Ashes

by Lauralana Dunne

  Both were struggling with their own assailant. Oliver, the largest of the men, lifted his sword and lunged at Malcourt. Malcourt held his hand out flat in front of him and, both to Phoenix’s surprise and horror, a yellow light crackled and expanded from his palm to form a shield. The sword slid harmlessly along its surface and slammed into the ground. Malcourt’s free hand punched his attacker solidly in the face. Oliver grunted and fell back a few paces, his face twisted into a snarl.

  The other man, the smallest one, screamed hysterically. Phoenix jerked her attention to Sylvia, who was in a defensive position and carefully watching as the thug scraped and clawed at his face helplessly. A strange yellow powder covered his eyes and nose, spreading rapidly to cover his mouth. Phoenix could see the remnants of the powder in Sylvia’s hand. Despite the man’s best efforts, the film continued to grow until his entire face was covered. His screams were muffled by the thin yellow material that covered his face. He ran around in a short circle and then, falling silent, dropped to the ground and became still.

  Sylvia pivoted. “Tolen!” she cried.

  Malcourt was using his free hand to pull a string of the yellow energy from his shield and throw it up into the air. Distracted by this task, he was unable to react in time to Oliver diving towards him in another attack.

  Phoenix moved before she had time to think about it. Desperately, she grabbed one of the fist-sized rocks that surrounded the fire pit. With a grunt of effort, she used all her strength to throw the rock in Oliver’s direction just as his sword thrust towards Malcourt’s stomach.

  It all happened at once. The string of light left Malcourt’s hand before Oliver reached him, shooting into the sky at an astonishing speed. It moved through the air, illuminating the clouds around it with a muted glow as it rose. Phoenix gaped as the light continued to an impossible height. Just when she thought she would lose sight of it, the front of the beam hung motionless as if waiting for the rest of it to catch up.

  It didn’t have to wait long.

  The tail-end collided into the front with a loud crash. The light expanded into a sphere, swelling until it looked like a small moon hanging in the sky. Yellow light exploded with a thunderous roar. The force of the blast lashed the trees around them, frightening the horses and causing them to rear against their tethers with shrill whinnies. Phoenix clapped her hands over her head as her ears were assaulted by the deafening noise.

  The sky lit up. The entire clearing was illuminated with the eerie half-light, and Phoenix was momentarily blinded again for the second time that night. When her vision cleared, Phoenix found that both Oliver and Malcourt were laying on the ground several foot-lengths away from her.

  Phoenix searched the ground in desperation, trying to locate the rock and figure out what had happened.

  Sylvia screamed.

  Oliver jumped up. Grabbing his fallen sword, he turned and advanced on Sylvia. Hastily, she picked up a stick and swung it at him. He caught it and wrestled it from her control, using it to pull her close when she tried to wrench it out of his hands. She turned to run, but he grabbed her arm and held her in place, twisting it until she cried out and fell to her knees.

  “I know you have it,” he snarled. “Give it to me.”

  “I don’t know what you’re talking about!” Sylvia cried.

  “Don’t play dumb with me!” He twisted her limb roughly, causing her to scream. “Do you want me to break your arm?” He grabbed her hair with his sword-hand for emphasis, gripping her scalp tightly. Sylvia screamed again and fell into him.

  “Ah ha!” Triumphantly, he spied the pouch at her belt and sliced the cord that kept it attached. Phoenix recognized it as the one that Malcourt had been carrying earlier.

  “No!” Sylvia yelled. Feebly, she reached out for it, only to be thrown to the ground once he had secured the pouch. Desperately, she grabbed at his feet but he only snarled and kicked her away.

  Angrily, Phoenix picked up another rock. It wasn’t as heavy as the first, and it closed the distance between them much more quickly. It hit the back of his head hard enough to cause him to stumble.

  He turned slowly and fixed Phoenix with a dark glare. “You,” he snarled. Gripping his sword he strode towards her.

  A bright spear of light shot from behind her and hit him square in the chest, knocking him backwards. She turned to see Malcourt standing behind her, his hand raised to create another weapon.

