I looked to Gundt – still clutching his head as he lay on the ground moaning, and back to Judicus fighting five armed men now with his ropes, while more scrambled for weapons and a chance to find an opening against him.
The rope worker who had been tormenting Mally streaked past, hands held out as he joined the attack.
And for the first time in my life, I didn’t know what the right thing to do was. I didn’t even know what I wanted to do. I didn’t have enough hands. There wasn’t enough of me – and it had nothing to do with my voice.
If there was one person – other than Kazmerev – that I wanted to live, one person who had shown again and again that he was for me, it was Judicus. And to help anyone else, I’d have to turn my back on him.
“You can’t save everyone,” Refrento insisted, pathos in the one eye he had left. I couldn’t even look at the other one. He shoved me toward the temple where Mally had disappeared, “but if you can keep him alive, you can save the most.”
Chapter Twenty-One
The Grand Hadri was a heavy man.
But everything in me roared up like a flame to meet the challenge. Heat rose up, giving me the strength to heave his arm over my shoulder and half-lead, half-haul him toward the temple.
I stole a glance over my shoulder as steel met steel and saw fire blossom from Refrento’s hand even though his phoenix was dead within him. It roared through a pair of raiders and the soldiers behind them, catching the veil of the female advisor on fire. My mouth fell open, wondering why he hadn’t struck before, and then just as fast as the inferno had begun, it guttered out. He must only have so much strength with his phoenix dead. He dropped his hand, looking frantic, and then a blade fell and Refrento fell with it, clutching his throat. He was dead before he hit the pine needles.
Further back, a web of black ropes flung a soldier so far in the air he nearly hit a bird. He smacked into the cliff face and fell as heavy as a stone. I faced forward again, feet sliding and pulling with every ounce of strength that I had.
If only it were night. If only we had our phoenixes. What would happen to Refrento’s phoenix now? Would there be ashes clutched in his hand?
Was this what it felt like to feel your heart break? Was it this hollow, aching gap inside?
“I can fight,” the Grand Hadri said thickly. Whatever had given him the strength to speak against his enemies before was leaking out with the blood leaving a thick smear of gore behind us. “I can.”
What would we do when we got to the temple? I had nothing but my belt knife. I had no way to fight and defend him – and I was losing the fight against exhaustion. The Grand Hadri was twice my size and far, far too heavy.
Fear choked me, making my breath stick in my throat. I risked another look over my shoulder. Bodies littered the ground everywhere. The screams of the living mixed with the silence of the dead in a grisly tapestry. Dalissa lay on top of Refrento. Her head lay a pace away. I hadn’t even seen her fall. Duche Olliman was the last one standing between us and our enemies.
His hands splayed open as they charged at him and fire whipped out from his palms in rolling waves like a rope whipped in the hand. It splashed across a Stryxex rider, clawing both him and his bird from the ground and scorching them to the skin. The scream of the Stryxex pierced through me like a sword.
Another Stryxex screamed, diving from the sky with talons open. It caught Olliman by the shoulders just as I was turning back to look at our path.
I gasped as my vision was suddenly filled with a scarlet-stained Mally. Her shallow cuts were still bleeding as she ran out the door of the temple, freezing as she looked over the battlefield in front of her.
She had something clutched in her hands – something odd that, like the Stryxex, seemed to turn light away from it. It was a circlet with a single black cabochon gem the size of a chicken egg that would sit over the forehead.
“No!” the scream ripped out from behind me and I turned to see Lady Lightland reaching toward us, hand outstretched. She was too far away to reach us, held back by the burning turf and bodies between her allies and the few of us. “Don’t, Ai’sletta! You must not!”
I couldn’t see Judicus back there anymore. I could only see his ropes clawing out blindly like the legs of a dying spider. Or were those the ropes from the other rope worker? I didn’t know, but something seized painfully in my heart at the thought of Judicus gasping for life and failing to find a breath.
I turned back to Mally, desperate for help or hope of any kind.
She smiled in a forced way and tilted her chin up defiantly.
“The Dark Diadem,” the Grand Hadri said, his voice so faint I barely heard it. “Beloved of the Night.”
And then Mally very precisely set the diadem on her head.
And darkness fell like a curtain blocking out the sun.
I gasped as all fell silent except Mally who said, “It’s lucky I found it, don’t you think?”
And then my Kazmerev was bursting forth, tumbling from my chest like a volcano erupting in feathers of flame. He roared to life with a fump of fire puffing up when someone threw lamp oil over it. Above me, a sister explosion of flame erupted as Frissei sprang to life and the Stryxex holding Olliman screamed in terror.
