Phoenix Heart: Episode 4: Rope Worker

by Sarah K. L. Wilson

  Please, I thought. Please.

  She shook her head. “If I’m luck, then I’m bad luck. Look at Mama.”

  Her voice broke and she doubled over gasping to breathe. She kept looking and looking at her mother’s body. She needed family right now. She needed me.

  I stumbled another step.

  And then something slammed into me, pinning me against the rock. Feathers that weren’t feathers brushed against me and I felt like I was choking on something – something that wasn’t air, that wafted off the Stryxex like frigid smoke.

  I gasped, clawing against it, fighting to see.

  The person sitting on the back of the Stryxex was familiar – one of the Dark Riders. As my eyes widened, he yanked a leather cover over his nose and mouth, obscuring his features, and then he barked something in an unfamiliar tongue.

  “Take her,” Lady Lightland said, shoving a sobbing Mally at him. She seemed shaken. Maybe losing her guard and bringing up some kind of dark magical creatures hadn’t been in the plan.

  He reached for her, tugging her into place behind him on the back of the dark bird that wasn’t a bird.

  I reached for her, fighting at the press of the bird, but I was pinned to the rock by his heavy body and all my struggles did was draw a furious squawk from the Stryxex.

  “We need to fly,” Lady Lightland said. And then she disappeared from view. I couldn’t see anything but feathers and sky and Mally squashed up against the Dark Rider. But the other Stryxex must be here to carry Lady Lightland.

  Mally twisted to look back at me.

  “I’m sorry, Sersha,” she said thickly. “But you have to stop chasing after me. It’s better this way. I don’t want you to die, too.”

  I lifted my one hand, signing a no, signing that she needed to stay with me, but she just shook her head.

  “Don’t follow me,” she said and then I was smashed harder against the wall and I had to shut my eyes against the flap of feathers.

  Pain filled me and added pressure. I couldn’t breathe. I couldn’t breathe. Feathers pushed and shoved and scraped against my face and arms.

  And then suddenly they were gone, and I fell to my knees on the rock, heaving in great breaths.

  Hands hauled me upward and I looked into Judicus’s wide eyes and open mouth.

  He shut it with a click.

  “Are you hurt?”

  I shook my head. I was covered in cuts and bruises but nothing that should slow us down.

  “She’s gone,” he said, snapping his head toward where the Stryxex were winging their way upward. His expression was just as miserable as I was sure mine was.

  A ball formed in my throat. I couldn’t seem to swallow.

  Gone. Again.

  So soon.

  “And we can’t stay here, either,” Gundt said from behind Judicus. He wasn’t looking at us. His eyes were looking out in the distance.

  I followed his gaze to where the white sails I’d seen before had grown larger.

  He pivoted, looking in another direction and I followed his gaze to realize that we were hovering above shallow water now, almost to the shore I hadn’t realized was here.

  “Shore?” Judicus said in shock. “That should be miles away still.”

  “An island, I think,” Gundt said grimly. But he wasn’t looking at the island. He was looking at the stone creatures silently moving across the land. “How do you stop stone?”

  He turned to meet my eyes and I shook my head with him. I didn’t know. And I’d lost my cousin again – and my aunt. And I just didn’t know what to do. I felt my heart curling up tight, forcing out everything but that lonely, solitary sadness.

  I’d lost them both.

  I’d failed again.

  Chapter Eighteen

  “Well, if you can find the animus in it – the life force – that can help,” Judicus said calmly. How was he calm right now? “Then it’s a matter of disabling it. It would have been helpful if the shrine had remained intact. There might have been inscriptions to explain or something. These creatures are old. Their magic is ancient. I can feel along it if I try, but it ...”

  His words trailed off and his brow furrowed as he watched behind us, clearly trying to piece out the puzzle of how to follow these trails of magic. It was as if he hadn’t even noticed that the rocks around us were falling apart. The big chunk Lady Lightland had been standing on broke apart from the rest and tumbled free, followed by scattered smaller pieces. The chunk we were on rocked on whatever supported it from underneath.

