Fallen Empire

  Pirin lowered his voice, but Lilae heard every word. “We stay together. She is my responsibility.”

  Lhana swallowed and arched a brow, her jaw clenched. Her eyes may have glared in defiance, but her voice wavered. “I thought she was the Elder’s responsibility. You trained her. Your duty is done.”

  Pirin pulled Lhana closer. “I will not hear another word about it.” The discussion was over. Pirin’s word was law. Everyone went back to packing.

  Lilae glanced at Lhana and wondered if the Ancients knew how much Lhana hated her. Lhana met Lilae’s eyes, her blond brows furrowing. It was a look that hurt Lilae more than anything; there was almost nothing she wanted more than to finally feel that woman’s love.

  Despite the tension, they all enjoyed a hasty breakfast of buttered toast, eggs, and fried potatoes, aware that this might be the last they would have for quite some time. They all ate silently and packed their leftovers in sacks. Lhana also packed dried toast and fruit for the journey. They would have to buy more supplies as they went on or rely on Pirin to hunt while in the wilderness.

  While the others gathered their belongings, Lilae sharpened her dagger. For her, packing was always quick. She had nothing of value. She wore her only trinket of worth around her neck. It was a simple silver necklace with shiny stones around a ruby. Besides that, a sack of clothing and an extra pair of boots was all Lilae needed.

  Jaiza’s grunt sounded like exasperation as she stuffed her favorite dress into her travel bag. She reached for her bow and arrows and headed toward the door, not even looking at Lilae as she passed by.

  Once everyone was ready, Lilae hooded herself and followed the procession into the woods. Soon, the sun would rise, and farmers would tend to their cattle and crops.

  Delia led the way as they quietly crossed the village to the path leading east. Always east. She cut through the darkness, taking them from gentle paths directly into the thickness of the woods, where the grass was knee high and the hungry bugs were ready to feast on any exposed skin they could find. They were all used to it by now. It would be just another long, hard journey to a foreign land.

  Whenever she saw Delia look into the sky, eyes glowing and staff raised, she imagined that she could actually see the Ancients peering down at them from their homes in the Overworld. When Lilae glanced upward, she saw only stars.

  “I am glad we have a moment to speak, Lilae. I’ve been wondering how you feel, now that you’re approaching your eighteenth birthday.”

  “I feel fine.” She stuffed her gloved hands into her pockets to warm them. “I am ready for a new journey. I feel more at peace in the wilderness. No one can be mean to me out here, and no one can hurt me.” She shrugged it off and forced a smile Delia’s way. She didn’t want to complain.

  “No one can hurt you, Lilae,” Delia said, “unless you let them. Have The Winds spoken to you lately?”

  “No, they have been quiet.”

  “Well. Perhaps it is a good thing. They warn you of danger that even I cannot see.”

  Lilae nodded. “Yes. I don’t need The Winds to tell to look out for boys. I’m glad to be free of Jameson’s taunting.”

  “Tell me about this boy.”

  “He smells like the pigs and always tries to wrestle me in the pits.” Lilae scrunched up her nose. “I won’t wrestle him, even if I want to twist his arm off.”

  Delia chuckled softly as she glanced at her. “I’m glad to hear it. I hope you know he wants more than to wrestle, Lilae. I’m sure he fancied you.”

  “Gross.”

  “Risa and Jaiza enjoy the company of boys. I’m sure they are ready for marriage, but you know you’re different, right?”

  “I know. I guess I don’t care about the same things that they do. I do not care about friends or boys or starting a family of my own.”

  A small smile formed on Delia’s lips. “Of course not…” She winked at Lilae. “—you’re too young to think of such things.”

  “Am I?” She couldn’t see a boy falling in love with her or raising children of her own. But that didn't mean she wouldn't like an adoring, handsome boy professing his love to her; she just didn't think that it was possible. She looked odd. She acted differently. It was better not to dream about such things.

  “Don’t most girls get married at my age?” She stepped over a fallen tree and waited for the others to do the same.

  The grass grew taller, nearing their necks. It was covered in ice, making it so sharp that they had to walk through it with caution. So many years of walking, of moving. When would they stop?

