by Alison Pensy
Allora's heart cracked a little, just as it did every time Arawn had taken her out of the cell.
“I have to, my sweet. You know what will happen if I do not do as he says. I will be back soon, I promise.”
“Please, Mama!”
Allora closed her eyes as she pried the little girl’s fingers from around her wrist. She moved swiftly to the door and gave Arawn a piercing glare. “Let us get this over with, shall we?”
Arawn returned her glare with a conceited grin. It took every ounce of willpower Allora possessed not to slap it from his face. Though, there were two problems with that way of thinking. One, she couldn't reach, he was easily six feet tall, and two, he would beat her black and blue, if he didn't kill her in the process. Survival instincts kicked in. She had to stay alive for her daughter. Skylar would never survive without her.
The door slammed behind her and she couldn't bear to look back. Skylar ran to the bars and took hold of them. “Mama, don't leave me here! Mama! Please, I'm frightened!”
Allora choked back a tear as she climbed the stairs behind Arawn, the frantic screams of her daughter fading with each step she took. One day, she would see Arawn pay for this...one day.
***
Vivianna was preening her wings in front of the gilt edged, full length mirror that hung from the wall of her cell. She may be the most hated person in all of Azran and incarcerated for her crimes against the crown, and most of the seven realms, but she was still the king's daughter. Because of this fact, the king allowed her to have a few creature comforts to accompany her behind the iron bars.
A plush rug lay on the cold stone floor in front of her sumptuous bed. A dressing table complete with brushes and combs completed the ensemble.
Vivianna turned and admired her reflection from over her shoulder, humming to herself as she pulled a wing forward and dusted it off.
She smiled. “Hmm, that's better.”
She turned again to look at herself from a different angle. Her brows furrowed when she noticed a ripple in the mirror's surface. She leaned in for a closer look when she noticed another, then another. Just as she was raising her hand to touch the surface, a face appeared.
Vivianna straightened, slightly perturbed, but determined not to let it show. She placed both hands on her hips.
“Who are you?” she demanded.
“Arawn, ruler of Drofoz.”
“Never heard of you,” she stated with as much nonchalance as she could muster.
She had, of course, heard of the tyrant sorcerer, but she wasn't about to let him think she considered him of any importance.
Arawn raised an eyebrow.
“What do you want?” Vivianna said, trying to sound as bored as possible.
“Nice place you have there,” Arawn said, moving his head to one side so he could see past her.
Vivianna gave a fleeting glance around the cell before returning her attention to the face in the mirror. She narrowed her eyes at him, folded her arms across her chest and moved a step closer, cutting off any further view he may have of her less than desirable accommodations.
Arawn gave her an insolent grin.
“You try my patience. Either tell me what you want or be gone. I have no time for this,” Vivianna hissed.
“Yes, I can see you must lead a very busy life,” Arawn returned, voice laced with sarcasm.
Vivianna bristled and dragged in a long breath before her temper got the better of her.
“I believe we can be of service to each other,” Arawn continued.
Vivianna raised an eyebrow but said nothing.
“I need you to help me dispose of a little problem that has arisen. In return, I will free you from your dungeon.”
Vivianna gave him a considering look for a moment. “I'm listening.”
CHAPTER ELEVEN
“So, what is it exactly that you want me to do?” Faedra asked.
“Kill Arawn, of course,” Carina answered, so matter-of-fact she could have been asking Faedra to nip out and get a bottle of milk.
“What? No!” Faedra snapped. “What do you think I am? I don't go around killing people.”
“You killed Savu,” Anwynn interjected.
Faen stood up sharply, knocking his chair to the ground as his did. “This is preposterous. You dare to bring us here for this.”
“Savu was different,” Faedra started.
“Faedra, you do not have to explain yourselves to these people. You do not have to explain yourself to anyone. The ones who matter know what happened,” Faen defended.
“My brother is right, Faedra. We know what happened, and that is all that matters,” Jocelyn joined in.
Faen held his hand out to his charge. “Come, we are leaving.”
Faedra looked up at her Guardian. His features were only barely masking his anger, but his energy he couldn't hide from her. He was furious.
“Now, Faedra!”
Faedra flinched slightly. Wow, did he just shout? Faen rarely shouts. Pure instinct had Faedra putting her hand in his. He held it tight and pulled her up from her chair.
“Jocelyn, Etyran, we are leaving,” he stated, defying anyone to argue with him.
Faedra gave her two friends a 'What's got into him?' look as he pulled her towards the entrance to the room. Carina and Anwynn were still seated at the table. Calm energy still surrounding them.
Faedra heard a couple of chairs scrape the floor and assumed Jocelyn and Etyran were now joining them.
Just as the four were walking out, Carina spoke up. “He has Todmus's wife and daughter.”
