Wings of Blood

by Miranda Martin

  Just because we could rise from the ashes didn’t mean we were immortal. We had the typical phoenix lifespan. Her body had finally just given out. Even if she had resurrected… it wouldn’t have been a good thing. And she’d been done with life. She’d told me herself.

  “I’m sorry I’m leaving you alone, Adara.” There had been tears in her eyes, but also a weariness that went soul deep. “Sorry I couldn’t last longer.”

  She’d been old. She and my grandfather had waited a long time to have children, considering the burden of the Original Bloodline. I’d told her I loved her. She’d given me more than enough, which was true. I wanted her to have peace.

  But a sixteen year old just wasn’t equipped to process so much grief. Not well, anyway.

  When Aaden had placed me with Jamine and River, I hadn’t been the easiest to deal with. Quiet and withdrawn, I hadn’t had a whole lot of use for authority figures. Despite this, they’d been patient and kind, treating me just like they treated their little girl, who was only four at the time.

  Siro. I felt a pang go through my heart.

  She’d been the reason why I’d been able to come out the other side mostly whole. While everyone else had been careful around me, she’d followed me around and badgered me non-stop, making me play with her, dragging me out of my room, generally being a nuisance. It was exactly what I’d needed at the time.

  We grew close, so close that even after I moved out on my own, we still spent time together regularly. She was the little sister I had never had and would forever be grateful for.

  Now I hadn’t seen her in years. My heart clenched in pain.

  After I had accepted the Internal Liaison position with Emberich, Jamine and River had distanced themselves. They just hadn’t approved of my choice. They had seen it as a betrayal of their values and a betrayal of our flock, because Emberich had made it clear he didn’t hold our flock in high regard.

  They wouldn’t listen when I tried to explain having to work in the system to get things done, play the game in order to help everyone I could. I’d yelled at them that quiet resistance hadn’t accomplished anything.

  In response, they’d forbidden Siro from talking to me.

  They’d said I was a bad influence.

  Jamine and River weren’t the only ones to basically turn their back on me, but they were the ones that hurt the most. Siro had still been too young to make her own decision. I didn’t want to put her in the middle of our fight anyway. It wasn’t her fault we couldn’t see eye to eye. So I’d given her a tight hug and told her I loved her. She hadn’t fully understood what was going on, but she knew it was a goodbye. Her tear-stained face was etched in my memory.

  This much time later… her parents had probably succeeded in poisoning her against me. I felt another stab of pain in my chest at that thought, then pushed it aside. I needed to be as clear-headed as possible going into this if I wanted to have the best outcome.

  Switching gears, I thought about all the possible reasons for Eli ordering his people to attack a small group like Aaden had claimed.

  If Eli wanted to attack the whole flock, he would have done so. Attacking a small group and only injuring...

  That was a warning. A way to check the flock rather than destroy it.

  I had a couple of ideas why they would do so. Most likely, it had something to do with some of the “perks” Emberich had bestowed on the flocks that he liked, the flocks that were willing to sell others down the river for a cushier life.

  My flock hadn’t been one of them. It was one of the reasons why I’d been offered the job as Liaison—nobody important wanted the headache of the work, especially when it was mostly an ineffective position.

  At least, it was until I took it. I’d found… creative ways to help those who needed it. Now that Emberich was no longer here, though, it was as if someone had untied my hands from behind my back and given me free reign.

  That was basically what Sven had done, wasn’t it?

  Just another reason to love him.

  I’d just run through all of the possibilities in no time, with hours of flight still to go, hours to worry about how the flock would receive me. No way around it.

  Wonderful.

  By the time we finally reached our destination, my stomach was tied up in knots, and I would have been biting my nails if I didn’t currently have bird feet.

  The flock’s city was situated at the bottom of a valley, with guard towers posted all along the top edge to keep watch.

  Or there had been guard towers. All the battlements had been obliterated in the civil war Emberich had instigated. The sight of their destruction still hit me hard, though I’d seen it before.

  However, I could see crews at work now, getting rid of the charred remains to rebuild the towers. Security was key. I knew paranoia was at an all time high with the battles fresh in everyone’s minds. It would be like that for years to come.

  The city below had been hit as hard as well. Many of the terracotta colored buildings that had lined the floor of the valley were damaged so badly they would have to be carted away and rebuilt from scratch, though I could see the progress made so far.

  It did my heart good to see it.

  The main road that traveled the length of the narrow valley had also been cleared of debris, along with the offshoots of streets that branched from that main thoroughfare.

  I’d often thought the layout looked a lot like a leaf, and that opinion hadn’t changed as I’d gotten older. Maybe it had been the original intent.

  Reelin tilted his wings to circle and descend, the rest of us following his lead as he aimed for the circular clearing at one end of the valley. I could see there were already people waiting there for our arrival.

  I tensed up even more. There was nothing else to do but face the past now, wasn’t there?

  I hadn’t been back for more than a cursory visit while rebuilding, and I hadn’t been back at all since I’d become Sven’s Consort. I didn’t know how that would change things.

  We landed as a group, the last of us setting down only moments after the first. My eyes landed on Chieftain Aaden.

