Leif groaned. “Now they’ll know where we are.”
“I want them to think you went south. But you should get as far away from here as possible.”
“And go where?” Leif asked.
“Ixia.”
“Why would we do that?” Leif’s jaw set into a stubborn line.
Danger flashed in Valek’s eyes, but he bit back a sarcastic reply. “Things are happening too fast right now. We need to regroup and plan. We need reinforcements.”
Valek made sense. Ixia was the only place where we would be safe.
“We should go now,” I said.
“I’ll meet you at the Commander’s castle.” Valek handed me Kiki’s reins.
She nudged my arm, but I ignored her. “You’re not coming with us?”
“No. I still have a few of my corps inside the Citadel. They need to be informed about what’s happening. I’ll join you at the castle afterward.”
Before he could go, I pulled him aside. We embraced.
“Stay safe,” I ordered.
He smiled. “I’m not the one getting pulled into fires, love.”
“How did you know I was in trouble?”
“After I heard the Council agree to your execution, I had an odd notion the Council was the least of your worries.”
“Thank you for saving me.”
“You keep things interesting, love. It would be boring without you.”
“Is that all I am to you? An amusement?”
“If only it was that simple.”
“I guess I’m no longer retired.” I managed a tired smile.
Valek kissed me goodbye. “Take a roundabout route to Ixia. The borders north of the Citadel will probably be watched.”
“Yes, sir.”
Valek left and the air turned cold. I shivered. Kiki nipped at my sleeve and I opened my mind to her.
I stay with Lavender Lady. Keep warm.
I’m glad you’re here, I said. I checked my pockets for a treat. No luck.
Ghost put peppermints in bag.
I laughed. Kiki always knew where to find the mints. I marveled that Valek had taken the time to include treats in his packing. The horses’ name for him was perfect, though. He appeared and disappeared as if he were a true ghost.
“Which way?” Leif asked.
Good question. Valek said to go around. The best direction would be to head northwest through the fields of the Stormdance Clan’s lands. Then head north toward Ixia, skirting the Featherstone lands surrounding the Citadel. I outlined my plan to Leif.
“Lead on.” Leif’s resignation tainted his voice. “I’ve never been to Ixia.”
Throughout the day, our passage through the fields hadn’t drawn any notice, but we still felt exposed by the daylight. Leif and I decided to do the bulk of our traveling during the night. After a short break for dinner, we rode through the dark hours. Between galloping, walking and resting, the horses made progress toward our goal.
We found an apple orchard as the sun dawned. Kiki sniffed around the neat rows of trees, but they had been picked clean of apples. Nothing grew in this area during the cold season. Deciding to camp within the shelter of the orchard, we found a site hidden from the few surrounding farmsteads.
“Have we crossed into Stormdance lands?” I asked Leif as I pulled Kiki’s saddle off her back.
“Not yet. See that ridge?” He pointed to the northwest.
“Yes.”
“That’s their border. Stormdance lands are mostly shale. They have a few farms in the eastern portion of their territory, but the west side is just sheets of shale on top of rock. The storms blown in from the Jade Sea have carved fantastic sculptures along their coast, but no one lives there. They only go to the coast to dance.” Leif sat down and assembled sticks for a fire.
I plopped next to him. Saddle sore and drained of energy, I delayed grooming the horses. “Why do they dance?”
“It’s how they harness the power from the storms. They capture the storm’s force in glass orbs. It’s a dangerous dance, but the risk is worth it. If they’re successful, they protect our land. Instead of being lashed with gale-force winds and soaked with heavy rains, Sitia receives a mild rain. The added benefit is the Stormdancers can use those orbs to fuel their factories.”
I gestured for more information.
“Haven’t you paid attention in class?”
“My lessons kept getting interrupted by mundane things like chasing after a Soulstealer. I’ll try harder in the future to ignore such events.”
“Boy, you’re grumpy when you’re tired.” Leif started a small fire and poured water into his cooking pot. “This container was made by the Stormdance Clan. They smelt ore to manufacture different metal items, including Sitian coins. They also produce parchment and make ink from indigo plants they grow on their eastern farms.”
