by Emma Miles
The door closed with a click behind him.
***
Catya came up to her room frequently during that afternoon and evening, at first out of concern and then out of impatience as the girl wanted to be out doing things. Rosa tried to distract them both and keep the peace but Kesta was as restless as the girl.
Jorrun had promised her freedom.
The next morning, she suggested they go riding, and she looked at her two friends as they readied Nettle and Griffon. She’d grown very fond of them in such a short time; would they come with her to the Fulmers if she asked? Would it be fair of her to even ask them?
She noticed that Catya had gone very quiet. The girl was eyeing Griffon with trepidation and she realised the horse would look huge to a girl who had never ridden.
‘Did you know I can talk to horses?’ Kesta said. ‘It’s part of my magic.’
‘Can you really do magic?’ Catya asked. ‘The women say you’re a witch, but you don’t seem evil to me.’
Rosa put her hand over her mouth to hide a laugh.
‘No, I’m not a witch.’ Kesta smiled. ‘That’s what they used to call the women of Elden that could use magic; but even they were not evil. I’m what is called a fire-walker.’
‘A fire-walker?’
Kesta picked up a stick and, agitating the air to create heat, started a fire at its tip. Rosa gave a small gasp of surprise, Catya shrieked and then laughed at herself.
‘That’s amazing!’ Catya stared wide-eyed at the stick.
Kesta dropped it and extinguished the flame with her boot heel. ‘So, you see, I really have magic and can really talk to Griffon. He is a clever horse but a bit naughty – just like you! He won’t hurt you though.’
Catya reached up to touch Griffon’s neck, and the horse blew into her hair. Kesta got up on his back and Rosa helped Catya up to sit on Griffon’s saddle in front of her before mounting the much-improved Nettle. It was wonderful to get out of the hold for a while and its enclosing stone walls. Still, she couldn’t quite shake off the shadow of her fear for the Fulmers and even for Elden. She told herself that her impatience to see Jorrun again was purely down to her need to be doing something and getting things done. The improvements to the hold were going well now, without much need for her supervision, and Tantony had reported that his warriors were settling in with enthusiasm at the bridge.
‘Can you teach me to be a walker?’ Catya asked.
Kesta took in a deep breath. ‘I’m so sorry, you have to be born a walker; you cannot be made one.’
The girl slumped in her lap. ‘Then I will be a warrior like you, perhaps even a queen!’
Kesta laughed. ‘I imagine that’s something you can certainly achieve, Catya. I’ll tell you what; in the Fulmers every Icante has female bodyguards – the best of the best. My mother has two twins, Heara and Shaherra, who guard her. Until we find you a kingdom to rule would you like to train to be my bodyguard?’
‘Oh, yes!’ Catya sat up excitedly. ‘Will Rosa be your other one?’
Rosa snorted and gave a shake of her head.
Kesta bent down to speak softly in to the girl’s ear. ‘Rosa is wiser than both of us put together; we should remember that.’
Catya nodded against her chest.
***
Kesta almost ran up the long steps of the Raven Tower, pausing at the last door to compose herself and give a light knock.
‘Come on in!’ Jorrun called out.
She pushed the door open and found Jorrun clearing space on the table, his sleeves rolled back past his elbows. He pointed to an ornate bronze bowl. ‘Do you scry?’
‘No.’ She shook her head, spotting Azra hovering near the fireplace. ‘Walkers only see through the flame, never water. You?’
‘Yes, I scry. Also,’ he winced. ‘You will not like it but there is a certain blood magic that allows me to speak to specific people.’
‘You use blood magic?’
He held her gaze. ‘I use what I have to, to protect those I care about. If it makes any difference to you, that’s the only blood magic I utilise; although I’ve studied it to understand our enemy.’
‘It’s not my place to judge what I don’t know.’ She moved closer to look into her reflection in the bowl, at her mismatched green eyes. The thought of blood magic did make her shudder. It was something that the walkers whispered of as evil, as the very opposite of what they believed in and stood for.
