The Last Red Year

TWENTY-FIVE: Sunset

They're tired and hurting and there's blood on their clothes, dust tangled in their hair, circles worn beneath their eyes. They've barely slept. Their arm still aches, and they're certain it's broken. Their horse has carried them tirelessly along the road back to Penncradle, and they've never been more grateful for an animal in their life. They're thinking of naming it Steadfast. It's a stupid name, but they're exhausted, and it fits.

    The streets of the city are utterly deserted, and they don't know whether or not they're imagining the thin sheen of dust that drifts through the air. Their mind is so clouded with pain and exhaustion they can't tell what's real and what isn't anymore. At least the break in their arm hasn't pushed through the skin--they're thankful for that. Thankful for all the small things they can think of. If they can't focus on the world's small kindnesses, they won't be able to keep going.

    They've just lost their best friends in the whole world. They don't know whether or not Mirei is still alive--they didn't look back after Hilddyn brought the rain barrier down, but they're expecting them to be at their heels soon enough. They so badly want to give up, but that fire inside them, the flame that's keeping them going, stubbornly refuses to die. They don't know if they can win this war, but they'll protect whatever they can.

    They leap down from their horse at the palace gates--the monster guards that usually stand inside, waiting to let people in and out, are missing, and the gate is unlocked. They shoulder it all the way open, stepping inside to find a layer of thin dust settled across the courtyard. They so badly want to believe it's all in their head, but the clothes strewn across the ground, the leftover weapons and jewelry, are too detailed to be figments of their imagination.

    They step into the palace, coughing into their cloak. "Is anyone here?" they call out, not expecting an answer. But, thank the Angel, they get one.

    "Kas?" comes Kizlane's voice--they hobble down the stairs, still having difficulty moving on their wooden leg, and pull Kas into a hug, shoulders shaking like they're fighting tears. "Oh, thank the Angel it's you...where're Sorine and Mauragan?"

    All Kas can do is shake their head. They can't explain what happened. They aren't even certain themself. They'll tell the story later, if there's anyone left to listen.

    "Oh...oh, Kas, I'm so sorry." Kizlane holds them tight, voice shaking with tears. "Some Mages came up from the mountain. Chased all the monsters out of town an' killed any who wouldn't leave. It's a damn miracle the princess and prince made it out, but...if they're still alive out there, they're king and queen now." They pull themself up to their full height, fighting hard to stay composed. "I think they're chasin' 'em out to the mountain, and Angel knows what they're gonna do there."

    "We have to go, then," Kas says. "The Mages, they...I found their plans. If the monsters are already there we don't...we don't have much time." They look up at Kizlane, fighting with everything they have to not show how much pain they're in. They don't think there's anyone left here who can fix their arm. "Is...is Lilinore..."

    "They're okay. I told 'em to hide up in King Prologis's closet. You should go talk to them. I'll...I'll get things ready for us to head out." Kizlane rests their hands on Kas's shoulders, a pained, sad smile flickering across their face. "Kas...no matter what happens, I want you to know, ain't none of this was yer fault. You're just a kid. And it ain't right, you bein' in the middle of all of this. You, me, all of us...we did all we could, an' we'll do all we can, an'...if we see each other on the other side of this, you've always got a home with me. I promise you that." They stay there for only a moment longer, a deep sadness in their brilliant yellow eyes. They've lost so much, too. They lost Hadling. They lost their home at the Magescourt, if it could even be called a home. They lost their leg, for the Angel's sake. Kas hopes they both make it out of this. Kizlane is the only person left in the world they can truly relate to anymore.