Page 136 of Rook of Ruin
“It is.” A grin creeps up Dove’s face. “I was worried when you said a flower, but this is pretty fucking fierce.”
Isle, Dove, and I take it outside, the morning air wonderfully sweet, and Isle carefully hands my banner to Crusher to use later. Warriors pick up crates of spice, helping our servants carry them through the house. Tonight, we honor the lives lost in Acros, too many dead. Too many Rooks, too many warriors fought with valor protecting Acrosi villages. I’ve stopped wearing dresses while Simon is gone, afraid that Callan will appear. I also keep my shortsword and daggers on me at all times, only removing them at night.
“Have we heard anything from the little songbirds in Acros?” I ask Isle quietly. My spies. I’ve sent healers into Acrosi villages to help with the influx of casualties.
“I expect something no later than tomorrow.” Isle picks up a smooth rock and slips it into her pocket. She and Milo like to skip rocks in the lake before dinner. Isle has become a surrogate grandmother to him, and she takes that honor to heart.
“We can send another shipment of supplies soon. The vessel arrives in a day.” Dove, my second in command, says, “I believe the leathers you requested will be finished by then.”
I commissioned another set of fighting leathers for myself along with two more for Milo.My son. He is more like a son than a ward to me. I love him as if he were my own, but I fear I will never be good enough. I worry constantly that I will do the wrong thing, say the wrong word, guide him the wrong way. But just thinking of Milo brings a smile to my face. I hope he will never need the black leathers with silver running through. I hope we will never need the safe haven I’ve set up. But if we ever have to leave Bethal, I will have enough supplies and money to support a large army for a century.
The jewelry I was gifted by the men of Acros has been either melted down or sold to support my endeavors; I didn’t realize how much I had until we finally began unpacking everything. I was happy to find books, but confused by a note from a man named Alec; his handwriting reminded me of Ossian’s rushed scribble on the Locker forms, only much neater. Whoever he is, he owes someone answers and an apology. I put it to the back of my mind, shaking my head.
Crusher runs toward us, his dark warrior braids beating against his back. “There’s an attack at Perrick. They have requested help.” Perrick, the large seaside town, where the majority of Bethal’s grain is kept—and more importantly, many civilians.
“Dove, stay with Milo. You know what to do.” She nods, running inside.
We sprint to the stables, finding our horses already saddled. Sal flicks her tail as I mount her, and she takes off faster than the wind itself. I almost laugh, thinking how mad Simon will be. Gone is the man who loved me for the sacrifices I’m willing to make, replaced by someone entirely different.
I don’t do this because I want to, I do it because if a Wraith is there, I am the only one who can stop it. I do this for our people, for our son. If I’m being truthful to myself, it’s also politically advantageous. It’s good to have our names before the king so often. I like lowering Callan’s value every chance I get.
A few pieces of my hair whip around my face, but my braid holds. In a little over an hour, we arrive in Perrick, seeing a gaping hole in the side of the thick stone wall. “Hells,” I whisper to myself, pulling out my shortsword. The smell of blood lies thick in the air as screaming and howling mingle together, creating a ghastly noise. A bright green light appears, and then an explosion knocks down a large tower inside the town. Isle throws her spear out as a naked man springs out of the hole, white fur along his torso.
“What the fuck is that?” someone yells out as we speed past a group fleeing Perrick.
Sal dodges through the crowds of people rushing out of the gates.
“Move! Get out of the fucking way!” Isle screams.
A large white creature dashes around warriors battling for their lives and claws a man with a sword protecting his family. Bow’s spear hits the Roggenwolf, black blood spills, and he quickly takes out his spear, throwing it again in front of me. We slaughter the white creatures, and I follow Isle down an alley toward the middle of town.
We have descended into madness.
The green light appears again, but before we can get to it, an explosion rips through a fleeing crowd. I gulp down the bile threatening to come up my throat. Sal’s white coat is splattered with black and red blood as she gallops through the carnage. Bodies of the innocent and damned lie everywhere. Isle’s stallion rears up, protecting her from an attack, and she swiftly cuts through the white fur. Devastation, undeniable devastation all around.
Local warriors are trying to contain the savage creatures, others screaming for help or for their mothers as they lie dying, dead civilians scattered, but I can’t bring myself to look anywhere but my warriors.
“Bow, take ten of ours, help the other warriors,” I command.
Another green light appears to our left, and I take off after it. Twelve warriors ride with me, and I say a silent prayer that we make it through this.
A young beautiful woman with golden hair screams as black flames lick her skin, burning off her clothes, leaving her naked, and I watch in horror as the green light grows brighter around her. I take her head quickly, her black blood splattering against my face. Claws strike out as Sal’s powerful hooves kick, crushing a Roggenwolf’s head.
How are they doing this?Whyare they doing this?I should have asked Callan more questions.
“Ruin!” Isle points as people flee to our right. A green light glows as we rush forward, an elderly man engulfed by black flames, only taking his clothing. Isle and my warriors fight the black-eyed creatures surrounding him, yet not one single Roggenwolf comes after me. Sal jumps into the green light, and my skin crawls as the man turns to me, death staring into my eyes.
“Bright One.” The old man’s toothless mouth is open, and the voice speaks out, “We are not here for you.”
Precious moments pass as I get closer, refusing to speak. My power flows out, and I fear anyone seeing it.
“You fear.”
I raise my shortsword. “I fearnothing.”Lie.
The sickening voice laughs as I kill the man, the green light disappearing along with my power. Weakness creeps in like before, and I lean over Sal and vomit. Another light glows ahead, and warily, I push into Sal. We pass frightened people running into houses or shops, only for the demon wolves to crash through windows or break down doors with their steely claws.
I can barely lift my sword as I struggle to remain seated on Sal. The green light glows brighter, and I approach a naked young man, his mouth open wide, the voice from before hisses, “Do not save them, Bright One. They don’t deserve your sympathy. Join us.”
