Ander nodded. "So we're imprisoning Warrick?"
"Precisely," Cyrus said. "Once again, this is not a sure bet. It's not even close. But it's the best we have. The Webs have told me that it should be you four who do this. You stand a greater chance of success than anyone else." He stroked his chin. "I wish I could give you more confidence, but I have to be realistic here. You will probably fail."
The look in his eyes told Ander there were more secrets he didn't want to reveal. Did Cyrus know that some of them were going to die? Or were there even deeper secrets he was keeping?
"I understand," Ander said. It was better to try and fail than do nothing at all. "Do you know what happened to Nadia? Is she . . . dead?"
"No, she is not. For some reason I don't understand, Warrick spared them. By now, they've found a way out of the Empire, a path through the Fire Mountains north of Bradenton. However, the Webs have told me that Nadia will likely return to the Empire."
"Why would she do that?" Talia asked.
"I hate to admit it, but I lack Warrick's skill in reading the Webs of Fate. I can discern that it has something to do with Markus, perhaps an illness of some kind. For whatever reason, she will return and head north to Taylorville."
"What's in Taylorville?" Ander asked. "I mean, besides the Prison City?"
Cyrus massaged his temples again. "I'm not sure. But that means you should teleport to Taylorville after you obtain the essence of the Silver Wisp. The Webs indicate that you might be able to help Nadia. To do so, you must be there at a specific time." Cyrus told Ander a date that seemed too soon.
"I wish I understood these Webs of Fate," Ander said.
"You are not alone in that," Cyrus said. "Only Warrick truly understands them, or at least he's come closer to true understanding than anyone else."
"Does this all mean we're going back to the Underground City?" Talia asked.
The thought of returning to that place chilled Ander. He remembered the pervasive cold in the air, the feeling of evil as the Silver Wisps appeared all around. Yes, they might capture a single Silver Wisp, but how would they avoid the rest?
"It's the most logical place," Cyrus said. "You could go to Woodsville as well, but that is far from your path, and it lacks a teleportation chamber."
"Why aren't there more teleportation chambers?" Ander asked. "Why haven't you been able to make one? Warrick can do it. These sorcerers of old did it."
"Even in my day, teleportation chambers were a thing of the distant past. There were rumors that we had one in Sandersburg, where I studied, but those were only rumors. There were parts of the city that were forbidden, even to us. Only the current Protector could enter them."
"Why were they so secretive?" Ander asked.
"Well, in these chambers were some of the most dangerous forms of magic from the Great War. I believe there were also books on the technology of the old world. The Protectors of Sandersburg decided to keep this knowledge secret because it was so dangerous. These are the technologies that destroyed the Old World, and the magic that nearly destroyed this one."
"I suppose that makes sense," Talia said, but Ander could see the disappointment in her eyes. As Graig's wife, she must have developed some of his curiosity. Ander had to admit he was curious himself. If he didn't have such an important goal now, he would have loved to visit Sandersburg and access these secrets.
"How did Warrick discover teleportation?" he asked. He had risen from his chair at some point and begun pacing.
"I wish I knew." Cyrus looked pensive. "However, I will note that anyone with Darkness magic can teleport. There are few of us, though. Most people acquire other forms of magic. Darkness magic is a different thing altogether, as is Light magic." He frowned. "But that's a discussion we don't need to worry about now. Focus on the task at hand."
"Of course," Ander said, surprised that he'd lost focus.
"How're we gonna find the Underground City?" Talia asked. "Klint said he's been through those caves many times and that he'd never found it before."
Cyrus stroked his chin, deep in thought. "I have foreseen that problem. Though I hate to say it, I have no idea if you'll find the paths there again. The Webs of Fate do not deal in certainties. If anything, an event like this is much more likely not to happen."
"That's where I might be able to help," Sarah said. Ander had almost forgotten she was going to be part of this quest. She carried a sword and bow, but the weapons looked awkward strapped to her back.
