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

by Wendy Wang

  Neala folded Sorrel’s fingers around the canvas. “Then you should keep it. I think you need it more than I do.”

  Sorrel furrowed her brow, but after a moment, she nodded and put the canvas back into her pocket.

  The sharp rap on the door made both of them jump and they exchanged a look.

  “Come!” Neala called.

  Gordon opened the door to their sitting area. He scanned the room and saw her before fully committing to coming inside. Neala’s heart beat faster at the sight of Gordon and the serious look on his face. Even in these times of crisis, he usually managed to look jovial, but as he entered her room, he appeared pale and the usual lightness in his eyes was gone. He walked with such purpose that panic bloomed in her chest with each step he took.

  “Your Majesty,” he bowed his head. “Miss Sorrel.”

  Neala’s mouth dried up making it hard to form words. Finally she croaked, “What’s happened?”

  Gordon licked his lips and swallowed. He glanced around and his gaze settled on the sofa near the fireplace. “Perhaps we should have a seat.”

  Neala cleared her throat. “I think I’d rather stand. Whatever you have to say to me just say it.” Sorrel stepped closer to her, putting her arm up against Neala’s in a show of support and solidarity.

  “Your Majesty I think it would be better if we all took a seat.” His voice was serious but there was something underneath it. Sympathy. Oh how she hated it. It was barely a step above pity.

  “Fine.” Neala tightened her jaw and folded her arms across her chest, trying to summon anger. If she could get angry, whatever he said would be easier to deal with. She just didn’t know if her emotions would actually comply. Being pregnant made it so much harder to control how she felt from moment to moment.

  He led them towards the sofa. Neala took a seat and Sorrel sat right next to her. Her dark eyes were wary and Neala grabbed her hand to calm her.

  “What is it Captain?”

  Gordon paced for a moment and then sat down next to her. It seemed almost too intimate of a gesture. Even though they had broken bread together. If he reached for her hand she thought, she might scream.

  “You know I’m under very specific orders where you’re concerned.”

  “Yes,” she said. “Tell me what’s happened.”

  His dark green eyes met hers and his gaze never wavered. “About an hour ago, Peter’s forces overcame ours and breached the border between Nydia and Tamarik.”

  “What?” Neala’s ears began to ring and her stomach dropped like a cold icy rock. Sorrel’s hand wrapped around her arm and squeezed softly.

  “What does that mean?” Sorrel asked her voice ragged.

  Gordon shifted his gaze to Sorrel’s face, steady unwavering, “It means it won’t be long before they’re at the gates of the city.”

  Neala balled her hands into fists. “Where is Cai?”

  Gordon took very short breaths before answering. “His regiment has been captured ma’am.”

  A soft whimper came from Sorrel. Her fingers tightened on Neala’s arm.

  Neala’s body went numb and her hand went to her belly. She squeezed her eyes shut not wanting to see the pity in Gordon’s face. She took several breathes and blew them out, chasing away the nausea “What are your orders Gordon?”

  “In case of an attack, I am supposed to escort you and Sorrel to Nescien.”

  “What about Raemah?” Sorrel squeaked.

  “Miss Sorrel, Raemah is now a Warden.”

  “She’s also only 12 years old. She hasn’t even been in the academy for six months.”

  “I understand. But all of the students have already been called up to defend the walls of the city.”

  “Surely there is something the queen can do,” Sorrel said.

  “I don’t want Raemah hurt,” Neala said softly.

  “Majesty—” Gordon began.

  “Gordon, I don’t care what you have to do. She is my family too.”

  He pressed his mouth into a straight line and gave her a curt nod. “Yes ma’am,” he said. “I’ll take care of it. In the meantime, I need to move you and Miss Sorrel and your guests into the war room.”

  “What? No!” Neala said. “We need to launch a counter attack. We need to free Cai and his men.”

  “Majesty, I don’t think you understand — most of the men working directly for him have already died, defending the border. Protecting you is the only thing that matters now.”

  “No!” Neala jumped to her feet. “We have to go get him.”

