Page 21 of A Kiss of Hammer and Flame

‘LordTerryl,’ corrected Raiden, flashing teeth.

‘Raiden,’ Terryl said gently.

Cahra exhaled outright this time, managing not to roll her eyes. ‘As I told Lord Terryl, I designed it. Every weapon is simple geometry, so I drew a pattern for the pommel’s insert.’ She gestured to the longsword’s handle.

‘You’re telling us that no one told you how to create this sigil?’ Raiden scoffed at her.

She supposed it did seem unlikely.

‘Well, unfortunately, it’s the truth. I wish I had some kind of explanation, but I don’t. I’m sure you know, but Lord Terryl proposed the commission to me as a “blank canvas”. He knew nothing of the longsword’s design. It’s why I warned him when I saw him in the street.’ The unfamiliar urge to help a high-born still confused her. Cahra’s eyes glided to Terryl.

Whyhadshe warned him?

Raiden went on. ‘And nothing else out of the ordinary happened?’

‘No,’ she said, rubbing her face as she realised everything had only happened today, and the day wasn’t even done yet. She raked her fingers through her hair and took a breath, recounting her morning. ‘I went to get bread. The sword was on display behind the counter, waiting to be collected. I came back and saw Commander Jarett interrogating Lumsden, so I snuck into the smithy to find out why. Then I learned about the Sigil of the Seers, and the Commander knowing I’d forged the sword. Lumsden sent him north so I could run south with Lord Terryl’s longsword. That’s when I found you.’ She nodded at Terryl. ‘Thankfully, before the Kingdom Guards did.’

Even now, just the thought of him being captured by the guards sent her pulse tearing along inside her. Seers, she thought, had she saved the lord’s life? Surely, that had to count for something…

Raiden’s next words were less harsh. ‘What else do you know?’

‘Only what Lumsden told me. That the Commander said it was the first time the sigil had been seen outside the castle in centuries.’ At Lumsden’s name, a guilt-ridden pang hit her in the depths of her chest. ‘That, and something about the prophecy.’

Cahra never wished to the Seers like others did. But for Lumsden, she prayed that he was safe, that he’d done what she’d told him to and renounced his ties to her. And that Jarett and his guards had bought every single word.

‘What, exactly?’ Terryl leaned forward.

‘That this was the prophecy’s first omen.’

‘And what do you know of the prophecy?’ Raiden crossed his arms.

Cahra scoffed. ‘Apart from Jarett thinking the longsword is related to it? Not much. Before today, the same folk stories as everybody else.’ She counted them off on her hands. ‘Hael’stromia fell centuries ago. The ultimate weapon, the sword or whatever it is, is housed within the capital’s walls. Kolyath supposedly keeps getting closer to beating Luminaux and Ozumbre at getting Hael’stromia’s weapon every year. And these omens, that no one has ever seen, mind you, will announce the capital’s rebirth.’

Before today, she hadn’t known what the omens were. And she hadn’t cared. In fact, she still didn’t. The loss of Lumsden, the smithy – her life, as depressing as it had been – the loss of all she’d known, was like a dead weight driving her, crushing her into the ground. What would she do now? Where would she go?

Raiden looked her right in the eye. ‘That no one has seen outside Kolyath’s keep, until today.’

She shook her head, turning to Terryl. The lord was quiet. ‘You can never go back to Kolyath now, can you?’ she asked him softly.

Cahra had worried running would make her look guilty, but Lumsden had been right. If she’d stayed, there was no telling what the Steward would have done, and no hope of the old man saving her this time.

Maybe no hope of living through the night.She swallowed.

But she hadn’t thought of what running would do to Terryl. How guilty he’d look too.

‘No,’ Terryl conceded. ‘I think not.’

She slumped in her seat. The whole thing was twisted, some kind of mad coincidence. But her fault or not, she was responsible for Terryl losing his home. ‘I’m sorry.’

‘It is for the best.’ Terryl smiled. How was he always smiling? ‘Truthfully, Cahra, there are things that I would like you to know, about me.’ Terryl went on, as Raiden blanched. ‘For example, I have multiple homes. Kolyath… Well, there are other options.’

Cahra fell silent. ‘Oh.’ But his tentative honesty thawed her enough to say, ‘Like?’

Raiden interjected before Terryl could reply. ‘One final question. Did the Commander mention the name “Thierre” to Lumsden?’

‘No. Who?’ Cahra asked, puzzled, noting the look that exchanged between the two men, as she pretended to study the sword again while saying the name over and over in her head.Thierre.If it was important to them, then she’d better remember it.

Meanwhile, Terryl was staring at the sword. He lifted his palms in silent request, Raiden handing it to him. The lord inspected the pommel then the blade, its steely surface etched with a metallic paint of cobalt blue. The pommel’s blue goldstone reflected in his eyes as Terryl raised them to her.

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