by Krista Rose
By the time the horses were under control again, all that remained of the sapling was a pile of ash and reeking smoke. Tanner turned to stare at me, his eyes glassy and afraid. I had always been careful to hide my gift for fire, and he was unprepared for it. His mouth opened and closed several times, but no sounds emerged.
“I’m going to save my sister,” I said into the silence. “I consider you my friends. I would really regret having to kill you.”
Digger placed a heavy hand upon my shoulder, and I braced, preparing to burn him. But his eyes were filled with tears, and he bowed his head to me in an obvious sign of respect.
Breaker did the same, and I gaped as both men put their hands over their hearts, honoring me.
“Figures.” Tanner attempted a grin, though shock still swam in his eyes. “They always did like to make me look like a fool.” He hesitantly reached out to put his hand on my shoulder, as if worried he would catch fire by touching me. “You have our support, Farmboy, for whatever it’s worth. We’ll follow you.”
Their loyalty calmed my rage, and the flames on my hand went out. “Then I need you to keep driving west. Or east. Hell, go to Surak, it doesn’t matter. Just don’t return to Camp.”
“You don’t want us to go back with you?” His brows furrowed with confusion. “Why?”
I set my jaw. “Because I’m going to burn it to the ground, and the Prince with it.”
He took a deep breath, letting it out slowly. “You know, Farmboy, I think it’s time me and the boys went on holiday. I’ve heard the flatlands in the east are lovely this time of year.” Then he grinned. “And less flammable.”
My heart lifted. “You know, I’ve heard that, too.”
“Here.” He unstrapped the belt at his waist, handing me his sword. “I’ve heard the Prince’s swordplay is unmatched. Be careful.”
I took it. “Thank you.”
There was nothing else to say. I climbed from the wagon, watching as they were swallowed up by the Forest. Then I rolled my shoulders, buckled on Tanner’s belt, and headed back toward the Camp.
REYCE
Someone had emptied all of my traps.
I cursed repeatedly as I surveyed the damage, kicking at the cut lines of my snares as I stalked from one to the next. It was obviously deliberate, and the signs of blood and fur told me that they had held prey before being tampered with. I hoped whoever had vandalized them had been humane enough to at least kill the injured creatures so they wouldn’t suffer.
But it left me with a dozen broken traps to repair, and a week’s worth of food was now missing, and I would have to hunt more down to replace it. I would be lucky to get even a few hours’ sleep in the next week.
Reyce?
I rubbed at the headache behind my eyes. Now’s not a good time, Kylee. I’ve got some problems here.
We’ve got problems everywhere.
My senses went on alert, at last noticing the hint of panic in her tone. What’s wrong?
I think something’s happening. Brannyn was really angry, and he told me to get our things. I’ve got most of it, but I can’t get the rest without the guards getting suspicious.
We’re leaving? I blinked, no longer caring about the traps.
Yes. I could sense her relief, and her unease. I looked in on the others while I was getting our things. Kryssa’s fine, but Alyxen has a heavy guard around him, and Lanya’s missing.
Missing? I frowned, and started back toward the Camp. What do you mean, missing?
She’s not with the seamstresses. I looked for her everywhere and I can’t find her.
I reached inside myself, searching for the golden light of my sister, and found only darkness. At first, I thought she might have been blocking me, but after long minutes of trying to reach her, I realized she must be unconscious, which was the only time we couldn’t tap into each other’s thoughts. I swallowed, fear trying to overwhelm me. I’ll go get Alyxen. Are you safe?
I think so. I caught a flicker of an image: a wagon, hitched and ready, our meager belongings in the bed, and a large black stallion, saddled and stomping the ground.
Wait there. I unslung my bow from my shoulder, stringing it in one swift movement. We’ll come to you.
I want to help. Her words tasted like lightning in my mouth.
No. Let me handle this. We need you to keep the horses safe.
Fine. She huffed. Be careful.
