Page 21 of A Simple Truth

Zora’s figure dropped to the ground near me, letting out a long sigh of relief.

“What happened?” I asked, confused, raising myself up just a bit until I rested on my elbows. I was no longer seated. Instead, I laid against the warm ground. I took another assessing look at the concerned faces still warily staring at me, only now noticing Lulu’s glance down to the ground by my feet. My eyes widened in realization—where the wilted winter grass used to be, now was nothing but singed dirt. I stood up, trying to ignore the growing nausea and the excruciating headache. The Ten reluctantly stepped aside as my eyes widened even more, though this time in complete shock, as I took a few steps out of the hovering circle.

It wasn’t just the ground I had laid on. The entire field was now burnt to a complete crisp.

I sharply turned my face to find Zora amidst the Ten, sitting on the ground, exchanging silent looks with the rest of thewomen. Only then did I notice her hands shaking a bit as she ran her fingers up and down the chain at her hip.

She caught my gaping stare, her words cutting through the heavy silence.

“Well, the good news is it seems you finally found your source.”

The loud clankingof silverware was the only sound accompanying our early dinner. What was usually a lively event was now dead silent. I took another bite of mashed potatoes, forcing myself to eat despite the nausea creeping up my throat. My eyes glanced up only to see a bunch of eyes lowered to the ground.

Gia scooted closer to me as her bright face gently winced.

“Well, Finn, today has been an odd, but truly a great day. A little bit terrifying, but I think we should all be celebrating that you are learning to source your fire.” She smiled as cheerfully as possible at me, but I grimaced at her.

“What was terrifying about it?” I now took another look around.

“Well, let’s just say we could have been mourning today.” Ashe twisted her fork into the rubbery deer meat.

“What?”

Cass hesitantly sipped her water as the twins, for once, seemed more lip-tied than Lulu herself.

“See there, girl, you almost died today, and damn nearly took Zora with you—”

“But I—”

“And who knows how many more if we hadn’t made it there in time,” Yanush added.

“You wield a lot of raw fire. Not just a spark or two,” Tori said, flinching.

“Oh, she does have raw fire alright, but it seems that it’s more of a rabid animal with a mind of its own, willing to killherand anyone around when disturbed without its permission,” Ioanna hissed.

“But I—” I tried to explain. I tried to understand.

“We will try again tomorrow,” Zora interrupted me, her words earning her a few stern glances.

“Zora, perhaps we should consider waiting until Gideon comes back. He would be able to control it…if things get out of hand.” Motra’s lips turned into a thin line.

“It is a wise thing to do.” Cass shook her head in agreement.

But Zora didn’t listen to anyone as she stared at me, assessing, considering.

“No, we will try again tomorrow.” She narrowed her eyes at me, determined, despite the disapproving looks of the Ten. And I silently agreed with her.

15

GIDEON

The bright full moon shone straight above the two groups of soldiers as they soundlessly trudged through the slightly-flooded plains, toward the sleepy, unaware town.

Leave no survivors. Burn it to the ground to shine across all of Esnox.

A clear and a simple order.

Hosam’s spies and Andrias’s Lords were already busy preparing their decrees to be proclaimed on the bloodied morning.

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