by Cheree Alsop
“Take off your goggles,” Zyla whispered.
I was reluctant to do so. Until that moment, I had just been another member of the crowd. I knew that once they saw whatever I was, there would be no going back.
I closed my eyes, let out a slow breath, and pulled the goggles from my face. Zyla’s hand slipped into my free one. Her touch made me open my eyes and blue light flooded the room.
Gasps and cries of alarm filled the area. People at the other end crowded forward to see what they were missing. Those closest to me backed up.
“Don’t be afraid,” Captain Dawes said. His reassuring smile lifted his white mustache. “Orion, take off your shirt.”
“Is he going to burst into blue flames?” one of the closest men asked as he inched away.
“Maybe we’ll all burst into flames,” the woman next to him said.
I ignored the sensation of being stared at like a freak and pulled my shirt over my head. The shock from the gathering came in a fresh wave.
“The nine stars,” someone said.
“He’s got the points of Orion,” another shouted.
When I looked down to see the metallic tattoo, my blue gaze reflected off the circles and made them glow.
The talking that erupted was a mixture of threats and fear combined with awe and confusion. Nobody crossed the space that separated us from the crowd. The distrust I saw on many of the faces ate at me. I lifted my shirt to put it back on.
“You called him Orion.”
Torque’s voice carried easily over the crowd even though he didn’t raise it. The words had a silencing effect on the disgruntled gathering of Revolters. They calmed enough to let him speak.
“You called him Orion,” he repeated quieter. It was more of a statement than a question.
“That’s his name,” Captain Dawes replied. He looked at me. “The only one he’s given me.”
I answered the unspoken question. “It’s the only one I know.”
“Where are you from?” a woman asked.
I pushed away the urge to duck under the intense scrutiny of the audience. Instead, I met her gaze and answered simply, “I don’t remember.”
A man close to me snorted. “Lucky.”
“What if he’s from the royals?” someone called out.
Other arguments rose.
“I’m not,” I replied.
“Can you prove it?” This question came from a young woman a few rows back. She held a young baby close to her chest and watched me with wide eyes. I couldn’t tell if fear or hope was stronger in her gaze.
I wanted to reassure her. As farfetched as the captain’s plan to make me some sort of leader in the rebellion sounded, it was the look on her face that convinced me. They needed something to hold onto. She needed a promise that her baby wasn’t going to grow up in a world as dark and dangerous as the one in which she lived. Maybe I could give her that if nothing else.
“They shot me,” I said. A few chuckles sounded from the crowd. I lifted my shoulder to bring attention to the row of stitches Zyla had put there. “They beat me. Since I came to chained in a cage in the bottom of a Solariat ship, I’ve been running for my life.” I looked at Zyla. “If it wasn’t for Captain Dawes’ niece, I would have drowned in those chains.” She gave me a small smile. I turned back to the crowd. “I may not remember where I’m from, but I was taken in by the crew of the Circinus and treated like family.” I pulled my shirt on and said, “From what I’ve been told, King Tolier’s reign is getting worse.”
“Much worse,” a man said.
“We aren’t safe in our own ships,” a woman called out.
I nodded. “We need to act before all citizens are branded.” I looked around at the faces watching me. “We need to act before your children wear the same brands as their parents, or worse, are traded to the other side like livestock.”
Nods of agreement and expressions of concern followed my words. I looked back at the podium.
“Captain Dawes is the man I choose to follow into battle.” I took a breath to calm my pounding heart and said, “Prophecy or not, I will fight at your side.”
Cheers went up at my words. Men and woman surged forward, pledging their loyalty to me. I hadn’t meant to be the figurehead, but Captain Dawes had known what he was doing when he introduced me to the Volters. With the purple sash around my wrist and the glow of my eyes, I had stepped into the role he needed me to take. I could only hope I was ready for it.
A commotion sounded outside the door. The percussion of gunfire and cries of pain followed, and then men and women in blue cloaks stormed into the room.
The head constable’s gaze locked on me. His eyes widened at the sight of my glowing eyes. “That’s him! Grab him!”
I pulled my goggles on as the enforcers swarmed through the crowd. Screaming, yelling, and jostling Revolters surged around us. Terror showed in Zyla’s gaze.
“Orion, run!” she said.
But one of the constables had grabbed the woman with the tiny baby. The child mewled when she winced at the press of the blade against her throat.
“Come with us and no one will get hurt,” the constable said.
I held up my hands to show I was unarmed. “I’ll come with you. Let her go.”
“We’ll let her go after we cuff you,” the constable replied.
I gritted my teeth at the triumph in his voice.
“Orion, no!” Zyla said.
I glanced at her. “Sneak out of here,” I whispered as the other enforcers made their way toward me. “Hide.”
I could see how much my request ate at her, but she nodded and slipped through the crowd to the doors at the far end. My hands were wrenched behind my back and fastened tighter than I thought was necessary, but seeing Zyla escape eased some of the tension I felt.
The constable shoved me toward the door they had stormed through and growled, “I hope you’re worth all the trouble of monitoring every ship at this Gathering.”
“Who’s looking for me?” I asked.
“King Tolier,” the woman on my other side replied.
