Near the top of the gate, two dark horizontal lines shot forth to meet in the center, twisting into a swirl. As wide and deep as a many-storied river, the now-familiar dark, swirling curtain dropped to the floor. Crystalyn held onto a breath. A blindfolded, brown-robed figure appeared at the curtain’s stormy base, leading a second brown robe by the hand. Crystalyn looked beyond them to the dark gate, her anxiety rising. Where was she?
The figure pulled the brown hood down and untied a dark cloth covering her eyes, revealing long, black hair and wide, emerald eyes. Grabbing the brown robe’s hand again, the figure raced toward her.
Then everything was right for a few sweet moments as Jade gripped her in a tight hug. As Crystalyn stroked her sister’s long hair, tears misted her vision. “Oh Jade! I’m so sorry.”
Jade hugged her with a fierce embrace, tears falling onto her shoulder. “I’m here, I’m here!”
Crystalyn bawled with joy. For many moments, she let her emotions roll out of her. Cries of relief mixed with soft, joy-filled laughter. They held each other until the tears subsided on both sides. Finally, Crystalyn stepped away, holding Jade at arm’s length, looking into her striking emerald eyes. “Oh, Jade, I’m so sorry I lost you. It won’t happen again, I’m not letting you leave my side!”
“It wasn’t your fault! I didn’t listen. I should’ve stayed away from the sapphire gate,” Jade said in a rush, smiling through her tears.
“I have so much to tell you,” Crystalyn said, her excitement mounting. Now she finally had someone she could share anything with, Jade would never judge her. She couldn’t wait to introduce her to Darwin. She turned toward him, but he was gone.
Lord Charn walked around the four guards stationed outside the guardroom, striding toward them. “I am quite certain you both have much to discuss for your reunion, but I would ask you return to your room so the gate’s function can return to normal. Do you wish your sibling in the same room?”
“Oh yes,” Crystalyn said immediately.
Jade’s smile vanished as Lord Charn spoke. She gazed up at the dark armored man with frightened eyes.
Crystalyn smiled up at the big man. “Oh Jade! This is our host, Lord Charn. Without his help you wouldn’t be here.”
Lord Charn looked beyond Jade, toward the hooded figure standing by the topaz obelisk. “I wasn’t aware there would be two of you,” he said, his voice frosty. The second person who’d arrived with her stood motionless, the brown hood pulled far forward.
Jade started. “Oh, right! He’s my servant. He doesn’t speak,” Jade said too quickly.
Crystalyn took Jade by the hand, pulling her gently along the hall. “Come, Lord Charn has a point; we should be going to our chambers. You must be tired and hungry. We can talk while you eat.”
“Yes, yes, I am,” Jade agreed.
As they strode past Lord Charn, Jade’s eyes followed him. Crystalyn would have to assure Jade when they were alone the imposing man meant them no harm. Yet she did wonder why he hadn’t pressed her join with him again since the night at the Oracle, but she was glad he of it. So far, she hadn’t dwelled on it too much.
“Would you mind if we returned to our rooms alone? We have a lot to catch up on,” Crystalyn asked. “I know the way.”
Lord Charn’s reply was immediate. “The evening is your own. I have duties to attend to at present, but we shall meet again in the mid-morning. My personal guards shall escort you. Please ask them for directions should you get turned around.” He nodded toward the group of guards that had trailed them since he’d collected her from her room.
Crystalyn found it odd. For all Lord Charn’s supposed prowess in battle, he never went anywhere without several guards with him. Did they follow him into the toilet? How did he go with all that armor on? She almost laughed, but she recognized her thoughts for the nervous relief they were for finally getting Jade back. “Thank you, my lord. We will look forward to it.”
Glancing now and then over her shoulder as they left the cavernous hall, Crystalyn looked back at Lord Charn. He watched until they drew out of sight.
Before they’d gone very far afterward, Crystalyn realized Jade was pulling her by the hand, moving them ahead of the guards by several paces. She looked around and frowned as they moved toward her chambers. It was almost as if Jade knew where they were going.
