After greetings had been made, and Demeter had caught up with the events that had led them all here, they sat down to the meal Aamir had prepared. Alex had never known it before, but the older boy was an exceptional cook, and had apparently raided the camp spice store in order to cook the evening’s dinner.
“Is there chicken in this?” Alex asked.
Aamir shrugged. “Don’t think so. I asked for a bunch of raw, mostly vegetable ingredients for this stew, but they came pre-chopped and mixed up together. Looks like some kind of poultry, though, doesn’t it?”
Alex had a sudden urge to go and check on Storm.
“I’d say this was anything but a poultry meal!” Demeter joked, which made the whole group laugh. The joke itself was terrible, but the laughter was a beautiful, treasured sound, which Alex had forgotten could even exist. There had been so much seriousness that it seemed they’d all held off on joy. But now, here at Starcross Pond, where everything felt just that little bit safer, it seemed like the right time to rediscover some levity.
After eating the delicious food, which had been bulked up by a fresh green salad that Ellabell had prepared from the camp allotments, and some soft, salty sweet potatoes that Natalie had been roasting under the coals of the fire, they lay back and looked up at the stars beginning to dot the early night’s sky. They twinkled in the hazy dark blue, and, just for a moment, Alex almost believed he was on a camping trip somewhere with his friends, far away from any of this. It was a nice feeling, ruined only by the knowledge of what he had arranged with Hadrian. Tomorrow morning, he would have to go to the portal and see if the nervous royal had done as he’d asked. In truth, he wasn’t sure which outcome he’d prefer.
As dawn broke, Alex slipped out of the tent and hurried along the back of the encampment. It was easier than he had expected, given that most of the camp was still fast asleep. Jari and Aamir had been snoring soundly when he’d left, undisturbed by the soft sound of his bare feet creeping across the tent floor. He’d only dared put his shoes back on once he was out of the makeshift home, though his feet got damp on the dew-soaked grass, making him shiver slightly. The sun was only just rising, and its rays were yet to cast their warm glow upon the earth. As Alex walked, he could see his breath in the air in front of him, and pulled his sweater a little tighter to keep out the morning’s chill.
A few people were milling around the central square, a rudimentary center point to the camp with a well in the middle, the perimeter forged from a rickety fence. The other inhabitants were dressed for hard labor, their boots thick, their sweaters even thicker, with scarves and bandanas wrapped around their heads. Many of them were carrying tools, a couple lugging spades and pitchforks over their shoulders, but none of them acknowledged Alex as he slipped past.
He kept an eye out for familiar landmarks. The blackberry bushes came and went, as did the lavender fields, until, finally, Alex found himself heading toward the outcrop of rocks where they had stumbled through the portal the day before. From this side, the portal itself continued to glow, the surface rippling like a pool, though it showed only rock behind it, where the false wall had been drawn across.
At first, it didn’t look like anything was different, but when Alex approached, he noticed something resting on the trampled earth beside the portal. It was a wooden box, the top decorated with golden inlay in the shape of a crown. Alex’s heart seized in his chest. He knew the symbol could only mean one thing.
Crouching, he picked up the box and held it for a moment, his hands trembling. Taking a deep breath, he flipped open the lid. There was a small scroll of thick cream vellum inside, tied with a scarlet ribbon that stood out vividly against the pale background. With shaky fingers, he untied the ribbon and opened the scroll, tucking the box under his arm.
Dear Evasive, Vexing Stranger,
I am not usually one for taking requests, but Hadrian tells me you would like to meet, so that you and I might have a parlay. Whilst I do not know you, you intrigue me. As such, I have decided that I shall agree to your desire for an audience, so we might have ourselves something of a negotiation. Fear not, I shall listen, and I shall consider. Who knows, perhaps we seek the same objective? Perhaps you’ll find me on a particularly giving sort of day, though I must say, capturing my beloved wife was a mistake. However, should I hear your reasoning, forgiveness is not entirely out of the question. I expect you to practice your excuses in the interim before our meeting. Fail to prepare, prepare to fail. I can appreciate time and effort, and I do love a good speech.
