Queen to Ashes (Black Dawn Series Book 2)

by Mallory McCartney

  Memphis was a recruiter now, his leadership whisked away on a memory. He was a pawn in war, and he didn’t call the shots anymore: Chaos awaited him.

  Nyx paced over to the windwalker. “We head north?”

  Lana smiled slyly, as she rolled up her sleeves. Memphis couldn’t move, yet numbness spread through him. Azarius searched him, trying to gauge his reaction from across the room. His emotions were still, his face a mask. He would not let the disarray he felt inside bleed through, letting them know just how unhinged he was.

  Lana twirled around, which was a feat in such a small space. “You will have today to prepare and celebrate our gains. Tomorrow, we begin. But before that, Memphis and Nyx, come here.”

  Spreading her hands over the table’s surface, an inky map bled onto it. “We are here in Pentharrow. You need to travel north to the Risco Desert and Arken mountains. It is unmarked territory, with the stretch of the Forgotten Bogs.”

  “That will take months. Adair could show his hand by then. He could kill us by then. We don’t have the luxury of time,” Memphis stated.

  Lana chuckled darkly. “On foot, it would take months. How you two are traveling, it will take a matter of days. Luckily for you, I have been preparing for this ever since I arrived in Kiero.” Lana motioned then for them to follow her.

  Everyone, equally confused, filed out of the cottage following Lana down the cobble road.

  Inhaling deeply, the fresh air was a slap to his face. Alby walked beside him, his hair looking aflame in the sunlight. Casting a sideways look to his friend, Memphis asked, “How are you holding up?”

  Alby shrugged. “Azarius is still pissed with me, and why shouldn’t he be? We are all each other had, and I abandoned him here to go to the Academy. Now, we’re all one big happy family, preparing for war. It will take time for those wounds to heal, and as you pointed out, we don’t have a lot of that these days.”

  An unsettled silence came between them, neither saying what they were thinking. Looking around, Memphis couldn’t believe this fractured piece of normalcy had been protected. Had been saved. It was everything he wanted, and everything he couldn’t do.

  Jealousy burned in his gut when he thought about the town around them bustling with life. No one in this world was free or without pain, but these people didn’t have to hide in the earth with a target always on their backs. His guilt laid heavy on him, making him feel constantly shadowed. Memphis knew he hadn’t done enough, and now, he couldn’t take back the consequences. His fear and his selfishness had ruled his life. And his heart.

  Stopping, Lana beamed at them all, motioning below her at a small carved statue beside a rotting, abandoned cottage. The marble was flawless; at the base, roots entangled one another, curling up to a broad chest with strange markings he didn’t recognize etched upon it: Towering antlers curled toward the sky, sweeping and cutting. The artistic design swept his breath away, the angles and dips capturing the light, creating shadows and depth. The group stopped before it, everyone thoroughly confused.

  It was Nyx who spoke up first. “You do know it’s a rock, right?”

  The healer looked at her friend, gleefully whispering, “Watch.”

  Bending down, she brushed her hand along the statue, gently like a caress. The tattoos bled onto her forearms at once, blurring beautiful scenes of monsters of old, of warriors and battles. Of a beautiful, fierce world Memphis didn’t recognize, filled with magnificent beasts taking to the skies.

  The crack shuddered through the statue, and they seemingly held their breath. Another pause and chunks of the carving were bouncing off the ground. The wind picked up, and all at once, the broken carving exploded, the chunks of rock practically humming with magic.

  Lana watched, bouncing on her feet as the pieces started to rise off the ground, spinning so fast it was all just a blur. There was a crack like thunder, and the ground shuddered beneath their feet. Blinking, he gawked at where the statue had once been, completely at a loss for words.

  The creature was easily the size of the houses around them, its muscles rippling as its hooves pawed the ground, dust flying from the incinerated marble. With the body of a stag, its peerless white fur seemed blinding. Huge wings tucked neatly on its sides, feathers reflecting every color of the rainbow in the sunlight. Its intelligent eyes assessed them, massive antlers curling up toward the peerless sky.

