“Two.”
That seemed like an awfully small number to me. Did there used to be more and they’d committed suicide?
Jaymes didn’t raise an eyebrow. “Take us to them.”
The warden made a gesture to follow him. “If you don’t mind me asking, why do you wish to see our pyforial mages?”
“They might be joining us in this fight.”
The prison was dank, with crowded cells of quiet prisoners. It smelled closer to death the farther we went into its depths.
“They’re in the back, in solid cells, sir. But I don’t think you’ll want either of them. The man is old and lost his mind many years ago. The woman is young but weak. She cries and constantly threatens to take her own life unless someone speaks with her.”
“Speaks with her about what?”
“Anything, sir. She just wants to talk. A guard spends an hour outside her door each day listening to the strange things she says.”
“Commander Jorgan?” Shara asked.
“What is it?”
“I’m curious why I’m here. Isn’t it dangerous to let a pyforial mage out of a cell?”
“You’re here so I could speak to you on the way. If you’re afraid, wait outside.”
Shara stopped and tapped her chin. Then she changed her mind, running to catch up.
“I’m too curious,” she admitted, hooking her arm around mine. “Don’t hesitate to subdue them if they look like they’re going to attack.”
Normally, I wouldn’t be nervous about a pyforial mage. I was one, and I wasn’t dangerous. But Eizle hadn’t been dangerous, either, until he’d spent a year in prison, and I didn’t know how long the two we’d be visiting had dwelt in solitude.
“I’ll be ready,” I reassured Shara.
“The old man’s cell is here.” The warden pointed to a rusted door of bronze, an open square at the bottom just tall and wide enough for a bucket. “He doesn’t like loud noises.”
“Tell me what else you know about him,” the commander said.
“He’s been in that cell for longer than I’ve worked here, over twenty years. I don’t know what he did with pyforial energy, just that he used it. It’s rare to get more than two words out of him that make sense.”
“What’s his name?”
The warden’s mouth flattened. “His name?”
A small fire burned behind the commander’s eyes. “He has a name, hasn’t he? Even pets have names.”
“If he does, then he no longer knows it.”
Jaymes shook his head. The warden glanced at the floor.
The commander crouched in front of the hole and spoke in a soft voice for the first time since I’d met him. “Hello. Can you hear me?”
There was no reply from the other side.
“I’m sure he can hear you,” the warden said.
“What’s your name?” Jaymes tried, a bit louder than before.
A voice croaked out, “Naaaame.”
“Yes, what is your name?”
Laughter started. “What is your name?”
“I am Commander Jaymes Jorgan, the army commander of the North. I’m here to—”
“What is your name!” the old man interrupted. “What is your name!”
“I’m here to recruit pyforial mages like yourself if they’re lucid and able. Do you understand what I’m asking?”
“Pyforial mages. Mages who py for you. I know py. Grab. Grab. Grab.”
“Move away!” I urged him as I felt the energy gathering.
But Jaymes wasn’t quick enough. His right leg shot forward toward the hole as he slid on his back, the rest of his limbs flailing. He caught himself against the wall with his other foot, then flew up and slammed his hands and chest against it. It looked like a shark was trying to take him in its jaws as he struggled to keep his foot out of the cell. Shara screamed as the warden tried to pull the commander back.
“Grab! Grab! Grab!” the prisoner continued to shout.
With my mind, I got hold of the ring of energy around the commander’s ankle and broke it apart, mimicking the action with a turn of my wrist. Jaymes fell backward.
The prisoner wept. “Broken! Broken! It’s broken!”
We all hurried away from the cell, Jaymes telling me, “It felt like a shackle was locked around my ankle, then it shattered apart. Was that you?”
“Yes, sir.”
“Why’d you take so long, recruit?”
“I…um. Sorry. I’ll be faster next time.”
“Yes you will.” He pointed his finger at me.
As we headed to the other pyforial mage’s cell, I noticed movement behind me. When I saw who it was, I put my hand on Shara’s shoulder and pointed.
We both turned fully around to face Henry. He waved with a silly grin. We didn’t wave back.
“How did he get in here?” Shara whispered.
“He probably has some badge or something that lets him in anywhere.”
