The Allseer Trilogy

by Kaitlyn Rouhier

  Quills bristled, released. A rain of them descended and this time, Kirheen was prepared. She gathered her barrier tightly around herself, letting her power build and build. As soon as the quills struck, she let the energy surge, the quills rebounding. Several struck the beast, staggering it. It howled with pain, eyes wide and tail tucked.

  “This is my mind,” Kirheen repeated louder. She approached the beast, letting apprehension melt away as if it were a corruption itself. With what remained of her power, she focused on the ground. Great glowing vines shot from the earth, curling around dark fur, pulling it down with a strength that could not be matched. Up and over a ridged spine they coiled, tightening. The legs of the beast buckled, forcing its head to level with Kirheen.

  Vines wrapped around a snapping muzzle, silencing it. “I am not this corruption. I am not you,” Kirheen said. “This power is mine, but it doesn’t define me. I am not this malice.” She reached out a hand, stroking the dense fur of the beast. It growled, blue eyes watching. “You are what I make you.”

  She pushed her power against the beast, shaping it, freeing it from the corruption clinging like oil. Fur changed beneath her fingers, becoming soft and glowing, as pale and luminescent as the moon itself. The boundaries of the room changed back, mimicking the fur clasped between her fingers, swirling with color.

  A frantic blue eye closed and when it opened again, it was calm, a milky white sea. Vines uncoiled, loosening their hold on the beast. It rose and then settled on its haunches, eyes shining with wisdom. “Seems you are worthy after all,” the beast said, tone lighter, like wind whispering against her ears. “But what will you do with it?”

  In the space between them a hole opened in the ground, the shimmering floor oozing into the empty space to fall like rain, a waterfall of light and color. Kirheen approached, peering over the edge. Her power was there, a glowing center surrounded by a sea of lights, dancing like hundreds of fireflies. She looked back to the beast. “I’m going to save this world.”

  CHAPTER 21

  Lillana clung to Sampson, their pace sluggish as she helped him limp down the hall. He winced with each step, his breathing labored, sweat beading his brow. His skin was hot to the touch, a furnace pressed close as they hobbled towards their meeting with the Raven.

  She worried after her advisor – her friend. He was the glue holding her together as the world spun entirely out of her control. Without him, she wasn’t sure she’d be able to keep the city in one piece or her people loyal. It was a burden she shared with him and the thought of facing those challenges alone made her stomach sour. “Sampson…”

  “What is it?”

  “I’m worried. You’re burning up. Are you sure you’re well enough for this? You can rest here if you need to.”

  “I’ll be fine, Princess,” he said, not daring to look her in the eyes. A smile tugged at his lips. “Though I suppose it’s Queen now, huh?”

  “I don’t like it. You know I don’t like it. It was never supposed to be this way.”

  “Nothing is ever the way we intend, yet we’re here and, by some miracle, still alive. Don’t discredit yourself. You’ll make a fine queen, even with the challenges ahead.”

  “Thank you, Sampson,” she said. She shifted his weight, grunting as she lifted more of the burden off his leg.

  “I should not be burdening you like this. You should have one of the soldiers do this. It’s…shameful.”

  She smiled. “I do remember being a bit of a burden myself. If anything, you’re just paying me back.”

  He returned her smile. “If you say so, my Queen.”

  A small band of soldiers hovered around them, Garild and his dark-haired companion leading the way. Tension was a rope tying them all together. She could feel it, a growing unease forming knots, pulling tighter and tighter. The Raven was just outside the walls with half the city in tow. And he’d come with more than just mere demands, he’d come with threats. “What am I supposed to do about this situation?” she asked, suppressing the sigh that trailed her words.

  “About the Raven? He’s a damned fool and a zealot. I wish we could strip him of his wings, but it seems a bit late for that. One thing is certain – he won’t be happy until you’re separated from the throne, either by your own free will or by force.”

  “And you think I should just hand myself over to him?” she asked, eyes narrowed.

