Dawn of Magic: Sea of Flames Read online

  She supposed he had a point. “We’ll need more from this bargain. We will be offering you much more than you offer us.”

  “Our numbers are great,” Conall growled.

  “Our strength is greater,” she countered. “We have a surplus of weaponry, we can outfit your fighters, but in return, your primary objective will be securing supplies for the burgh. Food, wood, and components for medicine.”

  He huffed, and the others around him seemed to bristle. “You’d have us work as woodcutters? Gatherers?”

  “Are your children’s lives not worth the price?”

  It was difficult to tell in the moonlight, but Conall’s face seemed to be turning red. She worried she’d pushed him too far, and there would be no alliance at all.

  “Fine.” Conall’s words were tinged with malice. “But know this, lass. An oath to a reiver is as good as blood-binding. You may control the elements, but my folk have a special brand of magic running through the veins of us all. In blood there is power, do not forget it.”

  Ealasaid’s mouth went dry. The reivers had no magic. Everyone knew it . . . but they were a secretive race. Most known about reivers was little more than legend.

  “We have a deal,” she breathed. “Your women and children may enter the burgh, but no warriors. Not a single one. You will coordinate with my general on what supplies must be gathered, and in what manner. How soon will your people arrive?”

  Conall snorted. “Your woods are thick, soldiers on the road few, even An Fiach no longer hunts the faie.”

  “Meaning?”

  “Our women will await entry at your gates at first light. A small group of warriors will be sent to meet with your general.”

  First light? She’d thought it would take weeks. The burgh was close to bursting with inhabitants as it was.

  “All will be accommodated.” She was pleased her voice did not tremble, because truly, she had no idea how she was going to make that happen.

  Conall nodded. “Then let it be so, lass. We’ll speak again soon.”

  The reivers turned without another word, leaving their backs vulnerable. Though what reason did she have to cut them down? She was the one who deserved to be stricken for not telling them of Ashclaw, who could well attack just as the women and children arrived. But she couldn’t say as much, lest she risk this new alliance.

  She felt rooted in her saddle. More lives on her conscience. More lives depending on Finn.

  Maarav moved his horse close to her side. The reivers had disappeared into the dark trees. He lowered his voice to the barest whisper, “I hope you know what you’re doing, wife.”

  She turned wide, worried eyes to him, conveying what no one would want to hear.

  Did she know what she was doing? Now, more than ever, she most certainly did not.

  Kai

  Kai finally understood what Anna was talking about when she spoke of people shining. She could see the faintest glow of magic from a person, even from a distance. Now he understood just how blinding it could be.

  The night had been long. Many dark faie were hunted down. With Arawn’s help, they had fallen easily. It might have been humorous except for the reality of what was happening. Finn was draining something akin to faie souls, and her demeanor had become almost unrecognizable in the process.

  Now, under the soft light of morning, they neared Sormyr. He couldn’t remember the last words Finn had spoken, they seemed so long ago. All he could focus on was the immense shine emanating from her. He wondered if he could see it because of his faie blood, or if others could see it too. Branwen and Arawn seemed unfazed.

  Kai watched Finn’s back as she peered out from the edge of the forest, Arawn at her right, and Naoki—crouched to fit beneath the lower boughs—at her left.

  Branwen, perhaps feeling as far away from current events as he, sidled closer, then leaned near his ear. “What are they doing?” she whispered.

  He clenched his jaw and shook his head, even though he knew just what they were doing. They were plotting their attack. The forest behind them, though silent, felt heavy with the presence of countless light faie. Trow, pixies, bucca, grogoch . . . they all awaited Finn’s command.

  Could Belenus sense what was coming? Could the city folk, supposedly safe within the faded basalt walls, know what peril awaited?

  “Now!” Finn’s voice rung in his ears. The forest seemed to wake up. Pixies swarmed over his head.

  He stood still through the swarm, glancing at Branwen as she fell to her knees and covered her head, then up to Finn as she swung herself atop Naoki’s back.

