Page 69 of A Kiss of Hammer and Flame (Fated for Hael #1)

‘People of the tri-kingdom realm,’ she took a deep breath, trying to project her voice.

‘I am Cahra, from the kingdom of Kolyath, so some of you may know me. But that is not all you know, and it is our shared plight.’ Cahra frowned, struggling to think of what to say, as she fought her shaking voice and body.

Hael’s affirming nod breathed courage into her.

Cahra steeled herself, continuing on. ‘The problem is that this realm knows only the evil of rulers, a Steward and a King, and their Commanders, their courts, who don’t care how you, me, or anyone else barely scrapes a life together in this blasted realm.

All we know ,’ Cahra cried, thumping her chest, ‘is the opposite of what they have in their high-born castles. Poverty, hunger, sickness, danger. Death. Always death,’ she told them, letting herself feel the air inflate her lungs, give her strength.

‘No one should ever have to live like that.

Like I did. Like so many of us do in the kingdoms of this realm.

‘But maybe we don’t have to any more. You’ve seen Hael, the “ultimate weapon”.

’ Cahra watched as his flames shifted. ‘Yet he is more than that. And he is here to help us, to help me, in figuring out what the kingdoms really need. Because it’s not another token ruler, that’s for sure.

’ She gazed at Hael, his mesmerising eyes, and looked out at the crowd.

‘So if you do wish to pledge your allegiance to me, fine. But if you don’t, that’s fine too.

All I ask is: give me some time to find us common ground. ’

Give me time to learn what I can do to help. Cahra thought of Thierre.

Maybe she wouldn’t end up making such a bad leader, after all.

Cahra waited, heart pounding in the stillness. No matter what, she had made her stand. And gazing into Hael’s ember-glow eyes, Cahra knew that she was not alone.

In the aftershock of her words, silence stretched across the plain, the air thick with the weight of expectation as soldiers stood, motionless as Hael’s statue in the capital.

Just when it felt the world itself had stopped, her hammer sparked to life in her hand, seeming to pulse with the emotions flooding her: mad, buoyant hope; but also trust in herself and the people around her.

The great-hammer began to glow, the light becoming a brilliant flare that reflected her inner strength, her inner fire.

And from this resplendent light, a creature erupted into the sky.

‘A phoenix,’ Hael whispered, his voice barely audible as he watched the creature soar. ‘Cahra, your crest – it is a blessing!’

The phoenix, incandescent in its fiery brilliance, spread its wings and shot above Cahra to soar across the bloodied battlefield, a majestic symbol of hope amongst the carnage.

Its trail of flames blazed red against the perfect azure of the now-cloudless sky and awe filled her every breath as it swooped, unleashing an ethereal cry that echoed over the capital’s jet sands.

Finally, in a dazzling display, it dived, disintegrating into a shower of sparks at her feet.

The palpable silence that had enveloped Hael’stromia was at once shattered by the collective gasp of all three armies.

If Cahra’s words hadn’t reached them, the phoenix did, the symbol of rebirth searing itself into the memories of all present.

As the last vestiges of the flaming bird faded, she locked eyes with Hael.

A gratified smile tugged at the corners of the Reliquus’ lilac lips.

It was hard to know who was in charge of Kolyath’s army, with Commander Sullian in custody, but after a flurry of discussion, a group of men parted and a grizzled, high-ranking officer stepped forward.

‘I am Marl,’ the man said to Cahra. ‘We accept the weapon’s terms. And your own.’ He clutched his fist, holding his sword to his broad chest.

Cahra withheld a sob, knees buckling, but Hael was there, catching her before she fell.

She had never expected acceptance from Kolyath; the cruel kingdom Atriposte had built had always felt irreparable and like it would last forever.

But the Steward was gone. And the idea that her kingdom could finally be free, be something more…

She nodded to Marl, a heartfelt lump thick in her throat. ‘Thank you.’

Then Cahra glanced to Ozumbre.

Unlike Kolyath’s, their army was silent. Finally, a Captain stepped up.

‘While we appreciate the sentiment in your words, we would welcome further dialogue before committing to a course of action,’ the high-born answered her. ‘As you said. To find common ground.’

‘That’s fair,’ Cahra told him. ‘What is your name?’

‘Captain – Lord – Swithan,’ the man said.

Cahra gave a nod. ‘Then I look forward to speaking further, Swithan.’

The noble’s face hardened, but he simply nodded as, behind Cahra, Hael loomed, his unearthly eyes a deterrent against any argument.

