by K. M. Fahy
“Try anything, and you will be extremely sorry,” High Voice added, lifting a shimmering hand covered with ice. With a flick of his wrist, the ice disappeared, and Deep Voice opened the door.
As Kitieri stepped through, a high-pitched shriek pulled her attention to the main door, where a stout woman came bounding up the center aisle.
“Officer Kitieri!” the voice cried. As the surprise wore off, recognition struck her.
“Tira!” she exclaimed, rushing forward to meet the woman. Tira grabbed her hands in her own as they met, squeezing them with a beaming grin.
“I’m so sorry you’re ill,” she said. “You’re just as pale as a linen sheet. Nothing too serious, I hope?”
Kitieri squeezed her hands in return. “I’m feeling much better now. It is really good to see you, Tira.”
“Oh, it’s wonderful to see you, too!” Tira said. “I was hoping you’d be on patrol in my area again, but I suppose you got a different assignment.”
“Something like that, yeah. What are you doing here?”
Tira ducked her head as she released Kitieri’s hands, reaching around for the bag slung over her shoulder. “You told me to ask for you, remember? When it was time.”
She opened the bag, revealing three caps at the bottom.
“Oh,” Kitieri breathed. “Right. Uh…”
She glanced over her shoulder at the officers standing back near the door, watching her every move.
“I hated to be so pushy about it, but it seemed really important to you,” Tira said. “I would have just come back when you were feeling better, but it’s a bit of a long walk with no protection.” She shrugged with a nervous giggle. “Scary enough getting here the first time, you know?”
“Yeah,” Kitieri said, staring at the shining black stones. I’m getting iced for this. “You know what, Tira?” She reached out, closing the bag in Tira’s hands. “Save your money. Put it towards your son’s house.”
“But I need the—”
“Take mine.” Kitieri shrugged off the heavy pack, pressing it into Tira’s arms. The woman’s jaw dropped as she stared down at the thing, and a shout rang out behind her.
“What do you think you’re doing?” High Voice demanded. “That is not yours to—”
Kitieri wheeled around, putting out one hand, and threw her energy against the oran bands. Just one spark. Come on.
Her repressed lightning stirred, lifting its groggy head.
One damned spark!
Kitieri pushed hard against the bands, dragging forth every shred of power she could muster, and felt the prick of heat reach her fingertip. A pop of white burst from her skin, fizzling out before it even reached the floor, but High Voice pulled up short with a defensive hand over his face.
“We can make a scene, or you can let her go,” Kitieri said.
The officer glanced back at Deep Voice, whose glare might’ve injured a small child. “All right, wrap it up,” he barked. “You got what you came for, woman, now go.”
Kitieri turned back to Tira, whose wide eyes flitted between the officers. “I can’t accept this, Officer, I—”
“You can,” Kitieri said. “Take it and go.”
“Go on!” Deep Voice shouted, striding toward them. Tira nodded vigorously, and raced out of the Church with the Gadget clutched to her chest.
“What in the two hells was that?” he demanded, grabbing Kitieri’s arm with a hard jerk.
“What does it matter to you?” Kitieri snapped. “The Church has more than enough, and no one will ever miss that one. Let the woman have her life.”
Deep Voice growled, slapping the oran cuffs back on her wrists so hard that Kitieri winced, and shoved her toward the door.
“Enough of this. Back down there now, before you cause any more damage.”
The officers pushed her through the door, forcing her into short bursts of jogging to keep up with their long, determined strides. As they turned her for the stairs, facing the last window before eternal darkness, every muscle in Kitieri’s body froze. The maw of the staircase yawned, ready to swallow her whole… and this time, there would be no coming back out.
“No dallying!” Deep Voice said, shoving her forward. Kitieri tripped over her own feet at the sudden force, landing on one knee at the top stair.
“Please don’t,” she begged. On another day, at any other time, she would’ve hated her weakness, but all that mattered as she stared down the dark stairwell was not going back.
“You can go easy, or you can go hard,” High Voice said.
