Clearing her throat, she slipped the cloak around her shoulders, praying that the motion would distract Liurn from whatever thoughts currently filled his head. “It fits well enough,” she stated matter-of-factly, testing the length of the fabric with a few small steps across the hardwood floor. It was a little long, but manageable. A few hours with a needle and thread and she could adjust the length to a more suitable measurement. “What about weapons?” she added, a wash of relief coming over her to see Liurn’s starry-eyed gaze drift away from her back toward the closet. “Does your cousin own enough swords for us all to have a blade? And a bow…”
“He has a bow, that I know for certain,” Liurn interjected. He looked lost. Flustered by his lack of knowledge of where his cousin kept his belongings throughout the cottage. “The others should have their own weapons. I will just have to find a quiver and some arrows. While I am gone, see about finding clothes in Davian’s room that might fit you. It would be far too difficult for you to maneuver in your current attire.”
Kaori laughed quietly, nodding her head in agreement. “Yes, I daresay you are right. Women’s fashion is not exactly designed for combat.” Overcome by nerves, they both chuckled, louder than seemed necessary, the comment lacking the humor to merit such a jovial response. Kaori was grateful for the break in the tension, her lungs taking in air more easily while not faced with Liurn’s constant attention.
“We should start gathering our things,” Liurn said through his gradually fading laughter, wringing his hands uncomfortably. “You start with the clothes while I look for the weapons. Anything we are unable to locate, I will acquire while I am out.”
In that moment Liurn looked vulnerable. Kaori’s heart broke a little to think of what this man risked in being there with her now. Plotting an attack against the Emperor’s soldiers. He was here because of her. Had she not spoken so persuasively about the protection of their people, Liurn would be safe in the walls of his home, without fear of what would become of them before the sun set the next day. He trusted her. Relied on her to lead their rebellion, however small that may be. A twinge of guilt filled her to think of all the horrible things that could happen which she was dragging Liurn and his friends into. His bravery and loyalty couldn’t be ignored. And up until now, she had been blinded to it. “Liurn,” she said softly, taking a step toward him before pausing, noticing the uncertainty in Liurn’s eyes at her approach.
“Yes, Kaori?”
Cautious, Kaori held her hand out, as if to show Liurn that she intended no harm. They were both on edge. Neither of them knew what to think of their current predicament. Satisfied that he wasn’t moving away, she let her fingertips brush the surface of Liurn’s cheek, gentle in the gesture as she allowed her hand to slide closer to his face until her palm cupped his head in her hand. “If we do not make it through this, I want you to know how thankful I am for everything you have done.”
The lines on Liurn’s face eased, relaxing into Kaori’s touch. “You do not have to thank me,” he smiled, lifting his hand to tenderly place it over Kaori’s. “It is an honor to fight by your side. Tomorrow will go down in history and it is because of you.”
“Let us hope that it goes down in history as a victory,” Kaori couldn’t help but smile despite the fear her statement brought with it. Liurn was right. Tomorrow would go down in history. But it was up to them to make sure it was remembered for what it was. A message to the Emperor. They would not lay down and take persecution without a fight. Their people were strong. Proud. They were Vor’shai, and nothing the Emperor did would take that away from them. “Come,” she breathed, her hand moving to fall nervously at her side. “There is much to do and morning will be here before we know it.”
Draped in the heavy fabric of her cloak, Kaori inhaled several deep breaths, her heart racing, fingers trembling. Everything felt surreal. The other dark-hooded figures around her, the bow clutched tightly in her hand under the cover of the heavy material; their plan was no longer a mere passionate idea to protect their people. She was actually doing this.
The warm temperature from the afternoon sun caused sweat to build in tiny droplets above Kaori’s brow. They were all feeling the heat. The uncertainty. Nervous excitement about what they prepared to do. Liurn was by her side, his hand firmly gripped around the hilt of his sword, concealed under the thick cloak he wore. From where they took cover in a narrow alley, they watched the streets of Whitelyn fill with the emotional faces of the townspeople. Friends and family of those sentenced to die. Unsuspecting of the plot Kaori intended to lead.
