Fantasy of Fire (The Tainted Accords #3)(16)

His eyes are black, empty, devoid of life. And his smile looks like it’s held up with strings. The soulless eyes reach into me, and all of the progress I thought I’d made since leaving Osolis, all the healing and strengthening, is gone. I’m a girl again and he is smashing my head against the floor.

“Willow!” a voice screams.

I jerk out of my panicked hold and wrench on the bar to avoid crashing into the floating cliff face before me. I hurtle, spinning around the rock, reaching the safety of cover from the army.

But the damage is done. My uncle has seen us flying. Now he knows there are other people here.

“Keep going,” I call forward in a trembling voice. Hamish gives me a searching look, but thankfully does as I’ve asked, leading the way back to the Ire.

My hands shake on the bar underneath me. Cassius saw me. But did he know it was me? Did I have enough of a resemblance to my mother? Or did he recognize my father in me? A sob escapes me and I grit my teeth. Was I still so weak? Could one look at my torturer unravel the person I’d become?

At least my mother wasn’t there. A small part of me had wondered if she’d travel with the army. It was good to know the Tatum hadn’t exceeded my expectations and was safe on her cowardly throne. It would take a messenger a couple of weeks to report this sighting.

Veni, what will Adox say?

It takes most of our return journey to the Ire for me to calm. But eventually, I feel strength returning to me. It was bound to be a shock seeing Cassius the first time. He’d tortured and humiliated me more times than I could count. It would be the same when I saw Mother. I wasn’t going to beat myself up about it, or feel ashamed. I was a different person now to the person they knew before. And now I’d seen Cassius, the next time would be easier.

I’d know what to expect at our next meeting.

But he sure as hell wouldn’t.





Chapter Four


A large gathering of relieved and weary Ire folk greets us when we finally land on Adox’s rock. I imagine we’re in a similar condition. My legs shake with fatigue as I get rid of the Soar and stretch my body in slow, tired movements.

“We feared the worst had happened to you,” Adox calls, interrupting my head count. He’s drowned out and overtaken by a large woman.

“Jimmy! Where have you been?”

I wince and turn toward Jimmy’s large mother. She meets my eyes with a sharp glare. Jimmy shuffles over to her, not meeting her gaze.

“And where is your Soar! If you’ve lost it, you won’t be getting a new one. Here, hold your brother.” She shoves a squalling baby into his arms.

“Nancy, now is hardly the time. Take Jimmy away. I’ll speak with him later,” Adox says, rubbing a hand over his eyes. He must’ve been up all night. I doubt he’d slept the night before, either.

I clasp hands with Adox in greeting as he searches my face.

“What happened?”

“One of the groups dropped a support.”

Adox’s eyes flick over to the left, and I follow his gaze to a guilty-looking pair. They must’ve told him of the incident already.

“It alerted the Solati. We were in plain sight. We could only flatten ourselves against the island. But Hamish realized the Great Stairway would lead the army above our hiding spot and put us in clear view.” I glance at Hamish; his green eyes are still bright from the night’s events. I feel the opposite—wrung out.

“I made the call to move, hoping only a few would see us and not the entire army.”

Adox’s eyes widen with my words. He whispers, “And…”

I shudder as I remember looking back and seeing Uncle Cassius standing on an island looking straight at me.

“We were seen, Adox. What’s more is, Jimmy’s Soar was damaged and we had to leave it behind. We hid it as best we could.” I’d shoved it behind the sole rock on the island. “But if the army sees it, the scouts will try to retrieve it. They know we’re here. They’ll be on the alert.” I lean in and whisper for only Adox to hear. “Solati archers are excellent. Please don’t attempt to recover the Soar.”

I expect anger or denial. I’ve prepared my arguments in case he accuses me of betrayal. This is his worst fear come to life. His expression firms and I feel my eyebrows raise when he gives me a terse nod.

“You did all you could in an impossible situation. I’ll send out an alert to our traders to take the long routes home.”

I mask my surprise as I nod back. What has sparked this change of attitude?

“How did the other groups do?” I ask, taking a mug of stew from one of the cooks.

“Everyone destroyed their obstacles successfully.” He rubs the back of his neck. “We are in this now. For better or for worse. It will take the Solati months to get through the Oscala without the supports. Supplies will run low. They’ll be forced to turn around.” We’d only destroyed the pathway in front of the army so they’d be able to retreat with ease. They were still my people.

I stand, stew forgotten, startling the old man. “Then I must go report.”

“Where are you going?” Hamish steps behind me. I jolt and frown at him over my shoulder.

“To update my king,” I shoot back at him. “Adox, I imagine King Jovan has figured out where the Ire is located by now. Would you like to try and keep your whereabouts secret from him for as long as possible?” Adox peruses me over intertwined fingers. He then looks beyond me, to glacium, silent in contemplation.