I give a melancholy smile at this. “In a perfect world where a woman could join the Crafters’ Guilds?” I muse. “Maybe. Maybe I’d do both. And we’d be together.”
I turn my head to look up at him, the happy idea dispersing like smoke. “But we’re not likely to have the quiet life we both want, are we?”
Yvan lets out a short, grim sound, as if I don’t even know the half of it. “I’ll never have the life I want,” he says, his voice low and jaded. “There’s just nothing to be done about it. And the Mage Council would never tolerate Carnissa Gardner’s granddaughter being with someone who has Fae blood. And if anything ever happened to you...because of me...” His voice trails off, and he looks away, his hand rigid around mine, as if in defiance of the entire world.
But it can’t be ignored. Any kind of happy future for us...it can never be. We can never be. Our relationship would be a danger to ourselves and everyone we love.
So, I do the only thing I can do. I pull my head away from the refuge of his shoulder, let go of his hand and stand up.
“I need to get back,” I say self-consciously, motioning to the door of my lodging. “I’m behind in my studies, and they need my help with Ariel.”
Yvan nods stiffly and gets to his feet, standing there for a moment in awkward silence, the air between us charged with frustrated emotion. There’s so much to say that has to remain unsaid.
But it’s time for both of us to walk away.
* * *
Yvan is right.
Ariel does survive being deprived of the nilantyr, and it does get easier, everyone coming together to help Ariel in their own way.
Wynter, ever faithful, stays close by Ariel every moment she can. Every night, she wraps Ariel in a soft, winged embrace and sings to her in High Elvish, whispering to her lovingly even as Ariel mutters incoherently and wakens only sporadically, regarding us all with half-focused, bloodshot eyes while her raven perches overhead.
Diana, whom Ariel never had much affection for, keeps her distance, but goes about efficiently keeping Ariel’s clothes and bedding clean, muttering darkly to herself the whole time about the inhuman Gardnerians and their bizarre religious beliefs that target children born with wings, and how you wouldn’t catch the Lupines being so horribly and unforgivably cruel. Surprisingly, Diana also takes on caring for Ariel’s chickens, though they flee in a panic whenever she comes near.
Marina helps Diana with the cleaning, but has grown increasingly troubled at this further proof of the Gardnerians’ barbaric behavior. Her fear for her sister grows exponentially with every day that passes, but the wilds are impassible with so much snow on the ground. There’s no way around it—we have to wait until the weather improves before we can visit the Amaz and implore them to help Marina’s people.
Rafe and Yvan take turns bringing Ariel food from the kitchen while Tierney and I prepare medicines to help restore her energy. Wynter’s brother, Cael, and his quiet second, Rhys, bring Ariel an Elfin rune-amulet to wear, telling us that its red stone inlay is supposed to toughen the skin and might work on wings, as well.
Perhaps for the first time in her life, Ariel is surrounded by people supporting her, caring for her, wanting her to heal and be strong—strong like she was before the Gardnerians forced the nilantyr on her. Before they threw her into a cage.
* * *
That evening, I sit in the flickering firelight by Ariel’s bedside, gently dabbing Ariel’s fevered brow with a clean, cool rag.
The worst seems to be over.
The nightmare that’s held on to Ariel for close to a full week has finally released her from its merciless grasp, though she’s still pale and skeletally thin. Her wings are so threadbare you can see through them, and her body is so wilted and weak that we have to spoon-feed her.
But the stench of the poison is gone, and she sleeps soundly, as if a fragile peace has settled over her.
Like so much in her life, she’s survived it.
As I gently wipe the sweat from Ariel’s forehead, her eyes flutter open. My brow lifts in astonishment as she looks at me in a new way—fully alert and really here. And completely aware for the first time in days.
“Why are you doing this?” she asks in a coarse voice, the question devoid of emotion.
I draw my hand away, chastened by her direct question. “Because it’s wrong, what they did to you.” I tentatively bring the cloth back to her forehead and expect her to stop me, but she doesn’t. “And I want you to get better.”
