Rise of the Sparrows (Relics of Ar'Zac #1) (6 page)

“They won't fit in here, they're not small enough.” Rachael couldn't argue with that. “It'll burn for a while, and they won't search all the way back here. I bet this alley there leads right to it.”

Rachael nodded. “Be quick. I'll be right behind you.”

Behind them, the shouting grew louder. The rest of the town was rapidly catching up with them. Time was running out and they weren't strong enough to free themselves if they were caught.

Cephy nodded slowly, and together they hurried down the path to their left, towards the cart. It wasn't a long stretch, but they still had to get back and run the rest of the way once the cart was on fire. It wasn't far to go, but when you had the whole town thirsting for your blood reality could become weirdly stretched. Roads were suddenly longer than they had been before, you were slower than you normally were, and all sounds around you were more high-pitched and louder.

Hidden away inside the gap between buildings no one suspected them to be there, but Rachael and Cephy had a good view of everyone. They were on edge, pacing.

“When you're ready and there's no one in the way you can-” In front of her, the cart burst into flames. The fire was so close that Rachael could feel the sudden heat on her skin. Tearing through the snow it felt like it was singeing her face.

Shocked that Cephy had acted so quickly and terrified of being found, Rachael grabbed the girl's wrist and pulled her away back down the alley they had come from.

She didn't turn around until they were back in their previous spot.

Cephy's trick had worked a miracle. Everyone who had paced nervously through the street just moments ago was now running towards the fire, screaming in terror at the sudden change of events.

“We need to be quick now. And no running directly across! If we press ourselves against the walls they won't see us. The snow and the bright light from the fire will make it too difficult to see what's happening back here.” Cephy nodded, a gesture Rachael had grown used to since Cephy had begun to stay with her. The girl didn't talk much, and often showed her opinion in different ways, usually by nodding or shaking her head.

Without ever taking her eyes off the crowd which had gathered around the burning cart, they squeezed themselves out of the tight alley and into the road.

Rachael felt like her heart was about to explode. She didn't remember the last time it had beaten so hard in her chest, but she was sure that she would remember this for as long as she lived.

Sneaking along the house walls as fast as they dared, they made their way across the street. The heavy snowfall helped conceal them, and they were only moments away from the next gap. From there it would be difficult for anyone to follow them. All they needed to do was squeeze through and they'd be free.

“MUM!” Their heads shot up at the voice right above them. A little boy was sticking his head out of a window, pointing down right to them. “MUM, THE WITCHES ARE GETTING AWAY!”

It only took one quick glance towards the fire to know that everyone had their eyes focused on their general direction. Rachael and Cephy sprinted towards the gap at the same time as the crowd started running towards the screaming child.

They were slower than the group of people, but they were closer to the alley. Seconds before a bulky man would have grabbed Cephy's arm, they jumped between the buildings and ran faster than they had ever done to the sounds of angry screaming and cursing of their souls right behind them.

Knowing that there was no way the grown-up, well-fed people would catch up with them now didn't help. They both ran as fast as their tired legs could carry them and reached the hole in the walls just as some dogs started barking.

“Quickly! Get through!” Rachael shoved Cephy through first, grateful for the brief moment to catch her breath. Cephy fit through without a problem, and while it took Rachael a little longer they managed to get out quickly.

The barking behind them grew louder. Both girls shared only a brief look before they took off, running into a forest they knew nothing about.

“Where did they go?” Commander Videl's voice was
calm, not betraying the disgust he felt on the inside. The witches must have had an accomplice in this filthy excuse for a city, otherwise he and his men would have caught them without problems. Behind him the burnt out ruins of  a house forced a grim reminder of what the witches were capable of on the people of Blackrock. His men had informed him that it had been the baker's home. His own daughter, one of the very witches he had come here to kill, had burnt him and his family to ashes. Many of the townspeople had witnessed the foul magic at work, yet they all stood rigid before him now, too terrified to speak.