She’d been surprised by the willingness of their newfound friends to help in such a delicate matter. Arcell wanted nothing more than to see his daughter safely back in his arms while Zacari plotted to strike down any soldier who laid hands on his wife and unborn child. Based on Mathious’s mannerisms, Kaori could tell he was there more to support his sister, but his heart was loyal to the cause. When introduced to Kaori, they all offered their condolences for the death of her parents. They knew her name. Spoke of the stories being told throughout Carpaen about how the soldiers had wronged her and her family. She was like a local celebrity, unaware that her existence was even known to so many people across the country. Her very presence seemed to heighten the men’s desire to lash out at the Emperor’s soldiers. To seek retribution for the past and present.
Kaori’s vantage granted a perfect view of the scaffold. Close enough to see without being seen. Her hardest challenge would be firing the first arrow without striking anyone in the crowd. She needed to be higher in order to have a clear shot but height hindered the speed with which she could charge the platform with the others. Leaning closer to Liurn’s ear, she prayed he would hear her over the din of the streets. “I cannot hit the executioner from here.”
“We do not have much choice,” Liurn whispered back, his usual smiling mouth turned downward in an uneasy frown. “There must be a way…”
“I am too low to the ground. We place innocent bystanders at risk.” Her heart was pounding. Nothing could have prepared her for what they were about to do. A normal girl of her age should be home knitting or picking flowers from the gardens; not standing at the ready to fire an arrow that could potentially start a riot in the streets. Get a hold of yourself. She needed to stay focused. “Is there a way onto the rooftop?”
“Yes, but how would you expect to get down?” Liurn whispered back, noticeably unnerved at the thought. “You and I are supposed to storm the scaffold. Any extra time you spend on a dismount will slow our advance and allow the soldiers a chance to brace themselves.”
Peering around the corner of the building Kaori sought anything which would be of use. She had to get onto the roof. Their purpose was to rescue the innocent, not put them in greater danger. “What about the awning?” she asked, gesturing toward the heavy wooden structure built over the front entrance of the building they took shelter beside. It was closer to the ground than the roof itself, allowing a safer distance to jump once the initial shot had been fired. From what she could see, they had no other option.
Liurn craned his neck, the frown on his face deepening. “You could injure yourself…”
“And those poor prisoners could all die. What is a broken ankle when we could save their lives?” She stared hard at him, unwilling to back down. Liurn tried to hold her gaze, finding her unbending. There was nothing he could say which would make her change her mind. The sooner he realized that, the sooner they could get into position.
Frustrated, Liurn gave a defeated nod, glancing back to the others. The men stood ready, prepared for whatever orders were given. “Help me boost her up,” Liurn mumbled, motioning for Kaori to come closer. “Try not to draw attention to yourself. From such a height, you will be more noticeable to the soldiers if they think to look up.”
She didn’t care about the warnings. The most difficult task would be getting onto the roof without being noticed. Once she was safely on her feet it would be easy to stay low. The soldie
rs would be distracted by the morbid task they were charged with carrying out. Their eyes should be directed to the prisoners, not the rooftops. She only hoped her assumptions weren’t incorrect. A single slip could expose them before they even had a chance to begin.
The men helped to support her weight, lifting her off the ground to grant more ease at reaching the edge of the building. It wasn’t until her lungs started to burn that she realized she was holding her breath in anticipation of the worst. The crowd was so large. It wouldn’t take much for someone to catch sight of what they were doing. Their actions were far from inconspicuous. With the warmth of the sun beating down from above, their attire alone was enough to make them look suspicious. Bundled in heavy cloaks, their faces shadowed, clambering about the walls in the alleys. The thought almost made her want to laugh. Nerves. That had to be what it was. The concept truthfully didn’t seem very humorous.
