The Iron Flower

by Laurie Forest

  “Aislinn,” I call out, my heart skipping. “Your father’s here.”

  Aislinn’s look of defiance only becomes more entrenched. Rattled, I push the window open a crack and peer through. Gray-uniformed Verpacian soldiers stand by Commander Grey, all of them older men who appear to be officers, one with the large white star markings of a Verpacian commander. And all of these Verpacian military men are black-haired, green-eyed Gardnerians.

  I strain to hear as Commander Grey strides up to the Vu Trin commander. “Greetings, Commander Vin,” he says, his tone filled with triumph. “We have come to take custody of the Lupines.”

  Commander Vin remains stone-still in front of the door, her hands on the hilts of both curved swords at her sides. “They are University scholars, Commander Grey, and as such are under our jurisdiction.”

  Lukas’s father holds up an official-looking piece of parchment affixed with a gold seal. “I have orders from the Verpacian Guard authorizing you to release them to us.”

  “Lieutenant Morlyr,” the commander of the Verpacian forces calls out, glancing up toward the tower’s roof. “Call off the Elfhollen guard.”

  “No.” I hear Orin’s voice sounding through the open entrance to the roof, his tone as rigid as iron. “We’re breaking with you.”

  The Verpacian commander’s expression becomes one of surprise, then disgust. Aislinn’s father leans in toward him. “I warned you, Coram. This is what comes of letting half-breeds into your ranks.”

  Coram’s lips tighten as he looks back up at Orin, furious. “Lieutenant Morlyr, you and all these renegade soldiers are hereby dismissed from the Verpacian Guard, due to your flagrant violation of the laws of our land.”

  Commander Grey glances at Coram, his expression calm and in control, like he has all the time in the world. “We’ll send you soldiers to replace them, Coram.”

  “Thank you, Commander Grey,” Coram says, eyeing Orin with contempt.

  “Where are the Lupines?” Lukas’s father asks Commander Vin, sounding almost bored.

  She jerks her chin up toward where I stand. “In the tower.”

  Commander Grey makes a small gesture to the soldiers behind him, and they start forward. Commander Vin taps a hand on her sword’s hilt in response. In perfect unison, and with a metallic shriek, every Vu Trin circling the tower pulls one curved rune-sword from their sheaths. Through the opening in the roof, I can see the Elfhollen snapping their bows up, arrows nocked.

  The Gardnerian soldiers come to an abrupt halt.

  Commander Grey narrows his eyes at Commander Vin, clearly taken off guard by the level of resistance he’s encountering. He quickly composes himself, relaxes his posture and smiles coldly. “We have no issue with you, Commander Vin, or with your people, for that matter. Our concern lies solely with the Lupines. We received word yesterday that they were planning an attack on our sovereign territory, and we were forced to take the unfortunate steps needed to protect our people. Hand the Lupines over, and we will leave peacefully.”

  Commander Vin snaps into fighting stance and pulls out her sword, a hum filling the air as blue light flashes from the runes on the blade. “We will not let you have them, Lachlan.”

  “Be careful, Commander,” he warns. “You are a guest force on sovereign territory. Territory that is aligned with the Holy Magedom.”

  “Aligned with, perhaps. But there has been no Verpacian Council decree regarding who should take custody of the Lupines.”

  “A technicality that will soon be resolved.”

  “But not as of yet.”

  “Kamitra,” he counters with cloying pleasantry, “what you are doing could be seen as a blatant act of war.”

  Commander Vin remains unmoved. “View this as you see fit, Lachlan. We will not let you take them.”

  Commander Grey’s smile creeps wider. “One thing I have never taken you for, Kamitra, is a fool. Things have changed. I think you know that. The balance of power has shifted. It would be best for you and your people if you hand the Lupines over to us and begin adjusting to the new reality you are faced with.”

  “You have never been shy about pressing your advantage, Lachlan,” she calmly rejoins. “If the balance of power is truly as altered as you say it is, you would not be asking for my cooperation.”

  He laughs. “Oh, come now. Does common courtesy need to die along with those who oppose us?”

