by Gin Hollan
A moment later grass crunched as someone new walked into the copse.
Arabeth turned and put the crystals back into her pocket, severing the portal. Several men stood behind Grace, each holding a pistol.
"Well, then. Our exile is also a crystal mage. I’ve heard that's as good as a death sentence. I wonder what Sebastian will say," Grace said.
Sam moved to stand in front of Arabeth, thinking to shield her if possible.
"Relax," Grace sneered. "Sebastian wants to assess the potential uses of the Lyar. My instructions are to keep you here."
From what Melanie said, the advisor was the lesser evil.
"I don't think I'm showing you anything," Arabeth said.
"The hard way it is, then." Grace raised her pistol. "We will just wait for Sebastian. He'll be here shortly."
Arabeth's mind was pulled to the book in her satchel. She was not out of options. It would be foolish to randomly run her fingers over some text in there, but with time, she could find something familiar.
As wide as the copse was, the air seemed to close in on Arabeth. Melanie and Gregor hid in the shadows of the trees, but they needed help. They probably needed medical attention. How could Arabeth help them with Grace hovering like this?
// Chapter 37 //
ARABETH STOOD, her fists balled at her side. Sebastian wouldn't reason. The air around her felt cold, and she returned his stare. All she wanted was his guarantee that Graham would be pulled off whichever project he'd been sent to that involved explosives. In exchange, she would freely demonstrate the Lyar. It seemed fair to her.
Instead, his stubborn need to prove his power over the situation, over her, wouldn't let him compromise. He was the megalomaniac version of Blastborn’s Police Chief, Chester Harbertrope.
"Miss Barnes, as much as you seem to want to help your friends, you exhibit a startling lack of responsibility. You can't deny your part in this. Until you accept responsibility for your friends, you can't expect to influence the outcome of their lives."
It was a simple lecture, and she'd heard it before. "They don't need a babysitter. I think you're dodging the larger concern. This is about what's right and wrong."
"That's where you're wrong. You must see, none of us are truly independent. We influence those around us based on our given and implied power, consciously or not. You are throwing away your own status and any associated leverage you may have by hiding your identity, and you do it without regard to the benefits and protection you could offer your friends and associates. To be honest, that's childish." He made a tsk-ing sound before continuing. "Working for me, you will get all that back. I don't have time to earn your trust, and I'm not going to promise you something when I know you are fickle."
The words hit her like a slap to the face. She'd hidden her identity on good advice. Clearly this man was a little power-mad. Maybe more than a little, she conceded.
"Follow me," he ordered.
He'd known her how long? A few days. Harsh conclusions for someone who'd barely even talked to her. She relaxed, keeping her pulse calm. Her head needed to be clear.
Sebastian thought that way because he saw who he wanted to see, who he needed her to be. That didn't bode well for him. She smirked.
Arabeth stepped forward to follow. Sebastian’s attitude was designed to throw people off-balance, to erode their confidence. Thankfully, she'd had a sister that used that tactic constantly. It didn't work on Arabeth anymore. She'd analyse his organization, find his weak spot.
Outside the copse, Sebastian’s camp was already standing. Six smaller tents had been erected in a line on either side of a large on in the middle. His soldiers made Arabeth pause. They didn't look human. No, they were smaller versions of the automaton that had invaded Blastborn. How common were automatons here? If only she'd asked Andun.
One of them held a flap open leading into the largest tent. As they walked in, Arabeth frowned. It was furnished? A table, two chairs, some lamps.
"I couldn't stop Mr. Halister, even if I wanted to. He wants to know who attacked Blastborn, and in trade, he's going to do that little job for me. It's a vacant castle. Where's the harm?" he sneered.
"Even if it turns out it was you," she muttered under her breath. Graham was an idiot sometimes. "If it's meaningless, why bother?"
"I wouldn't say it's meaningless; the royals have all but fallen. It's time to tear down their relics."
"I'm sure Prince Andun would disagree."
"That boy? Even his advisor thinks he's unfit to rule."
