“That’s not true.” Lorelei looked down at her hands gripping the wheel as heat rose to her face. “I mean, I helped you at Mourner’s Hill in Winderward.”
“You did and I’m thankful. But it also means you can help further, like by tracking down Zaos.”
“Amara is hunting him down. And if she doesn’t find him, I will.” Lorelei reached out and rested her hand on his arm. “I promise.”
“But not now,” Wes said.
Lorelei sighed. “As Amara pointed out, I should continue with Vaana and Vandermere, though our predicament is tied to the Order and so is Zaos. This may lead back to him in some way.”
“Maybe, but his trail is getting cold,” he said.
“You doubt Amara can follow it?” Lorelei asked.
“She didn’t’ stay long to search for anything.”
“No, but she’s something more than a faerie…a spirit, I think. She may have other ways.” Lorelei tilted her head at him. “What about you? Did you find anything while we were in the lab?”
“A few things,” he said. “I haven’t got to sort through them yet.”
“I need to look through the books I have. Depending on what we find and what is learned at the Tower of Fate, perhaps we can put a conscious effort into searching for him.”
He gave her an unsure, but hopeful look. “You’d do that?”
Her grip tightened on the wheel as she stared at the river ahead with narrowed eyes. “Oh, I intend to. He is part of a conspiracy I want to shed light on.”
“You know, I intended to just drop you off at the shore near the Tower, but maybe I’ll stick around,” Wes said. “You lot aren’t so bad for Imperial sidhe. That Vaana is kind of a bitch, though.”
“Yeah, she can be prickly.” Lorelei gave a short laugh and paused as something else filtered in her head. “What do you mean by Imperial sidhe?”
“You think all sidhe are a part of the Empire?” He snorted. “There are several families spread out through the West…bastards they are.”
Lorelei blinked. She’d always thought that all sidhe belonged to one of the Houses. It had never occurred to her that other sidhe would be living in other parts of the world. It made sense though. With the coming of the Miasma, the old civilizations had been torn apart, but those civilizations had been spread across the face of Threshold and not just the Imperial Island. Though the Empress had set the Isle as the seat of her Empire, it didn’t mean all sidhe would have moved there. Some would have rebuilt in their homelands of old.
“Hmm,” Lorelei said. “The West has really turned everything I thought I knew upside down.”
Wes patted her on the shoulder. “Glad to give you some insight. Now, I’m off to bed.”
“Sleep well,” she said.
With a wave, Wes walked to the stairs and disappeared below deck, leaving Lorelei with the river and encroaching night.
The trip upriver stayed peaceful over the course of the weeks it took to reach their destination. There were no strange sea creatures rising from the depths of the water to attack them and no Sluagh seeking to control them. Even the river entities seemed to be at peace.
At the end of the first week, they passed the city of Kirkwall. Several stone buildings towered above the dock of the shore. Vaana stared up the gleaming spires of the Elemental Order’s temple with her face pale and her lips pressed together. Lorelei stood beside her, leaning forward with her elbows resting on the rail as she watched the gleaming white.
“Ever since I was a child, I believed in the word of the Empress.” Her voice came out soft. “I’d lost my parents when I was young and my aunt was busy with the task of running our House.”
Lorelei blinked. “You’re the niece of the head of your House?”
“My parents originally ran it…” Vaana shook her head and turned away from the city. “Anyway, I joined the Order when I was twelve. I’d always felt the calling. That I was meant for something great.”
“You think it had anything to do with the gods you hold now?” Lorelei asked. “I mean, it’s a little odd that you are capable of housing them.”
She still wasn’t sure how Vaana was capable of holding the gods. Over their trip, she’d seen no physical signs that they were harming Vaana. She’d thought that the Aether they were comprised of would be too much for a faerie to house, even a sidhe.
“I don’t know. I can feel their whispers…and when the Morrigan has taken control, she changes my form. But…it feels natural.” Vaana stared up at the sky with a long sigh. “Does that make me a heretic? Have I truly lost my way?”
