She looked around and finally spotted him. The man who’d yelled at the others to take Rune down. Their leader. He was tall and broad, with bright blond hair and gray eyes, but not dressed better than the others. She flexed her fingers around the hilts of her daggers. Briar followed her gaze and joined her. They ran toward him, spreading out to approach him from opposite directions, but they were intercepted by his people. Seraphina and Briar slashed left and right, a common purpose in mind – Rune. But before they could reach him, the man flung himself in the midst of the wolf pack. Seraphina froze.
The wolves did nothing to him. They stepped back, forming a circle around him and Rune, their fangs bared, their mouths salivating. Their snouts were painted red.
Rune rose to his feet. Next to him, the blond man stood ramrod straight, looking into the revenant’s eyes. Seraphina didn’t understand what was happening. She saw the man’s lips move, but she couldn’t hear what he said. Why was Rune not doing anything? She saw his clothes were torn to pieces and every inch of his skin was stained with blood, some his, some others’. His fists clenched and unclenched. Then the rebel leader reached up, patted his shoulder, and said in a clear, loud voice:
“Good man.”
The fighting stopped.
Another thrall relic? Seraphina tried to find Idris, but there were too many people, rebels and nuns, all staring atthe revenant. His eyes glowed the same, but when he met Seraphina’s gaze, she saw that something had changed.
“Turn around,” the man instructed.
Rune did as he was told, and that was when Seraphina saw it. An Obedience Lattice pinned to the back of his cloak.
She stumbled backward and sheathed her daggers. Unlike her, the sisters were confused. Briar shot her a questioning glance. She and Idris were the only ones who knew what the Obedience Lattice looked like. Where was Idris?
“Now that I have your attention, let me introduce myself,” the man said, bowing mockingly. “My name is Michael, and these are my faithful men and women, my warriors. And yes, that is what we call ourselves. The Faithful. Because we still have faith that this war can be ended easily – mark my words! – easily. It’s been going on for too long because those who own sacred bones that could bring the High Harvester to heel have chosen to not use them. The Order at Krähenstein Academy, the resistance that sends its men to die armed with muskets, not bones, and you, esteemed sisters, who have amassed, I heard, quite the collection in your vault. All we ask is that you do the right thing. Give us your relics, and we will go out there and fight, win this war for all of us, bring peace to Bavaria before the High Harvester becomes powerful enough to spread his poison beyond the borders. Already, there are leaders in Europe who are sympathetic to his cause. Kings and queens, princes and princesses who want relics to be confiscated from the families and churches that have owned them for centuries, so they can be given to the few in power, born with the right name and status. They agree that relics should be harvested in controlled environments. After all, they are so rare considering how many die every day. We, the Faithful, can put an end to this. Now. Not next year, not in a few years. Now. Hand over your bones, and we will leave peacefully. We don’t want to harm anyone. I myselfwould rather not spill blood if it’s not my enemies’. This is why we won’t force those doors open.”
He pointed at the church doors.
“We won’t force our way into the vault because we respect the house of God and the sisters who’ve vowed to serve it and protect it. However…”
He brushed his fingers over the lattice pinned to Rune’s back.
“The revenant is ours. This is an Obedience Lattice, and he will do as the Faithful say. I must confess, I did not expect to encounter one of the Harvester’s creatures outside of the territory he controls. What a boon he will be to our cause. You have one hour to tend to your wounded and bring us the key to the vault.”
“Take the revenant and leave,” the Mother Superior shouted.
“That is what we intend to do. After you give us your bones.”
“Never.”
The Mother Superior descended the church stairs, but the sisters held her back, not wanting her to expose herself. Her habit was stained. She’d fought by their side, and Seraphina had to commend her for that.
“You will have to kill us all to get to the vault,” she said. “One by one, you will have to crush us into the mud and walk over our bodies. Are you willing to do that? If not, take the abomination and leave.”
Michael breathed in sharply, lips pursed and head held high. He looked close to losing his patience. It only lasted a moment, then he released the breath slowly and inclined his head.
“Very well. Creature, choose the one person here who is the most important. Whose life and well-being are crucial. Take her. She will come with us.”
The sisters gasped and huddled around the Mother Superior, but Rune went straight for Seraphina. The Mother Superiorunderstood what was about to happen, and she batted them away so as to not betray themselves.
Seraphina stared into his golden eyes and shook her head.
“I’m sorry,” he said.
He lifted her gently. She didn’t fight him. She pressed her ear to his chest as he carried her across the courtyard, listening to his erratic heartbeat. From now on, and until the lattice was deactivated, all he’d do would be against his will.
The rebels followed them through the gate and into the woods. Their leader stayed behind with his pack of wolves, and she heard him say:
“One hour, or she dies.”
Seraphina could’ve laughed. The last person to care if she lived or died was the Mother Superior. Michael had given Rune the wrong order. She looked up at him. Tears ran down his cheeks. She wiped them with her fingers, and he leaned into her touch. She wanted to tell him that it was going to be all right. They were together, and that was all that mattered. They’d find a way.
She’d find a way.
She clung to him and lifted herself up in his arms, so she could look over his shoulder. There he was, bringing in the rear of his band of rebels. Michael.
