by N. M. Howell
Andie didn’t want to admit it, but Saeryn’s words almost cut her in half. Not once since she came out of the portal has Saeryn ever said anything like that to her. Andie could not have been more hurt if Saeryn physically tried to kill her. She simply stood there, weighing in her mind whether or not her excursion would be enough or if the truth will get her back in Saeryn’s good graces. Regardless, the Queen of the dragonborn needed to know.
“I’m sorry, Saeryn. And I’m so grateful to all of you for helping to save these people. I know this was all my idea and that I took off without giving you a good explanation, but it was only because I didn’t think you would understand and if you did I didn’t think you would let me go.”
“I think it’s best you be honest with me now, Andie.”
“I went searching for the portal. The one that’s been hidden here for centuries. And I found it.”
Saeryn and the other dragonborn turned their full attention to her and gawked. She had rarely, if ever, seen the Queen speechless. She took it as a good sign.
“House Terpsichore buried their portal here centuries ago and left a trail for their descendants, never knowing of course that it would be us, the dragonborn, who’d find it. I got the journal back from Professor Iceubes just before we left. When I finally got to the area, it took a little deductive reasoning, but I uncovered it. I’m not afraid to say I got lucky and the rest probably won’t be so easy to unearth, but we’re one step closer to controlling our destiny.”
Saeryn continued to stare at Andie, almost as if she couldn’t understand what she was being told. Andie stepped forward to take her hands.
“We shouldn’t have to live in constant fear of these portals being used against us or anyone else. These things are incredibly dangerous and I don’t trust them in anyone’s hands but ours. I made arrangements for a ship to leave the port at Arvall and follow us here. It probably won’t arrive for another day or two, but they can load the portal and get it back safely. Please tell me I’ve done a good thing.”
Saeryn still couldn’t speak, but she threw her arms around Andie and held her close. A weight fell off Andie’s heart. But when Saeryn let go of her it was a severe face, not a relieved one, that faced Andie.
“You’ve don’t a superbly good thing, princess. But you need to remember who you are. You’re one of us and nothing you undertake is undertaken alone. Trust your people. Trust me. And never, no matter how great the possibility of reward, abandon those in need. It is not our way. The portal has been buried and undisturbed for centuries, and I doubt a few more hours would have hurt it. I am so very proud of you for your continued efforts to protect our people. We all know you love us. But we are a strong, resilient people. And you must promise me that from now on you will put others first.”
“I promise.”
“Good. Now, we still have work. Let us work to save some more lives and then you can show me the portal of House Terpsichore.”
They worked tirelessly for as long as they could without resting. Eventually, they had enough of the Thabian healers on their feet to continue the work. They gave as much blood as they could afford and then the Thabians fed them and let them drink from their private waters. The food replenished them, the water maked them better than they’d ever been before. Andie could try for the rest of her life and never be able to describe the taste and effect of that water.
After Andie showed the portal to Saeryn and their dragonborn warriors, it was time to take off again. Saeryn insisted that the city would need them for the preparations and the citywide evacuation.
“I can’t imagine the chaos of all those poor people clambering up the side of the mountain to seek shelter in the University. There’s certainly enough room for them all. The University’s rooms, tunnels, and corridors go deep into the mountain. But it will take the next two weeks just to get them all up there with only SKY 6.”
“That’s the beauty of having this portal,” Andie said. “It can be used for transportation. Marcus has all the notes on how to control the portals and set them up. As soon as the boat comes and carries this portal back to Arvall, it’ll speed everything up.”
“Excellent news. I confess I’m also worried for Oren.”
“He’s the best warrior the dragonborn have. I’m sure he’s just being thorough.”
“Yes, but he should have returned by now. One day when you’re Queen, you’ll learn that your people are your children and your job is as much to worry for them as it is to love them.”
“I don’t know what kind of Queen I’ll make. I don’t think I’ll ever be ready for that.”
“Well, we dragonborn live long lives, but we are not immortal. One day I will pass on and you will be the new leader. In fact, I may even step down if I think you’re ready. And I’ll tell you a little secret.”
“What’s that?”
“No one is ever ready.”
They smiled. They gathered their belongings and trudged through the jungle to the clearing. They said goodbye to the Thabians and had to work hard to keep them from bowing. They reached the sands of the shore and mounted their dragons, ready for the flight home. The sun had been up for hours and the sunlight had done them all good.
“Saeryn, wait,” Andie said.
“Is something the matter?”
“Not exactly. Look, we’re already out here, a full afternoon and evening’s flight from home, why don’t we just keep going?”
“To where?”
“Most of the portals are out of our reach, at least for the time being. But we have more than enough time to fly to New Carthage and look for the portal of House Thalia. I know you want to get back to help, but there’s nothing we can do back there other than train professors or stock food. There’s plenty of people who can help with that. The Beautiful Dead, wherever they are and whatever they’re doing, they seem to know more than we gave them credit for, and if they’re as cunning as you suggest, they might even know about these portals. They and the Church have been one step ahead from the start.”
“I don’t know, Andie. The army has sped up its movements.”