  “Sure, some do. There are scores of young girls who, at the first sign of womanhood, begin bearing children, too. And they will do so continuously until the seed no longer catches. But that’s not the life for you. You have a future, Lilae. There’s a bigger, more important task for you than just producing babies. You are different.”

  “How? Why? Because there's something wrong with me?”

  “No!” Delia waved a flippant hand and peered at Lilae. “Nonsense. There's nothing wrong with you. You’re special. You have a very important destiny.”

  “But why, Delia?” For as long as she could remember, she just went with whatever Delia or Pirin said was best. “How am I special? Why am I being hunted? I’ve never hurt anyone innocent. I have killed, but I follow the judgment of The Winds.”

  Delia was silent for a moment. “Soon,” she said and patted Lilae on the shoulder.

  “She is ready,” Lilae heard Delia whisper to herself as if praying to the Ancients above.

  Chapter 2

  WEEKS HAD PASSED SINCE Lilae and the others had seen another village. They kept off the worn paths and stayed as close to The Barrier as possible. The massive stone structure stood as a constant reminder that they were far from civilization. No one ventured near The Barrier; it was feared.

  As they climbed over foothills and through mountain passes, Lilae glanced at the top of The Barrier, where a green haze rippled from the top of the stone to the clouds. She hoped that she’d catch a glimpse of a Silver Elf. Silver Elves shared a wall with the humans, and, in her mind, they were the friendliest of the six remaining races.

  The terrain changed from treacherous mountains and valleys, where the snow and wind whipped past their nearly frozen faces, to smooth plains and dense forests. It was like a dream to see the different landforms of Eura.

  They crossed over a bridge that connected two massive mountains. When they reached the top, it felt as if they were in the clouds. Whenever Lilae had the nerve to look down, all she saw was a white mist that resembled smoke. Though she couldn’t see it, she knew that a river rushed through the valley below. Its waters crashed along the rocks, causing a deafening roar to fill the valley.

  Too high, Lilae thought. The wind whipped around her, making her red hair fly into her eyes.

  Lilae gulped and tried to catch her breath. Her hands started to shake as she imagined herself plummeting to her death. She hoped the bridge was sturdy enough to support them. Her hands gripped the rough ropes that served as railings so tightly that they cut into the palms of her hands.

  Lilae was usually at the head of the pack, but now, she was the last to gather the nerve to cross. She willed herself to move her feet, forcing her mind to stop feeding her images of falling and hitting her head on every rock that lay below.

  Her breath sped up. The slats of the bridge were cracking; some were already missing. She looked to Pirin with terrified eyes.

  He seemed too far away. Lilae saw him motion for her to cross.

  “You can do it, Lilae,” Pirin yelled above the roar of the river below.

  Lilae looked down again, the mist curling up around her ankles.

  “Just take your time.”

  His patience with her gave her courage. She nodded, more to convince herself that she was ready than anything else.

  Lilae took a deep breath and headed toward Pirin. She would hate for him to think of her as a coward. She walked caref
ully across, praying the entire time. She drew a breath of relief when she safely reached the other side and joined the others.

  They began down a steep trail that led back into the wilderness. They were all tired. Everyone was moody. Risa and Jaiza stayed close to each other, as always, and looked simply miserable.

  Lilae walked ahead of them all, trapped in her thoughts, clinging to her more pleasant dreams to keep her going. Hunger nagged at her stomach. Her feet were calloused and sore from hundreds of miles of walking. Still, she refused to complain.

  Pirin once told her that complaints and excuses were signs of weakness. From as early as she could remember, his words were like law, and she lived by his and Delia’s teachings.

  “Please, Pirin.” Lhana stopped abruptly. She breathed heavily, coughing from the cold in the air. She dropped her bags onto the ground with a thud and folded her arms across her chest. “We have been walking since dawn and without a decent break. I am exhausted.” Her shoulders slumped. “Please, darling, can we rest now?”

  Pirin gave her one look. She was pale, her cheeks red from the wind. There was a small clearing at the mouth of a cavern. He looked to Delia.

