Your majesty, would you say your memories of Cinder are conflicting? What about you, Sagan?

It’s a place of contradictions. That planet trapped inside a blazing red giant. Where the predominant species comprised the strongest warriors in the galaxy, but their leaders reduced them to enervation in an attempt to prolong their extinction.

The powerless cannot starve if they don’t know they hunger.

Forgive me, Sagan, if I sound bitter or spiteful. I only despise the irreversible blight Umbra bestowed upon that beautiful planet.

[SS]: I can only offer him a sad smile. It’s a terrible fate, and the reason you ordered us to help them. Isn’t that right, Rayne?

I woke the next morning to empty barracks. The two unnamed women left without waking me. I never slept so late without fear of reprisal. So I set about to work. With all my bruises and cuts, it took longer than necessary to strip the beds. Eleven in total. I left the barracks seeking another source of water and a washboard. It seemed wrong to clean them in the baths.

Umbra’s Spire was a depressing monolith. Grotesque and lonely. All the living quarters were stratified and separate. The Valkyries’ wing was set below the floor reserved for royalty. On the same level as the kitchens and servants’ rooms. Although, most of them elected to live outside the Spire—away from Umbra. The male soldiers—officers and higher ranks in the army—slept in the lower levels with access to the courtyard.

I found the laundry off the kitchens. The male and female Icari at work let me move about unhindered. Occasionally, I caught them staring or whispering about my hair and eyes. Since Gait’s inmates treated me like an exotic treat, this was normal for me. But one or two commented on my wounds. They tsked at my mistreatment and made disdainful remarks about Amolot.

It gave me pause.

They sounded concerned and horrified, but bruises and cuts were expected. It’s why I existed here, was it not?

Never mind. I returned to my chore. I made quick work of the wash and took the clean sheets out to dry. Not in the courtyard. They kept the line on the balcony. For the first time, I saw the sky.

Impossible. Awesome. Unhinged.

I lined laundry under the explosion of a sun. The glass barrier between us and doom struck me as thin and fragile against all that fire. It took time to trust it, but it felt familiar all the same. Had I not heard of a planet at war with its sun—

“Amolot thought you escaped, contaminant.”

Surely the King of Cinder had an important foot to kiss rather than pester me at my work. Nevertheless, I straightened my shoulders and lowered my gaze in deference to his station.

A quiet moment passed where he assessed me before clarifying, “Every soldier, male or female, is responsible for their own bedding. But you might find yourself in Amolot’s favor. She loathes her chores.”

If you spot this narrative on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.

It took everything in me not to shudder. Like Hell, I wanted any kind of her favor.

“Speaking of my personal guard. She enjoyed testing your resilience.”

I had a feeling she did.

Umbra crossed the courtyard almost faster than I could track and jabbed his thumb into a bruise on my shoulder. I’d learned to suppress my cries, but the tears came anyway. Coldly, he praised me, “Yes. You are strong. You could make a good soldier under her tutelage. You belong to her until then. Finish this here and deliver water to the soldiers in the courtyard. Report to Amolot after.” He turned to leave before stopping in the threshold. Over his shoulder, he added, “Cover yourself. My wife has an aversion to bruised children. Her upset brings me great displeasure.”

I bowed at the waist until I was alone.

Did I survive one Hell to face another?

Once I dressed the Valkyries’ beds to repay their kindness, I made my way down to the courtyard with pails of water. Tired, sore, and ragged—I felt and smelled dirty despite my bath the day prior. Covered in ash and smelling of embers, I wondered at the mystery of this place. All the while, I overheard a young man and a younger boy talking in the courtyard. Some of it about me.

Until that point in my life, I’d never seen an arrow, let alone caught one. I’m not sure what bullshit Primary Remorse wanted to stir from that remark in Nox’s Verse.

“He catches arrows.”

Maybe to torment Umbra’s Spire with Nox’s misled and childish notions. Or perhaps he trusted whatever Aegis instincts he assumed I possessed. Regardless of why, the story is the same.

I fetched some water for the soldiers. My unbalanced burden cost me a pail in a spectacular wash. I don’t know how I knew. The knock of the arrow? The stretch of the string? Did I glimpse Nox’s reflection in a drop of water? In any case…

I caught the arrow before it pierced my throat.

I heard the youngest boy gasp, “Wow,” from across the courtyard.

Yes. It was quite impressive.

[SS]: Korac smirks and winks at me. I’ll let him be cheeky. He’s earned it. Although, if we don’t take a break for food soon, he’ll quickly find me in a less forgiving mood. Your girl gets hangry.

You know the rest of this story, sprite. Nox and Xelan took me to their royal chambers. I thought they were some upper echelon of the army. Or looking for a slave. I stripped naked to let them inspect me, as this was always done.

How they reacted changed my life.

[SS]: He’s stopped talking. It’s been a minute at least. I’m letting him have a moment with his reflections. I initially assumed his childhood would be the hardest for him to share with me. But now I wonder if it’s harder discussing what he lost on Cinder once he finally found it. He’s ready.

I wished for a people. For a home. To belong somewhere. Xelan, you self-righteous mad scientist, you gave me the robe off your back. Donated half your clothes to me. And your absolute lunatic head-case of a brother gave me status and purpose. Your mother procured my wardrobe, furnished my room, and educated me.

I’ll never forget Nox’s words. It was the first time in my life anyone spoke to me that way.

“No. None of that. No one touches you here. You fight. Kill them if you have to. I vow after you fell the first one, the others will not likely try again.”

“No one touches you here.”

You’ve read in his Verse that Nox called Amolot into the room to supply my upgrade. He subdued her with one-hand—

How?! How else was I supposed to respond to these moments? Not only Nox’s words, but his actions demonstrated integrity, nobility, and kindness. Foreign notions to me.

I responded in the only way I knew how.

When Xelan asked if I could take her blood, I looked to Nox for his approval before accepting it. As I would do countless times in the next million years.

Damn you, Nox, for recognizing the significance of that moment. For writing it in your Verse to Rayne. Sprite, you must understand. From the start of my life, I followed orders and did as I was told to keep myself alive. But on Cinder…

I found people worth fighting for. I would give up my life for Nox. For Xelan. And now for you.