‘The magic of the Fulmers and of Elden are about working with the spirits, the elements and with life,’ he said softly. ‘It is about respecting and keeping a balance. Blood magic is about commanding, dominating, and destroying.’
‘Well, we can’t allow that so we had better make sure we win.’ She turned around to find him standing uncomfortably close. Her pulse quickened. ‘Why does my knowing not work on you?’ she demanded.
His hand went to his chest just below his throat; there was something beneath his shirt. ‘Because the coven lords enslave walkers and those with their blood, they came up with a way to protect themselves from a walker’s knowing. It also deflects some other magics.’
‘May I see it?’ Holding his eyes, she reached for the button of his shirt and his hand dropped to his side. She undid two buttons and looked down to see a wooden amulet covered in runes with a single red gem set in the centre. His chest stilled as he held his breath.
‘Doraquael is ready.’
Both Kesta and Jorrun jumped as the fire-spirit spoke; Kesta took a hasty step back. Jorrun re-buttoned his shirt. ‘Can you use the fire, or would a candle be better?’
‘The fireplace is fine,’ she replied, looking around and grabbing a cushion off a chair.
‘No,’ Azrael dipped lower and flew in front of the fireplace. ‘Focuss on me!’
Kesta glanced at Jorrun, then placed her cushion on the threadbare carpet. ‘I’ll try.’
It was harder to get her focus to begin with, knowing that she was looking in to a living being rather than just the conduit of a flame; but once she convinced her mind, it was no different, she triggered her walking trance and found herself within the fire vortex. Azrael didn’t speak, but she felt his familiar presence and then that of another drake as they linked. Barely a heartbeat passed before a voice that hurt her heart called out through the conflagration.
Kesta?
Mother!
Are you hurt? Are you well? Have they mistreated you?
I am well! Wait a moment and I’ll tell you! Kesta hesitated, recalling that the fire-spirits could hear everything and wondering if they might speak to Jorrun of everything they said. I’m not happy about this marriage but Jorrun seems to be a good man; he won’t hurt me and will let me go home once we are safe from Chem. I have friends here, good friends, and you’d be proud of how much I’ve done! Mother, I am learning a lot; but we can’t find the Chem fleet. I saw ships readying to sail but we don’t know where they have gone!
I’m glad you’re safe. So glad. But I am surprised you are so calm! We have seen no ships, but a necromancer survived the last attack on the Fulmers. He … he is killing and turning families into his undead warriors. He has also captured a fire-spirit. We are hunting him. Kesta, it is important that you understand their way of fighting. They take hold, then spread their evil increasing their army. Don’t let them get a foothold on Elden.
I don’t intend to. Oh, be careful. I should be ther—
It sounds like you are where you are needed, fire-child.
I miss you. Is father okay? Tell him he did the right thing. And Uncle Worvig?
Your father will be better for knowing you’re okay. Worvig is good.
The necromancers wear amulets that prevent us feeling them with our knowing.
Ah, that explains it. I have found that I can reach and affect them when I touch them.
That’s good to know. Mother, we can use our magic while being carried by a fire-spirit; Siveraell and I created wind together!
Kesta felt her mother’s approval.
> Kesta; to come through to our realm and stay fire-spirits must take the place of a human spirit. Siphenna gave her life for Doroquael to come here and fight for us.
Siphenna! Kesta’s shock sent the flame vortex spinning and spitting. I’m so sorry!
She made the bargain willingly. I must go, my darling fire-child; I hope we can speak again soon.
I love you.
Kesta felt the drakes break their connection. She hoped that her mother had heard her last words.
Slowly she became aware of the room again and Azrael moved toward Jorrun. Jorrun placed a bowl of black oil on the table and the drake rushed at it, drinking quickly.
‘I didn’t know that they drank.’
‘When they are in this realm, they need fuel to sustain themselves. They love oil and coal.’ He offered her a cup of steaming nettle tea and she took it, carefully avoiding his fingers. Her mother had said that Chemman could be affected by knowing through touch; did that mean Jorrun could be too? She tried to recall the few times she’d felt something from him, had she been touching him then?
