Magic Unchained (Hand Of Justice Book 4)

by Jace Mitchell

  He was letting her know not to worry.

  Belarus came forward again, this time slicing with both knives at the same time.

  Riley almost fell off her damned camel at what came next.

  William let Belarus get within a foot of him, and the blades came together in a chopping motion to take off William’s head.

  William ducked. He looked goofy as hell doing it, his huge body not used to such agile movements, but he was fast.

  The blades missed his head and William surged upward, slamming into Belarus with his shoulder. The smaller man flew back, and William went with him.

  Belarus landed on the ground, and William scrambled on top of him. The big man put his hands together, turning them into one giant fist. He started pummeling Belarus. Once, twice, three times, then four.

  Blood spouted up from the smaller man’s nose and mouth.

  Still William didn’t stop.

  Finally, Harold removed the blade from Riley’s back and dropped off his camel. He walked up to William and put it just in front of his face.

  William paused in the middle of bringing his fists down on Belarus again.

  “That’s enough.”

  William grinned. “Think your master will get angry if I finish him off?”

  “I don’t think my master will care one way or the other. Perhaps I’m getting soft in my old age, or perhaps I’m hoping you’ll disobey me and I can run this sword through your eye. It doesn’t really matter. You need to get up and get back on your camel, understand?”

  William shot a glance at Riley, still smiling. “You doubted me, skinny! Betcha never seen moves like that before! I’ll teach you some once we finish all this! You’ll be agile like me!”

  Riley shook her head, laughing. “You looked like a dingo trying to dance, chubby!”

  William backed up and got on his camel. Belarus slowly climbed to his feet, his face a mess. He spat blood on the ground, and there was real hate in his eyes now. Riley knew they’d have to watch him since he’d been beaten—and worse, embarrassed—twice now. When he got the chance, he would murder Riley and William. He’d probably rape Riley first.

  She couldn’t feel too bad for the man, because she knew evil lived in his heart—even if he was an idiot.

  Harold got back up on his camel and started the long line of soldiers and mages moving again. Riley fell in behind him, but he motioned for her to come forward.

  She went, nudging her camel to go a bit faster until she was riding next to him.

  “You thought that was cruel?” he asked.

  Riley didn’t say anything. She didn’t need to.

  A few moments passed before he spoke again. “This is a cruel world, Right Hand, as you’re going to see very soon. Rendal is a cruel master, but he is still a master. He is done playing with you, girl, and I, for one, am glad. I want you to understand that if you do anything once we arrive—anything at all—that makes me think you’re not submitting, I will kill you.”

  He didn’t look at her as he spoke, but Riley knew he was telling the truth. This man wanted her dead. Not to join Rendal. Not to become part of their group. He wanted her to die.

  “Your kingdom is done. Your heroes are captive. There is nothing left for you except to join or die. Do you understand?”

  Riley remained silent.

  “Those behind you, all of them—they’re going to die. That’s something else you need to understand. You are the only one Rendal wants. The only reason anyone is still alive—Mason, the ex-Prefect, your Honor Guard—is because Rendal wants you to join. Maybe he’ll let them live if you do. Who can say? But all of this, the way it is now? It’s going to change.”

  The two were silent for a few minutes.

  “Go on,” Harold said. “Get back there. I just didn’t want you to think there was any hope. That little display with Belarus was for my amusement, nothing else. Your hope is dead, just like those mages I killed in the desert.”

  Riley let her camel drop back.

  Rage boiled inside her, but she kept her mouth shut.

  She thought back to things Linda had said; things that Worth had said. If hope was indeed lost, how did she bring it back?

  Chapter Sixteen

  Long days passed while Erin and her group waited for Riley’s return. Some grumbled that it wasn’t happening; that they were all wasting their time and risking their lives for nothing.

  Erin held firm, though, and finally, they returned.

  They heard them coming long before, horns bellowing to announce their arrival.