  “Gods, no! Not at all. I’m sorry, Lil. This is going to be difficult, no matter how we approach him. He was a humble servant to your family for years. He killed hundreds of people in your name, in the name of Zekar. And now, you’re one of the very things he fears, that he’s lived his life removing from this city. He has the backing of the people. They all feel betrayed, terrified. Their lives have been revealed to be a lie and they will fight tooth and nail to cling to the last shred of hope that things will stay the same. People don’t like change. It’s in our nature. Making them see reason is going to be challenging at best.”

  “We don’t have the numbers for this. The Seekers are shattered. What remained loyal to me are spread thin keeping the corruption at bay. Our soldiers are tired. If this comes to a fight, I don’t think we can win. He’s got half the city out there and we’re just barely keeping ourselves afloat in this place. We have to make them see reason. If we don’t, this was all for naught.”

  “We’ll find a way,” Sampson said, his bright blue eyes finding hers. There was pain there, dimming the edges of his inner light.

  By the time they reached the front entrance of the castle, Lillana was slick with sweat, her breathing as labored as the man she held. Sensing her discomfort, Sampson shifted away from her, steadying himself on one leg. “You can’t appear weak,” he said. “Not now.”

  She looked at Sampson, not as her advisor, not as the man that had saved her, but as her friend. He looked so weary, a dusting of hair covering his head and face, the wrinkles around his eyes and lips more prominent than she remembered. It felt like a lifetime ago that she had hated him, resented him. “I’ll make this right, Sampson.”

  He smiled. “I know you will. Now let’s get out there and settle this.”

  Lillana righted herself, smoothing the fabric of her dress. She ran her fingers through her tangled hair, making it as presentable as possible given the circumstances. She inhaled deeply, letting air fill her lungs until they felt fit to burst. Her exhale was long, slow. With a nod, she bade her soldiers open the doors.

  It was a gloomy day, the sun hidden behind fat, gray clouds. A cold breeze ruffled her hair, bringing with it the smell of the sea. Soldiers lined the stairs, shields and swords at the ready. Another group of them stood close to the gates, their apprehension palpable. Beyond the gate, she could see the Raven, the shredded tassels of his cloak lifted by the winds. He’d donned a mask, glossy black, an etched mimicry of the bird he’d named himself after.

  Crowding the street beyond were hundreds of people; commoners coated in mud, nobles in the darkest black, their clothes shimmering with each movement. A cacophony of noise rose from the crowd as she came into view, the cawing of birds, the flock of the Raven. Towering over the people were two wooden structures, trebuchets build with the intent of taking the castle by force. Her eyes followed the trajectory of where they might hit and her blood chilled. If those walls fell…

  “Do you see her?” the Raven cried, his voice carrying above the noise, calming the crowd. “Do you see your false queen? That is her standing before you, the blood of her mother still fresh on her hands, a curse floating through her veins. This is who would lead you, who would let her infection spread into this city and into these lands. What have you to say to these accusations, child?”

  She narrowed her eyes, bile burning her throat. She forced herself to swallow the rage smoldering like a hot coal in her throat, letting it burn deep in her belly. She’d need that fire for the fight ahead. “Dear people, I am glad you are all gathered here today. I am sorry there has been such silence, that you’ve been l
eft wondering about the fate of the royal family, of your very city. This has been a trying time, and it is time you all heard the truth of it. The Queen, my mother, is dead. Her mind had succumbed to madness, a madness that drove her to do terrible, terrible things to this city, to her own family, and to her own people.”

  “There are years of damage to undo and dozens of lies to pick through. This city has suffered under her reign, and I am saddened that I am just now aware of how deep this treachery goes. We are all victims here. What the Raven says is true. Power does flow through my veins, a power given to me by a woman that claimed it to be the vilest of curses, that had spent years painting the square scarlet with the blood of the innocent and guilty alike. We have all suffered, and now I’d like to set things right.”

