Desperate, I look around, scanning the area for any signs of help or relief, but all I see is the red sand and the jagged cliffs in the distance.
Raindrops tap lightly on my head, starting as a gentle drizzle, but rapidly escalating into a heavy downpour. It’s as if the high gods are weeping for the tragedy that has struck this village.
I look up at the sky, letting the rain wash over my face. The cool droplets soothe my skin and offer a reprieve from the heat of the flames.
I turn to Everly, and we share a smile.
Maybe we’re not alone. Maybe the godsarehere with us. After all, it rarely rains here.
The thought comforts me as I continue caring for the wounded.
ChapterNine
Unfortunately, neither the rain nor the peace last long before the sound of horses’ hooves reaches my ears, and hundreds of Hematite warriors appear on the horizon, the crimson phoenixes on their surcoats blazing in the sunlight.
My heart races as I exchange a worried look with Everly.
The Hematite warriors ride up to us, their swords flashing, and their eyes glinting with malice. Screams of terror erupt from our group as the survivors try to run away, but there’s nowhere to go. Nowhere to hide. Nowhere to escape from their persecutors.
The warriors surround us, crowding us into a tight circle. The leader of the group dismounts and approaches Everly and me.
He’s tall, giant sized, with broad, well-muscled shoulders, and a thick red beard that hangs down to his chest. His eyes, the color of a stormy sea, spark with dangerous intellect. Yet, it’s his armor that commands every bit of my attention. It’s black as night and etched with strange, smoldering runes.
I have heard that some Hematites require special runes to cast their magic.
“Well,” he says. “What do we have here?”
I take a deep breath and lock my gaze on his, unwilling to back down or cower at his feet. After all, I have known men like him my entire life. They’re all leeches.
He scans our group, his gaze lingering on the wounded and dying. Then, he stares at me again. I stiffen, refusing to be his prey.
Fear glimmers in Everly’s eyes, and her body trembles as she slides closer to me.
“What are two young, beautiful women doing with House of Silver?” He grabs a handful of Everly’s curly hair and yanks her head back. “Looks like Olah favors us today.”
Rage seethes inside me as I step forward, but one of his men pushes me back with the end of his sword. I glare at that steel, longing to rip it from him and shove it through his neck.
The warrior flicks out his blade, severing the bag from my waist. I cringe as it hits the ground, and he bends down, picking it up.
No!
That bag has my last two marbles inside it. Without them, I cannot save Everly. I cannot save any of us.
Red Beard turns to address his men. “Take those who can walk. Kill the wounded.”
My heart squeezes at his cruelty, and my skin tingles with the urge to slaughter this man and his followers. Fear of destroying myself and the life growing inside me keeps me still.
As the Hematites herd the survivors together, my stomach drops to the barren ground. This is not how it is supposed to end. We tried so hard to save these people.
One of the Hematites grips my arm and pulls me toward Red Beard. With one hand, Red Beard reaches out, snagging my waist and pulling me close to him, close enough to smell his stench, a putrid mixture of sweat and blood.
He tugs my necklace out of my bodice. “What is a Kyanite doing so far from her nest?”
“Helping,” I say honestly, though I know I haven’t done enough.
“Helping?” he asks, his tone mocking, belittling. “Why would a Kyanite care about anyone from House of Silver?”
“Why would a Hematite destroy his own?” I counter, my anger strung into every word.
