by J. B. Jenn
Rosha raised one of her thin, gray brows. “I understand you’re angry with whatever happened between you and your father. Regardless of those feelings, you still have an obligation to the people of Cascade. They need someone to lead them. You know what war is like. You know the hard life. Who better to rule them than you? Wouldn’t it be in your best interest to see Kenokel and see if there’s anything worth salvaging?”
Trester stared at the ground. He rubbed his toes into the dirt, erasing his crude drawing of the palace he used to call home. When he rose, brushing the dirt from the back of his pants, he refused to look at her. Anger sat in his brilliant blue eyes.
“We need to stop somewhere and find something else for me to wear,” Trester said. He looked at his dark clothing, bearing the symbol of Carthoda. “I can’t be dressed like this, not with everything that has happened. I’m sure word has spread by now.”
Rosha looked to him, raising a brow. “Are you saying you think King Barend was behind the attack on Kenokel? He’d have to possess extraordinary power to have done something like that.”
“I know he’s responsible. I’ve seen the strange orb in his room. I’ve felt the evil resonating inside of it. It pulled at me, beckoning me to it.” Rosha’s face paled, but she said nothing “Come on, we’ve wasted enough time.”
She followed him in a northern direction. Silence settled between them. From time to time, Rosha glanced at the thin man, wondering what he thought of her. If he thought she was anyone other than Rosha, he hadn’t let on to the fact. Maybe she was still safe.
“You should consider what I said.” Trester heaved out a sigh. “You could be king. You could change Cascade. Make it more accepting of…”
“Of what?” His hand iced over again.
Rosha glanced down, smirking. “Of that, perhaps?” She met his eyes, knowing she was towing the line with him. “You were banished from your own home for being a wytch, weren’t you? Perhaps if more people were aware that wytches aren’t dangerous, such a thing would have never happened.”
“You speak of things you know nothing about. Wytches are dangerous.” Angry silence settled in between them. When he spoke again, it was in a softer, more controlled tone. “You have no idea how many people I’ve killed. I’m not worthy to be a king. We’re going to leave it at that.”
Rosha remained silent, feeling the cold radiating from him. His abilities seemed to be fueled by rage. It only made her more curious about what had happened. Today, however, was not the day he’d tell her. He was too angry.
Rosha felt something change. Images came to her. She fell to her knees. Trester reached out to steady her, but she waved him away.
“They have her,” she whispered, fighting the smile trying to part her lips.
“Who?”
“Mercea.”
Trester looked toward the northeast where Dawn Stone lay. He wore a grim face. “We have to go for her. We can’t allow King Barend to have her.”
Rosha met his eyes. His gaunt face, which had seen years of hardship, was tight with worry. As she stared at him, she realized she felt sorry for the man whose father couldn’t see past him being a wytch. They had more in common than he knew.
“Trester,” she said in a gentle voice, “we can’t do anything for her.” He looked toward her with disbelief. “She’s in a land full of monsters. We’re only two people. We’ll die. There’s nothing we can do for her. She is a Servant. The Gods of Old will care for her.”
“We can do something.” He gave her a defiant look. “We both know you’re capable of more than what you’re leading me to believe. Between the two of us, we might be able to reach her.”
Rosha sighed. “I won’t join you in suicide. I won’t return to those lands. You know what they’ve done, just as well as I. There’s nothing we can do for her, despite what you think of me.”
Trester took in a deep breath, flaring his nostrils. His shoulders dropped in defeat and he sighed. “You’re right. All we’ll succeed in doing is killing ourselves.”
Rosha watched him glance in the direction of Dawn Stone again. Defeat sat in his eyes. As she stared at him, she wondered why he seemed to have a connection with the Servant.
“I’m sorry, Mercea,” he whispered.
Ogden
No more than six days ago, he had said his goodbye to his wife and son. In his heart, it felt as if he’d left months ago. One thing he couldn’t forget was when Hethera said if he went, their lives would change forever. She couldn’t tell him how, but she was certain of it. It was one of her feelings she received from time to time. It was like when she had known he’d have to go into the Spindle Mountains. Her insight was what concerned him. Something was going to happen.
Ogden gave a heavy sigh. He focused on his plans to skirt the base of the Spindle Mountains to reach Kenokel. He couldn’t think about an unknown future. He had to stay focused. He needed to see what had destroyed Kenokel, so Yul could defend itself. So his family would be safe.
Casman had attempted to talk him out of going to the city, telling him it was too dangerous. He had wanted to go instead, telling him he didn’t have a child and he barely had a wife. Going was dangerous, but Ogden knew he had to. He felt drawn toward the city. Something pulled him in its direction. When he had confessed this to Hethera, she hadn’t seemed surprised. Instead, she seemed sad. He wished she could tell him more.
As he had held his wife close his last night, it was more than tempting to gather a few of their belongings and run. It would have been simple, but he couldn’t leave all those people to die.
Casman had taken two other men with him into Carthoda. Ogden had gone alone. It was easier if he only had to worry about himself. Besides, there was no telling what he’d find.
