Witch's Pyre

by Josephine Angelini

  Breakfast narrowed his eyes at her. “Don’t get too comfortable with that notion.”

  Carrick walked back into Lillian’s camp, slipping through the occupied throngs unnoticed.

  People tended to ignore Carrick until they couldn’t, and then afterward, they tried to forget about him as quickly as possible. Sometimes they would say or do just about anything to make him go away. That had its advantages.

  Carrick passed a squirrely page boy gnawing a thumbnail down to the quick as he walked, and grabbed him.

  “Lady Lillian’s heaviest armored cart. Where is it?” he asked, standing a little too close.

  “I don’t know—the carts are that way?” the boy replied with a desultory wave of his hand. He was trying to extract himself, but Carrick just smiled, unnerving the boy even more.

  “What’s your name?” Carrick asked, friendly-like, sidling even closer.

  “G-Gavin,” the boy stammered.

  “Gavin, I’m in a lot of trouble if I don’t find our Witch’s biggest, heaviest cart. I’m supposed to already know where it is.” Carrick leaned over the boy, still smiling, and the boy leaned back, desperate now to get away.

  “There is one she’s kept separate. Over that ridge, out of sight,” he said.

  Carrick released him. “That’s the one. Thank you, Gavin. If there’s ever anything I can do for—”

  But the boy scurried away, probably already trying to forget the encounter had ever happened.

  Carrick mounted the ridge and dropped into a crouch behind a boulder. The cart that was housing the bomb would be guarded, of course. He’d have to kill the guards swiftly and without them ever really knowing what it was that was taking their lives, or Lillian would know, too. But Carrick had spent so long out in the wild with the Woven that he knew how to move like them, strike like them, and leave no trace. Except, of course, for the useless bomb he would leave behind. But no one would know about that until they tried to use it, and then it would be too late.

  Carrick waited until dusk. He stayed crouched down until he was almost a part of the rock, like he was growing out of it, turning to stone. He stared at his hands. He’d just gotten them clean again.

  Captain Leto strode confidently to the waiting greater drake, wearhyde riding clothes creaking, sliver epaulets flashing, and looking very much like a grizzled old Viking stepping forward to slay a dragon.

  “You want to check the cinch around the drake’s neck before you climb up,” he instructed. He tugged on the leather straps that encircled the drake’s long, lowered neck. They didn’t budge. “Nice and tight,” Leto said approvingly. “Next, you see that the stirrups are the right length for you. Then, just grab hold of the pommel and swing yourself up.”

  Leto mounted the drake and it squawked, shifting onto its thick hind legs and grasping the air with its smaller forelegs for a moment before settling back down. Lily took a reflexive step away and bumped into Rowan, who was standing right behind her. He steadied her and gave her a little push forward.

  “And you wonder why I never learned to ride one,” he teased quietly in her ear.

  “You never learned because you’re a big baby,” she whispered back. She felt him chuckle and elbowed herself away from his chest. “And since you never learned,” she continued accusingly, “I have to ride to the nearest speaking stone with Leto. You should feel horrible for abandoning me like this, you know.”

  “Oh, I do,” he replied, grinning. The drake flapped its talon-spiked wings, irritated at being penned in by the huge spruce trees. “Just horrible.”

  “It’s perfectly safe to come forward now, Lady Lily,” Captain Leto called.

  “Ha,” Lily retorted.

  “Leto is a good man,” Rowan admitted grudgingly. “He won’t let anything happen to you.”

  Lily took a step toward it, and the drake squawked again. “It’s not Leto I’m worried about,” she grumbled.

  “Who’s the big baby now?” Rowan said.

  Lily forced herself to stride confidently to the drake, even if it did look like a giant dragon with red eyes. She swung herself up behind Leto and found that although the drake’s neck was wider than a horse’s, the feel of it wasn’t so different. The drake’s hide was warm, which surprised her. She was expecting it to feel cold, like a snake’s.

  “Hold on tight,” Leto said needlessly.

