Mist Rising by Eve Langlais
Chapter Twenty-Five
Annoyed,Agathe stalked away with no idea of where she was going. It took only a few wrong turns on the winding path leading up the massive tree before she found her Soraers and immersed herself in the drama caused by one.
Belle loudly complained that someone of her stature should have her own space. Baer told her that he had no problem tying her to a tree branch all by herself, with a gag in her mouth. Belle stopped her whining, but she sulked.
Agathe didn’t care. She had gotten to shower with warm water and soap. It was luxurious, as were the new clothes delivered—a gift from the Forest Fort families who respected the Shield Goddess.
For the first time since they’d left the Abbae, Agathe felt good. Fed. Clean. And restless, which led to her leaving the girls and Venna to bunk down for the night. As she exited the room, she ran into Hiix smoking a cigarillo she’d scrounged from someone, a nasty habit that she rarely indulged.
“Where are you going?” Hiix asked, blowing smoke circles.
“Just poking around.”
Hiix glanced at the room she’d left. “Is Belle still whining?”
“Not for long. Venna’s giving them all some sleepy-time tea.”
Hiix snorted. “Can’t believe she thought to pack some.”
“Kind of glad she did. I might have a sip later on to make sure I get a good night’s rest.”
“You trust this place?” Hiix asked with clear suspicion.
“Folks say they’ve never seen the mist in the forest. And we are tucked well within it. Not to mention, the Ghost Brigade is here.”
Hiix’s lips pressed into a line. “True. They’re all over the place. I know two are watching the room. A pair below. A couple sleeping now to take over later.” Hiix rolled a shoulder as she took a drag. “Have to say, they’re very efficient. Good training.”
“We would have gotten there eventually.” The Goddess’s Shield Soraers were woefully out of practice, with only grandmothers who’d been too young to fight the last time around.
“We don’t have eventually. We are running out of time, and you know it. Something’s wrong with the Abyss. All those monsters it’s been spewing lately, it’s not natural.”
It wasn’t, but how to fix it? The general had implied that the festival was important to their survival. It must be because of the magic inherent with the purple eyes. What did the King know of it? Use it for?
No one seemed to know. And yet, Maric and the other soldiers should. After all, once upon a time, they, too, had the purple eyes. What’d happened to them?
She told Hiix some of her conversation with Maric. “He implied the girls might help stop what’s happening with the mist.”
Hiix took and released a breath of smoke before saying, “Meaning the root of the problem is magic-based.”
“It makes the most sense. I wonder why it’s gotten worse, though.”
“Rumor has it the festival has been getting fewer and fewer tributes each year.”
“Meaning less magic to hold back the mist?” Agathe mused aloud.
“It’s not me you should be asking.”
Agathe’s lips pursed. “I tried questioning Maric. He only told me tidbits and left me with even more questions.”
“Maybe you weren’t asking him the right way,” Hiix less than subtly hinted with a wink.
“I am not having sex with him to get a few answers.”
“You could have sex with him just for fun.”
It didn’t help that she’d thought about it. “Given his pompous nature, he’s probably terrible in bed.”
“Only one way to find out.”
“Hiix!”
“What? He’s obviously attracted to you.”
“What makes you say that?” Curse her vanity for asking.
“Because, according to Baer, the second you went into that hole, he yelled at Baer to open the door. And when Baer didn’t do it fast enough, Maric took his mace and smashed his way in. The man jumped into a hole to save you.”
“He didn’t do that because he wants to have sex with me.”
“Then give me another reason.”
“Stupid man is under the impression that he’s a hero.” Agathe rolled her eyes.
“He is a hero.”
“Is there a reason you’re determined to paint him as a good guy?”
“He’s your ticket into the Citadel,” Hiix stated.
“I have the girls for that.”
“You really think you’ll get past the gate with them? Family, guardians, friends. None are allowed to cross the moat,” Hiix reminded. The purple-eyed were always segregated from their pasts.
“Maybe if I ask—”
“They’ll laugh. You know they’re not about to break the rules for you.” Hiix didn’t try to soften the rebuke.
“I don’t see how being involved with Maric gets me any closer. I highly doubt soldiers are allowed guests.”
“Do you really think they don’t sometimes smuggle in an intimate friend?” Hiix slyly suggested.
“I don’t think he’s the type to sneak around.”
“So, you know his type now, do you?” Hiix teased.
“You’re terrible. And it’s not working. I am not having intercourse with him.” She doubted he’d want to after their conversation earlier.
“Well then, maybe I should try with that marsh man.”
That widened Agathe’s eyes. “Baer? Have you smelled him?”
“Yes.” Hiix sighed. “He’s delicious. So masculine.”
Their ideas of yummy obviously differed.
“I’m going for a walk now before I taste dinner for a second time.” Speaking of which, she wondered if she could find another piece of that syrup pie.