  The Elder placed her staff on the ground, looked around, and nodded her approval.

  That’s how it always was: Pirin checking to make sure Delia was in agreement. He shrugged his heavy pack off of his back and held it with one hand.

  He nodded toward the cave. Lilae looked at it. It was a small opening in the side of the gray mountain, and all she could see was black inside. She was glad that she wasn’t as afraid of the dark as she was of heights.

  “This way,” Pirin said, leading them to the clearing. They climbed the rocks and heaved their sacks inside the shelter. “This will suffice for the night.”

  There was a collective sigh of relief and everyone busied themselves with setting up camp inside the hollow mouth of the cave. They would make it as comfortable as possible.

  “Looks like rain anyway,” Pirin said and peered into the night sky. He sniffed the air. “I’m sure of it. Build a fire inside the cave and we’ll sleep there.”

  “How long can we stay?” Lhana wrapped her arms around his waist.

  Pirin looked at Risa. “Until morning.”

  Jaiza’s gaze went to the dark woods on the other side of the cave. “But what about wolves? I saw at least three carcasses on the way up here.”

  “We’ll make a fire. Don’t worry,” Pirin assured her. “Lilae, go out and place the rabbit traps.”

  Lilae nodded, uncaring about the cold; it never affected her as it did the others. She wanted to talk further with Delia. Their nights beside the fire, learning and hearing stories, were what Lilae looked forward to each day.

  “Who will keep watch?” Jaiza eyed the dark cave and then the forest again. If there was one thing that Jaiza was afraid of, it was wolves.

  Pirin had already started to gather wood from fallen branches around the camp. “I’ll watch for half of the night, and then you girls can take turns. We’ll get horses from the next village and I promise we can stay at an inn.”

  The twins smiled. Lilae watched their faces light up, and it brought a small smile to her lips. The thought of sleeping in an inn excited them all. There, they could drink ale and meet new people. The food was always hearty, even if the beds were sometimes infested with bed bugs.

  Lilae lingered near the slope into the woods while the others set up. She heard something. Her head tilted as she listened to The Winds.

  Delia looked back at her, concern spreading across her face. “What is it, Lilae?”

  Lilae held a gloved hand up and continued to listen. The Winds spoke to her. They were always there like an old friend. The voices that floated along the breeze or rushing winds always warned her when something was amiss. She had relied on them since she was a child, and they never lied.

  Now, they issued a warning.

  “Bandits,” Lilae said, standing tall. Her eyes searched for movement in the bushes.

  “Oh, great. She’s talking to herself again,” Risa whispered.

  “Shush, Risa.” Jaiza nudged her sister’s arm. “She may talk to herself, but has she ever been wrong?”

  Risa didn’t reply. They both watched as Lilae stood near the edge of the woods.

  “Murderers.” The Winds were sure to tell Lilae that, and she gave the twins a look that they understood.

  “They followed our tracks, and they wish to rob and kill us,” Lilae said it as if she was discussing the weather.

  “Humph. I wish they’d try,” Jaiza said with a glower in the same direction as Lilae’s gaze.

  Delia drew in a deep breath. “Holy Elahe. We can never travel in peace?” She stabbed her staff into the ground. “Those bandits are damned fools to be this close to The Barrier.”

  “I don’t like this.” Lhana’s eyes darted toward the forest as she withdrew to hide near the cave. “Why does this always happen? One day they’ll sneak up on us, I just know it!”

  “I won’t let that happen,” Lilae said, glancing back at her.

  “You will be the death of me,” Lhana said as she turned her back on Lilae.

  Pirin gave her a sidelong glance. “Perhaps you’d let me train you some time, Lhana. You are not as defenseless as you pretend to be. Your trait is quite rare—it could be of use to us.”

  Lhana glared at him. “I don’t want to hear it. You seem to forget that I am a proper lady. Only warriors use their traits.”

  Pirin shrugged. “Suit yourself. I don’t understand why you’d rather waste something you’ve inherited.”

