by Marlow York
“Will you help us?” I asked.
As Nero’s eyes met his father’s, something passed between them. He looked to me. “I could be removed from my position of leadership just for speaking to you about these things. Since his father died, no one has been able to sway King Atlas’s opinions. But, with the right counsel and a little time, he may come to his own conclusion. One that will be more favorable to you.”
“That doesn’t sound reliable,” Saven said.
“We haven’t got much time,” I insisted. “The City can attack anyone anytime they feel like it.”
“I will try,” Nero said bluntly. “I can promise no more than that.”
The men stared at us with equally stubborn and determined expressions, no doubt a trait they shared with many other Nordahl.
“Then that is all we ask.” Cypress held out his hand.
Nero hesitated only for a moment before shaking Cypress’s hand. His father grinned approvingly and shook our hands as well.
“Good luck on your journey,” Hert said. He lifted his broom and together the men walked back to the Nordahl tunnel.
✽ ✽ ✽
My stomach growled painfully. “How about we make camp for the night over by those trees?” I pointed eastward.
Cypress nodded. We adjusted our backpacks and trudged carefully down the rocky incline. By the time we reached the copse, my feet dragged with exhaustion. I dropped my backpack and absentmindedly collected sticks for a fire.
“That probably isn’t a good idea. The City’s airships may patrol at night,” Saven reminded me.
“You’re right.” I dropped the sticks and reached into my bag. “Bread and berries for dinner. Again”
“At least we have a human campfire,” Cypress joked.
I rolled my eyes, pretending not to find it funny. “If you can catch some dinner, I’ll cook it.” I lifted my hand and wiggled my fingers.
“No problem.” He rolled his shoulders back and stood taller. “Plant snares are easy to use when you can control them.”
As he disappeared into the forest, I pictured a snare made of roots leaping up and grabbing an unsuspecting rabbit.
“Does he not realize I’m a more effective hunter than he could ever be?”
“Am I sensing jealousy?” I grinned up at Saven.
He curled into a disgruntled spiral. “All I’m saying is I can tell he’s trying to impress you. We don’t have time for that.”
“He’s just trying to help.” Part of me wondered if Saven was right.
Saven hissed sharply.
“I know, I know! I’ll stay focused on the mission.”
“It’s not that.” Saven perked his head up. “I smell something.”
My stomach tensed, and I reached for my war axe.
“See? I told you I could—”
I shushed Cypress. “Get down,” I murmured.
“What’s—”
Something long and slender burst through the trees, sailing past my face. I never thought two people could hit the ground as quickly as Cypress and I did. The object sliced into a tree and stuck. A sword.
Saven hissed and swiped his tail, taking position between us and whoever hid in the trees.
I jumped to my feet, lifting my weapon. “Show yourself!”
A flicker of recognition passed from Saven’s mind to mine. “I know that scent.”
“Okay, okay. I surrender.”
A woman’s voice drawled the words in lazy Grakkir. The branches shifted, and I nearly dropped my axe when I saw unmistakable cat-like eyes and the Warrior’s Shield.
“Anza?” I cried in surprise.
Her blonde dreadlocks had grown longer and her face was smeared with grime, but everything else was the same. She smirked arrogantly, her green eyes looking me up and down. Irritation bubbled up at the sight of my former competitor, and yet I felt relieved to see a familiar face.
“In the flesh.” Her gaze flicked to Cypress. “You found a new husband already?”
I nearly choked.
“New husband?” Cypress asked.
“Have you been following us this whole time?” I lowered my axe but kept a firm grip on the handle.
“No, not the entire time.”
“She’s being truthful,” Saven said. “I would’ve smelled her a long time ago if she’d followed us from the Grakkir village.”
Anza bumped my shoulder as she passed. She pulled the sword from the tree, its long, curved blade glinting in the setting sun. She shot Cypress a sharp look. “Secara.” She turned to me. “Are you trying to get adopted by every clan?”
I bristled, but Saven sent soothing energy my way. “No. We’re building an army to fight the City.”
