“I see it,” she said, her voice a wisp of steam and smoke in the night. “I see it!”
His heat wavered. His muscles gave out and he dropped from her grip. Senri raised her hand in front of her face. It still glowed. She shook her head and stared, the world swathed in shadows save for the reddened blips of life backing away from her. She staggered forward and reached for another, grabbing hold of the man’s throat. His cries gurgled. The flow of heat came easier this time. She smiled.
“Senri!”
She blinked and the world returned to normal, the temperature sinking in her body. She released the mangled man. The other men stared at her with wide eyes. Some approached with swords. Senri’s panic took over and she ran for Stomps, the only familiar sight in the renewed midnight. She leapt for him, grabbing around the steed’s neck and pulling herself astride. He took off, chasing the other Warriors as they fled.
They raced into the forest, the pathless route losing them in the dark. The cold night air whipped her hair and branches lashed at her sides. Senri tried to bring back the overwhelming heat, but nothing could call the flames. So she rode, cold and blind until dawn’s first light. Yahn let their horses halt. Senri collapsed to the forest floor.
Chapter Eight
THE SUN ROSE, WARMING Senri’s skin. It hit her fingertips first, crawling slowly over the forest floor until it reached her face. The light made her see red. Her eyes fluttered open, and she saw a tree’s canopy rather than darkness. That was an improvement. She groaned, pushing her stiff hands against the forest floor as she tried to rise.
“By the Almighty,” she muttered, feeling the ache from riding her horse without a saddle. Thinking back on it, she could not fathom how she stayed astride Stomps for the duration of their ride.
Stomps had stayed near her. A stream rushed by, perhaps the only reason the horses had not left them. Senri sat up and rubbed her face. Bits of grass and rock fell off. Around her, the other three Warriors lay huddled in sleep. She glanced past them, looking every direction possible. Trees surrounded them. But the capital is east, and the forest is south, so if we head northeast—A groan interrupted her thoughts. Much like her own waking, Yahn pushed himself up from the forest floor in a slow arc. His hair stuck up on one end and dirt covered his entire left side. The smudging did little to hide the bruises.
“So, we’re still alive?”
“I think so,” said Senri.
Yahn shook himself and pulled his legs up into a sitting position. “We’re doing better than I hoped then,” he said. He looked for the rising sun. “We’ll be setting off that way.” He pointed just north of its beginning trajectory.
Senri nodded. She pulled her legs up to her chest and crossed her arms over them. “How long were we prisoners?”
“A day or two, maybe,” Yahn said. “I’m not entirely sure. They hit my head very hard.”
“I’m sure,” said Senri. She glanced around the forest floor. Her stomached ached for food, and drink. Without adrenaline coursing through her, she was weak. “I need food.” Senri crawled toward the noise of water.
“Where are you going?” he asked.
“To find it, hopefully.” Senri found the creek bank easily enough and dug up the roots of some familiar water plants. She had picked and eaten them for lunch all the time as a child. She turned and held up a fistful of watery roots.
Yahn leaned forward, squinting against the morning sun. “What is it?”
Senri shrugged. “We called it river root in my village.” The spindly threads had to be washed carefully in the flowing water. Hard scrubbing made the pieces break away. She finished washing as big a handful she could carry and brought it back to Yahn, settling down beside him. “Do you like yours cooked?”
Yahn smiled and picked up one of the stringy clumps. “I don’t know how I like it.”
A groan came from the two other Warriors, and Nat attempted to roll off his side.
“Good morning,” she said. Without bothering to heat it, Senri popped the root into her mouth, chewing the watery, somewhat tasteless meal. Next to her, Yahn ate his own helping.
“What did we do last night?” Nat whispered, trying and failing to sit up.
“Nearly died,” said Yahn. “Want breakfast?”
“Is it my favorite?”
“If your favorite is waterlogged roots,” Yahn said as he took another bite.
Nat sat up and blinked several times. “River root? Can I have some?”
“There’s plenty in the banks,” said Senri. She pointed in the direction of the stream. “Go get it.”
Nat groaned and stumbled off, but he returned with a full armload of the roots. He sat next to Senri “Will you cook?”
She took a clump of roots from the top of his pile and clenched it in her fist like she had done as a child. She willed the heat from her core into her hand again, but this time it came slower, cautious almost. She furrowed her brow but did not push herself any harder. When the root became hot enough, she opened her palm and broke concentration. “Here,” she said, handing it back to Nat. He took it from her and ate. Senri shook her head and went back to her own food.
“Senri.”
She looked over at Yahn, who studied her with a strange gaze. “Yes?”
“What happened when you burned those men?”
Senri looked down at her hands, remembering the wavering red dots of people, her own energy, the overwhelming sensation of power, rage. “I’d rather not talk about it.”
“But you will tell Graus?” Yahn asked.
Senri nodded, biting into another clump of roots. “I will. I don’t think your worry should be directed at me, however.” She nodded over at Lanan’s sleeping form.
Yahn frowned. “We should wake her. I’d hate for us to linger any longer than necessary.” Yahn got up and walked over to Lanan. He knelt over her and pressed a hand on her shoulder. Her eyes flew open. She gasped, rolling away until she saw Yahn. Her expression softened, but something still clung to her, an unshakable fear.
