***
Alric fell to his knees and lowered his eyes as the image of Sithias began to shimmer into focus before him.
“You have a report?” Sithias asked softly.
“Yes, my Lord. It was the Qualsax warriors.”
“How many have died?”
“One hundred and twenty seven of them died in the village.”
“I will lead them into prosperity, fear not.”
“Thank you, my Lord. The attacks aren’t as bad as they used to be, but they are still bloody and senseless.”
“You wish to retaliate?”
“Yes, of course.”
“With my blessings, then do so.”
“Thank you.”
“What of the girl?”
“Trox is sure she’s an evil, but I have doubts.”
“What doubts?”
“She’s so innocent, my Lord. She looks at the world through the eyes of a child.”
“Is she dangerous?”
He sighed. “Yes, my Lord.”
“Yet innocent… interesting.”
“I don’t think she’s been given the chance to learn right from wrong. It seems her harsh reality forced her to see the worst in everything.”
“What do you want to do?”
“I want to watch her and study her.”
“What evil traits does she display?” Sithias asked as he walked slowly around Alric.
“Anger, mostly, the ability to kill without remorse, and she’s been known to use poisons.”
“For that you brand her an evil?”
“I have no experience with them, just what I’ve read in books. Trox though, he is convinced.”
“Yes, Trox has had many run-ins with the evils.”
“I’ve never known one of her age to be so naïve. She can fight off the strongest of my knights but has no clue about the differences between men and women.”
“She knows what kept her alive,” Sithias said. “Study her, find her true nature, and see if you can guide her to the right.”
“Did you find out about her god?”
Sithias sighed. “Yes. Daemionis wasn’t hard to track down. He’s not of this world and is definitely the god of evils. This girl doesn’t fit into his minions though, and I wonder how she came to be a follower.”
“What are his followers then?”
“Creatures of the night… assassins, thieves, murderers. He is a ruthless god and punishes his followers for his own amusement. They stay with him out of fear, but this young girl is different. He seems to have a vested interest in her that normally is reserved for our elite.”
“So she may be one of his priestesses?”
“She is not. That’s what concerns me. She has something he wants or needs, and I want to know what it is.”
“I will watch her and see what I can find.”
“Blessings go with you,” Sithias said, and then disappeared from the room.
Alric rode quickly back to the castle and thought over what he’d learned from Sithias. Her deity sounded horrible, and he now feared for her life. Such gods thought nothing of killing their followers for petty crimes, and if she didn’t fit into his minions, he may not want to keep her around. Alric wasn’t convinced of Sithias’ thoughts on Daemionis’ interest in Kyrin, so he planned on making it his mission to find out.
He saw her out in the orchards as he rode past, so he stopped his horse and watched her. She’d climbed into one of the tall apple trees and was watching across the farmlands as she ate. It struck him again as he watched her how very much unlike an evil she seemed. Sitting in the tree, unaware she was being watched, she looked innocent and pure.
When Kyrin saw him watching her, she jumped down from the branch and walked over to him.
“I just saw you as I passed and thought I would say hello,” he said when she approached.
“Well, I’m supposed to be with Genessa, but I don’t think she’s up for company.”
“Why’s that?”
She wasn’t sure he should be told that Genessa had earned a punishment from a knight. “I just got that feeling.”
“I’ll go check on her when I get back. I heard you’re going to dinner at Finn’s house tonight?”
“He invited me, but I haven’t accepted.”
“Why not? His brother is your age.”
Her head cocked to the side slightly. “Why does everyone keep telling me that? What does it matter if he is my age?”
“It just means you might have more in common with him.”
“I doubt it. He’s never seen battle, and I’ve never studied alchemy.”
“Just because you don’t have similar interests, doesn’t mean you will hate him,” Alric told her.
Kyrin studied his face as her eyes narrowed. “You aren’t thinking of selling me to him, are you?”
He sighed. “No.”
“Are you lying to me?”
“I don’t lie.”
She shrugged and started toward the castle after pulling an apple out of her tunic to eat.
Alric kicked his horse to follow her. “So are you going?”
“Why do I get the feeling you want me out of the castle tonight?”
“Because I do.”
