The second creature had materialized from the trees, snagged at one of the warrior’s clothes with its claws. Their coats were like shadow, moved like smoke, but there was nothing immaterial about the way it dragged its quarry in. The spears slashed out, drawing blood until the two were separated, desperation in the younger orc’s cry. He fell back, blood oozing from his thigh. The circle drew tighter.
The oldest orc started singing.
I didn’t know what the sound was at first, deep and rhythmic, then another voice joined, and another, shouting, keening, harmonizing with the first. Spears feinted and lunged. One of the creatures started to pull back, a little more distance.
But the first’s eyes were still on me.
“They’re not retreating, Drazha’s-son!” It was Vrathgar. His back was to me, spear out. “They have already tasted the blood!”
“I know!” Khal shouted over the voice. “We’ll have to risk it!” He shouted something in Orcish…and threw his spear.
The spear didn’t kill. It glanced off the thing’s skull, tearing the flesh of its face over the eye. But it flinched back, and then Khal wasn’t in the circle. He was through, and Vrathgar was through, and the spear-wall closed in.
Khal was fast. His sword was in his hand, a flash of light, andhe slashed down. He’d cut it. It hissed and pulled back. Claws flew. I saw him dodge and weave. Vrathgar was on the other side, hemming it in. A warning yell went up as the second yowled. I barely had time to think before Vrathgar stabbed its shoulder and as it turned, Khal jumped-like some kind of grasshopper- onto its neck-and brought the blade down.
It fell like a bag of apples, the heavy head rolling to the side. Just as the second animal lunged and took the orc that was bleeding.
He was screaming, his voice so human, so young. The others were trying to stab at it, the circle formation abandoned. Vrathgar was running forward.
Something was wrong. Something else, besides the teeth through the youngest orc’s leg, besides the shouting and running and spears. Something was wrong and I could feel it from my fingers, up from the soles of my mangled feet, like I was awake and everything was in color and the colors were screaming. Khal was running towards the second beast, his sword in his hand.
A third shape emerged from the trees.
It was bounding, huge, leaping over Khal. I didn’t know who it lunged for, but why not me? Why shouldn’t it be me? I raised my hands, screamed.
I screamed as fire flew out of my hands and ignited the animal above me in sheet after sheet of flame.
AWAKENING
The beast was cut down quickly, already blinded. The animal that had had Tyralk in its jaws abandoned him and fled into the woods. I stayed in the center of the clearing while they messed about binding him up, concerned voices in a language I didn’t understand. I pressed my hands against the earth, everything in me pounding terror as I tried not to throw up.
No. No, no no no no…
How many years of nothing and it camenow,now that I’d almost escaped, now that I was finally outside the castle walls,no-
The vegetation under my hands was dying, the loam growing warm and crumbling beneath my clawing fingers.
This was a curse.
Khal strode across the clearing, weariness clear in the motion of his shoulders. "No sorcerers in the family, eh?" He slid his sword back into the sheath at his side.
"Don't send me back," I choked out.
"What?"
"Don't send me back. I just got awaydon't send me back."
His forehead creased. "No one is sending you back."
Vrathgar was walking back, a bloody rag in his hand. "We need to move." His glare seared over me, and he stalked away.
I started to stand, but Khal sat on the ground next to me. "They'll have to make Tyralk a crutch. It will take a few moments. You can rest."
I was still shaking.
"You really didn’t know?" He watched me. "That you had power?"
I fought for my voice. "They tested me every way they knew. I couldn't do it again. Not a spark."
