Tor Lir lifted a finger and brushed a shock of hair from his head. Citrine was always finding some trouble to get into and dragging him along, but not this time. Although he was curious about the Udi, he had to stay focused. “Citrine, I cannot commit to help the Udi when chaos is loose in this city. I must find the imbalance regardless of what the Udi desire. I am not at everyone’s beck and call. You must know, this city relies on our wits. We can again do what we did to the Master of the Forest. What you did.” Tor Lir put his palms together, beseeching. “You saved the land of Novor Tur-Woodberry and working together, we can save this city.”
Citrine shook her head, her eyes glowing. “Nay, it’s not salvation. I still don’t understand why you’re so concerned about the balance. We have a chance to do something heroic by helping the Udi instead of staying in this city. It’s done us no favors, and the Disciples of Ithar are here. Let’s slip away and leave them to deal with chaos. That is their duty, isn’t it?”
Citrine’s aura glowed red as she spoke, and Tor Lir realized they were about to have another disagreement. His lips thinned. “Did you not hear me the first time, or do I have to repeat myself? Lord Nodin requested our assistance in lifting the curse of the Therian. We must agree or he will release devastation on this city.”
“I heard,” Citrine snapped, narrowing her eyes. “But I don’t respond to blackmail. You have to think of a way out of this, because we are going to help the Udi. I don’t care about this city. This isn’t like the land of Novor Tur-Woodberry. The mortals got themselves into battles and wars. They can figure out their situation. Besides, the presence of the Disciples of Ithar makes running around the city even more dangerous. And Tor Lir, I ran into Triften. He asked for you and I don’t know what to think. He knows too many secrets…”
Tor Lir waved his hand, brushing away her worries. “Triften is of no concern. You and I need to come to an agreement and fast. If you decline, Lord Nodin will risk the lives of hundreds of mortals who live in this city. The question is why do you want to help the Udi? What did they promise you?”
Citrine blushed, the color rising from her chest and spreading over her cheeks. Her odd eyes dropped to the fire, allowing the flames to add their glow to them. “It is none of your business.”
Tor Lir bit his lip to keep from cursing and lowered his voice. “Citrine, if we are to trust each other, you have to tell me.”
Citrine shook her head. “I’ve told you enough, all I ask is that you trust me. Besides, the Udi are beautiful and unusual. Don’t you want to meet them? I thought you were curious about this world.”
“I am,” he confirmed.
“Then you could save the Udi from monsters, isn’t that a worthy cause?” She glared at him, daring him to disagree.
Tor Lir sighed. Citrine made everything more difficult, and he wasn’t sure how to make her see things his way. Bullying or attacking her would not work, for her beasts would rise to the occasion. They had a rule: Never hurt a mortal. But Tor Lir assumed it did not apply to him. He lowered his elbows to his knees and put his hands on his head. He heard Citrine’s exclamation of victory. “So, you’ll come with me then?”
He lifted his head. “Citrine, I know where the treasure is.”
Her expression changed, and hope rose in her eyes. “Why didn’t you say so first?”
Tor Lir hated himself for saying the words that would entice her. He wished there was another way. “Because I touched it, and something within me woke up.”
33
Attack of Shadows
Citrine felt everything fade away, and her mind drifted into the void. Shaking her head, she peered out of the mist at Tor Lir. The world spun around him, and it seemed his words echoed before registering in her mind.
“There’s more,” Tor Lir went on. “Lord Nodin knows about your beasts. He might even know about you. I’m not sure where he gets his information, but he knows much more than I expected. I believe he knew you would flat out refuse his proposal, so he sends a threat, a threat I am hesitant to deliver because I know you will fight it. He said if you don’t come with me to assist him, he will start killing your beasts using the beast of shadows.”
“My beasts are protected,” Citrine hissed, anger flaring like the heat of fire.
Tor Lir shook his head. “Aye from mortals perhaps, but not from immortals and other beasts. You may need to find another spell of protection. The book of spells you’re writing is not strong enough.”
Citrine sighed, seeing surprise resonate in Tor Lir’s eyes at her lack of spirit. “I know,” she answered honestly. “That’s why I need the gift of the Udi in exchange for services rendered. That’s why I need you to come with me.”
“But time is of the essence, we don’t have time to go to the Under Water World and search for a solution to their problem. Perhaps you can employ Morag and Grift to find knowledge for you, but the threat in this city is happening now. Lord Nodin is quick and decisive. It's been mere days since you and I discussed the treasure, and he already has it. He won’t wait long. He told me we had until sunset tonight to return to the tower.”
“Fine, let’s take out the threat by killing the beast of shadows and then go to the Udi. If I am to protect my beasts, this is the only path.”
Tor Lir frowned. “My instinct says death is not the way. We should search for some other resolution.”
“It’s the only way, because it threatens my beasts. I am strong. You of all people know who I am. I defeated the Master of the Forest. Nothing will stand in my way.”
Tor Lir rose, ending the conversation. “Nothing, eh? We shall see.”
Citrine copied his movements. “Where are you going?”
“Back to the tower, and you’re coming with me.”