Arabeth bristled at that. "He's been well and thoroughly trained. He only lacks experience and time will fix that. His advisor is supposed to provide that guidance. No king rules alone."
"You've met him, have you? What did you think? A little green around the edges, wasn't he."
She refused to answer, hoping Andun had made it away safely.
Suddenly Sebastian looked straight at her and walked over, stopping inches away as he leaned down to look in her eyes. "You ... are loyal to the king, the same as Seers, aren't you?" He stood upright. "Yes. Yes, of course. Then, to save your king, you will show me the Lyar. To save his castle is meaningless. His staff have already moved to that little mansion in the desert. But to save the monarchy should be a compulsion for you."
Arabeth made herself cough. "Back up." She coughed again. "When is the last time you brushed your teeth?"
His hand snapped out and he grabbed the hair on the top of her head, pulling her onto her toes. Instantly Marble climbed up and snapped at his hand, biting him and causing him to jerk away, tossing Arabeth spinning to the ground. Angry, he looked for Marble and drew his pistol. Would a full charge at a small animal kill her? Arabeth wasn't about to find out. She scooped Marble up and curled around her.
"You are dangerously close to the end of your journey," Sebastian snarled, rubbing the bite mark. "Where there is one crystal mage, there will be others. Don't think you're indispensable." Marble hadn't drawn blood, but part of Arabeth wished she had.
Now there were two nails in Sebastian’s coffin, Arabeth decided. He'd threatened to hurt Marble, and he'd warped Graham. One more and she'd close the lid on him forever. If he touched Sam or Andun, it was a done deal.
There were six other tents. Who was he expecting? Grace had three men with her, and they'd probably share one.
Arabeth sat up, keeping Marble in her lap. The back of her head stung like crazy, and she really wanted a mirror to see if he'd done any damage. Getting out of this situation wouldn't be easy.
"Planning how you'll run away again? That's always your solution, isn’t it?" asked a woman's voice she shouldn't recognize here. Arabeth's head whipped around to see Maralise. "You'll abandon everyone, and just run away. Is this how you help, the way you helped Blastborn by running away?"
"What are you doing here?" She stared and she stood up, still holding Marble safely against her.
"I'm the real reason Sebastian is here. He wants to me to use the Lyar. We don't actually need you." Maralise gave a loud, barking laugh. "But I thought it would be fun to play with you a bit." She looked at Sebastian and winked.
He chuckled but was holding his sore hand under his other one in front of him.
"For a sealed mountain cave, there sure is a lot of traffic," Arabeth muttered.
"That insignificant tunnel? That was a decoy, dear sister. Wasn't the lack of guards a good enough clue for you?" She rolled her eyes. "Well, let's get on with this, then. Have someone tie her up, would you? And Sam, her ever-present lovesick shadow, needs to be tied up, too. Not in here, though. There's no sense letting them plot."
"You're here to see if you can work the Lyar?" Arabeth stared at her sister as her heart skipped a beat. If Maralise could use Lyars, no one would be safe.
"Why not? Apparently you can. I'm guessing it's a family thing." Maralise flipped her long blonde hair, taunting her.
Arabeth closed her eyes and said a quick prayer that Maralise would fail. In the meantime, Arab
eth had to get out of there. If the Lyar responded to Maralise, there was nowhere she could hide. It'd be better to wait and see.
"Wait, can I come? I've never seen it from the outside." Arabeth stood, putting Marble on her shoulder.
The man that approached her with a long rope turned to see Sebastian's response. He scratched his chin. "Yes, let's keep you handy, just in case."
// Chapter 38 //
MARALISE LOOKED at Arabeth. "Tell me what to do."
Blinking, Arabeth held back a laugh. She looked at Sebastian. He cleared his throat and looked away.
"Seriously, neither of you know?" She shook her head. She could tell them anything, and they'd never know the difference.
"It's a crystal device, so we'll use the crystals," Sebastian said.
Somehow, he seemed shorter, smaller as he said this. He waved Grace over. "Do you have them?"