Ariel considers me for a moment before replying. “I will always hate you,” she says, but there’s no malice in her tone—only exhaustion and confusion at my stubborn presence.
I shrug off the sting of her words as I continue to tend to her. “I still want you to get better.”
“Why?”
“Because I don’t want them to win.”
I stop wiping Ariel’s brow and sit back, the two of us looking at each other for a moment. Eventually, her lids become heavy, and she loses herself to sleep once more.
My eyes wander past Ariel to where Marina lies in front of the fire, staring at me, her ocean eyes alert. She’s been keeping a constant vigil at the window, waiting for the weather to change, waiting for the time when we can travel to meet with the Amaz and ask for their help.
When a thaw comes a few days later, pulling snow back into the earth, Marina, Diana and I make plans to leave Ariel in Wynter’s care.
And then we set out for Amaz territory.
PART THREE
MAGE COUNCIL
RULING
#326
All diplomatic relations with the Amazakaran Free People of the Caledonian Mountains are hereby suspended, and trade sanctions will be vigorously enforced until the Amazakaran surrender the Urisk, Smaragdalfar Elves and Fae-blooded who reside in their territory in flagrant violation of Realm Law.
CHAPTER ONE
BORDERLINE
“No men indeed,” Diana huffs as she strides next to me through the wintry, snow-patched woods. “And what, pray tell, would the Amaz do if all the men were suddenly gone and they were Queens of Erthia? Would they grow trees from which would sprout new Amaz daughters?”
Diana has been on a good half-hour-long tear about the flaws in Amaz thinking and how dare they consider themselves superior to the Lupines and why the Lupines are, in fact, superior to them. My head is starting to throb with worry just listening to her. It’s beginning to seem like sheer madness to bring Diana, who’s pretty incapable of tact, on a diplomatic mission to implore the Amaz to help the Selkies.
But we’ll need her protection. Venturing into Amaz lands without an invitation is beyond dangerous.
Walls of Spine-stone tower above the treetops to either side of us as we hike through the long, slender ribbon of forest cutting through the only break in the Northern Spine.
Straight toward the Amaz border.
Rafe follows Diana closely, listening to her impassioned, indignant speech with his usual, wry good humor. Trystan, Andras and Jarod walk silently behind them, all three of them seeming lost in their own thoughts.
Yvan strides beside me as we weave through evergreen trees cast in late-afternoon shadow. His fire power is simmering with an almost vibrating tension, the edges of it fitful and flashing out randomly. I can sense him struggling to hold it in check, but there’s an aura of heat building, dangerously close to breaching all control.
Marina needs to get out of here, I worriedly consider, but so do you. Before the wrong person discovers what you are.
I glance over at Marina, who’s walking hand in hand with Gareth, the two of them having fallen into an intense friendship—and possibly more. I’ve gotten used to falling asleep to the sound of Gareth’s low, kind voice and Marina’s flute-like inflections emanating from the North Tower hallway as they converse late into the night.
/> Diana’s sharply critical voice pulls me from my thoughts. “...and if my father has to hear one more time about how we’ve stolen their male children from them, children they’ve left to die in the woods, I think he would be quite justified in pointing out what hypocrites they truly are—”
“Diana,” I cut in, perhaps a bit too forcefully. She rounds on me, her expression irked. “You’re going to have to make an effort to keep your views to yourself when we get there.”
“Or what?” Diana shoots back dismissively. “They will threaten me with one of their rune-weapons? They are no match for me.”
“There it is,” Andras announces as we reach a break in the forest and step out onto a snow-covered field. Andras points across the field to where a dark wall of trees lies ready to meet us. “That’s the border, just up ahead.”
We all slow to a stop.
The men in our group can walk across the field, but no farther. And under no circumstances can they follow us over that borderline of trees. Any men found on Amaz land are killed. There are no negotiations, no exceptions to the rule. Everyone has heard stories of hapless male travelers crossing the border by accident, only to have their heads split in two by a sharp rune-axe.
