Chapter Forty-Two – Mira
Chapter Forty-Two
Mira
Conall barrelled through the forest like a battering ram. Even with a week of practice, and a woven saddle on top of his bone-plated armour, it took all my concentration to stay on his back.
Scarlett didn’t have any such issues. She sat, straight-backed and proud, on a slightly smaller shifter, an exhilarated smile curving her lips. Her red hair streamed out behind her like a bloody banner as she urged him forward, still driven by the desire to compete with me.
A week ago, the shifters’ warmth towards Scarlett would have bothered me.
But Scarlett and I had spent nearly every hour of the past seven days together.
The mornings had been reserved for practising magic in a secluded glade near the Temple, where Scarlett took point, guiding me with information she had apparently learnt from the Sorceress’s grimoires.
The afternoons were my domain, spent discussing battle strategy with Aric, Cassius and the shifters and clansmen, while Scarlett looked on from a slight distance, content to listen and observe.
And since I had been avoiding Aric and Cassius during the evenings, those had become a time for Scarlett, Lillian and I to share, trading conversation while we ate dinner together in my chambers – often joined by Aurelius, who was becoming increasingly talkative and comfortable in our presence.
But even seven days of this hadn’t entirely dismissed my wariness where Scarlett was concerned.
Cassius had been clear: take advantage of Scarlett’s knowledge and abilities, but don’t allow her to outshine me in front of the Kalurian people. I could only imagine what he would say if he saw Scarlett riding beside me.
The shifters were proud creatures, and until today, only Nari and I had been invited to ride them in animal form.
I had no idea why this shifter had made such an offer to Scarlett.
Maybe it was her Kalurian blood, or maybe it was more than that.
Despite the distance that Aric and Cassius had advised I keep from Scarlett, it was impossible not to get drawn in.
Not to notice all the traits that I suspected the shifters had – her single-minded focus, her confidence, her fierceness.
They were all traits that she had used against me, and could use against me in the future. But right now, as partners, they were traits I had come to appreciate. Or perhaps I had simply come to appreciate her .
By the time I dismounted, my legs were trembling and my hair was a mess of leaves and twigs.
‘How is it you look so composed?’ I asked Scarlett, who jumped down from the saddle and murmured something to the shifter in a soft voice. Even in animal form, she treated him as if he was still human. And arguably with more respect than she treated most humans.
I had never met anyone so full of contradictions. Though Cassius came close.
Scarlett shrugged. ‘I suppose I avoided most of the trees, since Ferox is lower to the ground than Conall.’
‘Ferox?’
‘That’s his name.’ Scarlett smiled fondly at the four-legged beast and then strode over to me. ‘At least I’m pretty sure that’s what he said. He sort of growled it at me.’
I raised an amused eyebrow but said nothing else as we left the shifters to privately change back into human form – something that Conall had told me was sacred, and usually kept between them. It made me feel privileged to have witnessed him change in their village.
The trees parted to reveal a long line of Kalurian clansmen and shifter warriors.
We had left the Temple this morning and began our march to Taiga; already we were on the very edge of the Wilds, and tomorrow we would travel through the Archasian mountains to meet whatever was waiting for us in the capital.
No doubt Roran knew we were coming, and would be prepared with an overwhelming show of force.
Priestesses and warriors turned as Scarlett and I passed, the novelty of seeing us together still not having diminished. Cassius’s warning rang in my ears, but I ignored it.
‘Are you nervous?’ I asked.
‘No.’ Scarlett smiled faintly at my sceptical expression. ‘You forget – I spent months in the Western Lands, where skirmishes erupted almost every day. Battles are like anything else. Once you’ve experienced enough of them, they lose their power. And I’m eager to fight against Roran.’
That made two of us. I just wished I could be so certain of a positive outcome.
‘But if you’re nervous,’ Scarlett said, ‘that’s nothing to be ashamed about. A lot is riding on tomorrow.’
Like my life, and the lives of my friends. Not to mention the freedom of an entire country and the fate of my crown.
Scarlett paused outside her tent. It was at a slight distance from the warriors and main campfires, but I caught her yearning glance at Aric, Lillian and Odessa, who were eating with a group of clansmen.
Taking Lillian with us hadn’t been my first choice, but the bond between Scarlett and Aric’s sister made separating them impractical.
