by Emma Miles
‘This is Queen Ayline,’ Bractius introduced as he offered Arrus the seat to the right of the Queen. She was no more than seventeen but possessed a polished confidence that suggested she’d been raised for her role. She was a little shorter than Kesta and pale as cream with hazel eyes and chestnut hair.
‘Welcome to Elden.’ She smiled. ‘I was sorry to hear that you had such a bad journey.’
Bractius pulled out the chair to his left and offered it to Kesta as the queen chattered away to her father. The Dark Man sat to Kesta’s left and watched her as though waiting for her to protest at his proximity. Gritting her teeth and ignoring him she focused on the king.
‘So; have attacks from the Borrows increased here in Elden?’ she asked.
Bractius grinned. ‘Straight to the point! You were right, Jorrun!’
‘Right about what?’ Kesta demanded.
Bractius’s smile faded a little, and she felt his uncertainty as he tried to gauge how much he’d offended. She tried a smile herself and Bractius visibly relaxed.
‘Jorrun said that the women of the Fulmers are as involved in the defence of the islands as the men. I was going to seat you next to Ayline as I thought you might have things to talk about; but Jorrun suggested you would be more at home with us.’
Kesta still couldn’t sense anything from the Dark Man and the urge to turn around and look at him was incredibly strong. She could imagine his cold blue eyes on her and she suppressed a shiver.
‘As only woman are fire-walkers and the Icante rules the islands, it makes sense to involve us in all things,’ Kesta replied politely. ‘Please excuse me if we are not meant to talk politics at dinner, it’s just that the matter is so urgent to us.’
Bractius opened his mouth to speak but Jorrun interrupted him. ‘As it is to us. Am I right in surmising that there’s more to your story? Have you seen something?’
She hesitated, gazing into Bractius’s brown eyes and refusing to turn to the Dark Man. ‘Yes, I have,’ she said slowly, going against her father’s advice. ‘When I walked, I saw a Chemman necromancer overseeing the loading of a ship on the rocky shores of one of the Borrows.’
Jorrun spoke again. There was a very subtle accent to his voice, a purr to his rs. ‘Then your fears of the attacks not being a one off are well founded.’
‘They are,’ she turned slightly toward the Dark Man.
‘What do you think?’ Bractius asked his friend over her head.
‘I think I have a lot of work to do tonight.’ Jorrun snorted. ‘But you have not said all.’
Kesta heard the Dark Man move toward her. Her muscles tensed, and she still refused to turn.
‘What else did you see? What is it that keeps you awake at night and set your father running for Elden?’
She spun about in her chair to face him. ‘How do you know that? How do you know …’ She clenched her teeth and fought to keep her temper under control. With her knowing loose she could accidently transfer her feelings to those around her and start a fight in the king’s dining hall. Jorrun raised an eyebrow, and she felt an overwhelming urge to punch his perfectly poised face. She drew in two slow, deep, breaths and closed down her magic. Turning her back on the Dark Man again she addressed Bractius and saw that both her father and Queen Ayline were watching her.
‘I saw … I saw that the men boarding the ship were Borrow men; but they were dead Borrow men.’
‘Dead?’ Bractius shook his head with a frown.
Kesta bit her lip and then tried to describe them. ‘They had wounds they shouldn’t have survived. They moved as though they’d forgotten how to do so. There was little colour to their skin, and I thought that perhaps their blood did not flow.’ She drew her arms tightly around her body and swallowed. Her throat constricted, and she had to force her next words out. ‘My knowing does not work that well over distance and while walking the flame but even so, I felt no life in them. Nothing.’
‘Please excuse me.’ The Dark Man got to his feet and strode out of the hall.
Kesta’s mouth fell open a little, and she sat back in her chair, her eyes following him out of the room. Bractius placed a hand on her arm. ‘Don’t mind him. Tell me; it took you how long to get here?’
‘Nearly seven days.’ She turned her attention back to the king, her eyes flickering across his face.
