Once we reached the edge of town, the group dispersed as the others headed for their homes. The symmetry of the town with its neat rows of wooden buildings conflicted with the asymmetrical style of the castle complex. The logical array of businesses interspersed among residences made navigating the town easier. Each district had a name matching the merchandise sold there. Peach Alley would be located in the Garden District.
A few townspeople bustled about, all intent on some errand. I walked as if I had a purpose so I didn’t attract unwanted attention from the town’s guards, who watched the streets.
The colors of the buildings thinned toward gray as the sun set. My perceptions shifted, and I felt as if I had entered into a colorless shadow world. The buildings transformed into a watery representation of a town populated with ghosts.
I stumbled over some unseen curb and snapped back to the real world. Dismissing the strange spell, I rationalized hunger as the culprit. I picked up my pace, determined to find the right address before the lamplighters came out. Peach Lane seemed devoid of life, and only when I went around to the back alley did I see signs of habitation.
A glow of firelight came from number forty-three. Keeping to the shadows, I approached the back door. I pulled a thread of magic and scanned the area. Inside the house I felt Porter waiting with two young girls. They were nervous about being found, but I didn’t sense any duplicity.
I paused as the realization of how much I depended on my magic dawned on me. Not only with searching for attackers, but with Kiki, too. Could I completely stop using my magic? It would be much harder than I thought.
The door opened right after my light tap, as if Porter had been hovering near it. He pulled me into the room and closed it behind me.
“Did anyone see you?” he asked.
“No.” I looked around the room. Small and tidy, the sitting area had a couch, a chair and three dogs getting nervous attention from the girls. The girls perched on the edge of the couch with their backs straight. They wore students’ uniforms, which consisted of a simple jumper made of red linen. White-faced, their gazes jumped between Porter and me.
“You said I could help you?” I asked.
“We’re taking a big chance trusting you.” Porter picked up a half-chewed roll of rawhide from the floor. He clutched the dog’s treat in his hands as he stared at me. “You must promise not to tell Valek or anyone else about all this.”
“I can’t promise until I hear what ‘all this’ is.”
The rawhide popped and cracked in Porter’s hands. He glanced at the girls and sighed. His wide shoulders drooped with the release of his tension, and he gestured to the empty chair. “Have a seat. This is going to take a while.”
As soon as I sat down, one of the dogs came over and put his head in my lap. Peering at me from between his gray shaggy hairs, he pleaded for attention. I stroked his smooth head and scratched behind his ears. The dog’s tail thumped on the floor. The smell of wet dog and wood smoke mixed into a stuffy odor.
Porter tapped the roll on his leg as he talked. “I’ve set up a network of people throughout Ixia to help me in smuggling children out of the country.”
I leaned forward in alarm, thinking about Mogkan’s kidnapping ring and how he had taken children from Sitia to Ixia to abuse them for his own purposes. “Children?”
“They seem like children to me.” Porter gave the two girls a grandfatherly smile. “Adolescents who have just discovered their magical powers.” He pointed to the couch. “Young people like Liv and Kieran. I’ve been helping them to escape to Sitia before their powers are known to others. But I believe something has gone wrong.”
“What?” I prompted when Porter appeared to be lost in his own thoughts.
“I was in MD-7 last month. General Rasmussen has a nice wolfhound I wanted to breed with my bitch. While there, one of my contacts who works in the general’s stables told me the last person I sent through the network never arrived. And two others he had sent on never made it to the border contact. They have all disappeared.”
My stomach twisted around my heart. “Do you think Valek has killed them?”
“I don’t know and I can’t risk asking around. If my network has been compromised then I won’t be able to send Liv and Kieran. Eventually they’ll get reported.”
I hadn’t thought it possible, but the girls’ faces turned whiter. Considering Porter’s story, I said, “Tell me how your network operates.”
