by RS McCoy
He should have known she wouldn’t listen.
Already clad in her ceremonial tunic, Gemini crossed the tent and stood before him, too close for comfort, searching his face. Hale didn’t know what she wanted, but he let his gaze fall away. He didn’t want her to see the pain in his eyes.
Gemini’s arms were around his waist a moment later. She squeezed him so tight she all but forced the air from his lungs. For several seconds, Hale stood tall, unyielding, but he couldn’t deny the appeal of what little comfort she could provide. So he buried his face in her black hair and breathed deeply, trying to stay the storm in his chest.
When she pulled back, she offered him a sad smile. “You deserve better.”
They were precisely the words he needed to hear, the one thread of hope to which he could desperately cling. For a moment, it felt as if his hardened pain might have cracked, if only a little.
Hale pulled her in and kissed her temple. “You’re a good girl, Gem.” While the rest of his clan—including his family—spent the day celebrating the new couple, only Gemini had looked back toward Hale. Out of all of them, only Gemini thought of Hale. Even in his grief, Hale wouldn’t fail to show his gratitude.
“Oh, I know it,” she teased with a playful wink. In the dimness of his tent, Hale almost missed the redness under her eye.
“What happened here?” Hale gladly shifted into his medical mind, evaluating the injury for cause and treatment. It was raised and red, like she’d been struck, but there was no laceration, so the object hadn’t been sharp. The swelling indicated it was several hours old and hadn’t been properly treated. Had she come to him sooner, he could have pressed a cool cloth to it to keep the swelling down.
Gemini put a hand over the spot. “Just being clumsy. I’m about to go get some wine and get even clumsier.” A warm smile spread across her cheeks. “Will you be all right? Want me to bring you some?”
Hale shook his head. He didn’t need to have his thoughts muddled any more than they already were. Prayer would guide him through this, not drink. Gemini knew she couldn’t sway him. She offered him one last quick embrace before she left to join the celebration.
A part of him envied her simple life, her simple garden, her simple suitor. Nothing in Gemini’s life was complicated, and when her friend was married, Gemini was happy. She celebrated with an open heart.
For Hale, it was more complex. He wanted Raene to be happy, but he thought it should be with him. He had no idea how he was supposed to go on with his life now that he’d failed so spectacularly.
He settled back into his chair and clasped his hands in front of his heart. And for the rest of the night, Hale prayed.
Amnesty
“YOU’RE GOING TO make us late to our own celebration,” Raene teased, one hand held over her eyes as Parson insisted. She sat fully nude in his tent listening to the sounds of him rustling through one thing or another. She had no idea what he was up to.
“It’ll be worth it, I promise,” he said for the third or fourth time.
Raene only beamed in wait for her surprise. Gemini’s tea had worked a small miracle. The pain in her head was all but gone, though that didn’t help her other ailments. Her back ached from so much movement in the last few hours, and while her arm was no longer numb, a dull pain had taken up residence in her wrist. As time passed, it spread into her fingers and up toward her elbow. She knew by the end of the night, it would bother her considerably.
But for now, Raene was satisfied waiting for her husband to present her with whatever it was he had for her. When at last he said, “Open your eyes,” Raene looked up at him with profound awe.
In his hands, Parson held a full Pyro outfit. A scarlet top with all the ties and a pair of wide-legged pants. None were shredded or stained or cut. They were perfect.
Tears pricked her eyes as she stared up at them. “Where did you get those?”
“From the Pyro traders. Since all yours were ruined. Lathan just brought the bags back this morning. ” He sank to the floor beside her and showed her the items up close. They weren’t the fine clothes of the wealthy and elite of Pyrona, but they were Pyro clothes nonetheless. Raene had never received a greater gift.
“You’ll have to tell me how to work this thing,” Parson said as he laughed and held up the shirt by one of its many straps. “Unless you’d like to wear the ceremonial Terra tunic.” He tossed his head in the direction of the moss-green bundle by the tent flap.