I hoped she’d be impressed. Instead, she raised her eyebrows in disbelief. “Good job so far. Maybe in a few years you’ll have the recruits you need.”
I bit my cheek to keep from yelling.
“Ask her who her friend is,” Saven interjected.
“Friend?” I narrowed my eyes at Anza. “You aren’t alone, are you?”
She sneered. “Mjoll, come meet my old punching bag.”
The foliage shifted and a mountain lion padded softly toward us. Muscles rippled beneath its tawny fur with each slow, calculated step. Its wide yellow eyes were ringed with black and they peered calmly from face to face before landing on Saven. He bowed his head respectfully; the cat mirrored him.
“A god,” Cypress breathed. He was tense and captivated.
“A goddess,” Anza corrected bluntly.
“I thought most Grakkir received their god companions as children.” I couldn’t hide my surprise.
“Normally they do.” Anza affectionately touched Mjoll’s shoulder. “But, as you know, times have changed. The Grakkir have lost favor with the gods, so they do not always do things by tradition anymore.”
Mjoll growled softly and Anza’s arrogant smile turned to a serious frown. “The Animal Gods sense a great war coming. It compels them to help the Grakkir, if only for the survival of the Ancient Bloodlines. Few of us are ready to fight, and the gods know that. Those who will fight require as much help as possible.”
“That’s why you were looking for me?” I asked.
“I was not looking for you, Fiero,” she spat. “I just happen to be on the same journey as you. We have the same goals.”
“Do we?” I asked sarcastically. I glanced at Cypress, who was overcome by amazement. His eyes shifted back and forth from Anza to her companion, clearly thrilled to see another Animal God.
“Because you want to fight?” I asked.
Anza gave a single nod.
“You want to help us!” Cypress exclaimed.
Anza’s eyes cut like daggers when she looked at the young Secaran man. “Yes, and you’re lucky for that. It seems like you need all the help you can get.”
“She isn’t wrong,” Saven added.
“Sarrenke told me you went looking for allies to destroy the City,” Anza said.
“I’m pretty sure that’s not exactly what she—”
“And in case you forgot, the City destroyed my village and killed my parents.” Anza pointed to my chest. “We both want vengeance. Much as I hate the idea of joining you, I figured you may have made some allies so far. But, as I can see, it is just you and…who are you, exactly?”
Cypress pointed to himself. “You want to talk to me now? My name is Cypress. I’m a Secaran trader.”
“Hmm.” Anza measured him up. “I suppose that was a logical choice, seeking out our main trading allies. But how good are you in a fight?” Anza lifted her sword, ready to discover for herself.
“Wait, wait, wait!” I held up my hands and stepped between them. “Cypress and the Secara have plenty of skills, I assure you.”
“In battle?” Anza asked dubiously.
“Vondak and Irlav are training the Secara as we speak.”
Anza looked startled. “Ysolda sent them?”
I nodded. “After you left the
Grakkir, I assume?”
Her expression turned thoughtful, perhaps wondering what else she didn’t know. “Who is on our side?”
“The Nordahl are undecided,” Cypress added quietly.
I wrinkled my forehead and looked at him. “Undecided” was an interesting way to say, “I angered their king so much he kicked us out of their hole in the ground, insisting they’ll be safe.”
“At least they have fighting experience,” Anza muttered. She looked at Mjoll, and I knew they were conversing telepathically.
“Not long after I left the Grakkir caravan, I was all alone in the forest,” Anza continued. “I was not afraid, but purposeful. Then the great God of Mountain Lions came to me. I felt as though I must be dreaming, or perhaps I’d died and was having a strange and wonderful afterlife.”
I nodded, remembering how I had felt when Saven’s mother called me into the forest to meet her. “Maybe your clan’s powers had begun to go dormant, like the Fiero’s did. I don’t know if that’s the gods’ doing, but something is changing. If my powers are any indication, I think something is triggering their return.”
For once, Anza watched me in a way that wasn’t condescending. She seemed to understand my train of thought.
