Queen of Fire (A Light-Bringer Prequel)

Twenty-Six

At dawn the next morning, the Sakis rode out of the stables and the courtyard, down to the harbour where their ship waited.

Marilyn wrapped her cloak around her tightly as she waited at the front of the procession for Andrei. Winter was in full swing in Apparatori and Krigere—the world decked out in snow, and Marilyn's breath fogged up everytime she exhaled.

"It's a bit chilly out," said Andrei as he approached on his steed.

"Indeed," she replied. "I can't wait to get back to Lucis where we only get frost."

"Once you've lived in the north long enough, you get used to it," said Akaljot.

"On the bright side, temperatures in the Verzengend desert will be cooler for you northerners," said Marilyn.

Andrei looked behind him, and faced forward again. "We ride out, men!" he shouted before he tilted his head back and howled.

The soldier followed their prince's lead and howled like a pack of wolves. How the horses didn't startle from their howling, Marilyn could only guess it was because they were accustomed to the howls of men.

Andrei kicked up into a gallop, the rest of them following suit. People cheered at the sight of Andrei and his men as they rode through the city and into the wilderness beyond.

—

It took them a week to traverse the avalanche-ready mountains outside Zashchita safely. It was another three weeks before they saw the civilization in Soturi and the menacing Vardand Fjöll looming over the city.

They stopped in Soturi only to stock up on food that would survive the trip to Friedens. The Krigereans looked down and scowled upon Andrei and his men. The soldiers shot the Krigereans dirty looks back, Andrei glowering.

"Looks like they haven't gotten over the father that the north wars were just age-old pissing contests," Andrei murmured. "Thank Vlad the Great for his diplomacy and our impenetrable defences, or we'd all be part of Krigere right now. War-waging brutes."

They rode out into the foothills and headed south along the Fjöll before being engulfed in the Aspen forest.

Two weeks after leaving Soturi, they approached the border between Krigere and Eirineftes, the glass dunes of the desert in the distance.

"Holy gods," Andrei swore when he saw the dunes."

"I did that," Marilyn said sheepishly.

Andrei gaped at her. "She did that?" he asked Akaljot.

"She saved our lives—and her own," Akaljot replied.

The snowy forest turned into an arid, sandy desert. The warm clothes for winter were abandoned in favour of tunics and pants.

They raced over the dunes and found Friedens within a week. Then restocking the food, Marilyn didn't bother hiding her face or hair. She wanted Eirineftens to see that the Firestarter was done hiding.

As they left Friedens, Marilyn looked back and said goodbye—thanking it for hiding her as long as it did.

Another week passed and they crossed the border into Lucis, the desert turning into a semi-arid forest. Marilyn dismounted Starlight, still holding onto the reins, and crossed the border on foot.

From there, they rode east towards Urbs Flumen, crossing the river where it was shallowest a few miles north of the village.

They rode day and night south to Valon, stopping only for a few hours of rest a night. A day out from Valon—and the day before the coup—they headed for just a few miles west of the city, hoping to meet up with the rest of their forces.