Page 62 of Memory of Ashes

Most of the screaming had faded, leaving only the distant cries of the wounded echoing through the buildings. She averted her gaze from the bodies lining the streets but couldn’t help noticing the torn grey guild robe that trailed across the cobbles. She followed the fabric to the girl’s face. She’d passed the initiate most mornings, hurrying through the halls with more scrolls than she could carry, and now she passed her for the last time.

A sob escaped her. Casyl glanced back and caught her arm, urging her onwards. She recoiled from his touch.

She hoped desperately that some of the guild had escaped and would get word to their neighbouring cities and kingdoms.

They mounted a horse and galloped out of the city towards the enemy’s camp where the king was waiting. He hadn’t taken part in the fighting, but she knew the beast had been unleashed at his command.

The king greeted her with a cruel curl of his lip. “How nice to see you again. As you can see, we destroyed the city. We gave them the option to surrender you along with the Lifesource, but they declined and left us no choice.” He shrugged. “You will take us to the mines.”

She would deny him, but then she didn’t see any reason to object now. There was nothing left to live for. They’d destroyed almost all the buildings with the fire. The only ones left untouched were those surrounding the palace.

Perhaps they’d leave after she showed them the mine.

“Why didn’t you destroy the palace?” she asked.

“Why would I destroy my new palace?” the king said, burying any hope she had of them leaving.

There was a whimper. The emperor sat tied to a pole, his mouth gagged. He hadn’t managed to escape the city unseen by the horde.

He’d been badly beaten, his face already beginning to purple and swell. He looked at her with his one good eye, silently pleading.

“You will lead Casyl to the mines,” the king commanded.

Casyl dragged her away from the presence of the king and put her back upon his horse. She was like a rag doll, with no energy to resist.

“Which way?” he asked.

“South-east.”

They travelled on horseback with a small squad of warriors. Amelia sat in front of Casyl, his arms around her as he held the reins.

She could feel how tense he was.

The touch of him made her feel sick.

She couldn’t stop the question from leaving her lips. “How are they all still alive? I watched the bombs explode. I saw bodies flung into the air and then they stood back up. The beast didn’t die. Why aren’t you dead?” she almost spat the last question at him.

He was quiet for a while. She didn’t think he was going to respond at all when he said, “I don’t know.”

The mine had been abandoned. Word of the attack must have reached them.

The ground beneath her quivered as she led Casyl down the tunnel into the cave. The mineral veins in the rock began to pulse, glowing brighter.

“This is the only mine?” he asked.

“As far as I know,” she replied.

She watched him as he surveyed the mine, noting the piles of skeletal remains. He turned around to face her. “Then we have no need for you anymore.”

PART TWO

Chapter 14

Casyl

Before the Rift Opened

Casyl stood on the ramparts, looking out towards the sea. The sun was at its highest point in the sky, and its rays warmed his skin.