The future of the entire Empire. That was an immense weight to carry.
Ander wasn't sure he could handle it.
Chapter 12: A Strange Revelation
Tylen stood alone before Warrick's throne. Warrick had already punished the rest of the contingent for their failure to stop Berig and the others from escaping. They'd endured a few seconds of torture each. Now it was Tylen's turn.
"You let them escape," Warrick said.
"I am sorry, Your Majesty."
Warrick smiled. "There's no reason to be sorry, Tylen. You did exactly as I expected. In fact, you did what I wanted from you."
Sweat trickled down Tylen's forehead. "I-I don't understand, Your Majesty."
"This is all part of a bigger plan, Tylen. The rest don't know this."
Tylen swallowed a lump in his throat. "Then why are you telling me, Your Majesty?"
"As I told you once before, you will be much more than a simple Imperial Guard. Have you heard of the Webs of Fate, Tylen?"
"I think I've heard the name."
"Well, when it comes to the Webs of Fate, there are certain people who have greater influence on events than others. You could say they have the power to pull and twist the threads of those webs. You are one such person, Tylen. You are a Weaver, perhaps the strongest I've ever seen. You have an important role to play."
"Anything to serve you, Your Majesty," Tylen said.
Warrick narrowed his eyes. "Spare me the act, Tylen. I know you don't support me in your heart. I can see it written across your face."
"I will try to do better, Your Majesty."
Warrick ran a hand through his dark hair. "This isn't going to work. I understand that you're afraid of me, and I do need some healthy fear in my servants, but you don't have to be so formal around me. One day, we might even see each other as equals."
Tylen had trouble believing that. "Aren't you going to punish me?"
"No. Why should I? You did as I wanted."
"I still don't understand this greater plan."
Warrick leaned forward in his throne. "It is not your place to understand. Not yet."
"Is there anything you wish me to do, Your Majesty?"
"For now, you will continue in your duties as an Imperial Guard. There will come a time when I'll ask more of you. Please try not to get yourself killed before then."
Tylen thought he saw a flicker of a smile on Warrick's face.
Chapter 13: Back into the Empire
Nadia and Rik stood at the side of Markus's bed in the dark and crowded hospital. Markus was conscious, and some color had returned to his skin, but Doctor Reed had told them that Markus's condition would deteriorate.
"I know you'll save me," Markus said. "I believe in you, Nadia."
She held his hand. "I wish I believed in myself the way you believe in me. You see me as so strong, but I feel like it's all an act."
"It's not an act," Markus said. "You're the strongest person I know."
Rik put a hand on her shoulder. "He's right, you know."
Markus sat up a little. "Just make sure you keep Rik safe for me. I know you'll make it through, Nadia."
"And you don't think I will?" Rik said.
Markus grinned. "I'm just giving you trouble."
"Hey, that's my job!"
Markus sank back against his pillows. "Take care of each other."
They said a few final goodbyes, left the hospital, met up with Kevin to acquire a few supplies, then started east toward the mountains. Nadia couldn't believe she was returning. The thought of stepping inside those mountains brought back feelings she'd tried to suppress.
Loss. Pain. Failure.
For the first part of their journey, they followed a narrow road, staying within the wards. There was a small village, not too far from the mountains, where they could rest.
When they reached this village, sunset was approaching. They entered the village inn. It was small, and only a few people occupied the common room. Nadia and Rik ordered some food, then took seats at an empty table in the corner.
"How're you feeling?" Rik asked.
"I'm better now. At least I know there's a chance of saving Markus. I'd be lying if I told you I wasn't terrified. The thought of returning to the Empire . . ."
Rik swallowed a mouthful of food. "Yeah, I know what you mean. It was nice to think that we were done with Warrick. All this time, that was what I wanted more than anything. I finally got my wish, and now we have to go back."
"Only until we find this cure," Nadia said.
"If we find the cure."
She gave him a sharp look. "We can't dwell on what might go wrong. Markus is depending on us, and I can't have you slipping back into negativity."
"You're right. I'm sorry. It's still hard for me. You might think everything's better with me now, but I'm terrified. I thought our adventures were over. I wanted so badly to find something stable." He let out a low laugh. "It's amazing how much I've changed."
"I think our quest changed all of us."
"I just wish I knew if that change was for the better."
They finished their meal, stayed the night, then continued east as soon as dawn broke. Outside the village, they left the wards, but the mountains were perhaps a mile distant. Nadia prayed they wouldn't encounter any monsters along the way.
To her relief, her prayers were answered. Soon they stood at the edge of the mountains, where Nadia consulted the map Angeline had given her. If Nadia had judged correctly, they were right where they needed to be.
She put the ring on her finger and stepped forward, hitting the barrier. When she pushed against it, it didn't budge.
No. They couldn't fail already.
"Relax, Nadia," Rik said. "We'll have to keep guessing until we find the right spot."
"Now that's the Rik I like better."
"I do try, you know." He grinned. "Well, sometimes."
They searched for perhaps an hour, keeping an eye out for monsters. However, it appeared none of the monsters lurked this close to the mountains. Nadia felt a great sense of relief when she pushed against a spot on the barrier and her arm went through.