“Maybe the way you believed to be yours, isn’t. However, it led you to this,” Lorelei said. “After all, you were there on behest of the Order.”
Vaana smirked. “You’ve been spending too much time talking to that Essus.”
“And you,” Lorelei said. “You said the Empress has a place for everyone in the Order.”
Vaana’s mouth pressed in a thin line. “None of this makes any sense. If I am a heretic, then how is this my place?”
Lorelei shrugged. “It seems that what the Order preaches is different than what some of them are practicing.”
“If there is a conspiracy, it must be in Kirkwall,” Vaana said. “I refuse to believe that Apostle Evangeline would be a part of it. Or the Voice of Wisdom.”
“Why do you believe in them so much?”
“Because the Voice is the direct line to the Empress. She is the mouthpiece for her words,” Vaana said.
“And the Apostle?”
“We were close as we both rose in the Order. She and Beth…” Vaana gulped. “And now, as a heretic, I’m their enemy.”
Lorelei rested her hand on Vaana’s arm. “Look. We’ll find some answers when we reach the Tower of Fate. This lord should know something. He’s the one who put the godstones in the Menhir.”
“I doubt it,” Vaana said. “This feels like a fool’s errand.”
Lorelei tilted her head. “Why do you say that?”
Vanna shook her head and turned back to Kirkwall. “It’s good we didn’t need to stop. I believe that the Apostle Evangeline has probably arrived. If she knew how close we were, she’d send an army of priests after us.”
Lorelei stared out at the shrinking city. The Lord of Fate had to have the answers Vaana was seeking. If he didn’t, where could they go afterwards?
25
Lorelei rested her palms on the railing and leaned forward as Wes navigated the ship to a slow-moving part of the river and set the anchor in calm waters. The shore was still a good distance from the ship, but they would be there soon. After weeks of sailing, it would be good to feel the ground beneath her feet. She loved the sway of the ship and sounds of water lapping against the hull, but she needed a break. She was ready to do some walking.
Vaana stood in the middle of the deck adjusting the straps of her stuffed backpack. She’d barely spoken since arising at dawn and didn’t meet anyone’s gaze. Her jaw was set in a hard line. She still seemed to be dwelling on her internal struggle between her faith and the gods now within her. What didn’t make sense was that she wasn’t thrilled to be visiting this Lord of Fate. Wouldn’t she want to take any chance to get the gods removed from her?
Vandermere stood beside Lorelei with his arms crossed as he stared out at the shore. Two fingers tapped against his arm. His eyes held a shine to them and a small smile hovered on his lips.
Lorelei nodded to the shore. “So, how far do we have to go to get to the tower?”
“I’ve never been in person, but I think it is half a day’s travel to the southwest of here.” He stared up at the sky and as if checking the position of the sun with narrowed eyes.
Wes strode across the deck to the rowboat on the side of the ship, and began untying its bindings. He whistled an upbeat tune as he worked at the knots.
Lorelei stepped away from the rail. “We should probably give him a hand.”
Vandermere smiled and held out a hand for her to
go ahead of him. They strolled over to Wes.
“What can we do? Lorelei asked.
Wes shot her a quick smile, then nodded to some of the dangling ropes. “If Lord Vandermere is willing, he could take some of those to ensure the boat doesn’t fall too hard in the water.”
Vandermere took the ropes and held them taut. Lorelei stepped up and grabbed one of them before either of them could say anything.
“What? You want me to just stand and watch?” She glanced back at Vaana. “Care to join us?”
With a sigh that was loud enough to be heard over the river, Vaana trudged to them. “What do you want me to do?”
“How about untie those last few knots?” Wes asked.
Between the four of them, they were able to lower the boat into the water without incident and tie it off. Wes rolled a rope ladder down the side of the Winddancer. Vandermere climbed down first, followed by Lorelei, and then Vanna. Once they were all secured with the supplies, Wes descended into the boat. He took two paddles and began to row towards the shore.
