“They have been ordered to arrest me, Lathan! I won’t go!” Brae shook her head, hot tears stinging the corners of her eyes.
“You have been misinformed,” Lathan assured her and, looking into his eyes, she saw he believed his words. How thoroughly Raphaela must have deceived him! “She fears for your safety while your husband is away.”
“She fears my freedom while my husband is away! She fears where I will go and what I will do!” Brae’s head swayed again violently. “She fears the one whose name I may speak in the dark. She believes I have brought the name Adlae Sundragon to life on these streets. I will not be imprisoned, Lathan! I won’t!”
She turned from him, raising her sword when suddenly one of the soldiers rushed up behind her. Brae gasped; burning pain sliced through her leg. Her sword clattered to the ground, and she fell to her knees with a cry, gripping the gash in her calf. Blood seeped between her fingers, warm and thick.
“Cease!” Lathan shouted releasing his sword from its sheath to raise the blade against the soldier who had slashed her. “You are not to harm your captain’s wife!”
“Pardon, Lieutenant,” one of the soldiers, the one who had tried to reason with her, stepped in front of him. “But the captain is not here, and it would seem you were misinformed.”
Brae looked up at the man she called brother. She watched the color drain from his face as the soldier grabbed her by the arms, forcing her to her feet. She moaned, her wound throbbing. Blood soaked through her skirt and cold fear wrapped around her heart. Tears flowed against her will down her cheeks. Lathan was shaking his head, frozen in place as he watched the soldier chain her hands behind her. He was powerless to do anything to prevent them. Brae winced when the soldier leaned close against her shoulder, his voice roaring in her ear.
“Brae Jandry, by order of Princess Raphaela, Sister of the King, Sword Maiden of Sunkai, and Sister of the Blood of Eventide, you are under arrest.”
In the distance, Quintaria was waking up. Brecken leaned against the pommel of his saddle, eyes narrowed on the city. Half of his troops were preparing to invade, his brother Maxx waiting at the gate to give them their orders. The other half of the army was to follow him past the city walls to pursue Mirae Sundragon onto the plains. His second hadn’t been certain splitting the army was a good idea, but Brecken knew he wouldn’t need five-thousand troops to overwhelm Mirae’s small rebel army.
A piece of him hoped he wouldn’t be able to overtake her before she reached the Pilvaa. He would not take the king’s army over the border of the forest, not without a creature of magic to ward off the evil dwelling there. Brecken shifted in the saddle, raising up to rest his hand on his sword hilt. There was nothing to do but move forward, yet he was tempted to turn around. There was a gnawing in his stomach he couldn’t shake, unsettling him. He couldn’t shake the feeling he needed to return to Sunkai.
The trees whistled as a hard wind assaulted them, blowing Brecken’s cloak from his shoulders. He shuddered, hoping winter wouldn’t come today. If it did, the plains would kill his men. No one dared step on the Kliat Plains when the frost came. There were traps scattered throughout the plains, and when the snow fell, they were invisible. Brecken only ever traveled the Kliat in great need, and he couldn’t imagine living on them as the Kael family had all those years. Roderick spoke of them fondly, for the isolation and protection they’d offered his sister Damari. But some said the plains were the reason Roderick’s mother Lila died. They said the plains tried to devour her, burning her from the inside until her soul had been ripped from her.
Brecken turned, riding down the columns of men on either side of him until he found Klade. His second looked at him curiously, and Brecken knew he wanted to know what he was thinking. Brecken had been silent ever since they stepped onto the Aulend road. There was something about the forest which silenced him, and then that horrible feeling had settled in his heart. Speaking had become impossible as he battled with himself over the decisions ahead.
All he saw when he thought of Mirae Sundragon was the innocent, wide-eyed little girl growing up in the Blood Keep with her two strong sisters hovering over her. Now, she was wanted by the crown, and he was under orders to execute her and bring her rebel army back to the Mother City to be sold as slaves. He never thought he would be in this predicament. He never thought he’d be under orders to kill his sister by law.
