Bravura

by Sara Kingsley

  The path through the trees is much shorter than the road; riding Pearl takes only an hour before we can make out the eastern gates. The heavy iron gates are shut, and I count six violet-coated Hunters patrolling on the other side.

  “I don’t think we’re getting in here.” I sigh. “Should we wait? Someone’s got to come through eventually.”

  “We don’t need to wait. When I was leading the Treasoners out, we went through a tunnel that bypassed the northern gate—”

  I turn and look at Leif with confusion. He grins. “I still need to tell you that whole story.”

  I raise my brows. “Yes, you do. I’m still waiting.”

  “I will. I promise. But first, go that way.” He points again, this time toward the north.

  The trees are widely spaced; it’s easy to ride through them. I walk Pearl slowly, keeping a careful lookout for any Hunters who might be patrolling outside the Bastion walls. But we don’t see any.

  When the northern perimeter of the Bastion comes into view, Leif motions toward a small gully, and I lead Pearl down into it. At the head of it lies an opening. The tunnel in.

  Long before we enter, we smell the putrid muck flowing out of the dark hole. Pearl fights me when I urge her toward the opening, throws her head back. I don’t want to go in either. But we must.

  I coax her forward, and she steps into the sludge gingerly. I don’t blame her, not one bit.

  Leif and I hold our shirts over our noses, but it only helps a little. The stench, of sewage and dead things, makes me gag, and I want Pearl to run as fast as she can through it, but of course I don’t want to be sprayed with the stuff.

  The air is stale and dark. A few minutes feels like an eternity, but we eventually come into the light at the other end. There’s a winding ramp up, and we find ourselves in an alleyway. I take deep gulps of the fresh air, something I’d never before considered Bastion air to be.

  I pause there, feeling as though I am balanced on the edge of a towering cliff. For once, my mind and my body are certain of what must happen next. I can’t put it off any longer. The day has come.

  I reach into the pack tied on Pearl’s side and take out the jeweled, round item wrapped in the blue silk scarf Leif gave me.

  I place the crown of Woman Kings on my head, tucking it into my hair to secure it.

  I’m ready.

  I give Pearl the order to ride forth.

  Chapter 26

  My horse carries her head high as we march into the streets of the Bastion. It’s midday, and Hunters are everywhere. They watch us ride past, mouths open, too stunned to act.

  We ride right through the middle of busy West Market, right to the central square. Behind us, a small crowd has gathered, and they are following. I stop Pearl at the Palace steps and wait. People are streaming into the square now, whispering to each other, curious about what is going on.

  The King does not appear on his balcony as before. Instead, the two gilt doors swing open, and the Hunters on either side motion for me to enter. I’m about to do so when I realize that’s because the King does not want an audience.

  But I do. I need these witnesses.

  “King Araroa!” I yell to the open doorway. I’m sure he’s inside and can hear me. “Come out so we can speak.”

  I wait. One minute. Two. Finally, he emerges on the balcony above.

  “You’ve returned,” he says.

  Before I answer, I jump down off of Pearl and climb the steps of the Palace. I look up at my blood father from my place on the terrace. “I have. This is my true kingdom, and I will not leave her. I will not abandon these people.”

  He laughs, the feathers on the cloak around his shoulders shaking. It’s a ridiculous thing to wear, as warm as it is. His forehead is a sheen of sweat.

  “This is not your kingdom. Nothing of the sort, young lady. You agreed to leave, and you didn’t. You must be punished.” He glances over to Leif, who is still sitting atop Pearl. “And your friend too. As I have done to others who may have assisted your illegal acts.”

  I try to ignore this. I know he’s just trying to throw me off. “You have no right to punish me. You did not keep your end of the deal. I saw what you were doing. I saw the smoke, the flames. What have you ordered to be done?”

  His look is icy. All signs of mirth or laughter, gone. “They must be punished. Those who threaten the peace of the Kingdom of Nadir must be punished. It is the law. That includes those who sheltered you all these years.”

  My hand flies to Fortissima, and holds her tightly. The familiar grip is comforting, and I feel strength pulsing up my quivering arm.

