A Gathering of Souls

by Dianne Keep

Copia appeared next to the bed, a satchel in her arms. “The only reason your pendant has cracked during your power surges is because he has weakened himself.” She set the bag down.

  “But.” Bree’s eyes stung. “I can’t let him die.”

  “It’s not up to you,” Fara said. “He chose this.”

  “Your Excellence.” Feli raised voice echoed from the door. “She is resting.”

  “Move aside, Feli, or I’ll feed you to—” Osling stopped in the doorway. “You’re here?” His eyes widened at the sight of Copia.

  Shane and Copia blocked the path to the patio.

  Every nerve in Bree’s body tingled. Every muscle twitched. With each second, Khrisk was closer to death. And Ryne lay before her, dying. Her chest ached. She had no way of stopping any of it.

  “Let me pass,” demanded Osling.

  Shane and Copia didn’t budge. “I have my orders,” said Shane. “Bree will not be harmed.”

  “Captain Shane,” said Osling. “If you are him, I order you to move.” A vein in the Resh’s forehead bulged. A faint purple glow crept up Osling’s legs and covered his body.

  “We promise not to harm her,” said Ehre from behind the Resh. “You must understand how desperate we are. The sickness will spread, and all of Rysa will perish. Please.” Ehre stepped out from Fara’s rooms and onto the patio. “The girl is our only hope.”

  Shane glanced at Bree. She nodded. “I must check you for weapons first.”

  “Nonsense. You are…” Osling stepped forward but froze mid-step. He stared at Ehre as her alhor vanished from his body, retracting her shield so he could be searched.

  Copia’s hair swam with rainbows. “I can’t allow you to be anywhere near Bree until you’ve been searched.”

  The Resh held his arms out while Shane patted him down, removing several knives and a pistol. Ehre was weaponless aside from her Seyh magic.

  “You may approach,” said Shane. Copia and he walked backward and stood in front of Bree.

  Bree’s skin itched. A ray of light touched her cheek. The dark blue sky lightened with the rising of the sun, and with it, her alhor changed to gold, her hair to brown, and, she suspected, her eyes to green. “What am I?” She looked at Shane.

  “Someone very precious,” Keir Ryne said from behind. “Brother.” Ryne attempted to sit up. “We have to end this.”

  “Never,” said Osling. “I demand you heal him,” he said to Bree.

  “What makes you think you can demand anything from her?” asked Shane.

  “Feli,” Osling barked. “Bring Rhion and Nathan to me.” His eyes went back and forth between Shane and Copia. “Are you spies? Or did she bewitch you too, Captain Shane?”

  Shane’s stance relaxed. “We are her protectors. When she was discovered missing from Anthea, we followed her here, infiltrated your palace, and watched over her.”

  “Will she kill us?” Osling looked at Fara with love and worry in his eyes. “If my brother dies and the charm fades, will we also die?”

  “I would never kill anyone.” Bree crossed her arms. “You’re the one feeding people to devourers.”

  “Never? You’d never kill anyone. Are you sure?” Venom drenched the Resh’s voice. “I’ve seen what your kind is capable of.” He dragged his hands over his face. “All those men. Gone in seconds. Turned to dust.” His voice broke.

  “You attacked sacred land. Tyras did as he saw fit.” Shane stepped forward. “You defied the boundaries of the Changing treaty. The punishment is death. He was merciful not to destroy you all.”

  The fire. The ashes. Her father. Tyras of Ara. Bree sagged with loss. “None of this matters if Khrisk dies.” Bree’s chest ached as if someone sat on top of her. “We have to find them.” Unnatural pressure built on top of her stomach and legs.

  She blinked. She wasn’t in her body any more. Darkness enveloped the space. Hard and heavy things covered her.

  Somehow, her connection with Khrisk allowed her to be with him. She heard Bayan somewhere to her left. She was dizzy and cold. Khrisk must be bleeding.

  The connection severed. Bree staggered to regain her balance. Khrisk was so weak. His body crushed and broken, probably from a rock slide within the cave. Her body felt the trauma but healed itself. She couldn’t heal Khrisk from this distance while he was buried.

  “Khrisk’s buried under rocks. We have to go now.” She started toward the door. Shane held out his hand to stop her. “Move,” Bree said. “As my honsworn, protect me.”