She stopped and looked at him. “Why?”
“We’re having another wedding, and I don’t want a dead bride.” He had to hide his amusement.
“I don’t see why I would want to go, but if you need me gone, then I will.”
“Good, I’ll tell Finn. Are you going to dress up?”
“Why would I want to do that?”
“It’s common to dress up when going to another’s home for dinner.”
She put her hands on her hips and glared at him. “How much has he offered for me?”
“No one is selling you! When are you going to understand that?”
“Then why else am I to get dolled up and paraded in front of this brother?”
“You know what? Go in what you’re wearing, at least it’s clean,” he said, and dismounted. One of the servants came and took his horse as he headed inside, too frustrated to keep talking to Kyrin.
She went to her room and waited for Finn to get her for dinner. There was a dress hanging in her room when she arrived, but she refused to put it on and instead decided to polish the spiked balls of her flail while she waited.
It was only an hour later when Finn appeared. “Ready, kid?”
“I guess,” she said, and then slipped the flail into her belt before following him out of the castle. A short horse ride later, and they were walking into a modest home at a farm outside of Valhara.
“Oh, my dear, come in. Come in!” an older woman said. She was short and pudgy, and wore a dirty apron covered in flour and something brown. The woman took Kyrin’s hand in hers and smiled broadly. “I’m Finn’s mom. It’s so good to finally meet you.”
Kyrin nodded and looked around the room.
Finn came in and stood beside the others. “This is my wife, Emerisa, and my children, Anni, Sreeva, and Pater. Then that’s my brother York and my youngest brother, Hicks.”
She looked at them and forced a smile. She was very uncomfortable about the way his youngest brother looked at her, so she turned to his mother.
“Come sit, dear. I hope you’re starving.” Finn’s mom led her over to a table, so Kyrin sat down and her eyes grew wide at the amount of food on the table. She’d never seen this much food, and everyone sat around the table and began to dish up portions onto their plates.
Kyrin watched them closely, not sure how to act. She knew others were shocked when she ate with her hands, but utensils were awkward, and when she used them, she often spilled. Much to her dismay, Finn’s youngest brother, Hicks, sat down beside her.
“So, I heard you’re new to Valhara,” he said, scooping a heaping pile of potatoes onto his plate.
“Yes,” she said, still not sure what to do.
He star
ted to eat and then looked over and saw her empty plate. “Are you going to eat?”
She nodded and then reached out and grabbed a hot roll from the table.
“Is that all?” he asked, frowning.
The entire situation was uncomfortable, and she was getting irritated at being put into it in the first place. She was hungry, and the food smelled really good, but she didn’t want to make a fool out of herself in front of them.
Kyrin looked over when Finn picked up a chicken leg with his hands and smiled at her before starting to eat. She took the hint and tore the other leg from the chicken, and then began to eat also. Once she had food, Hicks turned back to his plate and dove in.
She was amazed at the amount of food he put down but figured he was still growing and maybe needed it. Growing Shadowmere always got the first pick of the food, and as much as they wanted. Because she wasn’t a man, she never got that luxury but got the leftovers from when the others were done.
The family talked about their day and how the kids were growing and learning to read. She couldn’t help but keep out of the conversation, as she was feeling insulted by having to eat with children in the first place. It was odd to her how Finn’s wife kept reaching over to help the children to cut up food and even cleaned up when one of them spilled.
After dinner, Hicks showed Kyrin into the next room where the family gathered to visit. She sat quietly until Hicks turned to her. “So, what about you? Are you enjoying your time in Valhara?”
She swallowed hard and looked at the others before nodding. “Yes.”
“Finn said you’re from an entirely different place than this.”
She nodded.
“You’re quiet. Why don’t you tell us about your home?”
She froze, and then Finn spoke, “She’s pretty shy. Let’s just let her be for now.”
Kyrin breathed a sigh of relief and sat back to listen to them.
“It’s getting late. Why don’t I walk you back, Kyrin?” Finn said, standing up.
“No, it’s okay. I can find my own way back.”
“I’ll take her,” Hicks said. He’d been watching her all night, and she did not want to be alone with him. She’d seen that look before, and it always ended up in an offer of gold.