  “You wouldn’t.”

  “Oh, but I’ve already ordered it done. Your—what do you call it? Ah yes, your treevillage is likely in flames as we speak.”

  I feel my face burning. I’m clenching my teeth. I pull Fortissima from her sheath and hold her up before me. She glints in the sun. Blinding.

  “Do you see this?”

  The King’s face blanches, white as snow. I see his jaw clench, but he says nothing.

  I continue. “You know what this is, don’t you? This is the sword of Woman Kings, Fortissima. And it’s mine. This crown too. Do you know what that means?”

  “Where did you get—doesn’t matter. They mean nothing. You are nothing but an illegitimate girl. You should never have been allowed to live.”

  “No. You’re wrong. They mean everything. You are the illegitimate King. As has every male King before you been, after the last Woman King, Sione, was killed and her brother stole the throne.”

  “But he had the sword and crown destroyed.”

  I shake my head. “No, he didn’t. He tried, but it was impossible. They were only hidden away until … until now. They are rightfully mine. I am the firstborn daughter of the Queen, and I am the next heir to the throne. I am the next Woman King of Nadir.”

  I don’t move my eyes from the King’s face. His lips are nearly white, pressed together. A bead of sweat falls from his nose, landing in the feathers.

  When he gives the order, I’m ready.

  “Officers, seize that sword. The crown too. They are illegal contraband.”

  As the two men in violet approach me, I lift Fortissima higher, pointing it at one, then the other. The one on the left reaches over, and I slash at his hand. I whirl to the right and slash the other’s arm, leaving a gaping hole in his coat and a line of blood visible on his skin.

  The Hunters pause. I take a step back.

  “Call your men off!” A voice behind me: Leif’s. He steps up next to me, holding my old knife. “Two against one is hardly fair, is it?”

  Both Hunters lunge at him. He fights back, slashing and stabbing to dramatic effect. But he doesn’t draw blood. Not yet. One of the men grabs Leif’s wrist, tries to free the knife, but Leif refuses to release it.

  I swing Fortissima around, jabbing her into the man’s side. “Let him go, or you’re going to die.” I press a little harder so he knows I’m not kidding around.

  The Hunter lets go of Leif’s wrist, but only to grab mine. With his other hand, he tries to pry the sword from my fingers. But I’ve got it in an iron grip—nothing could possibly remove Fortissima from my hand.

  Suddenly the man screams out. Leif has plunged the knife into his side. Blood spurts out, and immediately I feel sick. The Hunter drops my wrist, and I stumble backward. The other Hunter has disappeared.

  The man grabs his side, blood pouring over his hand. He falls to his knees, collapses onto the terrace.

  There is a ripple of voices behind me, and it’s growing louder. I look over my shoulder, just a glance, and gasp to see hundreds of people watching.

  I turn to face King Araroa. His eyes are wide, taking the scene in, and he’s frowning. Clearly this is not what he expected to happen.

  “This man needs a healer. A medicine person. Please send for one immediately.” I say this with a voice I don’t recognize as my own.

  “And why should I? He’s har
dly done his job.”

  “He followed your orders. He’s now injured. He needs help.”

  The King and I stare each other down.

  A woman’s voice calls out behind me.

  “Do as the lady requests! Show our Woman King the respect she deserves.”

  There is complete silence.

  King Araroa looks out into the crowd, searching for the speaker. His face grimaces when he sees her. “You! Why are you not in the prison camp? I ordered you to be moved there.”

  “My friends helped me find my way back,” she says.

  It’s then that it all clicks together: the voice belongs to Imogen. I turn to look at her. She’s surrounded by Treasoners, all of them bearing heavy knives and swords, bows and arrows. And not only men; there are women too. All their eyes burn, defiant.

  My own eyes meet Imogen’s, and she smiles at me. She’s standing tall—dignified—the leader I knew she would be. There’s a familiar face right behind her. Emerald eyes glint from a white-bearded face. It’s Nile, watching Leif. Beaming proudly.

  There’s a rustling behind me. I turn to see two medicine men helping the injured Hunter up, carrying him inside to the infirmary.