His grip on his sword tightened and the creases on his forehead deepened as he waited for one of the townspeople to answer him. “I said, where the fuck did those bitches go?” The crowd before him looked sheepish, and terrified, and he hated both cowardice and fear. He was a calm and collected man, but the people of Blackrock were testing his patience.

Finally, a man raised his hand, eyes on his black leather shoes.

“Speak up!”

“We don't know, good sir.”

Before the commander of the White Guard could stop himself, his hand had hit the side of the man’s face, the heavy gauntlet drawing thick streaks of blood as the material cut into his skin.

“You don't know? You don't know! Men!” Behind him, his three subordinates straightened and saluted. “Find them! They are only two young girls, damn it! I won't be outwitted by two children, you hear me?” The guardsmen nodded, saluted once more and spread out in all directions.

“Now, you lot need to be taught a lesson! You call us to your town, asking us to rid you of the Dark One's own spawn, and then you have the nerve to lose them?” He spat every word. Every letter may as well have dripped venom.

“We're awfully sorry, good sir. We don't know where they might have-” The commander's gauntlet drew across his face, too, leaving a deep red smear on its otherwise flawless surface.

“Show us every crack in the wall around this blasted town! I want to know every last rabbit hole, you hear me!”

“But good sir, this town's walls are old. They have held for centuries, they have! Not a crack in any of them, we assure you!”

Commander Videl's patience was running low. The nerve! The insolence! How stupid did they think he was? How incapable did they think him and his men?

“Are you saying, then, that they are still in Blackrock? They have simply outwitted my men and I, have they?”

“Aye, good sir, they must-” His words were cut off by the raspy gurgling of blood filling his lungs and mouth. The crowd gasped, a nearby woman screamed and ran to the man's side.

Commander Videl had pledged his life to the execution of the Dark One's spawn. He had no time for ungrateful rabble like these people, who wasted his time and insulted his skills.

“Adam!” The woman broke down in front of this man,
Adam
, holding his blood-soaked hands and pleading to the Maker to save him.

The Commander of The White Guard kicked her with his steel boot. “Excuses! You people have allowed two dangerous criminals to flee your city, and you would blame us! This man, this Adam, has conspired with evil to fool us and buy them time! He had to die for his sins! Would you allow one such as him to live among you?”

The faint mumbling of apologies shuddered through the shaking crowd.

“Let me ask again.” Commander Videl tried hard to control his breathing and be professional, but these people were driving him mad. “Show us every last crack, hole, and gap in these walls. Now.”

The people looked down, too scared to meet his demanding gaze. Mothers turned their children away from him and held them close. No one was brave enough to do the right thing.

Sweat glistened on many foreheads, and the commander felt his newly gained patience dwindle once more. He drew his sword, grabbed the woman of the dead man, and pressed the blade into her neck, drawing the thinnest sliver of blood.

“If you do not cooperate I will have to assume that all of you think as this man did. If your town is as rotten as I fear, me and my men will have to purge every last one of you.” Around him the people looked mortified, shivering from fear rather than the cold.

No one spoke a word. No one remembered how to. The fear had disintegrated all rational thought.

“Very well. My men will be back soon, but I can start the purging of this shithole without them.” The promise of his sword as it left its scabbard cut through the chilled air.

“Stop! Wait!” A panicked voice rang through the air, parting the shaking crowd. An overweight woman dragged a small child through the snow behind her, running as fast as her short fat legs allowed her. Her face was flushed from running, and there was a spark in her eyes he had seen before. This was going to be good.

“Explain yourself!”

“My boy, here, my Peter, he saw 'em! He saw 'em escape! Through a gap in the wall they squeezed, he saw it himself! Isn't that right, Peter!”

“Yes, sir. It's as I've seen it.”

“Where.” His anger was replaced by excitement. It would be another victory for the White City, and he was proud to have made it possible.

“That way, good sir! The other end of town!”

“How long ago.”

“I dunno, maybe-” The crowd gasped, a few screamed, as the Commander of the White Guard pressed his blade into the child's neck.

“I asked you, how long ago?”

