Skyborn

by David Dalglish

“I did,” she said. “And I’ll be fine.”

  Nearby the knights tried to explain what had happened to the theotech, their words drowned out by the din of people angrily shouting at being forced to witness such a gruesome display. The whole atmosphere was uncomfortable, but other than show impotent anger, there wasn’t much the crowd could do. Kael and Bree remained where they were as the people began to disperse. A few lingered behind, shouting to the theotech in case he’d listen, which he never did. His back remained to the crowd at all times, his focus only on the knights and their bungled execution.

  “I guess we should get started,” Bree said, reluctantly approaching the well. Beside the shovel was a bucket of water and a large rag. Kael followed his sister across the thin stone markers, doing his best to keep his eyes ahead instead of on the arguing trio. One of the knights caught him staring anyway, and his glare was chilling.

  “So do we just toss dirt in the well until he’s covered?” he asked as Bree grabbed the shovel and stuffed the rag into her back pocket. A morbid part of him wanted to look down the well and see the remains, but the moment he felt the impulse, shock and repulsion slapped it down.

  “That’s a start. I also need to get rid of”—she gestured to the smear of gore—“this… and then clean the sides of the well.”

  She jammed the shovel into the dirt beside the well, where the brain matter had pooled together. It jiggled atop the metal, and Kael spun aside and clenched his jaw tight to fight back a sudden need to vomit. His back to the well, he watched knights and theotech fly off into the air, the theotech still berating them. He heard the shifting of the shovel, a thud of wood hitting stone, and he assumed it was safe to turn about.

  “You don’t have to stay,” Bree said, eyes to the ground as she worked.

  His neck reddened, Kael embarrassed by how weak he seemed compared to his sister. Multiple times he wanted to vomit, yet she kept right on going. The bruise to his pride added a bite to his words he never intended.

  “Sorry,” he said. “Just give me a moment for my stomach to settle. Not everyone’s made of stone like you.”

  Kael was not prepared for the anger in Bree’s eyes when she looked up and glared.

  “I’ll be fine without you,” she said. “Just go home, Kael.”

  The casual dismissal only further upset him. He reached for her shovel and grabbed the handle.

  “Stop being so cold,” he said. “I’m not buying it for a second.”

  “You know me that well, do you?” she asked, staring him in the eye. “Then you should know you’re pissing me off.”

  “Good. At least it’s a reaction.”

  She tried pulling the shovel from his grasp, but he held on tight. When that failed, she let go and slammed her foot into the bucket, knocking it over.

  “What?” she asked, nearly screaming. “What do you want from me?”

  “I want you to stop acting like this is normal. You’re scooping up a man’s brains with a shovel, for God’s sake. At least don’t be pissed at me for being upset. So what that you watched him hit ground and I didn’t? It doesn’t mean shit.”

  She flung an arm in the direction of the well.

  “You think I wanted to watch that?” she asked. “You think I want that sight giving me nightmares for weeks?”

  Kael took a step back, his temper starting to subside. His sister’s tone… he could read it well, and the sudden hurt leaking into her voice convinced him he was missing something obvious, something important.

  “If you didn’t want to, then why?” he asked.

  “I don’t have a choice,” she said. “Everyone looks down on me because I can’t master my element, as if it’s my own fault. I’m so exhausted, Kael. Every single day, so exhausted trying to control my fire, and it never happens. And yet they sneer, and talk, and act like I’ll be useless in battle. If I don’t want to be expelled, I have to convince them they’re wrong. If I want to stay with you, if I want to remain a Seraph, I have to be better than everyone. I have to be the best.”

  Her legs buckled, and she sat, her back purposefully to the blood on the well.

  “My swords are all I have,” she said, staring at her hands. “I won’t get to kill from afar. I won’t get to look away. I have to learn to handle this. I have to become stronger, so much stronger…”

  Kael stared down at his sister. Though her voice had cracked, there were no tears in her eyes. Just a thin mask of calm, one he no longer believed. When Thane’s body had hit, Kael had nearly vomited and quickly looked away, yet she’d forced herself to watch because she thought it would make her a better Seraph. She felt the same shock, the same revulsion, but she hid it beneath a cold facade that was steadily breaking before his eyes.

