“Why didn’t I see you the next morning? Why didn’t you call out?”
“The roof had tented around us, and there was nothing you could do to help until the fire died.” His hand went to his ribs again. “I didn’t have enough air to yell and Gale needed all her strength to keep us alive.”
“Why couldn’t she blow the fire out? Or save the children?”
“Her powers are limited. It’s all part of her weather dancing thing.” He gestured past the wagon. “You can ask her. I’ve brought her along.” When he saw my questioning look, he added, “We’re going to need all the help we can get.”
I looked on the other side of the wagon. Gale held Onyx’s and Topaz’s reins. Kiki had already found them and nuzzled Topaz. Garnet stood nearby. Gale’s unease about being surrounded by horses was reflected in the queasy look on her face.
“Did you learn anything else?” I asked Valek.
“Yes. Finding clothes when you’re half naked is harder than you think. And scared horses can travel pretty far in the wrong direction before you find them.” He studied the group of horses. “Onyx and Topaz are fast, but there’s nothing like a Sandseed horse when you’re in a hurry. And despite your detour to Booruby, love, I had a hard time catching up.”
“You could have found a way to tell me you were all right. I’ve spent the last week in utter misery.”
“Now you know how I felt when you jumped into the stable fire. And you know how I’ll feel if you don’t come back from fighting the Fire Warper.”
I opened my mouth then closed it. “You were eavesdropping.”
“I had hoped to hear everyone discussing how much they missed my altruistic qualities, my legendary skills as a fighter and as a lover.” He leered. “Instead, you’re making plans for tomorrow. Interesting how life goes on in spite of itself.”
Valek sobered and stared at me with a fiery intensity. “With all that planning, love, I’m sure you can figure a way to return.”
“I’m not smart enough.” My frustration wrapped around my chest and squeezed until I wanted to scream aloud. “I don’t know enough about magic! I don’t think anyone does. We’re all just bumbling along, using it and abusing it.”
“Do you truly believe that?”
“Yes. Although I’ll admit to being a hypocrite. First sign of trouble and I fall back on using magic.” My ability to guide souls hadn’t taxed my energy like using magic. I didn’t draw from the power source. It was a natural effort just like inhaling and exhaling. “When I think about magic, all I see is the harm it has done to this world.”
“Then you’re not looking in the right places.”
And this from someone who was immune to magic’s effects. I’d seen firsthand the Kirakawa ritual, the blood magic, the corruption of power, the Sandseed massacre and the tormented souls. It had to stop.
Valek studied my expression. “Think about what you said to the Commander about magic.”
“I tend to agree with the Commander about how magic corrupts.”
“Then why did you mention to the Commander how magic could harness the power of a blizzard and save his people instead of discussing the possibility of using power as a weapon? If magic corrupts, then why hasn’t it corrupted you? Or Irys? Moon Man? Leif?”
“We haven’t let it corrupt us.”
“Right! You have the choice.”
“But it’s a very tempting choice. Power is addictive. It’s only a matter of time.”
“Oh yes. Sitia has been battling Warpers for ages. Though you wouldn’t know it from all the peace and prosperity hanging around.” Sarcasm dripped from Valek’s words. “Let’s see, how long ago did the magicians use blood magic? I think Moon Man told me two thousand years. Then you’re right! It’s only a matter of time. A matter of two thousand years. I’ll take those odds any day.”
“I never realized how annoying you can be.”
“You know I’m right.”
“I could prove you wrong. I can be corrupt.” It was my turn to leer.
Valek looked over at Janco and the others. They milled about a small fire, trying to appear nonchalant, but I knew they listened to every word.
“Not in front of the children, love. But I’ll hold you to that.”
The night disappeared in a hurry. We finished prepping the wagon and updating our plans to include Valek and Gale.
The others had taken Valek’s return in stride, although Janco made a comment about Valek’s lack of hair. “You ever notice how couples start to look alike?” he asked.