With deliberate calm, I thrust the Grand Hadri into Mally’s arms.
“Who is this?” she asked but I didn’t try to sign an answer, I spun in place, hands blazing with heat even before I opened them and let the fire flow through me and into the soldier with his spear raised over Gundt, into the raider leaping through the air, his knife aimed toward Judicus’s back, into the male advisor whose mouth was open in horror.
My phoenix was reborn.
And with him, my hope.
Fly with me, little hawk, there is righteous work to do here!
***
Read more of Sersha and Kazmerev’s story in Season 2, Episode 1: Flight of Runes
A Note From The Author
My dear readers, I’m so pleased that you’ve made it this far with me into Sersha and Kazmerev’s story. There’s a lot more story here to tell but I must pause for a little while and regroup before Season Two. You can find the first episode of Season Two in the link above if you would like to preorder it so you don’t forget to go looking at the right time, or you could join my mailing list to get all the news about my books.
Until Season Two, if you haven’t read my other work, you may find that you would enjoy my Dragon School, Dragon Chameleon, and Dragon Tide books as they are written in a similar manner and for a similar taste in fantasy.
I’d also appreciate any word-of-mouth you can offer in spreading word about Phoenix Heart. Interest from readers, preorders, and continued sales tell me a series is well-loved and when one of my series is well-loved I make sure to deliver on it faster to my readers. I must take a break to get the next novel out on another series, but I will be back in this world very soon and eager to read your reviews and comments on the work.
Thank you for being the wonderful reader that you are, and I will see you very soon with Season Two!
With affection,
Sarah
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<
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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
OTHER BOOK SERIES BY SARAH K. L. WILSON
Stolen Mayfly Bride (2021)
When a fae trickster meets a caged human seer, his thoughts are how to turn this to his advantage, until she starts to slip into his dreams and changes everything. Romantic, dreamy & sweet – this stand-alone short novel is for romantic fantasy lovers.
Bluebeard’s Secret Series (2021)
When Izolda is stolen away as the wife of a mysterious Wittenbrand she thinks only of saving her family – certainly not about his fifteen previous wives or their mysterious deaths, certainly not about the insanity of this upside-down fae world, and certainly not about whether she might be falling in love despite herself. If you loved Alice in Wonderland but wished it was a fairytale romance, this book might be for you.
Empire of War & Wings Series (2020)
When an evil prince arrives on her doorstep, Aella discovers a rage-powered magic inside herself. It’s the perfect weapon to beat back the injustices of her empire – but can she control this magic when it manifests as an angry swarm of bees?
Tangled Fae Series (2020)
Twisted Fae have invaded her world and stolen her sister. Can she save her village and her family by learning to fight and bargain like the fae?
Bridge of Legends Series (2019)
He is possessed by ancient magic. She can smell spiritual residues.
Together they seem unstoppable, but is their love doomed?
And if you liked this episodic story, you’ll certainly like my other episodic fiction:
Dragon Tide Series (2019)
Can Seleska and her baby dragon bring magic back to the world?
Dragon Chameleon Series (2018)
He’s a trickster with the most unique dragon out there. Together, they’ll have to be heroes.
Dragon School Series (2018)
A disabled teen, a telepathic dragon, a bond that will save the world.
Join her Patreon for fresh subscriber content:
PATREON
Fly With the Arrow (2021)
Stolen from her kingdom to be the bride of a mysterious Wittenbrand, Izolda will need all her wits, practicality and intelligence both to understand her new husband and to save her kingdom from utter destruction.
Empire of War & Wings Series (2020)
When an evil prince arrives on her doorstep, Aella discovers a rage-powered magic inside herself. It’s the perfect weapon to beat back the injustices of her empire – but can she control this magic when it manifests as an angry swarm of bees?
Tangled Fae Series (2020)
Twisted Fae have invaded her world and stolen her sister. Can she save her village and her family by learning to fight and bargain like the fae?
Bridge of Legends Series (2019)
He is possessed by ancient magic. She can smell spiritual residues.
Together they seem unstoppable, but is their love doomed?
And of you liked this episodic story, you’ll certainly like my other episodic fiction:
Dragon Tide Series (2019)
Can Seleska and her baby dragon bring magic back to the world?
Dragon Chameleon Series (2018)
He’s a trickster with the most unique dragon out there. Together, they’ll have to be heroes.
Dragon School Series (2018)
A disabled teen, a telepathic dragon, a bond that will save the world.
Reviews are always welcome! If you liked this book, please tell someone!
Phoenix Heart: Episode 5: Grand Hadri Page 8