Yaz yanked the second door open. He caught a glimpse of a black void then a skeleton came tumbling out to shatter to pieces on the floor in front of them.
“Gods!” Brigid jumped back.
Yaz stared at the hips and sighed. Too narrow to be a woman’s. Whoever the poor bastard was, it wasn’t his mother.
They hurried out and climbed to the next floor. It was a duplicate of the second only both doors were open and the rooms beyond empty.
The fourth floor had two closed doors. Yaz opened the first and a man’s corpse tumbled out. This one still had some dried flesh hanging from its bones along with a few scraps of whatever he’d been wearing when he went in.
He moved on to the second door. Yaz’s hand trembled as he reached for the pull. Would it be his mother’s corpse that came tumbling out this time? He refused to consider the possibility. He jerked the door open and a skull fell out, shattering at his feet.
Brigid squeezed his arm. “There’s still one floor left.”
So there was. The gods alone knew what horrors they’d find waiting up there.
On the Tower of Punishment’s final floor, they found a single closed door. Yaz could barely swallow the lump in his throat. If his mother wasn’t here, he had no more leads. He had trouble deciding what would be worse, never knowing what happened to her or having her body come tumbling out of the final cell. Either would be horrible beyond imagining.
A gentle hand touched his shoulder. “Are you ready?” Brigid asked.
How long had he been staring, unmoving, at that final door? Long enough to make her wonder what he was thinking anyway.
Yaz gave a full-body shake. “I’m ready. You open the door and I’ll get ready to catch her.”
Thinking positive couldn’t do any harm. Yaz took up position directly in front of the door and braced himself. When Brigid was in position he nodded.
She tugged the door open and a moment later his mother came tumbling out. Yaz caught her, staggered back a step, and gently lowered her to the ground. Her body felt warm in his arms and her pulse beat steadily. Thank all the watching gods, she was alive.
Her sage’s robe had seen better days and dried blood covered her upper lip. It looked like someone punched her in the face. Whoever was responsible would pay, but not now. Now all that mattered was that she was alive.
Yaz rubbed her hand. “Mom? Can you hear me?”
She groaned and her eyelids fluttered. Finally she opened them and stared up at Yaz. A grin nearly split his face.
“Hi, Mom. Are you okay?”
“More or less. Help me sit up.” Her voice sounded rough and scratchy.
He put a hand on her back and eased off the floor. She clutched his arm for a moment then tucked her legs under her to steady her seat.
“I’m okay. How long have I been here?”
“About nine months,” Yaz said. “We had an awful time finding you.”
Her eyes widened. “Yazguard, where is he?”
Yaz hung his head and fought back tears. It took every bit of self-control he could muster to say, “Dad’s dead. The last thing he told me was where to find you. I tried to save him, but the javelin went right through his liver and stomach. I think it might have nicked his diaphragm as well. You should have seen him, Mom. He’d lost most of his muscle and his body was covered in scars. They tortured him. But I killed them all. Slaughtered them like the animals they were.”
His mother pulled him to her and the dam broke. Huge sobs shook Yaz from head to toe. He cried on her shoulder like a baby. All the pain and loss he’d been storing up for most of a year came spilling out.
Yaz couldn’t have said how long she held him like that, but when at last he could think clearly he wiped his eyes. “Sorry. I’m crying like I’m the only one who lost someone.”
“It’s okay, Yaz. I think you needed it more than I do. Are you planning to introduce me to your friends?”
Yaz stared for a moment. He’d been so overwhelmed to find his mother, he’d forgotten all about Brigid and Silas.
He cleared his throat. “Right, the pretty one is Brigid, she’s from the valley and has been with me since I set out. The one with the floating dragon skull is Silas, we met after getting captured by bounty hunters. I wouldn’t have been able to do any of the things I have without them. I couldn’t ask for better companions.”
His mother looked from Brigid to Silas then said, “Thank you both for looking after my son.”
Brigid beamed and Yaz was pretty sure Silas blushed a little.
“Truth is,” Silas said. “Yaz saved both of us more times than we did him. I certainly would be dead many times over if not for his help.”
“If you’re up to it,” Yaz said. “We should probably get out of here. There aren’t any guards, but who knows whether we set off a magical alarm when we broke down the door.”
“Who could get to us here during a snow storm?” Brigid asked.
“Someone with a flying ship,” Yaz said.
Mom raised her eyebrow. “A flying ship?”
Yaz chuckled. “We have a lot to talk about. Most importantly, do you know anything about the black door in the back of my mental library?”
She shot him a sharp look. “I know you should stay away from it.”
“Too late for that. Its power has saved our lives more than once. When Dad was killed, it even opened a crack. I’ve never felt anything like it.”
“That’s impossible. You don’t have the key.”
Yaz frowned. “Okay, now I’m confused. I never told you about the black door. How do you know about it at all, much less that I need a key to open it?”
His mother let out a long sigh and forced herself to stand. “We definitely need to talk and this is as safe a place as any to do it. There’s no alarm because outside of the Dark Sages, no one knows this prison exists.”
