“All right,” Tiberius said, setting down the tongs and taking the coin purse. “Let’s go find my father.”
The palace was buzzing with news, and there was a sense of relief on the faces of the servants and city officials. Brutas had been defeated, and Earl Ageus was back where he belonged. Almost as soon as Tiberius left his room, his back spasmed so hard that he could hardly walk. Even breathing was difficult. He had to stop every few steps and clench his teeth against the pain.
“What is it?” Lexi asked.
“My back,” Tiberius said. “The wound is making the muscles spasm.”
“Is there anything I can do?” she asked. The worry on her face was reflected in her voice.
“Can I lean on you?” Tiberius asked.
Lexi nodded, and Ti put his arm around her shoulders. They walked slowly through the palace, taking special care as they descended the stairs. Every step sent a jolt of pain through Tiberius, but he knew they couldn’t stop. He had to find his father and begin his search immediately. Every moment he spent in Avondale gave his brother time to trap them there.
It took a while, but they finally found Earl Ageus in the earl’s audience hall, which was also filled with soldiers. Those who had joined Brutas’ quest for power were swearing fealty to Earl Ageus. Those that didn’t would have been executed, and Brutas sat on the floor not far from his father, surrounded by guards with their spears held ready. He was in a temporary prison of blades, on display for everyone to see so there was no longer any doubt as to who was in charge of Avondale.
Tiberius knew he should have been happy to see his brother brought low, but instead he felt sad. To Ti, the entire scene was a testament to his family’s failure. Earl Ageus raised his hand to silence the soldier who was swearing allegiance to the rightful ruler of Avondale. The man had laid his weapons at the earl’s feet and then lay down on the ground, his arms and legs spread wide. The earl had one boot on the man’s head as a sign of his sovereignty, but he quickly stood up and called for his son.
“Tiberius!” the earl said. “Come here.”
The crowd parted before Tiberius and Lexi. They walked through the crowded space, and with each step the Balestone, which Tiberius held by the straps of the small coin purse, urged Tiberius to slay his father and take control of the city.
“Father,” Tiberius said when they reached the front of the dais. “We need to talk.”
“Clear the room!” the earl shouted.
The soldiers hurried out of the audience chamber, all except for those members of the earl’s personal guard who were holding Brutas as spear point. Earl Ageus stepped back from the throne-like chair from which he held court. He waved invitingly to Tiberius to sit in his chair.
“Come, sit here,” the earl said, then turned to Lexi. “And you, young lady, join him, please. You have both proven yourself to me and to Avondale. This is your birthright, Tiberius. To rule Avondale.”
“Father,” Tiberius said, never moving from in front of the dais. “You must know that is impossible.”
“Why?” the earl asked. “You are my son. Brutas is a traitor.”
He spat in the direction of Brutas, who cowered on the ground like a frightened dog. He was still cradling the hand the Balestone had burned. The skin was black, and Brutas was obviously in great pain.
“Everything is as it should be once again,” the earl continued.
“No, it isn’t,” Tiberius argued. “Leonosis will come here looking for me.”
“I can deal with your brother,” the earl said. “If this is about your banishment, have no fear.”
“No, Father, please listen to me. Something is trying to find the Balestone. It isn’t from our world, but it wants to dominate us all. It wants to turn Valana into a hellish place where innocent people suffer. We have to stop it.”
“And you think Leonosis is in league with this creature?”
“I think so, or perhaps even possessed by it. If not Leonosis, then Queen Ariel is. She’s a witch, Father. I’ve seen her power.”
“Yes, yes, you said as much before.”
“But now I’m telling you. There are other stones like this one.” Tiberius held up the pouch. “Only not evil, and I must find them. They have to be destroyed before whatever is controlling Leo uses them to destroy Valana.”
“How many men do you need?” Earl Ageus said.
“I don’t need men,” Tiberius said. “Well, perhaps a few to help sail the ship, but that’s all. What I really need is time.”
“And how can I buy you time?”
