“Wielding?” the headman sputtered. “That’s preposterous. No fae can wield shadow magic. We can only use the magic we’re born with—”
“If that’s the case, then how was King Aolis able to kill the dragons?” Einar challenged.
“He used the Spear of Destiny, of course, but that’s different,” the headman argued. “The spear is imbued with Radiant magic; everyone knows the king can’t wield Radiant power on his own.”
Einar snorted. “Radiant magic. Right.”
The headman scowled. “Just whoareyou, anyway? You’re not a member of our village.”
Einar opened his mouth, but I cut him off. “He’s a friend of mine from Glendar,” I said quickly, referencing a neighboring village a few miles away. I didn’t think it was a good idea to tell them that Einar was a dragon. They’d try to kill him on the spot, and given how much Einar seemed to hate the fae, I had a feeling he’d end up razing the village in retaliation. Even if the headman and his son had turned against me, and the villagers had always treated me like an outsider, they didn’t deserve to die.
“I’ve been to Glendar dozens of times, and I’ve never seen him,” Dune said. He looked Einar up and down, taking in his powerful body and the swirling flame tattoo on his chest. I thanked the Radiants that Einar’s shoulder-length hair was long enough to hide his ears—the lack of pointed tips would have been a dead giveaway.
“I don’t know why you care so much,” I snapped at Dune. “It’s me you wanted so badly to get rid of, wasn’t it?”
“That’s enough,” the headman barked before Dune could respond. He clapped his hands, and the militia raised their swords again, taking a step toward me. “This discussion is over. Adara, please come quietly. There’s no need to make a scene here.”
“She’s not going anywhere.”
The crowd murmured as Seema planted herself between me and Dune’s men. She raised her hands, and the earth beneath our feet began to rumble. Stones shot up from deep beneath the ground and hovered in the air, awaiting her command. “If you want them, you’ll have to go through me.”
“And me.” Mavlyn raised her hands as well, calling to the nearby flora. Thorny rose vines snaked around her arms, extending past her hands like barbed tentacles.
“Seema!” the headman protested. “Be reasonable! You’re a member of the village council!”
“Yes, I am,” Seema said firmly, “and as a member, I have to say I’m very disturbed by your attitude, Headman. Regardless of your reasons for accepting Adara and Chaya into our village, the fact remains that theyaremembers, and are under our protection. This General Slaugh didn’t have an order or decree from the king when he arrived, did he?” she asked Dune.
Dune’s cheeks colored. “Well, no, but—”
“But nothing,” Seema said firmly. “We might be part of the Kingdom of Ediria, but we’re citizens of Domhain first. We don’t allow outsiders to come in and snatch our people away without cause.”
While Seema argued with the headman, Mavlyn sidled up to me. “Take this and go to Talamh,” she whispered in my ear. She unclasped the antler bracelet she always wore around her wrist and fastened it to mine, then tapped the tree sigil in the center of the moonstone. “Show this bracelet to Lady Mossi’s guards and tell them you need sanctuary. She’ll help you.”
“Lady Mossi?” Einar said sharply. “As in the head of House Ithir, and the ruler of Domhain?”
“That’s right.” Mavlyn smirked. “She’s my great, great aunt, twice removed, or something like that. She’ll be honor-bound to take you in if you show her that bracelet.”
Einar snorted, but I squeeze Mavlyn’s hand tight, overcome with gratitude. “You don’t have to do this,” I told her. “This isn’t your fight.”
“You would do the same for me, wouldn’t you?” Mavlyn challenged.
“Well, yes, but—”
“But nothing. Now go!”
She shoved me toward the road and stepped forward at the same time, drawing Dune’s attention. The earth vibrated as she shot vines in his direction, and she knocked Dune’s sword from hand even as the ground turned liquid beneath her feet. Alarmed, I sprang toward Mavlyn as she began to sink, but before I could close my hand around hers, a larger hand grabbed me by the elbow and hauled me back.
“Get out of here, Adara!” Seema shouted. She flung one of her stones straight at Dune’s head, forcing him to duck, and breaking his concentration. The ground beneath Mavlyn’s feet solidified, but one of the villagers yanked her free before she was attacked. Surprised, I watched as they threw themselves into the fray, some siding with the militia members, others with Mavlyn and Seema.
“Come on,” Einar said, tugging at my arm. “As long as you’re here, the fighting will continue. We have to get away.”
His words pulled me back to my senses, and I turned my attention away from the fighting. “This way,” I said, darting through Mavlyn’s open front door. We raced through the house and out the back, but one of the militia must have spotted us, because he was waiting for us around the back with three others.
Einar snarled and lunged toward the man. Panic rose inside me at the killing intent in his eyes, and I reacted instinctively, flinging out a hand. But it wasn’t my fire magic that responded this time. Instead, the moisture clinging to the grass reacted, droplets coalescing into crystals as they rose into the air. They swirled up the enemy fae’s legs, encasing them in layers of ice that rooted them to the ground.
“Stop!” I grabbed Einar and wrenched him back. “We’re not killing them,” I said hotly when he spun to face me, mouth open in a snarl. “These people are just following orders! They’re not my enemy.”
“Soldiers are also just following orders,” Einar growled. “But that didn’t stop your king from slaughtering ours in battle, now did it?”
