"Why do you want to help us?" He spoke louder.
I winced, looking at the guard. Luckily, he either hadn't heard or didn't care if his prisoners were talking.
There was a long pause before the woman answered. "Because I–"
I gasped as the woman was yanked to her feet. I saw the face of the man who'd overseen pushing me along the path and realized he must be the leader of the kidnappers.
He looked irritated as he glared at the woman. He leaned closer to her until his face was almost touching and proceeded to yell at her.
I didn’t understand what he was saying, but it wasn’t hard to tell she wasn’t supposed to be there.
She cowered in his grip and the change in her position allowed me to get a better look at our would-be rescuer. She was strikingly beautiful, with long dark hair and tanned complexion like the other humans we’d seen here, but she had a presence about her the others hadn’t.
I wasn't sure if it was merely because she was so beautiful, or if it was something more than her looks, I was sensing.
Even as she trembled in the larger man's grip, something in her bearing made her seem less afraid than I would expect from someone in her situation.
The man stopped screaming, but was now looking at her with his nose in the air and his lip wrinkled, as if she was something disgusting he’d stepped in. It was odd but interesting, especially because she was so pretty.
Then he dropped her, letting her go as though she wasn't worth his time, or he was worried he would catch something.
She fell onto her backside, making angry hand gestures at him as she got up. She spit emphatically at the ground before stalking off.
I couldn't help feeling our chance at escape had just left angry and my spirits sank, especially when the man walked around to the front of the cage and spoke with the guard on duty.
I couldn't make out what the discussion was about, but the young guard nodded before unlocking the door and handing the key to the larger man.
The larger man entered, stopping a few feet inside and leaving the door open behind him. Planting his feet shoulder-width apart, he crossed his arms. If he hadn't been intimidating before, he certainly was now. His tense stance made his arms look immense, as if his sleeves were struggling to contain his muscles and on the verge of losing.
His face was etched in hard lines of disapproval as he narrowed ice-cold brown eyes at us. I wasn't sure if his sour look was left over from his conversation with Nyalla or due to our presence.
"You will now come with me."
This time, I could understand him. The lack of conversation had been intentional, not a function of a lack of mouths as I’d convinced myself initially, or a lack of shared language, which I’d hoped for.
They had been ignoring us all this time.
Nice.
I added arrogant to the list of characteristics for this man.
When no one moved, his eyes hardened further, if possible. "Now!"
As he barked the command, his arms moved to his sides. When I saw his hands ball into fists beside his massive thighs, I jumped up.
He didn't look like the kind of man who would ask again.
I was relieved when the others sprang up as well. I had no idea what he wanted from us but doing what he wanted would help to keep things as calm as possible until I’d had a chance to size the situation up.
"You will come with me. We shall go see the Sovran."
I glanced at Gwen, seeing the same confused look on her face I was sure I was wearing. I turned to the man, but bit back the question at the closed, unyielding look on his face.
Once he was content we were listening to his instructions, he gestured for us to follow. Surprisingly, he didn't bother tying us up again. This single omission alone led me to assume they didn’t think of us as a threat, which was both insulting and a little worrisome. I was so grateful they’d removed the ropes after throwing us in the cage I wasn't about to give them a reason to assume differently though, at least, not yet.
I was directly behind the larger man, noting the same young man who'd been our guard was bringing up the rear. They might not feel we were dangerous, but they weren't foolish enough to think we wouldn't walk off given a chance. The fact they were leading us to Suun knew where in such a fashion only reinforced my sense they were confident of quelling a four-against-two fight and didn’t feel the need to make an effort to even the odds, was in fact, quite sobering.
Then again, they possibly had never heard the phrase ‘looks could be deceiving.’ I knew they were keeping a closer eye on Will than Gwen or me, as he was the strongest in appearance. But I'd seen her fight, and I wasn't sure who’d come out ahead if they ever fought in earnest.
Sel had proven himself wiry and resourceful more than once, and after being in the Library, I seemed to have picked up enough fighting ability to single-handedly demolish the slaver who'd been after the wolves. Facts I wasn't going to share but may use to my advantage after we found out where they were taking us and why. Hopefully, it was to someone who’d tell us why the Oubliee had taken us in the first place.
As we walked, I hoped the others were of the same mindset as I was. I didn't risk talking or looking back. We passed several houses, and I couldn’t help but feeling curious about the town itself. We may be prisoners, but the place we’d been brought to functioned the same as every other village from what I could see.
Animals kept in small backyards in pens, children darted in and out of the streets, playing together with shrieks and laughter.
Women chatted between houses as they worked on mending, weaving, or hanged laundry to dry.
Men went about their days carrying loads, running stores, chatting in the streets, or on benches with other men. Apart from the village area being entirely covered by sand and sand-colored buildings, we could have been in one of the Low Forest settlements.
At least, until the leader stopped moving.