Klade sidled up close, glancing over his shoulder at Lucas and Haedron where they diligently watched Brecken, barely blinking.
“What are you waiting for?” Klade hissed. “You know those two will report everything to the king. If you hesitate, if you even think of anything but your duty—”
“I know, Klade,” Brecken snarled. “Do you understand the consequences of what we’re about to do? Do you understand the repercussions of invading a peaceful city like Quintaria?”
“If they harbored rebels—”
“They didn’t.” Brecken ground his teeth. “The king has no proof they harbored the enemy. Mirae Sundragon was merely spotted walking the streets. They did not harbor them. This is nothing like that little village outside of Sunkai. Mirae didn’t try to take Quintaria. She never would, and she never could. She doesn’t have enough men.”
“All the same.” Klade’s jaw stiffened. “We have our orders.”
“Yes, we do,” Brecken mumbled. “Take the men in. My brother will be waiting inside the city gates.”
Klade nodded, spurring his horse forward as he called to the men to follow. Brecken watched their slow march forward, beating their swords against their shields to announce their arrival to Quintaria. He shuddered, knowing the fear that sound must instill in the people. Everything about these orders screamed of a king’s tyranny, and Brecken nearly ordered them back. But another chill wind fluttered his cloak, and he knew he couldn’t.
They needed to hold Quintaria, to be here if Mirae’s army retreated to the city walls. He couldn’t risk so many men on the Kliat Plains. At least this way, if he perished, they would survive to tell the king before Mirae made any more progress toward the Pilvaa and, eventually, Sunkai.
Brecken tugged on the reins, pulling Black Dawn north toward the plains. The stallion’s feet pranced, his head swinging wildly with exhilaration. Brecken chuckled, wishing he had the animal’s energy. The crisp air infused Black Dawn with strength and excitement, urging him to a lively trot beside the men marching without complaint in three straight columns. Brecken heard the clomp of hooves behind him, his face twisting at the thought he was now alone with two men who were as much or more enemy to him as Mirae Sundragon.
Every time he thought of how Haedron had looked at Brae in the tavern that night, his blood boiled. There was no denying his wife was beautiful, and many a man glanced at her with appreciation. But Haedron was used to having his way, and Brecken knew if he hadn’t been there, Brae wouldn’t have been able to fight him off for very long.
No matter how many hidden daggers she had up her sleeve. Brecken grinned at the thought, shaking his head.
“I do hope that grin means you are confident in our task, Captain,” Lucas grumbled at his side, readjusting the fur cloak around his shoulders. “I do not enjoy the thought of riding across the Kliat Plains, chasing a girl.”
“We are chasing a threat to our king, Lucas.” Brecken’s grin twisted into a grimace. “She is not just a girl.”
“Rumor says she’s a woman.” Haedron licked his lips. “A lovely one, at that. Seems a pity to cut off the head of such a young, pretty thing, doesn’t it, Brecken?”
“I wouldn’t know. I’ve not seen her since she was a child,” Brecken quirked a brow. “Have you?”
“I say only what the people whisper.” Haedron held up his hands, his long, braided hair swooshing against his back when he shook his head.
Brecken didn’t know much about the man, but his braids marked him as a Kaldoner. Only Kaldoner
men braided their hair, while the women cut their’s chin-length. They considered short hair a sign of beauty for a woman, though Brecken never understood the men’s braids. Perhaps he would never understand the customs of some of these northerners.
Growing up the first eleven years of his life in Molderëin had molded him in their ways, and having a father who was a true Molderëinian at heart, and always would be, had filled his heart with their customs. His father had always taken great pains to be certain none of his children forgot where they were from. They had never been exposed to the traditions of the northerners. Not until they were old enough to think and speak for themselves.
“Even if the woman is beautiful.” Lucas brought Brecken’s head around. “She is too wild. She cannot be tamed. No man likes that about a woman.”
“I didn’t tame Brae,” Brecken grumbled.
“So you say,” Haedron chuckled. “Yet, she is as meek as a mouse. She is not the Princess Brae, Sword Maiden of Sunkai the world remembers.”