“I have four contacts from here to the border. A few people know about my underground efforts and they’ll send their son or daughter to me as an apprentice. The Commander gives me complete management of his kennel and no one pays too much attention to my students. They come and go as part of their animal husbandry training. It’s risky, being this close to Valek, but then I usually know where he is and can send my charges when he’s gone on business.” Porter paced. “It’s too risky to have a guide with them, so I instruct the person how to find the first contact and then he sends them on until they get to the border contact, who takes them into Sitia. They have transfer papers with them if they’re stopped by the guards. If they had gotten caught, I would have been arrested by now.” His erratic movements showed his frustration.
“How can I help?”
He stopped. “I wanted you to go along with Liv, and maybe find out what’s happening to my charges. With that adviser’s uniform you can go anywhere in Ixia without permission.”
“No. Too dangerous for Liv. The best thing to do would be for me to disguise myself as a student and go through your network alone.”
Porter’s eyebrows spiked up in surprise. “You would do that for us?”
“Yes. Unfortunately though, it will have to wait.”
The ability to connect with the power source began at the onset of puberty. A person typically had a year before anyone else noticed and reported them, and another three to four years to learn how to harness their power. A fledgling magician’s power, when uncontrolled, could flame out and warp the blanket of power that covers the world, causing trouble for magicians everywhere. And the stronger the magician, the bigger the flameout. One-trick power similar to Opal’s ability to capture magic in molten glass tended to be unconscious and didn’t require formal training.
“How long do the girls have?” I asked.
“A year at most for Liv. Kieran is younger so she could last up to two years, but I’d rather they both be gone as soon as possible. I can hide them here if we’re desperate. I’ve had some refugees who didn’t have time to work in the kennel,” Porter said.
“Give me a couple months. Sitia’s not the best place to be sending anyone right now. Once I settle another matter, I’ll come back and help you. For now, I can teach the girls how to tame their powers enough so they don’t give themselves away.”
Relief shone on Liv and Kieran’s young faces. I worked with them for the next hour. Irys would be proud over how much I remembered from her guidance. A finger of dread stabbed my guts with the thought of Irys. I hoped she was still alive.
After my session, the girls left Porter’s together while I waited for them to be well away before I left. The need to begin my journey back to Sitia pressed on my mind as I worried about Irys and Bain locked in the Keep’s cells.
I made a quick sweep of the area outside Porter’s door with my magic. The activity around the houses seemed muted as everyone finished their daily tasks. No one lurked in the alley.
With a wave goodbye, I exited Porter’s. I stood outside and let my eyes adjust to the darkness. When the shadows grew less black, I strode toward the street.
About halfway there I felt a presence behind me. I spun, grabbing for my switchblade. Something jabbed me in the neck and I saw Star lower a thin pipe.
I yanked the dart out of my throat. “How?”
“Some great magician you are,” Star said. “Missing my own tiny talent.”
My world spun and I stumbled. Star caught me, but I had no energy to fight her off. ?
??What?”
She cradled me in her arms. “Valek’s goo-goo juice. Relax, Yelena. Star’s going to take good care of you.”
My last coherent thought focused on how her sinister expression didn’t match her soothing words.
23
THE WORLD STIRRED. MY thoughts scattered and failed to connect. Warm hands guided me. Whenever the hands pulled away, the ground swelled and I tumbled off my feet.
I thought about the lack of fear for only a moment before the air spun around my head. Lying down felt best. I sensed movement and smelled horses.
Inside my chicken crate, I wondered what I was supposed to be doing. Important things? My mind chased the thought until the sunlight lit the dust motes. I studied the flecks floating above me. The flecks transformed into daggers. I wanted to knock them away. My hands stayed glued to my back. A leather strap lodged in my teeth. The problem disappeared with the sun.
Time ebbed and flowed. My crate opened. It closed. Faces peered. Mouths talked. Words chimed in my ears. Some like eat, drink and sleep I understood. Others resembled a baby’s babble. Goo-goo. Goo-goo. A prick on my arm or neck or back. The air filled with colors. My crate bobbed on an invisible sea.
