, utterly, and the ruins themselves seemed to have been reduced to a heap of rubble, arranged in an oddly regular dome-shaped structure. I remembered the distant rumbling I’d heard when I was summoning the sprites, utterly forgotten after the griffins attacked. ‘Is it just me, or does it seem odd that she’d spend time and effort rebuilding the place instead of finishing the ritual?’ I said.

  ‘When she knows we’re coming to jam a stick in her wheel?’ Aleida said. ‘Building defences is no wasted effort. Gods only know what’s changed inside.’ She tucked her skirts up into her belt to keep them out of the way of her feet, and then pulled out her wand. Her knife she left in the sheath for now, since she needed her other hand for her staff. ‘Nothing interesting out here. Let’s go in.’

  I followed after her, my palms sweating on the oiled wood of my wand and turning the leather-bound hilt of my dagger slick. ‘It’s awfully quiet.’

  ‘Mm. That won’t last.’

  Cautiously, we circled around the heap of rubble to find that one side of it was open, with a path descending to what had once been the basement of the ruins.

  Kara was there, perched upon a boulder with her legs crossed and her blonde braid snaking across her shoulder, her sword lying in her lap. Behind her, the mouth of the cavern glowed a deep, sooty red, and I could hear a faint roar rising up from below, something between the crackling of a huge fire and the rush of fast-flowing water.

  At the sight of us, Kara swiftly stood, barely even touching the ground. It just made me admire those divided skirts of hers all the more. I could never manage a move like that with all these skirts and petticoats getting in the way.

  ‘Hey kid,’ Aleida said. ‘Let me give you a tip. Next time, find a hiding spot and attack from behind. It’s more effective when you’re outnumbered.’

  ‘Thought about it,’ Kara said. ‘But I figured you’d know I was there.’

  ‘True,’ Aleida said. ‘Also, I suspect you’re not quite as hardened as you’d like us all to think, hmm? Never got that pretty sword all bloodied up, have you?’

  ‘There’s a first time for everything,’ Kara said.

  ‘What deal did she cut you, kid?’

  ‘What do you care?’

  ‘If I didn’t care, I wouldn’t ask. Your father’s life, is it? A transformation, too, or you just going to live with a bear from now on?’

  ‘It’s none of your concern,’ she said through gritted teeth.

  ‘You know, you’re right. I’ve got bigger fish to fry. I’d step aside if I were you. I don’t really want to hurt you.’

  ‘Good,’ Kara said, drawing her sword. ‘That gives me an advantage.’ She jumped down from the boulder, landing lightly in the path.

  Aleida gave her a faint smile as she swapped her wand to her left hand. ‘I said I didn’t want to. I didn’t say I wouldn’t.’ Then, with a gesture like pushing open a door, she shoved Kara aside, throwing her into the rocks strewn beside the path. ‘All yours, Dee,’ she said, and with a swish of her skirts, started down into the cavern.

  I stood there, hand on my wand as Kara gave a shriek of frustration, trying to free herself and her sword from the rocks. If I was going to press my advantage it would be now . . . but I couldn’t bring myself to do it. I didn’t want to fight her.

  I offered her my hand. ‘Kara—’

  She slapped it away. ‘Get away! What are you doing? We’re fighting! I have to stop you.’

  I backed away as she struggled to her feet and took a fresh grip on her sword. She held it angled across her body, knees bent, boots planted in the ground. Then, drawing a deep breath, she raised it, lifting her hands to her shoulder as though ready to swing it down. To swing at me.

  ‘You don’t have to do this,’ I said.

  There were tears in her eyes. ‘You don’t know anything!’ she spat. ‘She’ll kill him! She said I have to keep you from stopping the ritual, or she’ll kill him!’

  ‘Okay, but what if I can get him out? What if—’

  ‘You can’t! Just . . . stop talking! Stop acting like we’re friends! I can’t . . .’

  I shook my head. ‘We’re here for her, Kara, not you. But I’ll get your da out of here if I possibly can. I’ll—’

  I didn’t get a chance to finish. I saw the movement in her eyes. She gulped hard, hands tightening on the hilt of the sword, and swung it down.

  I stepped in close. It was probably a bad idea — without the spell Aleida had cast on me it woul
d have been disastrous; but I’d been a farm girl for most of my life, and one thing you soon learn is that if a beast is going to kick you it’s better to be close where the blow doesn’t have as much force.

