Free Once Was: Book One of the Asylum Trilogy by Miya Kressin Page A

Aya’s laugh was a soft caress within the fire behind me.
    I had watched my father create the scissors over twenty years ago. I was only four or five then, quite a ways from me now as I near thirty. Father had once scolded me for cutting my hair with them as a child. I had not wanted to waste time with it going into rag curls like the other girls. I wanted to run and play with Fion and Cade, when he would join us. With the blade held near my scalp, I felt my old life fall away from me as the braid came off into my hand.
    “You left the door open, so I knew it would be you.” Cade’s voice held a gentle reprimand as he observed my actions. “I was not expecting to see you shearing off your own hair. Give me those; I’ll fix your hair out back so you do not look like a startled sheep.” Cade’s broad shoulders shook with his silent laughter, and I found myself having to fight the urge to smile. It felt like the “old times” we would have shared had I been a normal girl.
    A shimmer of the meddling God disturbed the air outside the forge door; Aya smiled upon us like a proud father as Cade led me to a tree trunk out back. I heard His chuckle echo in Cade’s as I fumbled in trying to climb onto the hip height stump. The Smith’s arms were as strong as I could ever remember as he lifted me up onto it. Cade studied me from side to side with a false appraising look, then set about evening my cuts, so I had a simple chin-length straight style all the way around. A quick slice across the front gave brow-skimming locks that covered Bas’ mark. Cade fingered one of the raven waves and looked at me, his eyes heavy with a wistful stare.
    “I shall miss your braids, but this suits you. You look like the Roseen I knew as a child.” His fingers moved to my face and I found myself leaning into the warmth of his palm. It soothed away some of the ache from acknowledging the loss of my first love. Cade’s affection—nay, his love for me—was palpable. If I could not have Fion, could I find happiness with his best friend, my best friend? Was Aya correct that my friendly love could grow to more?
    “The sun really has bleached out your hair. You will be blonde by the time your travels are finished.” He sounded displeased to admit I would leave again.
    “If the tidings of the Oracle are dire as Asha has led me to believe, my travels may be finished, Cadey-cat.”
    He smiled as I used a childhood nickname to soften what he knew was my possible death sentence. “You’ve returned thrice in twenty years, four months total, and each time you come back stronger. Sheelin is in your soul; you are the heart of our people’s magic.” Cade’s rough palm rubbed up and down my cheek and then tucked my hair behind my ear. “Your strength will see us through what the armies of Liand have done to us. We need you here with us.”
    I heard his silent plea for me to be here with him.
    “Fight against them. I’ve seen what your magic can do, Roseen. Combine your magic with my iron, and we can protect Madani.”
    I smiled up at him and wished for all the world that it was that simple. “Cade, you know my abilities do not work by wishes and parlor tricks. I cannot imbue your blades with anything but hope.”
    He lifted the scissors and took another swipe at my hair in the back. “Hope is all a man needs to continue in this world.” Cade spoke of more than the battles ahead. “Enough talk of the war. There is time enough for that tomorrow. The stew should be hot and filling. The vegetables come from your garden; I’ve kept it tended throughout the years, putting some up for harder winters. The meat . . . well, I’m not proud of its source, but it keeps my belly full and my fire lit.”
    I turned on the makeshift stool to look up at his tall form. He was making swords for the army. Cade nodded as if he read my thoughts. “Aye. I do not take pride in my deeds, but for every five swords I make, Liand’s generals claim one, and they