The Scourge of Muirwood (Legends of Muirwood #3)

“Only one way to know. Go!” He coughed against his arm, gripped her waist and hoisted her up the window ledge.

Lia sheathed her gladius in her belt and grabbed the curtain. She started outside and heard some fabric rip and her stomach lurched seeing how far it was to the ground below. Above, the roof of the tower was blazing. Smoke came from the window above, calling attention to Lambeth for all to see. There was nothing but cobblestone below her, which would not cushion a fall. Several bystanders in the street were pointing and shouting in worry. She lowered herself hand over hand down the length of the curtain until she was at the lowest part. She dangled from the curtain, trying not to be dizzy, and glanced down at the street. It looked so far away.

Jump.

The whisper in her thoughts compelled her.

She fought down her fears and let go of the curtain. Plummeting like a stone, she then struck the cobbles below with jolt of pain. It was not so far as it seemed after all, and she sighed with relief.

“Lia!” came a voice. Reome rushed through the bystanders on the street to her.

Lia realized through her daze that they were outside the manor walls. The tower window was on the exterior wall of the grounds. Lia was grateful and hugged Reome quickly. When she turned back, she saw Marciana coming down the length of curtain. Ash sprinkled down from the blaze of the tower beams above. Cinders rained as well, stinging her eyes as she looked up. Marciana struggled against the fabric, but she lowered herself down as well. She reached the end of the curtain.

“Jump!” Lia said. “It is not far!”

There was a smashing sound as the door to the tower was finally forced open. Shouts and the thunder of boots on the stairwell sounded.

Marciana dropped and Lia and Reome both tried to catch her to break her fall. The force of her impact knocked them all down, but she was safely on the ground and spluttered with the smoke. Then sobbing, she clung to Lia’s neck and wept.

Marciana turned and looked up at him, shaking her head. “We were too heavy,” she cried. “He was holding the curtain with his hands.”

Kieran was out the window next, starting down the curtain length. They all stood as he hurriedly descended. But there was a ripping noise as the curtain came loose. Marciana shrieked. Lia stood in shock as he fell. She tried to rush in and cushion him but could not move fast enough. She watched the look and blaze of pain contort his face as he landed on his back. His head whipped back on the stone cobbles with a sickening crunch. His body lay still. Bystanders gasped with shock and scattered back, some screaming. The alleyway emptied, save for the girls.

Lia stared at Kieran’s body in shock. A stream of blood ran in the grooves of the cobblestones. Soot and ash rained down on them. She looked up at the mass of fire and then down at the fallen man. The Medium surged inside of her, building stronger and stronger. It was a flood, the pressure mounting, squeezing her, blinding her.

Marciana stared at Kieran, stricken, her eyes brimming with tears. Reome looked pale seeing a dead man at their feet.

“Close your eyes, both of you!” Lia screamed. They obeyed and she lifted her hand in the maston sign.

Lia made the maston sign by raising her hand in the air and touching the dead man’s forehead with her other. She recognized the pattern now, as she had seen it before. There was something sacred about death, especially a death offered as a willing sacrifice for others to live. She had participated in that sort of end herself, which allowed the Abbey’s defenses to flood the lowlands surrounding Muirwood and destroy the Queen Dowager’s army. The Medium’s will had been fulfilled and its power now could be fully invoked. Not for her benefit – never for her own benefit. But for the greater good of all.

“Kieran Ven, I Gift you with life. You will live and you will heal.” Her voice thickened with emotion as the power of the Medium continued to rush through her. “By Idumea’s hand, you will live, Kieran Ven. You will live and you will heal.”

The power of the Medium continued to surge through her. There were screams in her mind throughout Comoros. She could hear them all, a cacophony of despair and accusation. She could sense the blood of dead mastons calling out to her, clinging to her soul and shaking her with fury and revulsion. We are the dead mastons of this kingdom, murdered by our king because we would not forsake our oaths. The oaths which you have sworn yourself to pass the Apse Veil! Avenge us!