  Kara’s eyes widened for an instant, and her swing faltered. Then her gaze narrowed, her eyes filled with anger, and she brought the sword down on my shoulder.

  Her hesitation had robbed the blow of most of its might, but it still should have cut deep, especially when she pulled the blade back towards her. It slid over my skin with a kiss of heat, and sliced right through the shoulder-seam of my dress.

  I clapped a hand to the cut with a little cry of dismay. ‘Oh, for pity’s sake, not another one.’

  Kara gave me a look of wide-eyed disbelief. Gently, almost hesitantly, she pressed the tip of the sword against my shoulder, and pushed. The skin blanched around the point, but did not part under the wicked edge of the blade. ‘Oh, what?’ she said with indignation. ‘Witchcraft!’

  ‘Well, honestly,’ I said. ‘What else did you expect?’

  The next thing I knew, I was stumbling backwards. Kara had drawn up a foot and kicked me in the chest. Then she was gone, running down towards the cavern where my teacher had gone.

  Oh, dear. That was exactly what I was supposed to prevent. ‘Kara!’ I pushed myself up, and ran after her.

  CHAPTER 11

  The site of the ritual was . . . different, to say the least. For one thing, the floor inside seemed to have sunk by several dozen yards. What had been a fairly cramped space was now a veritable cavern — Black Oak Cottage and all its outbuildings could have comfortably fit inside. A long, spiralling path wound down the inside of the walls to reach the floor, which was strewn with rocks and rubble, except for the old flagstones where the sigils and obelisks were laid out. Minerva stood at the far side, surrounded by shifting, swirling lights of red and orange and yellow, making her red hair blaze like coals in a forge. Beside her were two pale shapes crumpled on the ground. They were so pale they seemed to glow, and for a moment I frowned at them in confusion. But then I realised what lay behind her.

  Behind her was Kara’s father, the enormous bear, bound with rusted chains. The posts that anchored the chains also supported a flimsy-looking structure of wood and vines, a kind of net that was straining to hold back a mass of rock and rubble, poised over the bear’s shaggy back. I took it in with a sinking stomach. It would take only the smallest disturbance, it seemed to me, to bring that huge rockfall down upon him.

  I didn’t have time to look more closely. Kara was already heading down the spiralling path, and ahead of her I saw Aleida, making her way down to the cavern floor, the stone of her wand all aglow as wisps of light and smoke wreathed around her.

  Kara heard me behind her and whirled, hurling a fist-sized stone. Her aim was good, I had to admit. It came straight towards my head, but I brought up my shield ring and it bounced away. Over the roar of magic down below I heard her give a shriek of frustration.

  ‘Kara, stop! Just let me talk!’ I shouted.

  ‘I’m not here to talk,’ she snarled back. ‘I’m here for my father! And you’ve made it clear you don’t give a shit about him!’

  ‘Have I?’ I demanded. ‘When? Tell me when!’

  She glanced down at Aleida. ‘She said—’

  ‘That was her! She’s here for Minerva, but I’m here for you! I want to get him out too, it’s Minerva who wants to kill him! We’re not enemies, Kara, we want the same damn thing!’

  Eyes narrowed, she stooped to pick up another rock, but this time she just weighed it in her hand. She was no fool. She wasn’t going to keep trying an attack that was proven not to work.

  That might just be my chance to get through to her. ‘There’s got to be some way we can get him out of here, we just need to stop fighting and think!’

  She scowled at me, gripping the stone, and then her eyes flickered to something behind me.

  I didn’t dare look around. It could just be a distraction. My shield ring was only useful if I could see the stone coming; I wouldn’t put it past her to draw my attention away.

  But then I heard it, over the roar of power from the ritual below and Minerva’s voice, unnaturally loud as she chanted her incantation. Hoof beats.

  I raised the shield at the same time as I twisted to look behind me. I felt the stone strike, but it barely registered. All my attention was on the dark shape charging towards me, the golden seal on his shoulder gleaming even in the darkness of the cavern. Toro.

  I hurled a fireball. I didn’t aim it, there wasn’t time, and in all honesty I didn’t want to hit him, I just wanted to turn him aside. But I’d forgotten about the other ring Aleida had given me.

  Fire seared through my arm with all the swiftness and fury of a lightning bolt. The heat of it radiated back at me like the blast of a furnace, and it roared like a dragon as it spat a jet of fire towards the charging horse.

  With a squeal of fright, Toro swerved violently away, barely missing the full brunt of the flames. Instead it just scorched his flanks with a reeking waft of burnt hair. As soon as the flame was gone, he veered back, heading for me once again.