  In his sixties, with a thick head of salt and pepper hair that was more salt than pepper now, his deep skin gleamed in the sunlight, showing off his handsome features, his face framed with a trimmed beard. He was dressed in a thin cotton shirt and pants, a play off of the traditional tunic and pants, and the outfit managed to show the strength in that whip lean body, corded with muscle.

  There was a group of people behind him, but my eyes immediately went to Morgan. She was hard to miss, with her red hair and statuesque figure. Morgan was dressed in a pale yellow cotton tunic that contrasted nicely with her hair.

  We didn’t get along even when things were going well. For whatever reason, we just rubbed each other the wrong way and always had. She didn’t look happy as she took in the crowd, her eyes lingering on me.

  That made two of us.

  I changed and dressed quickly. I couldn’t face this naked. I already felt too vulnerable. Shouldering my bag as the others followed suit, I walked over to the small group, Blaise hurrying behind me, still hopping into a shoe.

  “Adara,” Aaden greeted me in that pleasant, deep voice, his eyes scanning the large group of guards behind me before turning back to me. “I was not expecting you. I’d heard you were currently not traveling.” He nodded at Blaise.

  “I made an exception,” I explained.

  “How fortunate for us,” Morgan muttered under her breath, just loud enough so I’d hear her.

  I ignored her, even though my hands wanted to clench in response. It wouldn’t help anything. Aaden’s mouth twitched and I knew he’d heard it too, but he didn’t comment either.

  Had I made a mistake in coming?

  Aaden had been somewhat of a father figure especially after Jamine and River had distanced themselves. He’d been the only one who had listened to me when I’d told him why I wanted to take the Liaison position. He�
��d actually encouraged me, seen the potential to do good. But I’d also always known that his first priority had been the flock over any singular individual in it.

  And now that I was with Sven...

  What did he think? Did he think I’d sold out the flock? Was he as dismayed to see me as Morgan was? If my own Chieftain didn’t want to see me, how was I going to take care of this mess? Maybe it would have been better if I had sent Blaise alone—

  I let out a surprised gasp as Aaden reached out and pulled me into a tight hug.

  I could almost feel the tension ratcheting down in the crowd watching, both on Aaden’s side and mine.

  “Why have you been such a stranger?” he said to me. “I’ve missed seeing your stubborn face.”

  I chuckled, relief coursing through me as I hugged him back. “I wasn’t sure...” I trailed off, not wanting to lay out my heart with so many sensitive ears in close range.

  “You are always welcome here,” he said, his eyes knowing as he stepped back. He already knew why I would be hesitant. His ability to read people was one the reasons why he was such a good leader.

  “Come,” he ordered, herding me with him even as he gestured to the rest of the group to follow as well. “We have refreshments set up for all of you. We can eat and discuss our… issues.” His tone turned more serious, along with his face as he led us into the city, towards the main building for visitors that had somehow managed to escape the prior conflict more or less intact, from what I could see.

  Perhaps because it was lower to the ground, a sprawling single-story compound with multiple wings for entertaining, meetings, and for lodging.

  We walked through the roads paved in the same terracotta to help blend into the valley and make us less visible targets. My gaze skimmed over the curious people we passed. The city a hub of activity as everyone added their time and energy to the rebuilding efforts. I found myself looking for a familiar face and forced myself to stop.

  I hadn’t seen Siro for years now. It was time to face reality. That was a relationship that was in the past now. I needed to focus on the present.

  Chapter Four

  Aaden filled Blaise and me in on what had led up to the attack as we ate. The guards were seated at a table next to us in one of the large meeting rooms while Blaise, Aaden, Morgan, and I, plus a few more of Aaden’s advisers, sat together.

  Well, most of the guards were sitting at the table. Two were situated at the door behind us at any given time as they rotated places. They were taking their guarding duties seriously, which I appreciated.

  “We stopped transporting clean water over to Eli’s flock.” Aaden started as soon as we were situated. “We didn’t have a whole lot of time to get fully briefed—I had sent a message to Eli to have his representative come today, less than an hour after we arrived. He did not take kindly to it,” Aaden said grimly.

  “There must have been something more than that,” Blaise said sharply, putting down the knife and fork he’d been using. “All the flocks know that there will no longer be any favoritism, which includes the perks Emberich had doled out during his reign.” He shook his head, looking around. “What else did you do to provoke him?”

  A beat of silence as the temperature at the table dropped.

  Way to alienate everyone here in less than ten seconds of opening your mouth. I gave Blaise a quelling glance that he did not accept with grace.

  “When did you stop transporting the water?” I asked, breaking the silence and redirecting their thoughts. Giving everyone a chance to just ignore Blaise.

  “After the first announcement,” Morgan offered stiffly. “We didn’t see any reason to continue after that.”

  I nodded. It made sense. “And they didn’t do anything about it until now?”

  “Eli sent a message over asking where the shipment was,” Geran said, his light tenor carrying easily across the table.

  “I told him we were no longer required to give his flock a percentage of our clean water,” Aaden said, his eyes meeting mine. “He said we were a long ways from the capital. That we shouldn’t get too comfortable.” He sighed. “A few days later, Hiyna and her group were out on one of their regular transport jobs when they were attacked.”

