Sunweaver

by Ryan W. Mueller

  Deril wished he had an answer. "I don't know, but we have to try."

  "Are you sure you trust this woman?"

  Deril chewed on his lower lip. "For some odd reason, I do. This is the first real clue we've had about why they took my father. It fits with what we suspected. Now we just need some help."

  "Are you sure about that?" Tiran asked. "If we're going to sneak into the palace, we don't need all these Fireweavers on our side."

  "Yes, we do. We'll need their help to get to Haladel. Without them, we probably won't make it a day without getting arrested. They'll be suspicious of anyone they don't recognize, and they'll check to see if we're Sunweavers."

  Tiran looked away. "I suppose you're right, but I wish there were some way we could get that help without doing what we have to do tomorrow."

  "I don't like it either, but we have no choice. Now that we know what they're doing, we have to do anything we can to stop them. I can't imagine a world with Halarik returned. He's spent six hundred years in prison with nothing but his anger for a companion. If he returns, I have the feeling he's going to exact revenge on those who imprisoned him."

  "I know," Tiran said. "It's a scary thought, isn't it?"

  "Let's get some sleep. We're going to need it."

  But Deril struggled to sleep. He tossed and turned all night, trying to think of some way they could save his father. The more he thought about it, the more he realized how unlikely it was. They'd need a miracle, and with Aralea dead, there wasn't much hope of that.

  Deril felt groggy the next morning as they began their preparations for infiltrating the prison. They met up with Davin and Arna in Sondir's office. Arna looked at them with undisguised anger and distrust, and Deril returned the same look.

  At the side of the office were four Sun Guard uniforms.

  "How'd you get those?" Tiran asked.

  "We didn't kill anyone," Sondir said. "The Sun Guard has more than they need."

  Deril glanced warily at the uniforms. "So that's our plan? Pretend to be Sun Guards and walk right in? It seems too simple. Surely they'll know something is wrong."

  Sondir leaned on his desk. "With all the chaos of the execution going on, getting in shouldn't be too hard. Getting out is the part you should be worried about."

  Tiran was pacing at the right side of the room. "Actually, it shouldn't be too hard. I was stationed at the prison for a year. I know a secret passage that leads out of the prison. It was meant for emergencies, but I'm sure we can use it."

  "Very good," Sondir said. "That could make things a lot easier."

  "It still won't be easy," Davin said, leaning against the stone wall.

  Tiran continued pacing. "You're right. They've used Sunweaving to reinforce many of the prison's defenses. We'll have to be careful." He stopped. "I also know of a way to get through the city if things get too chaotic. There's a path through the sewers."

  "I know of this path," Sondir said. "There's an opening that leads right here into the Brotherhood headquarters." He retrieved a dusty scroll from his desk and unfurled it. "Here. Let me show you how to get here."

  They spent the next half hour or so going over their plan. How they would sneak in. Where the prisoners were located. How to enter the secret passages that would lead them to safety. They inspected the plans for the prison. noting where guards would be stationed.

  Sondir also led them to the place where their secret passage would come out. That way, they could identify the weave guarding the entrance now and recognize it later.

  By the time they finished, Deril felt more doubtful than ever. This was insane. How could they risk getting themselves killed or arrested with so much at stake?

  Once Davin and Arna left to make final preparations, Deril sat down across from Sondir and recounted what Kae had told him last night. Sondir tried to maintain a calm mask, but Deril could see alarm in the man's eyes.

  "Well, it is what we expected," Sondir said, "but I don't like the time pressure."

  "Do you know of this Kae person?" Tiran asked.

  Sondir stroked his chin. "Actually, I do. From what I've heard about her, she's a dedicated member of the Brotherhood. She wouldn't be working for Halarik's Chosen. You can trust her."

  Deril exhaled with relief. "Good."

  Of course, he had his doubts about Sondir. Could Deril trust the judgment of any Fireweaver? Perhaps they were all working for Halarik's Chosen. It didn't seem likely, but he had to prepare for anything. He felt suffocated by all his worries, worries he didn't need right now.