I wait, in anticipation of your arrival, no later than midday tomorrow. I presume you know the way? Oh, and while I am certain you are not working alone, I would request that you come to meet me by yourself. I will not tolerate others intruding on our conversation. In fact, if I hear even a whisper of your accomplices, our meeting is off, and you can be sure such insolence will not go unpunished. The nuisance you have caused me is not the work of one man alone. After all, no man is an island. However, you stand representative for the aggravation you have caused.
Yours in expectation,
King Julius
P.S. I cannot abide tardiness. Be late, and I shall execute you on the spot, even though Hadrian has counseled me against such rashness.
Alex re-read the note several times, hardly believing that it had come from Julius’s own hand. The pompous tone definitely belonged to the king, and though there was lenience within its words, there was a warning too. It was clear that Alex had annoyed the king, but maybe, just maybe, he would be prepared to listen if Alex could offer something that couldn’t be ignored. And the price Alex planned to ask for was so small, in the grand scheme of things. A couple hundred captives released in return for a kingdom free of fear—free of the Great Evil.
Then again, Julius was a known psychopath. Perhaps such an offer wouldn’t be nearly tempting enough for a man like him. After all, why would he give up his playthings when he loved to torture? Alex shuddered, knowing he had to remain confident in the fact that Julius couldn’t force him to do the spell, even if he wanted to. His mind was a Spellbreaker mind, off limits to mage-kind. If Julius wanted the Great Evil gone, there would have to be some bargaining, and Alex firmly hoped the king knew that.
Looking back into the box, Alex saw another compartment underneath the first, which contained another piece of vellum, though this one bore no writing. A miniature, slender quill lay beneath it. Steadying his hand, Alex wrote his reply in his neatest handwriting:
Dear King Julius,
It is most kind of you to contemplate my request, as I know you are a very busy man, with plenty on your plate these days. As such, I would be delighted to accept an audience with you, and I assure you, I shall come prepared, and I shall come alone. Expect me at midday—I will not be late.
Yours in anticipation,
The Evasive, Vexing Stranger
Curling the scroll back up and placing it in the main compartment, Alex set the box back down by the side of the portal. He pocketed the king’s letter. His reply seemed polite enough, though he hadn’t been able to help himself from putting a few sly remarks in there, hidden among the propriety. Julius probably abhorred rudeness, but Alex had a feeling he could get away with sarcasm, at least when it came to a man who took himself so seriously.
With the box set back down, Alex took off across the fields, racing for the camp. The sun was getting higher in the sky overhead, and he knew the others would be rising soon, if they had not done so already.
All around him, birds began to sing, harmonizing in a late dawn chorus, and the chirp of grasshoppers could be heard in the long grass that grew among the wildflowers. This place was a true sanctuary, and he wanted to protect it. No matter what happened, he wouldn’t give the secret of this realm away, not even on pain of death. He owed the survivors that much.
Slowing his pace, he walked across the last of the fields until he could see the camp emerging in the near distance. Smoke was rising from a few of the structur
es, with breakfast underway for many of the encampment dwellers.
Unseen, he moved around the perimeter, keeping to the edges until he saw the familiar sight of the willow trees, with Storm resting underneath. He wandered up to her, and her bright eyes gazed up at him. She chirped loudly in welcome, and he stayed with her awhile, sitting up against the soft feathers of her wings, contemplating the steps that had brought him here. His old life seemed to belong to someone else, and, not for the first time, he wondered what he would even do if he managed to get home. How could someone continue with normality after going through so much?
“No use in thinking about that just yet,” he said, patting Storm’s neck.
She gave a low coo that sounded almost sympathetic. He smiled, still in awe of this beautiful beast, who had put her trust in him and allowed him to become a part of her world. It was like Ceres had said—Storm was a wild animal, never destined to be tamed, but their bond was undeniable. He thought about Leander Wyvern, and how he must have felt about his own Thunderbird, Tempest. Had they shared moments like this, man and beast, once upon a time?
