by D P Rowell
“We need Gathara’s aid,” Ace said. “We need to start a movement in favor of the elyr. The Israh.”
Kareena, who hadn’t spoken much, chimed in. “In order for the Light to grow, elyrians need to grow in both their ability, and the number of them that exist.”
Trilo spoke next. “Plenty of faes—like me—have been persuaded that the elyr is evil. But once they experience it the way I did, they will turn and fight for us.”
George leaned over the table. “How will this help defeat the council?”
“They thrive on the darkness,” Kareena answered without hesitation, “When the Light grows, it will be a greater opposition to the darkness.”
“So, you really don’t need hunters at all,” Ihana said, her bluish, silver nose curling with distaste, “You just need our city.”
Kareena gently shook her head. “No, actually. The more that join our cause, the better. Elyrian or not. We’re not going to stop at the faes of Gathara. There are many faes, and possible hunters, in all the countries of Yutara.”
Tharuach’s voice interjected without apology, “We need to start a movement. It’s the only way to get Breen on our side.”
Ace looked at Tharuach strangely. Just as he was about to ask the tall fae what came to his mind, Ihana shot up from the table with fire in her eyes. “I’m done listening to this garbage! We just witnessed these young sorcerers attack our Headquarters and send our city through an all-out panic! What more evidence do we need that they are not on our side?”
Kareena stood slowly so as not to contest, but to respect the water drake. “It was my doing. I made a terrible mistake and acted hastily.” She turned to Sebastian, “We were only trying to speak with you and have you hear us out. I never—”
Sebastian cut her off, “Quite the entrance for someone who just wants to talk.”
Kareena dropped her head. “Yes. It was a mistake. I—”
Ihana stepped near the fae. “Enough of your deception.” She snarled like Rio and it made Ace’s skin crawl. He shot up from the table and soon everyone else followed.
“Step away from her,” Ace said. The next few exchanges of words happened in such a quick manner, Ace lost track of who said what.
“You do not give me orders!”
“We’re not trying to fight here.”
“We’re on the same side.”
“Don’t trust her, Sebastian. She’s letting fear take control.”
“Ace is The Elyrian, deal with it!”
“Maybe Ihana’s the witch here!”
“That’s just like a sorcerer to say!”
“ENOUGH!”
The last one shook the very ground beneath them. Everyone had looked at Tharuach after it had been said. However, the tall fae shook his head and gently pointed to Sebastian. Everyone turned their head to the pale elite. He stood leaning over the edge of the table, panting.
He grunted and stepped back from the table. “I need a moment with my fellow elite to discuss this.”
Everyone remained quiet. George and Ihana slowly combed the others with their eyes. They all turned and followed Sebastian at a snail’s pace.
“Sebastian,” Ace said. The tall, pale man turned to Ace. “Remember, we’re fighting the same enemy,” Ace said. The elite’s eyes showed distaste and confusion at the same time. The three elite entered the conference room and shut the door behind them.
The others slowly returned to their seats. Trilo held his fist in one hand and rested his mouth on it. Cameron had his arms behind his head and his legs on the table. Ace sat straight without the slightest twitch.
“Father,” Kareena said. Everyone looked in her direction. She was standing next to Tharuach, who was scratching the bottom of his chin in thought.
“Yes, love,” Tharuach said.
“I’m sorry I did what I did. I realize how terrible a mistake I’ve made.”
Tharuach let out a slight huff of breath through his nose. He pulled her into an embrace. “We all make mistakes. The important thing is that we learn from them.” As he held his daughter, he glared at Ace, sending a clear message with his eyes. Once they pulled from their embrace, Tharuach placed one hand on Kareena’s right cheek. “Z’s Illiamar jeefdi oal.”
The Light is sufficient, Ace translated.
Kareena smiled, “Thoom z’s li. Beneh z’s Illiamar.”
Not me. But the Light.
Another thought returned to Ace and he felt it important enough to interject their moment. “Tharuach,” he said. The tall fae looked his way. “You mentioned our movement earlier. You said it was the only way to win over Breen. What did you mean?”