“We need to go,” he said.
After the four of them ate their fill of the roots and drank from the stream, they mounted their horses. Senri winced, her body bruised from riding all night without a saddle. Stomps shook his shoulders and whinnied. Yahn led them out of the woods and onto the prairie. Senri suspected he led them to the nearest farmhouse. They needed essentials. She had no idea what awaited them back in the city, or if they would reach it if the mercenaries still trailed them.
***
Nin did not return with news of the Warriors for several days. Alina would throw her a glance and the maid would shake her head and return to cleaning or folding clothes. One evening, Nin approached Alina while she prepared for bed. She froze in her task of pulling on her nightgown. A vision troubled her again, another small one that flashed scenes before her eyes, obscure ones with soldiers battling, an overgrown tree, a flash of emerald eyes, a mountain top. She blinked it away.
“Your Highness,” Nin said, opening the door and shutting it behind herself. Alina fumbled to pull her nightgown over her head. “My apologies,” she said, locking the door behind her.
“What is it?” Alina asked, smoothing the white material down.
“I have news of the Warriors.” Nin’s hair tangled about her face and her cheeks reddened from running. Her breathing, however, remained even.
“Have they arrived?”
“No,” said Nin. “But the dispatched scouting party found them moving toward the capital. We just received the messenger they sent ahead. The party has to move slower due to injuries.”
Alina’s throat tightened. “Are they hurt?”
“Nothing too serious. Though one of them seems to be suffering trauma. They were taken captive and escaped.” Nin clenched her hands together. Alina stared out the window. “Your Highness, they have succeeded beyond a doubt in proving whatever is on that map endangers the kingdom and that Gosman withheld the information from us.”
Th
e moon had begun its rise over the horizon. Alina watched the sphere slowly creep into view. “They could have died. They could have died for me and not even realized it.”
“Many people will die before this is through, your Highness. No matter the outcome, there will be deaths.”
Alina turned around and glared at the maid. “I’d rather avoid as many as possible.”
“That is a little idealistic.”
“Sometimes I wonder whose side you are on,” Alina spat.
“Yours, Highness,” Nin said, giving a mock curtsey. “But you must understand I have been a player in this game longer than you. Pieces have been lost, and more will fall to win.”
Instead of offering another insult, Alina changed the subject. “When can I speak to the Warriors? I want them to brief me first. At least, directly after their commanding officer. No one gets their hands on them before me. I refuse to let them get further entrenched in this by becoming a tool for someone else.”
“They are a three days ride away. Officially, you will receive them to award medals of bravery.” Nin paused, picking at the sleeve of her cloth. “The Councilors hardly approve of you speaking with common soldiers.” She smirked.
“Well, at least you are good at scheming,” Alina said. Some of her previous frustration with the maid left.
“It is one of my specialties, Highness,” said Nin, adopting her playful manner again. When Alina did not respond, she excused herself from the room.
***
Riding in the company of other Warriors and on proper saddles raised Senri’s spirits. They offered her something to eat other than scavenged roots and her heart soared. The ride passed easy enough. The senior officers spent the first night questioning Yahn over what happened. If they had not been familiar with him, the group might have had problems claiming they were Warriors and not mercenaries.
After the first night, the other Warriors barely spoke to them. They did not say much until reaching the outskirts of the city, when Lanan pulled up on her horse next to Senri. “Well, isn’t that a sight,” she muttered as the palace appeared on the horizon. Senri tried to offer her a supportive grin. Lanan had been quiet for the majority of their ride..
A courier met them at the market’s edge and told them to report to Valk. The Warriors cut through the markets and moved into the outer circle of the palace. While they led their horses to the stables, a group of foreign dignitaries walked past them. A man wearing thick robes caught sight of them, and then craned his neck back to stare longer. Senri’s eyes met his and he looked away.
“Huh,” she said.
“What was that?” asked Nat. He had been busy loosening the straps on his borrowed armor.
“I caught someone staring at us,” Senri said. She glanced back at the retreating men. “He looked like a diplomat or something.”
“I’m sure we look ridiculous,” said Nat. “Do me a favor and jump in front of me if any beautiful women cross our paths. They should not suffer looking upon me in this state.”
“They should not suffer looking upon you at all.” Lanan’s humor surprised Senri, though her upbeat tone had yet to return.
The group barely had time to hand off their horses before Valk approached them. A lower ranked Warrior accompanied him, speaking fast and trying to keep up with the leader’s lengthy steps. A deep scowl cut across Valk’s lips.
“What happened?” he asked, stopping in front of Yahn. “Who took you?”
Yahn detached the borrowed gauntlet he wore and gave it to Valk. “We were taken prisoner by whoever wears this into battle. They had a whole armory in their encampment.”
Valk studied the gauntlet before swearing and tossing it into the dirt. “It figures an entire army would unload onto our shores while the politicians squabble over who should lead.” For a moment it looked as if a vein in Valk’s neck might burst, but he took a deep breath and paced the ground instead. “Where were they?”
