"It's possible," Cate said. "You told me she wasn't always evil."
My stomach churned at the thought. The words weren't as comforting as I had hoped, and I wasn't even certain whether I wanted them to be true. If Mogra had been corrupted by an ancient magical object that meant all the horrible things she had done weren't really her fault. But it also meant my mother had been stolen from me, and she wouldn't fully deserve the end I intended to make of her.
"Maybe it only takes a small crack to let the evil in," I murmured. "Pretty things were always her weakness."
Warmth folded around one of my hands, and I looked down into my lap to see Raisa's thumb stroking the ridges of my knuckles. The wordless gesture brought me some comfort, and I gave her hand a grateful squeeze.
"Cate, are you thinking these objects could be helping us?" Larna asked, ever the practical one. "If they were after corrupting the Queen, Luciana, and Mogra, destroying them might end this."
"Luciana was a shell of herself once the sorcerer's chain was broken," Cate said. "Perhaps destroying the mirror will lessen the Queen's power as well. It's worth a try, at any rate. I'm going to tell Jett Bahari everything I know when we arrive. I respect his opinion a great deal."
Raisa nodded, giving the party a small smile. "In the meantime, if we find ourselves standing in front of any cursed magical objects, we'll be sure to smash them. Right, Ailynn?"
"Right," I said, although I couldn't match her enthusiasm. Although Cate was the one with nightmares, I feared I wouldn't sleep much better in the coming days. The more I discovered about the evil in my mother's heart, the more my guilt grew.
"There's one more thing," Cate whispered, so low I almost missed it. "The Queen isn't the only one I see in my visions. When her army invaded Seria, Mogra did something to Luciana. She must have found her in Prince Brendan's dungeon and shaped her into some kind of monster on the Queen's orders. That's the reason I think all three of them are connected to Umbra."
My eyes widened in alarm. "You're saying my mother brought back the monster that hurt you? Cate, I…this is my fault. I'm so sor—"
"Don't say you're sorry," Cate insisted. She straightened her shoulders, and some of the life returned to her eyes. "You didn't do this. Besides, she was a monster long before Mogra got hold of her. Now she just looks the way she always was on the inside."
"Do you think she'll come after you?" Raisa asked.
"Right now, she's chasing Ellie, Belle, and the princess. That should keep her busy for a while. Ellie might not be a trained fighter, but she's surprisingly resourceful."
"She'd better not be coming after you," Larna said with a low growl. The fire in her eyes was frightening, and I could tell she had shared a great deal of Cate's pain, fear, and rage. If Luciana ever did come after Cate and Larna was anywhere nearby, I suspected both of them would make sure she met a grisly end. "She willna lay a hand on you. Never again."
The camp around us began to stir, and I took that as our cue to leave, sensing Cate and Larna needed a moment. "It looks like everyone's getting ready to leave," I whispered, standing and offering Raisa my arm. She groaned a little as she stood, and I massaged the tense muscles at the base of her spine on instinct. "Do you want to ask Hassa if you can ride him instead of Jinale? It might be easier on your back."
Raisa shook her head. "I don't think so. Jinale and I enjoy each other's company." She looked back over at Cate and Larna. They hadn't left their seats, and they clasped each other's hands tight, faces hovering close. "Do you think Cate will be all right?"
"I'm sure she will. I remember the first time we met. She saved me from a whole pack of kerak all by herself. If Luciana comes within a mile of her, her visions will get a lot quieter afterward."
"And what about Mogra?" Raisa asked, reading my unspoken thoughts. "If she's one of Umbra's victims as well, are you still prepared to deal with her?"
I shook my head and sighed. "It doesn't matter. She's my responsibility. I'll do whatever I must to make sure she doesn't hurt anyone else."
Raisa didn't reply. She simply nodded and took my hand in hers, leading me over to where Hassa, Jinale, and Rachari waited for us. Although I wished I could be alone for a while longer, I was grudgingly grateful we would be traveling as part of a group. While they talked among themselves, I wouldn't be expected to speak.
