Had Zima seen the killer? Alicia resisted the urge to shake the old woman. She was hurt, in shock and not thinking clearly. She touched the gash on Zima’s forehead and applied a healing spell. The wound stopped bleeding immediately. Within moments, it knit itself, leaving behind no scar. Alicia knew she shouldn’t have done it. The drain on energy further weakened her. Lately, she was doing her best to avoid weaving spells. Even the simplest one took too much of a toll.
This was important though.
Zima straightened, looking better. “Thank you,” she said in a grateful tone. “You always were good at healing.” Admiration coated her words.
“Zima, I need you to think…did you see the person who hurt you?”
“Of course I saw her. That useless wretch! How dare she set fire to the antechamber?”
“Her? Who’s her?”
Zima stared at her as if Alicia had lost her senses. “Her! That apprentice I spoke with you about? That girl is a menace. She could’ve burned the books. Fire in the library? I’ll have her hide for this.”
“She was the one who set the fire and killed Sultan?” Alicia couldn’t believe what she was hearing. That reed-thin girl she saw days earlier was the killer they had been searching for? Alicia knew she was a mage, but her demeanor suggested she was a novice. Clearly, she had fooled them all.
“She killed Sultan?” Zima looked shocked. “Why? That boy loved to read…” Placing her hands on the desk, she tried to stand. Alicia helped her, holding her around the waist.
Jace and Arian ran back. “We can’t find her. She disappeared behind one of the bookshelves but when we went there, there was nothing there. She simply vanished,” said Jace as he panted vigorously.
“She took the hidden path through the wall tunnel?” Zima sounded surprised. “How did she find out about that?”
“Are you sure it was a girl?” said Alicia. It was still hard for her to believe that Zima’s apprentice was the murderer.
“Yes. I saw her face,” said Jace. “But where did she go?”
“She must have discovered the path that leads from the library out into the courtyard,” said Zima.
The tunnel was a hidden entrance, and it's existence was a well-kept secret. Except for the head librarian and the royal siblings, no one knew about it. How had that mage found out about it?
Alicia gestured to the men. “Go outside. Tell the guards to close the castle gates and let no one out. Quickly!”
The men ran out again, looking frustrated that their prey had managed to escape.
Zima placed her hand on her desk, supporting herself. “If she discovered the hidden tunnel, she must know ways out of the castle also.”
“There’s only one road that leads out from the castle. We’ll get her,” Alicia said in a determined voice. She wasn’t prepared to let her brother’s attacker and Sultan’s murderer slip away so easily. “Are you alright? I want to go check…”
“Check the tunnel. She might still be hiding there,” said Zima.
“I’m sure she isn’t still there.” Now that she was identified, the woman would be in a hurry to leave the castle and the island. Surely she didn’t believe she could escape so easily?
“She killed Sultan?” Zima glanced at the fire. Smoke still curled in the air, but the charred body was clearly visible.
Alicia gritted her teeth. “She is responsible for his death. She tried to kill the king, and she murdered many guards. We’ll not let her escape.”
Her mind raced with questions. Who was this girl? Why had she risked her life, spent months cloistered in the library and tried to kill Seve? Who was she serving, and why? Was she sent by king Vindha?
“Told you I didn’t like that girl,” said Zima as she leaned against her desk. “There was something strange about her.”
Alicia nodded. “I should’ve listened to you.”
“Not that I knew she was the one who tried to murder the king,” said Zima. “Had I known that, believe me, I would have peeled the skin off her body.”
Alicia nearly smiled. She didn’t doubt Zima’s intentions. The old woman was loyal down to her last bone. “We’ll find her, and maybe you’ll get your chance.”
Zima snorted. She hobbled towards Sultan’s remains. Alicia followed. Grief now overwhelmed her as she realized she would have to inform his family of their loss. How many good men and women would die before this nightmare came to an end?
Iram was in the throes of a war – and there was nothing any one of them could do to escape the violence and bloodshed that would soon follow.
