The Myatheira Chronicles: Volume Four: In the Beginning

by Melissa Collins

  No words were spoken between Kaori and Sivar as he helped lower her onto the ground. Securing her bow, Kaori drew the sword from her belt, nodding to her brother as he did the same. The signal had been given. She could already hear the shouts from the others as they rushed into the fray, metal clashing against metal. Fighting in the streets. It didn’t take long for the panicked cries of the townspeople to turn into cheers of support, calling out to them in thanks and praise. Kaori’s heart swelled with emotion to hear the joy in their voices. But she couldn’t focus on it. She needed to keep her eyes on the wagon and make sure the prisoners were released without injury.

  The soldiers were better prepared than in Whitelyn. With their swords already brandished, they met the attack head-on, never flinching, as if they’d been expecting it. Kaori didn’t doubt that their formation around the wagon had been a defense tactic decided upon by the soldiers in the event of an ambush. It would make it more difficult for the rebels to break through the barrier to release the prisoners.

  Kaori refused to let herself be intimidated by the size of the soldiers. They were all larger than her. Significantly so. Broad-shouldered. Muscular. Strong enough to snap her in two if she let them get their hands on her. Their swords were sturdy, meeting Kaori’s blade with greater force than she encountered with Therek in Whitelyn. Every blow sent her heart into a frenzy, fearful that her weapon would be cut in two under the pressure. Utilizing the advantage of her size, she kept to her toes, light on her feet, maneuvering with quick and nimble movements to evade the incoming strikes. The soldier she fought was tall. Heavy. It took him longer to regain his footing, granting Kaori the ability to keep on the offensive. Seeing her opening, Kaori stepped to the side, her blade running smoothly across the soldier’s abdomen, cutting through the fabric of his uniform to slice the skin.

  She had never killed anyone with a sword before. Her conscience screamed to think that she now had taken the lives of two men. But she couldn’t allow herself to feel guilt. Although they weren’t entirely to blame for the slaughter of her people, these men had chosen to take part in the act. Everyone had a choice and these men willingly brought innocent Vor’shai to their deaths. No. She didn’t feel remorse for the blood on her hands. Her only regret was for the blood of her people that stained the blade of the executioner in Tarnai.

  The man had barely hit the ground before Kaori found herself faced with another soldier, smaller than the last, though still larger than herself. He was quicker. More agile. And young. The gleam in his eye belied his lack of experience despite the confidence he attempted to display in his stance. Fresh out of training. Too stupid to understand what he was doing. “Get out of my way and I won’t kill you,” Kaori hissed, pointing the tip of her sword at the boy. She didn’t want to strike him down if she didn’t have to. She wasn’t a monster. The boy’s age was enough to grant him an opportunity to escape death.

  “Traitor!” the boy lunged forward, narrowly missing Kaori’s arm as she twisted out of the way. He looked thrown by the speed with which she moved, his eyes opening wide to stare at her in shock. “I will not let you take the prisoners,” his voice trembled, lacking the fortitude in his appearance that he exhibited before.

  “I am not leaving without them,” Kaori stated with an almost eerie calm. Her legs and arms seemed to move with a mind of their own, the techniques taught to her by Therek coming like second nature. The boy was a verdant warrior, lacking the knowledge of how to face a real enemy. Taking advantage of his inexperience, she used the tip of her sword to disarm him of his weapon, confident, strong, stepping forward to grasp him by the hair on the back of his head, the tip of her blade pressed firmly to his neck. “I would prefer not to kill you. Either step away or die.”

  Frightened, the boy quivered under Kaori’s hold. She hated to see the fear in his eyes. Unlike the more seasoned soldiers, this boy lacked conviction in his actions. He was here because he was ordered, too young to recognize the true extent of what they were doing. At his silence, she shook him gruffly, the tip of her blade piercing through the skin to create a small trickle of blood.

  “Please!” he shouted in desperation. “The General will kill me if I don’t fight.”