  Oliver rolled to his feet. He took off in a sprint to try and outrun the second spear, but it overtook him easily. This time it slammed into his back and he fell to the ground with a shriek.

  “Stop!” he cried. He rolled over and threw the pouch on the ground. He held his sword over it. “Stop, or I’ll destroy it!”

  A large shape swooped down from the sky. With a scream, the owl descended upon Oliver’s upheld hand and dug its claws into his arm. Oliver cried out and shook his arm to try and dislodge the bird. The owl let go and dove in front of the man, snatching the pouch from the ground and out of harm’s way. With a flap of its great feathered wings, it rose easily out of reach.

  “You were saying?” Malcourt asked. With a vindictive smile, he created another spear. The yellow light crackled powerfully along his hands, snaking between his fingers as it pooled in his palms. Malcourt waited a brief moment, then threw the energy across the clearing towards the man.

  Oliver crossed his arms over his torso and braced himself for the impact. The light shot across the space and hit him square in the chest, the lightning spreading over his entire body. With a scream, he lost consciousness and fell to the ground.

  Sylvia groaned.

  Malcourt reached her first with his long legs and helped her to stand. “You are hurt,” he said simply, looking worried.

  “I’m fine,” she said, brushing out her skirts. “Nothing permanent.” She placed her hand on the bruise forming on her cheek from Oliver’s boot. She winced and wiped the small trickle of blood that had formed where the skin had split. “What of you? I was so worried when you were just lying there...”

  “I had the wind knocked out of me from Phoenix’s rock. Nothing more.”

  He gave a half-smile, and Phoenix realized that she’d missed her target entirely.

  “Sorry,” Phoenix blushed. “I wasn’ aimin’ for you...”

  “Nonsense,” he brushed aside her apology. “If it wasn’t for your quick thinking, I’d have had a sword in my belly instead of a stone. And, as luck would have it, he stabbed the stone and dropped his sword as well.” He clasped his hands together - hands that only moments earlier were sending a furious arsenal towards their enemies - and gave her a slight bow. “I am in your debt.”

  There was a screech from the skies. An owl flapped over to Malcourt and perched on his outstretched forearm, the weight of the animal causing his arm to dip. “Hello darling. Thank you, Pip. Good girl.” He removed Sylvia’s pouch from the sharp beak and stroked the creature’s head with appreciation. He looked up to see the expression on Phoenix’s face. “Phoenix? What’s wrong?”

  Phoenix was aware that she was staring but she couldn’t help herself. A man who could shoot lightning and control animals? A woman who both fought and healed? And both of them had just been the subject of a deadly attack. What kind of people was she traveling with?

  “She’s in shock,” Sylvia said of the girl, who was now gaping at the tame owl.

  Pip looked at her with her large golden eyes before chirping at Malcourt and ignoring Phoenix completely.

  Phoenix looked at the owl thoughtfully, positive that she had seen that pair of eyes watching her before.

  “What about them?” Sylvia asked, nodding to the bodies of the two attackers. They remained still, their only movements were the rise and fall of their chests as they remained unconscious. “I’ve set up the alarm,” Malcourt replied, stroking Pip’s wingtips idly. “Rolf and the others will leave the guardstation to meet us here.”

  Phoenix sat down quickly, feeling overwhelmed.
She looked down when she felt a pressure on her leg and saw that Kit was resting her chin on her. She frowned, looking around for the man the pup had been standing on earlier. Quickly, Phoenix ran her hands down the dog to check for any injuries. “Th’ other man...”

  “He took off,” Malcourt replied, “while we were busy with these ones.” He sighed, “which is unfortunate, as I would have liked to have had a chat with him...” His words were light enough, but the steely blue of his eyes showed an anger that his voice did not.

  “No matter,” Sylvia said, briskly, using a stick to coax the still-glowing embers back to life. “We’ve got two of them, and the Guardscaptain will be here soon, now that our position has been announced. He’ll get answers from them soon enough.”

  Sitting down on the overturned log, ignoring the chaos that had just erupted, Sylvia smiled at the two. “Now, then. Who wants tea?”

  ***

  It was hours before the Guardscaptain arrived. The morning’s early light had started to creep along the skyline when Phoenix first heard the horses. She looked up as Kit pricked her ears forward. “Someone’s comin’,” she told the other two.