I stumbled on the stairs and fell against her. Both enforcers grabbed my arms and pulled me up roughly.
“Walk,” the first constable barked.
I bowed my head and pretended to be cowed as I tightened my hold on the small key I had pulled from the pocket of the woman’s cloak.
I glimpsed Zyla and several of the other Volters following me through the crowd. As much as their apparent plan of a rescue would be welcome, I needed more information on why I was being searched for. It seemed like a lot of work for someone who barely had a hand in bringing down a ship or two.
“Is King Tolier here?” I asked.
The first constable glanced at me. “Perhaps, but I doubt you’ll be given the pleasure of meeting him.”
“Altair is waiting,” the leader told me. “We’ll get the price for your head, along with the hefty bonus of having your body still attached to it.”
“That’s nice,” I said wryly. The name Altair struck a chord, but I couldn’t think of why it was familiar.
The woman chuckled. The man glared at her, then me. “I may be heavily considering ignoring the bonus.”
I smothered a smile at the weak threat. The constable was already mad enough. I didn’t want to goad him into doing something we would both regret. Or at least I would regret. He looked a little eager to use the blade he carried.
“Why me?” I asked.
“Your eyes glow,” the man said in curt tones.
“I ate an orb when I was younger,” I said.
The woman laughed until the man’s glare made her stop.
“You’re the leader of the Revolters,” the man said.
“It’s a newly appointed position,” I replied.
My hope that it would be a routine questioning was snuffed out when he replied, “King Tolier’s oracle predicted you would be here. This is the first Gathering in history the King has ever attended. It’s an honor.�
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I couldn’t help staring when I asked, “The King has an oracle? I thought the last one died.”
“A new one surfaced and pledged himself to the King. No one can threaten his throne if he knows where to stop the menace before it starts,” the constable replied smugly.
They escorted me through the aisles toward the far end of the vast Gathering ship. As they shoved their way past the crowds of people, I noticed the groups becoming thicker. The constables paused near one aisle and had to turn and take another because the congregation was so thick. I caught glimpses of purple in the audience. The realization hit me that Captain Dawes was using his people to steer our progress.
The constable’s frustration became noticeable as our attempts to push through to the waiting ship were thwarted by densely packed crowds.
He finally shot me a narrow-eyed look. “This is your doing, isn’t it?” he growled. He pulled the gun from his holster and fired it into the air. “The next person, be it man, woman, or child, who steps in my path will be shot,” he shouted.
Several gazes darted my way. At their questioning looks, I nodded. I wasn’t about to let any of them fall for me, especially when I had no idea why the oracle wanted me in the first place.
The men and women in purple grudgingly cleared a path. I heard whispered reassurances and vows as I walked by, but the constable’s glares stopped those as well. I wasn’t the only one aware that he was perfectly ready to use his weapons should the need arise.
Those who fell back followed in our wake. The constable seemed content to let them do so as long as they kept the peace. But I could feel the tension in the air. If I stepped on the waiting ship, the people would rise up. Individuals would be hurt or killed. My thoughts raced, but I didn’t know what to do. As much as I was reluctant to go where the constable wanted me to, I refused to let strangers die on my behalf.
At least if I was the one who fought back, I would be the only one who suffered the consequences. My muscles tensed. I had taken advantage of the jostling from the crowd to slip the key into the manacles. I was fairly certain I could get the gun from the constable before he shot me, but his partner’s sword was another matter. I could only hope I had won her over enough to avoid an immediate stabbing. It felt like a lot of trust to place in a few joking words.
“We found him, your Grace,” the constable said.
“Finally.”
The single word chased any thought of escape from my mind. I lifted my head and found myself looking into the loathing gaze of the man who had destroyed my life. One glance into his dark green eyes brought everything back.
My sisters shouted across the formal dining table.
“You knew I loved him!” Despoine screamed with tears running down her cheeks.
“You love everyone!” Persephone shot back. Her dark hair was a tangle of locks that failed to hide the circlet across her brow. Her hands were clenched into fists at her sides and her eyes sparked with anger.
“But he said he loves me!” Despoine wailed. She shook her head and her golden tresses swayed like the manes of the horses she loved so dearly.
“You are so naïve,” Persephone replied. I heard the catch in her voice and knew that the mistake she had made hurt her as much as the pain in Despoine’s eyes, but she would never admit it. She was always the most stubborn of us.
Despoine shook her head, her eyes sparking as she lifted her chin. “You’ll never win. Altair loves me. He told me so. Did he say the same to you?”
Persephone didn’t answer. I could tell by the way her gaze fell what that answer had to be.
I rose from the table. “That’s enough. What would Father say if he found you fighting over this man? He’ll kill him to keep the peace. You know it’s true.”
Father loved peace above all else. The truth of my words silenced my sisters and they went their own ways; I wish I could have seen what would happen next. I could have saved us all a great deal of pain if I had only known.
A noise awoke me later that night. I followed the soft shushing sound of slippers across the marble floor and up the stairs to the battlements. The sight of Despoine in her white hooded cloak caught me by surprise.
“What are you doing?” I asked.
