Splintered Fate (33 page)

There was heaviness behind Micah’s
gaze that Lana could see once close to him. He wanted to help her,
but he truly thought he was doing what was best for his people. His
people were innocents too and he didn't want to risk their lives,
as a leader he chose to protect them. Lana could understand where
he was coming from.

“
Those of you going, meet by the
gate in 15 minutes.” Lana spoke to the room. She glanced over at
Cale whose face was red as a tomato, clearly angry at Micah’s
decision, with Clyte choosing to go he was out voted.

“
If, after this, your people need
a safe place to go they are welcome to come here.” Micah said to
Lana. “We have more than enough room.”

She replied with a nod and hurried out the
door.

Whirlwinds of emotions were
coursing through Lana. Fear for her people, sadness to not have had
the council’s full support, happiness to find a sliver of family in
Zorin and Clyte, and heartbreak for Kaiden whose brother was
involved. Lana felt Kaiden walk by her as they entered the hallway,
without a word he began down the hall.

“
Kaiden” She said softly, reaching
out for his arm.

When his blue eyes met hers her
throat went dry. The look in his eyes was dangerous and painful all
the same. Was he angered by her decision? She hadn’t even
considered what he wanted, if he wanted to protect his brother some
how.

“
I have to do this. I have to
protect my people…” Lana did not know what to say. “I know those
are your people so you don't have to go…” She didn’t want to hurt
Kaiden, didn’t want him to have to be there, to stand against his
own. But she would not alter this course, not even for him, she was
going to protect Gorthyn.

A warm hand touching her cheek,
stopping her from saying more. Despite the dangerous look in his
eyes, he was surprisingly gentle.

“
These are my people. You-” Blue
eyes bore into hers.

“
But your brother.” His hand
dropped from her face.

“
Is an embarrassment to me. That’s
what you think I am worried about? My brother?” His words were
sharp. Kaiden suddenly seemed angry. “How he has become
so…heartless. Innocent people. My brother was never kind to
Madonians, but he has never gone and outright attacked defenseless
innocent people. I am ashamed that he could do this to you,
disgusted that we have the same blood running through our veins.”
Lana watched Kaiden as he struggled for words, his mind racing. He
was shaking, actually vibrating with anger.

All this time she thought he was so quiet
because he had no interest in fighting the Rami. Suddenly his eyes
bore into hers with a wild look. “Whatever happens in Gorthyn, you
do not approach Garin alone. Promise me.”

“
I promise.”

Kaiden gave Lana a nod and left her standing
in the hallway. She wanted to comfort him, tell him that everything
would workout, that his brother is not a monster and that no one
will suffer. She wanted to let him know how deeply she cared for
him. But she didn’t say any of it, she didn’t think most of it was
true anyway.

Ardin joined
Lana at her side.
Kaiden will be all
right.

You heard that?

Ardin
nodded.
He is in pain. He loves his
brother.

Lana understood, she just wished
she could take some of his inner demons away, the way Ardin often
did for her. She watched Kaiden till he turned out of view and she
turned too, heading towards the prisoner’s room.

* * *

Lana’s hand hovered over the
doorknob, unable to touch it in a similar manor as the first and
only other time she had opened the door. Inhaling a deep breath,
she attempted to steady herself. Ardin patiently stood at her side,
silently waiting. He was allowing Lana to do this on her
own.

Ever since Kirill had arrived in
Alogrin, several days ago, she had felt his looming presence, like
a dark cloud had entered her sanctuary, threatening it with hail
and destruction. She had not found the courage to face him again.
Perhaps a part of her didn't want to know any more than she already
did. All she was certain of was that she didn’t want him here,
didn’t want to deal with the hurt he had caused. It was easier to
just forget about him, to remain the enemies they had seemed to
become.

Now, Lana stood before his door planning to
ask him for his help. It made her feel sick to be here, to ask
anything of him, to need him.

It is strong of
you to do this. To seek help when it is needed and to not let pride
overshadow what is best for your people. You are a person I would
follow to the end of the world.
Ardin’s
words entered her mind as if he knew what she was thinking. But
Lana had not shared her mind with him, he sometimes simply knew her
better than she knew herself.

As if you would
have a choice in following me to the end.
Lana retorted. She parted her lips, exhaling her deep breath
and slowly turned the knob, pushing the door
open.

Two small rectangular windows,
that were close to the ceiling, dimly lit the room. In the small
space, Lana could see a desk, a bookshelf, and a small bed where
Kirill sat with a book in his hand. Steel blue eyes were locked on
her from the moment the door opened. She took a step in, followed
by Ardin and closed the door behind them. The guard outside the
door continued looking forward, like a living statue.

“
You are leaving.” Lana informed
Kirill Dukran.

“
After all this hospitality? I am
being kicked out?” Kirill spoke lightly, shutting the book in his
hands. “What is the matter?” He asked after observing Lana’s
obviously troubled demeanor.

“
You have a choice to make. When
you are outside of this place and back in the woods, you can either
leave or you can help me. If you leave you must not come back or
you will be killed.” This was not exactly true, Lana had promised
that if he chose to leave instead of helping her that he would not
live to do so. But if he would help she needed him to choose it
without a threat. She needed to know it was his choice to
help.

“
Help you?”

“
A Rami army is heading to
Gorthyn. I will be heading there to protect my people.”

“
Alone?”

“
A handful of others will be
joining me.”

“
And you want me? As a
weapon.”