Chapter Thirteen
Even as the forest grew dark, Zo and Leo struggled through the brushwood, following Arkon’s trail. Strange rustling sounds, as well as the hoot of the night owl, overtook the usual twittering of the birds and small animals. Zo was weary of wolves and coyotes that hunted in the cover of the darkness. Wolves were especially a big threat in these woods. Still, they could not allow the trail to go cold.
Mercifully, they met with no trouble as they crept on quiet feet through the dense undergrowth of the forest. Whoever they were following was moving quickly, as if familiar with the forest. Zo and Leo walked for a long time. Finally, near dawn, the trail ended in a large clearing. After slithering under a thicket, Zo dug a hollow and settled to observe the man-made, mud mounds that stood within the clearing. Leo camped beside her. She counted two large mounds, and six smaller ones. Each mound was made of clay and mud, baked hard in the sun, and was big enough to house several people. The bigger ones probably served as community halls or meeting places.
Had they stumbled upon some isolated tribe that lived in the forest?
It would be foolhardy to jump into the situation without first knowing about the people, or as Leo claimed, the women who had dared to capture Arkon. Were they mages? Why did they live in the forest?
“When did you have this vision of Arkon going off with the women?” Zo asked Leo as he ate a melon-like fruit.
“I saw it a long time ago, a few days after I met you.”
Zo stared at the young boy. Could it be? Did he really have the talent to catch a glimpse of the future? She struggled to control her inner turmoil. Prophets were a rare breed, even in the magical world. She had never met one before. She knew a few mages who attempted to peek into the future, but the spells they used required certain rituals and ceremonies, and even then the results were not always accurate. A true prophet, someone who had the ability to predict future events without any spells, would be an anomaly even within the magical community. It was said a prophet was born every century, or perhaps even less – and they were the goddess’s chosen ones.
Was Leo telling her the truth? Did he indeed have that exceptional gift?
“Why didn’t you tell us before?” she said. Even to her own ears, the skepticism laced into her words was clear.
“You would not have believed me. No one ever did.”
“Not even your parents.”
“My parents? I don’t remember them.”
Zo put a hand on the boy’s arm. “I’m sorry. Did they die? What happened to them?”
“Don’t know. They left me in one of the temples when I was a baby. The priest brought me up. I told him about what I saw in my mind sometimes, but he said not to mention this to anyone. He said I was making things up." It was the longest he had ever spoken, and even now, his eyes remained downcast. he didn't look at Zo, clearly anticipating that she would not believe him.
Zo lifted his chin and looked into his eyes. “I believe you, Leo. These visions you see are not an abomination, but a gift.” She wanted him to understand his own talent. He had grown in an environment without magic, and didn’t realize that he was a mage. And more than that, he was probably a prophet. “You have a special power. You can see things before they happen. Does it happen a lot?”
“Sometimes I see things when I’m sleeping. Sometimes I see them when I am thinking about something else. Sometimes I try to do it and it works, but not
always.” His eyes betrayed the confusion in his mind. For so long, he must have hidden his talent from the world, thinking of it as a curse, as something that made him different. A freak. Now, she was telling him to embrace this power. It was too soon, too much for the young child he still was.
“Did you try to see us when we were trying to leave you behind?”
He grinned. “Yes. Saw you clearly.”
Zo stifled a laugh. He was just a child. She ruffled his hair. “You’re a special young man, aren’t you? Well, you rest now while I think of a way to rescue our commander.”
Leo fingered the medallion he wore around his neck. Ignoring him, Zo peered towards the mounds, waiting for some movement. It was important to get a clear picture of her enemies before she barged in. Finally, she saw a woman emerge from one of the smaller mounds and walk towards a bigger one. Clothed in a green robe, she wore a belt around her waist in which were stuck many sharp and jagged-edged knives. In her hand, she held an iron chain, light but strong. Zo scratched her nose, befuddled by this strange place. Unless she knew more about the people who lived here and had imprisoned Arkon, she didn’t want to make a move.
She cast a spell, but picked up no significant traces of magic. No mages populated these mounds. Now she was sure she could free Arkon without much trouble. Still, after the incident at the chasm, she was weary of entering any unknown area without gathering as much information as possible.
