“Really? Then why did you come to me instead of staying with your family?”
In a voice barely above a whisper, I say, “They’ll kill me if they find out what I am.”
A heavy silence descends over the table. Meanwhile, the rest of the tavern is as busy as ever. Carrying on as if my whole life hasn’t fallen apart. As though I’m not the most scared I’ve ever been.
“They’re part of a religious sect that believes in exterminating magic at all costs. That’s why I’m here. I need to ask you if you would consider more money in exchange for me not making you a magicked longsword. I can’t risk revealing what I can do in this town. You were right about this city and these people. I fear for my life and my sister’s because of her relation to me.”
Kellyn sets down his drink. “I didn’t realize it was so serious.”
“It is, and I’m scared.”
Maybe it’s foolish to admit to him, but it’s the truth.
“Is it impossible to mask when you’re doing magic?”
I shrug. “Depends on how the magic turns out.”
“You don’t perform the magic until near the end, and it’s a one-time occurrence, yes? It’s not like glowing light is coming from your fingers the whole time or whatever?”
“Right. But what if someone sees?”
“I could come with you,” he offers. “Be with you in the forge while you’re working. I wouldn’t let anything happen to you.”
I swallow, try for honesty. “I don’t know if I could work with you watching.”
“Me specifically? Or anyone watching in general?”
The answer is somehow both.
But I’m still warmed by his words. He’ll protect me? He’ll spend his days just sitting in the forge with me? Keeping me safe? No one but Temra has ever done that.
“I’ll even scare away anyone who tries to interrupt you,” he offers when I don’t answer his question.
I look up into those golden-brown eyes, framed by golden-red hair. How does this boy understand me so well so quickly? Is he really so observant all the time? Or is he somehow just so observant with me? Or does he just really, really want that sword?
That’s far more likely.
But that doesn’t change the fact that I’ve come to feel slightly more comfortable around him. It’s not perfect. He still makes me nervous at times, but I chose to come here, didn’t I? That’s huge for me.
And despite not enjoying being around people, I like him.
I almost forgot about all the other bodies in the tavern while we were talking. Kellyn has that way about him. A way of making me focus on him and forget about everything else.
But I notice when the doors to the tavern open and a figure comes running inside.
Petrik does a sweep of the room before his eyes land on me, and he races over. He’s juggling the bundle of weapons, Secret Eater among them. He has his pack full of books on his back.
“We—have—to—hurry,” he says between heaving breaths. Did he run all the way here from the estate?
“What is it?” I ask. “Is Temra okay?”
“We—have—to—save—her.”
At that, my heart stops. The world goes quiet for two beats, before everything starts back up, seemingly faster than before.
“What happened? Does she have her?” My voice cracks at the last word.
Petrik takes a few quick breaths before spitting out, “Yes, your grandmother. She’s convinced Temra has magic. They’re going to kill her for the Goddesses.”
“What?” When I said she, I actually meant Kymora, but I’m glad Petrik mistakes my meaning.
“Volanna has your uncles helping her. I saw them confront Temra and then take her away. I suspect they’re going to the church. I knew I couldn’t stop them on my own. I came as quickly as I could and brought these to help.”
“Let’s go.” I race after Petrik but stop after a few steps.
The mercenary isn’t following.
“What are you doing?” I snap. “I said let’s go.”
Kellyn has a pained expression as he looks at me.
“We can’t take on so many people by ourselves,” he says. “It’d be suicide.”
“We’ll worry about that when we get to the church!” I say.
He stares into my eyes for a few more seconds before sighing. “I normally get paid for this kind of idiocy.”
It takes me a moment to process his words, I’m so outraged. Then I reach into my clothing, find my coin purse, and hurl it at him. It hits Kellyn in the head before landing on the floor.
I don’t watch to see if he’ll pick it up. I follow Petrik through the streets, running as fast as I can. I hear steps behind me shortly, and I allow myself a moment of relief as I realize Kellyn’s following. Petrik fumbles with the weapons stash, so I take it from him. It’s awkward with the staff and spear sticking out so far on either end.
“Petrik, take the staff and spear.”
He does so, running with one in either hand.
I toss the shortsword to Kellyn, who catches it and doesn’t ask any questions as I tie Secret Eater around my waist. I have no intention of using this cursed weapon, but I’ll be more useful if my hands are free. The weapon pulls heavily at me, but I only push my legs harder against the extra weight.
Then I take the shortsword back from the mercenary.
We race across town, not caring who we step on or send careening to the ground. If they’re in our way, they get plowed over. I don’t care. Nothing matters except Temra.
She can’t be hurt.
She can’t be—
She has to be okay.
I send a prayer up to Ebanarra, to Tasminya, to whoever might be listening. Save my sister and I’ll do anything. Anything.
The steep incline is the worst part. The ground rises as we run away from the fjords, toward the east end of the city. But I welcome the pain, the burn in my legs. I’ll take any punishment if it means I get to keep my sister.
“What’s the plan?” Kellyn asks.
“The plan is to save her.”
“I know that, but we’re outnumbered, and you and Petrik can’t fight. So it’s to be me versus how many?”
I do not want to hear how outmatched we are. Why can’t he just—
“It’s unlikely any of them are skilled with weapons,” Petrik says. “They’re farmers. And Volanna is an elderly woman. It’s just her three sons.”
“Are they small lads?”
“Uh, no,” Petrik says.
“Great. If you get me killed, bladesmith, I will find a way to cross back over to the land of the living and haunt you forever.”
“As long as you save my sister in the process, I don’t care.”
We don’t bother checking the estate first. Petrik said they left in the direction of the church, so that’s where we go. It’s on the far end of town, near the outskirts of the city.
When we reach it, we note a small crowd gathered around the outside. Bodies are packed together, trying to get a look over one another’s heads.
We plow straight on through, pushing people out of the way. When one big man doesn’t budge, I poke him with the sheathed shortsword. Kellyn parts people, shoving with his enormous shoulders, and Petrik trickles behind him in the path he makes.
When we finally get inside the chapel, we find all the pews filled, people standing in the spaces between, all staring up at the stand.
Where Temra is bound and gagged.
Pain rips through my chest at the sight. This is all because of me. Because of what I can do. I brought us here. I did this.
The priestess says something, but I can’t make it out over the pounding of my heart. Some sort of horrible drivel, I’m sure. Making an example of my sister and the horrors of magic.
Volanna and her sons stand next to the priestess. My uncles are resolute, but Volanna looks almost sad by the turn of events. As though it greatly pains her.
But not enough to stop this, apparently.
The priestess holds a wicked dagger in one hand, the blade curved, perfect for eviscerating and watching things die slowly.
No.
We’re still running. Still shoving. Trying to reach the top.
The priestess gesticulates with the blade. Punctuating her remarks. Each time it inches toward Temra I think I’ll lose my mind.
We’re not going to make it to the front in time.
“Stop!” I shout at the top of my lungs.