The Pariah Child- Sarafina's Return

by Natasha D Lane

  The thought would have caused her heart to race if the worm didn’t have one of its extensions wrapped around the organ. Even breathing was proving difficult as the days went on.

  Leonna stood and stepped into the hallway. Then, she made her way out into the front courtyard. She knew there was a slight chill in the air, despite not being able to experience its full effects. Her senses had become limited, as well. A frustrating fact considering the courtyard was a sort of escape from the usual imbecles surrounding her. All knew when Leonna sat in the courtyard, she was not to be distrubed.

  Guards bowed to her when she passed them. Emma forced her to bow, as well, despite it being out of character for her even when she had been in control.

  She pursed her lips together. The witches appeared indifferent, but perhaps they enjoyed her submission more than they showed. Those in power always liked puppets, did they not?

  Leonna knew she did. She had an entire kingdom of them.

  Emma’s magic pulled on her mouth and she was forced to smile.

  Her eyes brimmed with frustrated tears but she couldn’t cry. Not in her last moments. No, she would be regal as she always was.

  Still, more than ever, she wished she hadn’t forced the commoners to move their homes deeper into the wilderness. How had they gotten past all the villages?

  Unless they’d conquered them. Her army was stretched thin; few guards had actually made a successful tour around each village before they had been called to fight. At the time, it was a brillant plan.

  But none of that mattered in the present moment. The war strategy had left her home, her castle, an open target for the approaching enemies. Upon becoming queen, she had wanted to expand the castle, even add a garden.

  That would never happen now.

  Leonna sat on a stone bench and folded her hands in her lap. The thick tears made their way down her face despite her restraint. She tried fighting the worm thundering inside her, yet she knew she couldn’t. If the damn beast wanted full control, why not prevent her tears, as well? The twin witches were truly cruel. In a way, she admired them. They would have done better work with her army than any of the old men who called themselves her generals.

  While she had wished to gaze skyward, her neck was forced east, so she gazed above the wall’s rim. The beast shuddered with her submission.

  She was going to watch the carnage. She was going to watch her home burn.

  A high-pitched whistling pierced her ears as the first boulder sailed through the sky before crushing the eastern wall. Shouts and wails surrounded her, calls of, “Find the queen!”

  Emma allowed Leonna to sob, only a bit, then forced her to laugh in the next moment.

  Because both she and Leonna knew their queen had already lost.

  Chapter 28

  Sarah gazed over the expanse of land in front of them. There was so much open space en route to the human kingdom, making the journey an easy one for their army. Aside from a few dispersed villages at the kingdom’s northern end—all of which Serwa had sent small units to conquer—the land was theirs for the taking.

  Sarah wanted to smile but found didn’t have the effort for it. Until everyone who had harmed the children from Leonna’s Tomb were dead, she couldn’t be happy. Not after seeing what they had endured and knowing what she saw was nothing compared to the experience.

  Her stomach churned. She took a deep breath, knowing she was on her way to avenge them.

  Unlike her first time in Lyrica, those fighting with Sarah weren’t strained for numbers. Whereas the human army was comprised primarily of humans, Nettle had brought together Lyricans from all corners of the world. Not only that, but she had the purses of many supporting their cause, including Abelard. He hadn’t been able to fight, so he supplied the army with coin and weapons when he could.

  Even Klara hadn’t known about the expense.

  Sarah looked at the dwarf as they rode side-by-side. She was certain everyone could feel it. The energy was alive in the air, the eager tension of anticipation as Serwa led them.

  The witch was dressed in golden armor, immediately separating her from everyone else. She rode her horse one-handed and smoothed the other along the horse’s mane. Looking over her, Sarah wondered if Serwa could feel it, too. Of all of them, she appeared the most calm while Sarah was nearly ready to jump from her skin. Confidence bubbled inside her.

  She glanced at those marching behind them. The ogres were farthest from the front, so they would have enough range when they threw boulders into the castle walls. They were also responsible for pulling the catapults, weaponry Nettle had seen the humans use and mimicked.

