Sara Raasch - Rise Up from the Embers

To those of us who must now

rise from the embers.

MADOC

MADOC HAD SAVED lives, altered thoughts, and drained the power from godsbut he could not stop the knife swinging toward his gut.

With a grunt, he twisted away, but the steel sliced through the side of his sweat-soaked tunic, a breath away from his skin, and came to a stop beneath his left arm, beside his pounding heart.

Youre not trying, Tor growled, his long, damp hair clinging to his jaw, his tunic stretching across his broad shoulders. He may have matched Madoc in size and build, but that was where the likeness ended. Tor was hardened by years of training; his reflexes were quick as flames. He was a seasoned Kulan gladiatoror at least he had been before his god was murdered.

Now he was an accused traitor, on the run from a vengeful goddessMadocs motherjust like the rest of them.

Madoc shoved Tor back and wiped the sweat from his brow with his forearm. Theyd been training every day since theyd sailed out of Deimoss war-ravaged capitol, Crixion, two weeks ago. They hoped to find refuge in the Apuit Islands with the goddess Hydras people, who theyd heard had allied with Florus, the god of plants. But with the gods of fire and earth both dead and Deimos in the grip of Anathrasa, the Mother Goddess, they had no idea how theyd be received. For all they knew, Hydra would think them spies and send her warriors to destroy them.

That was, if Anathrasa didnt hunt them down first.

This isnt working, he muttered. Though Tor had taught many fighters to use igneia, fire energy wasnt the same as the anathreia Madoc himself possessed. If he was going to be any use to Ash and the others, Madoc needed to learn how to effectively manipulate soul energeia. But whenever hed used it before, hed either lost control or nearly killed himself in the process. Even with Tors lessons, Madoc was no more ready to face Anathrasa now than he had been when theyd fled Deimos.

Excuses. Tor tucked his blade back into the leather sheath at his belt and wiped his palms on his reed leggings. Ive seen you make a seasoned gladiator cry for his mother. Rip the energeia from a god like a rotten tooth. If youre going to drain the Mother Goddess before she finds a way to claim the other five countries, youll need to be ready for anything. Youre holding back.

Behind him, the ships rail bobbed against the horizon, churning Madocs stomach.

He tripped over the hatch cover leading belowdecks as another wave hit the stern. The swells had been bigger the last two days, the air cooler. He could feel it now, needling each bead of sweat on his temple as the sun sank low in the pink sky.

They were getting closer to Hydras islands.

If this boat would stop moving, I could concentrate. He staggered to stand, glaring at Tors steady, wide-legged stance. Maybe he had saved Madoc when Geoxuss palace had fallen, but Madoc was really beginning to hate him.

Anathrasa doesnt care if youre on the land or sea.

Shell care if he throws up on her.

Ash lounged on the wooden steps to the upper deck, waving five flame-tipped fingers in front of her face. Since Madoc had returned her igneiatransferred it through the conduit of his body with his soul energythe fire she created was blue.

Like the dead fire gods.

Madoc had heard Tor whispering with his sister, Taro, and her wife. They thought Madoc had accidentally given Ash the power hed taken from Ignitus.

He wasnt sure they were wrong. None of them knew exactly what it meant, but if anyone was strong enough to figure it out, it was Ash.

She was wearing two tunics to fight the cold, but her shins were uncovered, and his gaze had fallen to her bare ankles, crisscrossed by the leather straps of her sandals, when another wave knocked him sideways into the foremast.

She laughed, and he couldnt stop his grin, even as the small crowd that had gathered near the helm above her snickered. Every Kulan on this ship had their sea legs, but Madoc still spent every morning and night with his head over a bucket.

Im not going to throw up. Probably.

Focus, Tor ordered. Anathrasa will be ready. Shell have protection. Aera and Biotus were allies of Geoxustheyll likely join her now that he is dead. And who knows how many of the god of earths centurions will rise to her aid once they realize what she can do?

Madoc shivered. His mother was cunning. Shed survived for centuries by tithingsucking the souls out of the gladiators Geoxus had offered her. She would not be defenseless now. Those who stood against her would be tithed, and the rest would suffer in silent allegiance for fear that shed turn on them next.

You know my intention, Tor continued. Now stop me.

Maybe thats the problem, Ash said, snuffing out the blue flames in a closed fist. You dont really mean to hurt him. When he used anathreia to fight before, there was always a threat to his life. Her dark eyes flicked to his. Or mine.

Madocs shoulders drew together as he thought of the Deiman guards dragging Ash out of the preparation chamber at the arena after Anathrasa had taken away her energeia. A new sickness twisted his stomach as he remembered the palace, the titheshis hollow soul, needing to be filled. His mother had forced him to take Petross power, even if it meant killing him, to make himself strong. Hed taken Ignituss power next, then Geoxuss, and it had nearly destroyed him.

If he hadnt been able to give that power to Ash, it would have.

Now a hunger for those same feelings, for the taste of anothers energeia, was with him all the time, pressing against his lungs with every breath. But he refused to give in, not when this ship was filled with people whod risked their lives for him. Not when he knew what tithing had done to Ash. To his sister, Cassia.

If he was going to be strong enough to drain whatever power his motherthe mother of all godshad left, he needed to find another way to sate this growing need.

I have no problem making him bleed if thats what it takes, Tor said with a sharp smile.

Madoc winced in Ashs direction. Has he always been like this?

Oh, no. She grinned. He used to have a training room and full armory at his disposal.

Madoc sighed through his teeth as Tor drew his knife and advanced again, a driven look in his eyes that made Madoc suspect he hadnt been kidding about making him bleed.

He was close enough to strike, and Madoc raised his handsempty, at Tors insistenceto defend himself. As they circled on the deck, Madoc reached out with his anathreia, feeling for Tors emotions, finding the same intense frustration as always.

But it was laced with something else. A thin, pulsing warmth that reminded him, with a jolt of pain, of Ilena.

He blinked back his last image of his adopted mother, holding his face in her hands, telling him they would see each other again, just before she disappeared into the riots outside the temple to find Elias, Danon, and Ava. It was better this waythe farther Madoc was from Deimos, the safer they werebut he worried for them all the same.

Tors head tilted. What was that? When Madoc shook his head, Tor stepped closer, dropping his weapon to his side. What were you just thinking of? Warmth spread across the space between them, driving a new spear of hunger into Madocs soul.

Madoc glanced to Ash, who was now leaning forward, elbows on her knees.

Home, he said quietly.

He didnt feel comfortable discussing this with Torhis family was his to protect, even from friends. But if mentioning it helped him control his anathreia, he would do it.