“I wonder what was so different about my clan, then?” Cypress asked.
“Perhaps it’s because of your solitude,” I said. “Both our clans lived very close to the City and both our powers diminished. The Fiero’s were thought to be completely extinct, like a small animal that had too many predators. Your clan was already in hiding and regularly using your powers, so they didn’t go dormant.”
“Predator,” Anza scoffed. “I think it is about time we let those predators know we aren’t done fighting for what is ours. We’re going to take back our rightful place on this earth, and we won’t let them try to destroy us anymore.”
Her voice was venomous. I wondered if I had been raised by the Grakkir—a society that idolizes and respects powerful fighters—would I have the same bold, outward animosity towards the City?
“Anza is passionate about this fight, but she is still too arrogant,” Saven said. “Just because you aren’t ready to throw your axe into the City walls doesn’t mean you aren’t willing to battle. We must bide our time and be thoughtfully prepared, not impulsive.”
I tried to hide my grin. “Hopefully her companion can rein her in.”
“Mjoll is much calmer and more levelheaded than Anza,” Saven observed. “I can see why the God of Mountain Lions brought her to the girl.”
I glanced at Mjoll, who watched the exchange between us with interest. I noticed she didn’t have the same tense presence as Anza. Though they both had a sleek, beautiful power about them, the cougar was relaxed.
“Why is she not huge like you?” I asked Saven. “She looks like a normal cougar.”
“She has not been with Anza long enough. If you remember, we Animal Gods develop very quickly both physically and mentally once we find our human companion. However, that still requires time. It’s also possible that Mjoll’s soul manifested in an adult body, rather than a cub.” A wave of amusement washed over Saven. “Or, perhaps it is because Anza is emotionally stunted and it reflects in poor Mjoll.”
I snorted as I held back laughter.
“As for you,” Anza stood face-to-face with Cypress. She was so tall they were at eye-level. “Why are you here if you cannot fight? The point is to eventually go to war. You know that, right?”
Cypress hesitated for only a moment. “Valieri is going to train me.”
Anza laughed. “Wonderful! Our victory is in sight!” She glared at me and shook her head. “He was better off staying with Vondak and Irlav. At least they know what they are doing.”
“I chose to come with Valieri and Saven,” Cypress snapped. “My fate is in my own hands, not anyone else’s.”
My frown deepened. Anza looked as though she were biting a hole in her tongue to keep quiet. I noticed Mjoll staring and flicking her tail. Perhaps the cougar was telling her to keep her mouth shut for once.
“My people aren’t as weak and stupid as you think,” Cypress continued. “They can handle themselves. You should be grateful to have them on our side. There are only so many clans in the world, and few the Secara have an alliance with. Which, I want to point out, is because of traders like me.” He stepped even closer to Anza and my back stiffened. I knew that dangerous look in her eyes, the way her lips pressed together.
“If you want to follow us around while we try to recruit people to fight for everyone’s survival, you need to shut the hell up,” Cypress growled. “That obnoxious attitude may have worked with the Grakkir, but it won’t work when you need to ask people to fight for you. That will take people like me.”
Anza’s upper lip twitched, and before I could step in, her hand was on her sword.
“Anza, don’t!” I cried.
A root shot from the forest and wrapped around Anza’s legs, lifting her straight off the ground. She cried out and Mjoll leapt to her side, growling ferociously.
Though my heart pounded, I didn’t move. I couldn’t hide my smile as we watched Anza swing ten feet off the ground, dangling from thick tree roots. I glanced at Cypress’s hand, which was calmly at his side, palm facing the ground. “I think your strength is stealth,” I told him. “We can work with that.”
“Damn you, boy!” Anza screeched.
“I’m not a boy,” Cypress replied coolly. “And you’re not the leader here. The sooner you get off your high horse and work with us, the better off we’ll all be.”
Saven rocked tensely. “Enough of this, you’ve proved your point. We’re making too much noise.”
Mjoll crept closer to Cypress, teeth bared in a menacing growl. Cypress swallowed hard and relaxed his hand. The roots lowered Anza to the ground and slunk back into the soil.
