The Fall of the Stars Book 1: Wheels of War

Susei Turner IV

The city was alive, yet at the same time it was dead. With all of the soldiers walking about, people were afraid to leave their homes. There was a despairing feeling in the air, like everyone could feel that something was happening. Susei herself felt uneasy as she watched the silent, sullen people from the bench outside of the shop. She often found herself at that shop often, as it was close to the city gates and she could watch the men run about the park.

She hadn't seen Rynn in over a week, since a ragged, disheveled man came to him while they were sitting in the diner. He requested a private audience with Rynn, and since then she hadn't seen Rynn or the ragged man again. Soon after the ragged man came, though, hundreds of knights and soldiers started amassing in the city. Susei tried to question Lady Mary about it, but she would not divulge any information. She merely shook her head.

That morning the men were all in attendance, filling the entrance of the gate pouring out past it into the Densebrook. Many were on foot but the greater number of them were mounted. They stood, armed and armored, as if ready to fight that instant. Their chattering made it sound as if the city was alive.

"Please rethink this," a man shouted down the street. All heads turned to see what it was. And there was Rynn, clad in his gold and green armor, riding down the street with a large company of men at his heels and another beside him. "We are not ready," the man continued. "Melvin counted only three thousand."

"Silence." Rynn turned his horse to Susei's bench. He stared at her with his one eye. There was an unfamiliar darkness to his him, like a shadow hung over his body. She had never seen him with such a look before. He turned his head away from her and turned to the men filling up the gate. Sosa, the Altarine baker's son who rode on Rynn's left side, pulled a horn and blew two long, deep notes. All was silent.

"I thank all of you for raising your swords and spears for me." He pulled his golden star helm over his head. "Now we ride. I have a head to collect."

The men cheered raucously as Rynn rode past them to the front of their ranks. As he passed through the gate, the horsed men filed behind him, and then the rest followed. It took almost half an hour for them all to clear the gate.

They are riding out to war, Susei realized. She did not hear of or see Gerey return with the Blue Knight. It must be because of him. Gerey had left nearly a month ago to fetch the Blue Knight and never returned, so of course Rynn would ride out and try to find him. But something happened to him, she figured, elsewise Rynn wouldn't have organized such a host before leaving. He plans on killing Sir Walter.

Then her heart jumped to her throat. What if Sir Gerey died? Surely Rynn would have told me. But he was angry. She put her fingers to her temple. No, it must not be so... Richye was with him. He wouldn't have let anything happen... The more she thought about it, the sicker she felt. She rubbed her temple harder, but the headache wouldn't go away.

To ease her mind, Susei turned her attention to the food she left untouched since she ordered it. She loved fish cakes and scallops, rare and expensive meals that only a few in the Wood could afford, but she could not bring herself to finish it. She was hungry, but each bite and swallow just felt wrong to her. She figured maybe food wasn't what she needed and decided to leave the plate where it was. The streets were notably noisier, obviously because the oppressive presence of the soldiers was finally gone. Maybe that is why no one liked Lady Antwater's guards.

She walked Luca Lane, the district where the finest clothing and arms were made, looking perhaps to soothe her anxiety with vanity. There were guards walking this street, employed to protect the wealthy citizens who spent most of their time here. Lady Antwater's tower also came with several boxes of gold and an extra courtesy of Rynn. It was more wealth than she ever had in her life. Even so, she did not know what to spend it on. She had all the clothes and jewelry she wanted, and she had no need for armor or weapons. Perhaps I should have a gift made for Richye when he returns, she thought. He complained about the weight of the prize bow. Maybe I should order a lighter one?