Empire of Chains (World in Chains Book 1)

by Ryan W. Mueller

  Warrick laughed. "Did you really think such a poor excuse for magic could harm me?"

  Alana's face turned a ghostly white. She fired a jet of pressurized water at Warrick, but it disappeared as soon as it came within a foot of him.

  "This is tiresome," Warrick said. A wave of darkness shot from his fingertips. Markus turned in time to see it strike Alana. Her face twitched in momentary surprise, and then she hit the ground. Dead.

  "That's what happens to people who try to kill me in such a pathetic manner," Warrick said. "I almost feel sorry for her. I can't imagine what went through her head in that last moment. Perhaps she realized the futility of opposing me."

  "At least she died doing the right thing," Markus said. "You'll never understand that. When I was younger, I tried to convince myself you were okay. I'm glad I didn't."

  "Even if it means your death, Markus."

  "I'd rather die than serve you."

  "Not so fast. I think we have another problem to handle first." Warrick raised his voice. "Nadia, I know what you're doing back there."

  * * * * *

  Nadia had just finished reciting the scrolls when Warrick had addressed her. The second she'd finished, warm power had coursed through her.

  "You are going to let that spell die," Warrick said. "If you don't, it will kill Markus."

  Nadia stepped around the corner, the warmth of the spell surrounding her, but she felt frigidly cold on the inside. Yes, she could unleash White Fire, but in doing so, she would also kill Markus.

  Warrick had wrapped an arm around Markus, who appeared to be trapped by some kind of magic as well. Alana lay on the floor, dead.

  "You don't have a choice," Warrick said. "Do you want to see him die?"

  Nadia tried to think of a way out of this situation, but nothing came to her. The warmth of White Fire hummed through her. How long would it last?

  At a loss, Nadia said, "How did you know what we were planning?"

  "Do you think I pay no attention to potential threats to my life? I can read the Webs of Fate better than anyone else. I knew this was a possibility. I was ready for it."

  "Then why didn't you kill us long ago?" Nadia asked.

  "Let's just say you were part of something much bigger than a foolish assassination attempt. I needed the future to play out this way."

  "So you could eliminate the last threat to your life?" Nadia said.

  "In part, yes, but that's only part. That's the problem with people like you. You don't see the big picture. I'm not the evil man you think I am." He chuckled softly. "No doubt I've done things you'd call evil, but I've done them because that's the only way to save the world."

  Nadia glared at him. "Do you expect me to believe that?"

  "No, but that doesn't change the facts. In killing me, you would doom the world. You might not believe it, but I regret every innocent life I must take. Even your mother, Nadia."

  Nadia trembled with anger. "Don't you dare talk about her!"

  "I see you can't be reasoned with. You have a choice to make now."

  She did, and it was the worst choice she'd ever faced. For so long, she had thought of nothing but killing Warrick. She had the opportunity now. All she had to do was release the spell. But she loved Markus and couldn't bear the thought of living without him.

  "Do it, Nadia," Markus said.

  Warrick's expression was calm. "By all means, keep delaying. As soon as the spell dies within you, I'll be able to kill you without fear."

  And that decided Nadia. No matter what Warrick said, he would not let Markus go. This was her only chance. She had to do this for everyone Warrick had ever killed or oppressed.

  For her mother.

  A tear trickled down Nadia's face. She shared one last glance with Markus. "I'm sorry."

  She released the spell. A brilliant white glow filled the room, so bright she couldn't see anything. She shielded her eyes, focused on killing Warrick, ignoring her doubts. She never should have made room for love in her life.

  It had only caused her pain.

  The glow died. Nadia blinked her eyes a few times as the room came back into focus. No evidence remained that Markus and Warrick had ever been there.

  Nadia's legs collapsed, and she hit the ground hard. Tears fell from her eyes, landing on the red carpet within seconds. This was the moment she should have felt exhilarated, the moment she'd changed the world. Instead, she felt hollow, as though she would never be whole again.

