Ashes

by Lauralana Dunne

  “Poor Phoenix,” a rich voice broke through her thoughts.

  Phoenix watched through watery eyes as Prince Hallan prowled towards her. He ignored Rorin where he lay on the floor, almost stepping on him had the gargoyle not twisted himself out of the way.

  “Everyone you care about is gone,” Prince Hallan purred. “Last chance, my dear. Come with me. Rule the kingdom by my side. That is where you truly belong.” He extended his hand towards her with a smile.

  Phoenix looked down at Malcourt and smiled softly. Gently, she closed his eyes and set him on the ground, smoothing the hair from his face and tidying it on the top of his head. He was the closest thing she had ever known to a father. He had vouched for her, and she wanted to leave him looking at his best.

  She could hear Rorin’s muted struggling as he tried to free himself, but she ignored him as she watched the Prince.

  She still found him handsome, and she was surprised to find that her body wanted to move towards him - to obey when he beckoned to her.

  “Where I truly belong?” Phoenix’s voice was empty as she took a step forward. Did she even want to belong here anymore?

  Malcourt’s voice echoed in her memory. Survive.

  Prince Hallan’s Talent rolled over her in unseen waves. She could feel it emanating from his body; feel it sticking to her skin in an attempt to confuse and control her senses. She tilted her head at him.

  “Mindcaller?” she asked blankly.

  The Prince’s smile was cruel. “Something like that,” he told her. She remained motionless and he grinned. “Join me,” he urged again, his voice enticing. “Imagine the Power we could create with the joining of our Blood! We could give birth to a generation of rulers who will control the Land for all time!”

  “I could rule with you?” she asked.

  “For always,” he purred. His face was pure greed as he watched her, her expression blank as he stepped closer.

  Phoenix understood, now, that he was only ever interested in her because he wanted to possess her. Malcourt’s motivation had always been to help her, but Prince Hallan’s had been much more sinister.

  Phoenix stretched her hands towards him. His Talent pressed against her so strongly that she found it hard to catch her breath. Her heart beat so quickly - too quickly - that it made her dizzy. She felt flushed from being so close to him.

  The Prince grinned and moved closer. He reached out to take her hands, but she ignored the gesture and continued to reach towards him. Smirking, he moved even closer.

  Slowly, carefully, she dragged her hands up his chest. Her fingers brushed against his cheek, the rough texture of his stubble scratching against her skin. The sensation seemed heightened somehow; she could feel it through every fibre of her body, the contact made her bones shiver. His eyes were brilliant emeralds as he watched her, his breath against her face was the sweetest breeze she had ever felt. Her entire body was intoxicated with him.

  His Talent purred from her touch. It spread over her, trying to absorb into her, to take advantage of the attraction that she held for him - the flaw that it had used before.

  The pathway formed in her mind. It was faster this time, as if the distance to its surface were reduced somehow. She barely had to think about it. The fire burned hot inside of her. Phoenix kept it there, feeling how, in a detached way, it pulled on the currents of her anger and hatred in order to feed the flames. It grew so forceful that she wondered if her skin would split open from the strength of it.

  “Just imagine the things that we will do,” the Prince was saying softly as he tucked a stray curl behind her ear, trying to strengthen the intoxication that he was coiling around her.

  His Talent intensified, desperately searching for the attraction she held for him, for the way she had felt when she first arrived. With silent menace her Power rose to the challenge. She gave him nothing.

  Phoenix smiled. She brushed her fingers against his jaw, letting the tips caress his skin as he stood there, waiting, watching her as his Talent fully wrapped itself around her in a final attempt to invade her senses.

  Her Power purred at its touch, and Phoenix spread her fingers to cup her hands around his face as much as possible. The Prince smiled as she gazed up at him.

  “Burn,” she commanded.

  He looked at her in confusion. She could feel the heat leave her fingers, like a stream trickling into the ocean. Too late, he realized what she was doing. The floodgates had opened.

