by Imogen Elvis
“As I said before, no. Why?”
“Because I’ve had a report of a pair of known criminals coming this way. A young man and young lady. One of them is a magician. Both are traitors to the crown.” He met her eye. “So, what do you know about them?”
Briar’s breath hitched. It didn’t matter after all that Kade hadn’t come with her. She and Rowen fitted that description perfectly. Out of the corner of her eye, she caught Rowen’s hand moving slowly towards his weapon.
“Nothing.” The word came out strangled. “Like I said, I’ve been on the road for weeks. This is the first I’ve heard of any of this. Now, is there anything else we can do for you? Because I’d like to reach the order house before nightfall and find out what happened there, seeing as no one else thought to investigate.” Too bold? She couldn’t back down now. Hesitate, and he’d know she was lying.
The soldier regarded them with a touch of shame on his face, unable to quite meet Briar’s eyes. “No. You’re free to go.”
“Thank you.” Briar turned and hurried away, heading in the exact opposite direction to where they’d left Kade and Lara.
“He’s still watching us,” Rowen muttered. “We’ll have to loop back outside the town.”
Briar followed in his footsteps, smoothing shaky hands over her habit. She should have known bringing Rowen would still look suspicious. People didn’t know their faces, only their description, and she and Rowen fit that perfectly. They had to get out of here before the soldier changed his mind about letting them go.
The route around the town took longer than Briar had expected. She half thought that the soldier might follow them to make sure they were really going where she’d said. But, despite much vigilant checking behind them, there was no sign of anyone following. However, Briar only relaxed when she finally caught sight of Kade and Lara sitting quietly among the rocks. They stood as Briar and Rowen approached.
“What took so long?” Kade asked. “What happened?’
“Nothing much. We met a soldier,” Rowen said.
The lines on Kade’s face deepened. “Is everything alright?”
Rowen nodded. “Briar talked him down. Anyway, we found out where the order house is. It’s not far now.”
“Are you sure everything’s alright?” Kade asked again. “Briar?”
She nodded. “He just wanted to talk.” There was no reason to worry him with the details. The main thing was, the soldier hadn’t tried to arrest them, and she hadn’t had to use any magic. That was enough for her.
“We should get moving,” Lara said. “It’ll be dark soon.”
“You’re right.” Kade slung his pack over his shoulder. “Lead the way, Briar.”
Briar led the group back the way she and Rowen had just come. They skirted around Demaeus, picking their way through the rocky surroundings until they were well past the village. It cost more precious time though, for, by the time they reached the little bridge that the innkeeper had mentioned, the sun was fast falling behind the mountains, and the shadows stretched over the ground in long fingers.
“How much further?” Lara asked. “I thought you said it wasn’t far.”
“It shouldn’t be. There’s a side track around here somewhere that leads up to the order house,” Briar said. The innkeeper said it was very near the bridge, so they must be close.
“Is that it there?” Rowen pointed to a path so small it was little more than an animal track. They could easily have walked right by and not even noticed it.
“That’s the way to the order house?” Lara wrinkled her nose at it. “It doesn’t look like anyone ever comes through here.”
“It’s not so surprising, really,” Briar said. “From what I gather, the villagers here don’t like mingling with the magicians, and we magicians don’t tend to leave the order house unless we have to. People wouldn’t be travelling this path much.”
“I suppose. Still, I hope the house isn’t much further. Do you think the magicians would feed us if we asked nicely?”
Briar shrugged. “Maybe.” If they didn’t know Kade was the prince, or that Master Sachio was searching for them as traitors. The more she thought about it, the less sure she became that the magicians would be willing to help them at all. Still, she could always hope.
The little side trail was steeper than the road, winding its way up the mountain. Briar kept her eyes open for the order house, but it was impossible to see where the path was leading. There were just too many rises and twists that hid the road ahead. As dusk fell, the wind grew stronger, turning icy cold. Briar shivered. They’d better hope the magicians were friendly. She didn’t look forward to another night spent in the freezing gale if they weren’t.