I stared, my eyes widening as they traveled all the way to the top of the edifice in front of me. I’d seen some buildings which were taller when we’d arrived, but none were anywhere as impressive as this one. It was clearly a building of importance.
Approximately three stories tall, it was intricately carved on every surface, save for those acting as a blank space between pictures. It was made of the same sandstone, but the carvings and elegant latticework on immense columns framing the front of the building made the plain rock seem to shimmer in the desert sun. Windows were lined with busts of both people and mythological animals, sparkling with a clear, wavering material I didn’t recognize in the center.
The leader turned, nodded once to the guard in the back and gestured for us to follow before he turned and entered. I followed tentatively, my footsteps echoing as they stepped lightly on the hard-stone floor.
The foyer was enormous, its ceiling stretching almost the height of the building outside. Each level had a staircase I could see which opened into the foyer. Windows provided light and there were even a few lush green trees. I'd never seen trees like those before. They looked like they could be the remnants of the abundant tropical growth the books I’d read had mentioned.
I glanced at Gwen whose eyes were wide as she looked around.
"Wow." She mouthed.
I nodded in agreement, but we didn't have time to stop and marvel as we were escorted to a set of dark wood doors with large bronze handles.
The leader paused a moment to allow the two servants who'd been standing beside the door to grab a handle each and pull them open before walking straight in … to the middle of a royal court.
Supplicants lined the floor along a center aisle. A man was kneeling with his head on the floor at the base of an ornately decorated chair where a woman sat, one ankle crossed over her knee, her head held regally as she watched him. She appeared to be listening as he pleaded with her for something. Her expression gave nothing away, and her eyes remained hooded.
I was beginning to think every woman in thi
s town was so beautiful they turned heads. The woman who’d offered to break us out had been striking, but this woman was doubly so. Although arguably not as attractive, there was something about her appearance I found even more arresting.
She had a strong, curved nose, like a bird of prey. Large, deep set eyes, a startling ice- blue peered at the man on the floor beneath eyelids painted a brilliant indigo. Her hair was tucked up beneath an ornate head wrapping.
It was similar in style to those of the men who’d captured us, but far more luxurious in fabric and draping. Her clothing appeared to provide the same protection from the desert sands as the men’s plainer attire, but hers was a blinding bright white instead of the drab brown they’d worn.
She was undoubtably the leader the men had left us earlier to speak with. When she noticed us enter, she stood. She made a slashing movement with her hand and the room fell silent.
“My name is Sovran Jaydra Din Hariri. What in the name of Hatthi are you doing in my desert?
Chapter 13
The fierce woman before us exuded power.
I didn’t know if it was her personality or magic, but I felt it radiating from every pore. It made me, the daughter of a noble family, feel as if I was supposed to bow down in her presence.
Instead, I took a deep breath and approached her slowly, walking down the aisle. I thought for sure I’d be held back or stopped by the leader of the scavengers, but he’d stepped aside as soon as the sovran had stood.
Apparently, even though we were prisoners, we could speak for ourselves. Not necessarily a boon, as I’d watched travelers to the Cliffs plead their case to my father and make their situation worse. Especially ones who were unfamiliar with our local customs. Now, I was in the same situation and I swallowed, hard.
Glancing at the others, I could see their worried expressions as they waited for me to speak. They didn’t stop me, and I knew they were hoping my ‘princess’ title would help us now. Even though I wasn’t the best at reading others, I was the most practiced with court etiquette. Praying manners here weren’t so different from home, I approached the throne.
When I was almost to the kneeling man, I bowed deeply and crossed my right arm over my chest. Waiting at the most deferential angle, I didn’t move until the sovran spoke.
"Stand up." She sounded reluctantly amused as well as impatient, so I rose immediately.
Tilting my head to the side, I acknowledged the honor of receiving her attention. "Thank you, it is an honor to meet you, Sovran. We were attempting to travel to the Northwestern Lands when we had a rough landing. I'm sure you are aware the winds are fierce over the last mountain range of the Dragon Dominion. Our airship had just landed when we were greeted by your men.”
I deliberately kept my voice even, holding back my urge to demand restitution. Technically, we hadn’t been in the desert lands yet, which meant we weren't trespassing. But I didn't want to risk angering her before I had a chance to ask for help.
"Were you?" Jaydra practically purred the words, the softness giving them a dangerous edge.
I knew I'd been wise not to add any censure to my tone, but it was clear I’d pushed my luck far enough with my greeting alone. From the look on her face, it seemed as if she was a leader who felt everything her people touched belonged to them, and by extension, to her. Perhaps this was why the strange woman, Nyalla, had tried to rescue us.
"Yes, we were unaware we were on your property. We beg forgiveness for our breach in manners. We are merely lost travelers, searching for an item we hope will bring light to the darkness crossing the land. The moment we find it, we will depart without delay."
I was taking a calculated risk. Although most humans, elves, and other creatures not born of darkness supported Dag’draath remaining in prison, I knew not everyone did.
