“Ramarro has to come out at that cache?” Mira asked.
“Think of the pendant as the door and the Far North Cache as the key,” Lorenzo said. “As Ramarro forces his way out, Kendo believes the pendant will be summoned to the cache, wrenched across space and time if necessary.”
“If you’re wearing the pendant, would it bring you with it?” Jace asked.
“Probably not,” Lorenzo said. “But I would follow.”
“Does it matter where we keep the pendant?” Cole asked.
“We need to keep it from Owandell,” Lorenzo said. “Or anyone who might try to aid Ramarro from the outside. And while the pendant remains in our possession, we want it far from the cache.”
“Should you keep the pendant?” Jace asked.
“I’m good at hiding,” Lorenzo said. “And Owandell is not hunting me.”
“What should we do now?” Cole asked. “If Ramarro will be free so soon, what is the next step?”
“Recruit help,” Lorenzo said. “I’ll see how many Grand Shapers I can gather to our cause.”
“We should take the potion to Brogan,” Mira said. “What are the chances the Perennial Serpent will get involved?”
“I’m not sure,” Lorenzo said. “We must be ready for anything.”
“Should we consider approaching Trillian?” Cole asked.
Lorenzo raised his eyebrows. “That path is fraught with peril. And you can’t go, Cole. If this is a hypothetical future, leaving Creon will end it.”
“I could go,” Jace offered.
“How would you get back?” Violet asked. “Without Cole, nobody can open a wayport in Elloweer.”
“How could we trust anything Trillian told us?” Mira asked.
“He supposedly can’t lie,” Cole said.
“My understanding is he absolutely cannot lie,” Lorenzo said. “And that he would not hesitate to mislead with carefully presented truth.”
“Does he see Ramarro as a rival?” Jace asked.
“The ancient accounts suggest the two torivors worked together against the original Grand Shapers,” Lorenzo said. “It’s impossible to know whether they would have eventually turned on each other. At worst Trillian would try to completely subvert our attempt to stop Ramarro. At best he would use the opportunity to advance his own agenda to our detriment.”
“If we have no way to stop Ramarro, help from Trillian could be better than nothing,” Cole said.
“And it might also be considerably worse than nothing,” Lorenzo said.
“So for now, gather allies?” Jace said.
“Until Ramarro returns,” Violet said. “Will we have any warning?”
“I have a ring for each of you,” Lorenzo said. “If the jewels glow, it’s time to go to the Far North Cache. Cole, you must be there. Violet, do you know the destination?”
“Of course,” she said.
“The cache is shielded,” Lorenzo said. “You’ll have to come close and then use some established conduits to get inside.”
“Can you show me?” Violet asked.
Lorenzo waved a hand, and a wayport appeared. “Come with me quickly. Then we’ll go our separate ways.”
Violet stepped through the wayport, and Lorenzo followed. It remained open.
“We’ll go to the Iron Fort?” Mira asked.
“Yes,” Cole said. “Give Brogan the potion.”
“Should we tell the Host the world is ending within a day?” Jace said. “See what help he can scrounge up?”
“I wonder where my parents are,” Mira said. “And Honor and Destiny. I wish we could get Honor’s help in the fight. And Destiny’s thoughts about our plan.”
“Do you think they’re in Creon?” Jace asked.
“The chances are good if they were taken by Wayminders,” Mira said. “Some hide out here.”
Violet and Lorenzo returned through the wayport, and it closed.
“That was speedy,” Jace said.
“Master Debray showed me the pathways they established and how to access them,” Violet said. “Not complicated.”
“I’m off to recruit all the assistance I can muster,” Lorenzo said. “Feel free to use this hideout as a refuge as needed. Watch the rings. Come when they glow. Cole, you must not miss this.”
“One last question,” Cole said. “Why me? What do you expect me to do against Ramarro? Really.”
“That’s up to you,” Lorenzo said. “Your power is unique and spectacular. If you had time to fully mature, I would wager you could fight Ramarro directly, like the Grand Shapers of old.”
