The Forsaken Hero

Nods and bows of agreement followed the god’s declaration, and Father Ithris stepped forward, clasping his hands behind his back. ”Of course, my Lord. We will make arrangements to dispatch our troops. We’ve already got every available force in the region searching for her, so with that, it won’t take long. We’ll bring her to you.”

”You’d better.”

Fate turned and strode away. Soltair rose, looking troubled, and moved to follow, but paused. Trithe laid a hand on his arm, shaking his head. He sighed and leaned back, his hand slipping into hers.

”I can’t help but see her,” he muttered.

Trithe squeezed his hand. ”That’s why she was here, remember? A necessary sacrifice.”

His expression darkened. ”There seems to be a lot of those required, and from those close to us, no less.”

”Yeah, but on the bright side, it’s just the two of us, again, right?” She leaned up, pressing her lips to his cheek. She lingered, her hand creeping across his chest, and whispered in his ear, ”Isn’t caring for me enough? Do you really need more?”

He didn’t answer.

The vision broke apart, plunging me back into my soul space. I landed on my knees, my shoulders trembling. Just being in Fate’s presence was overwhelming, to the point I could barely breathe. It was like he was squeezing me, waiting for me to squeak and alert him that I was watching.

But he wasn’t Luke.

Rising, I pressed back into fate, willing it to show me him. The stars swirled indecisively, forcing bits and pieces of vision and sound, but nothing materialized. My jaw clenched, and I tried harder, shedding tears unheeded.

Finally, something broke, and the fabric of fate folded around me. I blinked in startling bright light. The sun beat down over a stone courtyard with curtain-like walls. Towers rose beyond the fringes of the vision, and several barracks and military structures surrounded me. A team of inquisitors knelt before a Father, who had his own guard standing at attention.

”They’re on the move,” said a seventh-level high inquisitor.

The father frowned. ”Do we have any indication of why? They’ve sat in those mountain for months now without so much as a raid.”

The inquisitor shook his head. ”Our scouts have reported nothing unusual. We had predicted they might move last week, to meet up with the horde before Roann, but they seemed content to let Fate scatter them.”

”Lord Fate,” the Father said, his eyes narrowing.

The other inquisitors exchanged drawn looks, but the High Inquisitor bowed smoothly. ”Of course, Father. Lord Fate.”

A silence followed before the Father waved his hand. ”Just tail them while I report. Unless our orders change, you are to obey your previous directive.”

”But what if they strike the towns or cities? They will be crossing most of Radia if they stay their current course,” the High Inquisitor asked.

”Let them. The Pope was very clear.”

”I don’t like it. They’re demons,” an inquisitor muttered.

The high inquisitor silenced him with a sharp look. ”Yes, Father, we’ll obey. Even if it means sacrificing a few pawns.”

The vision broke apart and immediately reassembled, prompted by my thoughts. That had to be Rash’alon’s horde. They were finally making a move. I focused on the curse demon lord and Hag, but the Oracle of Eternity shunted off like rain striking a window. They were warded.

The vision stabilized on a small farmstead with gray skies. I recognized the piles of unbaled hay and cluttered fields as the place Fable had taken me after we escaped Fate. Glittering flecks of starlight swirled in flurries across the frozen ground, mixing with dancing snowflakes. A handful of Fatesworn: humans, demons, and even an elf had taken position around the farmstead, standing guard. I shifted inside, to where voices rose.

The ranger captain Avrass sat at a crude wooden table, his hand resting on the table, casually holding a long, narrow knife. A middle-aged man in a loose linen shirt and trousers sat on the other side, sweat trickling down his brow. His eyes shifted back and forth, flitting to his wife, who sat beside him holding a small child, then back to the ranger.

”I-It was just like that,” the man stammered, pointing at an errant wisp of starlight curling around Avrass’s arm. ”The whole house filled with them for an hour or so before they disappeared. But we didn’t do anything! I swear.”

”Is that so?” Avrass leaned back, absently tapping the blade against the table. ”Any strangers been around, recently? Perhaps a girl with red hair? This tall?”