“So it’s true.” Yaz hadn’t wanted to believe his father, not that he imagined him lying with his dying breaths. “You were a member of the group.”
“Yes, I was a researcher in High Sage Kranic’s cadre. Don’t give me that look.”
Yaz winced and smoothed his expression. He hadn’t intended to judge, not after all the people he’d killed. It was just hard to imagine his mother mixed up with a group that would kidnap an entire village and sell them into slavery.
“Sorry,” Yaz said. “Were they the darkness you spoke about when you warned me about people outside the valley?”
“They were certainly part of it. Though the Dark Sages have no monopoly on evil.”
“What were you researching?” Silas asked.
“The creation and enhancement of artificial life. Have you met Most High Black yet?”
Yaz thought for a moment then shook his head.
“He’s the leader of the Dark Sages. He has an artifact called the Black Ring. It is without question one of the most powerful items ever forged. The ring allows him to absorb, store, and redirect magical energy.”
Silas let out a little hiss.
“I see you understand the implications.” Mom stretched and cracked her neck. “No wizard or alchemist can touch him. Kranic knew that if he was to have any hope of overthrowing Lord Black, he’d need some sort of power that the Black Ring couldn’t absorb. After three years of searching we found it. A pool of inky black energy unlike anything we’d ever encountered. Unfortunately, no one could wield the power without instantly going mad. Their minds lacked the capacity to handle it.”
Yaz’s stomach twisted as he considered what his mother was saying and what it implied. Despite his misgivings she didn’t stop her story.
“Kranic came to the decision that if we couldn’t use the power, he would create someone capable of doing so. The experiments were among the most complex I’d ever attempted but after years of failures, we finally figured it out. There was only one problem. We couldn’t bring a child to full development in the tanks. As the only female researcher, I volunteered to have the protoform imbedded
in my womb to grow it to completion.”
Yaz staggered back until his spine touched the wall.
This couldn’t be happening.
He refused to believe it.
Brigid stared at him as if seeing him for the first time. He didn’t blame her for being horrified. It sounded like he was some kind of lab rat that escaped its cage.
His mother looked into his eyes and sighed. “Yes, you were that child. I intended to give birth and raise you in Kranic’s lab. But something strange happened. Once I felt you growing inside me, I fell in love. There was no way I could allow you to be used as a pawn in his battle with Lord Black. When the right moment came, I destroyed my notes and fled. Eventually I ended up in the valley and met your father. He didn’t care that I was already with child. We married and you know the rest.”
“Dad wasn’t even my real father.”
“He was your father in every way that mattered. Technically, I’m not your real mother, just the human incubator that brought you to life. But Yazguard and I raised you and made you who you are. Now, how about you tell me what’s been happening while I was locked away.”
Yaz took a deep breath and forced his doubts aside. There was still a lot going on out in the world and his personal issues didn’t matter in the grand scheme of things. As was always his way when faced with a difficult situation, he stuffed the problems into a mental closet and locked them away.
When he was ready, Yaz told her about the dragonspires being activated, Ariel, and everything he’d learned from the bards. When he finished, he said, “When we parted company, the riders had decided to protect the new village as best they could. How they’ll do that without dragons I have no idea. Though given that the enemy can control dragons, riding them might not be the best idea.”
Mom shook her head. “I knew Lord Black was obsessed with the Dragon Empire, but to think he might actually succeed in bringing it back… There’s only one way to stop him. We need to go to Kranic’s workshop.”
“Why?” Yaz asked.
“To get the key to your black door. You were born to defeat Lord Black. No one else can do it.”
Chapter 3
The sun finally rose on the day they were supposed to surrender. Moz hadn’t slept more than a few hours the night before and he’d arrived in the war room an hour ago. He brought all his gear from the inn where he’d been staying. Somehow he doubted when everything went to hell he’d have time to retrieve it. Besides, the innkeeper and servants had all left two days ago. He cooked his own supper in their giant kitchen last night.
Callie, the king, and General Rend were already there when he arrived. The king paced around the map table and muttered nonstop. Every once in a while, he glanced out the window at the lightening sky to watch the dragon soar past.
“Surely the beast must be getting tired,” the king muttered as he resumed his aimless march.
Moz kept his peace but doubted a day of gliding in lazy circles would do much to tire something as powerful as a dragon. No one dared break the tension that filled the room like a charge before a lightning storm. It felt like if they did, something horrible would happen.
Two hours after sunrise the king said, “What are they waiting for? We don’t even know how we’re supposed to signal our surrender. Not that I’m planning to change my mind.”
“Perhaps they saw the catapults and took that as a sign that we meant to fight,” General Rend said.
Moz hadn’t considered that possibility, but it made sense. You didn’t generally fortify your walls if you weren’t planning to fight.
Someone rapped on the door and Callie went to answer it. Moz didn’t see who it was, but she closed the door and returned to the group.
“Well?” the king asked.
“I left one of my bards at the traitor’s home just in case another message arrived.” Callie held up a small scroll. “It says we have until noon to lower the flag of Rend and raise a white one in its place. Should we fail to comply, the city will be destroyed.”
