Kam leaned back and stared at her. Used up the magic? Was that possible? “What’s being done? Surely your leaders have looked for ways to correct this.”
“Trystan’s trying. That’s why he brought you here. We realized too late our world needed to be sustainable. We need workers to plant and tend crops, to mine the few mountains we have. The moon elves who went before us only knew how to rule, not how to produce food and goods.”
“So they created a world that met their immediate needs,” Kam mused.
“Yes. They could have anything they wanted with a simple flick of the hand, so they didn’t worry about it. If they considered the future at all, they must have thought the magic would last forever. But it is earthborn and must be renewed by the earth. Over thousands of years, it dwindled and is almost gone. We are barely able to create the necessities. None of us have the knowledge or skills to fix it.”
Kam was speechless. That’s why her magic was more potent in New Orleans than in Elvenrude. Like the Cyrilians, she’d never understood it wasn’t infinite and needed renewing. That must be one of those things her father had wanted her to learn about the family business. How lucky she was her working-class ancestors had the knowledge to build a sustainable world and be good stewards of the land. Elvenrude had thrived because of their wisdom.
Bria interrupted her musings. “Now you know our sad story. I’m eager to hear about your life. Do you live in this New Orleans with all the humans and their cars?”
Kam grinned, described her apartment, and her job as an acquisitions agent for lost and neglected artifacts.
“That’s curious,” Bria said. “Why do you collect those?”
“Preserving history has always been a hobby of our royal family.” Kam shrugged. “I think it began with recovering our own artifacts that were left behind, but human history is fascinating. We have our own museum of these relics, and it’s very popular.”
Not once during this discussion did Kam mention Elvenrude or its portals. She allowed Bria to believe her home and the antiquities museum were in New Orleans. It wasn’t so much she didn’t trust her—how could she on such short acquaintance—but even a single careless word could place her homeland in danger.
While they talked, part of Kam’s mind was still focused on Cyrilia and its problems. “So that’s why I was kidnapped,” she said during a lull in the conversation. “To be one of your workers. I’m afraid I wouldn’t be much use.” She gave a wry smile thinking of her poor domestic skills. “From what I’ve seen, I’m not sure anyone can bring it back to life. You don’t need workers. You need miracles. Surely there are alternatives. If your magic needs to be replenished, why doesn’t someone do it? You have the portal.”
“That’s what we originally thought, but they discovered it would take centuries. In the meantime, how would we survive? Dreysel wants us to take whatever we need from the humans, but that isn’t right.”
Kam pursed her lips thoughtfully. “Or smart. Humans aren’t pushovers, and they have weapons more deadly than bows and arrows. You’d end up at war with a race that outnumbers you thousands or maybe millions to one.”
“I’m not sure Dreysel cares. He and his friends have become so cruel and arrogant. Maybe it’s desperation making them this way, but my people are changing. I don’t like it, and I feel as if I don’t belong anymore. I keep to myself more often as the days and weeks pass.” Bria stood and smoothed the front of her dress. “But that’s not your problem. If you want, I can show you the portal now. It won’t be open for hours yet, but maybe if you see it you can think of a way to access its magic and get back to your world.”
Five minutes later Bria led her down a path in the forest that bypassed the palace. As they came to the edge of a clearing, she turned to Kam and pointed. A large field of swirling gold and silver stood less than a hundred feet away.
Kam frowned. No guards. That was good but unexpected. Bria stayed in the sparse cover of the forest, and Kam used her invisibility amulet to approach the portal without fear of being observed. She reached out a tentative hand and felt a solid mass. A different spot yielded the same result. Stepping back, she studied it a moment then used her arm with the silver bracelet, hoping that magic would recognize magic.
If it did, the portal didn’t respond. Kam’s spirits drooped, and she turned away. She’d try coming back during the hours Bria said it was open, but she had a feeling the restricted hours were part of a Cyrilian edict rather than a magical reality. The portal looked fully functional. What she needed were the words to get beyond the protective enchantment. Without the keycode, she would be stuck in Cyrilia indefinitely.
