“Oh, like I’m not putting my life at risk just by talking to you guys? She keeps me with her at all times, it’s not like I’ve had a chance to just chat with you.”
“I knew it was a mistake to bring her into the inner circle,” Jennat snapped.
“Placing blame won’t help us now,” Tigera argued. “You must strip her of her void magic immediately.”
And that will save Spirea, Tigera thought to himself.
“Agreed,” Ryberts nodded. “Her powers must be revoked.”
“Agreed,” Jennat said. “We’ll need Number One for that.”
“Where is Dev’in?”
“He’s been maintaining the activation. He should be back any minute.”
“What are we agreeing to?” came a dark ominous voice.
Tigera shot up straight in his chair, sweat beading on his brow. “No…”
A dark swirling portal opened up and Queen Sotol stepped out. She was injured, her clothes torn and dusty, bits of rock clinging to her white hair.
“What happened to you?”
“I’ve been digging myself out of a mountain of rubble,” she explained, black blood dripping off her fingertips. “So, you can imagine my surprise when I discover that not only are the rest of you feasting and drinking instead of attending to the damage done to the tower…but also to find you plotting against me.”
Ryberts stood up, knocking his chair over. “Stand down, traitor! You may have deceived your way into acquiring the magic of the void, but there’s only one of you. You don’t stand a chance against all of us.”
She lifted a white eyebrow, her eyes swirling with silver. “Don’t I?”
She snapped her fingers and Ryberts fell over, clutching his abdomen and screaming with pain. The others looked on in horror as he convulsed and snapped about, his mouth foaming.
Jennat blinked. “What did you do to him?”
Tigera watched as black dripping thorns began to grow out from Ryberts’ body, skewering him from the inside out. The old man’s eyes rolled back as black thorny vines grew out from his mouth.
“Cruisao seeds…”
Queen Sotol nodded. “I’m not a fool. Every meal you’ve all consumed for the last month has been laced with Cruisao. With void magic I can trigger them without the need for a tree or a man.”
Jennat balled her fists. “You witch!”
“Don’t be absurd, were you not planning on betraying me just now? You’re just angry that I beat you to it.”
She glided over to Tigera, her expression one of genuine betrayal. “But you, oh you, my consort, I did not expect to find here.”
He thought to run, but she was on him in a flash. Her arm stretched out into a great, black tentacle, wrapping around him from foot to neck. She lifted him up the air as if he weighed nothing, his skin sizzling at her touch. He managed to reach up and grab his necklace, and at his command his animals came rushing in to save him from all directions, but she lifted her hand and snapped her fingers, and they all fell to the ground, squealing in pain.
The Queen hissed, her teeth growing into long, black fangs. Her ghostly hair rose up and floated around her. “I suppose it’s poetic justice. The one man I ever trusted, the only one I ever lo…”
She cut off, struggling as something assaulted her from within. “…was the first one to…uh…betray me.”
She squeezed harder, his body groaning under the strain. “Tigera Hissledorf, you are my greatest mistake.”
The matching necklace around her neck began to smoke and shake.
Her eyes were filled with hate. “Now, it’s time to erase that mistake.”
“Destroy her!” Marc yelled.
Queen Sotol snapped her fingers again, and all the Kabal members fell to the ground in agony. Black thorns pierced their bodies from within, their flesh bubbling and melting away as they screamed.
Queen Sotol began breathing heavily. The muscles in her arm spasmed. It would be so easy to crush him like an egg, but when she tried, her body resisted her.
“No…not now,” she hissed. “I won’t let you…stop meeeee!”
Her hair fell down and shifted back to black. She grabbed her arm with her other arm, clawing at her own flesh as if she meant to shear it off.
“This…is…my…body…”
She tried to snap, but her fingers would not budge. She screamed in pain, her face shifting and inflating as if it were made of putty.
Tigera tried to free himself, but he was still held too tightly.
Her face reformed, looking young again, with raven hair and sorrowful black eyes.
Tigera looked at her. “Spirea.”
She looked around, as if trying to figure out where exactly she was.
“Tigera, you’ve got to run, you’ve got to get away from me,”
Tigera looked down at her crumbling necklace. “Spirea, don’t fight her, the strain will break my spell!”
“I have to…” she gasped, her body stretching and contorting. “If I don’t, she’ll kill you.”
Her arm returned to normal and he dropped to his feet. Spirea fell to her knees, grabbing at her stretching head as if it threatened to burst. “Run, please run! I can’t hold her, I can’t; she’s too strong!”
“But…”
She screamed in pain and grabbed his shirt. “Just go! You can’t save me. No one can. Don’t you understand? I was never a person, I was always just a shell. This was my fate from the moment I was born.”
Her body began shaking, her hair to rise up and change color.
Tigera looked at the portal, then looked back at her.
“But I swore I would save you.”
She pulled him close and kissed him on the lips. It surprised him so much that took his breath away. It was sweet, surprisingly tender. The energy of it seemed to flow down his body, like a warm shower. She reached up and touched his cheek. Without thinking, he placed his hand on top of hers, and their fingers intertwined.
It was at that moment he realized something his heart had known for some time.