It took longer than she hoped to get a hold of the rooftop, struggling to pull her own weight over the edge. Her lessons with Therek improved her technique and endurance but it did little to increase the strength of her body. She’d been prepared for a fight, not an obstacle course. From under her she could feel the men continuing to try and help, standing on their tiptoes to extend their reach, providing an unsteady base for her feet. Unable to provide enough support from the ground, Liurn lifted himself onto Arcell’s shoulders, the extra height catapulting Kaori nearly the rest of the way up before she had a chance to register what was going on. With a sharp intake of air she bent forward from the unexpected motion, the edge of the roof slamming against her midsection, causing the last of her held breath to escape her lungs in a harsh exhale.
Finally managing to regain composure, Kaori pulled herself the rest of the way onto the roof, keeping low, cautious, afraid of anyone on the street catching sight of her movement. The height allowed her a better view of the layout. She could see the wagon where the prisoners were being kept, positioned near the scaffold. Guards were posted on all sides, vigilant. Prepared for a more direct attack. Their eyes were focused on the crowd. They would never see the arrow coming.
Aside from the guards, she was able to more easily pick out the familiar faces amongst the crowd. Pehrona was there. Dressed in her best, as usual, though her typically pleasant smile was replaced by an uncharacteristic expression of fear and dismay. Her brown hair was disheveled, similar to that of the male standing to her right. Therek. Of course he would be there. Kaori couldn’t believe she had, even for a moment, believed he might choose to miss the dramatic event. His angular features were downturned in a look of displeasure, though he revealed less sadness than Pehrona, seeming more uncertain than anything else. His eyes searched the crowd, subtle in their watchful movement. On guard.
Another face in the crowd caused Kaori to duck lower against the rough surface of the roof, pressing her body as tight to the building as she could. Sivar. His presence would make things more difficult. He looked frantic. Unlike Therek, Sivar’s eyes swept the street in a desperate motion, neck stretched to see the faces of those around him. Looking for Liurn. Or Kaori. She couldn’t discount the possibility that he would expect them both to be there. The heated conversation shared between them the last day she saw him at the house was enough to have sparked Sivar’s concern. He knew Kaori. When she set her mind to something, it was difficult to sway her decision; and her mind had been set on stopping the execution.
Seeing her brother only served to unsettle her nerves more. If he saw her, he would recognize her. Cloak or not, he was familiar with her shape. Her movements. All it would take was a single shout of her name to destroy them all. She could only hope he wouldn’t be foolish enough to announce her identity to everyone in Whitelyn. Even he had to understand the severity of the situation, regardless of whether he agreed with Kaori’s decision.
One solider made his way to the scaffold, climbing the steps, his stride proud, confident. No indication of remorse for what was about to transpire. Kaori didn’t expect any different. He was human, his sandy hair cropped short, somewhat unkempt due to the wind which occasionally blew in stronger gusts along the street. The gold buttons on his uniform were flawlessly polished, their sheen visible despite the distance between him and Kaori. His approach sent the crowd into silence, voices trickling off into whispers before dissipating altogether. Everyone was anxious to hear what he had to say. If he would provide an explanation for the atrocities the Emperor’s soldiers were about to commit. But Kaori didn’t hear any of it. Her eyes were centered on the wagon, watching, waiting. Nothing this soldier said would change her plan. All his speech did was prolong the inevitable.
Loud boos could be heard throughout the crowd. The more the soldier spoke, the more vocal the townspeople became. Let our people go. Murderer. Release the innocent. Cries which fell upon deaf ears. These soldiers didn’t care. A few outbursts from the people of Whitelyn weren’t enough to end this nefarious act against the Vor’shai.
Unable to regain control over the crowd, the solider gestured toward the guards standing outside the wagon, shouting an order for the first prisoner to be brought forward. Instantly the others were in motion, pulling open the thick curtain to gruffly grab onto the wrist of a woman seated inside. From Kaori’s perch she could hear the woman crying. Screaming for the men to show mercy on her. The long strands of the woman’s chestnut hair were tangled and covered in dirt, matching the smudges of mud darkening the pale features of her face. Her free hand pressed protectively against her stomach, a noticeable bulge indicating the unborn child she carried within her womb. Tears streaked her cheeks, the vibrant golden glow of her eyes piercing into the crowd as if in search of someone. Kaori’s heart wrenched at the sight, wanting nothing more than to turn away while her rapidly growing anger wouldn’t let her. These men were scoundrels. Worse than those who sought to defile Kaori the night this all began. It ate at her insides, appalled at how anyone could be so cruel as to murder this woman and her child who had yet to experience life.
