“Death to all the Earth Elves!”
“Kydona is the true goddess!”
“Praise Kydona!”
The priest allowed the yelling to continue for a moment longer before speaking once more. The Winged Soldiers watched him carefully, their eyes trained on his every movement.
“Earth Elves were a scourge on this continent. Their false beliefs made them a danger to Ithenmyr.” Nodding to the soldiers, the priest gestured for the prisoner to be brought to him. “This elf is not worthy of Fading away with time. Thank Kydona, she delivered him into our hands. We must expunge the scourge the heretics bring to Ithenmyr!”
A cheer went up through the crowd, and my stomach twisted in knots. A whimper escaped me as the priest’s words settled on me.
Xander’s other hand reached up and wrapped around mine. His breath warmed my neck as he lowered his head.
“Ana,” he whispered, “I need you to listen to me very carefully. In a moment, we are going to leave the square. On my command, I need you to follow me and not look back. Can you do that?”
I stared beyond him to the Earth Elf, who was being dragged down the steps like he was an animal. My mouth felt dry as I rasped, “I can.”
Xander squeezed tightly. I focused my attention on the heat coming from his hand, and not on the sword one of the Winged Soldiers had just drawn.
“Good,” Xander said, shifting his stance. “Look at me.”
The atmosphere in the market was changing. The air itself seemed to be churning as dark emotions bubbled to the surface. I was certain that horror was painted on my face as the Winged Soldier raised his weapon in the air because all of a sudden, Xander drew my head against his chest. Sucking in a deep breath, I squeezed my eyes shut. For once, I didn’t fight him.
Burrowing against him, I wished I was anywhere else. The sword whistled as it swung through the air. The Earth Elf let out a strangled cry, and then I shuddered as deafening silence reigned once more. I clenched Xander’s cloak in my hands as he rubbed his hand on my back.
A minute passed in complete silence. A long, eternal, never-ending minute.
And then the priest cleared his throat. “The heretic’s blood has been spilled as an offering to Kydona. You are safe from the threat of the Earth Elves. Go about your days and remember: the true goddess always looks after her people.”
“Thank Kydona,” the crowd intoned as one.
A beat passed, then two, before the sounds of life began filling the market once more.
Exhaling, I shook my head against Xander’s cloak. I dared a peek, watching from the corner of my eye as the Winged Soldiers descended the temple steps.
Crimson streams colored the steps where the Earth Elf had been standing, and shudders threatened to overtake me as Xander pulled on my arm. I whimpered as his warmth disappeared before he put a finger on my chin.
“Look away, Ana,” he whispered.
I nodded, forcing my gaze to his. Despite the hood covering Xander’s face, I could see his eyes. They were heavy and lined with pity. Something flickered brightly within them that made me catch my breath.
I tilted my head, but he blinked and just as quickly as it had appeared, the emotion was gone. Xander pulled my hand, leading us out of the market.
I didn’t fight him.
It wasn’t until the cobblestone streets had long since given way to packed dirt roads that I understood the emotion I had seen lurking in Xander’s eyes.
Rage.
Pure, unadulterated rage.
* * *
With every step we took towards The Opal Spoon, my feet dragged as though I was walking through thick mud. Exhaustion plagued me. I was grateful that the tavern was within the city walls.
The walk passed in a blur of tall stone buildings and dirty streets. As the minutes passed, the riches of the market square gave way to poverty.
Xander didn’t speak. For that, I was grateful. Everything felt heavy. Far heavier than I had known possible.