He realized that somewhere along the line, he had fallen in love with her.
Her body inflated and deflated, tearing itself apart from within.
As she released him, her kiss lingered on his lips, her eyes began to swirl with silver again.
“Now, go!”
She shoved him backwards, hard. As he fell back through the portal into the ruins of Madaringa, their matching necklaces shattered into a million pieces.
The woman threw her head back and completely lost control of her physical form. Her body tore itself apart, twisting and writhing in bands of black electricity and black, gooey flesh. Fingers, toes, claws, tails, eyes wings, scales and hair thrashed about in a terrifying mass of sickly grotesquery. There was no form, just random bits, like a tornado of animal parts. Pieces of her lashed out, tearing deep trenches into the stone of the plaza. Boils formed on her skin and burst open, releasing bolts of black energy, splitting pillars and scorching stone. One bolt hit the portal and it threw itself apart, not so much closing as spinning to pieces.
Slowly, the storm faded, the mewling mass cobbling itself back together into the form of the old crone Queen Sotol. The afet that had so long infected her body fell to the floor. She watched it oddly as it squirmed, evaporating into a vanishing mist.
“Tigera…you were controlling me this whole time!” she gasped in astonishment. “I can see it now. How could I have missed it? All those times…you were trying to turn me back into her!”
Breathing heavily, Queen Sotol held up her hands. She realized for the first time what a fog she was living under. All these feelings, all these emotions; they had never been hers. They had infected her because of the afet. She could see how many mistakes she had made, her obsession with hurting Athel, her anger at losing Alder, her infat
uation with Tigera, they had all steered her thoughts in winding, wasteful avenues, distracting her from her real goal. Immortality.
The ground began to shake. Softly at first, then with greater force. The whole city shook violently, throwing the queen to the ground. Pillars cracked and stone shifted. Even the great, green barrier that held back the seawater began to thin and crack.
“What? What is happening?!”
* * *
Athel watched dispassionately as the seas before them swelled like a great dome. Hundreds of Stonemaster ships arrayed themselves around the swell, their crews combining their powers together in a great hexagon of linked hands. Deep beneath the seas, the entire sea floor shifted, entire mountain ranges worth of rock all flowing together from every direction, forcing a section of the shelf upwards and upwards towards the surface.
It seemed incredible. The Stonemasters had been their enemies for so long, now they were allies against a common foe, providing the opportunity for one final attempt, for the world to be saved.
King Koriar led the chanting, his voice cracking, his body straining. This was no jubilation in it, like other incantations like Athel had heard. This was the wake of a dying people, their last defiant scream against the darkness and death that surrounded them on all sides. It seemed to her, in that moment, to be the very voice of Aetria itself, screaming to the cold stars that she would not die without a fight, that it would not disappear without a struggle. A simple plea, a simple desire.
The desire to live.
None who heard it could fail to feel the deep sadness behind those words. The courage in the face of complete annihilation, and the camaraderie felt by all those willing to stand up and fight for their lives.
The sea roiled and squealed. Odger fell to his knees, sweat rolling down his face, but held onto the hands of the others. Lightning cracked from the heavens in protest, the seawater tightening where the tines struck it.
Several ships were hit, their sails set alight, but the spell continued. One Stonemaster collapsed from exertion. Then a second, then a third. Odger’s body went limp and he fell to the deck, unconscious. Athel ran up and took his place. Though she knew it would have no effect, she took their hands on either side, and did her best to chant along. It just felt right to do so.
With a final great snap, the seas parted and the ancient city of Arianis Kultur was forced into open air. Ancient eroded coliseums, temples, forums, and pavilions came to view.
As the green barrier failed and sloughed away, the seas clawed at the edges of the city, desperate to consume the now exposed structures, but the Stonemasters lifted it up further, creating a column of rock that forced it clear of the sea’s reach.
The city settled into place, excess water draining away in dark waterfalls, leaving behind empty streets and abandoned buildings. While it may have once been the jewel of the water tribe, it was no longer so. The structures slumped and sagged, their bleached surfaces cracked and barren. This was not the great city of legend. This was the corpse of that city, a dead place, reeking of decay and death.
It was into this place that Athel would lead them.
Overwhelmed with exhaustion, the Stonemasters fell to the decks of their ships. Athel sent off some of the Dreadnaught’s crew to extinguish the fires, then turned to her friends.
The skies crackled and thundered behind her. Her red hair whipped limply around her. When the lightning flashed, it highlighted her scarred face and blind eye.
“My friends. We go now into the heart of evil. I do not ask any of you to follow. If I am to fall, I would regret it forever if I did not say what is in my heart while I still had the chance.”
She looked kindly upon each of them in turn.
“I love each and every one of you.”
Dr. Griffin looked up in shock from where he was bandaging Ryin’s chest. “Even me?”
Athel chuckled. “Yes, even you, Dr. Griffin.”
Dr. Griffin sat up and tugged on his grey pony tail. “Wow! No woman’s ever said that to me before. Does this mean that…?”
“Don’t ruin the moment, okay?”
“Oh… right. Sorry.”