He held his hand up, and I frowned, my tail flicking. Just how small and frail did they think I was? I was way taller than that!

The farmer shook his head, swallowing hard. ”N-no, sir. We barely even see the neighbors anymore, what with the war and all. The demons--” He swallowed hard, glancing out the window. The silhouette of a fifteen-foot-tall demon shone through, casting a golden light on the wooden floor. ”It’s no time to be traveling.”

”Hmph.” Avrass stood and returned his knife to his sheath. ”An hour, though. That meant she was nearby for at least four. We’re too far to have gotten by foot, so her wolf must be with her.”

”W-wolf, sir?”

His eyes sharpened. ”You know something about a wolf?”

”Only that...well, I shouldn’t say...” His eyes went back to the demon.

Avrass put his hands on the table, leaning over, dominating his view. ”I suggest you do.”

The farmer shuddered, gripping his hands into fists under the table. ”Well, the truth is, an inquisitor came by yesterday asking about a wolf. She was alone, oddly enough, and didn’t act like any inquisitor I’ve heard of. But she said she was hunting a demonic wolf, and it was huge! I showed her a track I found out in the field, and that seemed to interest her.”

”You saw a wolf track? Where?”

”Just there, by the hay. Never had time to bring it in, you know? All my hands up and left once they heard the demons had made it here. Not that fleeing will do them any good. If the demons win, we’re all dead. No offense. I’m sure your demons are much better.”

Avrass turned before he could finish, shoving through the front door. A cold gust of wind burst through, making the fire in the hearth flicker. The woman flinched as the door shut.

”A-Are they leaving?” she asked, a quiver in her voice.

The man sagged back. ”Gods, I hope so. Did you see his eyes? Even colder than the inquisitors. Why are there so many people interested in wolves all of a sudden?”

I shifted outside, but the vision was already breaking apart. The last thing I saw was one of the demons leaning over a huge, three-foot divot in the ground. A toothy grin spread, and a pulse emanated from his soul.

”What is it?” Avrass asked, running over.

”Found her.”

I was pushed back to my soul space, where I dove in again, and again, flying through visions across Radia and greater Enusia. Eventually, I was left listless, surrounded by the quiet darkness and glittering stars. I sank to the floor of rippling darkness and hugged my knees to my chest, resting my chin. My tail swished back and forth, drawing eddies through the stars.

Where was he? Why couldn’t I find him? He wasn’t hiding from me, was he?

When dawn came, I’d already awakened, too troubled to sleep. As gray light filtered through the curtains, I curled up in my bed, barely feeling the itch of the straw poking me through the sheets. How often had I woken to find him beside me, welcoming me with a smile, and taking my hand? The way his thumb circled my knuckle always sent tingles racing down my tail.

What if I never felt it again? What if I never felt him? I hadn’t even had a chance to say goodbye. To tell him that I loved him one last time. I was ready for him to leave me, well, maybe not ready, but I accepted it. But not like this.

Distant shouting pierced the curtains, causing me to stir. I’d gotten used to soldiers running, sparring, and bantering, but this was different. Urgent.

Dragging myself out of bed was hard, and dressing myself was harder. I chose a simple red off-the-shoulder dress with a black ribbon sash. I sat on the bed for a few long seconds just staring at the brush before running it through my hair a few halfhearted times. When I stowed it, I squeezed my spatial ring before withdrawing my flower wreath and slipping it on. The delicate blossoms weighed heavily on my head. Even heavier than my horns.

No sooner had I laced the ribbons of my slippers around my legs than a sharp knock rang at the door, and Luxxa called through. I sighed heavily, my shoulders slumping, before answering it, forcing a small smile. For once, she didn’t seem to notice the wavering in my eyes or the slump of my tail and grabbed me, ushering me out into the hall. The rest of the guard, save Kahlen, were already there, looking grim.

”Come, we must hurry,” she said. ”Demons were sighted approaching the valley.”