Citrine scowled, but decided not to push her luck. She reached for her boots. “Turn around while I change and tell me about the treasure. What happened when you held it? What did it unlock?”
Silence.
A ringing sounded in Citrine’s ears. A whooshing sound came, like a strong wind blowing in circles, and she saw with a vision that was not her own. She stood in what looked like the bottom of a well, and around her were empty shells, sparkling with a black mist, lines and cracks blurring out all light, sinking into the depths of darkness. A beast roared. She heard it clearly, and it filled her with terror. She reached out a hand, except it was not her own but the massive clawed maw of some sort of creature. Three curved claws gleamed in what little light remained in the well, and suddenly she saw little shapes, jumping and leaping, teeth nipping at her. A flood of emotion overwhelmed her, and she bent her long neck to the creatures, a high-pitched keening sound rising in her throat and spilling out as her heart beat faster. She rubbed her head against the beings and love whelmed up within. She would do anything and everything in her power to protect the small beings from starvation, capture and death. Even now they were hungry, their shrill squeaks begging her to feed them, protect them. They were confused, and she knew why. If only she could get them to climb the cylinder-smooth walls of the well, they could escape. Panic hit her full force, and she slammed her weight against the walls. They shook, and the rattling of rocks falling sounded in the distance. Leaning back, she slammed her body against the rocks again. A pain came to her side, knocking the air out of her. She slammed again and again, letting the ground shake and tremble while the squeaks of the tiny beings grew higher and faster. Blood rushed to her ears and something snapped inside her, but she did not care. She kept going. Freedom was nigh, and when her babies escaped, they would be safe.
Citrine came to screaming. Tor Lir gripped her shoulders in both hands, shaking her gently. “Citrine. Wake up. Wake up. You’re in your cave. It’s all right.”
The scream melted away, and she shuddered, peering up at Tor Lir, eyes wide. “What happened?”
He shrugged, chewing on his lower lip. “I don’t know. One moment you were putting on your boots, the next your eyes went white and you fell into something
like a trance. Where were you?”
Citrine gulped. “It happened once before. I think I’m a creature, trapped in a house of stone, but this time I am escaping. It's time to break free—not to save myself, but I think I just had babies, and they must go free. Whoever trapped me is powerful, dangerous. I’m terrified of him. Or her. Tor Lir, what is the meaning of this? What am I seeing?”
Tor Lir gripped her shoulders hard, his eyes deadly serious as they searched her face. “Citrine, you are the Enchantress. Do you have the ability to change your form?”
“Nay, I may be a Tider but I am not one of the Therian. Or…” she trailed off, quashing the word: Changer. There was no need to bring evil into the conversation. All Changers were dead and their bloodline destroyed in the war between the mortals and immortals.
“Are you sure? Is there something within you that needs to be awakened?”
“No,” Citrine pushed against him, suddenly angry at his line of questioning. “There is nothing. Unlike you, I know my full abilities. I know who I am and where I came from. I know my parents and I understand the limits of my power. Yes, there is room for growth, that can be discovered with spells and relics that conduct power. But I cannot change my form. I am a mortal, not a beast.”
“Then how do you explain what you are experiencing? You clearly are a beast.”
“Perhaps it is not a beast. You know I have the ability to speak to them. Maybe my mind has become synced with one and I need to find out how I can help it. Whatever it is, it needs my help.”
Tor Lir raised an eyebrow, his face turning cold as stone, haughty and arrogant. “So, you can help a suffering beast, but you refuse to help the mortals?”
Citrine glared at him, shrugging his hands off her shoulders and ignoring the scent of pine and cedar he gave off. How did he continue to smell like the woods when they lived in the city? If anything, he should smell like the sea, and yet the essence of his birth land clung to him. It was both uncanny and desirable. Citrine cursed under her breath as she swiftly changed, pulled on her boots, and yanked on her cloak. “You’re lucky,” she snarled at Tor Lir. “If you were anyone else, I’d have Ava eat you.”
Tor Lir shrugged. “Now that is impossible. Ava and I have an understanding. She will never eat me.”
As if she’d heard, Ava lifted an ear, and it quivered. Her breathing remained steady.
“Ava, guard the cave,” Citrine ordered. “Tor Lir, lead me to the tower.” She tucked two knives into her belt. “We have a beast to kill.”
34
Shadow Beasts
“What’s that?” Tor Lir pointed at the sky with an arrow. He’d retrieved his bow and quiver of arrows once Citrine had announced they would fight. For once, he was thankful for his bow and even more grateful for the sword training he’d received from Lady Hava. Although he shuddered in desire at the thought of her. He’d crossed a line he never should have crossed. It was only a kiss, but surely she would want more, and it would take all of his power to resist her.
“It’s just a bird.” Citrine’s impatient tone interrupted his thoughts. “Come on, you’re wasting time.”
Tor Lir shielded his eyes against the sun, aware his eyesight was better than Citrine’s. “I’ve never seen a bird like that—black as dust with wings like bolts of a shadow and red eyes. Look!”