  Lhana shook her head. “Never. So stop asking me.” She raised a finger. “The first queen of the black throne gave my family my dowry. Who else can make such a claim?”

  Risa sighed and gave Jaiza a look. They both set their things down without a word. They’d trained with Lilae for times such as this since they were all children, and this wouldn’t be the first group of bandits to threaten them.

  Jaiza grabbed her bow, securing her quiver of arrows onto her back.

  Risa drew her sword quietly and put the scabbard down. She rolled her shoulders as if loosening her muscles.

  Lilae grinned, her teeth shining in the moonlight. She loved when the twins were like this.

  Jaiza stepped beside Lilae, who was younger yet taller. Her keen eyes looked into the growing darkness. “I’ll go ahead and see how many there are.” She twisted her blonde hair into a knot at the top of her head to keep it from getting in the way.

  “There are eight.”

  “You know everything, don’t you?” Jaiza rolled her eyes. “Fine. I can take them out.”

  Lilae’s grin widened. The thrill of a fight excited her. “I’ll be right behind you.”

  Pirin continued to unpack their supplies, shaking out their wool blankets. “This will be good practice for you girls. It’s been awhile since you’ve had a real fight. Maybe you can practice working as a team this time…”

  Risa lowered her sword. “Eight? What a waste of energy.”

  Pirin gave her a stern look.

  “What? I was hoping for at least ten,” she said as though it was a sport. “That would have been good practice. I can handle eight on my own.” She put her sword away and started to help Lhana prepare the salted pork and beans.

  “Risa…”

  “Father…” Risa said as she squatted down and pulled out an iron pot. “Lilae and Jaiza can take this one.”

  “Don’t be so cocky. You’re not the best fighter in the realm by any stretch of the imagination, so stop acting like you know everything. Even your Evasion can be countered if someone has the right skill. Trust me, killing people isn’t a game and should not be taken lightly.”

  Risa raised a brow. “I know it isn’t. But Lilae and Jaiza can handle it. We’ve done this how many times now? At least seven.”

  “Never underestimate your enemy, Risa. You never know if those men are as trained as you or better.”
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  “You can’t be serious.” Risa huffed. “I doubt it. We both know that most bandits are nothing more than boys who can barely hold the weight of their own cheap sword.”

  “You’re not listening, are you?”

  “Yes, Father. I get what you’re saying. I will try not to be so cocky about it. That better?”

  Pirin sighed. “You girls are impossible,” he said, though a small smile played across his lips.

  “You didn’t train us to be warriors for nothing,” Risa said, as Jaiza slunk into the forest.

  Without a sound, Jaiza climbed into a tall tree and disappeared into the branches and leaves.

  Lilae stepped out of her cloak with her dagger sharpened and ready in one hand. It was warm on her palm and pulsed for action. She listened to The Winds as they led her to the men who approached her family’s camp, careful not to crunch any of the fallen branches beneath her feet.

  As the sun’s last light faded, she peered silently at the bandits from her place behind a tall oak tree. Energy flowed within her body, and there was an anxiousness filling her throat and a fire within her veins.

  The Winds warned her that the men were merciless. They preyed on innocent travelers, robbing and killing even defenseless women. In return, Lilae and Jaiza would show no mercy.

  There was a sudden whistling sound as Jaiza’s arrow cut through the dark forest and slammed into the chest of the leader. He gasped loudly, clutching his chest as he was thrown back onto the ground with a solid thud. The arrow was made of the strongest wood and impaled him to the dirt so that he couldn’t lift himself.

  Lilae noted the look of shock and pain on his face as he strained against the arrow. That look always interested her. It was the look of one surprised by death’s touch.

  Shouts and frantic orders ensued from the other bandits as they drew their weapons and searched for the source of the arrow. They held their weapons but ducked and cowered toward the safety of the dense, dark forest.

  Lilae watched them in silence. She could feel their fear, knowing their hearts were thumping with the terror of the unknown. She wanted them to feel that fear. It was the same fear countless others had felt when those men harmed them. Risa was right about one thing: their weapons were cheap. But these were not boys; they were men who had done this countless times, with success. This would be their last.