  The drake lurched under her as it clawed its way up the trunks of two of the surrounding trees. She could hear the wood crack as the drake scrabbled with alarming speed up above the canopy of evergreens. Then she felt an undulation in the drake’s neck and heard the billowing sound of a sheet snapping in the wind as the drake’s wings made the first massive downstroke. Her stomach swooped as if she’d left it behind on the rapidly diminishing ground. The wings churned on either side of her, jolting Lily up and down and back up again. Then the pounding stopped abruptly, and they were hanging in the sky as if caught on a hook. Lily felt weightless as they began to soar.

  “It’s actually quite enjoyable once you get used to it,” Leto yelled over the whistling wind.

  Lily allowed herself to relax and watch the scenery fan out around her. After what seemed like only a few more strokes of the drake’s wings, she saw the mountain peak they were headed for—Mount Mitchell in her world, the tallest peak in the Appalachian Mountains. Somewhere on top of it rested a speaking stone.

  Leto had the drake bank, and it spun delicately on a wingtip. They circled the green peak, but the dense red spruce and Fraser firs made it impossible to see the ground. As they came around the hulking shape of the mountain, they saw that the eastern slope had fallen away, leaving sheer cliffs.

  “There,” Lily said, pointing toward the top of the ridge. She’d seen a brief glimmer, like a mirror flashing.

  The drake came in for a landing, its wings scooping backward and its talons extended to grasp the treetops. It alighted delicately, and then turned to climb down the tree trunk on all fours like a lizard. The huge spruce swayed and cracked under the drake’s massive weight, but thankfully, it did not fall.

  Leto dismounted first, and then helped Lily down. She went directly to the emerald-green speaking stone, already feeling the pulse and whisper of the hundreds of thousands of minds that were gathered and amplified inside it.

  “Are they haunted?” Leto asked, sounding uncharacteristically unsure of himself.

  “No,” Lily replied. She refrained from laughing at what was, to him, a serious question. “Although I can see how calling them haunted would keep them protected from vandals,” she added.

  “The voices,” he said, still angling his thick body away from the softly glowing stone. “They say the disgraced dead who didn’t fulfill their witch’s bidding are trapped inside.”

  “It isn’t true,” Lily said gently. “Speaking stones are tools for the living, not the dead.” Lily thought of how she’d tried to reach out to Juliet in the overworld after she’d died. “The dead don’t speak. No matter how much you beg them too,” she said in a gravelly voice.

  Leto nodded, accepting Lily’s answer. “She doesn’t deserve to die this way,” he said, switching topics. Lily knew he was speaking of Lillian.

  “I know,” she replied. She frowned, thinking of the pain she’d felt when she’d possessed Lillian’s body. “No one does.”

  “Can Lord Fall help her?”

  “She won’t let him.”

  “Stubborn,” he said with gruff affection.

  “Willful,” Lily suggested instead.

  Leto nodded and looked down in thought. “I guess that’s why she’s as good at magic as she is.” He looked back up at Lily, his expression hard. “Are you going to finish what she started?”

  “I am,” Lily replied, surprised to be saying it. “I’m just not going to do it the same way she would.”

  “Fair enough.” He nodded once, making a decision. “If her time comes before the battle, Walltop will answer your call.”

  “Thank you, Capt
ain,” she replied, sensing the gravity of his pledge. She turned to the speaking stone. “But hopefully what I’m about to do will make a battle unnecessary.” And maybe Toshi can save Lillian’s life, she added silently, keeping that thought to herself.

  Lily looked into the scintillating center of the speaking stone and placed her hands on its warm surface. Her mind dove into a fast-flowing stream. It raced green over the mountains, into the valley, and across miles of verdant land. Next, a blue haze diffused across her mind’s eye, and she jumped rivers and sped past plains. Yellow light pulled her up sheer, rocky heights, only to drop her down again into the red-tinged light of the baking desert and scrubland. Her mind’s eye sped over chaparral-covered hills buckled by earthquakes, and finally rested inside the milky white glow of the westernmost speaking stone in the chain.

