Dragonoak: Gall and Wormwood, page 64
Questions hung in the air between us. I wanted to shrink from Eden's gaze, until I realised that she didn’t know enough about Katja and me to do any more than stare. All she saw was a mingling of two sides. There was nothing deeper to it than that.
“We've done it,” I told them. “Well, Rylan's army thinks they've done it. They're taking all of the gunpowder out of the city and—”
“Gunpowder?” Alex asked, about to fall back into his seat.
“It's a long story. Rylan was going to use gunpowder to destroy Thule, if Claire didn't surrender,” I said. “But it's fine. Rylan's army is bringing the gunpowder here and we're going to get rid of it. Then we'll let them know that Rylan isn't... he's...”
“He's dead,” Katja said. There was no boast behind her words, and she evoked no sadness on her own part.
“Kouris,” Alex said. He spoke as though he did not know how to shape her name, even after he’d said it. “I had heard from my sister that you were… You are alive.”
Katja tilted her head, unable to see any face but Rylan’s in his.
“Oh. Alex. How are you?” she asked, attention immediately wandering.
Alex didn’t blink.
Eden placed a hand on his back and helped him sit back down.
“But Rylan, he...” Alex murmured. “I knew he was desperate, but... Surely there...”
His words faded into nothing as he rubbed his mouth. Deeming they had been given enough of an explanation, Katja made for a desk in the corner, unlocked the top drawer, and took a leaf of paper from it.
“An inventory,” she said in reply to Kidira's questioning gaze. “It will be rather useful to ensure we've collected all of the kegs.”
And to think, I'd been so caught off-guard by the day's events that I didn't think to question why Katja cared to free Alex and Eden. Of course there was something in it for her.
“What will happen to Halla?” I asked.
I couldn't look at her, but my words were clear.
“Hm? Oh, goodness me, Halla,” Katja said, brightening. “Yes, I do believe she'll do as she pleases, for Agados do not have as strong a hold over her as they would like to believe. Did you know that there is a great stone room in the King's tower with no windows, no furniture? Nothing but grates where fire rises. It is a furnace, if you will, meant for the necromancers that disobey him. He has found reason to use it many, many times. Of course, what Halla pleases tends to line up with the Agadians’ wishes, so I expect her to be back in Soldato within the month. A terrible shame, really. I had hoped I would be able to work with her.”
“Don't you dare go near her,” I said, eyes snapping up to meet hers.
“Come now, Rowan. You cannot dismiss my attention and then become so awfully petty when I show interest in another necromancer,” Katja said.
She raised an eyebrow, challenging me. She was baiting me and I knew it, but I wanted to scream that she had taken so much more than my hand, that her torture was not only in what I had felt along her knife’s blade but in the way she had manipulated what I knew to be right and true and misaligned my memories. But Alex and Eden were there. Kidira was there. I couldn’t let it spill from me, lest the bile of my anger make Katja seem like the reasonable one.
“Varn won’t always be around to stop me,” I said.
“What?”
“Varn won’t always be around to stop me,” I repeated. “She’ll go back to Canth eventually, and then it’ll be you and me, and… and…”
“Another death threat? They lose their impact after the second or third attempt, dear,” she said, but the laugh that followed was too shrill for me not to have touched on something resembling fear.
Kidira watched the exchange while Alex and Eden tried to fit the pieces together. My shoulders tensed and I wanted to disappear within myself, into the floorboards, because if this was the cost of victory then I could not, I would not be able to—
“Kouris,” Kidira said, loud and clear. “If I so much as see you look in Rowan’s direction ever again, you will learn very quickly that my threats are not so empty as hers.”
Now it was Katja’s turn to tense. She weighed her options and in light of the turmoil that still lingered, did nothing but say, “Yes, mother,” as she muttered something about heading to the lake to ensure all of the gunpowder was disposed of.
Kidira directed Alex to the banquet hall and waited for Eden and me in the doorway.
“Rowan,” Eden said, hands on my shoulders. “It’s so good to see you. To know that everyone’s safe. I had been so very worried and more than useless locked back there, I’m afraid.”