She looked up and saw that he was watching her. ‘My mother gave me some useful information. She told me that a walker, Siphenna, had given her life so that Doroquael could come through permanently to this realm.’ She glanced at Azrael. ‘Does that mean Azra had to do the same?’
Jorrun sat down heavily. For a moment she didn’t think he would speak. ‘Yes. My mother made a bargain with Azra; her life for his protection of me.’
‘Oh.’ She looked down at her hands, her stomach muscles tightening.
‘I’ll send a message to Bractius with everything we’ve learnt. I’m glad you got to speak to your mother.’
For once Kesta felt lost for words as she looked up at his blue eyes.
‘Tantony tells me that your work on the hold is coming on well?’
‘Nice change of subject.’ She smiled and got to her feet. On impulse she touched his hand, calling her knowing as she did so. She froze as she felt a tumult of emotion from him despite his amulet. She withdrew quickly.
‘Are you all right?’ Jorrun frowned. His fingers moved unconsciously toward the hand she’d touched.
She forced herself to breathe slowly but couldn’t meet his eyes. ‘Yes, it was just … a lot to take in, speaking with my mother. I have a lot to think about. Please excuse me, Jorrun, Azra; let me know if you need me for anything. Goodnight.’
Jorrun nodded, and she left quickly, heading back to the safety of her own Ivy Tower.
***
She spent the next two days looking through the library of the Raven Tower, setting a few books aside that she wanted to read on the table beneath the small, slit window. Most of them were about Chem and one on the history of the magic of Elden. There was only one book in the whole library about the magic of the Fulmers and it was speculative and humorously inaccurate. She found several pieces of paper folded within its pages on which corrections had been written. She recognised Jorrun’s hurried and almost illegible writing, at odds with the precision of his maps. She saw nothing of Jorrun himself, but he did leave a note on his food tray for Catya to bring her, apologising that he wouldn’t have time to visit. She watched the window of his tower, but no candle was lit.
As much as she wanted to immerse herself in the library and the books, she made sure not to neglect her friends and the hold. They made a tour each day to speak to as many people as they could, check on the progress of the works on the hold, and lend a hand here and there. They were out talking with Aven and her daughter when a warrior came running out of the gate, looking flushed and worried.
‘Lady!’ he called spotting her. He paused to catch his breath. ‘You are needed urgently!’
‘What’s happened?’ She nodded toward the two women to excuse herself, then hurried toward the warrior.
Rosa grabbed Catya’s hand, and they followed after.
‘I’m not sure, exactly.’ The warrior indicated that they should follow and set off at once back into the hold. ‘Two ravens arrived with messages, one after the other. The Thane came straight out of his tower to fetch Tantony and asked me to find you at once.’ His eyes widened. ‘You are to meet them in the Raven Tower.’
Kesta nodded, glancing back at Rosa and Catya, then surprising them all by breaking into a sprint. The door to the tower was ajar, and she barely slowed, taking the steps two at a time.
‘Jorrun?’ she called up as she went.
Above the tower she could hear the uproar of the unsettled ravens.
She heard Tantony’s anxious voice before she pushed into the room.
‘What’s happened?’ she panted.
Both men turned to stare at her, Tantony’s mouth fell open.
‘Have you never seen a woman run before?’ she scowled, blushing and trying to get her breathing under control.
‘Actuall—’
Jorrun elbowed Tantony in the ribs to shut him up.
‘We’ve had news from Bractius. Three ships have been sighted off the coast of Elden to the east.’ Jorrun pointed the small town out to her on the map. ‘They lit their beacon and a messenger bird was sent at once from one of the larger towns.’
‘Three ships?’ Kesta looked up.
Jorrun nodded, holding her gaze.
‘That’s not right.’ She shook her head. ‘They have more than three ships.’
‘We were just discussing why they might split their force.’
‘Does Bractius have any ships in pursuit?’
‘There is only one ship close enough to engage and it won’t do so on its own,’ Jorrun replied. ‘It will hold back from a distance until they come to shore and then join our land forces. He has sent orders for some of the Mantu fleet to head eas—’
‘No!’ Kesta sat down heavily. ‘No, it’s a diversion! Just three ships!’