“She held a knife to your throat easily enough,” Brecken smirked. “I do not consider that meek.”
“She never would have gone through with it.”
“I would gamble every gold piece I have on the wager that she would have cut your throat, and then your heart, right out. Next time, I won’t be around to stop her.” Brecken dug his heels into Black Dawn’s sides, and he lunged forward, leaving the two assassins in the dust.
They were approaching the border of the woods now, the Kliat Plains just beyond. Brecken tugged on the reins, drawing Black Dawn up short at the tree line. He smoothed his hand along the stallion’s shiny coat, eyes narrowing as he looked out along the flatland.
As far as the eye could see there was grass; a sea of grass. Rising a foot high, swaying from side to side in the breeze, the blades rustling against each other to sing nature’s song. Brecken wondered how anything so beautiful could be so treacherous. In the distance, he could see a line of figures, small because of the miles between them and the forest, but there all the same. A sea of colors moving steadily toward the Pilvaa Forest.
Mirae. Brecken stiffened, Black Dawn stomping his hoof when he felt his master’s anxiety.
Brecken turned, looking at the men. They stopped just behind him, some of them shifting uneasily, unable to tear their eyes from the view. Brecken could feel the fear thick in the air. Such a great expanse of land, with no shelter and no hiding place, was a source of fear for any army. But a field of beauty embodied with magic was more frightening than any battle they would face. Sometimes the plains were silent and gentle, yet sometimes, they were like a deathly storm, prepared to swallow you at the first opportunity.
With the Creator’s blessing, they will be peaceful as we cross them. Brecken rubbed his thumb on the silver hilt of his sword before raising his fist forward.
The men began their march, slower than before, but then their pace began to quicken. Brecken watched a moment more, his eyes focused on the smudge of color in the distance. If they kept their pace, without resting, they could overtake them in a day. With any luck, all of this would be over quickly, and he would be on his way home to his wife and daughter. With that thought prominently in his mind, he nudged Black Dawn forward, following his men onto the Kliat Plains.
Mirae’s breath misted in front of her face. She shivered, drawing her cloak tighter around her shoulders as she watched her people trudge across the plains. There had been no more attacks since Astra returned, standing at the edge of their circle every night to look out over the dark fields. The Black Ones seemed to sense her and didn’t dare come any closer. None dared to challenge her, not with her strength. Others said they stayed their attack because the air grew colder and they found warmth in the darkness of their forests. Mirae didn’t know what awaited them in the Pilvaa, but she knew with Astra on their side they would be fine. The entire camp seemed to breathe a sigh of relief when she had appeared that night, disintegrating an entire troupe of Black Ones with a wave of her hand. If only she could use such power against men.
Only against creatures of dark magic, can I raise my hand, Astra’s voice echoed in her head. To death I may send them, but against men, I am powerless.
Mirae never understood the rules of magic, or who made them, but she respected Astra upholding her oaths as a creature of magic. Having the magic could not be easy, but her power was meant to nurture the world in the light of the Creator, not darken it by raising a violent hand against the Creator’s children. Mirae watched her carefully since her return, speaking quietly with Braven and Cohdel to be certain the woman was completely in her right mind. They’d looked at her strangely at the remark; Braven had even chuckled and commented that Astra had never been completely in her right mind. But Mirae had seen the concern in his eyes when she mentioned it.
Astra was slipping in and out of coherence. She found controlling her Seeing harder and harder. Sight came against her will now, visions clouding her eyes and causing her to withdraw from everyone, even Braven. Mirae knew it was difficult for her not to have her separate tent; not to be able to retreat into her isolation as she always did in the woods. Instead, she was surrounded by people—by little children who tried to play with her.