  “No!” he reached forward, for what good it would do. Naoki had already launched herself out from the trees, then up into the sky.

  Arawn turned back to him with a smirk.

  Kai’s breath came out in a huff. “She was supposed to wait until Belenus was lured out.”

  “He’s already coming.” He lifted his hand, snapped his fingers, and disappeared.

  Stunned with how quickly it had all happened, he looked down to Branwen, crouched beside him. Trow and other slow-moving faie ambled past them, but the immediate chaos had died down.

  She came to her feet, pushing her russet hair back from her pale face, then looked out toward Sormyr as the first screams erupted from the farms. The faie filled the fields all around, approaching the city.

  Branwen and Kai both stood awestricken, neither able to move. He didn’t see Finn or Naoki anywhere.

  He could barely register Branwen’s voice as she spoke. “I thought the point was to lure Belenus out. If he’s already coming, why are they still attacking? Why did Finn tell them to charge?”

  War horns sounded from the high walls. Shouts of men filled the air as the soldiers rallied.

  He shook his head. “I don’t know, but if I wasn’t certain before, I am now. Finn isn’t Finn anymore.” He turned fully to Branwen. “You have to help me find her.”

  She looked out toward Sormyr, chewed her lip, then turned back to him. “No. Nothing has changed. She must still face Belenus, and we must not interfere.”

  He scanned the fields as the first of the soldiers clashed with the faie. Swords struck against nearly impenetrable bark. Axes moved too slow to swat down pixies. Archers rained arrows down from the walls, but many of the faie were impervious. It seemed so . . . wrong. These were peaceful faie, only acting to ensure Finn did not harm them. Deep down, Finn would not want this. She was blinded by dark faie magic.

  “Branwen,” he said, turning back to her. “I do not know what your aim is, but can you not see that this is wrong? There are innocent people out there.” He gestured toward the city. “The faie were only supposed to attack long enough to draw Belenus out to protect them, but he is not protecting them.”

  Branwen stared outward. “No one is innocent, not really.”

  The dappled sunlight suddenly felt too hot on his face, his chest constricted. “What has become of you?” he hissed. “Does nothing remain of the scholar I once knew? Your brother would be ashamed.”

  His words seem to finally elicit a response, though not the one he was hoping for. She whirled on him, producing a dagger from within the folds of her black cloak like magic.

  He barely managed to duck out of the way. If he’d been only human, he would have died right there. Before he could recover, Branwen charged again.

  He flung up a dagger of his own, parrying her strike. “What are you doing fool woman!”

  “You know nothing of my brother! He died because of you!” She charged again, too fast for a human, and once more he parried. “Because of her!” She tossed her free hand toward the city, toward the area that to her, symbolized Finn.

  “He died because he trusted the Travelers,” he growled, this time parrying her blow more quickly.

  “No,” she spat, her body trembling. “He had no choice in his circumstances.” She swung again, but this time with less fervor.

  He easily swiped aside her strike, now understanding just where B
ranwen played into things. “He had no choice in his circumstances, and neither did you. And for that, someone must pay, is that it?”

  She panted, the dagger now held loosely, forgotten in her hand. She watched him like he was a predator ready to take her down, but not like she was afraid. He could see in her eyes that she wanted death.

  He lowered his weapon. “Vengeance and death will never sate the fire burning in your heart. They will only stoke it.”

  She stared at him. Sounds of battle increased near the city, but he could not look away. If she would not help him find Finn, all would soon be lost.

  Branwen’s expression stiffened. “Perhaps you are right, but I cannot let my brother’s killer go unpunished. Niklas must pay.”

  “Niklas isn’t here,” he said evenly. “The only ones paying are innocent people.”

  She bared her teeth. “If I interfere, Arawn will not help me bring Niklas to justice.”

  He stepped forward, sensing she was done attacking him. “Then I will help you, I swear it.”

  Her fist clenched around her dagger, her jaw rigid. She seemed to teeter on the fine edge between action and resolve.

