The Infinite

by Lori M. Lee

  “I’m pretty sure that’s the other way around now.” He nodded toward the exit. “All right. Let’s go save your friend.”

  CHAPTER 31

  REEV AND I stuffed a pack with a few days’ worth of water and food, and stole two scouts from the stable. It wasn’t difficult. The sentinels normally stationed around the palace grounds were gone, likely being briefed and devising a strategy should Ninurta’s outer wall be breached.

  The Watchmen at the gates didn’t question us when we approached. They looked a little rattled, though, which I took to mean news of an impending siege had spread through the ranks. At least the Minister of Law was doing his job.

  We sped into the Outlands, dust and dirt flying in our wake. Reev motioned for me to slow down. I did, but the look on his face made my fingers tighten around my scout’s sensors.

  “I have something to tell you,” he shouted, keeping his gaze straight ahead.

  My stomach dropped. I maneuvered my scout as close as I could without our Grays colliding. I could reach out and touch him if I wanted.

  “Can I ask you something first?” I was stalling. If Reev was involved with the rebels, then I wasn’t ready to hear that he’d had a hand in the deaths at the arena.

  “Sure,” he said, but he was frowning, like he knew what I was doing.

  “This situation with the rebel sentinels—what do you think about it?” I watched his face, the way he squinted against the wind, the lines around his mouth. “About who should rule, I mean.”

  “I don’t know Miraya. She became a sentinel after Kronos pulled me out. I don’t like that Kalla specifically chose her, but if she proves to be a capable Kahl, then let Ninurta have her.” He shrugged. “But I won’t serve her. I’ll never serve anyone again.”

  I couldn’t glean anything from his reply. Looking forward again, I steeled myself. “What do you want to tell me?”

  “Has to do with the sentinels, actually. I’ve been trying to get in on the rebel network.”

  “Does . . . that mean you weren’t involved in planning their attacks?” I asked.

  “They don’t give me that information. I only wanted to find out who their leader is.”

  “You were spying.” A weight lifted off my chest. I tilted my head back, looking up at the blanket of yellow clouds gliding across the sky. The wind in my ears drowned out everything but the revelation of his words.

  “The problem is that nobody knows much about their leader. I haven’t been able to get into a meeting with the guy, and no one will answer my questions other than to stress how absolutely certain they are that he should lead them. Their loyalty is . . . intense.”

  That didn’t sound good. “You put yourself in danger.”

  “Not really. After what Ninu did to us, they were ready to accept that I want the Infinite gone. I guess because I do, mostly.”

  “I thought . . .”

  “I know what you thought. I couldn’t tell you the truth because the rebels have ears and eyes all over the city. We’re safe enough out here.”

  “Thank you for telling me.” I was the worst kind of idiot. Shame burned through me.

  “I know I’ve done things to make you question my trust. But the one thing you can always be sure of is that I will never betray you. Never again.” Although he wasn’t looking at me, I knew by the fierce sincerity in his voice that he meant it. “I’d rather die than do that to you again.”

  What happened during the Tournament wasn’t his fault. Intellectually, I had always known that. Now, I could finally feel the resentment shake loose.

  “I know,” I whispered.

  You keep insisting on putting yourself in situations where I might not be able to protect you. And it scares me.

  While I’d realized my own reasons, however idiotic and unwarranted, for letting the gap between us spread, I couldn’t figure out why he hadn’t reached out sooner. Was Reev scared because he couldn’t protect me or because I didn’t need his protection? Had he somehow gotten it into his head that I no longer needed him?

  “Reev,” I said. “I love you.”

  He looked at me, dumbfounded. I almost laughed.

  We’d known forever that we loved each other, but the words had never actually been said. This was the first time I’d ever thought that maybe Reev needed to hear them.

  He faced forward again without a word, but the flush to his neck made me grin, my heart feeling lighter than it had in months.