  “Majesty—”

  “No! How can you even think I would abandon him like that?” Her breath hitched in her throat and her eyes blurred. She pressed her hand against the center of her chest, trying to make the sharp pain stop. How could it hurt this much?

  “Majesty — no one believes you’ve abandoned him, least of all him.” He stopped and scowled. “He swore to protect you, not just as your husband but as a Warden. I know this is hard to hear, but his orders stand.”

  She opened her mouth to protest, but all that came out was a garbled sound she didn’t recognize. Her knees buckled, but before she could fall, Gordon was there, wrapping his well-muscled arms around her. He set her down gently onto the sofa, and she leaned against his shoulder, unable to stop the well of tears gushing. Every part of her body ached, just from breathing, from existing. How could she make it stop? A soft knock came at the door and Sorrel went to answer it. Tahlulah entered the room with Y’Ana following close behind.

  “Y’Ana wanted to say good-bye before the queen left,” Tahlulah said.

  Y’Ana made her way across the room, stopping to stand in front of Neala, before crawling onto her lap and wrapping her arms around her neck. She hugged the child close, breathing in the clean scent of her soft hair.

  “What’s happened?” Tahlulah asked.

  “The border has been breached and the chief has been captured.”

  “Oh no,” Tahlulah muttered. Her hand floated to her throat.

  “The captain was just saying he needs for all of us to go into a safe room in the palace,” Sorrel said, her voice sounding shredded.

  In the distance a loud set of horns began to cry out across the city. Everyone stopped breathing and lifted their heads to listen. Neala’s arms tightened around Y'Ana. Gordon rose to his feet and looked down at Neala.

  “I'm sorry your Majesty there's no more time. We must go now.”

  Neala dried her eyes and kissed the child on her cheek.

  “I love you Y'Ana,” Neala whispered to the girl. “And so does your uncle Cai. You know that right?”

  “It’s all right Aunt Neala,” Y'Ana whispered. “We’re going to be all right.”

  A chill crawled down Neala’s spine and she shivered.

  “Your Majesty,” Gordon asked. “Can you walk?”

  Neala glanced up to find Gordon, Sorrel, Tahlulah and the boys Tom and Danny all staring at her. “Yes, of course I can walk,” she snapped and winced at the sharpness of her tone. “I’m sorry I —” she glanced back at Y'Ana and kissed her on the cheek, trying to chase away the shivery feeling from her skin. “I’m sorry. I’m scared I guess.”

  Gordon’s eyes narrowed and she could feel him scrutinizing her face. “We should go then, Your Majesty if you’re so frightened.”

  “Of course.” She nudged Y'Ana off of her lap and stood up taking the girl’s hand. “Lead the way, Captain.”

  “Cilla is not back from the prison yet,” Tahlulah said sounding fearful.

  “Don’t worry, ma’am,” Gordon said. “As soon as she’s back I’ll bring her.”

  Tahlulah nodded and took the boys’ hands and they all followed Gordon out of the room.

  ******

  Neala had only been to the war room once and she didn't even know it existed until she became Queen.

  The room was designed to be a stronghold. Impenetrable — reinforced by metal and wood and intentions of protection of the highest order. It could prote
ct not only the Queen and her family but as many as 20 adults. She supposed it was for the governor's and their families.

  Gordon led the way and she carried Y'Ana on her hip. The girl was old enough to walk but holding her made Neala feel better. Less numb. She would think about the hole forming in her chest where her heart had been later, once they were safe, once the smoke had cleared and she could formulate a plan to get Cai back.

  They stopped at the entrance to the tower where she spent time most days practicing her fighting skills. Never again would she enter that room with Cai and have him put her through her paces only to end with a kiss. She fought against the harsh cold pain stabbing through her chest, clutching Y'Ana closer.

  “It's the one on the far left,” Neala said when Gordon stopped and surveyed the perched gargoyles.

  “You sure, Your Majesty?” Gordon asked sounding wary and unsure.

