Heart of Crystal

by Lauren D. M. Smith

  A shouted word from behind her had Azara jerking her head to stare. Jin stood pointing forward, the symbol beside him flaring even to her unmagicked eyes, his face pale and sweating. He swayed where he stood. As she watched, he fell.

  Deep rumbling drew her attention away from his still, breathing form to what was happening in front of her. She couldn’t see much in the darkness, but she heard the screams of human and animal alike, as well as what sounded like the earth ripping open. The riders near her milled about, fighting their spooked mounts as the sound went on and on. When the light overhead winked out, it took Azara’s eyes several moments to adjust.

  For a few heartbeats, all she could do was stare. Massive stone spikes spread out in both directions as far as she could see in the darkness, no few holding those unfortunate enough to be impaled. If there were any survivors, they were stuck on the other side. Azara grinned harshly. Jin had done it.

  But her work wasn’t done. She backed up and contracted the shield so it protected only her, trusting to the darkness and what she was about to do to keep Jin safe. The riders were only now realizing the state of things. She didn’t give them a chance to recover further.

  While it pained her to do so, Azara cut the throats of the two nearest horses, leaving their deaths to distract their riders while she raced towards the two remaining on the one side. Jutting both arms forward, she sent the crystal flying out so it could pierce their chests. She pulled it out almost immediately and turned her attention to the last of the mounted men. He barely had a chance to raise his bayonet before she had crystal ripping through his throat.

  She returned to the fallen two, killing the one who had been partially crushed by his horse before focusing on the one who had only had his leg trapped. It was quick work to slice through the bottom of his legs and near his wrists. A quick application of crystal encasing her fire magic cauterized the wounds enough that he wouldn’t die.

  Azara loomed over him, ignoring his youth and the naked fear in his eyes. He would have killed her people if ordered. “Let your masters know that if they harm fire mages, if they attempt to replicate what they were doing, I will come for them. And what happened tonight will seem like paradise compared to what I will rain down onto them. Understood?”

  Tears streaming down his face, the soldier nodded. Azara left him, only now able to check Jin. He was breathing, but very pale and sweaty, feeling cooler than he should. She grimaced. She needed to get him help quickly.

  After a brief attempt at picking him up, Azara used the crystal and hurried over to their horses, both skittish after what had happened. No way was Jin going to be able to ride by himself. With a sigh, she released one of the horses, hoping it found a good home.

  On the bigger of the two, she used the crystal to hold Jin upright against her chest before kicking the horse into a trot, heading down the road. She stopped only once, to look again at Jin’s handiwork. Even at this distance, the stone spikes stretched out to the edges of her vision, a dark smudge against the horizon. It would take hours for any survivors to make it around. And by then, they should be long gone.

  She might have smiled normally, but with Jin as he was, Azara focused instead on the road in front of her. The one that would lead her back to the caravan, her people, and her father. And with luck, help on the other side of the border for Jin.

  Chapter Twenty-Seven: Offers

  Azara sat in the narrow chair beside the bed, busy cutting an apple into slices using her crystal, with sunlight pouring in through the open window. Wood floors, white-washed walls, and the light wooden furniture kept everything airy and bright. She glanced towards the bed, noting that Jin’s colour was better. The mage they’d found in the border town had said he’d improve with time, that he’d overcast, burned through all of his magic or something.

  Which to her meant he was vulnerable. She’d taken it in turns with some of the fire mages to watch him, to ensure no rivals of his made any attempts on him, or that no operative from Nalbin crossed the border to kill him. They’d sent word to the emperor the morning they’d arrived three days ago, but for now they’d been accepted by the town officials and had been allowed to take over both the inn and the government house.

  She had to admit they’d been well cared for despite the way they’d raced past the border guards on both sides of the road, ignoring commands and shouts until well away. The troops that had come to them had listened to Azara, and their leader had recognized Jin, which had simplified things.

  The fire mages were staying close, only occasionally venturing off into town and no one went by themselves. The children were more relaxed, treating this as an adventure and enjoying going out in the sun. Several had complained about the wagon and refused to go back into it. She didn’t exactly blame them.

  Movement drew her gaze to Jin. As she watched, he opened his eyes, blinking up at the ceiling. He turned to her. “Where—” he croaked.

  She grabbed the water pitcher and used the crystal to prop him up so he could drink. He gulped at it, chugging half down before he tried speaking again. “Where are we?”

  “Gangu, on the Empire’s side of the border. How are you feeling?”

  He stared at her for a moment. “The army?”

  Her grin took on a razor edge. “Either very dead, or thanking their narrow escape. After what you did, we lost all pursuit. I left one to be a messenger but he’s the only one I know for certain survived. We did it.” Her smile softened. “Really, you did it. You saved everyone.”

  Jin shook his head then winced. “No, you did as much as I. Without your protection, I surely would have died a dozen times over. And that only while casting. We would not have gotten as far as we have without your skills and knowledge.”

  “And I can say the same to you.”

  “I feel you contributed more.”