Faedra stopped dead, which jerked Faen to a stop, also. She turned to face Carina, scanning her energy. She was telling the truth. Arawn had Todmus's wife and daughter. He must have held them prisoner for years. What kind of horror must they have endured at his hand? She couldn't leave them there if there was anything she could do to help them.
As for killing Arawn, she couldn't do it, that much was for sure. This was not her fight, and she most definitely was not a mercenary. When she absorbed Savu's power, she didn't think it would kill him. Her plan was to make him weak so he could be overpowered and locked away in a dungeon. The last thing she would ever do would be to purposely kill someone. She wasn't a murderer, and she certainly wasn't about to become one. Savu had had her father; she was protecting her family. It was self-defense.
“Faedra?” Faen asked.
“We can't just leave them there, Faen. Todmus helped me when Vivianna had me under a spell, remember? We have to do something.”
Faen eased his grip on Faedra's hand, his features softened. “What do you suggest?”
“I don't know, but between the four of us we should be able to come up with a plan to rescue them, don't you think?”
“Ooh, I am ready for a bit of adventure,” Jocelyn said, unable to hide her excitement.
Faedra gave her friend a knowing smile. Faen rolled his eyes. “Why do I get the feeling I am not going to like this?”
“Jocelyn's got a point, mate. I'm up for a bit of rescuing, if you're game,” Etyran put in his two pennies worth.
“I have a feeling I am outnumbered,” Faen said with a smile. He could see the determination on his charge's face. “Okay, I am in, as you would say, my friend. But, can we please try to not get killed in the process.”
“We'll try,” said Faedra and Jocelyn.
“Can't make any promises, though.” Etyran piped up, flashing his signature roguish grin.
Faedra led Faen back into the room, Jocelyn and Etyran followed. They seated themselves back around the table again.
“Right, let's get one thing straight,” Faedra said pointedly to Carina. “I am not killing anyone, understand? I am not a murderer. But there may be another way to rid you of Arawn. First things first, though. If you help us rescue Todmus's wife and daughter, then I believe we know of someone who can make Arawn less of a problem.”
“Who?” Carina and Anwynn asked together.
Faedra ta
pped the side of her nose. “All in good time. Now, how do we get into Arawn's castle?”
Faen turned to face Faedra and creased his brows, asking a silent 'What are you up to?'. To which he garnered a smug grin from the Custodian.
***
An hour or so later, Carina had given the group an extensive description of the inside of the castle with the help of the model standing on a table by itself in the cave room. She had been one of the residents there when Todmus was ruler of Drofoz. She was the realm's lead healer and head of the ovates. Lavish quarters in the castle had accompanied the title. Her escape from Arawn was made by the skin of her teeth. She dreaded to think how he would have used her if she hadn't eluded capture and found the caves. Since that day when Arawn had forcefully taken the realm, Carina had always felt guilty she'd been unable to get Allora and Skylar out, too. She couldn't bear to think what they may have been through over the years. She prayed with all her heart that Faedra and her friends would be successful in their plan to rescue Todmus's family. Carina developed a new appreciation for the Custodian while they were hashing out a plan for the rescue. It was obvious she cared deeply for Todmus and would do whatever it took to free his family and reunite them.
***
“How much longer before it gets dark?” Faedra asked Carina as they all left the cave room and headed towards the large cave where Faedra had lost control of her power a few hours prior.
“A little while yet. We have a couple of spare rooms we can give you. You can freshen up and rest before we set out this evening.”
That was music to Faedra's ears. She was starting to feel a little grimy, and the thought of splashing some water on her face and neck was a welcome one.
Carina led the four of them though the main chamber and down another tunnel. This tunnel opened up into another cavern, smaller than the first. The walls of this one looked like a sponge. Lots of holes dotted the walls of the cavern creating small rooms. Faedra could see that many of them were already occupied; the inhabitants peeked out and looked at her and her friends with curious interest.
As they walked further into the cavern, past all those faces, the energy in the room rose with every step. Whispers echoed around the walls. Faedra was blanketed in the familiar feeling of hope she was now accustomed to feeling when surrounded by these people.
She looked around and gave a weak smile to those who made eye contact. Telling them with her eyes that she would do her best to free them from having to live in hiding. To some of the smaller children she saw, she was sure they knew no other life than being cooped up in a cage. Too much danger lurked outside for them to play carefree in the sunshine. She wondered if many of these children had ever been allowed outside at all. Had they ever had the sun warm their faces on a bright spring morning? Felt the cool drops of rain from an unexpected shower?
“Here we are,” Carina said, snapping Faedra from her thoughts. Faedra turned her attention to her host. Now that she and her friends were going to free the family members of someone she held very dear to her heart, she couldn't view Carina as a kidnapper any more.
