“The one who snuffed the flame.”
“Enemy of Yargen.”
“Savior, more like.”
“Heathen.”
“She killed him in cold blood.”
“Dark Isle dweller.”
Her ears picked up the whispers as easily as magical echoes. She’d received some nasty looks on her way to the Archives this morning, but this was already worse. Word had traveled blisteringly fast throughout the crowded city and suddenly it seemed like everyone knew who she was.
To think, long ago, this might have been her fantasy. To be in Meru, in the capital city, even, and for the common folk to know her name. She should be more careful—or more specific, at the least—about what she wished for in the future.
Their eyes bored holes into her. Cutting glances reminded her of walking through the Tower after the incident. The most hated person among all the sorcerers of the Empire, and then some. The crowd’s sharp stares cut at her armor, prying at her deepest, most sensitive weaknesses. She was no longer a woman, but the girl who’d been afraid. Who’d coated her insides with ice so they couldn’t reach her.
Eira clenched her fists and held her head high. She wouldn’t give them the satisfaction of knowing they’d struck a secret nerve. If she didn’t let Ferro make her feel small, she wasn’t going to let them.
Eira, Alyss, and Noelle cleared the gate and the knights carved a way for them to pass through the crowd. The gathered citizens jostled against the outstretched arms of Lumeria’s men and women. The crowd’s grumblings became louder.
“Make a path. Make a path,please,” the knight that led them pleaded.
Eira pulled Alyss closer to her, stepping toward Noelle. She glanced around her and only saw enemies and potential enemies. Scowling faces. Louder, harsher words. They hated her.
They could all be Pillars.
Her throat was thick and Eira struggled to get in a full breath. The crowd seemed to double in size. There were so many of them and just one of her. She was going to drown if she didn’t start fighting for air.
Alyss squeezed her hand and Eira exhaled. The world spun due to her lack of breathing, but they had made it to the carriage. The knight fumbled with the latch on the door. He’d just swung it open when a sharpwhizzingsound had Eira dodging.
A rock the size of her fist hovered in midair at the side of her face. The knights that had been holding back the crowd condensed around them in a protective shell, swords at the ready. The stone wouldn’t have hurt her, not too badly, at least. Maybe if it hit her in the eye, but—
“Dark Isle dweller! Destroyer of the Flame of Yargen! The Champion who has been chosen by the Goddess’s hand to wield her might will bring down his fiery, righteous wrath upon her. He will smite her,” a woman shouted from among the crowd. Eira met her cold, steely eyes, narrowing her own slightly. Shedidn’t recognize the woman as a Pillar. But there was nothing particularly unique about her features that would’ve made her stand out during Eira’s time underground.
“Should I send it flying back at her?” Alyss had a venom in her voice that wasn’t common from her usually forgiving friend.
“No.” Eira plucked the stone from the air and could feel Alyss’s magic unraveling from around it. Eira shoved the rock into her pocket, wishing she could get rid of the whole encounter with the same ease. Knights were already approaching the woman, cutting through the crowd.
“Remember my face!” The woman spoke to the people around her, rather than Eira. “It might be the last time you see it, for they will jail me for speaking the truth!” The woman’s brief resistance was quickly quelled by the two larger knights. “I speak to uphold the Pillars of Light, Truth, and Justice! A warning to you all, the moral fiber of this city is fraying. Your queen has betrayed you—she’s entered a treaty with our enemies. Return to her light before it’s too late or Raspian will smite you all! The Champion will return to guide us! He will show us the light of Yargen’s truth.”
The crowd was beginning to rumble. The woman’s actions had emboldened some and frightened others. Eira wasn’t sure which way the scales would ultimately tip and she wasn’t about to find out.
“Let’s go.” Eira nodded to Noelle, who stared with morbid fascination and a glint of murder in her eyes. “The sooner we leave the better.”
“I agree.” Noelle stepped up into the carriage.
Eira and Alyss followed, sitting next to each other, opposite of Noelle. The moment the door was closed, Eira drew the curtains tightly.
3
“Excuse me, I wanted to look out of those.” Noelle moved to pull back the curtain and Eira caught her wrist.
“I really don’t think we want people knowing this carriage is ours,” she cautioned.
“I think everyone already does. They saw us get in here.”
“All the carriages are identical.” Eira had made a note of it earlier. “Once we clear the initial crowd, no one will know which one is us. Let’s keep it that way and avoid becoming more of a target than we already are.”No one would know, assuming they weren’t being followed or had information passed along. Either of which was likely. But Eira was working within the constraints she was given and there was no point in taking unnecessary risks.
