Forcing herself to stand, blood tricking down her legs, she took a fresh magazine and slapped it into place. Pulling back the lever, she took aim and fired again.
* * *
The shots from the warbow peppered the frozen section of the branch, breaking off large pieces of it, until it groaned and snapped off completely.
The Eriia kicked back, throwing everyone onboard into the walls of the howdah.
* * *
Another volley of shots rained down on Nikki, and she was struck in the chest. Her body quaking with pain, she grabbed the controls to brace herself, watching the Eriia pull away.
“Go Athel, save our world,” she said hoarsely. “Save my island. Don’t let it die.”
She looked down at the carnage below, her eyes growing cloudy. Man fighting woman, woman fighting man, trees thrashing crushing and squealing amid the red air. “Don’t let it end this way…”
Nikki leaned forward against the controls, her head falling forward limply. She reached up and clutched the Alliance patch on her uniform, and then slipped away.
“Not like this…”
* * *
Lady Buckthorn screamed in rage as she saw the Eriia pull away from them and fly off to the west.
Dahlia pulled out her rifle. “No, traitor, you are not leaving this place.”
Rising to her feet, Talliun tried to make a shield of hard-light to protect them, but her arm whirred down and went limp.
“Oh no.”
The Queen rose to her feet and saw Nikki laying dead against the warbow far below. “Nikki! No!”
Privet saw what was happening sprinted towards Athel.
Oleander held out her hand at Dahlia. “Don’t hurt her. She must stand trial!”
Dahlia smiled and pulled back the hammer. “Oh, she’s on trial.”
The Queen looked up just in time to see the barrel leveled at her.
“And the verdict...is...guilty.”
As Dahlia fired, Athel’s training kicked in, and she reached for her staff to grow a wall of wood from the branch still wrapped around the howdah to shield herself. Just as her fingers reached the wood, she hesitated.
Wait, Alder, if I…
Athel felt herself rock back, as if someone had poked her hard with two fingers. There was a clear feeling of numbness in her chest. No pain, just raw shock as the world seemed to slow down around her.
Out of the corner of her eyes, she could clearly see Privet throwing himself at her, terror on his face as he slowly arced through the air. To her left, she could see Mina turning her face away, amber-colored blood splattered all over her.
Athel looked down and saw the gaping hole in the center of her chest, blood pumping out, falling down her gown in thick liquid spurts. She felt a similar sensation between her shoulder blades, as blood poured out the exit wound.
I’ve been shot.
As the realization of what happened passed through her mind, the waves of nausea started. Her joints went stiff, her skin went cold. The edges of the howdah rolled down over her as she fell backwards. Now the numbness was being replaced with throbbing pain. Every muscle cramped at once, screaming for breath as if her whole being was drowning. She tried to inhale, but her muscles froze tight. Every cell in her body was being throttled.
I’ve…been…shot….
Privet threw himself on top of her just as the other Buckthorns fired. He screamed in agony as shot after shot tore into his back, blocking the seed bullets from hitting Athel with his very flesh. An entire volley tore into him, shredding his shirt and jacket, and tearing away enough flesh to expose the bone of his spine.
Athel’s world contracted. Sound disappeared, the edges of her vision withdrew, the darkness closing in around her like a tunnel. She saw Privet screaming as he held her.
And then all went dark.
* * *
An hour later, the High Priestess fell back, her broken staff in her hand. All around her in the plaza, the beaten and bruised Treesingers moaned as the men clamored over them, beating down with fist and rock any who dared to rise again.
Her face battered, Oleander looked up at Akar’s bloody form as he stood over her, a broken sword held to her throat. Behind him, the red sky of the eclipse reflected his rage.
“You brought this on yourselves,” he hissed, spitting his blood out onto the dry ground. “We would have stood beside you loyally as companions, as equals. We would have worked with you to tend this forest and cultivate it. We would have even given our lives to defend it. We didn’t ask for your love, only that you treat us with a shred of dignity, but even that was unthinkable to you. Was it really so hard to just let go of your hate for us? Is it really so unforgivable that we happened to be born men?”
“Just get it over with,” she returned defiantly.
Akar threw the sword away. “I’m not going to kill you, you despicable parasite. I want you to live a long, barren life. I want you to sit here and watch your wretched forest die around you, knowing every day that this is your fault. I want you to lay awake every night for the next hundred years, reliving this moment, here right now, when I spared your life. Me, whom you call a violent savage. I want you to remember that I showed you more mercy and compassion in one moment than you have shown to us your whole unnaturally long life. I want you to spend a century in agony, knowing that you could have saved your miserable forest, but you chose to let it rot and decay instead.”
Akar stood over her and held out his hands. “Women of Wysteria, you wanted to rule his cursed place. Well, you can have it. We’re leaving. It’s all yours. Come on, everybody.”
The bruised and beaten women watched silently as the men gathered up their dead and wounded. While the women had killed a great many of the men, the men had taken great care not to kill a single woman. Sensing their desire to do them no harm, the trees simply let them pass.
The Treesingers of Wysteria watched as the men marched away, taking the boys and male babies with them, marching to the east towards the blight lands, where fresh transports from the league were landing to take them away to an uncertain future.