FULL CIRCLE
Jade struggled to believe she was right back where her horrific ordeal had begun. Would the nightmare never end? Worse, Crystalyn had ended up here, too, but under better circumstances, it appeared. Appearances’ were deceiving more often than most realized. As glad as she was to walk next to her sister, no real happiness would come until they escaped.
They had a way out, providing they could get to the bathing ponds. Certainly, at some point they’d have to bathe. Camoe had already provided her with a small light he called a glimmer shard, assuring her it would last a week or beyond once uncovered. With it tucked in her bag alongside the white candle, she felt better about the whole plan.
Worst-case scenario, Burl could lead them to where Camoe would be waiting at Fetid Fume Swamp’s edge. She hated to think about making the journey, let alone crossing the swamplands again. But what choice did they have? Even with Caven’s years of studying the Dark Citadel’s fortifications, he couldn’t foresee a way in or out without great loss.
After she’d convinced the druid she had to come back to rescue her sister, the three of them had sat up for most of a night and on through the next day discussing alternate escape routes to no avail. All others would have worse hazards than the one they’d thought of first, the same way they’d escaped last time. It wasn’t going to be easy, for the citadel had to have stationed better-equipped guards at the waste tunnels by now. With Crystalyn’s help, perhaps they would survive.
Jade tried not to think about it too much. It all seemed hopeless, especially now that she was here in the frightening place again. She lowered her voice to a whisper as soon as they were out of earshot of the guards that trailed them. “I’d hoped I wouldn’t find you here, but it’s not hopeless. I know a way to escape this awful place. With luck, we’ll be gone by nightfall.”
Crystalyn slowed, though her sister kept her grip on her hand. She too, kept her voice soft. “What do you mean? I found you with a Contacting at the Dark Oracle remember. I wanted you here. We might be able to find our way home now, it’s our best chance.”
Jade frowned, though she never slowed, tugging Crystalyn along. “I don’t understand. How can this horrible, evil place help us return home?”
“It may be scary at times, but I don’t believe its evil,” Crystalyn said, looking away. “Life here is just different than we’re used to. We’ll discuss it in our chambers. I can’t wait to show them to you, they’re grander than a room. Imagine! Our very own chambers and they come with servants.” Crystalyn picked up the pace.
Jade clamped her mouth closed. The soft chink of metal shod boots scraping against granite testified to the fact the two guards had drawn closer. Jade gave a silent tsk. Camoe would’ve given them a disapproving stare had he been here. Of course, if he had come with her, he might’ve attacked the guards on sight,—certainly, he would’ve sprang at Lord Charn after what happened to his daughter. The druid had a hatred for all Dark Users, but Lord Charn topped the list as the one who had given the order to fire the arrow the took his daughter’s life.
Crystalyn took the lead; taking them toward the great golden doors, Jade recognized from weeks ago. Those days had passed in a frightening blur. They strode past the iron door glaring ominously at her—–the one leading to Lord Charn’s armory she’d peered so fearfully out from weeks ago. She’d come full circle, back to the terrible place of terror where the harrowing nightmare escape had begun. Her nearly healed lower lip she’d chewed ragged, could attest to that. She was a fool for coming back, but her sister needed her.
Moving past the golden doors, Crystalyn selected a smaller passage veering off to the left. Stea
ling a quick glance over her shoulder at the one she led, Jade made sure Burl’s disguise was intact. Hood draped partway to his drawn-on nose, her raggedy companion kept his face shadowed with his dangling arm in a sling under the robe as she’d shown him this morning. So far, the ruse had held. Having such dim light in the places they’d passed through helped; she couldn’t chance his being recognized and reclaimed by his creator.
A short hike later, Crystalyn pulled her through an ornate door opened by one of the two guards standing watch outside of it. Jade got a glimpse of their escorts returning the way they’d come as the door closed.
“Well? Isn’t it lovely?” Crystalyn asked her smile beautiful. Jade hated to destroy her mood, but they needed to talk. She got the feeling Crystalyn was trying to distract her.
Jade tackled one of the most critical issues first. “How are you doing with your meds?”
