The Assassin Princess (The Legacy Novels Book 1) (21 page)

“See?” Graeme yelled down to him. “You aren’t so tough.”

How had he managed it? Why
hadn’t
he killed him? He pulled himself up, just as Graeme made a swift descent and slapped Adam’s face.

“As a boy you were a selfish mite, and I wanted you to be so regal.” Graeme slapped him again, and Adam backed up, reaching the steps to the courtyard where the walls of the keep had been only moments before. He tripped down them and struggled to stay upright. “I wanted the best for you, for I knew you could never be the heir. Not because the laws couldn’t be changed,” he said, his voice rising. “Not because it was not the
done
thing, but because you were selfish, jealous, greedy.”

Graeme jumped the steps and Adam found himself skipping backward, the green light of his blade sparkling, ready, but unused.

“You were always such a bully, picking on servants, on your peers, on
anyone
you could.” Graeme continued his advance and Adam continued to fall back. Why? Why couldn’t he face him? Graeme’s eyes were wide, angry, his face reddening. “You never did
learn
.”

His father ran forward and Adam yelled out, retreating swiftly and falling into the collapsed stables. A clatter, wood shifting, and a horse broke loose from the mess of planks, whinnied, and ran from the place.

Adam was in disbelief. How could he be such a coward? He was powerful, he’d destroyed the castle and now was the time to bind his father and find his mother—he was to burn all in his path, and yet…? His mind snapped and he let loose a scream from his whole being, his body bursting into a column of flame that leapt up and scored the smoky sky. “
I hate you, I hate you, I hate you!
” And flying up, he brandished his blazing sword at his father.

But another blade struck his, sparks of green and purple falling to the ground.

“I wouldn’t do that if I were you,” she said, and stepped between the two men.

*

The unicorns leapt from the mouth of the tunnel, splinters flying as their hooves struck the wooden bridge. They jumped the wreckage and continued on through the Commune Valley, shacks and taverns gone in an instant.

Hero looked over at the unicorn who’d been Florence, and upon her back, Raven and Lady Grace. Raven looked weary and confused, his hands wound tight in the white mane of the animal—the mane that a short time ago had been the dirty-blonde hair of a young woman. Grace was looking back over at Ami. She sat behind Hero, hugging to his back. It seemed that Adam’s power had left her, though he couldn’t be sure of it, and the unicorn hadn’t been convinced. She’d not spoken a word since her sobs, since their retreat, and though her hands were unbound and laced around his midriff with firm reassurance, he was still fearful that they’d tighten and rip him in half.

Hero bent low and close to the neck of the unicorn beneath him.

“What is your name, friend?”

“I am Talos,” the unicorn said against the wind.

“What of Florence? I do not understand.”

“She is my mate,” he said, “a mate I lost many years ago. My beautiful mate, lost in the Mortrus Lands, lost in time when we were taken by Adam.”

“I’m sorry, Hero,” Florina said, looking toward him. “All that I told you was true, and only now has my memory been restored along with my true self. I’ll explain, but please forgive me.”

Trying to understand things seemed pointless. He nodded in her direction. “There is nothing to forgive.”

“I’m grateful, and at last myself again, and I can run free.”

Hero heard her laugh as they sped onward, up steep climbs that’d taken him and his men hours to master; they crested hills and continued on, the world a blur, the wind a roar around them.

Hero chanced a look behind and saw nothing of Legacy but a plume of smoke in the distant mountains. Ami looked up from his back, her eyes the soft, deep brown he remembered from a lifetime ago when she’d been new and scared, convinced that all was a dream. She was the lost art student again, he was sure, the one destined to be a princess—though what a fate? Hero had never given it much thought, had assumed that she’d be thrilled to learn of Legacy and her heirdom, and yet seeing her now, worn and used, his heart broke for her. In silence she lay her head back against his robes as they approached the Planrus Forest.

Without slowing they ploughed between the trees, the light disappearing into darkness, shifting sounds and hollow howls, and as Hero’s eyes adjusted he began to see the greens and browns blurring, bleeding into one another, flashes of sunlight stinging his weary eyes.

After a time the trees broke open and their journey came to an abrupt halt at the edge of the river. The two unicorns filtered between the trunks and stood facing the opposing bank where a herd of white unicorns had gathered, and with them, their leader, Xavier.

Ami stirred behind him and sat up straight, her still pale hands unlinking from his waist. The power rose within him for a moment and he looked round, but Ami was looking away, down the fall of the river where the water frothed and bubbled. He touched the hilt of his sword instinctively and turned to look straight ahead as a voice boomed across the rushing of the water.

“Welcome back,” Xavier called. “Your journey does not end here, Hero of the Guard, Princess Ami, Lady Grace, and brave soul Raven, but the journey of my kind shall, and Talos and mate may re-join our ranks and find a home once more.”

There was a rumble of agreement from the herd.

Lady Grace slipped from the back of Florina.

“Lord Xavier, it’s been many years since I’ve seen you, and it’s agreeable to see you once more.” The unicorn bowed low. “And I thank the valiant efforts of Talos, and his re-found mate, but you’re correct, this is not the fight of the unicorns. This is man’s problem.”

Hero too dismounted, nodding for Ami to stay put. He joined Lady Grace, as did Raven.

“No,” Talos said. “It was from a unicorn horn this journey started, and began the enhancement of man.”

“A stolen horn,” a unicorn called from across the bank to murmurs of ascent.

The forests quietened and even the birds had stopped to listen. The river hushed.

“Stolen, yes, but how often does this happen in our world?” Talos continued. “A flower is caught in a southern wind and its seeds are deposited in foreign lands; a mix occurs and a new flower springs up to delight us. An animal finds a way to survive extinction and evolves to a higher version of itself.” He was joined by Florina, who nuzzled at his neck. “The men arrived, and we don’t know how, and they did what it took to survive—by accident, by fate—who knows? It’s our fight too.”

