Chapter Sixteen

The village was a hubbub of activity by the time we awoke the next day. The village wasn’t destroyed by any means, but the Emperor’s soldiers had done some damage. Several huts needed repairs. And Fon’s fire had scorched walls in several places.

Except for the one receiving medical care, the Emperor’s soldiers had all gone.

After a while, sitting by the fire eating grain porridge with the kings, we discovered the hubbub wasn’t purely caused by villagers setting disordered matters to rights.

“We want to join you.” Arlo stood in front of us, dressed for a journey, with a full knapsack at his feet. He nodded to the outskirts of the fire where I could see other men and a few women similarly ready, looking as though they were building up the courage to approach.

“Thank you, but that’s not necessary,” I told him.

Vashri rose to reinforce my point. “The four kings are your champions. We have awoken to bring peace to Charnrosa. We can deal with the Emperor alone.”

Arlo shifted, his hand resting on the hilt of the sword strapped to his hip. He didn’t look entirely at ease with the weapon. It was probably an antique handed down for generations. “But you shouldn’t have to, should you?” he countered.

“More the merrier, I say,” Fon declared. Vashri swung to glare at him. He lifted a shoulder.

“The Emperor has an army,” Arlo continued. “You should have one, too.” His throat bobbed as he awaited the kings’ reply. He looked intensely uncomfortable – but utterly determined. His booted feet were planted sturdily as though he expected to be forcibly removed – and would fight the attempt.

“Scaring the Emperor’s soldiers with the force of our numbers is a good strategy.” A new voice spoke up.

I turned to see Lord Hullar striding towards the fire, dressed in his armour as though nothing had happened yesterday. I looked past him and was obscurely comforted to find no sign of Essa. She was still with her patients, no doubt, and I was glad she wasn’t following the lord around like a loyal puppy.

I looked to the kings. I didn’t want to be responsible for more people. “The Emperor won’t be scared off no matter how many of us there are,” I murmured so only the four could hear me. “He has too much to lose for that. We are heading into danger.”

Axxon rose and faced Arlo, glancing around to take in all the other potential volunteers. “You should know that we can’t guarantee your safety. There’s every chance not all who leave will return.”

“We accept that,” Arlo replied. “We are grown men and women, able to weigh up such a decision. Last night showed us that our families aren’t safe here. No one in Charnrosa is safe until the Emperor has been dealt with. We accept the risks of fighting in order to bring peace for our families and the village.”

“Then we welcome your strength to our side,” Rey called.

“We leave in an hour,” Fon added.

Arlo nodded and turned away. He must have bitter goodbyes to say, but he was smiling as he left the fireside. I was humbled by his bravery. The kings and I were destined to fight. These people were willingly putting themselves into danger. If the situation were reversed I hoped I would have half their courage.

I hurried to the healing hut to make my farewells to Essa, only to meet her halfway. Like Arlo, she was dressed for a journey.

“When do we leave?” she asked, before I could say anything.

“We?”

“I’m coming with you, Kyann.”

“No.” No way was my sister risking her life. The goddess’s words rang out in my mind. I might have to lose everything, but I wasn’t going to throw it away. I saw the reaction my instinctive refusal got, the straightening of her shoulders, and sought for an alternative argument. “The village needs you.”

She rolled her eyes. “The village already has a healer. And now I’ve stitched her leg Syra is recovered enough to take back her role.” She reached my side and pointed along the way I’d come, to the fireside where Lord Hullar was talking with some of his men, and the kings were now conversing with several villagers who clearly intended to join us. “You will need a healer.” She tucked her arm through mine. “Our Stale-Wort Emperor doesn’t frighten me.”

And maybe that was what frightened me. “But—”

“Shall I ask the kings? I’m sure they will see the sense in me joining you.”

“I’m sure they will,” I admitted gloomily.

Essa laughed. “I promise not to do any actual fighting, if it makes you feel better.”

I accepted the inevitable. “Not much.”

She patted my arm and lowered her voice, her focus also on the men by the fire. “I’m sure Lord Hullar will take great care to ensure I don’t come to harm.”

“Do you want me to forbid you, Essa?”

That was met with a peal of laughter that made the men look up. “Oh, you could try!”

I straightened and looked down my nose at her, adopting what I hoped was a commanding tone. “I am the guardian. All must do my bidding.”

“Yeah. Try that on the kings. It might work on them.”

We made our way back to the fire. “Essa is coming with us,” I said.

If I’d hoped for a protest, I was unlucky. Axxon, Rey, and Vashri nodded. Fon grinned and punched her arm in welcome. Lord Hullar’s lips thinned, but he didn’t say a word. Their acquaintance was short, but perhaps he’d already learned how futile it was to stand against my sister.

~

There were only eight horses left of those Lord Hullar and his warriors had brought, and the beasts we’d ridden to Ullagar Castle, although I was glad to see Windspeed had survived the previous day’s attack.

Rather than riding them, the remaining beasts were used to carry our supplies while our ‘army’ walked. Fon was at the head of the group, naturally. I was midway, a couple of paces away from Axxon and Rey. Neither had said anything about their experience in the underworld, but without words they elected to stay close to me. From my position I could clearly see my sister walking by Lord Hullar’s side. Their heads tilted towards each other as they chatted.

And what they said and did wasn’t really my business. I sighed and looked determinedly aside. To find Arlo at my shoulder.

