Icebound (Legends of the Shifters Book 2)

by J. B. North

  He sighed. “Heavily guarded in the North Tower. Even with all your power, you won't be able to get through to him.”

  “If you're working with King Ciaran, then why haven't you attempted to arrest me?”

  He scoffed. “Niko works for King Ciaran. Do you honestly think I would want to work alongside that pathetic maggot?”

  I lowered the weapon slightly. “Why should I trust you?”

  Rowan sighed. “Let me make this clear. Kurt knows about the new recruits that are being shipped in. Every day, the guards become more and more numerous and most have powerful abilities. It would take an entire army to free him now. That’s why he doesn’t want you to take the chance. That’s why he sent me.”

  My heart fell as my mind raced through my options. “We could work together. Maybe we could get him out if we both…” I trailed off as he shook his head, a forlorn expression etched into his dark features.

  “I've already dismissed the idea. There are many sorcerers here that are more powerful than me.”

  I jumped when someone rattled the doorknob and banged on the door, their armor clanging like a broken bell with each hit. “Open up! We know you're in there!”

  I looked at Rowan with wide eyes. “What now?”

  He stretched out his hand and a barely visible ripple of power sealed itself onto the door. He motioned for me to follow him. “That lock won’t last for long. They just need another sorcerer to melt the magic away.”

  As I ran alongside him, I thought over his words. What he said about the growing numbers of guards was true. I’d seen that for myself.

  We trailed through the dungeon quietly, alongside cells that were mostly empty. Had King Ciaran killed his prisoners or just poisoned their minds to serve him, like he’d done with Roland?

  The passageway dipped down into a steep staircase that seemed to go on forever before we finally reached a fork that split into three separate tunnels. Rowan pointed to one directly ahead. “That should lead you outside,” he said.

  He turned back to face the way we'd come.

  “What about you?” I asked.

  “I'll make something up,” he said with a sly smile. “Oh, and I almost forgot. Kurt wanted you to have this...” He reached into his pocket and pulled out a black gem hanging on a thin, gold chain. It looked a lot like the pendants worn during survival tests. How long ago that seemed... “It’s a phantom stone,” he added.

  I took the necklace from his hand. “Why did he want me to have it? And what is a phantom stone?”

  “You'll see,” he answered. “Just don't put it on until you're a good distance away from here.”

  I studied his face for any sign of trickery, and while his expression appeared as impetuous as usual, I believed him to be sincere. I changed into half form and pocketed the gem, careful to avoid crushing the plant.

  Rowan narrowed his eyes as he took in the scar that dragged its way up my neck. “Where did you get that?”

  I considered whether or not to tell him, but decided to keep it to myself. “I got it in a challenge at the conservatory,” I lied, my voice so steady that I almost believed myself. Hopefully, my face didn’t give anything away.

  Rowan sighed. “A shame the things they put those students through.” Then, with a nod and one last cocky smile, he went back the way he came.

  I didn't know whether to be angry or grateful toward him. He helped me escape, but couldn’t we have at least tried to rescue Kurt? And did he really know the extent of my power?

  But how could he? I didn't even know how powerful I was.

  * * * * *

  I left the Ginsian castle feeling hollow. Even if Kurt had sent Rowan to stop me, I still felt like a traitor. I was right there. In the same building. But I’d failed him.

  And yet, somewhere deep inside, I trusted that Rowan was right. That the time for rescuing Kurt would come soon, but trying to free him now would have catastrophic results.

  After finding my way back to the woods, I shifted form and took off toward the west, soon discovering some of the power behind the plant’s strength. I had more speed and stamina than I knew what to do with. Just before I reached the ocean the next day, I only needed a few hours to rest before I was back up again and heading for Achron, where I hoped to run into Matilda and Burton, the people who’d been like family to Roland. They deserved to know everything that had happened on the Isle of Ginsey. I flew over shimmering ocean most of the day until I finally spotted the seahorse-shaped island from afar, just as the sun was beginning to set. Even I found it incredible that it had only taken two days to get from King's Crest all the way to Achron without tiring too much.

