My brother’s smal body lay at the feet of the cave, the dagger edged in blood from his neck slipping back into its place on the soldier’s belt.
The serpent stepped over my brother’s body and knelt before me.
“Say goodbye to your family, Rogan. A new one awaits you.”
I ached. I had never felt such pain before. But I had never been on a horse for so long, nor trapped in the embrace of the man who rode the horse. I was so
stiff from keeping my body as far from his as possible; an impossible task with his long arms encircling me in order to hold the reins.
I didn’t know where we were. It was dark and even muggier here. We had moved south. I twisted my neck to look at Kir, who rode trapped between the
Captain of the Guard and the reins of his horse, Destroyer. Such a fitting name. He had helped the despicable mage behind me, Vikomt Syracen Stovia – one
of the Glava – destroy my life, as well as Kir’s.
The Kral was dead.
Only Haydyn Dyzvati, Princezna of Phaedra, remained of the evokers. Kir told me Stovia was collecting those left with rare magic to help protect and
reinforce the sovereignty, until Haydyn came of age and produced more children of the Dyzvati.
Kir was one of the Glava, a telekinetic.
“
The Dyzvati power has waned,” Kir had whispered to me, his eyes flickering to our guard not too far from us. That had been only two nights after the
murder of my family. Kir had been with the Guard for a week. The other soldiers ate and talked quietly around the campfire. “Syracen has taken advantage
of it. The way he talks… as if the violence of his crimes is justified. He’s protecting the sovereign and the peace of Phaedra. With blood and cruelty. With
selfish pursuit of the last of the mage.”
“
But I’m not a mage,” I had whispered in shock. We were sitting together offside of the fire. Strangers. But the wiry boy, a few years my senior, shared
the haunted look in my eyes. They had destroyed his family too.
Kir had shrugged. “You must be.”
But I wasn’t. Was I?
I caught Kir’s eyes now, as we moved swiftly and quietly into the small village. His face was taut, his eyes narrowed. Something was happening.
The horses drew to a stop, not even a snort, so obedient to their masters will. An unpleasant shock went through me at the feel of Stovia’s hand in my
hair.
“
Now, little one,” he whispered in my ear. “Time to see how well that magic of yours works.”
I shifted away from him. “I have no magic.”
He chuckled. “You’re one of the Azyl, child.”
One of the Azyl? No. He was mistaken.
“
I’m not.” I looked to Kir for help. He could only look on.
With a growl, Stovia dismounted from the horse and none too gently ripped me from the saddle. My feet hadn’t even hit the ground and he was shaking
me, my eyes rolling back in my head with the force of it. “Stop pretending!” He hissed, seeming careful not to raise his voice. He let go of me and I stumbled.
He lowered his body so his austere face was level with my own. Those wickedly black eyes burrowed through me. “In this village is one of the Dravilec. I
want you to seek out my healer, Azyl. Now.”
At the command I felt a wave crash through me, my whole body humming with tingling vibrancy. A mind of its own, my body turned to face the village.
And I could feel her. The Dravilec. Six years old. Valena of Daeronia. We were in Daeronia. Thought so. We were growing closer to Sabithia. To Silvera. To
the Princezna.
Wait.
I am an Azyl.
I swayed at the thought. All the time my father had told me the stories, how my brother and I had been desperate for a little piece of magic in our lives.
And I was a mage. I wanted to cry. I wanted to be with my family.
What would Stovia do to Valena’s family? Would he murder them in cold blood if they refused to hand her over? I knew, even without my help, that he
would find Valena. He was a powerful Glava. Could sense magic. But that didn’t mean I had to aid in the destruction of another family.
“
No,” I whispered.
“
What?” Syracen growled.
I spun around, defiant, hatred blazing out of my eyes. I wished I was Glava with the ability to summon the elements. I’d set him on fire and watch him
burn for what he had done to me. To Kir. For what he would do to Valena.
“
I said… no.”
