Trial by Fire

“I can’t believe you!” Lily said, shocked by his audacity. “You’re just going to bald-faced admit that you want to use me to raid other worlds?”


“If it comes to that, yes,” Alaric replied heatedly. He spread his hands wide to include the camp. “I want you to help my people, and I don’t care if you feel like I’m using you. I’m doing it so they—” Alaric jabbed his finger angrily in the direction of the camp, “—don’t die. Which is far more important to me than your feelings.”

As hurt as she was at being misled, she honestly couldn’t fault Alaric for his intentions. Even on her brief walk through the camp she’d seen how much these people needed help. “You still should have told me. If you want me on your side, you can’t keep things from me.”

“I need your help, Lily,” the sachem said pleadingly. “We need your help. Ask me whatever you want, and I’ll try to give you an honest answer.”

Lily felt the skirt of her plundered dress between her fingers. No matter how much she sympathized with the Outlanders, was she really ready to raid other worlds for Alaric? She looked at her guys and could feel how much they wanted her to at least listen to the sachem. She sighed. “I’ll listen. But I’m not promising anything.”

“Fair enough.” The sachem gestured for Lily to join him inside the carriage.

Thank you, Lily.

I’m trying, Rowan, for your sake. But I don’t trust Alaric yet.

Lily couldn’t help but think about Lillian, and what she was willing to do for Rowan’s sake. She felt him put his hand on the small of her back as she climbed the steps and knew it wasn’t just to help her up. They were still tightly connected after sharing his memories and he wanted to touch her. She wanted to be physically near him, too, and she pressed herself against his hand.

It was her first time inside one of the Outlander carriages. Lily looked around at the scaled-down furniture and how everything seemed to either fold up or have multiple functions. Beds served as couches, and tables could easily be stowed into the walls. There were papers all over the place—maps and designs and lists of names. Lily saw a glass box on a ledge by the window. The inside of the box crawled with crickets. She looked at Rowan, her lips pressed together with mirth.

Dinner.

With a little salt, they’re not as bad as you’d think. Crunchy.

I’ll stick to pickles.

I don’t blame you.

Rowan? Did you grow up in a place like this?

Yes. Except ours was much smaller, and we shared it in shifts with another family. They worked nights and we worked days.

But it’s so small. Lily widened her eyes at him, and he smiled and shrugged.

We were poor, Lily.

Lily sat close to Rowan, pressing her leg against his. Whether Rowan had intended to win her over for the Outlanders or not, she couldn’t help but think the elders had won. A part of her knew she’d do anything for Rowan, and she wondered how deep anything went.

“Now then,” Alaric said briskly when they were all seated. “What would you like to know, Lily?”

“I guess my first question is, why are you parked on Lillian’s doorstep and not hiding in the woods somewhere?” Lily asked.

“No point in hiding anymore,” he replied, throwing up his hands. “Not when Lillian is about to hang three of my best scientists.”

“Okay. What’s this really about? Lots of people have been hanged. Why are these three scientists so important?” Lily asked, leaning forward and looking the sachem in the eye. “You have God knows how many Outlanders ready to go to battle against a force that can crush them. For what?”

Alaric looked at Lily with respect. “Power, of course, but not political power. The kind of power that can fuel cities, fight the Woven, and make it so the Outlanders can finally get out from under the thumb of the Covens. Real power.”

“Elemental power, Lily,” Tristan said reluctantly.