  I look back up at Araroa. My heart is pounding now, knowing what I must do next.

  I take a deep breath.

  “Now you must free the prisoners up north. They’ve done nothing wrong. If they don’t respect you and your rule, that’s … that’s because you haven’t earned it.” My voice chokes off at the end of my little speech. I mean the words, but Araroa will think they are a joke.

  Indeed, he laughs. I feel my face flush.

  “I’ll do no such thing. It’s treason for not respecting the rule of Nadir’s King—man or woman—and the people I’ve put away are guilty of it. These people are too. You’d better get out of my sight, immediately, otherwise you’ll be joining your friends there.

  I hear the Treasoners behind me adjusting their weapons. Above me, I watch the King’s throat bob as he swallows nervously. I can tell he’s bluffing.

  I know this is my chance.

  “These are my people. They believe in me, and they believe Nadir will once again have a Woman King. And when you are gone, it will.” I turn on my heel, sliding Fortissima back into her sheath, and then march down the steps. I head straight to Pearl and swing myself onto her back.

  I nudge her, and we move through the cheering crowd toward the northern gates.

  If King Araroa won’t free the prisoners in the camp, I will.

  I ride from the square, the crowd parting to let Pearl and I pass. When we’re out, I take deep breaths, suddenly out of air. I take a quick look behind me. The Treasoners are following; there are tens—no, a hundred of them. The uniformed Hunters step aside. We far outnumber them. There’s nothing they can do now.

  I scan the crowd, looking for Leif. He’s standing with Nile, their arms clasped over each other’s shoulder. His eyes catch mine, and he waves me on with his hand. I turn back around and ride.

  This time, I’m not heading for the tunnel out but straight for the gate. I refuse to lead these people—the ones who hold hope for a better future so dear they put their families and very lives on the line—through that awful muck.

  People come out of their homes to watch us pass, wide-eyed with wonder. Small gifts are pressed into my hands as I pass: a flower, a bread roll, a small round of cheese. Small tokens from people who have very little to give. I smile at the children, many of whom wave up at me shyly. I hope this is a day they will not forget. The day King Araroa knew his time was coming to an end.

  The northern gates are closed, of course, when we arrive. But this time, there’s not a Hunter in sight. Leif and Nile and several Treasoners check the gates: locked.

  That doesn’t stop the momentum. Several men appear with axes. They motion for me to step back, so I do. They swing their axes in turn, hacking at the lock. It takes only a minute before the gates swing apart.

  But they are not done. They hack at the gates’ hinges until they, too, are destroyed. The gates dangle on their shattered hinges for a moment, then clatter to the ground, throwing up a cloud of dust. We stream through. Not quietly—everyone cheers and whoops. We are free.

  We begin our march toward the Northern Desert, toward Araroa’s prison camp. When I glance behind me, I’m surprised to see how large the crowd has grown. I don’t know if it’s that everyone’s caught up in the excitement, or anxious to see if their loved ones can be found there. Probably both.

  I was terrified to say yes to Imogen. To finally stand up to King Araroa: the man who executed his own wife and Queen—my blood mother; who is locking up his citizens for merely speaking their minds; who ripped Rosie’s family apart. The man who would have me killed, if he could.

  But now that it’s really happened, now that I’ve done it, I’m not frightened at all. Just the opposite: my insides are bubbling with the thrill that I’m finally doing what I can. What I was born to do.

  With the Bastion gates behind us, we settle into a steady pace. Leif makes his way up to me, and I grasp his hand. I’ve missed him, even though we were together on Pearl’s back just an hour or two ago. Or has it been three? I’ve completely lost track of time.

  He grins up at me, long legs easily keeping up with Pearl’s steady gait. But there’s something else in his face, a sort of shyness, as if I’m new to him all over again.

  “Ride with me.” It’s not a request I give him.

  I slow Pearl, and Leif swings himself up, settling his body behind mine. I nudge Pearl into movement again, then lean back into his chest. I feel his hands rest lightly on my hips, then his breath in my ear. “You are amazing,” he whispers. For once, I don’t argue and accept the compliment, enjoying the sensation of his radiating pride.