  She rolled her eyes. “Then it was a team effort. And I can admit we work very well together.”

  A large gurgle from Jin’s stomach made him blush and her laugh. She passed him the apple pieces on the wooden plate. “Eat these while I arrange something more substantial. Unless you can only eat certain foods...”

  He shook his head. “The more the better.”

  She chuckled again and poked her head out the door. As she’d hoped, one of the other fire mages was hanging about. “Will you get a large meal and have it brought up here?”

  The young woman looked up at her, eyes lighting. Lukina, Azara thought the woman’s name was. “Is he awake?”

  Azara grinned. “He is.”

  The woman, barely more than a girl, raced off. Azara knew it was only a matter of time before it spread to all of the fire mages. Jin was their hero. Her explanation of what he’d done having spread and grown with retellings, to the point where they all but worshipped him. She hoped he wouldn’t be too embarrassed by it. Though at the same time, she did want to see it.

  She rejoined Jin, who was sitting up, the covers lifted and a frown on his face. He coughed delicately when she sat down. “These aren’t my clothes.”

  “No, we received donations from officials here, and your clothes were in rough shape. And before you ask,” she said, noting the faint pink in his cheeks. “It was one of the men who changed you, not me. I would have but was pulled out with other tasks.”

  He relaxed somewhat which made her chuckle. Why he should care if she’d changed his clothes after having had his dick in her mouth, she had no idea. Jin frowned again. “The emperor—”

  “Was sent word the day we arrived. Three days ago. Yesterday we received a message to stay here. I believe the officials were also told to treat us well, as they suddenly offered us more than they had. All the fire mages have new clothes, and families have even brought old toys for the children. We’re being well taken care of.”

  Jin sank into his pillows. He was a trifle pale, but a
t least he was awake. Azara hadn’t been able to stop thinking that he might never wake up, that he’d burned himself out completely. She’d known Jin was too tough to give in like that.

  A knock at the door had them both turning. “Come in,” Azara called.

  Lukina entered carrying a huge tray overflowing with steaming plates. “I kept it warm for you.”

  Jin smiled. “You have my gratitude.”

  She flushed and hurriedly brought it over, almost causing the soup to slop and the glass of ale to get perilously close to overturning. She laid it on the bed, bowed once, then scurried back out again. Azara rolled her eyes.

  Jin gave Azara a quizzical look. She shook her head and gestured towards the food. “Eat. You’ve been too many days without food.”

  His stomach chose that moment to growl again, making them both chuckle. As Jin tucked into his food, Azara felt the remaining tension drain out of her. They were safe. She had brought the fire mages to safety. Her father was alive. And Jin had survived.

  * * *

  Jin sat underneath the large tree outside the inn, enjoying the cool breeze. Azara sat beside him, eyes on those who passed, but without the complete wariness she’d shown in Nalbin. She was more relaxed, though not completely. Then again, he wasn’t sure she ever fully relaxed, even in sleep.

  She hadn’t let him out of her sight during waking hours since he’d woken. From what he’d heard from the fire mages who’d talked to him, and what Rohan had managed to let him know before Azara had interrupted him, she’d been beside him before he’d woken up. She’d ridden into their midst in the middle of the night with wild eyes, forced the others to rearrange themselves so he could lay out in the wagon, and had pushed them all to hurry more than before.

  While he wasn’t to full strength, Jin had recovered enough to protect himself. But Azara didn’t seem to believe him. Still, it wasn’t as if he disliked her company. Quite the opposite in fact.

  Jin leaned back, so his head touched the rough bark of the tree. He’d received no word from the capital, and the one report he’d personally sent to the mage corps, letting them know he was awake and the fire mages had been liberated, had been answered with only a short “Hold your position.”

  While he didn’t like the sound of that, orders were orders. And it wasn’t as if the town was an unpleasant place to relax. Everyone was kind, the fire mages seemed to be relaxing, and it was a novelty to be left with no work and no duties for a time. He hadn’t had such a break since he’d been a student. And then, he’d used that time to study and further his spellcraft.

  The racing figure of one of the younger fire mages, followed only a bit more slowly by Rohan, had both of them jumping up. “What’s the matter?” Azara asked, body tensing in a way that Jin knew meant she was bringing her crystal up.

  The young man, Boase, panted. “Riders. A large group of them, are heading down the road. They have flags and a lot of fancy-looking folk.”

  Rohan grimaced. “I believe you should both greet these visitors. They’ve come from the road leading towards the heart of the Empire.”

  Azara nodded. “Gather everyone else together here. We’ll bring, Boase, was it?, with us. He can bring word to you if we need you.”

  Her father gave her a little smile and a quick hug, before striding off. Jin offered Azara his arm which she accepted. With Boase trailing behind them, they headed towards the Imperial side of town, which was luckily quite close. Plenty of people were gathering by the road, but left a wide half-circle around those who were only now dismounting.

  They pressed forward, the crowd parting when they caught sight of them. The town’s officials were already there, bowing deeply to the figures at the heart of the clear space, and after getting around the last few people, Jin understood why.