  “What, by fire and flame, is this?” Memphis asked.

  Stroking the beast’s fur affectionately, Lana beamed. “May I introduce Aella. She is a native animal from my world, Langther, that windwalkers are paired with from birth. They are called perytons, a herd animal, and none more loyal. I brought her with me but, for obvious reasons, kept her hidden with magic until the day I needed her. She can cover distances with a speed very few people have experienced. Also, as windwalkers are, she has been trained for war since she was old enough to fly. She is my partner and comrade.”

  Nyx choked out, “Her antlers...”

  Lana curled her lips even wider. “Are pure iron. Sharp as any blade. It has been far too long since she has been able to put them to use.”

  Nyx raised her eyebrow, admiration crossing her features as Aella trotted forward, taking deep whiffs of them.

  “She is getting your individual scents in her memory,” Lana explained.

  Reaching Memphis, she stopped short, meeting his gaze head on. Outstretching his hand, Aella slowly brought her muzzle up to meet him. Her fur was thick and soft as he shakily petted her. She was magnificent, born out of a myth. It was so light at first he almost wasn’t sure it had even happened. But there it was again, a light brush up against his consciousness, and Aella stared intently at him.

  Nyx walked over to them. “I felt that as well. She is trying to communicate with us telepathically.”

  Lana said, “You two are the first telekinetic’s she has met. What is she like?”

  Nyx whispered, her eyes never leaving the beast, “Beautiful.”

  Clucking her tongue, Aella walked beside Lana, the group following behind them.

  Townspeople stopped to stare at the sight of the fearsome group they were. Whispers chased at their heels, but Memphis threw his iron walls up, pushing them out. Turning the corner, a pasture came into view and Lana jogged ahead, fetching a massive water jug.

  Squaring her shoulders, Lana watched as Aella drank deeply, rumbling contently. “We need to make an announcement. This is no longer just a town. This is a haven for the Rebellion and refugees. We’re no longer hiding in fear.”

  Alby cut in, “We don’t want to draw Adair’s attention to us. Not yet.”

  Lana nodded. “But that doesn’t mean we can’t keep him busy.”

  She winked, grabbing Azarius and towing him with her to the town square. Azarius shot them all a look that could wither any living thing and, again, not leaving them room for choice but to follow him. Alby sighed, taking the first step. Begrudgingly, Memphis followed; Nyx on his heels.

  The town was bursting at its seams, thousands of voices and thoughts littering his senses. Memphis tried to hold on, but they slipped through the cracks and dragged him down.

  Nyx, Alby, Azarius, and Lana reached the heart of Pentharrow first. Shadows danced at the corners of his vision as he melted into the crowd, just another face amongst them. Reaching the marred podium, Lana clapped her hands, and in a dramatic splay of her arms, sparks danced from her fingertips. A wave of Lana’s magic rolled across the courtyard, silencing the crowds murmur immediately. Not for the first time today, Memphis felt like he was drowning.

  “People of Pentharrow, you know me as Lana, your local healer. As the events of the last couple of days have unfolded, we all know this to be a lie. I have lived beside you all, suffered with you, suffocated under Morgan’s reign. One tyrant is enough for this world.

  “Azarius has completed another successful mission, freeing Adair’s hostages, including survivors from the Academy. We have never had this much strength, and we must act no
w.

  “What you don’t know is that this world is the center of a web, tendrils of energy and space attaching other worlds with us. We have a plan, but we need your help. United, we will bring Adair down into the flames he has ignited within this land. I promise you, after we are through with him, his kingdom will be nothing more than ash.”

  The roar of the crowd was deafening and all consuming.

  “Tonight, we celebrate as free people who refuse to live in fear any longer!” Azarius yelled, pumping his fist beside Lana.

  Memphis was sure the world was about to split open from the excitement and unrest. It was like watching an electric current run through the crowd. People cheered, bustling around the square, and no one besides him noticed the dried, cracked blood that still painted the stones. Nyx stood proudly with Lana, and hope was tangible in the air; shouldn’t he be happy about that? Lana and Azarius had achieved something he failed to do in six years.

