Falling for the Ashfather

Chapter 7

5 YEARS LATER

I handed over the jar of salve to my patient who had come in. “This should help with the arthritis,” I told him. “Rub it on into your hands whenever they hurt.”

Mr. Sage looked down at the jar for a moment, then gave me a vague smile. “Thank you. We’re all glad you opened up shop here. You’re the best healer we’ve had.”

Smiling back, I shifted my weight, my feet aching after the long day I had spent on them, mixing salves and remedies for my patients. I hadn’t opened my shop all that long ago, having been away learning how to be an herbalist, but I had more patients than I knew what to do with already. “I’m not a healer, Mr. Sage,” I told him gently. “I’m an herbalist.”

He scoffed and slipped the small jar into his bag, walking to the door. “We all know what you are, girl. You should accept it too.” He stepped out the door, sending the bell above it ringing merrily before I could respond to that.

With a shake of my head, I followed after him and locked the door. It was time to go home, with Mr. Sage being the last of the deliveries I had scheduled. I cleaned up the shop quickly, and headed upstairs to my home. Sitting on the edge of my bed, all I wanted in the world was to sink into a hot back and rest my aching feet. I stared longingly at the tub, but my work wasn’t over yet.

Changing quickly into black trousers and tunic, I slipped back downstairs and out the back door, making my way through the darkened streets silently.

The town was small enough that twilight didn’t bring about much of a night life. Instead, the streets emptied and the world grew quiet as the town settled into their homes for the night. A chill slipped through me as the wind picked up, and I regretted not grabbing a cloak on the way out the door. I did have my hair tied up and stuffed under a hat. White hair was unusual enough it would draw comment, and the last thing I needed was someone looking in my direction.

It didn’t take long to get across town, and I slipped into the shadows outside one of the houses. Inside, the family sat in their living room, looking for all the world like it was a normal day. It would take a careful eye to see that everything was not as it should be. The young girl sitting on the couch next to her mother was pressed against her side, hands clenched in her dress, as if she feared being left alone. The man kept darting glances at the door, as if he was expecting company.

I knew he was. And it wasn’t the good kind of company.

I had received word that the wife had been outed as a Wyvern. The word I got was that they were going to be taken in tonight for questioning. At least, the wife and the daughter were. The husband’s eyes darted to the front door again.

Closing my eyes, I reached into that part of me that housed the magic from my dragon form. I was a Silver Luminary, and with that came abilities that I had been using for the last five years to do what I thought was right. One of which, was glimpses into the future.

Everything I saw could change at any moment. I hadn’t realized that at first. That the future is never set. That every choice made could change it in ways you couldn’t predict. But, I searched for what the evening had in store for this family if I did nothing, and all I could see was death.

So, I walked to the door and knocked on it myself. The triumphant look was still on the man’s face when he opened the door, but it disappeared when I slammed my fist into his throat, sending him reeling back so I had room to enter the home.

He was on the ground, gasping for breath as I walked into the living room.

“Come with me. The Drakesworn will be here soon.”

The mother, her name, I had been told, was Liana, just stared at me. “What?” She glanced down at her husband, who was beginning to recover from the blow I had given him.

As a Brown Stonebinder, he was the lowest of the castes, but he was loyal to a fault, and had a strength, even in this form, I just didn’t have. I needed to get them out of there. I could probably best the man in a fight, but I didn’t want it to come to that. I couldn’t afford to be hurt.

“You have to come with me now. Your husband has called the Drakesworn. They will be here soon, and it’s not just you they will take. It’s your daughter as well.” My eyes slipped to the young girl, who looked to be no older than four, who stood behind her mother, clutching her skirts and peeking out from behind them at me. “Please.”

Liana shook her head, but when her husband let out a grown, she gave a quick nod, and I heaved out a breath. This could have gone either way. I’d had women refuse to leave, and then watched as they were burned to ash by the Drakesworn.

Stepping over her father to lead them out of the house, I stumbled when he grabbed my ankle, and lashed out without thinking. My foot caught him in the face, and he grunted when his head slammed into the ground. Looking up, I saw Liana staring at me, as if she was wondering who she had agreed to follow. Still, when I walked out of the house, she followed me with her daughter, and I led her into a field not far away.

“We need to leave right away. They can’t see I was here. I’m going to change, and you’re going to climb on my back. I will fly us to where we need to be. But, if we don’t go now, we will be caught. I’ll explain it all when we land. I promise.”

Liana’s hand tightened around her daughter’s, but she gave a quick nod, and I immediately gave in to that feeling in my chest, constantly wanting me to change into my dragon from.

When I was done, I swung my large head to look at her, only to find her gaping at me in surprise and awe. Silver Luminaries were rare. And those that existed where more often than not kept locked up in the castle with the Ashfather. Not somewhere I ever wanted to be.

With a huff my breath, though, she remembered what she needed to do. She was one my back and I took to the air. Not a minute too late, as I saw the distant shape of dragons arriving as we left. I could only hope they couldn’t see me well enough to determine what caste I was as I flew the woman and her daughter to what I hoped would be a safe place for them.