  Once I reached the familiar city, I swooped down low—probably lower than I should have—eyes searching for the squat orange huts of the slums where Matilda and Burton lived. Because most of them looked the same, it was hard for me to remember which one was theirs. Luckily for me, Matilda was outside of hers, watering one of her many potted plants.

  I landed nearby, startling her and a few nearby villagers before shifting into a human.

  “Ivy!” she said, surprised. She looked around at her staring neighbors and set down her watering can. She hurried over and guided me toward her front door. “Why don't you come inside for a bit?”

  I nodded and followed her into the house.

  As soon as the door was shut behind us, she turned to me. “I thought you were trying to keep a low profile.”

  I rested my back against the door and shook my head. “So much has happened…it just doesn’t matter to me as much as it did before.”

  She seemed to catch the dark tones in my voice because the next words out of her mouth were, “What's wrong?”

  Despite my efforts to hold back the tears I'd kept in for so long, my emotions got the better of me. I wiped at my streaming eyes furiously and cleared my throat. “Roland...Roland is gone.”

  “Gone?” she said quietly. “As in…dead?”

  I gave her miserable nod.

  Matilda let her head drop into her hands, and after a moment, I watched as droplets of liquid splashed onto her dark blue dress. A sob escaped her. “Why must everyone I love die?”

  Though I normally didn’t comfort people through touch, I could tell we both needed it. I stepped forward and wrapped her in a hug. We stayed like that for a long time until our sobs finally died down.

  “How did he go?” she finally asked.

  “A poisonous dart,” I answered. “But his death was not as sad as some. He accepted his fate and we got to say goodbye.”

  She looked up at the ceiling as she wiped away her tears. “At least there’s that.”

  I smiled slightly. “I agree.” I looked around the hut. “Where is Burton?”

  Matilda drew in a trembling breath. “Out at sea, of course. I'll have to tell him when he gets back.”

  I swallowed more tears as I prepared to deliver the next batch of news. “There's something else that you need to know.”

  She took a deep breath. “What's that?”

  “Jane is alive.”

  Her gaze jerked up to meet my own. “What? A-alive?”

  I nodded. “I saw and spoke to her myself.”

  Matilda wiped away the last of her tears and turned away, but I could still see the hesitant smile on her lips. “My young Jane, still alive?” She turned back to me. “Is she doing well?”

  I smiled faintly and nodded. “Yes. Very well. She’s made a respectable life among the natives on the Isle of Ginsey. She’s works as a healer.” I didn’t mention it was the natives that took Roland’s life in the first place.

  She choked out a laugh. “Jane always wanted to be an owl…” Her face became serious again. “But why hasn’t she come back?”

  “Ginsey and Pira are looking for her, and because she doesn’t have a flyer’s form, she doesn’t think that she’ll be able to get back to Leviatha.”

  She frowned. “I don’t understand. What’s she done to make Ginsey and Pira search
for her?”

  I shrugged. “We didn’t get a chance to talk about that.”

  Matilda brought out a handkerchief and wiped her face with it and then began to busy herself in the kitchen. “Well…at least we know she’s alive and safe.” She glanced at me. “You must have traveled hard to be back here already. I know grief takes its toll on people,” she trailed off and studied my face, before shaking her head and going to search through her pantry. “You must be hungry.”

  Just the mention of food made my stomach growl. I really wanted to get back on my journey, but I couldn't deny that the offer of a nice meal sounded like heaven to my ears.

  She brought out a bowl and a spoon. “Luckily for you, I've already got some broth going.” She ladled some out into the bowl and set it in front of me. “And of course, you must stay the night here.”

  “I'm afraid I can't,” I said, pausing to blow on a spoonful of the steaming broth. “I need to get to the conservatory as soon as possible.”

  “But surely you need some rest...” she said, her eyebrows raised. “You look like death itself.” She cut herself short on the last word, as if realizing it was inappropriate to say at the moment.

