This Red Sky

Chapter Ten

Syralth lay on the ground, her body aching with the pain of two transformations. The euphoria was fading quickly, and the reality of her feeble human body set in. Even away from the heat of the fire, she began to sweat in the muggy air, her brown skin glistening.

Her chest heaved as she got to her knees, suddenly remembering her nudity and vulnerability. Green eyes found the cultists, cowering like kicked dogs, coming out from through the houses, silhouetted against the fire. Szandra was leading the way, quite unsteadily, collapsing on the packed dirt. But she looked past her, to the one figure not accompanying them.

"Sonia." Syralth staggered to her feet. Her throat was raspy from breathing fire, and her human form was weak and slow. "Sonia!"

She pushed her way through the crowd, who parted to form a path. Their terrified voices called out prayers of protection, but she ignored them. Sonia was kneeling before a half-collapsed house, among the burned bodies of the shepherds, her face in her hands.

"Sonia," Syralth repeated, running to her side. "I'm so sorry—"

Sonia pushed her away with a muffled sob.

"You shouldn't—you shouldn't have seen this," Syralth stammered desperately. "But Sonia—these men—they were going to kill you, I didn't have a choice—"

"It's not about that."

Syralth stopped. Sonia's whisper was so quiet that Syralth doubted she even heard it. The girl looked up at her after a moment. Her face was streaked with tears, dirt and oil, and twisted with an anguish that made Syralth's heart seize up.

"Sonia—" Syralth tried to take her in her arms.

Sonia recoiled with a half-stifled gasp, raising her arm in defence as if Syralth had tried to strike her. Syralth hesitated, drawing back uncertainly.

Sonia's eyes flitted back and forth uncomprehendingly over Syralth's face and body.

"What—what is this?" she stood, pulling her skirt against her legs, away from Syralth. "You're—you're him? H—how—but—"

"I can explain," Syralth insisted, not believing herself. Sonia was shaking her head, backing away from her with a look of abject terror. Syralth stepped forwards, reaching out to her again.

"Don't touch me!" Sonia shrieked.

Syralth froze.

Tears were streaming down Sonia's face now, and her hands twisted in her skirt. She looked away, squeezing her eyes shut.

"All along, that was you?!" she demanded suddenly. Syralth flinched at the pain in her voice. "In Blackhost, that was you?!"

Syralth heard herself rambling in response.

"Sonia, please listen, this was before I knew you and before we were—were something, I was only thinking about finding the Solkern, I had to make the villagers leave so my men could—"

"So it was you?!"

"I mean, sort of, but I can't tell you everything yet because the less you know the better for you and I promised myself I'd keep you safe from—from all this, and I'm so sorry that—"

"Was it you or not?!" Sonia screamed. "Tell me!"

Syralth stopped, exhaling once in despair.

"Yes. It was me."

Sonia started backing away again, her hands scrabbling at the knot that held the sash around her waist. She pulled it off, throwing it to the ground with all of the force in her shaking arms. Syralth saw her eyes glance towards the shadowed woods. Her heart leaping into her mouth, she rushed forwards and caught the girl's arm.