Page 29 of The Fated and the Damned
Lukasz looked at me, seeing right through me as he had a knack for. “She is not her sister, Dante,” he said softly. “And I am not you. I know you’re just looking out for me, but I have my own mistakes to make, my own lessons to learn. Letting anything happen to Eszter will not be one of those mistakes. I’ve made arrangements. She will head to Mistvellen on the morrow.”
“Does Eszter know about said arrangements?” He looked at his feet, which was answer enough. “She won’t go,” I said gently. “The Bárány women are stubborn as mules. She won’t leave her sister.”
“Then I will strap her to a horse myself,” Lukasz snapped, his brow furrowed.
I knew his frustration wasn’t grounded in me. My brother was a good man. Loyal to a fault, gentle and kind, and capable of thinking on his feet. Despite my teasing, he was a good soldier, too. Life had always been a competition between us—to be the better warrior, to be a smarter strategist or a wordsmith when in talks with other allies. We’d grown up a bit since then, maturing the way a seed does through its cycles through life. Only, we didn’t get to come back if we perished. There was no renewal period, no second chance.
The world was a funny place. Regardless of our parentage and bloodline, my brother was my brother, and that was that. But I knew there were challenges he’d had to overcome, nonetheless. Racial differences as well as being born a bastard. Mistvellen was a diverse city and one my family was proud to call home, but there’s not a place in the world where shadows can’t mask the malevolent. There would always be those who feared what they could not understand or did not bother to know.
Still, Lukasz had always put Mistvellen before his own needs. Father had never treated him differently despite Lukasz’s mother, and that simple act alone had been the difference between a hard life and a cherished one. A life where Lukasz had been educated, trained, respected and, more importantly, loved.
Only now, Lukasz might have foundthelove of his life. An altogether different kind that threatened to turn level-headed men into mindless sheep and steadfast soldiers into distracted partners. I knew because a piece of me was always with Kitarni. Wondering if she was okay, if she was in danger, if I could do anything to stop her from being a gods damned hero and just let someone else save the day.
But no one would.
No onecould.
“Just be careful,” I said finally. “The last time I got in the way of a Bárány, it ended badly. I wouldn’t recommend it.” I studied the táltosok, seeing that the wounded had been patched up and everyone was ready. “Let’s keep moving.”
Lukasz nodded, taking point, and this time I slid into position beside him, stealthily moving through the undergrowth. Gods, it stank so fucking bad, and with blood splattered all over me, I felt like gagging.
The woods were eerily quiet as we moved, nothing but the fire of a couple torches to guide our way. The flickering light played tricks on my eyes, making it seem like the shadows were alive and creatures big and small were hunting us. I scrubbed a hand over my eyes, blinking back the fogginess settling over me.
My spine tingled with awareness and the hairs on my arms stood on end, warning me that something wasn’t right, not that anything was in this forest anymore. By the sidelong glance he gave me, Lukasz felt it too. Either cultists were close, or we were approaching the wards. I hoped to hell it was the latter and not a combination of the two.
Ahead, a shimmering light caught my gaze, and I pointed it out to Lukasz, knowing he’d likely already seen it in what looked to be a clearing.The wards.We’d made it. Cautiously, we eyed the ground and nearby trees for traps before pushing the last sticky black leaves aside and wading through.
The sight made me freeze in my tracks.
Five pikes stood before us, lined in a neat row before a translucent wall that shimmered silver, then black, then blood red. The fractured light seemed frantic, as if tampered with and corrupted like the woods around it.
Spiked at the top of those pikes were five heads, their faces twisted, clotted blood dribbled down the wood and pooling in a small lake where the stakes embedded into the ground.
The táltosok scouts who’d sent word to the village.
My stomach turned violently, but it wasn’t even the gruesome display which had my bones feeling brittle and my heart racing. Written in their blood upon the ground were three words that had my blood turning to ice.
I am coming.
“These men were tasked with patrolling the border and protecting the wards,” Lukasz said, his face grim. He shook his head. “Those sick bastards.”
“The Dark Queen knows we’re onto her.” I blew out a breath, looking back to the heads on those pikes, unable to tear my gaze from the faces of those men. They’d been interrogated, no doubt. Tortured for information and forced to watch each other’s suffering. There was no way to know what they’d given up—the number of our forces, our weak points, anything—but what little they knew was still too much, especially given the message. “We’ve been compromised,” I said, turning to Lukasz and the others. I pinned a táltos by the name of Bela under my stare. He was the quickest runner and could convey my message the fastest, gods be willing. “What little time we had has just been shortened considerably. Get back to the village, tell Kitarni and the other councillors what you’ve seen. Convey Sylvie’s message and make ready. The hourglass has run out.”
Bela nodded, removing his heavy armour and sword before taking off through the woods. The gear would only have hindered him. I just had to hope no other surprises were lying in wait to catch him off guard.
“Move out,” I commanded the others, but as Lukasz turned, I put my hand on his shoulder. “Wait.”
He glanced at me quizzically, and I shook my head. We didn’t have time for sentiments, but I felt compelled to confide in him, now more than ever. Life was too fucking short. Sylvie’s actions only proved that.
“If the end of days is upon us, it’s important you know that I’m happy for you. I haven’t been here—really here—the last few months, and I’ve been too damned caught up in my own shit to pay much attention to anyone else’s, but if anything good has come of this mess it's meeting your match.” I cleared my throat, hoping my rambling was making sense. “You and Eszter? You’re a good fit. Just don’t fuck it up.”
Lukasz shook his head, a wry grin on his face. “Don’t go getting soft on me now, Dante. We need you at your most merciless if we’re going to win this fight.”
The humour fell flat on both of us, but I set my jaw, let my soul harden as I faced the men once more. “You can count on it. Believe me, Brother, you haven’t seen the worst that I can do.”
THIRTEEN
Kitarni
