‘I’m not a child.’
‘I know that!’ Chloe softened her tone. ‘You understand what’s about to happen, don’t you?’ She lowered her voice so the passing soldiers wouldn’t hear her. ‘These men all know it. There is a good chance they won’t survive.’
Sophia looked up at her. ‘So are you heading to your own death too?’ Her eyes glistened. ‘Father left me, and then Amos. If you die, what do I care if I’m still alive?’
Chloe wondered how she could explain. ‘You’re clever, Sophia. I know that.’ She glanced at the barrels of poison. ‘You’ve already done so much. I know you want to do your part, but there are different ways to help. You are a far better healer than I am. We need you to fight illness among our people in Sindara. There are children there who need you – children, mothers, grandparents, and everyone in between. You can prevent pain and suffering. We all need you to do what you’re best at.’
Sophia bit her lip. A tear trickled down her cheek. ‘I can’t lose you too.’
Chloe took her sister’s hand. ‘That won’t happen. I promise.’
Sophia started. Her eyes widened. ‘You’ve seen it in a vision?’ she breathed, filled with awe. ‘You know!’
Chloe gave a slight smile. ‘I have,’ she lied. ‘I’ve seen you, and me . . .’
‘And Dion.’
‘Yes.’ Chloe’s smile broadened. ‘And Dion. We will be together. I swear it.’
Sophia suddenly buried her head into Chloe’s chest. She squeezed Chloe tightly, and Chloe clutched her just as hard.
‘Now go,’ Chloe said. ‘Help our people in Sindara. I know I can count on you.’
Sophia nodded. Chloe gave her a gentle push, and her sister hurried away, with one last look over her shoulder before she was gone.
It took some time asking questions and wandering around the immense camp, but finally Chloe found Dion with the eldren. She immediately knew that something was wrong.
They were in the forest, which was why it had taken her so long to locate them. The slender, silver-haired eldren were together, but alone, each in his or her separate place with their hands pressed against a tree’s trunk, as if communing with forest spirits. Most of them stood with their heads bowed and eyes closed. It was something she had never seen before.
Chloe slowed her footsteps as she approached. She glanced at Liana, whose hands were on the rough bark of an oak, and then cast her eyes across the strange gathering. Dion and Eiric were talking quietly in a clearing. Dion’s back was to Chloe, but she saw that Eiric’s expression was troubled. Dion reached out to clasp Eiric’s shoulder.
Looking past Dion’s shoulder, Eiric nodded a greeting to Chloe, but didn’t say anything. Dion turned, and Chloe saw that his face was pale.
Chloe was suddenly afraid of what they were going to tell her. ‘What is it?’ she asked.
‘My father is dead,’ Eiric said simply.
At first Chloe couldn’t comprehend the words. She knew that Zachary was missing, but like everyone she expected him to turn up at any moment. Then the full shock hit her.
‘This rite we are performing will not tell me where he is . . . where he was when it happened,’ Eiric said. ‘All I know for certain is that he is no longer with us. It grieves me that I was not with him at the end.’
Eiric turned away and strode off, and Liana hurried to catch up to him as he disappeared into the trees. Chloe was still struggling to take it in. While Dion looked at her with concern, she thought about Zachary.
Chloe’s father had never told her how he had befriended Zachary, but it was a long time ago, when Aristocles was a younger man. Chloe was small the first time he took her to the Wilds to introduce her.
Zachary had greeted Chloe and her father while they were still some distance from the village of willow-tree houses that was his home. At first he had frightened her, with his strange gold-flecked eyes, silver hair, and lean frame, but then he had crouched in front of her and opened his palm to show her a shiny green frog. He had smiled, and then it was impossible to be afraid of him.
Unbidden, he had brought his people to Phalesia’s aid when the earthquake shook the world. He had saved Sophia’s life. At the Battle of Phalesia, he had defended the harbor from Solon’s fleet. He had worked to bring eldren and humans together time and time again.
