Wilde's Army

by Krystal Wade

  I cross my arms over my chest. “Why did we not leave earlier then?”

  Arland cups my cheek, soothing my frustration. “You needed rest, and we needed to speak with Perth. Doing so gave Flanna and the children enough time to compose themselves—or at least some time.”

  “You said the magic would hide us from daemons even if they passed through the spell—or at least, that’s what you said about the stables. Does our magic not work out here?”

  A coy smile plays across his face. “That’s?”

  “Are you going to point out every mistake I make now?”

  “Perth may be a lot of things, but he was correct to mention the way you speak. The people here may not care enough to notice, but there are many at Willow Falls who will. And you do not have much time to practice.”

  I roll my eyes. “I do not like being told what to do, or what I’m doing wrong.”

  “I’m?”

  Arland is right, but I don’t have to like it. “Please answer my question about the magic before I go kiss Perth like you offered.”

  Eyes widening, he chuckles and threads his fingers through my hair. Arland pulls me so close his breath warms my lips. “I will stop correcting you. Please, do not run off.”

  “My question, Arland.”

  “Daemons would pass through, however, if any of them made it out of here earlier without being killed, then they might tell others of our location. They could wait for us, surround us, and we would have to fight them here … again.”

  “So risking everyone by leaving during the day is safer than staying put and waiting until the daemons go to sleep?”

  He nods.

  “Okay.”

  I take a deep breath, pushing aside my own grief, so I can tend to the others. “I will go check in on Flanna and the children while you talk to Cadman and Ogilvie about the graves.”

  Arland kisses my forehead, stands, then offers me his hand. I grab it, and he helps me to my feet. For everything I’ve endured today, I feel stronger than I think I should. I don’t know if my courage derives from adrenaline or sheer will, but whatever it is, I’m thankful for it.

  “Solas,” I whisper. A blue flame appears in my hand and provides enough light for me to maneuver through the cave without running into anyone. I search through groups of soldiers. Most of them talk amongst themselves, but Flanna is nowhere to be seen.

  Mom is sitting along the side of the cave with the children. Anna catches sight of me then runs over and latches onto my leg.

  I’ve been a huge failure to these people.

  “She … she d-died, Kate. She—”

  I kneel then wipe the tears from her swollen face. “Anna, I know you were very close with Enid—or who you thought to be Enid—but she is in a better place now.”

  She throws her arms around me, body trembling. “I want to be in the better place, too.”

  A lump forms in my throat. I swallow it. I have to be strong. “No, Anna, you do not want to be in the other place. We are going to fight this. We are going to win, and when we do, you will live a happy, full life. Do you understand?”

  She inhales through her stuffed nose. “Can I stay with you?”

  “Come on.” I stand then take her by the hand. “I am on my way to find Flanna; she lost someone she loves, too. Can you be strong for her?”

  Anna wipes tears from her face with the back of her sleeve. “Mmhmm.”

  “Good.”

  We walk hand-in-hand through the dark, searching for Flanna in every hideaway, every group of people.

  “Where do you think she is?” Anna asks.

  “She is probably alone somewhere.”

  Faint sniffles come from the furthest corner of the cave. We follow the sounds, then find Flanna on her side, cowering in a ball.

  Anna tugs at my hand.

  “What is it, Anna?”

  She looks at Flanna, then back up to me. “Did Lann go to the better place, too?”

  “Of course he did.”

  Anna drops my hand then takes a few steps toward Flanna. She sits up, face void of emotion, void of the vibrant life I’ve come to depend on. Flanna catches my gaze. Her bloodshot eyes are tormented. She already lost her mother, and I’m sure many others, and now someone she loves even more intimately.

  Anna takes Flanna’s hands, sits next to her, then whispers in her ear.

  “Is that what Kate told you?” Flanna asks.

  I’m rooted in place.

  “Yes. She told me Enid is in a better place, and Lann is there, too.” Anna turns and looks up at me. The innocence in her big, green eyes, the way she’s trying to help—she is such an incredible child.