“Are you sure we’re going the right way?” Lara huffed. “We’ve been climbing this mountain forever.
“This is where the innkeeper said to go,” Briar said.
“Well, maybe she didn’t know the way as well as she-”
“There.” Rowen pointed ahead. “Is that it?”
Over the rise, just visible through the gathering gloom, a tiled stone roof nestled amid the grey rocks. “That has to be it.” Briar picked up her pace. They were going to make it. She lifted eager eyes as they reached the top of the path. Yes. This was the order house alright. But her feet stilled as she saw it properly for the first time. Beside her, Kade, Lara and Rowen came to a halt, staring up at the building in silence.
“I don’t think we’re getting any help here.” Rowen’s voice was flat.
The order house was a burnt out ruin. Blackened stones littered the ground. Most of the front wall had crumbled away, revealing a row of rooms that had been completely torched. The whole place had a desolate, abandoned feel to it. No wonder no one had heard from the magicians. This place was destroyed and had been for some time by the look of things. Nothing remained of the people who’d lived there.
“Well, that answers that question,” Briar said quietly.
When the soldier said that no one had heard from the magicians in a while, this was not what she’d imagined. How could no one have known about this? The smoke from the fire would have been a pillar in the sky. They’d have been able to see it for miles. Yet no one cared enough to come and see what happened. No one ever seemed to care.
“Can we still find the Tree without the help of the magicians?” Lara asked.
It was hard to think about that in the face of such destruction. Briar struggled to push through the first overwhelming shock of loss. “I think so.” Of course, there had never been any guarantee that they’d find help here. She knew that. But doubt was nothing compared to standing in the ruins of another order house.
“We’ll search for the path in the morning,” Kade said. “It’s too dark now.” He slid his pack off his shoulder, though he cast a longing look at the mountain rising above them.
Briar burned with impatience to reach the Tree, disappointment and grief lingering as she mourned the loss of yet more magicians. She could only assume that the Nameless Ones had done their work here too. As they set up camp for the night in the shadow of the ruined order house, she couldn’t help but wonder what the morning would bring. It could be that the Tree would help them stop Master Sachio once and for all. Or it could be it refused to help them at all. And if so, what then?
CHAPTER THIRTY NINE
Kade woke them at first light. Even in the grey haze of the early morning, it was easy to spot the dark shadows under his eyes. Had he even slept? Kade’s hands moved constantly, fiddling with the straps on his pack, running through his hair, checking his sword. The nervous energy buzzing off him was tangible. Not that Briar could blame him. Whatever happened today, this was it, their last hope.
Doubts and fears swirled through Briar in a sickening whirl. What if the Nameless Ones caught up before they reached the Tree? That would be too cruel, to be within sight of their goal, and then to fail at the very last moment. Or, worse still, what if she was wrong about the Tree and she couldn’t persua
de it to help them? The weight of expectations weighed on her shoulders. No one said it, but she could see it in their eyes. They expected a miracle. And Briar wasn’t sure she could deliver one.
“So, what’s the plan?” Lara asked.
There was a long pause where no one offered any suggestions. Finally, Briar said, “The path to the Tree will be near the order house somewhere. Councillors stay at the house before climbing the mountain, so there will be some form of track. But it’ll be small, smaller than the one leading down to the village.”
“How will we know when we’ve found the right one?” Lara asked.
“I doubt they have that many paths going up the mountain. Anyway, if we go up and find a really thick layer of mist, then we’ll definitely be going the right way.” After that, who knew what would happen?
“Spread out,” Kade said. “Call if you find anything.”
They split up. A vague sense of sadness welled up inside Briar every time she looked up at the blackened walls of the deserted order house. It reminded her even more strongly just why they had to succeed. They needed to do this for everyone Master Sachio and his Nameless Ones had hurt. And there were so many. Briar turned away from the house, pushing away the sudden rush of sorrow that accompanied that thought. They had to find the path. Nothing else mattered right now.
