Page 6 of A Simple Truth

FINNLEAH

The stitches in my legs ached as I climbed up the dark, rocky path carved into the side of the island cliffs. The wild gusts of winter wind stung my heated cheeks as I fought an ever-growing headache. I was so utterly tired; exhausted to the very brim, as if I were a sinking ship one drop of water away from disappearing completely.

I didn’t even bother attempting to untangle the complete and utter jumble of what my thoughts had become. I continued to follow the three figures ahead of me, putting one foot in front of the other. That was the only thing my mind could manage.

I pressed on my poorly wrapped hand, attempting to ease the stinging and stop the shallow knife wound from bleeding through my gray bandage.

“She comes with us,”the General had ordered. Zora and Orest argued silently with their eyes at his words. Xentar frowned.

“Perhaps we should wait a day or two, give her a chance to adjust,” he added softly.

“Where are you going to take me?” I asked, refusing to be intimidated by the General’s overwhelming presence.

“You promised to deliver the ring. So, I am taking you to Kaius’s wife. Or do you not wish to honor your promise?” The General’s strong voice cut through me.

“Let’s go then,” I said, pushing past any reason or logic. Still feeling a bit hazy, I stood up with determination filling my veins. My eyes widened as the General pulled a small dagger from the sheath at his hip. He sliced his palm without wincing, and then extended it. My brows furrowed even deeper, as he passed me the knife.

“A blood oath of secrecy is needed for the place we are about to take you,” Zora explained, clearly not liking the current situation we were in as I grabbed the General’s knife and sliced my own palm.

Perhaps I should’ve asked morequestions about what the blood oath meant. But I was so drained, that my mind couldn’t conjure a single thought of reason. All of my indecipherable emotions now locked up behind thick doors.

And did it truly matter? The meanings, the consequences?

I didn’t have much left to lose.

Only weeks ago, I was cozied-up on the grand, velvet couches in Svitar’s ancient libraries, eavesdropping on the university students gossiping around the corner. I was so blissfully unaware. About Priya. About the rebels.

And even about myself.

A Destroyer.

I could no longer deny that simple truth, though I couldn’t grasp it fully either.

It changed everything and yet, it changed nothing. I received more clarity about myself, but I felt even more lost and confusedthan ever before forgotten memories now eager to haunt me. Pestering questions were flooding my mind, demanding to be answered. Questions to which I had no answers to.

Because I truly didn’t know anything, or anyone.

Not even myself.

Large ocean waves roared, crashing onto the sharp, unforgiving rocks protecting the island. The smell of cold, salty air filled my burning lungs as I pushed myself up the last few steps of the hill. I clenched Kaius’s ring tighter, feeling dread building inside me as I walked now down the narrow path to deliver the soul-churning news to a now-widow and soon-to-be mother.

The island was small; nothing but a single large cliff. Yet there were a multitude of white houses scattered around the little valley, like white paint dripped on a canvas amidst the sea of deep green and gray.

Tall winter grass swayed lazily in the cold wind, brushing against my calves as I paused, rubbing my leg, as the pain of what I was now sure were a couple of ripped stitches, overwhelmed me. “What is this place?” I asked Xentar. He was the only one who waited for me as I watched the two Destroyers round a corner, disappearing behind giant, moss-covered boulders.

“Dragon’s Island. But we call it,Locus Pacis,or Place of Peace,” he answered, his voice an elegant, deep melody.

“A Place of Peace?”I mumbled, grinding my teeth from the pain as we continued walking. My eyes devoured the beauty of the village as we drew closer. Thick, straw roofs stood overtop bright blue window frames, and branches wove neatly into surrounding decorated short fences. My mouth opened wide as I saw brightly colored,bloomingflowers amidst the freezing winter; their vines slithering like snakes down the chalk-white walls of the cottages.Fruittrees were standing tall in theblossoming well-kept gardens like it was mid-summer and not dead of the winter this far up in the north.

Magic. All of this was magic.

Yet, none of the magic was as jaw-dropping as the crowds of people mingling, greeting us as they went about their busy day.

Magic Wielders.

Magic Wielders that were welcoming the Destroyer General. Not just greetinghim, but actuallyexcitedto see him. People came from their homes and fields to talk to him, to rejoice at the presence of the General.

When Xentar had earlier explained that not only the General was leading the rebellion, but his entire army of Destroyers was in it too, I was sure nothing else could possibly shock me today.

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