Kirill placed the book down on the bed and
stood. He took a step towards Lana and she took one back away from
him, not out of fear but out of distaste for being so close to him.
His eyes looked down at the ground.

“
I know I have done much wrong by
you.” Kirill fell to one knee. “I promise to fight for you, if not
as a friend than as a weapon. I will follow you and I swear my
allegiance to you, Lana Casteel.”

Lana stared at Kirill with wide
green eyes, unable to move. For a Dukran to be on his knee and
swearing allegiance, no one would ever believe this. Wordlessly she
stared at him until he stood again. Suddenly she found it hard to
look him in the eye. What did this gesture mean? Not knowing how to
proceed, she simply ignored the entire thing.

“
Some men will be here, they will
get you to your horse and blindfold you till we get out of
Alogrin.” She informed, before rushing out the door.

“
See you on the outside.” Lana
heard Kirill say as she shut the door behind her.

What was that?

He seemed
sincere.
Ardin replied.

I don't
understand why he is doing this. Maybe Arkhip did something
horrible to him?
Lana’s mind was racing as
her world was flipping upside down.

Whatever his reasons, he is with
us. He will be a valuable asset in the next few days but just
incase I will keep an eye on him.

Good.
Lana turned to Ardin.
You ready for this?

Are you?

I don’t think I could ever
be.

I am with you no matter
what.

And I you.

Lana walked through the halls to
the gate with a sense of purpose. As she turned down the hallway
she could see Zorin standing by the door with his Great Cat. As
Lana got closer she could see Bredin, settled against a door frame,
lazily waiting. She hadn’t expected him to join.

“
You forgot your sword.” Zorin
said as Lana and Ardin approached the gate.

No sooner did Zorin finish his
sentence that dust swirled around Lana’s palm and a sword formed in
her hand. The corner of her lip tilted up at the ease of the
sword’s formation, her head no longer spun from the energy pull of
creating one.

Zorin smiled proudly. “You have come far in a
short time.”

“
I had the best teacher.” Lana
replied before turning to Bredin “I must admit, I am a little
surprised you are coming.”

Bredin shrugged “It’s not every
day I see a princess actually fight her own battle.”

Battle
, Lana thought. They were
going to battle. She turned back to Zorin “Are you sure you want to
do this?”
Zorin did not answer so Lana
continued. “You are the last Donyerth.”

“
No” Zorin cut her off with a
raise of his hand. “You are mistaken, there are a few out there
with Donyerth blood racing through their veins.”

“
But you are a direct
decedent.”

“
Maybe someone a little less
direct will make for a better leader one day.” She didn’t like it,
someone like him risking his life when he was a king, sort of. But
she couldn’t deny that she needed all the help she could get. Zorin
was powerful, skilled, a great asset to have when
fighting.

The sound of approaching footsteps
pulled Lana’s attention to the hall where Clyte came into view. She
was dressed in lightweight golden armor that was made for her body.
Weapons hung from her belt and he hair was pulled back in a slick
ponytail. She looked fierce, strong, and beautiful.

“
You look brutally stunning.” Lana
said when Clyte neared.

“
Thank you.” She glanced over Lana
who wore a cloak and riding outfit, and frowned. “I will have an
even more magnificent armor made for you when we
return.”

“
I would love that.”

A horse approached with Kirill on
it’s back, his eyes masked. Tor walked next to Kirill, guiding the
horse with a sword attached to his hip.

“
You are coming?” Lana gaped. She
hadn’t expected to see him.

“
Yes” was all Tor replied but she
expected more.

“
After calling me foolish for
doing this?” Her eyes narrowed.

“
You are.”

She released an exacerbated sigh.
“Then is it not foolish to come?”

“
Perhaps. But I have my duty and
reasons.”

“
To protect people?” She guessed,
even though he had basically told her to just let Gorthyn
burn?

“
Something like that. It is unwise
of you to attempt to dissuade me from coming.” He was right, she
needed him. Even if she didn’t like him.

Out of the corner of her eye Lana
saw Kaiden approaching, the last of their group.

“
Lets head out.” She
directed.

They all mounted
horses and made their way through the tunnels to the
outside.
Once outside and out of view of
the entrance to Alogrin, Kirill was unmasked. Lana took the
opportunity to address everyone.

“
Thank you all for joining me.
Gorthyn is about three days from here. But if we travel through the
night, only stopping long enough for the horses to rest I think we
can make it in two.” She paused a moment, no one spoke. She turned
her attention to Bredin. “Can you send your Aorra ahead to
Gorthyn?”

“
Oh sure, anything for you,
princess.” He replied with a colorful bow from atop his
horse.

Lana stared into his brown eyes as
fury swirled within her. This was not the time to make jabs at her,
to make light of the situation. Her people were in danger, her
world crumbling beneath her feet while he joked. She could not
stand him and almost wished that he had not come, but as Tor
pointed out, to turn away help would be foolish. It was practically
funny, three of those who were joining her she didn’t particularly
like. Yet here they were, following her into danger.

Bredin’s hawk screeched as it took
flight heading into the sky and towards Gorthyn. Without another
word, she gave her horse a swift kick and it took off, leading the
group with Tor taking the tail end.

Ardin and Zorin’s Great Cat,
Dorian, fanned out ahead, making sure the path was clear and safe.
Everyone rode in silence. The ride gave Lana time to fret to
herself, allowing her troubled mind to run free. She worried about
her people, she thought of her mother, of Kaiden, and Garin.
Emotions swirled within her, like a whirlwind that she felt
incapable of controlling. It swept her up and away into a dark
place.