by Dan Neil
The voices had calmed, except for the doctor’s. She was refusing to let the strangers in, citing her patient’s health—but then she was silenced. Keia gasped as a splatter of red streaked across the glass, followed by a weak cry and a wet thump.
No—
There was no time; the door was opening. Valiance glowed as Keia cast a portal and stepped through. She emerged on Sacrifice Road, a few houses down from hers.
As Keia moved toward her house, a voice from behind froze her in place.
Familiar and menacing, it asked, “Going somewhere?”
Keia’s posture slackened; she knew exactly who this was. Her hands fell to her side as she turned. “Lorinal—of course it’s you.”
Lorinal’s dagger was pointed at her prey’s heart. Her head tilted, and a cruel smile came over her face. “Oh, what’s wrong? Don’t tell me you’re in a hurry—I was planning on taking my time.”
Hoping Lorinal saw reason, Keia said, “You know, if you just let me leave, they’ll either kill me, or I’ll die miserably out there. You’d never have to deal with me again, and your grandparents would be avenged. You could probably even rejoin the division—isn’t that everything you want?”
The former soldier’s eyes were steeped in hatred. “Maybe that would’ve been enough before. But there’s something I want more now.”
Keia sighed, shoulders slouching.
Lorinal’s eyes bulged. “Shield at the ready! We’re going to have a real duel, Keia!”
Keia closed her eyes for a second. There was no bargaining with Lorinal.
Ziel was glowing as Keia readied her shield. They stared into each other’s eyes. Keia’s mind raced—time was precious right now.
Keia moved first; she pointed Valiance toward a flowerbed lining Diligence Square and blasted a gust of wind directly at it. A cloud of dirt and soil exploded in the air, dotted with petals and multi-colored stems. This drew Lorinal’s attention away for a single moment.
It was all Keia needed. She ducked down behind her shield and cast a portal with Ziel. She fell through, emerging directly in front of her house. Hands trembling, she reached for the door.
Despite having escaped Lorinal, Keia was in a panic as she entered 167 Sacrifice Road. Images of the attack’s victims were ingrained in her head. Walking through the darkened halls of a place that she so desperately wanted to call home, Keia had never felt such solitude; it coursed through her veins, filling her up and emptying her of all other emotions.
The world snapped into focus around her. There was little time if Gaheris wanted her. She had warned that worm, and he spat in her face. Now she had other plans. This entity was toying with her, trying to draw her out.
Keia hesitated. A thought struck her—she had worked so hard to get here, and now she had to leave. And Gaheris had worked so hard to keep her out—now he wanted her to stay forever.
She shuddered. If Genievon is vulnerable, imagine Carter and Aliya all alone in Greerwood. I can’t stay here; I’d be a danger to everyone. And I can’t run—not from this. I must face it.
The image of Aliya’s corpse standing in Greerwood flashed through her mind.
Come home, Keia…
Shaking her head, Keia peeled off her bloodstained uniform and adorned tight black trousers and a cream-colored tunic, which she fastened with a thick belt. As Keia gathered supplies, she thought about the wild lands and Greerwood.
Considering what she needed for the return trip, Keia was filled with a cold, dull sensation. There was no way she’d be coming back. She was nowhere near ready to die, but she had no choice; she would either die here or closer to her family.
Keia packed maps of the wild lands and Greerwood given to her by Carter and warm clothes, for winter never ceased in the cursed forest. Next, she grabbed spells for food, water, and coffee that refilled all on command. After a lingering moment, she grabbed her family’s photo and stuffed everything into a magical leather pouch.
Lastly, Keia grabbed the wand that Myrddin gave her. She considered asking Jisaazu to join her but thought better of it; it was unfair to ask such a thing. Nor could she ask Devin or Gilfried. Keia did not want to endanger anyone else—she had to face this alone.
Keia hastily scribbled a note for Jisaazu and placed it on a pillow. Throwing on a cloak, she considered her escape. Without mission papers, she couldn’t exit the gates as a member of the King’s Militia, and she was hesitant to cast spells with Gaheris searching for her.