CHAPTER TEN
Kam spent the night in Bria’s home despite the cousin’s obvious disapproval. The older woman hadn’t said anything—at least not in front of Kam—but her lips were firmly set in a tight line. Kam slept fitfully, half expecting to hear guards tromping through the halls at any moment. In the pre-dawn hours, she woke and lay listening to the castle sounds. All seemed quiet. Normal.
No, anything but normal. It was surreal to wake in a world she’d never heard of until three days ago. She didn’t understand much of what had happened. What had the Cyrilians expected her to do to fix their world? You couldn’t mine mountains that didn’t have minerals or grow crops when there were no seeds and no water. Were there any nutrients in the soil?
She slipped out of her feather bed, went to the window, and looked out, studying the parched earth. Even in the light that was a constant in this world, she couldn’t see any signs of life to nourish.
Kam returned to sit on the edge of the bed. So much about this place puzzled her. Was Bria really the friend she seemed? She had learned about the escape so quickly. Was it the same kind of inexplicable fate that had allowed Kam to escape the palace? Or was this all some kind of trick? Could she trust anyone? She rubbed her temples and climbed under the covers, pulling them over her head to shut out the light.
She squeezed her eyes closed and imagined Seth’s warm body next to hers. Curling her arms around herself, she held on tight. Had he discovered she was gone? Did he care?
* * *
Kam woke to the heavy sound of bells tolling, not a joyous ring, but a mournful tone. She went to the window, saw nothing except the usual dismal light, and turned toward the murmur of voices in the hall. She donned the silky blue robe Bria had loaned her.
Bria and Cousin Ju stood in the hallway talking softly.
“Oh, there you are.” Bria gave her a soft smile. “A light morning repast should be ready soon. Unless you do not eat in the morning? I’m sorry, I do not know your customs.”
“I love breakfast. That’s what we call it.”
“Breakfast.” Bria rolled the word around as if trying it out. “I like that word. Go down to breakfast whenever you’re ready. I will be in the chapel a while. We received sad news overnight.”
“Is that why the bells are ringing?”
“Yes, the queen is dead. Trystan’s mother. They will toll four times today, based on the sun time we used to have—dawn, midday, sunset, and midnight.”
“Then you used to have a sun. Did it fail too?” Kam asked, momentarily diverted.
“It’s still there but growing dimmer. It no longer moves in the sky. Like the rest of Cyrilia, its power is almost gone.” Bria shrugged as if it was of no concern…more likely, she’d accepted the inevitable.
Kam refocused on the queen’s death. “Does that make Trystan the king?”
Bria shook her head. “Not yet. His father is still alive. I’ll explain it to you later. I’m already neglectful in sending my prayers.” She hurried toward the back of the castle and disappeared down the stairs.
Kam bathed in water brought from the fountain, dressed in an off-white dress sent to her room by Bria, and went downstairs to find something to eat. More bark tea and biscuits. Kam might starve or die of poor nutrition if she stayed in Cyrilia much longer. But the biscuits weren’t bad. This morning’s batch wa
s a little sweeter.
It was only a few minutes before Bria joined her. The young woman’s face was pinched with sadness.
“I’m sorry for your loss,” Kam said. “Were you close to the queen?”
“Oh, I suppose, in a way. I’ve known her all my life. My parents were close friends of the king and queen. Her death reminded me of them.”
“It must have been hard to watch their health fail.”
Bria dabbed at the tears leaking down her cheeks. “By the time they died…within days of one another…they hadn’t recognized me for almost eight months.”
Kam thought it was time to choose another subject. “So you know Trystan well?”
“He asked her to marry him,” Cousin Ju announced as she entered the kitchen, carrying a pitcher of water. “She was foolish enough to turn him down.”
Kam cocked her head in surprise. “Really? Why? Did you not suit?”
The cousin snorted. “Suit or not, he is the prince. Someday soon he will be king. It was destined.”