"We've found it," she said.
Holding onto each other, they stepped across the barrier. There was some resistance, but it let them through.
"You think Warrick will send Imperial Guards?" Rik asked.
"I didn't think of that."
They started up the mountain, struggling to find stable trails. Nadia's legs burned after a while. Eventually, they found a narrow defile leading to the other side of the mountain. No sign of Imperial Guards yet.
But would they be waiting at the other side of this passage? Would Rik's magic be enough against them?
The sun loomed overhead, and sweat poured down Nadia's face. At least Rik could generate water with his staff, so they didn't risk dehydration. After what seemed an interminable march, the end of the passage appeared ahead.
Six Imperial Guards waited for them.
"Dammit," Rik said. "What do we do now?"
Nadia had no idea. The Imperial Guards blocked the entire path, and Rik's staff couldn't defend them against swords.
The commander stepped forward, his gaze stern. "Lay down your weapons."
Rik pointed his staff at him. "Not gonna happen."
"We know how those staffs work," said the commander. "You can block our arrows, but you can't attack us at the same time. Nor can you launch your own arrows from within a shield." He took another step forward, his expression anxious. "You're at a major disadvantage here."
"Then why aren't you attacking us?" Nadia asked, suspecting that the commander had lied about their ability to attack him from within the shield.
"We value our own lives. Yes, we'd win the battle, but we'd suffer losses. I see no sense in that." He narrowed his eyes. "But first we must come to an understanding. We know where you came from."
"So what's this understanding?" Rik asked.
"Simple. You don't tell anyo
ne what you know, and we'll leave you alone."
Nadia glared at him. "Do you expect us to take your word for that?"
"As I see it, you don't have much of a choice. You should be happy that I've agreed to spare you. Don't test my patience."
Something was wrong here. Was Warrick still manipulating events, as she'd suspected all along? But why would Warrick want her to cure Markus? And why would he send Imperial Guards anyways?
She'd come to doubt many of her previous beliefs about Warrick. None of his actions fit together logically in her mind. He should have killed them right away after they'd made the attempt on his life. He should have stopped them long before they'd reached him.
"Are we allowed to pass?" Rik asked, startling Nadia out of thought
"Yes," said the commander. "But keep your weapons sheathed."
"Fair enough," Rik said, strapping his staff across his back. Nadia sheathed her sword. Her bow had never left her back. Had she become that reliant on Rik's magic?
The Imperial Guards stepped aside. Nadia felt their eyes on her as she and Rik passed, and she expected them to launch arrows at any second. However, as Nadia and Rik descended the slope beyond the pass, no attack came.
"That was weird." Rik glanced back. "What was the point of sending Imperial Guards to the mountains if they were gonna let us pass anyways?"
"I'm not sure. Perhaps Warrick wants to remind us that he's keeping an eye on us."
"I've given up trying to understand Warrick," Rik said.
"Probably a good idea."
It was late afternoon by the time they reached Allenton. Nadia wanted to continue north to the Fire Mountains, but she was exhausted. She wouldn't do Markus any good if she died because she was too tired to watch her surroundings.
After sleeping for a few hours, they set out. Night had fallen, but Nadia didn't care. Here in the Empire, they didn't have to worry about monsters lurking in the dark. For the first time in her life, Nadia was grateful for something Warrick had done.
As they traveled north toward the mountains, the air took on a strange chill. Nadia's skin prickled, and a shiver ran down her spine. She'd felt this chill before.
Maybe you're just imagining things, she told herself. But the farther they walked, the more pervasive the cold became. She shivered.
Rik leaned closer to her. "You okay, Nadia?"
"It's nothing."
A great blast of cold hit her, and her legs buckled. Rik looked down at her, his brow furrowed with worry. She was going to say something, but then she heard the low hiss of the Spirit of Malavia.
"We meet again, Nadia."
"What do you want?" Nadia asked softly, and Rik gave her a strange look.
"I am here to tell you that you are on the right path to saving Markus. The potion recipe is deep within the ruins of Sandersburg, and one potion-maker remains alive in the Prison City."
Despite the cold, Nadia felt relieved. She'd had her doubts about what she'd heard from Angeline and Doctor Reed. Though she shouldn't have been convinced by the Spirit of Malavia, she was. That terrified her.
She recalled that the spirit was Warrick's servant. She had no idea why Warrick was interested in Markus, but she had to cast those doubts aside. She could worry about Warrick's plans later.
"I have something else for you," said the spirit. Its cold seeped into Nadia's bones, and for a moment, she thought it was killing her, but then her mind filled with images, as if a map had formed in her mind. She realized what it was: a path through the Fire Mountains.
She trembled. "Why have you given this to me?"
"It is my duty to the world."
The cold vanished. Nadia got to her feet shakily and glanced at a pale and worried Rik. "That was the Spirit of Malavia again," she said. "It confirmed that we're on the right path to save Markus, and then it somehow put a map into my head."
"That seems a little too convenient."
"I know."
