Page 40 of A Kiss of Hammer and Flame

Wyldaern stood with effort then, swaying. Cahra raised a forearm to steady her, the woman gripping Cahra’s blood-stained hand.

She couldn’t explain what happened next. Cahra felt a jolt, as if struck by lightning, that made her mind spark with blistering light. From the left and right sides of her sight, a stretch of brilliant, incandescent white closed in, meeting at a single thread in the very centre. She opened her eyes as Wyldaern did the same.

They gazed at one another.

‘You.’ Wyldaern stumbled backwards and it was only Cahra clutching her that stopped her landing in the stream. ‘By the All-seeing, do you know? Who you are?’

Cahra frowned. ‘I told you, I’m Cahra. I’m a blacksmith from—’

Wyldaern’s peridot eyes were large as lakes. She shook her head vehemently. ‘No.’ She paused, grasping Cahra’s arm. Footsteps approached. ‘Tell none of our conversation,’ Wyldaern said. ‘Not these people, not a soul. You do not yet know who you can trust. Do you understand?Tell none. Give me your word!’

‘What? These people saved my life…’

‘Your word! You are not safe here!’ Wyldaern shook her.

‘Okay! You have my word,’ Cahra said hastily.What in Hael?

‘I am an acolyte, not the conduit. The next will come from She,’ Wyldaern murmured.

‘Who?’ Cahra whispered back.

Wyldaern readjusted her robe, covering the amulet, and cupped her hands in the stream’s clear waters. When she spoke, the woman’s voice was calm and collected as she dabbed water onto Cahra’s bleeding head.

‘Thank you for coming to my aid.’ She smiled. ‘I am a disciple of the Wilds, travelling to my teacher. Though I confess, I fear for the rest of my journey, now. And perhaps yours, too,’ she said, looking behind Cahra.

Raiden approached. ‘We may be able to assist with that journey, if you travel east. Those were Kolyath soldiers, far from their walled kingdom. Why did they attack you?’

‘Nature magick is forbidden under the Steward Atriposte. I believe they took umbrage on behalf of their kingdom’s aide.’ An odd turn of phrase, Cahra thought.

Raiden gave a terse nod. ‘Not the most tolerant of folk, are they?’

‘No, they are not,’ was Wyldaern’s swift reply.

‘So she can travel with us?’ Cahra shot Raiden a hopeful look. She could see him sizing up Wyldaern, assessing whether she was a threat. ‘I can help her back,’ she offered. She’d only just met the young woman, but something told Cahra she was safe. Besides, she wanted to know what Wyldaern had been talking about. How was she in danger with Terryl and those who’d helped her escape Kolyath?

Raiden nodded finally, turning to Cahra and asking, ‘Can you ride?’

‘Actually, yes.’ She knew how to start and stop, sort of. She may have stolen a horse for a joyride in Kolyath once, twice. A few times.

‘Take the horse you and I arrived on,’ Raiden told Cahra. ‘We ride for the caravan.’ Raiden took one last look at Wyldaern then turned to the others, seemingly dismissing the woman as a nomad living on the lands.

Cahra asked her, ‘Can you walk?’ Receiving a nod, she helped Wyldaern to her feet, whispering, ‘You’re a Seer, aren’t you?’

‘I am not the conduit,’ Wyldaern said. ‘You seek the Oracle to speak of the prophecy. I am not She,’ the woman panted as they hobbled along.

‘Slowly,’ Cahra told her. She needed to get Wyldaern back to Terryl and Merali. ‘Look, I don’t so much seek the prophecy as what in Hael it has to do with me. I’ve been on the run with these people for a week now.’ Cahra shifted to shoulder Wyldaern’s weight.

‘Who are they?’ Wyldaern asked, straining.

‘That was Raiden, Captain to Lord Terryl and his people, who are awaiting our return. Like you, we’ve already been attacked once, so we’re all eager to reach our destination.’ Cahra didn’t feel it was her place to disclose the journey’s end, even if Wyldaern did fill her with an uncanny sense of calm.

‘Stop,’ Wyldaern said, as they passed a dead soldier on the ground.

‘What? Why?’

‘Here…’ Wyldaern shuffled from Cahra’s grasp to sink beside the uniformed man. She leaned forward, plucking a small pin from his crinkled collar. ‘We must hurry. Things are more dire than I thought,’ the woman said under her breath.

‘What do you mean?’ Cahra frowned, moving towards her.