  He debated just leaving and searching for Finn himself, then her expression crumbled. “Fine, I will help you find her. They are still in this reality for now. If they move to another, we will not be able to follow.”

  His body flooded with relief. The fight was far from over, but at least they still had a chance. “Thank you.”

  Her gaze was sharp enough to slice skin. “Do not thank me. If you break your promise, I will kill everyone you hold dear.” She turned and darted forth from the trees, heading west toward the sea.

  He had no choice but to follow. There was never really a choice. Not for him, not for Branwen, and most certainly not for Finn.

  Finn

  Finn stood atop the jagged cliffside, next to Naoki and Arawn. Sormyr seemed small below her. Everything seemed small. The faie. The humans. Death. The conflict seemed distant and far away, having little to do with her. The pounding waves, down the cliffside at her back, drowned out the sounds of battle. Icy winds nearly lifted her from her feet, whipping her cloak out behind her.

  Her hand rested on Naoki’s neck for support as she peered at Belenus. He stood roughly ten paces away, his embroidered white coat glinting in the cool sunlight.

  Wind gusted her hair back from her face. “It is time to end this.”

  Arawn was nearly forgotten at her side. Distantly, she knew she needed him, but all her senses were focused on consuming the magic of the god before her. With so much magic, she could set everything right. No one would ever threaten her again.

  Belenus sneered, his features somehow remaining ethereally handsome even in the ugly expression. “You believe you can best me, dragon girl? You are no match for a god, not even with the traitor at your side.”

  She looked to Arawn. It was time for him to uphold his promise. She could see his magic coursing through him like tiny snakes emanating with dark light. It called to her.

  “Remember who the enemy is,” Arawn muttered. “Are you ready?”

  “So this is truly how it shall be?” Belenus laughed, his crisp blue eyes on Arawn. “Allies for so long, now enemies?”

  Arawn glared. “You know I never shared in your vision. In your dreams you are always king, and everyone else merely pawns, including me.”

  Belenus spread his legs, crouching slightly, braced for an attack, though he held no weapon.

  Arawn took on a similar stance. “Be ready,” he hissed to Finn, “you won’t have much time.”

  Magic erupted from both gods, so bright it was nearly blinding. Finn staggered back, for a moment too stunned to even remember what she was doing there. Everything she had done came rushing back. Countless dark faie crumpled at her feet, begging her to stop. The light faie taking lives—and losing lives—below.

  The fresh memories stole her breath. Arawn and Belenus hadn’t physically moved, but Arawn’s brow was already coated with sweat from a battle of magical wills. They silently warred—Arawn holding Belenus in place, and Belenus attempting to escape him.

  Belenus seemed less sure now. “How did you grow so powerful?” he said through gritted teeth. Wind—both magical and earthly—whipped his white hair around his head.

  “I have always been so,” Arawn spat, “if anyone had ever cared to look.” He did not remove his eyes from Belenus, but Finn knew his next words were for her. “Do it now, I cannot hold him for long.”

  Belenus’ eyes snapped open further. His body jerked slightly, but he seemed unable to move.

  Naoki pressed her belly to the rocks, ready to pounce.

  “Now!” Arawn shouted.

  Finn gestured Naoki back. Her dragon was not strong enough to consume a god. But Finn was. She walked through currents of magic toward Belenus.

  “You should have never threatened those I love.” She reached him. “That was your first mistake.”

  He panted, struggling to move even his mouth. “They will love you no more once they see what you’ve become. Devouring my magic will destroy you. There will be no going back.”

  She knew his words were true. But she had to do this. She’d changed who she was with the first dark faie she’d drained. She had long since passed the point of no return.

  She began to consume his magic. It poured through her veins like fire and ice.

  Fear shone in Belenus’ eyes. True fear.

  She drank it up. In the distance she heard the beat of wings, too large to be Naoki. She turned to see Arawn behind her on his knees, sweating and struggling to hold Belenus still, even with his power half drained. A large black shape grew even larger behind him, swooping down from the sky.