“The faes in Breen will not trust you until you give them something that can prove who you are. And you don’t have the stone anymore.” Tharuach replied.
“Beneh jeefli Onthraga,” Ace replied. Which he understood to mean, “But I am The Elyrian.”
“Won’t matter,” Tharuach said. “The Elyrian they expect to return will not be a twelve-year-old, human boy. They’re expecting a fae. Probably a golden one of nobility. For the ones who still believe in the Emerson Stone, they view it as a rare gem.”
Kareena nodded. “I’m not so sure that even if you brought them the Emerson Stone right now, would they follow you.”
Tharuach agreed and turned to Ace. “Faes who fled Breen, like my family, are banished from Breen, and few outsiders are allowed in. When your grandfather, Marty, developed the Indies, conflict brewed in Breen. Many faes thought your grandfather was the Chosen to grow the Light. Other faes did not believe this. Those who fled to support Marty Halder, like my family, were told to never come back, for they had abandoned their post in the last safe place in Yutara.”
Kareena scoffed. “To call it a safe place is a joke. They’re only as safe as time permits. The faes who refused to travel to Gathara are pacifists. They don’t understand that the Lights gives us power for a reason. To fight the evils of witchcraft. Many of them have even given up their elyr in the name of ‘peace.’ Others have turned to sorcery and begun perverting the minds of the Fae Elders. Their passivity will be the end of them.”
Ace scratched his head. “But we just told the elite that the Elyrian will convince the faes.”
“The faes here, yes,” Tharuach said. “The faes here are the ones who believed Gathara would bring forth the Elyrian to begin with. The faes of Breen will take a little more convincing. Yes, they are our target. But we must be wise about how we do this. We will need to start a revolution first.”
Trilo interjected with a loud, laughable voice. “Fight fire with fire. I like it.”
Hours passed, and the three elite hadn’t returned from their discussion in the conference room. The others discussed amongst themselves the various concerns they had about the plan. At one point, Ace left their debate and found his way to the portrait of Grandpa, hanging at the end of the hall. The portrait of him so much younger than Ace remembered him to be. Ace smiled back. He turned his head at the sound of footsteps to find Kareena approaching.
“I wish I could have met him,” she said.
Ace chuckled. “Me too . . . I wonder if he knew about Rio.”
“What makes you think that?”
“Well, he was so secretive when he gave me the stone and told me the information about it. He didn’t want Cameron, Julie, or Tamara knowing about witches or anything either. He was obviously concerned about putting them in danger. But if he knew, why did he bring us to Rio in New Eathelyn?”
Kareena shrugged. “I don’t know anything about your grandfather. Other than he did a lot for Emery, even if he didn’t know it.”
Ace smiled at her a moment. Fear suddenly surfaced. He couldn’t protect his own cousins from what happened to Rio. How could he keep his promise to Tharuach? Especially if she pulled some stunt like she had earlier. He couldn’t have her risking herself on this journey with him.
“Kareena, look. I—”
The doors to the conference room opened. Ace
and Kareena turned around, and Cameron, Trilo, and Tharuach rushed to the open doors, where the elite stepped forth.
Sebastian looked around the room until he caught eyes with Ace. “My,” he said as he stepped closer. His eyes went back and forth between the boy and Marty’s portrait, “You do look like your grandfather.”
“You believe me, then? That I am Marty’s grandson?” Ace said.
Sebastian half smiled. “Any enemy of the council is a friend of ours. The elite are with you. Gathara is at your disposal.”
CHAPTER TWELVE
One Less Witch
Ace gave a deflated exhale of relief and his worry left him. Trilo and Cameron high fived, and Tharuach bowed at Sebastian. “Thank you,” Tharuach said, “This will not be a decision you will regret.”
“If it is,” Sebastian said as he eyed Tharuach, “You will regret it as well.”
Ace took notice of George and Ihana, who stood with folded arms and scolding glances. It surfaced Ace's worry again.
“Well,” Trilo said, “Let’s start gathering some faes, right?”