  Aunt Danna fell with the rock. My breath caught in my throat, grief searing across me like fire.

  She wouldn’t be buried properly. She wouldn’t be laid with our ancestors in the old Landsfall graveyard. It wasn’t right.

  Gundt gripped our shoulders and drew us into the dip in the rock that was like a worn alcove.

  “Sunset must be almost here,” he murmured, watching the sky.

  “... what they are or why they would lift the island up, is anyone’s guess. Perhaps it was just above them,” Judicus said. He was still puzzling out the mystery of the magic. “Maybe they lifted it by accident.”

  “Perhaps we should turn our minds to escape,” Gundt said pointedly.

  Judicus flashed him a look. “What do you think I’m doing? The only way to stop this is to figure it out and cut it off at the source. What might these rock creatures do if they walked over a village like Sersha’s?”

  I swallowed. I hadn’t thought of that. I’d been so focused on trying to get to safety that the thought of what else these magical things might do had simply not occurred to me.

  Gundt sighed. “Okay, rope worker. You think of that and we’ll try to find a way to escape. “Sersha, can you – ”

  His words cut off as the sun went down and from our hearts, two phoenixes hatched. I wasn’t looking at his. I only had eyes for Kazmerev. He unfurled from my heart in a puff of inky smoke – the scent of it acrid and stinging. I’d never seen him like this.

  I could barely see his bright feathers, they were so shrouded in smoke, never seen his bright eyes hold so much fury.

  Little hawk.

  I wrung my hands.

  “No time for that. We need to fly before there’s nothing left of this rock,” Gundt said. “Come on, Judicus, you can ride with us.”

  He started to tug at Judicus but the ropeworker shrugged him off, eyes distant as he focused on the faraway problem. Was he still spinning ropes to try to see his way to the heart of these stone creatures’ lair? “I’ll fly with Sersha and Kazmerev.”

  Gundt grabbed him again, firmer this time. “Judicus Franzer Irault.”

  That got Judicus’s attention. He froze at the same moment that the rock holding the wall beside us crumbled away, leaving us with pinwheeling arms, struggling to keep our balance as the small fragment of rock we were left standing on jostled and heaved. Whatever bore it was moving at speed and beneath us, the dark world blurred.

  “You ride with me,” Gundt said firmly, and – still gripping Judicus’s arm – he leapt.

  Huxabrand unfurled under them, scarlet and bright, her gilded tailfeathers flashing at us as she plunged upward.

  And that left Kazmerev and me.

  I swallowed. I knew he was angry. I knew I couldn’t make it up to him. I knew I was completely guilty. That I should have trusted him and trusted that he knew what he was doing with Gundt and Huxabrand. I swallowed nervously as I fought to keep my footing on the rocking bit of stone.

  I didn’t want to leave you. I didn’t want to leave you with this darkness on your heart. That was the worst of deaths.

  The stone heaved and I shifted my weight, trying to keep my balance and then it slipped out from under me and I was tumbling, tumbling toward the ground. I caught a glimpse of the earth beneath. My improved eyesight was a curse. I saw – far too clearly – how the earth below moved and heaved, rippling like the land itself was no more substantial than ocean. There were so many rock creatures swimmin
g across the ground that they looked as if they, too, were a sea.

  I was going to fall among them and if the ground did not break me, then their rock feet would trample me into paste.

  I just wished I’d had time to make things right with Kazmerev.

  And then – soft and light as breathing – warm feathers were under me.

  The soles of my feet scraped against moving rock backs as we suddenly shot upward. My heart was in my throat as one of the rock figures leapt like a fish into the air, nearly plucking my brindled phoenix from the air. He was smoke and shining, piercing light and the dusk of death.

  And then we were flying, shooting upward, soaring over and beneath us was a wave of moving stone and at its back the very surf of the sea battered it.

  I gasped.

  You can apologize now.

  I was so wrong. I was so sorry.

  You can tell me that you don’t deserve me now.