I mulled over Leif’s lecture. Buying goods at the market, I hadn’t stopped to consider who might have made them. In Ixia, every Military District had a particular product or service contributing to the Territory which could be used for barter and trade. It appeared Sitia worked the same way, although the Stormdancers were a new twist. I wondered if they could harness the power of the blizzards blowing down from the northern ice pack. Life in MD-1, MD-2 and MD-3 turned into a struggle for survival during the cold season.
Would Commander Ambrose consider lifting his ban on magicians to alleviate the storms? He had grown up in MD-3, working in the diamond mines so he was no stranger to the incapacitating snowstorms. Even Valek, who had lived in MD-1, had seen his father’s leather business destroyed by the heavy snow.
I thought about the chain of events that had started with the collapse of Valek’s father’s roof. He didn’t have enough money to replace his equipment, feed his family and pay taxes to the King. When Valek’s father asked the soldiers, who had come to collect the taxes, for an extension, they had killed three of his four sons. That act sent Valek on a mission of revenge against a King who allowed his soldiers to murder innocent children. Becoming the best assassin in Ixia, Valek eventually joined forces with Ambrose. Together they had defeated the King and gained control of Ixia.
If the roof hadn’t collapsed, I wondered if the King would still be in power or if Ambrose would have found another assassin to help him. Would I even be here?
I shied away from those thoughts and focused on our present situation. Leif and I needed to guard our small camp. He manned the first shift while I tried to sleep.
The fire had been doused as soon as our meal was cooked. The smoke drifted on the breeze. Dreams swirled in my mind like sparks rising from a hot fire. The dizzying images slowed for a moment, and each time I glimpsed a horror. Stono’s twisted stomach transformed into a necklace snake. Blood rained in the Illiais Jungle. Severed heads floated over the sands of the plains. And fire danced on my skin. The hot prick of each flame both seared and excited me.
I jerked awake. My skin tingled. Afraid to go back to sleep, I sent Leif to bed.
Uneasy sleep came in fits during the next two days. We kept out of sight, used small fires to cook meals before we extinguished the flames, and shivered on the cold, hard ground. On the third day, we crossed into the Krystal Clan’s lands and turned north for the Ixian border.
Located directly west of the Featherstone Clan and the Citadel, the rolling terrain of the Krystals’ land was dotted with clumps of pine trees. Quarries stretched between the wooded areas. The Krystal Clan mined marble for buildings and exported the high-quality sand needed by the glassmakers in Booruby, leaving behind deep pits gouged into the ground.
We avoided the bustle of activity around the quarries and journeyed through the pine forests. Another day of travel would get us to the Ixian border. Our approach to the boundary needed to be considered with care. Sitian soldiers could be waiting to ambush us. And if we managed to get through, I would need to choose the right words when addressing the Ixian guards. Or risk being arrested by them.
In the en
d, all the planning, all the time and energy Leif and I had spent finding the perfect spot to cross the border without alerting the Sitians was for naught. Just as we made our way into the hundred-foot-wide swatch of cleared land that was the official neutral zone between Ixia and Sitia, two riders on horseback bolted from the pine forest and into the borderland.
Two things happened that made the riders’ presence go from bad timing to a deadly coincidence. Their horses headed straight toward us, and a whole squad of Sitian solders erupted from the woods in armed pursuit.
18
ONLY ONE OPTION REMAINED. We spurred our horses toward the border, hoping the Ixian guards would listen to our story before killing us. The unwelcome riders drew up beside us as we entered Ixia’s Snake Forest. They kept pace as we penetrated deep within the forest before stopping.
As expected, the Sitian soldiers hadn’t followed us into Ixia.
“Stay where you are,” a voice ordered from the woods. “You are surrounded.”
I knew the Ixians would be quick to find us. Just not this quick. I had chosen midmorning to cross into Ixia to avoid the changing of the guards. At this time, there was only one team of soldiers on duty.
