People started climbing out of the wagon that wasn’t on fire.
“A lot more of us could have died.” The woman stepped out from behind the camel now, revealing herself fully. “You made sure that didn’t happen.”
“She just want all credit,” Worth interjected. He took his backpack off and sucked down a large gulp of wine.
“Ignore him, please.” Riley’s eyes were kind. “I’m sorry for those I couldn’t save. Will you be able to make it back to the rest of the caravan?”
The woman nodded. “We should. The raiders used their magic to confuse us and the rest of the caravan. That was how they separated us. Now that they’re gone, we should be able to find our way.”
Riley looked at the dead raiders. “They got what they deserved. When I return to New Perth, I promise I’ll work toward putting a stop to this. It’s sickening.”
She meant it, too. Riley was coming to realize that the world outside of New Perth wasn’t nearly as safe as hers. That though the innocent survived and thrived inside her kingdom, the people who lived beyond its walls didn’t fare so well. They needed help.
She couldn’t do anything about it now, though, or no more than what she’d just done. “I wish you well, you and your family.”
“Thank you,” the woman answered.
Riley turned and looked at Thomas. “We have to continue forward.”
“Of course, my Savior.”
“It go to her head.” Worth put his hands around his own head and started expanding them. “Make her think she better than she is. Arrogant.”
Riley darted her sword toward Worth playfully, and he dodged it easily. Half in the bag, Worth was still agile.
“Come on, ya lazy jokers. Let’s get moving,” Riley ordered with a grin.
Riley watched Worth, who was sitting away from the campsite. The fire’s light didn’t reach that far, so Worth was alone with only the moon to shine on him.
He had his feet folded beneath him again but no wine anywhere around.
Riley stood from the fire and walked across the sand, leaving Eric and Thomas. The fire was dying, and they were nearing sleep anyway. They’d reach Sidnie tomorrow evening, so Riley wanted them to rest as much as they could right now.
She didn’t know what to expect when they got to the kingdom, but exhaustion wouldn’t help anyone.
She reached Worth, but he didn’t look over. He kept staring forward as if there were something to see in the darkness beyond.
“Are you looking at them?” Riley asked.
“You. Too many questions. Why you no sleep?” He didn’t look up as he spoke.
“Because I need to know what’s going on and you’re the only one who can tell me.”
“Worth no want tell. You go away. Leave Worth alone.” The bald man’s face was neither smiling nor cross, but rather lax as he looked forward.
“You’re watching them now, aren’t you?”
Worth nodded.
Riley sat next to the tent man. “Tell me what you see.”
He finally looked at her, and his eyes narrowed. “You could see if not impatient. You...” He shook his head. “You impatient.”
“They’re all I have, Worth. They’re everything in this world to me. You have to understand that.” Riley didn’t want to fight about this. They were here, and there wasn’t anything they could do about it now. A day away from their destination, and they could only go forward.
Worth nodded and looked at the dark sand in front of him. “I see them, yes.”
“What are they doing?”
“What they said they would,” Worth answered. “They understanding what mage do.”
“How’s William?”
Worth closed his eyes. “Can’t see with all these questions.”
“Then stop looking and talk to me. I need to know how he is.” Riley scooted around so that she sat directly in front of Worth, giving him no place to look but at her.
“He...hurt, but okay. He fine.”
“Hurt?” Riley’s anxiety rose immediately.
“A little. Not much,” Worth answered, his eyes still closed.
“How?”
He shook his head. “This why Worth no answer. One question leads to more. You never stop.” He opened his eyes. “He saved child. Fought mage.”
“A child?”
Worth threw his hands in the air and Riley couldn’t help but smile. “Your frustration is endearing, Worth.”
“Frustration make Worth throw you.”
“Okay. No child questions, but William is okay?”
Worth sighed and nodded. “He lost sword, but okay, yes.”
Riley wanted to ask about the sword, but she understood Worth would only grow angrier. She needed to know about everyone else. “Lucie, Erin, Verith? They’re all okay?”
“Okay... Yes. Danger, but okay.”
“Danger?” Riley asked.
“Mage strong. He... He own kingdom now—”
Riley gasped. “The whole thing?”
Worth nodded again. “Whole thing.”
“It’s only been a few days. How is that possible?”
“You don’t listen. Poor student. Stubborn. He strong.” Worth looked like he wanted to throttle Riley.
She didn’t care. “He’s always been strong, but I’m strong now, too. We’ll stop him. All I need to know is that my friends are safe. If they’re okay, then we’re okay.”
“They okay,” Worth answered.
Riley stood up. “Maybe it’s you who’s stubborn.”
Worth raised his eyebrows. “Worth?”
“You’re not listening to me,” Riley explained. “That I’m going to beat him. That I’m going to stop him.”
Worth chuckled. “Me stubborn? That what Riley think?”
“More stubborn than me, certainly.” Riley grinned. “Especially if you don’t think I can beat Rendal’s ass.”
“Mayhap you can.” Worth nodded. “Mayhap.”
“No mayhap to it, you lush. I can and will. When I get to that kingdom, I’m going to show you.”
Worth was smiling now, and that made Riley feel better.
