Born of Embers

by R A Lewis

  “Where are Leif and Rangvald?” she asked as she plunked down next to Kari and began spooning sugar into her bowl. The older woman kept scratching at her head scarf, clearly unhappy at being forced to wear it. Kalina gently took her hand and held it underneath the table, preventing her from scratching. Kari shot her a look before pulling her hand free. She started to scratch again but then thought better of it and sat on her hand with a grunt of frustration. Kalina pressed her lips together, trying to suppress a grin at her cousin’s antics.

  “They went out to scout the perimeter of the garden wall. Talon told them where it is.” Jormungand mumbled into his food. “They were awful chirpy this morning.”

  “Chirpy?” Kalina grinned.

  “Yea. Like a bird, you know? Early risers.” He gestured outside to where the early winter sun shone down onto the cobbled street.

  She suppressed her grin. She wasn’t sure why everything seemed so funny this morning. Perhaps it was because she was almost home, almost done with all the running and hiding and fighting. An end was in sight and she couldn’t help but be optimistic even if for just a moment.

  “Well, I’ll tell them not to be chirpy in the future,” she said and went back to eating her breakfast.

  Leif returned at lunch and sat heavily at her table. She was trying to keep her mind off what was coming that night by reading a book from the tavern’s small library. She planned to go to Calla and Ander’s house after lunch to help them make dinner for all of them, and to spend time with the woman who had become a sort of mother figure to her. She paused reading for a moment, realizing suddenly how many people had come to replace her parents in her life. First it had been Father Martin and Gwyn. Then it had been Calla and Anders. After her father died, Geir had taken his place, but when he’d died, she hadn’t found anyone to replace him. Eira had been her mother’s replacement, and still was even after her mother had died. She was grateful to all of them for loving her and teaching her. Without each of them, she wouldn’t be who she was.

  Leif eyed her as she sat there thinking. He poked her with his elbow and she looked over into his grey eyes.

  “Copper for your thoughts?”

  She smiled at the silly expression.

  “I was just thinking about family.” Was he her family now, too? She shoved him back. “Find anything useful?”

  “Other than that, the garden section of the wall is poorly guarded, no.” He propped his boots on a nearby chair. “Rangvald and I watched it all morning and didn’t see one patrol. Should be easy to sneak over tonight.”

  Kalina nodded absently, her mind now racing ahead to all the possibilities of the evening.

  “Where’s Rangvald?” Jormungand had come down the stairs to join them. Kalina looked up, suddenly noticing Leif was alone.

  “He stayed to watch the wall until dinner.”

  Jormungand frowned.

  “Is that wise? With the draft?”

  Leif shrugged in response.

  “He knows how to be safe.”

  That evening, when Leif, Jormungand and Kari arrived at Calla and Anders’ place, they realized collectively that Rangvald was nowhere to be seen.

  Chapter 33

  Kalina’s stomach dropped into her feet at the thought of Rangvald being captured by Sir Gregan’s men. All they had to do was pull off his headscarf to know he was Valdir, and she could imagine how they would treat him then. The thought made her sick to her stomach.

  Dinner was set on the table but none of them ate a bite. Talon walked through the door moments later and Kalina stood.

  “Talon, Rangvald was taken. Recruited.”

  He froze in the doorway, his jacket partially shrugged off.

  “I need you to find out where he’s being kept. They must know he’s Valdir by now.”

  Talon shrugged his jacket back onto his shoulders and turned to Anders who stood behind his wife, his hands on her shoulders.

  “There are only two places he could be. The dungeons,” he glanced at Kalina. “And the guard shack at the front gates. I’ll check the front gates, but that means Anders will have to help you in through the dungeons. You can check those while you are in there.”

  They sprang into action, donning their dark clothing and shoving bread rolls into their mouths for quick energy. Kalina kissed Calla on the cheek, thanking her for the meal and promising that once this was all over, they would have a proper dinner together.