“But that was long ago,” called a voice.

“We’re a part of it,” Florina said, raising her head, “and maybe we don’t speak for our race, but we, Talos and I, are a part of what has gone on here. I don’t understand it and have only just returned—but I’ve been to the Mortrus Lands and have been one that didn’t come back. I’ve been separated from those I love, the family I had, and I want an ending to this.”

“We both do,” Talos said.

Another called out, but Xavier commanded silence.

“That is enough debate,” he said, “it’s up to the both of you as to whether you join us now, or continue with the
human
journey. Our involvement isn’t necessary, but if you both feel the need for conclusion and explanation, then you are free to choose. If you come back to us, you’ll be welcomed.”

Lady Grace looked to Talos with his stump of a horn, and Florina, bright and new. “Thank you, both of you. Your help—your friendship—is appreciated.”

“Thank you,” Talos said, and then addressed Xavier. “We shall stay, Lord Xavier, and fight out what needs to be fought. The Mortrus Lands are now a part of our own legacy, and if we’re to continue, we must know what went before.”

“Very well,” Xavier said, and without another word, turned and disappeared into the Solancra Forest, the herd following.

They were now alone, and Hero felt it. It was if the warmth of the day had receded, and all that was left was the coolness of the coming evening.

“I need a drink,” a small voice croaked, and all looked over to see Ami sliding from Talos’s back. “I need a drink, really bad.”

Hero grasped her arm and helped her to the river, holding her hair back from her face as she knelt to scoop the water to her mouth. She slurped deeply before splashing her face and washing it clean. Afterward she sat back on the bank and pulled the robes from her, handing them to Hero. “You can have these. I had to borrow them…” Her voice trailed off and she looked down.

“I see.” He looked at her for some time, studying her. She may or may not have been the same as she once was, but nothing could change the fact that people—his people, their people—had died at her hand. She had killed his brothers and helped to destroy Legacy, and if Adam’s power was still inside of her, coiled and ready to strike, then they had no choice but to continue their course into the dark mystery that others seemed more sure of. He looked upstream, unable to see the distant dark forest over the natural rise of the land. Soon the day would begin to settle and the sun would set over the mountain city destroyed. How many of its people were dead? How many would see their last sunset and die in the night? No, he thought, it has to come to an end.

“What do we do now?” Raven asked, approaching the unicorns.

“We travel north to the flow, below, below,” Grace said, pointing. “And as we travel, we talk, and find out what each of us knows.”

*

Adam swung round, pivoted and pranced, the blade coming from every direction; it was a blur of silver and purple. He saw the horizon of the mountains, and then a dark cloak and purple fire. He was thrown back, his head hitting the steps; jumping up, he was faced with the blade once more. His attacker was hooded, but he saw enough to be terrified. Ami, smiling at him; Ami, her long hair sleek and bouncing upon her shoulders as she thrust toward him; Ami, powerful and dangerous.

His blade clashed with hers while their father watched from the side-lines.

Jumping from the steps he ran up the staircase, and though it shivered and creaking beneath him, it stayed strong. Ami didn’t follow, but instead lowered her hood and peered up at him, her eyes flashing, her blade aflame.

“Always knew you were a coward,” she said through a smile, “running away, no courage to face your creation.”

“My creation? How did you get back here so fast? Where are those blasted horned-beasts?” Adam’s face was a shattered mask of terror and anger. How had she come back? How had she become so strong?

“Ah, but you did create me,” she said, pacing across the rubble. “Part of me at least. Shall I tell you about me, Adam? Shall I tell you?”

“I don’t care,” Adam said, his blade riling with flames of hatred. He let loose a stream of power, but Ami deflected it with her palm, sending the green flames back toward him. He dived and landed in a pile of flaming bodies. Screaming, he jumped to his feet, beating the flames from his clothes. “You’re my soldier, my puppet—you do as I tell you. I am Lord of Legacy.”

He flung out his hands once more, and the mountain cracked beneath him, but Ami had her arms out, her hands flat, and the mountain calmed.

“I don’t think you are,” Graeme said. “I think you’re just a spoiled little boy.”

Adam turned his hatred toward his father, and again ran at him, shooting bolts of fire toward him, but to his surprise Graeme simply waved them away with his hand. The flames gathered in front of him, swirled in a ball of light and faded.

“I have no wish to fight you, Son.”

“I do,” Ami said as she appeared next to her brother and Adam was thrown, over the courtyard and to the road where he hit hard and skidded to the edge of the mountain. His arms went out before him and his sword pierced the ground, anchoring him there. His shoulder pulled out of joint at the force of it and he screamed.

“I am the lord, I am the lord.”

Ami stood over him before he’d the chance to rise. “No, you really aren’t.”

She kicked him and Adam’s grip faltered, his body slipping from the edge. He fell and fell, the side of the mountain streaming past—he landed with a thump on the returning road, every bone in his body breaking.

Voices surrounded him, moaning, talking. A flash in his eyes of an arch, a column, steps. The power rebuilt his body, pulling together his splayed and ruptured organs, sealing his wounds, the pain tremendous—his eyes opened, and he stood.

Legacy’s people surrounded him, dusty, dirty, bloodied and bruised—and they weren’t happy.

*

Ami was sluggish.

Her arms were around Hero, her face laying against his back as they rode slow, hooves crushing roots as they slipped through the trees and low branches, pushing back the undergrowth. Their path north passed through the edge of the Planrus Forest, the rushing river on their right. She saw it sparkle and wink at her through the branches, its gentle roar soothing.

Her eyes were heavy, but she tried to keep them open, for every time they closed she saw Adam’s face, white and horrid, his eyes flashing green.