World in Chains- The Complete Series

by Ryan W. Mueller

  "I wouldn't want to make you mad now, would I?"

  Kara turned to see that Tylen had entered the training chamber. She still didn't like Tylen, however much he claimed he'd changed, but she held her feelings in check.

  "You saying you're afraid of me?" she asked.

  "I would be a fool not to respect the powers you possess."

  "Why are you here?" she demanded.

  "Warrick wants to see us in his chambers."

  "All right," Kara said, turning to leave the training room. She followed Tylen up the stairs and through the main lobby of the Tower of Light. Soon they knocked on the door to Warrick's chambers, and he told them to enter.

  He motioned for them to sit down. Kara and Tylen did so. Farah and Gram were already in the chamber, facing Warrick with puzzled expressions.

  Warrick leaned back in his own red-cushioned chair. "Now that we're all here, I can tell you what you need to know." He paused for a breath. "It's time for the four of you to do something very important for me."

  "Anything, Your Majesty," Farah said, and Kara didn't like how quickly the woman had professed her allegiance to Warrick. In truth, Kara still had her doubts about the man. Had he truly broken free from Krinir's control? Back in the Shadowed Land, he'd expected it to be very difficult, but Kara had managed it with the simple knowledge that she could read his code.

  It had been too easy by far.

  Then again, Warrick showed no sign of being under Krinir's influence. Surely he would have killed them by now.

  Unless Krinir had other plans.

  "Thank you for your eagerness to serve me, Farah," Warrick said. "But I fear you won't like my mission once I reveal the details." He leaned forward, his gaze intent, almost dangerous. "You are to go to the continent of Malavia."

  Gram frowned. "Why there, Your Majesty?"

  "Because you need to help Rik, Garet, and Lara."

  "But I thought they were shielded from being viewed in the Webs," Kara said.

  "They were. In a way, I suppose they still are. But I am the most gifted reader of the Webs this world has ever seen, apart from Krinir himself, and I've had a lot of time to decipher the way the strands were made dark. I found a way around it. Now I can see the Webs more clearly than ever." He smiled, a strangely chilling expression. "I see the path we need to take."

  Kara's stomach felt unsettled. "But if you can find them in the Webs, then so can Krinir. What chance do we stand against him if we can't hide ourselves?"

  Warrick hesitated. "I'm not sure, but we can't give up."

  He was hiding something. She saw it in his eyes. Again, her thoughts drifted to how easily she'd broken Krinir's spell. Krinir was the most powerful being in existence. She was nobody. Apart from this strange new magic, she had no power of her own.

  "Kara, there are doubts in your eyes," Warrick said. "Please voice them."

  He'd said it politely, but it was a command nonetheless.

  "How do I know you're truly free from Krinir's control?"

  "You don't. You'll have to trust me."

  "Forgive me if I still have doubts about you," Kara said.

  She expected an outburst from him, or at least some biting remark. Instead, he nodded gravely. "I understand that it's hard for you to trust me. After what I did in Crayden, I don't expect your full trust. I helped you in the Shadowed Land, but you suspect that I had my own motives for doing that. Or perhaps you think Krinir is truly behind at all."

  "It is a possibility," Kara said. "You have to admit that."

  "I won't deny it."

  Kara knew she would get nothing more from him. She'd have to trust that he was telling the truth. But if she knew anything, it was that sorcerers always had their own agendas. Krinir was the most powerful sorcerer in the world, so surely his plans ran even deeper.

  What if everything they were doing actually played into Krinir's hands? She'd seen his power firsthand. It was awful and terrifying. But somehow he hadn't killed them. He surely could have done it in the caves, or when they'd infiltrated his fortress.

  But, no, he'd left them alive. Why?

  "Kara, are you still with us?" Warrick asked.

  "Oh, sorry. Were you saying something?"

  Tylen gave her a condescending look. "You might want to listen."

  So the old Tylen was still there, however much he might suppress that side of him now.