  Flanna grimaces. “Well, Anna, Kate is correct. It is hard to lose people we love, but we should not waste time crying over them. Kate lost someone she loved, too, and here she is, trying to help us.” With trembling hands, Flanna groans and stands up, then gives Anna a hug.

  “Thank you for coming to talk to me.”

  “You are welcome.”

  Flanna puts her hands on her hips and stares at me blankly.

  “Arland had Cadman and Ogilvie prepare … .” I clear my throat and tip my head in Anna’s direction.

  “So Arland wants to have a funeral?” Flanna asks.

  “Yes, then we are going to leave. Arland thinks the longer we wait, the more danger we are in.”

  “I had a feeling we would not be here much longer. Are you okay? I mean after the incident with the shifter?” Flanna’s face pales and she presses her hand to her forehead.

  “I was lucky.”

  She looks behind me; her eyes widen.

  My heart races. Every time someone sees something behind me, we end up in some sort of fight or argument or discussion I’d rather not have. Holding my breath, I turn around slowly and find Arland standing in somber silence.

  “Arland,” Flanna says.

  “Flanna, I am—”

  “Do not say it, Arland. I know you are. He was your friend, too.”

  The two of them have shared grief before. If it weren’t for Arland, Flanna wouldn’t be alive, but I don’t know how to respond. Should I hug Flanna, or Arland?

  Arland takes a couple steps then stands next me, but keeps his hands behind his back, shoulders squared. “Cadman and Ogilvie are ready for us outside. Katriona, will you please gather everyone and bring them down the path toward the river?”

  “Yes, sir,” I say, trying out my new role: someone not in love with Arland.

  He turns away then heads through the exit.

  Not responding to Flanna’s open mouth, I grab her and Anna by the hand then lead them toward the other soldiers.

  “Kate, why did my cousin call you Katriona? And why did you call him sir?” Flanna whispers.

  “We will explain everything to all the soldiers after … .” I don’t know why I have such a difficult time forming the words funeral or graves, but for some reason, my mouth refuses to speak them.

  She glares at me.

  “When we arrive at Willow Falls, Perth and I are going to pretend like we are in love. He is going to court me to avoid an immediate forced Binding spell. Arland and Perth agreed in order for Leader Dufaigh and everyone else to believe the lie, I would have to work to speak like everyone else—to fit in—so people do not look at me, or catch me looking at Arland.”

  Flanna stops short and grips my forearm. “Did you just say Arland and Perth agreed?”

  “I did, but it was not easy to get them to talk.”

  “That is because Arland knows Perth better than you do. Arland knows he should not trust him—”

  “Flanna, I understand you do not like Perth, but you must know I have to do this. Griandor—”

  She glances down at Anna who has been listening to our conversation for too long. Anna doesn’t need to be involved in any of my problems; her life is already difficult enough.

  “You are going to need my help at Willow Falls. There will be people you have to meet, dances, conve
rsations, customs you are not familiar with—I will not leave your side.” Color returns to Flanna’s cheeks, life to her eyes—I’ve given her something positive to focus her energy on.

  “Kate?” Anna asks.

  “Yes?”

  “Why are you going to lie to everyone about who you love?”

  I run my fingers through her hair. “Because I have to, Anna. I know you do not understand. Neither do I. But can you keep this a secret and make sure all the other children keep it a secret, too?”

  “Yes, but I do not like it.”

  Flanna shakes her head.

  We split up. She gathers people from the right side of the cave while Anna and I gather people from the left. We shuffle everyone down the path then toward the river, where Arland and Mom and a few others already wait.

  Hints of sunshine peek down from above, illuminating black mounds of dirt covering Lann and Enid. Anna and Flanna pause when we reach the graves. I stand between them, my hands squeezed by their grief. To the left, I spot Marcus alone in the crowd of people, staring at his sister, tears glistening on his face.

  I lean into Anna. “Remember, you need to be strong.”