His hand cracked against my face with such force I was sent flying to the ground. The breath whooshed out of me at the agonising blow to my ribs as I
made impact with the hard dirt. My eyes watered at the painful heat across the left side of my face. I felt something warm trickle from my mouth and hissed
at the pain and taste of copper where my lip split open.
I heard Kir cry out my name.
But Syracen wasn’t done. He grabbed me by the clasp on my cloak and held me so he could slap me across the right side of my face. The world rang in my
ears. But I refused to cry.
“
Find me the healer, girl, or you’ll wish you were dead.”
“
No!” Kir yelled and I could hear the sounds of a struggle.
“
Shut him up,” Syracen hissed.
I heard the sound of flesh hitting flesh, of Kir grunting. No.
“
No,” I groaned, lolling limply in Stovia’s grasp. “Stop.”
“
Will you find the Dravilec.”
I couldn’t. “No.”
“
Lash the boy to the nearest tree. He’s going to pay for Rogan’s disobedience.”
My heart lurched in my chest and I shrugged around Stovia to watch through blurred vision as they dragged a bleeding, crying Kir to the nearest tree
trunk. They ripped at his shirt. One of them produced a horse whip and Kir whimpered in terror. I felt vomit rush up my throat but I willed the acidic show of
weakness down.
“
Stop,” I murmured weakly. “Stop. Don’t hurt him. I’ll do it.”
I looked to Stovia. He watched me closely. Seeming fascinated. Then he nodded at his men and they quickly drew Kir’s cloak over him and dragged him
back to the horses. His right eye was already swelling shut and I imagined my left eye was much the same.
“
Tut tut, Rogan,” Syracen whispered, bending down to gaze at me face to face. “You’ve just shown me your weakness. I imagine I could have battered
you into an oblivion of agony and you would not have given in. But you won’t let someone else be hurt because of you. Interesting. And useful. Now find me
the Dravilec.”
I was gripped with nauseating shame as I took the guards through the winding, quaint, peaceful village. By now, we had made enough noise to rouse
people from their homes, and they gathered on their doorsteps nervously, as their eyes took in the Royal Guard and the two beaten children with them. I
came to a stop at the doorstep of a shop. An apothecary.
“
Here.”
Syracen smiled at me, his eyes brimming with pride. I hated him. “Yes, it is. Thank you, Rogan.”
He pulled the rope by the door and a brass bell rang loudly. We heard hurried footsteps and then the door was thrust open by an older man, tall and
imposing.
“
Can I help?” He queried, warily.
“
I am Vikomt Syracen Stovia of the Rada. May I come in, Mr Rosonia?”
Rosonia’s eyes widened but he nodded, his oil lamp casting his profile against the shadows of the wall. Syracen turned back and nodded at two guards
who strode forward to follow at his back. Sadistically, he pushed me past the threshold of the door. He wanted me to witness this.
Once inside, Rosonia stood with a stout, middle-aged woman, who looked frightened, clutching her robes tightly around her. Two girls stood behind them.
One, a tall, attractive girl, possibly in her early teens. Clutching her hand was Valena. Small and frightened, her large dark eyes too big for her face.
“
I come bearing sad news.” Syracen stood before them, intimidating and powerful. “The Kral is dead.”
The Rosonia’s gasped at the news.
“
Yes. I am afraid it is true. Princezna Haydyn is now alone in the world, the weight of carrying the load of Dyzvati too great for her young shoulders. As
the only mage upon the Rada I felt it was my duty to seek whatever her highness needs to aid her in her mighty responsibilities.”
“
What can we do to help, My Lord?” Valena’s father asked eagerly, his eyes full of genuine sadness for the Kral.
“
There is very little magic left in our world. But I’ve been collecting the strongest of the magic. Here,” he put his deadly hand upon my shoulder and I
fought not to shudder, “Is one of the Azyl, thought to be extinct. But she found you well enough.”
I saw how Mr Rosonia and his wife gasped at my appearance. “What happened to the child?”
“
One of my soldiers. He has been dealt with,” Syracen lied smoothly. “But you have in your keeping someone who could help my little Rogan.”
