Arine's Sanctuary (10 page)

Chapter Fifteen

            
 
A
rine didn’t wait outside of Bryn’s office for long this time. Mestra had already filled her in on their mission. The only thing she could really contribute was her discussion with Ian. And what happened with both Logan and Martine in the tunnels.

              Bryn sat, calm as ever, behind her desk. “I’m sorry to hear Ian won’t be joining us here. I know you’ve missed him a great deal.”

              “True, I have. I thought of him each time you sent one of the Sisterhood out on a mission, hoping he was the one they’d bring home. Still,” Arine paused, “it’s good to know he’s happy. Taken care of. I can ask for
nothing more for him.”

              Bryn nodded, “Good.” Her tone told Arine the subject was closed. For Arine, as well as Bryn. There would be no more missions to convince him to return. His choice was made, and being honored. “We need to evacuate Sanctuary, and fast. I’ve already made the announcement. We’re going to head through the tunnel behind the waterfall. It’s wide enough on each side for us to pass. I’ve got emissaries heading to Recor. There’s an abandoned keep, an old summer home of Sabine’s, outside of town. We’ll be cramped, but it’ll keep us safe until we can find a more permanent home.”

              “Why are we running, Bryn? Why not face the Domines, talk to them. We’re not hurting anyone. We simply see things differently.”

              Bryn sighed, “In a perfect world, Arine, diplomacy would work. But this isn’t one. The Domines are almost as corrupt as the male Kings of old, the ones who wanted to abuse magic. They rule through power and fear. Our time here was coming to a close, and I knew it. Between Talia’s defection and magic coming back to men, it was only a matter of time before they’d march on us. They want to control that which they fear and don’t understand. No amount of ink on parchment or signed treaties will erase that.”

              “Why march an army against us, though?”

              “To prove they’re right and we’re wrong. That’s it. We’re different,
accepting. It’s in our nature to fear what we don’t understand, be afraid of change.”

              She rose, and Arine followed suit. “Go. Be with Logan. Pack what you need. I have to speak with Martine now. We have precious little time, and can’t waste it now.”

***

              The first wave of residents moved out the next morning. A group of Moreja accompanied them. It consisted mostly of families with young children, the elderly, and those who couldn’t move fast. Those who could fight stayed behind, waiting, watching.

              In truth, not many of them stayed. Less than twenty. Mistress Bryn refused most of the requests, telling them that guarding the rest was more valuable than staying behind. Arine had hoped she would send Logan away, but he remained. Mestra, Cavon, Martine…true fighters, yes. But not enough to do more than delay the inevitable.

              Her eyes scanned the rough walls that had
been their home for so long. Hollowed out from age and erosion, only the tunnel concealed by the waterfall connected back to the mainland. As isolated column of rock
rising from the canyon floor, protecting them.

              Arine tore her eyes from the retreating figures. The line was slowly disappearing. Less than an hour and it’d be down to the last of them. Waiting. Watching. Martine recommended that they wait until they saw Domine Elsa’s army before they left. Give the illusion Sanctuary wasn’t deserted. They all moved fast enough. They shouldn’t be far behind.

              Mestra approached, spyglass in hand. “I don’t know how she did it.”

              Arine furrowed her brow. “Did what?”

              Her friend didn’t answer, simply held out the brass instrument and pointed towards a small crevice in the wall.

              She moved towards the crack, fitting the large end of the glass into the opening. As she scanned the canyon below, she swore. Glinting in the late afternoon sun was the army bearing down on Sanctuary.

              Their window for escape closed rapidly with every step that those troops took.

              “How long?” She asked.

              Mestra shrugged. “Not long enough. They’re less than a day away. Camp tonight, attack tomorrow. That’s what I’d do.”

              Arine looked up and caught the last few figures disappear into the waterfall’s opening. Even if they had a full day, it wouldn’t be enough. The moment Elsa or Talia entered Sanctuary, the population was doomed.

              “Logan wants to close the tunnel behind us, like he did near Dawnbreak. But we’ve got to distract them, fight them off longer. They’re not going to move fast enough. We have to give them time.”

              “Let’s go talk with Mistress Bryn. Maybe she’s got some ideas to stall for time.” Arine hoped more than believed that would be the case. The situation called for something drastic.

***

              She sat on the edge, her feet dangling down the side of the tor. The first rays of dawn crept over her shoulder, making the vibrant colors lining the canyon dance. Even with the campfires of thousands of soldiers in front of her, she loved the way it looked. This was home. More so than her life had been with her mother
. It was where
she belonged.

              She didn’t turn her head as footsteps came up behind her. Logan settled next to her, a bit further from the edge. Smiling, she waited. He had never been fond of heights, even though he knew she loved to come here and think. He wouldn’t have
come up here if it wasn’t important.

              “How long,
do you think?” His voice shattered the calm of the early morning.

              Arine scanned the canyon below. “Not long. An hour, maybe two. Make sure you and the others are ready to go. You’ll know when.”

              He nodded, “Soon as everyone’s in the tunnel and behind me, I’ll collapse it. Mistress Bryn wants me in there early, so there’s no chance at me being injured beforehand. I’ll do it, but I’d rather be with you. I won’t leave without you.”

              “Yes, Logan. You will. You have to. If I don’t make it in the tunnel, you do what you must. By then I’ll be dead, and there’s nothing you can do to save me anyway.”

              His face, transparent as always, showed his shock at her statement. “You talk like you don’t expect to get out of here. Don’t do that to me, Arine. Please. Don’t leave me alone.”

              She smiled, trying to reassure him. “I’m not doing anything foolish, Logan. I want to live. But I want you to promise me you’re not going to put your own life at risk because of something I choose to do.”

