Chapter 44

  Only Max was relieved to see Lia set off the next night. Snow watched her go with a surprising amount of trepidation. While he knew she was strong and fast, traveling alone was still dangerous. He worried about her sleeping during the day while traveling the same routes as other creatures, many of whom had no problem walking in sunlight. He hoped that rumors of this new union would only appeal to clans willing to accept others, but any road frequented by the faithful was often littered with conmen.

  Sage’s talk of the scarred man had made him craft a gift for Lia to take with her. It was a simple spiral of brass, carefully twisted to wrap around her wrist like a snug bracelet. Inside he had inscribed a spell similar to the ones he had written on Sage’s skin before the descent into the lake, but this one used Lia’s own untapped gift.

  All vampires possessed a measure of magic. Normally, it took time and practice before one could use it intentionally. It was no different than when one learned to shift between human and animal forms. But this spell was a sort of catalyst; a means of demanding a specific act without the required practice. In this case, control over the element of earth. Earth was always useful and would be a means of creating shelter if she suddenly found herself in a barren land at sunrise. The only caveat was that it would be a limited act. Lia might even feel drained when using it. There were no real short cuts when it came to magic.

  “I don’t know how much you will be able to demand from this spell. Use it sparingly,” he had warned her as he gave it a little squeeze to hug her skin.

  “Thank you. I promise I’ll be careful,” she then replied before giving him an unexpected hug. Snow returned the hug awkwardly before pulling back and glancing at Titus to see him with a smug grin. Lia then turned to give Titus a hug as well before coming to Sage.

  Sage gave Lia a long embrace before whispering something in her ear. Lia nodded in return before giving Max a simple wave and turning off into the night, her maroon dress disappearing quickly in the dark.

  Snow watched for a long moment until he could no longer see the moonlight shining on her hair.

  “I’m sure she’ll be okay,” Titus said. Snow turned around briefly to see that Max and Sage had gone inside.

  “At least she is more aware now and she has her strength back,” Snow replied as he turned back to the dark landscape.

  “And you?” Titus stepped a little closer to stand alongside him.

  “Hmm?” Snow continued to look out onto the night to see if he could see some glimmer of Lia disappearing into the distant black tree line.

  “Are you okay?” Titus asked. Snow turned to see him looking on him with quiet concern.

  “I’m fine.” Snow turned to head back inside.

  “Are you sure?” Titus persisted. His question made Snow pause.

  “Why are you worried?” Snow looked back.

  “I know you nearly lost your friend the other day, and that you’ve been on the run for over a week. Your life got turned upside down...,” Titus said until Snow interrupted.

  “I’m well aware of what has happened to me,” Snow cut in with a huff. “Your concern is entirely misplaced. I’ve been through worse.”

  “Doesn’t mean it’s not hard,” Titus replied.

  Snow opened his mouth to refute the idea that he was shaken by any of this, but he paused when he realized it wasn’t an accusation. This was a friend noticing difficulty. And while he was ready to boast about how dangerous he could be when on the offensive, when facing problems head-on with all his power brought to task, that didn’t change the fact that this was difficult. It was difficult because he didn’t know enough about the problem, the scope of it had certainly changed, and now too many people he cared about were entangled.

  “No,” he said as he took in a calming breath. “No, it’s not easy to deal with. But we can only move forward now.”

  Titus didn’t seem to like the answer, but he nodded.

  This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report.

  The two were ready to go inside when the sound of horses on the road brought their attention to the front of the house. Snow started to make his way around the side just as the urgent sounds came to a halt nearby, confirming his suspicion.

  There, he found three saviors on horseback. One was already dismounting in Sage’s front garden when Max stepped out from the front door. This time he didn’t linger defensively at the threshold but instead stepped over to address what looked like the commanding officer.

  “What do you want?” Max asked.

  “Hand over the witch,” the savior demanded. He said it loud enough that even the neighbors might hear it.

  There was a brief pause as Max’s fists clenched. “You’re going to want to reword that,” Max replied. He wasn’t as loud, but Snow could hear the anger bubbling beneath the reply.

  “The high priestess. Hand her over,” the savior continued to bark with all the authority in the world.

  “Why? She’s done nothing wrong. She hasn’t even left the house since the temple was destroyed.” It was plain to see that Max was trying to push sense into his comrade. Snow couldn’t tell how well they knew each other, but he knew Max wasn’t going to have any luck. The moment he had called Sage a witch, Snow knew there was no swaying these men.

  “She’s bewitched these villagers! They only want to rebuild that demon temple.” The man then tried to step past Max, but Max side stepped so their chests almost bumped.

  “She hasn’t even attended the meetings!” Max’s anger was evident now to even the neighbors. But Snow noticed that he had stepped out without his sword while all the saviors were armed. If a fight happened now, it certainly wouldn’t be a fair one.

  “Witches don’t need to be present to have control over others. Hand her over!” the savior said before trying again to walk around Max and reach the front door, but again, Max was not letting that happen.

  “Do you intend to take her to Lady Tin?”

  Snow knew the answer. He was sure Max did too now. Snow could only assume that Max had asked it just to be sure, to hear the savior admit it openly. Or perhaps Max wanted to hear if there was any remorse in the man’s voice for what they were about to do. They were either going to haul her off to their superior or…

  “Lady Tin is in her sway as well, but once we tie her to an anchor and drop her in the lake, everyone will come back to their senses.”

  Max’s first swing surely broke the savior’s nose. Snow swore he could almost hear the cartilage crunch as the man fell back onto the ground.

  Immediately, Titus was rushing out from alongside Snow to give Max aid as the other men dismounted. The magician knew better though. Before the melee could continue, he called the earth to open up under the two saviors’ feet. They fell into sudden fishers which then closed around them, sealing them in up to their chest. Snow thought about crushing them but resisted when he saw Titus and Max looking at him with a brief, pale shade of awe.

  The man Max had knocked down was still trying to pull himself up, unawares of why his peers were calling out for help. Titus turned back and quickly grabbed him by the front of his jerkin to haul him up.

  “Whose order was this?!” he demanded as his shook the man. Max was alongside him now wanting to know the same thing.

  “Jennar, Captain Jennar,” the man coughed as the blood was trickling down his face and choking in his throat.

  “What do you know about Vernin?” Titus continued his interrogation. The savior shook his head.

  “Nothing.”

  “What do you know!” Titus shook him more.

  The savior only continued to shake his ruined face at them.

  “He’s only a soldier. He wouldn’t know much beyond today’s orders,” Max said. With a forceful shove, Titus dropped the man back on the ground.

  Snow stepped closer eyeing the three saviors critically. A little voice whispered that they are only witnesses now. They’ve seen too much, know too much, and should be buried along with this captain if he had any desire for Sage to remain safe in her home.

  Snow raised his hand again. “Well then, Sage’s garden could always use more fertilizer.”

  “Snow.” Titus’s voice jumped out at him making him pause.

  Snow turned to see Titus with a pleading look, “We’re not going to kill them.”

  “Speak for yourself,” Max grumbled as he looked down on the bloodied officer with contempt.

  Titus then looked at both of them as he said, “The moment we start killing them, then we’re no better then them. They’ll label us criminals or monsters.”

  Snow scoffed. “They already do so. Perhaps it’s time-”

  Titus was suddenly in front of him and gently guiding Snow’s hand back down. His palm was warm against Snow’s fingers.

  “No. We need to find another way.” He said it softly but firmly. His eyes bore into Snow, not as an authority, but as a friend determined to convince a friend.

  Snow was then reminded of what Ilone had said. Follow the heart on the shore.

  “Then what do you suggest we do with them?”