  The multiple sets of hoofbeats became thunderous as five riders came into view. Four armed soldiers rode in formation while one, the captain, led the charge in the front. All of the horses were lathered from the exertion of carrying fully armed men at top speed. After Malcourty had announced their location, stealth had obviously not been a priority.

  Coming to a halt, the first man swung down from his saddle and gave a bow. “Master Malcourt,” he greeted the man stroking the owl with practiced courtesy. He turned to Sylvia. “Healer. We came as quickly as we could...”

  “You are a credit to your rank, Guardscaptain Rolf,” Malcourt replied smoothly with a nod in return. “Our guests are currently recovering from the excitement in the back of the wagon. I didn’t wish to disturb them until you had arrived. Fortunately, the three of us are barely worse for wear.”

  “Three?” Distrusting light brown eyes fell upon Phoenix. “A girl?” His tone was disapproving as he drawled the last word. Kit, as if picking up on his disdain, growled softly at Phoenix’s side.

  “A friend,” Malcourt said simply: a soft rebuke. “She is my,” he emphasized the word pointedly, “concern, and no one for you to worry about.” Malcourt held the Guardscaptain’s eye until he looked away with an abrupt nod.

  “That’s all well and good, but if you had given me my way,” the Guardscaptain said heatedly, already ignoring Phoenix’s presence, “you would have had an armed escort the entire way.”

  “And risk being discovered from the beginning?” Malcourt shook his head. “No. It had to be done this way. That is why you had to wait for us to meet you. They would have been watching to see if you altered your routine.”

  “A lot of good that did,” the Captain growled. “Everything is all right, then?” His eyes switched haltingly between Sylvia and Malcourt.

  “Everything is fine,” Sylvia assured him in a voice that held more weight than her simple words.

  “Very well then. Master Malcourt, Healer Sylvia, as Guardscaption of Angoria I insist that my men and I escort you back to Castle Angor.” His words had a formal ring to them, as if he were telling them instead of asking.

  “Captain Rolf,” Malcourt replied, with a smooth bow. “It would be our pleasure.”

  With a nod, the Captain signaled to one of his men. “You. Keep an eye on our new friends in the back. Make sure they remain comfortable during the trip.”

  The guard dismounted with a grim nod and walked to the back of the wagon, his hand resting on his sword.

  “And mind the supplies in the back. They are of utmost importance to the Healer, and to the King.” Captain Rolf turned back to Malcourt. “Were you able to get anything out of him?”

  Malcourt shook his head. “He’s subject to a binding spell - it’s how he found us. Whoever cast it was very careful. He doesn’t remember anything. He couldn’t answer my questions if he tried.”

  Captain Rolf’s expression turned dark. “Even binding spells can be broken.”

  Phoenix felt a thrill of fear at the Guardscaptain’s threat.

  Malcourt inclined his head and said nothing.

  The Guardscaptain turned to his soldiers. “Take your positions. And keep a sharp lookout - there could be others lurking around.” The men moved about, securing themselves in a defensive position around the wagon. Phoenix, at a loss, began to pack up the camp’s belongings.

  “Phoenix,” Malcourt beckoned to her. “I’d like you to ride in the seat with Sylvia. We’re going to be traveling at a fast pace, so I’d like you to remain close.”

  She nodded, feeling relieved that she’d at least have some company during the ride. Rolf’s eyes burning uncomfortably into her back as he watched her.

  “Muler won’t have no problem keepin’ up tied t’ th’ side,” she told him.

  He squeezed her shoulder, as if she’d answered his unasked question. “Splendid.”

  With so many hands the work was completed in no time. Phoenix was so nervous by the time she climbed up into the seat next to Sylvia that she nearly fell back down while hoisting herself up.

  Sylvia gave her a sympathetic look and helped her to settle with her things. “Don’t mind the Captain,” she told Phoenix, under her breath. “He takes his job very seriously. Just stay out of his way and he’ll leave you alone.” Phoenix nodded, and Sylvia smiled.

  “All right.” Rolf swung into his saddle and took the position up front. “Move out!”

