Book 1: Chapter 89: A Trail of Destruction
The black-diamond signet ring flickered ominously against Percys knuckles as his fingers tightened around the crow cane pressed across his lap. To think Constance would go this far to undermine .
The wind rushed against his ears as the turbulent sound of worried voices echoed through the lowered carriage windows. The diamond darkened. A hum of whispers filled the Earls ears with a soothing ancient tongue that cald the storm raging within.
The carriage lurched, and Percy caught himself against the edge of the seat. A quick look out the window showed pedestrians clustered together with panicked white faces standing in the middle of the street. Percy turned, unclasped the small glass window at the back of his seat, and called out to the driver. What is it? Whats happening?
My lord, there appears to be a fire. Fear resonated in the mans strained voice even as the scent of smoke floated in on the breeze.
Stop the carriage, Percy ordered.
The driver complied willingly, and the footman quickly moved to open the door. Percy stepped down and gazed across the crowd that jostled against each other as they pointed towards the tower of black smoke that filled the horizon with malicious dark clouds.
Thats the direction of the Sisters Chapel, Percy muttered aloud. Can you get us there?
The driver looked down at him wordlessly and shook his head.
With the streets this packed, it will be difficult, interjected Captain Flint as he moved his horse beside the Earl and dismounted. If the fire spreads, we could get caught up in the panic.
These people are already afraid, whispered another rcenary as he observed the crowd.
As well they should be, Percy muttered. He glanced towards a crow that settled on the street post across the street. The black bird tilted its head as it listened to his whispered command than took flight, its dark shape soon lost in the darkening sky above.
Is it witches, my Lord? The footman asked even as his face went pale.
I aim to find out, Percy replied as he pulled on his riding gloves. "Captain, Ill need to borrow a horse.
I suppose theres no stopping you, Captain Flint grumbled with a sigh. He signaled to one of his n who dismounted and led a white mare towards Percy.
The Earl nodded his head in thanks, mounted, and settled into the saddle as he surveyed the street. Captain, half of your n with , send the rest back with the carriage to ensure the Countess is safely escorted to Hawthorne Manor when she leaves the palace.
The rcenary quickly split up his n, half of which helped block the street so the carriage could turn around.
Right then, Percy murmured as he leaned over the mares neck and whispered into the beast's ears. Lets see who dares to burn my city.
The dancing white beast quickly led the way forward as wind channeled through the crowd and a path cleared for the Earl and his n to ride through. Above the capital city, a flock of crows gathered, sward, and glided towards the unholy fire that blazed from the chapel.
A line of knights waited before them on the road, which led out of the capital. The senior knight rode towards them quickly and raised his hand. This road is blocked, my lords. The way ahead is not safe.
Percy reigned in the mare as he examined the olive-green eyes that peered at him over the purple scarf worn around the knights lower face. You an to bar my way?
By order of Knight Commander Quentin, all roads which lead to the chapel fire are sealed until the safety of civilians can be assured, the knight replied firmly.
The Knight Commander thinks he can command the Earl of Hawthorne? Captain Flint retorted with a hint of sarcasm.
The Earl?
Percy smiled as the half-witch hastily dropped from his saddle and knelt.
I have offended my lord.
What is your na? Percy asked.
Lieutenant Declan, my lord.
I am willing to forgive your ignorance, Lieutenant, Percy replied with a dismissive wave. As long as it stops here.
The Earl ans, as long as you are not foolish enough to continue standing in our way, Flint added as his hand shifted from the reigns to his sword.
My lord ans to investigate the fire? Declan inquired as he rose.
And aid any survivors that might still be trapped near the blaze, Percy confird.
Then I will not stand in your way, Declan replied as he turned to the man behind him. The Earl will go through! The knights hastily moved aside while Declan offered Percy a salute. Saints be with you, Earl of Hawthorne.
And with you, Percy replied with one last curious look at the half-witch that had led the church's dogs to Mauras scent. Half-blood.
Declan stiffened in surprise. Percy tapped the mares flank lightly with his cane and she leaped forward eagerly. Flint kept pace beside the Earl while the rest of the rcenaries trailed steadily behind.