Ander turned to her. "How can you help?"
"In addition to immunity to supernatural entities," she said, "I have better ability to sense them, and I might be able to choose the right paths."
"Do you really think you can lead us there?" Ander asked.
"I'm not sure, but we have to try, don't we?"
"Yes, we do," Ander said, but he felt sick about bringing her along. She looked as though she'd never tasted adventure, and certainly never tasted battle. A part of Ander was relieved that he no longer had to worry about Berig and Danica. Could he handle another weaker person to watch over again?
"How good are you with your weapons?" Captain Davis asked Sarah, as if sensing Ander's train of thought.
Sarah fidgeted in her wooden chair. "I'm not all that experienced. I've trained a little here with the Order, but I've never been in a battle of any kind."
Ander looked to Cyrus. "I don't understand. If you saw her importance to this quest, why didn't you have her training sooner?"
"As I said, I lack Warrick's expertise in reading the Webs. It was only in the last few weeks that I saw this possibility. I can rarely see more than a month or two ahead, and sometimes I'm lucky to see a week into the future. Believe me, if I could read the Webs more effectively, I would have taken action to thwart whatever Warrick's planning."
Ander ran a hand through his hair. "Do you ever feel like you're fighting a losing battle? Just look at all these things Warrick can do. Maybe he's simply too powerful."
"I feel like that every day," Cyrus said. "But we can't give up."
Ander was still pacing. The others looked at him with a little concern, but he didn't care. Pacing helped him think, helped him soothe his nerves. As much as he liked to project the image of a confident leader, doubt clung to him.
"What else should we know?" he asked.
"That's it for now. I suggest you all rest up. You'll need your energy tomorrow."
Ander was tired the next morning. He went through his final preparations in a daze, hoping he wasn't missing any crucial details. The more he thought about this quest, the more doubtful he felt. He was tired of leading, tired of the toll it took on him.
The rest of the party waited in the building's central chamber, sitting around wooden tables and eating a small breakfast. Captain Davis attacked his food with gusto.
A plate was already there, waiting for Ander. "Who did this?" he asked.
Captain Davis spoke around a mouthful of food. "Cyrus thought you'd be too eager to leave, so he made sure you'd eat something first."
"I'm not sure eager's the right word," Ander said. Nervous would have been more appropriate. Or perhaps terrified. "Well, I'm glad he was thinking of me."
Ander ate slowly, remaining silent as he chewed. The food was simple—scrambled eggs and slices of bread—but he enjoyed it. In truth, he'd never cared for the richness of the food he'd eaten as a noble. Too often, he'd felt sick after gatherings of the nobility.
Halfway through the meal, he turned to Sarah. "What can you tell us about yourself?"
She shrugged, looking uncomfortable. "There's not much to say. I've been a member of the Order since I was old enough to join. My parents were involved before me, and I even helped out before I turned eighteen."
"How did you discover this magical immunity?" Ander asked.
"It's not perfect immunity. Magic can still harm me. I'm just stronger against it than most people." She fidgeted in her wooden chair. "I've been in those caves before. When I was young, so
me of my friends and I thought it would be a good idea." She hesitated. "We ran into this Silver Wisp. They were taken to the Shadowed Land. I was spared."
Ander felt as if some force had tightened upon his chest. He knew the pain of losing those around him. He knew it all too well.
"I've learned to live with it," Sarah said, her eyes glistening with tears. "Maybe my friends have found a life down there. At least that's what I say to make myself feel better."
"I'm glad you've chosen to help us," Ander said. "I can't imagine it will be easy." He wanted to say something comforting, but nothing came to him. Aric had always been better at that kind of thing. He'd joked that Ander focused so intently on the task that he forgot about everything else. In that way, Ander knew he was a lot like Nadia.