A small lucid part of me wanted action. Freedom. Majority ruled and I let the world slide by me content in my crate. My crate. My crate. I giggled.
The fire woke me. A finger of flame poked. I jerked away, no longer inside my crate. My thoughts congealed into a coherent whole. The air became invisible, revealing my surroundings. I braced for another prick. When none came I focused. The booted feet of a couple guards stood near me. I lay on my side in front of a campfire. Darkness pressed against the firelight, and my hands were tied behind my back.
Actual conversation reached my ears. The baby babble was gone. But for how long? I coaxed my mind to think, but my thoughts remained sluggish.
A man’s voice. “Should not do this,” he said. “She should stay under until we reach our destination. Jal is the only one strong enough to counter her power.”
A familiar voice said, “I made a promise to her. I want her to know who has her, and what we plan to do to her.”
Footsteps approached and I tried to put a name to the familiar voice. My mind churned as if mired in river mud.
“Take the gag off,” Familiar Voice said from behind me.
One of the guards removed the leather strap. A mixture of pain and relief flowed into my cracked lips. I licked them, tasting blood. Other aches and cramps woke. Only the sight of a pair of black riding boots covered with dust could distract me from my medley of aches.
My gaze followed the boots up to jodhpurs that disappeared under a gray riding cloak. I squinted in the firelight, hoping the person in front of me was an illusion.
The cocky smirk caused my heart to stutter. And when he kicked me in the ribs, I knew all hopes for a pleasant reunion were gone. I coughed and wheezed as the pain shot through my body.
“That’s for hitting me with Curare!” He kicked me again. “And that’s just because I can.”
His words sounded thin and distant, reaching me through my efforts to reclaim my breath. He loomed over me. When the sharp pain dulled to a loud throb, I struggled to a sitting position. I glanced around. Four guards stood a few feet away and I counted three Daviian Vermin nearby, but I couldn’t tell if they were Warpers or not.
“Cahil,” I said between gasps. “You’re still…scared. Of me.”
He laughed. The washed-out blue of his eyes sparked with amusement.
“Yelena, you’re the one who should be scared.” He crouched down.
We were face-to-face. He held a dart between us. A drop of clear liquid hung from the end. Fear coiled in my stomach as I smelled the sweet odor. Curare. I tried not to let my terror show on my face.
“I allowed you this brief moment of lucidity. Listen closely. Remember what I said to you the last time we were together?”
“When you wanted to exchange me for Marrok?”
“No. When I promised to find a person who could defeat you and Valek. I’ve met with success. In fact, you have already had an encounter with my champion.”
“Ferde?” I played the simpleton to prolong the conversation, hoping my slow mind would produce a plan for escape.
“Act the fool, but I know better. My champion makes you sweat with fear and desire. The Fire Warper has been called to this world with one mission. To capture you. And you’re powerless against him.” Pure satisfaction shone on Cahil’s face. “I will deliver you to Jal and the Fire Warper. Jal will perform the Kirakawa ritual’s binding ceremony on you, taking your powers as the Fire Warper claims your soul.”
My mind buzzed with the need to stop him yet produced nothing intelligent. I couldn’t even connect with the power source. “And what do you get, Cahil?”
“I get to witness your death and watch your heart mate suffer before he meets the same end.”
“But Jal gains power. Do you really believe Jal will let you rule? And what about the Fire Warper? Do you think he’ll be content to go back after his task is complete?”
“He has come asking for you. Once he has you, he’ll go back. Then Jal rules Sitia, and I rule Ixia.”
I saw a faint trace of uncertainty in Cahil’s eyes. My mind pulled free from the mire of the goo-goo juice and I made a connection. “Before you said you called him. Now you say he has come. Which one is it?”
“It doesn’t matter.”
“Yes it does. If you called him, you have control over him.”
He shrugged. “Jal will deal with him. As long as I have Ixia. I don’t care.”