  Not without Markus.

  You did the right thing, she told herself. You did what Markus wanted.

  But that didn't stop the tears, didn't keep her from feeling the cold dread that came with loss, with the knowledge that she might never love another man the way she'd loved Markus. The knowledge that she'd sacrificed more than she'd ever thought she would.

  She no longer cared if she lived or died. In death, at least she could join Markus.

  Footsteps sounded off to her left. She glanced up through the haze of tears, spotting a door at the side of the chamber. Two people stepped through that door.

  The last two people Nadia expected to see.

  She wiped the tears from her eyes, but there was no doubt. Warrick had stepped through that door, clutching Markus. Cold sweat washed over her.

  Warrick stepped closer. "You're probably wondering how I escaped that, aren't you? Well, when you've been expecting something for so long, you've prepared for it. It's the way my teleportation ability works. I can't simply teleport any time I want to, but if I set up the spell in a location beforehand, it's quite easy. As soon as you released the spell, I simply teleported."

  Nadia couldn't get to her feet. She closed her eyes, praying that she was dreaming. As horrible as she'd felt moments earlier when she'd thought she'd killed Markus, she felt even worse now.

  Everyone who'd ever doubted her was right.

  No one could kill Warrick. Not even Nadia. Nothing could kill Warrick. Not even White Fire. She should have seen it all this time. So caught up in her desire for revenge, she'd thought anything was possible.

  She was wrong. She always had been.

  "Now what are we going to do about you two?" Warrick said. "I think a quick death is too kind." He paced across the room and let Markus go. "No. I think I'm going to starve you two to death. No one ever escapes my dungeons." He chuckled. "And even if you did, you wouldn't pose any threat to me, not without your spell."

  Nadia turned at the sound of footsteps. From behind came about ten Imperial Guards with swords drawn. More tears trickled down Nadia's face.

  "Yes, I called them to me with magic," Warrick said. "I trust you won't give them any problems. After all, you've failed in your life's mission, Nadia."

  She didn't need the reminder, not from him

  She and Markus placed their weapons on the floor, one by one. The Imperial Guards grabbed Nadia and Markus, and they didn't resist. The next few minutes passed in a blur of emotions.

  Soon they entered a darker area. The dungeon—cool, damp, and smelling of mold. The dark corridors, greenish in color, twisted along endlessly. Nadia didn't bother taking note of where the Imperial Guards were taking them. It didn't matter. They wouldn't escape.

  And even if they did, they couldn't kill Warrick. Nothing mattered anymore.

  Before Nadia knew it, the Imperial Guards shoved her and Markus into a large cell. She hit the ground hard, skinning her knees, then heard the loud click of the barred door locking.

  "Have fun starving to death?" said one Imperial Guard. "What kind of crazy person actually thinks they can kill the emperor? You're getting exactly what you deserve."

  Nadia couldn't summon the energy to argue. She watched through tears as the Imperial Guards rounded the nearest corner. Then she turned to Markus.

  "I always knew we might fail," she said, choked up with emotion. "But I never expected this."

  He put an arm around her, warm and comforting despite the situation. "At least we'll die together."

&nbs
p; * * * * *

  Darien knelt on the floor in his empty throne room. The Imperial Guards had wanted to clear Alana's body from the room, but he had told them not to.

  Now he looked down at her, at her closed eyes, her pale face. She was another in his long list of crimes. It hadn't been necessary. The Webs of Fate hadn't demanded it. But he'd done it anyways. In the moment, he'd felt so angry that she'd dared to attack him.

  He ran a hand over her cold face. Unnecessary. So unnecessary.

  Was that what he'd become? A man who killed because it was convenient? Despite all his manipulation of the future, had he lost sight of what he intended to be? Had he become the monster his opponents claimed he was?

  She was dangerous, he tried to convince himself. A member of the Order. Someone who fought against his plans. Such people deserved death, didn't they?

