Risen (The Firebird Trilogy Book 2)

by Stephanie Harbon

  “I found it last night, but I didn’t want to wake you.” He said apathetically.

  “How long will it take to heal?” I asked.

  “For humans about six weeks,” he informed me. “But for a young healthy Phoenix about half that time; until then you won’t be able to Change and today you’ll have catch a lift on one of us.”

  My heart quickened with dread, “You mean I can’t fly for three weeks?”

  “Nope. And it’ll hurt for a long time after that.” He said unsympathetically. “If you try to Change you could really mess up your bone structure when you return to human form.”

  “Any pain relief?” I asked, contemplating a no.

  “Chara had most of the human stuff we brought with us from England,” Kieran said.

  “Doesn’t Kariak have its own drugs?”

  Kieran laughed at my question, “Yes we have drugs here too Ruby. Just because we’re mythological doesn’t mean we can’t have medicine or get high. Intoxication is a natural state for most teens, no matter what species.”

  “I know that’s true for some,” I muttered. “You could have just said ‘no, we have no pain relief, human or non-human’.” I frowned thoughtfully. “I thought healers take away pain by inflicting it on themselves?”

  “That’s only a last resort,” he explained patiently. “In fact most healers don’t even use their gift at all; it wastes their energy and unnecessarily formulates an unwanted physical connection between them and the patient. Unless the patient is terribly wounded, and has been for a while, they’ll operate the way you’re used to in Britain with surgical knives and stitches.”

  “It seems like a bit of a waste of a gift,” I observed. “If you had the power to easily heal someone; why bother doing it the hard way?”

  “It’s not easy,” Kieran said curtly. “And the consequences can be catastrophic if continued. Bonds have been known to become unbreakable.”

  “What do you mean by unbreakable?” I asked, narrowing my eyes sceptically as he looked out over the majestic mountain scenery. The sun had disappeared for a time behind a rock face, but it was just peaking over again; setting the world alight with its warming glow.

  “There are only a certain number of times I can heal you –or anyone- before there is no going back.” He didn’t look at me.

  I leaned closer and said; “I don’t understand.”

  “You don’t need to,” he said. “I’ll never let it get that far. I thought about it all last night and I decided, from now on, there’s no way I can heal you at all. It’s too risky for both of us.”

  I frowned at him; there was something he wasn’t telling me.

  Then he turned to me and smirked, “And at least next time you’ll think twice before thoughtlessly seeking out a stranger who wants to attack you.”

  “I didn’t know they were going to attack me.” I protested, but was still suspicious that he was changing the subject.

  Kieran rolled his eyes, “You can’t trust anybody.”

  “Not even you?” I wondered.

  He grinned unexpectedly, with an undeniable mischievousness in his eyes and said, “Especially not me.”

  I clutched Chara’s back for most of the morning as she flew, then I switched to Nik in the afternoon to relieve her of my weight. I was glad to be heading back to Forenna. At the moment it was the closest thing I had to a home. That didn’t make the thought of being immediately arrested any less nerve-wracking though. The day passed slowly and uneventfully; despite the fact that we were being stalked by last night’s invisible attackers.

  The bracelet around my wrist wouldn’t come off. We tried everything:, burning it, hacking at it with weapons, sawing it with crystal, even murmuring releasing enchantments; but nothing worked and by the time we surrendered it still looked exactly the same.

  We were supposed to arrive home by nightfall but we were ahead of time and I started to make out the city an hour or so before. Apprehension suddenly boiled in my veins; what if they didn’t listen to me? What if they didn’t allow me a mind check and instead cut off my wings mercilessly? Nik had explained that this wasn’t quite as bad as it sounded (by his standards, not mine) as wings eventually -after several long years- grow back. Surprisingly he did not succeed in making me feel better. At all.

  Ten minutes later, less than three miles from the city, something obscurely wrong twisted my stomach. I glanced to my left and suddenly noticed at least a dozen Phoenix flying purposefully over.

  They were as terrifying as they were mesmerising and we were soon surrounded. I could hear one of them calling for reinforcements.

