Queen of Fire (A Light-Bringer Prequel)

Twenty

The children in the street gaped up at Marilyn as if they had never seen a Pyro before, their blue eyes wide in awe.

"They're looking at you because you're new, and because you're on the shorter side of Krigereans," said Akaljot.

Marilyn suppressed her scoff. Shorter side. She was of average height for a Lucinean. It wasn't her fault that Krigereans averaged six-foot five-inches!

Her attention turned to the Krigerean flag—ice blue and silver with a stag and the North Star between its antlers. There were so many of the flags that all Marilyn could see was the stag and North Star.

"Follow me," Akaljot said to her, kicking his horse into a gallop.

Marilyn followed him down several streets until they were in—what she assumed to be—Soturi's wealthy district. They slowed to a trot and Marilyn looked at the townhouses in awe. Akaljot led her to a set of stables at the side of a two-storey townhouse.

Akaljot dismounted and handed the reins to a stable boy. Marilyn did the same and followed Akaljot through a side door and up a flight of stairs. Akaljot held open a door on the landing for her.

"Welcome to my flat," he said as Marilyn crossed the threshold.

To her right was the sitting room, dining room, and kitchen. To her left was a hallway where three doors stood open.

Marilyn turned to walk down the hall. There was a bathing room and a bedroom on her left, and a bedroom on her right.

"Your room is on the right," he said from behind her.

Marilyn looked back at him. "Name the price and I'll repay it."

He shook his head. "No price," was all he said.

Akaljot moved past her towards his room. "Would you like to, maybe, see the sights of Soturi? I can show you, and take you to dinner if you'd like."

Marilyn smiled. "I think I'd like that."

She had just shut the door when someone knocked on it. Marilyn opened the door to find the stable boy holding her bag.

"You left this," he said, holding up her bag.

"Oh, thank you," she said, taking the bag from him.

She closed the door once the boy ran off, and began unpacking its contents. She set a green tunic and brown pants aside and put the rest of her clothes in the wardrobe. Marilyn took her clothes with her across the hall to the bathing room, and shut the door.

She heard Akaljot open his bedroom door, walk down the hall before yelling, "What in the—"

Marilyn ran out and stopped dead in her tracks when she saw a Witch-Hunter standing in the entryway of the flat.

"Who are you?" Akaljot demanded.

The Hunter blinked slowly—almost as if he was confused.

"Akaljot," said Marilyn, her gaze never leaving the swaying Hunter. "He's just a boy."

"Help... me," the boy croaked before his legs gave out from under him.

Akaljot lunged and scooped the boy into his arms. He brought the boy into the dining room, and jerked his chin towards one of the high-backed chairs. "Grab one."

Marilyn grabbed a chair, pulled it out, and Akaljot carefully set him down.

"Watch him. Make sure he doesn't move," he barked.

Akaljot left, leaving her alone with one of Miles' men. She brushed his brown hair away with her fingertips, his skin bright red and warm with sunburn. How old was he when he joined the military?