“
Mama.” The elder girl looked frightened now, drawing Valena closer. “Don’t.”
They knew why he was here.
“
Valena.” Mr Rosonia exhaled heavily. “She is one of the Dravilec then?”
“
You had your suspicions?” Syracen asked.
Valena’s father merely nodded.
“
She is needed. Your daughter is needed by her people.”
“
You want to take her?” The mother now spoke up, her voice trembling.
Syracen smiled. “She will be well cared for at the palace. And you may visit. She will be taught by the Royal Dravilec how to use her power. She is strong.
I could taste her energy from Sabithia it was so strong.”
The Rosonia’s stood in silence for a moment, mother and father questioning one another with their eyes. Finally, Valena’s father turned to Syracen and
nodded. “You may take her, my Lord.”
I gasped in outrage. My parents had died rather than see me in the hands of this slithering beast of a man. I wasn’t the only one outraged. The elder girl
shrieked and grabbed Valena to her, refusing to let her go. Valena screamed and cried; terrified, confused, not knowing what was going on. Mr Rosonia
managed to wrench Valena free. He let his wife take her upstairs. She returned quickly, Valena dressed snug and warm, but still crying. Her mother hugged
her, quiet tears rolling down her cheeks as her daughter clung to her. Her husband came over and pulled Valena away, ignoring his elder daughter who
sobbed in a ball on the ground. He kissed Valena’s cheeks, choking back his own tears, promised he would see her soon and handed her into the arms of
Syracen Stovia. Immediately, sensing what only children could, she began shrieking and beating at him to get away. Careful to hide his disgust, Syracen
reached down and thrust the squalling six year old in my arms. I pressed her close, ashamed for my part in all this. Valena stopped struggling, and instead
looped her little arms around my neck, her legs around my waist, and bawled into my shoulder. A memory of my little brother doing the same not too many
weeks ago when he had fallen from a tree and cut his leg flashed through my mind and I squeezed the girl closer, as if I alone could protect her.
Stovia hurried us out of the house and we walked a distance away to the bridge that would take us out of the village.
“
Lieutenant Sandstone,” Stovia called quietly, and the soldier trotted forward on his horse. “Take Valena. I can’t carry the two on my horse.”
Sandstone dismounted and tried to pry Valena from me. The girl began to shriek, her tiny hands gripping to my cloak, my hair, refusing to budge. And
even though I winced at her tight hold, I refused to hand her over.
“
That’s enough,” Syracen grunted. He pushed Sandstone out of the way and gripped a hold of Valena, bruising her small arms as he ripped her from me.
I cried out as his arm swooped down, his hand cracking across her face. I rushed at him in a rage, beating and pushing at him. I was pulled off by the soldier.
Syracen, to spite me, hit Valena one more time. Sobbing, furious, I fought against the soldier only to be beaten by the pummelling fists of the Captain of the
Guard. The next thing I knew, Kir was in the fray, hitting and punching at those who tried to hurt us. I no longer felt pain though. I was too angry. Too
immersed in my fury to feel anything else.
Finally, I was pinned to the ground by the Captain and as he stared down at me I noticed his eyes for the first time. They were blank. Empty.
“
Captain… After we leave the village, I want you to take two of your men and burn the apothecary to the ground. With the Rosonia’s inside,” Syracen
demanded from somewhere to my left.
The Captain nodded robotically, and it was then I knew. With the evocation of the Dyzvati weakened by Princezna Haydyn’s grief and age, Syracen’s
magic was able to penetrate it. He was compelling the soldiers to do his awful deeds.
I was lifted to my feet, my heart heavy and despairing.
Syracen appeared before me, holding Valena close, her little cheeks red from his slaps. “Now you can live with the fact you just had Valena’s family
killed.”
My despair must have translated to my face for Syracen laughed gleefully.
“
Don’t, Rogan.” Kir struggled against a soldier, his young face mottled with anger. “He was going to have them killed anyway. Don’t let him make you
think you did it.”
Syracen curled his lip in disgust. “I’ve had enough of you. Sandstone!”