Should she consult Zima? It was hard to admit that Zima could be the traitor, but since there wasn’t any other alternative, Zo knew it had to be the old woman who had betrayed them to the tracking mages. Could she trust the old crone enough to ask about these women? It was possible that she would immediately pass on any knowledge of Zo’s whereabouts to the enemy.
It was a risk, but Zo decided to take it. At this moment, her priority was Arkon, and in an effort to save him, she was ready to make a deal with the devil. She needed to scry. It would be quicker than any communication through the diary.
After making sure that Leo was well screened from any prying eyes, Zo slipped back and moved into a copse of trees a little distance away. After digging a shallow hole, she poured water in it. Zo muttered an incantation and watched as the water hissed and boiled. Finally it became as smooth and shiny as a newly polished mirror.
Zima’s startled face came into focus. “What are you doing, girl? Scrying in the middle of enemy territory? Have you lost your mind?”
Zo explained the situation. Zima looked a bit drawn. Was the toll of being a spy getting to her? “Who are these women? Do you know?” Zo asked, staring at the old woman, searching for a sign that would betray her as the traitor.
Would Zima tell her the truth about these women? She couldn’t be sure, but then the old librarian would not gain anything by lying.
Zima sneered. “Sounds to me these are the guardians of prophets, the akachimas.”
“Who?”
Zima huffed with an air of impatience. “The akachimas are an ancient tribe of women who take on the mantle of guarding a prophet and of recording all his visions and dreams. They don’t have any magic of their own, but they are deadly with knives. Also, they use chains to bind the power of a mage, should someone annoy them.”
“Bind the power?” Zo nearly jumped. It reminded her of the ekeme. Did the akachimas have similar powers?
“Temporarily, of course. If they manage to wrap a chain around you, it will prevent you from weaving a spell but once the chain is removed, or some time passes, the power is back.” Zima pushed a stray strand of hair behind her ear.
“What about the knives?”
“They are known to be extremely proficient with the knives,” said Zima. “Why are they living in the forest? They used to live in a village, near the sea. Last I heard, their prophet was kidnapped by king Vindha and many akachimas died to protect him. I thought the tribe was extinct but it seems some have survived.”
“Why would they take Arkon?”
“They capture lone male travelers for breeding.”
“What?” Zo’s voice came out as a shriek and she slapped her hand against her mouth. “Breeding? You mean to say they intend to…”
“Oh, yes.” Zima nodded. “They will put him to good use. Once a few of them are impregnated, they might kill him. They aren’t known for mercy to their victims.”
“Don’t they have men of their own?”
“The male babies are left to die in the forest. The akachimas can only be women. Their last leader…not sure if she’s alive…was a woman named Sylvia. She was as hard and bitter as you get. It’s said she left five of her infant sons in the wild.”
Zo pondered over the situation. It was hard for her to believe a mother could do act in such a horrific manner towards her own offspring. And yet, why would Zima lie?
She hesitated but the question rolled off her tongue before she could stop herself. “Is Seve alive?”
“Still breathing,” Zima confirmed. Her expression softened as she added, “you best hurry girl. He doesn’t have much time, and everyone’s counting on you. Your twin is carrying the entire burden by herself, and it’s not all smooth sailing.”
“I’ll be there in time.” Zo closed the spell. She had the information she needed and it was a relief to know that Seve was alright. It meant Alicia was alive too. She didn’t ask the old librarian about her twin, not wishing to alert her about the binding spell.
A question popped in her head. Why would Zima tell her to hurry if she was actually trying to prevent Zo from reaching the castle in time to save her siblings? Perhaps it was a ruse to lull Zo into thinking she had their best interests at heart?
Zo didn’t really consider the akachimas a real threat since they didn’t have any magical protection but she decided to be wary of their chains that Zima claimed contained some power-binding spells. She went back to Leo. It was time to rescue Arkon. If she waited till morning, all the akachimas would be awake and alert.
“I want you to stay here. Go climb that tree and don’t come down until I call for you,” she told him.