Chapter Ten
Taken from the diary of Lady Eleanor Kingsclere
THE DWELLYN'S WARREN PROVED just as magnificent as Lok promised. Considering their size, I had expected a narrow network of tunnels, but the road leading down into the city was enormous. It was more than wide enough for us to walk abreast, and the high ceiling disappeared into darkness. The bones of the buildings were hewn from stone, almost like the inside of a giant castle, and the place was just as busy as any thoroughfare on the surface. By the light of the torch Lok had given me, I saw scores of dwellyn scurrying to and fro, going about their business.
"This definitely isn't what I expected," I whispered to Belle as we merged with the crowd. Most of them didn't even seem to notice our group despite the fact that we were human and leading a pair of horses. In fact, aside from a tinge of damp earth, it didn’t smell any different from the other marketplaces I had been in back in Seria. Even the sounds were the same, footsteps and turning wheels and the sound of merchants hawking their wares. If it hadn’t been for the dimness, I wouldn’t have realized we were underground at all.
"It's magnificent!" Belle said, her blue eyes wide with awe. She lifted her own torch higher, trying to look everywhere at once. "It has to be as big as Ronin at the very least. I think this is the trade market. There are vendors everywhere." I saw that she was right, and I was even more surprised to notice we weren't the only humans in attendance. A few other torches passed by from time to time, illuminating taller figures as they wandered between the various stalls and buildings.
Lok laughed, pleased by Belle's enthusiasm. "I'm glad you're impressed. We don't let many humans come here, but the ones who receive trading permits are usually taken aback. Most people have no idea that some of Amendyr's finest cities are underground."
"I need to update my library when I get home, or write a book about Amendyr myself," Belle said. "I know Serians like to pretend your country is primitive, but the books I read about the dwellyn made it sound like you lived in holes in the ground. This is absolutely amazing. Did you use magic to help build the city?"
"Of course not," Lok said, sounding almost offended. "The dwellyn don't need to hire human Ariada to build for us. Our engineers do fine work without magic, and they're a lot more reliable than mages."
While Belle and Lok continued talking, I heard small footsteps scurry beside me. I looked down to see Neva hovering by my side, still grinning. "This is where Ulig and his clan brought me after they found me. One of the palace servants was supposed to kill me, but he couldn't do it. He smuggled me to the Forest instead and left me there. They saved me from a group of kerak I couldn't fight on my own."
Her pleased delivery was a complete contrast to her awful story. I had known Neva's stepmother wanted her dead, but hearing it from her lips was still horrible. "I'm so sorry, Neva," I said, reaching out to clasp her shoulder after a brief hesitation to make sure the touch was welcome. "That must have been terrifying for you."
Neva continued smiling. "Don't be sorry. I'm not afraid of the dead anymore. Cieran has taught me a lot since then, and I have friends here."
"I wish I could be as optimistic as you," I said, shaking my head a little in awe. I was swiftly growing attached to this side of Neva's personality. Since reuniting with the dwellyn, she had been bubbly instead of sullen and withdrawn, full of energy and positivity.
Ulig, who had been walking nearby and listening to our conversation, nodded. "Friends, you, princess," he said, speaking in his limited Serian for my benefit. "Help home."
I looked at him curiously, and my earlier conversation with Belle came back to me. "Wait, you want to help Neva
return to Kalmarin?"
Ulig nodded, grunting. He said something in Amendyrri, and Neva translated. "He says his clan is going to escort us to the rebellion, and some of the other clans want to fight."
"Jett Bahari will be happy to hear that," Belle said. "You should write to Cate, Ellie. She'll know how to contact him."
"There's no need for that," Lok said. "We're already in negotiations with the rebellion. In fact, we were just waiting for your arrival. Our army should be prepared to march in a week, but the ten of us will be leaving in another day. We think it best to keep Neva apart from the main group."
"Ten?" an unhappy voice purred from behind me. Jessith rustled inside my pack, waking from one of her many naps just in time to be offended.