  I did not deserve him.

  You can remember, now, that I pledged my life and loyalty to you and that you did the same to me and that you owe me your confidences. You owe me your trust. You owe me better than what you gave.

  I did. I do.

  You can trust me.

  I do. I trust you with everything.

  His feathers flared a bright scarlet as the last of the black smoke disappeared from around him.

  Well ... okay then.

  There was a long pause and I realized I was crying. I sniffled, blinking back my tears. Forgiveness felt a lot like happiness.

  In that case, let’s go see how Huxabrand likes being puked all over.

  Chapter Nineteen

  But Judicus was not airsick – or if he was, he wasn’t showing it. He was riding behind Gundt on Huxabrand, his back to Gundt’s. The Flame Rider had tied his belt around the pair of them and it was a good thing since Judicus’s concentration was entirely focused on the sea and the rising tide of stone behind us. His brow screwed up in concentration and his mouth twisted into a scowl that almost made his thin face attractive.

  Don’t go thinking that. Judicus is your coterie leader – not a romantic option.

  Well, Huxabrand wasn’t a romantic option for him, either.

  I have not been entertaining such a thought.

  Huxabrand’s mental voice jumped in. Can the two of you not be quiet? The rope worker is trying to stop an ancient army.

  Kazmerev snapped his beak shut as if he’d been speaking aloud and was proving how quiet he could be.

  Sure, he wasn’t entertaining those thoughts.

  I won’t validate that with an answer.

  I said, silence. Huxabrand was bossier than her human.

  I didn’t want to be silent. If I was silent, I was going to have to think about Aunt Danna. If I was silent, I was going to have to remember that I’d watched her die and done nothing about it. But what could I have done? If I was silent, I’d have to remember that Mally thought it was her fault.

  We needed to go after her. I needed to make sure she didn’t have to grieve alone.

  But she’d told me not to come. She’d told me not to follow her. And besides, what if Judicus could really stop these creatures? What if he could prevent them from rolling over the countryside, stomping farms and people into nothing. I could only imagine the terror of that. Someone had to prevent it. And I couldn’t just abandon him if he could do that. And there was still the matter of the Stryxex trying to wipe all phoenixes off the face of the earth.

  Wait. What? Kazmerev said, stunned, but I didn’t have time to answer because suddenly Judicus’s eyes went wide, and a snarl ripped through his teeth.

  I turned to look behind us and saw two things at once – the tide was coming in faster and higher than any tide I’d ever seen, washing up over the rock figures, bubbling and swirling and foaming like a living thing. As I watched it rise, Judicus’s groan turned into the crescendo of a keening wail.

  And behind that tide the white sails I’d seen were racing toward us and up from their decks, three small figures rose toward us glowing bright in the growing dark of night. I peered at them, eyes squinting, trying to make out what they might be.

  Judicus screamed, ripping my thoughts away with the agony in his voice that tore through the air like lightning.

  Smoke and flames! Kazmerev cursed.

  Try being the one carrying him! Huxabrand’s voice dripped with irritation.

  Judicus screamed again – long and chilling – and then collapsed against the rope. Gundt swayed on Huxabrand’s back, struggling to balance a limp Judicus tied behind him. He twisted, trying to grab the younger man and hold onto him as Huxabrand spiraled downward in a controlled descent. We needed to get to them to help them keep from crashing.

  They were going to be trampled on the ground!

  Kazmerev raced toward them, chasing them, but as we descended I realized there was a good reason Judicus had fainted. He’d succeeded. Somehow, he had stopped this stone army.

  They stood, frozen in mid-stride, as the frothing tide receded.

  We landed beside Huxabrand and I leapt from Kazmerev’s back to check on Judicus. On every side, we were surrounded by high stone statues. They towered over me, taller than the Hog’s Head Inn, their animal faces carved in such exquisite detail that every tooth and whisker was plain to see. I gasped, feeling like a mushroom in a forest of redwoods. But they weren’t moving.

  We were safe.

  Safe.