  Prince Hallan jerked back and began striking at her in horror, trying to get away. Phoenix’s fingers burned against his cheeks, melting skin and bone alike as she pushed them into his face without mercy. He screamed, but his cry only served to increase her anger. She felt her focus ring extend itself in an attempt to limit her Power and contain it once again.

  The pathway began to close and she fought against it with all her might, desperate to punish the man who had killed the ones she loved. Blindly, she pushed her way through the obstacle.

  Her focus ring shattered. She felt the gems weaken and crack as her Power flowed around its buffer to continue its deadly assault.

  A scream of rage and anguish tore itself from her throat. It was bestial sounding, the strength behind it wrenching the pathway open again as her Power tore through the defenceless Prince. Flames erupted on his hair and clothing, and he shrieked in anguish one final time before going silent.

  His lifeless body, still burning, fell to the floor.

  Phoenix screamed again, a sweet release of the Power and emotion that threatened to overwhelm her.

  The heat spread from her body to the rest of the room. The fire spread along the carpet, traveling down the hall and jumping to the tapestries that hung on the walls. The inferno wrapped around the chambers, covering the room in a blanket of flames that threatened to crack the stones with its ferocity.

  She screamed until her lungs ran out of air. Wiping her hands in her skirts, she buried her face in the warmth of her palms. The thumbprint that Malcourt had marked on her skin flashed in the light. Shutting her eyes, Phoenix began to weep.

  Collapsing, she curled in on herself and sobbed uncontrollably. Hot tears, as hot as the fire around her, streaked down her face in an unbroken stream.

  Cool skin pressed against hers. Two arms, hard as stone, held her tightly as she wept. Icy wings wrapped around her, shutting out the noise and the heat of the inferno that ranged at the edge of her senses. Comforted by the darkness, feeling completely spent, Phoenix went limp in Rorin’s arms. He rested his chin on her head and adjusted himself so that he was better wrapped around her - the coldness that he created enveloping her completely, cutting her off from the fire that raged around them.

  Phoenix, thankful for his kindness, closed her eyes and surrendered to his embrace.

  EPILOGUE

  The passing service was held two days after the royal ball.

  The weather was grey and wet, a fitting atmosphere, Phoenix thought, as the Land itself mourned the death of its monarch.

  The service felt endless. Phoenix found herself numb to the words as the Hooded Brother droned on, outlining the Divine Plan of the Creator and the riches that awaited the two men who saved the kingdom from a tyrant. Phoenix held Sylvia’s hand while the woman wept openly, not bothering to wipe the tears that streamed down her face as the Brother began the final blessings.

  When he finally bowed his head, his lecture dwindling as the last anointments were scattered over the closed caskets, a dull silence fell over the congregation. The only constant sound was the wind that battered against the mourning flags, the sound punctuated by the staccato sniffing of those around her.

  Phoenix was too numb to cry. Her attention shifted to watching those assembled, to Camden who was surely influencing the wind that buffeted them, the nobles who tried to hide their impatience at figuring out their claim to the throne, the dark clouds that rolled overhead - anywhere but at the robed cleric before her, or the ornate caskets that held the bodies of the only
men who had ever shown her kindness.

  She was very careful not to think about what - who - rested in the sealed boxes before her.

  A gong reverberated through the gloom, signaling the end of the ceremony.

  Phoenix helped Sylvia to her feet. Tessa came to stand next to them, her eyes red, before nodding to Phoenix and laying a comforting arm across Sylvia’s shoulders. Phoenix nodded in return and took her place at the front of Malcourt’s casket, Camden to her left, as the two Apprentices rested their palms against the polished wood to say farewell to their Master.

  The ceremony stalled as Phoenix bowed her head. Her vision blurred as she rested a hand against Malcourt’s casket. The wood was a hard finality of the barrier that separated them, and this time it was a barrier that she could not break.