“Trystan was relieved when I said no,” Bria said, lowering her voice confidentially although there was no one to hear except the three of them. “We’re great friends—oh, I know you haven’t seen his best side—but he is a rather wonderful person. It’s just…he’s like a brother, not a lover.”
Kam nodded sympathetically. Rather like Caleb. She understood Bria’s dilemma. “I have a childhood friend like that. My family had expectations, but I chose another man. He and I have remained close.”
“Trystan and I too. That’s why I must see him today. His parents have been ill for a long time, but he won’t take this well.” Bria got a strange look on her face and raised a finger to her chin. “I wonder if I should ask him for the portal keycode while I’m there.”
“Do you dare?” Kam pushed her untouched tea aside and leaned forward. “Won’t he demand to know why?”
“Maybe. But what can it hurt to try? I’ll make up some excuse.” She finished her own tea and gave Kam a faint smile. “But I will be sorry if you leave. I enjoy talking to another woman my age. It’s like having a sister.”
How lonely Bria must be to say that on such short acquaintance. And yet Kam felt a bond between them. It was unusual for her. She didn’t have or need a lot of female friends, when she had her sister and mother, and she’d never gone out of her way to spend time with other women. Maybe it was her career…or her love of adventure that kept leading her in other directions.
And look where it had gotten her this time.
After breakfast, they watered the seedling—which by some miracle was still alive—then Bria took off for the palace. Kam went inside to remain out of sight, although she hadn’t seen anyone other than Bria and her cousin for two days. Was Cyrilia so big or sparsely settled?
Bria had been gone an hour. Kam wandered restlessly around the castle. Cousin Ju had disappeared into the back rooms. With nothing to do, Kam finally went for a walk to stretch her legs…and calm her nerves. She couldn’t shake off a nagging fear that Trystan and his guards were on the way and she’d be caught waiting there like a fool.
She stepped outside and paused as the silence struck her. No singing or chirping birds. Why hadn’t she noticed that before? Another sign of the failing environment. Following a path to her left, she kept one hand on the chain of her amulet in case she ran into Cyrilians. But after fifteen minutes she’d found nothing except dying forest. Then the bells started. Midday. One set was so loud she flinched at the clamor. Kam cut through a bramble patch and came out on the edge of a village. The church bells clanged again. She covered her ears until it stopped.
The village was actually just a collection of homes without stores or warehouses or markets. Of course, there wouldn’t be any of those. She’d been comparing it with Elvenrude again. Since each family produced food and other everyday items magically in Cyrilia, they had no need for such community places.
Kam spotted two women talking to one another, but there wasn’t much other activity. No children. No animals. What did these people do all day? Somehow living with magic to fulfill your every whim didn’t sound so appealing. And now with the magic fading…they had nothing.
She shook her head. A sad state for the once proud and powerful moon elves. They led lives without purpose. In contrast to her warm and loving home surrounded by a bustling countryside, Cyrilia was forlorn…and doomed to one of the worst fates Kam could imagine…boredom.
She’d seen enough. Retracing her path to the castle, she’d nearly reached the side door when she heard raised voices from the front. She turned in that direction, stopped behind a large tree trunk at the corner, and peeked around.
Trystan! She shrank back, her heart hammering. Bria was with him. Had her new friend betrayed her after all? Maybe Cousin Ju had insisted.
Even more careful now, she peeked again. They were too far away for her to clearly hear what they were saying, but their conversation seemed animated, as if they were arguing. About her? Gripping the amulet to cloak her presence, she crept closer and flattened against the stone wall to listen.
“Because it’s wrong,” Bria said. “You used to be more reasonable, Tryst, before you got so high and mighty. If this is the way you’re going to act, I’m not sure you’ll be a good king.”
“Well, listen to you.” He sounded annoyed but taken aback. “I never thought you’d turn on me.”
Bria waggled her finger in his face. “Not fair.”
“Nor was your suggestion I’d be a bad king.”
