by Trudie Skies
No, no, no!
She couldn’t let the Fire Walkers be seen as rebellious. This was just like Cyrus to poke a scorpion’s nest and scream foul when the scorpion stung back. “If you’re harassing my Fire Walkers in their own home, Fellbond, then don’t blame me if you play with fire and get burned. I’ll be taking this matter up with Lord Salasar myself. I don’t think your master will be pleased to hear his sorran is abusing the kingdom’s greatest assets.”
Cyrus sneered. “Lord Salasar summons you at dawn, Priestess.” He sauntered past her and rammed into her shoulder. “Couldn’t find a man to marry you so you joined the priesthood? I shouldn’t be surprised. We’re all betting on how many burners will die under your command.” He waved his hand and his guards followed.
“Are all Housemen as charming as him?” Garr asked.
She thrust a finger an inch from his nose. “What game are you playing, Ash Maker?”
He raised his palms. “No game, Priestess. I’m trying to protect the Fire Walkers—”
“Protect them? By getting into fights with the city guard?”
“I found that mule and his guards trying to force their way into the temple. An inspection, he said. I barred them from entering. Isn’t that your job, Priestess? To protect us? Or are you more concerned for your Housemen friends?”
“Fellbond isn’t my friend,” she snapped. “And you’re not protecting anyone by openly defying the city guard! If they suspect for one moment that the Fire Walkers aren’t under their thumb, they’ll march on this temple and slaughter everyone inside. Are you listening to me? Your arrogance is going to cost lives.”
“Arrogance? To demand we’re treated like people and not rats?”
She rubbed a hand over her scalp. “Gods, how can you be this ignorant? You may have grown up among the tribes, Ash Maker, but this is a Houseman’s world with Houseman laws. I’ve witnessed Fire Walkers—even children, even my own uncle—cut down in the streets right in front of me. So don’t you dare open your mouth and say I don’t understand what’s at stake.”
“Why do you hate Ash Makers?”
How could he ask such a ludicrous question? She jabbed her finger into his chest. “It was your people who killed mine! You hunted the Lunei down and slaughtered them! And you talk of trying to protect people?” She laughed bitterly. The gods cursed her the day they thrust this fool into her temple.
“I don’t remember hunting down and killing anyone, Priestess.”
She glared at him. “Get inside.”
Garr bowed with a mocking smile, then retreated through the temple doors.
Mina didn’t know who was going to be more trouble: the Ash Maker or the goat of Fellbani.
24
ORDERS
Bloodstone Keep was full to bursting the next morning with armed men, horses, and carts being loaded with supplies to make the journey north. Men dressed in bronze plate armor shouted commands that echoed across the open courtyards, and lines of younger men carrying crates or sacks hustled to and fro in some organized dance. It wasn’t the same Keep Mina had left only days ago.
Salasar waited outside his office and glared with his one good eye. “You took your time, Arlbond. Get in here.”
She followed Salasar into a quiet room away from the noise and sweat. It reminded Mina of her Academy days with the legendary Sword of Solus ready to scold her or point out her inadequacies.
The office walls were lined by dusty bookcases, and cobwebs hung from the ceiling. How often did Salasar sit in his own office? Only the turquoise drapes gave any indication that the lord of House Sarabond occupied this room.
Salasar leaned over his desk. A map of Sandair covered its entirety, and on top of that were markers, scrolls, and a half-empty wine cup. “I’ll not mince words. The Prince wants you to lead the Fire Walkers on the front lines, but you’re not trained, and I’ll not risk a single man’s life on your ignorance and ineptitude.”
She stiffened. “I trained in the Academy—”
“For barely a season. What do you know of fighting as part of a unit? Of commanding men? Nothing, because you deemed those lessons unworthy of you. You could have learned them had you stayed, and maybe we wouldn’t be in this gods-damn mess.”
“So you’ll disobey our Prince?”