I’m always careful. I did not hear what she responded, because my will was already building, turning my thoughts diamond-bright. I felt as my connection to the others faded; I was alone with my thoughts. I faced the Camp, my eyes fixed to the point where I knew Alyxen to be, and began to climb.
BRANNYN
I didn’t want to be spotted by the sentries, and so I had circled the Camp and climbed a far tree with thick, well-spread branches. I scrambled upward, clambering from tree to tree until I guessed I was near to Marla’s house, and could orient myself to the Camp by the glimpses of it I caught through the leaves. I took care to make no sound as I ascended, and I struggled to keep my breath from growing too loud as I neared the upper canopy. I fought with my anger, trying to keep it under control; I didn’t want to set the tree on fire accidentally while I was still in it.
I finally reached Marla’s house, my limbs trembling with exhaustion, and I swung through her window to land on my feet.
She was lying on the bed, weeping, and my arrival startled her. She hurriedly tried to wipe away her tears: damning proof that all my suspicions had been true. My dread and rage coalesced into a sickening ball of betrayal in my gut.
“Where is she?” I demanded.
“You shouldn’t be here. If he finds you-”
“Where is she?”
She swallowed, fear flickering across her face. “She- she’s in the Great Hall. But you don’t understand-”
“Understand? Understand what? That he’s trying to rape my sister? Or that you knew, and hid it from me?”
She flinched away from the venom in my voice. “I was trying to protect you. It was the only way. Hamund’s possessed. He’s willing to kill you to have her-”
My hands fisted into balls at my sides, flames playing along my knuckles. “He was going to kill me anyway.”
The color drained from her face. “No- he wouldn’t- he promised-”
“How many promises has he made you, Marla?” I knew my words were cruel. I didn’t care. She would see the truth, even if I had to force it down her throat. “Did he promise you that you would be free? Because you’re not. You’re his slave now, left to clean up his mess. How many lies have you swallowed, looking the other way? You’ve never stood up to him, never tried to stop him. He owns you.”
“No, I-”
Ruthless, I cut her off, forcing my flames to go out before I turned my back on her. She had betrayed me; I wouldn’t listen to her try to justify it. “If my sister is harmed because you were a coward, there will be nowhere left in all the worlds for you to hide.”
She stared after me with wide, frightened eyes as I left her house, climbing down the ladder to the platform below. I didn’t set the ladder ablaze, though I wanted to. But I was not quite that far gone with hate.
I reached for Kryssa, felt the worry bloom in her thoughts the moment I found her.
What is it?
Lanya. Unable to focus past my furious pain, I sent her a confusing pile of images, and she sorted through them with growing panic as she tried to reach our sister, and couldn’t. The Prince has her. He’s in the Great Hall.
What are you planning?
I’m going to burn it all. My hands caught fire as I stalked across the bridges, leaving them in flames behind me. I’ll leave nothing here but ash.
KRYSSA
18 Alune 578A.F.
I’ll leave nothing here but ash.
Brannyn’s anger burned in my thoughts, setting fire to my blood. My sister is in danger. We have to escape. I glanced across the Infirmary to Bryonis, who sat calmly at th
e desk writing letters. Indecision tore at me. Should I leave him behind, unaware of the destruction my brother was spreading across the Camp?
Then I heard a scream, distant and terrified, and my decision was made. “Bryonis, come on. We have to go.”
He glanced up, his eyes unfocused as he frowned at me. “Go? Go where?”
“The Camp is under attack.” I didn’t bother telling him that we were the ones attacking. “We need to leave.”
“But-” I leveled a look at him, and his words choked off. “Yes, of course, Lady Kryssa.” He grabbed a dagger from a drawer in the desk, and I swallowed the urge to tell him that it would be useless against the approaching flames. He hurried toward me. “Let me go first, my lady. It could be dangerous.”
I didn’t have time to argue, for he was already through the door. I followed behind him-
-and watched in horror as an arrow sprouted from his throat.
