Bones of the Earth (The Equilibrium Cycle Book 1)

by Jason A. Gilbert

  "You were the reason for all of this!" She swung her arms wide. "Without you, none of this would have happened."

  Icarus climbed to his feet slowly to face her eye-to-eye. Laila could see the strength in her mother's shoulders and stance again, though her ire was directed at the wrong person.

  "I was a catalyst, yes. But do you really believe that Torin's plan would not have come to fruition if I had not arrived? Your husband knows what it took for Torin to position himself as he did. Are you ignorant of this?"

  Lunete gathered herself for another outburst, but Icarus's words sunk in. Her aggressive stance abated and she lowered her arms. "No...I..."

  "You're looking for someone to blame. And if it helps you gain a measure of your former self, blame me. But right now, your daughter needs you, needs the Guardian you once were."

  Lunete took a deep, calming breath and nodded her head. The crisis diffused, Laila picked up her staff from the ground and took a seat in the main hall with her mother, Connor, and Icarus. Lunete glanced at the staff in Laila's hands.

  "I would assume there is a story behind that," she said.

  "A long one." Laila nodded.

  They sat for the next hour while Laila recounted her journey south to Grimmere and her time there. She glossed over much of what had happened on Mount Obrussa, telling her mother that she found the staff at the peak. She did not yet feel comfortable with the knowledge she had gained from the gut rock of the mountain. Connor also listened intently as he had not yet heard that part of her story either. Laila did not mention her visions, using her own desire to return home as the motivation for returning. There were too many unknowns in that vision, and she did not want to invite her mother's speculation.

  "So...are you a Magus, now?" Lunete asked once Laila had finished her story.

  Laila glanced at Icarus, who nodded and said, "In a manner of speaking."

  Laila reached into her staff, calling on her power. The staff burst into light, chasing away the dimness from the clouds that hung above the house. The room filled with the warmth and brightness of the earthlight. Her mother gasped at the sight, her eyes moving between Laila and the stone staff.

  "Is... That's magic!" she whispered.

  Laila nodded.

  "Laila!" a man's voice cut through the main hall. As it struck Laila’s ears, the light of her staff went out, and she lost her concentration. Alain walked into the hall, his eyes wide as he stared at his exiled daughter.

  The room had fallen silent as Alain moved into the main hall. Clara stood just behind his shoulder, a look of worry on her face. Laila stood slowly, leaning her staff against the chair that she had been sitting in. She walked toward her father, not sure what else to do. Alain continued to stare at his young daughter. Finally he broke the stone of his gaze.

  "What are you doing here?" he asked, his voice stern and commanding, not what Laila had hoped for.

  "Alain! Is that how you treat our daughter?" Lunete snapped, standing up to confront her husband.

  Alain turned toward her, and Laila could see the steel in his eyes. Something had changed in her father. He was no longer the man she remembered. "She is also no longer a Citizen. And she is without the patronage of one in the city, as some people are!"

  The retort struck Lunete like a blow. She stumbled away from her husband, leaning against the back of the chair she had been sitting in. Laila could not believe what she was seeing. This was not the relationship she remembered between her parents. Alain turned back to his daughter.

  "Answer my question, Laila. Why are you here?" his voice took on a softer edge. The steel in her father's demeanor was not directed at her or her mother; she could see that now. But it had overtaken him, consumed him. Whatever Alain had become focused on, it commanded his complete and undivided attention. Laila decided she did not need to guess where that focus lay.

  "I..." Laila started, but her voice trailed off. Her plan had made sense in her head until this point; she feared that voicing it out loud would take away its logic. That it would sound like the musing of a child, not the adult she was trying to be. Her father watched her patiently now. "I need to confront Torin. Do you know what he's doing?"

  Alain nodded and took a deep breath. "I thought as much. Yes, I am aware. As is the entire Consulate. But there are few now that would stand against him."

  "He’s destroying everything I’ve ever cared for! You, mother, my friends, even Terus!” Laila snapped.

  Alain nodded.

