Darkwind by R. Dugan

Author:R. Dugan
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: R. Dugan
Published: 2020-03-04T00:00:00+00:00

As they descended from the Den into the dusty, packed streets of Hellidom, Ashe admitted it was her first time visiting the village after dark—and her very first time at the shops.

While they moved slowly to accommodate Ashe’s limp, Cistine was the happiest she’d been in days. The pair meandered between the huts, drinking in the smell of herbal tea and pastries, and Cistine asked Ashe about the best herbs for poultices and wound packs. When that subject lulled, Cistine told her Warden everything she’d missed about training and gardening, and the things Cistine had learned from Tatiana and Thorne.

“There was so much we never cared to know about this place when we waged war here,” Cistine said as they stopped at a small booth to buy whatever delicious-smelling fare its vendor was selling.

Ashe shrugged. “It didn’t matter to us.”

“It matters to me.” Cistine accepted two leaf-wrapped bundles from the man at the booth. “Not just because I need the knowledge to appeal to the Chancellors. But, gods, Ashe…the things Talheim did to these people. I feel as if I owe them a debt. We trampled on their culture and left them with ultimatums. And not everyone was part of the war. I wonder if we were seeing more of a threat than was really there.”

They wandered to a wooden bench nearby and sat to eat their food. It was some sort of soft, baked flour-disc stuffed with seasoned nuts and pesto that practically melted in Cistine’s mouth.

“I think you can afford to wonder that, since you were raised in the peace your father helped make,” Ashe said at last. “As someone who fought in the war, I don’t think it was simple. You can argue for their culture all you like, but the True God and his vassals never intended for augmentation to be used the way these Valgardans did. It wasn’t right for them to hoard and weaponize that power.”

“But was that really our place to say? Maybe regulation would’ve been better than sealing off the wells. Maybe we acted from fear, not common sense.”

Ashe shook her head. Cistine finished her food in two ravenous bites, then crumbled up the leaf platter and hurled it as far as she could into the street. A gaggle of hens appeared from between the buildings and pecked the treat apart.

“Anyway,” Cistine said, “I just think there’s more to these people than I ever considered. And how can I expect them to ally with us if I won’t make the effort to know them as they are—not as I’ve been told? Their hopes, their secrets, their fears…”

“I’ll leave that to you,” Ashe grunted. “My only interest in them is ensuring they don’t hurt you, Princess.”

When Ashe finished her meal, they walked among the huts and past Tariq’s door, where Ashe paused. “They have scarves. Do you want to go inside?”

“Not at all. The weapon shop isn’t far from here. I’m saving all my paltry mynts for that.”

Ashe’s radiant smile cut the gloom

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