The kitchen they’d eaten from earlier was closed, but she wandered toward music. Lights were strung along a wide, woven branch walkway, crisscrossed with paths and booths. She found someone selling a wispy version of candy that melted in her mouth. She didn’t have any coin, but she did manage to trade a blessing from the Shield Goddess for a treat.
She took it to a quiet platform that gave her a glimpse of the stars. It had been a long time since she’d seen the night sky. She chewed on her treat and did her best to center herself.
Tomorrow, they’d resume their journey to the King’s City. She needed a plan before they got there.
“Who are you waiting for?” Maric’s sudden drawl ruined her pleasant evening.
“No one. And that includes you. Go away.” She purposely ignored him and took a bite of her candy.
The creak of leather and the squeak of wood showed that he did the opposite. He sat beside her and dared to snare a piece of her candy.
She moved the rest out of reach and hissed, “Mine.”
His smile shone despite the shadows. “Which makes it more delicious. I thought Soraers were about sharing.”
“With other Soraers. Not the King’s men.”
“You really hate him.”
“Yes.”
“Why?” He lay down beside her, fingers laced behind his head.
“This again? Do I need to count the ways? Despot. Lecher. Power-hungry fiend. Ruiner of happy families. User. Leech.”
“Have you ever met him?”
“No,” she was forced to admit. “I only saw him once in full armor.”
“Interesting. Especially since you have all these ideas about him. See, I actually know him. Fairly well, as a matter of fact. This version of him you keep spouting off about is grossly inaccurate.”
“What about it is false? Does he or does he not collect purple-eyed people?”
“He does, but so did his ancestors. It’s a practice that has gone on for generations.”
“Just because something is old doesn’t make it right.”
“Even though it’s done for good reason?”
“Nothing can justify what he does.”
Rather than reply to her statement, he said, “Centuries ago, our ancestors used to deal with the mist on a daily basis. According to the history books, the thickest of fogs would boil over the rim every night, bringing nightmarish monsters to attack the people in the towns, even reaching as far at times as the King’s City. The entire Kingdom might have been wiped out but for the brave who fought against it. In those days, the Soraers of the Shield were a force to be reckoned with.”
“Aha, so you admit you know women can fight.” She fixated on the last part.
“Those of that time could. But you and I both know today’s Shield Soraers bear little resemblance to them.”
A valid point. “I’m assuming this history lesson is going somewhere?”
“It just so happens that the King ruling during that era discovered a way to push back the worst of the mist, which, in turn, kept the monsters at bay.”
“Let me guess, it involved the Blessed.”
“Yes.” He didn’t elaborate.
Agathe decided to be bold. “Because of their magic.”
When he didn’t reply immediately, she assumed he’d lie. But he surprised her. “Not many know about the power of the Blessed because most of them can’t access it.”
“But the King can?”
“The King has a way, yes. And before you ask, most agree to give it to him.”
“Most. Not all.”
His lips pressed tightly. “Sometimes, there is no choice and it must be taken.”
“All in the name of the greater good.” She stared at the stars. He was giving her food for thought, and she had to wonder why. But rather than ask directly, she slid a look at him from the side. “You had purple eyes when you joined the King’s Elite.”
“All the soldiers are Blessed.”
“You were okay with having your magic taken from you?”
“A soldier has no need of something he can’t use.”
“What is the King doing with it? How does the magic help against the mist?”
“I’ve said too much already.”
“You’ve told me nothing that I didn’t already figure out. What I’d like to know is why the men get to become soldiers and leave the Citadel and not the women?”
“It’s to protect them,” he said a little too quickly.
“Liar.”
“Why do you care?”
“Because you are taking three innocent young girls as sacrifices to the King, never to be seen again. How do I know they won’t simply be killed, their magic taken the moment they enter the Citadel?”
His voice turned hard. “Because we’re not murderers.”
“Just depraved kidnappers.”
“If you can’t handle it, then leave.”
“And go where? I don’t have a home anymore.”
“I’m sure the other Abbaes would take you in.” He proffered a simplistic answer.
“Maybe I want to do more than cower inside some walls.”
“Like what?”
“Like not have annoying conversations.” She rose to her feet, only to have him shadow her.
“Running so soon? And here I thought it would be my turn for answers.”
“I know nothing that would interest you.”
“I wouldn’t be so sure of that.”
“What do you want to know?” She never expected what happened next.
“I want to know how your lips taste.”
And then he kissed her. A hard press of his mouth to hers that ignited her in a way she’d all but forgotten. It left her breathless and hot. Yearning and aching between the legs. Confused, too.
She shouldn’t desire this man.
“No.” She pushed away from him, and he didn’t press the matter. Didn’t follow her either as she fled, her heart racing and her mind in turmoil.
Knowing that she’d have a hard time sleeping, she took some of Venna’s sleepy-time tea and settled into the bed beside Venna, soothed to sleep by the even breathing of her Soraers.
The next morning, she awoke to a cry, along with a hard shake.
Agathe blinked tired and heavy eyes, managing a dry, “What’s wrong?”
“It’s Neelie. She’s gone!”
