Fireborn Page 8

  “I’ll go do that,” Bree said. “Do you know where he is?”

  Randy pointed back toward the cook fires.

  “We’ve set up a command tent for Argus and Rebecca to share,” he said. “Just look for the biggest of the lot.”

  “Thanks,” Bree said. She started to go, then paused. The former instructor’s comments jostled loose a memory, one she’d never felt safe asking about before. But now with the academy burned down, and rebellion spreading against Center, what reason was there to remain quiet?

  “Speaking of the girl who should have failed out,” she said, turning around. “What kept you from having me removed at the six-month evaluation? Theotechs were involved, weren’t they?”

  A shadow crossed over Randy’s gentle face.

  “Jay informed me that morning that you would remain enrolled as a student,” he said. “He gave no reason, but he did say two theotechs would sit in during your and your brother’s evaluations. Whatever they told Jay, I’m sad to say it died with him.”

  Bree clenched her jaw tight. Another dead end, coupled with a reminder of Jay’s death. Their war might only be beginning, but they’d already suffered the loss of good men and women. It pained her to think of just how many they’d lose if the rebellion lasted much longer. Far too many, and odds were high she’d be one of them.

  “I understand,” she said. “Good luck with your training. I’ll be with Argus.”

  Bree hurried from the training ground as if she could run away from her sadness and unease. The camp stretched out to the south, and as she looped around the cook fires near the heart of it, she saw the largest of the tents, the fabric a dense green, the top covered with a thin layer of leaves. The entire southern half was pulled open, allowing in light. As she neared, she saw Argus standing over a table, leafs of paper spread out before him. Unlike most others, he kept his uniform crisp and clean, a measure of defiance against the forest they resided within. Bree stopped just shy of the tent, and she stood at attention and saluted.

  “Reporting for duty,” she said.

  Argus looked up from his papers, and it took a moment before he realized who she was.

  “Glad to see you up and well,” Argus said. “How do you like Camp Aquila?”

  “It’s pleasant,” Bree said. “A little rustic, but pleasant.”

  “We’re doing what we can to add more basic utilities, but hiding in a forest has its fair share of limits.” He turned back to his papers, frowned at them. “Some things we’ll just have to make do without.”

  Bree stepped closer, glancing over the papers. They listed numbers of elements, she saw, the total haul they’d obtained the night before, plus what she assumed the resistance already possessed.

  “I’m using the number of elements we expended last night as a measure,” Argus said, sensing her question before she could ask it. “I’m hoping to know just how many engagements we can fight before we’re out completely. The number’s not near as high as I’d like, in case you’re wondering. We might have to shrink the number of Seraphim we send in per battle, at least until Marius starts attacking us at full strength.”

  Her battle in the forest last night flashed through her mind, and she wondered what it would be like facing not just a pair of knights, but dozens, perhaps even hundreds. The prospect was far from encouraging.

  “We’ll find a way,” Bree said, trying to be hopeful. “Even if it involves scavenging elements from the dead, or taking light from our fishermen.”

  Argus ran a hand through his short dark hair, and he sighed.

  “Truth be told, I’d prefer we run out of element than the alternative,” he said. “Better out of elements than out of Seraphim willing to use them, because that’s the real threat we’re facing right now.”

  “What do you mean?” Bree asked.

  Argus slumped into a wood rocking chair. Bree wondered how he smuggled it into the forest, and the image of him flying with it clutched in his arms almost made her smile. Almost.

  “I’ve sent messages to every one of our Seraphim,” he said. “Only a third have come as I’ve asked. Our ground forces are disbanded, our Seraphim are greatly outnumbered by Center’s knights, our Archon and his wife are imprisoned, and we’re vastly outmatched when it comes to supplies. Why would they risk their lives in such a hopeless endeavor?”

  Bree didn’t like the look on the man’s face one bit. Argus was their leader, their inspiration. He was also an angel’s breath away from cracking.

  “We have to convince them to come,” she said. “What if you requested their presence personally, or told them of the elements we secured...”

  Argus stood, and he leaned against the desk as he met her eye. A fever burned within those blue irises.