He missed her. Back in Crayden, he'd never decided how he felt about her. He liked her, yes, but did he love her? They'd shared one kiss, a great kiss. But she wasn't the first woman Ander had kissed. He'd had his share of romantic adventures.
Why was he thinking about this? Nadia belonged to his past now. Maybe he'd see her again one day, but he couldn't focus on that. He had a mission.
They finished their meal with only a little conversation. Everyone was too nervous to talk. Ander and Talia had been in those caves before, and it was an experience Ander had hoped he'd never repeat. Even worse, they had to go back to the Underground City.
"How dangerous will it be?" Sarah asked as they went through their preparations, gathering the food and weapons they'd need.
Ander's hand drifted toward his staff, as if anticipating the danger already. "It's difficult to say. As I'm sure you know, these caves change all the time." He ran his other hand through his hair. "We can't be sure we'll even find the city."
"We may be in there a long time," Talia said.
Sarah looked pale. "I really do believe I can sense the magic there. When my friends and I went in, I was able to find the way back out in only a few minutes."
Ander nodded to her. "Let's hope you're right."
Cyrus accompanied the party to the gates of Mountainside, where he handed an empty scroll to Ander. "It'll be up to Sarah to capture the Silver Wisp, but the Webs of Fate tell me that you'll be the one to use the scroll." He looked away for a moment, as if hiding something. "Good luck. Our future rests upon your shoulders."
The future of the entire Empire. That was an immense weight to carry.
Ander wasn't sure he could handle it.
Chapter 12: A Strange Revelation
Tylen stood alone before Warrick's throne. Warrick had already punished the rest of the contingent for their failure to stop Berig and the others from escaping. They'd endured a few seconds of torture each. Now it was Tylen's turn.
"You let them escape," Warrick said.
"I am sorry, Your Majesty."
Warrick smiled. "There's no reason to be sorry, Tylen. You did exactly as I expected. In fact, you did what I wanted from you."
Sweat trickled down Tylen's forehead. "I-I don't understand, Your Majesty."
"This is all part of a bigger plan, Tylen. The rest don't know this."
Tylen swallowed a lump in his throat. "Then why are you telling me, Your Majesty?"
"As I told you once before, you will be much more than a simple Imperial Guard. Have you heard of the Webs of Fate, Tylen?"
"I think I've heard the name."
"Well, when it comes to the Webs of Fate, there are certain people who have greater influence on events than others. You could say they have the power to pull and twist the threads of those webs. You are one such person, Tylen. You are a Weaver, perhaps the strongest I've ever seen. You have an important role to play."
"Anything to serve you, Your Majesty," Tylen said.
Warrick narrowed his eyes. "Spare me the act, Tylen. I know you don't support me in your heart. I can see it written across your face."
"I will try to do better, Your Majesty."
Warrick ran a hand through his dark hair. "This isn't going to work. I understand that you're afraid of me, and I do need some healthy fear in my servants, but you don't have to be so formal around me. One day, we might even see each other as equals."
Tylen had trouble believing that. "Aren't you going to punish me?"
"No. Why should I? You did as I wanted."
"I still don't understand this greater plan."
Warrick leaned forward in his throne. "It is not your place to understand. Not yet."
"Is there anything you wish me to do, Your Majesty?"
"For now, you will continue in your duties as an Imperial Guard. There will come a time when I'll ask more of you. Please try not to get yourself killed before then."
Tylen thought he saw a flicker of a smile on Warrick's face.
Chapter 13: Back into the Empire
Nadia and Rik stood at the side of Markus's bed in the dark and crowded hospital. Markus was conscious, and some color had returned to his skin, but Doctor Reed had told them that Markus's condition would deteriorate.
"I know you'll save me," Markus said. "I believe in you, Nadia."
She held his hand. "I wish I believed in myself the way you believe in me. You see me as so strong, but I feel like it's all an act."
"It's not an act," Markus said. "You're the strongest person I know."
Rik put a hand on her shoulder. "He's right, you know."
