The Book of Kaels Bundle (Books 2 - 4): The Wood Kael, The Metal Kael, The Fire Kael

by Wendy Wang

  Then why did you send it to me?

  Because hearing a voice in your head randomly is a little disconcerting for someone who didn't grow up in Ethavia.

  What a thoughtful man you are.

  Some believe so.

  Good for them. I'm not interested in playing a role in your organization if that's what you're after.

  We all have a common goal. We can work against one another or we can work together. You're short on time. But I can help with that too.

  How?

  Silence again. Egan turned onto his side and folded his arm underneath his head. D'Raq was full of goat dung. Egan closed his eyes and blew out a heavy breath. He needed to get some sleep.

  You can sleep your life away Egan. Or you can let me help you.

  How exactly are you going to help me?

  First you will help me. And then I will help you escape. I know about Toby Wyn.

  What do you think you know?

  I know he works for the Emperor. And I know he made you promises.

  How do you know?

  I can see all the way to the heart of you. Where it is darkest and coldest.

  Egan shifted on his cot. The metal springs squeaked in protest as he sat up.

  What do you want me to do?

  You are to pay attention for now. And when the time comes you'll do as I ask.

  And if I don't do as you ask?

  Then you will need to pray.

  There are no gods to pray to. They are all dead.

  Just pay attention Egan. All will become clear in time.

  You know I really hate riddles.

  Silence. Egan scoffed at his empty cell. The sky was beginning to lighten. Twelve more days. If he made it that far.

  Seven

  “That's it Y'Ana! I knew you could do it.” Tom's voice floated across the expansive beach despite the wind. Cilla followed the path over the dunes to find Birgit sitting cross legged on a blanket. Danny sat next to her, his little body wrapped in a woolen shawl, leaning against his older cousin. Tom and Y'Ana ran to and fro, their bare feet slapping against the wet sand. The girl squealed with delight flapping her arms out.

  “I'm a seabird,” Tom yelled into the wind, pumping his arms up and down. Y'Ana followed him, laughing.

  Cilla sat down next to Birgit, pressing her shoulder against her arm for warmth.

  “Aren't you cold out here?” Cilla asked.

  “It's not too bad,” Birgit said. “Anyway, I don't think they're cold. Just look at them.” She pointed to the running children.

  Tom's pants were rolled up to his knees and Y'Ana's skirt floated in the wind. “They are like little balls of fire. I don't know where they get their energy. They even wore Danny out.” Birgit leaned back so Cilla could see the top of her son’s sleeping head. His hazel green eyes were closed, his thumb tucked tightly in his mouth.

  “Poor little guy,” Cilla said smiling. “I'll carry him back to the house.”

  “We should probably get inside anyway there's a storm coming.” Birgit looked out towards the horizon. A dark gray cloud rolled towards the shore in the distance.

  “Trygg is awake,” Cilla said. “He wants to see Y'Ana.”

  “That sounds great. How does he look?”

  “He looks like he's been run through with the sword,” Cilla said and chuckled. “It'll be a while before he's fully healed. The infection took a lot out of him.”

  “I’m glad he got here when he did then,” Birgit said.

  “Me too,” Cilla said.

  Thunder cracked overhead startling them both and a bolt of lightning streaked across the sky. Another long white bolt reached down, touching the surface of the sea, gliding towards the beach. Cilla's heart jumped into her throat and in seconds she was on her feet.

  “Tom! Y'Ana! Come here now!”

  Y'Ana stopped at the edge of the water and held her hand out. The jagged spike of energy halted a few inches from her palm, spraying sparks into the wind. It stayed there suspended, as if she held it captive. The girl moved her hand back and forth, the white energy following the whim of her action and she giggled. A wave crashed against the shore, stretching foamy sheets of water on the sand, until it rushed over her ankles.

  Tom backed away, tripping over a shell and falling hard on his backside. He scrambled to his feet, running towards his mother. Wet spots darkened the back of his pants.