“We have less than a day,” Cole said.
“Fight him with everything you have,” Lorenzo said. “Attack directly. Empower those around you. Kendo Rattan felt you were our best chance. And so do I.”
Cole nodded, conscious that he was suddenly sweating. The responsibility was too great. His power was too limited. He felt sure he would disappoint everyone. “I’ll do my best.”
“That’s the most any of us can do,” Lorenzo said. A wayport opened, he stepped through, and it closed.
“Are you all right?” Mira asked.
Cole chuckled softly. “Is it that obvious?”
“A little,” she said.
“This feels . . . hopeless,” Cole said. “We’ve survived tough fights. But we’ve always had some kind of a plan. Some reason to hope.”
“We have you,” Jace said.
“In the echolands, Ramarro paralyzed us with his mind,” Cole said. “And he’s supposed to get way more powerful when he appears here. Where do we even start? He’ll just snap his fingers and turn us to dust.”
“You’re talking like we’ve already lost,” Jace said.
“Haven’t we?” Cole asked. “Without a plan, won’t we just be going to our execution?”
“So we make a plan,” Jace said.
“A plan that has a chance,” Cole said.
Jace put his hands on his hips. “Use your power.”
“Ramarro is way stronger than me,” Cole said.
“Are you sure?” Jace asked. “Kendo Rattan had hundreds of years to prepare for this. He could have focused on anybody in the world. And he is betting on you.”
“You might be more powerful than you realize,” Mira said.
“Attack Ramarro’s power,” Jace said. “I heard you shook up Owandell that way. You demolished those Enforcers. They had us, and then you scrambled their powers and suddenly they were helpless. Nobody can do that.”
“Owandell has some skill at affecting powers,” Mira said. “But not like you. And you’re just getting started.”
“Ramarro is so strong,” Cole said. “Do you really think I could hurt his power?”
“He might be overconfident,” Jace said. “You won’t know until you try.”
“If we end up cornered, I’ll try it,” Cole said. “Feels like a long shot, though.”
“What about luring him to Earth?” Mira said. “Kendo thinks he’ll be powerless there. How certain do we need to be?”
“We need to be one hundred percent sure,” Cole said. “Earth has billions of people, Mira. If there is any doubt, we can’t risk it.”
“He might go on his own,” Jace said. “If Wayminders can find a way there, why not him?”
“If he goes on his own, it’s not our fault,” Cole said.
“We’ll keep planning throughout the day,” Mira said. “Learn all you can, Cole. You might get a second shot at this.”
“See this through, Cole,” Jace said. “Don’t expect to lose.”
“What about ‘die bravely’?” Cole asked. “Aren’t we supposed to expect to die?”
“We’re guaranteed to die,” Jace said. “All of us, no matter how we ignore it. I had to face that with the Sky Raiders. We’re all heading for the same destination. Don’t let the fear of death rattle you. It’s coming, like it or not. Let the fear melt into acceptance. The point becomes how we die. I’m not just going to die, Cole. I’m going to die b
ravely. I’m going to win victories on the way. We’ve already won some improbable battles. Survived some close calls. Why not more? Try to win. Expect to win. Maybe we’ll only live another day. Maybe another fifty years. But whenever we die, go out bravely.”
“Thanks,” Cole said, eyes stinging with tears. “I needed to hear that.”
“Don’t cry or you’ll ruin it,” Jace replied, lightly punching his shoulder.
“We all needed to hear it,” Mira said. “And remember it.”
“I tell myself all the time,” Jace said. “Don’t you?”
“Different words,” Cole said. “Some of the same ideas.”
“Ramarro is really powerful,” Violet said. “Guess what he hasn’t ever done?”
“What?” Cole asked.
“He hasn’t won,” Violet said. “Not here in the Outskirts. Not ever. He isn’t perfect. He was stopped last time. Let’s get him again.”
“More good words,” Mira said. “If we expect to lose, it’s going to happen.”