Anza jumped up, fuming with embarrassment. “We will train you, alright, you damn gardener! Tomorrow you’ll understand why the title of Grakkir Warrior is not easily earned.” She glared at me before stomping away, Mjoll close on her heels.
“This is going to be a long journey,” Saven said tiredly. “I pity Mjoll, teaching that one about humility. Perhaps that’s one of the downsides of a bratty young woman not growing up with an Animal God, the way things used to be.”
“What I don’t understand is how she can act exactly the same way as she did before the attack on her village.” I frowned. “I’m not the same person I was before my village was attacked.”
“I sense sadness inside her.” Saven tilted his head as he often did when he was confused or thoughtful. “But don’t assume everyone grieves or reacts to a traumatic event the same way you do. Perhaps anger is her way of coping. Or maybe she hasn’t yet figured out how to grieve.”
I watched Anza rip items from her bag, setting up her sleeping area away from the rest of us. What really worried me was whether she realized that the City attacked the Grakkir village because they were looking for me. Was that the real reason she had come after me? To seek revenge for her parents’ deaths? Or did she really think I was the best bet to find allies to help bring down the City?
“Perhaps it’s both,” Saven said.
Worry and guilt clutched my chest. I had felt some relief getting away from the Grakkir because that made others safer. Danger was certain to find me, and I couldn’t ignore the looming feeling of dread that followed me everywhere.
I caught Mjoll’s eyes across the campsite. Even in the dim light, they glowed like yellow gems. I couldn’t tell what she was thinking. Did she know what Anza didn’t know about me? Had news of my identity traveled all the way to the Higher Plains where the Animal Gods lived?
Mjoll held my gaze for a long moment, then rested her head on crossed front legs. Though I was exhausted after our exchange with Anza, I still wasn’t ready to sleep. Cypress formed an earthy shelter around us, like a canopy.
“I’ll take first watch.” I left the campsite before anyone prote
sted.
“I’ll stay awake with you,” Saven offered, but it didn’t take long before I felt his mind wander and drift into slumber.
To avoid the same fate, I stretched my arms above my head and walked to the edge of the tree line. The cloudless sky sparkled with a million stars. I recognized summer constellations, letting me know that hot months approached. I breathed deeply and closed my eyes, imagining that when I opened them, I’d be standing at the well behind my house while Jenassa filled the water bucket.
“So…you were married?” Cypress asked softly. I didn’t hear him approach.
Blood rushed to my cheeks. “Yes.” I clasped my forearms and faced him. Memories of Tarek’s death burned my chest. Cypress held my gaze as I wondered how much I wanted to say. “To the Grakkir man who captured me after my village was destroyed.”
His eyes went wide and he looked away. “Oh. That sounds…”
“Horrible?” I scoffed. “It was at first. Arranged marriage is one of many Grakkir traditions I didn’t understand.” I sat down and plucked a piece of grass, twirling it between my fingers. Talking about my marriage felt heavy and uncomfortable. Discussing the City’s destruction and the people I’d lost was hard enough, but this was more personal. Things with Tarek were complicated. Part of me wondered if we would have grown closer if he were still alive. Now I’d never know.
Cypress sat down beside me. “What is his name?”
I swallowed. “Tarek. He died after the City attacked the Grakkir village. He was captured, tortured, experimented on…” My voice faltered as I pictured Tarek’s bloody, scarred face, how undignified his death had been for a Grakkir Warrior. My eyes burned. It was all my fault those people died. I had made them a target.
No. I hadn’t killed those people, it was the City. My anger rose and I blinked back hot tears, not allowing them to fall. “He was an honorable man. Flawed, certainly, but a true Warrior in every sense of the word. I hated him at first, but I learned to respect him as an ally and friend. Without him, I wouldn’t have earned the title of Warrior myself.”
My throat tightened and I touched the Warrior’s Shield etched across my collarbone. I wished Tarek was there to hear all the things he deserved to know before he died.