“No!” cried Kaita. “Mag is still in there! She defeated me, but I must try again. Who knows when I will get another chance?”
Rogan tilted his head and looked upon her with a kindly expression. “What happened?”
Kaita scowled. “She … she was too fast. I had taken the form of a mountain lion, but she still outmatched me.” She did not mention that Mag had done it unarmed. She spat. “At least I killed her steer of a husband.”
“Sten is dead?” said Rogan.
“He is, and darkness take him.”
Much to Kaita’s annoyance, Rogan’s lips twisted in a soft smile. “I told you that I did not think you were destined to defeat her this day, Kaita.”
“You did,” said Kaita, avoiding his gaze. “And how did you know that?”
“I have some of our father’s sight, though I cannot see as far as he can,” said Rogan. “Do not despair. I have made you promises, and I intend to keep them.”
“You promised I would defeat her,” said Kaita. “How do you mean for that to happen while I am leading your army to the—”
“Your army as much as mine,” said Rogan, his tone betraying a rare note of admonishment. “And I have changed my mind. You will lead our siblings into the Greatrocks, but you will not take them to the Watcher. When they turn north, you should continue west. Make sure you leave a trail they can follow. I have been led to believe that Albern is an excellent tracker.”
“I suppose,” said Kaita through gritted teeth. “And where would you have me lead them?”
“To where it all began. Between the two of you.”
Kaita’s eyes shot wide. “Home.”
“Yes. And not just for your own personal reasons. I need to send a trusted captain there to hurry things along. For some time now, I did not know who it would be. Now the answer is obvious. I trust no one more than you. Lead Albern and Mag there, and help our siblings accomplish their mission. You can claim your vengeance at the same time.”
Kaita stepped towards him and smiled. “Yes, this … this is better. This is far better. Sky above, Rogan, why did you not tell me this was your aim in the first place? I would have done as you asked.”
Rogan shook his head. “This was not my plan. Many things are not clear to me until it is time. Even an hour ago, I would never have considered it. I am sorry, Kaita. It frustrates me as much as you.”
Many emotions warred within her. But her fear was still nearly as strong as her excitement. She shook her head slowly—not in refusal, but in thought.
“If I do this,” she said, “I want a guarantee. I may need more strength than I currently have.”
“You are strong beyond—”
“That is not what I mean,” said Kaita. “I want a guarantee, Rogan. If I do this, and yet I cannot take my revenge alone, I want our father to grant me the power he has long denied me.”
Rogan’s eyes narrowed, filling with … not fear, but something akin to it. “That is too dangerous.”
“I am no simpleton.”
“The risks—”
“The risk to me, and to my mission, is also great,” said Kaita. “Promise me, Rogan.”
Rogan sighed. “Kaita, if things go ill, we will have to—”
“I know.”
“I have no wish to see you harmed.”
Her expression softened. “I know that, too.” She went to him then, and she laid her head against his chest. “Whatever you may think of me, I am our father’s child. My heart is true. But I need this.”
“Then you shall have it,” said Rogan. His tree-trunk arm wrapped around her shoulders. “If you cannot vanquish her alone, you will have every power our father can grant you. And I only hope neither of us has cause to regret it.”
“Thank you,” Kaita whispered into his chest. Then she drew back, out of his reach, and looked up into his eyes. “Go after Loren. Bring our father’s vengeance to those who call themselves our rulers.”
“I will. May death stay its hand from you.”
Kaita smirked. “I would wish you the same, but in your case, death has no choice. I will contact you when I can.”
Rogan gave her a final smile and left. Kaita took a moment to gather herself before finding the captains to order the retreat.
I woke with a splitting headache to find Elsie kneeling over me, bathing my face with warm water.
“Mag,” I groaned.
“You are alive,” she said, her brows rising. “The healers told me so, but I did not believe them. Neither would you, if you could see yourself.”
“Mag,” I repeated. I tried to lift my head, but a spike of pain nearly drove me senseless again. I fought to remain conscious. “Where is she?” I whispered.
“Puttering about the place,” said Elsie. She rose and went to fetch me water from a bucket by the wall.
“Alive?”
“No, she died, but that has not stopped her. Of course she is alive, you dolt.”
I let myself relax, at least a little. “Everyone else?” I said. Each word came with great effort. “How many survived?”
Elsie’s brisk demeanor seemed to fade away. She looked over at me, and for a moment her eyes sparkled with tears. “Not enough. Though I suppose each one is a blessing.”
She had been there when I first fought to defend Northwood against invaders all those years ago. I could see from the sadness on her face that this time was far, far worse.
“I am sorry,” I said.
Her resolve returned at once, and she turned back to the water, ladling a cup full of it. “You should not be. You fought like a champion. Not as well as Mag, of course, or she would be lying here and you would be the one walking around. But you did all right, I suppose.”
That forced a weak chuckle out of me, and with it, I felt a bit better. Strength had been
