Chapter Twenty-Eight

T he following morning, all of the foreign dignitaries gathered at the station closest to the palace complex. Lucinne had become a hub for travelers since the invention of the Rail Dellumine, but the diversity of this crowd was striking for even Evienne, who had spent many years in the city.

From where she sat aboard the train, she could see a large group of Aphanians, the water-dwellers from the Vaporiad Sea to the south. A cluster of Wellsah stood near them, staring up at the bronze Rail cars in wonder.

Even Daosbor, the realm of necromancers, had sent a delegation. The necromancers stood off to the side looking on, their pale faces expressionless as they took in the scene.Evienne did a double-take as she noticed a tall, striking person she could only describe as…leafy standing with the necromancers. A woman with bright red hair and a radiant smile clung to their arm and looked up at them adoringly. Was that a Dryad? Evienne did not know any of the non-human creatures of Domhan na Rùin had been invited to the festivities, but she supposed stranger things had happened.

Evienne was pulled from her people-watching by a sudden tug of awareness, and she turned just as Orion and Solon took their seats facing hers. A small table sat between them, bolted to the floor.

Before she could open her mouth to greet the two men, Cecelia’s laughing voice cut in as she slipped into the seat next to Evienne. “I decided to take the day off, so I get to come too!” she said excitedly.

Evienne couldn’t help but smile at her friend. “Oh how wonderful! I’m so glad we’ll have your company for the day.”

Cecelia settled into her seat looking very pleased with herself. Evienne caught Orion trying not to laugh in the seat across from her and softly kicked him under the table.

Shortly after everyone had boarded their Rail cars, the Rail Dellumine launched into motion, gliding silently over the bronze tracks through Lucinne and out into the rolling fields of Ichora’s countryside.

Today’s journey would take around three hours each way, with a stop at midday in the harbor town of Brunoy on Ichorna’s eastern coast. The bustling port town sat on the shores of the Dalmar Sea.

The journey to Brunoy passed quickly. Evienne let herself forget about the lingering apprehension and stress she felt about their investigation in favor of enjoying her time with her friends. That’s what Orion and Solon were to her now: friends. And perhaps, with Orion, something more.

When the Rail Dellumine arrived at the Brunoy station, the horde of dignitaries and nobles disembarked and were set loose upon the small town. The cold ocean air bit at Evienne’s face the moment she stepped out into the white light of the afternoon.

Evienne enjoyed the sea on the rare occasions she had reason to see it. The sound of crashing surf echoed through the streets of the quaint seaside town.

Orion offered her an arm, and she accepted it, glancing up into his handsome face to give him a small smile. He smiled back at her, and somewhere in her heart, she knew she wanted to stay with him forever.

·

A fter a few hours of enjoying the ocean views and enjoying lunch at lavishly set picnic tables on the beach, the group made their way in twos and threes back toward the station.

Cecelia insisted on taking a detour to have a look around the town square, so the four of them walked in that direction, enjoying each other’s company as they went.

The square bustled with activity despite the chill, with market stands selling the day’s catch and brightly lit storefronts filled with colorful fabrics, books, and housewares. Evienne was enjoying taking in every detail when, without warning, a siren blared through the general hum of noise in the square.

Evienne knew the sound well from her training, but it was jarring to hear the alarm system here when she least expected it. The system was the same as those that she had overseen the setup of in all of their larger provincial towns; their purpose was to warn citizens of a Gevaud attack.

Evienne’s training slammed her into action. She was nothing if not good in a crisis, and until she understood the scope of this attack, she would treat it as though it were serious.

Evienne turned to her friends, shouting over the now chaotic sounds of the townspeople taking cover as they had been instructed when the alarms were installed. “You have to get back to the station and get on the train; don’t wait for me, I’ll handle this.”

“We’re not leaving you here ! ” Cecelia yelled back.

Evienne knew there wasn’t time to argue. She looked to Solon, who nodded in understanding. “Please, come with me,” Solon said simply to Cecelia, offering her his arm. She glared at Evienne, then took it, not wanting to be rude to Solon. He escorted her quickly out of the square—Evienne only hoped they made it to the train in time.

Orion took Evienne’s hand and squeezed. “You know I won’t leave you in danger, love,” he said. “I’m with you.”

She smiled at him then, grateful to have him by her side.

They both turned as a scream sounded across the square, followed by a vicious snarl. Evienne took off in a run, her burgundy dress billowing around her legs as she ran. Orion shifted and ran alongside her. The winter air bit her lungs, and she felt time slow as she neared the scene and took in the sight before her.

Gevaud were indiscriminately attacking anything in their path. There appeared to be around ten of the beasts, but more streamed in to the square from the surrounding streets. Evienne knew only a few Sangviere were typically stationed here, and she didn’t see them anywhere yet. Guards rushed into the square, but without blood magic, they stood little chance of neutralizing the Gevaud.

A beast lunged at one of the guards, snapping Evienne back into action. She summoned her most instinctual magic, her blood fire, and hurled it at the beast. It staggered, giving the guard time to fall back.

Orion stood ready at her side, waiting to take his signals from her. Evienne turned to him, holding his piercing gaze, and nodded; her way of telling him to stay safe in the fray.

The Gevaud spread out, attacking without form or reason. Evienne looked around again for the other Sangviere, but saw none. For now, immediacy was key to saving the lives of the people of Brunoy as they tried to find cover. Every second she had spent studying, honing her craft, doubting herself; it was all for this. To help her people.

Evienne strode forward to the center of the square, swiping her ring fully across her palm this time. Her magic roared to life in her veins, stronger, somehow, than she had ever felt it.

