Mist Rising

by Eve Langlais

  Something snapped in Agathe, and she strode from the Ninth Shield, past the gnarled tree now dead, its branches barren. Once she reached the edge, she pulled the shard of mirror from her pouch, and as Belle screamed, “No!” she tossed it over the edge before turning to arch a brow.

  “Now you’re nobody again. Happy?”

  “I hate you.” Uttered with all the jaw-tensed intensity Belle could manage.

  “I can live with that. Let’s try and get home before nightfall. Or would you rather sulk a while and see if your tantrum attracts a monster?”

  “I hope something eats you.”

  Not as much as Agathe wished the same in return—and immediately felt guilty. She’d sworn to serve the Goddess and to protect those under her. Even annoying ones.

  But at times like this… Why did she insist on helping a woman who fought her every inch of the way?

  As they began walking up the path, a cool breeze fluttered by her cheek, drawing a shiver. She glanced over her shoulder and saw nothing but the creeping tendrils of mist sweeping over the path in translucent swirls. Even as she looked, the sigil, barely sputtering, extinguished. The mist poured into the hole left behind.

  “Move. Quickly,” Agathe hissed as she pulled a dagger and began jogging. Belle kept pace and quiet by her side.

  They couldn’t outrun the mist, not with the sigils blinking out as they reached them. And then they started winking out ahead.

  Bad. So bad. But Agathe said nothing aloud, not even when the fog swirled around their ankles and crept up their legs. It undulated ahead of them, obscuring parts of the path.

  “Be ready,” Agathe whispered, for her senses screamed that danger was near.

  When the monster lunged from the fog, it found Agathe more than ready, her long dagger slashing at a spindly limb, hairy and tipped with a single claw. The creature uttered a scream of pain and rage as she scored a hit. But rather than retreat, it attacked, a monster of too many teeth, in a mouth open wide and craving her blood.

  She ducked and sliced again. Its heavy carapace made killing it hard; however, she’d fought monsters like this before. Terrifying the first few times in battle until realization hit that it took only a few severed limbs to even the odds.

  Lop off one leg, and it struggled to keep its balance. Once she ran around and dove for it, severing a second, it hobbled brokenly. After that, it wasn’t difficult to topple it off the edge.

  For a moment, she stood still. Listening. Had it come alone? Experience had taught the bigger the creature, the less likely it worked with others. She heard nothing, and yet her nape still prickled. She whirled to see Belle standing a mere stride away, knife still in its sheath, utterly useless. And unapologetic about it.

  “Thanks for your help,” was Agathe’s sarcastic rejoinder.

  “I—I—” Belle stuttered before saying, “Sorry. I thought I heard something up the path.”

  “And?”

  Belle shrugged. “Guess I was wrong.”

  At the claim, Agathe glanced past her at the mist thinning, as the sigil suddenly worked once more.

  Odd.

  “We should go before the fog returns with more monsters.” Which led Agathe to wonder, was it the mist that’d brought the creatures? Or was it the other way around?

  Belle remained quiet by her side all the way back to the Abbae. In retrospect, Agathe should have questioned more.

  But she had other things to worry about.

  Such as a visit from the King’s Elite less than a month later.

  Chapter Sixteen

  An acolyte named Joika alerted them to the soldiers’ arrival. Her sharp cry of, “King’s men!” halted everyone in their tracks. The rush was on as some of the Soraers ran to change into clean robes. Others tidied the courtyard. The cooks were told to add more food. Agathe strapped on some weapons and made sure their purple-eyed acolytes, especially Belle, were hidden.

  As Maeder of the Seventh Shield, Hiix was the one to greet the soldiers. The leader was tall and impressively wide, bringing with him not the usual three-soldier complement but seven heavily armored men. Only the leader removed his helmet as Hiix greeted him.

  “May the suns’ rising clear the mist. Welcome. How might I provide aid to our sovereign’s fine soldiers?” Hiix declared.

  “I am the King’s right hand, General Knight Maric.” A gruff introduction by the big, burly man.