Cole nodded. “Let’s find a way to win. Should we go?”
“The Iron Fort,” Mira said.
Violet took Cole’s hand. He invigorated her power, and a wayport opened.
“Only way to travel,” Jace said, stepping through.
The others followed.
The frosty bite in the air startled Cole, who had braced himself for the desert heat. Coming from an underground vault, he was unaware that night had fallen. Overhead in the moonless sky, endless stars decorated the firmament, a cosmic mist of light bejeweled by many brighter bodies of varied colors. Though Cole could feel the sand beneath his feet, the starlight did little to illuminate the darkness around him. Scanning the black horizons, he could have been lost at sea as believably as in a desert.
A pair of cressets flared to life, burning bright in front of the striped tent and casting rippling highlights onto the huge serpent rearing up before him. After a brief jolt of surprise, Cole recognized the statue of the Perennial Serpent.
A figure emerged from the tent, clad in Wayminder robes but with a veiled face and an iron band around the forehead. “State your business,” a male voice demanded.
“We are here to see the Host by his invitation,” Violet said, producing Mira’s document. “May I approach?”
“You may,” the man answered.
Violet stepped into the firelight, and the guard examined the parchment. He handed it back to her with a small bow.
“Please, come inside,” he offered.
Cole, Mira, and Jace followed them into the tent. The air inside was pleasantly warm.
“The hour is late,” the guard said. “Would you prefer lodging for the night before conducting your business?”
“It’s urgent,” Cole said. “We’re hoping to talk to the Host now.”
“Highly unusual,” the guard said. “But the Host left specific instructions to grant you priority attention. Follow me.”
They passed through a wayport into the cage outside the wall, then into a guard room, then, without being searched, into the office where they had met the Host previously. The office was empty except for the four kids and the guard who had accompanied them.
A moment later a wayport opened, and the Host stepped through, wearing long pajamas and a sleeping cap. It looked like he had recently splashed his face with water, but his eyes remained a bit bleary.
“Welcome at this uncomfortable hour,” the Host said. “Forgive my appearance. I understand the matter is urgent.”
“Ramarro will be free within a day,” Cole said.
The Host sobered, his gaze sharpening. “This is certain?”
“Absolutely,” Cole said.
The Host’s eyes flicked to the guard. “Leave us.”
A wayport opened, and the guard exited. The wayport closed behind him.
“Who else knows?” the Host asked.
“Lorenzo Debray,” Cole said. “He’s trying to get help from other Grand Shapers.”
The Host coughed out a laugh. “Do you know how preposterous all of this sounds?”
“Not really,” Cole said. “But I’ve seen Ramarro. And I spent the last several hours with Lorenzo Debray and Kendo Rattan.”
“You realize you are wanted for possible regicide?” the Host said. “All of you have been implicated in the disappearance of the High King.”
“Already?” Cole asked. “I mean, what are you talking about?”
A smile touched the Host’s lips. “I gather information swiftly. I don’t believe the accusation. But many will.”
“We think it was Owandell,” Mira said. “Working with Wayminders. They took my mother, Honor, and Destiny as well.”
The Host furrowed his brow. “The princesses were not mentioned.”
“Father recently recovered them from Owandell,” Mira said.
“So it was retaliation,” the Host said.
“Why do you believe us?” Jace asked.
The Host pressed his fingertips together. “Because I learned long ago to see beyond the manipulative lies those who crave power use to advance their agendas.”
“What if we’re lying?” Jace asked.
“I have corroborated enough of your story to believe you,” the Host said. “Now a difficult question—can Ramarro be defeated? Or is Owandell about to become the most powerful man in the five kingdoms? Would we do better to accept the inevitable and align ourselves with this torivor?”
“If we’re cowards, maybe,” Jace said.
“There is an important distinction between cowardice and prudence,” the Host said. “I am charged with protecting the occupants of the retreat. I am the latest in a proud history of successful hosts who accepted this charge. I do not intend to be the last. Ofttimes negotiation can accomplish what strength of arms cannot.”
