“Sire,” the first addressed Alexander. “Jarl is waiting for you in the Hall.”
“Runa, Malachai,” Alexander said to his friends. “De-brief, and then go home—we leave in a few hours.”
“But Sire,” Malachai began in protest.
“You have worked long enough, Malachai. Runa, take him home for some rest.” It was true. They’d barely rested, either of them, and dark shadows smudged under their eyes from days of patrolling with little sleep.
Alexander left them on the platform before they could utter another word. Ehnalia’s exterior was majestic, but its interior was something else. Tall, twisting columns stretched upwards to the ceiling high above, and golden light shone through countless openings in the façade to reveal an endless sea of clouds. Clouds that had been his refuge many times before his father had died but never in the days since. A leader faces his duties, head on. His father’s words echoed in Alexander’s head.
“It is good to see you, Sire.” Jarl greeted Alexander with a soldier’s salute.
“Jarl, old friend. It is good to see you, too.”
The angel’s golden eyes shone brightly from behind his helmet. He was the General of the Alythian army, and one of the oldest angels known to be on Ohinyan. Alexander held him in the highest regard and had learned much from the General over the years: how to fight, how to earn the respect of the soldiers, and how to command an army. He’d spent many days with Jarl’s son, Halvar, practicing with a sword under the General’s watchful eye.
“The Shadows have delivered news from the Lady Noor, Sire.” Jarl removed a gauntlet and picked up three pieces of crumpled parchment, pale and tattered against his umber fingers. He handed them to Alexander.
“Makya air fleet approaches the South. Searching for Alythia.” This came as no surprise. If Oren had been feeding them information, he’d known where their ships were destined before they left Ikothea.
“Oren dead.” Sadness washed over him as he thought of the charred remains he and Malachai had buried in Turaunt. Oren had betrayed them, but to die at the hands of the Makya did not bear thinking about. It would have been long, painful, and lonely for him at the end.
“Fia is the target.” Alexander’s breath caught in his throat, and he stifled the panicked sound that escaped him into a cough, aware of the General’s eyes on him. Fia is the target. He’d left her to go to the witches, alone. How could he have been so stupid? The attack back on the island, it wasn’t random. It had been about Fia, all along. He took a breath to calm the nausea, to quieten the beat of his heart in his ears. This is your doing. All of it.
He crumbled the parchments, throwing a fist down onto the table. The angels standing guard shifted uncomfortably from one foot to another.
“Inform Oren’s family,” Alexander said quietly. “Runa has just returned today. Tell her she may stay with her family if she wishes. I will speak with her directly later.”
Jarl called a guard over to relay the message.
Fia is the target. But why? Was Lorn trying to spite him…for rejecting her? Alexander shook away the thought. There were other matters to attend to.
“We don’t have enough soldiers to face such an advance,” Alexander said gravely.
“No, Sire. I have already had to recall most of our legion from Earth.”
Alexander exhaled. This was not good. It had been many, many years since such a thing had happened, before his father’s reign. “How many remain?”
“A few hundred only. Many who have returned have been directed to patrol stations across Ohinyan, but most have been ordered to go south, to wait.”
“Very well.” Alexander nodded. “We will need to draw the Makya down—we must not fight them in the air. We’re trying to secure the help of the water wielders in the south. If we are to be successful, we must lure the Makya to us, away from Mizune.” Oren had just been one angel. But Alexander knew all too well where there was one, more might follow.
“Why are they after this Fia, Sire? Whoever she is, they will go to wherever she can be found.”
“I don’t know, for certain,” Alexander replied. Lorn was capable of many things, but he couldn’t be sure if she was alone in her intentions.
“The Makya have become increasingly aggressive over the last few months,” Jarl continued.