‘It is settled. The Empress shall send word in the coming months, when the capital is ready to host the sister kingdoms of Kolyath, Luminaux and Ozumbre in a united celebration. All peoples will be invited, including those of the neutral lands, the Wilds,’ Hael continued.

An all-kingdom event was unheard of, and a ripple of excitement stirred.

But would old hostilities?

‘Peace will be a prerequisite,’ Hael said, before Cahra could voice the issue to him.

He turned slowly, facing each kingdom. ‘Now, return to your lands. We shall call upon you once the capital is ready. We bid you all farewell.’ Hael’s eyes caught Cahra’s as he paused, then dropped to one knee.

‘ALL HAIL CAHRAELIA, EMPRESS OF HAEL’STROMIA! ’

Hael’s depthless voice resounded across the battlefield, and Cahra’s mouth fell open. Luminaux and Kolyath’s people followed, kneeling. One by one, heads bowed, spreading like a never-ending wave that broke across the land.

‘Hael—’

Hael murmured, in a voice so quiet it seemed to find its way directly into her ear, ‘They must accept you, in this new era.’

‘I guess…’ Cahra said, then cleared her throat as she realised he, Wyldaern, Thierre, Sylvie, Raiden, Tyne – everyone – was still bowing to her. ‘Rise, please,’ she begged them. The scene was unbelievable.

Her whole life was unbelievable now.

And it would never, ever be normal again.

Thierre, watching, interrupted her thoughts. ‘Then it truly has all come to pass?’ Voice wavering, he masked it with one of his courtly smiles.

‘I suppose it has,’ Cahra said softly. She didn’t want to ask him if he’d be all right when she knew he’d be going back to chaos.

The King’s funeral; a new Luminaux monarch; everything with Delicia, how ever that would turn out.

Thierre would face a challenging time. ‘Whatever happens back at home, know that you’ve got friends here,’ she said, her voice low.

‘I’m here if you need someone to talk to, okay? ’

Though her words were meant to comfort him, she thought maybe she’d said the wrong thing as something tightened in his face.

Thierre nodded. ‘Friends,’ he murmured.

Cahra saw Sylvie gaze across Luminaux’s forces, many of whom were injured and being attended by war physicians like Merali.

‘Your soldiers fought well today,’ she told the General, feeling the same responsibility when she looked at Kolyath’s army. She placed a hand on Sylvie’s plated shoulder.

‘We did. At heavy cost,’ the General replied, casting a glance to the banner where Luminaux’s healers worked tirelessly. ‘Morale is difficult in times like these, but we’ll hold. We always do.’ Sylvie’s eyes flickered to Cahra. ‘We won today. It’s enough.’

Cahra clasped the woman’s arm. ‘Yes, we did.’

Thierre looked to Sylvie, Raiden, Tyne, his guards and people. His family and friends. ‘It is time. We depart for Luminaux.’ The new King’s blue goldstone eyes shone with sorrow. ‘Farewell, Empress… Glory be.’ Thierre bowed again to Cahra, his people following.

‘Keep in touch,’ Cahra said to Sylvie. Glancing at her brother, the General nodded. Then took one look at Wyldaern and swept the Seer tightly into her arms.

Cahra’s brows shot up in surprise. She hadn’t realised they’d become friends.

‘As will I,’ Raiden told Cahra, smiling. She hugged the Captain.

‘Take care of him,’ Cahra said. She had a feeling it wouldn’t be easy.

‘I promise,’ he said, Raiden’s smile fading as quickly as it had come.

Piet, Siarl and Queran stepped forward, bowing as one. ‘It has been our honour, Empress.’

‘And,’ the gentle warrior said, ‘please do return to train at the palace any time.’

She raised an arm to each of them, the allies she’d made on this most difficult journey. ‘Thank you. The honour is mine,’ she told them. Then Luminaux’s army moved out.

Cahra watched as Thierre’s people gathered their wounded, mounted their horses and bid her, Wyldaern and Hael farewell.

She remained until Thierre turned back to her at last, a smile on his face.

But the expression seemed fixed and his blue goldstone eyes were wistful.

Then he, Sylvie, Raiden and his people turned to the north-east and trotted away from her, back to Luminaux and their kingdom of light.

As they dwindled to tiny dots on the horizon, a sigh escaped Cahra’s lips.

With their departure, a piece of herself would journey with them, forever bound to Luminaux and her memories of the kingdom.

And the people in it who’d helped change her life.