Page 10 of Beasts of Briar
No, no, no.
“Please, stop,”I signed frantically.“Get to shore. Fly away.”
The swans didn’t even look my way. Their long necks arched, wings spanning wide as they pecked at the creatures. Jorah ripped an eye from one of the crocodiles, blood spraying in all directions. The crocodiles retreated underwater, and I jolted, remembering my goal: get to shore. I grabbed the oars and clenched my teeth together as sweat dripped down the sides of my face.
I pushed through the murky marsh and rowed as fast as my muscles would allow and maneuvered around the battle taking place. Crocodiles snapped their mighty jaws as the swans hissed and pecked, their white feathers getting ripped from their bodies, cascading into the air. My rowboat slowed, and I peekedover to see the sandy bottom of the marsh. It was too shallow for the boat to go any farther. I snatched my satchel and hopped out of the boat, splashing through the water and collapsing onto the black sand. Thick jungle spread out before me. I looked back, waving my hands to get the swans’ attention. It was over now. They didn’t need to defend me any longer. They flew upward into the air. One, two, three swans soaring toward me.
Then four, five, six.
My pulse spiked.
Seven—right as Soloman shot upward, a crocodile burst from the water and clamped its jaw onto Soloman’s right wing.
A scream erupted inside me, one that I couldn’t let out. I came to my knees, shaking, reaching out toward Soloman, though there was nothing I could do. Not from here.
I looked up again, the faintest whisper of stars emerging in the sky. It was enough. Fire raged in my blood, and I reached out a hand, commanding my magic to work. One of the stars brightened, its yellow glow casting over the crocodile, whose body went slack, mouth opening and releasing Soloman. My brother dropped into the water, and I rushed out toward him. Other crocodiles emerged, but I slashed my hand through the air, putting them all to sleep. Their bodies lay motionless in the ocean as it bloomed red with Soloman’s blood. I waded through the marsh, reaching Soloman’s still body and drawing him into my arms, then making my way back toward the shore.
I lay him down in the sand, all the swans whistling and crowding around him. Blood covered his soft feathers, his wing broken in half, bent at an awkward angle.
“It’s going to be okay,”I signed, tears silently spilling down my cheeks.
“Stop, Bellamy!” a voice shouted.
I looked up to see Driscoll and that fucking woman rowing toward me, a nice, safe passage for them now that I’d put all thecrocodiles to sleep. But I didn’t even care that they were here. If Soloman died, then none of this mattered anyway. I couldn’t lose him. It wasn’t an option.
I swallowed the thick knot in my throat, glancing back down at Soloman, drawing him into my lap as Driscoll and the woman approached the shore. We’d officially arrived at the shadow court, but this mission might have already failed.
Part Two
“...she did not dare to speak. Her brothers' deliverance and their very lives depended upon it.”
Chapter Five
YEAR 200, ERA OF THE GODS
It has been one month since my father died. I’ve taken over the farm, but without his help—his leadership—I’m having a hard time keeping up. Crops need to be watered, tended to, animals need to be fed. The other day, one of our goats died giving birth because I couldn’t get there in time. Then the fowl died. Two goats we depended on for milk and meat. My mother just lays on her straw mattress all day, staring at the walls. I can barely get her to eat, let alone help with anything around the farm. The coconuts and bananas need picking. The avocado seeds need to be planted.
Yet that’s the least of my concerns. The looters are getting worse. People coming from all over to steal from our lucrative land here at the edge of the island.
A few days ago, a group of men tried to take our house. I used my magic to protect us, summoning the trees’ shadows to grab the men and stop them. But it didn’t go my way. I ended up killing the men. It was the first time I’d taken a life, but I had no choice. It was either them or us. This world is gettingmore dangerous, and the gods are doing nothing to stop it. Likely because they’re constantly involved in their own conflicts. Warring with each other, tricking each other, competing against each other—and mortals are the casualties. Sometimes the pawns.
Something has to be done, but I am not the man to do it. I just want to spend my days farming, find a wife, have children, live a good life. That’s something I’m starting to doubt is possible in this world.
My only solace is in this journal, in these words I write. My friends are all gone, driven away by war and famine. I’m holding onto our home, and my dreams, by a thread. I have one last hope. To travel to the temple of the god of shadows. My patron god here on the island of Faramore. The god of shadows is the worst of the gods. The deadliest. But he is also my only option since I live in his jurisdiction. Going to the other gods could offend him and get me killed.
I want to ask for protection for myself, my mother, and my farm. If he is willing to grant it, my dreams may yet have a chance. If not, then I’ll probably be dead anyway.
Chapter Six
BELLAMY
Ivaguely heard the sounds of splashing water, boots stomping in the marshy sand as I stared down at Soloman helplessly. All the other swans crowded around, peering at him and dipping their heads as if they knew he was in trouble.
Maybe they did. I’d always wondered how much of themselves they retained in these swan forms. If they knew that I was their sister. If they knew that they’d been cursed. If they knew I was doing everything I could to save them and bring them back.
“Here, let me help,” a voice said.
I looked up to see the shorter woman staring at me. Freckles dotted her skin, her red hair pulled back into a bun, her round face scrunched in concern as she planted her hands on her wide hips.