  And then there was Arna. Would she betray them today?

  Over the next hour, Deril and Tiran finished their preparations. It was the first time Deril had ever worn the armor of a Sun Guard, armor that felt bulky and limited his mobility.

  "How can you stand this armor?" he asked Tiran, struggling to balance.

  "You get used to it after a while."

  "Yes, it's not my favorite thing," Davin said, but he looked like he'd grown accustomed to it. Deril hoped he'd adjust before reaching the prison. Nothing would attract attention like Sun Guards who looked uncomfortable in their armor. His heart climbed into his throat.

  "Are we ready now?" Arna said, pacing, looking more comfortable in the armor, as though she might have impersonated a Sun Guard before. "We have three hours until the execution."

  They checked in with Sondir, went over their plan again, then left the Brotherhood headquarters. Arna wasn't acting as combative today, but that didn't make Deril feel better. Perhaps she already had something planned.

  The prison stood at the northern edge of Hyrandel. The four of them walked through the streets, and crowds parted for them, as they always did for Sun Guards. On the way to the prison, they went through the poorest parts of the city, where the stone buildings looked ready to collapse. Yellow/Green Sunweavers rarely made it to places like this.

  Deril kept his posture tall, his walk commanding. He'd lived around Sun Guards his entire life, so it wasn't too hard to impersonate them. As they walked, Tiran assured him he looked the part.

  At last, they arrived at the prison. It was a giant stone structure stretching so far Deril could barely see where it ended. It was only about two stories tall, but at each corner, there were towers from which Sun Guards could keep an eye on everything. Somewhere in the middle was a small courtyard where some prisoners were allowed occasional recreation—under constant supervision, of course.

  A guarded tunnel beneath the wall led to this courtyard. Soon people from the city would flock through that tunnel to watch the executions. Deril had never understood why people wanted to watch prisoners hang. Did they hate Fireweavers that much?

  Two Sun Guards flanked the main gate, watching the party approach. Deril's chest tightened, and he worked to keep the anxiety off his face, telling himself that the guards didn't look like they suspected anything.

  "Here for the execution?" asked the guard on the right. "You can check in inside and to the left." He chuckled. "Not sure why we have to have so much security for these things. Most of these people are lowlifes. No one gives a damn about them."

  The other guard cleared his throat. "Well, there are Fireweavers among them."

  "The Brotherhood wouldn't dare to steal prisoners on the day of the execution," said the first guard.

  "And why is that?" said the second. "Because we have so much security?"

  Deril tried to keep his expression neutral. He was hovering somewhere on the line between panic and laughter. If only they knew what was being planned.

  "You never know," said the first guard, ushering them inside. "Perhaps today will be your lucky day. I doubt it, though. Executions are usually boring."

  "Boring executions are the best kind," Tiran said.

  They stepped into the prison but didn't turn to the left to check in. The Sun Guard registering them would consult the master list of Sun Guards, and he wouldn't find their names anywhere. Then they would fail right away. Instead, they had to hope no on
e would stop them. There were so many Sun Guards that it was possible.

  But that didn't make Deril feel any calmer.

  They walked along bright corridors lit by countless Sunlamps, passing many Sun Guards. No one spared them a second glance, and the tightness in Deril's chest eased a little.

  However, they couldn't speak as they worked their way deeper into the prison. Too many people stood nearby, in position to overhear anything they might say.

  Tiran led the way. They'd all memorized the prison's plans, but Tiran had a more intimate knowledge of the place. He looked pale, though, probably worried that someone might recognize him. It had been a few years since he was stationed here, but a few people from that time surely remained.

  "Don't worry so much if they recognize you," Deril whispered in his ear. "They'll think you're here for the execution like everyone else."

  "I know, but I don't like the thought of being recognized."