  Sarah supposed humans were forced to be innovative because they didn’t have any sort of magic. As her daddy always said, When a man’s at his wit’s end is when he finds the answer to his problems.

  She smiled. Her daddy was right but innovation was not going to do the humans any more good. They would lose. She, Serwa, and their entire army would be victorious.

  To her left, Skuntz groaned and slumped over on his horse. Panic set in. She reached for him but a sudden nausea rolled over her.

  Sarah knew Skuntz felt it before she did. He was riding beside her when his body lost all motion and he slumped forward. A cramp shot through her arm, turning her muscles into rigid rope. What felt like sharp talons dipped in ice pressed into her skin and dragged along her back.

  What was happening?

  “Skuntz, calm down,” Klara shouted.

  He shrugged her off and pulled away from the march.

  Serwa whispered to a soldier who rode beside her, apparently one of Nettle’s most trusted. Hopping into action, the woman charged forward with the army, while Serwa rushed to Skuntz’s side. Sarah forced herself upright before ushering her horse behind them. Her stomach roiled.

  The motion Skuntz had lost came back abruptly, only in slow spurts. His muscles flexed, and he took in taxed, jumpy breaths.

  “Gan,” he wheezed. “Someone’s hurting the tree.”

  His eyes met Sarah’s. There was a raging apprehension in his stare.

  Serwa glanced between him and Sarah.

  “You both will leave to help the village,” she said, turning her horse forward. “I…I will remain with the army and conquer the human kingdom. Some of their troops must have found their way to the village.” Her eyes were fleeting, moving from the north where the elves’ village resided to the west where Leonna ruled. She pressed her eyes shut, taking a deep breath.

  Skuntz had already begun turning in the direction of his home.

  Sarah reached for the witch.

  “Go, Sarah,” the witch said, looking into the young woman’s eyes. “Keep my children safe.”

  “We’re going, too.” Jacob had already freed his wings and hovered next to their horses. “Emry and I—”

  “I won’t go.”

  Jacob and Skuntz turned to him, narrowing their brows.

  “Didn’t you want to—I mean, we can see Thobias now, and protect him.” Jacob shook his head. “Why don’t you want to go?”

  The human’s gaze fell downward. He ran his fingers along his short sword’s blade.

  He said, “I’ve decided I can’t face him, not like this. I need to atone for the things I did.”

  “What you were forced to do,” Jacob corrected.

  “My actions nonetheless.” He sighed. “I will atone. Then, I will face my son.”

  “Emry!”

  “The decision is his, Jacob,” Klara chimed in.

  Skuntz’s horse neighed and kicked her feet in the air. “I’m leaving.”

  Without another word, the elf sped off, leaving a dust trail behind him. Sarah squeezed Serwa’s hand before following after Skuntz. The breeze picked up behind her and she was glad to see Jacob at her side.

  “Thank you,” she said.

  He nodded.

  “Oy! Did you lot forget me?” Klara barged her horse between them, casting a stern glare in each of their directions.
“He’s my friend, too, you know.”

  Skuntz stared behind him.

  “I don’t have slow friends,” he shouted. “Hurry up!”

  They sped through the night. The scenery around them blurred. No one was ever supposed to go the elves’ village. Everyone was supposed to be taken, so Sarah couldn’t imagine how anyone had found their way. Even now, with Skuntz leading them, she swore she had seen the same landmarks several times.

  The tree with a broken branch hanging from it.

  The large stone with moss on its eastern side, a single flower on top.

  The trail of horse hooves that she was sure they had made…

  Yet Skuntz didn’t seem deterred. Silently, he charged forward; silently, Sarah and the others followed behind him. Night had turned to early morning when they were close enough to see the flames.

  Sarah’s eyes widened in alarm.

  Fire. All around them there was fire. Humans had swarmed the village like ants devouring a honeycomb. Their flames spiraled up the trees, burning the elves’ homes where many of them still stood.