Chapter 14: Unfamiliar Paths
The northwesterly journey to the caves took less than a day. Ander stood at the front of the party, just beyond the entrance, trying not to think about entering that place again. He'd never been claustrophobic, but this place was enough to terrify anyone.
Talia and Captain Davis gazed warily at the opening, but their expressions were nothing compared to Sarah's. She had gone deathly pale, and her jaw quivered.
Captain Davis put a hand on her shoulder. "You all right?"
"I've never been back here. It brings back terrible memories." Her eyes welled up with tears. "It's been twelve years, and it still feels like yesterday. I failed them. I led them there. It's my fault they were taken to the Shadowed Land."
"You can't blame yourself," Captain Davis said. "If there's anything I've learned recently, it's that hanging on to guilt doesn't do you any good."
"Does that mean you've moved past Crayden?" Ander asked.
"I did give up my life to save Berig. That's gotta count for something, right?" He chuckled. "Well, I guess I didn't really give up my life after all."
"I'm glad to see you a little more cheerful," Ander said.
"Let's hope that lasts."
"There's no sense waiting around," Talia said.
They filed into the cave. Ander used his staff to close the entrance behind them, plunging them into darkness. Sarah lit a torch so Ander could defend the party with his staff.
For the first few minutes, there was one empty passage. They walked in silence, alert for threats. They hadn't faced many obstacles the last time through here, but Ander didn't expect that to continue. Of course, it was bad enough just wandering through these caves. Already, he felt trapped. He knew he could return to the outside world, but he refused to give up.
Cyrus had entrusted this task to him. He would not fail.
They stopped at the first junction. Ander turned to Sarah, who frowned as she looked from one passage to the other. Should he say something to her? It was a strange feeling. He'd always been a confident man, but something had robbed him of that confidence. Surely the others could see that he wasn't a proper leader.
No proper leader would have let Graig die. No proper leader would have left Captain Davis for dead, or failed to see the danger Farah had posed for the party. No proper leader would have lost Kara to the clutches of the Silver Wisp.
If he'd been a proper leader, he would have gone with Nadia. Maybe she would have succeeded with his help.
No. Maybe he was in the right place after all. He had to give these people his best performance as a leader, even if he felt like an imposter.
It was startling how a passing feeling of unease could send his thoughts down these confused paths. He'd never been that way before. How much had recent events changed him?
At last, Sarah said, "I think we should take the passage on the left."
"But you aren't sure?" Ander said.
"It's not the kind of thing you can really feel sure about. It's a feeling you get inside you. I don't know. I have a lot of trouble explaining it."
"Well, none of the rest of us know where to go," Ander said. "So we're counting on you."
They entered the passage. Ander hated the unending darkness of the caves, the way that their surroundings never changed. They walked for miles, delving deeper underground. Ander imagined all those tons of rock sitting above them and came away feeling sick.
Eventually, they decided to rest and eat from the packs of food they'd acquired before leaving Mountainside. Dried meat and dried fruit didn't make the greatest meal, but Ander had grown used to such provisions on their previous journey through these caves.
"I hate this place," he said. His voice echoed in the cavern.
Captain Davis swallowed a bite of food. "Can't say I like it much either."
"This brings back too many bad memories," Sarah said.
"We all blame ourselves for our failures," Ander said. "But everyone fails. Everyone makes mistakes. It's how you move forward from those mistakes that determine
s what kind of person you are."
He was amazed at the confidence in his voice. Could the others see beneath his mask, to the fear that had taken hold within him?
"You're a smart man," Talia said. "That's why we like having you as our leader."
"Thank you for your confidence in me." Ander had never felt as overwhelmed as he did now. It was hard to fathom that the fate of the Empire might rest in his hands. All this time, he'd been part of the Order, but he'd never thought he'd have the chance to stop Warrick. Not even when he'd led Nadia through Woodsville.
They finished their meal, then resumed their trek through the caves, following Sarah's lead. At every junction of passages, she hesitated, giving Ander little confidence.
After perhaps two hours of traveling, Ander heard movement ahead. He raised a hand to halt the party, and they listened. It was a scuttling sound like the spiders they'd encountered their first time through these caves, but not quite.
Ander crept forward, ready to run at any moment. He rounded a bend in the passage and emerged in a larger chamber, swiveling his staff's light about his surroundings.
His light fell on the monster. It looked somewhat like a spider, but its front two legs ended in massive pincers. The beast itself had to be twenty feet long. As soon as Ander's light hit its enormous eyes, it raced toward him. He retreated, heart pounding.
"What the hell is that?" shouted Captain Davis, looking pale in the orange light.
Ander's chest felt tight. Protecting the party was up to him. He launched a burst of fire at the creature, but when it raised its pincers, the fire struck an invisible barrier. Ander retreated. How was he supposed to fight this thing?
"Get out of the way!" Talia shouted. Ander jumped to the right, and she launched an arrow. The monster couldn't move its pincers fast enough, and the arrow sank into its soft underside. But this did not kill the monster. Instead, it shrieked with rage, advancing on them at an alarming speed.
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