“Near the end of our route, sir,” said Yahn.
“Of course they were.” Valk pinched his brow. “Do you have anything else to report?”
“They were unfamiliar with the ways reading works,” said Yahn. “That was the only anomaly.”
Valk grunted, crossing his arms across his chest. “Well, the four of you should go clean up. You are expected to recount your tale in front of her Highness tomorrow. She wants to award you medals.” Just as they began walking away, Valk grabbed Yahn’s forearm. “I expect a full written report before nightfall. Every detail counts.”
Yahn nodded and they walked back to the barracks. Lanan and Yahn went to the infirmary to be treated. Senri got dismissed, so she went to the kitchen to find a meal. Orders soon arrived for her to report to Graus, Yahn’s doing most likely. She wadded up the paper the orders had arrived on and chucked it. The last thing she wanted to do was report to Graus. She swallowed her stubbornness and walked out to the nearby training field where Graus held all his meetings.
The old Warrior stood still amidst the calf-high grass rustling with the wind. He did not turn to greet her. He never did for any of his students, but waited for them to greet him.
“Good afternoon, Master Graus,” she said, uncomfortable standing in her own borrowed armor.
He still did not turn. He stood with arms crossed over his glinting steel armor. “I see you lost your uniform.”
“It was not by choice.”
Graus glanced over at her. “No, I commend your efforts. You did everything you were supposed to. You made it back alive.”
“Is there something you wanted, Sir?” Senri ached all over. She wanted to go relax, not receive a lecture.
“I have been told something happened while you and the others escaped.” Graus turned to her with an eyebrow raised. “It has me puzzled.”
“Puzzled, sir?”
Graus stepped forward and waved a hand as if to dismiss his own words. “Describe the experience. Tell me how it felt when you attacked the men with your bare hands. Yahn tells me you looked entranced.”
The wind gusted and Senri ran a hand through her dirty hair. The blinding heat had been so much and so alien. She had dwelled on it some after first experiencing it, but she preferred to not think of it with the memory of burning flesh under her fingers.
“Everything just got...so hot. My hand was molten. I...” She paused and shook her head. “I overwhelmed the soldiers with the heat.”
She did not say any more, but Graus seemed satisfied with the information. He rubbed his grizzled cheek, staring past Senri. “Such a feat is difficult. Much harder than the current techniques I’m showing you.” He gave a short laugh. “I guess all you needed was a little adrenaline.”
Senri looked to her feet. Her face grew hot. She had yet to achieve anything Graus had requested of her. “The practice isn’t helping. I can’t control this power like the others.”
Graus laughed again.
“What’s so funny?” Senri asked, looking up.
“You’re further ahead than most the Warriors several years your senior,” he said.
Senri looked at the grass. What Graus said sounded like a joke, but it had to be true. “Why do you push me so much then?”
Graus sighed. He shuffled around, crunching the grass. “You’re strong. I want to see that strength flourish. We don’t have enough accomplished heat readers. I’m the only master as of now. Unchecked power gets you in trouble when you do not know how to wield it.”
“You think I’ll hurt someone?” Senri asked. The wind picked up, cooling her skin.
Graus rubbed his beard. “Or fail to save someone. You’ve got a good head. I’d like to use you in more difficult missions if you were better trained.” Something about his tone suggested a wistful note, perhaps something Graus had been waiting for ever since they made him a trainer. Or maybe Senri exaggerated her own importance. “You might even be good enough to pass along to the Scaled Vanguard. Of course, that’s after the Warriors have their fill. You’ve been through enough
for one day though. We can resume training after your audience with her Highness tomorrow. You are dismissed.”
Usually, Senri would leap at a chance to get off the field, but this time she hesitated. “Sir?” she asked. Graus nodded for her to continue. “Do we really have to retell the whole story of our capture?”
Graus smiled. “The princess is not a frail girl. She asked for an audience not because she wants to be dazzled with tales of heroism. She wants to take part in the defense of her land. Do not let the politicians fool you. I knew her father. He was razor sharp and taught her everything. He’d be on the throne right now if he had not been assassinated.”
The princess made Senri feel strange. She thought of the confused woman in the field half the time and of a fictitious spoiled little girl the other. She had no experience to ground her perceptions in other than that first meeting. “I suppose I’ll see for myself tomorrow.”
“That you will,” said Graus.
Senri took this as her cue to leave the field. She wandered back toward the barracks to find new armor. Then she would eat. If luck stayed with her, she would get to sleep in her bunk that night.
Chapter Nine
REGENT VELORA FROWNED. “THIS is foolishness, Highness.”
“And you would know foolish acts so well, Regent, having let an opposing army land ashore under your watch.” A muscle in Alina’s jaw twitched. The two of them stood on a balcony overlooking the gardens. A faint breeze blew, chilling her. Alina knew he wanted to say something just as vicious back. She wished he would. That would prove he saw her as an equal at the very least.
Regent Velora’s face reddened. “Lord Demek and I have been doing our best,” he said, looking away. “It is difficult to keep order when a kingdom’s leaders have been assassinated. Too many countries would take advantage of us. It is impossible to track everything.”
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