  She doesn’t take her gaze from the earth but nods.

  “Go to your brother. Comfort him.” I prod her back.

  She takes a few steps toward Marcus, stops, looks at the graves, then rushes over to him.

  Flanna squeezes my hand harder.

  “Please, do not leave me,” she says with enough desperation to rip me in two.

  “I had not planned on it.”

  We nudge our way through the crowd toward Arland, my mom, and Brit. After we reach them, I take Mom’s hand in my left and hold Flanna’s on my right. Arland pats Flanna’s shoulder then steps away from us, staring at the ground. When he returns his gaze on the crowd, on the mourners, on me, I’m shocked by the amount of pain he reveals. His eyes are red, his face falls flat—not emotionless, but flat from an inability to control emotions.

  He focuses on me then opens his mouth. “Times are difficult enough without losing those we love.”

  Memories of my visions come crashing down on me like a ton of bricks. All the death, all the misery of losing him, someone I love, someone I cannot imagine living without now that I know him … I pray the day never comes, that none of the visions becomes reality.

  He averts his gaze from me then looks at every person gathered, pausing only long enough to make eye contact, then moves on to the next. “Lann and Enid were good people. While none of us knew the real Enid, we know the shifter emulated who Enid truly was. She loved children, loved her fear céile, and had a passion for life. It is a shame we could not do more to help her, but the current state of our world does not allow for such miracles.”

  Arland steps through the crowd, takes Anna and Marcus by the hands, then leads them to one of the graves. The other children follow close behind, gathering in a loose circle.

  “The children were particularly close with Enid and, therefore, will have first wishes for her passing.” Arland kneels, scoops a handful of dirt, then drops bits of it in each child’s hand as they walk by him.

  “Speak your wish or favorite memory of Enid to that which will cover her forever, then spread it over her resting place.”

  All the children bring the dirt to their mouths, whisper words for Enid, then spread the wishes over the ground. Trailing back into the crowd, they take their places, but with a little less sadness on their faces. Frowns even out. Tears dry up. Peace has been made.

  Flanna leans into me.

  I release her hand then wrap my arm around her shoulders. “It is going to be okay, Flanna.”

  “I will never find love again, Kate—I mean Katriona. Part of my prophecy said I would love until the end. I did not realize the end would come so soon, and I did not realize I would never have had a chance to tell him,” she whispers, staring straight ahead.

  “Y-you never told him?”

  “I told the shifter, but Lann never knew.” Flanna’s face turns bright red, matching her hair.

  “He did not respond. I should have known something was wrong. Lann told me two years ago he was going to make me his one day. I laughed, but from that day forward, I began falling for him. I was mortified after I told him I loved him … he did not say anything.”

  “I am so sorry, Flanna.” I don’t know what else to say. In a strange way, I feel responsible. I have the ability to see these things, to protect everyone and to end all of this, but so far I haven’t been able to save anyone.

  She tears her gaze from Arland, from Lann’s grave, from the end of her love, and holds mine with such intensity I’m imprisoned in her blue eyes. “Promise me you will never stop loving Arland. Promise me you will never take him for granted, never miss an opportunity to love him even if it costs you everything. Love is the only thing in the world that matters, Katriona. Do you understand?”

  I manage to nod. Of course I’ll love Arland. Of course I won’t take him for granted.

  “I mean it. Do not fall for Perth at Willow Falls. Do not become fool to their games, Katriona, because a game is what I fear this is for him. Arland loves you, and the two of you have to be together. We will all die if you are not.”

  Mom leans forward. “Flanna,” she scolds under her breath.

  Flanna ignores my mom and grips my arm in her hand so hard, I know I will bruise. “Promise me, Katriona.”

  “I promise, Flanna.” I don’t dare tell her Perth is honest, don’t dare tell her we could all die whether Arland and I are together or not. She’s grieving. I doubt she wants to cry in front of all the soldiers; Flanna is a Leader. I’m positive my promise is the only way she knows how to cope with her hurt right now.

