*
Time had passed – as it tended to do. How much, he couldn’t know. At times he had to stop and hold the wall to keep the tunnel from swimming, a disconcerting experience in the darkness.
But Harstas had not followed.
Was it fear that kept the man at bay? Never shivered as he splashed along in the darkness. There was still a chance the commander would find him. If he watched the waterways...
Never winced when he stumbled. Dried blood pulled at the wound on his back where his clothing stuck to the skin. Blood still seeped from his thigh and arm, slowly at least. The slice on the back of his hand had already healed – his curse had a strange sense of humour in that way. Or was it cruelty?
A column of light appeared ahead.
He slowed when he reached it, blinking up at a ladder. Grating covered an opening. He climbed, grinding his teeth at the pain. Pushing the grate open, he hauled himself out into a domed room. Warm dawn light poured through glass in a window. The room was empty save for cleaning implements.
When he tried the door it opened to a quiet backstreet near the wall.
Beyond the palace grounds.
Pacela’s Spire cast a long shadow where it shone high above, still distant. Smoke streaked the lightening sky too. Dragging his feet forward, Never reached a corner and leant against a statue of Pacela, his shoulder resting on her slender hips. “Sorry Lady,” he gasped out between breaths.
Smoke still pumped from parts of the palace.
Just how many Vadiya were in there?
Never glanced around empty streets. Empty streets. Was everyone hiding? It was dawn, yet in a city like Isacina, someone was always awake, always working. His mind circled to the logical conclusion – invasion.
The Vadiya had invaded – Gods, why?
It did not matter for now. He had a map that unlocked the secrets of the Amber Isle, a new clue to follow. Maybe it wasn’t much but an odd sense of familiarity was undeniable when he’d looked it over. And after exhausting so many clues he had no choice but to take a risk. Men had died for the map; he had to try it. Never stumbled on, heading down toward Ashina’s Oaks. Or, if he couldn’t make it that far, the Water Petal.
His strength flagged before he found the Water Petal but a familiar tailor’s shop appeared at the end of the street. Its sign beckoned to him, a giant, golden needle gleaming in the morning light. By the time he reached it the wound in his back had reopened and his vision was blurring again. He leant against the wall, labouring for air.
A door opened nearby, followed by a gasp and a slam.
“Thanks for the help,” he murmured.
The Water Petal was a mere half-dozen steps across the street yet he couldn’t take the first one. His body ached, the wound on his back throbbed along with his arm and leg and worse, his vision continued to grow less and less reliable.
After all – why would a multi-coloured child be approaching him, eyes wide enough to swallow his face, drawing a wobbling horse after?
“Never?”
It spoke!
“Never, it’s me – Temilo.”
He frowned. Familiar. “The puppet-boy?”
“Yes, the jester. What happened?”
He breathed deeply and his vision began to clear. Temilo’s face was full of concern. “The Vadiya attacked the palace,” Never said.
“They attacked the whole city. Vento says I should flee... but I want to stay.”
“You’re working here?”
“Yes,” he said with a small smile. “As a stable hand for now.”
A shout echoed up the street – Vadiya words. Never twisted. Steelhawks and regular infantry, pointing and demanding he halt. Friends of Harstas?
“You, boy. Stand away from that man,” came the order in accented Marlosi.
They knew.
His heart dragged in his chest; he had no more strength to run. He drew a knife, perhaps he could take at least one of them down.
“Here.” Temilo pressed something into his free hand. Leather – reins. “Flee!”
“You should go, lad.”
“No. You protected me before, at the gates. I owe you a life-debt.”
“They’ll kill you for helping me.”
“Only if they catch me,” Temilo said, and ran for the inn, shedding pieces of coloured clothing as he did. Never took half a step after him but it was too late, the Vadiya had started forward, shouting and waving weapons.
No bows at least.
Still Never hesitated. Would Temilo escape?
The thunder of boots neared. Never swore as he gripped the horse, stepping into the stirrup to fling his other leg over the saddle with the vilest curse he could think of – then he snapped the reins and his mount took off, thumping down the street.
He glanced back once and the Vadiya were receding.
If he could hold onto the horse he might just escape. As he clattered down the cobblestones he ground his teeth. There, the great trees lay ahead now, green canopies towering over the buildings. No Vadiya in sight. Somehow he held onto the horse, despite the pain, and charged through the empty gates, stirring leaves as he did.
Escape.
He didn’t slow until he found himself crossing the plains, where he passed evidence of people who’d already fled the city: discarded pieces of clothing or cooking items, a single shoe, a trampled doll. He finally reined the horse in to rest; it breathed hard and he patted its neck.
He turned back to the city and growled.
Silvery lines of soldiers poured down from the mountains, streaming into the palace like shining serpents. War had come and Marlosa had been caught sleeping. For the people of Isacina, woe and misery was upon them.
Never swore again. Futile words.
Even if he bore no wounds there was nothing he could do. He turned his mount from the seat of the Empire and north toward the coast and the Grey Chain. At its end waited the Amber Isle, weeks away yet but a tiny glimmer of hope nonetheless.
Never took one more look at the city.
A glimpse of the sun flashing off armour near the gates – Harstas and his men, no doubt.
“Fine, Harstas. Follow me if you can.”
A Note from Ashley
Hi! I hope you enjoyed Never (Prequel to The Amber Isle) and thanks for reading.
I’d like to ask if you could help me out by leaving an honest review of the story at your place of purchase? Long or short, good or bad, it all helps!
If you’d like to keep reading, you can sample The Amber Isle (Book 1 of Never’s adventures) by clicking the link.
I also have a boxed set of the rest of Never’s adventures available right now – you can check it out below:
The Book of Never: The Complete Series
Or, my current newsletter sign-up includes a free copy of The Amber Isle, where you’ll also be given first access to preview chapters and pre-release editions of future stories along with other giveaways.
Ashley
Acknowledgements
As ever, I want to thank those who support me most - my wife Brooke, my editor Amanda and all of the Alchemists for their help but also the beta and advance readers too - and certainly Lin Hsiang for another awesome cover and to Vivid Covers for more great title work!
And thank you especially to the readers who have taken Never into their hearts and let me know how much they’re enjoying his story - thank you so much :)
Ashley
About Ashley
Ashley is a poet, novelist and teacher living in Australia. Aside from reading and writing, he loves volleyball, Studio Ghibli and Magnum PI, easily one of the greatest television shows ever made.
You can find him online at Twitter or on his fiction blog, City of Masks. As if that’s not enough, you can also sign up to his newsletter for free books, competitions, giveaways and sneak peeks of forthcoming titles!
Also by Ashley Capes
Fiction
The Fairy Wren
A Whisper of Leaves
> Crossings
Somnus and the March Hare
Book of Never
1. The Amber Isle
2. A Forest of Eyes
3. River God
4. The Peaks of Autumn
5. Imperial Towers (forthcoming)
The Bone Mask Trilogy
1. City of Masks
2. The Lost Mask
3. Greatmask (forthcoming)
Poetry
7 Years
old stone: haiku, senryu & haibun/between giants
between giants
orion tips the saucepan
stepping over seasons
pollen and the storm
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