  The name aroused a rustle and whispers in the watching Soraers and acolytes. With good reason.

  It was Venna, flanking Hiix, who exclaimed, “You’re the leader of the famed Ghost Brigade.”

  He inclined his head. “Guilty as charged.”

  The Ghost Brigade was known for its daring deeds, repelling monster attacks with little damage or casualty and even rappelling down into the mist, seeking out the caves and crevices that hid nests too close to homes. Sometimes, they even rescued alive those who had been taken.

  The trophies they brought back, and their many victories, had impressed the people living in King’s Valley—who in this new age of uncertainty sought out heroes and worshiped them unquestioningly. However, Agathe wondered how the Ghost Brigade always seemed to know when and where their services would be needed. And what did it mean that they’d appeared here now?

  More than one impressionable acolyte with cocked hips and fluttering eyelashes eyed the man, old enough to be their father. If he stayed the night, Agathe imagined more than one would grace his pallet, and some might bear the fruits of that bedding.

  Agathe wouldn’t be one of them. She knew better than to trust a King’s soldier.

  She stood off to the side, eyeing the big knight and his men. She also kept watch on the open door at their back. It had been a while since daytime guaranteed safety.

  To their credit, the Ghost Brigade paid attention to the fact that the Abyss loomed not far away. Two of the general’s men faced it, armed and ready; the others watched the other directions, wary, watchful.

  They’d be hard to fool.

  Hiix kept her hands folded inside her sleeves. “Have you brought us important news, General Knight?”

  “Of a sort. I am actually here to retrieve something.”

  “Oh?” Hiix didn’t say anything more.

  It forced him to speak again. “We are seeking those with the purple eyes.”

  “The festival isn’t for months yet,” Hiix replied, feigning calm. Only the fact that Agathe had known her for so long betrayed her.

  “The King cannot wait that long.”

  That arched Agathe’s brow, and she couldn’t help a sarcastic retort. “Did he already run through this year’s batch?” Okay, that might have been a tad more acerbic than necessary.

  The general smiled at her, a cold thing that didn’t make it to his eyes. “You speak of things you do not understand.”

  “Then why not educate me?” She paused before adding, “Or is that information above your pay grade?”

  The last brought an “Ooh” that wasn’t exclusive to those watching. Even his men took note. Now, he’d have no choice but to act or appear weak in front of everyone.

  “Have we met?” he asked.

  She stared at him, and for a moment, she wondered if they had met before. Then, she firmly said, “No.”

  “Are you sure? Because you seem to think you can speak to me rather familiarly. Or you’ve forgotten that the King’s soldiers should be addressed by rank or as ‘sir.’”

  Agathe clenched her fists. She should have let Hiix handle this alone. Causing trouble wouldn’t help the situation. And yet, she couldn’t help herself. She refused to accept the status quo. Not when it caused harm. “Sorry, sir.” Spoken through gritted teeth.

  “I’m still waiting for your name.”

  “That’s Soraer Agathe,” Hiix interjected. “And she means no harm.”

  “I’ll be the judge of that. Let us adjourn to discuss things somewhere more private. The Maeder’s office will do.” He didn’t wait for permissio
n but strode away.

  The arrogance stunned, and yet it was Agathe’s own fault. She’d pushed him into acting. Now, he had no choice but to regain face.

  As they followed the general knight, who oddly enough didn’t bring his entourage, Hiix sidled close to hiss, “Stupid.”

  “I know,” Agathe muttered.

  “So very, very stupid,” added Venna on her other side. “Which is why I’m going to wrangle the acolytes and Soraers before the rumors get out of hand.”

  “I’d worry more about Belle,” Agathe murmured as the general went into the Maeder’s office, no hesitation, as if he had every right. His pompous ass was seated in Hiix’s chair when they entered.

  Agathe opened her mouth to lambaste him, but Hiix put a hand on her arm and squeezed it.

  “General Knight Maric, so glad you’ve made yourself comfortable. There is a bottle of something that warms the belly in the bottom drawer of the desk if you’re interested,” Hiix offered.

