by Jon Bender
“She was in no real danger, Your Majesty,” Bash interjected. “I kept her safely behind the men.”
Corin looked from the man to the blood-stained sword still in her hand and back again. The young lord had the decency to blush at his obvious falsehood. “It doesn’t matter now. Let’s be done with this,” he said.
Shana held his eyes a moment longer before leading the way down the hall. With their escorts following closely, they moved into the grandest section of the palace. Corin had never seen this area. Slim white pillars lined the wide hall, each embedded with gold that wound its way to the arched ceiling above, which was painted blue with a scattering of soft clouds. The floor was a polished grey similar to the paving stones on any street, and walls were covered in a detailed mural of the city outside. At the end of the hall, the mural depicted the palace itself, lined in silver with golden rays erupting behind it like a rising sun. The whole effect created the illusion that you were walking through Tuarn on the way to the palace, but Corin felt only anger looking at the impressive craftsmanship. The gold in the pillars alone could build homes for the people living in squalor at the edge of the city. He took some comfort in knowing that soon the people of Bruxa would have a ruler who cared for them.
In front of the double doors at the end of the hall stood a hundred soldiers with half-a-dozen mages. Corin led the way down the hall at a slow pace, and he felt the tension growing around him. Celia hefted her sword in anticipation, her face hard and shoulders tensed. Next to her, Nelix moved loosely with his blade swinging at his side. Shana stopped and lifter her hand to the side, calling for a halt. When she started moving forward again on her own, he reached out to stop her. Glancing over her shoulder, she shook her head and moved closer to the Bruxans.
“The battle is over, and my sister has lost.” She waited a moment, giving time for her words to sink in before speaking again. “Many of you know both me and my sister. If you truly believe her a more fit leader for Bruxa, stand as you are now, and I will renounce my claim to the throne. But if you would help me take our great kingdom into a future of prosperity for all, a future where we do not live in fear, then lay down your weapons. Let us begin to heal the wounds my family has inflicted.”
Corin blanched in amazement, and noticed Bash shifting uneasily. How could she be willing to accept their decision? Whatever happened, Corin could not let the lives spent to remove Deena go to waste.
The Bruxans whispered among themselves. Corin prepared himself to rush forward and pull Shana back to safety. Then the first man laid his sword on the ground. The others looked about before following his example. Slowly, Corin let go of a breath he had not realized he had been holding. He widened his step to catch up to her as she moved toward the doors. The Bruxans moved to the sides of the hall as Nelix had the Guard take them into custody. Shana placed a hand on each of the handles and pulled them open. Inside, they found Deena lounging, apparently relaxed, on a long couch at the center of the outer chamber. She wore a red, slim-cut dress with a long slit up the side that exposed much of her shapely leg. Red painted lips gave a mocking smile as she looked upon Shana.
“Dear sister, you are a mess. Have you been lying with this brutish pig in his sty?” Deena said, with a haughty laugh. Shana twitched at the insult, but said nothing. Instead, she raised her sword and moved closer. Deena stood to meet her, the smile never leaving her lips. “Are you here to kill me? I am the only family you have left.”
Shana placed the tip of her sword between her sister’s breasts, stopping her from coming and closer. “You were never my family.”
Deena shrugged. “That’s true. You were never really one of us. Too weak. I still remember how you came to me wanting to play. If not for the guard walking in, my position as father’s heir would have been that much more assured. Afterward, I watched every shadow, expecting you to take you revenge. Our brothers would not have hesitated, but you never came. You do not have the courage to do what has to be done. You are not fit to rule.”
“And yet here I am, with a sword at your heart and army at my back,” Shana said, her voice firming.
“Then why have you not killed me yet?” Deena asked, raising a questioning eyebrow. Shana lowered the sword to her side. “As I said, you are weak.”
“You will be imprisoned in the tower,” Shana said, turning her back.