  I should have trusted that Reev had nothing to do with those attacks. The boy who had taken responsibility for a kid he’d found on the riverbank would never knowingly take part in hurting innocent people. Nothing about him had changed since that day. It had been my own fears twisting him into something he wasn’t and would never be, and I wouldn’t let him think he’d failed me ever again.

  We leaned low over our scouts, allowing them to run at nearly full speed. Clear visors rose from the crowns of our scouts’ heads to help shield us from the wind. At these speeds, we couldn’t talk, but that was fine. For once, the silence wasn’t laden with unspoken things.

  A couple of hours later, I noticed something moving against the horizon. I motioned to Reev, who squinted in the direction I was pointing.

  Whatever it was, it was approaching fast and headed straight for us. It looked too tall to be a gargoyle. Maybe a chimera? But it was alone, and what would it be doing this far south?

  Reev and I slowed our scouts to a more manageable speed in case we needed to swerve. One of my hands remained on the sensor, but the other gripped the handle of my torch blade. The figure drew closer, and the metal body of a Gray horse glinted, even in the muted daylight.

  Reev and I exchanged a look. He gestured for me to spread out.

  I urged my scout wide so that the approaching rider would be caught between me and Reev. The rider had likely been sent ahead of Lanathrill’s army to make sure their arrival would remain undetected. Well, we were going to disappoint them.

  As I unsheathed my torch blade, I wondered how a soldier, even riding a Gray, could have made it this far south in so short a time. It had been less than a day since Kronos transported me from my cell into the River.

  The stretch of desert dwindled between us. The rider was close enough now for me to pick out details. Judging by the broad shoulders as the rider bent low in his saddle, he was male. Sandy hair whipped wildly around his face.

  Mason. My legs tightened against the scout’s sides, and it surged forward. Reev shouted something at my back.

  “It’s Mason!” I called, but I didn’t know if he heard. I sheathed my torch blade, racing faster.

  At the last moment, I slammed my foot on the emergency brake. My scout skidded to a stop in a clamor of metal heels and flying dust, jostling me forward and nearly unseating me. Mason’s grin was contagious, and I jumped off my scout before it had fully stopped. Mason dropped from his saddle, and I flung my arms around his neck. His arms circled my waist and picked me up off my feet.

  “Kai,” he said breathlessly. “You’re alive.”

  “Of course I’m alive.” I laughed. “And so are you. I knew you’d be able to escape after I did, but—”

  “So you did escape.” He set me back on my feet. “You were gone from your cell when I woke up, and the guards refused to answer any of my questions. I hoped that you’d escaped, but I didn’t know for sure.”

  “I didn’t mean to leave you,” I said. “I would have taken you with me if I could, but—”

  “It’s okay.” He dipped his head, looking me in the eyes so I’d see he meant it. “I’m glad you got away.”

  Reev rode up alongside us. He and Mason exchanged firm handshakes.

  “Good to see you,” Reev said.

  “How did you escape?” I asked.

  Mason smacked his palms against his tunic. Dust exploded from the creases. “Even after watching us fight the chimera, they really have no idea how to handle hollows. They decided to take me along for the journey south. The C
ouncil kept interrogating me about Ninurta’s military numbers. I just waited a few days for their army to grow tired before I knocked my guards out and stole a Gray. Or stole back a Gray.”

  His expression darkened at the reminder of what Lanathrill had done to his friends and comrades.

  “A few days?” I asked.

  Reev gestured with his chin to the flat line of the horizon. “How far behind you are they?”

  “Less than a day’s ride on horseback.”

  “Wait, wait, wait,” I said, holding up my hands. “A day?” I cupped my forehead, stunned. How much time had I lost in the River? “Mason, when was the last time you saw me?”

  “Almost a week ago.”

  I staggered back. Mason reached out to steady me. Damn Kronos and his “lesson”! I had lost almost a whole week swimming around in the River, not knowing what the drek I was doing.

  “What is it?” Mason asked.

  I explained about my time in the River and how, for me, it had been less than a day since I’d been locked in the citadel’s dungeons.