  “I’ll be right back,” he said, trudging north and taking the empty bucket with him. A small stream lined the field, part of its irrigation system, and Kael used it to fill the bucket. When he returned Bree was in the process of covering the body with dirt. All the others had left, which suited Kael just fine. Grabbing the bucket with both hands, he splashed the fouled side of the well while Bree watched.

  “Rag,” he said, holding out his hand.

  “You don’t have to help,” she said.

  “And that matters why?”

  Bree pulled out the rag, hesitated, then handed it over. Kael scrubbed on his knees at the wet stones, making them clean, removing every last remnant of the death. Beside him, Bree tossed shovelful after shovelful of dirt until the body was buried and they could leave. When at last they were done, Kael wrapped his arm around his sister.

  “I’m sorry,” he said. “I never should have said you weren’t normal.”

  Bree leaned her head against his shoulder.

  “I can think of worse insults. And thanks for helping.”

  “Well, I mostly did it so you wouldn’t hit me with the handle of your shovel. You do have a reputation for that, I hear.”

  She elbowed him in the side.

  “You’re lucky we’re related,” she said. “Now let’s get out of here. If I have to endure that smell for another second I’m going to lose it.”

  When they returned to Bree’s apartment, they found Amanda sitting on the floor of the entry room, arms crossed over her knees. She looked up, clearly shaken.

  “It was like this when I came back,” she said softly. “I… I forgot to lock the door. I’m sorry, Bree. I’m so sorry.”

  Kael stepped past her into Bree’s room, felt the hairs on his neck stand on end. Writing covered every single wall, calling her a wide assortment of names that would have felt right at home while the people chanted their hatred toward the now-deceased disciple of Johan.

  “Should we tell someone?” Kael asked, fighting to keep his voice even.

  Bree stared at the walls, silently soaked in every curse, every foul word, with the same steely look she’d had after Thane’s death. All her pain hidden. All her sadness walled away, as if it didn’t even exist.

  “No,” she said. “If they’re too afraid to say it to my face, then I’ve already won. Hand me a rag. It looks like we’re not done cleaning after all.”

  CHAPTER 14

  The best part of Kael’s day was practicing his ice element with Clara at the training field. The second best was escaping Miss Woods’s dry, boring lectures. Kael’s desk was by the door, and he was the first one out every time. At least in Mr. Gaughran’s class they learned something that felt useful. They’d started with basic tactics used by each elemental type, then moved on to the intricate hand movements squad leaders used to relay orders while flying in formation. But history? When would he ever, ever need to know about the Elern-Weshern War of 117 A.A., or the names of all the Archons prior to the Willer family taking over?

  Kael waited beside the door as the rest of the class filed out, meaning to have a chat with Bree, but Clara came out first and grabbed him by the elbow.

  “Do you think we could have a word?” she asked him. “In private?”

/>   “Sure,” Kael said. They started down the hall, opposite the rest making their way toward the other exit and the mess hall. He kept glancing over his shoulder, caught sight of Bree, and he waved at her so she’d know where he went. She waved back, winked at him when she saw Clara, and then jogged to catch up with Brad.

  “So what’s so important?” Kael asked. He kept his hands crossed over his chest to keep from fidgeting. Being around Clara made him self-conscious, and the last thing he wanted was to be snapping his fingers or repeatedly cracking his knuckles while she tried to talk to him.

  Clara stopped, peered over his shoulder to make sure no one was watching, and then pulled out a piece of paper from her pocket. It’d been folded multiple times into a small square, and she handed it to him.

  “Sorry, I was hoping to do this sooner, but I only got my hands on this today.”

  Kael frowned, confused, until he opened it up to reveal a familiar list of scribbles.

