Dawn of Magic: Sea of Flames Read online

Naoki chittered, then lowered her head to bump Finn’s arm with her beak.

  “You see?” Kai pressed. “She wants me to come.”

  “Let the mortal come,” Arawn said from behind her. “It is no difference to me, as long as he does not slow us down.”

  Kai pushed away from the tree. “Naoki can easily carry us both.”

  “You might die!” Finn hissed.

  Kai shrugged. “So might we all. You are free to risk your life as you wish, and so am I.”

  And so was Iseult, the words hung unsaid, but she could not face them now. She was fully aware when he left their chambers last night, and so anxious to enact her plan, she hadn’t questioned why. After he was gone, she used the opportunity to find Branwen and inform her they would depart in the morning . . . She’d let him go. If Iseult was gone—he might not be, she assured herself—but if he was gone, it was her fault, and she could not live with that pain. Once her task was done, she would be needed no more, and she could give in to it.

  “We are wasting time,” Arawn grumbled.

  Finn glanced back at him. “Fine.” Then back to Kai. “You can come. Now let us begin. We have a long way to travel.”

  She moved toward Naoki and climbed atop her back. She knew that short of using violence, she could not prevent Kai from joining her.

  If he wanted to see her become a monster—a ravenous beast, hungry for magic—then so be it.

  Anna

  Anna found Eywen just as he was exiting the main estate, his artful faie features grim. His face brightened as he spotted her hurrying across the courtyard to meet him.

  She threw up her hands, billowing the sleeves of her loose white blouse. It was too cold to be without a cloak, but she hadn’t thought to grab one. “That blasted Finn left this morning without a word, and she took Kai with her!”

  Eywen stopped before her, his dark eyebrows raised. His whitish skin looked sharp against his battle clothes, similar to what the assassins wore at such times, a mixture of black linen and leather—though there should be no battle until tomorrow. His hand alighted on her shoulder. “I’m sure if Kai left, it was of his own volition. Finn would not take him willingly.”

  Anna sneered. She knew it was so, but she was still profoundly irritated. To be left behind without a single farewell? She might not ever see either of them again.

  Eywen squeezed her shoulder. “It is done, there is no use worrying about it now, and we have other pressing matters that require our focus.”

  Her shoulders relaxed beneath his touch. She let out a long breath. “Such as?”

  “Such as the Lady of this burgh holding court with a band of reivers.”

  She inhaled sharply through her teeth. “They actually found some?”

  His nod draped a lock of black hair over his eye. “Some of Slàine’s scouts, yes, and they lived to tell the tale. If we are to believe the reivers, my people have gathered in the North, alongside the Ceàrdaman. The reivers fear they will claim their lands.”

  Anna searched his face for any hint of emotion. She knew he cared deeply for his people, as twisted as their pasts had been. “Why would the Aos Sí be with the Travelers? That makes no sense at all.”

  Eywen lifted one shoulder in a half shrug. “They have lived their entire lives under the thumb of one master or another. Perhaps in the Ceàrdaman, they have found new leadership.”

  She shivered, and it had nothing to do with the cool wind, carrying with it the scent of rain. It tugged at the loose strands of hair falling free from her braid, chilling her cheeks. Though she knew it was irrational, the wild cold wind felt like a portent of things to come.

  “We will find out more tonight,” he assured. “I intend to join the meeting with the reivers.”

  “What if it’s a trap?”

  He shrugged. “We will have mages and assassins in our midst. We will not be easily overcome.”

  “I’m coming with you.”

  He smirked. “I thought you might say that.”

  “You won’t try to stop me?”

  He shook his head, then guided her to walk at his side toward the front gates of the estate. “Nowhere is safe for you, not anymore. After you left to find the Dearg Due—” he shook his head. “Whatever dangers we may face, I’d like you where I can see you.”

  She furrowed her brow as they walked. “I can’t decide if that’s sweet, or if you simply don’t trust me to take care of myself.”

  “Let’s go with the former.”