“You could leak word to Leonosis that I’m still here, hiding from him. He’ll send war ships and troops, but you can stall them. Try negotiating—do whatever you can to make him believe I’m here. Meanwhile I’ll go in search of the other stones. Once I have them, I can destroy them and defeat Leonosis.”
“You’re asking me to risk our city and the lives of every person here to help you overthrow your brother?”
“I don’t want to overthrow anyone. I want to stop the evil that’s spreading—”
“You always hated your brother,” Earl Ageus said, interrupting Tiberius before he could finish. “Avondale can be yours. Isn’t that enough?”
“You don’t understand, Father,” Tiberius tried to explain. “Leonosis won’t let you live. He won’t let anyone rule Avondale but himself. He’s already taken control of the other cities.”
“This is madness,” the earl said, his voice rising with anger. “Do you really expect me to believe these outlandish tales? Wake up, Tibeirus! Stop living in this dream world you have created.”
Brutas began to laugh. Tiberius and Earl Ageus both looked at him. The laugh was strange, a high-pitched cackling that seemed completely unnatural, especially coming from Brutas. It made the hair on the back of Tiberius’ neck stand out, and his skin tingled. Lexi stepped closer and took hold of Ti’s free hand in both of hers.
“What are you laughing at?” the earl demanded.
“You two fools are no match for Leonosis,” Brutas said. “He will come, and when he does, he will raze this city to the ground. And not just for the Balestone. He wants to crush you both. It’s only a matter of time.”
Brutas laughed again, as if he’d just said something funny instead of terrifying.
“He’s gone mad,” the earl said.
“No, he’s seen what Leonosis is capable of,” Tiberius argued.
The earl stepped down from the dais and approached Brutas. The guards separated but kept their spears trained on Brutas. If he tried anything, they would kill him instantly, but he seemed content sitting on the floor, cradling his black and shriveled hand.
“Is Leo under the control of some beast?” the earl asked.
“King Leonosis cannot be stopped. He will slay you, Father, and make your body his puppet, just as he did with the other earls.”
“You saw this?”
“I saw enough. He cares nothing for you or Avondale or anything except for power.”
“No one can be king without the support of the nine cities,” the earl said.
“King Leonosis,” Brutas said, emphasizing the word king again, “doesn’t need support. He controls everything and everyone around him.”
“Think about it, Father,” Tiberius said. “Leo goes to Sparlan Citadel, marries the princess, the king’s heir dies, then days later the king dies. And what’s even more incredible is that all the earls unanimously supported Leo as the new king. Something isn’t right.”
“No, it isn’t. There’s a reason why magic is outlawed in Valana,” the earl said angrily. “You were wrong to seek it out.”
“No he wasn’t,” Lexi said. “He was courageous. And his magic saved your life, remember?”
“How do I know that he didn’t use his magic to make me ill in the first place?”
The earl’s words were like a knife in Tiberius’ heart. He had never known his father’s love, but Tiberius had always been loyal. The fact that his father didn�
��t trust him now was devastating.
“We’ll leave,” Tiberius said. “But be warned. If you allow Leonosis into the city, he’ll destroy you and everything you care about.”
“He’s your brother,” the earl said angrily.
“And so is he,” Tiberius said, pointing to Brutas. “But that didn’t stop him from bringing the king’s soldiers into Avondale and putting you in chains. Leonosis will do much worse unless I stop him.”
“I won’t let you leave,” the earl said. “It isn’t safe.”
“Don’t,” Tiberius said. “We shouldn’t be fighting each other.”
“You are my son and you will do as I say,” the earl shouted, his face red with rage.
Tiberius was dumbfounded and just watched in silence as his father stormed out of the audience hall. Brutas cackled again, and his guards moved a little closer. Tiberius felt a sense of despair, but he tried not to let it show.
“Come on,” he said quietly to Lexi. “We can’t waste anymore time.”
