Trail of Flames

by Marlow York

  Trail of Flames

  Marlow York

  Copyright © 2019 by Marlow York

  All rights reserved.

  www.marlowyork.com

  To everyone who patiently waited for book two. Thanks for sticking with me on this journey!

  Prologue

  We should have given the Fiero implants years ago.” The General stared at the monitors hanging from the walls, watching the same images flash across the screens repeatedly. The images were burned into his mind, but he still scrutinized them for any detail he might have missed on previous reviews.

  “And reveal our technology?” The Chancellor flipped through printed photos of the ruined Fiero and Grakkir villages like someone looking idly at old family pictures. “No, no. Give people the illusion of freedom and you’ll forever be able to take it away. Best they live blissfully unaware than risk an uprising.” He smirked at the General. “Besides, I thought you liked a challenge.”

  The General pressed his lips into a hard line and clenched his jaw. The Chancellor was jabbing at him, poking at a sore spot and looking for weakness. “Of course I do,” he retorted. “Where is Haskil?”

  The Chancellor hummed thoughtfully. “I believe he is finishing inspections with the surveillance team. Would you like me to retrieve him?”

  The General waved dismissively. “Just make sure everything is in order.”

  The Chancellor stood and passed through the heavy doors. He nodded politely to the guards standing outside the doorway, then hurried down the hall. His usual smile faded, and his eyes narrowed as his mind wandered to other things. Passing the tall frosted windows, he peeked outside at the blurry shapes of people going about their lives below the Citadel.

  “What an existence it must be, to see the world through the haze of clouds,” he muttered to himself.

  Approaching footsteps caught his attention. He smiled brightly as Haskil made his way down the corridor. “Just who I was coming to see!”

  Haskil’s face was expressionless as he greeted the Chancellor with a polite nod. “Everything is ready, Chancellor Markl.”

  “To the General’s exact specifications?”

  Haskil nodded again. If he was at all bothered by the General’s detailed demands, he was very good at hiding it.

  The Chancellor stepped closer and put an arm around Haskil’s shoulders. He leaned his face in close, not noticing the way Haskil’s back stiffened and his eyes narrowed irritably. “And the recording devices are working well? I want to make sure we have proof of the General’s shortcomings when the time comes.”

  Haskil inhaled slowly and stepped away from the Chancellor’s grasp. “Sir, all our equipment is functioning normally. Forgive me, but I have no desire to take sides in your quarrel. I follow orders, that is all.”

  The Chancellor’s expression faltered, but he quickly recovered it. “Of course, young man,” he said slowly. “You have always been an honorable and loyal member of our society. You are smart to obey orders given by your superiors, especially your leader.”

  A long pause stretched out between them. The Chancellor stared intensely into Haskil’s pale blue eyes, noticing a hint of confusion. The longer he stared, the more he saw Haskil’s mind working until the younger man realized what the Chancellor was implying.

  “Of course, sir. A devoted citizen always trusts and obeys his or her leaders.” Haskil’s words could’ve been recited from a book.

  The Chancellor flashed a smile. “Very good. I look forward to seeing how the General’s plan plays out. We’ll see what he has in store for our mysterious and elusive friends outside the wall.”

  Haskil watched the Chancellor stroll down the corridor. He furrowed his brow and looked out the frosted windows. Watching the misshapen forms move below the Citadel made his stomach clench. They didn’t even realize their sight was blurred by a cloudy haze. He turned away from the windows before his eyes began to ache.

  Part 1:

  Of Mountains and Trees

  Chapter 1

  Ever since I was a child, I’d been warned of Snowy Mountain’s dangers. The main peak towered over the smaller hills, which the Grakkir referred to as the mountain’s “children.” This was a misnomer, as her children would just as easily kill a foolish traveler as the rocky, permanently snow-capped peak herself. For this reason, we hadn’t intended to climb any higher than the base of the mountain. However, we hadn’t anticipated City drones flying overhead.