“Actually,” Tharuach said, “We don’t all need to be in Gathara at once.”
“Mr. Flare is right,” Ace said. He stepped closer to everyone, “We should split up into teams, start going after all Yutara at once. We can recruit faes and hunters and bring them back here to train.”
George's arms fell and he shot a daring stare at Ace. “Just because we’re working with you does not mean we’re taking orders from you.”
Sebastian put his arm in front of George, suggesting he stand down. “Actually, you will be.”
Ihana and George stared at Sebastian with fury.
“We didn’t talk about this,” Ihana whispered. Just not quietly.
“I know,” Sebastian said. He looked to Ace in such a way he glowed with confidence, “But Ace is the real Halder.”
Ace stepped back with a dazed countenance. What would possess Sebastian to suddenly trust Ace so much?
“What?” Ihana said.
Ace shook his head. “Sebastian, I’d prefer it if you remained the Halder.”
“Why?”
Ace shrugged. “I trust you.” But he said it such a way it suggested the opposite. Sebastian and Ace eyed each other a moment.
“No matter,” Sebastian said, “Halder or no Halder, you’re still the Elyrian. As such, you are the leader of this new movement. This . . . Israh, you called it? I may remain in charge of the hunters, but all hunters are at your disposal now.”
A strange quiet took the air in the following moments. Ace turned his head around to find everyone’s eyes on him. Waiting for him to make the next decision. He fought the urge to smile. Great leaders shouldn’t smile in the wake of decisive moments. Grandpa’s words to him as a young child came to mind.
“When the time comes, you’re gonna be the secret weapon that makes everything worthwhile. Then, everyone will be looking at you. That’s you, kid. You’re my Ace of Spades.”
Ace coughed, scratched his eyes, and let out a slight chuckle. “We should split up,” he said.
“You already said that,” said Cameron.
“Yeah, yeah,” Ace replied, “But, I mean, we should split up in specific groups. At least one elyrian, and one elite in each group.” Everyone nodded. Ace looked at Kareena’s father. “Tharuach, you seem to know your way around Gathara well. You and George should remain here. George make an announcement to the hunters and address the people of Gathara, informing them that there will be a massive migration of faes and hunters due to this new movement. Then, start recruiting the faes, and training the elyrians and hunters, as well as the ones we bring back. George can run Headquarters and delegate the training of hunters while you recruit and teach the elyr.”
Tharuach nodded. “Agreed.”
George scoffed.
“George,” Ace said. The dark man looked at him. “Can you send word of a recall? If possible, we really need to take advantage of the bases the Indies have spread throughout the world. When Tharuach recruits faes, he can send them to the bases he thinks they should got to and start recruiting faes there as well.”
“I can,” George said with anger hidden in his voice. “But the hunters stationed in Yutara’s darkest places might not take kindly to the news that we’re completely changing our position on faes.”
“They will listen to you,” Ace said, “You’re an elite.”
George dismissed Ace’s command with a shrug and glance downward.
“Kareena,” Ace said, catching her glance as she turned to him, “you and Ihana should head to the nearest cities outside Gathara and spread the word. We’ll start with Gathara's metro area and push our way outward.”
Kareena nodded with a smile. Ihana kept her eyes elsewhere and did not respond.
“And that leaves Sebastian, Cameron, Trilo, and me,” Ace said.
“Why do you get three hunters?” George said.
“Well, any of you are more than welcome to bring hunters with you wherever you go,” Ace said. “But also, I’m gonna need all the help I can get.”
“Why?” Ihana said.
“We’re going to Naraka.”
“The Neutrals?” Said Sebastian, “Why there? That city is heavily influenced by witches and parcels.”
“I know,” Ace said, “I have a feeling we will find the help we need there.”
Everyone glanced about each other a moment, but no one contested him.
“Alright then!” Trilo said, “Let’s go win back Yutara!”