‘So, this ship could already be attacking the Fulmars. And why did you not tell us your full plight?’
‘We were concerned that our magic would worry or offend you.’ Arrus answered for her. ‘I’m sorry, but we don’t know you but by rumour and Elden has little reason to help us. We are a self-sufficient people and there’s little we can offer in payment, as I’m sure you know.’
Bractius looked away and his face coloured slightly. ‘I’m sure that we can come up with something; besides, we’re all very well aware that conquering the Fulmars would be but a step toward attacking Elden.’
Arrus nodded. ‘This is something big, we’re sure of it.’
‘Please, Arrus, Kesta, I know it’s easier said than done but trust me a few hours longer. Come on, eat, drink, try to enjoy the music. We are all friends here.’ He lifted a chalice of wine and saluted Arrus.
Kesta looked at her father and nodded. There was nothing else they could do but wait to hear what the king of Elden was willing to offer them.
She noticed that Jorrun’s plate had been left unused and empty. The discomfort in her stomach reminded her that she hadn’t eaten either. She looked about the table at the dishes and spotting an aubergine stuffed with cheese, olives, and tomato, moved it onto her plate. Queen Ayline was doing a good job of drawing her father away to safe topics and she could feel him relaxing. Kesta’s eyes kept going to the empty seat to her left, and she noticed Bractius doing the same.
‘Kesta, you look as though you’re asleep with your eyes open.’ Bractius gave her a polite nudge and in that unguarded moment, as she met his eyes, she felt an overwhelming warmth for the Elden King. ‘Go on to your room; I’ll not be offended.’ He squeezed her hand.
‘Your majesty, I apologi—’
‘No, I apologise. I apologise that the Fulmer Islands felt they had to wait until they were desperate to come to me for help. Go and sleep, my lady, in a bed that is safe.’
Kesta swallowed and refused to let herself give in to emotion at the king’s kindness. With a smile at her father she stood and gave the king and queen a curtsey before retreating from the hall.
A young page who was waiting beyond the door offered to light her way to her room with his torch and she accepted. As good as she was out in the wilds at finding her way she felt completely lost within the stronghold of Taurmaline. Once in her room, she slid the bolt forcefully across the door and going to the shutters, opened them wide. She was perhaps four stories up and high enough to look over the stone walls of the city toward Lake Taur. The storm was still blowing, and rain lashed through the open window. Thunder growled somewhere to the north and her thoughts flew to her people and especially to her mother. She was a long, long way away and whatever the fate of her people there was nothing she could do for them now; nothing except beg from a king who was the puppet of a sorcerer of Chem.
The page had lit a branch of candles for her and moving away from the window she sat and gazed into the flames. Calling up her power she lost herself in the flickering light and, concentrating hard on a point inside her skull, she triggered the ‘switch’ in her brain that allowed her to walk. She thought of her home and moments later she could see the walls of Fulmer Hold from the watchfire set above it on the cliffs. She tried to force the image closer, and the pain made her gasp; she almost lost her grip on the vision. It felt as though someone had inserted a huge needle through her skull and was continuing to twist and push it. There was always a small amount of pain involved in fire-walking, but she hadn’t experienced anything like this since she’d first attempted it as a child. She could only guess that it was down to the distance.
F
orcing herself to take slower breaths she defied her body’s attempts to shut down her consciousness and with a sudden jolt, her vision moved to the nearby beach. What she saw hurt more than pain. Warriors of the Fulmers lay strewn along the shore with jagged wounds in ripped flesh and scattered limbs. The sea foam appeared almost golden and looking up she saw that it was reflecting the light of a burning ship. It was not a ship of the Fulmars. Movement caught her eye and her heart gave a leap of joy when she recognised her mother moving carefully toward the trees, supported by her uncle.
