Warrior Innocent

by Wendy Knight

  Iros strode across the room and knelt at her side. "I should have been a champion, too, Scout. I should have known better. You are the heart and the soul—"

  "Stop it, Iros." Scout raised her hand to his face. She flung her legs off the cot and rose, relishing the short moments she towered above him. "You say I'm the heart and soul of this army, but you turn on me the second you suspect I'm not doing what you want." Iros stood up quickly, grabbing the back of the chair to steady himself. "I'm praised and everyone loves me as long as I'm doing what everyone else wants. But let me tell you this."

  She advanced on him, and Iros stumbled back. "I will follow my heart. Because my heart doesn't betray me. Every time I've followed my heart and been true to myself, you and your army and your unicorns have turned on me. But you know what, Iros? I've saved lives. I've saved the lives of those most important to me, and I've saved the lives of those most important to someone else. And I am tired of being your heart and soul only when it's convenient for you. I will see this war out, Iros, but it will be on my terms, and when it's over, I'm taking my unicorn, and I'm going home."

  Iros opened and closed his mouth, but he formed no words. Scout risked a glance at Ashra, who watched her with a blank horse face. No comment or argument there, and Scout was grateful.

  Finally, Iros spoke. "I understand your decision, Scout, and I hope you will reconsider. You and Trey and Lil Bit brought Paradesos back to life. It will not be a haven with you gone."

  She shook her head. "It's not been a haven for me at all lately."

  Trey spoke up, still standing in the doorway, leaning against the doorjamb. "I go where she goes."

  "Me, too." Lil Bit scowled.

  Iros's chin fell to his chest in defeat. "And I deserve that."

  "Your anger is the reason Eirene can't stay here," Lil Bit said quietly.

  Iros's eyes widened in shock. "My anger? I am fighting—"

  "You are angry at Ariston, and you want justice."

  "Yes, as is everyone who has been fighting this war—"

  Lil Bit shrugged. "When you want peace, Iros, she will come, and everyone will be healed."

  Iros just stared at her, open-mouthed.

  Scout sighed. "Thank you for your apology, Iros. I think we all forget none of us are perfect. You've been a leader to us, and always very kind. I guess we put you on a pedestal and forgot that you, too, can make mistakes. Just…don't make that one again, okay? And please take Trey and both of you go get healed. Look, no more wounds."

  She held out her arms and turned in a circle so they could see she was, in fact, all better. When Iros still stood, staring at her, she gave up and started pushing him out the door. Her heart hurt, and maybe the pain of his betrayal would never go away, but she had to move on. They were in the middle of a war, and there was no time for grudges.

  Grudges would land her where Iros was now, with no hope of Eirene ever coming to mend the pain.

  Besides all that, she'd been meeting with the enemy. Could she really blame any of them?

  Just outside her hut, when both men finally started back toward the Leerhas on their own, she caught sight of Havik. He stood in the shadows of the giant cave wall, still bloody and beaten.

  She glanced at Lil Bit, who watched from the window. Of course she had known Havik was out there. But Scout didn't have her sister's intuition, and to see his great frame half-hidden in darkness startled her. And then broke her heart a little. As she started toward him, she thought Ashra would follow, but she did not. She stood near Scout's hut and watched silently.

  "This one's for you to handle, princess."

  "I've caused a rift between you," Scout told her sadly.

  "If there is a rift, it will heal. We are too old to be so petty."

  Still, Ashra did not follow.

  "Havik."

  His head was low, his wings sunk to the ground. He looked defeated, her mighty hero, and it hurt her soul to see him that way.

  "I have hurt you."

  She shook her head. "No."

  He rolled his big, brown eyes, but didn't raise his head.

  "Havik, I saw you. When Ashra and Trey and Torz and I fought that demon, and we were losing, I saw you save us. Tell me how that hurt me." She smiled, rubbing his neck, careful of the deep scratches and bloody gashes.

  "And trying to kill the demon keeping us in the shroud all by yourself?" She tipped her head so she could see into his eyes.

  He raised his head, just a little. "They kept the Irwarros away from us. I had no choice."

  Bending low so he could see into her eyes, she said, "There is always a choice, Havik."

  "I am sorry, Scout."

  She touched her forehead to his. "I know. But you have a very dear friend who needs to know she's still a very dear friend." She motioned toward Ashra, still standing in the sun by Scout's hut.

  "Yes." With a light flick of his tail against Scout's wrist, Havik moved away, toward Ashra. Scout hung back and watched them—Havik huge, undefeatable, unconquerable; Ashra, the smallest and fastest of the Irwarros and Havik's most loyal warrior. And she'd nearly torn them apart with her attempts to save the world.

  "Not anymore, Ariston. I won't hurt them again."

  22

  Aptavaras was darker than usual, the screams more horrendous. The Corruption was taking place in the castle behind them, and Ariston was not pleased she was there. This handy little trick of hers to drop in on him whenever she liked wasn't his favorite.

  "I can't come again, Ariston."

  Ariston didn't look surprised, just defeated. "I assumed they would get their way eventually. Iros claims he wants to end the war, but he would be lost without it."

  Scout sighed and settled on the cold, blue ground, drawing pictures in the soft sand. She was exhausted. "Maybe we all would."

  "You would not."

  Scout raised her head. "I'm supposed to bring peace. If there's no war, maybe there's no need for me."

  "War is not the only cause of pain, Scout. You and your sister's unicorn share a gift. She has existed for a millennia, until your sister called her forth."

  Scout blinked. "How do you know so much about Eirene?"

  Ariston smiled, his black eyes dead as he stared into nothingness. "I have begged for her presence, as well."

  Stupid that she was surprised, really. All Ariston wanted was peace in a world of war. "Has she ever come?"

  Ariston sucked in a breath and turned away. "That is a story for another day."

  "There may not be another day, Ariston. Your army grows, and ours weakens. One day, I won't come back from this war."

  Slowly, he turned to her. His face was more tortured than she could remember it being in the whole time she'd known him. "That is not what I want."

  She nodded. "I know."

  "Trey loves you."

  Random, but okay. Tipping her head to the side, she considered him. "Yes. He does."

  "He would not let you die."

  "Love can't save us, Ariston. Even the greatest love can't conquer death. You've learned that the hard way."

  His lips pursed, but he didn't respond.

  "I cannot stop this war for you, Scout. I don't want to see you hurt, but I have to finish this. I can't go on like this. One way or another, I will take my soul back."

  "When, Ariston?" She rose to her feet, chills racing up and down her spine as she hugged her arms tight around herself, trying to hold in the warmth. There was absolution in Ariston's gaze.

  "Tomorrow as the sun sets, Scout. We will march on Paradesos."

  "Tomorrow?" Scout's blood froze in her veins. She'd known it was coming, but so soon? "No."

  "I'm sorry, Scout. Without any hope of the peace you can bring, I cannot delay it."

  "I'll dance for you. I'll—"

  Ariston reached out and stopped just short of touching her face. She did not move away, didn't even consider it, despite the threat to her soul. "No, Scout. You're right. It's over."

  Trey jerked
out of bed, landing on his feet and sprinting toward the door before he even realized he was awake.

  Scout's screams shook the cavern.

  He could hear Lil Bit beneath the screaming, begging her to wake up, trying to set her sister free. He could hear her small cries, and then Ashra dropped out of the sky and landed hard right in front of him, breaking through Scout's door. Her wild wings took up the entire hut, and Trey barely fit inside with her. Scout's parents were on the floor next to Lil Bit, trying to wake Scout as well.

  Ashra's horn glowed, her eyes closed. Trey scrambled over the bed until he was sitting on Scout, yelling at her in face, shaking her shoulders.

  "No, Ariston, please! Don't go—"

  Scout gasped and sat up, eyes wild.

  Trey sat back, dumbfounded. They were all fighting to get her out of that nightmare, and she was fighting to stay in it? " Scout?"

  But she was scrambling out from under him, past a terrified Lil Bit and through the door. "I have to talk to Iros."

  Ashra followed. Lil Bit stared at Trey. "I don't know what just happened." It might have been the first time she'd ever said that. She scrambled off the bed and ran out the door, her little feet slapping against the dirt. Reluctantly, he went after Lil Bit. He caught sight of Ashra first, several huts down. Scout was next to her, a small blur in the twilight, and Iros stood in front of her. They were both yelling.

  Trey broke into a jog, coming into earshot just as Iros said, "Absolutely not, Scout. He gets his soul back, nothing will stop him from coming into Paradesos."

  "But if we give him his soul back, he can be killed. He's got a huge army of souled Taraxippus ready to fight their way into Paradesos, Iros. We can't stop that."

  Iros sucked in a lungful of air and stared up at the sky. "We have to, Scout."

  She stared at him, running a hand through her hair, but it got caught in the tangles. But that memory. It wouldn’t go away.

  I love you, Trey.

  And Ariston? Do you love him?

  Trey blinked. It was like something horrible stuck on repeat in his head.

  No, Ariston, please! Don't go—

  Iros turned to the growing crowd. "Today, we feast, for it might be our last meal. Tonight, we meet Ariston's army at Kali Gandaki Gorge."

  "Random," Kylin said from somewhere behind Trey.

  "It is built on prophesy. Ready yourselves. We ride at dusk."

  There was a wash of panic over the group, everyone running, most crying. But it blurred into the background as Iros left them. The only things clear to Trey were Scout Lil Bit, Ashra, and Torz, who had landed without him noticing. Everything else whirled around them, but they didn't move.

  "Why wouldn't you wake up, Scout?" Lil Bit asked.

  Scout shook her head. "I was trying to stop this." Halfheartedly, she threw her hand out, indicating the general chaos. "They're both so stubborn."

  Trey shook his head. He looked at Ashra, who stared back at him, as bewildered as he and Lil Bit. "She wouldn't let me in, either."

  Scout shook her head, frustrated. "I wasn't keeping you out. I was trying to keep him in, Trey." She looked up at him, her eyes focusing for the first time, and he half-wondered if she was truly losing her mind. Maybe the stress had finally cracked her.

  Maybe she's really in love with him.

  "It's not what you think," she said quietly, taking his hand. "It will only ever be you, Trey."

  "I know." Except he wasn't sure he actually did.

  "So…today we feast. And rest. For Paradesos." Torz inclined his head, and Ashra followed, her horn glowing as it reached his. Scout bowed her head, and so did Lil Bit. Trey watched the four of them there, trying to memorize every detail. Every gesture and habit.

  In case he did not have them tomorrow.

  "I need to talk to you."

  Ashra raised her head and blinked at Scout. "You're talking."

  "I need your help. I can stop the war."

  Ashra sighed. To those around them, she said, "I would like one last ride. Before we ride to our death. Scout?"

  Without waiting for another invitation, Scout swung astride. When they'd first met, no matter how hard she tried, Scout could not mount Ashra without aid. And now, she could do it without a running start or hesitation or anything. Trey and Torz were ready, as well, but Lil Bit had backed away. "I'm going to find Eirene. To tell her good-bye." She paused as she started to turn away, and then stared back at Scout. "I believe in you, big sister."

  "Thank you, Lil Bit." Scout reached down to brush a dark curl away from Lil Bit's face.

  "She knows." Ashra snorted and spread her wings.

  "Knows what?" Scout asked as they took to the air. She tipped her head back and spread her arms, mirroring Ashra's wings as they soared through the rising sunlight.

  "Whatever crazy plan you've got in your head. She knows, and she doesn't like it."

  Scout sighed, dropping her head forward in defeat and letting her arms fall to her side. "You won't either."

  Trey and Torz had flown by them, sweeping the large valley below the huts. The valley where they'd trained, the valley where she'd danced until sunrise, the valley where he’d played football. The valley where they'd trained the recruits. Life was in that valley, and Scout shuddered when she thought of what the soul stealers would do to it. There would be no beauty. No green, no blue, blue sky. Life would be shattered and replaced by death and darkness.

  "I can't remember a time I've liked your plans, actually. Might as well just tell me this one."

  Scout smiled, despite herself. "You lie. You enjoy my plans."

  "Scout."

  Scout nodded and rubbed her face. "Right. I'm going to give Ariston back his soul."

  She'd expected Ashra's snort of outrage or her anger. Maybe she'd even planned on Ashra dropping her out of the sky. She had not expected Ashra's quiet answer. "I cannot help you."

  "I know this is a lot to ask, Ashra, but—"

  "It's more than you realize. You are asking me to choose between you and Havik. I cannot make that choice. I won't stop you, Scout, but I will not be here when you do it."

  "You're—you're not going to fight with us?"

  "I'll find somewhere I'm needed."

  "But Ashra, I need you. We can save thousands of lives—we can end this war!"

  "Or we could fail, and Havik would see me as a traitor. I will not do this, Scout. I will not choose between you and Havik."

  She landed, gently as a butterfly, next to the pond. Scout slid from her back, scrubbing tears from her cheeks she hadn't even realized she'd been crying. "But I can't do it without you."

  Ashra lowered her forehead to Scout's. "I'm sorry, Scout. But this is good-bye."

  She backed away, never breaking eye contact, until her wings snapped out, and she rose, away from Scout. Away from Paradesos.

  This is good-bye. She was gone. Her Ashra, her champion, her soul mate. She was gone, and it felt like she'd taken half Scout's soul with her.

  Scout’s heart hadn’t broken, no, because broken pieces could be put back together. It felt like her chest was completely empty, and the ache left behind would never ease.

  Scout had to do this alone. With the pain, with the emptiness.

  As it should be.

  She nodded, still staring at the water. She would drag no one down with her. When this was over, however it ended, the blame would lie with Scout alone.

  She closed her eyes, resting her forehead on her drawn-up knees. "Ariston."

  She tumbled through the air, trying to brace for the landing, but it didn't help. She landed again in a heap at his feet.

  He was wrapped in armor and looked more formidable than usual as he stared down at her.

  "Yes, Scout?"

  "Before the battle begins, I will bring you your soul. Do I have your word you will not march on Paradesos?"

  There was no hesitation. "You have my word."

  He didn't ask how she would do it. He didn't try to argue with her or
make excuses. He trusted her to do it, and he would keep his promise.

  Now she had to keep hers.

  23

  The horn wasn't guarded. She'd assumed that it would have been, especially given that most of these creatures thought she was working with Ariston. But everyone was preparing for war. The horn was of little consequence to them. Or so they thought.

  But they thought wrong. That single horn would save them all.

  If they didn't kill her before she could get it to Ariston.

  Her chances of succeeding had plummeted when Ashra had left, she knew. But she was also relieved, because when she was dead, or the war was over, Ashra could come back to Paradesos and continue living her life. She wouldn't be branded a traitor and—and kicked out, or whatever they did to unicorn traitors.

  She stared hard at the horn, black and twisted, waiting silently on its shrine. Hand shaking, she reached out and touched the horn with just the tip of her finger. She'd expected it to be cold and lifeless, but it was warm and seemed to cling to her touch.

  Ariston.

  Ariston lived inside it.

  She cradled the horn to her chest and then slipped it inside her armor. It was impossible to see it, but would they be able to feel it? Did Ariston's soul call out to them as it did to her, begging for release? Would anyone else be able to feel the utter desolation and lack of hope radiating from its core?

  Holding her arms tight across her chest, she turned away, back to the huts and the feasts. But once she got there, she found she didn't feel like feasting or celebrating. Instead, she trudged up the hill to find solace in Lil Bit.

  But Lil Bit wasn't there.

  "Lil?" Scout called. She left her hut and checked Trey's, and after a brief war of wills with herself, she also checked Iros's and Aella's. There was no sign of anyone. She hurried back to her hut and sank onto her bed in the dim interior and closed her eyes. "Lil?"

  No answer.

  Had she alienated her sister as well? She tried to remember what she'd said when she'd left, but there had been so much chaos. So much turmoil and fear and pain. Tears burned her exhausted eyes and trailed down her cheeks, leaving what felt like a path of fire. Scout drew her legs to her chest, mindful of the horn, always mindful of the horn, and dropped her forehead onto her knees.