  “Come,” Lucie told the group.

  They all left Mac’s, heading to the outer edge of the kingdom, where a wall kept possible invaders out.

  “Everyone is going to be at the front, so we’ll be safe,” Lucie told them.

  They made their way to the tall walls, and sure enough, Lucie saw no one else out here.

  “There are holes placed strategically in the walls, so that if the archers above are all killed, the military can still see outside,” Lucie explained. “They’re hard to find, but if you look closely, you can make them out.”

  “I see them,” Brighten said first, his eyesight the best in the entire group. He paused for a second, then said, “Can I go up to them?”

  “Well, why else did we come here?” Lucie joked. “Go on. Here, the rest of you must be blind as bats.”

  She led Erin and Kris to two spots against the wall, and Erin finally saw the hole. It was about an inch in diameter but drilled all the way through.

  She put her eye to it, and her mouth dropped open.

  The army stretched far back, and at the front, she saw Riley riding behind the leader. The woman was tiny from this distance and Erin couldn’t make out much, but she identified her short blonde hair for sure.

  “Brighten, what do you see?” she called.

  “Riley is up front. William is a little bit behind her,” he answered. “Worth is next, and then Alexandra. Eric is in the rear. Other than that, all I see is Rendal’s men.”

  His voice shook as he spoke, and Erin understood his fear. The force approaching them was massive; Riley looked small against that backdrop. What could she possibly have done?

  “She’s wearing a necklace,” Brighten added. “All of them are. They can’t use their magic.”

  “Are they chained?” Erin asked.

  “Yeah. Each of them has chains on their wrists. William looks bloody, although I can’t tell if it’s his or someone else’s.”

  “How does Eric look?”

  “He’s okay,” Brighten answered.

  Erin swallowed, forcing down the fear that wanted to rise in her. She had to focus now. She would worry about her son and William later.

  “Lucie, is there any way you can talk to her with that necklace on?”

  “No,” Lucie answered. “I could reach out, but them necklaces make it impossible for anyone to hear me.”

  Erin nodded.

  “Do you think she surrendered?” Kris asked.

  “Yes and no,” Erin answered. “She had to surrender to that force. There was no other choice. They would have broken her and everyone else, otherwise. But I don’t think she really surrendered. She hasn’t given up. She’s still coming to save this kingdom.”

  “How can you be sure?” Brighten asked. “I mean, just look at that. Even with us in place, what can she possibly do?”

  Erin backed away from the wall, refusing to be frightened anymore.

  “I’m sure because I know Riley. I saw her fight my son in a battle she shouldn’t have won; she did it without hesitation. That group out there and the people in here aren’t scaring her any, and you all better remember it. She’s going to need us when the time comes. Get away from that wall. We all have to talk.”

  The other three stepped away, turning to look at Erin.

  “We’ve got to get a message to Riley, or if not Riley, then William. It’ll probably be easier to get to William, based on where they’re located.
We don’t want to wait too long, because we might miss our chance if we try to give it to Worth or Alexandra.”

  “What are you talking about?” Brighten asked. “Give them a message? How? You want me to get one of those horns the Prefect used and shout it as they walk in?”

  Erin grinned. “Well, that idea might not work, but I like where your head is at. I was thinking we should use you.”

  “No, no, no. That’s not what I meant. I was just sayin’ we can’t actually give them a message, Erin!”

  She was smiling now. “Well, if anyone is going to do it, shouldn’t it be you?”

  “Me? Why me? It’s always me!”

  “Not true,” Kris chimed in. “I’m always involved, too. I just don’t bitch and moan as much as you.” She had that look of excitement on her face.

  “It’s fine, Brighten. By the looks of it, we have an hour or so to get you prepared.”

  “An hour?!” Brighten was nearly shouting. “That’s not enough time for anything!”

  “Oh, it’s plenty. Don’t you think so, Lucie?” Erin was smirking now.