“Never.” Raene had to rely entirely on Parson to get her shirt positioned and strapped into place appropriately. He held her pants out as she stepped in one foot at a time before he cinched in the waist strap. Already Raene felt better, felt more like herself. The strip of bare skin across her stomach was a welcome relief from the heavy Terra clothes she’d worn all day.
And she glowed with the idea of it. Even before they were married, before they were attacked by coyotes, Parson had actively sought out Pyro clothes for her. He didn’t want her to be Terra any more than she did. With him in his ceremonial garb, with gold embroidery at his wrists, and Raene in a more common version of Pyro clothes, they looked quite the mismatched pair. But he was fire and so was she, and together they burned brighter.
“Are you ready, Mrs. Frane?” Parson picked her up by her waist and set her by the tent flap, a playful grin on his cheeks all the while.
“Why yes I am, Mr. Frane.” Raene bowed low with respect as was expected of a lady of her birth. And, as she’d hoped, Parson laughed at how ridiculous she looked.
Then, as they had when they entered, Parson and Raene grasped the other’s hand and strolled out into the dusk.
Already, music rode the wind, echoing between the trees and filling the Alderwood with festive energy. The lustrous flames of the central pit illuminated a large swath of the canopy overhead. As they neared, sounds of chatter and laughter emerged over the songs, and by the time they were within sight of the celebration, Raene knew it would be a good night.
Da was nearly drunk already, dancing wildly with a trio of eager middle-aged ladies. Gemini and Asla spun and giggled, and even Lathan was on his feet twirling his wife in an elegant maneuver. Raene squeezed Parson’s hand with excitement.
“Just remember to take it easy,” he reminded her. “You’re still recovering.”
Raene looked up at him and smiled. “Then let’s have a dance before I’m too tired.”
Parson looked decadent in his Terra tunic. His hair was the same as always, his chestnut locks falling into his eyes, as uncompromising as he was. Still holding her hand, he easily led her to the crowd of dancers and joined in.
Raene held out the side of her wide-legged pants to get a better view of her feet, but it hardly helped. Her mind was a mess, and even under the best of circumstances, she couldn’t learn a new dance in a single song. Nonetheless, she let Parson lead her around, laughing and spinning, and this time, when he pulled her close again, he kissed her, good and long in front of everyone. Raene’s head spun more than she did, but she wouldn’t quit. Her injuries were grave and the pain grew with each passing hour, but this was her wedding night, and she had the right man beside her. Raene glowed with the sheer, raw happiness of it.
Within two songs, Parson insisted she rest. He pushed her toward a low alder wood bench and handed her a plate of roast badger. Raene dug in eagerly, filling her belly with the smoky flavors of the meat.
Raene had a full mouth when Gemini sailed over and sat beside her. “Is it the happiest day of your life?”
Without needing to think about it, Raene nodded. She was no longer under pressure to make a decision, to pit one brother against the other, and while she would always regret how things turned out for Hale, she couldn’t let it impede her happiness with Parson. She caught sight of her new husband across the clearing talking with Lathan, and when Parson’s eyes caught hers, a beaming smile warmed his face.
“Good!” Gemini replied with a sloppy laugh. She’d had too much wine already, but the tw
o only giggled. “It would take a tiger to tame the supreme grouch that is Parson Frane.”
“He is a grouch,” Raene admitted between laughs. “An insufferable grouch! But he’s so sweet, too. You’d never know it, but he is.”
Gemini reached an arm across Raene’s shoulders. “As long as he’s good to you.” Her words slurred together in more than one spot, but Raene only tilted her head against Gemini’s shoulder and admired how she’d come to such a place. She had not only a husband she adored, not only a good friend, not only a safe place to live, but a real family for the first time in her life. Raene would never have known what she was missing if she hadn’t been there to experience it herself.
“Are you feeling all right?” Gemini asked after a moment. “You feel warm.”
“We’re sitting next to a huge fire,” Raene reminded her with a hearty laugh. She refused to mention the throbbing in her arm. There was too much good to spoil it with even one little bit of bad. “And what’s going on with your eye here?”
