Reckoning (The Amazon's Vengeance Book 5)

by Sarah Hawke

  Closing his eyes, Cassel slowly reached back and unclasped Retribution from his back. The blade hummed faintly at his touch. Ever since Tahira had placed the last spark of her power within the blade, it had felt almost weightless to him despite its size. The gemstone embedded in the handle seemed to glow brighter by the day and there were times when he swore he could see her face smiling back within.

  “The Knights of the Silver Fist are gone, and they aren’t coming back,” Cassel whispered. “Honestly, the Order died a long time ago…we just didn’t realize it.”

  “But we still have the sword, sir,” Kerth pointed out. “For all we know, we could use it to empower a new generation of—”

  “No,” Cassel said. “I will not bind another generation of young men and women to a power we barely understand.”

  He sighed and twisted Retribution in his grip. Thanks to the Godsoul fragment stored within, Cassel could still call upon the Aether…but the rest of the knights weren’t so lucky. Most of the paladins who had survived the battle had succumbed to the Wasting Echo in the days thereafter. Only Kerth and a few other fortunate souls had endured. Somehow, the sword had quelled the Echo without restoring their ability to channel. Cassel didn’t understand why or how, and that was the fundamental problem.

  “The Inquisitrix was right about one thing,” he said. “Power without temperance is dangerous. There was a time when the Order denied power to all but a few aspirants. True paladins were rare, and they had to prove themselves worthy of the responsibility. But then the Council decided that the city didn’t really need an army if it had us, and we started promoting more and more squires every year. The Winter War made it even easier to justify the rapid promotions.”

  Cassel took a deep breath. “Well, now we realize that all power has a price. We need to be judicious about who is allowed to drink from the well—and everyone who takes the oath needs to understand that once they touch the Aether, there is no going back.”

  Kerth nodded solemnly and swept his eyes across the rubble. He remained silent, though Cassel knew precisely what the younger man was thinking. He was scared—everyone in the city was, and for good reason. The Inquisitrix may have been defeated, but her Sanctori and Senosi minions had retreated to Vorsalos. It wasn’t as though Highwind lacked for enemies elsewhere, either. The great kingdoms of the south like Ebara and Talisham had always looked upon the Northern Reaches as backwater city-states just waiting to be claimed, and the covetous tharns of Darenthi to the east would surely be tempted to expand their territory as well.

  Rumors of a new Wyrm Lord might keep the jackals at bay for a while, but it wouldn’t last. Jorem’s power was as much of a lure as it was a deterrent. Ambitious sorcerers across Torsia might wish to challenge him, and noble families the world over would almost certainly try to manipulate him into siring new dragons…

  “It’s time for us to return to our roots,” Cassel said after a moment. “I’ve been reading the Highlord’s books on the knightly orders of the old world, and there’s a lot we can learn from them. The Knights of the Last Dawn defended Varellon with honor and dignity for thousands of years, and there’s no reason we can’t do the same here.”

  Kerth set his jaw and nodded. “I will follow wherever you lead, sir, and I know the others will, too. But Highwind still needs us, perhaps now more than ever.”

  “I know,” Cassel said.

  Cassel smiled down at Retribution and the symbol now inscribed at the base of the steel blade. He didn’t claim to understand much about the Godsouls, especially after their battle with Dathiel. But whether or not the Eternal Lady was real, Tahira’s faith certainly had been. Her sisters would have believed that she was a vessel chosen for their goddess’s return. Perhaps they were right, just not in the way they had envisioned.

  “It’s only a matter of time before someone tries to take advantage of the chaos,” Kerth warned. “Our list of enemies will grow.”

  “Let them come,” Cassel said. “The Knights of the Eternal Dawn will be here waiting for them.”

  ***

  “All right, admit it,” Valuri said, planting her hands on her hips and sweeping her gaze across the ruins of Highwind’s city hall. “You’re secretly happy this building was destroyed, aren’t you?”

  “It isn’t much of a secret,” Serrane muttered. She strode up to the pile of stone and broken timber blocking the main entrance and tried to peer through the gaps. Even her elven eyes couldn’t see much in the darkness except more rubble and dust.

