Of Fire and Fury (Book 1: Light-Born Series)

Chapter 26 - Stone

“Akecheta!” Stone yelled, catching sight of the warrior just as he sliced through two enemy soldiers. Akecheta looked up, his eyes wide as he saw Rabid.

“There are too many, Stone.” he yelled over the cries of their people. “Without the wall, we can’t stop them.”

“I need to take her to Reannihom, to the healers.” Stone said, desperation suddenly taking over. Akecheta nodded swiftly, 

“We will give everyone as much time as they can, then retreat there.” he said before disappearing into the fray.

Stone’s body was now drenched in Rabid’s blood. He could hear her shallow gasps of pain as he ran straight toward Rheo, silently praising everything as the horse stood diligently where he had been left. Rain had begun to fall as he ran, shifting the clear night to a downpour in a matter of minutes. Stone feet slid on the mud, the rain pooling beneath him into puddles of red. He ignored it all: the sights, the bodies, the feelings. He could not give into them now. He had to get her out of here. Rabid had to live.

But as Stone grabbed Rheo’s reins, his blood ran cold. Twelve Hauk men had come through the gate, and were blocking their escape; cutting down anyone who came near them. Stone glanced down at Rabid, her eyes were barely open from fatigue and blood loss. Raindrops gathered on her long eyelashes, quivering for a moment before they ran down her cheeks like tears.

“Stay here.” he said as if she could hear him, setting her on the ground and pressing her hands into her wound. He pulled his hatchet from his belt, and took his dagger in the other hand. He willed every lesson he had ever learned to the forefront of his mind. Rabid had to live. Stone let the thought take over his whole body, every feeling he had for her amplified until he felt it strengthen his resolve. Rabid had to live. Then, with a yell, he ran toward the nearest man. Dodging his blade, Stone sent his own into his throat, hacking with his hatchet against a bare spot of flesh under his arm.

Stone pulled his weapons free just in time to block a blow aimed at his chest. He swung furiously, as fast as he could, as the other fighter continually parried his strikes. Finally, Stone’s knife sliced the man’s chest, causing him to stumble. Swinging his hatchet with all his strength, Stone pressed forward—but the man’s free hand shoved him away and into the ground. In an instant, the man’s blade was pressing against Stone’s, his entire weight crashing down against the strength of Stone’s arm. Every muscle in Stone’s body screamed as he tried to keep the blades from inching toward his throat.

Just before the blade cut his throat, the man above him screamed and fell to the ground. A dagger stuck out of his spine. Stone jumped up, having to squint through the pouring rain, and could barely see the small form of Rabid running toward the gate. 

“Rabid!” he yelled after her, but she couldn’t hear him. His voice was drowned out by the splattering of rain on the ground and the chaos of the battle around them. She held Hauk blades in her hands and swung furiously, ripping through the first man before he even got his own weapon up to block. She quickly moved on, leaving one of her blades in his chest. Stone watched in astonishment, he had never seen her move like this; it was like she was a different person.

Rabid moved for the second man who blocked her first two strikes, but she spun with the expertise of a seasoned warrior, landing a kick to the man’s chest that sent him reeling toward the ground. As soon as the man fell, two more were running toward her. A huge blade was swung at her head. She dodged it, landing a strike to the man’s arm. The second man swung shortly after, but she moved to the side, shoving his blade into his countrymen’s neck. With his weapon firmly lodged into his friend, Rabid made even quicker work of sending him to the earth, her knife lodged between his eyes.

By now, Stone was running to her aid, but a large man had stepped between them. Rain dripped off his long dagger that he swung toward Stone’s head. Stone dodged several swings, awaiting his opportunity. The blade skimmed his shoulder as he dodged again, this time leaning in and pressing toward the man’s throat. He didn’t get a clean slice, but it was enough to make the man clutch at his wound, with wide and fear-filled eyes. The man fell to the ground, gasping as blood spurted from his veins.

Stone turned, looking desperately for Rabid. He caught sight of her standing weaponless before the last man in front of the gate. She dodged his swings, kicking at his stomach and knees until her foot launched the blade from his hand. In an instant, she had launched herself onto his chest, knocking him to the ground with a yell. She landed on top of him, with her knees on his chest and her thumbs stabbing at his eye-sockets as he screamed in pain. Stone could see the blood fly from where he stood.

He sprinted toward her, just as she stood to move again. But as she took a step forward, her body slowed and she wavered on her feet, pitching forward as she lost her balance. Stone caught her right as she would have hit the ground, her face pale with blood loss and overexertion. Blood covered every inch of her, despite the rain. Stone grabbed under her armpits and hoisted her up, dragging her back to the ground beside Rheo. 

His mind was racing at what he had witnessed. He had personally seen to Rabid’s training, he knew her body and the way she moved. Though she had been a quick study and unusually clever, this was not the same girl he had taken in. In any scenario, those men should have torn her apart.

Rabid’s eyes rolled back into her head as she blacked out. Stone maneuvered her on to Rheo’s back and climbed up behind her, kicking Rheo’s flanks hard. Three fighters had started their way, but Rheo flew past them and out the open gates. The trees around them blocked some of the downpour and it was easier to see as they charged through the forest. Behind him, the sounds of battle faded, lost in the thick branches Stone was putting between them and Omarihom. He couldn’t think of his people he was leaving behind: his mind was plagued by the thought of Rabid never opening her eyes again.