  Fear paralysed me as a loud voice boomed in my head: Swartette. You are charged with the crime of stealing the Eternal Light from the Ephizon Tower, and assisting the murder of several warriors alongside Lynk Swartette. You will land immediately and be taken to the High Council to await judgement.

  I inhaled deeply; My name is Ruby.

  What? demanded the same insistent mindvoice.

  I will do what you say, as I am not guilty of anything but preventing further death and destruction, I answered loudly, projecting my voice to all, but my name is Ruby; not ‘Swartette’.

  Your name is not important, replied the authoritative mindvoice.

  My name, I said calmly, is what has got me into so much trouble in the first place. I am no longer a Swartette or Lynk’s child. Lynk’s child died many years ago.

  Well said Ruby, encouraged Chara.

  But then that mindvoice changed into a powerful command. It seems she doesn’t want to cooperate. Bring them all to the Council by force.

  A split second later they were darting at us, so fast the movement seemed mercurial. As the confidence evaporated from me and the bravery dispersed, leaving fear and apprehension dominating, I heard Kieran muttering petulantly; Well done, Ruby. Way to go and make more friends.

  Chapter Eleven

  The first warrior catapulted himself violently into Kieran, who unfortunately had Adrian clutched to his back. I watched, wide eyed, as Adrian’s balance faltered, causing him to slip and plummet earthwards. Instantaneously Kieran dived after him, so fast my brain barely registered the motion, and managed to scoop underneath Adrian’s free-falling figure.

  With a rough, abrupt landing, Adrian was rescued and Kieran swept back up towards the warrior who’d attacked him.

  More warriors were striking at us, several coming directly at me and Nik. I grasped my dislocated shoulder defensively, but then I had nothing to cling onto Nik with. My legs tightened around his feathered sides desperately, but as the Phoenix swiped at us with their impressive wingspans, it was like trying to stay on a life-size Buckaroo.

  I shouted mentally, throwing up my good arm into the air: Stop!

  Everybody ignored me, so I tried again, this time screaming louder: Stop! I surrender. I’ve surrendered! Leave them alone.

  Still nobody acknowledged my existence; even though it was me they were after. Then a ridiculous, reckless idea popped into my head. I glanced down at the earth, several hundred feet away, and before I could think about it too much I hauled a leg over Nik’s side. As half a dozen warriors grappled to get at me, I let myself drop.

  A gush of adrenalin spurted through me like an icy fountain. I caught a glimpse of everyone above as they realised my intentions, but then I was caught up in a falling whirlwind. A shard of pain stabbed into me as somebody caught me, not on their back like Kieran did, but by claws around my ribs; subsequently yanking my shoulder as they snatched me up. Those talons didn’t try to be gentle. They cut into me; deep enough to bleed.

  I looked up to whoever caught me. I didn’t recognise them.

  At least they weren’t fighting anymore. I was already being carried to Forenna; the others following with the warriors surrounding them.

  The pain of being carried like this worsened the closer I came to the city. The wind seemed to gouge into me like surgical steel and my shoulder was excruciating. After far too long I
was lowered to the snowy ground before the majestic Gemstone Tower of Forenna. I lay in the snow, a gruesome spillage of blood encircling me. I hadn’t realised quite how much blood I’d lost until my head started to whirl dizzily, blackness consuming me, as I fainted.

  A blurry voice awoke me; I was lying in a vaguely familiar room.

  “Swartette-“ began a fierce voice, but it was interrupted.

  “Her name is Ruby,” It was Katrina, the blue haired Water Elder, who spoke; her voice instantly waking me from my daze.

  Her partner, Declan had been killed by Kieran’s father over a week ago, but if she grieved, she disguised it extremely well. She looked exactly the same, still emitting an air of intelligence, cunning and confidence which I’d admired from the moment I’d met her; when she’d helped me prepare for the Winter Festival. She was the only Council member who’d shown me some compassion or even the slightest interest; so for that I was grateful.

  “If we are going to accuse her,” she persevered calmly. “We should at least grant her the courtesy of calling her by her chosen name.”