Corin watch has Deena reached behind her waist and pulled out a thin dagger. He shouted, taking a step forward, but Shana reacted more quickly than he thought possible. She whipped around and plunged her sword just beneath her sister’s ribs. Deena, her arm still upraised, dropped the dagger and gripped the blade imbedded in her stomach. She smiled and tried to speak, the words lost as she slipped into death and her legs collapsed.
Shana stared down, her body shaking. Kneeling, she ran a hand over Deena’s face to close her lifeless eyes. “She was right. I am weak. Even after everything, I still loved her.”
Corin moved to her side and placed his hands on her shoulders. Helping her to stand, he turned her around to face him and held her close. “Love is not weakness,” he whispered into her ear.
Those outside had rushed in at hearing his shout and now stood quietly by the door. “There is still much to be done,” Nelix said to him.
Shana stepped back from Corin, wiping the tears from her eyes. “I will speak to my people,” she said, moving to the door.
Corin watched her go before looking back at Deena. How many more would die before they were able to face their true enemy?
Chapter 19
The air held the same heat as in Ostega, but now it was layered with blankets of moisture that clung to his skin. Even the swift breeze did nothing to alleviate the discomfort. The terrain of Rilnorm had become greener with each passing day as they approached its westernmost border. Just ahead were the Untamed Lands, an endless canopy of tall trees that hid many secrets. A full day had passed since they had seen a village. Vaniece explained that settlements this close to the border had long ago been destroyed by the savage people who lived in the jungle. Now, most people only ventured this far under armed escort to cut back the encroaching forest before returning home as quickly as possible.
Jaxom commanded his durgen to land at the edge of the forest. The canopy was too thick to see anything from the air, so they would be forced to find the lost fortress from the ground. Landing gently amongst the tall grass and trees, he strained his eyes to see anything between the massive trunks. Though he saw nothing, he had a strong feeling that something was staring back at him.
“I should have gone with Danika,” Darian muttered. “A war against a god would be safer than whatever is in there.”
On their first night after leaving Prince Sagrad’s army, Jaxom had explained where he was going and why. Darian and Brenin had been stunned, but both accepted Jaxom’s story and offered their help. Afterwards, he had taken Laiden aside. If the apprentice was going to return, this was the time. The young man, now wearing the talon-pommeled sword, had surprised him. He no longer seemed afraid and instead glowed with a new confidence. He was ready to face whatever came next.
Jaxom gave Darian a sly look. “Hopefully, we won’t have to do any swimming.”
Darian’s eyes darted about, checking to see if the others had heard, but they were all busy examining the forest for themselves. “You promised not to speak about that,” he hissed.
“Stop complaining, or I will let all of the fifteen kingdoms know that an ice mage is afraid of water,” Jaxom said, suppressing a laugh.
“I was just saying that everywhere you go, I risk dying,” he said.
Jaxom sighed. His friend lived for the adventure and threat of death. He saw the whole thing as a game but liked to pretend that he thought otherwise. “Do you have any idea about what we might face in there?” he asked.
Behind them, Vaniece heard his question and rolled her eyes. “Once again, no. Rilnorm gave up trying to expand their territory west when they couldn’t defeat the people who
live here. I had hoped you would have grown out of your pesky childhood habit of asking the same questions over and over.”
Jaxom sighed again. He already had Corin acting like an overbearing older sibling, and Vaniece had taken it a step further, picking up from when they had last seen each other. He had endured it so far because he knew the guilt she felt for not being there for him, but he was not sure how much more he could take. His many accomplishments, which he had shared in detail with her during the trip across Rilnorm, did not seem to count in her eyes. She saw him as the little boy he had been. She went so far as to ruffle his hair when she thought he did something impressive, like teaching her how to summon the bone armor. He had asked Adriana’s advice on how he should handle it, but she had demurred, refusing to get involved.
“How we are going to find a fortress in all of that?” Brenin said, gesturing at the dense growth.