“Ramarro likes to negotiate,” Cole said. “If you want to be a puppet, he might give you the chance. But nothing more. He will control this world.”
The Host leaned forward. “Yet even he cannot be everywhere at once. If Ramarro doesn’t destroy the world, some of his supposed puppets may gradually return to governing themselves.”
“I don’t think you understand him,” Cole said. “The first Grand Shapers feared him and Trillian for a reason. They really might destroy this place. And if not, we’ll all be slaves. Including Owandell, whatever he thinks.”
The Host heaved a sigh. “Sadly, this fits my understanding of the torivors. I’ve been researching them since our previous conversation.”
“Any weaknesses?” Jace asked.
“That’s a big part of the problem,” the Host said. “Ruthless. Brilliant. Incalculably powerful. If the Grand Shapers hadn’t imprisoned them promptly, the torivors would have ruled the Outskirts long ago. How much do we know about the upcoming return?”
“He’ll be free within a day,” Cole said. “We know where he will show up.”
“Where?” the Host asked.
“The Far North Cache,” Cole said.
“Ah yes, out of the way, shielded, hidden in plain sight,” the Host said. “And a torivor will be there within a day. How can I assist?”
“We need to stop him,” Cole said. “We need all the help we can get. People to stand against him. Grand Shapers. Warriors.”
“What use is an army against a torivor?” the Host wondered.
“Better than no army,” Jace replied.
“Yes, I see,” the Host said. “Now or never. Try to stop him when he is most off-balance, while his freedom is new. At worst, die clean rather than inheriting a fate worse than death.”
“That’s the idea,” Mira said. “It’s your best chance to protect the Iron Fort.”
“It might be,” the Host said. “I’ll assemble a task force. There are limits to my influence. I have no direct contact with the Grand Shapers, but I can try to signal a couple of them who provide me with information from time to time.”
“What about the current Grand Shaper?” Mira asked.
<
br /> “Kezlyn Vedor is in hiding,” the Host said. “It’s a big part of why she is still alive. Owandell has a major sympathizer in Governor Vass. He has many Enforcers in his employ. Should you wish to find the abducted king, you may want to look there.”
“Who is Governor Vass?” Cole asked.
“The governor of Creon,” Mira said. “The acting ruler. Technically a representative of my father.”
“Appointed by Owandell,” the Host said. “I believe he would abandon the crown for Owandell in a heartbeat. Perhaps he already has.”
“It could be useful to find Honor and Destiny,” Mira said.
“We’ll look into it,” Cole agreed.
“If you don’t mind me saying, you all look exhausted,” the Host said. “If we really have a day before Ramarro returns, you could benefit from some rest.”
“He has a point,” Violet murmured.
“We can rest for a few hours,” Cole said. “We’ll want to be sharp when Ramarro arrives.”
“I agree,” Mira said. “But first, I need to see my sister.”
CHAPTER
23
REJUVENATED
The older woman who answered the door at Elegance’s residence looked sleepy and bothered. “Who is knocking at this hour?” she asked, taking in Cole, Mira, Jace, Violet, and the guard escorting them.
“We need to speak with Elegance immediately,” Mira said.
The woman looked scandalized. “Her Highness needs her rest,” the woman scolded. “This is highly irregular. Next time schedule an appointment through proper channels. I will be speaking to the Host about this.”
“We already spoke to him,” Mira said. “I am Miracle Pemberton, and this is an emergency.”
The woman paled and looked to the guard.
“All true,” he said.
The woman became flustered. “Well, that is something else; pardon me, Your Highness. Please come inside while I fetch your sister.”
Cole and the others entered a comfortable room with tasteful furnishings. They waited while the servant woman bustled out of the room. A couple of minutes later, Elegance entered the room in a long white nightgown, her hair disheveled, her eyes squinty. Cole thought she looked much younger than when she was all dressed up.