  "It's all right," Warrick said. "I think Kara has a lot on her mind." He clasped his hands in front of him. "As I was saying, this mission is very important. Rik and the others are in search of the Stone of Restoration. You may not know it, but I'm already in possession of the Stone of Creation and the Stone of Destruction. With all three, I might just have the power to defeat Krinir."

  "And if Krinir gets them?" Kara asked.

  Warrick's expression became gave. "That's something we cannot let happen. If it does, Krinir will be more powerful than we can imagine. In a word, unstoppable."

  Kara felt sicker than ever. "How do we know you don't want the stone for Krinir?"

  "I'm not under his control. You broke the spell."

  "You see, that's what I'm not so sure about," Kara said. "Krinir is beyond powerful. It seems odd that he would put a spell on you that I could break so easily. If I did break it, then that's exactly what Krinir wants. If I didn't, then you are a fine actor."

  "This is useless speculation," Warrick said.

  "What do you need us to do?" Farah asked, sounding too eager again. Why couldn't anyone else see the same problems Kara did? Perhaps she knew Warrick better. Ever since she'd possibly broken the spell, he'd come close to the man he was in the Shadowed Land. But there was something different. In the Shadowed Land, he'd helped her, but he'd always been distant.

  Distance. It was still there, but it felt different. Forced. In the Shadowed Land, she'd seen the true Warrick. Here, he wore a mask, tried to be the same man he'd been there. When she looked into his eyes, she could see the war he was fighting inside. Perhaps he did have some control, but it was a battle every day.

  There was no telling how much control Krinir had over him.

  Or if he'd lose the fight.

  Kara's mind wandered during Warrick's explanation of what they had to do, but it sounded simple enough. They would teleport to the Shadowed Land, and then Farah and Tylen would gain Lightning magic at the temple there. After that, they would trek to the south, where they'd find Rik and the others and then another temple.

  At the conclusion of the meeting, Kara remained while the other three left to begin preparations. She felt awkward being alone with Warrick, which was strange when she considered how much time she'd spent with only his company in the Shadowed Land.

  His gaze was discerning. "What do you want, Kara?"

  There was no hostility in his voice, but perhaps a touch of impatience.

  "I want to feel sure about things."

  "And do you think I can grant that wish?" He rose from his chair, chuckling softly, while she remained seated. "I've never felt sure about anything in my life. Oh, I might put up a strong front. I might look confident. But every decision I make is riddled with doubt."

  "Are you truly free from Krinir?" she asked. "I want an honest answer."

  "There's no way to prove that I'm telling you the truth. If I were under his control, I would lie to you. As it is, I'll tell you this. It's a fight every moment of every day. Are my thoughts my own, or do they come from Krinir? I don't know. I look back on everything I've ever done, wondering how much of it I chose on my own and how much of it was decided for me."

  "I think I understand that feeling."

  "No, you don't," he said, pacing a few feet away from her. "You've been controlled and guided, no doubt, but you've never burned an entire city and wondered if you did it of your own free will. At the time, I thought I did, and it tore me apart. Now, knowing of Krinir's control, I wonder if he was guiding my actions. Does that absolve me of the blame?"

  Kara had no answer for him.


  "Don't pretend to understand what I've been through. I've seen, experienced, and perpetrated horrors unlike anything you've experienced, even in the Shadowed Land. You may have begun to care for me, but I don't deserve it. I am not a good man."

  Again, Kara didn't know what to say. They faced each other in awkward silence, and she couldn't help but notice how handsome he was. She had to remind herself that this was the same man who'd killed her family and friends in Crayden.

  But a part of her wanted to believe that had been Krinir's doing. Surely the man who'd helped her so much in the Shadowed Land couldn't commit an atrocity like that. It didn't matter how he'd justified it to himself. It wasn't him. It couldn't be.

  "Maybe I'm not a good woman either," she said. "Remember? I helped you kill those sorcerers who were trying to take back control of the city."