“Let’s bet, aye?” he asked.
“Bet what?”
“That you no kick ass...yet.” Worth looked at her, grinning.
“Okay. What’s the wager?” Riley asked.
“If you lose, Worth...” He paused for a moment, peering at the sand while he thought. His smile blossomed on his face again, growing wide. “If you lose, you Worth servant for one week, aye?”
Riley grinned back at him. “And if I’m right, you’re my servant for a week?”
“Aye, but you not right. Worth right. You see.”
Riley extended her hand to the bald man. “You got yourself a bet, Worth. I hope you like doing laundry.”
Worth’s eyes narrowed, and he threw one leg out in front of him. “Worth need toenails cut. First job for Riley.”
He started laughing, and the Right Hand couldn’t help but join in.
Evening fell around the group as they looked at the mighty kingdom.
“Mighty” was the only word that fit.
Riley was agape.
“I’ve never seen anything so great,” she told everyone and no one.
“Aye,” Worth agreed. “And he own all.”
“Rendal?” Eric asked.
Worth nodded. “Aye. Those lights. His. Those buildings. His. All Sidnie now his.”
Riley knew what the tent man was trying to do—scare her into leaving. What he said was true, she knew that, but she also knew what he thought about her.
She wasn’t ready.
“Worth, if you don’t quit trying to frighten me, you’re going to end up with a sword sticking out of your skull.”
“All talk.” Worth grinned. “Can’t drink wine like Worth, can’t fight like Worth.”
They stood a half-mile from the massive stone gates that let travelers in and out of the kingdom. There were guards at it, but the gates
stood open. Even now, as the sun descended, people were coming and going.
Small vendors sat to both the left and right of the entrance, still not packed up for the day.
“My Savior, do you want to just go straight in?” Thomas asked.
Riley was studying the guards. Sentries walked atop the walls, and a few archers remained in the battlements.
She didn’t see anyone wearing red necklaces, although that didn’t mean a whole lot.
“Thoughts, Worth?” she said.
“Worth think we leave now. Go back to underground people. Learn.”
“The Chosen,” Thomas corrected with a sigh. It didn’t matter how hard he tried, Worth was never going to stop with the “underground people” moniker.
“Yeah, yeah. Chosen live under ground. That what you chosen.” Worth laughed. “If Riley want be dumb, we go straight through gates. Worth no think they look.”
“What’s this imbecile saying, my Savior?” Thomas looked at Riley as if they both understood how horrible it was traveling with such an idiot.
“Never mind, the both of you,” Riley responded with a grin. “We’ll go through the gates. Eric, you ready?”
“Aye, my Savior.” He was grinning too, mocking Thomas as well as Worth.
When Riley gave him a sideways glance he fought the grin away, but only barely.
She started her camel forward. She hadn’t named it officially yet, but the animal was a good one. He would never be as personal as her horse Wind Whisper, but she still liked him.
“Hey, Worth,” she called as their animals moved toward the gates. “Did you name your camel?”
“Aye. Name Riley. So stubborn.”
Riley shook her head, laughing, and said nothing else.
They reached the gates, and the guards didn’t give her a glance.
They went through without being asked for identification or anything else.
“A trusting kingdom,” she whispered.
“Aye. Maybe it want you here,” Worth responded as his camel caught up to hers. “Maybe kingdom want you inside.”
“Well, it got what it wanted if that’s the case. Now where do we go?”
The four of them stood in a line looking at the massive structures before them. Buildings. Huge roads going left and right, then crossing over and over.
“You ask Worth?” He turned his head, his eyebrows going up. “How Worth know? Worth say no come here. You stubborn. No listen.”
“It never ends,” Thomas said.
“No. It end. Worth go find wine. I find them too. You hide. See you soon. Goodbye, lovelies.” He smiled, spurred his camel, and took off.
“He’s joking, right?” Eric asked.
“Nope.” Riley shook her head. “He’s going to get drunk and possibly find them.”
“What if something happens to him?” Eric looked honestly troubled.
“I’d be more worried about something happening to his wine. I pity the person who spills it. He’ll be fine.” Riley looked away from Worth. “Thomas, it’s your turn to deliver what Alexandra said you could. Take us to our connections.”
Rendal quit speaking mid-sentence. He stared out the window in front of him, his eyes growing wider.
“Sir, is everything okay?” Harold asked.
Rendal’s mouth opened as if he wanted to say something, but no words came out.
“What is it, Rendal?” Mason questioned from the couch. It was the first time the Assistant Prefect had spoken in hours, but even he noticed the definite change in the mage’s demeanor.
Rendal turned around and looked at the Assistant Prefect. “She’s here, Mason.”
“Riley?”
“That’s right. The one and only.” Rendal’s eyes were bright, though not flaming red. Energy ran through his body as if a bolt of lightning had hit him.
“You can feel her, sir?” Harold asked.
Rendal grimaced. “It’s different than last time. She’s different.”
“How?” Mason stood up from the couch.
Rendal slowly raised his head, a smile on his face that sent chills across Mason. “Someone taught her magic. She’s a mage now.”