  "Why is no one standing up to him?" she pleaded.

  "We can't," her father answered.

  Laila was stunned by the ease with which her father answered. "What do you mean you can't? You're a Consul!"

  "I am. But Torin's position was established within the Consulate long before anything happened with you. I told you long ago that he was powerful. None of us knew how true that was. He's had the Consulari's ear for years. It only took a nudge here and there to tip the scales even more in his favor. Now he has the Consulari's seat, and the majority of Consuls follow him. There is nothing that we can do against him."

  "But... There has to be something. He's threatening everything. He's sent Guardians against another city!"

  Alain took a deep breath. "There is nothing that can be done. I have been fighting against Torin since the day that you left, but he still holds you against me. Uses knowledge of your...abilities as a constant threat. I have tried to work with other Consuls, but Torin just has too much influence."

  Laila could now see the origin of the steel in his eyes. He had been fighting. As much and in the best way that he could. But his family was too important, and he could not risk Laila's exposure. Even with her absence, exposing her as a Magus would have repercussions through the whole family. Alain knew that his best position was in Terus, not outside of it.

  She also now understood his vehemence toward her mother. In Alain's eyes, Lunete had given up. Forsaken her duty and calling. Lunete's fall from grace was not what angered her father; it was that she had stopped fighting.

  Laila stepped back and dropped herself into her chair. Seeing the reality of her parent's position stuck her deeply. She had hoped to return to Terus and right the wrongs that had been caused. She knew now that such a task was not going to be as simple as she had originally thought. One piece of her plan still made sense, however.

  "Father?" Laila said, looking up. Alain had moved further into the room and was waiting to see what Laila's response would be. Lunete sat against the chair, still stunned by the anger that had been directed at her by her husband. Icarus sat silently on the floor and watched the events unfold, and Connor did the same, a piece of bread forgotten in his hand.

  "Yes, Laila-sa?" Alain asked; his voice now took on a deep exhaustion.

  "I need to get to the Consulate. I have a plan, but I need to get an audience."

  "Laila, as soon as Torin knows you are in the city, you'll be arrested and cast out. Your very presence is an affront to him. Let alone your older friend." Alain nodded at Icarus, who looked up. "Yes, I remember who you are, Magus, though it has been a long time."

  Icarus inclined his head slightly. "Good to see you again, Consul."

  "Not quite," Alain responded.

  Icarus nodded and smiled.

  "What do you hope to accomplish?" Alain asked, turning back to Laila.

  "I... I can't say yet. But I have an idea." Laila knew that she was asking a lot of her father, especially in the state that he was in, but it was all she knew to do.

  Her father opened his mouth to respond, but as he did, there was a loud banging on the gate to the house. Laila jumped at the sound as did everyone else. Alain turned and motioned for Clara to go to the gate.

  Before she could reach it, the group in the main hall heard the gate swing open and bang heavily against the wall. Clara stood frozen as Guardians pushed past her and entered the main hall. Eight of them, fully armed, marched in. Connor jumped up and put himself between them and Laila. Two of the
closest drew their blades.

  Connor hesitated a moment. Then one stepped toward him, brandishing his sword to move Connor out of the way. With a blast of air, blue light erupted in Connor's hand and the Sword appeared, stopping the Guardian flat. As the Guardian stopped and backed up, Laila recognized Riker, Torin's lackey; he had seen Connor's Sword before.

  Connor faced the two Guardians who had drawn their weapons as the other six spread through the main hall, positioning themselves around Laila and her young protector. Laila grabbed her staff as she stood from her seat. She reached out and touched Connor on the shoulder.

  "Not here, Connor. Not now," she said into his ear.

  He glanced back at her for a moment and then released the Sword. Stepping next to him, Laila stood herself as tall as she could and faced Riker. Before she could speak, Alain did.

  "What right do you have to enter my home? I may not have the Consulari's approval, but I am still a Consul of Terus!"

  A voice echoed in from the garden. "You are, my old friend. But that does not protect those who have been banished." Torin strode into the main hall behind the last of the Guardians.

