The Silver Siren (Iron Butterfly, #3)(44)

“Please, please don’t kill me! I’m innocent, I swear,” Narn cried out and fell forward to the ground, burying his face in his hands. “I didn’t do nothing wrong. I’m not a killer. I’m not like one of the others.”

“Tell me what you know of last night,” I demanded angrily.

It took Narn a few tries before he was able to calm himself to answer. “Nothing out of the normal. We made dinner, like normal. Same stuff we make at the Citadel. Nothing new, soup, bread.”

“Did you notice anything strange?” Syrani prodded.

Narn started to cry again. “N-n-nothing. Except that Donn wanted to bring out a case of cider. He was very adamant that everyone get a cup. He said he was trying out a new recipe.”

I thought back to last night. And how everyone had happily been indulging in the cider. Hemi had brought me a cup and ended up drinking my portion. So that was why I hadn’t drunk any. I looked to Syrani and flat out asked her, “Why didn’t you drink the cider?”

A blush ran up her face and she refused to look at me. “I’m allergic to cinnamon. So I never ever drink any cider. I break out in an ugly rash.

I remembered when she tripped me at the Citadel when I was carrying a pitcher of cider. The drink went everywhere, but not a single drop spilled on Syrani. I guess, if something as simple as cinnamon could mar her beauty, she would be extremely aware of it.

“Well, I suppose that leaves us no choice.” I looked over at Narn’s pitiful form. Snot and tears ran down his nose. “Leave him with a few days of rations and no horse. He can find shelter in that time, but he can’t do us any harm if we leave him.”

Narn began to wail loudly. “No you can’t leave me. I don’t know how to survive out here. There could be bears, wolves, or monsters out in these woods.”

Enough. I’d just decided to spare his life and now he was whining. “I’m the monster you need to worry about,” I growled.

He shut up and began to sniffle and cry.

We decided to tie him up until we were ready to pull out. But where to now? We needed more men, more protection. We were vulnerable to attack. I looked to Hemi and he nodded his head at me. He knew what I was thinking.

“We keep heading north. To the Valdyrstal lands,” I announced. “Right now, out in the open, we are under constant threat of attack. We need to get help, regroup. We are closer to Valdyrstal than Haven, so I say let’s go forward.”

The few soldiers that were left became silent. I looked over the students, and even Syrani had a bemused expression. Hemi stepped in and began ordering them to transfer only their absolute necessities into the first three wagons. We would leave the rest.

I only prayed that my father would understand and forgive me as I led a ragtag bunch of Denai, his sworn enemy, right into his home.





Chapter 18



Understand was a stretch. Not only did my father not understand our arrival, Bearen was livid.

At first he was delighted to see his daughter and his good friend Hemi return. His face dropped into a scowl when the first wagon crested and he saw Karni on the seat next to the driver. His face turned from red to purple when more of the Denai students crested the hill behind us, escorted by soldiers.

Fearful for my friends, Hemi and I rode out ahead to greet my father. “Father, we need help!”

“Turn around, because you will find none here,” Bearen threatened, pointing the direction we had just come from.

“We can’t. We were attacked; we lost most of our men and many of the students. They were taken, like I was before,” I whispered the last sentence so only he could hear it.

“Where’s the SwordBrother?” he asked, searching for Kael. “He swore on his life that you would be taken care of.”

“He made sure I was safe before he went after them. Father, the Adept Council and all of Calandry are in a dilemma. We don’t know where to go. People have even started disappearing from the city, the Citadel, the roads. Nowhere is truly safe anymore. The Septori always seem to be one step ahead of the Queen and adepts. This was the safest place I could think of.”

Bearen rubbed his long black beard thoughtfully as he listened to my words. Odin had come and stood by to listen in, along with Eviir and quite a few others. The three wagons continued straight into the middle of town, and the five remaining students began to hop down and gaze in awe at the unique architecture of our longhouses. Some started to shiver. I supposed it was because we were high up in the mountains and it was cooler than most were used to.

Women came out of the houses carrying extra coats and blankets. Their own children followed closely behind and were drawn to the beautiful Denai. Looking at those left, I realized sadly that only the youngest were spared. The Septori had taken all the older ones but Syrani. Whatever their plan was, they didn’t need the young children anymore.

“Of course it’s the safest place. We are the best warriors, but I don’t think it would be good—” Bearen started to speak again.

“This problem is bigger than our distrust of the Denai. The safety of these children is now our responsibility. Help us get them home safely. That’s all I ask.”

Odin, one of the older warriors and my godfather stepped forward. “No one would blame you, Bearen, for taking in children. Even we can make an exception. And as you know, times are quickly changing. The borders are no longer closed.”