The bird belched as it flew and even from the distance Tor Lir saw something like glowing coals come out of its mouth. They must have been heavy, for they dropped like stones and each one grew in magnitude before his eyes. The red stones fell to the ground with a boom, and the world exploded. Grass flew up in the air, and shards of what used to be a home burst into the air like a fountain. But instead of water, blood and dust flew out. Chilling shrieks rent the air, and another explosion rocked the ground. People burst out of their homes panicking and screaming. Children ran wild in the streets, and soldiers shouted out orders which were lost in the confusion.
More dark spots dotted the sky, hurling balls of fire down upon the city. As the bird-like creatures swooped nearer, Tor Lir saw them clearly. They had flared nostrils, sharp claws, and jagged wings. Their eyes were red, and their wings were slick and black with a wet coating on them and a curved hook in the middle of each wing. Heart pounding, Tor Lir reached back for Citrine’s hand. Her mouth was open, and her eyes roved back and forth. Her lips moved, but no words came out.
“Citrine, what are you doing? Come on we have to run!”
“I know.” Her lemon-yellow eyes met his, and he saw a purpose behind them. “I told my beasts to watch out for these creatures and see if they can escort them to safety. I’m ready.” She wrapped her fingers around his and tucked up her cloak. “Let’s run.”
They dashed up the cobblestone road, ducking from explosions, sometimes hiding behind wagons as the city descended into chaos. The temple doors were open, and the friars were calling for people to enter. Tor Lir saw a child trampled in the rush, screaming for its mother while the townsfolk ran over it. He reached out a hand in dismay, but it was too late, and Citrine dragged him onward. He ran into a merchant with goods. The male sprawled out on his back, his stomach moving in and out as he gasped for air, red faced. Someone dragged him up, shouting, and he ran toward the temple, his leather sandals flapping on his feet. Mothers held their babes on one hip and the hands of younger children as they dashed, their hair coming loose from hats and bonnets as they fled. The thunderous boom of an explosion threw them forward with the velocity of its power. A wooden building tumbled, and rubble spread around them. Citrine coughed as she stood to her feet, her face black from grime. “Tor Lir, take out your bow. You have to kill them.”
Tor Lir bit his lip as he climbed to his feet, glancing briefly at Citrine before he pulled an arrow out of his quiver. He wanted to tell her violence was not the way, yet clearly it was too late for that. He nocked the arrow in his bow and pulled the bow string taunt. Closing one eye, he honed in on his target and pulled the arrow back until the feathered end kissed his lips. Focusing on the flying beast, he took a moment to note where it was currently and where it would be when he loosed his arrow. He took a deep breath, let it out, and released the arrow. It flew effortlessly from his fingertips, smooth like he had spoken the words and told it where to go. It struck the beast, sinking into its soft underbelly. One moment it was flapping its dark wings. The next, the arrow sunk in its middle, and without a word, without even a cry, the beast fell out of the sky and landed with a plop on the road. Silence swept across the city, and then a cheer went up from the crowd.
A deathly roar sounded from the tower, quenching the short-lived celebration. It was long and mournful, and in it a painful ache that resonated with Tor Lir. He recognized and sympathized with it, knowing the reason for its pain: he’d killed something it loved. One of its babies. And then he knew with certainty the beast of shadows and the creature Citrine had become in her vision were the same. He spun to face her, darkness registering in his eyes and a sudden fury overwhelming him. Anger rolled like the waves of the Jaded Sea, threatening to repress his vision as he sprung on her, fingers locking around her arm. It was her fault he’d destroyed something created out of a pure love and beauty. “Citrine. Tell me. What does the beast of shadows want with you? Why do you see what it sees and feel what it feels?”
She shook her head without trying to defend herself. Her face went white, and liquid swam in her odd eyes. Instead of pulling away, she hung her head. “I don’t know. But we don’t have time for this. We have to go. Tor Lir.” She reached out a hand to brush his cheek, as if her touch could atone for the knowledge he held. He slapped her hand away with impatience and let her go. Turning, he ran toward the tower, afraid they’d be too late.
35
Death at the Tower
Citrine’s heart hammered in her chest as she ran behind Tor Lir. She felt torn in two. Part of her wanted to call out to her beasts and warn them, yet she also knew they would come to her aid, which was far too dangerous in a city f
ull of mortals. Even if they could not see her beasts for what they truly were, the city was in shambles, and anyone with bows, arrows, spears, and slingshots pointed them at the sky, taking down the fire-breathing beasts. More frightening than the building exploding beside her and the rain of wood, mortar, and stones was the knowledge Tor Lir believed she was linked somehow to the beast of shadows. As she ran in his wake, she knew it was the only explanation for the visions she’d seen. But why her? And how had it happened?
“Watch out,” Tor Lir shouted and then his arms were around her waist, hauling her out of danger as a wagon wheel rolled across the path and two horses dashed by, splintering everything underneath their hooves. A merchant slammed into them, almost knocking them over, but Tor Lir held her firm. She struggled out of his grip when the danger passed, and he let go, suddenly aware of their proximity.
Legend of the Nameless One Boxset Page 34