"Thirteen," I said. Brahms huffed in approval and lipped the side of my head.
Belle smiled. "Of course, we can't forget the animals. Thirteen might be unlucky in Seria, but in Amendyr, it's considered a number of power. Maybe our luck is turning around."
"I hope so. After the past week, we could definitely use some."
A shadow fell over Belle's face, and after a moment's thought, she turned to Lok. "I've read that the dwellyn are skilled at forging and using swords. Is that true?"
"Of course," Lok said with pride. "We're the finest in the world. Why? Are you interested in buying a sword?"
"I'm interested in learning how to use one," Belle said. It wasn't at all what I expected to hear from her lips. Although she was fairly fit for a noble, my wife had never shown any interest in fighting before. The idea certainly didn’t appeal to me. Coming face to face with the kerak at Baxstresse had been more than enough danger for one lifetime. Their faces still gaped at me from my nightmares, making it hard to forget.
Apparently, Belle’s mind had turned back to the same night. When I gave her a questioning look, she mentioned it as well. “Watching the kerak and the shadowkin take over Baxstresse was difficult for me. I felt helpless. We might have died if Jessith hadn't warned us and Neva hadn't been able to stop some of them." Her face furrowed into a look of determination. "Next time, I want to be able to do something."
Her pronouncement gave me mixed emotions. I understood her urge to protect what she cared about, but my mind flashed back to years earlier, when her bravery had almost killed her. She had fought with Luciana to save me, and the scuffle had left her on the brink of death for almost a week. A pit formed in my stomach at the thought of seeing her like that again. "If that's truly what you want," I said in an uncertain voice.
Belle held my eyes for a moment, and I knew she could read my thoughts. "I need to try. I wish it wasn't true, but I'm certain we're going to end up fighting for our lives again. When it happens, I'd like to have a weapon in my hand and know something about how to use it."
"A wise opinion to have," Lok said. "Rup is a master smith, so if you want something better than the tin sticks the rebellion has on hand, we might be able to accommodate you. We usually charge a fair price for our finest work, but considering the circumstances, I think we owe you." She gave Neva a fond look, which the girl happily returned. "You brought our princess back to us. I think that's worth a sword, at least."
***
That evening, after our hosts fed us, the animals were tended to, and Neva had been put to bed, Belle and I finally made it to a set of guest rooms with human-sized furniture. The stone walls didn’t look all that different from Baxstresse’s, and I could almost fool myself into thinking we were visiting another Serian noble’s manor. Only the decorations were different. They had a definite theme—metal and weapons of all types. In fact, two crossed maces with spiked heads hung directly above our bed.
While Belle unpacked our meager supplies and Jessith found a place to sleep by the fire, I took the chance to curl up in one of the plush armchairs and check my journal. There had barely been time to read or write while on the run, so I was relieved when I opened to the latest page and saw a short message in Cate's familiar handwriting:
Ellie,
You have no idea how relieved I am to hear that you are alive. I had a vision of you being chased by a monster before your message came, and somehow, I knew it was Luciana. She is under the Queen's power, and I am certain she has been sent to capture Neva. The Queen wants her desperately—or, at least, her body. My visions haven't revealed why, but I hope they will soon. I am certain that understanding the Queen's plans is the only way to protect Neva and help the rebellion succeed.
The more my Sight reveals, the more confused I become. Luciana's face isn't the only one that haunts my dreams. I see a pale woman with a golden crown, staring into a giant mirror that feels alive. The mirror's hunger is palpable, and its energy reminds me of Umbra's sorcerer's chain. If the two objects are related, as I believe they are, it could explain how the Queen, Mogra, and Luciana are connected.
I do have some good news, however. The liarre have finally seen things our way. Two of the councilors were not happy about the decision, but we managed to convince Chairwoman Maresth to vote in our favor. We left to join the rebellion two days ago with an army at our backs. There have been no signs of Mogra or her creatures here, so I suspect she is still near Seria, but Ailynn and Raisa are traveling with us. Ailynn's conscience is weighing on her, and she blames herself for the evil her mother has done.