Lorelei stared into the forest that sat just off the shore of the river. The brown trunked trees were thick, not permitting much sunlight through their tops. It seemed that much of her life had become traversing through forests. A smile curved at the corner of her lips. Still, it was much better than wasting away at Morningtide Priory.
Eventually, Wes brought them to the shallows. He hopped out of the boat. Vandermere followed suit and the two of them dragged the boat ashore. Lorelei climbed out, grabbed her backpack, and slipped her arms in the straps. She closed her eyes and breathed in the pine scented air as the others retrieved their equipment.
“The Lord of Fate’s tower should be this way.” Vandermere slung his bag across his back and trotted to the right. “We should head out so we can make it before it gets too dark.”
“If it does, we’ll have to make camp,” Wes said. “I’m not traveling through the forest at night. Never know what could be waiting.”
“Wild animals? Monsters?” Lorelei asked with an amused curiosity.
“Assassins,” Vaana said darkly.
“All three maybe.” Wes winked, then chuckled.
They trekked through the trees most of the day at a quick pace, leaving little room for conversation except for the occasional comment or muttered curse when someone tripped over a tree root. That someone tended to be Wes.
After the fourth one, Lorelei had to speak up. “Considering where I found you, I’d think you would have been more used to traveling through the woods than you are.”
“I don’t know why you would think that, considering where you found me,” Wes said between pants. “I’m more of a city boy…and a river boy. Seeing the ports of call.”
“If you say so,” Lorelei said.
As the light in the sky turned pale orange, the top of the tower rose above the canopy.
“Not much longer,” Vandermere called.
“Finally,” Lorelei muttered. “How does this Lord of Fate get anything out here in the middle of nowhere? I don’t imagine he hunts for his food.”
“He may be the Lord of Fate, but he is skilled in other magics as well,” Vandermere said. “Besides, my House aids its own. For the most part.”
“Dimensional magics, then?”
“Among other things,” Vandermere said.
They continued on. As the last rays of sun shot across the sky, they broke through the tree line and into a clearing that surrounded a brown stone tower that stood several stories tall. Dark green vines grew along the walls, invading the shuttered windows. A stone fence surrounded the towers and a small garden just inside, with plants that had overgrown their space.
“This place looks a bit neglected,” Lorelei said. “Are you sure he is still here?”
“As far as I know, he is.” Vandermere frowned at he gazed up at the tower.
“He’s probably abandoned the place,” Vaana muttered. “This is just a dead end, like I said it would be.”
“We won’t know until we knock. Besides, what are we going to do? Camp out in his front yard?” Lorelei strode forward and opened the wooden gate that led inside the tower’s yard.
After a moment’s hesitation, Vandermere took the lead and trod up the dirt path that lead to the ornate wooden door. A large brass knocker with the face of a dragon was set in the center of it. He lifted the ring in its mouth and knocked three strong raps that echoed through the air.
Lorelei wrapped her arms around her and shivered. The sun had set and the night had already cooled the forest. She hoped there was someone in the tower for she’d rather spend the night in a warm room if she had a choice.
“Looks like no one is here,” Vaana said with a hint of smugness. “We should leave.”
“Where to?” Lorelei asked. “Have you figured out anyone else to help you? I imagine if you had, you would have mentioned it. You haven’t been keen on coming here at all.”
Vaana’s look turned to a scowl and she opened her mouth for a second before closing it.
“Well, I’m not sure about Vaana’s problem, but we could always look for Zaos,” Wes put in.
Lorelei glanced up at the dark sky. “Not tonight, we won’t.”
Vandermere took a step back and stared up at the tower with narrowed eyes. “Something is wrong.”
Lorelei turned to him with her eyebrows raised. “What is it?”
He shook his head. “If he had left, we should have known. He should have told someone in the House.”
Vaana crossed her arms. “What? No Essus has had a vision?”
“Not that I know of. But something feels off.” He raised his hand to the door handle.