‘When I was lost, he was the one who helped me find my way,’ Dion said softly. ‘After they killed my parents and . . .’ – he cleared his throat – ‘and put their bodies up for all to see, I didn’t know where to go. Something led me to Zachary. He helped me to go on. He showed me how not to be ashamed of who I am.’
He took Chloe’s hand while she struggled to hold back her tears. ‘Is there a way he could still . . . ?’ she whispered.
‘The eldren know,’ he said sadly. ‘He is gone, Chloe.’
She shook her head. ‘Everyone we know . . . Everyone we love.’
Dion sighed. ‘Maybe you should go back to Sindara.’
Chloe tore her hand free. ‘What did you just say?’ Her eyes blazed.
‘I said perhaps you should go back.’
‘What does that have to do with Zachary?’
‘Chloe . . . You know this is a desperate gamble. Think about Sophia. I know I would feel a lot better doing what we’re about to do if you—’
Chloe lifted her chin. ‘The orb won’t do anything without me. You went to all that effort to get it—’
Dion scowled. ‘I just want you to be safe.’
‘And it’s fine for Zachary to lose his life trying to help us, but not for me?’
‘We don’t know how Zachary died.’
‘Dion,’ Chloe said shortly. ‘Think about it. It’s Zachary.’
‘You’re leaping to conclusions.’ Dion let out an exasperated breath.
‘And you’re asking me to be a hypocrite. To get others to risk themselves—’
‘Think about all our people in Sindara. They need you. Your sister needs you—’
‘They have consuls to look after them.’
Dion raised an eyebrow. ‘Listen to what you’re saying.’
‘Go.’ Chloe whirled, pointing back to the camp. ‘Leave me alone.’
Dion nodded. He walked away slowly, turning back as if about to say something, but then deciding against it. Chloe glanced at the eldren; some of them were looking at her sadly.
She decided to head deeper into the forest. Her throat felt hot and sore. Her eyes burned and kept filling with tears, no matter how many times she wiped them.
46
As the last light faded from the day and stars appeared in the night sky, the great city of Lamara lit up also, like a reflection of the heavens, becoming a swathe of glittering sparks. Torches burned on poles on the walls while soldiers patrolled; the city was always in a state of tension. Lanterns and oil lamps dangled from shop fronts, houses, and temples. They shone on the river harbor, where the sluggish brown waters lapped against the sandy shore.
Kargan felt no relief to be finally home. Instead he was on edge, eking every bit of speed from the lean boat he had sailed from the isle of Parnos. He gripped the tiller tightly, his wrist cramped but unrelenting. His jaw was clenched. He muttered through his teeth, urging his vessel onward.
He rubbed his eyes; he had been awake for two full days. Fortunately he was a skilled sailor, able to read the stars in any season, and with a following wind here he was. At the back of his mind at all times was what Zachary had told him: the armies of Galea would soon be facing the dragons on Sindara’s shore. By the time he roused his men, he might be too late to help them.
Now the sight of his capital, a city bristling with defenses, made him feel ashamed. He had seen firsthand, from the back of a silver dragon, that he had failed in his duty as a king. Galea was ravaged. Innocent people were dead. Rather than standing with Dion, Kargan had only looked for advantage. Without ever assaulting his arrogance directly, Zachary had changed something inside of him.
Approaching the
harbor, Kargan looked for a free spot and scanned the twenty warships lined up side by side. Marines with spears in their hands ran to the water’s edge as Kargan’s small boat approached, shouting to ward him away, but he ignored them, turning sharply to head in to shore. He settled on a place where there was a wide gap between two biremes. He dropped the sail, and then judged his moment before leaping over the side to plunge into water up to his waist. With a loud grunt he took hold of the bow and dragged the vessel onto the sand.
Half a dozen marines ran toward the sailboat, bellowing over the top of each other. They waved at Kargan angrily.
‘Get out of here!’
‘This area is reserved for the navy!’
‘You can’t—’
They suddenly broke off. Kargan stood panting beside the sailboat and regarded his men.
His chest expanded as he took a deep breath. ‘You know who I am?’ he roared.
He was drenched to his waist, dirty and bedraggled. But he was a striking man, tall and broad, with black hair, black eyes, and a barrel chest.