  The corridors branched in every direction, a confusing maze. Deril would have been lost if not for Tiran's guidance. The first section of the prison they needed to find was located toward the back and off to the right, almost as far from the entrance as they could go. The second section was also toward the back, but a little closer to the middle.

  When they reached the corridor dividing these two sections from one another, they split up. Deril and Tiran took the section to the left while Arna and Davin moved off to the right. They had argued a great deal about who'd go where. In the end, Deril had decided that he could trust only Tiran. Even Davin could be a member of Halarik's Chosen.

  Deril chuckled silently. I'm getting like Tiran, suspicious of everyone.

  How could they betray him, though? Anything they'd do to alert the Sun Guard would put them in danger as well. Or did Arna have a plan that would keep her and Davin safe?

  Deril and Tiran reached the entrance to their destination. The door stood open, and stone steps led downward into a darker corridor lined with cells. Two Sun Guards stood at the door, watching Deril and Tiran approach.

  "You here for the prisoners?" asked the one on the right.

  Deril froze, heart pounding. Could they talk their way through this?

  "Yes," Tiran said, but his face was pale.

  "Where are your papers?" asked the second guard. "The captain should've given them to you."

  Deril exchanged a quick glance with Tiran. Then Tiran pointed a finger at the guard on the right, and Deril caught the faint shimmer of a shield. When the guard tried to call out for help, the shield silenced him. Good. Tiran had thought of everything.

  The other guard looked flustered, glancing around with wide eyes. "What are—"

  But Deril put a shield around him before he could get any more words out. Then he glanced back, noting that the corridor was deserted, and drew his sword. He and Tiran placed their swords to the guards' necks at the same time.

  The guards' eyes were wide.

  "Do what we say and you won't get hurt," Deril said, holding his shield steady. He had woven it in such a way that they could hear him but they couldn't speak themselves. Similarly, Deril and Tiran could touch the guards with their swords, but the guards couldn't do the same.

  Deril could feel his guard working to disable the weave. In such a confrontation, the stronger Sunweaver usually won, but Deril had to be careful.

  He glanced at Tiran. "How're you doing?"

  "I have it under control. Let's move."

  Deril heard distant shouts, but he put them out of his mind, leading the guard down the steps and into the narrow stone corridor lined with cells. He had memorized which prisoners they had to free. There were two of them, crucial members of the Brotherhood. Deril led his guard to one of the cells while Tiran marched his to the other, a few feet away.

  "Unlock the door," Deril said to his guard, pushing him so that the shield would extend far enough into the cell that the man could insert the key in the lock.

  The guard pulled the key from his belt and unlocked the door. The Fireweaver inside, a middle-aged woman, darted out of the cell with wide eyes.

  "Did the Brotherhood send you?" she asked.

  Deril nodded, then glanced down the corridor, watching as Tiran's guard unlocked the other cell. The Fireweaver there, a young man, glanced around as he stepped out of the cell.

  "Let's get the guards into the cells," Tiran said.

  Deril turned to his guard. "Drop the key."

  The guard did so.

  "Now step away from it."

  The guard moved away, and Deril grabbed the key, glad these guards could see when they were outmatched. However, those distant shouts sounded again, and they weren't so distant anymore. Had someone been alerted already?

  Deril nudged his guard into the cell and locked the door. When he turned, he saw that Tiran had done the same. Now the two of them stood with the freed Fireweavers.

  "What now?" asked the woman. "I'm glad you freed us, but I know you can hear the Sun Guards coming as well as I can."

  "There's a secret passage out of the prison," Tiran said.

  "But where is it?" asked the man, looking toward the entrance to the corridor, where the voices and hurried footsteps were growing closer. Deril's legs trembled.

  "It's in the next section of the prison," Tiran said, "but we can't get there directly."

  The man pointed toward the approaching sounds. "Well, the only way out's going to be swarming with Sun Guards soon, so I hope you have another plan."

  Deril's heart pounded. "I don't think we do."