It felt like ages that they raced through the darkness and the steadily driving rain. Rheo wheezed beneath Stone, his skin grew white with sweat, but they didn’t not slow. Reannihom was a long days ride at a normal pace, and they could spare no time. The longer he clung to Rabid’s limp body, the more panic tried to grip at Stone. He shoved it away, focusing instead on directing Rheo’s head through the downpour.

She was chosen, she has to live. He repeated to himself, over and over. But he felt no comfort of the Great One’s presence, now. No voice spoke peace to his mind. The night air whipping past him drowned out everything. Rheo lurched, catching his hoof on a fallen log and almost stumbling. Rabid’s body slumped forward, and Stone barely caught her before she slid from Rheo’s back.

“Just hold on a little longer.” He whispered against her forehead. “We’ll get to Red Moon and everything will be fine. She’s going to heal you, Rabid, it’s going to be okay.” 

He knew she couldn’t hear, but he kept whispering as he rode. His legs were cramped and his entire body exhausted when they finally reached the thick stone walls of Reannihom. The rain had slowed to a slow patter, that slapped against pools of water on the forest floor. Rheo pulled up short, his body quivering in exhaustion. His breath created spirals of smoke in the air before them. Great white walls reached above them menacingly, and Stone had never been so grateful in his life.

Reannihom was carved of great square stones, laid one on top of the other, as thick as Stone was tall. On each of the front edges, there was a tower standing several lengths higher than the wall, with wooden doors and stairs that led into the heart of Reannihom. The center of the huge fortress, above a giant oak door, was carved into an arch, with a walkway above it and intricate swirling carvings covering the facade. What could be seen of this fortress was less than a quarter of its true size. Where the courtyard and wall backed into the southern mountains, there was another series of doors. Here, a network of halls and tunnels had been carved directly into the mountain’s belly. The thick walls were only the first line of defense: the maze beneath them was the truest guard of the Reanni. If one ventured in without a guide, there was little chance they could find their way out again.

When Rheo skidded to a stop before the gates, Stone’s gratitude fell to the ground the like the rain around him. There were no fires, no lights, no open oak doors. On top of this great beast of stone and turrets there was only darkness. 

“Red Moon!” Stone thundered, as loud as he could. His only answer was his own voice, reverberating off the walls. He jumped from Rheo’s back and slid Rabid to the muddy ground, praying to everything that she was still alive. Her breathing was so shallow he could barely see it under her chest move tattered skins. 

Stone racked his brain, trying to remember the meager lessons Red Moon had taught him. He cursed his childhood self, the boy who had hated this education and spent most of it dreaming about fighting alongside his father. Though he knew little, a picture flashed into his mind: yarrow would stop her bleeding.

Stone took off into the forest, scouring the ground for the small leaves and tiny white flowers.

“Stone!” a voice shouted through the trees, some distance away.

“Kizi!” he let out an relieved shout, embracing her as she ran toward him for a hug.

“Please tell me you all got away.” she whispered, her eyes shining in the moonlight.

“I don’t know. Kizi, Rabid’s lost a lot of blood.” Stone replied, turning back to the earth. Kizi’s eyes widened and she disappeared into the forest again. He looked after her, seeing other dark forms huddled into the brush. Kizi reappeared with a small satchel and motioned for Stone to follow.

Rabid lay motionless on the wet earth. The blood of the Hauks had been washed from her body by the rain, revealing the red of the gaping wound that sliced deep across her ribs. Her breathing was shallow and ragged.

“Help me!” Kizi motioned as she pulled a poultice from her satchel and began removing the outer cloth. Stone slid Rabid’s outer skins off, wincing as he tugged at the skins that were sticking to her wound. With the matted skins gone, they could clearly see the long gash and the blood that was still pouring from it. Stone was surprised she had even lived this long.

“Where are the others?” Kizi said as she worked, pressing the crushed leaves into Rabid’s side. She took strips of cloth from her satchel and wound them tightly around Rabid’s abdomen to keep the poultice in place. It was mere moments before they were soaked in red. Kizi cursed under her breath and wrapped more cloth around the already bloodied rags.

“They were still fighting when we left. I saw Rabid fall and I…” Stone stopped, suddenly thinking about the men he had abandoned to the Hauks’ blades. 

“You did the right thing.” Kizi placed her arm on his shoulder. “Thanks to you, she has a chance.”

Stone knelt on the ground beside the two women, letting out a deep sigh. The adrenaline that had carried him to this point was ebbing away, and he could feel his body being overcome with fatigue.

“Why are you not inside?” Stone asked, glancing at the dark fortress looming above them.

“They refused us.” Kizi said, shaking her head angrily. Stone glanced over the tops of the walls. For a second, he thought he saw a dark figure standing out against the sky. But when he blinked, the sight was gone.

“Are you injured?” she asked. Stone shook his head, he had only gotten minor scrapes that would heal themselves.