  Anders led them through the slowly quieting streets of Ravenhelm. Darkness had fallen and most people were home eating dinner with their families. Only those on dubious business or heading to the tavern for a drink were out on the cold streets. Getting to the castle and over the high garden wall was easier than Kalina had guessed, but once inside the garden, there were patrols to avoid.

  “These weren’t here before,” she whispered to Anders who crouched in the thick underbrush beside her.

  “These must be new. They weren’t there yesterday.”

  Kalina’s stomach clenched at his words. It meant they knew who Rangvald was. It meant that the king might know she was coming.

  They snaked their way through the garden, remaining quiet and low, not allowing even the weak winter moonlight to shine off their blades. Kalina had strapped her axes to her hips instead of on her back so that they were hidden by her cloak and less visible.

  The wall that held the hidden door to the dungeons was still overgrown with ivy. Anders didn’t know where it was so Kalina had been forced to lead them there. It was a painful few minutes as she stood, exposed against the rock wall, feeling around in the ivy for a catch, a seam, or a handle. She couldn’t remember if there had been one when she’d escaped all those months ago. Finally, after what felt like an eternity, her heart racing the entire time, her fingers caught on the edge of something. She pulled and a small handle came loose, allowing her to pull the stone door open.

  A rush of warm, damp air rushed out at her, startling her for a moment. She hadn’t expected the underground dungeons to be so warm. It made her nervous but she entered, the others quickly following behind her, filing into the passageway. They didn’t dare light a lamp of any kind, so Kalina reached back, taking Leif’s hand into her and then she pressed forward, her other hand outstretched to feel for the walls.

  As they came to the final bend, the one Kalina remembered as where she’d last seen her mother’s face on the day she’d escaped, a faint light appeared down to their left, towards the dungeons. Her stomach clenched at the memories and the scar on her face burned as if in response. An image of the king slashing at her with his knife made her take a step back and she had to fight to keep herself together. Leif’s warm hands went around her from behind, holding her close in the dark for a moment. He kissed the top of her head briefly before letting her go. She took deep breaths before turning left, away from freedom and the castle above, towards whatever horror awaited them down below. They had to know if Rangvald was there.

  The dungeons were just as she remembered them as they paused in the cave’s entrance and surveyed the scene before them. Only this time instead of herself in the rusted iron chair held in by leather straps, it was Rangvald. His silver hair fell around his head in blood-soaked ribbons, his face and body a map of slashes and bruises. Before him stood Sir Gregan and the king, as well as a few guards. The sight of Rangvald looking so defeated and bloody tore at her heart.

  As they watched, sizing up the situation, Sir Gregan reached into his belt and withdrew the very same knife he’d used to cut Kalina. It glinted in the flickering light from the torches set along the wall as Sir Gregan toyed with it. The King leaned down, placing a hand on either arm of the chair so that his face was level with Rangvald's. He spoke so quietly that Kalina couldn’t hear him, but whatever he said must have made Rangvald angry, because next thing she knew he had headbutted the King, breaking the man’s nose.

  Chaos erupted then as Kari rushed out from the passageway to save her brother, and Sir Gregan put his knife to Ra
ngvald's throat. Kalina called out to stop her cousin as Leif ran by her to help. Kalina ground her teeth, frustrated at not having a solid plan, and gestured for Anders to follow her as she unhooked her twin axes from her belt and ran into the cavern. The two guards met Kari and Leif head on, swords drawn, and when they clashed, the sound reverberated off the high cavern walls above them.

  Within moments Leif had driven his sword through one guard’s gut and Kari had sliced the jugular of the second. Suddenly they all stood before the King, his face bloodied and angry, and Sir Gregan, who smiled maliciously as he held his knife to Rangvald's throat.

  “That’s far enough.” Sir Gregan’s voice rang out across the space.

  Kari froze, Leif beside her. Kalina kept walking, removing her headscarf as she went, knowing she was going to be the key to ending this. She took a deep breath before she stepped in front of Leif and into the torchlight. She needed to be strong for Kari, for Rangvald, for all her people.