  “They knew exactly when they were going to be there. It wasn’t a secret—they aren’t traveling with valuables, just basic cargo,” Morgan added. “They were waiting for them to fly by.”

  Aaden said, “There were twice as many of them as in Hiyna’s group. And they told them to convey a message. ’Know your place,’” he spit out in disgust. “Eli spent too much time hiding behind Emberich. My first instinct was simply to wipe the floor with him.” His smile held no humor. And I didn’t doubt that Aaden could lead the flock to victory. “But then I calmed and thought with a clear head.”

  “Yes, we could not have supported a counterattack,” Blaise agreed.

  Everyone ignored him in silent agreement.

  “It was good you contacted me,” I said to Aaden after a moment. “You have the clear high ground here. Makes things easier for both of us.”

  He nodded, sitting back.

  “Precisely. I have to warn you, though, Adara—if they attack again, we will defend ourselves with appropriate force. Lethal force if necessary. I won’t allow them to hurt our people again.”

  “Self-defense is permitted,” I murmured, hoping it wouldn’t come to that. But I wouldn’t leave them effectively shackled by telling them they couldn’t fight back.

  “During an attack, you might defend yourself, but a counterattack is not self-defense—” Blaise sputtered.

  This time, I didn’t have to stop Blaise from spouting out all the careful parameters he wanted Aaden to follow for defending his flock. He was cut off by a young boy who couldn’t have been more than twelve, a messenger’s emblem on on his shoulder. “Eli’s people have been spotted!” he announced as soon as he saw Aaden.

  Aaden stood. “I think it might be best if all of us meet them at the clearing, don’t you agree?” he asked.

  I nodded, and Blaise murmured his agreement. Hopefully, our presence would help ensure this didn’t devolve into something completely unproductive.

  We all followed Aaden out to the clearing just in time to see ten of Eli’s flock completely surrounded by Aaden’s guards in the sky above.

  Not that I could blame them. Not after what Eli’s flock had done.

  We stood on the sidelines and watched the group land, part of their escort breaking off and going back to their posts, part landing around them. Aaden wasn’t taking any chances.

  Good.

  As the phoenixes started to change, I scanned them, searching for Eli, but he wasn’t there. I snorted quietly to myself.

  Of course he hadn’t come. Eli was best at taking care of Eli. He never took chances when it came to his personal safety. As I watched them dress, I thought about how to approach this. It really all depended on the tone the person in charge here set.

  As I scanned the people, my gaze settled on Bren. Tall and muscular, his Asian heritage gave him thick dark hair that he kept long, tied back in a ponytail. He was also Eli’s right hand man.

  As he turned and strode towards us first, I knew I was right. Bren was going to be talking point.

  Bren would also do exactly as Eli had instructed him.

  This wasn’t going to be easy.

  Bren stopped in front of us, nodding, his eyes lingering on me, a tinge of surprise coloring his usually inscrutable features. “Aaden. Adara—it’s a surprise to see you here.”

  “We wanted to make sure there was no ambiguity in our response,” I said evenly.

  He gave a thin smile. “Of course.” He turned his attention back to Aaden. “Thank you for having us.”

  This wasn’t a social visit, and I could see Aaden fighting not to say the same polite greeting.

  “We have much to discuss,” Aaden finally said, settling on something neutral. “Follow us.”

  “Of course,” Bre
n agreed, his voice quiet as he gestured at his guards and two others who I assumed were there to advise. Both were women, with even features and tanned skin similar enough I would have ventured to say they were sisters, or related at the very least.

  Bren raised a brow at the number of guards that had followed us out, but didn’t comment as we made our way to another section of the building.

  Aaden didn’t offer Bren and his people anything beyond a drink of water. I wondered if that was supposed to make some kind of point or if he just couldn’t bring himself to treat them as guests. Either way, Bren and his people didn’t seem to take offense as they sat down on one side of a large, circular table and Aaden and his people sat at the other, with Blaise, the guards, and me in between them. The ones that couldn’t fit at the table took up posts behind us, against the wall. There was nowhere else to sit. The table was the only furniture in the room.

  Blaise cleared his throat.

  I was fine with him breaking the ice in this situation.

  “We are here today because of an attack on Aaden’s flock that left multiple people injured, some severely.” He paused, waiting for Bren to jump in. When he didn’t, Blaise cleared his throat again. “Is there a reason why Eli is not here himself?” He looked down his nose at Bren, at his most haughty.

  Bren’s expression didn’t change. “He had prior engagements,” he explained succinctly.

  And making it clear that Eli didn’t think this meeting was worth his time.

  Morgan made a sound, but Aaden sent her a look and she quieted, still glaring at Bren. He didn’t bat an eyelash. Lovely.

  Figuring that was enough skirting around the issue, I didn’t bother being circumspect. “Why did members of your flock attack Aaden’s?” I asked point blank, watching Bren’s face.

  Still no change in expression. He probably made a killing at poker.

  “They didn’t deliver on what they owed us,” he said after a brief pause.