When he touched it, a purple glow surrounded him. He stiffened, his eyes growing wide. After a few seconds, the glow disappeared and the door swung inward.
“So, the door was spelled,” Lorelei said. “I’m guessing only one of his House could enter without his permission.”
“Indeed.” Vandermere nodded and stepped inside.
Darkness greeted Lorelei as she followed Vandermere inside. She pulled a lantern from her pack, lit it, and glanced around. The stone floor was of the same brown color as the bricks outside. The foyer held three doorways and a spiral staircase that lead up to the second floor. A stale scent filled the air along with tiny particles of dust that had been disturbed by their entrance.
“He hasn’t been here for a few weeks at least,” Lorelei said.
Vandermere shook his head and walked to the doorway across the foyer. He leaned inside, glanced around, and turned back to the foyer with a frown creasing his lips and lines in his forehead.
“Kitchen,” he said. “Looks mostly clean, though there are two glasses and a bottle of wine on the table.”
“So, he had some sort of company before he disappeared,” Lorelei said.
Vaana stepped inside and glanced around the room. With a sigh, she walked to the doorway on their right and peered inside, then turned around and did the same to the room on the left. Wes moved inside the tower and leaned against the wall near Lorelei, watching Vaana.
“Is it just me, or does she seem more agitated than usual?” Wes asked.
“There’s nothing here,” Vaana said. “Let’s just set up and discuss what we’re going to do next.”
Lorelei nodded to the stairs. “We still have a few more floors to explore. Maybe we can find a clue on what happened to the Lord of Fate.”
Vandermere led the way. Their steps echoed against the stones as they ascended to the second floor.
It was one large room, instead of divided into multiple rooms like the lower floor. Several long, curved marble tables lined the walls, their tops crowded with cauldrons, beakers, flasks, and pots. The center of the room was dotted with two shelves crammed with roots, dried flowers, and beakers filled with glowing liquid or dust of various colors. Diagrams of geometric shapes with arcane symbols and scripts covered the walls and floor.
“Wow,” Lorelei said. �
�I haven’t seen a lab like this since I snuck into one of the Halls at the Aimsir for a party.”
Wes wandered over to the shelves and picked up a bottle. “I think this is blood of some kind.”
“Careful. Some of this may be volatile.” Vandermere passed by the tables and shelves with barely a glance at them and strode back to the spiral staircase.
Lorelei paused at one of the tables. Some of the beakers appeared to have dregs of burnt liquids inside of them. Several candles sat with their wicks extinguished. Vaana stood in the doorway with her hands in her pockets as she watched Vandermere ascend.
“Hmm, what would these experiments have to do with the working of Fate? I’d expect something more like crystal balls and such.” Lorelei peered up at one of the diagrams. Instead of shapes, this one depicted a landmass. “Where do you think this could be?”
Vaana cast her gaze at Lorelei and the diagram and shrugged.
“What is with you? You haven’t said one snarky comment since we dropped anchor.”
Vaana shook her head. “We shouldn’t be here.”
“So you keep saying.” Lorelei leaned one hip against the table, facing Vaana, and crossed her arms. “Would you care to elaborate?”
Vaana hesitated and then opened her mouth to speak. A loud scream from upstairs interrupted her. Without another glance at Vaana, Lorelei sprinted across the room and up the stairs. She paused at the third floor to blink at the disaster scattered about the large, open library. Shelves were toppled over with books strewn across the floor, their pages ripped from the spines and torn to thousands of tatters.
Vandermere was nowhere in sight.
Lorelei continued to climb to the next floor. A familiar, metallic stench hit her nostrils when she reached the halfway point. She clenched her jaw, resisting the urge to grate her teeth as a chill crept up her spine and her stomach roiled. Iron. There had to be a lot of it if she could sense it from the stairs.
Vandermere.
Her chest tightened and she dashed up the remainder of the stairs. She came to a halt at the open room at the top. She covered her mouth with her arm, pushing down the bile rising in her. The iron smell was overpowering. Bits seemed to be embedded in the walls and the floor.
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