This Red Sky

Chapter Six

Sparks filled the air, glittering like stars against the black sky. The fire roared, and the crackling and snapping of branches was deafening.

Sonia staggered through the woods. The trees were burning, and the heat seared her skin. Embers danced around her feet. A flaming branch fell in front of her, knocking her to the ground. Red-hot ashes swirled like snow.

Falscha rushed over to her, pulling her to her feet. The seer's red cloak had turned to flames, and it wrapped around the two of them, enveloping Sonia in their blinding light and heat. Falscha's skin burned her where they touched.

Sonia opened her eyes with a start. Even when the nightmares did not come, they swam just below her unconsciousness, and she slept uneasily, the images of the burning village just out of sight. But that night the dream was different.

Sonia turned over slowly, praying the seer was there, and not off scheming with the Faithful. She breathed a silent sigh of relief as she saw Falscha lying on her side, head resting on her arms in the light of the early morning.

Sonia pulled her shawl over herself, watching the seer's chest rise and fall.

Falscha's proposal the previous night rang in her ears, and Sonia shook her head to dislodge it from her mind. Her rational mind told her that the seer was only affirming their newfound friendship, but the weight that built in her stomach whenever she met Falscha's eye wanted something else.

It was ridiculous to think that the seer might care for her in a way beyond friendship. The traditions of Ost-Drachen left no room for such passions. She would be shunned by her people, and that was if the shepherds did not murder her for the dishonor on their village.

Besides, she had a duty to Elna. She would never be able to bear the look of pain and disappointment on the priestess's face if she abandoned it.

Sonia turned back onto her back, looking up at the sky. Life in Ost-Drachen was hard and often short. She closed her eyes. Her planned future in Blackhost stretched out before her, a blur of runes and potions, sheep and sun. But that was all gone now. She tried to imagine a future in Palasotarr, but was left with only uncertainty.

Falscha sighed in her sleep. Sonia glanced at her, and then closed her eyes again. In another world, she would have gladly accepted to wake up beside her every morning under the open sky.

Sonia rubbed the sleep from her eyes and got up. She licked her dry lips, taking a few steps over to where the seer lay, and stopped.

Falscha slept in her boots. Sonia studied the green material, wondering where she had seen in before. Her heart jolted, and the image of the strange patch of skin missing from the dead dragon in the clearing welled to the surface of her mind.

Sonia's eyes immediately turned to the armor laying beside the seer's sleeping form. It was made of the same material, but each piece was a different color. The gauntlets were blue, the breastplate deep bronze—

Sonia started as she realized that Falscha's eyes were open, watching her with a smile.

"What are you doing, Sonia?" 

Sonia panicked, searching for a response.

"Water?" she said after a moment.

Falscha retrieved the waterskin from under her cloak, passing it to the girl and reaching for her armor. Sonia watched her strap it on as she drank.

"What?" Falscha asked, seeing Sonia looking.

"Nothing," the girl whispered.

She handed the waterskin to Falscha as the seer stood up.