Brushing himself off, he walked over to the gap between the two tents where his friends were, and slipped into the narrow passageway. Ellabell was already up and about, boiling something in a pot dangling over the fire they’d used last night. She was crouched low on the ground, blowing into the embers, trying to get the flames to rise, although she didn’t seem to have the natural chef’s talent Aamir possessed.
“Don’t you have a spell for that?” Alex asked, amused.
Ellabell turned in surprise. “There you are, Alex! When I woke up, you weren’t in your bed—everything okay?”
“You went into the boys’ tent to check on me?” Alex asked, a quirk of a smile upon his lips.
Ellabell flushed a little, the pink highlighting the freckles around her nose. “I was about to make some breakfast, and wanted to see if you’d like some,” she mumbled. Alex stepped forward, and she put her arms around his waist, the action as natural as a sigh. “You didn’t answer my question, Alex.”
He nuzzled her hair, which somehow smelled of wildflowers. “I think it’ll be okay.”
“What do you mean?” she pressed, leaning away from him, a peculiar, worried expression passing over her face.
“Let’s get everyone out here,” said Alex solemnly. “I have something I need to tell you all.”
Chapter 9
With everyone gathered, Alex settled down to tell them the plan. Jari rubbed his eyes sleepily, having been rudely awoken, but the girls looked remarkably fresh-faced. They sat around the fire, clutching cups of coffee flavored with cinnamon—another of Aamir’s unexpected culinary delights. As Alex began, an anxious air fell across the group.
“When Hadrian arrived here yesterday, I asked him to do something for me,” said Alex. “I asked him to send a message to Julius so that we could arrange a meeting and negotiate terms. Julius sent a letter back this morning, agreeing to meet with me, and I plan to go ahead with it.”
A gasp rose from the group.
“Do you have a death wish?” Helena spoke first, shaking her head in disbelief. “That man is insane. He’ll kill you as soon as you’re near him.”
Alex smiled. “He won’t. I’m too valuable, and what I have to offer will be too tempting for him not to hear me out.”
“That is a bold assertion, Alex,” Aamir remarked. “You know Julius’s mind doesn’t work like other people’s. He might not care what you are, or what you can do. I hope you considered that fact.”
Alex nodded. “I’ve thought of every possible scenario.”
“Yeah, and each one ends up with you dead, dude,” Jari said, looking equally incredulous.
“I really don’t think so,” Alex replied. “He might be angry about Venus, but, at the end of the day, he wants what we want. As long as the Great Evil is around and the magical realm is having fewer magical children, his kingship is in jeopardy. Who wants to be king over nothing? Or, worse, who wants to be king over a sea of corpses, once the mist gets loose because there’s no more essence to feed the Great Evil?”
“I think Julius just might prefer the latter,” Ellabell said, a stern look on her face. Alex could understand her sudden shift in mood; he hadn’t spoken to anyone about what he planned to do. Heck, he hadn’t really spoken with himself about what he planned to do—it had been impulsive, but it felt like the right path.
Alex looked down into his empty coffee mug. “I think this is the only option we have. We know now that the blood was the problem with the first spell attempt, and if we’re going to do it again, we need Julius’s blood anyway. If I can get Julius to give us his blood willingly, then that’s one less thing to worry about. Otherwise, how do you suggest we take it from him?”
This one seemed to stump the group, who glanced at one another with uncertain looks. It had been hard enough to get the blood from Venus, and that had been a spur-of-the-moment plan. Retrieving it from Julius without him knowing was more or less out of the question. Even getting near him would be impossible without him sounding an alarm or executing them on the spot. Julius was far stronger than any mage they had encountered. A face-to-face meeting in a civilized setting was the only way, as far as Alex could see.
“Why didn’t you tell us what you were planning?” asked Natalie, eyeing Alex with a disappointment that made him quickly jump to his own defense.