  He nodded. “Certainly. We are leaving.”

  “No, you’re not.” Osling blocked them.

  Rhion, and Nathan walked onto the patio.

  “Ehre,” Bree said. “I have to find Khrisk and Bayan. They’re in trouble. I can feel it like I’m there with them in a collapsed cave somewhere.”

  Ehre glanced at Shane and Copia, then at Fara and Ryne. “The charm won’t hold with Keir Ryne in that condition. It’s best if we don’t try to restrain her.”

  “Traitor.” Osling spat in Ehre’s direction. “Rhion, encase Bree. She will not leave the palace. And do something with those two.” He motioned toward Shane and Copia.

  “Brother.” Ryne clutched his chest. “We can’t keep her. I’m already too close to death.”

  “It’s not the girl,” Ehre said quickly. “It’s the spell. Her power has fought it since Khrisk came home. Ryne isn’t strong enough to maintain it. I can switch it to a Seyh.”

  Osling closed his eyes. “You are the only one powerful enough to restrain her.” He opened his eyes and frowned at Ehre. “But I don’t trust you.”

  Bree wanted to run. She should care about Ryne dying, but every part of her was focused on Khrisk. He would be dead soon, and she couldn’t let that happen. She refused to lose another person she loved.

  “I don’t have time for this. I’m leaving now.” Bree pushed Shane aside.

  An invisible wall rose from the ground, surrounding Bree. She yelled at Shane to find Khrisk just as Nathan blasted him with blue fire. Shane fell to his knees. Blood gushed from the gaping hole in his chest.

  Copia wrapped one arm around Shane and mouthed something Bree couldn’t catch. It might have been, “I’m sorry.” In a blink they were gone.

  “No!” The scream tore Bree’s throat and she crumbled to the ground. “No.” She had just gotten them back. They knew who she was.

  They are the only ones. We have to find them, the girl cried.

  Muffled sounds bounced against the orb holding her prisoner. Ehre was screaming at Rhion and Nathan. Osling shouted at the Seyhs. Fara and Feli sat on the canopy bed soothing an infuriated Ryne.

  Bree’s invisible prison evaporated.

  “We’re going to transfer your link from Keir Ryne to Nathan.” Ehre approached. “Relax. It won’t hurt.”

  Don’t let them make the switch.

  “This isn’t right,” said Bree. She would not stay trapped in Stav forever. She stood and turned to Osling. “Do you want me to heal your people?”

  “Yes,” said the Resh.

  “Then release me. The more you fight me, the less time Bayan and Khrisk have. Your brother is dying because of this incantation.” She held up the amber jewel. The urge to heal Ryne sent power to her fingertips. She forced it back. “What makes you think I won’t also kill off the Seyh you attach to me? Free me and I will save them all.”

  Fara walked to Osling and touched his hand. “We need her. But not like this.”

  “I can’t.” Osling motioned to Rhion.

  The red Seyh stepped toward Bree as Ehre’s jumbled voice clouded the air.

  They’ll stop us. The girl recognized the evocation Ehre spoke. She’s trying to put us to sleep. I won’t let her.

  A gold shield rose around Bree.

  Khrisk. She had to save him. Copia was with Shane.

  Copia will keep him alive. She’s a healer.

  They’d find them later.

  “Khrisk will be dead soon.” Bree’s voice shook. “If h
e dies, I won’t heal your people.” Her instincts told her otherwise, but these people didn’t know it. She could lie to them just as they had to her. “Whatever your Seyhs try will fail.”

  Shock splayed across Ehre’s face. “I did my best, Your Greatness.”

  Ryne screamed. His body convulsed. “I can’t take much more,” he whispered. “Please, brother, release her.”

  “We’ll all go.” Osling went to the bed and hugged Fara. “Stay here. I’ll send word when I find Bayan.” He kissed her forehead. “Brother. I’m sorry.”

  “Do right, Osling,” Ryne said. “Find our boys. Then free her. Save our people.”

  Osling kissed his brother’s forehead. “I wish it were as easy as that.”

  Fara handed Bree the satchel Copia had brought. “You’ll want to change at some point.” She reached in her pocket and held out the silver and gold sash. “It was always yours.” She placed it on top of the bag. “You need to remember who you are, little star. For all of Rysa. For all the world.”