  Cilla held out her arms and he wrapped himself against her warm body. He shivered, but Cilla was unsure if it was from the cold, or from fear.

  Finally, Y'Ana glanced over her shoulder at them all, standing silent, spellbound. The grin lighting her delicate features faded, and she cast the lightning bolt away as if it were nothing more than a toy she no longer wanted. The white hot energy receded into the clouds and the sky rumbled.

  The girl turned and walked towards them, her head hanging in shame. Birgit held Danny in her arms and she stepped aside as the child approached.

  “Are you all right?” Cilla asked. The girl winced, her large blue eyes full of fear. Cilla opened her arms. “It's all right. You're not in trouble. Are you alright though? Did it hurt you?”

  Y'Ana shook her head back and forth. Her gaze shifted from Cilla's face to Tom. He stretched out his arm and Y'Ana ran forward, latching on to Cilla and Tom. Cilla wrapped her arms around both of them and hugged them tightly.

  “We should get inside it’s getting cold and I don't want to get caught in the rain do you?” she said to the tops of their heads.

  “No ma'am,” Tom said.

  “No ma'am,” Y'Ana softly echoed. Cilla brushed her hand over the girl’s fine blond hair and her heart swelled a little. She'd never seen a child control an element at that age. A hundred questions bloomed in her head. Questions she hoped Trygg would be able to answer. But for now Cilla knew she was just a little girl who needed love and affection as much as her own kids did.

  ******

  Egan took a seat at the empty table, his eyes constantly scanning the grub Hall. Hargett sat across from him stuffing his face, never looking up from his bowl. A big muscular brute of a prisoner made his way between the sections of tables.

  Do you see him?

  Egan rolled his eyes. D'Raq was listening.

  Yes. So?

  That’s Mozelle.

  What about him?

  You will kill him.

  Why?

  Because I say so.

  So this is what I’m paying attention to? The one thing I must do before you help me?

  You catch on fast. And it is one of the things you must do.

  And if I get caught?

  Then you see the gallows early.

  Egan chuckled and shook his head. No thanks. I'll take my chances with other avenues.

  Toby Wyn?

  Egan spotted D'Raq standing near one of the guards. He had his hands shoved in his pocket and a smirk on his face. The guard was laughing as if D'Raq had just said something funny. No one seemed to notice when the D'Raq took his hand out of his pocket and dropped something on the floor near the guard’s feet. The guard waited a beat before picking up the object and walking away. D'Raq’s icy gaze settled on Egan.

  Toby Wyn will get you killed.

  And you won't?

  Not if you do as I say. Once it’s done you'll be under my protection until I get you out.

  I'm not sure I believe you can get me out.

  D'Raq’s smirk curled into a sneer. And why is that?

  If it is so easy to get out of this place then why are you still here?

  Silence.

  That's what I thought.

  Egan scowled and scooped up a piece of mystery meat and slurped the tan flavorless gravy.

  Let this opportunity pass you by, Crane and I would watch my back more carefully.

  Egan glared at him but wasn’t stupid enough to throw down a gauntlet. D'Raq’s reputation was shaded by madness just like his sister.

  Kill Mozelle. Prove you are worth helping.

&n
bsp; And if I don’t?

  D'Raq’s mouth stretched into a smile and his eyes glittered with malevolence.

  Then good luck with Toby Wyn and be careful not sleep too deeply. You may not know how to slice a throat properly, but I do.

  Egan scoffed and flipped an exaggerated two-fingered salute towards D'Raq.

  The grin on his face disappeared into his thick beard. Egan refused to look away from D'Raq’s hard stare. He stirred his spoon through the contents of his bowl. The skin on his back twitched but he didn’t move. Finally, another inmate approached D'Raq, taking his attention. Egan’s shoulders deflated and he dug into his bowl for another bite, dipping the crusty roll into the gravy. When he looked up from his food, D'Raq was gone.

  Eleven more days. Toby Wyn had better come through, he thought or he might just kill Toby himself.