They left the hall, moving as quickly as Tiberius’ back would allow, toward the long corridor that led to the city walls. Tiberius sent a servant to tell Olyva to meet them in the war ship. Tiberius didn’t want to fight his father or use his magic to hurt the soldiers who had sworn their oaths to obey Earl Ageus, but he wouldn’t let his father keep him from leaving Avondale.
“What are we going to do if he sends troops to stop us?” Lexi asked.
“Once we get to the war ship, it won’t matter,” Tiberius said.
“And if we don’t make it to the ship?”
Tiberius looked at her and then looked down.
“I don’t want to fight my father.”
“If he keeps us here, we may have to, Ti.”
“I know that,” he replied. “I’m just hoping that won’t be the case.”
“Tiberius!” came a familiar voice.
Ti and Lexi both turned to find Rafe hurrying toward him with Olyva by his side.
“You weren’t leaving without saying goodbye, were you?” Rafe asked.
“We don’t have much choice. We have to get to the war ship,” Tiberius explained. “My father is trying to stop us from leaving.”
“I know. He sent me to make sure you didn’t leave yet.”
“Rafe, please, I know you are serving my father, but you can’t stop us from leaving.”
“Think for a minute, Tiberius,” Rafe said quietly. “Your father knows what he’s doing.”
“No, he doesn’t,” Tiberius argued. “He refuses to believe a word I say.”
“Think about who was in the room with you,” Rafe said quietly.
Tiberius started to argue again, but then it hit him. What if Brutas was somehow communicating with Leonosis? He didn’t know how it could be done, but it was possible. And if Leo somehow knew about that confrontation, then he would believe that their father was opposed to Tiberius and Ti’s plan to leave in search of the other stones of power.
“We have to do this the right way,” Rafe said, his voice almost a whisper. “We don’t know who we can trust.”
“What’s he mean?” Lexi asked Tiberius.
“My father told you this?” Ti asked.
“He sent for me as soon as he left you in the audience hall. Tiberius, please come back with me.”
“Tiberius?” Lexi said.
“It’s possible that Brutas was somehow communicating with Leonosis,” Tiberius tried to explain. “And my father was simply pretending to be angry so that no one would know that we were leaving Avondale.”
Lexi looked unconvinced, but Rafe was nodding approvingly. Tiberius wanted to believe Rafe. He wanted to believe that his father hadn’t really turned on him and accused him of treachery, but he couldn’t be sure. Under normal circumstances Tiberius was almost positive that he could fight his way out of Avondale, but with the unhealed wound in his back, he could barely walk without support from Lexi. And if he was wrong about his father, he would be putting Lexi and Olyva at risk—perhaps even Rafe, too. And worse yet, even though he might be able to fight his way out of the city, he might lose the Balestone in the process.
He wasn’t sure what to do, and in his mind he struggled with so many conflicting emotions. There was part of Tiberius that wanted nothing more than his father’s approval. But another part of his mind knew that getting away from Avondale as quickly as possible was by far the best bet.
“I think maybe we should go back,” Tiberius said.
“Are you sure?” Lexi asked.
“No, I’m not sure, but if my father is willing to help, it might mean the difference between success and failure.”
“All right,” Lexi said. “I trust you.”
“Let me help him,” Rafe said, lifting one of Tiberius’ arms over his broad shoulders. “Why didn’t you just heal your back?”
“He can’t,” Lexi said.
“It’s the Balestone,” Tiberius explained. “I can’t heal anything it destroys.”
“I’m sorry I betrayed you,” Rafe said, as they shuffled back toward the palace. “I don’t know how that happened.”
“It’s the stone,” Tiberius said. “It’s evil.”
“And now look at you,” Rafe said. “You can hardly walk.”
“I’ll have time to heal as we travel south.”
“I wish you didn’t have to go,” Rafe said.
“I wish you were going with me.”
Rafe looked down.
“I understand,” Tiberius said. “I don’t hold it against you.”
“I wish everything were different,” Rafe said.
“Me, too,” Rafe agreed.
