29. From the Ashes
CHAPTER 29
From the Ashes
ALIA
R an flew. She soared through the skies, doing twirls and loops as if her very being was a child just introduced to flight.
I watched her—all my people watched her. They were a bit more concerned than I about her, though.
"Is that... a dragon?" Brandt said, coming out of the house, supporting a very determined-looking Anna.
Anna glanced up to find us all free and joyful, and her face transformed from grim and determined to shimmering with happiness.
"Boy, did you miss a lot," Jacob said in a deep, grown-up voice. When everyone turned to look at him, he shrugged. "What?" he asked. His voice broke that time, reverting to his usual tone. He was growing up.
Brandt sat with Anna on a bench in front of the Red’s Palace—it was more of a small castle housing all the Reds on missions at the edge of the sand arena—and they both watched the dragon play in the sky.
My eyes tried to water as I watched Ran, so gloriously free . All these years, I hadn’t realized she had missed something so vital to her being.
I turned to my people. It was time to get them into shape.
"What’s we gon’ do ’bout them unicorns, miss?" a shopkeeper asked, strangling his hat while staring at the unicorns who were milling around, eating—I did a double take. They were eating grass from along the edges of the sandpit?
"Leave them, unless they attack," I said at last. I nearly jumped when one walked five feet from me, swishing her tail and eyeing me, but otherwise passing by without altercation. She grabbed a bite of a flowering bush along a water fountain beside the palace. Everyone scurried about like scared ants until there was a large swathe of open ground between them and the unicorn.
I watched the white creature and my eye twitched. Why were these unicorns not murderous beasts?
They helped me wage a war. The war was not right nor just, and I killed many, Two-Legs. Her voice was broken, tinged with deep sadness. They were cursed with me.
That... is a tale in a half. I would need to get with her soon so we could go through it all. Right after I had a talk with Shen about him killing my grandpa and why he was still hanging around. Didn’t he have other things to do?
But for now. "The murderer is in the dungeon along with Graham, correct? Are there any other dissenters or problems I should be aware of?” I asked Elder Timone.
He rang his robe. “Matriarch Aurelia?—”
“Alia, Elder. Just Alia.”
“Very well. Matriarch Alia, you have been through a terrible ordeal and lost a close friend and got her back. Are you not going to take this time?—”
“To what, Elder? Let my people burn in their guilt or make poor decisions? They need a strong yet fair leader. That is what I will be. Do not make me repeat myself.”
“Yes, madame. There is a faction of the Reds who have become disgruntled about no longer hunting for pelts to rise in ranks. Perhaps you could send them out for some other creature or another way to rise in rank?”
“Gather the Reds in the courtyard of the school, from the youngest trainee to the oldest who is not on bedrest.”
“Yes, madame.” Elder Timone bowed before scurrying away—regally, of course—to do my bidding.
“Honey, don’t push yourself?—”
“I’m not, Mom. I just have a job,” I snapped.
She looked at me, not with anger, but with sadness. I exhaled to calm myself.
“I’m sorry. I’m coiled tighter than a strained tendon,” I said with a wry smile. “Can you both make sure Anna is safe and get the kids from Rey? Source only knows he doesn’t need those kids longer than a second.”
Mom and Dad nodded. “We will, hon. But we’re here when you need us, alright?”
Tears pricked at my eyes at the gentle understanding in her voice. I loved my parents. They were the best. I gave her a quick hug.
“Oh,” she said, quickly wrapping me in her arms. It’d been a long time since I had initiated a hug. I squeezed her one last time and then grabbed Dad’s hand with one arm and Jacob in with the other for a group hug. I met Anna's eyes. She gave me a smile, her eyes bright but sad.
“We’re gonna be alright,” I whispered, sensing their need .
I walked over to my sister, embracing her. She clung to me with a strength she hadn't had in some time.
We split off soon after that, all to do differing tasks. It only took me four blocks to realize I had a shadow. I whirled on Shen who kept pace about three steps behind me. “Shoo! Begone!”
Despite the seriousness of his face, he cracked a crooked grin. “Did you just try to shoo me away like a stray animal?”
“Isn’t that what you are?” I said.
His eyes darkened and shuttered. Poppycock. I just keep messing things up.
“Shen, listen, you’re a capable and strong individual, ok? And so am I. I’ve got this, so you can go home now.”
He took a step closer, but when my body closed in on itself, he took two steps back. “Alia, are you pushing everyone away who you may lose?”
I didn’t need his knowing gaze or the reminder of what we had. I didn’t need to remember how much I loved him.
I knew he didn’t kill Grandpa on purpose. I knew it was likely forced on him. But having just lost Ran, I knew the pain of losing another. I got her back, yes, but I couldn’t risk my heart.
Everything that happened ran through my mind. Taken prisoner, betrayed, then matriarch of the very people who tried to kill me. Ran murdered, Ran alive. What was I doing?
