by Dyan Chick
My throat tightened and I blinked back tears. “Thank you.” I hugged him.
He cleared his throat again. “No more hugging. No tears. It’s time for you to learn how to shoot your new bow.”
16
I steadied myself with the new bow. It was longer than the practice bow and it took more strength to pull. I held my breath as I released the arrow. It hit the target but the force wasn’t enough for it to stick. I cursed.
“You need to pull back further with this bow. You need more power.” Master Edward stood behind me. “You need to get the power from your legs and midsection. Ground yourself. You’re all arms right now.”
I nodded and focused on tightening the muscles in my legs and stomach. The muscles contracted, responding to my effort. Nocking the arrow, I pulled back again, lining up my shot with the center of the target. Taking a deep breath, I focused on the muscles in my whole body working together. I pulled a little more and checked my aim. As I let out my breath, I released the arrow. It struck true with enough force to enter the target. I smiled.
“That’s it. You got it now.” Master Edward started to walk away.
“Where are you going?” I asked.
“I’ll be right over here. I’ve got something to work on. You have to keep shooting until you hit 20 in a row.”
I raised an eyebrow. Twenty? I was tired just thinking about it. This could take a while. Could I even pull the bowstring that many times? I shook my hands out and took a deep breath. If my father could do it, I could too. I drew another arrow and aimed again.
Long shadows crossed the ground as the sun hung low in the sky. I put down the bow. My whole body was sore from the repetitive shooting of arrows. I shook my hands and rolled my shoulders.
Master Edward motioned for me to go to him. He was holding a quiver filled with arrows. While I had been practicing, he had burned the same flower pattern that was on my bow into the leather of the quiver.
“Thank you. For everything.” I said.
“Just keep your bow with you on your journey and you’ll be fine. I’d hate to be the King’s Guard who meets up with you.”
It was nice to have somebody who believed in me and didn’t look at me as helpless. Smiling, I gave him a hug.
Ashton found me as we were walking back to the common area.
“Any news?” I asked.
“They hadn’t come up with an exact plan yet when I left.” He frowned.
We took a few silent steps before Master Edward paused. “I left something back at the archery field. You two go along.” He waved us forward.
“You sure you don’t want us to walk with you?” I asked.
He smiled at me. “I’ll be okay.” Master Edward looked to Ashton. “Keep her safe. You have no idea how important it is that she is safe.”
Ashton nodded. “I’m beginning to figure it out.”
My cheeks reddened as Ashton smiled at me.
It was almost dark when we arrived back at camp. The days had been getting noticeably shorter. People were wrapping up dinner and somebody was playing a fiddle on the edge of the clearing. I looked around for Saffron or Max. They were both missing.
Ashton squeezed my hand briefly and then let go. “You should eat something. It might be a while -“ He froze, a dark shadow crossing his face.
“What’s is it?” Then I felt it. The temperature had dropped at least 10 degrees and my fingers began to tingle.
Ashton pushed me away from the clearing, behind a large tree. “Stay here.” It was a command.
I peeked from behind the tree as he stepped back into the clearing. The music stopped. Other people were starting to feel it, too. Something was happening. Something was here.
I smelled them before I saw them. It was the unmistakable scent of rotting flesh. The smell of death itself. My fingers started to tingle.
The Reapers walked without touching their feet to the ground. Their black cloaks floated around their body giving them an ethereal appearance. If it weren’t for the floating and the smell, I would have thought they were men in long cloaks. The hoods covered their heads and there was a black hole where their faces should be. I covered my mouth to keep myself from crying out.
The space was filled with screams and panic as people fled. But the Reapers didn’t even notice them. They were here for me. I turned away from the scene and pressed my back against the tree. My pounding heart was probably giving my hiding place away. I searched my memory for the stories I heard about the Reapers. Was there anything that could kill them? They’re already dead.
I risked a glance around the tree and saw that they had fanned out around the clearing. Ashton. Ashton hadn’t left with everybody else. He was right in the middle of them. They had him surrounded.
My throat tightened and I clenched my fists. I have a bow. It might not do any good, but maybe I could buy him some time to escape. I wasn’t going to let him die for me. Nobody was going to die for me.
I nocked an arrow using the tree as cover. I took a deep breath and then stepped out. Pulling the string back, I aimed at the Reaper closest to me, then released.
It struck true and the creature let out an inhuman howl as it snapped its head in my direction. My veins felt like they had ice running through them as I loaded another arrow. I shot it a second time. It growled and all four of the creatures floated toward me. I knew the arrow wouldn’t kill the monster, but they were leaving Ashton and that was all I could hope for. They were coming toward me, not concerned with speed as they approached their prey. I knew it was useless to run.
“Run, Ashton!” I cried out. I wanted him to get far away from here.
He ran, but toward the monsters, toward me. He ran past them and they didn’t even flinch. He wasn’t their target. Ashton stepped in front of me. My heart beat faster in my chest. No. I won’t let you sacrifice for me. Too many people have done that already.
“What are you doing?” I screamed at him. “You need to go!”
“I’m not leaving you.” He squared his stance and put his arms out. Flames grew from his outstretched hands.