  Millions of threads of light were gathered there. Grace had quite an army.

  She called for Toshi, whispering his name, and found a vibration inside the milky speaking stone. It was strong and clear and free. Lily focused on it, and felt his mind push back against hers, like a hand brushing away a tickling hair in sleep. She called him again, this time speaking his name with authority, and she felt recognition douse him like cold water.

  She asked: Are you still willing to be claimed?

  She couldn’t hear his mindspeak, not without claiming him, but she could feel his assent like a gift being given. She played the unique pattern of his willstone back inside her own and claimed him.

  Mine.

  Instead of seeing his memories, Toshi’s intense focus on what he was doing brought Lily directly into the moment with him. She joined his perspective and realized that he was struggling to save a life.

  Lily looked down at the hands that she now shared with Toshi. They were running over a set of smashed ribs. Blood foamed in the lung under them. Toshi looked at the face of his patient, and Lily recoiled inside his mind. She needed a moment to remind herself that she wasn’t looking at Breakfast.

  Red Leaf. He could teach Grace how to worldjump, she told Toshi.

  He’s dying, Toshi replied.

  For a moment Lily felt relieved. A part of her wanted to tell Toshi to let him die, but even as the thought tiptoed across her mind she felt a surge of denial from Toshi that was akin to hitting a brick wall.

  I can’t kill a patient, he told her. It’s against everything I’ve ever believed in.

  Of course. No, you must try to save him.

  You’re really here with me, aren’t you?

  I really am, she replied. Lily could feel wonder and elation skate across Toshi’s mind, but he quickly turned his focus back to his patient.

  His hands leaked magic as his willstone flared with ruby light. Lily stayed present in his mind, a silent observer, while Toshi dealt with Red Leaf. Toshi scrolled through Red Leaf’s many injuries. Lily deemed it hopeless, but Toshi managed to pull Red Leaf out of the danger zone in a few precious minutes.

  Toshi was the best healer Lily had ever seen, maybe even better than Rowan, although Lily decided to reserve judgment on that as she was usually unconscious when Rowan was doing his best work.

  “He’s stable,” Toshi said, slumping back in exhaustion. When he looked up, Lily could see Grace sitting on Toshi’s couch with a rapt expression.

  “It’s such a joy to watch you work,” she said. Her eyes flicked over Toshi appreciatively. “The heroic healer, fighting to save lives.”

  Lily felt Toshi’s frustration. “He’s stable, but he’ll need more care,” he said.

  Grace flicked her head to the side and two Warrior Sisters strode forward to take Red Leaf.

  “Gently,” Toshi scolded, but the Sisters paid him no heed. If they understood him, they weren’t about to take orders from him. “Tell them to be careful with him,” Toshi said to Grace.

  “Oh, I wouldn’t let my prize die on me now. Not after going through so much trouble to acquire him.” Grace stood and rubbed her hands together briskly. “I expect you’re tired. I’ll leave you to rest.”

  “Where are you taking him?” Toshi asked as Grace and the Warrior Sisters left his rooms. She didn’t reply.

  It’s okay. Breakfast can contact Red Leaf in mindspeak once he’s conscious, Lily told him. I’ll let you know where she takes him if you want.

  With Grace gone, Lily felt elation bubbling up in Toshi again.

  Did that really happen? Did you claim me?

  Yes. It was definitely one of the strangest claimings I’ve ever done, but you’re mine.

  Lily smiled to herself where she stood, thousands of miles away from him on a mountaintop. The difference between Toshi and the vast majority of soldiers she’d claimed recently was like the difference between sending someone a written note with a pencil that kept breaking and speaking to someone while you looked each other in the eye. As a mechanic, Toshi was capable of full mindspeak, and he was gifted enough that she could feel his presence in her mind as much as he felt hers. She should have been prepared for the intimacy of it, but it had been a long time since she’d claimed anyone with Toshi’s level of talent. He felt it, too. Conflicting emotions spun through him, and Lily realized that he was shy.

  Can you see everything in me? My memories? My desires?