He held up his icy hand in warning, and Deep Voice pulled her to her feet. Panic rose in Kitieri’s throat and she resisted the man’s grip, scrambling back from the edge.
“Hard it is, then,” High Voice said. Kitieri jerked her arm, but the bigger officer held her fast as the icy hand reached for her. She turned her head away, closing her eyes as she strained against the firm hold, thinking frantically through any possible means of escape. Her lightning was useless with the five bands and the cuffs, and Deep Voice was easily twice her size.
The burning sensation of unbearable cold touched her hand, and she jerked back in a desperate final attempt to free herself. Her eyes flew open as her shoulder hit the floor, skidding backwards with unchecked momentum.
Deep Voice’s body collapsed to the floor beside her with a heavy thud, and Kitieri’s mouth opened in a silent, airless gasp. At the edge of the stairs, High Voice lay writhing and moaning. Before she could blink, she was hauled to her feet and a roughened hand clamped over her mouth.
“Don’t make a sound.”
Kitieri whipped around as the newcomer released their hold on her. “Haldin?”
That familiar side smile pulled up the corner of his mouth as he unlocked the cuffs binding her wrists. “Let’s go.”
Haldin turned and set a brisk pace down the hallway, and Kitieri ran to catch up. “What did you do to them?” she asked.
Haldin lifted his hand, bright sparks jumping between his fingers. “They’ll be fine,” he said. “Just pissed. I gave them enough that they should still be there when I come back. Put this on.”
He handed her a long, dark garment he’d had slung over his shoulder, and Kitieri shook it out as she trotted beside him. A cloak.
“Haldin, what are you doing?” she hissed. “We are breaking every rule Amadora—”
“You want to go back?” He raised an eyebrow at her.
“N-no!” Kitieri stammered, searching for the proper words. “I just… I mean… If we’re caught—”
Haldin took a quick turn down an adjoining hallway, almost running Kitieri into the wall as he strode for the door at the far end. He threw it open, walking out into an empty courtyard, and Kitieri’s pace slowed. She blinked in the sudden light and lifted her face to its warmth.
“Your hood,” Haldin said. Kitieri snapped out of the blissful moment, rushing after him as she fumbled with the cloak’s thick ties. Its deep cowl covered most of her face, blocking out the sunlight once more.
Haldin opened the courtyard’s gate, peering out before waving over his shoulder for her to follow. She trailed him through yards, gardens, tool sheds, and a chicken coop before he pulled her through a final gate in the tallest outer wall of the Church grounds. As she stepped through, another presence sent her scrambling sideways along the wall, zapping her taut nerves, before she got a better look.
“That’s just Ashes,” Haldin said, closing the gate behind him. The gray mare lifted her head, ears pricked forward in interest.
“Ashes?” Kitieri mumbled. She knew that name… Jera’s horse.
“She’s good with beginners,” Haldin said. “Now listen to me, Kitieri. Before I say anything else, it’s important that you know one thing.”
She tore her gaze from the horse to look Haldin in the eye. The lines of worry and exhaustion on his face had deepened twofold since their last meeting, and she sensed a haggard air of desperation about him.
“If you choose to r
un and go into hiding, I want you to know that I cannot fault that,” he said. “I would not blame you for leaving this place far behind at this point.”
Kitieri stared, struck silent by his unexpected words.
“But,” he continued, “if there’s any part of you still willing to take a risk on this, there is one way you might be able to prove yourself to the Board.”
“Prove myself?” Kitieri’s voice came out high and shaky, and she cleared her throat. “You are referring to the same Board I met a week ago, right?”
Haldin nodded, dropping his eyes to the dirt, and the dappled sunlight through the bordering trees obscured his downcast expression. “I admit it’s a long shot,” he said, “but it’s your only path back to a life you once knew. A life with your brother and sister.”
Kitieri’s jaw clenched as the weight of his words dropped in her stomach.
“We need each other right now,” he added, more quietly.
Kitieri looked away, blinking back her emotion. “What do you need from me?” she asked.
