Rune and Ruin

24 - The Darkest Night

391 B.C.E. - The Banditiccia, The Ruins of the Acerian City of Caere, Island of the Gods, Spring, Month of Lunius

Falx

Our wings make good shields against the falling ash. All over the Banditticia, the openings of the caves are covered in Tasuri wings.

I tap Quintus, and he lowers his left wing, giving me a nod as I brush past him. As soon as I'm inside the cave, he returns to his pose, standing guard at the cave entrance, his dark eyes fixed on our family.

"Everyone has enough water and food to last a few more days," I murmur. "The ash fall is slowing, and the noise is ceasing." My demon twists his head, staring at Quintus as if he can peer past the wings into the ashfall. Maybe he can. He's been unnaturally quiet and still these past few days.

I check each hatchling, ensuring their lungs sound clear, before turning to Thania and doing the same. She breathes deeply for me, wordlessly reassuring me that she isn't suffering from inhaling the ash. Some of the Acera are, and their Tasuri guards and bonded are sick with fear for them.

"We'll be able to leave soon," Thania murmurs to me. "A day or two at the most."

My eyes dart to Tems, who looks on with his jaw locked and a scowl on his face. "She is still... distressed," Tems confirms to me quietly. My demon's attention snaps to our female.

"Of course, I'm distressed. We have to - cough - go to Rune," Thania snaps. Agitated, she rises to her feet and starts to pace. She lets out a soft, irritated huff, coughs again slightly, and begins to mumble to herself. "I'm just pointing out," my female mutters, "that staying in a holy city in Caere makes sense for priestesses." A pause, then, "Well, yes, they are meant to rule. A triumvirate, but why Rune? Why that city?"

She comes to a halt and hides her face in her hands, her shoulder shaking as she sobs."How is it safe?" she sobs. "It's Rune."

We wait for her conversation to be over. Gods, I never thought my sweet, gentle Acera girl would start talking to the gods as if conversing with a friend, but the last three days, trapped in this tomb, have seen her doing it more and more.

When our female is finished with her one-sided conversation, Tems steps forward. "Because darling one," he soothes her, his silver tongue dancing over the words. "Our ancestors chose that location for its safety. Three rivers converge within the walls of Rune. On the cliffs, plains of fertile soil can provide food for our precious Acera bonds. The forests teem with all manner of beasts for us. The skies are open for our wings. It is not too cold, not too hot."

"Enough, Tems!" Thania cuts him off. She begins to pace again, her hands thrown into the air. "I don't want to hear any more reasons and excuses. It's dangerous. There are already rulers there. They won't just hand over their power, firestorm or not."

I capture her when she strays too close, a mouse to a falcon. I curl my hand around her delicate throat, feeling her pulse thrumming wildly under my palm. My demon's forked tongue licks his lips at our delectable prize. If not for the hatchlings and my mother, we would remind Thania of our power.

Not cowed, my female glares at me balefully, her grey eyes glowing in the dim light of the torch. "My sweet love," I croon, my voice dangerous. We march to war." I press my lips to the corner of her mouth, licking a stray tear from her skin. With her taste on my tongue, I ask, "Do you doubt my ability to win?"

She shivers as her beautiful grey eyes dart to one side, refusing to look at me. "I have never seen or heard of a loss suffered by the Warlord of Rune," she says bitterly.