  I could, Lily responded, feeling a little shy as well. But I try not to pry into the private thoughts of my mechanics. I’ve had a lot of practice getting out of someone’s head before they think anything intimate.

  She felt a creeping fear edge in on his happiness.

  There must be a reason you decided to claim me now, he guessed. What is it?

  There was no point in delaying. We want you to kill Grace, she said.

  Lily saw Workers land on Toshi’s arms at the very thought of murder. I can’t, he replied.

  I can fuel you. I can make you as strong as a god, and as soon as it’s done I could make you disappear. I’d bring you here to me, instantly. The Hive wouldn’t be able to catch you.

  More Workers flew in and landed on him. One took position over his jugular. Lily, I can’t. Don’t you think I’ve considered it? Since you left, I’ve made contact with thousands of rebels in Bower City. We all want Grace dead, but we can’t do it. The Hive smells aggression before we can commit any act of violence.

  Lily could feel their prickly feet scaling up and down his skin, and she shuddered for him.

  Please stop thinking of it. Please calm down, she urged.

  Toshi unclenched his fists and took a series of deep, calming breaths, trying to rein in the frustration that choked him.

  I’ve thought about nonviolent ways of killing her, like poison, but the Hive tastes her food. I thought about designing a virus specifically for her, but I can’t get close enough to take a sample of her DNA. Did you know that the Hive doesn’t allow even one of her hairs to fall to the ground? Silly as it sounds, I’ve even considered leaving booby traps throughout the villa, but the Hive scours every room she’s about to enter before she goes in there. Everything you can think of, I’ve thought of it. The Hive is everywhere and they watch for danger in everything where she’s concerned.

  I’m sorry, Toshi, I should have known. Lily waited until she felt Toshi relax enough for the Workers to lift off his skin. I could still jump you out of there, she said. You’re mine now. You don’t have to stay in Bower City.

  She could feel how tempted he was. He wanted to join her so badly it hurt.

  I can’t leave, he said finally. Ivan and I are working on an antidote against the Workers’ stings, and some kind of pesticide to use against them. We’re trying to come up with some way to fight the Hive.

  Good. We’ll need a way to neutralize the Workers. I can protect my claimed from them for a while, but I’ve never been able to sustain it for long, she replied. You mentioned that there were rebels in the city. How many of them do you think would be willing to become my claimed?

  She felt hope swell in Toshi at the thought of a bewitched rebel force. Most are begging fo
r that chance. Some might need convincing.

  Let them know that they have one day to think about it. Tomorrow I’ll be back to claim as many as are willing.

  They’ll be ready, he promised.

  And, Toshi, there’s one more thing.

  What is it?

  Someone who needs healing. She may be past even your help, but I’d like you to try.

  Have you touched her? Can you show me her sickness? he said, every inch a doctor again.

  Lily passed along what she’d seen when she tried to help patch Lillian up enough to keep going.

  It’s bad, he said. If I don’t get to her soon, she’ll die.

  But could you help her?

  I could do more than help. I could cure her, but it would have to be soon.

  I’ll get you here, Lily promised. Somehow, I’ll get you here.

  Her heart lifting, she cut off the connection with Toshi. She turned to Leto, who was watching her from a respectful distance.

  “Did it work?” he asked, trying not to sound too eager. She could feel the rest of her coven waiting for a response as well.

  “Yes and no,” she replied. “Assassinating Grace isn’t an option, but I think I’ve found us a rebel army inside the city. And I think I’ve found a way to help Lillian.” She looked at the lowering sun. More time had passed than she’d thought.

  Leto mounted the drake and reached down to give Lily a boost. “That sounds like a very productive sojourn to me,” he said, visibly happier. Lily could tell he cared deeply for Lillian.

  She climbed up behind him, trying to hang on to what hope she could, and not think of the thousands of rebels who would most likely be the first to die when the war began.

  “He’s awake,” Breakfast said. His eyes closed as he made contact with Red Leaf. “Grace is there with him.” He frowned. “She’s asking about spirit walking.”