Haldin stepped forward, leaning into an urgent stance. “Do you remember what I said about a mission the night before your training started?”
A vague memory of pain in her lip while she stood with the Commander in the shadows outside the dining hall surfaced, and she nodded.
“It’s time,” he said. “The morning you became my trainee, the Church of Histan arrested and imprisoned six of our officers while they were on patrol. They were accused of crossing the borders of the Church districts, and detained by a much larger force of red officers. No matter what I or Catarva did or said, they refused to release them. Two days after you were imprisoned, they executed the first one at the pillar.”
Kitieri clapped a hand over her mouth.
“I thought they couldn’t do that,” she whispered. “I thought they couldn’t touch anyone from the Church of Enahris.”
“That’s the law,” Haldin said. “They’ve declared they had the right because our officers were in their territory, but we all know they’re instigating war.”
Kitieri twisted her mouth. No shock there. “And the only winners will be the Advisors,” she mumbled.
Haldin sighed. “I know,” he said softly. “I can’t defend what happened at your trial. The Board is corrupt, but there are those willing to listen. Amadora’s beaten them down and given them no choice. She’s manipulated and twisted what was supposed to be a fair system of government into one where she holds all the power, but I believe there are members of the Board ready to go against her. Without the unanimous vote she’s come to rely on, Amadora loses her power and the Baliant’s vote takes precedent.”
Kitieri scoffed. “I didn’t see the Baliant trying very hard in there.”
Haldin frowned. “That isn’t fair. You have no idea how hard the Baliant has been working to keep her Church and people safe.”
“And yet,” Kitieri countered, “her officers are dying at the pillar while the Board tramples her and keeps her silent.”
“Do not judge what you don’t know,” Haldin said, lifting a finger. “Catarva would give her life for this Church if she thought it would help, but right now she needs us. The Board has stopped every one of her attempts at communication and peace with the Church of Histan, but I truly believe we can break their unanimous vote. I wouldn’t ask this of you if I didn’t think it possible.”
Kitieri crossed her arms. “So what are you asking of me, then?”
“Does that mean you’re with me?”
She sighed. “If there’s a way for me to take a shot at these people, I’m in.”
“All right,” Haldin said with a quick nod. “Tiernan’s Board has executed five of our six officers now. They’ve held Inra the longest, trying to use her high rank as one of Catarva’s personal guards for leverage, information, and Enahris knows what else. But…” Haldin looked down, clearing his throat. “She went to the pillar at dawn.”
“Shit,” Kitieri breathed. She remembered so clearly the kind hazel eyes and gentle touch as Inra had melted that collar off her neck. It was always the good ones that suffered the most. “And there’s been no Strike since then?”
“No,” Haldin replied. “That’s why it’s urgent. There’s still time to save Inra’s life. If we can do that, we not only gain insight to what the Church of Histan is doing, but we can also provide the Board with proof that you are an important asset and we need you.”
“Haldin…” Kitieri started, shaking her head. The Board would never go for that even if she managed to succeed. But as she looked into Haldin’s hopeful eyes and watched his exhaustion and pain lift ever so slightly, she bit back the words on her tongue. “Okay,” she said instead. “What’s the plan?”
“I need you to intercept the Strike meant for Inra.”
Kitieri nodded. “Then what?”
“In accordance with their own law, she will be declared innocent and they’ll be forced to release her.”
Kitieri bit the corner of her lip. “I’ll try, Haldin. I really will. But in my experience, the Church of Histan doesn’t exactly honor their own process. They don’t take kindly to losing, especially when it comes to their precious pillar.”
Haldin regarded her for a moment, contemplating her words. “It’s still Inra’s best chance,” he said at last. “If we do nothing, her death is sealed.”
Kitieri held her breath for a moment before letting out a small sigh. She did not harbor the same hopes for any of this plan, but he was right about Inra’s chances.
The Commander reached for his key ring, pinching the small pin between his fingers. “You won’t need these.”
As he reached for her wrist, Kitieri pulled back. “M-maybe you should leave them on.”
Haldin paused, lowering the key. “It’s time, Kitieri,” he said.