Marina, Diana and I will be entering those woods alone.
“How will we find the Amaz?” I ask Andras.
Andras smiles slightly at this. “You won’t need to find them. Once you pass into their territory, they’ll find you.” His expression grows serious. “Remember to bow low before the queen. Don’t make eye contact until she acknowledges you. And don’t step on the threshold when you enter their dwellings.”
Diana listens impatiently, her arms crossed tightly, as Andras reminds us of the most important etiquette points. Yvan regards me quietly, his fire flaring restlessly, as Rafe and Andras try to impress upon a stubborn Diana the importance of diplomacy here. Trystan has his wand out and is eyeing the line of trees with dark appraisal as he converses in low tones with Jarod.
I follow Trystan’s gaze across the field and toward the brooding forest, reluctant to part from the men in our party. From everything I’ve read about the Amaz, they don’t take kindly to strangers wandering into their lands—even female strangers.
And here I am, the double of the greatest enemy they’ve ever known.
“Are you ready, Elloren?” Yvan asks, a tendril of his fire magic breaking free and reaching for me.
I nod apprehensively, glancing toward the forest again.
“You can do this,” he says encouragingly, a slim edge of gold limning his green eyes.
I look over at Marina, who is embracing Gareth, saying her goodbyes. “We have to,” I tell Yvan, grimly resolved. “There’s not a lot of time left. The Mage Council will be voting on my aunt’s motion soon.”
He nods, the gold in his eyes briefly intensifying, his fire whipping out toward me. He glances uneasily at the border, holding himself rigid, but his fire wraps around me protectively.
We both hesitate, attempting to hold ourselves back from each other as our fires build and the boundaries between us rapidly break down.
Yvan steps close and pulls me into a heated embrace. I cling to him, burrowing my face in his shoulder as our fire powers surge free to encompass each other.
“Be careful, Elloren,” he whispers, his breath hot on my ear. “This is dangerous. Promise me you’ll be careful.”
“I will,” I promise, moved by his impassioned concern.
I pull back from Yvan, a flush suffusing my cheeks, his heat sizzling through my lines.
“Ready?” Diana asks as she sidles up next to me, Marina close behind her.
I nod, tempered by Yvan’s fire.
“We’ll be waiting for you here tomorrow,” Andras tells us. “Respectfully ask them to escort you back.” He gives Diana a significant look, but her attention has already turned to the forest before us.
It’s time.
Time to walk across the Spine-bracketed field and over the borderline of dark forest before I lose my nerve.
I hitch my travel sack high on my shoulder and say goodbye to my brothers, Andras, Jarod and Gareth. Then I take one last look at Yvan before starting across the field with Diana and Marina.
We’re about halfway to the border when a line of glowing red runes suddenly bursts into view, and we all flinch back in surprise and freeze. The runes are the size of wagon wheels and hover in a line just above the border.
Diana jerks her head up, then pivots around, nostrils flaring. Her amber eyes suddenly widen and, in a blur, she grabs hold of my arm and roughly yanks me sideways.
I cry out as my back hits the icy ground, and a small, silvery flash whizzes over my head, then another, immediately followed by a volley of glowing-red arrows whistling in from the opposite direction.
Yvan is suddenly hurling his whole body over me, his hands grasping the sides of my head, his forehead pressed tightly to mine.
“Be still,” he hisses, his fire unleashed and strafing through my lines.
Fear hits me with devastating force.
There’s a buzz, and the air takes on a charge, as if an intense thunderstorm is about to blow through.
Heart thundering, I turn my head to see Marina huddling in a ball close to the ground. My brothers, Gareth and Andras encircle us. Trystan is holding up his wand, a translucent golden dome emanating from its tip and encasing all of us save the Lupines. Diana’s crouched just outside Trystan’s Mage-shield, but I don’t see Jarod anywhere.
Then I realize we’re not alone on the field.