In a deadpan, Valek replied, “Yes. In fact, I was just thinking how much you and Topaz resemble each other. It’s uncanny.”
Ari chuckled at Janco’s chagrined expression before saying, “The caravan is leaving soon. What part of the line do we want to be in?”
“Near the back, but not the last wagon,” Valek instructed. “When we’re out of sight of the gatehouse, head to the Keep.”
“Yes, sir.” Ari snapped to attention.
I stared at our small group. Marrok eyed Valek with dislike, but he had assumed the posture of a soldier waiting for orders. Leif chewed on his lip, a nervous habit. Gale’s face was bleached with fear, but she set her mouth into a determined frown. She told me her power was weak compared to a Stormdancer, but she could agitate the wind and kick up enough dust to impair the Daviians’ vision.
“We don’t know what we’ll encounter inside the Keep. Listen for instructions and follow orders even if they don’t make sense,” Valek ordered.
“Yes, sir,” everyone said in unison, including Gale.
Before we could get into position, I handed three of Opal’s glass animals to Leif and the other three to Gale.
“What are these for?” Leif asked.
“Keep one each, but give the rest to Moon Man, Irys, Bain and Dax if they’re still alive.” I swallowed the sudden lump in my throat. “I think I can use the animals to communicate with you when I’m in the fire world.”
Leif peered at me with sad eyes, but I turned away before he could say anything. “Come on, you first.” I gestured to the cart.
Leif, Gale and Valek hid in the three boxes at the bottom of the wagon. We put another empty crate and some genuine goods on top of them. Then I lay down inside the top crate.
When Marrok closed the lid, my heart slammed in my chest in a sudden panic. My throat closed when the rugs were piled on top. The wagon lurched. I wanted out. I felt trapped. The others could get out of their boxes through the hidden panels we had installed on the wagon’s floor. I could not. This wasn’t going to work. The Vermin would figure it out before we could reach the Keep. And then what would happen?
I drew in a few steadying breaths. We would be captured. I would be fed to the Fire Warper just like I wanted. All we would lose was the element of surprise. While helpful, I believed even with it the chances of the others living through the encounter were little to none.
My morose line of thought was not helping my state of mind. So I focused instead on the motion of the wagon. It had been a long and emotionally exhausting night. I fell asleep during the trip to the Citadel.
The sound of an unfamiliar voice roused me from sleep. We had stopped, and I gathered by the voices we were at the Citadel’s north gate. The voices came closer and a person banged on my box. I jumped, clamping my lips against a shout.
“What’s in this one?” a man asked.
“The finest silk sheets woven by the Moon Clan, sir,” the merchant replied. “Perhaps you care to purchase a set? Just feel the fabric and you’ll know your wife will be most anxious to try them out.”
The man laughed. “I’ll not be spending a month’s pay for a night with my wife. That’s why I married her.”
Their laughter trailed away as the guard questioned the merchant on his reasons for entering the Citadel. After what seemed like hours, the wagon began to move. Ari picked up the pace and I guessed we had broken off from the caravan.
When the sounds from the ma
rket reached me, the wagon slowed. Ari called out to the stand owners, giving them the sign to prepare to revolt. A network of messengers would fan out to spread the news, then remain in place to deliver the signal for action.
The fighting would erupt when our wagon went inside the Keep. The cart turned around a corner. It stopped with a jerk.
Ari cursed and the jangle of many horses surrounded us. A familiar voice called out, “Oh no. This will not do.”
Cahil.
32
CAHIL AND HIS MEN had found us. Trapped inside my crate, I could do nothing but wait for the inevitable. I hoped Valek and the others hiding in the wagon would be able to sneak away.
“I assume you have Yelena hidden somewhere in your wagon?” Cahil asked.
“Have who, sir?” Ari asked, playing innocent. “All I have is goods for the market.”
“For the market? The market you just rode through without stopping to unload? I don’t think so. Despite your disguises and weak attempts to explain your presence, I know who you are and why you’re here. In fact, I was sent by Jal to come and escort you to the Keep.”