“Bryonis!” I caught him as he fell, a second arrow whistling past my face as I dragged him back inside. His mouth gaped, his eyes wide and terrified as blood fountained from the wound. Useless tears burned my eyes as I cradled his head in my lap. Shouts echoed outside the Infirmary, the smell of smoke wafting through the open door.
Yet I could only hold him, watching as he died.
He reached up to touch my face, his thumb rubbing away my tears. Hesitant, I reached out to him with my mind, wanting to offer him comfort, my grief making me forget what had happened with the Crone.
So beautiful. Even through the pain and fear, he still thought of me. I don’t want her to be sad.
I closed my eyes, struggling to shield him from the agony of dying. Sleep now, Bryonis. Everything’s alright. Sleep.
He sighed, a smile crossing his face, and died.
I swallowed the wails of grief that rose into my throat. Footsteps were approaching: Bryonis’ murderers, intent on killing me. Lanya was still in danger, and my brother was creating a firestorm in the heart of the Camp. I did not have time to mourn.
Vicious rage began to spiral through me, hate and vengeance slipping into my veins like poison. Bryonis had been innocent. That arrow had been meant for me.
Kill them, the Crone’s voice whispered in my mind. Kill them all.
LANYA
My head ached as I woke, and I groaned as I sat up, blinking around groggily at my vibrant surroundings. Expensive silks hung from the walls, and the enormous, decadent bed I was lying in was draped in yet more of them. The colors blended and clashed jarringly, and I looked away, worried they would make me sick.
Against the far wall was a desk, covered in parchment and books, and a small, leather-bound chest spilling over with gold and jewels. I looked over my shoulder, frowning as I gazed out the room’s open side over the tops of the pale, budding trees of the Forest. My head throbbed, and I gingerly reached up to touch the knot at the base of my skull.
I had no memory of arriving in this room. I could remember sitting down to my loom in the morning, and then- nothing.
What in Gods’ name-
I looked down at myself, my blood freezing when I saw that my clothes had been changed. My simple blue dress was gone, replaced by scraps of pale pink silk, sheer and clinging and leaving much of my flesh bare to the cool air. A thick, rusted manacle encircled my ankle, chaining me to a bedpost, and I whimpered, suddenly afraid.
“Did you pray for me, Mistress Lanya?”
Every muscle in my body tensed, my mouth flooding with the metallic taste of fear. I slowly lifted my head, and stared into the burning gaze of the Prince.
He smiled, his voice dropping to a whisper. “Because I prayed for you.”
KYLEE
“They are coming, Skylily.”
My hand clenched reflexively on Nightking’s harness. “How many?”
He cocked an ear, listening. “Four, perhaps five. They are creeping, like wolves.”
I swallowed. Five? I can’t handle five. I’ve only ever killed logs and dirt. How am I supposed to fight five men? I glanced down at my ring. It suddenly looked very small, and my hours of practice seemed like play. I had a vision of the men laughing as they came to kill me, brushing aside my lightning to run me through.
“It will be well, Skylily.” Nightking nudged me, then lifted his head, proud and defiant. “No harm shall come to you.”
“How can you-”
The pigs squealed, and Nightking tensed, his eyes going flat and mean. “The wolves are here.”
I spun. Four men stepped out of the Forest, arrows notched in their bows and aimed at my heart. My knees turned to water. “Wh- what do you-”
Nightking shouldered me out of the way as an arrow whistled past my ear.
One of the men swore, tossing his bow aside to draw his sword. “Don’t hit the horse, you idiot! It belongs to the Prince!”
“Onto my back, Skylily.” Nightking stomped his hooves, threatening, and I scrambled into the saddle.
The men began to spread out, trying to circle us. Nightking’s ears went flat against his skull, and he bared his teeth. “You dare to challenge me?”
I barely had time to grab his mane before he charged, running down the man who had first drawn his sword. The man screamed once as his bones were crushed beneath the stallion’s sharp hooves.
Nightking turned and kicked, his back legs catching a second man in the chest. The man went flying, crashing into a tree and collapsing to the ground, blood leaking from his ears.