Keia felt an incoming reach.
Devin.
She accepted.
‘Keia? Keia, are you all right? Where are you?’
Keia stumbled as she opened the door and left without looking back. ‘I’m fine; I promise. I’m glad you’re alive.’
‘Are you sure? You were right there—I…’
‘Are you all right?’
‘Yeah, I’m fine. We were all lucky; none of us were sitting by any of them.’
‘Do we know who did this?’
There was a moment of silence. ‘No. But Gaheris just sent out a militia-wide alert. The city’s going under lockdown soon. They said that you’re making a break for the wall.’
Shite—there’s no time!
Devin continued, ‘Is that true, Keia?’
Keia stopped and took a few deep breaths.
‘Keia?’
‘I’m sorry, Devin.’
‘Keia—whatever this is, whatever he’s doing, we can—we can fix it together, I promise, but we can’t do anything if—if—’
‘If I run.’
The silence was confirmation enough.
Keia continued, ‘These things, these horrible things that keep happening—it’s because of me. Mom and Dad, Ulrich, Axl, you…’ she paused.
‘You can’t just run away!’
Keia peeked out to see the road leading to the Nothron Gate. More guards were out tonight than she had ever seen, and they were on the lookout.
‘I’m not running away this time, Devin—I promise.’
‘You can’t—you can’t just leave me!’
Keia shook her head. There’s no bloody time.
‘If I survive this,’ she reached, ‘I’ll make it up to you. Promise?’
After a moment of silence, Devin replied, ‘You really have to do this.’
‘I do. I’m sorry, Devin, but I do. They’re out there alone. I—I don’t know what I’ll do, but I have to do something.’
There was another moment of quiet. Then Devin reached, ‘I love you, Keia.’
‘I love you, too.’
‘Please be safe out there. Please come back.’
‘Goodbye, Devin.’
Keia ended the reach. She pulled her cloak’s hood over her head and trudged on, still reeling from pain and a now-heavier heart. She shot into an abandoned alley and smeared her face with dirt, hoping to disguise herself.
Knowing that time was short, Keia weighed her options. She considered using the path that she and Devin had frequented in the underground; it was less risky but more time-consuming. As long as no one stopped her, going straight to the Kingswall was her fastest option. Then, it was one portal to the top and one down, and she was free.
The guards paid her little attention. She made it to the Nothron Gate, which was closed. Cursing under her breath, she turned to cast a portal, but she was noticed.
One of the guards shouted, “Who goes there?”
“I am Orena,” Keia lied. “I must leave the kingdom.”
“I’m afraid we’re locked down,” the guard responded. “I’m not to let anybody in or out. I’m sorry, ma’am, but after Gladios—well, the roads aren’t safe for a young woman traveling alone in these times.”
“But—the attacks! I must get to my mother so that she knows I am alive! I have to go. Please!”
The
guard’s expression softened, and Keia believed for a moment that the ruse would succeed.
“I’m sorry, but there’s nothing I can do. I’ll escort you back to your home.”
As he approached, Ziel began to lightly glow.
So much for stealth—fuckin’ hell.
Keia cast a portal to the top of the Kingswall. The guard’s face turned to astonishment as the peasant girl fell through the ground before him.
Keia landed on the stone parapets. Her heart sank before even taking her first step—before her was Gaheris, with a rather smug expression. Five masked men, dressed in black, accompanied him with their swords drawn. She readied Valiance.
“Going somewhere?” Gaheris sneered. “I thought you might try to leave. And on the night of the attacks, too—rather suspicious, if I do say so myself. Especially considering you were about to head north—as I suspected.”
“You can’t keep me here,” Keia said. “My family is in danger. I need to get to them.”
“And I need the truth!” Gaheris replied with venom in his voice. “Did you honestly think that I’d let you escape? Especially knowing what you know—you’re even more naive than I thought.”
Keia readied her shield. Gaheris rolled his eyes and said, “Oh, please—don’t tell me you intend to fight. Pathetic.”