  “Then tell him you did,” Kaori stared back at him, unwavering. She wasn’t comfortable with the fact that the boy could see her face from their close proximity, but she couldn’t justify taking his life simply for looking at her. He wasn’t evil. He didn’t deserve to die like this.

  Lost in the tumult of her thoughts, she tried to make sense out of what was happening. She had to make a decision. Kill him or let him live, aware of her appearance. Even if he didn’t know her name, he could describe her to the Emperor and she would be as good as dead. But if she killed him without cause, she was no better than the soldiers.

  Amidst her distraction, she could feel the boy shift in her arms. Reaching for something with his hand. The sound of a small blade being drawn from the leather belt at his waist sent chills down Kaori’s spine, instinctively driving her sword through the boy’s neck.

  It was a disgusting sight. More gruesome than that of the man she had slain only moments before. But she hadn’t been able to see that man’s face when he died. The look in his eyes as he realized his fate. She grimaced at the pain she saw in the boy’s expression, his mouth open, choking, gurgling, blood pouring over Kaori’s hands from the wound. Disgusted, she withdrew the blade, her fingers quickly releasing their hold on the boy’s hair to let him fall to the ground at her feet. There, in the grasp of his lifeless fingers, she could see a small dagger, the jewels inset in the handle glinting in the rays of the afternoon sun overhead. He could have killed me… The words repeated over and over again in her mind, terrified by the undeniable truth. She’d been prepared to show him mercy. To spare his life. And he would have taken hers.

  Forget him, she admonished, shaking her head to clear the image of the dead boy from her mind. She could dwell on what she had done later. Right now she needed to help the others. Sivar was already at the back of the wagon, his hands struggling with the ropes to untie the cover separating them from the prisoners. Her head slowly started to clear, her legs moving forward to stand at Sivar’s side. “Everyone inside, step back!” she shouted, raising her sword to the fabric cover. It took little effort to cut through the flap, the sound of tearing threads accompanying the motion of her blade as it easily created an opening large enough for a person to fit through. Sivar stared at her, a sheepish look on his face.

  “I suppose that saves a bit of time,” he mumbled, releasing his hold on the ropes to help Kaori pull the fabric to the sides. She smiled at her brother, unable to bring herself to poke fun at him. They were both learning as they went. She’d made mistakes along the way as well.

  Glancing around to make sure there were no soldiers within fighting distance, Kaori beckoned for the prisoners to come forward. “We are going to get you out of here,” she assured them, the motion of her hand becoming more emphatic at their unwillingness to move. “We do not have much time so I suggest you come quickly.”

  It was all she could do to keep from crying as she looked upon the faces of the prisoners. They were dirty. Malnourished. Near the back of the wagon she could see a woman tucked in the corner, her arms wrapped protectively around two young children, tears streaked through the mud on their cheeks. She could hear their soft sobs, muffled by their mother’s dress. She couldn’t blame them for being hesitant. Only a few minutes ago they were convinced that they were going to die here today. Now they were being offered a way out and had no way of knowing if anything would be asked of them in return.

  Aware of the fear they must feel, Kaori offered her hand to a young girl seated near the front of the wagon. The girl looked at it, her fingers trembling as she allowed herself to accept Kaori’s help, sliding forward to jump down onto the grass. “Where are we supposed to go?” the girl asked, looking up at Kaori, shaky on her feet. Kaori helped to steady the girl, her eyes moving to S
ivar in hopes that he would say something to help comfort these people.

  Catching Kaori’s eye, Sivar cleared his throat, stepping forward to carefully escort the girl from Kaori’s hands. “We have to get you out of the city first. Once you are out of danger, we can determine the best course of action from there.”

  “We have to hurry,” Kaori mumbled to her brother. She didn’t like how long this was taking. They may have managed to cut through the soldiers already present, but there was no way to know if more were on the way. To her relief, Liurn appeared at her side, waving for Sivar to follow him.

