Firebrand

As she moved in to hear Mara’s instructions, she realized her headache had almost entirely dissipated. It seemed it took battle to balance her frame of mind.

There were a good thirty-five Riders present who had not been turned to ice. Who knew where the rest were and what they faced? Was the city also under siege, or just the castle? Regardless, their first duty was to the king and queen. Mara chose not to split them up, for their strength was in numbers, small as theirs were compared to that of the ice creatures.

“I saw the king and queen in the queen’s sitting room not long ago,” Karigan said, though she could not say for certain how much time had elapsed since then.

“Right,” Mara said. “We’ll head to the royal apartments. I’ll take point.”

“But—” Karigan protested.

Mara turned, her palm up and flame dancing on it. “Can you really argue with this, Sir Karigan?”

She was right, of course. Her ability was ideal, the best for destroying any of the creatures that got in their way, but Karigan was more concerned about what the constant use of the fire bringing would do to Mara. She did not dare speak of it, however, in front of the mostly young, untried Riders, their faces already full of fear.

“Torches,” Karigan said instead. “So we can all have fire.”

“Excellent idea.” Mara ordered the Riders to grab any torches they could find in the corridor. The castle was largely lit by whale oil lamps and candles, but many of the old torches remained unused in their sconces.

While the Riders were busy, Karigan took the chance to grab Mara’s arm. The heat of her radiated through her sleeve. “Don’t you dare overdo it with your ability.”

“I won’t, thanks to your suggestion.” Mara indicated the others collecting torches. A few trailed cobwebs. “And thank you for not mentioning it in front of the others.” She paused, then added, “Do me a favor?”

“Anything.”

“Keep an eye on the newest ones for me. Be the sweep.” Karigan was about to argue, but Mara forestalled her. “It’s an order, Rider. Plus, you said anything.” She grinned, but it was without humor. “And don’t think I am doing you any favors. Sweep will be as dangerous as point, and I need someone there who is experienced and capable.”

Karigan nodded, but with misgiving, thinking she should be up front with Mara breaking through the attackers. The Riders found about a dozen torches that were still usable. Mara touched one and flame sprang to life, and was passed from torch to torch. Karigan did not take one, ensuring that the inexperienced Riders got them first. It would be their best defense.

Mara formed them into a wedge, and Karigan took her place at the rear. When this was over, there would be jokes. She hoped there would be, anyway.

HOT COALS AND A CHANDELIER

The Riders clattered through the corridor, destroying whirlwind creatures as they went, careful not to knock over their friends who had been turned to ice. When they reached the main castle hall, they halted in shock. People frozen in their tracks stood throughout, some trapped in time as they wielded weapons at unseen foes. Women lifted skirts, caught as they fled, their faces contorted in fear and pain. The floor, the walls, even the empty suits of armor that stood at attention along the walls, were frosted over and sparkled in the light. Flame gave life to shadows. It was silent.

“Remember,” Mara said, even her quiet voice carrying, “try not to knock anyone over.”

They trotted through the main hall, carefully weaving among courtiers, soldiers, and servants who’d been turned into statues of ice. Karigan recognized several though she tried not to look too closely. A few had already toppled and shattered across the floor, and she swallowed hard. She adjusted her grip on the hilt of her sword, her fingers stiff with the cold, and maintained her position as rear guard.

As for the king and queen, she told herself over and over that they would be stoutly protected by Weapons and the regular castle guard. They had a much better chance of remaining safe than these other folk. The king, a trained swordmaster, was very capable of defending himself and Estora, as well. These thoughts, however, failed to reassure her very much.

The sound of Rider boots echoed in the strangely quiet hall as they continued on. Movement down a side corridor caught Karigan’s eye. She slowed at the odd sight of flame jabbing out of a wall at a whirlwind creature. Someone was clearly in distress. Her desire to reach the royal apartments, her desperate need to see her king safe, battled with her wish to help someone who had no Weapons, no guards, to protect him or her.

“Brandall,” she called, “I’m going to check something out, and will catch up as soon as I can. You take sweep.”

He nodded, and she darted down the side corridor. As she approached, she realized the flame was not coming out of the wall but from a large hearth in a seating alcove. Someone was attempting to fend off a creature with a bundle of burning kindling.

The whirlwind was considerably larger than the ones she had already fought. It was almost as tall as she, and as she neared it, she was whipped by wind that grabbed her breath. The whirlwind spewed needles of ice, and she raised her arm to protect her face. She thought maybe this side trip had not been such a good idea, after all, but a glance into the hearth revealed the ash girl who took care of the Rider wing. She must have been on her rounds when the magical attack struck. Her buckets of ash were strewn across the floor, and the fire in the hearth threatened to ignite her skirt, but it was helping to hold the whirlwind creature at bay. She looked frightened to bits as she thrust the burning kindling at it, but determined, as well.