All Yul knew was something had destroyed the capital of Cascade. And, King Barend’s men were after Rosha White, a woman everyone knew was crazy. As of yet, the pieces of information they had gathered made little sense. Ogden knew it was just the beginnings of something.
“Halt!”
The command made him roll his eyes. He knew the voice. Ogden spun about. The leader of the small group, a tall, burly man, looked down at him from the back of his horse. Instant recognition passed through the man’s dark brown eyes. A hood covered what Ogden knew was receding blonde hair.
“Gray.” Ogden gave a courteous nod.
“What are you doing out here?” the larger man asked. “Where’s the rest of your men?” He studied Ogden for several moments before smirking. “You aren’t finally deserting, are you? That would be just like you, give up when the going gets rough. Yul needs all of its soldiers, even the lesser ones.”
Ogden shook his head. He didn’t need this today. “Of course, I’m not deserting. King Zavad is sending me to Kenokel to discover what happened. I’m to go alone for safety. This isn’t a job for multiple people.”
He turned from the man and started toward the ruined city again, refusing to deal with him any longer than he had to. Gray wasn’t exactly a gracious man. He was one of those men who believed whatever he wanted to believe, even if the truth were to hit him in the face. Ogden looked heavenward, wondering what he had done to deserve running into him at this precise time in his life.
Gray’s horse came to an abrupt stop in front of him. “I didn’t say you could leave.”
“I don’t recall asking.” Ogden went to step around the man, but was blocked once more. “This is ridiculous. Let me leave before someone gets hurt.”
“You mean before you get hurt.” Gray smirked and studied him through narrowed eyes. “I’m not entirely convinced you aren’t deserting.”
“If I were leaving you’d see my wife and son with me. I wouldn’t leave them and you know it. I suggest you stop harassing me.”
“Maybe Hethera wouldn’t leave. Lovic has been her home all her life.”
Ogden shook his head. He stared up at the man for a moment before pulling him from his saddle and pinning him against the ground. His face
was just inches from Gray’s and a dagger was pressed up against his throat. Gray didn’t move. His brown eyes were wide as he breathed shallowly.
“Listen to me carefully, Gray. I’m working on my own, as you know I do. If you don’t allow me to do my task, Yul will be in danger. It means your wife, your mistresses, along with all your children will be in danger. Is that something you want?” Gray didn’t respond. Ogden released him. “If it is, kill me now.” Ogden offered Gray the dagger.
Gray shoved his hand away. “No. That won’t be necessary. Carry on.”
He could feel their eyes on him as he walked away.
Ogden shook his head. Gray was an idiot. For the third time in his life, he wished he’d never gotten drunk in the man’s presence. If he hadn’t, he would have never told him about how he wanted to take his wife and son and leave Lovic. All he had wanted was to start over somewhere else. He yearned for a simpler life where he could spend more time with his family.
Ogden shook his head at the man. “One mistake,” he muttered, still thoroughly irritated. “Just one mistake and you have to live with it for the rest of your life.”
He turned to ensure they weren’t following him. The last thing he needed was for them to get him killed. They didn’t need to blunder into something they didn’t know a thing about.
He had every intention of returning to his wife. All he ever wanted to do was hold Hethera close and know his son, Acen, was safe. It was all he needed in life. Few seemed to feel the same way. They always wanted more. They always wanted what someone else had. Ogden was content with his life. The only thing which could be better was to spend more time with his family.
Querra
Eiden kept pushing her to pull the Relentless to one position. She refused. Although they were spread thin, they were doing more good as they were.
To help with everything, they had started taking in the soldiers who had survived Kenokel. They were already trained and knew what to expect when fighting these monsters. They could also help train others. Besides, most of the soldiers were respected men. King Delane wouldn’t have it any other way.
Her second in command had left a few days ago on patrol. She hoped he hadn’t gotten himself killed. Even if they argued, she knew he was a good man. When he told her he wanted to pull everyone to one location, he was thinking about others. She didn’t like sacrificing men’s lives either, but no matter what they did, people were going to die. She knew that. It ate at her most of the time, making sleeping difficult.
Querra stood on the outskirts of the main camp, watching everything. For a week now, it had been quiet. The feeling was unsettling. She wondered if the monsters had moved on, or if they were planning to attack elsewhere. It was unnerving not knowing what to expect. It was one thing these creatures were good at. They kept her guessing. They kept the high-ranking officers of the Relentless guessing. It was what had gotten so many of them killed.
“Worrying won’t bring any of them back.”
Querra said nothing, but closed her eyes for a moment, relieved the man was still alive. Eiden stopped at her side, lacing his hands behind his back and stared out across the rolling plains.
Querra sighed. Everything was too quiet. It was as if they were now readying to fight the most important battle of their lives. She turned her attention to her second in command, wondering what he was thinking. More silence passed.
“Speak your mind, Eiden. You will eventually.” A small smile twitched at the corners of his mouth. “What?”
“You’re a difficult woman to…” He trailed off and forced his gaze to the trees around them. “Never mind. Now isn’t the time.”
Querra waited for him. When he didn’t say anything further, she rolled her eyes at him. The man was infuriating at times. Probably more so because he always argued with her and thought she was doing the wrong thing. She knew she should be grateful he could tell her how he felt. Not many could. At times though, she wished he’d just be quiet. This situation was hard enough without making it harder.
