Anton Anderson - The Seekers - Soul Ties

«And yet,» Haileen resumed, «I still think we should put on more guards, more lookouts as well. Star has confidence in Jaesa’s word, but is the opposite true? If they are sneaking out to spot whether we’re doing something suspicious…»

Sabiri objected. «The more guards there are, the weirder and more noticeable it is. I wish all of us had artifacts like Iskrila’s. Who knows how truly reliable they are, but they do work. It would be a really useful warning system.»

«Yeah, it really saved her life last time.»

«Not just last time.»

«Alas, I didn’t hear anyone figuring out magic just yet. Speaking of Iskrila, where is she? Working nights is a necessity sometimes, but what if something happened?»

Sabiri snickered. «The amulet would warn her. Or are you not talking about an attack?»

«When you’re working so late, you can make mistakes. Her smithy has enough dangers already.»

Sabiri yawned. «Not the first time she’s working late. Besides, she’s a genius with a hammer and anvil. She’ll be fine.»

«Alright, alright, time to sleep!» Haileen got infected with Sabiri’s yawning. «See you tomorrow.»

Sabiri wished Haileen good night and went to bed herself.

There was a slim chance of Iskrila returning, but she would just sleep right at the smithy if she got really tired. A smile appeared on Sabiri’s face as she remembered how she used to find Iskrila sleeping at her desk, or even at the workbench. She would cover her with a blanket and leave, trying her best not wake her up. Thinking such sweet thoughts, Sabiri didn’t notice herself falling asleep.

The next morning Sabiri felt incredibly well-rested. For sure, the day was going to be awesome. The sun was lighting the room with its warm rays. Suddenly, she developed an immense urge to stretch her entire body. So, she did just that. Oh, what an ecstasy!

Yawning and stretching some more, Sabiri sat and looked around. Iskrila wasn’t here. Did she already go out? Or did she sleep at the smithy? Determined to bid her «good morning,» Sabiri quickly collected whatever food she had, shoveled it down her throat, then went to find Iskrila.

On her way, Sabiri wondered whether they also should make some bows for the healers. Just in case. Some should already have them, but the rest… Pretty much all children learn how to use them, but do they take care of their bows and skills? It would take some time to figure out, and even more time to refresh their skills.

A movement interrupted the strain of Sabiri’s thoughts. It was a lookout, running towards her. Sabiri couldn’t make out the face yet, but the way that igni was running…

«Morning, mistress,» the igni stopped in front of her, gasping for breath.

«Hi, Guon. What’s the hurry?»

«I was supposed to change a lookout on the pier, Berani, but she wasn’t there. And…» She paused to take a breath. «And there was some junk sitting on the spot where we stand guard. I thought she was just too lazy to get rid of it, so I moved it away. There was blood beneath it on the pier! That couldn’t’ve been a coincidence! I sent some fishers to search the waters near that area, and then I ran here.»

Sabiri was about to ask Guon to calm down, was about to go with her to the pier. Why did something need to happen so close to the attack? But then she saw another igni running her way. She was wearing civilian clothes – did something else happen? The igni was now close enough to see her face…

A sudden chill of dread swallowed Sabiri. No, that can’t be! The igni was crying something, but Sabiri couldn’t hear it over her deafening heartbeat. Those wide eyes and those tears!

«Tell me she’s just injured!» Sabiri yelled. «Tell me she’s alive!»

Bertie, one of Iskrila’s apprentices, stopped and nearly tripped over her own leg. Breathing heavily, she shut her eyes, then shook her head.

Sabiri watched Bertie’s head shaking, but there was no meaning registering in her brain. The sound of Guon’s hooves, pacing next to her. The wind, stroking her face. The feeling of complete exhaustion. She felt all of it, nothing resonated with her mind. Nothing but those words Haileen told her yesterday.

She didn’t remember how she got to the smithy. All the apprentices were already there. Forced outside by the soldiers and guards, they were whispering into each other’s ears. But when Sabiri looked at them, still not quite sure what was happening, all of them fell silent.

Haileen was already inside. Sabiri looked at her ever-calm face, expecting something, anything. And Haileen raised her hand, inviting her to hold it. Sabiri instinctively tried to do just that, but the way her arm moved, the way it felt was alien. Scared, Sabiri stopped herself.

«Show me, please,» someone else’s voice escaped from Sabiri’s mouth.

Haileen stepped back and indicated the stairs to the attic, where Iskrila’s office was. The trapdoor was open, the warm green light of burning bugs was spilling out. So, either Iskrila was so exhausted that she fell asleep in spite of the light. Or…

Sabiri stopped herself from such stupid speculation. She would see soon enough. But her brain had already woken up. The smithy looked the same, except for a pile of swords in the corner. No hoofprints, nothing turned upside down or scattered on the floor in a hurry.

«Did anyone touch something? Was the door locked?» Sabiri asked Haileen.

Haileen, of course, had already asked the workers. «It was unlocked, but I’m told it’s not unusual. They just started the hearth, didn’t touch anything else.»

Wishing that there was something, that there was a reason to stay where she was, Sabiri started climbing up the stairs. Her heart was racing faster and faster. High enough to see inside the room. One turn of the head, and she saw it.

Frozen on the steps, Sabiri stared at the body lying in a pool of blood. Her dear Iskrila was staring back at her through lifeless eyes. Unable, unwilling to move, Sabiri could only stare back, feeling all life quickly seeping out of her, feeling bitter tears in the corners of her eyes…

She didn’t know how much time had passed, but eventually Sabiri remembered where she was. And to her own terror, she recognized what she had to do. With a heavy sigh, Sabiri gathered all her strength and stepped into the room. She once again glanced at her dear Iskrila. Her head was resting against the table’s leg in a most unnatural position. Who did this to you? A bundle of red fabric was lying at her legs, just a tiny bit of white still remained. Why is your face so calm and peaceful? What are you trying to see in my eyes? What did you see? Who did you see?

Something, something felt bad. A physical discomfort of sorts. What….? With a hissing sound, Sabiri inhaled, realizing she was too tense to breathe.

Where the shelf above the table had been was now just empty nail holes and a smear of blood. All the contents of that shelf were now scattered across the table and floor. An almost empty bottle of ink had spat its contents all over. Pieces of wood, some glass, a quill, coins, writing charcoal, stacks of paper. Drops of blood seemed to be everywhere.

So, she’d been standing, otherwise that blood wouldn’t be on the wall. But why was the shelf broken? Sabiri came closer and saw a thin crack in the wall. Straight and clean, being right in the middle of the blood stain – it was definitely made by a weapon, probably a sword.

Sabiri collected all the will she had left and kneeled beside the body. What she had first thought was just blood happened to be an enormous wound. With shaking hands, Sabiri lifted the cold body, looked at its back. An exit wound, as she suspected. The weapon caused a long, thin wound. Sabiri’s fingers dug deeper into the mess of Iskrila’s clothes and flesh. The weapon managed to cleanly cut its way through the rib, right into the heart. Whoever did this managed to pin Iskrila to the wall. Only another igni or a saxum could be strong enough to do this.