“People live here. They must know what we are looking for,” Jaxom said.
“Wonderful,” Darian blurted.
Jaxom led them into the forest. The damp, sticky feeling intensified between the towering trees. The vegetation thinned to wide-leaved plants and ferns. Large roots growing out of the wide trunks dominated most of the ground. Some near the base of the trees reached as high as a man’s shoulder. The forest was strangely quiet, as if all living things were aware of the intruders and had hidden themselves to watch. The smell of wet, decaying leaves permeated the air, and the group was soon enveloped in a swarm of miniscule biting insects stirred up by their passing. They continued in silence for over an hour when Darian yelled in frustration. His shout shattered the stillness and sent small animals scurrying. A group of brightly colored birds squawked at the intrusive sound, lifting away from the low branches higher into the canopy. The ice mage raised his hands above his head and waves of cold rippled through the air. Jaxom felt the temperature drop. The swarm of insects fell to the ground, dead, and the heavy moisture in the air quickly coalesced into a thick fog.
“Great. Now if anything comes for us, we won’t be able to see it,” Brenin said flatly.
“At least I will die comfortable,” Darian shot back.
“Agreed,” Laiden added.
Jaxom just shook his head and kept them moving forward. He did his best to avoid the low hanging vines, using his sword to hack through those he could not. He discovered that some of the thicker green vines would spill water when cut. Grabbing a hanging end, he brought it to his lips. The liquid was cool and slightly sweet. He stopped to fill his water skin, and when the others saw what he was doing, they followed his example. They had not seen moving water in days, and Jaxom had been starting to worry that they would be forced to use the small pools of standing water that littered the forest floor. Soon, the heat and moisture returned, and Darian raised his hands again. This time, he used less magic than before, allowing them to see while still making the trip through the sweltering forest bearable. After that, the forest seemed to come to life with the sounds of song birds and insects. Jaxom felt as if the inhabitants of the strange place, watching them for some sign of threat and finding none, had returned to their normal routine.
Darkness began to settle over the forest when there was still at least another hour before sunset. The thick canopy brought the night earlier. He found a spot to camp between two thick trees with intertwining roots. The wooden barriers forming a walled-off area large enough for all of them while still offering protection. He did not know what creatures might come out at night, but he felt a lot better with something sturdy at his back.
The group dismounted and began setting up camp, clearing away the debris and collecting firewood, which turned out to be a difficult task in the damp environment. “Why didn’t we bring a fire mage?” Darian asked no one in particular, after failing for a third time to get a spark from his flint to catch.
“Are you saying a fire mage is more useful than an ice mage?” Jaxom prodded his friend.
“I don’t see your magic getting a flame going.” Darian struck the flint again, and this time the spark caught hold in the tinder. He leaned in to blow gently on the smoking ember until a small flame flickered to life. “Ha! You were saying?”
Jaxom shrugged and laid his blanket roll next to Adriana’s. “Will you have the durgen patrol tonight?” she asked.
“Yes. Laiden, would you see to it?” Jaxom did not want to draw on his magic unless it was absolutely necessary. The young man nodded, and his eyes glazed over as he touched the minds of the risen. The durgen moved off a short distance and began patrolling in the trees.
“I think we should also have someone stand guard,” Vaniece said. “The people who live here are said to be able to blend into the forest. We shouldn’t take any chances.” Jaxom nodded in agreement. The durgen had failed him once before.
“I’ll take the first watch,” Brenin offered. The rest of them worked out the rotation before settling around the fire to enjoy a steaming pot of vegetable and stew. What remained of the sun soon faded, leaving them with only the comfort of the orange firelight.
“Eventually, we are going to have speak to someone,” Adriana said, blowing into her bowl to cool the contents.
“I would prefer it to be on our terms,” Jaxom replied.
“It’s a good thing Commander Cribble isn’t here. He would have a few words to say about your plan,” Brenin said.
