Page 51 of The Iron Flower

That night, I dream of the mobs. An army of Gardnerians chasing after Tierney, Bleddyn, Olilly, Fern and me. All of us running and running down one dark alley after another as the Mages close in, so many they’re like a dark swarm.

We run into the plaza and skid to a halt. Uplifted wands blaze crimson torchlight as the Mages fall in around us.

I kick and lash out as they grab at me, holding tight to little Fern’s hand as she screams in terror. And then her hand is yanked from my grip as she’s pulled into the bloodthirsty mob of Mages, and I lose sight of her. More Mages close in around me as a scream tears loose from my throat.

I bolt up in bed, sweat-soaked, blankets tangled around my limbs. Disoriented and struggling to control my panicked breathing, I glance toward the window.

The first hint of dawn colors the sky a deep blue above the jutting Spine.

I silently curse the morning. I curse the entire country of Verpacia and the terror being rained down on so many here.

Wynter is slumped against the windowsill, fast asleep, her black wings wrapped tight around her body, only the top of her white-haired head poking up. Ariel is passed out diagonally across her messy bed and dozing fitfully, her chickens roosting beside her, her raven perched on the headboard. Marina is underwater in the washroom, most likely curled up at the base of our tub. I can hear her breathing through the open door, softly bubbling up air through the water.

A fierce protectiveness rises up in me.

My family.

The thought has an edge of surprise to it, but an even bigger edge of truth. They’ve all become like family to me. Even Ariel. The thought of losing a single one of them feels like the fabric of my life tearing.

Rafe, Diana, Jarod and Andras will leave soon for Lupine territory. Yvan, Trystan, Tierney, the Icarals and everyone in the kitchens will need to escape to the Noi lands.

But I can’t leave Uncle Edwin here alone, and he’s too frail to travel anywhere. So, I’ll remain behind in hellish Gardneria, trapped among people monstrous enough to do what they did last night, as everyone I love is scattered far away, save Aislinn and my uncle.

Diana is lying on her side by the fire, watching me with her wild amber eyes.

“They’re going to get away with it,” I tell her, my voice thick with anguish and disgust. “Those monsters who hurt Bleddyn and Olilly. There’s no way of even knowing who they are.”

“I went to see Bleddyn and Olilly the kitchen girl,” Diana says, deadly calm. “I scented their attackers. And I tracked them all. They are Third Division military apprentices.”

My eyes widen with surprise. “What did you do?”

“I have spoken with Rafe.” Her tone is low and lethal. “It seems that the killing of that many apprentice soldiers by the daughter of a Lupine alpha would be considered an act of war. So, I will wait.” Her eyes glow with a patient, predatory simmer. “Until I have father’s permission. And then I will hunt them down, rip off their ears and slash them to shreds.”

I hold her intimidating gaze for a long moment. “Good.”

Diana’s brow pulls tight. “The Gardnerians are making a play for dominance, Elloren Gardner. I can smell the threat of war in the air.”

MAGE COUNCIL

RULING

#223

All Urisk must vacate Gardneria by the end of the twelfth month. All workpapers extended past that time are hereby revoked, and any Urisk found in the Holy Magedom after that time will be shipped to the Pyrran Islands.

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

FALLOUT

“Olilly deserves justice.” I set the crate ofNorfuretincture down on Jules’s desk with a loud thunk.

Jules glances up, wire glasses slightly askew. His brown hair is its usual disheveled, his green professorial robes wrinkled and thrown on over his dark woolen clothing. Lucretia is seated on a chair next to him. They both give me a slightly guarded look as I enter, and I get the sense that I’ve just barged in on a private conversation.

But I don’t care. I’m simply too upset.

Jules has a pile of papers by him. The stack is uncharacteristically neat and perfectly even, at odds with the usual discordant mess of his office, which is a veritable maze of books strewn about and haphazardly arranged on shelves that line the walls. Lucretia is the picture of contrast to Jules Kristian in her perfectly pressed Gardnerian silks, not a single black hair out of place. The silver Erthia orb around her neck gleams in the evening lantern light.

My voice is rough with the anger I’ve carried around with me all day. “The monsters who attacked Olilly need to be arrested. Diana knowsexactlywho they are.”

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