“Yes, and something about the attacks…doesn’t seem right,” Alexander replied. Par, the Makya council leader, was a fair woman. Her intention had been reconciliation not too long ago. Could she really be supporting this? It was more Lorn’s style, but why would she act without the council? “Jarl, I trust your judgement,” he finally said. “Thank you for recalling our brothers and sisters from Earth. I have a few more things to do here, and then I must return to the Mizunese to try and secure their help.” He was preoccupied with worry for Fia, and he hoped it didn’t show.
“I will ready the soldiers for the attack in the south, Sire.”
“Let’s hope it doesn’t come to that.” But he knew, without doubt, that it would.
They clasped arms, and Alexander left, turning through the long corridors of Ehnalia. A cool breeze passed through the archways, and he longed to hear the sounds of his mother and father’s voices echoing through the hallways.
In all his years of passing through the windows to Earth, helping lost souls and watching those left behind, he’d never felt a connection with any of them, until now. He stopped at the balcony outside what were once his father’s chambers, where they had spent countless nights standing side by side, watching the sky spirits. Their nightly performance never ceased to be spectacular, enveloping Alythia in a display of lilac and turquoise and delicate chimes, revealing milky star constellations and far beneath them, the glittering lights of Ohinyan.
His thoughts drifted to the night his Mother had died. His father had said nothing all day, until their nightly ritual on the balcony. “Your Mother is...She was a wild one, the kind you would follow to the edges of Ohinyan and back. She was, and always will be, my heart, my home.” They had stood for a moment in silence, engulfed in the display of the sky spirits. “I hope one day that you know love like that.”
Alexander glanced up towards the garden at the uppermost peak of Ehnalia where his parents were buried, bathed in the light of the sun all through the day and beneath the glittering of the stars and the sky spirits each night.
I hope one day that you know love like that. His father’s words followed him as he made his way to the library to search for Gnossaan, his father’s sage and Alythia’s most honoured scholar. He hastened his steps as he thought of Fia, knowing every moment away from her could mean she was walking closer into a trap.
“Gnossaan,” he called out, not wanting to waste any more time. The angel appeared from behind a row of bookcases. His grey wings, speckled with black, matched his scruffy beard.
“Come to learn more of the fate of Ohinyan, Alexander?” Gnossaan was not one for small talk.
“Tell me all you and the other scholars have learned in my absence about our dying sun.”
“We have evidence so far of its effects on our world. I cannot say for certain when the windows between Ohinyan and Earth will close, but it would not be wise for our brothers and sisters to continue to journey to Earth without knowing the risk they place on their lives. Should a window close as they are passing through…” The old man fell silent for a moment, and Alexander recalled Malachai’s report of an angel missing part of a wing. “There is more. Reports have made way to us of dark happenings, strange things all over Ohinyan. I am concerned that it is—”
“Erebus,” Alexander finished.
Gnossaan paced up and down, his wings flickering behind him. “How can this be?” he asked, tugging at his beard. “There is so little information about him in the archives. I must go at once to continue my search…”
“Wait, Gnossaan. I have one more thing to ask of you. I am travelling with someone who needs to return to Earth. She is from Earth, that is, and fell
through a window.”
The old angel shifted from one foot to the other, flexing his wings, as he considered Alexander’s words.
“Gnossaan, I cannot stress the urgency of this matter. The windows are already unstable, and time is of the essence. How can I return her to Earth?” Alexander ran his fingers through his hair, ignoring the knots tugging at his stomach and realising that what he wanted most was for Gnossaan to tell him it wasn’t possible for Fia to return.
“Well Sire, I have never known of any other than the angels passing freely between worlds,” Gnossaan said, his wings flickering.
“I see.” Alexander balled his fists at his sides, as he fought back the rise of anger in his chest. Red hovered in his vision, and he willed himself not to lose his temper. He’d failed her. Trapped her here. You could have prevented this.
Gnossaan mumbled before clearing his throat. “The windows are unstable, Sire. It would not be prudent for you to travel back to Earth again until the third sun is here.” His gaze remained fixed to the floor.
“From what I’ve learned so far, we don’t even know if that’s going to happen at all,” Alexander said, as calmly as he could manage.
