“Who are you even doing this for anymore? Throwing grains of sand at a wave.”
My heartbeat pounds in my ears, the blood rushes to my face.
“We need an army! Not one Elf standing in the shadows with a bow and bloodlust!”
Liriene looks at me like I’m a weed, a problem.
“Your soul is being corrupted….”
A different scream breaks through the air. I launch myself out of hiding toward Thaniel’s voice. I drop my bow and draw my blades, charging toward his cry. I skid around the bend of a tree and find Thaniel on the floor with only one of the twin blades in his grip. His free hand clutches his side and he’s covered in blood.
A soldier hovers over Thaniel, dragging his longsword through the dirt in a circle around him. The beast rattles my ribs, begging me to let it out and stop the Man.
“And who would have thought, I’d be the one to finally end you?” The human sneers.
Thaniel stares down his attacker.
“Hey!” I draw the Dalis’ attention.
His dark eyes shoot to me, confusion and surprise widening them. I bare my blades and charge toward him. His eyes bulge with shock, but I realize it’s not the revelation of my inner monster that’s taken him aback. I skid to a halt.
He stumbles and falls backwards, as another Man side-steps from behind him. His bloody dagger, loosely tethering his hand to the falling body of his comrade.
“Mathis!” Thaniel gasps, attempting to crawl toward the Man who killed his attacker.
This so-called Mathis drops his blade and runs to Thaniel. He helps him to a sitting position in his lap, and Thaniel clings to him. Their bloodied hands check each other for injury and Mathis gasps at Thaniel’s wound.
Confusion stifles my urge to kill him. Turning my aim toward Mathis, I yell, “Explain this!”
Thaniel holds up a hand to me, stretching his other arm between me and the human. “Keres, don’t.”
Mathis stands to his feet, regaining his dagger. He pushes past Thaniel’s grip and matches my fighting stance.
Thaniel struggles to his feet, plunging a fist into what I now realize is a gaping wound.
“Thaniel, stay out of the way,” I command.
Instead, he stands beside Mathis. “Keres, he’s not the enemy.”
I spare a glance at Thaniel’s desperate expression. He’s protecting this human?
“He’s Dalis! Explain yourself,” I hiss.
“Can you not see he’s injured?” Mathis asks.
“Keres, Mat is….” He looks to Mathis, who nods. “I love him. Please, lower your weapon.”
“He is Human! This is wrong. Elves and Humans do not belong together. He’s a threat—”
“No!” Thaniel flurries his dagger. “You need to trust me.”
“Why should I? How do I know you’re not conspiring with the enemy?” I ask. “How do you two even know each other?”
“We met on patrol,” Mathis says. The Death Spirit and I growl at him.
“Mathis, go.” Thaniel holds my gaze. We search each other for a sign of surrender and neither of us finds it. He shifts into a ready stance, to fight me and protect his lover.
“I can’t let that happen, Thaniel. He was with them. How do we know he wasn’t the one of the Men who ambushed our nine? How do I know he didn’t kill Katrielle?”
Mathis takes a step backward. “Thaniel, she’s right. She has no reason to trust me.”
“She should trust me.” Thaniel answers.
My stomach turns and winds into knots, and my throat is running dry with every breath. I shift on my feet, “I trust no one.” Unhinging the cage door and setting my beast free is easier than I expected.
Death takes the reins. As quickly as I shift into the Other state, I lose complete control.
It happened so fast: The screams, the prayers, the bloodshed. Then a collision of talons, blood, and fangs. My inner monster came out to play, but there was another kind of beast nearby. Frenzied, my senses missed its presence. The creature came out of nowhere!
I’m on the ground when I finally regain my bearings. The blood is coming from me. I hold pressure to the wound on my shoulder. I try to shield myself from the massive beast that dealt me the wound. The wind from its wings blasts into me. It lands before me and its impact shakes both the trees and my bones. Its talons, decorated with my blood, sink into the earth.
I lurch backward, crawling as fast as I can from the creature before me. Wings like fire, eyes like gold. The beak of a bird and body of a lion. The Gryphon’s eyes don’t move from mine.