"Yes, sir." She held out a small wooden box. The crystals in there were smaller than the ones Arabeth had been packing around. Were hers growing as they healed, or were these young ones, fresh from his field? Would that matter?
"Okay ... now ... set it in that centre ring on the ground, there." He pointed. "It should be automatic after that."
If it was Arabeth placing the crystal, it would have been.
Maralise eagerly set the crystal in the middle. He'd given her a purple one. What did purple do? Marble whimpered and nudged Arabeth's cheek.
Suddenly the crystal started crackling and popping. Arabeth turned to run out, remembering what had happened when Marble ran in with the green crystal. Apparently the fireworks had nothing to do with the colour used, and soon everyone was running out behind her.
Stopping outside the trees, Arabeth stared as she watched guards hurrying to put out a small fire that had started on the side of Sebastian's tent. It served him right, but now she was properly scared. They'd threaten Marble, Sam, and anyone else they thought they could use to make Arabeth a slave to them. She'd have to get her friends away first.
Her mind came back to the task at hand. What had they heard these Lyars could do? She wouldn't let them use it as a gateway. Ever.
The sparks died down a moment later.
"All right, your turn," Sebastian said to Arabeth. He didn't even look at Maralise, who fussed over her singed hair and clothes.
"Untie Sam and let him come out first." She stood back on her heels, arms crossed.
Sebastian pulled his pistol out and held it at her.
"Really? You want me to use the Lyar in my sleep?" she scoffed.
"Fine, bring out the other one," he said to a guard, lowering the gun.
Arabeth nodded and her nerves calmed a bit when Sam came into view.
"All right, let's say I need to talk to someone specific. How would you find them?" he asked.
"I've only been able to reach people I've met." She stopped short of saying that it was visual. She'd seen the people she communicated with before. "I can try a name, or a location, but I can't guarantee it'll work."
Graham came to mind. She'd wanted to talk to him anyway, and this might be her one chance to contact whomever she wanted. Stepping forward, she rested a purple crystal in the circle. As it started to glow and rise up, hovering in front of her, those around her gasped and some muttered. She ignored them, concentrating on Graham. He came into view, looking like a ghost. He spotted Arabeth and froze in place. "What...? Arabeth, what are you up to now?" A smile eased across his face. "This is quite a breakthrough. How are you getting the signal down here?"
"It's a local technology. You have to stop your experiment. Trust me, okay? I know what happened back home, but you've been lied to."
Sebastian walked up beside her. "Mr. Halister, how goes the work?"
Graham looked puzzled. "Arabeth, what do you mean?"
Arabeth looked at Sebastian. Graham hadn't heard him, couldn't see him.
This is what it means to be a crystal mage? I'm a conduit? she thought.
"You have the wrong target. Finish your bombs but don't place them until I can confirm," she said softly.
Sebastian grabbed her arm and pulled her away, out of the centre. "What are you saying?"
She blinked. "You couldn't hear me?" That had to be wrong.
"You're speaking in a different language. Speak this one," he snarled.
"Arabeth!" Graham called out. "Explain."
A sudden weariness swept Arabeth. Voices grew louder until she had to cover her ears. Pushing Sebastian's hand off her arm, she moved back into the area illuminated by the crystal and was immediately relieved.
She glanced back at Sebastian. She'd better say something he wouldn't get excited about. "Are you doing well? Are you in Owen?"
"Oh, well, sure. They've given me a suite at that hotel, and I come and go as I please, mostly."
"That's good to hear. Tell me what happened back home."
He froze, staring at her, then shook his head. "You wouldn't believe me. It looks as though an army of those automatons swept through, destroying everything from the northeast corner down."
"They only hit the northeast side?"
"In an expanding arc out from there."
"Like a signal radius. A rounded edge of attack?"
"Exactly. What are you thinking?"
Arabeth didn't answer. Signals, radio or otherwise, needed a transmitter. Someone must have created a portable signal booth, like the one Melanie worked from, but on wheels.