  Standing in his Imperial robes as if he wasn’t out of place, his celestial majesty smiled serenely out at the gathered people, flanked by bodyguards. Jin immediately bowed as deeply as the other officials, Azara following suit a moment later. When they straightened, they found the emperor’s attention on both of them.

  Jin bowed a second time while Azara grinned. A quick glance showed Anali and Aviur standing behind the other bodyguards, grinning back at their sister. Jin felt a surge of warmth before he returned his focus to where it should be.

  His celestial majesty inclined his head in acknowledgement. “You have returned.”

  “We have, Your Celestial Majesty. I have information we have gathered for you, as well as the fire mages we freed from inhuman treatment at the hands of Nalbin.”

  “I would see these fire mages.”

  Jin bowed again, and glanced at Boase, who was standing behind them with his mouth open. It took a little wave to get his attention. When he looked at Jin, he jerked his chin the way they’d come. “Go bring everyone here.”

  The fire mage raced off. Jin turned to the emperor. “Shall I present my report to you?”

  His celestial majesty shook his head. “I will hear that in private. You have only recently recovered from what I have heard. Your dedication is admirable.”

  That made Jin relax inwardly as he bowed his acceptance of the praise. If the emperor was speaking like that, likely his position was safe. And he would require it, if he was needed to support the fire mages. He imagined there would be more than a few that would be jealous of them, should they be offered positions within the Palace City.

  Whispers from behind announced the arrival of the fire mages, most of the children in tow. Rohan himself stepped up beside Jin and Azara. He opened his mouth to speak when Aviur and Anali exploded almost at the same time. “Father!”

  The emperor watched with indulgence as they raced forward and threw themselves at their father. He hugged them tightly, tears running down into his beard as they sobbed into his chest. Azara smiled, her eyes no dryer than theirs though she didn’t move towards them. It took a few moments for them to get themselves back under control.

  Rohan seemed to be the first to remember the situation. He bowed to the emperor as he wiped his face. “My apologies for the interruption. They...these are my children.”

  His celestial majesty smiled. “So I gathered. They are our strongest fire mages and valued members of our court.” He looked up, sweeping all the fire mages with his gaze and pitching his voice to carry. “I bid all fire mages welcome to my Empire. You have fled a situation no person should have to endure, and I hope that you will find our lands more to your liking. I will offer to all of you the opportunity to join my court as mages, to use your powers for the protection and betterment of the Empire, not as slaves but as free mages. For those who do not wish that life, I will extend my personal protection, and you are welcome to live in peace anywhere within the Empire.”

  Rohan and the other mages stared at the emperor, eyes wide, several looking stunned. After a few moments, his celestial majesty smiled again. “You may wish to think on the offer. We will remain here for the night and return to the capital come morning. You may all accompany us and stay as guests within the Palace City until you have come to a decision. You are owed that much.”

  Inside his chest, Jin felt brightness stir. This was why he followed the emperor. This was the man he’d dedicated himself to, someone who despite his position, took care of those who others might have attempted to exploit. He would turn the situation to his advantage, but at the same time, he treated others fairly.

  Beside him, Azara reached out and caught his hand. He squeezed hers without looking away and she did the same. Whatever happened, they had options, and they were safe. And so was everyone else.

  * * *

  After a long night of eating, drinking and exchanging stories with her siblings, father, and several of the other fire mages and emperor’s officials, Azara was quite happy to slip into Jin’s room. He looked up from where he sat in bed, a book in hand
. She grinned at him.

  Before he could protest, she slipped into bed beside him, curling up so she could put her head on his chest. The sound of his heartbeat slowly spread relaxation through her, and she sighed happily. He put his book aside and reached out to stroke her head. She all but purred. “You can keep doing that forever if you like.”

  He chuckled. “I think you’d tire of it eventually.”

  She looked up so she could grin wickedly. “You would think so, but no.”

  Jin said nothing for a few moments, then nodded. “Your family?”

  “Gone to bed. Too many emotions all at once. Father joined Aviur and Anali in their tent. They offered me a spot, but it was cramped already. Besides.” Her grin had an edge. “Getting into your bed has been my goal for quite some time now.”

  He predictably blushed. “Do you think the fire mages will take his celestial majesty’s offer?”

  She let him change the subject for now, only because she had no intention of letting him escape in the long run. “Many will. I will admit that your emperor is very much as you said he was. He’s not bad, better than any other ruler I’ve seen or heard of.”

  Jin’s eyes lit up. “Does that mean you’ll remain at court?”

  Azara smiled, feeling like years of tension was sliding off her. Her siblings and father would be there, she could do work that had some meaning, and most importantly, she could stay with Jin. “I may, but you have to make it worth my while.”

  He stared, then grinned at her. “I can think of a few ways to do that.”

  Her chuckle was low. “So can I. It’s why I’m in your bed in the first place. You made promises I intend to see you keep. And I do hope you have a large bed in the Palace City, because I’m afraid you’ll be sharing it from now on.”