  The Raven laughed. “You? You would set things right? A girl, born from a family of treacherous liars, would try to lead these fine people? This witch with her tainted blood would see you all strung up for the supposed crimes her very family committed. We cannot allow this,” he shouted, pacing back and forth before the crowd, arms adding dramatic flair to his words.

  A murmur spread through the crowd, virulent whispers slipping from person to person. She needed to silence it before it could grow, before it could become something more, something dangerous. “That is not true,” she said. “I have seen both sides of this conflict. I know there is so much distrust and fear. I know that you are all afraid of what this city might become, of what this world might become. I want to help us all through these changes, I want to right the wrongs that were done to you, to all of you, powers or not. This city is groaning under the bones of people wrongfully slaughtered. It is breaking under the tension and fear and misplaced distrust. Please, give me a chance. Return to your homes. Return to your lives. We will do everything in our power to keep this city safe. This will take time, but I believe in this city and in you all. I believe we can change the course of history for the better!”

  “Better for whom, your highness?” the Raven sneered. “Us, or those with whom you share tainted blood? It is Zekar, and Zekar alone, that can fix this place. Not you. Not the other false gods. We will raze this city to the ground. We will rebuild in the name of the one true god, a city dedicated to his glory. This city will shimmer like thousands of stars, a tribute to the creator you have forsaken. Hand yourself over, false queen. Hand yourself over to the judgement of the people you have wronged, of the people you have betrayed. You have but moments before we take the castle by force!”

  Lillana swallowed hard, her anger chilling into an icy fear. “They aren’t listening,” she whispered. “Stop this! This is ludicrous! The city is unstable as it is. We don’t need this unrest. Let us work together.”

  The Raven cackled and the crowd burst into a wall of noise, the cawing of birds filling the air. “Five seconds, little queen,” he cooed. “Five…”

  Lillana rushed forward, stopping in the center of the steps. The soldiers pressed tightly around her, stopping her advance. “Stop this madness! Please! There is a corruption in this castle. If you breach the walls-”

  “You are the corruption,” the Raven screamed, jabbing a crooked finger in her direction. “You!” He turned away from her slowly and faced the crowd. “Let us show this false queen the power of her people!” He turned back, shooting a hand upwards towards the sky, towards the castle. There was a loud crack and Lillana cried out as a trebuchet lurched into motion, a massive boulder streaking through the sky. The soldiers lifted her, pulling her back towards the castle. She could not see the impact, but she could hear it, the crack of stone on stone assaulting her ears. They placed her next to Sampson and Garild, forming a line of shields as a wave of people pressed against the castle gates. It groaned beneath their collective force, the wrought iron straining.

  “They aren’t going to stop,” Lillana whimpered. “I can’t make them stop.”

  Garild shook his head. “This is bad. There are too many of them. Even if we use our powers, we can’t stop them all. I’m sorry. We need to retreat.”

  “I’ve failed you all. I’ve failed you,” Lillana said, fighting back tears. Another crack, another boulder. She could hear the walls crumbling, the impact shattering stone and glass. If they fired another, what would they be forced to witness? What would they have to live through?

  She was losing herself in the noise, in the fear. It was overwhelming, drowning out her other senses. She closed her eyes as another stone was loosed, her hands clasped in her lap as she prayed silently to the gods, to all of them. If ever there was a time for a miracle, it was now.

  Screams arose from the castle, mingling with the bloodthirsty cries of those pushing through the gates. Sampson grasped her arm and she looked to him, to blue eyes reflecting her fear. “We need to retreat back into the castle. We can barricade ourselves somewhere while we formulate a plan, but we need to go now.”

  “R-right.” She stood and trembled with fear as the gate shuddered. A loud groan escaped the strained metal and then it gave way entirely, unleashing a sea of people, their anger clearly focused on her and her soldiers. “Fall back!” she shouted. “Fall back now!”

  Soldiers clustered together tightly, protecting them as they fell back into the castle. She rushed to Sampson, scooping his arm up and over her head, resting his weight on her shoulder. “I’m going to slow you down,” he said. “Let me walk on my own. You need to escape.”