Markus sat up a little. "Just make sure you keep Rik safe for me. I know you'll make it through, Nadia."
"And you don't think I will?" Rik said.
Markus grinned. "I'm just giving you trouble."
"Hey, that's my job!"
Markus sank back against his pillows. "Take care of each other."
They said a few final goodbyes, left the hospital, met up with Kevin to acquire a few supplies, then started east toward the mountains. Nadia couldn't believe she was returning. The thought of stepping inside those mountains brought back feelings she'd tried to suppress.
Loss. Pain. Failure.
For the first part of their journey, they followed a narrow road, staying within the wards. There was a small village, not too far from the mountains, where they could rest.
When they reached this village, sunset was approaching. They entered the village inn. It was small, and only a few people occupied the common room. Nadia and Rik ordered some food, then took seats at an empty table in the corner.
"How're you feeling?" Rik asked.
"I'm better now. At least I know there's a chance of saving Markus. I'd be lying if I told you I wasn't terrified. The thought of returning to the Empire . . ."
Rik swallowed a mouthful of food. "Yeah, I know what you mean. It was nice to think that we were done with Warrick. All this time, that was what I wanted more than anything. I finally got my wish, and now we have to go back."
"Only until we find this cure," Nadia said.
"If we find the cure."
She gave him a sharp look. "We can't dwell on what might go wrong. Markus is depending on us, and I can't have you slipping back into negativity."
"You're right. I'm sorry. It's still hard for me. You might think everything's better with me now, but I'm terrified. I thought our adventures were over. I wanted so badly to find something stable." He let out a low laugh. "It's amazing how much I've changed."
"I think our quest changed all of us."
"I just wish I knew if that change was for the better."
They finished their meal, stayed the night, then continued east as soon as dawn broke. Outside the village, they left the wards, but the mountains were perhaps a mile distant. Nadia prayed they wouldn't encounter any monsters along the way.
To her relief, her prayers were answered. Soon they stood at the edge of the mountains, where Nadia consulted the map Angeline had given her. If Nadia had judged correctly, they were right where they needed to be.
She put the ring on her finger and stepped forward, hitting the barrier. When she pushed against it, it didn't budge.
; No. They couldn't fail already.
"Relax, Nadia," Rik said. "We'll have to keep guessing until we find the right spot."
"Now that's the Rik I like better."
"I do try, you know." He grinned. "Well, sometimes."
They searched for perhaps an hour, keeping an eye out for monsters. However, it appeared none of the monsters lurked this close to the mountains. Nadia felt a great sense of relief when she pushed against a spot on the barrier and her arm went through.
"We've found it," she said.
Holding onto each other, they stepped across the barrier. There was some resistance, but it let them through.
"You think Warrick will send Imperial Guards?" Rik asked.
"I didn't think of that."
They started up the mountain, struggling to find stable trails. Nadia's legs burned after a while. Eventually, they found a narrow defile leading to the other side of the mountain. No sign of Imperial Guards yet.
But would they be waiting at the other side of this passage? Would Rik's magic be enough against them?
The sun loomed overhead, and sweat poured down Nadia's face. At least Rik could generate water with his staff, so they didn't risk dehydration. After what seemed an interminable march, the end of the passage appeared ahead.
Six Imperial Guards waited for them.
"Dammit," Rik said. "What do we do now?"
Nadia had no idea. The Imperial Guards blocked the entire path, and Rik's staff couldn't defend them against swords.
The commander stepped forward, his gaze stern. "Lay down your weapons."
Rik pointed his staff at him. "Not gonna happen."
"We know how those staffs work," said the commander. "You can block our arrows, but you can't attack us at the same time. Nor can you launch your own arrows from within a shield." He took another step forward, his expression anxious. "You're at a major disadvantage here."
"Then why aren't you attacking us?" Nadia asked, suspecting that the commander had lied about their ability to attack him from within the shield.
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