I heard a creak as Ari shifted his weight and I detected a faint rustling from below me. Probably Valek opening his escape panel.
“Relax,” Cahil said. “I’m not here to capture you. I’m here to join you. And I hope for the sake of all our lives you have a decent plan.”
I had to let Cahil’s words sink in. Had he just said he wanted to join us?
“A plan, sir?” Ari asked.
Cahil snorted with exasperation. “Yelena! Leif!” he called. “Come out and tell your big northern friend I’m telling the truth. Look for yourselves. My men have not drawn their—”
A surprised yelp followed a thud. Then Ari moved off the wagon and the rugs on top of my crate scraped away. The lid lifted. I had my switchblade in hand, but Ari’s amused face greeted me. He helped me stand. Valek had a knife to Cahil’s throat. He and Cahil were on the ground. Cahil’s men remained on their mounts. The men appeared tense and alert but hadn’t drawn any weapons. Leif and Janco joined Ari and all three pulled their blades. Marrok stayed on Garnet.
“Tell me why I shouldn’t cut your throat?” Valek asked Cahil.
“You won’t get into the Keep without me,” he said. He kept still and held his hands up and away from his body.
“Why this sudden change of heart?” I asked.
Cahil’s gaze met mine. Hatred still radiated from his eyes but the pain of betrayal tainted them. “You were right.” He said each word as if it hurt him. “They’re using me and…”
“And what?” I prompted.
“The rituals and killings have gotten out of hand. I can’t be a part of it anymore.” He looked at Marrok. “I wasn’t raised to be a killer. I was raised to be a leader. I’ll earn my throne the old-fashioned way.”
Although the expression on Marrok’s face never changed, his body relaxed.
“How do we know you’re telling the truth?” Ari asked.
“Yelena knows through her magic.”
I shook my head. “I can’t use it. It will alert Jal and risk the mission.”
“She already knows you’re here. You have thwarted her a number of times, although it will be more difficult now, as she has gained an incredible amount of power through the Kirakawa ritual.”
“She?” Valek and I asked in unison.
“We thought Jal was Gede,” I said.
Cahil blinked at us for a moment. “You didn’t know? What else don’t you know? You were planning an attack at the Keep, right? I thought you had it all figured out.”
“You thought wrong,” I said, annoyed. “We had to guess about the state of affairs inside the Keep.”
“Then here’s a way for me to prove my loyalty. I’ll tell you what’s been going on and will help you get inside. Agreed?”
Valek and I exchanged a glance.
“Do I still get to kill him?” Valek asked.
“At the first sign of betrayal, yes,” I said.
“What about after this is all over?”
“Then it’s your call.”
Cahil stared at us. “Hold on. I’m risking my life to help you. I’d like some guarantees.”
“We’ve come to a point where there are no guarantees. For any of us,” I said.
“That’s not very encouraging,” Cahil said.
“It’s not supposed to be. You should know what happens when you play with fire, Cahil. Eventually, you’ll get burned. Now, tell us what you know,” I ordered.
Valek removed his knife from Cahil’s throat and stepped back. Cahil scanned the area. We had attracted quite the crowd, but I saw to my relief that there were no Vermin among them. Then it hit me—why not? I asked Cahil.
He gave me a sardonic smile. “They’re all at the Keep. Roze plans a massive Kirakawa ritual using all the magicians she has captured to empower all her favorite Warpers in one sweep. And you’re to be the coup de grâce.”
My blood turned to ice. “Roze?”
A superior expression settled on Cahil’s face. “Yes, Roze Featherstone, First Magician also known as Jalila Daviian, First Warper and founder of the Daviian Clan.”
All color drained from Leif’s face. “But how? Why?”
“I had no idea until Ferde was caught. She asked me to rescue him in exchange for the Council’s support to invade Ixia,” Cahil said. “I thought it was an undercover mission to learn who else was behind his bid for power. Though, when I discovered the truth about her and the other Warpers, I must admit it didn’t bother me at the time. She promised to attack Ixia and make me king.”