Getting comfortable on a benched alcove overlooking a sunken dining area, Crystalyn replied, “I haven’t been taking as many as I should, so there’s a half month’s supply.” Her big sister didn’t seem to be too concerned with not taking them, which surprised Jade. Crystalyn had always stuck to her schedule when it came to controlling her anger.
Jade sprawled gratefully opposite her sister on the bench. It’d been a long, frightening day. “Why haven’t you?”
Crystalyn sighed, long and deep. “I’ve been too busy doing things…like nearly dying. Stabbed with a poison dagger, impaled twice, attacked by brigands, and sauntering into the middle of a battle has caused some hardship, but I muddled through. Honestly, I don’t know why they seem to like me here; I’ve killed enough of them that I wouldn’t like me.”
Jade gasped. Not her big sister too, how could Crystalyn already speak so casually of killing like nearly everyone else she’d met here? Something dark flickered within Crystalyn’s blue eyes when she’d spoken about the violence. Or had it? Whatever Jade thought she’d seen was gone. “That’s my point; this is a violent, deadly place. I’ve been in the Dark Citadel before—the sapphire gate brought me here—and I don’t like it at all. We are in grave danger and need to leave,” Jade said in a rush, afraid Crystalyn would interrupt.
Crystalyn looked at her with wide eyes, mouth open as if Jade had suddenly shed her skin and become something alien. Jade sighed, as long and deep as Crystalyn had. “Perhaps I should start from the beginning. I have a lot to tell you, and it sounds like you should apprise me of some things. I’ll go first,” Jade said feeling immensely tired. But it was already shaping up to be a short night.
*****
Crystalyn gaped at Jade. Her sister had been through more than she realized. Though Jade hadn’t been hurt too bad physically, in many aspects her journey had been as grueling as hers had, perhaps worse. The fault lay with Crystalyn, had she not opened the Tiered Book of Symbols none of it would’ve happened. Now, she’d have to tell Jade her plan to open the book. Well, both tier one and tier three books of symbols actually, on a regular basis. Darwin was supporting her practicing of some of the cryptic symbols in the two books, even suggesting it. One of the symbols catalogued under Travel might get them home with the right obelisks.
Jade’s journey had been frightening, but it left a question careening around inside her head. “This Camoe you spoke of and his companion, did he ever say why he and his daughter were running in the first place? What did they do to merit being attacked?”
Jade looked troubled. “I don’t think he mentioned why, only that they were both druids. I gathered they were on some sort of infiltration mission, which I assumed meant this place.”
“But you don’t know for certain. Even if it was this place, perhaps they shouldn’t have been here. Espionage always comes with a high amount of danger. I’d venture a guess the White Lands, assuredly the Circle of Light, would take similar measures with an enemy agent.”
“When did you get to be so cold, so…clinical about life and death? She was his daughter!”
“I know, and I’m truly sorry. There had to be a reason they were running. We just don’t know the whole story—” Crystalyn felt badly. Jade was right, the young woman was the man’s daughter. It would make anyone bitter. Yet Crystalyn wasn’t certain how far this druid could be trusted. She’d never met him. If he was anything like those on the Circle, she didn’t care to. A large part was due to the Circle not helping with a Contacting and Khiminay’s dubious help, they’d all ended up here. Perhaps it was for the best. They might discover a way home.
“I’m not one to care if I don’t know it all. I trust him. If not for him and Burl, I wouldn’t be alive right now.”
“Okay. If you trust him, then I will too. By keeping you safe, he’s put me in his debt. And I promise to be suspicious of the things happening here,” Crystalyn said. She glanced at the immobile form by the door, suppressing a shudder. No breath rose and fell under the robe. She gathered her resolve. “Let’s have a look at Burl.”
A look of relief shone in Jade’s green eyes. She smiled. “Burl, come over here.” Obediently, the brown robe crossed the room to stand by Jade.
“This is my sister Crystalyn. You may pull your hood down when she’s the only one in the room with me,” Jade said with a commanding voice. Crystalyn was surprised: she didn’t even know Jade had one. They did have some catching up to do.
Jade’s companion reached up with one hand, dropping the hood to the back of his neck, and then pulled a dark rag over the head away from the eyes.