“Not useless. Rylan sent half his army to fight non-existent dragons, thanks to you.”
She allowed herself a brief smile.
“I’m glad. Even pretending to betray Claire left me quite unsettled and had none of it been worth it…” She shook her head and placed a hand on my cheek. “Are you alright, Rowan? I can’t pretend to understand what just happened, but—”
“Have you seen Reis?” I asked, almost tripping over the awkward change of subject.
“Reis?”
“They left to find you earlier,” I said. “They went a few times.”
“They did?” Eden asked, as surprised to hear that as she was to know we’d won. “I do hope they’re alright.”
I took her hand and led her out of the room. Kidira navigated the corridors with ease and led us out of the castle and into the woods beyond. A glimpse behind me showed how wrong Rylan had been; if people had left for their beds, twice as many had awoken and headed for the castle gates. Eden trailed behind as wonder lit up her face. I tugged her along, watching Kouris and Oak fly above the crowds, escorting the Agadians with their gunpowder kegs, all of them under the impression that Rylan was on the throne and I was about to be handed over to them.
Katja would change their orders, soon. They’d know that I wasn’t to be taken. I’d stop feeling as though I was about to be torn away from everyone I knew and loved any moment now.
I squeezed Eden’s hand. She didn’t understand why but she squeezed back just as tightly.
It took hours for the gunpowder to be gathered and sent to the bottom of the lake. Katja meticulously checked every keg off the inventory and corresponding map and Kidira kept a close eye on her as she worked. My heart pushed itself into my throat with every keg that was carried past, for the soldiers were gradually becoming less and less certain of why they were being made to destroy the gunpowder, even under Katja’s watchful gaze.
As the gunpowder was washed away, unease spread throughout the city. The Agadian forces had gathered in front of the castle and stood in neatly formed grids, each a hundred strong. Kouris could do little to placate a city that was convinced their Queen had fallen.
Once every grain of gunpowder was in the bottom of the lake, I returned to Claire. Alex and Aren remained at Rylan’s side. I took Claire by the arm, leading her to a balcony she could address the Kingdom from. Once the people saw her, the crowd would turn to relief, not a mob.
“I’m sorry for how this all ended,” I said. “I’m sorry we lost so much of the castle, so many people. That Rylan’s…”
“Rylan ensured that there was no other way for it to end,” she said, but nothing resembling cruelty filled her voice. “I will do what I can to not remember him for this alone. But I shall never forgive him, either.”
It didn’t matter how many times I told myself that this was it: it was over. I didn’t believe it. Couldn’t. The moment I did, the moment I accepted that there was something other than ruin around us, it would all be pulled away. The best I could bring myself to say was that things had not ended as poorly as they could’ve. I could see nothing but years of work ahead of us, and a hundred new problems.
“People are going to remember Katja as a hero, aren’t they?” I asked.
I had never been more grateful that I couldn’t read. Decades from now, history books would be adorned with her name: Kouris Katja Nyarko, the woman who’d finally taken down Prince Rylan after years spent leaving destruction in his wake; the woman who’d taken control of the invading Agadian forces and chased them from our Kingdom; the woman who’d done it all for Kastelir and saw life returned to the territories.
And why wouldn’t she be remembered that way? It was all true. Save for a handful of regretful days, she was the hero here. The only bad thing anyone could say was that she had pushed a necromancer too far.
“I expect so,” Claire said. With half the city on the verge of clawing its way into the castle, she stopped and tapped her fingers beneath my chin, ensuring I was looking at her. “But you know from Kouris that rumours are wont to outlive the truth. We will find a way to ensure that your story is heard, Rowan. Know that we do not trust Katja. Know that this does not somehow redeem her; that a lifetime spent healing these lands will not redeem her, either.
“Right now, this is the only choice we have. It is the only way to guarantee Felheim’s safety. The fact that you are here with me, striding forward in spite of what has happened not only today but in the past is a sign of your bravery. And do not think that is a reflection on what Katja has done: she has not created anything within you. This is who you always were and always will be. Remember that.”