“How many Warpers are inside and who are the victims for the ritual?” I asked.
“Six very powerful Warpers, including Roze and Gede. They have been very careful about who they allow to increase their powers, keeping crucial information about the Kirakawa ritual to a select few. There are fifty Vermin soldiers and ten medium-powered Warpers. Two of those Warpers are scheduled to be given master-level powers during the massive ritual. The victims for this ritual will be the three other Masters, who are incarcerated in the Keep’s cells, Moon Man and the Councilors.”
“What about the students?”
“The older apprentices have been put in the cells. The younger ones obey out of fear.”
“How does Roze plan to control the Master Magicians?”
“She has the power, but I think she does plan to prick them with Curare to save her energy. Once they are tied down, a dose of Theobroma will weaken their defenses.”
“They seem to have an unlimited supply of Curare,” I mused out loud.
“Gede Daviian has provided the drug for them. He also helped recruit dissatisfied Sandseeds to the Daviian Clan. And having a pet Fire Warper has made him the Daviians’ most valued member.”
I mulled over the information. “How do you plan to get us inside?”
“As my prisoner. She knows I went to find you. I’ll bring you to her and since my feelings for you haven’t changed, I won’t have to act like I hate you. Sensing nothing wrong, Roze will probably order me to take the rest—” Cahil pointed to Ari and Janco “—to the cells.”
“Why would I cooperate with you?”
“Because I’ll have Leif, and I’ll make a bargain to keep him safe in exchange for your cooperation.”
My mind raced through the options and possibilities. For the first time, I felt hopeful about my friends’ survival. “Cahil, when you take the others to the cells, can you free everyone inside?”
“As long as Roze is occupied.”
Valek smiled. “What’s the plan, love?”
We approached the Keep’s gate at a slow walk. I sat in front of Cahil on his horse. Ari and Marrok sat on the wagon with their hands tied behind their backs. Valek and Janco hid in the bottom crates, and Leif sat on Kiki with one of Cahil’s men sitting behind him armed with a knife.
I didn’t have to pretend to be scared and concerned for my friends.
We were waved through the gate without hesitation. Ari had informed the Citadel’s citizens to wait ten minutes before storming the entrance to the Keep. Ten minutes for Cahil and the rest to free the prisoners and for me to jump into the fire. I hoped it was enough time.
The wagon bypassed the Keep’s administration building to where the apprentice barracks formed a ring around an open area. A few students hurried past, keeping their gazes on the ground as they carried out their tasks.
The grassy glen had been transformed. I stared at the waste-land in shock. The bonfire was expected, but the grass around the fire had been covered with sand. Brownish-red stains soaked the sand and stakes had been driven into it.
It was the killing ground for the Kirakawa ritual. And the next victim had already been tied down and prepped.
Bloody cuts crisscrossed his abdomen, legs and arms. Although in pain, Moon Man still managed to smile. “Now we can start the party,” he said.
Roze frowned at him and he writhed in agony. She stood next to Moon Man. Gede was beside her. Other Warpers ringed the fire pit, watching with predatory eyes.
“I see you finally managed to get something right, Cahil,” she said. “Bring her here.”
Cahil slid off the saddle and grabbed me around the waist. He knew he didn’t need to help me down, so he must have a reason. I let him yank me from the saddle, and drop me on the ground.
“Where do you want to go?” he asked in a tight whisper as he jerked me to my feet.
“As close to the fire as I can.”
“Really?”
“Yes.” Although my heart beat a different answer. No! it pounded. Let’s go! Run!
He clamped his hand around my arm and pulled me to Roze. We stopped a few feet from the fire. The heat pulsed in waves. Sweat dripped down my back.
Roze gestured to a couple of Warpers. “There are two hiding in the boxes. Take them.”
The Warpers and a few soldiers advanced on the wagon. After some banging and cursing, Janco and Gale were hauled out.
“There are three compartments, but one is empty,” a Warper called.