  He arched a single dark brow. “I thought the Shield Soraers didn’t drink.”

  “There is much people don’t know about us,” Hiix replied, seating herself on the hardback chair in front of the desk.

  Agathe chose to lean in a corner, pretending casualness, looking benign even as she was anything but. Her loose robe hid the fact that she wore leathers and weapons that remained sheathed. Her tongue was the only razor-sharp thing she needed at the moment.

  The knight eyed them and said nothing. Playing a game to see who would talk first.

  Hiix broke. “Can I offer you anything?”

  “I’ve already stated I’m here for the purple-eyed.”

  “Since when are they collected? The law says only that they must be presented at the festival each year.” Agathe couldn’t help herself. “It’s almost a year before the next one.”

  “The light showing at the last festival resulted in a decision to collect them early,” the general stated.

  Agathe took note of his appearance. Shaggy dark hair, bright, almost-clear blue eyes, a square jaw. Familiar, and yet she knew they’d never met. “Isn’t that breaking with tradition?”

  “It’s happened before.”

  “I don’t recall ever hearing about it,” Agathe pointed out, taking note of his battered armor. She already knew his reputation pegged him as a fighter. Seeing the dents, though, indicated that those rumors might be true.

  “You’ve probably never heard of it because it’s not something that happens often.”

  The flat way he spoke angered. “It shouldn’t happen at all,” Agathe spat. “It’s barbaric, taking children from their families. And for what? Because their eyes happen to be a certain color?” She deliberately ignored the fact that the purple iris tended to indicate an affinity for magic. That wasn’t common knowledge.

  “The people offering their children aren’t complaining.”

  “I am,” Agathe pointed out.

  “I don’t see why. It’s not as if you need to worry.”

  Her lips thinned. “I speak for those who are too afraid to speak for themselves.”

  “And do they want you interfering?”

  “They don’t know what they’re agreeing to.”

  “Neither do you.” He waved a hand encased in a heavy gauntlet.

  “At any rate, you’re wasting your time.” Agathe would never sacrifice anyone. The King had proven himself to be unworthy; she had only to remember all the blood and pain he’d caused trying to get another purple-eyed as a reminder.

  “Are you refusing to comply with the King’s orders?”

  “Not my King.” She lifted her chin.

  Hiix jumped in to add, “We serve the Goddess, making us apart from many of your laws.”

  “You are citizens of King’s Valley. Count yourself lucky that the King has, thus far, made concessions.”

  “Like what?” Agathe blurted out.

  “He lets you keep the Abbaes for one.”

  The arrogance of the statement had both of the women gaping before Agathe exclaimed, “He lets us do nothing. We serve the Goddess.”

  “Serve her all you like, so long as you obey.”

  The pompousness had Agathe seeing red, but she managed to dig her nails into her palms to blurt out her next statement. “He can order all he wants. Doesn’t mean we’ll obey.”

  “On this, you will. Hand over the purple-eyed or else.”

  “Or else what?”

  The general’s expression appeared bored as he said, “I’ll kill everyone who stands in my way.”

  Chapter Seventeen

  “You’ll have to get through me!” Agathe made no attempt to temper her tone. She would have thrown herself at him and caused all kinds of bloody trouble with her blades if Hiix hadn’t stood in her path.

  “Calm down.”

  “Move,” Agathe growled. “I am going to gut him.”

  “You will do no such thing,” Hiix huffed.

  “He just threatened to kill us!”

  “Only if you don’t hand over the purple-eyed,” the eavesdropping bastard had the nerve to point out.

  Agathe peered around Hiix to glare at the general. “Stay out of this.”

  He met her gaze. “You will obey. And before you tell me you don’t have one, I have it on good authority that you do.”

  A rat. They had a rat in their midst, because only the Soraers knew about their purple secret. Agathe would root them out and have a word. Traitors had no place in an Abbae of the Shield if they couldn’t respect the number one rule. Protect thy Soraer.

  “Well?” he drawled. “You going to deny it and force my hand?”