In all her time wandering through this world, Crystalyn had never seen anything like him, not even here at the Citadel, where Jade said she’d discovered him, at least not alive. His skin resembled those odd skinned ones lying about Carnage Field. Vibrant yellow-orange eyes gazed at her above a scrawled nose and mouth. Staring transfixed at those eyes and the intelligence lurking behind them, Crystalyn’s worry of how Jade would react to Atoi, and especially Broth, lessened.
If Jade could befriend a…non-breathing Creation, she shouldn’t have any problem with her friends. Perhaps it was time for everyone to meet. Crystalyn sent a silent request to Broth to bring Atoi. Broth agreed to the request with enthusiasm mixed with trepidation. He was right to be worried. How would Jade react to the linking? Crystalyn was about to find out.
SHADOWY PASSAGE
Something about the red robe moving across the hall drew Jade’s eye. It wasn’t that the wearer hobbled with such an obvious limp, though the gait had first caught her attention. No, it was something else, something about the person’s…actions. Glancing both ways along the Great Hall, the red robe shambled from one pillar to the next, poking the hooded head around each one before continuing on to the next. The furtive procedure repeated for several pillars, until the robe vanished behind the one across from her.
Jade glanced at Atoi, who sat next to her on a stone bench. The young girl seemed to have not noticed the robe’s movements. Or, she had no particular interest in them, which was probably the case. Jade really had no idea what did interest the strange little girl, but she was an amicable companion, only speaking when Jade asked her something. Jade preferred it that way.
She waited, focusing beyond the pillar, expecting the strange behavior to continue down the Great Hall. Yet, only servants made use of the wide hallway, hurrying on their errands. Jade was disappointed. The weird mannerisms had provided a welcome distraction to her aching hamstrings.
The poor guards had followed her and Broth and Atoi for hours around the massive Dark Citadel while they wandered up and down stairwells, down into dank dungeons and dark side halls, performing another methodical but fruitless search. They still hadn’t found another way out after days of daily searches. Nor had they found any of Broth’s clan anywhere, even though Crystalyn said he’d insisted they’d vanished somewhere inside. They had come across several more Creations like Burl doing menial tasks. None would acknowledge her presence in the slightest. She hadn’t pressed them much for fear of alerting their creator.
Toda
y had been especially grueling, for they had climbed to the top of a dark tower. From there, she’d seen the Citadel from a different perspective. The curvature of the gate was quite pronounced and the canyon a bit steeper and narrower than she’d first seen with Camoe. A cave half way up the right side captured her interest for some time, but she couldn’t see a way up, or down to it. At the road below the last curve, the cave wouldn’t be visible from the bottom; a landing-like ledge had sealed that. While the view from the tower had been breathtaking, no exit presented itself, though she left wondering about the cave. It still nagged. If it led to the Citadel, they’d not yet found the entrance.
The red robe hadn’t exited from behind the pillar. Jade stood. “Come on, you two. There’s something I want to check before heading back to my sister’s chambers.”
As he raised his sleek body to all four powerful leg, Broth’s haunches glistened from the small stream of ground water he’d lain in to cool off next to the bench. Though he couldn’t speak to her as he did to Crystalyn, the big canine-like creature with his beautiful, hourglass eyes seemed to understand her well enough. Having Broth’s presence near her had made the days here bearable, as Atoi had, unlike her sister. Crystalyn had been no help plotting their escape. Her time spent with the young general, Darwin Darkwind, was all she talked about, and Jade had begun to wonder if the handsome Dark User had cast a spell on her.
Crossing the width of the Great Hall didn’t hurt as badly as she’d expected. Her overtaxed leg muscles loosened after the first hundred paces or so, and the burning faded to a dull ache. Prepared to stride on by when she got close to the furtive red robe, she rounded the pillar at a fair pace, and then slowed. No one was in sight. How strange. She wouldn’t have missed the robe’s departure, not with such a noticeable limp. “Atoi, will you and Broth loiter around the backside of the next pillar down?” Jade asked. “Pretend you’re gazing at something near the ceiling, and make sure the guards see you doing it.”
Beyond the Sapphire Gate: Epic Fantasy-Some Magic Should Remain Untouched (The Flow of Power Book 1) Page 44