Mirae grinned. Looking over her shoulder she saw Lara and Griyer, walking hand in hand along the line of wagons. Griyer had returned with Astra, though he said his presence had done little to convince her to leave Quintaria. The storm simply passed from Astra’s eyes, and she stood up and started walking. Griyer said they’d had no choice but to follow her. She wouldn’t listen to anyone. She ignored them completely and walked boldly down the streets of Quintaria, not even trying to hide who she was. Griyer still couldn’t explain how they’d made the camp in time to stop the attack. But how didn’t matter, not with the end result. Mirae was only glad Lara was all right.
If she closed her eyes, she could still see the Black One leaning over her friend, his claw raised and ready to thrust directly into her heart. Until a few nights ago, she hadn’t even thought Wraith Spawn existed. Now they were all too real.
Thunder pranced, his golden coat shimmering under the light of the midday sun. Mirae wished she could be as excited as he was as they came closer to the Pilvaa. Mirae stroked the animal’s neck, cooing to him softly to calm him. Thunder had always been lively; Jaeger said his spirit was one of the reasons he’d given him to Mirae. They were alike, their fierce excitement and energy compatible. But Mirae had lost some of hers somewhere along the way. Yet Thunder remained the same. Shaking her head, she kicked his sides, urging him forward to come alongside Jaeger.
“There have been no Wraith Spawn since the other night,” Mirae commented. “They haven’t even tried to breach the circle.”
“They won’t, not with Astra inside. They know what it is she can do now. They will focus on the weak cities.”
“Then we’ve left Quintaria to the beast.” Mirae shivered. “That is what you mean, isn’t it?”
“It’s not your fault, little one.” Jaeger bowed his head, hiding his eyes from her.
“No?” Mirae’s eyebrow twitched irritably. “It was my decision for us to cross the Kliat. If we had stayed, we could have defended Quintaria against them. Astra could have created a circle around the city.”
“And we would have been overrun by Brecken Jandry and his men. What good would you be to anyone if you were captured now? We do not have the numbers or strength to invade Sunkai, not yet. This is the only way.”
“I would rather face Roderick’s armies head-on than leave an innocent city to the mercy of those creatures.”
“We cannot go back and change it now, Mirae.” Jaeger looked at her this time, reaching over to squeeze her arm. “All we can do is move forward. We have Astra now, and she will see us safely through the Pilvaa.”
“Keats said Brecken’s army was getting close to the city.” Mirae bit her bottom lip. “I shoul
d have sent him back again. I don’t like moving forward blindly, not knowing what that man is going to do next.”
“That man is married to your sister. Of one thing I’m certain, he won’t kill you. Not if he loves Brae Sundragon.” Jaeger tried to smile but grimaced instead. Mirae shook her head, amused by his attempt to cheer her.
“Love has no influence. Not when you’re fighting for the crown.” Mirae hugged herself, shivering. The air suddenly seemed colder. “I think this will be our last summer sun. The air turns colder.”
“Then we had better pray to the Creator the frost does not come until after we reach the Pilvaa. The plains have been quiet since we stepped upon them, but they will awaken at the first sign of the frost.” Jaeger scratched the stubble on his face, frowning thoughtfully at the trees in the distance. “I will feel better when we are under the roof of the forest once more. No matter how dangerous the Pilvaa is said to be, I grow anxious under this open sky.”
“We all do.” Mirae sighed heavily. “Will you make the rounds, Jaeger? Be certain they are all keeping pace?”
Jaeger nodded, turning his gelding around. Mirae started to turn away when a shout stopped them both. Mirae spun Thunder around, frowning as Jhase came jogging up the line of people, waving his arm at her.
“Come quickly, Your Majesty,” Jhase gasped, breaths heaving his chest. “You have to see this!”
Mirae frowned, glancing at Jaeger before she spurred Thunder forward to a canter, riding down the line with Jaeger close on her heels. The women and children climbed into the wagons, hidden away with the encouragement of their men as Mirae passed. The men were quickly forming a line, surrounding the wagons and pulling their weapons loose. Mirae’s heart quickened at the sight, knowing something must be terribly wrong if they were preparing for a fight. She reached the end of the line in moments, drawing rein as Lara and Griyer turned from the open plains behind them. Mirae’s breath caught, her fingers curling tighter around the reins.
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