  "You did what you needed to do. That's what happens in times like these." He narrowed his eyes. "Are you telling me you wouldn't have killed Imperial Guards for the Order? You would have, and you know it. I did not make you into a killer. It was already there."

  Kara fought the urge to slap him. "That’s different."

  "How different is it really? I assume you're intelligent enough to understand that my Imperial Guards are a mixture of men—some good, some bed, and most in between."

  "I know that, but it's still different."

  "And do you know that the sorcerers we killed were good people?"

  "No, but it doesn't matter."

  Warrick gave her a stern look. "You are young. Eighteen years old, if I recall correctly. In time, you will gain the wisdom necessary to look at these things properly."

  Kara returned the look. "If wisdom makes me like you, then I don't want it."

  The words sounded childish as she said them, but she didn't care. Then she saw the hurt in his eyes. It was a flicker, barely there, but it spoke of the anguish that lay behind his façade. She reached out as if to comfort him, then decided against it.

  "I'm sorry if I hurt you," she said.

  He avoided her gaze. "You couldn't say anything to hurt me."

  But that wasn't true. He was a damaged man, much more vulnerable than he'd ever admit. That, more than anything, was why she'd come to care for him. But he was more than five hundred years old. An immortal sorcerer. The second most feared man in the world.

  And he still needed someone to comfort him.

  Here, alone with her, he was once again the man she'd known in the Shadowed Land. After all this time, he'd let his mask slip. She didn't know what she wanted from him. They had little in common, and any relationship between them would end in disaster.

  Or was that just her fear speaking?

  She took a few tentative steps toward him. Looking away, he didn't appear to notice, but she knew better. He was always aware of his surroundings. She took a deep breath, then took a few steps closer, worried he might suddenly lash out at her. She'd seen his temper before.

  "Darien?" she said, testing out his first name for the first time. "Are you all right?"

  He kept looking at the wall. "Have you earned the right to use my first name?"

  There was no anger in his tone. A good sign.

  "No," she said. "You've earned the right to be called by your first name."

  "Whatever you're trying to do, it's not going to work. I appreciate the gesture, but I would like to be alone right now." He turned back toward her, his eyes shiny, as if he were on the verge of shedding tears. "You should join the others. I want you ready to leave within the hour."

  She nodded, feeling disappointed. "Of course. I'll join them."

  Chapter 22: Wind's Edge

  Late one evening, Captain Travin visited Markus and the others in the prison. The captain told the guards watching them to leave, then settled down in a chair close to the barred cell.

  "I've ordered them to treat you well," he said. "Have they been doing so?"

  "Yes," Nadia said, scooting closer to the bars. "As far as prisons go, it's been tolerable. We have received food regularly, and they're keeping the cell clean enough."

  "Good. That means I don't have to whip anybody."

  Klint sagged against the back wall of the cell. "Are we almost where we're going?"

  "Yes, we should set down in Wind's Edge late tonight. That's our capital city, in case you didn't know." The captain pulled his chair even closer to the bars, then spoke in a low voice. "Since we're arriving at night, I'll have an opportunity to get you out of here. When we set down, I'm going to tell my men to rest for the night. They'll jump at the opportunity."

  Berig's face looked pale. "And what do we do after that?"

  "I'll sneak you off the ship, but after that, I can't afford to stay with you. I'm part of the resistance here in the Breezelands. I feel safe to tell you that much. Most of the resistance is along the eastern coast, but there are a few of us hiding within the capital. Some, like me, are even part of the navy. I can't afford to reveal my true loyalties. Not yet."

  "We understand," Nadia said, and Markus agreed with her. They'd all been playing a dangerous game for a while now, and he didn't blame anyone for erring on the safe side.

  "And once we get off the ship?" Berig asked.

