Page 38 of Mistress of Hours

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Aftera few hours of enjoying the ocean views and enjoying lunch at lavishly set picnic tables on the beach, the group made their way in twos and threes back toward the station.

Cecelia insisted on taking a detour to have a look around the town square, so the four of them walked in that direction, enjoying each other’s company as they went.

The square bustled with activity despite the chill, with market stands selling the day’s catch and brightly lit storefronts filled with colorful fabrics, books, and housewares. Evienne was enjoying taking in every detail when, without warning, a siren blared through the general hum of noise in the square.

Evienne knew the sound well from her training, but it was jarring to hear the alarm system here when she least expected it. The system was the same as those that she had overseen the setup of in all of their larger provincial towns; their purpose was to warn citizens of a Gevaud attack.

Evienne’s training slammed her into action. She was nothing if not good in a crisis, and until she understood the scope of this attack, she would treat it as though it were serious.

Evienne turned to her friends, shouting over the now chaotic sounds of the townspeople taking cover as they had been instructed when the alarms were installed. “You have to get back to the station and get on the train; don’t wait for me, I’ll handle this.”

“We’re notleavingyou here!” Cecelia yelled back.

Evienne knew there wasn’t time to argue. She looked to Solon, who nodded in understanding. “Please, come with me,” Solon said simply to Cecelia, offering her his arm. She glared at Evienne, then took it, not wanting to be rude to Solon. He escorted her quickly out of the square—Evienne only hoped they made it to the train in time.

Orion took Evienne’s hand and squeezed. “You know I won’t leave you in danger, love,” he said. “I’m with you.”

She smiled at him then, grateful to have him by her side.

They both turned as a scream sounded across the square, followed by a vicious snarl. Evienne took off in a run, her burgundy dress billowing around her legs as she ran. Orion shifted and ran alongside her. The winter air bit her lungs, and she felt time slow as she neared the scene and took in the sight before her.

Gevaud were indiscriminately attacking anything in their path. There appeared to be around ten of the beasts, but more streamed in to the square from the surrounding streets. Evienne knew only a few Sangviere were typically stationed here, and she didn’t see them anywhere yet. Guards rushed into the square, but without blood magic, they stood little chance of neutralizing the Gevaud.

A beast lunged at one of the guards, snapping Evienne back into action. She summoned her most instinctual magic, her blood fire, and hurled it at the beast. It staggered, giving the guard time to fall back.

Orion stood ready at her side, waiting to take his signals from her. Evienne turned to him, holding his piercing gaze, and nodded; her way of telling him to stay safe in the fray.

The Gevaud spread out, attacking without form or reason. Evienne looked around again for the other Sangviere, but saw none. For now, immediacy was key to saving the lives of the people of Brunoy as they tried to find cover. Every second she had spent studying, honing her craft, doubting herself; it was all for this. To help her people.

Evienne strode forward to the center of the square, swiping her ring fully across her palm this time. Her magic roared to life in her veins, stronger, somehow, than she had ever felt it.

She found that place inside herself where she could pushher magic to exert her will on another living being. She felt it, focusing on the Gevaud about twenty feet from her. One moment, the beast was lurching forward; the next her magic had taken hold, forcing it to the ground.

She took hold of another beast a mere ten feet away from the first, willing them toward each other. They moved with stilted, unnatural motions until they collided. She forced them to tear each other’s throats out, their blood spraying a downed guard trying to scramble away from them.

Evienne didn’t lose her focus. Her eyes scanned the square, working to prioritize her next target. Her mind flew over the details as she took them in, strategizing intuitively.

A scream had her turning to the western edge of the square. Two Sangviere had arrived only to immediately be swarmed by a new cluster of Gevaud as they bounded into the open.

At least thirty of the creatures were now running rampant. Evienne had to protect the other Sangviere or they would certainly lose this fight.

She felt for the lifeblood of the two beasts circling the Sangviere where they had been knocked down, forcing her magic into them. Evienne’s breath came in heavy pants as she strained with the effort of her casting, before both beasts burst into clouds of red mist.

The other Sangviere nodded at Evienne gratefully and fell back into a formation, covering each other’s backs. Each then took control of a creature with their Regne du Sang and disarmed it by whatever means necessary.

She was struck then by how unnerving blood magic could really be. She was grateful she would never know the feeling of someone taking hold of her own blood—the thought of being so completely at the mercy of another was harrowing. Their sort of magic—even without the corrupting influence of the Valsang—was dark enough as it was.

Despite the best efforts of the Sangviere, there were simply too many Gevaud to manage in the way they had planned for, trained for. Taking them out one or two at a time wasn’t enough.

The horde had downed at least four guards now. Orion had engaged two of the beasts on the opposite side of the square, and was holding his own against them, swiping his massive paws and deathly sharp claws. She flicked her gaze back to the cluster of beasts in front of her.

Evienne could not allow them to kill anyone else; she had a job to do, and she would see it done.

She sliced her other palm open, power now nearly overwhelming her, and raised her hands before her. Her magic gripped each and every one of the Gevaud that remained, thirty living things falling under her control. She could feel it; the blood rushing through their veins, the life force calling to her soul. Time slowed to a stop as she listened to the chorus of beating hearts, feeling the heat of her own blood on her hands.

Closing her fists, she slammed the creatures down to the paving stones. With a twist of her wrists, a sickening crunch sounded, reverberating off the buildings of the square. Every one of the creatures lay lifeless, bodies twisted and bones shattered from within.

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