  “I thought I had all this time to rescue you while Miraya planned our defenses.” I swore and swung my leg over my scout, settling into the leather seat. “We need to get back to Ninurta.”

  It took us another few hours to reach the city, every minute that passed a frustrating loss of time. Kronos had known I wouldn’t be able to navigate the River properly, and he’d still left me to flounder around on my own. What if I’d surfaced in the past? Would he have left me there until I accepted the Infinite inside me just to get home again?

  We headed straight for Kalla’s tower. Miraya lived in one of the lower levels. Avan was coming down the path, his red tunic stark against the gray buildings. We rode up beside him.

  “Do you know where Miraya is?” I asked.

  “I was just with her. Why? What’s happened?” His eyes widened when he saw Mason.

  I told him that Lanathrill’s army was little more than a day away from Ninurta.

  “So you left Ninurta anyway even after I asked you not to?”

  I scowled. “You didn’t ask. And you’re missing the point here. Lanathrill is practically at our doorstep.”

  “You’re right,” Avan said, but his brooding look remained. “I’ll let Miraya know.”

  Before he could turn away, Mason pushed his Gray forward. “Wait. I found something I need you all to look at.”

  He pulled a leather pouch from his pocket. Almost immediately, I felt its effects. Reev’s fingers found the sleeve of my tunic as he moved closer. Avan took the pouch from Mason and loosened the drawstring. As I expected, it was filled with midnight-black powder.

  “What do you make of it?” Mason asked me, noticing my reaction. “You’ve seen this before.”

  “Cassia called it Dust,” I said. “Where’d you get it?”

  “Filched it off of Cassia. I saw her eating from it the first night after we left Vethe. It was dark. I don’t think she knew I could see her.”

  Reev eyed the contents of the pouch, looking ill at ease. I’d already told him about the Dust, but seeing it—feeling it—was altogether different.

  “Is it magic?” Mason asked.

  Sort of. “It’s—”

  “Yes,” Avan said. He brought the pouch to his face and sniffed lightly. He wrinkled his nose. “But there’s something wrong with it.”

  “What do you mean?” Mason leaned forward. Reev and I dismounted, gathering around as well.

  “This magic is old. Very old.” Avan’s voice lowered, resonating like an echo in a great space. “This is earth from the Void.”

  Mason looked surprised by this revelation. We watched curiously as Avan dipped his finger into the pouch. When he withdrew it, his fingertip was lightly coated in the silty black substance. He touched the tip of his tongue to the Dust. He cringed, leaning over to spit it back out.

  “This stuff is poison.”

  “I could have told you that,” I said dryly.

  “But why is it so strong?” Mason asked. “It’s a little bag of dirt, but it feels like we’re standing in the middle of the Void.”

  “Because the magic has been awakened.” Avan closed the pouch and returned it to Mason. “But it’s too old and its original source too chaotic. This was magic cast in wartime, filled with suffering and strife.”

  Strife? My mouth opened with a silent gasp.

  Istar.

  Irra had said that Istar’s talent was to stir humans to war. The battle that gave the Fields of Ishta its name had taken place so long ago that it was possible her name had been somewhat different then.

  Avan hurried off to let Miraya know what was happening, and I bit my tongue to keep from voicing the name of Lanathrill’s “goddess.”

  How did Avan know so much about the Dust? He was newly Infinite. Maybe knowledge of the magic came instinctually to him. But how could he have known the Dust came from the Void?

  “I’m going to hold on to this until I get a chance to talk to Irra,” Mason said, tucking the pouch back into his pocket. I nodded in agreement.

  Climbing onto my scout, I told myself that these thoughts about Avan were little more than the same unfounded suspicions that had driven a wedge between me and Reev. I had to stop seeing things where there was nothing.

  “Kai, you should get some rest while you can,” Reev said, putting his hand on my shoulder. “When’s the last time you slept?”

  In my cell, barely. I rubbed my eyes. I needed a proper rest to face the oncoming fight.

  With Reev’s promise to wake me if anything happened, I turned gratefully for the palace and my bed.

