Tears threatened to escape as Bryd leaned back. Emory’s own breath picked up as they all took in what this meant.
Nyx stood up, shoving her chair back, whispering, “We move forward with the plan. Alby is tough, and he has prepared as we all have for this situation. He will hold on...”
“If he is still alive...” Wyatt cut her off.
Nyx locked eyes with Wyatt. “We will not give up...”
“Enough!” Memphis cut in, his fist slamming into the wooden table. Anger sparked in his eyes, and he continued, “We have to stick together. This is what Adair wants—for us to dwindle into nothing. We are as prepared as we will ever be. I agree with Nyx. We move forward.”
Wyatt pushed his chair back, throwing out his arms. “Well, we have the element of surprise, mate, that is for sure. Is she prepared to take on what moving forward means?”
Shaved head and arms covered in swirling tattoos, Wyatt locked gazes with Emory. She set her jaw stubbornly, not backing down from his stare. She was glad she had all their attention.
“Memphis has been trying to help me piece together my past. I know what me being back means to you. I also know that everyone here has lost their homes, friends, and families. Their lives. I was saved so I could help you now, and that is exactly what I intend to do.”
“You know nothing, girl, but your spirit... We can work with that.” Wyatt nodded.
Tension rolled off both Memphis and Brokk as they filled her in on exactly what her returning to Kiero would mean. Everything blurred together after that.
One second, they were in Command, the next she was being led down the hallway into the weaponry room. Longswords hung from the wall, a variety of knives and armor hung on the adjacent wall. Emory froze, not knowing what to do with herself, and Brokk sidled up beside her.
“Hey,” he said softly. His voice was a low baritone, as smooth as honey.
“Hey. I never thanked you for saving me...but thank you,” Emory replied.
“No thanks needed. I understand why you tried to run. You have no reason to trust us or what we are saying is true. I get that. This all must seem like we are the villains, doesn’t it?”
Emory didn’t reply, cold running through her veins as she looked up into his golden gaze.
Awkwardly shifting his weight, Brokk changed the subject, “I can help you navigate the armory, if you would like?”
Before she could reply, Memphis walked up to them, a black chest plate and sword in hand. Eyeing Brokk, Memphis cut in, “Emory, you will need these.”
With shaking hands, she fastened the chest plate over her black shirt, trying not to throw up. She had changed out of her clothes from Earth, leaving them smelly and folded beside her bed. Sheathing her sword, she looked at the rest of the group who looked like demigods.
Gasping, she reached out to Memphis. “I can’t do this. I can’t even fight.”
Looking grim, he said. “Em, we will do the fighting once we find the group of raiders. The plan is for word to get back to Adair so he will know that you are alive and with us. That we are fighting back. After that, word will spread fast enough to finally ignite this war. You are our spark.”
Tightly curling her fists, Emory exhaled. Swallowing the lump in her throat, she nodded.
Stalking out of the room and down the hallway, rebels bobbed their heads at them in respect.
Chills ran down her body when they reached a clad door, and Memphis pulled the iron handle. The dusk was serene, purple hues painting the sky. A smell similar to honeysuckle clung on the air, and Memphis barked, “Brokk, you take up the rear. Nyx, you’re with me. Em, in the middle. At a jog.”
They set off, and Emory stared around her in amazement as she took in their world in the fading light. It was rugged and wild, forest taking up the horizon for miles. They entered the coolness of the trees’ shade, and Emory looked back, surprised to see, yet again, nothing but rolling hills behind them.
Out of breath, she said, “Absolutely amazing.”
One girl had done that. One.
Brokk shimmied up beside her, looking amused. “It’s even more impressive being from the outside looking in, isn’t it?”
Emory quickly looked ahead, paying attention to where she was putting her feet and didn’t answer him. Brokk nodded, falling back as she ignored him, granting her space. She knew she was being irrational, but she didn’t trust him.
Sweat slicked her body as they pressed further and further into the woods, the ground rolling with each slope.
Emory took deep gulps of air, the ancient forest creating shadows and tricking her eyes at every chance. It was full of mystery, something born from myths, and she felt a distant tug on her memory of familiarity. Of home. Sometimes, even when memories were foggy, it was as simple as a scent or the emotions associated with seeing and revisiting a place that Emory knew what Memphis had said was true.
She felt the ties in the wind, the trees, the gurgle of a stream in the very ground beneath her feet. She felt the history around her come alive, and it ignited her as well.
All of this was, of course, shattered with the simple twang of a bow.
A growl ripped from behind her, making Emory shuddered to a stop, and a gigantic wolf flew over her, catching the arrow mid-flight and snapping it in half. Memphis and Nyx drew their blades in fluid motion, charging the group in front of them. Emory`s mouth was hanging open in shock.
