The Frozen Wasteland

by Candy Crum

  Arryn felt something: an emotion that wasn't her own. Fear. Worry. The tiger had seen her disappear, but had no idea where she'd gone. Having Arryn leave her line of sight like that scared her.

  When Arryn realized what had happened, she pushed a small amount of magic forward to make sure the tiger could understand her words. "I'm fine. It's magic. It's how I'm going to get off this mountain. I have to get back home so I can save my city."

  The tiger grumbled as she sniffed Arryn some more. Arryn could feel her confusion.

  Arryn thought for several moments, trying to find a way to explain it to her so she would be able to relate to it. Finally, she came up with the best example she could find. "The lycanthrope that attacked your cub… Had I not been there, he would've died. You would've wanted to kill that lycanthrope for that had I not done it already, right?"

  The tiger grumbled, nodding though Arryn wasn't completely sure she understood what she was conveying by nodding or shaking her head. Regardless, she felt confirmation through the temporary connection.

  "There's a woman where I'm from who's killing people. Innocent people. People who did nothing to her, just like your cub did nothing to that lycanthrope. He was its prey. This woman treats the entire city like prey. I have to practice my magic so I can get strong enough to go back and stop her."

  The tiger curled her lips back over her fangs, a growl rattling in her chest. Though Arryn couldn't understand the sound, somehow it was translated for her by the magic. “You want to kill her?” had more or less been the question.

  Arryn nodded. "She needs to die. I don't like violence, but I will not allow her to live after all she has done. She has tortured people to death and threatened so many more. She brought me up here to die. Had it not been for you, I would've died. It will be her life for the many!"

  The tiger backed away and allowed Arryn to stand. She brushed herself off and look at the big cat.

  They stared into one another's eyes for a moment. "I'm gonna have to name you if the bond is really happening, but I can’t yet. I can’t let myself get attached to you yet. And I won't force you from the mountains. When it comes time for me to leave, if I’m sure we’re bonded, we’ll go together. But if I don’t know without even a shred of doubt, I’m leaving you here. I don't know if I necessarily believe we are bonded. I’ve never had one, though I've always had an affinity for talking to animals, but I've never felt this close to another animal before. I've never been able to communicate this easily, so this must be a bond."

  Arryn took the tiger’s head in her hands and leaned over, kissing the cat between the eyes as she scratched her jaws. After a moment, she pulled away and walked back toward the entrance. "Now, lay down and relax. I have some practicing to do."

  ***

  Talia paced back and forth in the Academy basement, drinking mystics’ brew by the mug. The brew wasn't doing much good, and she wished she'd had the foresight to get something stronger.

  As she heard footsteps coming down the basement stairs, she closed her eyes and sighed, her entire body slumping. The entire reason she'd hid in the basement was so no one would bother her. She’d wanted to be alone to brood over the latest failure.

  Scarlett appeared at the base of the stairs. It surprised Talia that she wasn't smiling. For the first time ever, it appeared that she was actually taking things seriously.

  "What do you want? Now's not the time," Talia said, a scowl on her face.

  Scarlett put her hands on her hips, sighing and shaking her head. "I came down here to check on you. I haven't seen you all day, and that isn’t like you. You’re usually stuck in your office watching everything like a hawk."

  Talia's hands went out to her sides and she gave Scarlett the most sarcastic smile she could possibly muster. "And what exactly do I have to watch from my office? Everything is falling apart. Amelia is alive. The remnant are more than likely going to come for me sometime soon. Amelia somehow intercepted the governor of Cella, and now their people are filling the city. I have no clue what is happening with them, but their Guard will be training ours.

  “It’s probably only a matter of time before Amelia has them convinced of my guilt, and then the entire Arcadian Guard will turn on us. Jackson and Caydon were arrested. And now, because they were so fucking stupid, people are talking all over the city about the possibility that Arryn might not have been the murderer. I mean, seriously? Where the hell did they get that knife? How could they have been so stupid as to use the same one?"