Gemini rolled her eyes and laughed. “I walked into a tree.”
Raene tilted back and hooted with laughter as she pictured her friend walking into such a massive thing. Gemini smacked her arm but chuckled as well.
They chatted and laughed until Da appeared and grabbed Raene’s only good hand. “I better get a chance to dance with the bride before it’s too late!” he said as he pulled her toward the dancing couples. Raene only had time to hand her plate to Gemini before Da had her stomping and spinning and smiling wider than she had in years.
“I’m so proud of you, my dear. My sons are hard to know, and rarely do young people know what they want. You’ve done so well. I couldn’t be more pleased for you, my daughter.” Da’s glassy eyes shone as he held her hand and spun her around during the height of the song.
Raene thought of reprimanding him for his continued use of the term ‘daughter’, but now, as strange as it was, it was true. She was a Frane. She was a daughter to the clan leader. She was married to his second son. And as he said, she’d found the right son for her despite their best attempts.
Mid-song, Parson interrupted and stole her from Da. Rather than hand her over easily, Da kissed her on each cheek and gripped her shoulders in each hand. “I know you’ll continue to make me proud.” And then he was gone into the crowd.
Parson collected her good hand in his and picked up where Da left off. “What was that about?”
Raene shrugged and laughed. “A little too much amberwine, I’d guess.”
Where Parson held her good hand, his fingers grazed over the top of her knuckles, a move she knew no one else could see as they spun in the dance, but to Raene, it was a sweet sign of his devotion. She was nearly tempted to beg him to head back to his tent early, but the dance was interrupted.
A fleet of grey-clad men emerged from the shadow and filled the clearing around the central pit. The music stopped instantly, the last note hanging in the air like a noose. On and on they came, at least three or four dozen Terras in tunics with a silver wolf embroidered over their hearts—no, not a wolf. A coyote.
The threat of their presence sent a chill through the camp. Raene stiffened at the sight of them. She despised what happened the last time she encountered coyotes, and now here they came, row after row, far more than an envoy. They wanted something, and they were here to take it by force.
Parson reflexively positioned himself between the strangers and Raene. She had to peek over his broad shoulders to see them streaming in. By the time they were done, the strange Terra men outnumbered the clan three to one.
A tall, lithe man stepped forward from the rows. His walnut-brown hair glistened amber in the glow of the central pit. His pointed nose crooked to the side like it had been broken one too many times. “Argeron Frane,” he announced, his voice echoing through the quiet woods.
Raene’s breath caught in her throat.
“I am he,” Da said as he stepped forward. He offered his best warm grin, as if welcoming a long-lost friend rather than a fleet of enemies.
The man nodded to him. “You are under arrest for crimes against the Mother. You will be escorted to Terrana to await your trial.”
Raene marveled that Da could remain so calm. She gripped tight to Parson’s hand, forcing herself to remain quiet as she watched. There was nothing she could do. There was nothing any of them could do.
With hands outstretched like a gracious host, Da said, “Thank you for taking the time to travel all the way here. But unfortunately, I have been granted amnesty. If you will.” Da motioned in the direction of his tent, and to everyone’s surprise, the man followed. Though no one was more astonished than Raene when Da searched her out in the crowd. “Come, my daughter. I need you.”
Raene swallowed back her fears and ignored her pains as she nodded and stepped forward. Parson was only a half-step behind her.
Inside Da’s tent, a series of candles already glowed. On the table, Raene and Parson’s marriage contract sat open in full view. The Terra agent stepped forward and read it from top to bottom.
Raene and Parson hovered nervously at the flap, unsure what was happening and unwilling to interrupt to find out.
“This contract was signed only today,” the man finally said.
“Yes, my daughter had an unfortunate run-in some days ago. We were delayed as she recovered.” Da looked over to Raene as he winked, as if this was somehow fun.
“According to this contract, the marriage grants you amnesty from alder crimes by one Kaide Landel?”
“He’s a Pyro Vice Syndicate and the uncle of my newest daughter,” Da offered.