Gnossaan’s eyes finally met his, wide and glassy. “It will happen. It is already in motion. The days grow shorter, colder. The creatures of this world are behaving more and more unusually. The very air is tinged with the sun’s death. Can you not feel it, Sire?”
Alexander had seen and felt it, even in the last few days. Gnossaan was right—it wasn’t if the sun would die, but when. How long would they have to live in darkness?
“As you learn more, I wish to be updated. I’ll leave instructions with Jarl of where to reach me,” Alexander said.
“Of course, Sire. I want you to know that—”
“Brother!”
Alexander turned to greet his sister. When he looked back, the old angel was gone.
“Mira,” Alexander said, embracing his sister briefly. “I haven’t much time, but it would be good to walk together. Tell me, are my nieces well?” he asked, his anger fading.
“Lina and Anya are well. They’ve missed you dearly, as have I.” Her words were rushed. “Runa tells me you’ve met someone,” she said, her eyes glistening with excitement.
Alexander told his sister about Fia, as they returned to the main hall. He spoke of his concerns about returning her safely to Earth and of his duty to the angels. “She must go home, until it’s safer here, and maybe then, I don’t know…”
He rubbed his jaw as he replayed Gnossaan’s words over and over. Something about what he’d said didn’t add up, but Alexander pushed the concern to the back of his mind. Gnossaan was loyal, wasn’t he? He’d served his father for years. “Gnossaan knows of no way to return Fia to Earth.”
Mira turned to face him. “You’ve been searching for a way to get her back, but have you asked her what she wants to do?” She didn’t wait for a response. “I thought not.” She placed a hand on her brother’s cheek. “Alexander, if you have found someone, do not let them go. Wait here.”
Alexander tried to protest, but Mira had already left him, flying down the corridor to her chambers. He looked out over the lush expanse of Alythia as he waited, to the horizon where the land dropped off to nothing but sky beyond. Within moments, Mira returned with a small, carved cuff.
“This was Mother’s,” Mira said, placing it in Alexander’s hands.
“Mira, I can’t.”
“Mother and Father would want you to have it, please. It doesn’t need to mean a union—it can mean whatever you want it to, but I think it is important she has it, whether you decide to help her to return to Earth or…here.” Mira folded his hands around the little cuff. “Now,” she said, kissing him on the cheek. “I know you must go. It seems to me you’ve found something worth holding onto. Something you’ve never found here.” She smiled and flew back towards her chambers.
Alexander tucked the cuff away in his quiver and made his way to meet Runa and Malachai for their journey back to Mizune. As he reached the platform, dozens of angels were returning in groups of three or four, recalled from Earth following Jarl’s orders. As he greeted them, he searched their eyes and their faces, as if there might be some tell-tale sign of another Makya informant.
Oren was not the first to betray the angels in their history, and he would not be the last. But there was still their duty to Earth, a duty that had to be upheld no matter the cost. Alexander shook hands with each angel that landed, as he had seen his father do so many times before.
“We cannot abandon the people of Earth,” Alexander said to Jarl as the General joined him. He still wore his helmet, and his armour was polished to a shine. Alexander didn’t think he’d ever seen a spot of dirt on it.
“What would you have me do, Sire?”
“I cannot expect any angel to leave Ohinyan without knowing the full extent of the situation. Alert everyone and request that a few come forward who will be willing to remain on Earth for an extended period. Anyone with a family, send them home,” Alexander commanded. He didn’t like it, but at least they would be given the choice. He hoped a few would decide to remain on Earth for the sake of the humans, and for the angel’s safety, but he could not guarantee it.
They were joined by more soldiers who shared their reports of what they had seen across Ohinyan. The more Alexander learned, the less he believed in the Makya council’s intervention, or whether they were even involved at all.
Runa and Malachai joined them to add their own reports. Runa described all of the destroyed sites she had visited before joining Alexander and the others in Ikothea.