  “It’s not enough,” he said. “We’re a bee buzzing around Center’s head, making demands. Our only hope is to sting so hard and so often Marius would rather make peace than continue swatting at us. But we can’t do that if everyone is convinced the slightest confrontation will lead to an unwinnable war.”

  “We’ve killed their knights and attacked their theotechs,” Bree said, crossing her arms behind her back. “Are you sure war isn’t what we’ve already created?”

  “Our demands are fair, and I’ve ensured the other islands know exactly what they are. We seek a promise of independence and the release of our ruling family, who have been imprisoned without trial or even a single piece of proof offered to justify it. The harder Marius pushes back, the more nervous the other islands will become. We’ve already managed to bloody Center’s nose. Just imagine if all four islands were united in our resistance.”

  Argus clenched his jaw as he stood to his full height.

  “We don’t need to win a war,” he said. “And it won’t come to that, not if we present ourselves as a fearsome enough opponent. But to do that, I need skilled men and women.” He put a hand on her shoulder. “I need the Phoenix on the battlefield, and for the whole damn island to know it.”

  Bree’s throat tightened, and she fought back an impulse to pull herself free from his touch.

  “You said it’d be my choice.”

  “And it still is,” Argus said. “But you’ve seen what everyone is enduring, the many lives at risk. You’ve even seen the danger the knights present, and our need for superior numbers in these rapid engagements. That’s why we need you now more than ever. Your swords defy everything we’ve previously known about aerial combat. People will believe you capable of miracles, because they want to believe. They want to cling to stories no matter how fanciful or exaggerated. Let the entire island know you stand against Center, openly, and without fear. Let your burning blades become the symbol of our resistance. Do that, and I won’t have to beg for our soldiers and Seraphim to return. They will come to me, eager to fight at your side.”

  “Did I disappoint you when I hid my fire at our last battle?” she asked, unable to keep the bitterness from her voice.

  Argus stepped away, and his hand left her shoulder. It hurt Bree seeing her beloved commander so exhausted, so stressed and overwhelmed. It hurt worse when he answered.

  “Our nation needs you. Yes, if you become our symbol, I understand it puts your family at risk.” He pointed out to the camp, and the many Seraphim there. “And every one of those men and women risk their lives, their families, their safety by joining this resistance. You’re special, Bree, we all can see that, but the hardships you face, and the risks you endure, aren’t. Stop letting your cowardice hold you down. Deep inside, I know you’re pure, raging fire. Blood is spilling. Lives are perishing. We need an answer, and soon.”

  Bree stood up tall, and she swallowed her pain down deep.

  “If I do this, Kael and my aunt will need to go into hiding,” she said. “I need to discuss this with them before I decide.”

  Argus slumped back down into his chair.

  “Then go home,” he said. “Spend the night, and talk it over with your family. Maybe that will help clear your head.�
��

  The idea of returning home, and sleeping on her far more comfortable bed, appealed to Bree greatly, but before she could go, there was one question she had to have answered first.

  “If I say yes, you’ll make the Phoenix the symbol of rebellion,” she said. “But what happens if I say no?”

  Her commander sighed.

  “I don’t know,” he said. “And I pray I never do.”

  CHAPTER

  6

  Bree wasn’t home by the time Kael woke up, but he tried not to let it bother him. His aunt was equally worried as they ate breakfast, and he reassured her as best he could.

  “I’m sure she’s just fine,” he said, pushing away his bowl. “But after her… activities, it might not have been safe for her to come straight home.”

  There was no way for his aunt to misunderstand his meaning. He watched her expression carefully, but there wasn’t much need. Amid her worry, her pride shone through like a beacon.

  “I hope she’s well,” Aunt Bethy said. “And I hope she made a lot of other people pay.”

  “Knowing her, both are safe assumptions.”

  He smiled, and his aunt did likewise. He could see her shoulders loosen as her tension eased away.