  I tried to raise myself up onto my elbows; wincing from the struggle. I soon realised that I had been chained to the floor by some heavy metal handcuffs etched with ancient entrapment symbols. I finally managed to sit up. When I looked down at my scratched stomach I grimaced, averting my eyes and feeling nauseated from all the grimy blood. Once upon a time my skin was rarely dusted with a bruise, now I seemed permanently scathed.

  I glanced behind me, seeing my friends with their backs pressed against a wall. Several guards glared at them venomously. I turned my attention to the unoccupied chairs that were dispersed between the Council members; wondering who would replace Lynk, Declan and Kieran’s father now.

  “Fine then,” continued the first voice.

  I looked towards the man; an Airbird. His hair was spiked up in a diaphanous disarray; like shafts of uncut crystal. He had skin so fair and paper-thin it was almost translucent. He looked in his late-sixties and was obviously the last remaining male Elder.

  “Ruby Swartette,” he said. “You are charged with the crime of assisting Lynk Swartette and his followers in stealing the Eternal Light from Ephizon, and also assisting the murder of several warriors. Do you deny it?”

  I swallowed anxiously and explained. “I had no choice. Briseis was going to kill me if I didn’t obey her, and by doing what I did –putting most of the people in the Ephizon Tower asleep- I saved them from being murdered. I thought I was doing the right thing.”

  “Why didn’t you try to escape?” enquired a younger Airbird.

  “I did, but it didn’t work,” I admitted reluctantly.

  “Would you tell us where Lynk took the Eternal Light?” asked Katrina.

  I nodded, “I don’t know where about exactly, but it’s in the Glaze mountains. I bet either Jayson or Nikolas could show you the exact location.”

  “Is that where Lynk took you?” demanded the male Air Elder.

  “Yes,” I said seriously, hoping that they believed me. “They kept me in these caves for several days and whenever I tried to escape they put me in this pit…” I shuddered at the memory, “filled with water.”

  “How were you rescued?” enquired another Council member.

  “There are flooded passages in the caves,” I explained. “My friends explored these passages and found a way out.”

  “But you’re a Firebird. Aren’t you aquaphobic?” wondered the female Air Elder suspiciously.

  I nodded grudgingly. “It wasn’t my first choice, I’ll admit.” I said honestly. “But the only other way out was blocked with half breeds and Adrian helped me swim through.”

  “Half breeds?” repeated Katrina, puzzled.

  “Yes, they’re kept in the caves. Lynk controls an entire army’s worth of them,” I said.

  “How many are there?” commanded the male Air Elder.

  I shook my head helplessly. “I couldn’t tell you for certain; thousands.”

  “Were there any signs of battle preparation?” He probed interrogatingly.

  My head was starting to throb, “I don’t know. Not that I saw. I barely saw anything in there except the room they kept me in.”

  “There was, however, my Lady,” spoke up Nik from the other side of the room. “Signs that Lynk had been importing foreign goods from outside the wards. We found modern human technology and weaponry.”

  Many of the Elder’s glanced at each other suspiciously. One turned to me with deeply sceptical features hidden under her wrinkles. “Is this true?”

  I nodded. “Yes, my Lady. I’ve seen it personally.”

  She leaned back in her chair, muttering something like ‘that needs looking into’ to another Elder.

  “Who else is working with him?” Katrina demanded; not unkindly.

  “All I know of is the Earth Elder, Briseis, and someone called Zac.” I answered honestly.

  Katrina was nodding thoughtfully.

  “I believe you Ruby,” she said after a while.

  The relief I felt was uncontainable; an Elder was on my side. Thank God.

  But then my relief dissolved at the male Elder’s expression; he gaped at Katrina in astonishment, which then slowly transformed into fearful suspicion. His frail body jerked forwards and he lifted a bony finger at me accusingly, “You’re using Chyun’ju!”

  A gasp of horror echoed around the room. I shook my head in denial, and contradicted him with avenging panic: “No I’m not. I swear-“

  “Why else would our dear Water Elder -who recently had her husband killed by your father’s alliance-” He put a particular emphasis on the word ‘your’ to make it seem like it was somehow my fault. “Instantly decide to defend you?”