Chapter Eighteen
I…don’t…understand.
Everything was out of focus. Through the haze, Athel watched herself close her brown eyes and slam her staff down. The trees grew around her, forming a cocoon.
I gave them everything...
The cocoon opened and the Queen emerged with hazel eyes.
I gave them my whole soul…
Sitting on a throne of chains, the Queen held her staff, drawing in all the fear, all the pain into herself.
I don’t understand…
Starving, the Queen pushed food away to hold court.
What more could I have done?
Exhausted, the Queen turned away from her bed to work through the night.
What more could I have sacrificed?
Standing before Juniper, the Queen collapsed, her body trembling with pain.
I bore it all…
Unable to walk, the Queen sat in her bed as Alder brushed her hair, large clumps falling out.
I lived in constant pain…
The Queen lay back on her pillow, so thin she was little more than a skeleton.
It hurt so bad I thought I would die…
The Queen keeled over, retching blood onto the ground.
I did it for them…for my beloved forest.
Dahlia leveled her rifle and fired.
The hate...
More Treesingers took out their rifles and fired.
The hate in their eyes...
All the women pulled out their rifles and fired.
Why do they hate me?
The women of the Forsythia family stood around her in a circle, disgust in their eyes.
I did it all for them…
The Queen was forced
to the ground, a collar placed around her neck.
I was trying to save them…
Shackles were placed around her wrists and ankles.
I was trying to save everyone…
The Queen’s crown was torn from her head.
Everyone…
Her crown was crushed beneath a boot.
I don’t understand…
Dahlia grinned in satisfaction as she fired.
I gave up my freedom…
The Queen looked down, blood pouring out of the hole in her heart.
I sacrificed my own heart…
The Queen fell backwards, disbelief in her eyes.
I set aside everything I wanted to be…
The Queen knelt in the water before the statue of Milia.
I let go of everything I wanted to do…
The Queen sat on a throne of chains, the links coiling around her like serpents.
I died and became the forest…
The Queen sent Privet away with Setsuna.
Was it not enough?
The Queen set her children down to be judged by the Priestesses.
Did I fail my forest?
Lady Bursage stepped out through the mist, standing over Athel, judgment in her eyes. “You lie.”
No, it’s the truth.
High Priestess Oleander stepped forward. “You have shamed us all. You loved your son more than you loved Milia.”
Is that why I failed? Because I wouldn’t let my child be killed?
Lady Greenbrier stepped forward. “You loved Alder more than you loved your forest.”
Is that why you hate me? Because I wouldn’t consent to killing my own husband?
Lady Buckthorn stepped forward. “You gave your love beneath your station. You loved Privet more than you loved us.”
Is that why I failed?
Lady Lotebush stepped forward. “You are guilty.”
Because I allowed myself to fall in love?
Lady Cypress stepped forward. “Guilty.”
Is the Queen not a woman? Is she not allowed to love?
Lady Balsam stepped forward. “Guilty.”
I tried, don’t you know I tried?
Sister Boronia stepped forward. “Guilty.”
I tried to shut it away, I tried to hide my feelings!
Lady Gladiolus stepped forward. “Guilty.”
But, in the end, I couldn’t do it.
Lady Peony stepped forward. “Guilty.”
I couldn’t defeat...my own heart.
Madam Aster stepped forward. “Guilty.”
I failed...
Lady Orchid stepped forward. “Guilty.”
I failed my forest...
Scholar Riverwood stepped forward. “Guilty.”
I failed everyone…
Archivist Teak stepped forward. “Guilty.”
Surrounded on all sides, the floor disappeared and Athel fell through a tunnel of darkness.
Nikki reached out to her. “Athel, why couldn’t you save me?”
Nikki! No!
Blood poured out of Nikki’s wounds. “You saved our enemies, but you let me die!”
I wanted to save you! I wanted to save everybody!
Nikki evaporated into a skeleton. “Why couldn’t you save me? I loved you as a sister!”
I was desperate to save you...
Her bones turned into dust. “You let me die!”
Athel landed in a cold stone cell. The steel doors slammed shut, and were locked with a key.
I tried so hard...
Athel curled up, trembling on the floor.
I’m guilty…
Athel tightened her eyes.
“I’m guilty.”
She felt tears roll down the sides of her face.
It felt like she was flying. A faint wind in her ears, a cool breeze touching her skin.
“Athel?” a voice asked.
“I failed everyone…”
“Hey, everyone, she’s waking up!” the voice said, growing excited.
Athel weakly cracked open one eye. The light was blinding, but she thought she could make out some faces hovering over her.
“Give her some space,” Dr. Griffin said, pushing some people away.
Athel furrowed her brow. “I…don’t want him treating me…”
“Oh, he didn’t, sweetie,” Mina assured. “He’s just been watching over you.”
“And we made sure he was never alone with you,” Captain Evere added.
Dr. Griffin didn’t think that was very funny.
Mina held up Ash, who cooed happily to see her. “See, look, there’s mommy,” she sang.
Mina set down Ash next to her.