  It all happened in the blink of an eye. Ashclaw touched down, shattering the edge of the cliff with his mighty talons and casting boulders toward the city below. He rose up behind Arawn, weakened from his battle with Belenus.

  Arawn looked up, horrified, lifted his fingers to snap himself out of existence . . .

  Ashclaw’s steaming maw dove down, trapping and swallowing Arawn in one bite. Naoki skittered back, frightened.

  “No!” Finn screamed. She had to finish Belenus before he escaped, but a rider slid down from Ashclaw’s neck.

  “Do not do this,” Iseult yelled over the wind. “Do not leave me!” His words carried to her ears, seeming to rattle every bone in her body.

  He walked toward her past Ashclaw.

  She glanced at Belenus, on his knees, panting and beaten. She should finish him now, but she felt herself reaching out toward Iseult.

  Iseult’s eyes went wide. “No!” he shouted, just as reality seemed to shift around her.

  Everything blurred, went black, then white, then black again. Her body slammed down into snow. Wind whipped flakes violently above her, stinging her visible skin as she sat up with a groan. The first thing she managed to make out through the blizzard was a flash of fiery red hair. A hand extended down toward her, and she took it.

  Keiren’s face became clear as she stood. “Are you well?”

  “Why?” Finn gasped. “Why have I been brought here?”

  “Ouch,” a voice said from behind her.

  She turned around. “Kai?”

  Kai and Branwen were both rising to their feet just a few paces away.

  “We were coming to find you,” Kai explained, “then suddenly we were whipped up and tossed here.”

  This wasn’t right? Where was Belenus? Where were Ashclaw and Iseult? “Who brought us here?”

  “I did,” Keiren said to her back. “Niklas and I made a deal. He gave me the ultimate power I always desired. I’m sorry, but it had to be this way.”

  The blizzard slowly faded, until everything was still and silent. Belenus stood not far off in the snow, watching them. Near him, stood Niklas.

  Belenus watched Finn warily, then flicked his eyes to Niklas. “It seems I am in the debt of the Ceàrdaman. Why did you save me?”<
br />
  Finn shook her head. She didn’t understand. Keiren was working with Niklas? They had both brought them here?

  Niklas swiped flecks of melting snow from his bald head, then shook out his gray robes. “I did not save you. I witnessed Finnur failing to complete her task. My sorceress possesses the magic of air and darkness, and I have empowered her with the magic of the in-between. You will not be able to escape her.” He walked away from Belenus to Keiren’s side.

  Her eyes on the god, Keiren smiled wickedly.

  Belenus began to lift one hand, then stopped halfway. His jaw tensed, but no other part of him moved. Keiren’s gaze was concentrated on him, holding him still. He was a rat in a trap, a rabbit in a snare. Finn licked her lips. Soon it would all be over.

  Niklas turned toward her. “It is time to finish this.”

  She nodded. It was time. She loved Iseult for what he’d tried to do, but this was the only way to keep him and everyone else safe. Belenus had to die. If he died fully, where she could not feed him to Ashclaw, then so be it. She would become strong enough to defeat even the mightiest of dragons.

  She walked toward Belenus through the snow, holding out her hands.

  “Finn wait!” Kai’s voice. She’d forgotten he was there.

  She turned to see him standing back with Branwen.

  “Do not come near,” she warned. “I may not crave Branwen’s in-between magic, but your Dearg Due blood calls to me.”

  His jaw went slack, and she turned away. Perhaps, tho him, she no longer seemed herself, which was well. It was easy to let go now. She finished her approach toward Belenus and began draining his magic anew.

  It was time to end this.

  It was time to end everything.

  Kai

  Kai struggled against Branwen’s grip where she’d managed to tug him back into a small copse of snowy trees. For a waif of a girl, she was strong. “Let me go fool woman! I must stop her!”

  Branwen wrapped her arms around his chest and let her weight drag him downward. “You idiot! If you wound yourself now, she will not save you.”