  “How…?” asked Alain.

  “Come now, Consul. You know better than to expect something as significant as this to slip past me. I have eyes everywhere. I knew your daughter had returned the moment she stepped off the boat!”

  Lunete and Alain were not the only ones who had changed since she had left. Torin had been altered as well. His hair was slightly disheveled, and he carried heavy circles under his eyes, as though he were not sleeping at night. His eyes had a frantic quality to them, darting among Alain, Laila, and Icarus. But he still carried himself with an almost regal demeanor, and his voice was still deep and powerful.

  "I gave you custody of your wife for her own sake. But, these," he motioned toward Icarus and Laila, "have no right to be in our city. The presence of the Magi cannot be tolerated!" he turned to Laila. "You! He said you'd return, but I did not think it would be so soon."

  Laila’s eyebrows raised. "He?"

  Torin ignored the question. "You forsook your Citizenship and gave up your right to enter this city. In violation of that agreement, you are under arrest, by order of the Consulate and Consulari."

  "You can't just do that, Torin," Alain snapped. "Something like this must go before the Consulate."

  "I AM THE CONSULATE!" Torin exploded. "You and your friends think you are so clever, trying to undermine me. But no longer! Arrest Consul Alain and his wife!" he shouted at the Guardians.

  Two of them moved to comply, but to Laila's surprise, Riker spoke up. "Consulari, are you sure? They have done nothing."

  "They are harboring exiles! They are conspiring against me! I will not have it! Arrest them!"

  Riker nodded. Laila could see the instability within Torin. He was no longer the self-righteous, arrogant Consul; something had changed in him, and it had only made him worse. Laila tried desperately to think of something, but barring full-on confrontation with Torin and the Guardians here and now, there was nothing for it.

  "We submit," she said quietly.

  Torin leaned back. He had not expected them to come quietly, and some of the fierceness of his gaze faded. "Good. Guardians," he said, calmer now.

  The Guardians moved toward Laila, Icarus, Lunete, and Alain, holding out bindings. One hesitantly moved toward Connor, unsure of what to do with him. "Consulari?" he asked.

  "Arrest him as well. He has violated our laws by accompanying these Magi."

  The Guardian nodded, and Connor reluctantly held out his hands. As Riker tied Laila's wrists, he pulled the staff from her hands. As soon as her hands no longer touched the stone, Riker stumbled toward the ground, dropping the staff in the process.

  "Wh—?!" he blurted.

  He leaned down and tried to pick it up from the ground, struggling heavily. The muscles in his shoulders knotted as Laila watched him desperately try to lift the staff.

  "What is this?" asked Torin.

  Laila raised her hands to show that she was doing nothing threatening and knelt beside her staff. Slowly she reached down and picked it up, lifting it lightly from the ground. Riker stared at her. Turning back toward Torin, he raised his hands questioningly.

  "Let her carry it. We'll relieve her of it when we reach the Consulate," Torin said. "But watch the outsider," he said, pointing to Connor. "He's dangerous."

  Riker nodded, ordering one of the Guardians to stand behind the young man, his sword drawn and ready to stop Connor at the first sign of retaliation. Once they were all bound, Torin led the group out of the main hall, through the gardens, passed a stunned Clara, and back out onto the streets of Terus.

  Eighteen

  Torin

  Laila sat in her cell. The Guardians had brought them to the holding cells that were situated underneath the Consulate. The walls were damp and smelled of mold. Small mice skittered their way across the floor, searching for bits of food. The holding cells were rarely used, and even when they were, it was often to subdue an unruly Citizen who had gone too far into their drinks; they had not been used for true prisoners for fifty years or more. Not until Icarus had arrived in Terus, at least.

  Her staff lay on the floor just outside of her cell. Once the Guardians had locked her away, they had tried to remove the staff. It had taken two of them to move it outside of the cell, and they had determined that that was a good enough place for it and left it on the ground, just out of Laila's reach. Her parents and companions had been taken to a different part of the holding cells, so she was alone...except for the mice.