  “Aye, that should be plenty of time.”

  “Kris?” Erin asked.

  “I’m ready. Just need No Nuts here to be.”

  Brighten sighed and shook his head. “I don’t know why I even protest anymore. You guys don’t care.”

  “Not one bit,” Erin agreed cheerfully. “As far as I’m concerned, I’m here to make you uncomfortable, and I know Kris feels the same.”

  “Sure do. It’s the main purpose of my life so far as I can tell.”

  They were both nearly laughing now. Erin believed they needed it, given what they’d just seen outside these walls.

  “We love you, Brighten. You know that,” she said. “Now, come on. There’s not much time. Let’s get to work.”

  “You people get these crazy fucking ideas, and then it’s up to me to figure out how to make them work.”

  “Hush, No Nuts,” Kris whispered harshly. “No time for gloating now. That’ll come if we make it out of this alive.”

  And that, Brighten knew, was a big if.

  Getting a message to William was an absolutely, positively, dumb idea. Only the criminally insane would think up something so ridiculous; they couldn’t possibly care if they lived or died.

  And yet, here I am, involved with it, Brighten thought.

  They’d done some pretty daring stunts in Sidnie, but Brighten thought this one might take the cake.

  “You ready?” Kris whispered.

  “No,” Brighten answered.

  “Doesn’t matter. We gotta go now if this is going to work.”

  She took off, and Brighten followed. He knew she was right. Their timing had to be perfect for this. If they were two seconds on either side of the window, they’d miss their opportunity.

  If anything could be considered good luck right now, it was that absolutely no one was looking for them. The entire kingdom cared only about the army that was just about to enter the kingdom. That meant there were openings.

  The top of the wall had a walkway where archers could attack and generals could assess the situation outside the kingdom. Doors were located at the base of the walls to get up there, usually locked, except during shift changes.

  There hadn’t been a shift change, though, and the doors were still locked.

  Kris bashed the padlock with a damned hammer until the thing fell off.

  “There we go,” she said with a smile. “Come on.”

  She led the way, and Brighten followed her. They ran up a dark stairway, each knowing their role. In this tight of a space, it was all up to Brighten; he’d have to use his psychic magic to get them through. Once they got to the top, Kris’s speed could help them.

  They reached the top of the stairs.

  Kris turned around and looked at him. “You out of breath already? You’re turning soft on me, arncha?”

  “Hush up,” Brighten responded. She was right, though. The past few days of waiting hadn’t been great for his lungs. “Go on.”

  Kris opened the door and light flooded in. She stuck her head up and swiveled around.

  “We’re good.”

  She hopped onto the walkway, and Brighten followed suit.

  “There.” She gestured to her left. The walkway bent in a slight curve, but it was clear where the kingdom’s gates resided. Brighten saw a few archers; he counted about ten, but they were spread out evenly across the walkway.

  Thank the Mother and Father, he thought.

  “Not much time,” she whispered, and ran.

  Brighten followed, his feet pounding on the brick beneath him.

  “Hey!” the first archer shouted as Kris reached him.

  Brighten was a little late on the proverbial draw, but his eyes turned red quickly.

  “Who are you yelling at, soldier?” he asked, slowing down. He knew what the archer saw: a tall man wearing the kingdom’s military garb.

  “I…uhhh…that girl!” The archer turned around quickly, suddenly very confused but wanting to straighten everything out for the superior now walking up to him.

  “There’s no girl, you idiot.” Brighten was disguising his voice and fear, making himself sound like an enraged general who could spit blood at any moment. “Get down to your barracks. You don’t even belong up here to watch the military return.”

  “Suh-sir?”

  “I said get down!” Brighten shouted.

  The archer looked at his feet and hustled off, moving quickly to the stairwell Brighten had just exited.

  His eyes went back to normal. Kris stood about twenty feet away, waiting for him.