  Camden cleared his throat and she blinked her eyes clear, swearing her shoulders as she stepped back out of the way. Several guards joined him as Captain Rolf took charge at the head of the King’s casket and led the way to the royal crypt.

  A double funeral. Rolf had balked at the idea when it was first mentioned, when the heads of each discipline had met together to decide what the next move would be. The designated Small Council. It had been generations since the last one had formed.

  Phoenix had attended, even though the right was technically Camden’s as First Apprentice. She had walked with him to the meeting, then entered without an invitation, ignoring the looks of surprise that had been sent her way. Camden had stood next to her silently, a wordless form of support as his steely gaze dared anyone to protest.

  No one did.

  She had watched the different Masters bring forth their grievances, feeling the numbness spread as she watched each one vying for compensation to set right what had been lost - the payments they would never see, the years of wasted training when the noble-blooded Apprentices were summoned home.

  Resources were scarce and Castle Angor was in ruins. They could not allow any favouritism to slip. They would have to tread carefully until the new ruler was discovered; this was when fresh wounds were factored into how future alliances were formed. The joined passing service would be the first of many concessions.

  Phoenix turned and made her way across the courtyard, her thoughts churning as she forced the funeral behind her. She trailed an aimless gaze along the castle’s broken walls as she went, inspecting every shadowed crevice for an outline of claw-tipped wings or a lashing tail. She was unable to locate any.

  Phoenix strode towards the royal chambers. She’d found herself back here more times than she cared to admit over the past two days, yet each time was just as fruitless as the last. Phoenix barely slowed when she came to the shattered double doors that led to the royal chambers. Her eyes raked the ruined door frames, her attention snagging on the new notches where weapons had bit into the wood.

  Phoenix steeled her spine and passed through the splintered doors, the sound of her boots echoed back at her from the empty stones. She silently cursed the ever-present kernel of hope that she would find some sort of clue as to what Malcourt had wanted her to do next.

  Survive.

  The memory of Malcourt’s voice was clear in her mind. Her steps faltering, she pushed it aside before it could threaten to undo her.

  The clicking of nails against stone alerted Phoenix to Kit’s presence. The dog’s usual buoyant attitude had been very much subdued, and she rarely let Phoenix out of her sight as a result. Phoenix didn’t mind. She welcomed the quiet companionship. It was a welcome relief to share company with someone who didn’t ask her how she was feeling every few moments. Especially since the truth was that she didn’t feel much of anything if she could help it.

  It had been easy to avoid, hiding in the tower with only Kit for company. No one was able to enter the tower with all of the protection barriers that Malcourt had left in place. No one except for Phoenix.

  That had been a point of contention between her and Camden. He had been unable to enter the tower without Phoenix’s assistance. Whatever barriers Master Malcourt had put into place had rebuffed his attempts at entry, and even though he was First Apprentice he had needed her assistance after they realized she could walk through effortlessly.

  His rage had been silent, but his eyes had been the color of storm clouds. Shortly after he’d announced that he was going to attempt the Rites in order to get his Mastercaller ranking, and decided to leave on the next ship to sail to the Academy. He ended up staying for the funerals, but he made it clear that there was nothing left for him now that their Master was dead.

  The blow had wounded her more than she’d let on, so she had found convenient ways to avoid him - a task made easy by the fact he couldn’t surprise her by showing up unannounced. She had said enough goodbyes over the last few days. She refused to open herself up to another one.

  That refusal was the reason she was currently stalling.

  Phoenix rubbed her temples. Her head was pounding. She had not slept yet, and she was finally starting to feel the ill-effects of its absence. Phoenix rolled her shoulders and gave herself a shake. The last thing she wanted to do was lie down. The idea of closing her eyes...

  The last time she had she’d begun to dream of Malcourt’s study.