Lucie had remained in the background during each step of this shadow war with Rendal and his growing power. She’d first left New Perth to venture north, only wanting to see if it was possible. If the mage she’d once loved had somehow been siphoning off people’s magic potential.
She’d seen it was true, and been thrown in a cage as if the two had never been lovers.
Lucie ventured out again and joined a ship, following Riley after the Assistant Prefect.
She’d only voiced her opinion a few times, and in the end, she’d been overruled.
Lucie was comfortable in the background. She was comfortable ribbing William whenever the chance arose.
But there were things to be done as well. Things that no one else could do—at least not in this group.
Because she knew Riley. Of course, William did too, but he was engaged elsewhere right now. His mind was on getting to Rendal, so he’d lost his focus on Riley.
Lucie knew Riley would be concentrating on the exact same thing.
Riley had left to go learn how to release her magic, but how long would she remain away?
Lucie didn’t think Riley would—nay, could—stay away for any length of time. Lucie had known the girl, and now she knew the woman, and the thirst for Justice was in her.
That thirst would drive her to Sidnie. Lucie thought one of two things would happen, both simple. Riley would or would not learn to loose the magic inside her, but either way, she was coming to Sidnie.
So Lucie remained in the background, but she was constantly looking for the Right Hand.
She would show, and Lucie had to find her before Rendal did.
Night was upon the kingdom now, both Brighten and Erin at their respective “jobs.”
The others were napping, as they did every night before those two returned.
Lucie had been slipping out in the short hours of quiet that dominated their adopted home. She didn’t want anyone knowing about it because she needed to move in stealth, and the fewer people who knew, the fewer who could talk.
The house had two doors, a front and a back.
Lucie looked around the main room they all slept in. It was dark, with little light making its way in. She heard the familiar sounds of light snores and deep breathing.
Lucie stepped through the room without a sound. She wasn’t doing anything wrong, of course, but there was a wrong way to do it: telling anyone she was doing anything at all.
The house’s back door was little more than a tarp thrown over a hole. Lucie pushed it out of the way and stepped through.
A hulking giant stood two feet in front of her.
Her eyes flashed red, and fire blazed from her hands.
“Easy, old lady,” William whispered. “Easy, now. You don’t want to burn me to a crisp. You’ll have no one to badger with your witless jokes.”
“Father in the sky, William!” Lucie’s voice was harsh but still a whisper. “You almost just got yourself killed.”
“You couldn’t kill me if I was hogtied and you had twenty minutes.” The moon showed him smiling slightly. “Now, where you been goin’ these past few nights?”
“Why you followin’ me, William? That’s the real question. I’m a grown woman damn near twice your age, and I’ll go where I please.” She stepped forward, ready to walk around him.
William’s arm shot out and blocked her path, although he was careful not to touch her.
“Twice my age is right, and walkin’ so late at night, ya might trip and break a hip, old lady.” He was still grinning, her mock anger at being followed affecting him not one bit. “Now, tell me where it is you’re heading off to. I don’t think ya got a fling around these parts, and the Prefect help me if you’re out trying to rekindle a romance with Rendal—”
“Hush your mouth before you lose your tongue, boy,” Lucie
spat.
William chuckled. “I’m kiddin’, Lucie, but you need to tell me the truth. I’ve been watchin’ you leave every night, thinkin’ you were sneakin’ through that damned room like some kinda trained spy. Woman, I’m a Right Hand. I may talk brash and walk brash, but nothin’ gets by me. I’ve been watching you leave and come back when you thought everyone was still sleepin’.”
He gestured with his head back to the room.
“I imagine Verith might have a clue, too. He’s no slouch. I suppose I coulda just followed you, but that woulda seemed wrong, too. I’d rather talk to you about it like equals.”
William stared her dead in the eye.
“Now, old lady, where ya goin’?”
Lucie relaxed some and looked away from the giant. Her eyes went to the other shitty houses surrounding them; this place wasn’t a slum, but it was only about a half step above one. She couldn’t put William off anymore, and she knew it.
He was right. They were in this together. There were no separate teams.
“I’m lookin’ for Riley,” she whispered as if someone in the house might hear her.
“That’s what I figured was happening. You think she’s coming here, don’t you? Already?”
Lucie nodded. “That was the plan since the beginning, and I don’t think she’s gonna be able to keep away for long, so I’ve been lookin’ for her at night.”
William chuckled and turned so they both faced the crumbling buildings. “How you plan on findin’ her, Lucie? Just wandering around until you run into her?”
“When the creators gave out brains, they skipped you, William. I’ve heard that the creators went back a second time, because they had more brains left, but they must have forgotten all about you on that round too.” She shook her head. “No. I’m not wandering around hoping I run into her.”
“So, old and wise one, tell me what you’re doin’ then,” William demanded.
“I’m usin’ magic, ya dolt. I’m looking through the kingdom to see if she’s hiding, but I can’t do it from inside this house. There’s too many people, and the kingdom is too big.”
William nodded. “I’mma need Worth to teach me that kinda magic.”
Hand of Justice Boxed Set (Books 1 - 4): The Dark Mage, Chasing Magic, Magic Rising, Magic Unchained Page 44