Citadel of Fire (The Ronin Saga Book 2) (21 page)

Gray smiled, and Darius laughed at his side.

“Seems ditching Faye was a good idea after all,” Darius said.

Swaying in his saddle, Gray swallowed. He eyed his hand upon the reins, seeing the mostly healed cut from Faye’s dagger, and a memory took him.

Gray heard a rustle. His heart shot into his throat, and he twisted to see Faye’s eyes crack open. She took in her surroundings. It was the same oasis, but they had set up camp a little more, with a lean-to tent to shelter their supplies, a bigger glowing fire, and a makeshift picket for their cormacs. Nearby, pots and pans hung from a nearby dola tree.

She sat up, squinting. “Gray…?”

He smiled. “Welcome back.”

Faye groaned, falling back. She pushed back her scarlet hair, gazing up at the stars, wide-eyed. “I’m alive,” she said, sounding… disappointed? No, that must have been his imagination.

“Barely,” he answered.

“Where… are the others?”

“Ayva is collecting food, and Darius is looking for more kindling.”

“And you? You’re just sitting here looking miserable while waiting to see if I die or not?”

“Something like that,” he answered. It wasn’t too far from the truth. He had grown more distant lately, watching Faye and waiting to see a change. He hadn’t realized how attached to her he had become. Now, seeing her awake, he felt it was the first time he could smile in days.

Faye groaned. “Will you stop grinning like a fool? It’s giving me a headache.”

He stopped grinning, but laughed. “It’s a pleasure to see you too.”

“Something is chafing like cured leather undergarments,” she grumbled and pushed back her blanket to see his handiwork, eyeing the now bandaged shoulder. It was bloody.
You’ll have to change it soon
, Kirin whispered. “Where did you learn to do this?”

“Impressed?”

“Not really,” she said. “I could have done better while unconscious, but…” She hesitated. “I suppose it’s not that bad. Thank you.” Her hard eyes softened, if only for a moment.

Gray looked away, feeling his heart race. He chastised himself. It reminded him too much of Vera’s effect, though Faye didn’t seem to be doing it intentionally. At last, he shrugged. “It wasn’t my doing, really. But I’m just glad you’re not dead.”

“That’s the sweetest thing anyone has ever said to me,” she said.

He almost laughed, but it died in his throat. She wasn’t kidding, was she?

“I’m joking, Gray. Mostly.”

He cleared his throat, nodding.

Faye sighed and moved to rise.

Gray was quicker though. He pushed her shoulder down, gently but firm. “You’re not going anywhere. You need to rest, Faye, just as I did. Unless you plan on limping to Farbs?”

“Familiar words,” she said with a smirk, and then sighed again. “Watching over me like this, I’ve a sinking feeling this is going to go to your head.”

He hid a smile. “Probably.”

“I’ll be well tomorrow. Then I’ll make you pay for it in training.”

“Training?”

Faye sniffed. “Don’t think I’ve forgotten your lessons just because I was about to die.
Si’tu’ah
awaits, apprentice. And you are getting better, but you are still not a Devari. And don’t forget, even with my help, you will always have to avoid some, like the Leader of the Devari, or you will not survive a day in the Kingdom of Fire.”

Gray choked, and averted his gaze. “I won’t forget.” He rose. “You should rest now, we’ll talk tomorrow.” Without another word, he moved into the darkness and away.

Something touched his arm, the vision broke, and he found himself staring into Ayva’s compassionate blue eyes. He realized she had pulled back, letting Darius ride on ahead. “You look troubled,” she said, emotions churning behind her eyes.
What is she thinking?
he wondered.

Without thinking, Gray delved into her thoughts using his ki, and nearly gasped.
Such light…
But beneath that gleaming beacon, he felt worry and a strange desire. It was a yearning to mend, as if she gazed upon a broken pot.
Mend what though?

You, you fool,
Kirin answered.