The stallion charged again. The man he aimed for threw himself from the horse’s path with a curse, rolling to his knees and raising his bow. I didn’t stop to think. I lifted my hand, and released the lightning. It arced out, catching the metal tip of the arrow before slamming into the man’s chest. He slumped forward onto his face on the ground, his legs and fingers twitching.
Nightking whirled and ran down the last man, gleefully snapping bones with his hooves.
Then it was over. I took a deep breath and sat up, slowly unclenching my numb fingers from his mane. A few drops of blood had splattered on the saddle; I bent to wipe it clean, just as an arrow shot past where my head had been.
I jerked upright as a second arrow whizzed past me, and gaped as a fifth man toppled from his hiding place in the branches of a tree. I turned in the saddle to find Thellin behind me, calmly lowering his bow.
“Th-Thellin?”
“Never leave ‘em behind ye, lass.”
I swallowed my hysterical desire to laugh. “Sorry, Thellin.”
He glanced around at the bodies. “Guess it be time t’ be leavin’, eh? Get on down here, lass. I’ll be needin’ yer help wi’ th’ other horses.”
I blinked, confused. “Why?”
“T’ain’t no sense in leavin’ ‘em here, now is there?”
My legs were shaking as I lowered myself to the ground, and I clung to the saddle as I tried to gain my balance. “I’m keeping Nightking.” I meant to say it defiantly, but it came out instead as a plea.
“Course ye are. He’s claimed ye, hann’t he? Now hurry up, I kent do all this by meself.”
I bit my lip and nodded, and went to help bridle the other horses.
KRYSSA
The first of the ambushers stepped through the door, his sword raised as he looked for me.
I was waiting. Bryonis’ dagger made a satisfying crunch as it sunk through the man’s eye, striking the back of his skull. He stiffened before collapsing to the floor. His death meant nothing to me, trapped in that vicious state of rage, and I bent over his body, pulling the sword free from his grasp.
The second man was right behind him, his eyes wide as he swung his sword toward my unprotected neck. I dived out of the way, and his blade struck the first man, scattering droplets of blood across the walls.
The sword felt heavy in my hand, and I wielded it clumsily. I had no skill with weapons; as the second man approached me, and a third appeared in the doorway behind him, my anger began to falter, replaced by doubt.
Kry
ssa. Something touched my face, a whisper of thought brushing against my cheek. I turned my head to see Bryonis, pale and transparent, his smile warm as he stared at me. His eyes were filled with a wisdom they had never possessed in life. The Crone hissed, and I pushed her back into the corners of my mind.
“You’re- you’re dead,” I stammered, glancing to where his body still lay on the floor. “You- you can’t-”
Put away your sword, my lady. The ghost turned to face the approaching men, who had paused next to each other in momentary confusion, their eyes darting around the room as they tried to discover who I was talking to. I will protect you.
He floated toward them. Slowly, he stretched his hands out, reaching into their chests.
The men froze, their eyes going wide with horror. They began clawing at their chests, their fingers passing uselessly through Bryonis’ ghostly arms. At last, they dropped their weapons, and fled the Infirmary, screaming.
Bryonis turned to me. My rage had faded back into grief. He had been my friend; though I had not loved him as he wished, I had cared for him, and bitterly resented his death.
The way is clear now, my lady. There are no others lying in wait.
“I’m sorry, Bryonis.” My voice was choked. “I’m so sorry. This was my fault.”
This was the result of greed, my lady. Do not take blame for actions not your own. I am at peace now, and Sirius comes to take me to Ca’erlyssa. I have served my purpose, and I am content.
“Bryonis, wait-”
But he had already vanished, as silently as he’d arrived, and once more I was alone in the Infirmary with only the dead.
ALYXEN
The hand pump had to have been smashed on purpose. It was the only answer that made any sense- and yet I still couldn’t determine the logic behind it. Vandalism was unheard of in the Camp; former slaves knew better than to create extra work for themselves.