  Katrina was glaring at the Air Elder, and stated simply: “I know Ruby better than any of you.” She glanced at each member of the Council individually. “I helped her prepare for the Winter Festival. I do not believe her capable of consorting with-“

  “Can’t you hear yourself?” he interrupted rudely. “You’ve never been so accepting before. This is not normal.”

  “Perhaps the death of my husband, Acheron,” she snapped with sudden hostility, “has changed my perspective slightly.”

  Acheron shook his head in disbelief. “I don’t believe you.”

  He snapped his fingers suddenly, ordering: “Somebody take those chains off and replace them with Phoenix snares.” He turned to me, “You can Change so we can communicate without fear of being influenced by your voice, but I want Alvira brought in here nevertheless.”

  A gasp filled the room. I didn’t know who Alvira was, but judging by the reaction of everyone, she was only called for a very serious reason.

  “You can’t do that!” cried Jayson from behind me. “That woman is barbaric!” There was fear in his eyes.

  “Why can’t you just order a mind-check?” Chara spoke up.

  Acheron smiled cruelly. “The only psychic skilled enough for this particular case, whom I trust, isn’t in today.”

  “Then someone will have to fetch her,” Kieran announced with assured confidence. “Everyone is entitled to a mind-check. It is the Law.”

  “Ah, Kierakai,” Acheron sighed. “It seems Ruby has trapped you also.” He looked at all of my Ashaik friends, “I didn’t not expect such a proud family to fall under a Siren’s influence so quickly.”

  “Watch your tongue,” growled Kieran, his shoulders stiff with arrogant defiance. “Before I cut it off and feed it to my cat.”

  “Ruby would never do that to any of us,” Chara protested absolutely, trying to take the shine off Kieran and his false threat.

  I nodded frantically in agreement, but then I heard the doors open behind me. I turned at the sound and saw the infamous Alvira.

  She was extremely tall –I’d never seen a woman so tall, taller than Adrian even- with a body as long, thin and shapeless as a plank of wood. Her hair had the translucency of an Airbird, plaited all the way down her back. He
r face consisted mostly of cheekbones, beady silver eyes and a scar that ran directly from her forehead, down her nose and split her thin top lip like a snake’s forked tongue. She was draped in animal fur and several strings of pearls hung around her neck –indicating that she was superfluously rich; as Karisian pearls were extremely rare and expensive.

  I dreaded to think how she’d become so wealthy.

  “You called for me,” she said emotionlessly.

  “This is Ruby Swartette,” Acheron explained sharply. “She may be practicing Chyun’ju as we speak; kindly make sure that is not the case.”

  Alvira nodded apathetically, walked over to me with an awkward stride, bending down onto her knees. I shuffled away but the iron chains quickly stopped me. I could feel my body shaking with terrified apprehension.

  “What are you going to do?” I demanded, feeling my heartbeat stutter erratically; I glanced over to Kieran who had a face like thunder and was currently stampeding towards me.

  “Hold him back,” ordered one of the Council members.

  Kieran paused, glancing at the seven warriors surrounding him, then threatened daringly: “If you do this to her; you’ll regret it, Acheron. That I swear to. That butcher,” he glowered icily at Alvira, “leaves scars even the greatest healer cannot erase.”

  “He’s got a point,” declared another Council member, this one with curly red hair and topaz eyes –it barely even occurred to me that she must be a distant relative of mine. She straightened her spine against her high-backed leather chair and stared fearlessly at Acheron, “I propose we vote on it.”

  “We cannot vote on anything without a full Council,” snapped Acheron, “And until we replace those who either died or betrayed us, I –as the only male Elder- am in charge.”

  That caused uproar. The voice that rose above all others was the female Earth Elder, which shockingly I only just realised was Garnha. She stood up, her silk dress clinging to her voluptuous curves and her gorgeously shiny hair flowing over her shoulders. She still looked as beautiful and ageless as ever, but she had fierceness in the set of her shoulders and a spark of authority in her effulgent emerald eyes.