  I was already backing away, but my steps brought me to the edge of the drop. There was no other escape. Running down the spiralling path was out of the question, I was no match for him when it came to speed.

  There was only one other choice. I turned, and jumped.

  A hail of gravel fell with me as I slithered down. I landed hard on the path below, losing my balance as my legs crumpled beneath me. Above there came a snort and a rattle of loose stone as Toro broke off the charge. Then, hoof beats retreating, fading away. I felt odd, overcome by a tingling kind of numbness all over my legs and arms where I’d skidded over the jagged rocks. Oh, I thought, remembering the potion Aleida had given me, and tried to put it out of my mind.

  While I was still trying to stand in a tangle of skirts, Kara slipped down the steep slope with far more control than my ungainly descent. Before I could find my feet, she slammed into me, shoving me back against the rocky wall. Her arm was across my throat, and the other reached for my right wrist, for my wand.

  With a yell I drove the heel of my hand into her chin and cheek, pushing her head back and forcing her away. When that wasn’t enough to make her let go, I buried my hand in her hair and pulled instead, as hard as I could. With a shriek she released me and swung a fist, but my shield ring was already raised. The force of it bursting out of the stone threw her back, sending her sprawling across the path.

  Then I heard it again. Thundering hooves in the darkness. Toro had circled around the cavern to come after me again. I could see him now, charging ahead at a flat gallop, and downhill to boot.

  And Kara lay sprawled on her back in his path.

  I darted forward, grabbed her under the arms, and hauled. Never in my life had I been so glad that my daily chores included so much heavy lifting and hauling. Kara couldn’t have weighed any less than I did, but I managed to heave her up and out of the way of those charging hooves.

  Unfortunately, the only way to avoid him was to go down again, and with even less control than before. Together, we tumbled down the rocky slope, landing in the path again in a small avalanche of jagged, crumbling rock.

  Sobbing from fright and pain, Kara pushed herself up. ‘What’s he doing? I thought he was with you.’

  ‘Minerva got him,’ I said. ‘That golden seal the other beasts had? He’s got one too, now. He’s fighting for her.’ I glanced down at my wand, gripped so tight my knuckles ached. Aleida would tell me to use it, but when she gave me that ring I hadn’t thought about how much hotter and faster it would make my bolts of flame. I’d seen bad burns before, and I could imagine just how much damage one of those bolts would do if it hit with full force. I could picture it clearly, and wished I hadn’t.

  Kara reached for her sword-hilt and bit her lip, eyes searching my face. ‘If she’s got him . . .’

  ‘He’d have trampled you to
get to me,’ I said. ‘Don’t think he won’t hurt you just because you’re both fighting for Minerva.’

  ‘I’m not fighting for her!’ Kara spat. ‘I’m here for Da.’ She took her hand away from the hilt and grabbed for my sleeve. ‘Come on, climb! We need to get back up above him!’

  It was easier said than done. The loosely packed gravel fell away under our hands and feet, and for every inch we gained it seemed we fell back double.

  As I fought my way upwards, I glanced across the cavern, trying to pick out Toro’s gleaming hide through the darkness. Aleida had reached the floor now, I saw, and had begun her attempt to counter the ritual, but I couldn’t make out anything more than a swirling haze of shifting light and the feel of power in the air, wrapping around me like spider webs in the dark.

  Then something else caught my eye. It lay on the path below, right where we’d fallen. Small enough to fit in the palm of a hand, with a jewel-like gleam of gold and jade.

  ‘Dee, come on!’ Kara screamed at me. But then she saw it too, and cursed. ‘Oh, hells!’

  ‘What is it?’ I said. It looked like a seal, for pressing wax onto paper. Or for pressing odd lumps of gold onto a beast’s fur to seal it to the will of the witch. ‘Kara?’

  ‘I stole it,’ she admitted. ‘I saw it in that rats’ nest of a bed she had and snatched it up while she and her beasts were elsewhere. I thought it might be useful.’

  I gave her a wide-eyed look. ‘Yeah,’ I said. ‘I think it might be. We have to get it back.’

  She scrambled back down to get it, and the small rockslide she made brought me back down too. And Toro was still thundering towards us.

  Climbing wasn’t working. Time to try something else. I shoved my wand into my belt and cupped my hands into a stirrup. ‘Here,’ I said. ‘I’ll give you a leg-up.’