  He jumped a little when Alby snuck up on him again, asking, “Memph, are you okay?”

  “No. But who is? We’re born into a world bred on betrayal and blood being spilt. When does it stop?”

  Alby grasped his arm tightly. “I don’t know. But I do know we have to fight for a better future than the one we were given. This is our chance to set things right. To no longer hide.”

  He curtly nodded, his throat becoming thick. He needed to make amends with his mistakes from his past to be able to fight for his future. This was his chance, and he needed to ignore the fact that his heart was pulling him in the opposite direction. He needed to let Emory go; she had made her choice.

  It was time he made his.

  ***

  The chinks of glasses and hearty conversations drifted on the night wind as ale and food ran freely, the twinkle lights encircling every building, transforming the town in a dazzling display. Sitting in the corner, taking in the celebration, his stomach churned. Lana had truly outdone herself. The windwalker spun in an array of sparks and whispers with Azarius.

  At a table to the left of the cleared dance floor, Nyx and Alby clunked their glasses together and drank deeply. Laughter and song filled the night as families and children were dancing in the heart of Pentharrow alongside the Rebellion. The carefree and celebratory grins on every face Memphis took in left a bitter taste in his mouth. How could everyone for one night live in a reality of oblivion when all Memphis could obsess over was the truth?

  Nyx had betrayed him, half their people had been killed, and within the same breath, Emory took the first opportunity to flee into Adair’s kingdom. The question that hovered along his lips and in his heart was whether he truly believed Emory could do that.

  The silent battle within himself just darkened his mood further as seemingly no on else truly cared what happened to Emory Fae.

  His mind wandered back to the beginning of the afternoon which had consisted of packing food and weapons for their journey to the Risco desert. At dawn, they would go their separate ways. At dawn, everything would change—again.

  Memphis took a deep swig of his ale, welcoming the numbness that was overtaking him. He wanted to wash away the bitter taste that filled his mouth.

  The ground shook from the feet that stomped on the dirt like beating drums as bodies twirled through the air. Lights flashed; yells echoed through the night. Pentharrow was creating their own personal storm, relishing in the fact that they had a shot, a chance of being free. Truthfully, he couldn’t stand another second of it. Clanking his empty glass down harder than he had intended, Memphis stood, slipping around the edges, trying not to draw more attention to himself.

  “And where do you think you are slinking off to?” Nyx tailed him, her violet eyes glowing in the night.

  He ignored her and kept walking.

  “Memph. Memphis!!!” Nyx ran ahead and cut him off, saying, “Just because this isn’t how you envisioned your path to be, doesn’t mean you can’t be open to it. We both made mistakes, and I won’t even touch on our romantic relationship.

  “But that’s a part of life, Memphis, to make mistakes. I never thought another option would open to help rid Kiero of Adair. I went to the Mad King as a stupid last resort, and now, I am going to confront my demons. You have to do the same.” She stepped on thin ice-his heart shattered.

  The alcohol made his tongue loose as he snapped, “I’m not ready: To forgive you or to forgive myself. The ghosts of our friends visit me in my nightmares. Their deaths are constant bleeding wounds that will never heal. Then you...” He choked. “I did every wrong by you. I thought I would never get another chance to say I’m sorry. I thought I had lost you. I have been selfish, and I can’t go back and make it right. I don’t know how to make it right.”

  Her lips turned down as she stepped toward him. “Memph, we all have our ghosts. And sometimes we can’t right our wrongs. We just have to learn how to live with them.”

  “I’m scared to move on. What of the Rebellion?”

  The moon reflected in her glossy eyes. “And you think that I’m not? We are all scared, but we use that fear to remind us that we are still alive, and that we are fighting for our friends we lost and for us. We can’t stop now until this is finished. If we are fighting, then that’s something.”

  Her hand brushed his heart. He let loose a ragged breath, realizing his hands were shaking. Nyx reached out, interlocking their hands. It wasn’t a tender gesture but a steadying one. As friends.