  Commander Vin shakes her head slowly. “No. You have used up whatever advantage you had last night when you moved against the Lupines, and you can’t afford an all-out war with us at the moment. Especially when you take into consideration the fact that we are allied with the Amaz, who, last I checked, were not feeling especially friendly toward you.”

  Commander Grey’s smile disappears. He’s now glaring at her with barely concealed fury. “Do you think us fools?” he snarls. “Do you honestly think we will allow you custody of the Lupines? To raise an army of shapeshifters that you can use against us?”

  Commander Vin tightens her fist around the hilt of her sword. “And we will wage war with you before we let you do the same.”

  Lukas’s father fumes silently for a moment. “It seems, then, that we are at an impasse.”

  “Indeed.”

  He regards her for a long moment, a calculating glint in his eyes. “Then I propose the only possible solution.”

  “And that would be?”

  “Joint custody of the Lupines under a combined guard—part Gardnerian and Verpacian, and part Vu Trin, with a doubling of the guard during the full moon, to keep the Lupines from being used to create more shapeshifters. And to keep them from...conveniently disappearing.”

  “They are scholars, Lachlan, not prisoners.”

  “They are weapons, Kamitra. And very dangerous ones at that. Weapons we will not walk away from.”

  “Weapons we will not let you have.”

  He waves away her concerns with his hand. “We can sit down and hammer out the details, but first, we need to see the Lupines. To verify for ourselves that they really are here.”

  “They are quite distressed at the moment.”

  “That is no concern of mine.”

  The air around Commander Vin suddenly seems to vibrate with blue light. “They just found out their entire family was murdered.” Her tone is venomous.

  Commander Grey steps forward, furious in turn. “Perhaps such unfortunate things would not have come about if the Lupines had simply ceded the land that is rightfully ours. They were given every chance to avoid this fate.” He shakes his head at her. “Really, Kamitra, my patience is wearing thin. Show me to the Lupines, or you will force me to take action.”

  He gives a small nod, and a guard of six Level Five Mages behind him all pull their wands from their sheaths. The Vu Trin, in turn, whip out silver stars ready to throw, their swords raised, ready to deflect all magic.

  The two commanders are silent for a long moment, assessing the situation.

  Commander Vin steps back, her posture relaxing. “Stand down, Lachlan,” she says, “and we will, as well. I will let you see the Lupines, and then we can sit down and talk.”

  Commander Grey gives a small wave to his soldiers, and they sheathe their wands. The Vu Trin sheathe their star weapons and their swords in turn, although I notice their hands stay firmly on the hilts of their rune-swords.

  CHAPTER SEVEN

  REBELLION

  I watch and listen through the open window as Aislinn’s father volunteers to verify the Lupine’s presence. Both commanders distractedly wave him through, then go back to hammering out terms.

  Panic rearing, I whirl around to face Aislinn. She’s on her knees before a blank-faced Jarod, trying to coax a response from him, to no avail.

  “Your father,” I warn her. “He’s coming up.”

  Aislinn shoots me a white-hot look of
defiance. “Elloren,” she says, her voice steeled, “if they force me out, don’t interfere, because you won’t be able to stop them. I want you to promise me you’ll stay as long as you can and try to get Jarod out of here.”

  I’ve never seen her like this—suddenly a force to be reckoned with.

  “I promise,” I vow.

  Brisk boot heels sound on the stone steps. Aislinn sits down close beside Jarod and takes his limp hand firmly in hers, ferocity in her gaze.

  The door flies open, and Aislinn’s father sweeps into the hallway, trailed by Ni Vin and a black-bearded Gardnerian soldier.

  Mage Greer’s eyes light on Aislinn and Jarod, widening with horror. “Holy Ancient One!” he exclaims. “Aislinn! Get away from the Lupine!”

  Aislinn glares at her father rebelliously. “I’m not leaving,” she vows, her voice low with resolve. “I’m staying with Jarod.”

  His eyes catch fire. “What evil is this? Get away from him, Aislinn. Now.”