  And he'd made it quick. He tried not to delight in unnecessary torture, though that was often a difficult fight. He recalled the day back in Riverside when he'd briefly tortured Markus. It had taken a lot of control to keep from inflicting the worst pain imaginable on him.

  Markus had disrespected him, just as Alana had.

  Regardless, the past was the past. He could only plan the future, and now that he had Nadia and Markus where they needed to be, now that their quest was over, he could finally relax.

  For now.

  Chapter 59

  Berig sat on a chair close to Aric's bed while Cyrus examined Aric.

  At last, Cyrus looked up. "I'm sorry, Aric, but you're not healing. I've managed to stabilize you for the moment, but eventually your condition will deteriorate."

  "So I need to go to Luminia," Aric said.

  Ander put a hand on his friend's shoulder. "I'll come with you."

  "Actually, you won't," Cyrus said. "You're needed here."

  "Aric is my closest friend. I have to go with him."

  "Ander, you have to trust me," Cyrus said. "You're a natural leader, the kind of person the Order needs. The Webs of Fate say you should stay here. I'm sorry."

  Ander glared at Cyrus. "I don't give a damn about fate. It can't control me."

  "True." Cyrus paced slowly. "The future is ultimately unpredictable, and you are free to do as you please, but I must tell you this. Nadia and Markus are capable, but their plan is anything but certain. In fact, it might have already failed. I told you before that defeating Warrick may fall to you."

  Ander opened his mouth to argue, then decided against it "All right, I understand. Who's going with Aric, then?"

  Berig could hear the pain in Ander's voice, the frustration.

  Cyrus stroked his chin. "Klint should lead the party. He has his staff, and now he must leave the Empire. Berig and Danica should also go with the party. Ander, you and Talia shall remain here."

  "Is this based on your reading of these Webs?" Ander asked.

  "Yes, it is. That party will lead us to the most advantageous outcome."

  "I still don't like it," Ander said. "I don't like being controlled."

  "You'll have to trust me," Cyrus said.

  Danica, who'd been sitting silently off to the side, cleared her throat. "But Berig and I barely know how to handle weapons. Surely we can't play much of a role in anything."

  "A person can always learn," Cyrus said. "Trust me, please." His gaze was distant, and he wouldn't meet any of their gazes. He had to know things they didn't, things that would trouble them if they knew the truth.

  Danica nodded reluctantly. To Berig's surprise, he didn't feel opposed to Cyrus's plans. He'd always wanted to see the world outside the Empire.

  Cyrus put a hand on Berig's shoulder. "You haven't said much."

  "What's there to say? If you think it's the right thing, I'm gonna do it."

  "I'm glad you trust me, Berig."

  The next morning, they set out toward the mountains a few miles east of Mountainside, traveling a little to the south, toward their passage to freedom. Even Cyrus didn't know why this passage existed.

  "How're we gonna get past the Imperial Guards?" Berig asked.

  Klint raised his staff. "I'll handle them."

  "But they're gonna have bows."

  "I can block arrows with the shield. We'll be fine."

  Berig wished he could be so certain. His initial excitement had faded, replaced now with gnawing worry. Not that he'd expected any different. Life without worry would be some kind of bizarre dream.

  In a couple of hours, walking through warm morning sunshine, they reached the edge of the mountains. Klint consulted his compass and map to make sure they were in the right place, then gestured for the others to follow.

  Berig made the first step onto the mountain, knowing that Imperial Guards had been alerted about the attempted crossing.

  * * * * *

  Tylen was practicing swordplay with Will when Sam rushed into the room. The clunking of practice swords came to a stop.

  "Someone has just stepped onto the mountains southeast of Mountainside," Sam said. "We need to stop them." He went around the room, choosing men for the mission.

  Tylen, Will, and Gerald were among the men Sam chose. Sam gave them all a few minutes to change into their uniforms and gather their swords and bows. Soon a party of ten stood in the teleportation chamber. Sam raised his right hand into the air and muttered their destination. The horrible swirling sensation took hold of Tylen, and he closed his eyes.