Something huge lurched toward them. It was man-shaped but there was something horribly wrong with the way it moved. It swung a monstrous hand toward her fleeing family and her uncle span about with his sword and took the creature’s arm off at the elbow. It didn’t even pause. It grabbed her uncle and threw him across the shingles. Birds flew up out of the forest to flap about it, but it paid them no heed as it jerked after her mother. Kesta watched helplessly, her heart pounding and her nails digging into her palms. Then a bright light shot toward the man-beast and it caught fire in an instant. Her uncle had scrambled to his feet and both he and her mother vanished into the trees. As the monster crumpled and burnt, the small light moved away; it altered shape and for a moment it almost looked like a tiny man.
‘Demon!’ Kesta gasped.
The candles went out, and the room was plunged into darkness.
***
She awoke with her brain pulsing inside her skull. Her cheek pressed against the carpet, but her head was too heavy to lift.
‘My lady? Oh, my goodness!’
She heard Rosa fighting to close the shutters and the sound of the wind and rain became fainter. She tried to rise, and she felt hands slide beneath her torso to help her.
‘What happened? I’ll fetch the healer!’
‘No.’ Kesta’s tongue was dry and too large for her mouth. ‘No, I’m all right. I was just so tired after my journey I fell asleep right there in the chair and must have slipped off.’
Rosa narrowed her eyes but chose not to argue. ‘Shall I at least tell your father?’
‘No; honestly, I am fine. What time is it?’ It was hard to tell in the stone room with the shutters closed.
‘It’s yet four hours until midday. I thought I’d pop in early to leave you the day dresses Ayline ordered from the city; they are not tailored I’m afraid.’
‘I am very grateful for anything. Do you know if the king will see us yet?’
‘Her majesty was getting ready to go down to the audience room when I left her. Is there anything I can get you? Some hot water or some breakfast?’
Kesta almost retched at the thought of food. ‘No, I best dress quickly and wake my father. I want to know …’ she looked at the older woman realising that she’d been about to confide in a stranger. Well, why not? ‘I want to know if the king will help us.’
‘Of course!’ Rosa drew herself up straighter. ‘Red for today?’ She went to the pile of four dresses that she’d all but dropped on finding Kesta on the floor.
Kesta nodded and patiently allowed the woman to help her get ready.
***
Kesta knocked on the door. Her father had been lent a page by King Bractius and it was the boy who let Kesta in. Her father was striding up and down the room. He took one look at her and shooed the boy out.
‘Kesta?’
‘I walked last night! Fulmer Island was attacked, and I think mother was hurt; though she was alive the last I saw. Those creatures were there – the dead Borrowmen; many of our warriors are dead, but our enemy’s ship was destroyed and … there was a demon there. It killed our attackers!’
‘A demon?’ Arrus gripped her arms and looked down into her face. ‘Describe it.’
‘It looked to be a tiny man made of flame.’
‘Chem magic!’ He growled. ‘But it makes no sense for them to attack us and help us. Unless it was a Borrow raid an—’
‘No, father, they were the dead men that I saw before.’
‘Let’s get to the king.’
Arrus almost bowled the poor page over as he flung the door back open and strode down the hall to the stairs. The boy tried to scurry ahead but ended up being caught awkwardly between Arrus and Kesta on the stairs before choosing to run when they reached the bottom. He got to the audience room about half a minute before them; enough time for them to be announced and invited to go straight in. Several people were waiting outside the audience room and Kesta saw their angry and curious looks. The guards closed the doors behind them and from the expressions on the King and Queen’s faces Kesta could see that this meeting was to be entirely formal. The Dark Man sat in his usual seat to the king’s left and Kesta’s feet faltered when she saw his face. His skin was pale and dark circles traced his eyes; he looked as though he hadn’t slept in weeks.
‘Lord Arrus, Lady Kesta.’ Bractius looked down on them without standing. ‘You deserve nothing less than a direct response to your petition. I’ve thought very carefully over the implications of the attacks on the Fulmars and I can’t imagine that Chem will stop at conquering the islands. We received further information last night that confirmed your fears that Chem has set out to conquer the Borrows.’
