Chapter 1

"Wake up, sweetheart. You need to wake up," the panicked voice of the elderly woman echoed through the cave. The child's eyelids momentarily fluttered, but overwhelming exhaustion forced them closed again. Elendra let out an anguished cry.

"We have no time for this, child," she snapped. "You have to wake up." A slight groan from the girl, a shift of the body, then another surrender to sleep. Elendra could hardly blame her.

For seven relentless days, they pushed forward with little food and even less rest. The Empire and their machines always in close pursuit. Freezing rains and brutal winds battered each step of the way. Despite the cold, Elendra's muscles burned, making every movement pure agony. The old soothsayer's bones creaked like rusted hinges, crying for rest. The skin on her lips wind-cracked and bloody, reopening whenever she spoke to soothe the child. She had never known tiredness like this. She didn't know it was possible. But pure terror propelled them onward.

"Now!" The palpable anguish and desperation in Elendra's voice hit like cold water. The girl bolted upright. She reminded Elendra of a fawn sensing a nearby predator. Eyes frantic and darting, seeking the imminent threat. In the gloom, she found only Elendra's kind and weather-worn face.

The cave they slept in didn't offer much in the way of light, but it had provided desperately needed shelter. Air hung thick with the scent of damp earth, with undertones of metal and oil- a grim reminder of their pursuers. Evidence of old camps of past travellers, their memory revealed as remnants of old fires between the stalagmites. They couldn't risk lighting a fire themselves, despite the need for warmth. Light escaping the mouth of the cave would have betrayed their position. Not that it mattered now. The Empire knew they were there all to well. At least I could have died warm. Bitterness marred her thoughts.

It was always a risk to settle without alternative egress and Elendra scolded herself for such idiocy. But the girl was damn near frozen. The others, the meagre few survivors of the Empire's assault, went on without them. They implored the old soothsayer to continue, to leave the child and run. But she couldn't just abandon the girl. In truth, she needed the rest just as much.

"They're here, aren't they?" All exhaustion left the child, replaced by overwhelming dread. It didn't make its way into her voice, but it was clear the shaking was from more than the cold. She was trying to be brave. Ah, child, if only I could wear my mask as well as you. The barking commands of officers and mechanical clink of machines drew ever closer.

"They're here, little one," Elendra nodded. "I'm so sorry." Regaining some of her normal, unflappable composure, Elendra pulled the young girl up. She held her close for a moment, before gently pushing her back. "It's going to be alright, my dear." The tremble in her voice cast a torch to the lie, but it was the right thing to say. It wouldn't be alright, and they both knew it. The girl would be taken. The old woman killed. It was inevitable. The winds had told her as much. They spoke in that mocking howl she had heard many times before tragedy.

Elendra didn't fear death. She had lived well beyond what many—herself included—thought reasonable. In the fishing villages, death was something to be expected. Mighty storms sent by the gods. Mightier creatures rising from the sea to feast during the Swelling of the Tide. Constant attacks from the Other Folk and their beasts. Her only child, then well grown, killed by a Leviathan attack nearly twenty winters ago. And her husband, fool of a man he was, drowned while trapped in his own fishing net. Idiot. To Elendra, death was something you learned to live with. It was for the girl she feared.

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"What now?" The child looked at her, bright turquoise eyes wide with both fear and childish expectation; the assumption the adult would know what do. "Elle?"

Normally, the old woman would scold the child for name-shortening. She was Elendra. A proud and noble name for a proud and -occasionally- noble woman. But this wasn't the time. Gods, she would miss the girl.

"Elle?" The girl tried again, this time more desperate. "What do we do?" Bollox do I know, lass.

"We accept what's to come with our heads held high," Elendra said, her voice carrying a quiet determination. "Naught much else we can do."

"But they want to hurt you."

"It'll take more than stone and steel to hurt me, child. Don't you worry about that."

"They might kill you, Elle!" The child's voice trembled.

"Aye, that they might," Elendra admitted, her gaze steady and unwavering. Don't let her see how frightened you are, woman. Be strong for the lass.

"Because of me," The child's words hung heavy in the air.

"It's not your fault, girl. Don't do that to yourself," She barked the words firmer than intended. "Those bastards have always treated us like something shovelled off the stable floors. I've lived my fair share of years, lass, and I've seen more than my fair share of folk slain for fuck all of a reason," Elendra couldn't help be notice the child flinch at the cuss. She calmed herself. "Sorry, lass. But don't blame yourself. Please."

"It's because of what I am. That's why they came, Elle. That's why.... That's why." She trailed off with a quiver of the lower lip, eyes no longer meeting Elendra's. The girl was imploding, drawing further within herself. She held herself firm and rocked gently, breathing unsteadily.

Elendra paused for a moment, trying to pick her words carefully. Nothing came. Come now woman, think. The silence stretched on. No point in lying; she's clever enough to see through it anyway.

"Aye, lass," She sighed. "Aye." There was nothing else she could say.

The child began to cry. Any remaining strength blown away by this sudden gust of truth. Uncontrollable guilt-laden sobbing rung through the cave. Ah, woman, you've done it now. Tears left clean streaks down her grime blackened face. Turquoise eyes, almost glowing in the dark, welling with luminous tears. Such a pretty little thing. Such an odd little thing. Such a waste.

"There there," she soothed, wiping her eyes with the filthy sleeve of her shawl. She brushed the girl's hair from her face and tucked it behind her ears. Once so blonde, it almost appeared white; it was now filthy with sweat, grease, and filth. "Let's have less of that. When a boat is sinking, we don't help fill it with tears. We take what we can salvage and find dry land," Something her mother used to say. She wasn't sure if it was appropriate, but it felt right. Ah, mother, I'll be joining you soon. You miserable old wretch.

The scraping of metal outside came to a halt. The sudden hush hung heavy, a palpable tension filling the air. Deafening anticipation filled the cave. The girl clung to Elendra so tight it hurt, her leg becoming numb from lack of circulation. The girl's face buried in Elendra's skirt, muffled her whimpers. She pulled back and drew breath.

"I love you, Elle," Those simple words hit Elendra like a harpoon to the gut. A visceral pang of emotion, threatening to escape as a wail.

Eyes filling, she steadied herself. "I love you too, child," The words emerged a breathy whisper.

Gods, she would miss her.

She had never said it openly before, but she meant it. Meant it with every fibre in her body. A heaviness grew in her chest, so overwhelming she thought she would be brought to her knees. She would die a thousand times if it meant the girl would be safe. She was too pure for this fate. No one deserved what awaited her. Silence hung in the air. Darkness clung to them. Where are they?

Light flooded the cave. A man stepped forward, silhouetted by the light.

"The girl. Bring her to me."