  Nyx smiled sadly. “I know we can never forgive each other, but we can continue to fight each day. Come on.”

  Gently leading him away from the crowd, the world around them was a kaleidoscope of color and sound, of light and dark. It pierced through Memphis, registering in that moment more than ever before how unbalanced their lives were. How unfair.

  Soon enough, the pulse of life was behind, and quiet empty houses surrounded them. Wind gently shifted around them, and the night was cool and clear—the air of promise. Turning the corner, he realized that Nyx was leading him back to Aella’s pasture, and in that exact moment, she came into view, bathed in moonlight.

  Aella snorted sleepily at them in greeting, taking them in curiously. Sliding down beside her, Nyx sighed. They rested their backs against her side, as a content humming filled his senses. He relaxed, feeling his attachment growing for their steed.

  Tension slowly started to uncoil from him as he quietly asked, “What was he like?”

  Nyx twisted her braid between her fingers.

  After a few silent minutes, she said, “Adair was entrancing. He was...not as twisted as I had made him out to be in my mind. And he was much more human than I thought. He was fascinated about us of course. But beneath his calm, I could sense the chaotic storm of his anger, and that’s what scared me most. To be honest, he reminded me of Emory, their strength and unpredictability is a lethal combination.”

  He turned, looking deeply into Nyx’s eyes. “And you truly believe that Emory’s decision was to play us all along? To join Adair?”

  She twisted her braid more frantically, not answering right away, as she looked to the stars. He knew the signs when Nyx got nervous about something.

  “Nyx, answer the question,” Memphis quietly said.

  Nyx met his gaze, pleading. “When I saw her in the cells, she seemed determined to save you, but there was a flicker of something...more. I can’t say for sure what, but as much as I haven’t liked Emory, I feel in my heart that there is more to her story than just to walk into Adair’s arms. I truly believe that Memphis.”

  Time and space were frozen before he jumped to his feet. “We have to go to find out the truth. Now.”

  “And let everyone else think we have betrayed them as well? We move forward with our orders.”

  “And leave Emory a prisoner to Adair? Nyx, when have you ever followed orders? I need to know the truth!”

  She stood, meeting him face-to-face. “All Adair knows is that his long-lost love has returned home to him. Memphis, she has returned to him
as Queen. We have to trust that Adair won’t harm a hair on her head unless he finds hard evidence that she is still tied to the Black Dawn Rebellion. Us showing up at Adair’s door will be hard evidence, Memphis. Think this through.

  “We have Adair for the first time in years not focused on sorting through who is left in Kiero. We have time to help build our strength and our army. We have a legitimate chance to end him for good.

  “I am begging you to stand with us, to see this through, and then, as one, we plan a way to reach Emory. As your friend, I am begging you, don’t run to her now. Doing that will get you killed, and then everything will be for nothing.”

  Memphis clenched and unclenched his hands. Nyx spoke some truths, but she also had found her place within their new hybrid Rebellion. Her path and allegiance were true. He, on the other hand, wasn’t so sure where his place was anymore. By suffocating Black Dawn, he had doomed them by not taking risks. He had suffocated himself by not taking risks.

  “Memphis, please. Don’t go.”

  Sighing, he had never seen her as clearly as he did in that moment. Her stern mouth frowning, panic making her hands shake, dark bags marring her eyes. Memphis closed his eyes, overwhelmed by the consequences of his decisions.

  Adair was Emory’s enemy but was also a man who had always loved her. She had chosen to let the Rebellion go to take that burden on her own. She had chosen to put you through that much pain to make her actions believable. If he loved Emory, he would have to trust her.

  A small dark whisper ran through his mind: But what version of her do you love?

  Sighing, Memphis rubbed his temples. “After we gather the troops, we go to get her out. No matter what, and no matter what they say.”

  Nyx’s expression shadowed. “Only if we are still alive.”

  “Always the vision of optimism, Nyx. I’ll see you in the morning.”

  He left feeling the newfound truth steeling into anger, licking at his heart. He headed back to Lana’s house, wanting nothing more than silence and to be alone.