  “Are you insane?” he asked, handing back the pamphlet of dogma written by one of the disciples of Johan. “You can’t carry that around. You’ll get in trouble.”

  “Who, me?” Clara asked, and she put a finger to her lip and hunched as if she were a model of pure innocence. “I found this on the floor of the hallway, and I was just on my way to turn it in to the headmaster, I swear. Surely you wouldn’t dare accuse the daughter of the Archon of being a traitor now, would you?”

  Kael rolled his eyes.

  “Fine. Whatever. I’ve seen it before, and I’ve got no interest.”

  “It’s not for you,” she said, snagging it out from his hand. “It’s for Jason and Saul.”

  The gears in Kael’s head turned, and it didn’t take much imagination to figure out her intentions.

  “Clara,” he asked carefully, “what are you planning?”

  “The two share an apartment,” she said. “And trust me when I say it wouldn’t be difficult for me to obtain a key. After that, I mention to Headmaster Simmons that Saul was saying some strange things to me during training, things about Johan and Center. They’ll do a room check, find the pamphlet, and the rest will work itself out from there. Nothing serious will happen to either of them, not with how wealthy the Reigar estate is, but it’ll be a nice black eye on their family honor. Most importantly, Saul and Jason will be sent home during the investigation, which if we’re lucky will last at least six months.”

  Clara smiled at him.

  “So how about it? How does six months free of Saul sound?”

  It sounded tempting was how it sounded. Saul refused to say a word to him during elemental training, and just being in his presence filled Kael with tension. Not that Kael believed he’d try anything. Expulsion was too likely a punishment. Chewing on his lip, Kael tried to decide if he was comfortable with such underhanded tactics, and as much as he’d love to see Saul humiliated in retaliation for humiliating Bree, he knew it’d never sit right with him.

  “Look, I’m… I’m thankful, but this really isn’t that big a deal,” he said, trying to downplay how much the whole affair actually bothered him. “It was one fight, that’s all, and now it’s over.”

  “No, it’s not over,” Clara said. “Amanda told me what they did to your sister’s room. It’s awful, and it’s cowardly.”

  “And it’s our problem, not yours,” Kael said.

  “No. It’s not. You think I don’t know what started that fight between Bree and Jason? That… lowlife thought he could control who I spend my time with. I grew up sequestered in the holy mansion. Now I’m finally out here, on my own, and people still want to play games while claiming it’s for my own good? I won’t allow it. I won’t.”

  Kael could hardly believe the growing fire in Clara’s green eyes.

  “They decided you weren’t worthy of my time,” she said. “I beg to differ.”

  Lost as to how to respond, Kael stammered for a moment, struggling for an answer.

  “This will work,” Clara said. “All you need to do is trust me.”

  “I do trust you,” Kael said. “And I do think it’d work, but that’s not the point. We might have peace now, but it will only make things worse when they return. They’ll believe Bree and I were responsible in some way, no matter how little proof they have. They’ll know, and they’ll act on it. Worse, they might figure out your part if they hear you were the one claiming they spoke about Johan. Besides, I can deal with Saul’s ugly looks. It really isn’t that hard.”

  “And why’s that?” she asked.

  “Because I’m with you, and he’s stuck with Daniel.”

  Clara laughed, and she visibly relaxed.

  “Are you sure about this?” she asked, holding the pamphlet with two fingers and waving it before him. “You have to admit, they deserve it.”

  “That they do,” Kael said, snagging it from her fingers and promptly ripping it into several pieces. “But I also know we’re better than that.”

  Clara stared at him, and Kael would have given anything to know what thoughts were racing through her mind.

  “You’re right,” she said. “We are better than that.”

  A playful smile spread across her lips.

  “I think those two brothers should be in the mess hall right about now,” she said, and she offered him her hand. “Would you please escort me there?”

  Kael wrapped his fingers around hers, the touch making his entire hand tingle as if it’d fallen asleep.

  “It would be my honor. Shall we also walk by Jason’s table on our way to pick up our meal?”