I hear Mathis muttering prayers to Ahriman somewhere to the left.
“Don’t hurt her,” I hear Thaniel say. The weakness in his voice drags my eyes from the Gryphon’s hypnotic gaze. His wound is killing him. Grief overwhelms me as I realize what I’ve done.
“She’s the Coroner,” Thaniel speaks for me, despite how I’ve hurt him. Mathis’s jaw drops, eyes dilating with fear.
The Gryphon paws the earth and says, “Mrithyn’s hound.” He speaks and his voice shatters all thought. I’m lost in it.
“White Reaper.” He snaps his jaws at me. “She’s lost all respect for Life while serving Death. Even the life of your own kin?”
Heat blossoms in my face. My senses are overwhelmed by the sound of his auburn wings feathering out to their full breadth. His heart sounds like a drum in a cage of brass. His talons rip the earth apart beneath his paws. His mane is a halo around his face, bright like righteous fire.
“You would kill your very own for standing between Death and the one he loves?” The Gryphon turns away from me, as if he cannot bear to look at me. “Geraltain would have never been so corrupted by his power.”
I jump to my feet, startled by the mention of the Coroner before me. I search the ground for my lost weapons.
“Don’t bother,” Another lustrous voice crashes into my mind. I spin on my heels and am toe to talon with another Gryphon. Turning, I realize there are more. Five in total. The one before me sizes me up.
“So, it’s true. Mrithyn’s given a mite of his power to yet another Elf of the Sunderlands.”
“Geraltain was from the Sunderlands?” I ask.
“From Massara.” The Gryphon hisses.
Darius comes jogging into the clearing, running toward Thaniel. A Gryphon pounces from a tree branch and Darius skids in the dirt. “Shit! Fuck!”
One of my blades is by the Gryphon who attacked me; who stopped me from killing Thaniel.
“Altair,” He calls his kin.
“Yes, King Arias?”
“Fly the injured one back to the Ro’Hale clan. I need to speak with the clan leader.” He turns toward the one snarling at Darius.
“Kaltain.”
“Yes, my Lord?”
“Let the Man go and escort the Elves and the Coroner back to their clan. Allow the Coroner to regain her weapons.”
Well, there goes our one potential hostage for questioning.
“Where is Silas?” I ask Darius.
“Here,” the familiar voice bounces off a tree. Silas steps out of cover, hands raised, as another Gryphon nudges him from behind.
“And what was the plan? To wait ‘til the last minute to rescue your friends? As if you could take on all of us. Or to flee?” The Gryphon taunts him. It stalks around him, shaking his head. I furrow my brow at Silas who lowers his eyes to the ground.
“He was waiting for my signal, actually.” Indiro’s voice perks up somewhere behind the Gryphon, catching the beast by surprise. My eyes dart back to Silas, who dares another glance toward me, and the corner of his mouth picks up for only a second.
“Arias?” I question my attacker, watching Mathis exchange a glance with Thaniel before running off into the forest. I hope the wolves get him.
“Yes, Coroner.” He doesn’t deign to look at me.
“King Arias, of the Moldorn Gryphons. The Heralds?” I scan the territory and the beasts’ faces before counting the heads of my comrades. Indiro nods a
t me. I turn back to Arias, King of the Gryphons, “If you’re here in the Sunderlands that means—
“Yes.” He turns a cold, yellow eye on me. “War is at hand.”
Queen of Bones
“When a shark smells blood…”
She takes a step toward me,
head rolling over her shoulders
and eyes closed as she takes in
a deep breath through her nose.
“They go absolutely mad.”
-The Huntress
11. DUTY
As we enter the gates, we are welcomed by gasps and wide eyes. The sight of Thaniel’s mangled body draped over the back of a Gryphon earns someone’s scream for Vigilant Chamira. The five Heralds of War march in unity through the gathering crowds. Like prisoners to the gallows, Darius, Silas, Indiro and I follow them to the war tent. My father steps out, brows shooting up and mouth open but empty of words.