“We need to be absolutely certain this is the council’s doing,” Alexander announced. “I had thought more of Par than this. We must be certain, or it could cost many lives.”
“No angels have been sent to Nadar since your father’s death, as per your request. I agree with your decision to send no more,” Jarl replied.
Alexander nodded. “But we do need to determine whether there is any civil unrest. The sheer volume of destruction points to a unified front, but the manner with which the attacks have been carried out…the locations…it does not seem like Par’s doing to me.”
Jarl nodded. “You’re right, Sire, their attack pattern indicates little or no strategy. It has been random, but what of the council? How do you wish me to proceed?”
“We’ll have to let them come to us. I can’t risk sending any more angels,” Alexander replied, and conversation broke out amongst the soldiers once more.
“Runa,” Alexander began whilst the others talked amongst themselves. “There are no words that hold enough meaning. You should stay here with your family, if you wish.”
“Thank you,” Runa replied softly. “But I would not wish to be anywhere other than at Malachai’s side if the Makya come to Mizune.”
“Let’s hope it doesn’t come to that. It’s time for us to go.”
As they returned to Mizune, the sun disappearing beyond the horizon, Alexander thought of the little cuff his sister had given him, and of the life he could have had with Fia had things been different. But none of it mattered. By now, the witches would have told her of a way to get back to Earth, and he would not be able to follow her.
Chapter Twenty–Three
Fia
Fia followed Ilawu, the Mizunese guardsman, who had been assigned to lead her to the witches’ coven, away from Mizune and deep into the forest. The ice had melted in patches, revealing bare earth and tufts of yellow grass. They’d travelled since dawn on sledges pulled by huskies as large as stags. On all fours, they towered above Fia’s head, and their excited howls echoed through the silent forest. Now and then, she could make out words of exhilaration from the dogs, and after a while, she found herself listening eagerly to their excited snippets of conversation.
The cool, crisp air began to dissipate as they went deeper, and the temperature had risen slightly. Ilawu stopped after what felt like hours, stepping
aside to let Fia pass.
“This is my limit,” he said, turning to Fia. “None from Mizune will enter this forest.”
A wave of panic washed over her. “I understand. Yahto made that clear. Thank you for taking me this far.” She’d argued with Alexander to let her go without him. Pleaded, even. Now it felt like a hot-headed mistake. She straightened her backpack and adjusted her bow neatly across it. You can do this.
Fia gave a faint smile before Ilawu turned back, taking both sledges and huskies with him. For just a moment, she was reminded of crisp winters back in London. Just how much of our worlds are alike? She thought of the histories of Earth, of its myths and legends. How much of that had originated from Ohinyan? There was so much to learn here, as life unfolded differently in this world.
She played with the little bird charm on her wrist as her thoughts drifted to Alexander and of returning to Earth without him. She rested against a tree to calm her breathing. It wasn’t the walking: it was the thought of losing him. You admitted it to Altair already. You don’t want to go back. But she had no way of protecting herself from Erebus. What if his whispers corrupted her like they had so many others?
“What would you do, Soph?” she whispered to nothing but trees.
Fia walked on through the eerie quiet of the forest and dripping leaves, until she recognised the vibrant forest of Noor’s first illusion back on the airship. The witch’s home.
Pillow-like grass swept across the forest bed, and in every gap stood swathes of giant, bell-shaped flowers with azure and fuchsia blooms. Moss-covered tree trunks stretched upwards beyond sight, and from them hung wisps of glittering leaves.
Hues of lilac and crimson, cyan and vermillion surrounded her; the trees and the plants were awash with vibrancy. She reached for the little black flower she carried around her neck as if it were a beacon to guide her and held it tightly in her palm.
Fia had expected to see many witches here, but instead she saw only one approaching through the trees. She looked much older than Noor, but not as old as Altair. But here, Fia knew that could mean anything. The witch was as tall as Noor and wore a similar silver circlet, resting neatly on her ashen hair.
The Third Sun (Daughter of the Phoenix Book One) Page 20