"I don't know yet. I'm getting close, but there are a couple facts that don't line up."
"All right. I want to get back to work before someone comes in and sees me talking to a ghost."
"Okay, I'll be in touch soon."
Arabeth reached out and took the crystal, placing it in her pocket to sever the connection.
"Interesting," Sebastian said.
"Boring is more like it." Maralise yawned. "It's just a visual version of the audio transmitters."
"Because that's what your sister wanted you to see. Open your eyes, girl." He turned to Arabeth and stared at her a moment. "What else?"
Arabeth shrugged. "I'm no expert. I thought that was amazing as it was."
"He could see you. If you were holding a map, or some other thing, he would be able to see it as well, right?"
Slowly, Arabeth nodded. "Well, yes."
"Interesting," Sebastian repeated, his face twitching as he thought it over. "Maralise, get me a picture of someone your sister won't know. I want to see if she can talk to strangers as well."
Maralise handed her a picture of an older man in a box-collar suit. Arabeth examined his face closely, then closed her eyes. If it worked, this man was about to get the shock of his life. Her friends were at least accustomed to that strangeness of invention. This man looked ... conservative. Stoic, even. Ah well, people often posed for posterity shots.
Pulling the crystal out of her pocket, she set it on the ground and stared at the photo. The man popped into view all of a sudden. He stood in front of a younger man, head bowed like a servant, as he slowly wrung his hands. Arabeth fought the urge to put a yellow crystal out. And a blue one.
Sebastian stepped up and took hold of Arabeth's arm. "Mitchel. Mitchel, can you hear me?" he said.
"Who is that?" The man startled. "Ah, Sebastian." He poked the young man in the chest. "You, go. Remember what I said."
"Mitchel, you can hear and see me?"
"Yes, yes. Where are you?" he asked.
"How else? I have a crystal mage." He sounded smug. Arabeth stopped herself from rolling her eyes.
"You have a what, then? Truly?" He walked forward toward Arabeth and reached out. His hand passed across her but didn't make contact. "This is it?"
"Yes, she's a recent discovery."
"Fantastic."
"I wanted to show you something. Can you see this?" He held out a paper, facing the man. Through the paper, Arabeth saw the words ‘New Boundaries’ and a map of the continent.
He leaned forward, looking it over.
"Sure can. Is this what I think it is?"
"It is. I have phase one well underway, but I need to find that brat."
"I'll let Harold know his turn is coming up."
"No, I want to talk to him directly."
Was she hearing right? They were taking over the various countries, one at a time? Did that mean hers was next? And she was stuck. They could find Andun like this, and they could direct others to capture him. Arabeth's nerves kicked up again. She had to stop this Lyar, or at least be more in control of it. She pictured her horse, blocking the image of Mitchel. He faded and she saw home. It looked fine from here.
"Stop that. Get him back." Sebastian squeezed her arm.
"I'm tired. This is exhausting. I can't focus." She played the fainting lily when it suited her. Right now, it did. She looked for Sam. He was still unconscious but lay on a rug to one side within the copse. This was going to be her home for the next while, she realized. She slumped down to sit on her heels. "And hungry. I'm definitely hungry."
Sebastian's arm dropped as Arabeth sat, staring at her horse. Maybe she shouldn't use this exact horse, she thought. The mare was living with Arabeth's parents, and if they came into view, or saw her, that could be a problem. She reached out and took the crystal, placing it in Sebastian's hand so he felt like he was still somehow in control. It was, in part, a threat. If he placed the crystal on the Lyar, fireworks. She needed a break and he couldn't force her.
Arabeth cleared her mind, looking instead at Sam. She stood and walked over to sit beside him, leaning back against a tree.
Inside, her mind raced a mile a minute. Outside, she had to be weak. She needed to buy time. Sebastian’s next step would be to find Andun. She couldn't let that happen.
She lifted Marble off her shoulders. The fox still wore her tracking collar. As Arabeth fed Marble some of the last of her dried meat, she made up her mind.