Careful not to draw blood himself, the boy nodded as quickly as the situation allowed him. “It was not a half hour ago, sir!”

“Did they have horses waiting for them?”

“No, sir! I saw them run into the forest, I swear I did!”

Commander Videl smiled. No horses? The stupid wenches stood no chance against him now!

“You've done well, Peter. You'd make a damn good soldier of the White Guard yourself one day!” The boy beamed with pride, looking at his mother for confirmation who nodded, the same proud grin on her face.

He cleared his throat, recapturing the people's attention in an instant. “People of Blackrock! Today you were saved by this young lad! Remember the mercy of the White City, for we have rid you of evil and have given you a second chance!”

He could still hear their cheering as he rode out of the city, promising himself to never set foot in this flea-ridden shithole again.

Rachael stopped to catch her breath once she couldn’t hear the eager barking of the Guard's hounds any more. Leaning against a tree, exhausted from their narrow escape, she struggled to calm down. Cephy wasn't far behind and was watching her. Everything was covered in undisturbed snow, even the smallest branches on the many trees surrounding them. She didn't know just how far into the forest they had run, but she no longer heard the dogs chasing after them so distance didn't matter. As long as they were far away from Blackrock and the White Guard they would be fine.

Rachael looked around, trying to find something they could eat. Survival had been hard before but at least there had been some food here and there. Now, out in the wilds, she didn't know what to do. She was too small to hunt down a deer or a boar, even, and too inexperienced to make a bow or take any animal at home in these forests by surprise. Their only chance was to reach the next town, but she didn't know how to get there or how far away it was. Even if she did, it was a risk. She knew from gossip she had overheard that people like them weren't wanted anywhere. These woods were a complete mystery to her. What if they were miles away, walking in the wrong direction? They would starve long before they came across another town.

“Are you all right?” Cephy was still out of breath. Rachael was used to running away from men twice her size, but Cephy hadn’t lived on the streets for long. Neither of them had had a proper meal in a long time. The last real meal Rachael could remember was a loaf of bread Cephy's mother had left her a couple of weeks ago. Running for longer periods of time would be a challenge, if they had to do it again.

Rachael was determined not to have to run from anyone again for a while. Maybe they could reach a town far away from Blackrock, start over without anyone knowing that they were cursed, and live normal lives. Maybe a nice couple would even take pity on them and take them in as though they were their own.

Rachael sneered. She hadn't allowed herself to think like that in years. Dreams and wishful thinking had never gotten her anywhere, and the only real dreams she still had were out of her control and had gotten her into this position to begin with. Her curse wouldn't be useful, but Cephy could set fires. If they could find a small cave they could light a fire, and be warm for the first time in years. She wasn't as strong as the hunters she had seen but she had some strength in her arms, and she knew how to move without drawing attention to herself. Maybe she could hunt smaller prey.

Cephy still looked like she was on the run. Her eyes were bloodshot, her breathing hadn't improved, and she was restless, looking over her shoulder every other second.

“I'm fine. Erm...” Cephy looked at her feet, looking as lost as she had the first day Rachael had seen her.

“What is it?”

Her voice was barely audible, even in the dead silence of the sleeping woods. “Thank you for taking me with you.”

Rachael couldn't recall the last time anyone had thanked her. No longer remembering how she was supposed to react, she shrugged. “I couldn't leave you behind, could I?”

Cephy nodded. “You could! They almost nearly got you... They would have killed you if they had.” Rachael shivered at the plain statement. Was that what her dream had warned her about? Her in a prison cell, waiting for her own execution. Somehow, she had managed to evade that fate. That had to count for something.

Now they had a chance to start over, and she wouldn't leave Cephy behind. Rachael knew the young girl relied on her; she wouldn't become just another person who abandoned her. There were enough of those people in the world already, and neither of them needed another. They only had each other.

“Do you think you can walk?” Cephy had to be exhausted. Rachael herself didn't want to take another step, but if they stayed out in the open someone riding by could easily spot them. They stood out in their filthy rags amongst the white.

Cephy nodded, clinging on to Rachael like she was the only lifeline she needed.