  It was the first place she had gone, after everything had settled. It was just as he had left it. Scrolls and books lay haphazardly around the room, still open to the pages he was studying - the pages he had last touched. She hadn’t been able to bring herself to close them. She’d avoided the room ever since while awake. She didn’t want to visit it in her sleep.

  Phoenix walked to the window. She pressed her palms against the cool stone of the ledge and leaned forward, savouring the scratch of the cracked edge as it bit into her thigh. She tensed her fingers, as if doing so would somehow allow her to crumble the stone in her hands.

  She lifted her head.

  Dusk darkened the courtyard. Phoenix stood still, feeling the weight of her exhaustion settle into her bones.

  Shadows pooled across the ground, spreading from the base of the walls to stretch and merge against each other. Phoenix eyed the sun as it dipped lower against the hills. The day’s light dimmed and pulled in a line of fire across the horizon, a final affront to the darkening sky before disappearing completely from sight.

  Candles winked into life from the different windows of Angor. The hour wasn’t late, but the castle was already quiet. Rolf had raised the question of enforcing a curfew since the attack, as if that would keep the inhabitants safe from any new threats that might descend during their time of vulnerability. As if it would somehow make up for the violence that they had already incurred. The idea had proven unnecessary in the end. Most had taken to barricading themselves in their rooms once night arrived. It made it easier for her to get around.

  With a sigh, she steeled her spine and pushed her attention back into the room.

  She had put it off long enough.

  Kit pressed her nose into Phoenix’s leg, sensing her apprehension. The girl ran her fingers through the dog’s fur and gave her head a pat.

  “Time to go,” Phoenix murmured.

  Kit whined softly and trotted ahead of her.

  Phoenix let her lead the way. She didn’t know how Kit knew their destination, but she was content to let the dog dictate their path, taking comfort in the easy pace and the fact that she didn’t have to pay attention to where they were going. Instead, her eyes traced the castle walls as they walked. She noted every scorch mark, every new scratch and splatter of blood that had yet to be cleaned up. Footprints remained untouched in the aftermath of the battle.

  They came to a stairway that plunged into darkness. No candles dotted the lower hallways. The earlier procession must have used the external entrance.

  Phoenix sent a thought to the burning pool inside of her. It responded instantly. She could feel the heat rolling off of her and did her best to quell it instantly. With her focus stone broken, she had to be careful using her Power outside of
the safeguards of Malcourt’s Tower. All she needed was to send the remaining parapet of Angor up in smoke…

  “Illuminate,” she said clearly, her voice the only sound in the darkness. A fire globe grew into life in her hand. It spread until it touched the tips of her fingers, then stopped, heatless flames licking out against her hand before returning to run across its surface.

  She carried it to the top of the stairs and released it into the darkness below.

  The globe dropped like a stone through the centre of the spiral staircase, falling into the depth of the earth before finally coming to a halt. It hovered above the ground, twirling idly as it pushed back the shadows, a tiny sun beckoning her into the abyss.

  Phoenix crept down the iron stairs into the belly of the earth. “Don’t fall,” she muttered, unsure if she was speaking to herself or to the metalwork that now supported her weight.

  A damp cold settled against her as she trudged farther underground. For the first time in a long time, Phoenix wished she was wearing her cloak.

  Her foot hit solid ground. Packed earth crunched underfoot as she strode towards the ornate metal door that loomed ahead of her.

  The fire globe hovered in the air next to her shoulder, keeping up with her movements and illuminating her path.

  She paused in front of the entrance, her hands pressing against the carved door that blocked her way.

  Kit whined softly at her hesitation, rubbing the flat of her snout against Phoenix’s leg. The movement was enough to snap Phoenix out of the dread that pooled in her core, and she gave a mighty push and opened the door into the hollowed out cavern.

  Flickering torches lined the walls that stretched before them. Phoenix extinguished her globe with a word and felt the ripple of Power dissipate around her. Grabbing a torch from the closest sconce, she steeled herself and followed the main passageway.