Page 6 of A Touch of Stars and Stones
Both men wear a grey uniform with a bright sun emblem on their shoulders. Sunatora is across the Southern Shore Sea and brings riches to Estereah, but soldiers usually don’t venture from the towns. I only recognise the insignia from maps.
“What are you doing out here alone?” the taller one questions.
“Just travelling to Orasia.”
“For what purpose?” the other asks.
“Trade.”
“Alone?”
“None of your business. It’s a long way from Nestegarth,” Lyle turns the question back on them.
They give each other a look full of menace, and it sends my stomach hurtling to the floor. And then one draws a sword and lunges towards Lyle.
I shove my hand over my mouth to stop screaming as I watch Lyle lean back into a crouch, as if she has all the time in the world, before she pulls a dagger from her side.
Where in the world did she get that from?
She raises her hands, the one holding the dagger ready at her side, but before she has to use it, light flashes from her hand, blinding one, giving her the opening to slice the blade across his throat.
She spins in a graceful movement and raises her hand to repeat the action, but this time, the man grabs the hand holding her blade, blocking her strike. He’s closed his eyes, and his full weight is holding Lyle.
My own eyes won’t close, transfixed and holding my breath at what I’m seeing.
They grapple back and forth for her dagger, and I hear when it lands on the ground with a thud, followed by a grunt and groan from Lyle as she takes a blow to the head.
My teeth grit together, locked in a war of desperately wanting to help but not sure how, or what I can do.
Nettle seems to sense my unease and stomps the ground with his hoof, pulling his head down. I reach to stroke his neck, but that just makes it worse, and he surges forward.
“No. Wow, boy. We can’t help.” The words sound pathetic, and I curse how helpless I feel. Nettle doesn’t get the message and rounds the stable and house, but by the time we do, Lyle is on her feet, standing over the man at her feet, the dagger back in her hand and little sparks of light at her fingertips.
I look at her, breathing heavily, addressing the carnage she brought down on the two men before her.
A sliver of pride runs through me. And relief. And shock.
She made light shine from her hands.
Not a flame, but light. Sunlight.
She killed two men.
There’s a lot to digest.
“We need to leave.” She looks up at me as she slides her blade into the little leather sheath that I’ve never seen before. I watch her gather her things, pull herself onto her horse, and join me.
Nettle makes the first steps, and Lyle’s horse follows.
“When are you going to start answering some questions? You know, they’re mounting up.” I turn back towards her, trying to force an explanation. “What’s happening to me? What did you just do?”
“Soon. When we’re clear of here.” She looks around the trees, assessing as if more men might creep out and attack.
“The bodies?” I ask.
“We’ll be long gone before anyone finds them.”
“But…”