Smoke billowed like great whales across the opening countryside and soon obscured their vision and sense of direction. Percy stopped only when he caught the scent of brimstone. Captain, best if the n covered their faces. This smoke is toxic.
Understood, Flint replied over a muffled cough. Though we appear to have lost a few of them in this dense ss.
I shall press on, Percy said determinedly. Keep your n together and dont get separated. Getting lost in this smoke is dangerous. Follow the road, and youll find the chapel.
My lord? Flint protested. At least one of us should be with you.
You are slowing
down, Percy snapped. And others are watching over .
The rcenary captain nodded reluctantly and bowed his head. Then please stay safe on your journey, my lord.
Percy nodded as he tightened a neck scarf around his nose and mouth. With a little more encouragent, the mare raced forward; her white coat quickly shifted to a dark gray as the glowing light of the chapel ca steadily into focus.
Crows fluttered in and out of the dark wall of smoke that encircled the burning rubble of the Sisters Chapel. The wretched howls of the inferno within terrified the mare who bucked, twisted, and refused to get closer. Percy dismounted and covered her eyes with his stain neck scarf. With gentle hands and a calming whisper, he soothed the beast, then held a handkerchief around his nose and mouth before moving closer. The blind mare reluctantly followed as he led her forward on foot.
The chapels steeple appeared in the smoke before him, pierced upside down into the road. Percy circled it carefully as he took in the discarded rubble that still flickered with fla scattered half a mile in each direction.
What happened here?
A crow swooped through the smoke to land on his shoulder. It whispered in his ear, and Percy nodded. He tied the mare to the steeple before he approached the blaze. Past the crumbled stables and burned mounds of dead horses, he saw burning jagged lines that had carved through the earth. Four deep, evenly spaced claw marks of a massive, terrifying existence.
Impossible. Unless Percy knelt and held his hand over the charred ruts of earth. His signet ring flashed red. Kritanta.
A crow fluttered down and danced across the dry gray grass as it observed him silently.
Survivors? Percy asked without looking at the bird.
The creature bobbed its head and hopped onto his extended hand before it flew off once more through the smoke. Percy followed, his face and clothes becoming more ashen by the minute as he circled the inferno at a safe distance.
He retrieved the mare and continued across the matted, burned wheat field. A whole years harvest gone. And these crops were put aside to feed the holess. This will place another financial burden on the church and palace.
A pitiful sight awaited him among the shattered remains of the chapels granary. The upper torso of Lafearas saint, minus the head, lay burning at its center. Nuns stood by numbly, so holding buckets of water, but most of the buckets were empty. One look at their defeated expressions, and Percy knew they had given up putting out the witch fire.
One of the sisters turned towards him. Her smoke covered face squinted then brightened with recognition. Lord Percy! She rushed closer as her sisters stirred from their disheartened state to greet him.
My Lord!
They knelt before him with tear-stained faces. The first among them to recognize him took Percys hand and kissed his signet ring.
Where is the Abbess? Percy asked gently.
She is tending to the injured, the nun answered as she and the other sisters rose to their feet. There were civilians
Who attacked us?
The priest of Zarus and his witch hunter ca looking for Lady Mauras family, Abbess rcy answered as she appeared through the veil of smoke. Like the sisters before him, her white habit was now ash-gray; and stained with quite a bit of blood.
The Turnbells? Percy turned towards her with a raised eyebrow. Why were they here?
Lincoln Turnbell was to be buried this afternoon, rcy explained.
Percy sucked in a sharp breath as he stepped towards her. You were giving that craven rat-spawn a burialhereat our church?!
The sooner Lincoln was put in the ground, the sooner this witch investigation would be forgotten, rcy replied patiently.
Or so you thought, Percy snapped as he gestured to the fire and smoke around them.
rcy sighed and looked down at her blood-stained hands. I confess I did not expect the priest to follow my trail that easilynor did I anticipate that the bastard pure-blood would choose to interfere.
A pure-blood? Percys grip tightened on his cane. Tristan.
But Tristan shouldnt be this strong. Not after years of being poisoned by aconitum. And the marks I saw beside the chapel
I got the Turnbells and my sisters out of there as fast as I could, rcy continued wearily. But Lord Josiahs new wife is unaccounted for.
