The Forgotten World

by Robin D. Mahle

  She had been forcing herself to eat lately, to gain sustenance, to come up with a plan rather than wallow in everything she couldn’t do. But that night, when dinner was served, she couldn’t force herself to eat a bite. She slipped her food to JoJo, hiding it under her voluminous skirts so her father wouldn’t have the kitchen or serving staff tortured.

  When she finally made it back to her rooms, though, it was not without a plan.

  She went immediately to the area that served as her lab. Her haven. But for once, instead of creating something that could save the lives of people she was never allowed to treat personally, she went a different route.

  Instead, she made something that could end a life.

  Chapter Nine

  Adelaide

  I stood frozen in the doorway, scrambling for my heiress face, fully aware of the scrutiny of not only the room but the man who was apparently King. And then there was Clark’s father.

  Hatred bubbled up in me at the sight of Gunther’s murderer, so thick and strong and hot it felt like a tangible thing. But if he was here, what were the chances they didn’t know where Clark and Nell were? I could do this for them.

  I schooled my expression, though I knew my amber eyes glittered with rage.

  The king chuckled.

  “How convenient that my newest allies are already acquainted with one another.”

  I lifted my eyes to his, quirking a brow. I had been raised to play these games, hate them though I did.

  “And what makes you think we’ll be allies, Your Majesty?”

  If the room had been quiet before, it was silent now, but the King’s expression did not waver.

  “I suppose that’s something you’ll have to figure out for yourself. To begin with, though, the General tells me you’re a survivor.”

  “He would know.” My irises burned with the effort of holding the king’s gaze. I would not look at the man who had killed Gunther, not if I wanted to accomplish what I had set out to do.

  “Come now,” his tone was patronizing, but there was an edge to it that made the hairs stand up on my arms. “I’m sure we can put such matters in the past. My daughter seems to have taken a liking to you, and I’m certain you wouldn’t want to offend her by insulting her betrothed.”

  Her betrothed?

  I blinked, my recently comatose brain taking longer than it should have to put the pieces together. I was looking for someone younger, someone Levelian, who I could possibly insult.

  But sure enough, BeLa was timidly making her way to the General’s side.

  And here, I had thought the man couldn’t get any more despicable.

  The king cleared his throat, waiting until he had my attention to gesture to the seat on his right. The one that looked very much like a smaller version of the throne on which he himself sat.

  There were gasps around the room, but they cut off abruptly at a cold glance from the king.

  I couldn’t blame them, though. What was he playing at, inviting an outsider to his side in this political environment? More importantly, at the moment, what choice did I have but to accept?

  I inclined my head graciously, making my way to the seat after only a slight hesitation.

  One foot in front of the other. Ignore the eyes on you. That’s it.

  And finally, I was seated, staring across a high-ceilinged room with glistening jeweled lights at what had to be at least a hundred Levelians.

  Foreign land or not, I would recognize courtiers anywhere. The haughty tilt to the chin, the obsequious expressions they shot toward the king. Me, they looked at with undisguised hostility. And maybe a trace of fear.

  I bit back a sigh. To land myself back here after everything I had done to escape it was almost laughable.

  I reminded myself that I had a mission, but I needed the king to speak first so I didn’t give too much away. Instead, I sat silently and tried not to gawk when a tray appeared out of thin air in front of me. On it sat a glass of shimmering green liquid and a plate of what appeared to be balls of rice mixed in with some form of seafood.

  I looked around before partaking in any of it, observing the manner in which the people around me used their hands to pick up the rice balls. The small spoon appeared to be only for doling out sauce, and the drink was being consumed in short sips.

  It was different from Ceithre, but not too difficult to adapt to.

  “Tell me, did you wonder why you wound up here rather than with your friends?” The king spoke just as I put my wine glass to my lips.

  I choked on the small sip I had taken of the green liquid. So, he did know about the others. Did he know where they were?

  Trying to keep the open curiosity off my features, I replied in an even tone, “I did.”

  “Very good. I’m glad you didn’t bother lying about the others. I find such senseless subterfuge to be so tedious.” When I didn’t respond, he continued. “When the general,” he nodded to the man in question, who did not visibly respond, “informed me the most sought-after amulet in the world had bonded itself to a teenage girl, I was understandably dubious. Imagine my surprise when only days later, I discovered its energy was so attuned to yours that it pulled you out of your teleportation path and brought you here. To me.”

  He studied me for a moment.

  “Some might say it was written in the stars.”

  “So, you expect I will align myself to you because of what, fate?” I didn’t know if I believed anything was written in the stars. There were certainly times it felt as though something was actively bringing me to Clark, and other times, like now, it felt more like some larger force was doing its damnedest to keep us apart.

  “I expect that the type of person with the unyielding will it takes to control a crystal that size is capable of making judgments of her own accord, rather than going off the word of others.” He raised his eyebrows, daring me to pretend I hadn’t been warned about him.

  “So, you’re aware of my companions and their relationship to you. Do you think so little of my loyalty?” It was probably too pointed, but I needed to get a read on him.