  “I was able to acquire use of the local stagecoach. It is waiting outside the tavern…”

  “That will not be large enough to carry everyone,” Sivar argued.

  Liurn brought his hand up to silence Sivar, his head leaning forward to peer into the wagon. Kaori could hear him whispering a quiet count, nodding to Kaori as if in agreement of something. “Can you take the mother and her young children with you? There are more prisoners than last time. I am not certain they will all fit in the coach.”

  “If I ride with the coachman, we can fit at least one more with me. The children will not take up much space.” With renewed vigor, Kaori turned back toward the wagon, her hand outstretched toward the woman still clutching her children near the back. “Miss, if you will please come with me. I am going to get you and your children out of here. We are not going to hurt you, but you need to move quickly. If more soldiers arrive, I cannot guarantee your safety.”

  The woman’s hand gently stroked the head of the young girl under her right arm, whispering something Kaori couldn’t hear. The young girl looked up to her mother, tears twinkling in her eyes as she started to stand. “Go with them,” the mother urged, her own body slowly shifting into motion. Her hands held tightly to the small boy still wrapped under her left arm, unwilling to let him go as she followed her daughter toward the front of the wagon. Kaori helped the young girl onto the ground before turning back to the mother, acting as a support to keep her from falling as she shakily made her way down.

  Other prisoners began to follow, quickly moving from inside the wagon to accompany Liurn toward the stagecoach. Davian and the others were already taking up position around the central square, swords drawn, prepared to strike if more soldiers arrived. The townspeople continued to cheer as they watched the prisoners being led away to safety, offering their praise, though keeping their distance so as to not interfere with the rescue. There were eighteen prisoners in all. The largest number they had yet to see for an execution. Kaori found herself starting to worry that they would continue to see an increase, making transportation of the prisoners more difficult. But she couldn’t think about that right now. There would be plenty of time to discuss the matter after their current victims were safely out of Voiene.

  The young girl in Sivar’s care was escorted to the carriage in which he and Kaori arrived. She was a slight girl, no older than twenty. Not old enough to be in society under the old Vor’shai practices. She took up little space in the carriage, helping the mother and her two small children onto the seat beside her. It was a tight fit, but it was the only option they had. “I will ride with the coachman,” Sivar caught Kaori’s arm as she started to lift herself onto the seat behind the horses, her head snapping back to look at her brother in confusion.

  “Someone should remain with the prisoners. They will no doubt be frightened…”

  “You may be in charge, but you have a smaller frame. If you ride in the carriage, we can fit another body. Liurn is going to need all the help he can get.”

  “The stagecoach will draw less attention along the road than our carriage. If the soldiers stop us, they will instantly become suspicious if we have too many people.”

  “They will be suspicious anyway. If we have the room, we have to make use of it.”

  Kaori stared at her brother, realizing that he was right. If the soldiers stopped them along the way, they would instantly know something wasn’t right. The prisoners were too dirty, their clothes tattered and torn. Not exactly the type of company expected inside a vehicle of such finery. “Very well,” she conceded, releasing her hand from the seat to make her way to the carriage door. “Go find another who will fit. I will make sure everyone is situated.”

  As Sivar hurried off, Kaori pulled open the carriage door, hoisting herself inside. The others within were shaken by her approach, cowering together. They were afraid of her, though she couldn’t fully understand why. She’d saved them from death. It seemed pointless for her to have risked everything to rescue them only to then injure them herself.

  “Who are you?” It was the young woman who spoke, her hand outstretched in front of the mother and her children. Guarding them. Protecting them from Kaori.

  Careful not to make any sudden movements, Kaori situated herself on the seat across from them, her head lowered, afraid to let anyone see her face. They may be kin, but it was still dangerous for them to learn of her identity. “I am a friend,” she stated calmly. Extending her empty hands, she prayed they would take comfort in seeing that she didn’t hold a weapon.

  “Do you have any idea what the Emperor will do to you if he learns what you have done?”

  “I do not fear the consequences. You are my people. All that matters is your safety.”

