Kindred Souls Complete Series: Books 1-4

Chapter Twenty-Five

Indigo and I traveledinto the center of the capital with the hoods of our cloaks covering our heads and half our faces, our kindreds marching in a circle around us, keeping us safe and hidden in the center.

Elora and Sky had spread the word throughout the city of our upcoming performance, so we expected a crowd. The guitar Bastian gave me was strapped to my back, ready to be used once more to sway people to our sides. Nerves drummed out a beat in my chest in time with our steps, a trickle of sweat rolling down the back of my neck.

I believed it was a good idea, worth trying, but doubts were beginning to plague my mind. What if we made things worse? What if it got the rest of my kindreds arrested? Or the dragons killed in retaliation? There were so many ways this could go wrong. So many ways I could lose.

But we were here now, so it was too late to back out, even if I was sure I wanted to.

We stopped at the square, surrounded by the main shopping district, right in front of the fountain. A ridiculous one, elaborate and something that could feed the entire capital for a month, gleaming marble and gold. This bright and shiny place filled with riches for the wealthy to enjoy while others starved.

Indigo had a lot of work to do to fix things the prior monarchs had broken. I didn’t envy her.

I sat on the edge of the fountain with Indigo standing beside me. Our kindreds fanned out and blended into the crowd, watching over us. I ignored the people filling up the square and tuned the guitar, my focus completely on the songs inside of me. The songs I needed to share, to reach those listening, to persuade them to join us in standing against the king.

The song began with some fancy finger-work I’d been experimenting with before launching into the song.

“What is freedom?

Are we free?

We must use our power,

Demand our freedom.

The power of the people—-

To rise, to fight, to march.

No longer willing to compromise and bend our knee.

It is time to break our chains.

Like mountains we will rise,

Like rivers we will flow,

Like trees we will bend but not break,

It is time.”

I spilled into the chorus, letting my voice carry across the square, my fingers strumming across the guitar strings. The fountain splashing behind me lent another layer to the song, kept me grounded, so I didn’t float away along with the music.

Once the song trickled to a close, I continued to stroke the guitar, playing a soft tune as background for Indigo.

She stepped onto the ledge where I sat and smiled out at the crowd. “Thank you for coming. I know things have been tense here in the capital lately and throughout the rest of Faligrey. Many of you must be confused and scared. And for that, please allow me to apologize. It’s become clear to most of the royal family that change is coming. That it is necessary.

“I came home from a meeting with the dragons with my own dragon kindred. So did Rhapsody, the prince’s beloved kindred. It has proved that those of you without kindreds could find them in others lands. Or those of you who only have one or two may have more out there waiting for you. It’s time for us to take a step into the future and stop being confined by laws made so far in the past those who made them are long dead.”

She gestured widely. “I want to open borders with our neighboring lands so we can trade and find long lost kindreds, so we no longer have to fear other countries or war with them. I want Faligrey to finally be truly free for all of our citizens. True freedom, not the false one we’ve told you you have. One where you can say what you want, marry who you want, love who you want without fear of reprisal.

“My father has thrown our dragon kindreds in jail. He has no interest in making peace with our neighbors. He has no interest in change or progress. He has no interest in freedom. He wants control. He wants power.”

I played a little harder as she brought it home.

“I need your help to bring about the change you all deserve. You deserve to have a voice, choices, justice, freedom. And the time is now. Unfortunately, I can’t do it alone. I need you all to stand with me. To raise your voices with mine until the king is forced to acknowledge the wishes of his people. Are you with me?”

Roars and whistles filled the square, drowning out my music. A grin spread across my lips, matching the one on Indigo’s face. Tears sparkled in her eyes as she gazed out across her people. And they were hers. One hundred percent hers.

Elora was right. Indigo had a powerful gift and using it was the right thing to do.

The dark mood of gloom I’d been struggling with finally lifted, the bright light of hope piercing through it. And based on the expressions on everyone else’s faces, I wasn’t the only one.