  “Yes,” she said. “Just look at him with his smug little face.” The gargoyle didn't move its head but she thought she saw its eyes narrow. “I promise that's the one. No one will be scorched today at least no one in this group.”

  “All right then,” Gordon said. Stepping forward he touched the tip of his baton to the gargoyle and the stone door pushed back and slid to the side. Gordon stepped inside and lit the flames along the staircase. Only instead of leading up, he lit the stairs going down.

  “Please watch your step everyone it's very steep and the steps can be slick.” Neala said.

  “You go ahead, Majesty,” Gordon said. “I have to keep the door open at least until I find Cilla and bring her in.”

  “All right,” Neala said. “How long?”

  “If I'm not there in 10 minutes close the door seal it up tight.”

  In the distance the horn sounding across the city blared louder. The warning jarred her nerves making her thoughts feel jumbled and disconnected.

  “Gordon,” she said her voice shaking. Tears stung the back of her throat. “You had better come back. Cilla be damned.”

  “You don't mean that, Majesty,” Gordon said. “You're just brokenhearted. It's the pain speaking”

  “No — maybe — I don't care. I cannot lose you too.” She blinked fast trying to clear the blur of the tears threatening to fall. “Do you understand me?”

  “Yes, Your Majesty,” Gordon bowed his head. “I’ll be back. I promise.”

  “Good.” Neala sniffed and swallowed back her emotions. She rubbed one hand over Y'Ana's back. “I'll get everyone settled. You have ten minutes Captain. Do not be late.”

  “Yes, ma'am,” Gordon said.

  Neala turned and headed down the steps. They were all gathered at the bottom, waiting to be let inside. She handed the child off to Sorrel and Y’Ana wrapped her arms around Sorrel's neck and her legs around her waist.

  Neala pulled out her dagger and touched her index finger to the ruby gem set in the handle. Bright pink light shone from within the stone and she pressed firmly until the stone moved. A small hatch opened at the top of her dagger handle and a shiny brass key emerged. She pulled it from her handle and flipped the hatch closed with her thumb until it clicked in place. She inserted the key into the heavy metal door and pushed with one shoulder. It opened with a scrape of metal on metal.

  She turned on a light and stood back guiding them all in one by one.

  She glanced up the stairway, dread coiled in her belly. Gordon had better be true to his word. She stepped inside the room and closed the door, touching her dagger to the lock. Gordon had shown her how it worked the first time he brought her here. When she decided to lock the door in place ten extra-long deadbolts would emerge forming a tight seal of the door. No one would go in and no one would go out unless she allowed it. It would only respond to the Queen, chief of wardens, or whoever she designated as a second. She would have to remember to designate Gordon once he joined her.

  “Please make yourself at home,” she said. It wouldn't be an easy task. There were no windows and even though the walls were lined with some of the finest artwork in the realms, including floor-to-ceiling murals, the ceiling still felt low and tomb-like.

  Inside the quarters were divided into sleeping, a cozy parlor with the fireplace, a meeting place and dining area; a common bath, and a small utilitarian kitchen. She hoped one of them could cook because she certainly couldn't.

  Neala walked through waving her dagger lighting the chandeliers with small fireballs. Maybe some light would make it feel cozier and less like the walls were pressing in on her.

  “Do you think Gordon will be long?” Tahlulah asked. She didn't mention Cilla's name and her eyes darted towards the boys who had discovered the stacks of books and board games on the shelves in the parlor.

  “He’ll be here soon,” Neala said patting the older woman's arm. She didn't mention her orders to him if he and Cilla didn't return within the allotted time. There was no need to upset her more. Neala called up a smile but it felt false. Now she knew why her mother had hidden herself away so long after her father's death. Her mother had known how hard it would be to function. She had known she would not be able to perform as queen, smiling reassuringly and carrying out her duties of leadership. Some part of her wished she had the luxury to just withdraw.

  “Are you all right, Your Majesty?” Tahlulah asked.

  Neala swallowed hard before answering. “Yes, of course.”

  “Just because he's been captured doesn’t mean they will kill him.”

