From the Ashes

Chapter 2 ~ Options

    The evening had grown late by the time Koen returned from the scouting party. Morana had endured many more scoldings and lectures from her aunt and was more than ready to retire for the night. She'd already gone up to her room when she heard the front door announce her uncle's arrival.

    Soon after, Koen and Vesna's muffled voices reached her ears. She could only just make out what they were saying. Morana approached her door and cracked it open. "You saw them, didn't you?" Vesna asked, her voice low. "How close are they?"

    "Close enough that it's already too late to do anything.

    "Doesn't Wenlon have a plan?"

    "No. He thought they would pass us by, but it's obvious they won't and now there's no time."

    "Then...what are we going to do?"

    Morana pursed her lips as she waited for her uncle's response. "I'm going to give Mor a lesson. Make sure she's ready for what comes tomorrow."

    Vesna didn't reply immediately, then, "I'll prepare our things."

    Chair legs scraped against the floor and Morana retreated to her bed. Her uncle's footsteps echoed down the hall until stopping in front of her door. Koen nudged it open and barely inclined his head. Morana left the room and followed him to the front door.

    Outside, night had fallen cold and thick. Clouds covered the moon almost completely. Only a few pale rays of light escaped them. Morana watched the sky as she and Koen made their way behind the house.

    Only when he cleared his throat did she bring her attention back to him. He picked up a wooden sword from the small rack resting against the house. Morana caught it and Koen claimed his own.

    "Your aunt tells me you were using your magic in public today," he said, crouching low and grasping the sword before him with two hands.

    Morana mirrored his stance, but angled her own sword sideways. "In front of people, yes. In public, no."

    Koen lunged without warning. Morana caught the blow and twisted around him. Her foot lashed out but he had already anticipated the move and dodged. "Go on," he pressed.

    This time, she attacked. Her wooden weapon met Koen's with a dull thud and she planted her feet, then slid one forward and hooked it behind Koen's ankle. She jerked him off balance. He caught himself with a roll and was upright in a heartbeat.

    "I used it to ease the symptoms of Mav and Leandra's illness. Their children too. Neeri went with me and brought them some food."

    "Wenlon ordered them into isolation to prevent the spread of their illness."

    "They were starving," Morana snapped. "The children were too weak to even hold a canteen on their own. A few more days and they might have died."

    Koen lowered his sword with a sigh. Morana straightened as he rested his hand on her shoulder. "You are compassionate, Little Bird," he said. "But we worry that you care too much. You can't help anyone if you are dead."

    Morana turned her face into the shadows. "We may all be dead anyway, right?" His grip tightened. She didn't have to look at Koen to see how rigid he'd become. "I heard males in the village say Corrupted Fae are closing in."

    Koen gave a faint sight. "They're newly Corrupted."

    Newly Corrupted. The words echoed through her mind. Newly Corrupted Fae were only ever sent out to do one thing. The only thing they could do in their crazed blood-lusting state. Carry out a death sentence.