  I helped Gundt untie himself and ran a hand over Judicus’s forehead. Had he given too much? Had he killed himself?

  “He tries to do too much,” Gundt said dryly. “He is not the only one who can fight.”

  He wasn’t, but he was the best. No one else could have stopped those rock creatures. No one else would have even tried.

  My heart was in my throat as I looked him over, but he seemed fine – just worn out.

  “Check him, quickly,” Gundt said in a tight voice.

  I settled Judicus in a comfortable position on the grass. We’d have to set up camp here until he could move again. It would feel terrifying to camp among these stone creatures – frozen or not – but I didn’t see how we could move him in this state.

  “Sersha? Can he be left for now?” Gundt asked, almost as if he’d forgotten that I couldn’t explain in detail.

  I risked a look up at him, but he wasn’t looking at me. His jaw was clenched as he braced himself, staring into the sky. I followed his gaze and gasped.

  Flying toward us were three phoenixes. Their Flame Riders were dressed identically and on their faces were identical looks of fury.

  “Here comes trouble,” Gundt said, pulling me up to stand beside him in front of Judicus. “Whatever you do – don’t tell them anything.”

  He must have been really rattled to have forgotten who he was talking to.

  He glanced at me, suddenly realizing what he’d been saying. He rubbed his chin awkwardly.

  “Just – just trust me, okay? I have your best interest in mind. I think I’ve proved that.”

  I hoped he was telling me the truth – though I’d need an explanation for his sister and this Greensleeves thing. I hoped Judicus would get his energy back quickly and Mally would be safe being used as a good luck charm for Gundt’s sister and that Kazmerev and I would be able to find her and save all the phoenixes. I hoped for a lot of things. And hoping always meant you had a lot to lose.

  Then hope in me, little hawk. I will never leave you. I will never betray you. Set your heart on that.

  And somehow, it was enough.

  ***

  Read more of Sersha and Kazmerev’s story in Phoenix Heart: Episode 5. “Grand Hadri.”

  ***

  Interested in what’s happening next and what other books might be available?

  Visit the author’s website for the latest news.

  www.sarahklwilson.com

  ***

  Can’t get enough Phoenix Heart?

  Read Phoenix Hope for more about
Kazmerev and Judicus.

  She's an armswoman looking for work. He's an enthusiastic young noble with something to prove. But an enemy lurks, determined to destroy them both.

  ***

  And please do leave a review! Reviews help other readers find these books and enjoy the story, too!

  ***

  If you loved Phoenix Heart and you’ve read all the available episodes, you might also like Sarah’s dragon books. Her bestselling series “Dragon School” is available in Kindle Unlimited, or you can save when you buy it in the box sets.

  DRAGON SCHOOL

  A disabled teen. An empathetic dragon. Their bond will save the world.

  TRY IT HERE

  (And if you’ve already read “Dragon School,” don’t forget the other series set in that world, “Dragon Chameleon” and “Dragon Tide.”)

  Behind the Scenes:

  USA Today bestselling author, Sarah K. L. Wilson loves happy endings, stories that push things just a little further than you expect, heroes who actually act heroic, selfless acts of bravery, and second chances. She writes young adult fantasy because fantasy is her home and apparently her internal monologue is stuck in the late teens

  Sarah would like to thank Melissa Wright & Eugenia Kollia for their incredible work in beta reading and proofreading this book. Without their big hearts and passion for stories, this book would not be the same.

  Sarah has the deepest regard for the talent of her phenomenal artist Luciano Fleitas who created the gorgeous cover art that accompanies this book. Without his work, it would be so much harder to show off this story the way it deserves!

  Thanks also to the Noble Order of Female Fantasy Authors who keep me sane – sort of. And for my beloved husband, Cale and sons Neville and Leif who are endlessly patient as I talk to them about bookish passions.

  And a HUGE THANK YOU to my patrons, Mike Burgess and Carly Salsbury for their support. I couldn’t do this without readers like you!

  Visit Sarah’s website for more information:

  www.sarahklwilson.com