  Scarlett shook her head, pursing her lips as she stayed surprisingly quiet. Talia took another long drink of brew, draining the cup before walking over to the desk and refilling it.

  "A noble." Talia shook her head again. "A well-known noble at that. That girl was part of the revolution, from what I've been told. She worked directly with the Boulevard bitch to con everyone at the Academy. After I asked about her this morning, I didn't have the stomach to stick around for anything else. Your hold on the city is failing."

  "Indeed, it is," Scarlett said. She walked over to the desk, grabbed a glass, and poured some brew from the pitcher. "It's taken quite a lot of energy, but I managed to get some of the more significant people back under control. Those from Cella will be my next targets, but more people means more power required to implant a simple compulsion. Hopefully, they will be able to convince the weaker minds. We need to make some kind of a move soon, because I'm being stretched way too thin. I’m not all-powerful. I’m not even the most powerful, though I am strong. Of course, I suppose I could send for some friends of mine."

  Talia's eyes darted toward Scarlett. "Friends? What do you mean, friends?"

  Scarlett shrugged. "I have a few friends I might be able to send for who could help us get the city under control."

  Talia turned her full body to face her, her expression something between disbelief and anger. "And you didn't tell me about this, why?"

  Scarlett laughed. "You don't trust me now. You haven’t trusted me in a while. Are you really going to trust an entire crew of mystics? Would you have allowed me to bring them in back when things were going well?"

  Once Scarlett said that, Talia understood why that information hadn’t been offered sooner. Talia nodded. "You're right. I would have killed you, probably literally. Well, things are different now. We are desperate. Well, I'm desperate. You're definitely right about one thing. I don't trust you as far as I can throw you. I trust your friends even less. But if they get me control over the city, I suppose I won’t complain too much."

  Scarlett nodded, taking another drink of her brew. "Very well, then. In the meantime, what do you plan to do about the jailbirds?"

  "They need to die." Talia's response came quickly and without a second's thought. She had no remorse in her voice whatsoever.

  "Wow. Glad you put at least a moment of thought into that," Scarlett responded sarcastically.

  Talia snorted. "What choice do I have? You know as well as I do that Jackson is weak. Caydon is explosive and unpredictable. If I had to guess, I'd have to say it was Caydon’s doing that got them both into this mess. Jackson wasn’t one for disobeying me. Still, his past loyalty is not in question here. It's his future loyalty. The jail is in the Capitol building. If Amelia threatens him just right, we're fucked."

  There was a pause as Scarlett studied Talia. Talia wondered if she was trying to get in her head or if she was simply debating the next thing she would say.

  "The others seem to think you might be getting a little paranoid. It seems I'm not the only one. Perhaps you should take a step back. Give this some time and think about it. Jackson has been very good to you. If he dies in custody, the others will turn on you."

  Talia had already thought about that, but she didn't care. Things were falling apart right and left, and she didn't want any loose ends. "They die. The other twin should probably go as well. Camdon’s no better than that impatient imbecile brother of his."

  Before Scarlett could protest, Talia waved a hand to signal
she would hear no more of it.

  Scarlett replied anyway, her voice coming off annoyed. “I’ll get rid of Amelia myself. I think I have a plan that will do just fine. And I’ll have Jackson and Caydon taken care of while I’m at it.”

  Talia nodded before turning her back on Scarlett without another word, silently telling the mystic the conversation was over and she expected Scarlett to carry out her orders.

  She couldn't be certain, but she was relatively sure she heard angry mumbles coming from the woman as she left the room and headed back upstairs.

  CHAPTER SIXTEEN

  It had been a long day for Amelia. Bringing in the citizens from Cella and placing them in available homes had been quite a feat. Luckily, there were plenty of empty homes, and more were currently being built in the Boulevard.

