Page 52 of Memory of Ashes

Ruven moaned in the saddle next to her, regaining consciousness. He struggled to sit up.

His eyes flickered open, and he startled at his surroundings. “What happened?” he whispered. The blood around his mouth cracked as he spoke.

“What do you remember?”

“We were in the forest, and Tharos and the army were there, and then Casyl…” He paused, unable to voice what his commander, his friend, had done to him. His expression fell. “I’m so sorry, Amelia. I tried to get you out in time.”

Ruven was perhaps the only friend she’d made whom she could trust. He had earned that title.

“Why did they wait so long to do this? Why spend all that time training me? What was the point?”

“The army from the High City was there to stop us, or to try, at least. I don’t know why they wanted you trained. That was an order from Casyl, not the king.” He looked around. “Where are we?”

“The mountain behind us is called Mount Ryjul to us. I think we’re heading towards the first town in the kingdom. Why did they do this, Ruven?”

“They want the chrysonium.”

She paused. They’d said that the humans’ destructive mining of it was destroying the world. Why would they want that?

The first town bordering the mountain range came into view. Its buildings stood starkly against the dry, grassy steppe. She prayed they would see them coming and then remembered. They had Tharos scouting ahead.

“How many men can he hide?” she asked.

“Enough, but he can’t hold it continuously.”

It would be too late by the time they saw them.

Ruven maintained the façade of unconsciousness as the guards led their horses away. The army readied itself for battle.

It didn’t last long.

The town was ablaze, flames reaching high into the sky as the citizens’ screams travelled to her on the wind. The humans wouldn’t stand a chance fighting against fae such as Danae, a fire mage.

There would be no battle. Only slaughter.

The acrid stench of burning reached her, causing her eyes to water, but she could not look away.

She hated that she could visualise their remains. Her mind did it automatically, reducing people to bone and ash. Their charred remains would become artefacts to excavate.

There was nowhere left to belong. Not with the humans or the fae. Soon, she’d be left with the only thing familiar to her: ruins.

Through the flames, she recognised the army’s formation—the same people she’d fought alongside. She regretted saving them.

“They’re going to come and get you soon,” Ruven whispered to her. “You are their map.”

She knew everything. They were going to use her to destroy her own people. Her city would be next.

“We’ve got to get to the capital first and warn them. They could at least evacuate.” She ran through their dwindling options. Most of their weapons would be useless against the fae.

She studied the guards in front of them. Distracted, they watched the army ahead destroy the town and cursed their luck for being stuck with the prisoners instead of joining the chaos.

Ruven followed her gaze and understood.

“Do any of them have powers?” she asked quietly.

He shook his head.

Ruven wrenched his hands apart, the bindings breaking under his mighty strength. He climbed down from the horse, making no noise, and the first guard went down before the others had even noticed, and then knocked the other two unconscious. He ran over to Amelia and cut her bonds.