“Even if they ran nonstop we could still be back long before they arrive. I won’t lie and say I’m sure of anything, but I trust you, Saeryn. I’m asking you to trust me.”
“I’ve trusted you even when you didn’t trust yourself. To New Carthage we go.”
Chapter Eleven
Raesh and Lymir sat in the meeting room, going over battle plans and supply lists again. Many of the other professors had left or busied themselves with some small correspondence on their laptops. Everybody was startled back to the room when a bloody man rushed in, breathing hard and barely able to stand.
“They’ve found us! We need help! Please, someone must help us!”
“What’s wrong?” Raesh asked, catching the man as his legs gave out. “You’re dragonborn. But you’re hurt. Why aren’t you healing?”
“The Dead have found us. They captured them.”
“Captured who?”
“Everyone. Men, women, younglings, the old. And they can ride our dragons.”
“Why can’t you heal?” asked Lymir.
“Their weapons. I’ve never seen such blades. They have swords that can hurt us in ways I’ve never seen. They didn’t kill us, but it would have been only too easy.”
“What do they want? Money? Land? What?” Raesh asked.
“The only thing the Dead have ever wanted. Our blood.”
“How many got away?”
“Only myself. Two others were with me, but the Dead mounted our dragons and took them.”
“Where’s Oren? Did he get captured? Have the hurt him?”
“Oren... Oren… My general…”
“Where is he?” Raesh asked again, desperate.
“He’s dead.”
Two days later, Andie and her party flew in over the walled city of New Carthage. The original Carthage had been completely washed away in a flood, six cycles previously. New Carthage w
as built upon the ruins of its predecessor, but, even all those years later, it had yet to be complete. It had been called the City of a Thousand Laws because of the bureaucratic red tape that constantly delayed the city’s completion, including the writing and rewriting of countless laws, tax revisions, and an intricate maze of zoning permits that had yet to be sorted out.
The New Carthaginians were a friendly enough people, much like the Thabians, without the beauty or seaside resorts. New Carthage was an extremely secretive city, and one of the most attractive and baffling things about it was its collection of godhearts. Dehydrated hearts of an ancient race of beasts that used to roam the region. Godhearts were one of the most sought-after commodities in all of Noelle. They had no practical use, but, as time passed, they came to be bought and used as jewelry. Jewelry of a kind that most would never be able to see, let alone afford. A single ounce of godheart, properly preserved, could easily sell for a solid ten-pound gold bullion.
While Arvall was arguably the most influential and well-known city of Noelle, New Carthage was without doubt the richest. Andie and the dragonborn party landed just outside of the city, not wanting to frighten the citizens or cause a commotion. Their mission would be faster if they could maintain a degree of secrecy. They got the dragons to lay down behind a thick group of trees and bushes and then began their approach, carefully.
“Remind me,” Saeryn said. “Where exactly do the New Carthaginians’ loyalty lie?”
“No one’s sure,” Andie answered. “We’ve reached out to them several times, but they’ve never reached a decision.”
“What do you mean?”
“Well, apparently they take the whole democracy thing pretty seriously. The whole city votes on every major issue. Becoming our ally was a major issue. The vote wasn’t heavy enough either way to make a firm decision and their city council didn’t want to risk a move that could divide the city. The last I heard, they were conducting another vote and couldn’t decide, but that was weeks ago. I’m pretty sure they’re just ignoring us now.”
“You said they voted before? Which way did they lean? More toward befriending us or more against us?”
“They wouldn’t say.”
They walked some distance before Saeryn stopped them and motioned for them all to hide. A trio of armed men marched by. Andie groaned audibly. There hadn’t been any sorcerers born into New Carthage for years and so the city had to either hire people who had magic or hire people who use guns—the old-fashioned kind, not the terrible ones from the University. Andie was rather hoping security would be lax there, but they had just run into an armed, competent patrol before they’d even entered the city. That didn’t bode well for what they’d find inside.
“Anyone who takes this long to come to a decision about a move so critical to not just our, but all of Noelle’s survival can’t be trusted,” Saeryn said. “Everyone knows what lies horded beneath these streets.”
“Godhearts,” Andie replied. “I thought the same thing. They don’t want to pick a side because they don’t want to risk losing their precious treasure. These people are not our allies.”
“Agreed.”
“But how far does that go and what do we do if we get caught? There’s a big difference between just not being our ally and actively being our enemy.”
“I suppose we could never answer that sufficiently by ourselves. My suggestion would be to not get caught.”
Andie turned to Saeryn and saw that she was smiling. Saeryn reached down into a pocket of her bag and pulled out something thin and soft. Craiceann.
“I haven’t seen any of those in a while,” Andie said, taking the one Saeryn handed her.
“I had a feeling you had other plans when we took off from Arvall,” Saeryn said. “One of the many cliché maxims that prove true when you become a Queen: always be prepared.”
“Especially when your princess is always up to something.”