A commotion from the alley below caused Kaori to jump with a start, afraid that the men had decided to act before she could take the shot. Zacari. Could this woman be his wife? If so, his emotions would make it more difficult to keep his wits about him. She could only hope that Liurn would be able to console Zacari long enough for them to complete the task at hand.
Spurred into action by the fear of their plan falling apart, Kaori slowly slid her bow forward, feeling the weight of the weapon in her hand. Testing it. As if afraid she would discover this to be a dream. But it was real. The wooden frame of the bow was solid under her fingers, reminding her of what she had to do. Arrows. She needed an arrow. The executioner was already making his way across the scaffold, a dark hood concealing his identity. Kaori didn’t care who he was. The blade he carried in his hand was the tool the Emperor intended to use for his selfish purpose. Regardless of whether the man agreed with the charge he was given, he intended to carry it out – and that made him an enemy.
With perfect control and precision she lifted her shoulders, sliding her legs underneath her body to solidify her position. Balance was key. The slightest fumble would send her arrow off its course and alert the soldiers to her presence without disarming the executioner. Such a mistake would prove disastrous. Not only for herself but for the poor woman now standing on the scaffold, the soldiers’ hands pressing her onto her knees before the block, oblivious to the agonized wails which continued to flow from the woman’s lips.
Careful. The urging seemed obvious yet necessary. It was too easy for nerves to get the better of her and cause Kaori to move too quickly. Make too much noise. Her pounding heart made concentration hard enough as it was. The tips of her fingers trembled as she retrieved an arrow from the quiver at her thigh, struggling to load it onto the weapon. This was it. Her shot was clear, the executioner’s arm in full view, brandishing the ax for everyone to see. All eyes were on the stage. Taking advantage of the moment, Kaori took to her feet, wobbling from the s
light angle of the roof. Next to her ear she could hear the wood of the bow creak under the pressure of her fingers drawing the string back, readying her aim.
She thought her heart would burst into a million pieces by the time she released the arrow, watching in horrified silence as it cut through the air, swift and precise, the tip lodging firmly into the executioner’s shoulder. As the ax fell from his fingers Kaori had to fight back a cheer, proud of herself for somehow making the difficult shot. But this was no time to stop and pat herself on the back. Liurn could already be seen, leading the other men from their hiding place, rushing toward the scaffold, weapons drawn, the crowd parting for them in fear and awe.
Kaori’s legs moved without conscious direction, carrying her forward onto the awning with a dull thud of her feet against the wood. From the rooftop, the ground looked further away than it seemed while standing down below. A brief wash of fear clutched at every inch of her body as she made the leap, closing her eyes in wait of the impact. She was prepared for pain. Teeth gritted, her arms flailed wildly in that instant of weightlessness, breath held, trying desperately not to cry out in terror of what would happen when she touched down. The ground came faster than she thought. In an unexpected display of grace, she landed on the balls of her feet before her heels touched, allowing her knees to bend slightly and absorb the blow. With nothing more than a minor check of balance she burst forth into the fray, sword raised, her eyes locked on the wagon.
Around her the street had erupted into chaos. Once the townspeople realized the purpose of the cloaked figures, several came to Kaori’s aid, lashing out at the guards with any weapon they could find. Zacari was already on the scaffold in a protective stance in front of his wife, fending off the soldiers who strayed from the wagon. With the guards distracted by Liurn and the others, Zacari led his wife to the rear of the platform, assisting her to the ground before fleeing the frenzied scene of the execution. Kaori thought to be angry for his desertion as she watched him disappear through the alleys, yet she couldn’t bring herself to experience any emotion through the rush of adrenaline which fueled her body. She couldn’t blame Zacari for leaving. Had she been in his position, she couldn’t argue that she wouldn’t have done the same.
The Myatheira Chronicles: Volume Four: In the Beginning Page 28