So instead, I had done my best to ensure she would be well protected – and the warriors assigned for Lillian’s protection had sworn to defend her with their lives.
‘Do you want to know how I’m really so calm?’ Scarlett asked, turning back to me. ‘It isn’t because I’m used to war, or because I’m eager to end Roran. It’s because I’m confident that we can.’
Even in the darkness, her icy eyes were fierce. Despite my fears, I felt some of her conviction seep into me. ‘How can you be so sure?’
Scarlett smiled, as though she had been waiting for me to ask.
‘Think about it: the most powerful people in the empire have tried to control us. Zandri was so threatened by you that she intended to use you to kill my father and then kill you afterwards. Velanthe was so threatened by me that she tried to resurrect me and bend my will to hers. And Roran . . . Roran tried to use me to end you, because h e believed that only someone as magically powerful as me could kill someone as magically powerful as you . Individually, we’re a danger to all of them.
But together? We’re a force to be reckoned with.
’ She let that sink in for a moment and then she said, ‘I’m not afraid of this battle, Mira. And you shouldn’t be, either.’
‘I’m not.’ I was startled to realise that it was true. ‘Not with you by my side.’
Scarlett blinked at me with surprise. A hint of a flush coloured her cheeks at the compliment.
‘Goodnight, Scarlett,’ I said, and I was still smiling as I turned away.
Yes, it was definitely too late for distance. Because something unexpected had happened over this past week.
I had started to like her.
I spent the night walking amongst my army, stopping to chat by campfires, smiling at the warriors and shifters I passed.
Aric remained close at my side, even though I suspected he would have rather been with Lillian. But Lillian was safe with Odessa and had seemed perfectly happy conversing with the priestesses.
And as the night wore on, Aric seemed to relax. Somehow I did too, though every minute that passed brought war closer.
But I stiffened when Ulrik, the imposing, bearded leader of clan Skjoldr, stood from a nearby fire and approached me.
None of the clansmen had blamed me for Thoren’s death – not after I had told them Roran was responsible, as Scarlett had recommended.
Even Gunnar, who had replaced Thoren as head of clan Asbj?rn, treated me with the respect I was owed as leader of all the clans.
Yet Ulrik had always seemed rather cool towards me. I suspected he felt that I was a poor substitute for V?lund – and that he still harboured some animosity towards my Ravalian companions.
I exchanged a glance with Aric, whose expression was inscrutable. But I felt his tension all the same.
Ulrik wasn’t as tall as some of the clan warriors, but his bulk more than made up for it. I raised my chin as he considered me, conscious of the battle axe he wore and the clan leaders watching from the fire.
My heart sank as the public setting suddenly made sense. Duels weren’t uncommon amongst the clans, but to challenge me now, to force me to fight him to hold my position as clan leader the night before a war that could determine Kalure’s fate–
He sank to one knee before me.
I blinked down at him in shock. Without releasing my gaze, Ulrik said in a great, booming voice, ‘It will be an honour to follow you into battle. Should even one warrior of clan Skjoldr survive, he or she will ensure that your victories are etched into the sword you bear.’
I glanced at the sword strapped to my hip. V?lund’s sword, marked with runes that depicted the battles he had fought and won.
They are your victories now , he had told me when he gifted me this sword. As your victories will in turn be mine.
‘Thank you,’ I said to Ulrik, my voice slightly choked. ‘I hope to do V?lund proud, and to honour his legacy.’
Ulrik nodded and stood, but I was no longer looking at him. I was looking across the fire – at Nari. Her kohl-lined eyes were intent on mine, but there was no trace of hostility within them. No indication that my magical influence had faded.
She inclined her head to me. ‘My brother would have been proud.’
I forced a smile that felt false. Did she really mean that? Had my blood magic tampered with her mind that much?
Since leaving now would offend Ulrik and the clan leaders, I took a seat between Nari and Gunnar. Aric accepted a flask of alcohol from one of the clansmen, drinking it down in a stoic way that resulted in laughter and approval. I took a generous sip, fighting not to splutter at the resulting burn.
It was pleasant to listen to tales of previous battles, and as the flask and wineskins were passed around, the atmosphere become increasingly welcoming.
I looked on with interest as various competitions sprang up amongst the gathered clansmen – knife throwing, drinking contests and even marksmanship.