  When solid ground appeared beneath him again, he felt unsteady. They stood now on the eastern slope of a mountain.

  "All right," Sam said. "There are three paths through the mountains. One off to our left, one off to our right, and a cave up the slope in front of us. I want four of us to defend both the northern and southern passages. Two will guard the cave."

  "Why so few in front of the cave, sir?" Tylen asked.

  "People rarely use the cave because no one expects it to have an exit on this side of the mountain."

  That did seem logical, but it still made Tylen uneasy. Sam had told them that four people were in this party. Could only two Imperial Guards handle that many?

  "There is something special about this particular mountain," Sam said. "It's a place where people can exit the Empire, and the Order knows about it. So we have to stop them and send a message."

  "Then shouldn't we have brought more men?" Gerald asked.

  "We'll have surprise on our side," Sam said. He split up the Imperial Guards. Tylen, much to his dismay, was one of the two assigned to the cave. He suspected that this party would go through the cave.

  When he and his companion reached the cave, they climbed onto nearby ledges.

  And waited.

  * * * * *

  Early that afternoon, Berig's party came to a place where they could continue to the right around the mountain or go through a cave.

  "What does the map say?" Aric asked

  Klint examined it. "We should go along the path to the right."

  "Actually, I think we should go through the cave," Berig said. "I don't know why. It just feels right. And if there isn't another exit, it makes no difference. The Imperial Guards will be waiting for us no matter how long we take."

  "True," Klint said. "I guess we can try the cave."

  "Are you sure about this, Berig?" Aric asked.

  "No, but I've learned to trust my intuition, if that means anything."

  "Then we should trust it too," Aric said. "I think you possess skills that go beyond what's possible for most of us."

  Berig didn't know if that was true, but he was glad Aric had confidence in him. The party filed into the cave, where Klint lit the tip of his staff. A few times, the twisting passages branched in multiple directions, and the party asked Berig which direction they should go.

  Berig didn't like feeling responsible for others. He'd tried so hard to change himself these last few weeks, but change was a hard thing. Inevitably, he'd resort to old patterns and worries.

  "You feeling all right?" Danica asked him. "You've be
en rather quiet."

  "Just thinking." Berig was glad for her concern. Maybe she'd chosen Aric, but hopefully she could find time to be Berig's friend. Though Berig wanted more, he had to accept things as they were.

  Aric was a better man. Smart. Brave. Successful. Berig wasn't the kind of person any woman should choose. Bad things happened to people who cared for him.

  But maybe he could make a new start outside the Empire. If ever there was an opportunity to change his life, this was it.

  They wandered along a few more passages before natural light filtered into the cave. Berig felt at once relieved and terrified.

  Imperial Guards had to be waiting nearby, ready to kill them.

  Klint stepped out of the cave first, checked his surroundings, then motioned the others forward. Berig's feet became heavy as he followed the rest of the group out into a narrow passage bordered on both sides by short cliffs. He looked up. No Imperial Guards.

  Something whizzed by his ear. Berig ducked, and the arrow clattered against the rock less than a foot away. Klint raised his staff, casting a shield as arrows rained down. The arrows disintegrated upon hitting the shield.

  "Let's move!" Klint shouted.

  Berig took off, keeping close to the others. The narrow passage came to an end, and they climbed a steady incline. When they reached the top, Berig saw two Imperial Guards.

  "How long can you hold the shield?" Aric asked.

  Klint continued running. "I'm not sure."

  The terrain had become so uneven they could barely stay on their feet, and huddling close together under the shield made things worse.

  Klint, leading the way, caught his foot briefly in a tight gap between rocks. He grunted as he tumbled forward, down an area where the slope had steepened. When he braced himself with his hands, he lost control of his staff. It rolled down the hill, and he chased after it.

  Now the party was defenseless.

  Berig's heart pounded, and he ducked as one of the Imperial Guards launched another arrow. It whizzed inches over Berig's head. Aric raised his own bow.