  "You'll have to sneak through the city. Don't worry. I'll draw you a rough map so you can find your way. I'll also make sure you get your weapons back. They're right in there," he said, gesturing to a chest across the dungeon. "I'll unlock it once it's time." He leaned forward in his chair. "Your best bet is to follow the map I give you and make your way to a sewer system we've been using in the resistance. You'll follow that sewer system to the place I've marked on the map, and then you'll emerge near my brother's home. I'll get word to him, and he'll protect you."

  "No offense," Klint said, "but this plan's just a bit vague. It could go wrong in so many ways."

  "Sounds like my kind of plan," Berig said.

  Markus had seen enough plans go awry to know that it didn't matter how carefully they orchestrated their movements. In fact, he would have had trouble thinking of anything that had gone according to plan recently. He was used to improvising.

  From what he knew of Berig, that had been Berig's entire life. Sure, a thief like Berig started out with a plan, but they never worked out exactly as planned. Klint had probably faced similar struggles in his time as smuggler.

  Markus prayed that Nadia would accept the plan, for he knew she liked to feel more certain about things. But she had to know there was no other choice.

  "Is there anything you aren't telling us about these sewers?" Nadia asked.

  "Unlike the city," Travin said, "they are not warded."

  Berig groaned. "So they're gonna be full of monsters?"

  "Yes. But I'm sure you four can handle a few monsters. After all, most of us in the resistance don't have magic, and we make it through just fine. Of course, we know how to avoid the worst parts of the sewers. I hope I've mapped your route well enough, but you could easily lose your way." He shook his head gravely. "I'm sorry. I wish I had a better plan."

  "Don't worry about it," Berig said. "We know how to make the best of any plan."

  Klint barked a laugh. "If you say so."

  "What've I got to worry about?" Berig said. "I ain't gonna die, not yet." He shrugged. "And if I survive, then I'm sure the rest of you'll make it through just fine."

  Markus's stomach swirled. He wished he could share Berig's confidence. Maybe there was a positive to Berig's knowledge of his own death, which couldn't happen until he traveled back in time. The others had no such luxury.

  "I'll bring the map when it's time," Travin said. He rose from his chair and stepped out of the room, his boots thudding softly against the wooden floor.

  Once he faded from view, their guard returned. The guard had treated them well, but he hadn't spoken much. Markus couldn't help but remember their time in the Oasis Outpost. This time, he hoped they'd escape with a little more time to spare.

  "A bit strange
, isn't it?" the guard said, surprising Markus. "Why would the captain want to talk to you folks alone?

  Markus couldn't tell if the guard suspected anything or if he was merely curious. Regardless, Markus felt sick at the thought that anything might go wrong with their plan.

  The wait felt as if it would stretch forever. With the guard watching over them, there was little chance to talk, and there were few topics they hadn't already exhausted.

  Later that night, the roar of the wind engines became louder than ever. The entire ship vibrated, rocking so much Markus was sure it would break apart. But then the motion died down, and the sound of the engines became quieter before stopping altogether.

  "Looks like we've set down," the guard said. "Bad news for you."

  "What's going to happen to us?" Nadia asked.

  "You'll face a military trial, and let's just say the navy doesn't take kindly to people commandeering their vessels. You'll probably be dead within the week." He shrugged. "You don't seem so bad to me, but that's the way things are."

  The guard left the room, and their wait continued, feeling longer than ever. All footsteps and voices had ceased. Markus paced at the back of the cell. Though he knew he should conserve his energy, he couldn't bring himself to sit down.

  "Markus, you're going to drive me insane," Nadia said.

  He leaned against the wall, chest tight. "Sorry. I'm just nervous."

  "We all are," Klint said. "But pacing like an idiot ain't gonna change anything."

  "Yeah, I guess you're right." Markus sank against the back wall of the cell, listening for approaching footsteps. What if something had gone wrong and the captain had been exposed as part of the resistance? What if he'd lied to them?

  No. Markus couldn't dwell on all the negatives.

  Just when he was sure he couldn't take the waiting any longer, footsteps approached from above. The door opened, and they all moved to the edge of the cell, watching as Captain Travin made his way down the wooden steps.