  “Where are we going?”

  “To the front gates. I’d like to check in on the construction of the new walls.”

  She shook her head, but kept walking. “That seems a useless task at a time like this.”

  “You need a distraction, my love, and we will not meet with the reivers until nightfall.”

  She almost stopped walking out of sheer stubbornness, but with a slight nod to herself, she continued on. Eywen had come to know her well, perhaps better than most. Just like before, she was not sure whether to find it sweet, or vexing. She settled on both, which she could admit, if only to herself, was the way she liked it.

  Ealasaid

  Though she’d been quite sure of her plan to enlist the reivers, Ealasaid found her nerves getting the better of her as day slowly gave way to night. She paced around her room, debating shucking the fine sapphire blue velvet dress she wore in favor of breeches. The dress made her look like a queen, but might the reivers respond better to a warrior?

  Moving to check on Elias in his bassinet, she thought back to her first encounter with reivers. Conall, their leader, had enlisted mages to fight for him, assuring them he’d keep them safe. It had been nothing more than a ploy to overtake a ruined city and give reivers a place to gather so they could expand southward. Scarred by her early life as a mage, and destroyed over the news that her family had been killed, Conall had easily swayed her to his side.

  She remembered the bloodshed of the day An Fiach attacked the ruined city. Did these reivers plan that for Garenoch too? She told herself the burgh was strong, and with the new fortifications springing up every day, soon they’d have the space they’d need to raise livestock and grow food without worrying about nearby faie. She told herself she was just as strong as the burgh she’d built up, but something deep inside her quaked in fear over the impending meeting.

  She shouldn’t be worried, she’d have Sage, Maarav, Slàine, and several others to watch her back. She’d have Eywen and perhaps Anna too. Just the mere sight of an Aos Sí warrior was sure to make the reivers rethink any hidden machinations. There would be ten on her side, and ten on the reivers. With magic, they should have no trouble overcoming the reivers, even if they came with more than the proposed amount.

  So why did she feel so blasted nervous?

  Someone opening the door drew her attention. The only person who’d open the door without knocking was Maarav, and by the gods she was glad to see him now. He always knew how to dampen her nerves.

  He peeked his head in, his gray-green eyes quickly landing on her. He opened the door fully, and stepped inside. He bristled with weapons across his back and at the hips of his black breeches, though she knew there were far more weapons than what met the eye.

  He offered her a half-smile. “Are you ready, wife?”

  She looked down at Elias. “I hate to wake him.”

  “I already asked the healers to come. They will be here soon, along with the mages you requested to protect him.”

  She peered over her shoulder at his tone. “You think me over-cautious?”

  He laughed. “Hardly, wife. We cannot be too careful. Now we must go. Elias’ watchers will arrive shortly.”

  She stroked Elias’ cheek, then moved toward the door. Suddenly she regretted the dress. She wanted to be able to move swiftly, to run back to the burgh if need be.

  Maarav held the door open for her. “’Tis only a meeting, and we have scouts out. If the reivers come with more than ten, we will retreat. Now is not the t
ime to entertain conflict.”

  She spotted Nira, a trusted healer, walking toward them down the hall with many others. She trusted each of them—perhaps not as much as she trusted Maarav and Slàine—but she could not expect any others to love her child as much as his father and grandmother.

  “Let’s go,” Maarav urged quietly, nodding to the healers and mages as some entered the room, and others stationed themselves outside.

  Ealasaid allowed herself to be coaxed away. She looked up at Maarav as they walked. “Why am I so nervous? My palms are sweating.” She wiped her palms on her dress, but it did not seem to help.

  He stopped walking and turned toward her, taking both her arms in his hands. “Do you not want to go? It was your idea to seek an alliance with the reivers, but it is not too late to turn back.”

  She shook her head. She was being silly. “No. I know we must go. We cannot rely on Finn alone to protect us. The stronger the burgh is, the more food and supplies we have, the better.”