The commander looked over his shoulder and glanced at Henry before his eyes came back and met mine. I wanted him to say something, to admit how strange it was for the mute guard to follow me everywhere. But Jaymes didn’t say a word. He even pretended like nothing was wrong.
I tried to get words out of him. “Why is Henry following me?”
Jaymes pretended not to hear.
Was even the commander of the army scared of Swenn? Shara’s wide, worried eyes didn’t make me feel better.
“Tell me about the other prisoner,” Jaymes requested.
“She was fifteen when she was caught,” the warden replied. “She’s eighteen now.”
“What’s her name?” There was an edge to the commander’s voice, indicating there would be trouble if the warden couldn’t answer.
“Laney.”
“And is she dangerous?”
“Not like the last one. She’s pitiful. You’ll see as soon as you speak with her.”
“How was she caught?”
“There was a report that she was using the energy when alone. An investigation followed. Guards saw her using it. They arrested her.”
The commander didn’t question the warden’s explanation, but there was so much left unsaid.
“Did she fight the arrest?” I asked, figuring anyone would who was about to be imprisoned for the rest of their life.
“She didn’t have a chance,” the warden answered. “When pyforial mages are discovered, they’re knocked out from behind.”
“And when that doesn’t work?” I wasn’t sure I wanted to know.
“Those who fight are shot with an arrow.”
So there was no trial. It could’ve been me in one of those cells. Swenn had reported me just like Laney had been reported.
“Hello, is someone outside?” a voice questioned. The hole at the bottom of her door was just like the other. She pushed her head into it. A mess of brown hair fell over her face that made Shara’s locks look neat and trimmed. Laney pushed it out of the way, revealing eyes red from crying. The rest of her face was bone thin, as if she hadn’t eaten enough for months, possibly years, sadly reminding me of Eizle.
“Hello! Are you here to speak with me? So many! What will we talk about?”
“Can you tell me your name?” the commander asked flatly.
“Of course, it’s Laney.”
“Do you know your last name?”
“Do I know my last name, he says.” She giggled. “Laney Tailbird.”
“I’m the army commander. I’m here to find out if you would be a suitable candidate to join us in war.”
She frowned, then took her face out of the hole. Her legs folded and the fingers of one hand drummed on the ground. “Another group came by. Don’t ask me how long ago it was because I don’t keep track of the days. They wanted to see if I would be a suitable teacher of pyforial energy. I don’t know what I said, but they left without me. I wanted to go with them. They would’ve taken me to Ovira. I’m so sad in here.” The misery of her voice wrenched my heart. “I’ll do anything to get out.”
“I’m going to ask you some questions,” the commander cautioned, his voice dispassionate. “What were you using pyforial energy to do?”
“I only have one arm. The energy helps me do everything someone with two arms can do.”
Jaymes looked to the warden for confirmation of her missing limb. He nodded.
“How did you lose your arm?”
“It’s not lost. I never had it. Lost!” She laughed, then abruptly fell silent. “I want to get out of here.”
“What can you do with pyforial energy?”
“I’ve never hurt anyone with it.” She paused. “I’ve never hurt anyone without it. People have hurt me, though. Many people. My life has been sad.” She started to cry. “I’m so sad.” She sucked in a breath. “But I would be happy to be free. I don’t understand why I need to be in here. I wouldn’t hurt anyone.”
“We would need you to hurt people, even kill them.”
Silence.
“Don’t leave, I’m thinking.”
“We won’t,” the commander reassured her.
Her voice was glum as she answered. “Who would I be hurting?”
“Enemies of the North—soldiers who burn the houses of civilians and fight against us. Have you heard about the war?”
“Guards have told me what they know. I would be killing Southerners?”
“Yes.”
“I can do that.”
“Can you? How strong are you with the energy.”
“With nothing to do in here but use it, I’ve become powerful. I never planned to hurt anyone with it, though. I don’t know how to answer your question. I’m sorry.”
“You’re answering it fine.”
“Am I doing well?”
“You are.”
“I want to leave. I’ve wanted to leave for so…” Crying interrupted her for the span of a breath. “So, so long! If you let me leave, I could be happy again. Please let me leave.”
The commander didn’t speak as he thought.
“Are you still there?”
