She will find peace now. Perhaps for centuries. Perhaps until I can enter the veil, if I’m ever so lucky and greet her on the Plains of Elmir.
The rustle of nearby branches rips me from my thoughts.
“I see you beat us here, Kassiel.” The rasp tohisvoice has me spinning.
He continues,“If only you had decided to attend to your sworn duty sooner, perhaps the witch’s life could have been spared. Makes no difference to me in the end.”
The dull chuckle that follows is as lifeless as the trees around the lake.
Eyes zeroing in on the commander in front of me, I can’t help but wonder what he did to find me so quickly.
I left yesterday morning during the chaos that swallowed our village, on horseback, desperate for them not to interfere with her last wishes. To be returned to this place.
My feet glide steadily to shore, even as the watery grip of the lake pleads with me to stay. The disturbing pull slows my steps as I walk further towards the black sand beach. A foreboding feeling slinks across my spine as I look to Rune, the commander that has hunted me until this very moment.
“You know what duty your King requires of you,” he says while other riders close in.
He’s come with his sword drawn, ready to bring me to my knees if needed. But that isn’t what concerns me, another man with similar inky hair to mine, who holds his head too confidently grabs my focus. Grey sharp eyes study me while his lip slowly curls.
Fuck.Fuck.“Fuck.” The curse slips off my tongue as I recognize what he’s holding as his knapsack opens. Iron bands clink together as the young man grabs them and drops the sack at his feet.
They’ve caught me and this time there’s nothing left in this realm to keep me from fighting.
“Did you think we’d be so naive this time? After what we’ve witnessed that accompanies your gift?” Rune scoffs, a saccharine smile plastered on his lips.
He continues, “What a shock it was when I realized we were dealing with someone with death-touch.”
Subtle waves gently lick my heels as I stand there watching the armed men circle in around me. I lock my stare with Rune. His eyes gloss slightly as he looks to where I had been. I can’t help but wonder how much he saw.
“Let us be on with it then.” The words sound strange coming from my lips, almost soulless.
His lips flatten against each other and he watches me expectantly.
His fingers raise, close to his face, as he presses his forefinger to his middle finger and snaps.
Men rush in on every side of me and I’m easily overtaken.
Rune’s words are lost in the scuffle, the sound muffled as the press of many bodies pushes in, holding me in place.
I’m still trying to process what he said. His eyes remain on mine.
The soft click of the culling bands shackling closed has me breaking the stare. The silver glint of the culling bands reflect sharply in the moons’ light, and I know, undoubtedly, I am doomed to serve.
Chapter 1
Alora
It’s indescribable, the feeling of choking on thick, hot ash.
My lungs revolt with every jagged inhale. Each breath claws at my throat and I’m forced to bring my sleeve up to cover my mouth, the loose fabric offering little reprieve.
The floating flakes of debris with their singed edges fall from the sky in such abundance, you’d sooner think the entire realm was being blanketed by a thick suffocating snow, rather than the truth. Everything is burning.
And, someone’s whole world is on fire as I stare upon the devastation that swallows the village before me.
Though I’ve witnessed my own home burn to cinders, nothing could have prepared me for this vast horror.
Sorrow and the heaviness of the air marry together until they cause a pale streak along my soot covered skin. The sting of smoke thrashing against my eyes too much.