  “Took ya long enough, dummy. Come on, we’re not going to make it.”

  The two raced forward again and Brighten chanced a look over the wall. She was right. This was going to be tight. There was a guard just ahead, although it was the last one. Brighten would have to deal with him before they could try to pass the message along.

  His eyes turned red.

  He wasn’t going to bother with disguises. He simply sent a message, a strong one, hoping that it would lodge in the unsuspecting man’s brain.

  I have somewhere to be right now. I need to walk the opposite way and get to that place.

  Brighten had stopped running to send the message, but Kris hadn’t. She was still sprinting forward.

  If the message didn’t stick, she would be caught in about five seconds.

  The guard turned, heeding Brighten’s message, but then Brighten realized his fault.

  They still had to pass the man. Even if he turned that way, he’d see Kris blazing right by him.

  Kris was upon him and wasted no time. She jumped into the air, her hands and feet nearly too fast to see. She brought her right fist—which held the message for William—down on the back of the man’s head. He collapsed in a heap, and she kept going.

  Brighten started running again, his legs pumping furiously.

  He reached Kris as she leaned over the wall.

  Brighten watched the small rock fall, having no idea if any of this madness was going to work.

  William knew he looked like some kind of savage, and he was wondering what the people of his kingdom would think when they laid eyes on him. Belarus’ blood was all over his shirt. His hands were crusted with it, and he thought some might be on his neck.

  He’d never thought he’d be brought into New Perth like this, as a prisoner.

  William wasn’t feeling down, though. He wasn’t doubting himself or Riley. Maybe he was a hero, and maybe he wasn’t, but he still had his duty to attend to—and that duty involved first freeing himself and then the rest of this kingdom.

  They weren’t in great shape, no, but they couldn’t be counted out. Not with him and Riley still alive and kicking.

  Trumpets were playing inside the walls, celebrating Harold’s triumphant arrival. The hero they welcomed wasn’t William, at least not officially. He knew his people, though. They expected him to release
them from this bondage.

  Riley was riding about ten camels in front of William. He’d been shoved back some as others tried to jostle their way to the front, probably hoping Rendal would see them. Laughable. Scum, the lot of them. They’d get what was coming to them, and hopefully sooner rather than later.

  William busied himself worrying about how he would escape, how he would find Goland, and what he and Riley could do then. He wasn’t paying attention to much of the world around him. It wasn’t important at the moment. The people inside the massive gates. The trumpets. The welcoming party. All of that was pomp and circumstance. What mattered was what would come after.

  William’s camel passed through the gate and he stared straight ahead, not looking at anyone. He heard people shouting his name, shouting “Right Hand!” but he paid them no mind. He couldn’t. He had to focus—

  “Fuck!” He barely managed to keep his voice from getting loud as his eyes flashed to his left. Pain sliced his face, and he saw something falling.

  The hell is that? he thought. He quickly glanced up and saw two small heads on the walkway above drop behind the wall. Damned it if that wasn’t Brighten and Kris.

  William reached up and touched his face. The blood was fresh. The little bastards had dropped something. Coulda put my fuckin’ eye out, he thought grumpily. He knew what he had to do, though.

  William dropped off the camel.

  “The fuck are you doin’?!” the soldier behind him shouted.

  “Why don’t you get down and find out, chump?”

  William didn’t even look up. His eyes were on the rock they’d dropped. He scooped it up as his camel continued to walk without him, and grabbed a few other pebbles as well, hoping to disguise what he had actually been after.

  He heard the soldier drop as well and William rose to his full height, staring at the man. “Aye, twerp, I wanted to hold a piece of my homeland that you fucks think you can steal. You want to try me, go ahead.”

  “Just get back on the damn camel,” the soldier spat. William could tell he wanted no part of a fight.

  William really didn’t either, not yet. The rock they’d dropped had been a small one, but it’d been made bulkier and heavier by the piece of parchment they’d wrapped around it.