There were those in all species who felt allowing him out would be the proper thing to do and provide a fitting end to a battle some felt ended unfairly through trickery by Suun.
I had no way to know which side the Oubliee fell on, but I was hoping our mission would pique her interest at least enough to help us.
"You are searching for an item? What type of item? And what makes you think your trip is either necessary or worthwhile?" She crossed her arms, looking down her nose at me with one perfectly arched eyebrow raised.
I took a deep breath, working to control my temper. It was a valid question, even if it did make me feel as irritated as when Kramson or Luban judged me at the Library. Who was I to speak to her? I stood tall and looked at her proudly.
"I am a Librarian from Abrecem Secer. I am on a mission for the Library and for the greater good of Lynia to find an item to allow me to stop the oncoming war before anyone else is lost to a massacre. The prison holding Dag’draath is breaking. Surely even in the desert the situation has come to your attention?"
She narrowed her eyes, uncrossing her arms as she dropped her hand to her side, fingers beginning to tap rapidly against her right thigh. "Yes," she replied, her tone dropping another several degrees.
I wasn't sure if she was mad at me or the situation. When she abruptly stood and began to pace across the front dais, the leader of the scavengers shifted closer to me. The lump which had been keeping my stomach uncomfortably full shifted to my chest and pressed uncomfortably against my heart.
She stopped pacing and abruptly turned to me.
"So, you want to put him back in his prison? Others have already attempted and failed."
I blinked. This was news to me. Someone else had tried to put the dark god back in his kennel? Before I could think through the wisdom of sharing my thoughts, I blurted out my previously unspoken plan.
"No, I want to break his prison and destroy him for good.
At first, the sharp featured woman blinked at me, her face a blank mask of surprise, then she erupted into gales of laughter. Heat rose in my cheeks, but I waited. This time I didn't glance at my friends for fear I would see the same expression of disbelief on their faces, or worse—terror.
"You are even more foolish than you look, child. Aria and Beru thought they were strong enough, smart enough to trap Dag’draath. At least their plan made sense. But all they achieved for their pains was to make things even worse. Ur’gel are now everywhere, double and triple the amount we were seeing before the dumb duo attempted their futile mission."
I raised my eyebrows. Beru? Could there be more than one? Or could it possibly be the man I’d read about in the Library? The first lieutenant everyone believed had turned traitor and gone over to the dark? I filed the information away for later, taking another step closer to the Sovran to somehow get her to support my case.
"It's obvious the original spell failed. It barely succeeded in trapping him for two centuries, let alone forever the way it was intended. We need a permanent solution and soon. I know if I can find the artifact I discovered in the Library’s files, the secret of achieving this will be close at hand. If I find the artifact, I can do it."
Jaydra shook her head, stepping back and returning to sit in her chair. She shook her head as she looked at me, disbelief and disappointment mixing equally on her face. Turning her head, she looked at the leader of the scavenger and nodded once.
"I expected … more. Pity. Throw them into the dungeon."
"Please, Sovran! Don't do this. I'm not making it up. I really do think it's possible. But we need your help, and there's no way we can stop anything from inside a prison."
Rough arms grabbed my wrists as my words fell on deaf ears. I waited without protest as I was tied with the same rough rope from our walk to the Oubliee settlement, completely deflated by my failure to convince her. Jaydra had turned away and was no longer listening, with several advisors now clustered around, blocking her from sight.
Muffled sounds of protest came from my friends at the similar treatment they were receiving as we were led outside the grand hall toward our new quarters, which I suspected I wouldn’t enjoy.
If I’d thought finding
the Heart Stone in the Northwestern Lands would be a challenge, this added an entirely unexpected level of complexity to our mission. Now the biggest question wasn’t how would we find the stone, but how were we going to get out?
Chapter 14
The ropes burned my wrists and I knew I’d have chafe marks later. Once I'd resigned myself to the fact Jaydra had turned her back and wouldn’t listen to anything else I had to say, I’d gone quietly. Although a dungeon was hardly ideal for planning or achieving our goals, the alternative if I angered her would certainly be worse.
Her sharp featured face and shrewd eyes had warned more clearly than her words had; she was a leader who had no problem ruling by force or fear. If there was a way to make her listen, arguing was not it.
Which was why we allowed ourselves to be led, unprotestingly, toward the ominous-sounding dungeon she’d consigned us to. This time, our young guard led us.
Gwen was beside him, followed meekly by her three wolves. I was in the middle with the lead scavenger keeping a firm grip on both guys. Based on my young servant’s expression, it bordered on painful.
Will, of course, had his usual smirk present, but a faint tightening around his eyes told me he was just as uncomfortable.
The building we were walking through appeared to have been designed as a home and headquarters. It was every bit as large and winding as the castle I'd grown up in, but the aesthetics were different. It had no beautiful tapestries or works of art. Instead, the walls themselves were embellished with engraved archways and ornate mosaic tile work, creating a functional beauty I found as lovely as my own home.
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