Percy blinked at her in confusion. His new wife?
Lord Josiah and Lady Helena were divorced early this morning. This afternoon he showed up at his sons funeral with a new bride who used to be one of his slaves, rcy explained with a shake of her head. She is either missing or dead.
Divorced, married, and widowed within a day? Percy exhaled sharply. How the Turnbell fortune has changed. A sharp wail close by drew his attention, and Percy turned towards the sound. Theyre here, arent they?
My Lord, rcy protested even as she followed him to where two tattered blankets had been propped up and tied to the end of pitchforks to form a small half-tent enclosure. A young man and woman knelt over an older noblewoman laid out upon bloody sackcloth. The dead womans brown-hazel eyes stared blankly at the dirty canvas above her.
Percy almost didnt recognize the scarlet haired young woman, coated from head to foot in soot, who wept as she clutched her mothers hand.
Another casualty, rcy murmured as she stopped beside Percy. Lady Helena. A piece of glass pierced her lungs.
Percy nodded mutely as he surveyed Mauras dead mother. Your death has finally freed herfor that, I should thank you.
It is a pity, I would have preferred to keep her alive, the Abbess lanted with a weary sigh. Percy frowned but said nothing as Sophya continued to weep.
Lord Percy? whispered the young man beside the grieving daughter.
Percy studied the mans darkened features for a mont, then nodded in recognition. Lord Asher.
So Sophya still managed to get her claws into you.
The young lady stiffened when she heard his na and clutched Ashers arm tightly.
Percy repressed a snicker as he left and moved to study the two bodies laid out beside the tent. Who are these n?
Im sure youll recognize them, rcy murmured as she knelt and pulled back the cloth that covered their faces. Steel black masks stared back at him, mangled and warped, but still recognizable.
The Foxes were here? Percy muttered in surprise.
They ca looking for the witch hunter.
Why?
rcy straightened and shrugged. None left alive to ask, unfortunately.
Percy exhaled slowly and knelt to examine the dead ns masks, which had lted against their skin. Were they all this color?
Pardon?
Were any of the masks gray?
rcy nodded. Their leader. His mask was gray with red stripes.
And hes dead as well?
As far as I know, he never made it out of the church.
Percy smiled and nodded, satisfied. Then the Fox Den is finished.
There are likely to be a few survivors who werent involved in the attack.
These black masks belong to their lieutenants. If the Fox Master himself ca, you can be sure all his lieutenants did as well.
So essentially all your fathers killers have been wiped out, rcy murmured thoughtfully.
Not all, Percy replied as he stood. But it looks like Ill have to thank the Emperors bastard the next ti we et.
rcy chuckled as she hooked her arm around his. I can always trust you to look on the bright side. She sighed as she took in the burning granary before them.
Ill see to it your chapel is rebuilt, Percy said as he followed her gaze. And your granary and field repaired.
The sisters and I are grateful as always, rcy replied with a sly smile.
What of the priest and his witch hunter?
Witch hunter, rcy spat. A half-witch with stolen coven powers working for the church. Never thought Id live to see such an atrocity.
So, he does have the North Star?
rcy nodded. He wouldnt have stood a chance against a pure-blood without it.
Did anyone else see it?
The priest may have caught a glimpse, rcy answered thoughtfully. He was peeping through the windows up until the pure-blood went out of control. Took off without a word imdiately after that.
Then the priest is on his way to Zarus.
It would be easy enough to stop him before he reached the border, rcy replied with a sinister smile.
Best if he t with so misfortune before he can slip away, Percy agreed. Send word to your sisters. He removed her hand from his arm. It would be beneficial to our cause to keep whatever secrets the priest witnessed here in Lafeara at present.
I shall see to it personally, my Lord. She smiled benevolently, curtsied, and then vanished into the smoke.
Lord Percy! The nun who had greeted him earlier rushed towards him. Forgive , but Lord Josiah is attempting to steal your horse.
Percy let out a strained sigh. Of all the Turnbells to survive. He motioned for her to lead the way.
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