  “Lann was a Leader.” Arland’s voice booms with pride, interrupting Flanna’s quiet outburst.

  She straightens her back and watches him without a hint of the pain that was on her face moments ago.

  “She will not cry where others may see her. You should remember this; it will help you earn respect,” Mom whispers.

  I mimic Flanna’s Leader stature. Squaring my shoulders and clearing my face of what I’m feeling, I stare ahead.

  “A good Leader,” Arland continues. “He guided many of you through tough times, through hard battles, and through devastations none of us should ever have had to face. He was a friend of mine. I vow never to let what happened to him happen to anyone again.” Arland pauses and locks eyes with me. “I will remain focused and be more vigilant when behaviors seem out of the ordinary.”

  I catch a few of the soldiers looking in my direction, but I’m not surprised. Arland said himself he’s acted like a lust driven youth since he met me. They must have noticed, but somehow his behavior doesn’t bother me one bit.

  “If any soldier has a wish or something they would like to say, please come forward now,” Arland says.

  Glancing around, I watch as, one by one, soldiers line up, grab a handful of dirt, whisper their wishes or kind words, spread them, then return to where they stood before. Not everyone pays respects, so it doesn’t feel awkward to stand here while the ones who do move around. Perth, Flanna, Mom, Brit, and I all hold our ground—as well as a few other soldiers.

  When the commotion settles down, Arland glances at my mom, then returns to his feet. He stands in front of the graves again. “I would like to ask all the Leaders in our presence to come forward and pay their respects to Lann.”

  Perth and Flanna step forward, but my feet are unwilling to move. The soldiers are aware I’m from The Meadows, but most of them are not aware of who I am—only that I’m powerful. If I step forward, if my mom or sister steps forward, everyone will know—or at least have a lot questions.

  Mom looks between Arland, me, Brit, and everyone else. I’m not sure if Mom is ready for this either; she’s been in hiding for years and has told me she fears for her life when the other Leaders discover her.

  She takes a deep breath then releases. “We may as
well get this over with in front of people who do like us. It will be good for these people to know. They need to trust you, Kate.”

  “Katriona, Mom. Kate will not exist at Willow Falls.” No matter how much I hate the idea of coming out of hiding, she’s right. If I’m ever going to form an army, I need someone to trust me.

  “Katriona then.” She turns and looks at my sister. “You, too, Brit. You have just as much a responsibility to this land as Katriona. I am sorry for what I said earlier.”

  “It’s okay. I know you’re scared. I am, too,” Brit says.

  She’s always been closer to our mom; the quick reconciliation is not surprising, but it does sting. I’ve always felt my relationship with Mom to be somewhat lacking. Now, only more so. Even though I’ve resigned myself with her reasons, I still don’t fully trust her. I just need her.

  Without allowing any more time to dwell on trust or relationships, Mom grabs me and Brit by the hands then steps forward. Flanna walks next to us, and Perth joins as well. We take our places beside Lann’s grave, ignoring the whispers from the soldiers behind us.

  Arland kneels again. He scoops more earth then drops some into each of our hands. When we’re all holding the dirt, he whispers his wish then scatters it over the grave.

  I don’t know what I’m going to wish for. I’m not sure if Lann was himself when we met, or if the shifter had already abducted him.

  Perth follows suit, spreading his dirt.

  My palms sweat.

  Mom and Brit whisper to their closed fists then sprinkle their wishes over the graves.

  What could they have wished for? Neither of them knew Lann. I’ve never been to a funeral, only seen them on television, and I’ve never heard of people making wishes for the dead.

  “Katriona?” Arland says, startling me by his closeness.

  Some dirt falls from my hands and lands on my boots. I look up and around.

  Everyone watches me.

  It’s my turn.

  I take a deep breath, close my eyes then whisper the first thing that comes to mind. “I am sorry, Lann. I wish for you to meet Flanna again someday.”

  I scatter the brown, dry earth over his grave then turn to rejoin the others in the crowd.