Page 75 of Fateless

“Sparrow!”

And then Raithe was there, dropping to his knees beside me and pulling me close. At his touch, some invisible barrier within me shattered. My eyes blurred, my throat closed up, and the horror of everything that had happened flooded me all at once. I turned my face against Raithe’s chest and sobbed, feeling his arms tighten around me as I gasped and cried and soaked his shirt with tears.

Raithe gently placed his hand on the back of my head. “You did what you had to do,” he murmured. “He wouldn’t have stopped, Sparrow. He would have killed everyone here, and you would be in the hands of the Deathless King now.”

“I know,” I whispered. “I knew he wouldn’t stop. I just...” My breath hitched. Gently, I pulled back, wiping at my eyes. I didn’t dare look behind me at the body on the ground. “I wish it didn’t have to come to this.”

With the crunch of boots over the ground, Halek and Kysa appeared, ducking beneath the outcropping to join us. They took in the scene, their gazes lingering on the body sprawled in the dust.

Halek blew out a breath, his expression sympathetic as he glanced at me. “Damn,” he said, shaking his head. “You okay, Sparrow?”

I sniffled. “No, I’m not,” I admitted in a shaky voice. “But I’m here.”

Raithe took my hand and gently drew us both upright. Kysa watched us with solemn eyes. “The undead army has fallen,” she told us. “I’m not sure if they were tied to the abomination or the blood mage himself, but a few seconds ago, they turned into lifeless corpses and collapsed where they stood.”

A ripple of relief went through me. At least we had put an end to the horde of monsters, though I knew the price was already high. Not just for me, but for everyone here. Their lives would never be the same.

And neither would mine.

“The camp is in chaos,” Kysa said, then paused, her perfectcomposure cracking just a bit as her face tightened. “We lost a great many, including War Chief Vorkyth, but the hive mother and the lore keeper are all right. When you are ready, they will want to see you.”

I nodded. Whatever had happened, we had survived. Vahn would never again torment me through blood magic, though I was sure I would see him in my dreams for a long time after this. The Circle might want retribution, but with their leader gone, perhaps we would have enough time to figure out what we were going to do.

Because dealing with Vahn—one singular blood mage—had been difficult enough. I didn’t even want to think about the greatest threat still out there.Hewould be coming for me, too. After Vahn’s failure, he couldn’t ignore us much longer. Eventually, I was going to have to face the Deathless King himself.

But not today. Today, I was a thief named Sparrow who was overwhelmed, hurt, grieving, and heartsick. Today, I wanted to curl up in a corner and forget the world existed for a little while. Or spend some time in the company of friends, listening to Halek’s stories and Kysa’s triumphs, and basking in the affection of a kahjai who had once tried to kill me. Today was for mourning those we had lost and celebrating those who still lived. The tale of the Fateless girl who would eventually defy a Deathless King and either save or doom the world was a story for another time.

Tomorrow.

Epilogue

“There.” The lore keeper sat back, sharp black eyes gazing critically at my arm. “I believe we are done. You can breathe easy now.”

I gazed at my arm, resting on the table, where it had lain for the past two hours. At the swirls of green starting from my palm and running up the length of my forearm. Slowly, my jaw unclenched, and I let out a breath of relief; the whole process, where a needle had been stabbed into my skin, over and over again, had not been pleasant, but the marks were finally in place.

“Thank you,” I breathed, my voice coming out a bit stiff, as my body was just starting to relax.

The lore keeper gave a sniff and turned away, but the hive mother stepped forward. “These marks proclaim you a warrior of the Scarab Clan,” she told me. “You are one of us now, and any Scarab Clan member who sees the marks will treat you as such. Remember,” she added, raising a thin finger, “this only conceals you—it does not protect you from direct attacks. But you should now be hidden from the magic of the Deathless King and his servants. I hope this will help you on your journey.”

“It’s more than I could hope for, Hive Mother,” I said, rising from the chair. The markings on my skin throbbed, but I wasnow a member of the Scarab Clan, something I wasn’t certain I deserved but would try my best to be worthy of. “Thank you. For everything.”

She gave a brisk nod. “Your friends lurking outside the door can come in now,” she said in a louder voice. “The kahjaimakes no sound, but I have heard the Fatechaser pacing through the dirt since the ritual started.”

“I can’t help it. I pace when I’m nervous.” The curtains rustled as Halek pushed his way inside, followed by Raithe. The Fatechaser was grinning as he came forward, but Raithe paused long enough to give the two women a respectful bow.

“Forgive the lurking, Hive Mother,” he said solemnly. “Not that we doubted the lore keeper, or the sacredness of the ritual. But we wish to get underway as soon as possible and leave your people to grieve their losses in peace.”

“Do not worry about the Scarab Clan, iylvahn,” the lore keeper said, rising from her stool. “We are no strangers to conflict or survival. We chose to help because aiding the Fateless means defying the Deathless King. May our markings protect both her and those around her from the wrath of the Deathless and his servants.”

“Let’s see these tattoos, Sparrow,” Halek said as he gestured to my hand. I raised my arm and drew back my sleeve, revealing the elegant swirls of green ink on my skin, and Halek whistled in admiration. “Nice. I’ve seen a fair number of tattoos, but these are some of the best.”

Raithe walked up and gently curled his fingers around my wrist as he gazed at the markings. My skin tingled at the contact,the pain forgotten. “Good,” he murmured. “I’ll rest easier knowing they can’t touch you, at least not in your dreams.”

There was a rustling at the door, and Kysa appeared, nodding respectfully to the lore keeper and hive mother. “Rhyne and the other mounts have been saddled,” she told us. “There are a couple hours of travel left before Demon Hour. If you’re prepared, we are ready to go.”

“Are you certain this is what you wish, Kysa Tal’Rahhe?” the hive mother asked. “Your pilgrimage is over. You do not need to wander the world anymore. Should you wish to stay, there are others of the clan who can escort the Fateless the rest of the way across the steppes.”

“This is my choice,” Kysa said, stepping into the room. “For good or ill, I feel as though my thread is woven with theirs. Whatever Fate has in store for us, even if it is no fate at all, their path is now mine to walk as well. Protecting the Fateless is the best thing I can do to protect my clan. I will have it no other way.”

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