She glared at him, and then her gaze softened. “I didn’t mean you’d be a bad one. Not exactly. But how can you even think of conquering the dark elves and forcing them to work for us? That’s not a good thing at all.”
Kam clapped a hand over her mouth to smother a gasp, hoping they hadn’t heard the small sound that escaped. She needn’t have worried; they were focused on their dispute.
“Maybe it’s not good for them, but it’s my responsibility to save this kingdom. Whatever I decide, it will be in our best interests—no matter who or what stands in my way.” Trystan’s face tightened, and he brought his cool gaze to rest on Bria’s face. “I will leave you here at the front gate. I have no interest in continuing this conversation, and I will not be coming in.”
“No one has invited you,” Bria said. Then she took his hand in both of hers. Kam saw him stiffen, but he didn’t jerk away. “I am sorry about the queen, Tryst. And I’m sorry the concerns of our world are so heavy. You know I would help you if I could.”
“Yes, I know, but there is no one in Cyrilia who can mend our problems. We must reach outward, find, and take what we need.”
“I know that’s what you think, and what you’re being advised, and I’m sorry about that too.” She dropped his hand and walked toward the castle. Trystan watched her for a long moment, then turned and strode swiftly back the way he had come.
Kam’s face flushed, her fingers clenched into tight balls. Invasion. Slavery. That’s what they meant, wasn’t it? By the gods, hearing his plans so plainly was staggering. He was willing to destroy her world to save his own.
Well, they wouldn’t find it that easy. She stifled a wild temptation to charge into the prince’s palace and tell him so. Kam sagged against the tree trunk to wait until she had her emotions under control. Throwing accusations around would gain her nothing except another trip to the dungeons…or worse.
The first flash of anger faded. She still had an ally. Bria had proven herself a true friend. A hint of amusement curled Kam’s lips. Bria had a mind of her own and hadn’t hesitated to speak it bluntly. A gutsy thing to do. Trystan might be a childhood friend, but he was also the ruler of her world.
Kam straightened. She couldn’t delay any longer. Elvenrude must be warned so they had time to prepare. Like Trystan, she had responsibilities…and she could be every bit as ruthless.
She hurried around the corner of the castle and into a side entrance. Kam made it to the second floor without
running into Bria or Cousin Ju. When she entered her room, she found her clothes neatly folded and waiting on the bed. Despite her continual air of disapproval, Bria’s cousin must have cleaned them or had them cleaned, whatever people did there. The gesture couldn’t have been more timely. She said a silent thank you and pulled them on. Jeans and a T-shirt felt so normal. A feeling she needed badly right now.
Taking a determined breath, she went in search of Bria and knocked on her door. She braced herself to find Bria in a somber or angry mood after the fight with Trystan. The door was flung open, and Bria dragged her inside.
“Where have you been? I looked all over. I have it!” Bria’s eyes danced with excitement.
“Have what?”
“The keycode, silly. I have the portal code.”
Kam’s mouth dropped open. “He gave it to you?”
“Not exactly. He started to, even wrote it down for me, but then he asked a lot of questions. Why did I want to go? Why now? Was Cousin Ju taking me?” Bria dropped her eyes. “I’m not very good at lying. So I just kind of shrugged.”
“Did he give you a bad time?”
“No, he was really sweet and understanding. He said I couldn’t have it because it wasn’t safe for me to go alone. But he offered to take me sometime. Which later made it hard to pick a fight when I wanted him to go home.”
“You deliberately started the fight?” Kam snickered. “I was in the woods and heard part of it.”
“I couldn’t allow him to come inside. I didn’t know where you were. And I only brought up a dispute we’d already had.”
Kam’s face sobered. “I heard what he said, and I’m glad you don’t agree with him. But I need to leave and warn my people. I have to use the portal. Today, um, tonight. Whatever it is right now. How do you tell the time of day when it’s always gray? Never mind. It’s not important. If Trystan said you couldn’t have the code, how did you get it? Where is it now?”
Bria pursed her lips in an impish smile. She pulled a paper out of her pocket and waved it in the air. “Right here?”