  He nodded, then continued walking, though she noticed him glancing at her from time to time as they left the estate and moved toward the gates where they’d meet their party.

  Darkness seemed to squeeze the exterior of the estate like a fist, forcing out the last traces of daylight. The night felt heavy, like it might rain, or perhaps even snow. The portentous feeling in her gut increased with every step. She found herself reaching out for her magic from time to time, just to reassure herself that she could drop any reiver where he stood.

  They reached the gates. Slàine, Sage, and the others were already there. They would walk through the burgh and exit the main gates together, with archers and mages watching over them from above. They had scouts in the woods. They would know about any possible traps long before they were sprung. In these dire times, no risks were to be taken.

  By the time they reached the main gates, icy droplets fine as mist coated Ealasaid’s face, wetting her loose curls. As they waited for two stablehands to reach them, towing horses from the stables near the inn, Maarav took her hand. She’d soon have to drop it—she didn’t want anyone to see her looking weak—but for now, she interlaced her fingers with his, and squeezed as tightly as her smaller hand was capable.

  Manned by the sentries above, the gates opened enough for them to exit, just as the horses reached them. Ealasaid was given a tall white mare, a bit too sizable for her small frame, but she understood why the choice had been made. A ruler should sit above her subjects. It was fortunate few subjects stood witness to Maarav boosting her into the saddle.

  A shiver ran through her as they rode through the open gates and into darkness flickering with torchlight, the flames hissing with steam from the rain. To the east were further fortifications, but out here, they might as well be on their own, save the archers watching them from overhead.

  Slàine was the first to speak. “To the northeast we will meet our scouts, then we’ll continue on toward the meeting place.” She looked past Maarav to Ealasaid. “If anything seems amiss, you’ll turn that horse around and flee. We will guard your back. Do not forget that you are more important than any of us.”

  The words made her sick. She knew it was her place to turn and flee, but if Maarav was in danger . . . some things came before being ruler, at least to her. He met her gaze for a moment. She was sure he knew exactly what she was thinking, but he knew better than to argue.

  Seeming to believe they were all in agreement, Slàine gestured to the two assassins joining them, Rae and Isolde. With his dark skin and close-cropped hair—both highly uncommon on the continent—Rae nearly blended in with the darkness. She realized she’d never had the time to ask Rae his history, all she knew was that Maarav trusted him more than most. It wasn’t a surprise he’d been chosen to risk his life once again to protect her. Isolde, however, was a surprise. Small of stature and with mousy brown hair, Isolde seemed anything but imposing, but her skill with poisoned daggers was comparable to none. Would they be poisoning reivers tonight?

  Ealasaid didn’t have time to ask as the two assassins kicked their horses forward, spurring everyone else into motion. Next in line went Slàine and Sage, then her and Maarav, followed by Eywen and Anna, then two more mages of Ealasaid’s choosing. The two mages in the back should be able to avoid attack long enough to protect those in front with their magic, though Sage, on his own, was highly skilled in close combat. He’d set to learning every form of attack and defense since he’d arrived at the burgh, more dedicated to their cause than most anyone else, perhaps even Ealasaid herself.

  They rode on into the quiet darkness, accompanied only by the light patter of rain, and the gentle stomps of the horses’ hooves. Before long they met with the scouts, learning that all was as it should be, only ten reivers waited at the agreed upon destination. Perhaps they really had come to form an alliance, something Ealasaid realized she hadn’t trusted until just then.

  Slàine’s scouts dispersed, prepared to blend in and prevent any incoming attacks from behind. Ealasaid didn’t see the black dragon anywhere, which worried her. They should still have one final day left. Where was Finn now? Would she reach Sormyr and capture Belenus in time?

  She forced her thoughts away from Finn, needing to focus on the present. As they neared the meeting place, she could hear hushed voices speaking in a foreign tongue. The reivers.

  Maarav gestured for Ealasaid to halt. She would stay back while Slàine and Sage approached the group, hopefully triggering any trap that might be waiting.