  The girl looked her over, suspicious. The soft glow of her sapphire eyes settled on Kaori. Watchful. Untrusting. “You expect us to believe that you have done this without want of anything in return?”

  She was bold. Assertive. Kaori had to admire that about her. In many ways she reminded her of herself. “All I want is to get you out of Voiene and someplace safe.”

  The conversation was cut short as the carriage door opened, a young man appearing in the opening next to Sivar. “This is Koyl,” Sivar announced, stepping aside to motion for the man to climb inside. “He will be joining you ladies for the ride. I hope no one has any objections, because we need to get moving.”

  Sliding further to the side of the seat, Kaori patted the cushion next to her, hoping the motion would appear more inviting than the others believed her to be. Koyl gave no argument, stepping easily into the carriage to settle himself beside Kaori. Her nose wrinkled in distaste at the smell of him, her head twisting to the side to escape the pungent aroma. He reeked of mold and stagnant water, the stains on his clothing indicative of the horrible conditions the prisoners were forced to endure before their sentence was carried out.

  As the door closed behind him, Koyl let his gaze sweep over the women. He looked stronger than the others. Older, though not by much. Judging by the remnants of the clothing he wore they had, at one time, been of an expensive make. Only two of the golden buttons remained intact along the front of the doublet, the fabric torn and mud-covered. The original color was impossible to make out, even the thin material which constructed his undershirt displaying nothing more than a dingy brown. His hair was cropped short, darkened by the grease and grime that layered it from root to tip. Aside from the vibrant vermilion glow of his eyes, there wasn’t an inch of his body not covered by some kind of dirt.

  Kaori felt a wash of relief as the carriage started to move. It was going to be a long ride between there and the small town of Sumner where the stagecoach was scheduled to stop. Once there, they would allow the rescued prisoners to decide where they wanted to go. There wasn’t enough time for a personal escort off Carpaen soil. The execution in Rothdara would come quicker than Kaori liked and they couldn’t afford to leave any of their fighters behind.

  “So…” Koyl coughed, clearly uncomfortable with his current company. “Are we ever going to know what the face of our savior looks like, or are we to simply wonder on it for the rest of our lives?”

  “You will have to use your imagination, for obvious reasons,” Kaori replied. She knew it was rude, but they would have to understand. Her safety was equally as important as theirs.

  Curious, Koyl tilted his head to one side, peering at Kao
ri as if trying to make out the details of her face from under the shadow of her hood. Unsettled at the thought of him succeeding, Kaori lowered her head to stare down at the floor, tugging the fabric further over her face.

  “Do you think we will tell the Emperor? You must think us ungrateful.”

  “Don’t be foolish,” the young girl chimed in, surprising Kaori by her sudden contribution to the discussion. After her caustic remarks from before, it was odd that she now seemed to defend Kaori’s actions. “While I don’t claim to understand why she has helped us, I cannot blame her for wanting to maintain some level of secrecy. The Emperor would tear every limb from her body if he discovered her identity.”

  “We will suffer a similar fate if the soldiers find us, Milady –”

  “I am not your lady.”

  Koyl blinked at the girl, bewildered by the sharpness of her tone. “No, you are not, but I have no other name to call you by and anything less would have been considered rude.”

  Leaning back in her seat, the girl relaxed her protective hold on the mother and her children, seeming to finally accept that they weren’t in any danger of an attack from Kaori. Her hands still trembled slightly, no doubt a residual effect of the adrenaline caused by the circumstances of their meeting. “Nichele Evantine.”

  “Koyl Enlim.” He paused, settling his gaze on Kaori. “And you?”

  “Nice try,” she smirked. Holding the hood of her cloak tightly around her face, Kaori lifted her eyes from the floor to look Koyl over closely. He was a strapping young man. She found it hard to imagine how the guards had managed to take him into custody – or what he was apprehended for. “You do not come across as the type who would let yourself be arrested by the Emperor’s men. Might I inquire as to how you nearly lost your head today?”