“Hi little bud,” Athel greeted, weakly leaning over to give him a kiss.
From behind everybody, there was a sparkle of light.
“Trillium says hi too.”
Rachael took out a handkerchief and wiped her face, her mascara running. “I’m so glad to see you awake. For a while there, we thought we’d lost you.”
“For a while, you did. How long was I out?”
“Two weeks,” Ryin reported.
“Ryin. When did you get back?”
“Yesterday,” Mina explained. “We sent an Eriia out to fetch him. He almost wandered into the dead zone west of Wysteria trying to find us.”
“Yeah, we nearly fell like a rock, me and Pops.”
Ryin looked around. “At least I think so. Hmm. Come to think of it, where is Pops?”
“We’re still traveling to Boeth?” Athel coughed, releasing a stab of pain.
“Yes, we arrive in a week,” Andolf Kummeritas explained, stoking his purple whiskers. There hasn’t been the slightest sign of any League forces. It looks like your plan is working so far.”
Athel tried to move, and was rewarded with a sharp jolt in her chest.
“Careful, careful,” Dr. Griffin warned, holding his hand out. “The shot shattered two of your ribs fore and aft and clipped your heart. It took seven healers working round the clock to save your life.”
Athel winced at the pain. “So, it wasn’t a dream.”
“I’m afraid not. Frankly it’s a miracle we were able to save you.”
Athel noticed Talliun laying in a bed opposite her. “Is she all right?”
“She’s just anemic. You needed a lot of blood, and she was the only Wysterian we had. A few days’ rest and she’ll be right as rain.”
Athel reached up to touch her bandages, then decided against it. Even without seeing them, she could feel the deep layers of stitches running across her chest over her heart.
“There will be a lot of scarring,” Dr. Griffin warned. “But, I’m told that Deutzia can heal your wounds fully.”
“No,” Athel said, shaking her head wearily. “If I do that, I’ll be taking life force from Alder. He could die. I’ll heal naturally, or not at all, but I won’t hurt him ever again.”
Athel’s eyes went wide as she remembered something. “Alder, Privet, are they all right?”
Everyone grew sad at the question.
Athel looked up worriedly. “What happened? Tell me.”
Dr. Griffin took off his glasses. “Without a doubt, he saved your life. They did everything they could for…”
“Tell me!”
Dr. Griffin backed up, and motioned to Alder, who was sleeping peacefully, then he stepped away, revealing Privet laying in a medical bed, his entire body bandaged with dimly glowing wraps, tubes coming out of his mouth and nose.
“Privet!”
Athel tried to sit up, but a sharp jolt of pain made her wince.
“Careful, you’ll…”
“Take me to him!”
Athel’s wound burn
ed like fire in her chest as she was wheeled closer. Privet was barely breathing. Despite the pain, she reached out and took his hand. She squeezed it, but he didn’t squeeze back.
“What…what happened to him?” Athel panted, her heart pounding in agony.
Dr. Griffin looked away sadly. “His spine was severed in seven different places. He’ll never walk again.”
Athel felt like a knife entered her chest. “What? No!”
“I’m sorry.”
Athel’s eyes quivered. “You’re sorry? But…but you’re an Advan master, can’t you do anything?”
“It took every drop of magic we had just to save his life. He was shot seventeen times. There’s nothing more anyone can do for him.”
“What do you mean there’s nothing you can do? Don’t tell me that, you have the finest medicines and equipment in the world. You’re a disciple of Odesi, the god of healing.”
“There are some things even our magic can’t fix.”
“Well then what good are you!” she screamed, tears running down her cheeks. “Why do we even keep you around? Huh?”
She shoved Dr. Griffin away, her rage pushing past the pain. “What good are you if you can’t even save the life of one man?”
Her anger collapsed in on itself, and she fell on top of Privet, weeping bitterly.
“Careful, you’ll reopen your wounds.”
“I don’t care, don’t touch me!” she screamed.
“Just back off and give her some room, lads.”
The agony Athel felt was indescribable, like a pressure within her body, inflating her and tearing her apart from within. She grabbed onto his bandages, balling her fists so tightly she threatened to tear them off. The noise that came out of her wasn’t a sob, it was more like a howl. A pitiful, wailing moan as her soul withered and died inside of her. Even hardened soldiers like Captain Evere had to look away. In all his years, he had never seen anyone weep as completely as that young woman did before him that day.
One by one, they all filed out, leaving Athel alone, Alder dying beside her, Privet lying paralyzed next to her. She cried so hard that her eyes nearly swelled shut from the pressure. Her stitches screamed in protest, her broken heart wailing at the strain that tore at the sutures that held it together. But, the physical pain was nothing compared to what she felt in her heart.
“Privet, I’m so sorry,” she wept. “This is all my fault. I brought you into this mess. I took a strong vibrant man, and I stripped him of every good and happy thing he had. I broke you down into a pile of rubble, to live in crippled misery. I wish you had never known me. I wish you had stayed away. I…I cursed you by being near you. And now, you’ll have to pay for my mistakes for the rest of your life.”
Isle of Wysteria: The Monolith Crumbles Page 53