  Amelia and the governor of Cella had spent quite some time talking, working everything out. He'd been forced into a corner by the remnant, compelled to make a deal with them.

  Amelia couldn't fault him—she found she respected him for it. He’d put aside his own safety to buy his people some time. She'd also admired his honesty. He’d told her what he had done, even though he didn’t have to.

  While he wasn’t comfortable being in the same city with Talia, he also didn't feel that his people would be safe if they stayed in Cella, which lacked the necessary resources to protect against another attack if the remnant decided not to hold up their end of the deal. Amelia honored Talia's offer, and the two struck an agreement.

  Both cities had fallen. Cella had no way to protect itself, and some of the buildings near the southern wall of the city—not far from the entrance—had severe structural damage from fires that had been set.

  Arcadia had gone through hell with Adrien, and it had just barely been starting to show signs of healing when the remnant came for them, too. On top of that, whatever Talia had in mind had yet to be revealed. It was a simple decision.

  Arcadia needed the support, and Cella needed the shelter and defensive capability.

  Everything was agreed upon exactly as the governor and his son Nathaniel had hoped. His people would band together and help rebuild the Boulevard as quickly as possible, bringing all the resources they could transport along with them.

  Those who weren't needed for building would work in the factory and help build extra resources—magitech lights, weapons, sinks, beds, whatever they might need.

  Amelia had sent Ren with an order for amphoralds—the crystals that powered magitech—for extra weapons like the ones Elon was working on, as well as for the lights that would be needed for the Boulevard’s new housing. Also, the Cella Guard, who were very experienced fighters, would train the Arcadian Guard.

  Within a very short period of time, Arcadia would come to life again.

  The accommodations were made with the understanding that once Arcadia was back on its feet and under no threat, no less than two hundred men would return to Cella to reinforce its walls, rebuild the homes that had been damaged, and supply whatever resources they could manage. Amelia herself could not have planned a better arrangement.

  Both cities won, both cities lost. They would truly become allies, not only in this fight, but in future battles as well.

  The governor had never been a fan of the previous Chancellor, and he had avoided setting foot in Arcadia when he could. But now, an alliance had been forged between the two cities, Amelia having proven herself to him as someone worth fighting beside.

  He also vowed that the Cellan Guard—as long as they did not fall victim to the mystic’s tricks—were hers to command as she saw fit, provided it was for noble and just causes.

  After a full day of welcoming everyone and making arrangements, Amelia was exhausted. Exhausted, but excited. She felt hopeful. Though this hadn't been her own plan, it had nevertheless fallen into her lap, and she'd made the best of it.

  Wherever Arryn was, she hoped she would be happy with the steps she had taken. She also sent a silent prayer that Arryn would return safely.

  "You look bored, Mattias," she said to the guard who accompanied her. Given everything that had happened, she never stayed at home alone. She always made sure to have someone inside the house with her, as well as outside.

  Mattias smiled. "Not at all, Chancellor. Though, I am wondering when we will get our hands on the Dean."

  Amelia laughed. "Hopefully soon. Arryn has been gone for quite some time now. I'd have to say it's about time for her to return."

  Mattias' expression turned uncertain for a moment. "If she’s still alive."

  Amelia looked at him with a sad but reassuring smile on her face. "I know it seems impossible, but she's not dead. Don't ask me how I know—I just do. I've met people like her, and they are damn near impossible to kill. If she's not on her way back right now, she will be very soon."

  The guard smiled and nodded, opening his mouth to say something. He was cut off by sound of his own screams. Amelia quickly joined him, both gripping their heads as pain overwhelmed them. She fell from the couch to the floor as blackness surrounded her.

  ***

  After what felt like an eternity, Amelia's eyelids started to flutter open. She found herself straddling the guard Mattias with a dagger in her hand. His throat had been slit. Her breath began to come quickly as she looked around her. She was covered in blood, but it wasn't hers.