“What time is it now?” the king asked.
“Between eight and nine I would think,” Moz said. “Best guess, we have three hours to make any changes to our plan.”
“Our battle plan is set,” General Rend said. “There’s no way we could change it now.”
The king stopped his pacing and stood up straight. “Send messengers to all batteries. As soon as they have a shot, they’re to take it. Damned if I’ll cower here and let them make the first move. Whatever’s going to happen, let it happen now.”
General Rend nodded and strode out of the war room. Moz doubted they’d see the general again until the battle was over, assuming any of them were still alive.
“Where are the queen and your sons, Majesty?” Callie asked.
“Far to the south, at the edge of the great desert. Don’t worry, should I die here, the royal line will continue. Though my eldest is only thirteen, he has been trained to rule since he was old enough to understand what it meant. The kingdom will survive regardless of my fate.”
“Try not to sound so resigned,” Callie said, trying in vain to lighten the mood. “The battle hasn’t even started.”
Moz appreciated the effort and from his weak smile the king did as well. And while he might have appreciated it, Moz doubted positive thoughts would amount to much in the face of dragon fire.
Ten minutes later the distant thunk of a catapult was the only sign that the battle had begun. Everyone ran to the window just in time to see the dragon swoop over the eastern wall and bathe it in fire.
Soldiers leapt, their bodies engulfed in flame. The intense heat made the catapults explode.
One of the catapults from the northern wall bounced a stone twice the size of Moz’s head off the dragon’s side.
The beast didn’t even flinch.
It did bank and give the northern wall a taste of what it gave the east. From their position, Moz couldn’t see the other two walls, but he doubted the battle was going any better in those directions.
Only the sounds of catapults thumping and flames roaring told them the battle, if you wanted to call it that, continued. In ten minutes, the catapults fell silent.
“What—” The king’s question was cut off as the dragon flew by, spewing flame.
Moz grabbed King Rend and Callie before leaping away from the window. A moment later it exploded inward, showering them with glass shards.
“I think it’s time to take our leave.” Moz stood and helped his companions to their feet.
“But the soldiers,” the king said. “I can’t just abandon them.”
“Your uncle will collect any that survived and meet us on the road,” Callie said. “The people need their king, not a martyr.”
King Rend shuddered and nodded once. “Very well. I assume you plan to use the escape tunnel.”
Moz made his way to the door and opened it. The hall beyond was empty save for his satchel which he swung over his shoulder before glancing inside. The little dragon was awake, but wisely stayed out of sight.
The palace shook and dust fell from the ceiling. If they didn’t hurry, the dragon was going to knock the building down around their ears. Moz didn’t fancy being buried alive. He still had work to do.
Callie finally brought the king over and Moz led the way down the hall. The exit was in the basement off a seldom-visited storeroom. The fastest way to get to it was through the kitchen just off the throne room.
He staggered and nearly fell as the floor buckled. A massive crack appeared behind him, separating him from Callie and the king.
It was about four feet across. An easy jump for him, but the king wasn’t in the best shape.
“Jump, Your Majesty.” Moz reached as far across the gap as he could.
To his credit, the king got a running start and leapt. Moz caught his hand and pulled him safely across. Callie joined them a moment later on her own.
Moz glanced back in time to see the war room get torn off the side of the castle
. He caught a glimpse of red scales before turning back and leading the way to the nearest set of stairs. Thank all the watching gods they were intact.
The trio ran downstairs as fast as the king could manage. At the bottom Moz hooked a left toward the kitchen. Directly ahead, the ceiling had collapsed, burying the passage in rubble.
“Damn it! Majesty, is there another access point?”
“Through the dungeons, but that’s on the opposite side of the palace.”
Should they make their way through the collapsing building or take their chances on the street and hope the dragon didn’t notice them?
Another rumbling crash made the decision for him. “We need to get out before the palace falls on our heads.”
“There’s a servants’ entrance behind the throne room,” the king said.
Moz turned and hurried toward the entrance. Hopefully nothing else had collapsed. They didn’t have many options left for escape.
By some miracle, the throne room hadn’t taken any damage. The king went to the back wall and pushed the right-side door open. A short hall led to another door that opened into the rear courtyard.
Smoke filled the air. Moz stepped out and looked quickly for the dragon. The way appeared clear for the moment. He didn’t intend to waste it.
Unfortunately, the only way off the palace grounds was through the main gate. That would be where the dragon was most apt to spot them. They worked their way around the castle with Moz in the lead and Callie bringing up the rear. He doubted they’d find anyone to fight, but they fell into the protection alignment automatically when traveling with the king.
Moz peeked around the end of the castle and winced. The dragon had already destroyed the gate and most of the surrounding wall. They were going to have to climb over the rubble to get out. Not an easy task under the best of circumstances which these certainly weren’t.
He looked back and said, “I’m going to scout us out a path over the debris. Stay here until I signal.”
It was a sign of his desperation that the king didn’t even argue being ordered about by his soldier. Moz might not have had the highest opinion of King Rend, but at least he had sense enough to let those who knew what they were doing take the lead in an emergency.
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