Page 2 of Ashes In The Wind & Islands Of Ash
“Because without your discipline, love, we’d lose our way.” He gave my mother a wink and another quick kiss before turning away. “I need to go finish—” My father’s statement got cut off by the door blowing open with a gust of wind. I jolted to my feet, one hand readying to wield any liquid near as my other gripped the axe at my side. My mother and father did the same, preparing for what lay beyond the door.
A burly man tucked his wings into his back and rushed in, his expression tense. I caught the fear in his azure eyes. I didn’t think I’d ever see the day where a Sky Elf was afraid of something.
“Hallan…” My father’s head tilted in question. “What is it, brother? What’s wrong?” he asked in the midst of Hallan’s stunned silence.
Hallan and my father’s friendship went back to when I was only a babe. Now they were both leaders of their own people, each having a wife and child, Ace and me. We had grown up together, but our lives stayed busy in our simple ways of living. There were constantly things to be done, which was why I hadn’t seen him in a while. Worry filled me as I thought something had happened to him.
The fae of Esora and Sky Elves had always helped each other. We traded goods, food, skins, anything to help the other get by for as long as we had dwelled in Esora and they in Heavensreach. Whatever transpired wasn’t good based on Hallan’s tensed muscles and emotionless face.
“Ember is coming. They will not be taking prisoners. They’re coming for blood.” His tone was hollow, raw, as if he had been screaming before flying down here to deliver the news.
“How could you possibly know that?” my father questioned while Hallan pulled a letter from his leathers and handed it to him.
“A shadow crow delivered it moments ago.”
“What?” My father’s voice was small as he peered at the message, his eyes bouncing between every line. “The only person who can wield shadows is Ember's Empress…,” he trailed off as he finished reading the letter.
“Orion, what does it say?” My mother’s patience was wearing thin as she grabbed my father by the arm, wielding him to turn toward her.
“The Empress has sent us a warning. Ember is coming because the Emperor believes the chosen one is among the Sky Elves. He refuses to listen to reason. He wants nothing to stand in his way of conquering Osparia.” My father spoke quickly to my mother, telling her what she needed to hear as he gathered his weapon from the table, sheathed it at his side, and prowled to Hallan.
“Where are your women and children? We must get them out of here and somewhere safe.”
“It’s hopeless. The letter states they’ll be here within a day, and who knows how long it took for the shadows to deliver it. Kali is warning our people now, but there isn’t enough time, Orion. War is coming!” His voice boomed from him as he spoke to my father. Hallan, lost in his emotions, let them get the best of him in that moment. My mother’s eyes brimmed with tears, but she held them back as her lip trembled.
“Ivy, leave, take Eme. Gather up as many wives and children as you can and you run.” My mother’s tears streamed down her cheeks at my father’s words. My own pricked behind my eyes. He cupped her face, bringing her forehead to his, his clear blue eyes meeting her jaded green ones. “Go to Lintawa Bay, through the markets. Jump a ship and get out of here.”
“I can’t…” Her voice broke through the tears as she squeezed her eyes shut.
“You must, love, look at me.” He was stern and brave, but my mother shook her head. She wasn’t leaving her homeland,her people, her mate. “Damn the Mother!” my father cursed, running his hand through his brown hair that fell to his shoulders. “Hallan.” My father turned to his comrade, his friend, his brother-in-arms. “Have you seen any warships?”
“My men are patrolling now and will report back soon,” Hallan replied, meeting my father’s eyes as his own stormed with emotion. “I came here to ask for your aid. I know the letter doesn’t involve your people—”
“I’d never let you fight alone. But that’s my choice. I will give my people the opportunity to make their own decisions.”
“I understand.” Hallan held his head high, his ears slightly longer and more pointed than my own. A common trait in the Sky Elves, along with their feathered wings.
My father’s hand on my shoulder pulled my attention back to him. I sniffled and wiped my eyes before the tears had the chance to slip.
“Hallan, could you get Eme to the docks?”
“What?” I questioned, ripping away from his touch.
“You need to get out of here, Eme.”
“I’m not leaving, Pada.” My voice was firm. Hallan would have to drag me out of here with a fight and I’d still come running back. He would have to kill me before I left my people behind. My parents. Everything I had ever known.
My father exhaled deeply, looking to the ground, trying to think of what to say or do. After a long moment of pause, he spoke again.
“Fine.” He looked to my mother and me. “Stay together. Gather our people, they have a decision to make. Meet back in the courtyard in an hour. Hallan and I have to find a way to hide their wives and children who won’t be fighting.” My father clutched us both, wrapping us in a rib-breaking hug, kissing us both on our heads before he rushed to the front door of our home with Hallan by his side.
He grabbed his leather harness from the nob hanging from the wall next to the door. He pushed his arms through and then buckled it around his chest, creating straps on his back for Hallan to grip during the flight back up the mountain.
My father glanced over his shoulder, peering at us one last time. He gave us a reassuring smile and nodded, even though his eyes were uncertain of what was to come. They both took off into a sprint toward the mountains before they leapt into flight.
My mother wrapped her arm around me and squeezed. I did the same, savoring her warmth, her scent, only for a moment before she nudged me toward the door. We ran to every cottage, every door, every child playing amongst the trees, telling the parents of what awaited them once they were in the courtyard.
Within the hour, every fae and creature I knew in Esora stood in the courtyard, pouring out of it onto the paths surrounding our homes and out into the woods. Scared faces of husbands, wives, and people of all ages stretched as far as I could see. My father swooped down from the trees as Hallan released him and he landed gracefully. They stood side by side in the face of the murmuring crowd. My mother and I settled only a few feet in front of him as he prepared to speak.