The Reapers hesitated, stopping their progress for a moment, then continued.
Anger and fear rose up inside me. The ice running through me was burning. I looked down at my hands and saw small blue sparks in my palms. I focused on the sparks and they grew stronger, resembling icy blue flames. I stepped next to Ashton and raised my hands like his and forced the burning ice through my body into my hands. A rush of heat exploded from me and I was blinded by a blue light. Then everything went black.
“Etta?”
Fingers brushed across my forehead. My head was pounding and my cheeks were hot. Slowly, I opened my eyes only to squeeze them shut again. The light was too strong. I tried again, blinking a few times to adjust to the light.
Saffron was looking down at me. “Thank the gods,” she breathed. “I thought we lost you.”
I sat up, too quickly, and stars danced in my vision.
“Easy, easy.” Saffron put her arm around my back to support me.
“Are you alright?” she asked gently. “You’ve been asleep for hours.”
I nodded. “I - I think so.”
She frowned at me. “What were you thinking? Trying to take on those Reapers with a bow?”
I looked around. Max was standing above me with his arms crossed. Ashton was behind him, avoiding eye contact.
I tried to remember the event. Had I used magic? It was a blur of fear and adrenaline.
“Thankfully you were with Ashton,” Max finally spoke. “The Reapers only weakness is fire, but it only sent them away. They’ll try again.”
I swallowed and looked at Ashton. He was still avoiding meeting my eyes. Had I done something to upset him?
“Can you stand?” Max asked.
Saffron stood and pulled me up. I wobbled but maintained my balance. Max was frowning at me.
“Good,” he nodded. “I’ve got to keep you safe for three weeks. Then you’ll be
leaving Illaria. Think you can manage to stay out of trouble until then?”
I stared at him, trying to figure out the best way to answer. Leaving Illaria? In three weeks? “Where am I going?”
“We’ll talk about it later. Too many ears around here,” Max said. Then he turned to Ashton. “Get her horse ready. You’re taking her with you to the trials.” With that he left, Ashton at his heels.
Saffron watched him until he was out of earshot then she pulled me in for a tight hug. “I was so worried about you.”
I winced. The hug hurt but I didn’t complain. Saffron made me feel safe. I don’t know what I would do without her. I straightened, worried that my travels were going to cost me my biggest ally. “Are you coming with me?”
She nodded. “I’m not leaving your side ever again.”
My gaze traveled in the direction that Ashton and Max had gone. “Is Ashton upset with me?”
She frowned. “Max knows about your feelings for Ashton. You can’t hide something like that from him.”
The color drained from my face. How did he know? I just started to figure it out for myself.
“You have to end it, Etta. You need to stop it before it hurts too much. Don’t end up like me, in love with somebody you can never have.”
I bit the inside of my cheek. Too late.
Ashton moved quickly as he secured my horse for travel. I felt useless standing there watching but they wouldn’t let me help with anything. Still exhausted from the Reaper attack, I didn’t press the issue. Distracted by the activity in front of me, I didn’t notice Max approach and jumped when he grabbed hold of my elbow. He nodded toward a bench a few feet away and led me there. We sat together in silence for a moment.
“I know you’ve been through a lot.” Max turned to look at me. “And I’m asking a lot of you, but I need you to trust me.”
I waited for him to keep talking.
“We have a long road ahead of us and I might not show it, but I need you.” He rested a hand on mine. “Without an alliance to a powerful kingdom, we will never get back our inheritance.” He paused. “I know better than anybody how hard it is to put duty before your own heart. But it’s the only way.”
I swallowed. I didn’t like where he was going with this.
“You have to end things with Ashton. Don’t let it go any further. You’ll both end up broken by it.” His eyes softened for a moment before getting serious again. “I couldn’t tell you this before. It has to be kept a secret.” He lowered his voice. “Your marriage has been arranged. You are betrothed to the Prince of Sardina. His father is unwell and it’s likely you will be marrying a king by your wedding day.”
My throat was tight and my eyes burned. My voice came out in a whisper. “When?”
“Three weeks from tomorrow.”
Three weeks. How was I supposed to be ready to marry a prince in three weeks? What about Ashton? Don’t be stupid. You know you can’t be with Ashton.
I squared my shoulders. “I don’t know if I can do this.”
Max’s jaw tensed. “You remember the night you went out with Ashton?”
I nodded.
“What did you think of that village? It was nice, right? Regular people living their lives.”
My breath caught. He was using the past tense. “It was nice.”
“It’s gone now. The Reapers took out the whole village after they left here. It's the king sending you a message.”
My heart dropped into the pit of my stomach. “What do you mean?”
“The king wants you to know that he’ll do whatever it takes to get to you. The longer he stays on the throne, the more people will die.”
“They killed all of those people? Just because I was there?” My hands were shaking and tears began to blur my vision.
He nodded. “He won’t stop until you’re dead.”
My breath caught in my chest. All of those people. I pictured the people sitting in the tavern, having a drink with their friends. The village was about the size of the one I grew up in. All those people, children, all dead, because of me. I turned away from Max, unable to meet his gaze. They died because of me. I wrapped my arms around myself and struggled to breathe. All I wanted to do was to curl up in a little ball and cry.