“You should care. The need for power is addicting. Ask your Daviian friends about the history of the Sandseed Clan and the Daviian Mountains. Then you’ll realize Jal won’t be content with just ruling Sitia. Once your usefulness is gone, you will be too.”
“You’re just trying to trick me. I know better than to listen to you.”
He tried to stab the dart into my throat. I fell back and pulled power as Cahil pinned me with his weight. With no time to think, I focused the magic on my neck as he jabbed the dart into my skin. Closing my eyes, I treated the area as I would an injury. In my mind’s eye, I saw the Curare as a pulsing red light, spreading through my throat. I used power to push the liquid back through the tiny hole in my skin. It trickled down the side of my neck.
My gaze met Cahil’s when I opened my eyes. He stared at me with a mixture of triumph and hatred.
Hoping he hadn’t seen the drug run out, I said, “Pay close attention, Cahil. You’ll see the truth.” I acted as if I had been paralyzed, unfocusing my eyes and letting my body go slack.
He grunted and stood. “I’ve seen the truth. That’s why I want you dead.”
The Vermin joined him next to the fire, and I watched them from the corner of my eye.
“I felt magic. Brief. Did she use her power on you?” one of the Vermin asked Cahil.
“No. I got her in time.”
They discussed their plans for leaving in the morning.
When the others moved to set up camp, Cahil said, “I should kill her now.”
Alarmed replies told him it would be imprudent. For the first time ever, I agreed with the Vermin.
“Jal needs her and we do not wish to infuriate the Fire Warper,” another said.
“Why should I care about infuriating the Fire Warper?” Cahil asked. “I’m in charge. He should answer to me. He should worry about infuriating me, especially after the fiasco in the jungle.”
Soothing words were muttered.
“Put her back in the box,” Cahil finally said. “Secure it, just in case we encounter trouble.”
Two of the Vermin lifted me. I concentrated on being a dead weight. My hands were tied and I couldn’t use magic without alerting them. I knew one of the three was a Warper but was unsure about the other two. At this point I needed more information. I decided to wait for a better opportunity and hoped I would get one.
&nbs
p; The Vermin climbed onto a cart, dropped me into a crate and shut the lid. In the darkness the sound of metal latches being closed grated on my skin. I bit down on a cry of dismay when the snap of three locks sounded. The coffin-shaped crate seemed to press into me, and I drew in a couple of calming breaths. My gaze found the small slit between the boards, allowing air to come in. And light. The faint flicker of firelight seeped through the cracks.
I wiggled into a more comfortable position. My mind raced over my limited options. Magic remained my only weapon. The desire to project my awareness and scan my surroundings pulled at me, but I knew if they discovered I wasn’t drugged, all possibility of escape would be gone. Would the Warper feel my power while he slept? Could I put the Vermin and Cahil into a deep sleep? I would still be locked in a box, but I could call someone to break me out.
Who? Only a fellow magician could hear my mental call, and I had no idea where I was. If I was lucky enough to find a local citizen, perhaps I could discover my location.
Unable to plan a course of action, I marveled over my ability to push the drug out of my body. Had I known I possessed that skill, I wouldn’t be in this situation. And my problems with Curare, sleeping potion and goo-goo juice were solved. Although it was hard to celebrate when locked in a box.
Ever since I went to Sitia, all I wanted was to learn about magic, to discover the extent of my powers and be reacquainted with my family. Events conspired against me and I had hardly had time to catch my breath, let alone spend time exploring my magic.
Pushing the Curare out of my body was a new wrinkle. My abilities only affected living things, since my magic didn’t move the drug; it must have made the muscles in my body do the work.
Desperation and raw instinct had gotten me this far. I hoped it would carry me through, and as much as I disliked using it, magic was unavoidable. If I was lucky enough to survive this, I planned to retire as a Soulfinder and limit my magic to only communicating with Kiki. I wondered if she knew I’d been taken. Did Valek know? And what about Star’s role in all this?