  “Do you hear that?” Saven asked. The massive snake god slowed to a halt and looked around with unblinking amber eyes.

  I paused, projecting my thoughts into his mind. “What?” The telepathic bond between an Animal God and their companion served well for fugitives on the run.

  Then I heard it. A faint humming sound, like a bug but more consistent, barely rising over the howling wind. The cold climate atop the mountain killed all insects. That could only mean one thing.

  “Up there!” Saven exclaimed.

  I looked to the sky and saw the small craft gliding towards us.

  “Run!” I cried, hoping it hadn’t seen us.

  We hurried along the base of the mountain, searching for a hiding spot amidst the sparse foliage. We could either run down the mountain towards the forest and risk being spotted in the empty valley in between, or we could move farther up the mountain and duck between rocks and brush.

  “Let’s go up the mountain,” Saven said, reading my thoughts. “There is already some cover. We will just need to be careful not to climb too high.”

  Every warning I’d ever heard about the mountain rang in my ears, but we had to act quickly. I darted between some rocks and zig-zagged upward. The higher we climbed, the colder and stronger the wind became.

  “Is it still following us?” I asked.

  “Yes, it’s spotted us. We should go higher.”

  Farther up the mountain the brush and rocks thickened, but so did the risks. Dark clouds threatened us. The screaming wind ripped through my clothes.

  “There’s no turning back,” I said, more to myself than to Saven. If we couldn’t outrun the drone, it wouldn’t be long before one of the City’s airships found us. Death was a certainty after that.

  The wind hammered us with unexpected gusts. Snow pelted our faces in wet, heavy clumps, and covered the tops of my shoes within moments. I glanced down at the tiny hills and trees below us. Damn, I thought, maybe we’ve gone too far.

  “A storm!” Saven cried.

  The temperature plummeted and I shivered, an unusual sensation considering the Ancient Fire running through my veins. The wind whipped my brown hair around my face, and tears streamed from my stinging eyes. “Saven!” I called aloud. I could hardly hear myself over the howling wind.

  “I’m here,” he replied. His voice was slow and drowsy. Though he was a god, he was still a reptile. One who had never felt such intense cold.

  “Stay close to me.” I glanced around, but I’d lost sight of the drone through the whiteout. I watched as Saven fought to keep moving despite the biting cold. My companion could die, I realized, but if I used the Ancient Fire and the drone saw the flames, we both would be killed.

  “I can keep going,” Saven insisted. His body seemed to believe otherwise. I had never been truly cold until that moment. I couldn’t feel my toes and my fingers refused to open.

  I looked around until I spotted a dark mass to our right. A boulder.

  “Follow me!” I told him.

  We stumbled towards the shape. A large boulder, nearly buried beneath the snow, was pressed against a slightly smaller one. The two of them created a barrier that didn’t fully block the snow blowing from all directions, but at the very least we would be mostly protected from sight.

  I nearly fell again
st the rock. “Come here,” I told Saven.

  Saven struggled to pull his body towards me. When he reached the rock, he curled himself around me like a barrier. Only then did I call the flames to my hands.

  My legs ached from the trek up the mountain. I could barely outstretch my fingers to hold the flames, but a little heat was better than nothing. I coughed as I inhaled a ragged breath, my throat parched from the dry air. “Do you feel it?” I asked. “I can try to give us some more.”

  “It’s fine. It feels nice.” Saven’s voice was dreamy and soft. He coiled around me and tucked his head in, creating a pocket of air around me. I held my hands out and the heat filled the space.

  “We’ll wait out the storm,” I said tiredly. “Just rest now. We’re safe here.” Though I didn’t fully believe my own words, I knew Saven needed the reassurance.

  Saven hissed softly, the equivalent of a snake mumble, and then was quiet. Unconscious or asleep, I couldn’t tell, but I knew he wouldn’t last much longer in the chill.

  I struggled to keep the small flame steady, which was as difficult as creating an inferno. I couldn’t tell how much time passed—hours or only minutes. It all felt the same.