  With soldiers on either side, Malcourt bringing up the rear on the extra horse, and Pip flying overhead, it was hard for Phoenix not to feel safe traveling as she was.

  CHAPTER 6

  Large trees framed the road in an orderly fashion. The spaces between the shadowed trunks were illuminated by tall lanterns standing brightly against the dark, their dusky glow tickling the underside of the season’s thinning leaves. The procession was hushed - whether silent or sullen was unclear to Phoenix - as the horses pulled the wagon and carried the surrounding soldiers at a fast shuffle. The sound of every kicked stone and creak of armour bounced back at them from the berth of trees. Everyone seemed tired after a day of nonstop travel.

  They had met up with additional guards mere hours after Captain Rolf had led them from their camp early that morning. There had been different groups of them stationed in different Propers, some without their uniforms, waiting inconspicuously for Malcourt to arrive so that he could collect the added security on his way to Castle Angor. Secrecy had been paramount in the beginning, Sylvia explained to Phoenix during the long day that they spent being jostled by the wagon’s movements. It made sense. Malcourt didn’t want attention drawn to him by a security detail. He moved faster on his own.

  A few of the soldiers gave Phoenix cursory glances now and then. Either they assumed she was with Sylvia, or they had been warned beforehand about saying anything. She couldn’t tell. Regardless, Phoenix did her best to draw as little attention to herself as possible – even going so far as to find Kit’s rope and securing the pup to the seat next to her.

  Eventually the trees ended, but the dirt road continued on, disappearing into the darkness. No lanterns were placed along the road, and Phoenix found that her eyes were slow to adjust to the dark.

  The soldiers continued on at the same pace, oblivious to the blindness around them while possessing knowledge of the path which they didn’t share with Phoenix.

  Kit was stretched out on the seat next to her. Her head was a heavy warmth in Phoenix’s lap, untouched by the chill wind that reached them once they were past the protection of the trees. Gently, Phoenix stroked the dog’s head.

  “We’re in the Grasslands,” Sylvia said to Phoenix, leaning close to speak next to her ear. “They’re what surround Castle Angor’s protective walls. The Guardscaptain makes sure that the area stays well-cleared against any attacks.”

  Phoenix peere
d around but could not make out anything past the road. Her stomach began to churn uncomfortably. “Are we close, then?”

  “Fairly close, yes.” Sylvia wrapped her arm around her in a quick half hug. “Don’t worry, Phoenix,” she said, sensing the girl’s nervousness. “They’ll take good care of you here.”

  The procession began to slow. Several men moved to the head of the wagon and took hold of the horses’ bridles, one on either side guiding the animals. Powder snorted a protest, but Sylvia’s horse slowed immediately to match the pace of the surrounding soldiers.

  “Position yourselves men!” Captain Rolf bellowed, his voice a giant’s roar in the darkness.

  Kit startled and clambered to her feet, howling at the excitement. The soldiers swelled around the wagon and flanked it on all sides. Hands on their hilts, the men kept pace with Sylvia and Phoenix in the cart.

  “Halt!” Rolf shouted, his voice projecting over the moving men.

  The soldiers slowed to a stop and Sylvia tightened the reins. The wheels creaked and one dipped into a large rut, causing the wagon to tip to one side. Phoenix grabbed Kit to keep her from falling out and getting trampled by the surrounding hooves.

  “Have you seen the Castle during the eve before, Phoenix?” Sylvia asked.

  Phoenix shook her head. “I’ve ne’r been this far from Avondale a’fore.”

  Far off in the distance, the Grasslands sloped upwards into a giant plateau, atop which Castle Angor sat like a stone ruler upon a throne. Thick spires stretched up into the clouds, their windows illuminated like distant suns against the night sky. Phoenix gasped at the sight.

  The castle was huge. The outlines of the walls were obstructed by the darkness, making it impossible to see how long they extended. Light spilled out of Angor’s deep windows, splashing against the surrounding stone, allowing Phoenix to see the activity within the castle grounds.

  “Signal the pyres,” Captain Rolf ordered, nudging his horse to the front of the party. “Last thing we need is to break our necks outside the gates.