Salasar narrowed his eye. “You’re the High Priestess now. That’s your choice, I don’t care, but that puts you and your Fire Walkers under my command. I’m giving you as much time as I can spare to prepare them, so you and your Rhaesbond best get to work. You know the law. You heard what our Prince said. If any of them refuse, that’s your responsibility. And if you refuse to perform your duty, well… that’s on me.”
She met his hardened stare. She had no doubt he had the guts for death, even to murder innocents, and the guts to defy Talin and punish her if he must.
He didn’t blink. “Here’s how this’ll work, Arlbond. You’ll serve under my direct command and order your Fire Walkers to do exactly what I tell you, when I tell you. I’m leading a third of our army to the Ruby Coast to arrange our defenses there. Then, I’ll return here to Solus to lead the rest on the long march up the Cold Path and into Hartnord territory. You and your Fire Walkers will march with us. But there’s something I need you to do first.” He threw a scroll across the table. “We’ve caught wind of fires in Gaisland. The Guardian of Gai has specifically requested your aid in investigating this matter and mobilizing the temples there. Report to him in Grenai and deal with it.”
From what she remembered of her maps, Grenai was located in the heart of Gaisland. Four weeks’ worth of travel to get there and back, maybe longer. “You expect me to train my Fire Walkers and take a trip all the way to Gaisland?”
“And I expect you to be quick about it. Personally, I believe this merry chase is a waste of our time and resources, but the Prince says it’s a priority. You volunteered to track down these rogue Fire Walkers, so here’s your chance.”
“I don’t know anything about Gaisland.” But Alistar did. She’d not formally released him as her sorran. If she demanded Alistar serve her once more, he’d be able to guide her on the quickest path there and back. “I need my sorran.”
“Your sorran? You can’t mean the Bosan?”
“He’s still pledged in service to me.”
“You’re a priestess—”
“And a Houseman.”
“Do you really want to walk this path, child? You’ve inherited your father’s foolishness, but I’ll make it clear for you: both the Bright Solara and House Myrbond will see your refusal to release him as an insult. Need I go on?”
“What of your own sorran? Are you so desperate that you chose Fellbond?”
“Don’t be foolish. I didn’t choose him. Our Prince is keeping a close eye on his father’s allies.”
“Where does your loyalty lie, Sword of Solus? Sounds like the Prince has you at heel.”
Salasar rubbed the bridge of his nose. “Let me impart you with some advice. You’re a stubborn little girl who thinks the world owes you something. It doesn’t.”
She bristled at his tone and opened her mouth to argue.
He held up his hand. “I’m not done. You won’t get special treatment because of your dada. You don’t get to follow in his footsteps and play hero. This is war, child. This is real. Whatever rivalry you had with the Prince in the Academy stays in the Academy. Do you hear me? I’ll not let either of you use this war as your personal playground.”
“You think it’s just some rivalry? He’s threatening Fire Walkers—”
“It’s about them, is it? Not your father or your House?”
“You forget you’re a Fire Walker, too.”
“I don’t forget. Nor do I forget my place. This war is bigger than you or I. Do you understand? This war will decide the future of our kingdom, and I want Sandair to be on the winning side.” He picked up a wooden marker and slammed it atop the Gaisland map—above Grenai
. “There’s more than rogue Fire Walkers to worry about on the road to Gaisland. You’ll travel with a contingent of armed men at all times. For your protection.”
For her protection or to spy on her? “I don’t need protection. They’ll slow me down—”
“This isn’t up for debate. Take your Rhaesbond with you—”
“I can’t take Jonan. Someone will need to train the Fire Walkers in my absence.”
“Then take your best-trained Fire Walkers with you and be vigilant.”
“My sorran?”
“I’ll send him, but on your head be it. You’ve got five weeks until we march, Arlbond. I expect you back here and ready to lead your Fire Walkers by then.” He waved her off. “You’re dismissed.”
Why Gaisland? And why now? It felt like an excuse to get her out of the way. Of course, that’s what Prince Ravel would want.
Five weeks to travel to Gaisland and back.
Five weeks to ready her Fire Walkers for war.
