Page 5 of Kingdom of Embers and Ruin

Maude opened her eyes and glared up at the ceiling window of the cell, directly into the smiling face of Herrick, who had crouched over the opening.

“Go away,” Maude hissed at him through clenched teeth.

“I was in the area and noticed that you might be in need of some assistance,” Herrick replied pleasantly.

“I don’t need help from anyone, especially you,” Maude snapped, pulling at the chains a bit as if they would fall off.

“Clearly,” he snorted.

“Leave me alone,” Maude replied, not looking at him. She concentrated on finding the center of hergalder—never an easy thing for her to do when her emotions were running rampant— so she could melt these irons off her. Maude tried to imagine herself gripping the center of her being that pulsed with fire, hergalder. Whenever she thought she had reined in her emotions and gotten a grip on her fire, her fingers would slip like she was trying to grasp at melting ice.

Finally, Maude felt her hands start to warm, but the cold metal of the cuffs still bit her skin. These gods damned cuffs were warded againstgalder.

Fuck,she cursed internally.

After a few minutes of silence, Herrick chimed in, “How is the escape going?”

“I can figure this out on my own; I’ve been doing it long enough now.”

“I was simply offering a favor for one in return.”

“Well, don’t. It’s unwanted,” she snapped.

“But you don’t even know what I want to ask you,” Herrick chuckled and flashed her a charming smile.

“I don’t want your help, and I don’t want to help you. That’s all I need to know.”

“Why do you say it like that? We’ve only ever exchanged a few words and a few more blows that I’m sure you enjoyed immensely. I know I did,” Herrick said, clearly enjoying the back and forth.

“What are you doing here, Herrick?” She blew out a breath, unable to find the energy to continue arguing with him. Gods damn this man.

“Ah, so you did hear my name last night. I’m flattered you remembered,” Herrick flashed a grin, his dimple showing its face. Maude’s breath caught in her chest at the sight, but he quickly grew serious.

“I need your help. I will help break you out of this cell in exchange for your assistance.”

“Why should I help you?” Maude asked, wariness dulling the sharp words.

“Because I think you hate this existence you’re living. On the run, hiding in plain sight, fighting strangers because you need to release your anger somewhere productive. Though I don’t know why you are running, I believe I can offer you a solution.”

Maude stiffened at the frank assessment of her. Was she that transparent?

“What makes you think I’m not just some bottom dweller? You obviously hail from a family of warriors or nobility with the way you move and fight; the fatemark on your chest gives you away. Who are you to say that I don’t enjoy the way I live?”

Herrick only stared at her. Watched her face as she reacted to what he said.

“I think you're hiding. You don’t have to tell me why, but you, too, move like a trained warrior. I’d say you were a shieldmaiden, but you’re more calculated than any soldier I’ve fought.”

Frozen in place, Maude didn’t give anything away. She had spent long enough on her own to know how to control her face, even if she couldn't control her emotions. But Herrick saw through her front.

“Agree to help me, and I will free you from this jail.” Herrick, at last, started to sound annoyed with her reluctance to listen.

“You still haven’t told mewhyI should help you.” A question and a challenge.

“Because I know of a weapon that can be used to eliminate the hateful, ruinous king that sits on the Throne of Wind and Fire. Freeing us all.”

Every thought in Maude’s mind stopped in its tracks. Absolute silence rang in her ears.

Arrows flew by as Maude ran through the red-bricked courtyard. Dodging the projectiles left and right, she ran for the eastern wall, toward freedom. The dull sound of an arrow skimming her left ear rattled her as she dropped to the ground and slid on her side to avoid the swing of a sword from a soldier who appeared just before she could jump to reach for the bricks that led the way to Logi. The Kingdom of Flame soldier clothed in a red, orange, and white uniform turned and swung his short sword downward as Maude rose to her feet. She drew her sword and axe at the same time, metal on metal crashing through the small space as they crossed above her head to block a killing blow.

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