‘We can’t be sure of that,’ Tantony said. ‘The rest of the fleet could be further out beyond sight of land.’
‘The Chemman aren’t such poor sailors that they would let three ships drift within sight and give themselves away. Surely if they were looking for somewhere to attack it would be the whole fleet?’
‘I’ve already sent word to Bractius that I think it’s a feint.’ Jorrun smiled grimly. ‘I think he already considered that himself, but he can’t take the risk that it isn’t an attack and send no one. He thinks Chem wouldn’t dare take Mantu. He doesn’t know Dryn Dunham.’
‘It could also be the Fulmers.’ Kesta looked down at her hands and saw they were shaking.
Jorrun stepped closer and placed a hand on her shoulder. ‘I’ve sent a raven with a message straight to Burneton and they will send it on to your mother.’
He removed his hand before she had a chance to call up her knowing.
‘The drakes will also pass the information on, they’re quicker than birds,’ Jorrun continued, and he glanced toward Azrael who had remained discreetly away from Tantony and just within the fireplace. ‘One thing is for sure; I think an attack is imminent and if it happens without warning, Bractius will hold me responsible.’
Both Kesta and Tantony protested at once.
‘He just wants to protect his people,’ Jorrun defended his friend.
Kesta turned to Azra. ‘Are there any drakes near the three ships who can take me out to look?’
‘Yesss, Kesta. Riguille is near.’
‘Let’s go then.’ Kesta picked up her chair and placed it closer to the fireplace.
‘You’re going to do magic?’ Tantony asked in alarm.
‘Sit back here with me and keep very quiet,’ Jorrun ordered him.
Kesta gave a nod of thanks and then settled, fixing her gaze on the inner blue of Azrael’s eyes.
She tumbled into the vortex, feeling the fire-spirit catch and steady her. They travelled rapidly, pausing a moment before they connected with the other fire-spirit.
‘Riguille iss more cautious that Siverael, Kessta,’ Azrael reassured her. ‘But lesss friendly to hu
mans. I will be waiting for you here.’
She didn’t have time to thank him before she felt herself pushed toward the other spirit. Unlike the other two she’d now met, this one seemed to emanate no warmth or concern, as though she were a task that must be endured.
‘It is nice to meet you, Riguille,’ she tried.
The drake didn’t reply but formed its whirling portal to speed out over the sea. Kesta saw no point in being offended but let it take her where she needed to go.
‘They light no fires within the ships,’ the spirit said.
‘They know we might try to spy on them. Take me to a safe distance above them and we’ll have a look.’
She felt them move and then the vortex dissipated, leaving them high above the sea. She could see the three ships, all of them captured from the Borrows by the build and colours. On board were a small crew, barely enough to sail them. The oars were drawn in and the sails almost lazily set. Wherever they were heading, they were not in a hurry. She gently nudged the fire-spirit into looking around. In the far distance she could see a fourth, larger ship, trailing the three; an Elden ship. There was nothing else from horizon to shore.
‘Can we go out a little further to see if anything is staying just beyond sight of shore?’
The spirit seemed annoyed, but it formed its fire channel and they moved outward, stopping abruptly. When she looked around, they were a long way out with the shore no longer in sight but the three ships still visible.
‘And parallel, but back toward the Elden ship?’
The drake hissed and spat but did as she asked. Again, when they stopped, she looked around but saw nothing but what she’d already observed.
Feeling downhearted, but not surprised, she asked the fire-spirit to take her back to Azrael.
He didn’t need to ask her how she’d done, feeling her disappointment and mirroring it.
She came back to herself slowly, her vision blurred before her eyes focused on the room and she readjusted to her own familiar body.
‘Kesta?’ Jorrun knelt down by her side and placed a hand over hers. Her knowing was still open, and she pulled her hand back to her chest in shock; he cared about her, he really cared about her.
‘I’m sorry.’ He stood up quickly. ‘I didn’t mean to startle you.’