For a while, there was only silence. Briar lost sight of the other three as she scoured the edge of the plateau, clambering over the little hillocks. Every so often, her eyes were drawn to the peak above. Somewhere up there was the Crystal Tree. They just had to find the path. Somehow she doubted that the Nameless Ones would have the same trouble.
“Over here,” Rowen called. “Does this look like it to you?”
It was barely more than a worn line in the grass, hardly a track at all. Even a goat would have turned its nose up at it. But it led straight up the side of the mountain like an arrow.
“I think so,” Briar said.
“Are you sure?” Lara asked.
“No. But it’s the only path we’ve found so far that goes in the right direction.”
“This is hardly a path.” Lara folded her arms.
“What were you expecting?” Briar retorted. “People don’t just visit the Tree usually.”
“What do you think, Kade?”
Kade gazed up the path with a slight frown. “Briar’s right. There’s aren’t any other options. We’re just going to have to risk it.”
Lara let out a loud sigh. “Alright. I just hope we’re not making a huge mistake.”
“On which happy note, we should get going,” Rowen said. “Unless you want to hang around and wait for company?”
“Let’s go,” Briar said hastily.
Kade led the way up the little path. It was steep and rocky, but a pale growth of spring grass crept in around the edges, softening the rough landscape. The higher they climbed, the more Briar could see of the mountain. It rose above them, its peak hidden by a thick blanket of mist. So far, everything fitted the stories she’d heard throughout her whole life.
The thought of going up there and confronting the Tree sat like a cold lump in her chest. This was a journey that only the most powerful magicians took. Men and women with years of training and skill, chosen to lead the Order. And she was just a novice. Who was she to approach the Crystal Tree? There were hundreds of ways this could go wrong. She would have to sing the Tree’s song to beg for its help, and Briar wasn’t sure whether she was strong enough for that. And there was only one chance for her to get it right. But there was hope in her friends’ faces. Hope that rested on her. They were all putting their lives on the line here. How did she have any right to give any less than her best?
They climbed in single file, no talk at all now, just grim determination. The day was too clear, too bright for the urgency of their mission. Briar took a deep breath and wrapped her fingers around her medallion, trying to centre herself in the moment. One step at a time. They could do this.
“Uh, oh. Look.” Lara pointed back down the mountain.
Briar looked. From up here, the remnants of the order house were just visible, and beyond that, the path winding wound its way down to the road. And way, way down that track, a line of black figures, flying up the path after them. Briar gasped. Nameless Ones. She looked between them and the vast expanse of mountain above.
“We’ll never make it.”
“Yes we will,” Kade said, his voice fierce. “Go.”
They picked up the pace, almost breaking into a jog. Briar’s pack thumped on her back, knocking the air out of her lungs with each step. She gripped the straps and stumbled on. How could they hope to keep ahead of the Nameless Ones? At the speed they travelled, Briar and her friends wouldn’t make it halfway to the Tree before they caught up. She looked back, only to see the Nameless Ones cresting the rise onto the plateau where the ruins sat.
“This is impossible, Kade.” Lara’s words came out breathless. “We’re never going to reach the Tree this way.”
“Yes, we will.”
Lara grabbed his arm, forcing Kade to look at her. “No, we won’t. Look at them. They’ve covered half the distance in the time it’s taken us to climb this far. We’re just not fast enough.”
Kade’s face tightened, and for a moment, Briar thought he was going to ignore Lara. But then he sighed. “You’re right. We won’t all make it.”
“So that’s it then,” Rowen said. “We just give up?”
“Not yet.” A look of determination came over Kade’s face. “I can slow them down a little, give you some time. Maybe enough for you to reach the Tree.”
“You can’t,” Lara protested. “They’ll kill you if they catch you.”