  "What…" Amelia said, her voice barely a whisper, struggling to put pieces together. "What the hell?"

  The last thing she remembered was talking to him. Everything had been just fine. He was a sweet man, and had a way of treating her nicely. It confused her to think he might have done something that warranted her attacking him. It didn't make sense.

  Unfortunately for Amelia, there wouldn’t be time to think it over.

  Amelia's door burst open and several guards ran inside with their magitech weapons leveled at her. Their faces fell as they took in the sight in the room. Amelia knew exactly what they saw—a dead guard, her covered in blood with no wounds, and the murder weapon in her hand.

  "I had nothing to do with this. All of you know me. You know I would never do something such as this." She dropped the weapon to the floor, hoping her words would reach some part of them that still understood logic.

  "We want to believe that," one of the guards said. He was a younger man with golden blonde hair. "You helped to lead us to victory against Adrien. You fought to get the city back under control. But one of our own is dead, and you're sitting right on top of him covered in his blood and holding the murder weapon. What else are we supposed to think?"

  "The bitch must've been helping Arryn all along," another one of them said. He was taller and had black hair. "Arrest her."

  "What do we do now? She's the Chancellor," the blonde guard asked.

  For the life of her, she couldn't remember their names. Of course, at that moment she didn't really care much.

  The black-haired guard looked at him with disdain. "We arrest her, lock her ass up, and go get Talia. If the Chancellor is unfit for her position, control falls to the Dean. Talia will know what to do."

  "I have got to put some better safeguards in place," Amelia said to herself, shaking her head.

  The black-haired guard laughed. "You won't be doing anything. Well, except rotting in a jail cell." He motioned toward her, and two guards approached to put magitech cuffs on her. "Take her down to the cells. Make sure she doesn't have anything on her. Then we’ll go tell Talia what happened."

  Amelia wanted to fight. She wanted to fight, kick, bite, and scratch her way out of her situation, but she didn't do it. She knew it would be pointless. There were too many of them, and she was alone. As they walked out her back door, she saw a dead guard lying on the ground and realized just how wrong she was.

  If she fought, she might be killed in the process, and that just couldn't happen. Arcadia needed her. Besides, when she was in the dungeon she wouldn't be alone. Elon was down there, and one way or another he had become a friend. Maybe
not her friend, per se, but they had a mutual friend, and that meant that they had a mutual agreement. Elon would get her out safely.

  The guards made sure to create as much noise as possible as they toted Amelia through the streets, catching the attention of onlookers as they walked. She heard footsteps following them, lighter and different than those produced by the guards’ boots. Looking around, she saw Scarlett walking along the sidelines, making sure to stay in the shadows.

  But Amelia saw her.

  Yes, there it was.

  Scarlett stepped into a bit of moonlight and Amelia could see the dark circles under her eyes and the fatigue in her face. There was no shine to her hair, and her skin looked worn.

  Scarlett was having a hard time.

  The mystic was using far too much power continuously, and she was exhausting herself. Right now, she was convincing the guards to be loud, a small task for someone like her. She had more than enough power to do such a thing, and it would only cost a small amount of magic.

  If Scarlett kept using so much magic, her mind would become fragile—she would drive herself crazy. That was why she’d gotten rid of Amelia. This was the coup she and Talia needed. Amelia was accused of murder and had been caught in the act, so the entire city would be against her. Talia would have power then, and Scarlett would no longer need to use quite so much.

  Scarlett had worn herself out to get a vacation.

  The guards hustled Amelia down the steps and across the dungeon floor, walking past the many empty cells to the last one on the right. Amelia was careful not to turn her head, but she did sneak a peek; Elon was watching with wide eyes as she passed.

  Good. She wanted him to know she was there. She wanted him to know exactly how bad this had gotten. The time for action was now, and she hoped he had what she needed.

  There was something wrong, though. There were a couple of faces she’d expected to see down here, but she hadn’t.