It wasn’t enough time. But… if there were rogue Fire Walkers in Gaisland, she’d find them. And if they held the answer to Queen Vida and King Reinhart’s murders, then maybe she could dash water on this war before it had a chance to ignite.
Mina stopped by the palace and updated Talin and Iman on her new orders. As she left, Alistar found her by the Keep’s gate.
He waved a scroll in his hand. “What’s this all about? I’m packing for a fun trip to the coast when suddenly I get orders that my master is calling rank. My master, the priestess.” He burst out laughing.
Her cheeks warmed. “If you’re that eager to march with Salasar, I’m happy to release you.”
Alistar shrugged and smiled. “I suppose I could be persuaded to come with you. Why Gaisland?”
“I need a guide who knows the geography. And the politics. The Guardian of Gai has summoned me. You’ve met him before. What’s he like?”
“My father would call him a complete and utter bastard, even for a Houseman. When do we leave?”
“Tomorrow at dawn. We’ll need to take the quickest route to Grenai.”
He pulled out a map from his sahn and straightened it out across the Keep’s wall. “It would be quickest if we cut across the Soland plains. There’s no road there, and no inns, which means we’ll need to make camp almost the whole way. Speaking of which, we’ll need gold.”
Mina fumbled in her pocket. “I’m fresh out. It’s your turn, Myrbond.”
He looked at her with mock shock. “Me? A sorran providing for his master? That goes against the Code of Honor. My House would be appalled at such treatment.”
She gave him a shove. “Your House would be appalled at the ale you drank on my coin.”
“Right, I’ll pack as my lady commands.”
“Don’t you start calling me that.”
He skipped to one side and laughed, as though evading an imaginary punch.
Relief warmed her gut. She’d worried he’d be angry at her for calling rank when they weren’t technically bonded, but not even war could force apart a master and their sorran.
But, apparently, it could force apart a Princess and her betrothed.
25
TRAVEL PLANS
“Gaisland?” Jonan rubbed his jaw. “That is quite the journey for our new High Priestess.”
Mina leaned back on a stone step. Jonan shared the same thoughts—this trip was to get her out of the way, or possibly even killed by whatever threats lurked west.
“They mean to send you now?” Samira looked aghast. She stood in the sanctum sand with hands on hips. “How do they expect us to train and mobilize for war? Do they want us to fail?”
Mina raised her eyebrows at Samira’s foolish question. “If someone’s going to be out there searching for rogue Fire Walkers, I want it to be me. Leaving it to Housemen will only get a lot of innocent Fire Walkers killed. If you know anything about Saeed’s plans or if he had allies, this is your last chance to spit it out.”
Samira wrung her hands. “I don’t know anything. Sometimes, Saeed and Leila would talk about Fire Walkers stirring up trouble in the city, or flaunting their power in Gaisland and even Hartnor. Leila was disgusted by them. And Saeed, too, or so I thought. He never said anything to make me think he was in league with those filth.”
“Gaisland is a hard trip in Rahn’s Dawn,” Jonan mused. “It’s damp heat. Not like the Dusland’s dry heat. Thick and exhausting. It attracts all kinds of bugs—the blood-sucking kind. And the forests are dense. You could get lost for weeks trying to navigate them.”
“I’ll have a guide. My sorran—”
“Priestesses shouldn’t have a sorran!” Samira shrieked.
“Oh, don’t start. Whilst I’m gone, I’m trusting you two to run the temple. Jonan, you’re in charge of training. And you—” She turned to Samira— “are in charge of everything else.” Mina cast her gaze across the sanctum, looking for her acolytes. “And Salasar demands I bring someone along for protection. Who would you recommend?”
“I’m not sure our new acolytes are best suited for long journeys,” Jonan said. “They’re a little too…”
“Old?” Mina suggested.
“I was going to say wizened.”
Mina gave a puzzled look.
“It means old.”