‘It’s the king,’ the marines murmured.
More men were arriving in numbers to join the commotion on the beach. Stiff-limbed and weary, Kargan watched them arrive. The sense of urgency coursing through him was more powerful than ever.
He swept his eyes over the group. ‘Men!’ he cried. ‘You all know me, do you not?’
‘Aye!’ they shouted in unison.
‘I want every ship here made ready to depart. Talk to your officers, call on your comrades, do whatever it takes. It’s going to be a long night. We leave at first light!’
‘Great King,’ a marine with ebony skin asked hesitantly, ‘where are we going? How many days’ provisions will we need? Will we be carrying infantry?’
‘We sail to battle,’ Kargan growled. ‘Of course we’re taking infantry. Just load up enough supplies to get us across the Maltherean. We won’t be making camp on the way. Well?’ he barked when no one moved. ‘Every moment counts. Go!’
The marines exchanged glances and then began to run, some heading for the mess hall while others sprinted toward the city. In the distance an officer strode down the beach, evidently wondering what was happening, and a marine stopped beside him and pointed back at Kargan as he spoke.
Kargan thanked the gods that he’d had the foresight to keep his fleet ready to depart at short notice. Leaving the harbor behind, he climbed the sandy beach until his feet were on solid ground. The tall stone buildings of Lamara loomed over him as his stride opened up. He walked with determination and took the shortest route to the palace.
‘You. Guard. What is the date?’ Palemon asked as he gripped the bars.
The guard was performing his rounds, replacing the dead torches with fresh bundles of reeds soaked in pitch. He glanced at Palemon, but ignored him.
The dungeon became brighter with every fresh torch. Dust swirled in the light, kicked up by the guard’s footsteps.
Palemon’s grip on the iron bars grew tighter. ‘I asked you a question. Are you deaf? Or don’t they teach soldiers the names of the months in this part of the world?’
‘It is the fifth day of Yadis,’ the guard said, casting Palemon a quick glance before replacing his final torch. His work done, he left the dungeon behind, his footsteps echoing off the stone walls.
Palemon left the bars and began to pace. Half the large cell was filled with his thirty warriors and four sorcerers, sitting dejectedly on the ground. But, despite his time in captivity, Palemon still would not give up. He had to find some way to fix what he had done. The warriors in the cell were a constant reminder as they spoke among themselves and cast him angry looks.
Reaching the far wall, Palemon turned on his heel. He looked at Zara, sitting apart from the others with her back against the stone. She also wasn’t one to give up. She brushed her dress down, washed her face with water, and somehow kept her sleek, raven-black hair in order. Despite her failure to charm the Ilean king, she was still desperate to return to the isle of Athos and find a way to break Archmagus Nisos’s spell.
‘The fifth day of Yadis,’ Palemon muttered, speaking low so that only Zara would hear him. ‘Kyphos might have rescued our people by now. They could be within weeks of the Realm. And they are going to return to this!’ He scowled. ‘You heard the guards. Koulis has fallen. Lamara will be next.’
‘I am to blame, sire.’ Zara sighed. ‘I thought our ancestors were perfect. I never expected the magic to have such a flaw.’
‘Pride,’ Palemon said. ‘It is the downfall of us all.’ He stared at the ground. ‘But what were we to do? Our people need a home. They would never have given us land without a fight.’
‘There is no use in this,’ Zara said.
‘I’m still surprised they haven’t executed us yet,’ Palemon muttered.
He broke off when he heard raised voices and the clatter of approaching footsteps. Turning away from Zara, he saw a pair of palace guards followed by a burly man in disheveled clothing who walked with long strides.
Palemon was surprised to recognize Kargan. But where the Ilean king was usually groomed to perfection, with his hair and beard oiled, he instead looked as if he’d been sleeping like a beggar on the streets.
Palemon wondered what was happening.
Were they all about to be executed? If so, he planned to meet his end with his head held high. Palemon’s face gave nothing away as he approached the bars. Kargan came close. Soon the two men were eye to eye.