“Kaius,” King Arias says. A baby’s cry interrupts the silence of the audience, followed by his mother’s desperate hushing.
“Welcome!” My father opens his arms, remembering to bow at the end of his smile. “Heralds of the Moldorn.”
He catches sight of me and the others and confusion crosses his brow.
“A not so pleasant encounter,” the one called Kaltain sneers. Altair echoes him.
“We saved your warriors in the forest. They ambushed a Dalis patrol.”
I spot Liriene’s frown in the rows of faces; her red hair like a torch in the crowd.
“Were it not for your Coroner,” Arias steps out of the way for my father to connect with me. “Your warriors might not have needed our help at all.”
My father raises his hands once more, his brow lines creasing deeper. “I don’t understand.”
“Neither do I understand why Mrithyn’s servant crossed blades with her own brother.”
Chamira points Altair toward her tent, glaring at me as Thaniel whimpers from his place on the Gryphon’s back. I hang my head as murmurs break the silence of my kin.
“We stopped her from killing that boy.”
“I wasn’t trying to kill him, but to kill the human he was protecting. He got in my way.” I speak up.
“Such ill-discretion and lack of self-control, evidence of the chaos consuming these lands.” Arias disregards me, but someone in the crowd accuses me of lying.
My father folds his hands behind his back, straightening his posture. “If you have come, King Arias, chaos has begotten war.”
“As it always does. The Heralds of War have journeyed from the Moldorn to the Sunderlands.” King Arias addresses the entire clan now. “News of attacks by the Baore’s Dalis on your people has not fallen on deaf ears. We came to investigate the rumors of a Human militant presence growing here and have found it to be true.”
The expressions vary throughout the crowd of faces. Some look to my father with hesitance, some to each other with relief. Bright eyes appraise the Gryphons with wariness and bore into me with disdain.
“We came to question your leaders,” He turns back to my father. My father’s expression solidifies. “Kaius, Shepherd of the Clan Ro’Hale. Queen Hero of the Ro’Hale Kingdom. King Gemlin of the Elistria kingdom. Leto, Shepherd of Massara,” Arias lists. “You can imagine our surprise when we found the Dalis had utterly destroyed Hishmal. This urged us to come hold all those accountable for the deaths of the Sunderland’s Children.”
“Hold us accountable?” My father scoffs. “King Arias, I mean no disrespect, but King Gemlin and Queen Hero have made their stances very clear. We receive no military support from the kingdoms sworn to protect us. They do not equip us to defend ourselves from the Dalis.”
“So, you do nothing?” Kaltain hisses. His voice reminds me of a snake’s. “While the Children of the Forest burn to ashes. Their screams carried on the southern winds to our throne room in the skies. We answer a call and question, why? Was your very clan not the erection of an accord between the kingdom and the clans? You expect us to believe the kingdom has abandoned its own subjects that dwell here? Your daughters are royalty, your right hand and his ward are knights of the Queen’s legion. What is the reason for the disconnect between the Queen and her own blood?”
“Whoever called you here might have informed you that Queen Herrona is dead and her daughter, Hero, sits on the throne.” My father. “You’d do better to ask the new queen why she estranges herself from those her mother swore to protect.” My father says. “Who called you here?”
“That is not important.”
My people find their voice, some cursing my father and some thanking the Gryphons.
“Enough!” Indiro’s voice rings out. “Our clan leader is not the only one to question for our fate, neither is our late queen nor the child ruling in her stead. King Arias,” Indiro steps forward to my father’s side. “You come to question the victims. You should travel north and pay a visit to King Berlium, the father of this war.”
At that, my people shout agreements.
“King Berlium will be dealt with, as will his armies,” Arias silences them. “The Heralds do not take sides. We challenge the negligence and abuse of all leaders. As shepherds of the clans, it is your responsibility to advocate for your clan. The High Council and its Magisters are responsible for the Kings and Queens you are subject to. We are here only to investigate and warn.” King Arias pauses before adding, “Hishmal is a blood blot on the map. Your warriors are being killed every day. You live in terror and you cannot walk the lands you were born to rule. You are oppressed and succumbing to their power. None but your Coroner has taken any action.”