  Agathe wanted to. Then, if he did follow through and attack, she would be justified in carving out his heart.

  Something of her thoughts must have been on her face, because Hiix took matters into her hands. “I’m surprised you heard of our purple-eyed Soraer. Her eyes only changed recently, hence why she wasn’t presented at the festival.”

  “What are you doing?” Agathe growled.

  Hiix gave her the look that said: Trust me.

  The sigh of acceptance drooped her shoulders. Fine.

  Meanwhile, the general looked triumphant. “Have her brought. Now.”

  “Of course, General Knight. If you’ll give me a moment to fetch her.”

  “Fetch her? She’s not a thing you can just hand over,” Agathe burst out.

  “Are you defying me, Soraer?” he said softly. Too softly.

  “Of course not.” Hiix hastened to soothe. “A moment, please, while I speak to Soraer Agathe and have the acolyte sought.” Hiix dragged Agathe into the hall and hissed, “Stop trying to antagonize him.”

  “We are not handing over any of our girls.”

  “Why not?”

  “What do you mean, why not? Because we swore we would protect them.”

  “We did. But at the same time, what else can we do? You heard his threat. He’ll kill us all if we don’t.” Hiix made a point that penetrated but didn’t make Agathe any happier.

  “How can you so easily discuss handing the girls over? I mean I can understand handing over Belle, but Korra and Neelie don’t deserve the fate awaiting them.”

  “The general knight never said anything about fetching three,” Hiix slyly noted. “And one of them has been talking about going anyhow.”

  “We give them Belle,” Agathe breathed. Awful, and yet it would solve two problems at once. I’m horrible. She’d feel guilty about it and pray to the Goddess for forgiveness during those quiet moments without Belle screeching. For a child raised in Abbaes, she really had an unpleasant demeanor. Where had the Soraers gone wrong?

  Which made her worry. “What if she tells him about Korra and Neelie?”

  “I’m hoping we can make her promise not to.”

  “What makes you think she will?”

  “Do you really think she’ll want to share their attention?”

  Agathe’s lips flattened. “I still don’t think it’s a go
od plan. What happened to protecting her?”

  “Be honest, she knows they’re here. Is probably the one who sent out a message for them to come. If we don’t let her have this, can you imagine the repercussions?”

  As Agathe and Hiix strode into the courtyard, it was to see the main portal remained open, which brought a chill to Agathe’s skin, especially as it appeared to be getting dark outside. She glanced overhead to the alcove where a pair of acolytes stood watch.

  The afternoon waned. Soon, they’d be shuttering all the openings, preparing for the night. This Abbae didn’t have a room for the doorkeeper; rather the acolytes took turns with the instruction to never open the portal. If anyone should knock or ring the bell, they were to fetch one of the older Soraers at once.

  The big knight didn’t remain in the Maeder’s office but emerged, grim-faced and angry. He didn’t yet know he’d won.

  It shouldn’t have surprised Agathe to suddenly see Belle, making a beeline for General Knight Maric. What peeved her was that Belle threw herself on her knees and screeched, “Thank the King for sending you. I am eager to serve the Kingdom.”

  Hiix couldn’t help but mutter, “Idiot.”

  “She’ll end up regretting her choice.” And that was the key thing. Belle wanted this. And at this point, why bother fighting? Let the King have her and good riddance.

  But it didn’t mean Agathe could stand around watching. “I’m going to check on the lookouts.” Who seemed rather intent on their task.

  Rather than shout and ask them what they saw, Agathe moved for the footholds etched into the wall and climbed. The stairs would have been easier and quicker, but she tried to stay in shape. This body wasn’t exactly young anymore, and it got worse with every passing year.

  Reaching the alcove, Agathe found the girls. The dark-haired one was Mieln, and the other girl…Saashy something or other. They were staring out the slits, not moving.

  “Is a storm rolling in?” she asked to no reply.

  A grip of Mieln’s shoulder showed her stiff, unresponsive. Agathe frowned as she shook the girl, turning her away from the slit. Glazed eyes stared right past Agathe. It could mean only one thing.