“Drop your weapons and dismount,” the unseen guard said.
Topaz. Garnet, Kiki said. She whinnied a greeting.
Cahil’s horse? I pulled my bow and rounded on the riders, ignoring the orders from the guards. Two men sat on Topaz and Moon Man rode Garnet. “What? How?”
With shaking hands, one of the riders on Topaz pulled back his hood, revealing his pale face before collapsing. Tauno held him tight.
“Marrok! What—” An arrow struck a tree next to me.
“Drop your weapons and dismount. Or the next arrow goes into her heart!” the Ixian shouted.
I tossed my bow to the ground and gestured to the others to follow. Tauno slid off Topaz, lowered Marrok down, then removed his bow and arrows. Moon Man frowned but released his scimitar before getting off Garnet. Leif tossed his machete next to my staff.
“Step away from the weapons and raise your hands.”
We did as instructed. I made sure to step closer to Marrok. An arrow had pierced his side.
The ring of Ixian soldiers closed in. I counted four men and two women. Armed with crossbows and swords, they advanced on us.
“Give me one good reason why I shouldn’t send you back to the squad of southerners?” asked an Ixian captain.
His uniform was mostly black except for a row of yellow diamond shapes down his sleeves and pant legs. We had crossed into Ixia’s MD-7.
“Because it wouldn’t be diplomatic to turn away a Sitian delegation,” I said.
The captain laughed. “Delegations come with honor guards not fleeing guards. Want to tell me another one?”
“I’m Liaison Yelena Zaltana. I’m here to speak with the Commander even though my visit is not sanctioned by the Sitian Council.”
“Yelena? The ex-food taster who saved the Commander?” the captain asked.
“Yes.”
“But you have magic. Why would you want to come back to Ixia? I could kill you now and be considered a hero.”
“I see your reputation has preceded you,” Leif said, grinning. I hoped his good humor was relief over seeing Moon Man alive and well and not over the death threat to me.
I frowned at him. Leif didn’t understand just how precarious a situation we were in. The captain’s boast had merit. I was quite sure the rumors about the order for my execution had traveled throughout Ixia, while the fact that the Commander had ripped up those orders when I agreed to be a Liaison probably had not.
Especially since everyone in Sitia and Ixia believed the Commander had stayed behind in Ixia when the Ixian delegation visited Sitia a couple months ago. The Commander had been disguised as Ambassador Signe, and she had no authority to cancel an execution order.
Because of the edict that magicians were not allowed in Ixia unless invited, and any Ixians discovered with magical powers were put to death, I had one volatile situation on my hands.
While killing us wouldn’t be easy, the captain had what amounted to standing orders to execute us on the spot. If he succeeded, though, he would have to face Valek. I shied away from that line of thought.
Instead, I said, “The Commander has appointed me as a Liaison with the Council. I am a neutral third party so I would not come with an honor guard of Sitians. I come with friends. Those guards had been chasing him.” I gestured to Marrok’s prone form. “I need to discuss something important with the Commander right away.”
The captain’s crossbow wavered. He appeared to be considering my answer. I pulled a thread of magic and skimmed his mind, touching only on his surface thoughts and emotions.
His ambition warred with his intelligence. Tired of guarding the border, the captain wanted a promotion and reassignment. Killing these southern magicians would give him enough recognition to become a major. But what if Yelena told the truth? The Commander wouldn’t be happy to have his Liaison killed. Still, bringing a magician close to the Commander would be dangerous. What if Yelena lied and planned to assassinate him?
I nudged his thoughts to trust us and to believe that if he led us to his commanding officer, he would be doing a commendable deed.
“You will accompany me and my squad,” the captain said. “We will confiscate your weapons and horses, and you will obey all orders. Any trouble or signs of revolt and you will be incapacitated.” He signaled for a few of his soldiers to approach us. “Search them. What about him?”
I looked at Marrok. “Let me attend to his wounds, Captain…”
“Nytik.” Again the captain signaled to one of his soldiers. “Lieutenant, search him for weapons.”