“Go and wash the blood off you in the lake, I will take care of her.” Kizi said, her voice indisputable.

Stone stepped into the forest and easily found a small footpath. Following it several hundred paces, he reached the edge of the water. Bending, he splashed the cold water over his arms and face, scrubbing the remaining blood from his skin. He took a deep breath, watching the rippling reflection of the speckled lights on the water. The silence was unnerving. He could hear soft croaking in the water, and crickets chirping in the night. All of nature seemed blissfully unaware of the battle that raged just a few hours ride away.

When he returned to the front gate, there were groups of people congregating. Some sat on the ground, some leaned against the wall. The presence of their leader seemed to give them boldness to come out of hiding. Each of them were silent and heavy.

“So few of our people are here, where are the rest?” Stone asked, glancing at the huddled groups. Kizi looked at the people around them.

“There are still more in the forest. But…” she caught his gaze, the look in her eyes sinking his insides. “The northerners met us when we left the gates. The few of us here barely made it out at all.”

His heart was like a rock inside of his chest as he tried to count the familiar faces around them, searching for one in particular.

“Where is she?” he asked, still searching the faces. Kizi focused on Rabid, adjusting the cloth around her midsection. “Red Moon?”

“Red Moon refused to leave you.” she said, sighing heavily. “She stayed to sing protection over you both.” 

Stone closed his eyes and took a steadying breath as everything inside him tried to take a dive into the darkness of despair.

“She’ll arrive with my father, then.” he said, turning before he had to face the disagreement in Kizi’s face. She would make it: this he would hold on to until he was forced to let go.

“Try and get some rest.” Stone raised his voice, addressing the people. “We will make a plan in the morning.”

But Stone did not take his own advice. After making a makeshift tent from their meager supplies to cover Rabid from the rain, He leaned against the cold stone of Reannihom’s wall, unable to sleep. The sun was just beginning to light the sky as hooves jolted him from a daze. He wasn’t resting, but instead he sat focused on the unmoving bark before him, refusing to let his fears take hold.

He stood quickly, despite his aching bones, and greeted his father and a few hundred men and women. Their clothing was torn and bloodied, several were covered in bruises and nursed wounds, but it looked as though majority of the warriors had made it out. Blood Wolf jumped from his horse before the painted mare had even stopped moving. 

“Why are you not inside?” he said, blood and dirt streaked across his face, making him look even fiercer than normal. Anger flooded his eyes as he glanced around at the small number of his people, huddled in the mud. A growl escaped his chest as he spun toward the closed gate.

“Arven!”

For a moment only silence responded to his yell. But then, the voice of an older man rang like thunder through the secured gates.

“You will not bring war to us, Omari!”

“You are healers! And you would leave my people to die in front of your gates?” Blood Wolf yelled again. Stone could feel his father’s rage building. Stone shoved his own down, knowing no good would come of it.

“Never again, Blood Wolf. I told you before. Never again will you bring senseless death inside these walls.” Arven’s sharp voice rang out again. Some of the people cried out, begging to be let inside. A young child started wailing somewhere in the trees. Stone looked around, seeing the desperation in his people growing. He stepped closer to the wall and yelled,

“Arven, please. Come outside. Help us heal our wounded and we will move on.” 

Blood Wolf flashed Stone a look, but nodded slowly. Something was better than nothing, and this was a tribe of healers. A long breath passed as everyone listened, the faceless voice deliberating. Akecheta glared daggers at the door, Blood Wolf visibly worked to contain himself, but eventually the silence was broken by the creaking of wood and the wrestling of chains. The great door slid open just enough to let a line of healers leave their walled kingdom—each wore a crown made of sticks and leaves, mud marked their face and their nearly naked bodies.

As the Reanni worked, Kizi and Stone sat next to Rabid. Kizi’s eyes scanned the men and women still on horses, then she turned to those milled about to find a place for their exhausted bodies. Stone couldn’t bring himself to search with her; a sickness had begun to grow in him. Red Moon had not arrived. Kizi glanced at Stone, her eyes wide, she covered her lips with her hand.

“Now is not the time to grieve.” Stone said, his voice barely remaining level. Kizi nodded and blinked several times.

A young Reanni man approached them, kneeling over Rabid and examining her blood soaked rags. He worked quickly and silently, treating her wound and reapplying clean cloths he had carried with him. As he stood to leave, Kizi grabbed his arm.

“The natuna is among us.” she whispered into the man’s ear. The man’s eye grew wide, and he shook his head vigorously.

“That’s not possible.” he whispered back. “Let me see her.”

“Take me to Arven, we will prove it to you.” Kizi said back, holding the man’s gaze.

The man glanced between Kizi and Stone, then briefly glanced at Rabid with a shrewd look. After a moment he hurriedly grabbed his things and ran back inside the gate. He glanced back at Kizi just before the door slammed shut.

“Natuna?” Stone whispered to Kizi, after making sure they were out of ear shot. “I do not know this word.”

“That’s because it is a special word, reserved only for the daughters of royalty.” Kizi said, turning to meet his eye. Her own rimmed in red, tears threatening to fall. Despite this, Kizi’s face remained strong. “It means a beloved.”