  When my hands began to shake, I pressed on. When I started panting, I pressed on. When my heart hammered like I’d been running for miles, I still pressed on. Saven was depending on me, and I couldn’t let him die. Not before we found others with Ancient Blood. Not before he could meet my older sister Jenassa. Not while the City hunted us like wild game and destroyed anyone who helped to hide us. I couldn’t let him down while the City’s leaders were still in power.

  So I pressed on, my hands glowing faintly as the storm wailed around us.

  ✽ ✽ ✽

  When I felt warm air caressing my skin, I was certain I had died. Blizzards don’t magically dissipate into summer warmth, and yet that’s how I felt. Warm, cozy, and surrounded by the dampness of humidity. Yes, I must’ve been dead. When I opened my eyes, I’d find my parents and Tarek, my former master and husband, waiting for me.

  Instead, I saw a cave’s dark ceiling with the shadows of tree branches swaying across it. I stared at the movement, unable to grasp what I saw. A cave? A warm cave? Where was all the snow?

  “You’re awake,” a voice said in Grakkir.

  I turned my head and saw a young man, perhaps a few years older than me, crouched near the entrance of the cave. Boxes and barrels lined the space around us. Saven lay coiled near my feet, hissing a warning.

  “Your companion has been very hesitant to let me near you,” the young man said with a grin. “May I approach?”

  I wasn’t sure if he was talking to me or Saven, but my mouth was painfully dry, and the man had a leather canteen in his hand. I nodded slowly.

  He stepped forward and knelt at my side. He spoke fluent Grakkir, but he didn’t look like one. I racked my hazy brain, trying to recall if I’d seen him in the village before. Ultimately, I decided he was a stranger, which only added to my confusion.

  “Here.” He gently lifted my head with one hand and held the canteen to my lips with the other. I was too tired and thirsty to protest.

  “Better?” he asked.

  I nodded. He had darkly-tanned skin, black hair, and almond-shaped eyes so richly green they could rival the Northern Forest itself. Maybe the dim lighting of the cave played tricks on me, but his eyes almost seemed to glow.

  “What’s your name?” he asked.

  “Val—” My voice was rough and hoarse, so I cleared my throat and tried again. “Valieri.”

  “I’m Cypress, but you can call me Cy, if you’d like.”

  Saven hissed again and slithered towards me, resting his head on the floor between us.

  “Who is your very protective friend?” Cypress asked.

  “Saven.” I rested my hand on Saven’s forehead.

  “So, you are Grakkir then?”

  I looked at him suddenly. No wonder he wasn’t alarmed by Saven’s immense size and unusual intelligence. He knew of the Grakkir, spoke their language, and recognized an Animal God. Who was he?

  “What gave it away?” I asked in my own language.

  Cypress laughed and switched languages with me. “The Grakkir’s god companions are quite distinctive. Saven hardly let me near you this entire time, but once he understood I meant no harm he seemed to warm up to me.”

  “Speak for yourself,” Saven scoffed. “Valieri, are you okay?”

  “I will be,” I told him. “Are you?”

  “I’m recovering,” he replied tiredly. I could tell he was weak and hungry, but the warmth helped to restore him.

  “How long was I out for?” I asked Cypress.

  “Two days.” He stood and walked towards the cave’s entrance and rummaged through a knapsack. “Are you hungry?”

  At his suggestion, I realized I was starving. I slowly pushed myself upright and leaned against the cool stone wall, trying to stop the world from spinning.

  Cypress passed me some bread and an apple, and I eagerly took a bite of each.

  “I would have brought you to my home to recover, but your friend is too large to fit inside. I’m sure he wouldn’t have tolerated being separated from you.”

  “At least he’s a smart one,” Saven muttered.

  “Saven must be hungry,” Cypress continued. “He recovered faster than you did but has refused food this entire time.”

  “It would be more difficult for me to defend us from an attack if I had a full stomach,” Saven said matter-of-factly.

  “We don’t need to fight just now. You need to eat and recover your strength.” Before Saven could protest I said to Cypress, “Yes, he is hungry.”