“We should find a cave, maybe a hollow tree. It won't be good if we stay out here.”

“You mean like a hiding place?”

“Yes, like a hiding place.” Rachael let Cephy hang on to her hole-ridden clothes, but resisted the urge to hold the girl's hand. As much as she wanted to have a friend, it wouldn't do either of them any good if Rachael coddled her. What if they got separated? Cephy couldn't rely on Rachael any more than necessary, or she wouldn't make it on her own. What good would their escape have been then?

What good would it be if Rachael got attached, only for Cephy to die days later? People died all the time. Being sentimental about it might well cost Rachael her life, too. Cephy could have the comfort of holding her arm, but Rachael couldn't indulge in the same way. She would have to be strong for both of them.

“Come on, let's get going.”

The snow got deeper the further in they went. It had never been this high in Blackrock; the daily traffic of people, animals and carts had never allowed it to settle higher than to her toes. Rachael doubted they were making any progress towards the next town, but at least they were moving further away from the road, too.  Now it covered her ankles, and she was worried she would stop feeling her toes. Cephy was shaking, but there was nothing Rachael could do about it. If they didn't find shelter soon they'd be in trouble, but there was no shelter to be had. There were no caves anywhere, and the trees stood too far apart to prevent the snow from reaching the ground. No matter where she looked, they were in the wide open.

“Look, over there.” With a tired finger Cephy pointed towards a tree to their right, its trunk hollowed out. “Could we hide there?”

Rachael couldn't believe her eyes. It seemed too good to be true. She could see from where they were standing that the ground inside the tree was a pale green, as though it were frozen solid. It was small, but it would be big enough for both of them and maybe even a small fire. They would have to keep an eye on it, but it would be better than this.

“Yes, that's perfect. Well done, Cephy.” The girl beamed up at her, showing Rachael the first smile she had seen in a while. They hurried over, sighing happily when they discovered that the inside of the tree was a little warmer than the outside had been. It wasn't a big difference but it was a difference, and to Rachael that was good enough until they could get a fire going.

“Can you make a fire?” Cephy nodded, her hands glowing with the promise of warm refuge. Rachael remembered the perfect control Cephy had over it. They wouldn't burn along with the tree unless Cephy wished it.

“This way!” Commander Videl pointed towards the small, slowly vanishing trail of footprints in the snow. It had just started to snow again, and it was getting heavier by the minute. If they didn't hurry the witches' trail would disappear completely.

Behind him his men followed suit, weapons drawn and ready to attack anyone or anything that stood in their way. Their hunt had begun. Nothing would stop them now as they did the Maker's will and brought the witches to justice.

The commander stopped abruptly, holding up one hand to signal his men to stop. His most trusted soldier rode up beside him, ready to take his orders.

“They're not far now, you can smell the stench. Off your horses!” Without wasting one moment his men dismounted, gathering around their commander. “You two! Get over there and drag them here. We have waited long enough.” The men he had pointed at saluted and made their way over to the tree, their hands on their weapons. The witches had lit a beacon leading him straight to their lair. Even from this far away he could see the soft glow of a fire lighting up the immediate area around the tree.

Commander Videl basked in the righteous feeling of victory. Those girls were nothing but another pair of the Dark One's spawn, and he had hunted them down. He and his men would bring them to the White City, maybe have a bit of fun along the way, and then they could rot in their cells until King Aeric gave the order to have them skinned and executed in the Market Square. On his recommendation, soft King Aeric would give the order. The young one would hang. They had been told that the Dark One himself had bestowed upon her his own fire to command at will. He would take no chances with a public burning. The older one was no danger to anyone. She would get the usual punishment. His mouth twisted into an expectant grin just thinking about it.

Rachael shifted in her spot so she could warm her side by the fire. Cephy had started it almost an hour ago, but it was still burning as hot as it had done when she had first lit the small pile of snow-covered branches. It hadn't spread even a little, contained to its small seemingly ever-lasting pile of twigs and kept alive by Cephy's will alone. If it hadn't been for her, Rachael wouldn't have stood a chance out here. Her toes tingled with new life and for the first time this winter she wasn't cold. She owed the girl.