She and Saeryn put the gossamer masked on and waited while the magic of the craiceanns changed their entire appearance. They got a good look at each other so they wouldn’t forget what the other looked like, and Saeryn instructed the dragonborn warriors to stay with the dragons and be ready to leave or come to their aid at a moment’s notice. She and Andie began walking toward the city gates.
“I’ve spelled these to give us the darker skin and exotic habits of the New Carthaginians,” Saeryn whispered. “We should pass for them quite easily. Once we are past the gate we’ll be fine, but if they stop us here then the mission is over before it starts.”
Andie gave a slight nod and continued smiling, as if Saeryn were telling a funny joke. They waited in line at the gate until it was their turn. The guard took a long, odd look at them, but eventually waved them past. But as he waved his watch fell and Saeryn bent over to pick it up. She handed it back to him.
“Gaeree,” the guard said, putting the watch on again.
Before he looked up, Andie was already raising her hand to cast. She had no idea what language he was speaking and knew it was only a matter of seconds before he figured out they were the imposters. She was about to blast him away when Saeryn speaks.
“Praegio.”
Saeryn turned from the guard and moved through the gate as if nothing had happened. A stunned Andie was left standing stock still until she realized that everything was okay. She took a few hurried steps to catch up with Saeryn.
“How many languages do you speak?” she asked.
“Quite a few. You will, too, one day. The leader of any people should always speak multiple tongues so as to show respect to other leaders and their people. Cities will deal with you much quicker when they realize you’ve taken the time to learn their language. Come.”
The streets of New Carthage were much the same as the streets of any major city, only cleaner and more expensive. When you have a seemingly unlimited supply of godhearts—which couldn’t be found anywhere else in Noelle—it seemed you could afford a more beautiful city. The people even seemed more beautiful, somehow. The market district was alive with shoppers and patrol guards, though the police presence was far less intimidating within the city walls. Andie thought hard about where the portal should be, trying to remember the exact instructions in the journal. She wanted to pull out the journal to doublecheck, but she didn’t want to risk anyone seeing it.
She and Saeryn walked for some time. The journal said the portal was buried near the center of the city. Luckily, the never-ending construction of New Carthage was a huge tourist attraction in Noelle and there were sightseeing maps placed regularly. Andie and Saeryn stopped at one, then continued toward the center of the city. As they walked, Saeryn told Andie stories of her reign as Queen and some of the sacrifices she’s had to make. She told Andie about the heartache and how the responsibility was severe when necessary, but also about the loyalty, the hope, the love.
It had been apparent to Andie for months that Saeryn had been grooming her to take the throne. She hadn’t been too worried about it, because it would clearly be years before she was ready, but she did wonder about some things that she couldn’t bring herself to broach with Saeryn. Not the least of which iwas whether or not her relationship with Raesh was suitable. She hoped so, because if not there was no way she’d ever ascend to the throne. For all she knew, she wouldn’t be allowed to have relationships at all. Saeryn certainly didn’t seem to have any love interests. Not that that was an appropriate detail to bring up in casual conversation.
As they walked, Saeryn tapped Andie twice on the inside of her elbow. Andie tapped Saeryn back twice, then tapped her four times on the shoulder. All the gestures were quick, precise, and done with smiles. Saeryn gestured again and they turn right, into an alley. Andie bent down, pretending to tie Saeryn’s shoe. They stayed that way until a man in a pea coat and white slacks turned into the alley, walking very deliberately. As soon as he was close, Saeryn stopped feigning ignorance and stuck him with a punch so hard and fast that even Andie leaped back. The man collaps
ed to his knees.
“I don’t know what’s more impressive. The languages or that,” Andie said.
“You don’t fight as many battles as I have and not pick up skills. Does he have any identification? Any papers at all?”
“No, there’s nothing. Wait.”
“What?”
“I… I think I recognize him.”
Andie stared hard at the face, trying to place when and where she saw him. His pale grey eyes are rare and distinctive. The longer she looked at him, the closer she came to remembering.
“Hurry, Andie. I don’t like the way of this alley and we should finish our mission and get back to the dragons as quickly as possible.”
“Jasper Forlet,” she said finally. “I took a class with him at the University, before everything happened. What’s he doing here and why did he attack us?”
“I believe I can answer that.”
Saeryn bent down and pulled at that top buttons of Jasper’s shirt. It revealed battalion armor underneath.
“Great,” Andie said. “Just what we need. Let’s go.”
They hid the unconscious body and returned to the street. No one seemed to have noticed. They relaxed. They walked for some time in silence because as they passed out of the market district the crowd thickened. Andie looked around her, trying to figure out why the crowd had become so dense. She grabbed hold of Saeryn and pulled her through until, at last, they reached the front.
“We must be near some major attraction,” Andie said. “At least if anyone else is following us we can lose them in here. How did the battalion even find us?”
“They must have already been here. He was probably stationed outside of the city and saw us land before we changed our appearance. There’s no telling what they were up to.”
“Oh, I think I know exactly what they were up to and why the crowd is so big here. Look.”
Andie pointed through some bystanders and Saeryn’s gaze followed her finger. There was a massive hole in the center of the intersection. Nearby was a sign for tourists: