Fire and Gold (Sisters of the North Book 1)

by Mara Amberly

  There were not enough clues to follow, but the object he sought didn’t seem to be in the centre of town. It had to be in their stronghold and he thought he sensed it there. The soldiers had called the stronghold ‘Nemorath’ and he thought he knew what that meant. In the tongue of his people, it meant ‘unbreakable sanctuary’. His people’s language was the closest remaining to the old tongue that was spoken by the people of the region millennia ago.

  Jonas was convinced that Nemorath was where he would find his treasure. The question was how to get near it without getting himself killed. He already knew it was worth the risk. Not only would it give his people a reason to take him back, but if these evil men got their hands on so much power, it might not just be the town of Feidhlim that fell to them, but all of Maeridea.

  Jonas gathered up his possessions and prepared to venture out once again. This time he would find another house closer to the stronghold. He intended to watch it and figure out some way inside.

  CHAPTER NINE

  Alexa, Cassia, Brigita and Hermea set off again before dawn. They were tired but it helped that they were driven by purpose and had each other for support. As short as their night’s sleep had been, it served as a temporary escape from the realities of their situation. As they made their way north over higher ground, they noticed distant figures behind them, gathered near the old city gates. Alexa confirmed they were men garbed in black and not city guards.

  “It’s lucky we left the city last night,” Brigita stated.

  It raised questions of how the men lingered there without complaint and if they were in fact working with the city guards.

  As they moved on, the priestesses found much of the land fenced off as farmland, though little of it appeared to be used. Narrow roads ran in between fields, many with ankle length grass. Had it not still been dark, the priestesses would’ve been much more visible. Brigita hurried them along, and while they passed farmsteads after a while, none were near enough that they saw sign of anyone.

  They managed to reach the forest’s edge as the sky lightened, but they didn’t rest until they were well into those woods. It had seemed a large forest as they’d approached it, but Cassia knew from viewing maps in the library that it couldn’t have been. There were small clusters of forest, separated by grasslands and clearings all the way to the edge of the Kelbani mountain range. Without using the main road, making their way to Kelbani could be interesting.

  They would probably need to stop for supplies along the way. Their water wouldn’t last for long, and they didn’t know of any rivers or streams nearby. They could only carry so much water on them when they were travelling on foot. There were travellers’ inns between Kalle and Kelbani, but they were located along the main route. The priestesses would likely have to stay close to the main road, after all.

  Now in the forest, the women rested and shared a small meal of bread and fruit they’d brought with them from the King’s Head Tavern.

  Hermea sighed. “Can we sleep a while? I’m exhausted and it doesn’t seem like they’re pursuing us.”

  Brigita knew she might be over-cautious, but better careful than dead. “I would like us to get further away from the city first. Just because you don’t see them doesn’t mean they aren’t there,” Brigita explained. “If they’re tasked with killing all of the Sisters of Destiny, they might pursue anyone they think might have got away. There aren’t many likely directions out of Kalle – on a ship, the King’s island or towards Kelbani, but I suppose we could still be hiding out in the city.”

  Cassia felt a sense of unease at Brigita’s explanation. Would they really be that motivated to kill us? They might be able to find out that we were at the prison and attended the executions, but there’s no way they could find out about Josef, is there? If he kept away from the temple, they shouldn’t be able to, but what if he didn’t? He could be a prisoner or worse. I shouldn’t have left without him. I don’t know if he’s safe. I let Brigita interfere with what I wanted to do. We should’ve met with him after this happened and brought him away with us. If anything happens to him, I’ll never forgive myself.

  Tears formed in the corners of Cassia’s eyes, but she dashed them away quickly.

  It didn’t go unnoticed by Hermea and she asked softly, “Are you okay?”

  Cassia frowned with an overly defensive answer of “yes,” before Brigita or Alexa had the chance to intervene. They wouldn’t have faulted Cassia for shedding tears – each was handling the grief in their own way, but all looked upset and somewhat hardened by the events they’d been through. So much had happened so quickly and only their tiredness and closeness calmed their grief.

  There was a lot to be unhappy about, but there was a heightened sense of camaraderie between the priestesses now. There was a feeling that they were in this together and they would need to depend on each other if they were going to make it through.

  “I would suggest we rest until nightfall and travel in the dark – in the deeper parts of the forest it might not make much difference, but we can’t be sure we won’t cross paths with anyone. There may also be less of the enemy searching for us at night, if they are,” Cassia explained.

  Alexa assumed she was the most tired of all, on account of having the least sleep, but she agreed. “We could go on a bit further first, then rest until nightfall. Even another hour would put us farther away from the city and those men, though likely closer to the ones who attacked The Temple of Victory. I don’t think this forest will go on very far, but it seems large enough to justify this course.”

  After finishing her meal, Alexa rested on the ground for a few minutes while the other priestesses packed away the food and took care of necessities.

  Another hour’s walking saw the women reach the edge of the forest they were in. A large valley of grassland lay ahead of them. They could see the trade road winding its way north-westward in the distance. There was a cluster of buildings within view.

  “We could be seen crossing that valley. Do you want to leave it until nightfall?” Alexa asked.

  Cassia thought about it for a moment. “Some of that grass looks fairly tall. Almost as tall as we are, but we should wait and rest.”

  “I’ve heard they’re full of snakes – the grasslands,” Brigita said, “but we should be alright.”

  Hermea shuddered, “no thanks. Those things scare me.” After that, Hermea withdrew a little and tried to pick out small details on the road. “One of those buildings down there might be an inn. We could refresh our supplies and find somewhere to stay for the night?”

  Cassia shook her head, wishing things were different. “It’s the first place they’d look out here, but it might be one way to tell if they’re following us. Rent a room and–”

  Alexa sighed, “we don’t have that much money. I suspect we’re going to need it to buy our supplies. We could rest here until it’s darker, then have a look. I still need to teach you that message spell but there’s no point trying it when we’re exhausted.”

  Don’t forget sad, Cassia added in her own thoughts, though she didn’t envision that changing anytime soon.

  They set up their camp further back from forest’s edge this time. The sisters were weary and felt like rest couldn’t come a moment too soon.

  “I’ll take first watch,” Cassia offered the ladies, feeling like she could keep her eyes open for a while but wanting to sleep straight through after that.

  Brigita was exhausted; she just wasn’t used to so much walking and the constant threat that hung over their heads. “I need to rest, but I can take the second.”

  “Are you sure you don’t want to take the last watch?” Cassia asked. “Then you won’t have us disturbing you through the night.”

  “No, I’d prefer this,” Brigita explained.

  “I’ll take the last watch,” Alexa offered, “if Hermea can take the second last? Maybe an hour and a half or two hours each, then we’ll get 6 or 8 hours sleep.” It should take us a couple of hours past sunset.r />
  Hermea agreed and the priestesses settled in to rest.

  Alexa slumped fully-clothed. “It hurts to move. I’m just going to collapse right here.” She sighed happily as she rested on her blanket. She could have a thinner layer of blanket beneath her and cover herself with the other side, but it was just folded up beneath her and that was good enough. Her exhaustion won out quickly.

  There were a few noises out there, which Cassia thought were birds of some kind, maybe owls, but her watch came and went without issue. She was tired enough that she had a tough time keeping her eyes open.

  Brigita wasn’t easily woken for her watch, and after a moment murmured to Cassia, “I thought you were my daughter.”

  This was news to Cassia, but some priestesses were mothers. Not all women were young when they joined the temple. Some new initiates were widows; this happened most often where a woman had no one to turn to for support. The Arch-Magister was said to be discerning in these cases, as she wanted to be sure potential initiates joined for the right reasons. If they only sought support or shelter, then perhaps they could be offered that instead.

  Brigita kept watch from her blanket as the other ladies slept. The trees swayed slightly, but aside from the rustling sound, it was very quiet. The moonlight was dimmed by gathering clouds and it was clear a storm was brewing. Brigita sighed but couldn’t voice her thoughts to the other ladies at that moment. Their journey wouldn’t be any more pleasant if they had to deal with rain. It summoned all sorts of unpleasant thoughts, like trudging through mud and being soaked to skin in the rain.

  Brigita remembered life at the temple. It was so fresh in her memory. It seemed impossible that the world she’d known and had been a part of for so long could have so easily been torn away. She felt tears stinging the corners of her eyes, but no one could see them in the darkness. The other priestesses slept fitfully. Brigita watched them and the camp until she heard distant hoof-beats. The sound had to have come from the road, so she rose painfully off her blanket and ventured nearer the edge of the woods. The horse and rider were far away by the time she spotted them; well past the buildings. Dust trailed behind them as they approached the mountains. Brigita was envious of the rider’s ability to make the journey so quickly. All that painful walking they wouldn’t have to do!

  It’s likely a messenger – not many riders would travel so fast and not stop at the inn for supplies. I’m forgetting that with a horse and saddlebags, the journey is much quicker and they might not need to stop there. Their presence isn’t reassuring, but what good does it do to worry? We will get there or we won’t, but we should so long as we’re careful. This rider may only be bringing news that the Temple of Solitude was burned. It may be nothing dangerous to us.

  Brigita couldn’t help but ask herself why the Nemorans did what they did. There has to be some great advantage to them in killing us, otherwise they wouldn’t have killed so many. Their cult is from the east of the kingdom and the Sisters of Destiny should have had little reason to interact with them at all. Perhaps the sisters in Zysa know more than we do, if they haven’t been attacked as well. It seemed likely that they had been, but there was nothing that could be done about that now. The sisters in Kalle had little contact with the sisters in Zysa. There must be more to this. Their men would’ve suffered losses as well. Our sisters were not untrained. It doesn’t make a lot of sense unless they have a very strong reason for their actions.

  Realising an hour or two must have passed since she began her watch, Brigita returned to awaken Hermea. The girl looked scared as she jumped awake, but she soon realised it was just Brigita.

  Bless her, the elder woman thought. Once Hermea took over with her watch, Brigita tried to get some more rest.

  Hermea’s approach to watching was to pace around the campsite, staring off into the woods. Every time she heard a noise, she froze until she was sure no danger lurked there. There could be anyone in the woods at night and even with the other sisters close by, she didn’t feel safe.

  I should never have come here. This isn’t my fight, but if the sisters hadn’t rescued me, I’d have died with the others in the temple. Does that mean I owe them my life? If I go now, they will search for me, but if I reach Kelbani, what will their survivors do to me? They won’t trust me. It would be best if I leave right now and try to return home again.

  CHAPTER TEN

  Cerus Arani realised something was amiss when Luke didn’t return from the Temple of Solitude. He had instructed Luke to contact him when the message was delivered, but after several hours waiting, he still hadn’t received word. Cerus returned to the messenger’s shop to ask what was taking so long. That was when he learned that Luke was unaccounted for. Cerus sent the lad’s employer, a man named Semmic, to the temple to find out the reason for the delay. He knew this would take time, so he had a meal in the marketplace while he waited. Semmic found Cerus as he was walking back to the shop.

  The scribe’s face was red with anger and exertion; he’d obviously been running. He was distressed and gasping for breath when he confronted the Governor. “This is your fault. Luke is dead because of you!”

  “Dead? What do you mean? What happened to him?” Cerus asked. He was shocked, but he knew trouble was heading the sisters’ way when he sent Luke to the temple. Had he not been fast enough?

  “He was dead and burnt in the gate house. One of the priestesses was with him – she was dead too – and the temple was on fire. I got out of there before anyone could kill me.”

  “In Rathor’s name!” Cerus exclaimed. He’d never meant this to happen – he just wanted to get the message there in time! Shock set in as he realised that the priestesses might all be dead.

  “You knew this might happen! You owe a blood price to Luke’s family. You put him at risk knowing he might be killed.” Semmic was furious and grieving for his apprentice.

  Cerus shook his head, “no, I didn’t know this would happen and I refuse to take responsibility. I didn’t kill him so the blood price isn’t mine to pay. If you’re going to charge a man, charge his murderer or their family.”

  Semmic growled in fury. “I ought to punch you for what you did to him. He was like a son to me. Look what you’ve brought on us – on him and his family. I will go to the King and insist you pay–”

  Cerus laughed incredulously and walked away, leaving Semmic to sob outside his shop. It would do no good angering Semmic further with his presence. Let the man mourn. It felt tasteless to have laughed, and inside he felt guilty for it. The messenger had failed and was already dead. How long ago had it happened? If only he’d arrived in Kalle more quickly, but their ship had been slowed by a turn in the weather.

  On the way back to his inn, Cerus noticed a guard in the marketplace and stopped to speak with him. Cerus bridged the subject carefully, because he didn’t want to be implicated or inconvenienced for providing information.

  “Excuse me, sir. I just heard there has been a violent incident at the Temple of Solitude and you might want to send some men to check it out.”

  The guard thanked him and proceeded on his way, and Cerus took the opportunity to leave quickly before the guard could think to ask his name. Enough people must pass the temple each day that the fire would be noticed before long. Upon reaching his inn room, Cerus sank into the armchair and brooded over what had happened.

  As a diplomat and politician, he had to be careful with his actions. If he searched the temple, he might be recognised or seen to support the sisters on the losing side of a political incident. He felt helpless, as he imagined the atrocities that had likely befallen the women. He believed they should be honoured as priestesses or left to their own devices, not killed. He was utterly disgusted by what the Nemorans had done.

  Cerus wasn’t sure how he’d come to care so deeply for the women’s fate when not so long ago, he’d considered bargaining with them for the information that could have saved their lives. I’m not a good man. I’ve killed my share of people and burned their ho
mes, as this temple has just been burned. When I killed, it was sanctioned by the King and justly deserved. This– this is a brutal attack against unarmed and unprepared opponents, who posed no threat, unless the Nemorans feared the prowess in magick these women could bring to bear?

  It was possible. While the religious orders of the city were left to their own business, they were also charged with helping to defend the city in times of war or uprising. Kalle had seen neither of these for decades, though the city had more than its fair share of faults and crime. It was possible that the Nemorans had some existing grudge with the Sisters of Destiny, but the reasons could go deeper than that. Could this have been a first step in larger campaign against the kingdom or its King?

  Cerus had met with King Merrion once under less than ideal circumstances, when a tribe under his governance had refused to honour a trade treaty signed by his predecessor. Cerus didn’t fancy returning to the King’s Island, but his instincts told him that not only should the King be apprised about the Nemorans, but Cerus would find out more by visiting His Majesty’s court than he might by remaining in the city. If he was not mistaken, Cerus expected to find that the Nemorans had infiltrated the palace already. Rather than encouraging him to keep away, this in fact fuelled his inclination to visit the King’s Island, and perhaps his own spies could confirm some of his suspicions. He could interact by mail, but it would be much more informative to meet with the King in person. As for whether he would share how he learned about the temple attack, well – that remained to be seen.