  Ealasaid would have stopped regardless—her heart was in her throat, nearly choking her. She recognized one of the reivers standing in the distant clearing.

  “Conall,” she breathed.

  “I recognized him too,” Maarav whispered. “Do we continue on as planned?”

  But it was too late to turn back. The reivers had spotted Slàine and Sage. They gripped rough-forged weapons tightly, waiting for the pair to reach them. The reivers’ heavy fur cloaks added to their wild appearance, as if they were half-animal, half-man. Did they know what Sage was? That he could burn half of them to ashes before they reached him atop his mount?

  Hushed conversation. Tense moments. Those behind Ealasaid could hardly be breathing with how silent they were. Isolde and Rae stood still as statues—watching everything and nothing all at once—on either side of the clearing.

  The tension seemed to ease like a storm finally breaking as Slàine motioned them forward. No hidden dangers had been spotted. It was time to find out what sort of treaty Conall had in mind. She could hardly believe it would be good. No one so power-hungry would enter into a deal that benefited him less than anyone else involved.

  Conall’s gaze landed on Ealasaid, seeming to recognize her as she neared on her horse. He looked the same, wild blond hair faded to whitish gray, stout frame, and light eyes, gray if she recalled correctly. She didn’t recognize the nine reivers fanned out on either side of him, though she hadn’t taken the time to observe others in the ruined city long enough to know if any had accompanied Conall since that time.

  Conall raised his voice. “I was surprised to hear you yet lived, lass. You must have cast away your foolhardy nature to survive so long.”

  “I have cast away nothing,” she said as she reached the reivers. Her party fanned out on either side of her, remaining on horseback, though the reivers were on foot. “And I myself am surprised. How did you reach the South so quickly?”

  Conall smirked. “Having the Still Folk and Prowlies invade one’s lands can light a fire at one’s boot heels.”

  Slàine cleared her throat. “He means the Ceàrdaman and Aos Sí.”

  Conall gestured in Eywen’s direction. “Though I see you’ve got a Prowlie problem yourself.”

  The other reivers watched on silently. She briefly wondered if they were more like her people than she believed, constantly threatened and willing to act out in violence to protect the place they called home.

  She shook herself. No, they were not alike
. The reivers were invaders, bandits. They killed and took what was not theirs to take. She needed to remember that. “Let us cut short these . . . pleasantries. We are both in need of allies in these dire times. Speak your terms.”

  The reivers shifted at her tone. She found her eyes darting toward Sage. He would be the first line of defense should something go wrong.

  To her surprise, Conall burst out with laughter, cutting through the eerily silent night.

  Her body sang with tension. She waited as the laughter died down, expecting sudden attack . . . or a dragon swooping down. There were other dragons hunting the land besides Ashclaw. They might hesitate to attack a burgh brimming with mages, but just a few out here on their own . . . she’d been so concerned with the reivers, she hadn’t considered that possibility.

  “You look like you’ve seen a phantom, lassie,” Conall’s words brought her back to present matters. “Or perhaps you’re simply a spooked mare, frightened to be away from the protection of your burgh.”

  “Stop toying with her,” Slàine hissed. “She could easily end you where you stand, and you know it. Now speak your terms.”

  Conall continued to grin, his eyes darting back to Ealasaid. “Our women are not fighters. They tend our fires, skin our kills, and care for the young. With enemies invading our lands, we can no longer leave them unattended.”

  Ealasaid narrowed her eyes. What did that have to do with anything?

  “Terms,” Slàine pressed. “Speak them.”

  Conall’s grin finally wilted as he shot Slàine a fiery glare. “We want you to allow our women and wee ones inside your walls. Protect them, and we will protect you in turn. The Still Folk are planning something, and I will not have our bairns left vulnerable.”

  Ealasaid wanted more than anything to seek advice with her companions, but she could not appear weak. “How can we trust that you will protect us?”

  “You will have our women and children inside your walls, lass. How can you believe we would not?”