  “Shut up. I am not leaving you.” Before she could turn towards the hall, something caught her eye. The people had stopped running, a sudden curiosity halting their progression. Whispers passed between them, fingers pointed towards something in the distance. Lillana pulled away from Sampson, pushing past a soldier so she could get a better view. “Oh gods. No.”

  Something dark and shimmering moved towards the mob, undulating waves rising and falling over the grass. It was mesmerizing to watch, the gentle cresting and breaking of a substance so strange it was both eerie and beautiful. She tore her eyes away, looking back over her shoulder towards Garild. He had the most experience with it out of anyone and she needed his guidance. “Garild, what is it going to do?”

  He shook his head, brow furrowed. “They breached the wall…I don’t know. It didn’t do anything to me, but that doesn’t mean it’s not a threat. We need to get inside the castle. It’ll be easier to keep everyone safe there.”

  Lillana clenched her teeth. “I can’t… we can’t just leave them out here like this. Those are people. My people.”

  “What is this, witch?” the Raven shouted, raising his mask away from his face. He looked towards the corruption, eyes squinted, his yellowed teeth visible as he sneered.

  Lillana shouted, as loud as her voice would allow. “Run! You can’t fight it! GO!”

  The mob looked stupefied, torn between fear and a desire to look upon the overlapping waves of corruption crashing towards them. Several heeded her words, turning their backs and fleeing into the city. But too many were rooted in place, their eyes wide, jaws dropping as they tried and failed to comprehend what was in front of them.

  She hadn’t realized she was moving towards them until Garild latched on to her arm. He tugged her back. “Lillana, no! You did what you could. We need to retreat.”

  It was almost upon them, creeping ever closer. The mob took a step back, while one brave soul holding a torch took a step forward. He jabbed it towards the corruption, waving the torch back and forth as if it were a sword. The corruption slowed. There was a moment of tense silence and then it sprang forward, coiling around the torch and up his outstretched arm. It washed over him, muffling a scream. His shape remained in the corruption for but a moment and then it melted away, leaving behind nothing at all.

  Panic ignited like a match, spreading from person to person, quick and deadly as a wildfire. Screams filled the air and the mob turned to flee, their numbers slowly leaking back out through the destroyed gate. There was no time to keep watching. Turning herself back towards the others, she h
urried to Sampson. “Let’s move!” she said. “Soldiers, with me!”

  Sampson grunted in pain as they took the first few steps and Lillana tried not to think about their sluggish pace. Garild and Isa were already moving ahead, the soldiers passing them by, their focus fixated on the encroaching corruption, the cries of the people still trying to make it through the gates. Glancing over his shoulder, Garild caught her eye and he must have seen the panic on her face. He turned back and jogged to meet her. “Let me help!” He slung his arm around Sampson and together they were able to nearly carry him, shuffling him along with as much speed as their combined strength could muster. Screams trailed in their wake, the sounds reverberating down the hall.

  “What the hell happened, Lillana?” Sampson asked through gritted teeth.

  She struggled to find the words for what she’d seen. “The corruption touched one of the people and… and I don’t know. He was just gone. There was nothing left of him at all.”

  “This isn’t good. If this is the threat we’re facing, if this is what it can do, this could destroy the whole city.”

  “Hundreds - no - thousands of people! We’ve got to figure out a way to stop it,” Garild added.

  Footsteps echoed down the hall, the sound of labored breathing and a muttered curse drifting to her ears. She forced them to slow, lowering Sampson’s arm so she could see who followed. The two Seekers that had been maintaining the barrier scurried towards them, eyes wide with fear.

  “Nobody said anything about the damned walls crumbling down around our heads,” Darik spat, hobbling towards them. Blood made a river down one cheek and Neela wasn’t in much better shape, her arm tucked awkwardly against her chest. “I’m sure you know already but the corruption is out, and it doesn’t seem happy.”

  “You’re both okay?” Garild asked, surprised to see them alive. “You couldn’t have avoided it.”