“It just happened. I saw an opportunity, and I seized it. Once Hadrian had left, I couldn’t take it back.”
“And when are you supposed to be meeting with him?” Ellabell cut in, her voice wavering.
“Tomorrow at midday.”
“Are you definitely going to go?” Natalie pressed.
“I think I have to,” said Alex.
Jari gave a tight laugh. “I think you’re an idiot.”
“I’m not feeling too smart myself, right now.” Alex smiled wryly, knowing he probably should have consulted his friends first. However, another feeling stirred within him—a sense of panic, of fear that they might try to come with him. He had arranged this fool’s errand, and he would see it through on his own.
“You know we’re coming with you, right?” Ellabell said, confirming Alex’s fears.
He shook his head vehemently. “Julius told me to come alone. In the letter, he specifically said that if I bring anyone along, there’ll be trouble and the meeting will be off.”
“Why would he want you to come alone? Surely, he’d want as many of us there as possible, so he could deal with us all in one fell swoop,” Aamir reasoned, making Alex wince at the thought.
“I’ve got no idea—those were just the terms he set,” Alex said with a shrug. “Maybe he really is open to a discussion?”
Natalie snorted. “Please, Alex. Even if he hears you out, what reason does he have not to imprison you?”
“This arrangement would benefit him more than anyone else,” Alex insisted. “Once the Great Evil is gone, he won’t have any use for essence. I’ll make him see how much his kingdom will adore him, once they discover that the threat has been vanquished because of him. He loves flattery, and I can flatter with the best of them.” He tried to lighten the mood, but it was clear that nobody was impressed.
“You think we’re just going to let you walk into the lion’s den without any backup?” Helena spoke, putting on a firm tone. “Do you not know any of us by now?”
Alex sighed. This wasn’t what he had wanted to happen, and, now that it was happening, he wished he’d just kept the meeting to himself. As immoral as it might have been, at least he would have been sure of everyone’s safety. After almost losing Aamir to the mist, he simply wasn’t prepared to put anyone else in the line of fire, not when he could get the task done by himself. Now, he realized it would be difficult to head to the meeting without the others trying to follow.
“You can’t be thinking about running off on your own, Alex Webber,” remarked Ellabell, flashing him a chiding look
that made his cheeks flush pink. “I say we take a vote on it. As I see it, we have three options: Alex doesn’t go at all, Alex goes with us as backup, or Alex goes alone.”
Alex cut in, not wanting the decision to be taken out of his hands. “Look, I know you all want to help, but it’ll put us in more danger if we defy Julius’s wishes,” he said, meeting the eyes of each of the five. “I’m going alone, and that is final.” He stood defiantly.
“Sit down, dude, you’re not going anywhere—this is bigger than just you,” Jari said.
“Fine… but don’t I get a say?” Alex asked, Jari’s words forcing him to sit back down on the fireside bench.
Natalie shook her head. “You are too biased. This decision is between the five of us. We have heard your side of the argument, and we shall take it into account in making our decision.”
Alex sat back, dreading how the vote was going to go.
Ellabell went first. “I think we should go with him. It’s stupid for him to go alone, given what we know about Julius. He’ll just kidnap him and force him to do the spell. If he’s going, he needs backup and an escape route, should things go south,” she said firmly. “So, my vote is he goes, but he goes with us.”
Aamir was second. “As much as I hate to say it, I believe Alex should go alone. Julius is a volatile man, but I think Alex could be right. Maybe, just maybe, he is willing to strike a deal. There will never be an opportunity like this again, to retrieve that blood so simply. I know I must sound naïve, but I have a feeling in my gut that Julius genuinely wants what we want, in the grand scheme of things. Why rock the boat by defying the king’s wishes? That’s more likely to get us killed than anything else.”
The older boy spoke a lot of sense, and Alex flashed him a grateful look, though Aamir’s features remained a blank canvas, giving little away.
Jari chimed in third. “Are you insane? I can’t believe you just said that. You vote he goes alone?”