The commander held up his hand, indicating we shouldn’t speak.
“Hello? Hello!” Her voice rose. “Please! Please!” It pained me not to say anything. “No!” She screamed like a madwoman, shrill and painful. “No! No! No! Please! What did I say!” I never felt so compelled to speak, her desperation impossible to endure, but Jaymes kept his hand lifted. A tear fell down Shara’s cheek.
Laney stuck her face into the hole again, weeping as she lifted her mop of hair out of her eyes. “You didn’t leave! Don’t go without me. Please. Please!”
All of us were too stunned to speak. I’d never met someone who didn’t have any dignity left. It physically hurt to watch her plead, as if her life was in our hands. I supposed it was to some extent. Freedom was everything to her.
“Please let her out,” Shara whispered, her eyes glistening.
The commander stared at Laney, somehow emotionless.
“I almost killed myself when the other group left without me,” she said, crying. “I’m going to kill myself this time.”
Jaymes whipped his finger at her. “Don’t say that.”
“It’s the truth. I’m going to kill myself!”
“If you’re going to join my army, you will not threaten your superiors, especially not with taking your own life.”
Although Laney continued to cry, a smile cracked open her mouth. “I swear, never again.”
“Move away from the door.”
She gasped and disappeared. Jaymes ordered the warden to bring us neck protectors.
“You didn’t leave, did you?” Laney asked.
“Not without you.”
She squealed as the floor thumped from the sound of her jumping up and down. Crying followed, heavy sobs of joy. The warden returned with solid metal necklaces discolored from rust, not unlike the door to Laney’s cell.
I couldn’t help but feel nervous. As happy as I was for Laney, I wasn’t sure how comfortable I could be with her near Shara.
We each followed the commander’s lead and put on the wide metal neck braces. It was a snug fit between my collar and my chin, making it impossible to tilt my head down.
Three separate keys were needed to unlock the massive door. The rusted hinges shrieked as it opened. Laney walked out one step, sniffling, then fell to her knees. Weeping took over as she curled into a ball, a fragile-looking woman in ragged clothing. No doubt I could lift her with one arm.
Shara crouched beside her, putting her hand on Laney’s back as she wept too hard to move, her one hand covering her face. There was nothing where her other arm should be, just an empty sleeve.
We waited in silence for minutes as Shara continued to comfort her. Finally, Laney’s sobs reduced to sniffles and she found the strength to sit up. She glanced between us, her red eyes focused on the metal neck protectors.
“Oh, choking,” she said with a grimace. “I wouldn’t do that.”
I felt a deep sadness. There was no reason this gentle woman needed to be wasting away.
“Are you the warden?” Laney asked him.
“I am.”
“I don’t want to thank you, but I suppose my life could’ve been worse if you hadn’t allowed those guards to speak to me.”
“I’m not sure how to respond.”
“I think I hate you.”
“Oh.”
“Yes, but I also like you.”
“I see.”
“I hope I never see you again.” She scrunched her mouth and glanced at my face next. A smile slowly curled her lips. Her eyes squinted shut and a whimper squeezed out as tears streamed down her cheeks. “I’m so happy!”
“Come on,” Jaymes urged. “We’re going back to the castle.”
Laney gasped. “I get to see the castle?”
“As long as you follow my orders and prove you can fight, you’ll be living there while you train.”
She broke into sobs again and couldn’t move for a long while.
CHAPTER FOUR
It seemed to be a constant effort for Laney to hold in her tears. She clutched her chest and gasped at the sight of our horses, a smile lifting the corners of her gaping mouth. She reached out tentatively to pet mine.
“Laney.” She jumped at the sound of the commander’s voice. “You’re riding with me.”
“Can I use py?”
“Not until I say so.”
“But I only have one arm. How am I supposed to get up there with you?”
He held out his hand, but she was even more nervous about touching him than the horse.
“Let’s go, recruit!”
She whimpered, shutting her eyes and putting her hand over her face. A wail followed. It reminded me of a child stubbing her toe.
“Why are you yelling at me?”
“You’re about to go back in that cell if you don’t stop crying and get on my horse!”
Laney puddled to the ground, her loud wails drawing the gaze of everyone nearby.