I had been willing to hand myself over to the Agadians for the sake of Felheim. With Claire at my side, I knew I could stand by Katja for the same reason.
“Everyone’s getting restless,” I said, glancing towards the stairs. “Your Kingdom’s waiting for you.”
At the top of a curved staircase, arched glass doors opened onto a balcony at the very centre of the castle. Haru-Taiki flew across the crowds, garnering their attention, and made his way to Claire’s outstretched arm. Haru-Taiki landing was enough to get the ripple of unrest to turn to staggered, speculative silence. People grasped at each other’s shoulders, pushed themselves onto tiptoes and squinted, to see who was really on the balcony.
“That’d be your Queen!” Kouris bellowed from on high.
Claire raised her hand and word spread through the ring of Thulians in a matter of seconds. A deafening roar reached the clouds and a swell of applause and cheer forced even Claire to smile. Kouris brought Oak around, and he landed in front of the Agadians.
They were bewildered. Katja stood on the balcony with us, Kidira, Akela and Eden close behind, but none of us were prisoners. Claire had taken the crown from Rylan’s head and the King the Agadians expected did not stand before them. The Felheimish and Kastelirian bulk of Rylan’s forces were scattered to the sides, weapons on the ground. They understood that it was over.
“Rylan has fallen,” Katja announced. “This alliance has come to an end, long after it ought to have. Your gunpowder is gone and our forces are vast. You would do well to return to Agados and tell your King to trouble us no more.”
The few Agadians who understood Mesomium passed the message back through their numbers. They’d never accept any order they didn’t wish to follow, yet what she said didn’t anger them. That in itself was unnerving. There was no discontent murmur; not a single soldier stepped out of formation or slumped their shoulders.
Only one man moved. Confidence preluded his every step as he marched towards the castle, stopping close enough to the balcony to be heard.
Close enough to be seen.
Tirok didn’t have to remove his helm. I recognised his eyes well enough.
“We were promised the necromancer,” he said, fixing his eyes on Katja as he pointed his spear at me. “What you have done with the gunpowder is your own business. We have more than delivered on our side of the deal. We will leave once we have it.”
“Goodness, Tirok. I know you are intent on ignoring every suggestion I make, but I know you are not deaf to my words,” Katja said, leaning over the railings. “Rylan has fallen and the offer is rescinded. If you have a problem with that, do feel free to take it up with his corpse. Now run along, before the Queen changes her mind about letting you go.”
Tirok stared at Katja without blinking and continued to speak for all the Agadians.
For his King.
“We will not leave without the necromancer.”
Katja sighed and Claire said, “Go. Rowan stays with us. Leave now or my army will drag you through the territories and back to Agados.”
“We will take the necromancer,” he repeated.
Not a single soldier drew their sword or raised a spear.
“You wish to stand against all of us?” Claire asked, spreading her arms out towards the horizon.
There were more people than ever around the castle, now that Rylan was defeated and the city was safe. They were so eager to get a glimpse of their Queen that our soldiers had difficulty making their way through the crowd. Guards rushed from the castle, meeting our soldiers in their golden armour, led by Ash.
Ash, in one piece, utterly exhausted but willing to use the last of her energy to salute Claire.
Tirok slammed the hilt of his spear against the ground.
The platoon parted, but not before I understood what they were hiding.
Who they were hiding.
Halla had been brought out without so much as a shawl draped over her shoulders. She shivered, held in place by the cold. Tirok put a hand on her elbow and whispered something in her ear. She bowed her head and though she did not wince, something twisted inside of her.
For a moment, I felt nothing from her. I mistakenly thought that something had been muted within her, that her light had been dimmed. And then it struck me, sharp through the chest. I recoiled though nothing but the wind truly touched me. Everything she had, every ounce of power she didn’t realise was hers, coiled tightly in her chest, ready to be harnessed for the Agadians’ use.
“Halla,” I murmured, rubbing my knuckles against my chest.