  I gave her as reassuring a look as I could muster. “I'll be okay.”

  She studied me a while before shrugging. “If you're set on it, I won't stop you. Just know that if you ever need somewhere to stay, if you ever need someone to go to...you can always count on Burton and me.”

  I smiled at her. “Thank you, Matilda. That means a lot.”

  She sighed. “I only wish I could offer more.”

  “You've offered me what I’ve always dreamed of,” I said wistfully. “A home and a family.”

  -Chapter Three-

  The moon shone brightly as I sped toward the school. My anger grew with every mile that passed. When I finally spotted the dark buildings of the conservatory against the freshly falling snow, I was livid.

  The headmaster was the reason for Roland's death. He was the one that sent us on the most dangerous quest possible. I angled my wings back and dove. There weren't any lights on in any of the buildings or tents. It was probably early morning, the time when almost everyone is asleep, but if I had to wait at Gibble's desk for the remainder of the night, I would.

  I landed lightly on the ground and shifted into first form before making my way toward the boy's dorm. As I neared the doors, I noticed light shining through the cracks. Light that I hadn't seen before. Someone must be up after all.

  I turned the handle and pushed the door open roughly only to be greeted by the sickening sight of the headmaster, fully dressed and beaming.

  “Ivy! You've returned,” he announced.

  “How did you know I was here?” I questioned through gritted teeth. Just seeing his smiling face sent tremors of fury through my body.

  “The sentinel spell I placed around the school, of course.” His smile faded into a frown. “And speaking of the border, I can sense that you yourself have more power than when you left.”

  Another border spell? The fact that he was using magic similar to King Ciaran’s set my teeth on edge. “If you mean that I've brought the plant with me, you'd be correct.”

  I changed into half-form and reached into my pocket, just brushing over glossy surface of Kurt's pendant before grabbing hold of the plant. I pulled it out. It was a lot more wilted than it had been the last time I'd seen it, but that was irrelevant to the plan that was already forming in my head.

  The headmaster's eyes gleamed as he held out his hand. I didn't give it to him just yet. “Do you even wonder where Roland is?” I asked, the anger in my voice ringing through the air.

  “Oh, yes...Where is Roland?” the headmaster asked. He glanced back at the plant before concentrating back on my face.

  “Roland is dead, killed by the natives of the Isle of Ginsey.”

  The headmaster winced. “Well, that shows that even the best of the best can be conquered.” He reached for the plant again, but I held it away.

  “You told us that the plant would be easy to get to, but it was the most dangerous quest of all. You're the reason that Roland is dead,” I accused.

  He rolled his eyes. “Of course I'm not,” he said gruffly. “The natives are. Now give me the plant.”

  “No,” I replied firmly. As much as it hurt me to do what I was about to do, it needed to happen. I released my anger in the form of flames, and the plant disintegrated in my hand until it was just ash slipping through my fingers.

  “No!” the headmaster shouted frantically. He tried to reach for the flower, but he’d reacted much too late.

  He stared at my hand as I let the remaining ash fall to the ground. Slowly, dangerously, he looked back up at me with bared teeth. A deep, guttural sound escaped his throat. He glared as his skin began to shift. His canines enlarged and hair grew over his arms and legs. A plated armor vest replaced his usual black jacket.

  He grabbed my wrist firmly, sharp nails digging into my skin, and dragged me down the corridor, away from his office. I would’ve been strong enough to pull away, but the power of his magic forced me forward.

  When we reached a large wooden door, painted black, he unlocked it, swinging it open.

  I peered down a flight of stone stairs, stumbling into the wall when Headmaster Drake jerked me down after him.

  A dungeon? I'd had no idea that this was under the boy's dorms.

  He opened one of the cells and flung me inside. My head slammed against the wall, and for a few seconds, everything went black. Blood dripped down my forehead and onto my neck, but the wound already prickled as it sealed itself closed.