  Chapter 32: An Offer of Aid

  Kadin stood at the bars of his cell, watching the strange scene unfold. Lost in misery, he hadn't noticed anything unusual at first, but now he saw that these people were in trouble. Loud voices and hurried footsteps were coming from the dungeon's entrance, echoing against the gray walls.

  "Well, we need to think of something," said the woman who'd been freed.

  One of the men in a Sun Guard uniform glanced toward the entrance, his face lined with worry. "I have an idea, but I'm not sure it'll work." He turned to the other fake Sun Guard. "You have more experience with this place than I do. Can we manipulate the stone to block the entrance?"

  "We can try, but there are strong protections."

  "Well, we don't have any other choice."

  Kadin didn't know who these people were, but he felt tense watching them. They couldn't be too bad, as they hadn't killed the real Sun Guards. The two of them stood closest to Kadin's cell, ignoring him, and he couldn't blame them. He didn't deserve their help.

  The four people set their gazes on the entrance, and Kadin knew they were performing a Yellow/Green weave. The stone corridor rumbled, but the rocks didn't shift enough to block the opening. The four people looked around, their faces pale.

  "We can't do it," said the first fake Sun Guard, sounding like he was on the verge of tears. He stood right next to Kadin's cell. The freed Fireweavers stood closer to the steps.

  "No," said the other false Sun Guard. "We have to think of something." He lowered his voice to a whisper. "Maybe we can tell them about the Sunlord's kidnapping, about how they're planning to use him to free Halarik."

  "And then kill him," whispered the first, looking down at the ground as though he'd experienced a horrible revelation. "After they free Halarik, they won't need him anymore." He shook his head. "Telling them wouldn't work. They'll think we're making it up to protect ourselves. We'll have to tell them everything. What we've done. What my mother is. We can't do that."

  The second put his hand on the first's shoulder. "I have the bad feeling you're right."

  The voices outside the corridor had grown closer. Louder.

  Kadin's heart pounded. Had these people really mentioned a plot to kill the Sunlord and free Halarik? Why would anyone do that? Regardless, if the last remaining Sunlord was going to die, the world was in a lot of trouble.

  How could Kadin have been so selfish, wallowing in his misery like this? He should ha
ve seen that the Sunlord couldn't live forever.

  "Maybe I can help," he said, peering toward the entrance as the footsteps grew closer. "I'm a talented Sunweaver. Very talented." He took a breath, then spoke in a low voice. "I can feel the sun."

  The two fake Sun Guards both looked on with wide eyes. The second was shaking his head, but the first took the key and unlocked Kadin's cell.

  "You better be telling the truth," the man said.

  "I am." Kadin looked him in the eyes. "Now let's block that opening."

  They performed the weave again, but this time Kadin added his help. Now that he was out of his cell, he was free of the shield around it. He had good light reserves remaining, so he put everything he had behind the Yellow/Green weave.

  Now the stone rumbled more fiercely. The real Sun Guards reached the entrance and were about to race down the stairs when the heavy stone arch above them collapsed, burying them. They looked alive, though. Good. Kadin wasn't sure he could handle more murders on his conscience. He and the others kept the weave going, and more and more rubble crowded the doorway, blocking it.

  Kadin looked to the first fake Sun Guard, the one who'd let him out and who seemed like the leader. "Now, before we find this secret passage you were talking about, you need to free a friend of mine. She's a talented Fireweaver, so she can help us."

  "All right," the man said. "I owe you a debt for this."

  Heart pounding, Kadin took off running with the rest of the group. They raced to the end of the corridor while rumbling came from behind them. It wouldn't be long before the Sun Guards broke through the stone barrier. At the end of the corridor, they took two turns to the left, entering an area with more cells.

  "Faina, where are you?" Kadin called out, trying to restrain his panic.

  "Here! What's going on?"

  "No time to explain," Kadin said.

  The leader of the group raced to Faina's cell and inserted the key in the lock. Kadin's stomach lurched for a moment. What if this set of cells required a different key? Voices and rumbling came from behind. Louder. Had the Sun Guards broken through already?