  “Fara?” Osling asked. “Don’t tell me you’re a traitor.” His face fell with disappointment.

  “You forget I am Feynean,” Fara said to Osling. She looked at Bree. “One of your kind lived in my homeland before the Changing. He taught our people many things. I was raised to believe in the old ways. I have seen the Light of Anthea.” Her violet eyes sparkled. “The other stars on our planet may have faded. But I will fight for the last light that casts out the darkness. I will fight for you so that the devourers will be banished.”

  Ryne groaned.

  “He won’t make it.” Bree touched his chest. “I’m sorry.”

  “Then heal him,” Osling roared.

  Ryne’s heartbeat pounded in her ears. “I can’t. Keir Ryne keeps the charm alive and me from knowing myself.” She leaned forward and kissed Ryne’s cheek. “Thank you,” she whispered. “For giving me this chance.”

  Ryne cupped her face, kissed her forehead. “I live to serve.” He dropped his hands. His body lay motionless.

  Ryne’s pounding heartbeat thudded in Bree’s head. She felt Ryne’s pulse. He was close to death.

  Khrisk.

  He was alone in the dark, bleeding out his life. “I have to find Khrisk. We must go.” Bree stuffed the sash into her bag and swung it onto her shoulders. She rushed past Ehre, Rhion, and Nathan. “Quickly.”

  She ran.

  Footsteps clattered on the granite floor behind her all the way to the stables. Nikki jumped her stall door and galloped toward her. Bree vaulted onto her horse’s back and grabbed her white mane. “Go.”

  The gates flew open to the first tier of the city, the second, and the third. The world blurred around her as Ryne’s heartbeat thudded in her mind, louder than any sound.

  Khrisk’s heartbeat joined Ryne’s the instant she exited the metal mesh barricades near the arena.

  North. He went north.

  At the river, Bree waited for Khrisk’s pull.

  Follow the river, the girl said.

  Nikki galloped on without Bree’s direction.

  At a fork in the river, Bree waited for the other girl’s direction. She seemed more connected to Khrisk somehow.

  Ehre rode up beside her. “Bree, are you all right?”

  Words could not express what she felt. “I have to find him.” She closed her eyes, hoping for another vision. Instead, the sound of the beating hearts began to fade. “No.”

  Bree verged northeast. The land was unfamiliar to her, but Nikki seemed to know it. Too soon, the trees became a dense tangle.

  Leaping off Nikki, she ran. Branches scratched and tugged at her face and arms.

  She could feel him now. His pain. His regret. She was so close.

  Blue flashed in the bushes several feet ahead. “Stop.” Nathan materialized.

  “Move out of my way. He’s close. I can feel him.”

  “I can’t let you stay in Rysa with Khrisk. It’s unnatural. You’re a—” Nathan’s words were cut off as Ehre’s purple glow encompassed her. Nathan’s mouth continued to move. He was saying things she needed to know.

  “Let me hear him,” Bree shouted. The purple bubble faded.

  Ehre stepped in front of her. “You can’t listen to him. He wants Khrisk and Bayan to die.”

  Bree looked at Nathan. “No, he doesn’t. He wants to set me free. I need to know.”

  “You let yourself forget.” Ehre came closer. Her purple alhor whipped about furiously. “You let yourself forget. I wasn’t powerful enough. Ryne can’t keep you linked to the charm much longer. But you must remember. No one can set you free but yourself.”

  Nathan threw a blast of blue fire at Ehre’s back. Bree spun around Ehre and caught the fire in her hands.

  “Any other Seyh would melt holding that.” Nathan threw another blast at her.

  Bree caught it and extinguished both spheres of flames with a thought. A simple thought. “I knew I wasn’t a Seyh.” The truth seeped into her bones. She lifted the charm necklace from her neck.

  “Stop.” Ehre touched Bree’s shoulders. “More than your life depends on that necklace remaining where it is.”

  “She’s telling the truth. Osling will kill her family if you go free. My life depends on you remaining captive.” Nathan rubbed his hands together. A ball of white light formed inside his palms. The heat of it made Bree dizzy. “But I’m ready to die to stop Osling.” His arms moved back. He focused on her.

  He’s going to kill us. The other girl was ready to release her power.