Kargan held Palemon’s stare for a moment, and then his head turned. He looked past Palemon, to Zara.
‘You think you can find some solution to our problem?’ Kargan asked her.
Zara nodded. ‘I can try. If we go to Athos, I may be able to find a way.’
‘Open the gate,’ Kargan instructed the guards.
A guard came forward and rattled a key in the huge lock. The gate creaked when he pulled it open.
‘Out,’ Kargan said. His gaze took in every one of the prisoners. ‘All of you.’
Palemon exchanged glances with Zara, who returned his puzzled look. As king, he left first, with Zara following behind. Kargan waited while the warriors and gray-robed sorcerers filed out one by one.
‘Listen,’ Kargan said, regarding the group of captives. ‘I have come to a conclusion, a realization if you will. The red dragons need to be destroyed, once and for all. The Galeans have abandoned their cities, but their armies remain intact. I have word that they plan to face this threat on the shore of Sindara, the eldran homeland. They are giving everything, and it is only right that I stand there with them.’ Kargan looked directly into Palemon’s eyes. ‘Nothing is more important than this struggle,’ he growled. ‘Not our past, not even our future relationship. You captured Malakai. You seized half my fleet. Your ambitions . . . your dreams of conquest. All of that pales in comparison to what we face now. Do you agree?’
Palemon saw something new in Kargan that hadn’t been there before. ‘Yes,’ he said gravely. ‘I agree.’
Kargan turned to Zara. ‘Sorceress, I don’t claim to understand your abilities. But if there is any chance that an end might be found to this dark magic, then I would be a fool not to take it. At dawn my fleet will depart. On our way to joining our Galean allies, I will deliver you all to Athos.’
‘Wait,’ Palemon said slowly. He glanced at his men. They were watching him, wondering what he was going to say.
Kargan raised an eyebrow. ‘What?’
‘This threat can only be ended one of two ways. Either the spell is broken or every dragon is killed until they are no more.’
‘Go on.’
Palemon indicated the sorceress. ‘Zara is skilled, the most skilled of her kind to walk the earth. She may be able to find a solution with magic, or she may not. Either way, I won’t be any good to her.’ He lifted his chin. ‘I want to fight with you. I did this. I take responsibility.’
Palemon waited. While Kargan considered, Palemon saw that his
men’s expressions had changed. His warriors nodded at him, and he stood taller, feeling his pride return.
Meanwhile Kargan’s gaze took him in, seeing a man tall and broad-shouldered, who had crossed the limitless sea, reached the Salesian continent with fewer than two hundred warriors, and conquered a city.
‘And your men?’ Kargan asked, turning his attention to the thirty warriors.
The oldest of the group spoke up. He met Palemon’s eyes while he addressed Kargan. ‘Give us our swords and armor, and we will fight with our king.’
Kargan addressed the four sorcerers. ‘And you?’
‘Give us back our staffs, and we will go to battle,’ one of the gray-robed men said. He shrugged when Zara looked surprised. ‘Sorceress, if you fail, our skills will be needed to bring them down.’
‘I have your word that you won’t betray me?’ Kargan asked Palemon.
‘You do,’ Palemon said. ‘The word of a king.’
Palemon put out his hand, and the two men shook.
‘All right then,’ Kargan said. ‘Make your preparations. We leave at first light.’
47
Kyphos walked along the rocky surface of the island. At least, he assumed it was rocky; it was definitely uneven, but was so covered in bird excrement that only small patches of gray and brown showed through the white. He reached the island’s highest point, the top of a smooth, sloped hill, and stopped to regard the progress below.
It was midmorning, on a clear and hot day. There was a stiff wind blowing, but the waves lapping against the shore were small. He was pleased. Of the twelve ships, just two remained to repair using the spare timbers they had brought. The rest of the fleet bobbed at anchor, tethered side by side to a variety of round, stony knobs. And now the carpenters and sailors were turning one of the final pair upright; soon it would join its fellows.
The crowd on the shore cheered when the bireme slid off the shore and its hull struck the water with a splash. The oarsmen backed the vessel away while the workers immediately threw themselves into helping with the last one.
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