Leo glanced up at the tall tree. “He is in the last mound,” he said before scrambling up the tree with the agility of an experienced monkey.
Zo scratched her head. Was the boy right? Did he really see these things, or was he now making stuff up? Still, she had to start somewhere, and it wouldn't hurt to follow his instructions. He’d proven himself to be right up until now.
She breathed out softly. This was a true test of her power. Had the ekeme really unbound her magic fully?
Never before had she questioned her abilities or capability. Zo felt like a newly trained mage as she muttered an incantation and began weaving the complicated spell of invisibility. In order to make this work, she had to manipulate the air around her. If all went right, no one would be able to see her.
As the magic tingled its way down her body, she glanced down and was happy to observe that she couldn't see her own hands or legs. Relieved with the results, she walked into the clearing, treading carefully. If she left any footsteps behind, they would be easily noticeable. After walking over to the mound Leo had pointed out, she entered. The inside was much like a cave, but it was split into smaller chambers, one leading to another. In the second chamber, Zo found one woman who was sleeping on a straw pallet. Tiptoeing, she passed through and moved forward. In the next room, she found three women eating a meal. For a moment, Zo worried her grumbling stomach might give her away but the women were not alerted to her presence. She passed into the next cell and found Arkon.
He was locked by manacles to the wall. Unable to sit, he stood slumped against the hard mud wall, his head bowed. Blood seeped through the raw scratches on his wrists. He must have tried to pull himself free. A trencher of uneaten food lay in front of him. Had he refused to eat or did they leave the food out of his reach in order to tempt and tease him?
Zo surveyed the entire cell. A narrow cot stood against another wall. On it was a light blanket
and a thin pillow. Under the cot was a pitcher of water. The room was clean and airy. A narrow window high up was lined with iron bars to prevent the prisoner from escaping.
There wasn’t much time to ponder over the situation. Zo weaved a second spell. She waved her hands and the manacles snapped open. Arkon fell to the floor. He opened his bleary eyes, and stared in apprehension. Still cloaked in invisibility, Zo tried to help him up.
“What the hell is this?” He tugged himself free of her grasp. “I’m not doing anything, no matter what magic you use, you blasted creatures.”
“Shhh!” Zo whispered in his ear. “Be quiet. I’ve come to take you out.”
“Zo?” He stared in her direction, an awed look in his eyes.
“I’m using an invisibility spell,” she said, helping him up. “I’ll extend its reach to you. Hold my hand and don’t let go.”
There was no time to think about why she felt so relieved now that she knew he was alive and well. Zo grasped his hand, and as his fingers tightened around hers, the air around Arkon shimmered and sparkled. Within moments, he became invisible.
Now, it was time to implement the second part of her plan. Zo muttered a long incantation. As a child, she had used this spell often in an attempt to play a prank on her sister and brother, but this time it was different. If they were to escape from here, she would have to hold the spell for a long time, from a considerable distance away. By manipulating the air, she created an image of Arkon, chained to the wall as before, his hands bleeding, his knees bent and head bowed. Arkon gasped as the illusion materialized, looking as real as possible.
“That’s amazing!” he whispered the words.
Zo felt a twinge of pride as she surveyed her handiwork with a careful eye. A slight alteration to the clothes, skin, hands, or any other small part could alert anyone who was gazing from outside the cell that this wasn’t the real thing. Everything looked good.
She tugged his hand. “Come on.”
Maintaining the illusion spell as she moved away from it, while at the same time, preserving the invisibility spell around the two of them was a monstrous task, even for her. The strength of a mage’s magic depended on the natural power of his or her gift as well as the amount of work they put into enhancing their gift. Since she always took her gift seriously, Zo had devoted many years of her life improving and perfecting her skills. Given her natural dual talent of the elements of air and fire, she was far superior to most mages. Still, it would be a difficult task to maintain both spells at the same time. Any loss of concentration, and she knew, either the illusion or the invisibility spell would wear off, leaving them exposed.
The Demon Mages (The Power of Three Book 1) Page 16