  Wooden cages had been filled with small children. The little ones beat at their bars while the human guards swung their swords in response. Women were being dragged by their hair across the village by guards who shouted and sneered at them. And one sobbed. In the midst of the chaos, a small elf stood planted to the ground and wailed. Her long braids spilled past her waist and her face was still too round for her to be older than seven.

  Skuntz covered his mouth to suppress a groan just as Sarah’s vision blurred. Neither of them was in their best form, but Sarah knew they had no time for healing. She would wait for Skuntz’s orders. He knew the village better than her, after all. Until then, she only needed to stay alert, focused.

  She watched the wailing child, thinking of the time she had cried and her father had come to her.

  “We’re coming for you,” she wanted to say.

  The child’s crying stopped. She slumped over as the soldier stood above her with the butt of his sword raised. He gave her tiny frame a small kick. When she didn’t react, he lifted her up and began marching toward an open cage.

  Skuntz had started to move forward but Jacob grabbed him.

  “Let me go, angel,” he whispered. “Didn’t you see what happened? Don’t you see what’s happening to my home?”

  “They’re everywhere. We can’t barge in without a plan,” Jacob retorted. “You know I’m right. Think about what you’re doing.”

  “I can’t!” Tears salted his words. “My home, my family is burning. How can you ask me to think about anything but saving them?”

  Something sliced the air above them. The group looked skyward.

  Lines of rope crisscrossed over the village, creating a type of spider’s web as their arrow ends punctured the trees. The four watched as elves ran along the ropes, dropping small packets on their human enemies

  Skuntz held out his arm and began backing his horse away.

  “We’ll have to leave the horses here and move around the edges,” he ordered.

  Klara slanted her brow. “Why?”

  A collective screech scratched at their ears. Whatever the elves had dropped had begun to fizzle. Long streams of smoke rose from the makeshift bombs. Coughs and wheezing could be heard from the shrouded field, while those trapped in their houses were rescued. Together the elves made their way back across the rope and disappeared into the trees with only a handful dropping into the mist, blades at the ready.

  Choked gasps followed their descent.

  Skuntz jumped off his horse. “Follow me. This isn’t over.”

  Kneeling low to the ground, the group made their way around the perimeter. Sarah watched from her peripherals as the flames faded behind them. Shouts and screams still echoed around the village. Every now and again, Skuntz would stop and turn his head toward the sound before increasing his pace.

  Energy moved through Sarah. She breathed deeply, taking in the essence that was the Great Spirit.

  Skuntz stopped their march. He moved to face them, pressing a finger over his mouth. They nodded and walked behind him as he emerged from the trees.

  Sarah knew they weren’t alone. By the way Skuntz’s hand glided over his sword, he knew, too.

  The first human emerged from behind the tree. A long axe shook in her hand as she slowly approached them on trembling feet.

  “P-please, I’m sorry.” She sniffled. “I didn’t take much from your tree. I couldn’t even reach most of the branches.”

  Klara smirked and took a step back. The knife punctured the ground beside her.

  The girl pressed her mouth shut and glared at them.

  “Did you really think that was going fool us?” Klara laughed. “You humans sure have your heads up your backsides.”

  The girl took in a sharp breath. Her entire body had become trembles as a roar erupted from her. She raised her axe in the air and began swinging it wildly. Klara rushed forward, meeting her blow for blow.

  The remaining humans revealed themselves. They moved in a semi-circle from around the tree.

  Sarah pressed her palm to the ground. She stretched her magic like Serwa had told her, then imagined the graves. Four appeared to their right and five humans stumbled into them.

  She lifted her hand, imaging spikes raising along with it. The graves fell silent.

  Her comrades had fallen into battle behind her, and Sarah joined them. She prepared to send blasts of wind at the enemy. A weight pressed down on her shoulders, and in an instant she was tossed across the field, landing on her back.