  In theory, her rangers could eventually clear out the debris and recover any important documents that had survived the collapse. Most of the scrolls were kept inside reinforced steel containers, so they were probably fine. The only thing the city had truly lost was the symbol of the Council’s power, and she doubted that mattered much now since she was literally the only survivor. In the span of just a few months, Highwind had lost almost every single authority figure: the Highlord, the Archmage, the Constable, the liaison to the commoners. They had even lost the leader of the once-legendary Academy. Headmistress Telanya had vanished without a trace over a month ago.

  “I suggest you build yourself a palace instead,” Valuri suggested with a grandiose wave. “You should specifically design the throne room so you only ever have to meet with one idiotic petitioner at a time.”

  Serrane snorted softly. “I’m not a queen.”

  “You could be, easily enough. If you and Golden Boy decided to declare yourself royalty, do you honestly think anyone in this city would try and stop you?”

  “Yes.”

  “Okay, then let me rephrase,” Valuri said. “Do you think anyone could stop you? You’re the heroes of Highwind! And to be perfectly blunt, you’re both annoyingly gorgeous. Everyone secretly loves the idea of being ruled over by a beautiful queen and handsome king.”

  “Not everyone,” Serrane murmured. “Without the Academy or the Silver Fist, the nobles are going to want a much larger say in how the city is governed. They’re already pressuring me to reform the Council.”

  “You’re the one who actually risked her life to defend their homes. Half of them sailed up the river and skipped out on the whole battle!”

  “I realize that, but we’re going to need their coin to rebuild the city.”

  “Yeah, well, fuck them,” Valuri spat.

  Serrane’s mouth twitched as she turned around to face the other woman. “You wouldn’t make a very good politician, you know that?”

  “I don’t just know it—I’m proud of it,” the Huntress said. “You hate dealing with this shit, too. That’s one of the reasons we get along so well.”

  Serrane smiled wearily and she glanced down the long steps to the plaza below. Most of the damage from the battle had been contained to the Iron and Redwater Districts, but there were plenty of exceptions. Statues had been toppled, homes had been burned, businesses had been destroyed…it would take years to fully rebuild, and some of what was lost could never truly be replaced.

  Great change was upon them, whether anyone liked it or not. Perhaps it was time for her to try and make the most of it.

  “All I’m saying is that the Council didn’t really give much of a voice to the people,” Valuri added after a moment. “If the nobles want to play a part in the reconstruction, you could always invite them into your royal court. That’s how it works in Nelu’Thalas, isn’t it?”

  “More or less,” Serrane admitted.

  “Darenthi does the same thing with its dukes and tharns,” Valuri said. “And here in the Reaches you won’t even have to deal with insane religious zealots like the Tel Bator.”

  A long silence settled between the two of them until Valuri sidled close and wrapped her arms around Serrane’s slender waist. The Huntress gently kissed the elf’s neck and pointed ears from behind.

  “I don’t know, maybe I just get hot at the notion of fucking a queen,” Valuri teased. “You could build a little side chamber next to the throne room where I could ben
d you over between petitioners…”

  Serrane chuckled and allowed herself to relax in the other woman’s firm embrace. “I don’t think you’d be happy living in the shadows of the palace. Besides, aren’t you planning on returning to Vorsalos?”

  “For a while,” Valuri said. “It’s only a matter of time before the Sanctori and the Senosi consolidate control of the city. I doubt they’ll be able to hold Graygale or Ostvara without the Inquisitrix’s channelers, but they still have the fleet. And it’s not like there’s anyone left to seriously oppose them.”

  “Except for you and Jorem,” Serrane said.

  “And Red and wolf girl, as odd as that is to say.” The Huntress sighed softly. “Kaseya wants to return home and aid the amazons, but Jorem and I…it just doesn’t feel right to finally dethrone the Inquisitrix but then leave the people of Vorsalos at the mercy of her minions. We have to do something.”