  Cypress produced a raw goat’s leg wrapped in large leaves. Saven watched intently as he unwrapped the leaves and set the meat on the ground. With a swift strike, Saven gobbled up the leg in one bite.

  “You were burning with fever when I brought you here,” Cypress said to me. “Are you feeling better now?”

  My heart thumped. Of course he would notice my unusually warm skin. “Yes, I’m feeling better. Maybe I caught a cold out there. What were you doing on the mountain, anyway?”

  “I could ask you the same question.”

  “I asked you first.” I ripped a piece of bread off the loaf and shoved it in my mouth.

  Cypress chuckled. “I was bringing goods to the Grakkir village, but I got caught in the snowstorm and became lost. It seems we both sought out the same boulders for shelter, and that’s when I found a massive snake nearly frozen to death. I saw your hair sticking out, so I assumed he was protecting you from the storm, not trying to eat you. I used some ropes and my carthorse to pull Saven onto the sledge and returned home.”

  I looked at Saven kindly. “Yes. We got separated from the Grakkir and then the storm hit unexpectedly.”

  “Separated?” Cypress asked.

  “They migrated,” I said quickly. “Saven and I had been away from the village, trading with another clan and got left behind.”

  My lie was thin, but I didn’t have the mental strength to come up with something better. Cypress either didn’t notice the holes in my story, or he didn’t care.

  “The Grakkir migrated?” he asked. “Why?”

  I frowned. “The City attacked us.”

  Cypress inhaled deeply, a troubled look clouding his face. “I should have known. It was only a matter of time.”

  “Perhaps his people are enemies of the City too,” Saven suggested.

  “I certainly hope so,” I said. “Why do you say that?” I asked Cypress aloud.

  Cypress glanced at me, his eyes stony and worried. “Just call it a hunch.”

  I knew he was hiding something. Cypress and his people must’ve known something about the City that the Grakkir didn’t. He gazed at the cave wall, perhaps considering whether or not to trust us.

  Even if the Grakkir were allies with his clan, he didn’t know me. If my experience told me anything, the closer a clan w
as to the City, the less likely other clans would be to trust them.

  “So where are we, exactly?” I changed the subject. “I have never been trading this way.”

  “That makes sense, as the Grakkir never come to the Secara village.” He spoke as though it was obvious.

  “Of course,” I agreed, feeling foolish.

  “Would you like to see?” he asked.

  I nodded and struggled to my feet. My legs ached and my knees shook, still weak from the hike up Snowy Mountain.

  The blinding sun hit us just outside the cave, and it took a moment to get a handle on my surroundings. When my eyes adjusted, my mouth fell open at the sight in front of me.

  Outstretched before us was a bustling village dropped in the very center of a humid, emerald forest. It looked like the village sprouted right out of the ground. The rock walls around us held dozens of caves, some with people going in and out via tall wooden ladders. Below us were numerous thatched houses amidst a sprawling marketplace.

  I inhaled the tropical air. Saven loved the warmth and humidity but it was almost oppressive to me. I pulled my damp collar away from my neck, but it did little to relieve my discomfort.

  “You’ll get used to the damp heat,” Cypress said. “We’ve all adapted to it, but even I find it uncomfortable some days.”

  He led us down a path along the cave’s ledge. The thick canopy of trees above us blocked the sky, but a large circular opening cast sunlight upon a massive garden. We reached the lowest level and joined the village.

  People of all ages walked from various houses and buildings, some hauling crops and other goods in carts. They chattered in an unfamiliar language, further alienating me. It reminded me of the first time I walked through the Grakkir village—when people stopped and stared at the sight of a Fiero slave with an Animal God companion. Only this time, the Secaran people gawked at the sight of a runaway Grakkir in their village.

  Despite my discomfort, I held my head high, exposing the Warrior’s Shield tattooed on my chest and throat. A Grakkir Warrior doesn’t wilt under anyone’s gaze, I reminded myself.