  Tears prickled her eyes and she clenched her jaw trying to keep them at bay. She nodded. Unable to speak knowing that if she did open her mouth all that would come out would be a cry of horrific pain. She sniffled and walked away. She found her way into the parlor and tossed a spark into the fireplace. The logs burst into flames, reflecting heat into the cold room. She sat down on the leather sofa and Y'Ana crawled up next to her wrapping her little arms around Neala's waist. Neala pulled the girl close relishing the child’s sweetness.

  Tom and Danny picked out a board game, opened it, and spread it out on the game table near the fireplace.

  “Would you like to play, Your Majesty?” Tom asked.

  “Thank you Tom, but I’m not really up for playing games tonight.” Neala stroked Y’Ana’s hair. “But I bet Y’Ana would like to play.” Y'Ana looked from Neala's face to Tom's and back to Neala. She nodded her head and Neala offered a reassuring smile. “Go on then. It's all right.”

  The girl scurried over to the table and took a seat next to Tom.

  Tahlulah paced back and forth and Sorrel took a seat by the fire, staring into the flames. Neala couldn't sit still anymore. Her skin ached as if someone had pricked her with 1 million sharp needles and left her bloody. She pushed to her feet leaving the parlor to survey their supplies. She rifled through the pantry and found staples like flour, beans and barley. There was a small barrel in the corner filled with pickled cabbage and a crate of potatoes. There was also a freshwater barrel that must've been fed with a spring from close by. There was no meat or cheese though. There were many things she could do as a Kael but produce food out of thin air was not one of them.

  “It looks like we have provisions for about a week,” Tahlulah said coming up behind her.

  “Looks like you might be right,” Neala said.

  “I saw a painting of Nescien. In the meeting room. Perhaps we could go there and hunt for meat,” Tahlulah said.

  “You saw a painting of Nescien? Was it moving?”

  “No,” Tahlulah said. “Should it be?”

  “It depends,” Neala said. “Can you show me?”

  “Certainly,” Tahlulah said. She turned quickly and disappeared from the kitchen leaving Neala to follow after her.

  Tahlulah stopped at a canvas stretching almost to the ceiling. The scene was beautiful and serene, and might have been mistaken for Casilladin. A golden grassy marsh gave way to a still silvery Inlet of water. It did not move and there was no scent of salt or brine. But there was something about the painting that made
it different from all the others in the room. A slight vibration that Neala could feel even from 10 feet away.

  “How would we pass through?” Neala asked. “And how would we get back?”

  “I would have to lead us back. But we should all be able to pass through easily here.” Tahlulah said.

  “Why?”

  “Do you remember when we discussed Nescien before?”

  “Yes,” Neala said. “Of course.”

  “There is a veil here. It appears to be altered. Perhaps the builder moved it here. Or perhaps he was a talented Earth Kael and created it.”

  “So that is the way Earth Kaels had passed into Nescien?” Through a veil?”

  “Yes,” Tahlulah said. “Not all of us are talented enough or powerful enough to create one though. “

  “I see,” Neala said. Unsure if she would even have the skills to create such a passage. Earth was not her strongest affinity.

  “How do we pass through it?”

  “You don't, Your Majesty,” Tahlulah said.

  “I don't understand,” Neala said.

  “You don't pass through it. It passes through you. And you have to allow it. It's not an easy passage. Not like your paintings. You have to give up something of yourself to enter the land of Nescien.”

  “What? What exactly do you have to give up?”

  “Being a Kael on the other side of that veil is different than being a Kael here in the realms. You would not be as powerful.”

  “How so?” Neala asked.

  “The elements will not bow to you in the same way. You will be out of sync with their world.”

  “Why would anyone go there then?”

  “It didn't say you would be powerless just not as powerful. You would still be more powerful than any Nescien you would encounter. But not necessarily powerful enough to control them or even impress them. The most you could hope for would be to frighten them and let me tell you, you don't want that. There's nothing more dangerous than a frightened Nescien.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “Nescien are notorious for killing what they don't understand or what frightens them. That's all I mean.”