  “You’re probably right,” she said. “Times are dangerous. I’m sure she’ll be back at some point, just hopefully before tonight. Our guest was eager to meet her. Your sister’s reputation has carried all the way to Center, from what the disciple told me. It’s a wonder the theotechs didn’t arrest her the moment they invaded our island. Did they think she’d sit idly by as they conquered our home?”

  “Maybe they underestimated her,” Kael said, rising to his feet. “It wouldn’t be the first time.”

  He cleared away the dishes. His aunt watched him from her chair.

  “Do you have plans for the day?” she asked.

  Kael debated answering, figured there was no harm.

  “I do,” he said. “I was hoping to visit Clara at her home.”

  “More friends from the academy? That’s nice. Where does she live?”

  Kael held back a chuckle.

  “She lives in the holy mansion with the rest of her family.”

  The connection clicked in Aunt Bethy’s head, and she let out a soft gasp.

  “You’re friends with the Archon’s daughter?” she said. “That’s wonderful, Kael. Good for you.”

  His sister earned praise for her skill in battle and her swords of flame. Kael earned praise for befriending the Archon’s daughter. He tried not to feel too bitter about it. He mostly succeeded.

  “We’re more than just friends,” he said, suddenly compelled to brag.

  His aunt’s pleased look changed to one of shock and curiosity.

  “Is that so?” she said.

  Kael immediately regretted saying anything. Sure, he and Clara had been more than friends, but what exactly were they? That particular little detail he didn’t have an answer to, and with the academy’s shutdown and Clara’s parents’ imprisonment, he doubted any sort of relationship they did have was on solid ground. Worse, he might find out exactly where he stood, and he might not like it.

  “Kind of,” Kael said, deciding he didn’t want to discuss it further. “So why were you wondering? Did you need me for something?”

  Aunt Bethy gestured to the door, and thankfully went along with Kael’s sudden change in the topic.

  “I haven’t seen you for almost a year,” she said. “I was hoping you might join me in the fields, assuming you’re not too good for that sort of thing now that you’re a Seraph.”

  Kael wrapped his arm around his aunt’s shoulder.

  “I can visit Clara later this afternoon,” he said. “And I’d be happy to spend time with you, even if it’s in a field shoveling manure.”

  She kissed his cheek.

  “I’ll make sure you pick weeds with me today,” she said. “No more manure shoveling for you.”

  * * *

  Kael bathed in the lake afterward, emerging from the water feeling reenergized. It had been relaxing spending time with his aunt, catching up on the latest gossip. Turned out, Judy had actually married Raphael instead of the dick Thomas in Glensbee. Kael took pride in knowing he called that one correctly. Besides the gossip, it was nice to bleed out some of his worries with long, tedious work.

  His aunt remained in the fields, with many hours left still to kneel and pick. Alone, Kael went home, and he frowned upon realizing his sister was yet to return. Or if she had, she hadn’t stayed long, or given any sign of her arrival.

  “Hope you’re all right, sis,” he said walking through the front door. “God knows none of us can afford to lose you now.”

  “And why would she be in danger?”

  Kael fought the instinct to whirl around. It would only make him appear that much guiltier. Instead he calmly turned to address the angelic knight lieutenant at his doorstep.

  “A foreign army has occupied our home, and our former enemy lays claim to an entire town,” he told Nickolas Flynn. “Why shouldn’t I worry for our safety?”

  The knight lieutenant crossed his arms. His gold wings shone in the afternoon light, a sharp contrast to the darkness of his skin. Those brown eyes of his narrowed, and they saw far more than Kael preferred.

  “You highly exaggerate the circumstances,” Nickolas said. “We’re no foreign conqueror. We’ve come here for your protection.”

  “The ruins of our academy say otherwise.”

  The knight shook his head.

  “Where do you go?” he asked.

  “To meet with friends,” Kael said, purposely leaving it vague.

  “May I walk with you?”

  The answer was a resounding no, but Kael dared not speak it.

  “Of course,” he said, shrugging as if it were no big thing. “Always happy to spend time with a friend of the family.”