  Hundreds of thousands of Rysans would have their souls torn away by the devourers in the power plants. Countless more would die. Death spread out before her like a fog.

  Osling will lose his war with Anthea and Theodel. The conquered nations will rebel.

  A spark of hope flitted through Bree. She wouldn’t have to fight.

  No more pain. No more sadness, loneliness. There would be no more emotions she couldn’t bear to face. All the painful memories would be gone.

  She could be reunited with her family.

  Wait! the other girl screamed. That’s not how it works! She beat against the barrier between them. We can’t die!

  No more! Bree shoved the girl aside. I can’t take anymore. I don’t want to feel anything. I just want to be with them again.

  We won’t see them again if you let us die!

  Bree let her hands drop. How do you know?

  Rhion appeared behind Nathan. “Osling has ordered us to wait.” He slit Nathan’s throat. Red chains shot out from Rhion’s hands and plunged into the ground. The chains spun up a foot from Bree and clamped around her boots. “Stay here.” He vanished.

  “Ehre?” Bree stared at Nathan’s body. “Ehre, you have to help him.”

  “He’s dead.” Ehre walked to Nathan, pulled a chain off his neck, and returned to Bree’s side. Ehre’s palm cradled a pendent of a tarnished silver fox with bright blue topaz eyes, his Hollder.

  “Nathan’s right,” Ehre said. She placed the fox necklace around her neck, tucking it under her black robe. Several other chains rested there. “I know it.”

  Footsteps crunched the earth behind Bree. “Then set me free, now, before they get here.”

  “I told you. I can’t.” Ehre said three words in Seyh and Nathan’s body transformed into a pile of dust.

  “Where’s the traitor?” Osling sliced through a branch three inches from Bree’s head with his sword. “He’ll pay for his crimes.”

  “He’s gone. Rhion dealt with him,” said Ehre.

  “Too swiftly.” Osling sheathed his blade and looked at Bree. “Where are they?”

  His icy stare no longer stung her. Instead, the other girl bubbled to the surface. She was more than livid. “You find them,” she said.

  Don’t you ever think of letting us die again, said the girl.

  I’m sorry, said Bree.

  Pay attention!

  Bree forced herself to keep eye contact with Osling. Her words had to hold. She
couldn’t break out of the chains. What am I supposed to do? Bree was alone inside her body again. You can’t leave me now. Where are you?

  Osling’s eyes told her what she already knew. He would kill her before setting her free.

  He was her enemy now. She wouldn’t help him hurt any more people even if Khrisk died. She coughed, covering a sob. Pieces of her shattered as she listened to the fading thumps of Khrisk’s and Ryne’s hearts. They’d both be gone soon.

  Osling face turned a brilliant purple. “Ehre. Deal with this.”

  Ehre sighed. “This will hurt.”

  Hot pokers struck every cell in Bree’s body. She swallowed her screams and remained as still as she could, denying Osling the satisfaction of seeing her squirm. There’s no need to panic, she told herself, wishing the other girl would speak. I promise I won’t let us die.

  The pain in her chest magnified. Khrisk would pass on with Bayan and, despite herself, she wasn’t ready to let Khrisk go. She loved him too much. She wasn’t going to be able to let him die.

  “Enough.” Osling grabbed her neck. “Take me to them. Now.”

  “Find them yourself.” Bree choked on the last word. Her resolve was fading with every heartbeat crashing in her head. “Release me.”

  “Never.” Osling nodded to Ehre.

  The pokers resumed their fiery sting. Bree tried to count the seconds passing, but she lost track of time.

  All she knew was agony.

  CHAPTER THIRTY-SEVEN

  Pain swept her away. She was nothing, made of nothing until it suddenly ceased.

  Silver dust swirled in the air.

  The rising sun lit the powder, catching each speck, making them sparkle like crushed diamonds.

  Shouts echoed in her ears. Rumbles shook the ground. Men dressed in green uniforms hid among tall pines.

  The Alwire forest.

  Women and children ran along a trail. Sweat dripped into her eyes. She held something, it was brilliant and strong, a shield around her people. They weren’t going to make it.

  My people need me. I cannot fail them. It was her voice. It was strong too.

  The pain returned.

  Her muscles twitched. Her body shook. She was out of time.

  Khrisk needed her and she wouldn’t forsake him. She could shield him too.