  ******

  Cilla leaned against the door jamb, her arms crossed and a slight smile tugging at the corners of her mouth. Y'Ana sat on the bed next to Trygg, showing him the shells she had collected from the beach. He fawned over each one in a voice Cilla had never heard him use before. A pang of jealousy wound its way through her heart. And she sighed. Why couldn't Egan be more like Trygg? He was so rough with his children. She always brushed it off as being the father of boys. If he'd had a daughter, maybe he would've been more gentle.

  Trygg glanced up, leveling his gaze on her. He kissed the girl on her temple and whispered something into her ear. She smiled and giggled and kissed him on the cheek before sliding off the bed, taking her treasure with her.

  “Y'Ana,” Cilla said. “Miss Merin is making hot cider for Tom and Danny. Would you like some?”

  The girl glanced over her shoulder at Trygg as if looking for his approval.

  “My mom makes the best hot cider,” he said. “I think you should get some.” He winked and gave her a smile. She looked back to Cilla and nodded her head.

  “Go on then,” Cilla smiled her most reassuring smile. “And tell Tom to save me some.”

  Y'Ana nodded and disappeared down the hall.

  “You're very good with her,” Cilla said.”

  “She makes it easy,” Trygg said. “She's a very sweet girl. Really special considering all she's been through.”

  “Oh?” Cilla asked. She moved into the room, stopping at the end of the bed. “What does that mean?”

  “She's been through a lot in her young life. In many ways she's much older than she seems,” he said.

  “Yes,” Cilla said. “I can believe that.” She steadied her gaze on his.

  Trygg cocked his head, and pressed his mouth into a flat line. He studied her for a moment as if he was trying to decide whether to ask or not. Finally, he sighed. “Tell me what happened.”

  Cilla glanced back at the open door, frowned and closed it. This was not a conversation for little ears or aunts and cousins who were too quick to fear.

  “Birgit and I were on the beach earlier. Tom and Y'Ana were having such a good time. It was wonderful to see her laughing and so free. I think she's become quite attached to him. She barely lets him out of her sight.”

  Trygg’s fingers fidgeted with a loose string on one of the patchwork squares of his quilt.

  “But something strange happened. The storm started to roll in and lightning struck the water.”

  “So?” Trygg said. There was too much defensiveness in that one word.

  “Y'Ana held out her hand and the lighting came to her as if she had called it. It obeyed her. Which wouldn't have fazed me, if she was older. I've never seen a child so young with such intense command of an element before.” Cilla said. “It was rather frightening.”

  “I know she’s quite advanced.” Trygg said his voice dreamy, as if he were remembering something. “She's been through a lot and yes,” he nodded. “She has had to grow up in a lot of ways.”

  “Being more mature is different, Trygg than being in command. Maybe it was just a game for her I don't know but it frightened Birgit and if it frightened your sister she's going to make sure your mother knows.”

  “What are you saying?” He asked his voice a little too high.

  “I'm saying that you may want to sit down with all of us and talk about Y'Ana. How did you even end up her caretaker? Has she shown any affinities for other elements besides fire? The questions are piling up. I'm just saying maybe you should address them.”

  “I made a promise that's how I ended up taking care of her. But she takes care of me too. And being advanced isn’t something to be scared of, it’s something to be understood.”

  “How is that even possible? I mean Tom is precocious, he's already showing signs of a strong affinity for fire. But Y'Ana is something altogether different.”

  “I don't know why she is the way she is. Other than both of her parents were fairly accomplished.”

  “Who were her parents?”

  Trygg glanced out the window, his eyes becoming unfocused. “It doesn't matter now. They're gone. I'm all she has right now.”

  “Right now?” Cilla asked. “What does that mean?”

  “It means I need to get a message to the queen. That's what it means.” Trygg met her eyes. Was he serious?

  “And how exactly does the queen figure into any of this?”

  “The queen will be very interested in the girl.”

  “Why?”

  “Because she’s the queen’s niece. That’s why.”

  Cilla put her hand on the short post of the foot board. The cone like finial had fine lines carved into it and she scratched her nails across it.