Even Raene’s tattered mind could put the pieces together. He’d planned this all long. How he knew, Raene could only guess, but Da had forced her decision today so she could protect the clan.
Her and Kaide.
But the man threw the document on the table.
“The Vice Syndicate Landel has no jurisdiction over Terra matters. You are charged with destruction of the sacred Alderwood, evading arrest, and assault of the Alderai’s personal guard. You will be escorted to Terrana or executed.”
It was then Raene knew this was all going to go horribly wrong. Da’s shoulders slumped too low. His eyes were dim, and his usual playful nature had been snuffed out entirely. He’d planned on this moment, but he hadn’t planned on losing. Da nodded his acceptance and let the agent lead him back into the clearing where the clan lingered, desperate for an explanation.
Parson and Raene followed behind them, too stunned and shocked to even move. They stood outside Da’s tent flap with hands clasped as Da begged the agent to let him have one minute more.
When the man conceded, Da turned and searched the crowd until he found Lathan. “Guard the clan,” Da instructed. A second later, he looked over his shoulder at Parson. “Keep her safe.” And then he turned to the far side of the clearing where Hale stood with his hands in his pockets, awaiting his father’s words. Da had to nearly shout to get his voice to carry across the camp. “Serve the Mother,” he told his youngest son.
Raene’s vision blurred with tears as she heard Da’s cryptic words and watched him leave with the crooked-nosed man. Da squared his narrow shoulders and held his head higher than Raene had ever seen, a move she easily recognized. He was scared and nervous, but unwilling to show it before his clan.
Beside her, Parson stood taut, waiting to transition, to spur into action, but even he knew better than to fight so many. Together, they watched the man clasp some sort of metal loop around Da’s wrist and lead him away from the clearing. Only when they were at the far reaches of the fire’s light did the crooked-nosed man turn back to them. “This man is a ward of the Alderai until his trial. Should anyone interfere, we will be forced to execute him.” Then, like he hadn’t just sucked the breaths right out of them, the man took Da and disappeared into the shadows. His dozens of guards stomped and trotted behind, leaving a quaking echo long after they were gone.
The last gua
rds hadn’t been out of sight for more than a few seconds before Parson took off. Still gripping his hand, Raene raced behind him, but she was in no position to be running. Her head pounded, but she wouldn’t let go. She couldn’t let him leave. If Parson left, he would fight, and he would lose. And they would kill Da just for trying.
“Parson!” she shouted when she could manage.
Remembering her state, Parson stopped cold in his tracks. “I’m sorry, Raene. I have to go. I can catch them before they get too far.” He kissed her cheek before jogging to his tent.
Raene tried to keep up, but by the time she arrived, Parson already had his bow and quiver strung across his back.
“You’re not going anywhere!” Lathan’s voice was an ominous boom that froze the blood in her veins.
Not even Parson could ignore such a command. He stood in place as Lathan’s boots stomped toward him. Behind the mountain of a man came Tasia, Asla, and a dozen other young men eager to take action. They should have known Lathan would be the voice of reason. “You heard the Commissioner. Anyone tries to go after him, they execute him.”
Parson narrowed his eyes, seething anger rolling off him. Both fists were clenched tight at his sides. “What do you want to do? Let him go? Go back to our festival and pretend we never had a Da? He gave himself up for us! We have to go get him.”
“Weren’t you listening?” Hale surprised them all when he stepped forward. He didn’t shout or scare them with volume. Instead, he was almost quiet. Raene had to strain to hear him. “We have our instructions.”
“Instructions?” Parson nearly spat at him.
Lathan neared enough to put a hand to Parson’s chest. “If Da thought this was the last time he was going to see us, he would have said the words. But he didn’t. He told us what to do. And you’re supposed to keep Raene safe. That’s your job. Honor Da, and do your damn job.”
Raene saw the moment he wavered, considering the words of his brothers and the action in his heart. And Raene knew she would have to be the one to pull him back. Forcing down her pounding head, Raene slid between Lathan and Parson, looking straight into the eyes of her husband.