I perk up at the mention of me. How does he know about my hunts? Who called them here?
“For the past seven months, this girl ventured into the dark and diseased forest hunting those who hunt you. While you slept, she claimed the lives of your oppressors. She claimed vengeance, and in silence, she carried out her duty to your dead.” I feel all eyes trained on me, Liriene’s well with tears. “Only one has stood against an army of darkness. Until today. These brave warriors turned from their pacifism and joined her in hunting the Dalis. Although your people prefer peace, you arm your kinsmen because you know fighting is inevitable. Hunt or be hunted. Isn’t that right, Coroner?”
“You said she nearly got them killed! What of Thaniel?” A male shouts.
“You yourself, King Arias, bested our Coroner. You stayed Death’s right hand?” Another asks.
“Tell us, does a God bleed?” A woman mocks.
“One against an army has not brought about change.”
“Months of secrets.”
“The attacks may very well be retaliation for her actions!”
“She is to blame for Hishmal’s destruction!”
“If we hand her over to the Dalis, whose blood is on her hands, they will stop hunting the innocent!”
The voices mingle, I stop listening. Blood roars in my ears. I don’t bother to answer his question.
King Arias’ voice soothes them, “The spirit of one may be greater than an army. Although alone she would not win, every fire starts with a single spark.”
My face heats, my palms sweat. I try to ignore the clashing remarks of condemnation and praise for me and Mrithyn. This King of the Gryphons, this Herald of War, drew blood from me. No one has ever done that before. He shamed me in battle, denounced me, and judged me. Now, he speaks for me. How does the same mouth mock me and call me blessed? Hishmal was my fault. I lost control, and the Dalis retaliated.
“If your child can do right by her people, even if it costs her everything, how can you do nothing?” Arias turns away from my father. I know his words have wounded his pride. Indiro’s hand rests on my father’s shoulder but his eyes settle on me. An arm comes around my shoulders. I blink at the face of Darius. His coal eyes are on fire with pride. Redeeming me from the cruel accusations my people still toss at my feet. I should have never expected to look down and see roses, anyway. Silas, behind him, peeks hi
s head around to flash a smile in my direction. King Arias heads back towards the gates, followed by his brothers.
“Coroner, a word,” He beckons. I push past the crowds, turning my back to my sister and father. Willing to go anywhere to escape the disapproval my kin are aiming at me like flaming arrows. I am no hero, and I know it well. I follow the band of Gryphons back into the darkening forest. Realization rushes into me as I rub my arms, smearing the warm blood from my shoulder. My body must have been in shock. I’ve never been injured like this in a battle. I’ve caused so much death up. And now Thaniel...
“Keres, is it?” King Arias asks
“Yes.” I keep my eyes low.
Kaltain and Altair circle around me but the other Gryphons keep their distance.
“There fire in you; a light burns where others see only darkness.”
Much to my dismay, my eyes blur again.
“We cannot honor your actions, as we are neutral in this war. But we can honor your intention.”
“You’ve been led astray in this hunting ritual,” Kaltain adds.
I raise my brows, “How did you know about the hunting?”
“I told them.” A familiar voice says.
I whip my head around, “Rio!” I run into my uncle’s arms. He catches and steadies me. I quickly check for Ivaia.
“She isn’t here. She doesn’t know what I’ve done.”
I look up at his warm face, those diamond eyes. “Why? She will, Rio, she seems to figure everything out.”
“I told you. The world doesn’t rest on one set of shoulders. The hunts have cost us more than they have gained. You’ve known nothing but her teaching since childhood. Suffering through it. I couldn’t stand it anymore. My wife is changing, she isn’t herself. I fear for her. For the first time in over twenty years, I do not trust her.” Riordan turns to King Arias.
“Your people tire of war. Hope is dwindling. The force of the Heralds isn’t what this delicate situation needs. The new Queen has abandoned the clans, we know it, and she needs accountability. But there’s no predicting what our confrontation will stir her or her subjects to do. And so, we have need of you.”
The Sunderlands Page 11