Jaxom did not reply. What the Guard Captain said was true, but he had no choice but to search for the lost fortress. The moment of silence passed when Vaniece began asking questions about Terika. She was captivated by the idea of a death mage school.
“When we are done here, will you return there with us?” Jaxom asked.
She looked into the fire for a moment before meeting his eyes. “I don’t know. I have sworn allegiance to Ostega and the queen.” She perked up and smiled. “Fortunately, I need not decide any time soon. Queen Laness is volatile, but she is not a fool. She knows the threat Or’Keer represents, and I believe she will join your adopted brother’s alliance. We will likely be together on the campaign.”
It was not the answer he had hoped for. Not only would she be a valuable addition to their school, but he did not want to let her go again. Finishing their meal, they moved to their blankets to get some sleep. Jaxom placed his sword nearby and laid down next to Adriana. She pushed in close, tucking herself tightly against his side. He stared up into the trees, the flickering light of the fire creating shadows that danced against their trunks. The strange sounds of night dwellers soon accompanied the buzzing and chirping of insects. Somewhere close, he heard a snarl and a squeal of pain immediately followed by absolute silence. No animal would get close enough to harm them with the durgen on patrol. He forced himself to relax and slowly let sleep overtake him.
He woke to Laiden shaking his shoulder gently. The young man was not the same person he had been only a short time ago. His eyes were harder. The innocence of youth had burned away in the furnace of battle. He was more distant now and smiled far less. Jaxom’s heart clenched at the thought. He was not the only one who changed in that dry lakebed. He only hoped that Laiden’s change was for the better.
“It’s your turn for watch, Magus.”
Jaxom nodded and sat up slowly, extricating himself from the blanket carefully so as not to wake Adriana. The apprentice returned to his own blankets and placed his talon-pommeled sword by his side. Belting on his own sword, Jaxom moved to the narrow entrance of the roots and stared out into the night. The sounds of the forest continued as before, though a bit more subdued in the hours before sunrise. He drew the energy of death in slowly. The moment he opened himself to the power, he felt it trying to rush through him, to take control as it had before. Only his will forced it into check, drawing what he needed and holding the rest back. He reached out to each of the durgen in turn. Holding so little power, he could not touch all of their minds at once or control them as if they were extensions of his own body. He searched their senses for anything out
of place and found none. Pulling back, he did not let the magic go so much as force it away.
Sitting down on a low root, he settled in for his watch. Halfway through, he had closed his eyes to listen more closely to his surroundings. When he opened them again, he saw two glowing white lights twenty paces from him up in the branches. He had seen that glow a thousand times before, but this risen was not one of theirs. The eyes seemed to float down toward him. In the dim light of the dying fire, he made out the risen’s sharp, turquoise beak and bright green feathers. Jaxom stood slowly and placed his hand on the leather-wrapped grip of his sword. The bird stared steadily at him, apparently unconcerned. Whoever controlled it must be watching through its eyes.
Not knowing what else to do, he drew on his magic and reached for out for the bird’s mind. The instant he made contact, something went wrong. The flow of magic seemed to reverse and reach back into him, the magic searching his mind. He saw his memories from the last few months play out before him: the fight in the woods against the shades, the boat, his near loss of control in Bruxa’s palace, and finally the battle in the dry lake. It was a catalog of all the times his magic had taken over him. He tried to fight back against the intrusion but did not dare draw more power. The images changed. He saw the two trees they had made camp between, then flashes of other places in the forest. Each led him closer to something until he stood before a large, dark fortress built into the side of a cliff. Three black towers sprouted from the top, arranged in a line with a bridge connecting them. He was flooded with a sense of urgency to get there. Something in those towers, and the cliff behind, was waiting for him. The connection broke then, and his vision returned to the forest. The bird was gone, and none of his friends had been disturbed by what had just transpired. He knew how to get to the fortress, though he could only recall a few of the places he had been shown clearly.