Max turned my chin with his fingers so I was facing him again. “Don’t you see why you have to do this? We can’t fight him on our own. He’s too powerful. And the longer we wait, the more people die. Your people. You are their princess. It’s your job to sacrifice for them.”
I wiped the tears from my cheeks and struggled to slow my breathing. My insides felt raw and twisted. Duty, sacrifice. I understood those things. Yet, my heart cried in protest.
“Look,” Max’s tone was gentle, “Sardina is a nice place. The prince is a good person. You’ll be happy there.”
My throat was so tight I couldn’t speak. I nodded, my heart breaking as I did. There had to be another way I could help. I needed to find a spark. Something unique to me that would convince them that I was more than just a bargaining chip to be married off. Three weeks. I have three weeks to figure it out.
17
The trials were held every year in the Faron Mountains. We had a two day ride ahead of us to reach the base of the mountains. From there, we would be given the exact coordinates of the trials and would have to hike to the location. No horses and no weapons were allowed to go into the trial.
During our ride, nobody spoke. There was a feeling of gloom hanging over our party. I felt bad for Ashton. We were heading out to the event he had waited a decade for. Our journey should be filled with anticipation and excitement for the trials ahead. Instead, the attempts on my life had left us in a constant state of fear.
My run in with the Reapers had drained my energy and after only a few hours of riding, I was struggling to stay on my horse. Ashton pulled his horse up next to mine.
“You alright?” he asked.
It was the first time he had spoken to me since the attack. I wanted to be upset with him for ignoring me, but a rush of relief flooded through me. “I’m just a little tired is all.”
“You look terrible.” He frowned.
I raised my eyebrows. “You haven’t spoken to me since the attack and that’s what you say?”
His cheeks flushed. “That didn’t come out right. I’m worried about you.”
“Is that why you’ve been ignoring me?”
He sighed. “Max’s orders.”
“Oh,” I said. “He talked to you, too.”
He nodded. “I’ve never disobeyed him before.”
I felt sick to my stomach. The thought of him avoiding me for the rest of my life was painful. “He told me I’m getting married in three weeks.” I looked away from him. “He already found somebody.”
“So soon?” Ashton said. “I knew they were discussing that but he had all of the meetings behind closed doors. I thought there would be more time.”
Before I could ask Ashton anything else, my horse came to a halt. I hadn’t been paying attention and looked ahead. Saffron had stopped, causing our horses to do the same. She put her hand out in a fist. Ashton went still and his eyes darted around us.
“This way. Fast,” Saffron called over her shoulder and took a fork to the right. I caught the glimpse of dust coming down the road toward us as we headed in the opposite direction. Adrenaline shot through me and I no longer felt tired. Ashton rode next to me and we sped down the road.
Our turn took us through a wooded area lined with tall, leafy trees. As soon as we crossed into the tree line the temperature dropped. A chill went through me. It’s just from the shade. We kept riding and I felt the ice running through my veins.
“Ashton, Saffron!” I shouted over the sound of our charging horses.
They whipped around to me. Ashton’s eyes wide. He feels them, too.
“They’re here. The Reapers. They found us,” I said.
The faceless, hooded monsters flooded my vision. I remembered them floating t
oward me at the camp. Ashton holding them off with his fire, the strange blue sparks. I had stopped them. I made them go away.
My body felt like it was on fire. That cold heat running through me again. I knew the Reapers wouldn’t stop coming for me. The best we could hope for was to send them away for a while. Maybe I could call on the same strange power I did back at the camp. It’s our only hope. I dismounted, knowing the only thing we could do would be to face them.
“What are you doing?” Saffron yelled at me. “Get on your horse. We have to get out of here.”
“I can do this,” I said.
“She’s right, Saffron,” Ashton said. “She’s the one who got rid of them last time.” He dismounted his horse. “Hold the reins, Saffron. We’ll take care of this.”
Saffron glared at us. “We’re going to be having a long talk about this later.”
Ashton and I stood in the middle of the road, back to back. The air shifted and the smell hit me. Death. Decay. Then I saw them. All four of the Reapers, floating toward me. They were moving faster this time.
“Ashton,” I called to him.
He moved to stand next to me. He raised his hands and I copied his movements. Ashton put up his wall of fire but they continued to approach, undeterred by his flames.
I felt the ice flowing through my veins. The power was still so new to me, but it was becoming more familiar. I reached inside, willing it to grow stronger. The cold burned as it traveled through me, creating the illusion of heat. Using all of my energy, I forced the burning ice into my extended hands, directing the power toward the approaching Reapers. Sparks of icy blue formed in my palms, sending a chill through me. My body wanted to give in, and my vision blurred. I fought away the exhaustion and called on more power. Finally, the sparks gave way to a surge of blue ice that looked like fire. My hands were burning from the cold, but the flames leaving my palms emitted no heat. The Reapers screamed as the blue fire reached them, their unholy cries echoing through the air. As they retreated, blackness claimed me.