Keia sucked down air, trying to hold Valiance steady. Her head pounded, and her limbs trembled. She couldn’t fight her way to freedom even if she were healthy.
Still, she said, “I intend to do whatever it takes.”
Spreading his arms, Gaheris said, “Bold words from a weak little girl! She’ll try to cast a portal—it’s the only spell she has. Grab her before she falls through. Be careful of her fire magic; the smoke might suffocate you.”
The five guards surrounded her. Keia nervously glanced at them but held her ground.
“This is your last chance to surrender peacefully,” Gaheris said. “Come with me and clear your name. Otherwise, your actions may be construed as treason. The king hates treason, Keia. Do be reasonable.”
“I remember asking the same thing of you,” Keia said. “Had you listened to me, those people wouldn’t be dead!”
“Careful, girl...”
The words exploded from Keia’s mouth. “Fuck you! I told you what would happen, and you didn’t listen! Now you want me to be reasonable? You’re a fucking joke!”
“My idea of a joke is a foolish, weak little girl trying to fight her way through five trained soldiers. This doesn’t end well for you, Keia. Give up now, or you’ll face even more severe punishment.”
Keia’s eyes flickered with defiance. “I’m going to save my family, and you can’t stop me.”
Gaheris broke into laughter as his charade fell. “You? Saving them? By Aion—you’d be better off dying here! If you had half a brain, you’d have turned coat, too. But you stayed behind like a stupid little girl—now you’re nothing but a loose end.”
“And what if I tell your men what you did?” Keia asked. “Won’t that make them loose ends, too?”
He spread his arms, a triumphant grin plastered on his face. “Tell them all you want! My secret police cannot betray me. I thought you were supposed to be smart! Did you truly think I’d come here to offer you a way out?”
Valiance trembled in Keia’s hand as Gaheris watched on, a smile forming at his lips. She readied herself for the coming fight. He still doesn’t get it. I’m not dying here.
She summoned her remaining energy and cast a lightning bolt that was blocked by a ward. The guards didn’t react. Keia felt her strength dwindle.
Gaheris pointed and shouted, “Fuck are you waiting for? She attacked me! Take her bloodied if need be!”
Before any of the masked men attacked, a portal opened above them—but Keia hadn’t cast it. From the portal tore a wind burst that knocked everyone off their feet.
Keia collapsed under the spell’s weight, slamming her shoulder into the ground. Gaheris’s wand flew from his hands and landed next to her.
She groaned in pain as a second portal opened next to her and a hand reached through. It was the only way out.
“DON’T LET HER ESCAPE! CAPTURE HER!” Gaheris shouted.
Keia snatched his wand and grabbed the hand. She felt an iron grip crush her wrist as she was yanked through the portal.
Keia was thrown ten feet and skidded on the dirt on the same shoulder. She cried out as her pain spiked. The world took a moment to come into focus. She was in Capital Forest, just outside the Kingswall.
An all-too-familiar voice assaulted her ears.
“Get up!”
Keia groaned and rolled over. Lorinal was standing over her, eyes bloodthirsty as ever. She tightly held her dagger.
The icy shock of panic drenched Keia’s veins. “You followed—”
Lorinal leveled the blade at Keia. “I said, GET UP!”
Trembling, Keia struggled to her feet. She stumbled a bit but kept her balance.
Eyes scanning every one of Keia’s movements, Lorinal spat, “You and I have a fight to finish, and you’re not escaping justice this time. I’ll even let you cast the first spell. Go on, then! Cast it, you murderer!”
Through gritted teeth, Keia said, “It doesn’t have to be like this.”
Nearly foaming at the mouth, Lorinal shot back, “Cast your spell, Keia, or I will!”
Keia shook her head. “I need to leave—my family, I—”
“I don’t care!” Lorinal said. “I don’t give a fuck about your family. You clearly never gave a fuck about mine! You don’t even remember them! So—”
Unable to contain the heat rising in her neck and cheeks, Keia said, “You’re wrong!”
Lorinal’s eye raised, and she took a step back. Clearly, she didn’t expect to be challenged like that.
