That gets them moving faster, and buzz begins to spread. The Fae from the Outlands are here. They are here to kill and steal and rape.
To hurry things along, I go door to door, sharing the news as quickly as possible, helping pack when needed, carrying babies and guiding young children while their parents pack. As I do, I get small glimpses into these cloistered lives. I see the things they value most and the things they are willing to leave behind to burn, if it comes to that. They are a practical people, for the most part, choosing food, clothing, bedding, but almost everyone also has a sentimental item or two they can't leave behind. A special book, a cherished piece of jewelry. One woman brought her husband's old shaving kit, though he's been dead for many years now. "I can't leave it behind," she told me. "It still smells of him."
I can't bear to think this magical crystal city might be gone by nightfall, if Fen and his soldiers can't keep the raiders out. And I realize I don't understand war at all. I don't understand fighting and bloodshed and the need to kill others who are different from you. I know the Fae see themselves as the heroes of their own stories. We all do, don't we? But how can they justify what they are about to do? This village isn't full of soldiers. It's full of normal everyday people. Families just trying to get through their lives.
Kayla leads a long line of people towards the side of the castle. There, behind a waterfall, lies the mountain passage. I run up to the blacksmith, out of breath. In the distance, the sounds of battle thunder. The clash of steel. The last screams of dying men.
"Where's Daison?" Kayla asks.
"I thought he was with you? I was helping others prepare to evacuate."
She pauses, as people pass by her into the side of the mountain. It's snowing again, and the wind is blowing more forcefully than before. The cold chills me through my cloak and clothing, and I shiver, startled at how fast the storm is growing.
"We have to get out of here," she says. "I'm going to find Daison. You lead everyone."
She turns to leave, but I grab her hand. "Kayla, I don't know the way. Only you do. I'll find Daison, and we'll catch up to you. He's probably just helping someone pack."
I see the indecision in her eyes, but she relents, knowing I'm right. "Ari, please find him."
"I will. See you soon."
I run back towards the city just as burning arrows fly over the wall and land in bushes and barns and houses. Fires begin to rage out of control.
I run faster, calling for Daison, worry gnawing at me the longer it takes to find him.
Flames rise up around me. Smoke chokes me. I pull my shirt over my mouth and keep looking for the boy.
"Daison! Where are you?"
I hear a moan from behind and turn around. A pile of burning wood. A foot sticking out. "Daison!"
I look around for something I can use to move the rubble without burning myself, and settle on a wooden plank near a half finished house. I grab the board, a rusty nail digging into my skin. I ignore the pain, and rush back to Daison. All around me is chaos. Fire. Smoke. The smell of burning flesh.
I ram the plank under the burning legs and push down. The wood tumbles toward me, spraying me with embers, singeing my hands. I bite down in pain, and realize I bit my tongue. Warm blood fills my mouth.
I block out the burn between my jaws, the fire on my hands. I jam the plank forward, moving away more wood. Sparks hit me. This time, I don't flinch. I shove the board forward again. The last of the wood rolls away.
I drop the burning plank and grab Daison by the feet. His body is blackened by fire. Part of his face has melted away. He smells of cooked meat. "Oh Daison."
I don't know what else to do. I pull off my cloak and use it to pack snow around his body to cool the burns and numb him.
His eyes flicker open. "Ari... " His voice is a cracked whisper. I lean down closer to hear him. "Ari, a little girl is trapped. Help. Her."
He coughs and his body spasms. For a moment, I am frozen, my hands numb. Then I run to the burning house and yell for anyone who might be inside. I hear a girl scream, and I rush in, covering my body with my arms. The girl sits in the stone fireplace, one of the only places not on fire. I reach for her. "Come to me. I'm here to help."
She shakes her head, her pink curls bobbing around her pointed ears.
"Sweetie, I can't reach you in there. Come on out and let's find your parents."
Slowly, she crawls out. I grab her hand and pull her into my arms. I rush outside, flaming wood falling behind me. We get back to Daison. His body still shakes and spasms.
"I've got her, Daison. Now we need to get you both to Kayla and out of the city."
"I can't, Ari. Save the girl."
I hold his hand, the one not burned, my throat constricting. "No, this isn't over. You'll make it!"
"Tell Kayla... " He chokes and blood stains his lips. "Tell her it's not her fault. She's family. Always."
His eyes close and his chest stills and my heart breaks, all in the same moment.