  “Of course not, my dear. I do, however, think little of the information you’ve been given. Unless, of course, you found my niece and my former wife to be more forthcoming with their knowledge than my experience leads me to believe?”

  He phrased it as a question, but his knowing smile told me he didn’t expect me to disagree. I opened my mouth to argue anyway, but then closed it again.

  Nell had a history of revealing only what she needed to when it suited her, and I hadn’t seen much different from SuEllen. But more importantly, from what I had seen of the man, I also wasn’t ready to make an enemy of him.

  The king’s smile broadened.

  “I see we will have much to discuss, but now is hardly the time. Think on what I’ve said. We’ll talk more tomorrow.”

  I nodded in response, taking another tentative sip of the liquid. I could feel the telltale burn of alcohol as it coated my throat. Tempting, but I needed to keep my wits about me tonight. I put the glass back on the tray.

  The ballroom was similar in concept to the one at Perry’s castle, but the tables set around the room were on either side of the walkway that led from the enormous doorway to the thrones against the back wall.

  The courtiers were talking quietly amongst themselves, sneaking furtive glances at me, the king, even the general and BeLa. Being on display was nothing new for me, but this was exhausting.

  A servant came to deliver the king’s second glass of wine. It seemed an unnecessary gesture, one more for show than utility. The man went to his knees, holding the glass above him.

  It was a disgusting display.

  Before the king reached out for the cup, a miniscule drop of liquid spilled from the glass. The drop hit the floor with a tiny, audible plop.

  The room froze, not a single sound besides the trembling breaths of the servant and BeLa’s audible gasp.

  The king looked to the servant, then to
me.

  “Carry on,” he waved his hand before taking the wine glass.

  The servant barely left the floor as he backed away, bowing with each half step he took. BeLa’s eyes squeezed shut in relief, and even the general let loose a breath.

  I didn’t know what would have happened, but I had the sense that the king had shown uncharacteristic mercy, and that it was only for my benefit.

  But why?

  I mulled over the question for several courses, my energy waning with each bite. I tried and failed not to slump in my chair.

  “Have I overtaxed you?” A question that placed the blame on the king himself, and one I was smarter than to affirm.

  “Of course not, Your Majesty. I’m afraid I have overestimated my own strength for the events of this evening.”

  I shall have my guard escort you to your chambers immediately.”

  “I would be happy to escort Ms. Kensington.” Those were the first words I had heard out of the general’s mouth all evening. He and BeLa had been sitting on the other side of the king.

  My eyes narrowed, and I forced a smile that felt more like a grimace.

  “That won’t be necess-”

  “Excellent idea.” The king nodded jovially, a glint in his eye even I couldn’t miss.

  My hand shook as I was forced to take the general’s proffered arm.

  “No need for concern.” The king’s voice was more commanding than reassuring. “The general would let no harm come to you in my palace.” A promise and a threat, one I found myself oddly comforted by. Though, it wasn’t fear that had me shaking to begin with. No, it was pure, unmitigated rage that coursed through my veins when I looked at that man.

  Still, I nodded politely at the king before closing my hand around the murderer’s arm and letting him lead me out of the throne room.

  “This isn’t the way to my chambers.” I dropped the general’s arm and all pretense of cordiality as soon as we rounded the corner.

  “I’m aware. But it is the way to BeLa’s.”

  I stopped in my tracks. For one thing, we had left BeLa behind at dinner. If he was waiting for her to return for some reason, though...

  “Really, General, I hate to inform you that I hardly know your betrothed well enough for you to use her against me.” My voice could have cut glass. “Though, she does seem innocent enough. That is your type, is it not? For murder, I mean.”

  His eyes squeezed shut in what I might have called pain on another person. I spun to walk in the other direction, but an improbable word stopped me.

  “Please.”

  I stopped, keeping my back to him.

  “I know you have no reason to trust me and every reason to despise me, but please. Walk with me to BeLa’s room. Give me five minutes to change your mind, and help me save my sons.”

  I bit my tongue before I could fling any accusations at him about his care for his sons. Though there was no logical reason to believe a word he said, there was something in the way he spoke, in the cadence of his voice, that reminded me of his adopted son.

  Maybe I was crazy with exhaustion or my love for Clark had made me stupid, but I wanted to give the man who had raised my three favorite boys in the world a chance.

  I turned back, slowly.

  “Five minutes.” I didn’t take his arm again, but I did follow him to BeLa’s chambers.

  He pressed a button on the wall three quick times. Nothing happened, as far as I could see, but a moment later, the silver door slid open just enough to allow for BeLa’s tall, dainty frame.

  She didn’t seem surprised to see the general, but she took a step back into her room when she noticed me standing at his side.

  “How did you get here before us?” I blurted out.

  She wordlessly held out her arm and shook her sleeve back, revealing a bracelet similar to Nell’s teleportation crystal, but slimmer. She didn’t move from the doorway until the General spoke.

  “It’s all right, BeLa. I trust her with my life. And his.”