              “You’re scaring me, Arine.”

              Leaning in, she kissed him tenderly. “Don’t worry about it, Logan. For the first time, I’m finally certain what I have to do.” She scooted back from the ledge before rising. “Let’s go back with the
others. We have to be ready before they wake up down there.”

              The first horn blew less than an hour later, a single note echoing throughout the canyon. Arine ignored it, her mind intent on the trip wire set up. Martine had brought with her some sort of black powder, swearing it would devastate the surrounding stone if set afire. Arine was skeptical, but Mistress Bryn had faith, calling it ‘a countermeasure to be used only in cases of extreme emergency.’ Their situation now certainly qualified. Following Martine’s instructions, she and Mestra had rigged the various paths and buildings within Sanctuary with an elaborate network of wires. Each one led towards a small pile of the strange material. Trip the wire, and a burning candle tipped over, igniting it and triggering an explosion. Draw the troops in, make them give chase, and flee into the tunnel while Sanctuary broke apart and destroyed anything that was in the way. That was Bryn’s plan.

              Only Arine thought of a new one. If it worked, they’d be able to come back to Sanctuary.

              So, she waited. To do this, she needed to be outside. Be where Talia and Elsa could see her. And, more importantly, the women fighting for them.

              Her last trap set, she worked her
way slowly toward one of the secret exits. There weren’t many. Even among the Moreja, few knew them all. Arine had found this one by accident. Sliding between one of the last houses and the wall of rock, she found the crawlspace. The darkness enveloped her, but she didn’t need light. One small bend up ahead and she’d have natural light to guide her.

              The opening was big enough to stand in, but shielded from one side by an outcropping of rock. She chose her footing carefully, working her way around to the front of the tor. Where everyone in the army could see her. And hear her.

              She waited, in full view of the troops. Talia wouldn’t kill her without facing her first. She was predictable. There would be insults, challenges. All she had to do was wait.

              A single rider moved through the ranks, making her way towards Arine. “Nice armor, Talia. It’s not going to help you, but at least you’ll die in something nice.”

              Talia reined her horse to a stop, “You’re the one that’ll die today, Arine. You and that monstrosity you claim to love. I think we’ll kill your boy first, let you watch.”

              Arine straightened her back, standing tall. Her voice rang out. “Hear
me, one and all. We are not your enemy. We only seek the right to live our lives in peace, live with the men we love. We do not fear magic, nor do we abuse it as was done in history. I recommend, if you want to live, that you head to high ground now.”

              Talia barked out a laugh, “High ground? Really? You got one of your boys planning on bringing the canyon down on us? You’re a distraction, Arine. Worthless. More concerned with a boy than the world around you. Do you honestly think you can love him enough to keep him from doing magic without your permission?”

              She smiled in return. “No. But I love him enough to make sure you never have the chance to
abuse him.” Arine closed her eyes, and found a peace inside her that she barely knew existed until now. She understood, more than ever, what Logan had said about magic being
alive. Knew that it deemed her cause worthy, her sacrifice just.

              The last thing she felt was the force of the water as it exploded from the rock behind her, flooding the canyon and pummeling her body against the rocks below.

Epilogue

             
“
L
ogan! Over here!” Cavon called out to him. He turned his head, and located his friend standing near the edge of the water.

              The front of the tor had exploded, allowing the water to spill from the pool and into the canyon. The rocky ledges around the new lake bore testament to the devastation of Arine’s magic. Spears and swords lay next to bodies, all broken and battered. When the collapse had first occurred, he’d hoped Arine made it to safety. Two hours into the search, though, and his hope was fading.

              Slowly, he made his way over towards Cavon. Mestra arrived before him, and moved a branch off of a body. It was Arine. Her face a peaceful mask, as if she slept. But he knew she was gone.

              Kneeling, he let the tears flow. Gently, he brushed a strand of limp, wet hair away from her face. Her skin was cold, lifeless. One final kiss to her forehead in parting was all he could manage.

              “She died so we may live, and will forever be remembered as the first woman to harness magic. Let us honor her.” Martine’s voice was low and filled with sorrow.

              The four of them gently raised her body from the rocky shore and carried it back to Sanctuary.

The End

About the Author

Born in the late 60's, KateMarie has lived most of her life in the Pacific NW. While she's always been creative, she didn't turn towards writing until 2008. She found a love for the craft. With the encouragement of her husband and two daughters, she started submitting her work to publishers. When she's not taking care of her family, KateMarie enjoys attending events for the Society for Creative Anachronism. The SCA has allowed her to combine both a creative nature and love of history. She currently resides with her family and two cats in what she likes to refer to as "Seattle Suburbia."

You can find KateMarie at the following sites:

Twitter:  @DaughterHauk

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Other Solstice Shadows Titles

By

KateMarie Collins

Daughter of Hauk

Book One of The Raven Chronicles

What would you do, if you found out your life was a lie?

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Arwenna Shalian spent her life in loyal service to a God she was never meant to serve. Tricked by her fellow priests, she betrayed a man she thought she loved by binding a demon to him. One that would send him to the brink of madness.

Can she find a way to forgive herself? And what of Hauk, the God she was Marked to serve? Will He find her and give her the chance to undo what she’s done, or leave her at the mercy of the creatures that torture her soul?

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Book Two of The Raven                    Chronicles

It’s been almost two years since Arwenna banished the Demon Corse from her world. Life has been good. Idyllic, almost.

The illusion is shattered in a heartbeat during her sister’s wedding. Not only are once-dead enemies back, but they’ve stolen Arwenna’s only child, Sera.

The price Arwenna will have to pay to save her daughter is high. Can she muster the strength to make a pact that jeopardizes not just her own soul, but that of an entire world?