  CHAPTER 32

  I COULDN’T SEE the sky through the branches. The trees were too close and the leaves too thick. My palms pressed into the moss as I rose up onto my elbows.

  “Avan?” I asked.

  There was no response because I was alone. I looked around the space, as if I might find him hiding behind a tall fern. Something metallic glinted from beneath a bramble of yellow flowers. I reached for it.

  There was a sound like the incessant roar of the burning waterfall, filling my ears as I freed an old dagger from the grasp of weeds. The forest blurred, distorting like the surface of disturbed water. The trees and mossy carpet faded into blackness, leaving me crouched over a bit of dry earth, illuminated only by the silver blade of the dagger.

  Footsteps came from my left. My head snapped up. Reev emerged from the darkness, dressed as he’d been that day in the arena: in the black leather armor of a sentinel. I could feel myself standing, could feel the intent in the dagger as it guided my hand forward, its point seeking Reev’s skin.

  With a cry, I wrenched back control and flung the dagger into the dirt. It shattered, almost blinding me as it exploded into hundreds of lights. I watched, transfixed, as each speck of light transformed into a wispy, shimmering thread.

  I awoke with a start. It took a moment to realize that thudding sound was in fact someone pounding on my door.

  I dragged my blanket off my head, my mind still fuzzy. Confusion lingered at the edges of my consciousness, but I wasn’t sure why. I cracked open my bleary eyes. As beautiful as the glossy black stone and glimmer glass lights of the citadel had been, I was happy to see the white walls and elegant tapestries of my room in the palace. Instead of the stale humidity in Vethe, the air was cool, a breeze blowing in through the window.

  “Kai!” It was Reev’s voice. I sat up, rubbing the sleep from my eyes. “Lanathrill’s army is within sight.”

  “Drek,” I whispered as I shot out of bed. I scurried around the room, dressing as I went. I secured my hair into a braid and then put on my boots before throwing open my door.

  Reev was standing in the hall. “Ready?”

  I answered honestly. “No.”

  He pulled me into a hug. I pressed my face into the firm plane of his chest, my fingers digging into his back, letting his strength fortify me.

  “We’ll get through this,” h
e said.

  I nodded, but I didn’t feel as confident. The sentinels might be equipped for war, but the Watchmen were different. They were well-trained and skilled fighters, but that didn’t equal real world experience. The Watchmen relied on the city’s laws. Nothing would prepare them for the chaos and carnage of battle.

  The memory of screaming chimera and broken bodies filled my mind, and I jerked my head to dislodge the images. Now that I suspected it was Istar who stood at the helm of Lanathrill’s army, maybe I could do something to stop her. She must have been hidden somewhere in the woods near the Fields of Ishta for her voice to have reached us. The Infinite’s powers were far reaching, but Istar would still have to be present to be effective. Which meant she was now out there somewhere amid the army.

  I recalled the brief glimpse of red curls—the girl from the crystal garden. I should have taken a closer look at her. After being manipulated by the Infinite, I’d been left to question everything I thought I’d known about myself and the world. I needed to learn to trust my own instincts again.

  “How well do you know Istar?” I asked as we made our way out of the palace.

  At my sudden question, there was a flicker of emotion in Reev’s face before he said, “Not very, which is still better than I’d like. She was the one who branded me.”

  “Istar did?” My eyes strayed to the back of his neck.

  “She did all the brandings for the new sentinels. Ninu would look them over after she’d finished, and any further work, like the mind blocks or cleansings, Ninu performed himself. But the initial branding was Istar’s work. Why do you ask?”

  I told him my suspicions about Istar being Lanathrill’s goddess.

  “It makes sense,” he said. “But what does Istar gain out of all this?”

  Neither of us had an answer. Maybe war was really all she wanted, and Ninu had stood in the way until now. But there had to be more to it that I just didn’t understand.

  Fortunately, her powers couldn’t control me. If I could find her, maybe I could stop her before she enchanted all of Ninurta into a frenzy of bloodlust.