Was there even a chance my people could change just like that? Sure, in the heat of the moment, they'd given their vow, but I'd known these people my entire life. They were poised for blood, ready for battle, and they were attuned to killing all magical beings.
How could they go from murdering such a thing to protecting it? Could they?
I saw the many things I'd have to do in the coming days. Many would be looking for the chance to betray me. To stay alive, my mind needed to be sharper than ever.
We could do this. We had to. And this time, I had people to back me. My family. Shen. Even a dragon, for goodness’ sake.
"Shen, I don't know how to... deal with all this. Everything has happened so fast. First you, then being arrested, now matriarch?"
Shen came closer, his intense eyes studying me.
"Do you want me to leave?" he asked.
I shook my head no . "Yes," I said quickly, trying to stop my body from betraying me.
He pursed his lips as if hiding a smile. “Can I be your guard dog?"
My lips quirked despite myself. His eyes held a hint of satisfaction, as if that were his goal. "What?"
"Your guard dog. Your bodyguard."
"I believe you are overqualified."
He leaned in, his eyes searching my face with a hint of mischief. "Oh? The mighty Hood cannot be a mere guard dog for the one he loves?"
I sucked in a breath.
He backed off, running a hand through his hair. "Forgive me, you do not know all. Once you have the entire tale, you may decide if you wish me in your life. Until then, I would merely like to be a person to ensure your safety. Nothing more."
I nodded, considering. "Friends?" I said at last with a tiny, vulnerable smile.
He grinned back as he shook my hand. "Friends.”
A deep silence settled over my Reds. They were gathered before me, from the oldest to the youngest sprites.
All hoods were down, as was custom when addressing their matriarch. It wasn’t a silence of respect, but one of foreboding. When I had beaten my grandma, it changed everything. What we’d believed, what we’d known… it was all a lie.
And some wished to cling to the lie more than the truth.
Nerves sent my heart pounding against my ribs. I didn’t want to do this. But they needed a good leader.
It was odd, to feel a need from a mass of folks. My Gift had slowly been growing to encompass more and more people. It was as if it was sentient and realized I was now responsible for more than my family and friends and the few people I passed in the streets. It was broadening, increasing… and burdening. But it was mine. And I realized it was exactly what I needed for such a time as this.
Once, I had thought this Gift useless. If I were to have a Gift of magic that I had to hide, couldn’t it have been something like healing or the ability to grow food, ya know? But this… this was what I needed to lead a people to change.
Source knew that.
So when I stood before them, my heart went out to them, which soothed my nerves. I knew this. I knew how to help people through terrible things. Heck, I’d been doing it with my family for years.
“Family of my blood and friends of my soul, I’m sorry.” I stood before them and bowed my head. “I, too, was a Red embroiled in my mire of problems. I was taught so many lies I didn’t know what to believe. I never spoke up about my questions because of fear of retaliation. Perhaps there was no other way, but I would’ve preferred any other way. I would’ve preferred a choice. A way forward where everyone was involved and everyone knew. For the greatest power we hold is choice, and I took that from you. For generations, my family has taken that from you. And for that, I am deeply sorry.”
I clasped my hands behind my back and paused. Then I raised my head, speaking up and out, infusing my voice with truth. “I may be unable to give you a choice of leader, but I can give you a choice now. You are no longer required to serve as Reds if you do not wish it. I ask you to stay until the end of this month—nay, I beg it of you—for I feel our battle has only just begun and I need your help. After, you will be free to choose. I will not take that from you.”
The Reds’ cloaks rustled as they shifted. Their eyes remained straight ahead.
“At ease,” I called out.
They relaxed, their eyes moving from straight ahead to rest on me. Even though that was worse to my poor frazzled nerves, I needed them to see my sincerity.
“So long as you hold to our code, you will be free to live your lives as you see fit. There will be no more hunts of pelts nor killing of innocents, but fear not, we will hunt. It will just be a different kind of hunt.” A slow grin spread across my face. One of the Reds straight before me paled and stepped back. “We will hunt those who harm innocents, and we will protect those who are weak. You are the soldiers of the night, the assassins of the murderers, and you will make a difference in this world. What you did of ignorance will not be tallied against you; what you do with full cognizance will be. For now, know that you are not to be peacemakers, but warriors of a different master. We served darkness before. Now we will serve Source and all her light. Dismissed!”
My Reds came as one and saluted with their hands to their chests. “ Tutela omnium, fides tribui, vita magicis.”
That was their way of letting me know that I wasn’t in this alone. My Reds were there for me. Even if they didn’t entirely agree with me, they would follow me to the end.
My heart swelled. We may not be where I’d like us to be, but they used the new code, not the old. Eventually, my people would be a force to be reckoned with. A beautiful force of justice tempered by wisdom and love tempered by boundaries. We could do this.
Shen came to stand at my back. “Well done,” he said, his voice filled with pride.
My heart smiled at those simple words.