  Aislinn doesn’t budge.

  Mage Greer looks to Ni Vin, his face tight with fury. He points an unforgiving finger at Jarod. “He’s mesmerized her somehow. I’m retrieving my daughter. By force, if necessary, which is well within my rights!”

  I want to throw myself between Aislinn and her father. I want magical power, so I could whip out the White Wand and blast him clear out the window.

  Instead, I look entreatingly to Ni Vin but she ignores me. She gives Mage Greer a curt nod of permission, as another Gardnerian soldier and another Vu Trin sorceress filter into the hall behind everyone.

  “Wait!” I cry, throwing my palms up as Aislinn’s father advances down the hall toward us.

  “Elloren Gardner,” Ni Vin cautions, halting me where I stand with a fierce look that’s mirrored by Aislinn. The sorceress stares hard at me, as if trying to convey extreme caution.

  My mind is an anguished storm. You can’t intervene. You can’t save Aislinn from this. Not right now. And you promised her that you’d stay and help Jarod.

  “Aislinn, come with me now,” her father commands, looming over her.

  “No,” she snarls, refusing to look at him, looking only to Jarod, who stares blankly at the wall. “I won’t leave him!”

  “I said get up!”

  Aislinn makes no move to comply.

  Irate, Aislinn’s father steps back and brusquely motions to his guards.

  It takes all my willpower not to rush to her defense as the two Gardnerian soldiers sweep toward Aislinn and grab hold of her arms, wrenching her away from Jarod.

  “Get away from me!” Aislinn rages as she fights and bucks against their hold, her green eyes wild.

  Jarod shivers and blinks repeatedly, as if almost pulled back to reality, as Aislinn is forced to her feet. Then, he lets his head drop into his hands, as if trying to block it all out.

  “No!” Aislinn cries at the soldiers, kicking at them. “Let me go! I hate you! I hate you all! You’re murderers!”

  “Have you gone insane?” her father demands as the guards attempt to restrain her.

  Aislinn stops fighting, draws back and spits in her father’s face.

  Mage Greer wipes the spittle off, his stunned expression morphing to one of pure, unadulterated fury. He snaps his hand up and slaps Aislinn hard across the face.

  I flinch from the sound of the blow, pulling in a shocked breath.

  “You are a Gardnerian!” Mage Greer snarls. “Not some Lupine’s bitch!”

  “How could you?” Aislinn cries. “How could you kill them? Even the children! I hate you! I’ll hate you forever! You’re murderers!”

  Aislinn’s father quickly collects himself and turns to his soldiers, directing them through gritted teeth. “Get her out of here. I don’t care if you have to tie her up and gag her to do it. Put her in a carriage to Valgard. Now.”

  * * *

  I watch through the hallway window as they drag Aislinn off, her father following closely behind. Everything in me rages to do something to stop this, but I’m bound by the promise I just made to Aislinn.

  Commander Vin gestures for Commander Grey to enter the tower, then follows him inside. They’re trailed by the Verpacian commander and a white-bearded Council Mage, along with several Gardnerian and Vu Trin soldiers.

  Heart pounding, I turn and steady myself against the windowsill as Commander Grey ascends the stairs.

  “Elloren Gardner,” he says as he enters the hall, his cold eyes boring into me.

  “Commander Grey,” I reply, my voice strangled. Commander Vin and the others filter into the hall, as well.

  “What is the granddaughter of Carnissa Gardner doing here?” the bearded Council Mage questions, screwing his face up in shock.

  “Vyvian is punishing her for listening to her fool-headed uncle,” Lukas’s father replies. “Isn’t that right, Mage Gardner?”

  “That’s right,” I say, unable to keep the defiance from my voice.

  Commander Grey sneers and turns his attention to Jarod. “Attention, boy! Identify yourself! Are you Jarod Ulrich, son of Gunther Ulrich?”

  “He can’t answer you,” Commander Vin says with barely concealed loathing.

  “Whyever not?” asks Commander Grey. “Is he dumb?”