“I would have thought you would have stayed at home,” I told him. I remembered Otta and the fervent greeting she’d given her husband when he’d returned from the battle Lady Ullagar had forced him into. From the strength of their embrace, I wouldn’t have thought she would be so easy to leave.

“My eldest son is nearly a man. He will take care of Otta if anything…” His jaw worked. “If he needs to. He knows his duty. As I know mine. The Emperor must be stopped. And if I can help achieve that aim, I will do so.”

His ferocity touched my heart. “The people of Charnrosa deserve better than they’ve received these past few years,” I said.

“And we’ve lost more than any should.” He stared at the ground, jaw tense.

“I’m sorry.” I remembered my parents and touched his arm. “Who did you lose?”

 “My wife’s father. He was chief elder, and powerful in magic.”

I was too well aware of what happened to people able to use magic. “The Emperor took him?”

“No, no, Lady Ullagar.” Arlo’s face tightened, anger and grief bunching beneath the skin. “She asked him for advice at first. She said she wanted to develop her own magical ability.” He stared at the shifting crowd walking ahead of us. “He was flattered. We are normally invisible to our overlords.” He shook his head. “I wish we’d stayed that way. She called on him more and more often. I could see that what she demanded of him was tiring him. I told him to refuse, but he wouldn’t.” He shifted his shoulders, discomfort rolling off him. “She is – was – our overlord. How could he refuse?”

“I’m so sorry.” I kept my attention on Arlo. If he wanted to talk, I would listen.

“She killed him.”

I was expecting the outcome, but my heart stilled regardless to hear the words stated so calmly.

“He said she was doing … terrible things. That he couldn’t live with himself if he helped with what she demanded. The next time she summoned him, he had determined to tell her he would cast no more magic for her and give her no further guidance.” Arlo took a deep breath that shuddered through him. “Half a day later, we were summoned to collect his body. The lady herself wouldn’t face us. One of her servants told us he’d had a seizure. They must have thought we were fools. That was no natural death.” He shook his head. “We had expected anger when she was refused. And yet, despite the stories, we didn’t expect murder.” He faced me, eyes glassy with grief. “Isn’t it the overlord’s job to protect their villages? Their people?”

I swallowed down the lump in my throat. “Yes, it is. Charnrosa has lost its path.”

“I hope you can change matters, lady.”

“If it lies within my power, I swear I will.”

~

We walked all day and covered more than half the journey to the citadel and the Stalwart Emperor. The plain had long given way to more familiar forest by the time we stopped for the night, although that meant we were forced to spread out.

I scanned through the trees at the tents pitched in a wide circle, erected anywhere they’d fit.

“We’ll set a guard,” Axxon promised, appearing at my side and speaking as though he’d read my mind.

“I have men already on it,” Lord Hullar said, striding past and calling orders as he went.

I smiled. For a group who’d only joined forces a day ago, we worked well together. Rey and Fon set a campfire burning in the middle of the circle of tents. I didn’t even need to use my slingshot to supply a few rabbits for the pot. That had already been taken care of by the villagers who’d come with us.

Axxon’s arm snaked around my shoulders. “You really can relax this time, Kyann.”

I matched his smile with one of my own. “I won’t argue.”

“Are you feeling well?” He scanned my face with mock-concern.

I swiped at him. “Do you want me to be argumentative?”

His arm tightened. “I want you any way you want to be, Kyann.” His expression changed, becoming more intense. “I thought I’d lost you. When I was trapped in the underworld. That was the most painful torment of all – thinking that I might never get to see you again.”

My gaze locked with his. I didn’t think I’d be able to look away if my life depended on it. Axxon’s hand lifted and his knuckles brushed my cheek. My blood rushed to meet him. “I’m glad you came after us,” he said, his voice so low I felt it in my bones as much as hearing it in my ears.

“I couldn’t have done anything else.” My blush intensified. It was true, but I felt … exposed, to admit as much. “I’m glad we’re all back together,” I added, which was both exactly what I meant and simultaneously not what I wanted to tell Axxon at all.

“We belong together.”

Did he mean the five of us – or just him and me? I was too much of a coward to ask. I wasn’t sure which I wanted him to mean. I shut my eyes. I should just enjoy this moment of togetherness with a man I’d feared lost.

A piercing whistle snapped my eyes open. Fon was standing beside the fire, arms spread wide. “Where is everyone?” he demanded. “The fire’s burning. It’s time for a sing-song.”

Axxon heaved a sigh. “How did you manage not to go mad when it was just the three of you?”

I wasn’t sure whether he was teasing or serious. I lifted a shoulder, enjoying the heat of his hand through my tunic. “Vashri’s a calming presence.”

“He’d have to be,” Axxon growled.

Rey dumped an armload of firewood beside the fire. “Please, Kyann. Spare me!” he called.

I grinned and slid away from Axxon, reaching back to snag his fingers. “Come along. We’re needed.”

We gathered around the fire, singing songs and swapping stories while the food cooked.

All but the sentries on duty retired to sleep after we’d eaten. We had a long day ahead. As I lay down, my thoughts whirled at the idea that we would finally come face to face with the Emperor again. Finally, we could stop his evil ambitions and return Charnrosa to harmony.

I thought excitement and worry would keep me awake long into the night, but I’d barely settled my head on the pack that formed my pillow before I was asleep.

Nothing disturbed the camp, neither underworld creatures nor attacks from the Emperor’s men. We woke refreshed and there was a sense of optimistic determination as we set off the following morning.

That lasted until we were an hour away from the citadel.