The ice cold chrome plate sent shivers through Ace’s body as he pressed his hand against it. The anti-magic released, and the bars lifted. Keele sat up from lying on the floor and looked at him. Before she’d realized the bars were open, he aimed down his sights with his AMR and pulled the trigger. The witch squealed as the impact of the orange sun dragged her across the floor. Ace walked towards her, each step having a determined purpose. He tilted his head and squinted; a surge of guilty joy pulsed in his veins. He holstered his AMR, grabbed her by her shoulders and pinned her against the wall.
“Remember when I was in here last? Funny how the tables have turned,” Ace said. “We never spoke to each other when it was your turn to bring my meals. But you read my thoughts, didn’t you?”
The witch stretched her neck, but it didn’t free her from Ace’s grip. She said nothing in return.
“What did I think?” Ace said. “Every time I saw you?”
She turned her head and didn’t say anything.
Ace gripped her tighter. “Say it!”
She kept her head turned but moved her eyes in his direction. “You thought you’d break out of here.”
“And?” Ace said.
Her lips tightened, and her eyes showed a hint of fear. “And you’d find me . . . and end me.”
Ace smiled a wicked smile. “That’s right. I knew you’d be reading my thoughts. I channeled them every time you showed up with a meal. You’d never discover the plan I’d made with Trilo, but I still wanted you to know my intentions. And now, I intend to follow through.”
Keele laughed and squirmed in a horrific display. “You think you’ve won . . . but you have no idea.”
“I’m not the one in the cellar anymore, witch.”
“And you still don’t know a thing . . .” Keele paused and gave Ace a twisted smile. “I still hear your thoughts. You have no idea what Rio’s plan is. You think he cares what the elite do now? You think he cares they’re on your side? He has the Emerson Stone. He has what he wanted all along, and you are aimlessly wandering, thinking you’re making a difference, when you’re really not,” she laughed weakly, “You didn’t come to end me. You came here for answers . . . you have no clue what you’re doing.”
Ace stuck his face closer to hers, ignoring the rotten smell. “The day he took my family from me, he told me he was going to Naraka. Is that where he is or not?”
Keele chuckled, but her weakness allowed only the sound of gagging
and exhausted breath. “Like I said . . . clueless.”
Ace groaned with anger and released her from his grip. She fell to the floor, coughing and choking. Ace turned his back.
“Yutara will see death and destruction,” Keele spoke from behind. “You will see.” Ace clenched his fist. Grit his teeth. His heart pounded a million miles a second. His body shook with nerves. He turned to face her, and his eyes went dark.
“You obviously didn’t perceive my thoughts well enough,” Ace said.
Keele squinted at him.
“Whether you give me answers or not . . . I did come here to end you.. The Light has judged you, and it's time you face justice.”
Ace flicked his hands open, causing an immediate spark of the elyr across his palm. He sent a rush of the white fire toward the witch. The anti-magic jacket around her vanished under the fire and the roar of its judgment echoed throughout the cellar. The fire consumed her from head to toe.
“I will find that drake,” Ace stepped closer to her, “I will get my cousins back,” Ace kneeled and found her eyes, barely visible behind the film of the elyr consuming her, “and the council will fall.”
Keele stopped screaming and Ace ceased the stream of pale fire. Her body had vanished, and he stood alone in the empty cellar. The sound of dripping water echoed through the room and Ace’s heart went from wild to tranquil. He’d just made Yutara home to one less witch. But when he turned around to leave, he paused. For Kareena stood by the open cellar.
They stared silently a moment. Kareena’s face remained emotionless.
“She gave her soul freely to the council,” Ace said. “No chance of freeing her.”
Kareena looked away but hesitated before she left. And after a brief pause, she responded, her voice somber and breathy. “I know.”
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
Following
Kareena stood by the gate to the Indie Castle and Ace left from leaning against the hovercraft to meet her. He noticed her eyes kept elsewhere as he approached. Clouds stretched across the sky in a gray gloom. A shift of mild winds made Ace’s knees tremble. He folded his arms as he stepped across the bridge and over the moat. But despite the discomfort, he couldn’t help but take his eyes from Kareena’s hair drifting with the very same wind.