She found that place inside herself where she could push her magic to exert her will on another living being. She felt it, focusing on the Gevaud about twenty feet from her. One moment, the beast was lurching forward; the next her magic had taken hold, forcing it to the ground.

She took hold of another beast a mere ten feet away from the first, willing them toward each other. They moved with stilted, unnatural motions until they collided. She forced them to tear each other’s throats out, their blood spraying a downed guard trying to scramble away from them.

Evienne didn’t lose her focus. Her eyes scanned the square, working to prioritize her next target. Her mind flew over the details as she took them in, strategizing intuitively.

A scream had her turning to the western edge of the square. Two Sangviere had arrived only to immediately be swarmed by a new cluster of Gevaud as they bounded into the open.

At least thirty of the creatures were now running rampant. Evienne had to protect the other Sangviere or they would certainly lose this fight.

She felt for the lifeblood of the two beasts circling the Sangviere where they had been knocked down, forcing her magic into them. Evienne’s breath came in heavy pants as she strained with the effort of her casting, before both beasts burst into clouds of red mist.

The other Sangviere nodded at Evienne gratefully and fell back into a formation, covering each other’s backs. Each then took control of a creature with their Regne du Sang and disarmed it by whatever means necessary.

She was struck then by how unnerving blood magic could really be. She was grateful she would never know the feeling of someone taking hold of her own blood—the thought of being so completely at the mercy of another was harrowing. Their sort of magic—even without the corrupting influence of the Valsang—was dark enough as it was.

Despite the best efforts of the Sangviere, there were simply too many Gevaud to manage in the way they had planned for, trained for. Taking them out one or two at a time wasn’t enough.

The horde had downed at least four guards now. Orion had engaged two of the beasts on the opposite side of the square, and was holding his own against them, swiping his massive paws and deathly sharp claws. She flicked her gaze back to the cluster of beasts in front of her.

Evienne could not allow them to kill anyone else; she had a job to do, and she would see it done.

She sliced her other palm open, power now nearly overwhelming her, and raised her hands before her. Her magic gripped each and every one of the Gevaud that remained, thirty living things falling under her control. She could feel it; the blood rushing through their veins, the life force calling to her soul. Time slowed to a stop as she listened to the chorus of beating hearts, feeling the heat of her own blood on her hands.

Closing her fists, she slammed the creatures down to the paving stones. With a twist of her wrists, a sickening crunch sounded, reverberating off the buildings of the square. Every one of the creatures lay lifeless, bodies twisted and bones shattered from within.

All Evienne could hear was the pounding of her own pulse as she surveyed the scene before her. Her heart clenched painfully; she knew she was pushing her magic too far. Black edged her vision as she scanned the square, searching for a spot of white in what was now a sea of red.

She felt him before she saw him; brilliant pain seared her as her gaze landed on him. Bright red blood marred his beautiful white coat, and Evienne screamed as she watched a Gevaud swipe its massive claws across his ribs.

The beast Orion was fighting lunged, sensing its opponent’s weakness, and latched its massive jaw around Orion’s neck.

Evienne didn’t hesitate, that deeper magic that was her greatest secret rushing out into the world. Every time she had used it, she hadn’t known how or why—but it came when she had need of it. Only in her most raw, desperate moments did this gift show itself.

From where she stood, it seemed a trick of the light when her magic first took hold of the beast. But as the seconds ticked by, she could see it. The Gevaud’s body was withering, decaying, before her eyes. Its eyes sank in, its skin went sallow and thin, and soon it sagged away from the creatures bones. It became bent, and the colors of rot spread, blossoming across the Gevaud’s body. Before ten seconds had passed, the beast was collapsing in front of Orion, its vicious bite long forgotten. Another breath, and it was no more than a pile of dust at Orion’s feet.

Orion raised his eyes to her, their gazes connecting across the short distance. Evienne shook her head slightly at him, hoping he understood and would wait until they were alone to discuss what had just happened.Too many secrets had just been laid bare for all to see. The mound of dust blew away on the ocean breeze as they stared at each other.

The few Gevaud that had managed to remain unscathed had turned to flee, running at full speed down the narrow streets. Evienne turned to the other Sangviere, giving them the order to pursue and kill on sight.She could only hope that everyone had been too concerned with the Gevaud to notice a snow leopard of all things in the middle of their seaside town. Her heart continued to protest her overuse of her power, thudding painfully beneath her ribs.

One of the town guards rushed over then, wanting Evienne’s instructions as the highest-ranking official on the scene. Once she had given all the orders that needed to be given, she turned to find Orion sitting against a wall nearby, back in his human form. The Tuanadair magic seemed to somehow preserve the clothes their human forms had been wearing—a fascinating question for another time. Orion had an awful gash across his shoulder and several sharp punctures around his neck.Evienne quickly forgot the pain in her own chest.

“I need a medic, immediately,” Evienne shouted with command in her voice to anyone who could hear her. A medic quickly found her way over to Orion and knelt down to begin her work.

All three were silent as she worked, bandaging up the wounds. Finally, as she was packing up her supplies, she addressed her patient.

“Please take it easy for a while. These wounds were, thankfully, not deep, but there is a risk of infection. Go see the palace healers if anything seems amiss, and change your bandages regularly.”

“Thank you. I am in your debt,” Orion answered, trying to muster a smile that read more like a grimace. The medic nodded, looking to Evienne.

“Thank you for your service,” Evienne offered the medic a slight nod as she departed.

“We need to get back to the station,” Evienne said, bending down and offering Orion her arm despite her exhaustion. She didn’t let herself pause to think too long on what had just happened.