Please, hurry to meet us as fast as you can. I doubt I will truly believe you are all right until I can hold you in my arms for proof.
Be careful,
Cate
I studied her signature for a long time, my heart filled with worry. The letter held more information than the words scribbled on the page, and because of our close friendship, I could read between the lines. If Cate was having visions of Luciana, she had to be frightened. The dark days we had shared as servants at Baxstresse under her power seemed a lifetime ago, but I had not forgotten. She had lived in a constant state of terror, flinching like a kicked dog whenever anyone so much as spoke to her. Her transformation since then was astounding, but I knew Luciana haunted her still.
"Another love letter?" Belladonna teased, causing me to look up from the journal. She wasn't truly jealous, but I could tell she was a little disappointed I hadn't come to bed with her straight away.
I closed the book, marking the page with my finger. "You know better," I said, giving my wife a smile as well as my full attention. "But if you're asking for a little reassurance..."
Belle's eyes flashed at that suggestion. "Perhaps I do need some reassurance. That is, if you aren't wrapped up in other things."
I knew she wouldn't be too upset if I chose to write instead of retiring with her, but I decided that responding to Cate's letter could wait until morning. Even though I was eager to tell her all about the dwellyn and their offer of help, the note of promise in Belle's voice was too tempting to resist. The week we had spent scurrying around the Serian countryside hadn't offered many opportunities for "reassurance," especially with Neva in our charge.
"Not too wrapped up to spend a moment with you." I set the journal aside, allowing my eyes to roam up and down Belladonna's figure. Before our flight from Baxstresse, I had hardly ever seen her in casual clothes. Her station came with certain expectations, and she normally wore fashionable dresses. However, she had purchased three plain shirts and two pairs of practical pants on the second day of our journey to make riding easier, and they suited her far better than I had imagined.
She noticed my admiring glance and gave a little spin, laughing as she did. "I'm surprised you enjoy seeing me in men's clothes," she said with a smirk. "I miss a few of my dresses, but I have to admit, these are comfortable. I might have a pair tailored for me when we get home."
"I would like that," I said, standing up from the chair. It only took a few steps to reach her, and I slid a hand around the back of her neck, teasing my fingers through her long dark hair. "But I know for a fact you'll look even better without the pants, or a dress, or anything else."
A pleased flush rose a
t the points of her cheeks, and her arms folded around me, drawing me against her body. She felt even warmer than usual with fewer layers between us, and I caught a slight hint of sweat—not altogether unpleasant, and in fact rather pleasing. All in all, it was a miracle she still smelled as good as she did after traipsing across the border with me. "I wouldn't object if you wanted a pair of pants as well," she whispered. Her hands began folding up the skirt of my dress, searching for the hem so she could lift it higher. I gasped when soft fingertips skimmed the side of my thigh. "But I do appreciate the easy access of your current outfit."
"No clothes," I insisted, pulling back and turning around before she could kiss me and change my mind. "Here, undo my dress?"
She stepped up behind me, pressing close again and placing a kiss behind my ear as her hands went to work. "Of course, my Ellie. Anything you desire."
Part Two
Chapter One
Taken from the verbal accounts of Ailynn Gothel, edited by Lady Eleanor Kingsclere
THANKS TO OUR FAST pace, the next week was a blur. The network of narrow sandstone cliffs all seemed the same, and the longer we walked, the more they started to smear together. Although I had been happy to be on the move when we first left Ardu, the atmosphere among the advance party was tense. Rufas and his men clearly did not want to be there, and Rachari and Jinale's followers had taken notice.
"How long do you think this stand-off will last?" I asked Larna one evening as we prepared dinner. The evening was warm, especially beside the fire where we had chosen to sit, but the atmosphere amongst our party was much frostier. Rachari and Rufas were glaring daggers at each other again from opposite sides of camp, sharpening their claws and their respective weapons in between murderous looks. Even Jinale and Hassa, the reasonable peacekeepers, had decided to avoid them.
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