Behind us, boots hit the stairs. Varn and Atalanta joined us, weapons ever at the ready.
Without realising what she’d walked in on, Varn said, “Never guess what we found!”
A third set of footsteps followed, slow and heavy, and Reis stepped onto the balcony with one arm draped across Kondo-Kana’s shoulders. Their right eye was bruised purple and green. Blood trickled from their nose, though most of it had already dried on the front of their shirt.
I barely saw them. Halla’s pull was so strong that it tore me from even Kondo-Kana.
“Reis!” Eden blurted out. I saw her dart over and place her hands on their face from the corner of my eye. Reis didn’t shake them off.
Kondo-Kana left Reis in Eden’s care and drifted towards the railing.
I gripped the sleeve of her cloak, not wanting her to interfere.
“Please,” I whispered, unable to look at her.
I knew what had happened, the last time she faced another necromancer.
“We have a necromancer. You have a necromancer,” Claire called out. “Does this not make us evenly matched?”
She knew better than to bring Kondo-Kana into this, no matter how clearly she stood on the balcony, eyes blazing.
Had the Agadians not been so rigorously disciplined, they might’ve laughed at the thought of us being on the same level as them.
I didn’t see it at first. My eyes were fixed on Halla, blinding me to what she was doing.
It wasn’t until the silvery-grey fence between the Agadians and the rest of Thule turned white that I realised there was something very wrong with the ground beneath her feet. The Thulians were forced to look away. The blinding white was too deep, too easy to become lost in.
Halla was draining the light from the ground. My hand dropped from Kondo-Kana’s sleeve but she took hold of it before it fell to my side. All of this had happened before. Kondo-Kana knew how it started and we all knew how it would end.
The void lashed out at everyone, but no one felt its effects more keenly than Katja. She hissed, screwing her eyes shut and turned away as though sand had been blown into them.
“So. This is what it comes to,” Kondo-Kana said, entangling my fingers with hers. “Agadia holds the land itself ransom. They threaten to leave it as gaping and empty as Myros, for they are not content with the weapons they have cruelly forged.”
“I don’t…”
“I will not let them take you, Aejin. Say the word,” Kondo-Kana said. “I will tear down the stars themselves, if you will it. She will never know anything but the silence, after this.”
“No!” I said, shaking my hand free. “No. You can’t. Not again. Just… just give me a moment, okay? I can stop this. I can help her, I…”
Kondo-Kana knew more patience than anyone else on the balcony, or in the whole of Thule. The void was creeping up the castle walls and she merely patted a hand on my back, willing to let me try.
I rushed forward. Akela grabbed the back of my shirt when I climbed the railing, but I wasn’t quite desperate enough to leap to the ground. I was glad of her hand to steady me, though; looking down made me dizzy and brought back all the dreams I’d had of falling, falling, and the rocky reality before that.
“Oak!” I called out, but he was already bounding over.
His jaw just about reached the balcony when he stood on his hind legs. Akela let go of me, reluctant but trusting, and I leapt forward. I grabbed one of his horns and swung onto the back of his neck. Grunting, he lowered himself to the ground. I slid down his neck, tumbled off his back, and hit the ground running.
“Halla!”
The Agadians had no problem letting me approach her. They formed a circle around us, spears drawn. I glanced back at the balcony and saw Kondo-Kana leant against the railing, light rising from her arms and twisting with the stonework. She’d wait. I knew she would. I had to end this, and it had to end without any more bloodshed.
“Halla. What are you doing?” I asked, crouching in front of her. “Please. This isn’t a good idea. Do you even understand what this is?”
She pressed her hands to her temples and the void spread faster than before. The grey of the flagstones rang white, colour retreating as though drowned by a burst dam.
“You…” Halla began. Her eyes left blazing trails as she shook her head, every inch of her skin glowing. “You killed your King. You killed the King! You—you’re a traitor. A traitor to your Kingdom. And… and you wanted me to do the same. To betray my King. You… you have to come with us. The King has to take your powers back. You don’t deserve them, you…”
