Page 10 of Kingdom of Embers and Ruin

“Your arms were burning with the flames you tried to hide. You are an illegalvitki, but you are rare because you have control over fire when so few remain.And we are asking for your help.”

Releasing her breath, Maude tried to focus on breathing slowly to calm herself. Turning her back to the table, she placed her hands on the counter and tried to breathe deeply a few times to gather her thoughts.

They didn’t know, not really. Breathe. Breathe. Breathe.

But her mind whirled with the story Herrick had just told, and it caused her concentration to slip. Feeling her throat start to close, her breath increased. She wrapped one hand around her throat as she tried to remember that she was safe andfree. Overwhelming forgotten feelings of dread rose in her swiftly like a tidal wave designed to destroy her sanity. She couldn’t catch her breath, couldn’t distinguish safety from a trap. She needed to run, tofight—

Maude didn’t hear him stand up and walk toward her, lost in the torrent of her memories as she was. Then she felt him behind her, close enough to know it was Herrick by his scent: freshly fallen rain on the dirt. He didn’t touch her, though; he only stood close enough for her to know he was there.

“Pick a spot outside where the oasis is and hold it in your mind,” Herrick spoke softly behind her. For once, she listened and felt herself give a shaky nod.

“Now describe it to me as if I had no eyes of my own, every detail.”

Maude lowered her hand from her throat and placed both on the counter in front of her again to ground herself. Eyes on the oasis, she described the spot she was drawn to.

“Where the trees grow the tallest and closest together, there is a trunk of a long fallen palm tree that is shaded from the heat of the setting sun. You can see the edge of the natural bench from this house but would miss it if one glanced over it too quickly. In this little pocket of privacy, you could sit on the trunk surrounded by green palm fronds and tall grass, completely hidden from the world. A few feet in front of this private space is the water line, where clear blue water laps calmly on the orange sands that are soft and untouched by life around it. Some children play around the trees, but this break in between lies undiscovered by both children and the parents harvesting water from the oasis. There is peace and anonymityin the shadows of this small slice of greenery. It is…it’s like coming home at last.”

Maude trailed off, her breathing calm and her heart steady. She glanced at Herrick over her shoulder, unsure of what to say. Herrick only gave her a small, genuine smile and walked back to the table where everyone pretended the food on their plate was the most interesting thing in the room.

Home.

A foreign concept to Maude. Herrick had talked her down from her impending spiral, but now she felt too seen, too exposed.

Focusing on her ever-present anger, she needed to remind them what a wretch she was after this episode of intense vulnerability, so Maude said to the group, “You’re wrong about me. Whatever you think you saw, it’s wrong. I’m not a good person, and I won’t agree to help you until I know what information you are holding back.”

Herrick opened his mouth, surely to say something grating, but Maude held her hand up and continued, “However, I will leave the city with you so that I can hear about it and decide if I want to help or tell you all to fuck off.” She paused. “Right now, I need you to tell me why you need my fire.”

Liv stiffened while Hakon, Herrick, and Gunnar grinned at her.

Hakon spoke first, “I guess it would be no surprise to find that we are alsovitki, except for Liv. Herrick and I can manipulate water, while Gunnar can control earth. With the addition of your flame, we would be a well-rounded team.”

“Also, you were the only person we found who would have the training and the power to help us on this mission, as well as an outward disgust for this kingdom’s laws,” Gunnar added after Hakon’s pretty speech.

Maude said nothing, attempting to keep her face neutral. They were leaving something out, but she suspected she wouldn’t discover it until they left the city.

It made sense, of course, that Herrick would be so grating to her when their elements opposed each other the way they did. It made them an even match if they ever came to blows with each other again.

“Well, it makes sense that you are all from the Kingdom of Rivers. Not many are bold enough in this kingdom to openly rebel against Helvig.”

They all laughed like she had said something hilarious when she only pointed out the truth.

“If I’m going to help you, I’m going to need my weapons,” was all Maude said before she turned for the front door to leave.

She heard movement behind her as Herrick caught up to her and grabbed her elbow. She stopped and spun, fist already swinging up toward his perfect jaw. He caught her wrist before it could make contact but didn't let go of her. Standing this close to each other, Maude noticed that they stood almost eye to eye. Her eyes betrayed her and trailed down the front of his muscular body. She spied the necklace she had seen in the fighting pits. The wooden runes were indeed each of the elements: fire, water, earth, air, shadow, and light.

“Let go of me,” Maude said, low and angry.

“Then don’t try to hit me again,” Herrick growled. “I told you I was going with you.”

“I don't need you to come with me.”

“So you’ve said.”

Herrick let go of her and crossed his arms, waiting. They stared at each other, only inches away, as the tension between them thrummed to life like a living thing. His golden brown eyes swirled, and Maude found herself unable to look away. Strands of her hair fell from her braid, framing herface under the hood, but even with the hood up, Maude felt him staring at her— into her. Someone behind Herrick coughed and broke the pull between them.

“I’m going now; don’t stop me,” Maude said to Herrick, pushing him back a little so she could open the door. When it had cracked open, Herrick’s hand appeared and pushed it shut again.

Ready to ask what the Hel his problem was, she was interrupted by Hakon chiming in, “You’re going the wrong way.”

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