“Just say it,” she snapped.
Again, the smile twitched at the corners of his mouth. “You’re a difficult woman to love.”
Querra stared at him, blinking. He pulled her into a hard kiss. When he released her, she took in several deep breaths, seemingly unable to close her mouth. Eiden chuckled.
“You wanted me to say it, I said it.”
“Shut up.”
She pulled his head down so his lips met hers. Eiden pulled away from her. Her teeth pulled at his lower lip as he did so.
“Not here.”
As his hand grabbed hers, her heart gave a small jolt as he led her away from camp.
Arem
The last several days contained nothing but stress. He was exhausted. Mercea kept waking before she was supposed to. Each time, the time between each waking grew shorter and shorter. She was resistant to his magic.
The only thing keeping him alive was the fact he was able to maintain Mercea’s sleep. Eventually, he’d lose the fight against her. He was surprised it had even worked.
The moment she woke, he felt he would die. He prayed to the Old Gods when she pulled through his magic, it’d be too late for her to do anything about what he’d done. At least, this way she would know what was really happening in Hartland.
Arem stared at her. He hated deceiving her like this. He wished she could have trusted him. He wished he could have showed her what she needed to see without doing it this way
“Everything under control?” Thac gave Arem’s shoulder a hard thump.
“Yes. Why wouldn’t it be? King Barend had every confidence in my abilities. You should as well.”
Thac laughed. Arem met his black eyes. The smile on the larger man’s lips sickened him. “Funny thing about that, wytch, King Barend ordered me to kill you once Mercea was in our custody. He has no use for wytches. He already has too many. Plus, his wife is a bitch. Oops,” he paused, chuckling, “I meant wytch.” Arem stared at the man sourly. “Careful, your time is running out.”
Arem watched the man walk away. He wanted nothing more than to place a dagger in the man’s broad, muscled back and watch him die. He snorted at him, but his attention was pulled back to Mercea the moment she groaned. He closed his eyes. This was ridiculous. It was a good thing they were only a week from Dawn Stone. He was growing tired, too fast, from fighting her.
“Not yet, Mercea. Not yet,” he whispered.
He placed his fingers on her temple, putting her back into the deep sleep she was supposed to stay in for two days. He was lucky if she stayed asleep for more than half a day. As she fell quiet again and he could no longer feel her struggling, he sighed. He needed to rest, but there was no rest, not with her fighting so hard.
Arem leaned down next to her. “I hope you find a way to forgive me, Mercea. This was the only way you’d see what King Barend has done and survive it. You don’t know it yet, but you need me. You can’t do this on your own. You have a larger fight ahead than you realize.”
“When you’re done doing whatever it is you’re doing, start walking.” Arem nodded at Thac.
Ignorant fools. They were all going to die once Mercea woke or when King Barend no longer found them useful. They failed to see they were only tools to the king.
He rose, casting one more look toward Mercea as men lifted her, willing her to stay asleep and to stop fighting him. He needed to regain some of his strength if his plan was going to work.
At the moment, surrounded by men who loathed him and feared him because of his magic, he felt as if he’d fail. The only ally he had was Mercea and she hated him, too.
Galtrand
There were other things he should worry about. Yet, he couldn’t keep his mind from Janessa and what he had witnessed between her and King Maik. It was difficult hearing her say she didn’t love him. He had wanted her to love him the way he loved her.
He closed his eyes, feeling foolish for having ever said anything. He was her bodyguard
. A soldier. A simple man. How could he think he could be more to her? He’d always held this position in her life.
“King Maik is ready to see you,” the guard outside of the king’s quarters stated sourly. He stared at him with an equally sour expression.
Galtrand stepped into the king’s large living quarters. They sat across the hall from Janessa’s. King Maik was sitting behind his desk that sat along a balcony. The balcony overlooked the desert and the distant town, Heltarn.
Maik met his eyes and nodded toward the furniture in the center of the room. Galtrand took a seat. More than once as he waited for the king to see him, he had thought about returning to his room, but he was doing this for Janessa. He had to do this for Cascade.
King Maik sat down across from him. Galtrand fought off the snarl he felt coming. He didn’t like the man. He found him arrogant and smug, and he hated him for how Janessa felt about him.
“What can I do for you today?” Maik asked.
“You should marry Janessa,” Galtrand blurted out. It wasn’t how he had planned the conversation going. He sighed. “She’ll never admit it, but Cascade needs you and the support you can bring it. She can’t rule on her own.”
Maik laughed. “Janessa will marry whoever she wishes. I won’t try to strong-arm her into marrying me. It’s not fair to her, and it’s not the kind of marriage I want. Feeling the way you do about her, you should at least want her to make the decision that’s right for her, don’t you?” Galtrand sighed, sitting back. “Furthermore, I plan on helping Cascade with or without Janessa’s hand in marriage. The kingdom needs help. All those people need help.”
Galtrand sat in silence for several moments, well aware of King Maik’s eyes on him. “I should have never come. Forgive me for wasting your time.”