  “We shall,” Clara said, smile now ear to ear. “A shame you weren’t born to royalty, Kael, because I think you’d have been better at it than I am.”

  Kael doubted that, but he wasn’t going to say a single word otherwise while he walked the hall, hand in hand, and heart ready to explode in his chest. Not a single damn word. They stepped out, crossed the path to the mess hall, and went inside.

  The look on Jason’s face was everything he hoped.

  CHAPTER 15

  Bree knelt, rag in hand, as she cleaned the floor of the women’s showers. The floor was smooth stone, long since faded a pale gray from whatever color it might have once been. Bree scrubbed and scrubbed with her brush, scattering lye every few minutes.

  It could be worse, she told herself. I’m not sure how, but it could be worse.

  Cleaning the showers was one of several additional tasks Over-Secretary Waller had assigned to her for the past few days as punishment for giving Jason Reigar what he deserved at the mess hall. She almost preferred burying Thane’s body after the execution over this. Awful as it was, at least that had been over fairly quickly. The constant scrubbing and cleaning of the tiles was so time-consuming, so tedious, it left her body aching, and even worse, kept her from practicing flight in her off hours as much as she preferred.

  Bree sat on her haunches, and she groaned at the pain in her back. Sweat dripped from her forehead, and she wiped it away with her forearm. It was always uncomfortably hot inside no matter the time of day, a normally welcome aspect of the wondrous showers. Academy servants kept tanks above them filled with water, and a theotech from Center came once a week to change the flame elements stored somewhere inside. The ceiling had a dozen grates with thick covers you could pull off with a chain, pouring out water like a warm rain.

  The extravagance of it, the cost associated with giving the Seraphim recruits such an unnecessary perk, would have turned Bree’s stomach if she didn’t love it so much, especially compared to the far colder baths she’d taken in Lake Pleasance growing up. Bree consoled herself with the idea that everyone should have at least one guilty pleasure. But counter to what Bree would have believed, the constant hot water didn’t keep the floor clean. Somehow, it made it worse, which meant day after day she was stuck on her hands and knees, scrubbing at the dirt and scum that refused to go down the floor drains.

  How long until my punishments are over? she’d asked the over-secretary earlier
that day. Rebecca had dismissed her with a wave of her hand.

  When they’re over, was the only answer she’d been given. Far from satisfactory, to say the least. Worst was how it kept her from spending time with Dean. Over the past few weeks they’d begun shamelessly flirting with each other, much to the chagrin of the rest of the group. Joining him in practice, moving their bodies together in a dance of steel, had easily become the highlight of her day, even more than flying. And now she couldn’t, because she had to scrub showers.

  Bree didn’t regret hitting Jason with the broom handle. She just regretted not hitting him even harder. If she was going to be miserable, at least she could have taken out a tooth or something…

  After what she’d guessed to be half an hour, Bree rose from the floor, stretched her arms and legs in a vain attempt to prevent further cramping, and called it quits. She’d scrubbed two thirds of the floor; surely that’d be good enough for one day. Her stomach rumbled, and she couldn’t wait to get changed and grab some supper from the mess hall. Dumping the rest of the water in her bucket down the drain, she piled her supplies inside and carried it out.

  “Hey, beautiful. How’s the work going?”

  Bree froze in terror at the sight of Dean leaning beside the door, arms crossed over his chest. Her hair was pulled back from her face in a knot, then covered with a rag to help keep sweat out of her eyes. Her hands were filthy and raw from the lye, her entire body coated with sweat. She wore an oversize white shirt and brown pants she’d been given by Rebecca, the same clothing the academy servants wore, and the knees and sleeves were wet and covered with muck. The only thing Bree could imagine being worse was if she’d strolled out of the showers completely naked.

  “It’s… going,” Bree said, debating an escape plan.

  Dean chuckled.

  “You’ve missed sword practice the past two days. They must be working you to the bone.”

  Bree shrugged, unsure of how to act. She might not have regretted what she’d done, but she still felt embarrassed every time the topic came up.