  “How’s your papa?” I ask.

  “He’s fine. And I gave him a bit of a tongue-lashing for all the trouble he’s caused.” I can hear the relief in his voice.

  “It’s hard to be cross with him. Otherwise, we wouldn’t be here.”

  “True. And I’m not.” He stretches an arm out toward the crowd marching behind us. “These fine people wouldn’t be here either.”

  “How far is it? To the prison camp?”

  Leif thinks for a moment. “I can barely remember. Seems like forever ago I came this way. I think we stopped for one night only. It was slow going. The prisoners—the people—were chained together. Yes, I think we’ll be there by morning if we keep on through the night.”

  I consider this. A few Treasoners have horses, most are on foot. But yes, I think a sunrise surprise sounds just about right.

  “Where’s Imogen?” I ask Leif.

  “Right behind you.” Imogen’s voice. She appears next to me; nearly as tall as Leif, she keeps pace with Pearl easily. “Where I’ve always been, Raven.” Her green eyes smile up at me warmly.

  “Thank you, Imogen. For showing up like that. I’m certain it wouldn’t have gone as well as it had with Araroa otherwise.”

  “Oh, ’twas nothing, m’lady. Nile had gotten word that I’d been arrested, and he left immediately. I could hardly keep the Treasoners back once they found me on my way to the prison camp.”

  “Do you think they can travel one more night? If we go all the way to the camp by morning?”

  “I don’t think you’d be able to stop them, m’lady.”

  I know she’s right. Now that the Treasoners are truly free, out of hiding, there’s no going back.

  Only forward.

  We wait for sunrise before approaching the camp. When it finally comes into view at dawn, it’s a relief to see only two Hunters are patrolling the fence gate. They won’t be difficult to overpower.

  Leif recognizes one of the Hunters, says it was the one who grabbed him and Hannah when they tried to run. He seethes with fury, but I don’t ask what happened. I have to practically hold him back to keep him from taking revenge as it is.

  The sky grows lighter, and t
he Hunters begin to look drowsy. I give the signal to head in.

  The guards don’t even know what hits them. Too stunned to fight back, the Treasoners easily overtake them, tie them up, and have the gates unlocked and opened in a flash. The Hunters sleeping inside jump out of bed, but they don’t leave the doorways of their quarters when they see all of us marching through the camp. They know they are far outnumbered.

  The rest of the camp is soon awake, and the prisoners stand, rubbing their eyes. From disbelief more than sleepiness.

  There’s a man and a woman standing together who look familiar. The man has watery blue eyes, the woman bouncing blond curls. They are scanning the crowd of Treasoners. Searching.

  A voice calls out. “Mama! Papa!” One of the Treasoners, a flaxen-haired boy of about fifteen, pushes his way out of the crowd toward the couple. All three of them slam together in one giant embrace. I wonder if the boy is Callum, Rosie’s brother.

  I jump down from Pearl and walk over to the reunited family. “Are you missing a young girl? About eight?” The mother nods her head, her eyes full of unreleased tears. “Rosie?” I add.

  She grabs my arm. “Do you know where she is? Have you seen her? I’ve been worried sick …” The tears spill over.

  I look around for Nile, waving him over when I spot him. He excuses himself from the person he’s talking to and comes to my side. “Nile, is Rosie still at the camp? In the forest?”

  “She is, m’lady. Some of the women stayed behind with her and the other children. She’s doing quite well.” This he says to her parents and brother.

  “Can we go there?” Rosie’s mother asks.

  “Of course,” I reply.

  But our conversation is interrupted by a shout.

  “Leif!” I look over to where Leif has been talking animatedly with someone he knows from the Bastion. A girl is running over to him, then flings herself at him. I watch, wide-eyed. The girl is thin, with ragged, greasy hair hanging to her waist. But I recognize her: Hannah.

  Leif hugs her, then holds her away from him. I can’t hear what they are saying. I see him glance over at me, uncomfortable. She looks too. They speak again. She shoves him away and yells three words. These ones reach my ears: “But you promised!” Hannah storms away, back into the crowd.