“If you two don’t stop it, I’m going to start crying,” Lexi said.
“And then I’ll cry,” Olyva added with a giggle.
“Maybe we’d all feel better after a good cry,” Rafe said in a mocking tone.
“Don’t make me laugh,” Tiberius said through gritted teeth. “It hurts too much.”
When they finally got back into the palace, Rafe took Tiberius upstairs to the earl’s private study. Earl Ageus was pacing inside, but when Rafe opened the door, he hurried over to Tiberius, looking relieved.
“Are you going to be okay?” he asked with uncharacteristic compassion.
Tiberius nodded.
“Help him sit down,” the earl said, as he closed the door behind them. “We have a lot to plan for and not very much time.”
Chapter 37
Tiberius
Rafe helped Tiberius into the chair. His back was hurting so badly that it was hard to concentrate on anything but the pain. Lexi, Rafe, and Olyva gathered around Tiberius, but the earl paced. Tiberius couldn’t remember ever seeing his father look so intense, and he couldn’t tell whether the earl was worried or excited.
“I have a plan to buy you time,” the earl finally said. “I’m sending the king’s soldiers back to Sparlan Citadel with news about Brutas’ failed coup.”
“How does that buy me time?” Tiberius said.
“You wanted your brother to think you were here,” Earl Ageus said. “The soldiers will hear the rumor before they leave. I’ve already begun to spread the word that I’m protecting you here. Once night falls, we’ll secret you up to the remaining war ship. You can leave the city without anyone knowing.”
“That’s a good plan,” Rafe said.
“My only concern,” the earl went on, “is that you mentioned that your brother knew about this Balestone.”
“He did,” Tiberius explained. “When we arrived at Hamill Keep, I went up the mountain with Rafe and Olyva. But I left the Balestone with Lexi, who stayed below the mists with our horses. Yet Earl Marcus knew about the Balestone. He wanted to send me to Sparlan Citadel and he was adamant that I take the stone with me.”
“Yes, well, then we have to assume your brother—or whatever creature is using him—can sense this stone. If that’s the case, you may need to leave it here.”
“That’s not a good idea,�
� Tiberius said.
“Why not?” Rafe asked.
“Because the stone is evil,” Tiberius tried to explain. “It wants someone to wield its power and it will influence whoever has it in their possession.”
“It shouldn’t even be touched,” Lexi agreed.
“We could lock it away,” the earl suggested. “It would be guarded day and night.”
Tiberius was leery. His greatest fear was that the stone would fall into the wrong hands, but he knew his father had a point. If he could hide the stone in Avondale, it would lend credence to the lie that Earl Ageus was hiding Tiberius in the city.
“If I leave it, no one can know where it is,” Tiberius said. “Not even you, Father.”
“I accept that provision. Hide it wherever you like.”
“And if Leo comes looking for me, he’ll bring an army with him,” Tiberius went on. “He won’t be the same person you knew.”
“I feared that was a possibility,” the earl said. “But I need to try and persuade him to cast off this creature that is using him.”
“He might already be dead,” Olyva said. “My father was.”
“Yes, I know.” The earl sounded sad. “Yet he is my son, and I must try. Tiberius, for too long I have only thought about myself. I can’t say I’m glad you turned to magic. In truth, I’m still struggling with that, but I’m proud of the man you have become. I meant what I said earlier—when all this is over, you have a place here. Avondale needs an earl like you.”
Tiberius looked away so that none of the others would see the tears in his eyes. His father continued outlining the plan.
“Now, I hate to split you up, but I need your help. Rafe has already volunteered to stay with me. I will put him in charge of the defense of our city. But if your brother wages war on us, I need someone to lead our people out of harm’s way. Olyva, would you be willing to do that?”
Everyone looked at Olyva. Tiberius was surprised, but he could see the wisdom in his father’s plan. Olyva could lead the people of Avondale down the mountain and out into the plain. She was ideally suited for the task.
“It’s a good idea,” Tiberius said.
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