  “I heard you’ve been looking for me.”

  The King’s eyes went wide at the sight of her, and then a look she couldn’t really put a name to, something akin to hunger perhaps, came into his eyes. He wiped delicately at the blood still pouring from his nose and stepped forward.

  “I’ve been hoping you would be stupid enough to come here.”

  He began to pace before her, his arms clasped behind his back. He wore a long coat with gold buttons down the front that flared out and split at his hips and fell to the floor. It billowed behind him as he walked.

  “How fitting, that it should be here, in this room. Do you remember our last encounter?”

  He smiled, gesturing to his cheek and ran his finger down it, mirroring her own scars path. Kalina tightened her grip on her throwing axes.

  “I remember you were too stupid to know who I was,” she said.

  But she instantly regretted her words as Terric held up a hand and Sir Gregan pushed the knife deeper into Rangvald's skin. He cried out and a trickle of blood ran down his neck. Beside Kalina, Kari growled deep in her throat, her face a mask of hatred and anger. Kalina understood how her cousin felt. Every bit of her wanted to rip Terric apart.

  “Interesting choice of words,” Terric purred. “But not, sadly, the ones that will get your precious spy back.”

  He gestured to Rangvald. Kalina’s mind raced. She had two choices. Rush the King and Sir Gregan and try to kill them, almost certainly killing Rangvald in the process, or offer him something he couldn’t refuse.

  “Then I offer myself in exchange.”

  Beside her Leif stiffened and took a step forward, looking at her. She gave him a weak smile. Terric grinned, and it sent a shiver down her spine.

  “Well then, finally, something sensible.” He waved a lazy hand and Sir Gregan loosened his knife against Rangvald's throat. Kalina held her axes out to her sides as she stepped forward. She watched as Sir Gregan took a step away from Rangvald, making his way around the chair to release her cousin. In that instant, Kalina threw one of her axes as hard as she could. It was like the spell over the room had been broken and suddenly Leif, Anders, and Kari sprang into action.

  Her axe found its home in Sir Gregan’s side and he fell, leaving Rangvald completely alone in the chair. Leif ran to free him and Kalina approached the downed knight, her other axe lifted and ready to throw.

  “Stand and fight,” she ground out.

  She was angry now, and her anger boiled inside of her as she watched the huge man struggle to his feet. He pulled her axe from his side, panting as his own blood soaked his tunic and pants. Spit was hanging from his mouth and it sprayed as he spat at her. She smiled a grim smile before she went in for the kill.

  Chapter 34

  Kalina stood over Sir Gregan’s body, both axes now covered in blood. She had managed to dodge his blow with her axe and come up under his guard, her smaller frame lending her an advantage the large man didn’t expect. Her second axe had found its home in his chest, caving in his chest wall and stopping his heart.

  Leif had managed to cut the leather bindings that held Rangvald and was now helping Kari and Anders wrestle a struggling King Terric into the leather straps. Kalina felt a sense of satisfaction at seeing the King tied to the chair. But as she watched this man struggle against his bonds, all the righteous anger began to ebb, leaving her feeling hollow and cold.

  “What should we do with him now, your Majesty?” Kari said, her knife now held to the man’s throat.

  Kalina found herself hesitating. She wanted this man dead, she wanted him to pay for the torture he had inflicted on her, her mother, and her people. But that meant he got off easy, that he wasn’t forced to pay for his crimes. It also meant another death, which if she was honest with herself, made her sick to her stomach. She didn’t want to watch another man die, especially a defenseless one. But she couldn’t help herself. She sheathed her axes and withdrew her knife. His eyes went wide in fear as she stepped up beside him. Slowly, carefully, she drew her blade down his cheek, marring his flesh as he had once ruined hers. Then she wiped her blade on his tunic and stepped away.

  “Throw him in a cell. We have too many other things to deal with now.” She turned and began to walk away.