“Tomorrow I will show you how to defend yourself, in case we get separated.”

Cephy's face fell. “I don't want to get separated. I want to stick with you.”

“I know, but we might not have a choice. We might have to split up, and I want you to be able to look after yourself if we do.” Cephy was lucky that she had taken her in. Left to herself she would have died in Blackrock, just like Rachael would have died out here without the fire. They needed each other, and for the first time in her life Rachael didn't mind being dependent on somebody else. Both of them knew what it was like to be on their own. She could trust Cephy, and in return she would look after her.

Thinking it over, Cephy nodded. “Can you show me how to hunt?”

Rachael frowned. “I'm not a hunter myself. I'll show you what I know, but it won't be enough to feed you properly. You'll need to find a town if we get separated. Find a couple, or maybe an old lady. They'll have no reason to be suspicious of you if you don't set fire to anything.”

“What if they are mean to me?”

Rachael paused. When people had been mean to her she had run away, or kicked them where it hurt when they had been men and had tried things, but setting fire to someone was not the same. She wanted Cephy to be brave enough to defend herself if it came to that, but setting someone on fire would kill them. It would only add to their problems.

“You can't burn someone just because they are mean to you. You can defend yourself if someone tries to hurt you, but don't use your fire unless there's no other way.”

Cephy nodded, looking unsure.

“Can I use it to hunt rabbits?”

“Only if no one is watching.” Starting a new life would be difficult enough for them as it was. Being careless, no matter how safe they felt, wasn't an option.

A shadow fell over the girl's face, causing the fire to flicker.

“Look a'that! Cornered like foxes!”

Rachael's heart stopped. There were two men standing in front of them, blocking the only exit. Men wearing the armor of the White City. She couldn't move her head to look at Cephy, somehow hoping that they hadn't spotted them yet, but she knew that Cephy was just as frozen in fear.

She didn't dare move. For the moment she had forgotten how. There was nowhere to run, nowhere to go in these wide open forests where these two men wouldn't find them. They likely hadn't come alone, either. The hairs on the back of her neck stood on end, remembering the merciless voice of their commander. One of these guards was stronger than both of them together—fighting them would be pointless. If the commander was nearby it was over.

The man who had spoken had the worst, most nasty grin Rachael had ever seen. Even those men who had tried to rape her in Blackrock hadn't looked as evil as those two men did now. “Like pretty lil' foxes! I say we take 'em back to the commander. He'll be happy to see their pretty faces unharmed. More fun for 'im.”

The bigger of the two reached out, grabbing hold of Rachael's arms. His grip was so tight it hurt, and when he jerked her up on to her feet her bones twisted painfully.

Cephy screamed, trying to duck out of reach from the other man's arms, but she wasn't fast enough and his arms closed around her. He carried her away from the tree as though she were nothing but a half-filled sack of flour. Following behind, the other dragged Rachael after him by her arm. She tried to get away, but it was no use. He was much taller than her, and even with his armour covering every part of his body she knew that he was much stronger than she was. Had she punched him right between his ribs he wouldn't have felt a thing. She tried to kick herself free but her legs only connected with fresh snow.

There was only one way to get out of this. “Cephy! Do it—what are you waiting for!” Her nightmare echoed in her mind. The pain, the hopelessness, the terror. 

The veiled demons.

She refused to let him drag her to that place.

Cephy stopped screaming at the sound of Rachael's voice.

“Just do it!”

A nearby tree caught fire. The man carrying Cephy laughed, and brought her up closer to his face pulling her up by her hair. By the look on her face Rachael guessed that she could smell his breath.

“Was that supposed to hurt me, you little bitch? You ain't as dangerous as the commander told us!”

It was the last thing he said before his head caught on fire. With a scream he dropped Cephy, the smell of burning flesh filling the air. Rachael's captor tightened his grip on her arm, twisting her around as he turned towards his friend.