  “Does she have the five?” Cilla said softly.

  Trygg sighed and scowled. “It's nothing to be afraid of.”

  “No, of course not. If you're the queen and you have command of all five. But for your everyday Kael it's not quite that easy. She is what six? And if she's this powerful now —”

  “Actually she’s seven. But that’s why I need to get her to the queen. Hopefully, she'll know what to do.”

  Cilla scratched the finial harder and said softly, “Have you thought about culling her?”

  “No.” Anger edged into his voice. “First of all, she is not mine to do such a horrendous act. And second of all, her mother was culled. It drove her mad. She was unstable and violent and abusive and I would not wish that on my worst enemy. Would you?”

  “No, of course not,” Cilla said, folding her arms across her chest. “It's just what if she's more dangerous not being culled?”

  “I can't believe you're even saying that. I expected if anybody would want to protect a child it would be you.”

  “I do want to protect her. She's a very sweet little girl. But she also has the potential to be very dangerous and that's just a little scary.”

  “It is. She had a caretaker who was excellent at helping Y'Ana control her powers. I wish — I wish she were here. She would know what to do.” He said wistfully.

  “Where is she?”

  “She's —” he started.

  She could see the wheels of his mind working, as if he was trying to decide what to share. He could be such a Water Kael at times. So full of secrets.

  “I guess it doesn't really matter.” He scowled. “She's not here now but I am. And she wanted me to get the girl to the queen.”

  Cilla sighed in resignation. “All right. Fine. How do we do that?”

  Trygg sighed, the shadows marring his face darkening. “I’m going to need a pen and some paper.”

  Cilla nodded and went to raid her son’s art supplies.

  Eight

  Trygg rolled up the paper and slid it inside the neck of the bottle. Cilla handed him the cork and he plugged up the opening, striking it hard twice on the heel of his hand.

  “What shall I do with it?” Cilla asked.

  “Nothing,” Trygg said. “I’m the one who has to deliver it.”

  Cilla gave him a dubious sideways glance. “And how exactly do you plan to do that?”

  “Easy,” he grinned
. “You’re going to take me down to the beach.”

  “No,” she said shaking her head. She crossed her arms and gave him a stern look. “You are not going anywhere. Not with that open wound.”

  “Come on Cilla,” he whined, using his best feel-sorry-for-me voice. “I need to do this. Surely you can bandage me up long enough to walk me out to the beach. I’ll throw this into the sea and send it on its way. We’ll be back in no time.”

  “No,” she said standing firm. “I’ll take it down to the sea.”

  “It will go nowhere if you throw it in.”

  “Then I’ll get Birgit to do it,” she said. “Or your mother.”

  He shrugged his shoulder. “It won’t work.”

  “Why not?”

  “Because they have no idea where to send it. Please. I need you to help me.” He pressed his hands together, pleading. Cilla sighed and rolled her eyes.

  “Fine,” she grumbled. “I’ll help you. But you have to do exactly what I say.”

  A sly grin stretched his lips. “Thank you, Cilla.”

  “Don’t thank me yet,” she said rifling through the chest of drawers across from the bed. She pulled out a pair of gray pants and a blue shirt that matched his eyes. “You can put these on once I bandage you up. And you have to explain to your mother why this is happening. I’m not getting in trouble for you.”

  “Absolutely. I will handle my mother,” he said. “Thank you, Cilla.” He used a sing-songy voice that reminded her of when they were children. She scowled and stuck out her tongue and he laughed so hard it caused him to grimace with pain.

  ******

  Once he was bandaged up and dressed Cilla and Birgit helped him to his feet.

  “Are you sure you don’t want me to do this?” Birgit asked. “I’m sure I could get it there, you just need to tell me exactly where it’s going.”

  “That’s the thing I can’t tell you it’s classified.” He said draping his arms around his sister shoulder.

  Well, at least let me go with you.” Birgit protested.

  “Cilla will do fine,” he said. “Will you just quit worrying?”