Fire Sower by Callie Kanno

Author:Callie Kanno [Kanno, Callie]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 0101-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Twenty-One: Treachery

Idris held tightly to Elain and Prydwen as they ran through the panicked crowd to join Cadell. His shoulders bumped against strangers as they all rushed to safety, and there were a couple of times that his grip on his sister and mother almost slipped. Idris looked back at them with wide eyes as he secured his hold, seeing his fear reflected back on their faces.

His younger siblings were all huddled around their father, watching the chaos around them with fear in their eyes. Adwen was crying and clinging to Cadell’s arm, and Deri had his arms protectively around his twin sister. Cadell’s face was taut, and his stance was that of a man ready to fight for his family.

“What is happening?” demanded Idris’s father fiercely.

Idris pointed in the direction of the closest ringing bells. “Go to the building where the bells are ringing. They will give you shelter. Stay inside until you are told it is safe to come out.”

Idris only waited to see that his father nodded, then he sprinted away. He had to get back to the palace immediately. It was his duty to protect the royal family from whatever danger he might find there.

Faster, farmer, Iona urged.

Idris didn’t need her encouragement, but it was difficult for him to move as quickly as he wished.

The path to the palace was just as chaotic as the marketplace had been. Crowds of people pressed all around Idris, hurrying to get to the safety of their homes without giving much thought to the fifteen-year-old boy trying to push past them. He shouted for them to let him through, but his voice was lost in the shouts and the endless clang of the bells.

The crowds thinned as he reached the part of Marath that housed the Nobles, and he was able to run the rest of the way to the palace, the pole of his partisan drumming against his back with every step, echoing the panicked thrum of his heart.

There were no guards at the palace gate, which caused Idris’s stomach to drop in dread. The bells in the city had stopped ringing and Idris could hear the shouts and clangs of fighting echoing through the main entrance of the palace. The idea of having to fight his way to the royal family made him feel physically ill. More than that, it made him want to turn around and run away.

For all his training, he was just a farmer. He had never before run into danger—especially the kind that involved enemy soldiers intent on killing him. His palms grew sweaty and he rubbed them against his thighs in an attempt to dry them.

Do not be a coward, farmer, Iona snapped.

Idris’s chest contracted and he could feel his face flush with shame.

He was a coward. He could barely keep himself from running to hide.

Something like a sigh passed through his thoughts, and Iona spoke more gently. Courage does not mean that you are not afraid. Courage is doing what is right in spite of your fears.

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