“Orion, shush!” she whispered. She hurried back to me. Excitement gleamed in her eyes. “I’m meeting Altair. He promised to take me away tonight.” Her cheeks glowed with the luster of her smile. “We’re to be married!”
As much as I didn’t like the thought of my sister eloping, I couldn’t deny the happiness I saw in her gaze. “Are you sure about this?”
She nodded quickly. “He said he would meet me up there.” She pointed to the edge of the battlement. “It’s where we met the first time.”
“Romantic,” I replied.
She nodded again. A flush of red colored her cheeks at being caught, but she grabbed my hand. “I’m so glad you’re here. You can tell Father not to worry.” A sheen of sadness crossed her gaze. “And please beg Persephone to forgive me. I don’t want to hurt her, I just….”
“You just want the happiness you deserve,” I finished.
Despoine gave another nod, her lashes lowered.
I couldn’t help the swell of brotherly pride that filled my chest. “You deserve to be happy,” I reassured her. “I’m glad Altair chose you.”
Despoine looked up at me. “Really?”
I nodded.
She rose onto her tiptoes and kissed me on the cheek. “I love you, Orion.”
“I love you, Despoine. Take care of yourself, alright?”
“I will,” she reassured me.
She took the next step to the top of the battlement, but instinct sparked at the back of my mind. I caught her hand.
She paused and looked down at me. “What is it?”
I couldn’t voice the thought I didn’t understand. Instead, I went with, “Let’s play a little trick on Altair.” At her confused look, I held out my hand. “Give me your cloak. Let’s see how well he knows his bride to be.”
Fortunately, it didn’t take much cajoling for my sister to hand over the white hooded wrap. She had always trusted me. Using that trust to ensure she was cared for felt like the right thing to do. She stood with uncertainty as the breeze at the top of the battlement toyed with the hem of her favorite satin blue dress; she gave me a worried smile.
“Stay here,” I whispered with an answering smile that I hoped was mischievous enough for the situation before turning away. Not quite sure of what I was doing, I fastened the cloak around my neck and pulled up the hood. Fortunately, it was deep enough to conceal my face. I hoped that the battlement would also hide my height if Altair was below.
I glanced back at Despoine. Merriment showed on my little sister’s face as she watched me reach the end of the walkway. Aware that I was making a fool of myself, I cleared my throat and tried to sound like her.
“Altair, are you out here?”
The wall below me fell away into darkness to my right. The sound of the sea waves crashing against the cliffs was muted at that distance, though the tang of salt and the smell of brine that would forever remind me of home drifted through the air. Below and to my left lay the practice yard, but it was uncharacteristically bathed in darkness despite the torches that were supposed to burn constantly for security. The moon was hidden by clouds to the point that the entire training yard was cloaked in shadows. I made a mental note to tell Father of the breach of protocol. The thought that Altair may have put them out in order for him and Despoine to escape lessened my trepidation.
I raised my voice to a higher pitch and called out, “Altair, have you abandoned me?”
A soft giggle sounded behind me from Despoine as though she couldn’t help herself.
I was about to tell her she was going to blow my cover when my eyes caught movement below. I leaned further over the wall and pulled the hood of the cloak forward to ensure that my face remained hidden.
“Is that you, Despoine?” a vo
ice called up.
“That’s him!” my sister squeaked behind me.
“What was that?” Altair asked.
I cleared my throat. “Oh, um, nothing. It’s me, my darling.”
Despoine giggled again. I hoped we were high enough up that Altair couldn’t hear. He stepped into the faint light cast by the moon over my shoulder.
“I’m so glad you’re here,” he said.
Earnestness showed in his dark gaze and the relief in his voice made me second-guess my decision to trick him. I was about to throw back the hood of the cloak and reveal my deception when the clouds drifted beyond the moon and its light spread across the ground.
Nine archers knelt with their bowstrings taunt and arrows aimed at my chest. One of them was female. The breeze caught long dark tresses and made them flutter like living shadows.
“Now,” Altair said with no inflection to the word.
Bowstrings thwacked and the arrows hummed as they were loosed into the air. The first one struck me with such force that I stumbled backwards. The second and third followed quickly behind. The sensation of suffocating made me feel as though I was drowning. The rest of the arrows hit home in quick succession. The last one turned me so that I looked down at my sister.
A squeak of fear sounded from her. I wanted to reassure her, to hide the harshness of reality from her innocent eyes, to erase the nightmare that had come to life, but my strength was quickly failing. My legs buckled. She held out a hand. I reached for it, but stumbled back onto the battlement. Before a word could escape my numb lips, I felt myself fall over the edge.
“I’m sorry, Orion,” were the last words my sister said to me before I plummeted into the hungry waves below.
I blinked and found myself on the deck of the Gathering ship once more. My legs betrayed me and I fell to my knees. “H-how?” was all I could force out.
Altair’s dark green eyes narrowed. “The circular irony of fate,” he replied. “Your heroics may have saved your world back then, but I will finish what I started.” His eyes sparked. “I killed you once. Time to die again.”
He lifted the gun he held and squeezed the trigger, but the gun exploded before it could fire. Altair grabbed his hand with a shout of rage and chaos broke out.