  My mind was so caught up in the strangeness of what he had said, the man I had fantasized about murdering trusting me with his life, that I didn’t have time to think about the second part of his sentence at all.

  Not before BeLa backed away and the General steered me inside to a small room with a cot. A cot with a single, achingly familiar occupant.

  Red curls topped a face that was gaunter than I remembered it, but so, so alive. His eyes were closed, but I could see color in his cheeks and the steady rise and fall of his chest. I had collapsed next to his bedside before I had any conscious memory of moving, tears falling freely down my face.

  Even knowing he wouldn’t hear me, I couldn’t stop myself from choking out his name.

  “Gunther.”

  The Analyst

  BeLa stared out her familiar window, taking in the sight of the black palm trees against the white sand. There was a time she thought the view from her towering bedroom would never get old. One of many things she had taken for granted, she supposed.

  Now, all she could see was loneliness when she looked out at those shores.

  And soon, she wouldn’t be seeing anything at all.

  If her mother was alive, she would have come for her by now. But she hadn’t. No one had. The few, feeble attempts at rebellion had failed. Her father had strung up warriors and innocents alike around the island for what felt like her entire lifetime. Since the time when there had been light and hope and surprise puppies.

  What about JoJo?

  A tiny, unreasonable recess of her brain worried about the fate of her faithful companion when she was no longer here to care for him.

  But animal cruelty wasn’t tolerated the way that human cruelty was, not even by her father. JoJo would be taken care of.

  BeLa plunged a narrow syringe into the serum she had been up all night creating. Usually, she administered her medicine this way, so it should leave no trace of its entrance.

  Even in death, she couldn’t shame her mother like that.

  She hovered with the needle over the prominent vein in her arm, taking a deep, steadying breath. Just as the sharp tip penetrated her flesh, a voice sounded from behind her.

  “Please, I need your help.”

  Chapter Ten

  Clark

  “You’re sure you haven’t seen her? A…” I searched for the word they used for us. I knew ‘ground dweller’ was somewhat insulting, so most of them stuck with ‘outsider.’

  “She’s an outsider, like me. But fairer-skinned, and tiny.” I held a hand out at my chest, where the top of Addie’s head barely reached.

  The older woman from the first meeting, KeLia, shook her head sadly.

  “The only outsiders we’ve seen before you have been these men. I’m sorry.”

  I averted my eyes from her gaze, unable to stand the sympathy there, but then they landed on something even worse.

  Apparently, the universe had decided it wasn’t enough to work alongside my brother’s murderers and the man who had tried to assault Addie.

  On top of that, Jayce had, yet again, managed to miraculously survive. That he was alive when Gunther wasn’t filled me with such untamable rage each day, it was all I could do not to slit his throat while he was sleeping.

  At least his injury had removed some of his arrogance. He was pale and thin, like perhaps the crystal in the necklace had damaged something internal beyond repair.

  One could dream.

  I walked away to help my brother load up a pack we had been lent, and to physically remove myself from the temptation of murder. A giant creature had once again found its way to my side. The same sleek gray one from this morning, it seemed.

  We had dogs down below, but they were small, and rarely kept as pets. Here, they were half as tall as I was, and it seemed nearly everyone had at least one living in their home, and there were village dogs who seemed to belong to no one but be taken care of by everyone, much to Shensi’s chagrin.

  “Remind me why
we’re walking aimlessly toward the palace with no plan?” I huffed out to Xav.

  “Because it’s our best of several bad options, and it’s as good a way as any to look for her.” He had taken to not mentioning Addie’s name, probably because I flinched every time I heard it.

  “When did you start being so reasonable?” It was a fair question to my usually hot-headed brother.

  He leveled a look at me.

  “When you stopped.”

  I scowled, but he wasn’t wrong. My worry for her was like a tangible thing, eating me from the inside out and driving me slowly insane. But it was more than that. I missed her. I missed my hands wrapped around her small waist when I kissed her, and the way she snuggled into my chest when we slept.

  Hell, I even missed her sassy remarks and the way her amber eyes practically glowed when she was angry, which wasn’t exactly rare. The dog leaned against my leg and put his huge head under my hand, and I scratched his ears without thinking.

  I had never really understood Addie’s attachment to her worthless fat feline, but I was starting to get it now, the comfort she found in Shensi.

  “I hate this, too,” Xav’s voice shook me from my thoughts. “I do, but I don’t see what choice we have. Roaming the Levelian wilderness doesn’t exactly sound appealing. Besides which, we can’t get home unless Nell is back in the palace. Fancy living here the rest of your life, Brother?”

  I did not. The weather was perfect, but it almost felt like it was mocking me. Nothing here felt quite real. And besides, it wasn’t home.

  “I talked to Nell earlier.” Xavier pursed his lips. “She said the Court is supposed to hear from...him, soon.”

  Because it wasn’t ridiculous enough to trust them, they refused to tell us how they were communicating with their ‘Master Yomi.’ I still tasted bile every time I thought of the general that way, but I refused to even think of him by the title I once had.

  Better to be an orphan again than claim that man as my father.