Arrus nodded grimly. Kesta’s eyes narrowed as she wondered what the information was and how they’d gained it. Instinctively she reached for her knowing, but with a glance at the Dark Man she stopped herself.
‘However.’ Bractius leant forward. ‘We would be better served saving our resources to prepare to defend Elden than send them to aid a people who have declined, for years, to ally with us or even make official trade agreements.’
The king’s words hit Kesta like a punch to the stomach. She drew in a sharp breath and bit down hard on her lower lip. Her father clenched his fists and took a step forward.
‘Hear me out, Lord Arrus.’ Bractius raised a hand quickly. ‘Despite that, I cannot stand by and allow innocent people to be slaughtered. We may just as well fight off the Chemmen on the Fulmers as here in Elden. And there is one trade we can make that will bind our countries without the need for fancy drawn out agreements. If she marries Jorrun and ties your family to Elden, you will have five hundred warriors and two ships to take back with you to Fulmer. The price for our aid is your daughter.’
Kesta stopped breathing. For a moment, the room seemed to swim away from her and her vision blurred, nausea crawled through her stomach. She spun around to look at her father who stood frozen; his face turning red. She couldn’t even find her voice to protest; they were trapped, and they knew it. She forced herself to look up at the sorcerer, but his face gave nothing away.
‘You don’t know what you’re asking.’ Her father’s voice came huskily through his tightened throat muscles. ‘On the Fulmers we do not give away our daughters.’
Bractius shook his head and gave a puzzled smile. ‘We are granting you both a great honour, as well as our aid. Your islands, although dear to you, have little to offer Elden in real terms. Your daughter is the only thing of value that you can offer. Such an alliance makes sense. If you want my help, that’s the price.’
Kesta clenched her fists, she felt her throat constrict and her nostrils flare as she forbade her body to betray her. Blood seemed to leave her fingers and muscles to burn at her face and neck. It seemed an eternity that she stood there with her blood roaring in her ears. Although he had no right to make the decision for her, Kesta couldn’t move her tongue and so her father spoke.
‘We have no choice,’ Arrus said through gritted teeth. ‘You know that.’
Then he gave way to his unhappiness. He grabbed Kesta’s hand, and they fled the audience hall.
Chapter Two
Kesta; Kingdom of Elden
She knew her father needed to speak with her, but she didn’t care. She went straight to her room and slammed the door behind her. Tears sprang to her eyes, and that made her even more furious and grabbing blindly at the edge of the table she flipped it over; the dishes and
candles making a satisfying crash. Her eyes fell on the dresses the Elden had provided her and snatching one up she gripped the fabric to tear it, her teeth clenched in a snarl. It refused to rip and hurling it across the room gave no relief.
Trapped.
She sat heavily on the edge of the bed, her heart pulsing against her lungs.
But what else could they do? Without help the Fulmers would be conquered; even with Elden their chances looked bleak. But to be forced into marriage … she was aware such things still happened in Elden but in her own islands it had always been for the woman to choose. And to the Demon Lord! She shuddered, wiping her eyes roughly with the heal of her hand. Was there any honourable way out of this without condemning her people to death? If it had been Bractius himself, she could possibly have lived with it.
She went to the window and opened the shutters; breathing in deeply the cold air. She realised she was shaking, and she wrapped her arms around herself. The rain had finally stopped, but the wind was still fierce. She looked down at the courtyard below; a wagon full of eggs was being unloaded and laughter drifted up in snatches. All of a sudden it hit her hard that she might never go home again. The strength went out of her muscles and she sagged against the stone wall, her vision obscured by sparks of red, and pain stabbed behind her eyes.
There was a timid knock, but she ignored it, growling deep in her throat. The door opened, and she heard a small gasp.
‘May I bring you anything?’ Rosa asked.