After the lieutenant secured Marrok’s sword, he gave me permission to examine him. The arrow had pierced Marrok’s right side, missing his ribs. There wasn’t much blood and the arrow hadn’t gone deep. Why was Marrok unconscious?
Accessing my magic, I scanned the rest of his body. He had been beaten. Two ribs and his collarbone were broken. A mass of bruises covered his body and his jawbone was cracked.
“Leif, I’m going to need some help.” Healing the extensive damage in Marrok’s body would exhaust me and I needed to reserve some energy in case Captain Nytik changed his mind.
“A poultice?” Leif knelt next to me.
“No. His story threads are frayed.” Moon Man placed his large hand on Marrok’s forehead.
I glared at Moon Man. “Stay away from him. Leif, let’s deal with the physical injuries first.”
Moon Man retreated. Leif and I drew power from the source. With my brother’s help, I assumed his injuries and repaired them. When Marrok woke, Leif gave him water and a sustaining tonic to revive him.
I questioned him on what had happened and why he was here, but Marrok just stared at me with a wild, unconnected look in his eyes. Worried about his mental state, I projected my awareness into his thoughts.
A cacophony of images flooded his mind. Memories and emotions and secret thoughts were exposed, unlocked and left to run amok, as if someone had taken a library full of books and torn and scattered them all around the room. The sheer amount of disarray overwhelmed Marrok. He could no longer bring two thoughts together to form a coherent sentence.
And there in the middle of the mess, gleefully shredding what remained of Marrok’s mind, was Roze Featherstone, First Magician.
She turned to me. There you are. I knew I’d find you in here if I looked hard enough. Now I can discover where you’ve been hiding.
She advanced, but I held my position. I’m not a memory, Roze. You won’t be able to extract anything from me.
I wouldn’t be so sure. Too much confidence can be a weakness.
You tried twice before and failed. I’m feeling pretty certain about my prediction. Why did you destroy Marrok’s mind?
She glanced around at the chaos. He’s a criminal. And you shouldn’t be so shocked. It’s no dif
ferent than when you destroyed the Soulstealer’s mind.
I ignored the jab. Marrok isn’t a criminal and you know it. Did you force him to make a false confession?
He was honest, unlike you. You’ve been lying to us and to yourself, thinking you can be a benefit to Sitia. Now the Council knows the danger and I have permission to eliminate the threat you pose.
Again I failed to be impressed with her boast. How did Marrok and the others find us?
Roze smiled. You’ll have to figure that out on your own.
Are you trying to tell me I have a spy in my midst?
Dishonest people tend to find each other, Yelena. It’s the price you pay for associating with the criminal element. Frankly, I was surprised the Council hadn’t given me permission to neutralize you before. After all, how can they trust the heart mate of the most feared man in Sitia? Think about it. How could you be a Liaison when it’s obvious where your loyalties lie? First sign of trouble and you’re running for home. I will tell you one thing. You won’t be safe in Ixia.
I didn’t say anything, but she laughed. I have found what I needed. Good luck trying to put the pieces of Marrok’s mind back together.
She faded from his consciousness. Standing in the middle of the destruction she had left behind, I knew restoring order would be an impossible task. I returned to my body. There was nothing I could do.
Roze had the Council’s support against me. If I hadn’t known any better, the web of lies Cahil spun made complete sense. Roze even made sense. If she was as dedicated to Sitia as she claimed, then her efforts to discredit me were valid. Why trust me? I’m a Soulfinder, the one type of magician with an evil history. It would take a major effort and physical evidence to counter Cahil now.
“Moon Man, how did you find us?” I asked.
“Logic. I knew you would go to Ixia and I knew you would not cross the Avibian Plains in order to go around Featherstone lands. So that left west. Tauno found your trail in the Krystal lands.”
It was too much of a coincidence. “But Leif saw you disappear into the fire. And what about Marrok and the horses? How did you get them?” He had help and must have been sent by Cahil or Roze. Moon Man worked for them now.
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