“Is that okay, Kyrin?” Finn asked. He was smiling proudly at his little brother.
She sighed. “Sure.”
“Let me get you a cloak. It’s cold out,” Hicks said, and headed into an adjacent room.
“I don’t like cloaks.”
He turned and looked at her. “Why?”
“Slows response time if attacked.”
Finn chuckled and just nodded for Hicks to go. Kyrin glanced once more at Finn and then followed his brother out of the house. It wasn’t a long walk to the castle, and she just wished they would let her walk it alone.
They walked in silence for a while, but when Hicks’ hand brushed hers lightly, she stepped away from him to give him more space. She couldn’t figure out how he was taking up so much room but ignored it and kept walking.
“Pretty night,” Hicks said.
“Yeah”
“We could go out along the orchard and watch the fireflies.”
“Why?”
He smiled. “True, I guess that is kind of a stupid idea. So, do you have a boyfriend back home?”
“I don’t have any friends back home at all.”
“I find that hard to believe.”
“Why’s that?”
“Well… you’re… you know. You’re very pretty.”
She spun toward him. “What?”
He smiled and shifted nervously with his hands in his pockets. “Too forward?”
The light came on behind them, and Hicks looked up. They were standing right in front of the temple, and one of the priests had hung out a lantern.
“I guess not,” she said, watching him closely.
He was acting even more nervous, and her eyes narrowed. Before she knew what he was doing, he moved to her and pressed his lips to hers.
She immediately raised her knee and caught him squarely in the groin. When he gasped and doubled over toward her, she flattened her hand and slammed the side of it into his neck, cutting off his air.
Hicks sank to the ground, fighting for breath, and was immediately surrounded by priests. Rough hands grabbed her from behind, and even though she struggled to get away, the two men managed to throw her into the town jail.
When they slammed the doors shut, she sat down on the hard cot and looked around, not quite sure what to do. Magic could free her, but then she would be a target marked for death.
She laid back and watched the ceiling until she heard someone walking up.
“Why was I called out of bed to come to the jail and get you?” Alric asked, frustrated.
She sat up and shrugged slightly, afraid to tell him why she assaulted someone else.
“Come out,” he said, and opened the cell door.
Kyrin walked out without a word and then looked up when Finn ran up.
“Care to explain?” Finn asked irately.
“Calm down,” Alric said. “I don’t even know what happened.”
“She assaulted my brother! The priests had to save his life.”
Alric turned to Kyrin and frowned. “Why did you assault him?”
She shrugged.
Finn grabbed her shoulders and shook her. “Tell me!”
“Let’s hear her out,” Alric said, and pulled Finn away from her.
“He…”
“What would be so bad that you’d try to kill him?” Finn screamed.
“He put his lips on mine,” she whispered, watching the ground.
“A kiss earned him death?”
“It’s…”
Alric sighed. “She doesn’t know what a kiss is, Finn. I’m sure it seemed like an assault to her.”
Finn moved to her and grabbed her shoulders roughly. “Listen here! No one is out to get you. You aren’t about to be sold to the highest bidder! Women aren’t oppressed or tortured! When are you going to understand that you aren’t in danger?!”
She had to fight not to use magic to make him let her go. The pull was strong to defend herself, but with Alric watching, she couldn’t deny the magic use later.
“Finn,” Alric said softly. “Let her go.”
She stepped back and watched the captain with wide eyes as Alric tried to calm him.
“She had no right! He liked her.”
“You knew she wasn’t going to deal with that well. You should have been with them or warned him not to touch her.”
Finn finally calmed some. “I did tell him that.”
“Is he okay then?”
“Yes, he’s going to be talking higher pitched for the next week though.”
Alric turned to Kyrin. “You have to calm down and stop lashing out at everything and everyone.”
“He shouldn’t have touched me.”
“It’s common here and usually doesn’t result in a beating.”
“He just caught me off guard,” she said to her hands.
Finn spun and stormed off, leaving just Alric and Kyrin in the dark road.
“Let’s go to the castle,” Alric said, and mounted his horse.
She nodded and began to walk beside it until Alric reached down and put her on the horse in front of him. He then kicked the horse to move faster back toward the castle.