Keia’s hands curled into tight fists as she continued, “You’re wrong, Lorinal. Mallor and Emilia LeBlanc—I loved your grandparents. I was only there that day because I begged Aleister to take the way home that went by their house. I wanted to see them. What I—what I did to them has played over and over in my head ever since. If you think that I’ve forgotten, if you think even a day has gone by that I don’t feel—” her voice cracked. Shaking her head, she said, “If you think that I don’t feel like a monster for what I did, you’re wrong, Lorinal. What happened to them is the last thing I wanted.”
Lorinal’s eyes were no longer fiery; instead, they were burning cold. A tear had almost formed in her glazed-over eyes. She wiped it away and sneered. “What’s it matter what you wanted? Don’t tell me that I should feel sorry for you. How you feel doesn’t change what happened.”
Keia’s shoulders slumped as she exhaled. “That’s not what I’m saying.”
Pointing the dagger, Lorinal snarled, “Raise your weapon!”
Keia dropped Valiance. “No. I’m not going to give you what you want. I need to get to my family.”
Lorinal’s lip trembled as she said, “And what about my family, huh? You think everything’s all right because you feel really bad about what you did? Do you honestly believe that’s justice?”
Keia heaved a deep breath into her lungs and said, “No. But do you honestly believe this is what they would want?”
As she clenched her teeth, Lorinal’s grip on her dagger tightened. “You don’t deserve to be here. You don’t deserve anything—yet everyone bends over backward for you, feeling sorry for you. You pretend to be a victim, but you’re the worst kind of predator—the kind who uses pity to manipulate people into giving you what you want. But me? I still had to fight and scrap and scrape for everything! No one ever felt sorry for me because I wasn’t as miserable as poor little Keia Atlos.”
“You’re right,” Keia said, heat creeping into her neck and face, “I don’t deserve to be there; so, let me leave. I’m not going to fight
you, Lorinal. I’m sure Oliver will take you back after I’m gone. It doesn’t have to be like this.”
Still staring hatefully, Lorinal replied, “You don’t get to decide that. This is exactly the way I want it. True justice—what should have happened when Ulrich took you!”
The words struck Keia like a lightning bolt. Something snapped within her, and red-hot rage filled her veins as she lunged forward and threw Gaheris’s wand. Stunned, Lorinal cast a spell, but Keia ducked beneath it and tackled her to the ground. Lorinal embedded her knife in Keia’s side.
No longer did pain or exhaustion bother Keia—with tears in her eyes, she pummeled Lorinal, screaming madly the entire time. Within a minute, Lorinal’s face was bloodied and swollen, and she wasn’t moving.
Eyes wide, Keia raised her fist to strike once more; however, upon seeing the state of her enemy, she relented.
Breathing heavily, Keia staggered to her feet. Hands trembling, she fumbled for the hilt of the knife protruding from just above her hip. She grasped the handle, sticky and wet with fresh blood, and cried out as the blade shifted inside her. Keia took a deep breath before yanking it free, extracting an anguished shriek with it. She ripped a handful of her tunic and pressed it onto the fresh wound, gulping down air.
Grunting in pain, Keia stooped down to collect Valiance and Gaheris’s wand. A chill jolted through her—Keia’s skin prickled as her attention was drawn back to a malevolent presence gathering within Lorinal’s body. The shadows swayed and danced to the direction of ancient whispers.
Blood puddled beneath Lorinal as she struggled to her feet.
“Stay down,” Keia warned. “Stay down!”
Lorinal leveled her dagger once more. Their stares met, and Keia knew there was no way out—wrath glowed in Lorinal’s eyes.
“Lorinal, please, don’t!” Keia pleaded, readying Valiance. “NO!”
A killing spell tried to form at the tip of Lorinal’s wand but never materialized. The Eternal Laws of Magic took effect instantly. Pink crystals appeared on Lorinal’s wand, and she trembled upon realizing her mistake. The hatred was gone from her widening eyes—now there was only fear as the crystals spread across her body, restricting her movements.