Amira

I put on my cloak and pulled up my face guard before strapping my daggers back onto my legs. I didn't test their sharpness- I knew Elias had sharpened them to a razor edge. I held the end of my long bow against the ground as I pulled the string to the other arm with some trouble before placing it and my quiver on my back. The quiver was specially made- the inside was lined in soft fur pelts all the way through to keep the arrows from moving around and making any noise.

'Talon, please aid me.'

I fastened my rune stones to my side. There was no room for error. No room for doubt. I had to trust Elias and that Andre Makar was leading us in a right direction. I had to be on point tonight or everything could go drastically wrong.

"Amira," he said sternly using his index finger to make me look up at him. "Stop doubting your ability. Even without your magic, your stealth and fighting skills are as good as mine. Trust your instincts, but most importantly, trust yourself."

I nodded. He was right. My rune magic was only to make things easier. I could do this. I undid the button on my pouch and felt for the rune I needed before pulling it out.

"Tugni burutvas nas," I whispered in the old tongue.

I saw the stone start glowing in my hands as something shifted in the air and I glanced at Elias to see he was cloaked in shadows. It had worked. We made our way down the steep hill towards the monastery. It looked so plain compared to how I had pictured it.

It was a simple structure made out of rock slabs and held together with clay mortar mixed with hay for extra support. A drab building for one that used to hold all the power over the ruling monarch. The court yard was lit with a few torches showing the metal fence out front, but everyone seemed to be asleep for it was quiet. We slipped with ease into the monastery and began looking for the relative of the monk who had declared war on us all those years ago scrambling us into the sunken society we were before Andre's rule. Still, I didn't understand father's purpose. Why couldn't we just rebuild? Why start a new war with the child king?

Elias pointed ahead at the last room and he motioned for me to stay behind. I heard him wake him.

"Are you father Hector?" he whispered. "I've come to collect the sins of your relative."

"Please- I do not know how I've wronged you," he said.

His voice was full of fear. Why was Elias playing with him like this? He could wake the whole abbey up.

"I won't ask again- are you father Hector?"

"A—-aye."

I heard him remove his sword and then the sound of the man falling to the ground. A few seconds later he exited into the hallway with the fathers head tucked under his arm. It was then I realized the spell was no longer working.

"Tugni burutvas nas," I said hastily.

I hated how my voice cracked and the stone didn't work.

"Tugni burutvas nas!" I said with more force.

I looked at Elias and saw it still hadn't worked. When I wasn't at peace, it was hard for me to tap into my magic center. I inwardly cursed at my luck. Now wasn't the time for me to lose my focus. One more time.

"Tugni burutvas nas!"

Nothing. Not even a hint of blue erupted from the stone.

"Come on," he whispered grabbing me with his free hand and pushing me towards the exit. "It's fine. No ones awake."

I felt my cheeks turn red as we exited. If I couldn't do that simple bit. How was I supposed to do the next part with the fire arrows?

"Stop over thinking!" he growled in a low voice next to me.

We got a few yards away from the abbey before he stopped. I pulled my long bow off my back and took one arrow from my quiver and notched it. They had been specially made. Instead of a arrow tip, they had a bag full of fire kindling to ignite the abbey. I just needed to use fire. I could do this.

I placed the other rune back and felt for the one I needed now. When I found it, I took a deep breath trying to calm my nerves. I could feel myself shaking. My gut was turning. Calm. I needed to be calm.

"Vosplamen'sya," I said forcefully.

A small bit of fire ignited on the bag and I concentrated on making sure it stayed lit before focusing on where I wanted to shoot it and allowing it to sail. It hit exactly where I wanted it to on the wooden roof. I shot three more before Elias touched my shoulder saying I had done well. He took the head of the father and placed it the metal fencing out on the front gate as a message to the king.