Gray squinted, hesitating. He wanted to mend what was between them too, but he wondered how much Ayva thought their fissure was
his
error, as if
he
were the broken one and not their joint failing. He felt suddenly slighted by Ayva’s gaze.

A fool’s distinction,
Kirin said. Gray was growing tired of the voice calling him a fool.

“I’m not a broken pot,”
he said calmly.

He retreated from her mind. Though ki was not an intrusion exactly, more like a higher understanding of another’s feelings, he still felt guilty, as if he had pilfered her thoughts.

“I’ll be fine,” he replied at last. Despite the darkness and guilt he felt, somehow he did believe those words. This path, it felt more right with each passing day. Now seeing Farbs, his task solidified. A new purpose filled him, one that he’d been waiting for… waiting since the day he had to flee Farbs and Farhaven and cross Death’s Gate into Daerval.

That was the day his life had started.

After traveling for a while, the sun sank below the sand’s horizon, and they slowed on a small plateau that looked out over the city. Gray halted. “We’re still hours away. We’ll camp here tonight, outside the Gates,” he announced. He looked at the two of them, remembering the promise he’d made.
We’re a team.
“If that’s all right?” he added.

Ayva smiled. “Much better. We’ll teach you yet.”

Darius was already dismounting. “Fine by me.” After their makeshift camp was set up, Darius plopped down nearby, humming a simple tune to himself as he began to whittle:

“Oh, simple path,
You hold no sway—

Oh, darkness too,
You’ll find no hold.

Oh, cloud and mist,
I push on through.

But sweet face, you vixen you,
You hold my gaze, and true heart too!”

Gray saw the wood was finally starting to resemble a pipe. Though he was bone-tired, Gray eyed Farbs, hesitating with his hand upon his pack. Something told him the night wasn’t over.

“Gray…”

He turned.

Gently, Ayva took his wrist, pulling back his sleeve to reveal the sinuous black tattoo. “Have you thought about how we’re going to get around that? Karil said that Farbs doesn’t allow outsiders, and we won’t be able to enter the Citadel without your mark…”

He shook his head. “I have a few ideas, but nothing certain.”

“Faye might have known,” Darius suggested, not looking up from his pipe.

Ayva opened her mouth, but Gray spoke first. “That path is behind us. She can no longer hold our hand. This is our task, and we must look forward. I think I know how to get us inside Farbs. Once we’re inside the walls, we’ll gather information as best we can and figure out the Citadel and how to get inside.” He kept his face smooth and voice strong, but inwardly he wavered.

In a new world and a new city, how many mistakes could they make? For all he knew, a single question to the wrong person could mean death. But they had made their decision. They would find a way, with or without Faye.

Darius and Ayva nodded firmly, looking buoyed by his words.

“One question,” Darius said, looking up. “What exactly
is
our plan? You know, generally speaking.”

“To discover the old me,” Gray answered, lying.

“That’s enough for me,” Darius said with a shrug.

Ayva’s eyes didn’t let him go though. She whispered so the rogue couldn’t hear. “What’s your real reason? Last time I checked, you were done with your old self.” Occupied with his pipe, Darius didn’t seem to notice.

“I’m done with my old self but, unfortunately, it’s not done with me. I have to figure out what happened all those years ago.”

“And?” she asked.

“And… I’m going to look for the prophecy that named me in The Knife’s Edge.”

“Why?”

“I have a feeling it’s not done with me either,” he answered darkly. “Something in what Vera said…”

Ayva smiled in the darkness. “Whatever your mission, we’re by your side.”

He touched her arm warmly and smiled, thanking her. For the first time, he felt a spark return between them as she smiled back. They set up watches, deciding against a fire to avoid being seen by any unwanted eyes from the city, and settled down for sleep.

Gray took first watch. Again, he needed time to think. He stared at the city, watching as it darkened, and then, like a sun illuminated, the whole thing came to life, glowing like a thousand yellow frost bugs. His breath was taken by it, amazed as he was to be here and seeing it at long last.