She fought the subtle trembling that crept through her body, lifting her gaze from the key to Haldin’s eyes. “What if I can’t control it?” she whispered. “What if I kill Inra, or—”
“You can.” Haldin laid a hand on her shoulder, and Kitieri felt her tension melt under his touch. She wanted so badly to believe him… “You know what to do,” he said. “I trust you.”
Kitieri looked into the man’s earnest blue eyes. How could anyone trust her?
“Now you need to trust yourself.” He gave her shoulder a light squeeze. “I know you have the power to save, and it’s time for you to believe it, too. You can’t hide from your lightning forever. It’s part of you.”
“I know,” she whispered. Closing her eyes, Kitieri remembered the day she’d chafed against the oran bands for stealing that part away. She’d been angry with Haldin that day. Angry with Catarva. Angry with everyone and everything that had forced her down a path she’d never wanted.
But she’d never wanted her lightning either. From the day she’d discovered her element, from the very moment she’d turned to see the dismay on her parents’ faces, she’d known she was cursed where others were blessed. Even before the Strikes, everyone had known that lightning was only good for one thing…
No. Two things.
Kitieri took a deep breath and offered her wrists to Haldin. As the bands fell away, her lightning stirred and buzzed, racing through her and tickling her insides. Despite herself, Kitieri smiled.
If it had to be a part of her, then she would make it the good part, or die trying.
“Thank you, Kitieri,” Haldin said, mirroring her smile as the bands swung from his fingers. “Now, we have to be fast; the Strike can come at any time. Take Ashes, she’ll get you there.”
“Oh… no thanks.” Kitieri laughed, glancing nervously at the horse. “I can’t ride.”
“You’ll be too slow on foot.” Haldin dropped the bands to the ground, and moved to pat the saddle. “Take the horse. Like I said, she’s good with beginners. I’ll help you up.”
Before Kitieri could protest, Haldin hoisted her into the saddle and pushed her right leg over the other side. Kitieri ri
ghted herself, grasping the saddle’s hard leather pommel as she gaped at the ground.
“Holy shit, I’m so tall,” she breathed.
“Feet in the stirrups,” Haldin instructed, tucking her toes into the dangling metal rings. “Weight on the balls of your feet, toes up, heels down, straight back, center yourself—there you go. Here are the reins.”
He threw the braided leather loop over Ashes’ head, passing it to Kitieri. She clutched the reins in one hand while refusing to release the saddle with the other.
“Lean them on her neck whichever way you want to go,” he said. “Ashes is sensitive; it doesn’t take much. A nudge with your heels tells her to go, and a tug on the reins will slow her down. She’s a smooth ride, so hang on and you’ll be fine. When you get off, she ground ties.”
“Ground ties?” Kitieri croaked.
“Listen,” Haldin said, coming to stand at her knee. “I will be waiting here for you at sundown. If you don’t come, I’ll know that either something happened, or you chose not to return. Bring Inra home, and I swear I will take your place before I see you imprisoned again.”
Fighting to control her shallow breaths, Kitieri looked down at the man.
Her Commander. Her teacher. Her friend.
By the grace of whatever gods might be out there, she would not let him down again.
Chapter 15
Kitieri leaned forward, clinging to the saddle’s pommel for dear life as Ashes’ hooves clattered on the cobblestones.
Don’t slip. Please don’t fall down, Kitieri silently begged the horse. But the mare was sure-footed in her brisk canter, slowing just enough at turns and congested areas to allow people to dive out of her way. Kitieri squeezed hard with her knees to keep her balance, holding the reins and Ashes’ black mane together in one hand. Though she had no illusion of control over this animal, the horse seemed to choose her own path easily enough, deviating only when the reins touched her neck.
She breathed out in a sharp sigh of relief as the looming fortress came into view. Tall and proud, the Church of Histan stood silhouetted against the late morning sun, its dark shadow settling over everything in the vicinity. As Kitieri pulled up on the reins, the air in her nose and throat carried a sharp metallic twinge.