“They’ll kill us all if I don’t. At least this way you have a chance.”
They couldn’t seriously be talking about leaving Kade behind to sacrifice himself to buy them a little more time. Briar swallowed hard. There had to be something else they could do.
“I’ll help you,” Rowen said. His usually merry face was serious now. “Lara can get Briar to the Tree.”
“This is crazy,” Lara cried. “We’re not just leaving you. There has to be another way.”
Kade shook his head. “You said it yourself, Lara. It’s not possible for us to make it before the Nameless Ones catch up. This way, at least some of us have a chance. The only thing that matters now is getting Briar to the Tree so she can work her magic.”
“Kade…” Briar’s chest constricted. In her mind, they had always made it to the top together. How could she go on and just leave her friends behind?
“Rowen and I will give you all the time we can,” Kade said. “But it’s up to you two. We’re counting on you now.”
“So do your job properly, and we’ll be fine.” Rowen grinned, though it didn’t reach his eyes. “Don’t mess this one up for us, alright?”
“I-I’ll do my best.” Lara’s voice was tight.
They came to a halt. A lump formed in Briar’s throat. This could be the last time she saw Rowen and Kade. How could it have come to this moment? None of them might make it out of this alive. And if they did, they wouldn’t make it out unchanged. She fought back the sudden urge to beg Kade to come with them, find another plan. Anything that didn’t involve sacrificing her friends to the merciless hands of the Nameless Ones. But Briar couldn’t fight the truth. There were no other options.
Lara gave Rowen a fierce hug. “Come back safe, alright?”
“Make sure you get to the Tree.” Rowen pulled back, looking into her face seriously. “Whatever happens, you’ve got to make it.”
“I promise.” Lara swiped a tear off her cheek. She turned to Kade. “Don’t you dare try and be a hero. If you die, I’m going to kill you myself.”
“I’ll try.” Kade managed a small smile. “Be brave.” Then he turned to Briar and took her hands. “You can do this, Briar. I believe in you. If anyone can make this work, it’s you.”
“I’ll do my best.” Bri
ar forced her trembling lips to smile, though her heart was breaking. “R-race you to the top.”
“I’ll give you a head start.” Kade suddenly wrapped her in a big hug. His arms held her close, nestled in a bubble of safety. “Thank you, Briar. For everything.”
Briar held him tighter, squeezing her eyes shut as a single tear traced a path down her cheek. When she let go, it would be over. They’d split up, and she might never see any of them again. In this one moment, everything held still. She clung onto Kade and wished that the moment might never end.
“Come on, Briar,” Lara said. “We need to go.”
Her voice broke the spell. Briar stepped back and forced a smile onto her frozen lips. Whatever happened, Kade’s last sight of her shouldn’t be tears. Then she and Lara turned and hurried up the path as quickly as the slope would let them.
Briar looked back, just once. Kade and Rowen stood with their heads close together, talking earnestly. She lingered, probably longer than she should have, memorising this moment and the sight of them alive and safe. But finally, she turned away, her eyes dry now and her throat tight. They sacrificed themselves to give her a chance. Now it was up to her.
CHAPTER FORTY
The thick mist swept around Briar in a rippling curtain. Ahead, it parted to reveal the little path before her feet, and behind her, it closed together in an impenetrable wall. It was as if nothing existed outside of their tiny circle. No Nameless Ones behind them, no Tree before them, just Briar, Lara, and the stillness around them. At any other time, the shimmering mist might have seemed peaceful, but now there was just the pressure of their urgency.
“How much further can it be?” Lara’s voice was sharp with worry.
“I don’t know.” Briar wasn’t even sure how long they had been climbing through the mist. Time seemed to stand still here, where everything was shifting and yet unchanging at the same time. She could hear fragments of music whispering through the fog, ghostly strains that raised shivers over her skin. Briar closed her eyes for a moment, listening to the song that was so achingly beautiful it brought tears to her eyes.