Two Vu Trin sorceresses on black horses have appeared to my right. The women are staring straight at me, their eyes merciless, their arms raised and ready to throw more silver stars.
These two women’s garb is different from most Vu Trin sorceresses. Black scarves are wrapped tightly around their heads, and their clothing is deep gray instead of the usual black, marked with glowing blue Noi runes. Crossed swords are strapped to their backs, and lines of gleaming killing stars are fastened diagonally across their chests.
I’m thrust into panicked confusion.
Why are Vu Trin sorceresses firing stars at us? And who’s trying to kill us with glowing arrows?
“Stand down!” a dominant female voice bellows from the direction of the woods we came from.
I whip my head around to see Commander Kam Vin riding out onto the field, coming in like a storm as she vehemently calls out a string of orders in the Noi language.
She’s wearing her military uniform—a black tunic and pants marked with glowing blue runes, curved swords at her sides, a row of silver stars strapped diagonally across her chest. Her sister, Ni Vin, rides in behind her, also clad in her soldier garb.
Ni Vin meets my gaze, her face emotionless, but then her eyes widen when she spots Marina. A memory flashes through my mind of Ni Vin helping us hide Marina’s presence in the North Tower, saving her from being recaptured.
“I’ve got everyone shielded, Yvan,” Trystan says calmly. “You can let Ren go.”
“Nice shield, my brother,” Rafe says in grateful amazement.
“I’ve been practicing,” Trystan replies coolly.
Yvan relaxes his grip on me, looks around, then slowly pulls himself away. He hovers by me, tense and coiled, his heat a violent frenzy.
I force myself into a sitting position and finally spot Jarod, hovering behind one of the women who attacked us with stars, his whole body tensed and ready to spring at them.
“You forget our agreement, Kam Vin,” says the taller of the two gray-clad sorceresses, her eyes set unforgivingly on me. “The girl has made a move for Amaz lands.”
Fear lances down my spine.
What is she talking about?
“You’re going to leave my sister alone,” Rafe’s authoritative voice booms out. “Or you’ll have t
o deal with every last one of us.”
“Silence!” a deep voice just past the border commands.
I gasp as a line of rune-tattooed Amaz soldiers on horseback emerge from the border of dark forest and move straight through the suspended border-runes, as if the runes are as insubstantial as smoke. All of them, save one, are heavily armed with rune-marked weapons and dressed in crimson military tunics emblazoned with glowing scarlet runes, dark winter cloaks lined with black fur secured over their shoulders. All have black runes tattooed on their faces.
But the similarities end there.
Some possess the jewel-toned features of the Urisk, while others have the deep brown skin of the southern Ishkartan. A few are pale and blonde like the northern Issani, and one Amaz soldier has emerald-patterned Smaragdalfar skin and green hair. Another bears the ivory hair and silver eyes of the Alfsigr Elves.
Amaz archers appear high in the branches of trees just behind the borderline, rune-arrows nocked in their bows, and a few of the women on horseback hold rune-spears aloft.
All of the weapons are trained on me.
My heart beats so hard it hurts, and I hear Diana begin to growl outside the shield as a young, hazel-skinned woman with black hair and pointed ears rides out ahead of the rest, a rune-axe in her hand. She appears to be the one in command, the other Amaz women’s eyes now set on her.
The hazel-skinned woman points an accusing finger at me and pins stern eyes on Commander Vin. “The granddaughter of the Black Witch is poised to cross over into Amaz land. You will explain yourself now, Kam Vin.”
“The girl is shielded,” Commander Vin points out sharply as she faces down the Amaz and the gray-clad sorceresses. “Stand down, all of you, and we will discuss the situation.”
“Order the Lupines to stand down first,” the taller, gray-clad sorceress coldly replies. “Especially the one threatening to attack us from behind.”
Jarod doesn’t move. His amber eyes glow, and his lips pull back to expose formidable teeth.
“No one tells us to stand down,” Diana snarls at the sorceress. “Our father is an alpha. Only he commands us.”
The Iron Flower Page 26