Of Phoenix Tears and Demon Blood

5 - Deny

I woke up to the sound of people talking and boots crunching fallen leaves and twigs. They weren't close yet; their voices were still indistinct. I slipped down from the tree I had sent the night in. My tunic was just a bright enough shade of orangish brown that I risked them spotting me if I remained there. I set off in a near perpendicular direction from where the voices were coming from. I wasn't certain of where exactly I was going, just that I needed to go away from them.

I picked my way across the forest floor, dodging sticks, rocks, and clumps of bushes. The patches of shade and light, the constant clatter of birdsong, the lack of wind – all of it was so different from the Xufran steppes where I had spent much of my life.

I was in Insurran now and likely northeast of Xufra – where plains changed to forest. I picked up a stick, absentmindedly twirling it in my palm. This was my first time outside of Xufra, and my first time outside a war camp in four years. I knew I should be overjoyed at my freedom, but I felt lost. I could return to Xufra, to the war camp. I could train, fight in a losing war, and see Genevieve and Audrey. And Ella. I forced down the sudden tears that prickled in the corners of my eyes. I refused to mourn her until I was certain of her death.

But I had a life before the war camps, before the Xufran uprising, before the prophecy. My mind drifted to Cassia's giggles as I chased her around the room. To pare's singing as they brushed my hair. To mother's gentle lessons about using my magic. But as always, thoughts of my life before led to somewhere else.

To fire licking at the roof of the house, wood creaking as it began to cave in, sealing their fate.

To pare's face, skin blistered and melted, their eyes glazed over by death's veil.

To Cassia's screams as she was dragged away, the memory of her fear tattooed on my brain.

"Hey, someone's there!" My head whipped around to see a young man staring and pointing at me. He was dressed in a duller version of the same bronze Xufran uniform I wore. I could recognize the slight Xufran accent in his words. Footsteps crunched on the ground behind him, his unseen companions rapidly approached.

It was four years ago, but Cassia was still alive out there somewhere. I knew it. I could use my magic to incapacitate the Xufran soldier and run and scour the world till I found her.

The fantasy vanished as quickly as it appeared. Nearly a dozen more Xufran soldiers appeared behind the first, the group bristling with weapons. An older man with an unruly bread stepped forward and glanced at my uniform. "She's Xufran. What's a Xufran doing here in Insurran?"

I froze for a second, a thousand thoughts racing through my head as I tried to pick the most believable lie. The group approached me. "You a deserter? I'm sure you know the punishment for deserting." The man raised his sword.

"Wait, no!" I spat out, "I'm not a deserter. I'm on a special mission from General Samaras of the northeastern region."

The man eyed me suspiciously. "You're a fiend?"

"Yes, a fiend on a special mission from General Samaras."

He lowered his sword and the rest of the people followed suit. "What's your mission?"

"Unfortunately, I can't disclose the details of my mission," I replied.

"Well, you better be ready to disclose those details, because you're coming back to our camp with us. The captain can deal with you, one way or another," the man said.

I nodded and forced a smile. He turned back and I followed him. I couldn't help but to notice that the other soldiers circled me, blocking off any potential escape path. I fixed the smile on my face, I'm a loyal Xufran, happy to meet with this captain then return to the war camp.