  This was not how she had anticipated her return. Her plan had been to confront Torin in front of the Consulate, and somehow figure out why he had undertaken this unprecedented war for power in the Confederacy. Thinking about it now, she realized the idea had been somewhat premature. She did not know how she had been going to confront Torin, or how she would get him to confess his plans, or if getting him to do so would have even made a difference. She lowered her head dejectedly. Now she was in prison, and she had gotten her mother and father arrested as well. All on some silly idea to set things right. What could she do? She was only a child. Icarus had been right; she had only been a Consul for one day. Her father’s position did not automatically qualify her to take on the machinations that occurred above these cells every day.

  A door down the hall swung open. She watched as two Guardians led a young man in; he was dressed in the robes of a Consul. Laila recognized him as he came closer. It was Casus, Torin's assistant. He walked up to the bars of the cell and glared at Laila. There was an odd heat to his gaze. She had known that he did not like her, but she had always assumed that was because of her father. The vehemence in his gaze now was something else, something greater, but she did not know what.

  He stood for a long time without speaking, just glaring at her. Laila held his gaze.

  "Torin wishes to speak with you, Magus," Casus finally said, spitting out the last word.

  Without speaking, Laila stood and approached the door to her cell. Casus looked as though he wanted to say more, but he stopped himself. He motioned to the Guardians, and they opened the door. As she stepped through, she knelt down to pick up her staff, feigning injury.

  "Stop!" snapped Casus. The Guardians both placed hands on their blades.

  Laila looked up from her stooped position. "It helps me walk. I hurt my leg and knocked my head on a rock while traveling back to Terus. I just need it to support myself."

  She tried to make her voice sound as deprecating as possible, gesturing toward the bandage wrapped around her head. Casus watched her for a moment, considering. The heat of his gaze made Laila uncomfortable, but finally he nodded. The Guardians relaxed, and Laila knelt, gathering up her staff and standing back up. Immediately she grasped at her power through the staff, calling on its confidence. Whatever Torin had in store for her, she was sure she would need it.

  Casus regarded her a moment longer, considering
something, but then he turned and headed back for the door. The Guardians flanked Laila, keeping their hands on their weapons. Laila followed the young Consul out of the cells and up through the ancient tunnels into the halls of the Consulate. They made their way through a series of servants’ hallways so as to avoid contact with any of the other members of the Consulate. Laila was surprised, however, to see that there were no servants or other young Consuls making their way through the hallways at this hour. It was late in the day, but not that late—even these narrow hallways would normally be full of the young Consuls running their errands. Something was not right.

  Casus led her into a series of apartments, the largest of which held a tall window looking out toward the Terus harbor. A large desk stood at one end and the rest of the apartment was lavishly furnished. Hand-carved tables and chairs were precisely arranged, a large couch stretched out against one wall, an ancient tapestry hanging above it depicting a glorified version of Artus Socratis standing on the shores of Lake Artus and looking over what would become the city of Terus.

  Seated at the large desk was Torin. His hair was back in place, and his eyes no longer held the fanaticism they had earlier. He was ruffling through a series of papers spread out on his desk.

  "The exile, Consulari," Casus stated, leading Laila to a position in front of Torin's desk.

  Torin looked up. "Thank you, Casus."

  Casus nodded, leaving Laila's side and moving to a position behind Torin's shoulder. Torin studied Laila for a moment. She straightened her back reflexively, trying to give off an air of confidence. She pulled diligently at her staff, but it was not enough to assuage her apprehension.

  "I did not think you would come back, child," Torin said. "Forsaking your Citizenship could not have been easy. But you did so, and you knew what returning here would mean. For you and for your parents." He shook his head. "Such foolishness. But probably to be expected in one so young."

  The blatant anger that had been in his voice earlier at her parent's house was still there, Laila realized, regardless of how calm he now appeared. He was just hiding it better. Here in his element, with the trappings of his office surrounding him, he found confidence, just as the staff provided her.