  Serrane placed her hand on top of Valuri’s and turned in her arms to face her. “I know,” she whispered. “There’s so much going on…I had a feeling we’d be saying goodbye sooner or later.”

  “Only until we tear down the Castarium. Besides, what’s a few months to a highborn elf who will live for another few hundred years? I’m the one who has to worry about her tits starting to sag in another few decades.”

  “Eloquent, as always.”

  Valuri shrugged. “You also promised that you would introduce me to your friend soon.”

  “Another reason for you to return as quickly as you can,” Serrane said, smiling. “Aluriel’s letter said she’ll be back in Highwind early next week. Thank the gods her unit survived…”

  “After fighting a god, I’m past the point of thanking them for anything,” Valuri muttered. “But if this girl is as fun as you say…fuck it, maybe I’ll just let Jorem handle Vorsalos all by himself.”

  Serrane laughed. She kissed the Huntress softly on the lips, something she never would have considered doing in broad daylight just a few days earlier. But at this point, she didn’t particularly care about keeping up appearances.

  “I still can’t believe you’re pregnant,” Valuri said, placing both her hands on the elf’s bare belly again. “You’re not showing at all. How do you—”

  “I am a sorceress, you know,” Serrane replied tartly. “And there are…other signs.”

  “I thought your tits seemed a bit bigger. And you have been a bit of a bitch recently…”

  Serrane rolled her eyes. “You’re lucky I needed your help to take out that wyvern hatchery, otherwise I never would have learned to put up with your charming personality.”

  “I’m an acquired taste, I know,” Valuri said, squatting down low enough that she could tenderly kiss the elf’s navel. “Like fine wine or bitter fruit, take your pick.”

  “Definitely the second one.”

  The Huntress grinned. “You have no idea how much I want to fuck you right now.”

  “I can guess,” Serrane snickered. She allowed the other woman to tickle her stomach for a few more minutes before she leaned away and pulled Valuri back to her feet. “There’s just too much work to do. My rangers are still out there trying to stop looters, and I’m worried about the Darkwind soldiers. Without Constable Mannick, they don’t have an appointed leader. It’s only a matter of time before fights start breaking out. They need a purpose—soon.”

  “Well, queens need soldiers,” Valuri said. “You don’t have time to wait for a new Council to form and start making decisions—someone is going to have to take the reins, and Highwind will be far better off if that someone is you.”

  Serrane sighed. As usual, the Huntress wasn’t wrong. The days after the battle had been an indecipherable blur of celebrations and sorrow, but now that reality was finally starting to set in, choices had to be made—difficult, gut-wrenching choices that might literally determine the fate of the entire Northern Reaches.

  “After everything that’s happened, the people want to believe that Jorem will always be there to protect them,” Serrane whispered softly. “The Dragon of Highwind…the bards are already singing about him like he’s a legend.”

  “I’ll be sure not to tell him that,” Valuri said. “Trust me, his ego is already getting large enough.”

  “He’s always seemed humble to me.”

  “He is, but I like to mock him anyway. It’s good for him.” The Huntress smiled tiredly. “Look, I’m supposed to catch up with the others in Hastien’s Fall tonight. They’re still out there near the mountains where Jorem can keep an eye on Vorsalos.”

  Serrane nodded. “If you need any supplies, please take them.”

  “I’ll have plenty of food between Jorem and Red, don’t worry,” Valuri assured her with a wink. “I just didn’t want to leave without saying goodbye. You, uh…you know how bad I am with this emotional nonsense. I really don’t like to—”

  Serrane reached out and pulled the Huntress in for a hug. Before this war had started, Highwind’s Ranger-General never would have believed she could ever become friends—let alone lovers—with a Senosi Huntress. Then again, she never would have believed that she could fall in love with a human paladin, either, or that she would be so gleeful at the prospect of bearing his child.

  Few elves embraced rapid change; one of the virtues of their long lives was the privilege of patience. But she had joined the world of humans when she had left Nelu’Thalas behind, and perhaps it was time to embrace the uncertainty of a brave new world.

