The Warriors' Bane

Chapter 7: The First Rage

“Where is it?" the Chieftain hisses. “Gwynfor. Where is the Stone?"

“I…" Gwynfor says, her eyes locked onto the empty space where the Bloodstone should be. “I…"

The Chieftain shakes her head, turning back toward the crowd. Her face is grave, and Selmas has no idea how she is going to break the news to their people. He tries to get another glimpse of the box, to make sure that there really isn't anything inside, but Gwynfor snaps the lid closed before he can, her fingers shaking.

Selmas blinks, hard, hoping that maybe this is a dream, that he'll wake up to the sun rising and his teacher snoring and his excitement building. Maybe he'll wake up and the Bloodstone will still be there, safe in its box in the village. Maybe he'll still have a chance. This is something they never thought could happen. They defend the Stone with their lives; it's their greatest treasure. No one knows what could happen if it was taken from them, but they may be about to find out.

The Chieftain closes her eyes, briefly, lips moving as she sends up a silent prayer. This news is not going to be welcome, but before she can give it, there's a gasp in the crowd, the sound of flesh striking flesh. Someone yells.

Everyone turns toward the source of the noise, attempting to figure out what it could be. From his vantage point on the platform, Selmas can see movement in the crowd, a ripple that extends outward. There's noise, confusion, and then one of the Warriors in the audience leaps above the heads of the others, using two people as springboards, pushing them to the ground.

The Warrior's face is crazed, her eyes large and swallowed by blackness. She sweeps an arm out, knocking over an older man. She looks intensified, a little bit More than everyone else as she claws her way forward, trying to get at the stage. Battlelust. Selmas can tell. But that's impossible; they aren't fighting anyone right now.

“Sythe!" the Chieftain shouts. “Stand down!"

Sythe doesn't listen. Instead, she dashes forward, the crowd of people parting in a panic to let her through. She's on the stage in the next moment, reaching for Gwynfor and the box.

Gwynfor yells, kicking out, getting Sythe in the chest. She's off-balance when she spins, the momentum of her attack carrying her in a circle, and she shoves the empty box into Selmas' hands.

“Hold this," she growls, not waiting for an answer before she tackles Sythe off of the edge of the platform and into the dirt underneath.

“Oh, Gods," the Chieftain groans. “Gwynfor!"

Selmas stares down at the box. He creaks the lid open, just slightly, just enough for him to see what's underneath.

It's the right box; Selmas recognizes it from the year before. There's an imprint on the velvet lining inside, an outline of what once occupied the space. Something large, flat, and smooth. It would have to be where the Bloodstone once rested; there's nothing else it could be, but the Stone itself is not there.

Selmas thinks, 'Well, f*ck.'

His heart is beating faster than normal. Things are beginning to seem very bright and very loud, and he looks away quickly from the empty vessel, trying to get a handle on what's going on, trying to find Byrin. Byrin is strong; if Selmas is with him, he'll be safe.

Villagers are running from the training grounds in fear. A cloud of dust is being raised below them as Gwynfor and Sythe grapple in the dirt.

“Warriors!" the Chieftain cries. “Form ranks! Someone, tear these two apart."

The order is unnecessary, because the sounds of fighting stop. The dust clears, and Gwynfor stands slowly, her chest heaving, fists clenched at her sides. She mutters something under her breath. Sythe lies in the dirt, blood trickling from a cut over her eye. She's still.

The Chieftain closes her eyes, as if her head hurts. “Thank you. If you two are quite finished, would you mind explaining to me exactly what just happened?" She pauses, frowns. “Gwynfor?"

Gwynfor turns slowly toward their small group, huddling on the stage. Her eyes are cold, unrecognizable, and full of the same deep, all-encompassing irises that Sythe had only moments before. The same look that Yun had, weeks ago, and Selmas is struck by the sudden thought that this isn't the beginning, not in the least.

“She's still fighting," he says quietly.

He lets the lid of the box fall with a click, and Gwynfor's head snaps toward him.

She climbs back onto the platform, her eyes never leaving Selmas, and Selmas has just enough time to regret most of his life choices before Gwynfor lunges at him, her teeth bared in a snarl.