Mandi gave Molly a hug, and handed her over to Mina, then stepped up alongside Athel. “I will go with you, Athel Forsythia. Even if it is to be our end.”
Athel and Mandi looked at one another softly. “Thank you.”
Privet stepped forward. “As your second husband it is my duty to stand beside you.”
He smiled. “But, more importantly, as a man who loves you, my sword will always be by your side. My fate will always be your fate. I am your blade, and your shield.”
Athel threw her hands around him and held him tightly. “I love you, Privet. I always have. Even when I said I didn’t, I actually did.”
“I know.”
Captain Evere hobbled forward, leaning on his crutches, his leg in a cast. “We’ll take care of the others till you get back, lass.”
“Thank you, Captain Evere. You have been a good friend, and an even better Maar’i ota’a ann’I to my children.”
She put out her hand, and Evere shook it warmly. “Just make sure you come back, lass.”
Mina came up and gave Athel a hug with her good arm, her torso bound with glowing bands to heal her broken ribs. “We’ll be waiting.”
Talliun walked up and crossed her fist over her chest in salute. “According to tradition, no member of the royal family may enter a hostile situation without being accompanied by a member of the royal guard.”
Athel looked at the bandaged stump where Talliun’s brass arm used to be. “But, I’m not royal anymore.”
Talliun looked at her gently. “You will always be my Queen.”
Athel placed her hand on Talliun’s shoulder. “And you will always be my Captain.”
Talliun nodded in thanks, and took her place with the others.
Rachael hopped up, careful not to bump her cast into anything as she held Ash in her arms. Using Albashire to keep her balance, she gave her smartest military salute. “I want you to know, that in all my career, I have never had greater respect for anyone I served under.”
She lowered her hand, her eyes growing moist. “…and I know Nikki felt the same way.”
Athel felt her scar flash with pain, but she tried to smile anyway. “Thank you. I know it must have been hard to turn your backs on the League, but I want you to know that what you did was very honorable.”
Rachael sniffed. “Thanks,” she squeaked.
Athel took Ash in her arms and held him close, taking in his lovely little scent. “My son, if I don’t return, I fear you’ll be too young to remember me. I wish I had written something down, made some record for you to cling to, but now there is no time.”
She gave him the gentlest kiss on the cheek. “I love you, little one.”
Carefully, she handed him back to Rachael.
“Hey, you’re not leaving without me!” came a tiny, angry voice. Bunni Bubbles ran up, wearing her pirate hat. To show her prowess, she began swinging about her tiny cutlass.
Athel chuckled. “I wouldn’t dream of it.”
She glanced up at Deutzia. “You take care, sis.”
Deutzia shimmered tenderly in response.
Andolf walked up, his long, purple beard trailing beneath him. “I have bound as many spirits to each of you as my strength allows. They will provide you with a measure of protection, and they will carry your voice to the others should you become separated. I only wish I could do more.”
“Give mine to Alder,” Athel insisted. “Have them sustain and protect him.”
Andolf blinked. “But…”
“You don’t get it, do you? It doesn’t matter what happens to me. The only thing that matters is that he lives.”
Andolf opened his mouth to protest, but when he saw the resolve in he
r eye, he decided against it. “All right.”
The spirits around her whisked down below deck, and Andolf turned to everyone, his voice a grave portent. “If we fail this day, it will mean the end of all life.”
More lightning struck, and everyone grew silent at the unbelievable weight of it all. The unbearable finality. All of creation, all of the past, all of the future; that everyone and everything they had ever held dear was about to vanish forever, leaving nothing behind. Not even a memory.
Athel drew her saber. “I’m not here to save the world. Just the people I love.”
Privet drew Covenant Breaker, her opal surface glittering. “Same here.”
As Margaret summoned a wind, the ship slipped forward, and the corpse city drew near.
Athel and Privet looked at one another in determination.
“For Alder,” Privet said.
“And our family,” Athel affirmed. “And our friends.”
* * *
The women of Wysteria knew the men were returning hours before they arrived. Without any magic or spell, the trees were beginning to take on a healthier hue. The larger trees were even allowing the women to approach them again.
As the first ship arrived, the royal tree cradled one of her branches around the ship. A gangplank was lowered, and Setsuna helped Dwale step down onto the living wood. He was so excited, he threw off his boots and let his bare feet touch the living wood, letting out a long sigh of relief.
Akar and Iris followed, and a great cheer rose up from the women below.
Akar looked out, his expression an odd mix of relief and awe. “I’d forgotten how big they are.”
Suddenly the cheers died down, and a wave of fear passed through the forest. The ground began to shake. Everyone looked to the south, and saw the trees quivering with terror. The Briar Cliffs were falling, sinking down into the ocean. They broke free and crumbled, dissolving into the waters in broiling plumes of dark fume.
Through the gap now exposed, the seawaters began to flood in, squealing in delight as they raced towards the capital city of Cliffrose, dissolving everything in their path.
“Oh, no!”
* * *
Lightning flashed in the tormented skies above Arianis Kultur. Bunni Bubbles rounded a corner of the rotting forum, coming face to face with a perched, sneering gargoyle.
Isle of Wysteria: Throne of Chains Page 34