  “We'll see what a few days of no food or water will teach you,” the headmaster growled. And with that, he slammed the cell door and stomped back up the stairs. The door squeaked as it shut, blanketing the room in darkness.

  Behind me, I heard rustling in the hay, and I snapped my head around to look, expecting to see a rat. Instead, it was another person, a prisoner like me. In this darkness, there was no way to tell who it was.

  “Hello?” I asked.

  “Ivy?” replied a deep voice. “Is that you?”

  “Grix!” I said in recognition.

  The shadow stood up and gripped the bars in his hands. “You came back?”

  “Of course!” I replied as I pushed myself to my feet. I shifted into half-form so I could see his face. “What happened to you? Why are you down here?”

  His hooded eyes and sharper-than-usual cheekbones told me just how long he’d been down here.

  Nevertheless, he barked out a laugh. “Because I took what you said seriously after you caught me bullying Alyss.”

  I remembered that girl. I remembered the fear in her eyes as she’d cowered behind her dark hair.

  Grix continued on. “I knew that you were right. I’d been working for the headmaster, making sure that new students were put in their place. When you left, I decided to put an end to it, but the headmaster, as you can see, didn’t like that plan.” His smile morphed into a look of confusion as he asked, “Where's Roland? Why isn't he with you?”

  I looked away. “He was killed.”

  Grix sat back down on the concrete slab—which was apparently a bed—and didn’t speak for a long time. After a while, he whispered, “You wouldn't have thought someone like Roland was capable of dying.”

  I nodded and looked away, the lump in my throat threatening to choke away my breath.

  Across from me, I heard a shift in the hay and spotted a small figure. My light didn’t shine bright enough to see that far, but I could see the shadow of another prisoner.

  “Hello?” I called over to them.

  The figure stirred. “Hello,” answered a small, female voice.

  “That's Alyss,” said Grix. “We were both brought here at the same time.”

  I narrowed my eyes. “Why?”

  “I stood up to the headmaster when he imprisoned Grix,” she said. “Right before he’d gone to talk to the
headmaster, Grix had apologized and asked for my forgiveness.”

  “But let's get to the most important question,” said Grix, seemingly trying to change the subject. “What are you doing here?”

  “I completed my quest. I retrieved the plant of eternal life...but when I got here, I burned it to ashes in front of the headmaster,” I explained.

  Grix gave a laugh. “Whoa! Why’d you do that?”

  “Mostly out of anger,” I admitted. “And I don’t believe anyone should live eternally. Especially not hi—”

  I broke off when I heard scuttling nearby. I searched the floor and jumped away when a pile of straw close to my foot shifted and squeaked. “Was that a—?”

  “Rat?” Alyss finished for me. “Yes.”

  I shuddered and climbed up onto the concrete slab to get farther away from the nasty creature.

  “They get in your hair pretty often when you sleep,” she remarked.

  I peered closer as two beady eyes peeked up at me, hay framing the rodent’s head like golden locks.

  A hint of a smile played on my lips. “What if…that’s really one of us? A shifter sent to rot down here?”

  Grix cracked up. “Maybe it’s Gibble.”

  I snorted. “So this is where he sleeps. I wonder where he stores all his papers.”

  Grix snatched up a piece of hay and peered at it closely. “I think I can see tiny letters.”

  Despite being cast into a prison of darkness and moldy hay and rats, we shared a laugh, even Alyss, who squeaked like a mouse herself.

  The laughter faded off until everything was silent. After a while, I was pretty sure both of them had drifted off. I was too worried that a rodent would end up nesting on my head to think about sleep.

  I waited for what felt like hours, curled up on the corner of the slab. Sometimes, I thought I could hear noises from the students above. They sounded more like traces of haunted memories.

  I jolted when the door clattered open and the headmaster trotted down the steps, breathing hard and sweating profusely, no longer in his half-wolf form. The ring of keys he held chimed with every step, waking up both Alyss and Grix, if they’d been asleep in the first place.