  The clang of a closing cell door echoed across the cavern and she paused at the passage entrance. Now came the part she had struggled with. How to take over the castle, the realm, the armies. It was after midnight, and later that day Eira and the rest of her army was due to descend on the capitol. She needed to be ready.

  Leif was behind her as they climbed the passage and came out into a deserted side hallway on the main floor. Kalina stopped for a moment, completely unsure of how to proceed. The sound of stomping boots made her heart race as a group of guards rounded the far corner of the hall and made their way towards her. She tensed and gripped her blood-soaked axes, ready for another fight as they came to a halt before her and her friends.

  “State your business,” the lead guard stepped forward and said.

  Anders stepped up beside Kalina but she held out a hand, letting go of her axes. She tried to disguise how much her hands shook.

  “I am Kalina, daughter of the late King Hakon of the Valdir, and daughter of the late Queen Cherise Stanchon. I am the rightful heir to the Ethean and Valdiran thrones and I have come to claim my birthright.”

  Whispering threaded through the group of soldiers.

  “It’s a coup,” a voice said.

  “Where is the Queen?” another called.

  “How do we know you are telling the truth?” The foremost guard said, his hand twitching on his sword.

  “Because I know it to be true, Callum.”

  Anders had stepped forward, addressing the guard. Kalina gave him a grateful look.

  “Anders. How do you know?”

  Anders swallowed and dug in his pocket. He pulled out a piece of paper Kalina had never seen before. As he unfolded it, she caught sight of the official seal and what looked like her mother’s signature. She almost let out a sigh of relief but bit it back and looked the guard in the eyes. Callum stepped forward, taking his hand from the blade, and took the letter.

  “This is a letter from the Queen,” he said as his eyes began to skim. “It states that Kalina Stanchon is her one true heir. I recognize her signature.” He held it out to his men, and eyed Kalina with a mixture of curiosity. “We never even knew you existed. Are you the reason for this war? For the King’s obsession with the Valdir?”

  She nodded.

  “I never understood why he was pursuing me until I found out about who I was. He must have known, and knew I was a threat.” She took a deep breath before pressing on. “My mother, Queen Cherise, died in childbirth just a few days ago.”

  Shocked faces greeted her statement. Finally, Callum glanced around, seeming to suddenly realize the strangeness of the situation. His eyes narrowed.

  “Where is the King?”

  “He is locked in the dungeon. I will see he gets a fair trial for t
he atrocities he’s heaped upon my people. In the meantime, I must secure this castle and this city. Sir Gregan was in the dungeon too, and while he is dead-” Callum and the other guards looked at each other at this declaration. “- his men and the armies may still want to fight us.”

  “What about Askor?” Anders said.

  “I don’t know. They will be angry we deposed their Prince. But with my mother gone, I am the rightful heir.” She wasn’t entirely sure that was how Ethean rule worked, but it made sense. Osian was not the heir, as a second child, but did she have a legal right to take it from the king? She looked at the guards before her. She needed to know where their allegiances stood.

  “How will you serve?” she challenged.

  For a brief moment she thought Callum might pull his sword and attack. And he did pull it from its sheath, each guard behind him doing the same until about twenty swords were before her. A shout echoed from down the hall.

  “Callum! Callum! She’s your Queen you idiot!”

  Talon came racing down the hall, his own sword bouncing against his side as he approached. Kalina was relieved to see him alive and well. He came huffing and puffing to stand between her and Callum. Callum eyed the sweat drenched Talon and then quirked an eyebrow.

  “I know that, you fool.”

  He planted his sword on the ground and knelt before Kalina. Kalina allowed a small breath of relief to escape her lips as the remainder of the guards knelt as well, murmuring her name.

  “Queen Kalina.”

  “Stand,” she said, grateful her voice was steady.

  “I want the city secured and any guards or nobles who outwardly refuse my rule placed in the dungeon for now. I will hold a coronation in two days, once the rest of my people arrive.” She turned to Talon. “I need you to go recall my troops. Tell them the war against the Valdir is over.”