  An edge of sarcasm bled into his words. Kael hoped the knight wouldn’t think much of it. The last thing he needed was Nickolas realizing Kael knew the theotechs had assigned the knight to keep an eye on the siblings after their parents’ deaths. Kael could only guess if the theotechs were pleased or disappointed in what they saw in him and Bree.

  Nickolas walked alongside Kael, easily matching him stride to stride. He kept his arms crossed over his white tunic as he walked, eyes never leaving Kael’s.

  “Have you heard of last night’s attack?”

  Kael kept his eyes on the road, his stride perfectly even.

  “I haven’t,” he said. “I thought the Speaker swore we’d fight no battles during the occupation?”

  His ignorance was an act, and Nickolas hardly looked amused by it.

  “It was no foreign, sanctioned attack,” he said. “Argus Summers’s rebellious Seraphim assaulted one of our Er’el’s caravans. Many good men died, and the retribution will be swift.”

  “And well deserved, I’m sure,” Kael lied.

  Nickolas frowned. Kael silently swore. So stupid of him. He wasn’t a good enough liar to get away with such remarks.

  “Argus appears eager for a war,” the knight lieutenant continued. “And if he wants a war, he’ll need soldiers like you and your sister. Has he sent anyone to speak with you two yet?”

  Kael’s heart steadily increased its hammering. He was walking on rotted wood above a very, very high cliff. If Nickolas suspected Bree partook in the nighttime attack, and sought to bring her in for questioning, she’d be forced to flee. Hell, he might even arrest Kael right on the spot.

  “Of course he has,” Kael said, hoping a bit of truth might aid the rest of his lie. “We turned him away.”

  Nickolas nodded, feigning relief. None of it reached his eyes.

  “Good,” he said flatly.

  “So was there anything else?” Kael asked as they continued down the road. Nickolas shook his head.

  “Only this,” the knight lieutenant said. In a blur of motion, he grabbed Kael by the shoulders and slammed him against
the wall of the nearby building. Kael cried out, convinced his death was at hand. There’d be no trial. No public execution. Just a sword in his gut as the knight declared him an enemy of Center.

  Nickolas leaned closer, the intensity of his eyes so terrifying Kael could not look away.

  “Listen carefully,” he said. “I am no fool. Argus’s rebellion is growing bolder, and they will not leave you be until you’ve joined their cause, especially not with the reputation your sister carries. Do not listen to them, Kael. Do not believe their fearmongering. All we do, we do for the safety of you and your people. The last thing we want is another Galen.”

  “Then why not accept the terms Argus offered?” Kael mustered up the courage to ask.

  At the mention of the terms, Nickolas looked ready to spit.

  “A brute’s version of diplomacy, without regard for circumstance or patience to speak prior to bloodshed. No one gives a damn about your royal family. Promises of independence? What does a promise matter if your entire island crashes down to the Endless Ocean? Tens of thousands of lives are at stake. We will do everything, everything necessary to keep you safe, even if it means crushing your military into the dirt.”

  “You’d threaten us?” Kael asked.

  “It’s not a threat,” the knight lieutenant said, gently easing back. His thumb tapped the throttle to his wings, surrounding them with a faint gold aura. “It’s a warning. Those who stand against us will perish, without question, without mercy. Don’t be a fool and throw your life away, do you understand me? When the recruiters come, refuse their requests.”

  “I’ll keep it in mind.”

  Nickolas paused just before taking off.

  “And, Kael,” he said, “if you or your sister has already participated in battle, it’s not too late to abandon the cause and turn away. You’re only weapons for Argus to use until they break. You don’t fight against other Seraphim. You fight against Center’s knights. Death is just a matter of time.”

  Kael clenched his jaw and kept his mouth shut. The knight lieutenant saluted, then flew away. Kael watched him, wondering why he ever used to believe the man had been their friend. His hand disappeared into his pocket, and he touched the rough paper inside. It was the research Rebecca Waller gave him on the two brothers, Lance and Edwin. Kael watched until Nickolas was a speck in the distance, then pulled out the paper. He read it as he walked. He’d met both brothers during the winter solstice celebration, so much of it he already knew. Hair color. Eye color. Estimated height and weight.