  “Whatever happens in Vorsalos…whatever happens here,” Serrane whispered, “I know we’ll see each other again soon.”

  “You can count on it,” Valuri said, leaning away and flashing one of her irresistible impish smirks. “Especially once I steal the phallus back from Red.”

  ***

  “Steady breathing is the most important part of the technique,” Kaseya said. “A true warrior must be calm and focused in battle.”

  Selvhara nodded as she drew in another long, deep breath. Her balance remained steady even though only one of her feet was still planted atop the tree stump. Her left leg was extended out perpendicular to her body while both of her arms were pointed in the opposite direction. With her eyes closed, she couldn’t see how ridiculous she must have looked, but she had to admit that the long stretch felt incredibly relaxing, especially with the afternoon sun warming her skin.

  “Very good,” Kaseya said. “Your natural flexibility is very impressive.”

  Selvhara grinned but kept her eyes closed. She knew that most humans wouldn’t be able to balance themselves this precariously for long, though as usual, the amazon was a clear exception. Earlier, Kaseya had held this pose for what seemed like hours, and that was after doing countless pull-ups on one of the low branches of a nearby tree. Her body was practically a temple to human perfection.

  “I remember watching the Dal’Rethi Blade Dancers practice similar techniques,” Selvhara said. “They were capable of moving in ways I can scarcely fathom.”

  “If what we have learned is correct and the amazons were meant to be the stewards of Dathiel’s prison, it is not surprising that our techniques are similar to those of the ancient elves.”

  Selvhara arched a brow without opening her eyes. “Are you calling me an old woman?”

  “I was…I did not mean to—”

  “I forgive you, Maskari,” the druid replied with an impish smirk.

  Kaseya snorted softly. “I am still not certain that term is appropriate. You are not an amazon warrior, and I am not moshalim.”

  “You are a sorcerer, and I have pledged myself to you. Is that not the core of the relationship?”

  “I suppose, but…” The young woman paused in thought for a moment. “I prefer to think of us as equals…or perhaps even sisters. We are both bound to a dragon now, after all.”

  A tingle of delight rippled through Selvhara’s body, nearly causing her to lose her balance. Even now, several days after the One God’s defeat, she still had trouble believing wha
t had happened.

  Dathiel is gone. I am free. And after a thousand years of longing and anguish, I am finally able to serve a true dragon…

  “Breathe,” Kaseya said, an unmistakable hint of amusement in her voice. “A warrior must learn to keep her focus despite distractions.”

  Selvhara swallowed and took a deep breath, though the excited tingle continued building in her core. At least her curse remained under control, though it admittedly had far less power in broad daylight. Without Dathiel’s power to contain the wolf, she was more reliant on Kaseya’s strength of will than ever. That was the real reason they were here training in this grove while Jorem soared over the Shattered Peaks. Selvhara was going to have to learn a warrior’s discipline if she wanted to contain the beast within.

  “Focus,” the amazon repeated, snow crunching as she circled around the tree stump. “Just remain steady a little longer…”

  Selvhara’s balance was starting to waver after holding herself in such an awkward position for so long, but she was determined to see this through. She held her concentration even when she sensed the amazon climbing up onto the stump behind her. Kaseya’s breath tickled the nape of her neck, but Selvhara still didn’t move—

  Until the amazon abruptly reached out and tickled the sides of the druid’s belly.

  Selvhara yelped, tensed up, and completely lost her balance. She would have tumbled off the stump and fallen flat on her face if Kaseya hadn’t caught her and held her tight.

  “That was not fair!” the druid protested, opening her eyes and planting both her bare feet on the stump.

  “No, but it was quite amusing,” Kaseya snickered, spinning the other woman around in her arms until they were facing one another. “And I wanted to give you this.”

  She leaned in and kissed Selvhara on the lips. The human girl was so warm, so passionate, that Selvhara’s toes curled in anticipation of what might come next. She hadn’t enjoyed the company of a female lover in many, many years, and she was eager beyond reason to spend many long, relaxing days exploring every inch of the amazon’s exquisitely sculpted body.