Ayva sat up in her bed with a sigh. “It’s beautiful.”

Darius merely cursed, rolling over in his sack and facing away.

“I’m not sure I can even sleep,” Ayva whispered, lying in her bed. “I’m too nervous and excited.”

Gray heard snoring. Darius was already asleep, he realized, the rogue’s snores carrying over the sands.
How is he so loud?
Half-jokingly, he hoped the fool’s saw-like snores didn’t alert any guards from Farbs.

“You should find rest where you can,” he advised, gripping Morrowil tightly, watching the golden city. It was like a lantern in the night. It looked so welcoming from there, but he knew the truth. “We will need it, all of us. Tomorrow we begin the next step of our journey.” Gray looked over his shoulder and realized Ayva was asleep as well, whispering soft words as she slumbered.

Despite his serene surroundings, Gray was glad to take first watch, as sleep seemed far away, and he felt overwhelmed by it all. He breathed in the scents of the warm, dry air, listening to the faint song of insects, but mostly he liked the quiet. He savored it, knowing it was the last moment of silence for a long while. Inevitably, however, his gaze fell to the city in nervous excitement. “I can’t believe it…” he whispered to himself.
I’m actually here.
His home, his birthplace, sat before him like a treasure chest waiting to be opened. His answers.

And tomorrow, you will see me…
Kirin said. Emotion had returned to his voice. He sounded eager, calm, and confident, like a grizzled warrior preparing at dawn’s light for the coming battle.

And Gray whispered in reply, “I’m ready.”

The Voidstone

E
ZRAH SAT HUNCHED OVER THE ANCIENT
tome.

He cursed softly. What
was
he looking for?

Soft light flickered from his lantern as it sat nearby on the polished table. The table was worn and smoothed by touch from centuries of use. The flame in the glass lantern was real, though it was fueled by his power. He’d made sure it was soft and white—a perfect hue for reading. Otherwise, aside from several orange flames in brackets upon the walls, the library was shrouded in darkness.

He was in the most restricted library of the Citadel, high in the dark keep, a place of power and knowledge. Only Arbiters and their servants were allowed here. It was the most secure place in the entire castle.

He turned the page. It crinkled, crisp and brown from age—perhaps the oldest book in the entire Citadel. That made it one of the most ancient tomes in all of existence. Still, it held nothing. He gave a thin sigh and pushed it aside.

He looked up.

Outside, the city shone golden.

Farbs.

It was a dangerous and beautiful city. He loved the Great Kingdom of Fire, but dark events now conspired in the heart of his home. He sought to put an end to it. He would not let the world be consumed by shadow. It seemed hard to believe, seeing the lights and beauty outside that large, paned window. A city full of life. Beyond the walls, in the city itself, people amassed in celebration. He could almost hear the sounds of laughter and cheers as a round of fireworks exploded in the night, illuminating the sky a bright red.

The Festival of the Moon.

It was the reason there were no guards watching the far door, and no red-liveried servants to dust the nearby shelves. It was utterly quiet. The shadows nearby reminded Ezrah of his duty. Drawing a deep breath, he grabbed another book from his large stack.
Tu Redghao a’ Yronia
read its spine with faded gold lettering, or, in the common tongue:
The Reliquaries of Yronia
. It was about the Great Hold, the treasury of the Kingdom of Metal, home to the Ronin once-named Baro. Yronia was no more, sadly. It was one of the few Great Kingdoms out of the nine that had been destroyed in the great war of the Lieon. Backed against the Summits of Soot was a cloudy mountain range, resembling and named after the white soot that used to burn from the once-famous Great Forge of Yronia. It still existed, but the city had been abandoned since the war. He had seen it, long ago. The kingdom now was little more than a ruined mass of steel, its great walls twisted and melted while wind blew hollowly through its cavernous insides.