  Her returning glare is as sharp as her curved swords. “He’s in shock, Lachlan.”

  “Don’t believe it for a second, Lachlan,” says the Council Mage. “They’re full of tricks.”

  “Jarod Ulrich!” Commander Grey tries again, this time his voice booming so loud that I jump, and so does Jarod.

  Jarod’s hands drop from his face, and he looks around the room in a stupor, unable to focus on anything, lost in the nightmare his world has become.

  I remember the young Selkie girl the Amaz rescued, the one in shock, the one who looked no older than twelve. Her traumatized expression was the same as Jarod’s is now.

  “That’s him,” the Council Mage verifies. “I remember him from my visit to their pack.”

  “Excellent,” Commander Grey responds, looking around. His frigid green eyes light on me. “And the sister? Where is the girl?”

  I struggle not to glare at him with blistering hatred. My eyes flit toward the lodging door.

  “Go on,” he orders me, his tone cool. “Go fetch her.”

  Nausea overtaking me, I cautiously move to the door. Commander Grey and the Council Mage wait, arms crossed, as I peer into our room and search for Diana.

  She’s not there.

  I tentatively make my way through the door and into the room. My eyes dart around as Commander Grey and his Mage Council cohort follow close at my heels, my heart violently pounding in my chest.

  Holy Ancient One, where is Diana?

  I scan the room. She’s nowhere. I turn around to glance behind me, and that’s when I see her.

  I flinch at the sight of her and take a step back.

  She’s on Wynter’s bed, hidden in the shadows just behind the open door, still as death, her eyes alert and wilder than I’ve ever seen them.

  Full of a frightening level of hate.

  Her hands are shifted from the wrists down, transformed into clawed weapons and clutching at the edge of the bed so tightly her nails are sunk deep into the wood of the frame. I’ve never seen her look so terrifying, as if it’s taking every ounce of self-control she possesses to keep from killing everyone she can get her claws and teeth on.

  “There she is,” the Council Mage says, pointing.

  Commander Grey takes in the sight of her. “Wild-looking thing, isn’t she?”

  “I can tell she’s the daughter,” the Council Mage says. “She looks quite a bit like the father.”

  Diana’s nails flick into the wood a fraction more, the hair at her wrists creeping up her arm.

  No, Diana. Sweet Ancient One, don’t d
o it. There’s too many of them...

  “Diana Ulrich,” Commander Grey says, his tone formal and commanding, “you are hereby placed under the joint custody of the Gardnerian and Vu Trin command, along with your brother, Jarod Ulrich. Do you understand?”

  Oh, Diana, please. Please don’t kill them. They’ll take you down.

  I can’t breathe. I can’t move. All I can do is wait and pray as she surveys them like a cobra ready to strike.

  And then her fur starts to recede, fading from her lower arms, her wrists, until her hands are human once again. There are deep holes under her fingers where her claws gouged the bed.

  Only the wild violence in her eyes remains.

  “I am prepared to cooperate with you fully,” she says, her voice so ice-cold and completely altered that it sends a chill straight down my spine.

  “A wise decision, Diana Ulrich,” the commander congratulates her.

  “The females are more docile than the males, Lachlan,” the Council Mage says. “This one’s mother was quite submissive.”

  “That’s not surprising,” Commander Grey replies. “Females are generally easier to handle.”

  The Council Mage purses his thin lips. “I would watch the brother carefully, however. The males are very aggressive.”

  One of the Gardnerian soldiers steps into the room. “Commander, it seems the easiest place to hold the Lupines, at present, is here in this very tower. It’s separate from the rest of the University and easily guarded by both forces.”

  “Very well,” Lachlan agrees with a dismissive wave of his hand. “Elloren Gardner, you will come with us now.” He eyes me frigidly. “Your aunt has had safer and more appropriate lodging set aside for you for some time now.”

  Jarod is ushered into our bedroom by two Gardnerian soldiers and roughly pushed onto my bed. He lies down and turns his back to all of us.

  As I’m led away, I turn once to look behind me.

  Diana has moved inhumanly fast.