  Still gripping her sword, Sarah plunged the blade into the ground and pushed to her knees. Heavy pants left her body, but the sound of crunching grass drew her attention. The man’s blow landed against her side before she had a chance to look up. It had been a swift kick to the ribs and she felt its effect on her entire left side.

  The cool, soft blades of grass comforted Sarah. For a moment, she considered remaining there, giving her body a bit more time to recover. It felt so nice. Yet she could see his armored boots coming toward her and she knew she had to move.

  Forcing herself to her elbows, Sarah’s world began to shift. The edges of her vision grew murky; the sound of her pulsing heart was deafening. Still, she could see the man coming. She wasn’t certain if it was her vision or his intent. He seemed to be taking his time like he knew she was already caught.

  She lifted her hand, ready to burn him if that’s what it took, but she was so unsteady.

  Sarah reached for her sword only to find nothing. She stared around her and realized it had been tossed several yards away. Struggling to her feet, she started toward it. Yet her world still tilted, moving her body along with it.

  She stretched out her arm, her heartbeat drowned out her own breathing. She couldn’t stop.

  “Bring my children back.”

  Serwa’s words propelled her forward.

  She closed her eyes briefly, hoping to refocus…

  “Stay away from Tom!”

  Sarah flashed her eyes open and peered around her. Elaine stood in the woods behind the schoolhouse, a scowl plastered on her face. Her accomplices appeared from behind her with large rocks in their hands.

  “I told you to stay away from him!”

  A streak of pain moved across her forehead as the first stone hit her temple. Another was quick to follow. It spiraled toward her. Sarah turned her head and closed her eyes.

  “Sarafina?” Her father’s voice.

  “Did you hear something?”

  Sarah breathed. The sword was closer, only a few feet away when she began to fall forward…

  She lay on her stomach with her cheek pressed to her bedroom floor. There was noise on the other side.

  “Sarafina, if you’re in there, open the door.”

  Mama?

  “Sarah, baby?”

  Daddy.

  Like a child, she crawled, reaching her hand out to grasp the doorknob. Before she cou
ld, Sarah found herself in the field again. The smell of burning wood permeated the air, her friends fought around her, and screams poured over the entire elf village.

  She tried for the sword again. The doorknob appeared before her.

  What’s happening?

  Her vision moved between the two worlds like the wind flipping the pages of a novel. Only whispers of the other remained when she was tossed into one. The doorknob and sword were both so close. She just had to reach a bit more and grab one.

  Extending her arm as far as it could go, Sarah gritted her teeth and spat a curse. She saw nothing but the sword and the knob, either appearing or disappearing. Her entire body felt taut, her mind indecisive. But she would have to choose.

  “Damn it!” From the pit of her stomach a guttural roar erupted and shot through Sarah. It was the type of roar which would have done Abelard proud—a prolonged throat-ripping cry that rocked through Sarah.

  Her throart ached from the screaming. A cutting sear ripped through her shoulder from where the arrow had pierced her those weeks ago. Her back arched outward from when Beth and Susanna had stomped on her. And her temple throbbed from when Elaine had thrown the stone.

  Sarah didn’t have to look to know that her body and soul were spilled blood, bumps and brusies. Yet what she desired was within reach. She only had to take hold and use the pain.

  Part of her felt empty but the pain filled her. It amplified her roar, pushing her forward, closer to her decision. The doorknob and sword appeared once more.

  Sarah lunged forward.

  She grasped the sword.

  The enemy pulled her up by her hair, snarling into her ear. Then, she felt the blade in her side, moving against her soft flesh. She swung her sword out, slashing it across his face. Blood poured and she pushed the sword into his eye socket, until the tip came through the other side. He tumbled over.

  Sarah was drenched in sweat. Her hair was plastered against her skin, and crimson flowed from her wound.

  Sarah’s knees gave out and she fell onto them, leaning on her sword to keep her upright. The crimson was seeping across her entire armor. She cringed, then looked upward to the sky. The star were blurry shimmers but Sarah was certain. They were brighter on Lyrica than on Earth.