“I need someone who won’t slow me down. I can protect myself, no matter what Salasar says. Just give me someone who won’t be missed. It’s bad enough the Prince is forcing me to waste weeks travelling the full length of the kingdom and back. We can’t let him steal away anyone who’d be more useful here.”
“If only we could send our enemies traipsing across the kingdom on some pointless errand to keep them out of our hair,” lamented Jonan.
Samira glanced at his cleanly shaven head.
“It’s a figure of speech,” he said.
But Mina’s attention was elsewhere. Jonan might be onto something.
Garr sat in the far corner with Kamran and Fez. He ate a pistachio and flicked the shell into a small pile littering the sacred sand at his feet. Disrespectful mule.
Leaving the temple meant Mina was also leaving him to stir discontent and endanger her Fire Walkers. Only Lune knew what trouble he’d get up to without her.
But if he travelled with her, he’d be under her constant scrutiny.
“No,” Jonan said, following her eye. “Anyone but that fool. He’ll gut you the moment you step through Solus’s gates and rob your corpse.”
“He’s the most powerful Fire Walker in this temple, or so he says.”
“No.” Jonan’s irritation burned through the bond. “The tales of Ash Makers are true. I won’t leave you alone with him.”
“I’m perfectly capable of defending myself!”
Jonan scowled. “You need to stop being so reckless. You’re the High Priestess now. You cannot afford to risk yourself.”
“He’s right,” Samira said.
Jonan thrust his hands toward Mina as if to say, See!
“You are High Priestess of Rahn and it would look most inappropriate to be travelling and camping alone with men.”
Jonan buried his face in his hands.
The insinuation that Mina would be anything but proper made her teeth grind. “Gods, I’m not riding all the way to Gaisland so I can frolic in the forests! Besides, that’s what my vows are for.”
“You never actually said the vows,” Samira grumbled.
Jonan cast his scowl on Samira. “May I have a private word with the Priestess?”
Samira threw up her hands and walked away, muttering.
Mina rubbed the ache forming in her forehead. “This trip is a waste of time.”
Jonan waited until the acolyte was out of earshot. “No. It works in our favor.” His voice dropped to a whisper. “The Guardian of Gai will be mobilizing his Fire Walkers for war. You’ll be able to escort them out of Gaisland personally. And divert their path to Arlent.”
>
“You want me to steal Fire Walkers under the nose of Nazim Grebond?”
“Or convince him to aid our cause. He voted in support of the King—”
“And he voted against the Fire Walkers’ freedom.”
“He turned a blind eye to missing Fire Walkers in the last war. And he argued against my father’s imprisonment. We cannot save the Fire Walkers alone. We need allies.”
“I’ll see what I can do.”
“You’re serious about taking the Ash Maker?”
She stared across the sanctum to where Garr was still flicking shells. “I don’t know if he’s nothing more than a brazen fool or if he’s actively working against us, but either way we need him out of this temple and out of Solus. Otherwise, he’s going to keep stirring up trouble and bring an entire regiment of soldiers through our door.”
“Then take him—and leave him in Gaisland. He’s a liability.” Jonan’s hard stare sent a shudder down her spine.
“You mean kill him.”
“Nothing so crass. Lose him in the forest. Let the wolves take care of him for you. Take Samira with you and lose her, too.”
“You can’t murder everyone that annoys you.”
Jonan grinned. “No. That would take too long.”
She tutted at Jonan and sauntered across the sanctum to where Garr and Kamran were relaxing. Tira floated in the flames of a nearby brazier. She was pointing at Garr and nodding. The last time she did that, she was encouraging Mina to travel with Talin to Arlent.
Surely her mother didn’t trust an Ash Maker?
The Ash Maker flicked a pistachio at Fez, who screeched and dove after it. The Lunei’s tales of monsters must surely have been exaggerated.
“What are you doing?”
Garr wore a lazy smile. “What does it look like? I’m watching over your pet.”
“He’s not a pet.”
“Then what’s the problem?” He offered a palmful of nuts to her. “Did you want some?”
She lifted her nose. “Kamran, will you give us a moment?”