Carina pointed to two holes in the cavern wall. One was above the other. A ladder made of tree branches and strapped with vines led to the highest one.
“I will come and get you when night falls,” she said before turning and exiting out the way they came in.
“Well, I guess Jocelyn and I will take this one and you two can take that one.” Faedra said, pointing to the lower of the two rooms. She noticed Etyran's expression fall as she divvied up the rooms, but he quickly recovered when Faen put his arm around Etyran's shoulder.
“Come, my friend. Let us leave the ladies to get freshened up and rested before we leave. I want to go over tactics with you,” he said to Etyran as he led him towards the ladder. When Etyran put a foot on the first rung, Faen beat his wings a few times and ascended to their room.
Faedra pushed the material hanging in the entrance for privacy aside and gestured for Jocelyn to enter. “After you,” she said. Jocelyn gave her a warm smile and walked past her into the cave room.
Faedra followed and let the cloth fall behind her, covering the entrance to the room. For a room carved into rock, it was surprisingly cozy, especially with the curtain draped over the entrance. There was a little furniture in the room. A small dresser with a bowl and pitcher of water stood at one end, and a couple of single beds covered with blankets was all there was room for. It was all they needed, though.
Jocelyn wandered over to one of the beds and sat on the end. Faedra headed over to the pitcher and poured some of the cool water into the bowl. She leaned over the bowl, cupped her hands and splashed her face. She let out a sigh.
“Etyran likes me, doesn't he?” Jocelyn blurted as she fiddled with the corner of the blanket.
Faedra stopped mid splash and turned her head towards her friend. Water dripped from her wet face into the bowl below. She gave her friend a big grin.
“Well, I think that would be the understatement of the year,” Faedra replied.
Jocelyn crinkled her eyebrows.
“I think he likes you very much.” Faedra didn't think, she knew. Etyran's energy was not subtle that was for sure. “How do you feel about him?”
Jocelyn dropped her gaze and sighed. “I am not sure. No one has taken an interest in me before.”
Faedra grabbed the cloth on the dresser and wiped her face. “You're kidding me?”
“No, not kidding. I am not sure how I am supposed to feel in this situation.”
“Forget about what you're supposed to feel. How do you actually feel?” Faedra could quite easily determine how Jocelyn actually felt but thought her friend needed to talk about it.
Jocelyn mulled it over for a moment. “Well, when he is around, I feel like butterflies are fluttering around in my stomach. It is a very odd feeling; I have never felt anything like it before. At first, I thought I may be getting sick, but after a few days I could still feel it and I was still well.”
Faedra gave her friend a warm smile.
“Is that normal, do you think?” Jocelyn asked.
Faedra moved to the bed and sat down next to Jocelyn, laying the damp cloth across her lap. “Yes, it is normal. I still get that feeling every time your brother looks at me.”
“You do?” Jocelyn seemed surprised. “How long does it last?”
“Everyone is different. I'm afraid I can't answer that, sorry.”
“What do I do now?”
“Follow your heart and only do what you are comfortable doing. If Etyran does anything that makes you feel uncomfortable, you must let him know. He would be devastated if he did anything to upset or offend you. You know how clumsy he can be, especially around women. I don't think he has a lot of experience with our kind.”
“Our kind? But we are of different kinds,” Jocelyn stated, completely misunderstanding Faedra's statement.
“I mean females.”
“Oh, I see. He does stumble over his words a lot when he talks to me. I was unsure why, but now it makes sense.” Jocelyn gave Faedra a big smile. “I think I like these butterflies.” She looked down at her stomach. Faedra returned Jocelyn's smile.
“Well, I guess we should get some rest before darkness falls,” Faedra said as she moved over to the other bed. She took off the pouch containing the cypher wheel and laid it on the small table next to the bed. She then leaned over to take off her boots before swinging her legs up to lay down on top of the blankets. Faedra heard a rustle from the other bed as Jocelyn lay down. She turned her head to look at her friend.
Jocelyn was lying on her side, hands tucked under her cheek. She was looking intently at the Custodian. “Are you nervous about tonight?”
Faedra looked up at the ceiling, thought about it for a moment and turned back to face her friend. “You know, I'm not at the moment. I know I can do almost anything with this power if I put my mind to it. I just need to figure out how to make it work for me. Are you?”
“A li
ttle, but then, I always am before a quest. I think it makes me more focused.”
“Really? You never show it. I would never have guessed you were nervous about anything.”
Jocelyn smiled and turned until she was lying on her back. She was looking up at the ceiling when Faedra did the same thing. A few moments later, her eyes became heavy and she drifted off to sleep.
CHAPTER TWELVE
Faedra was pulled from her sleep by a gentle touch on her arm. She took in a deep breath as she willed her eyes to open. Her foggy brain registered her Guardian over her beside the bed. She blinked several times to focus her eyes.
“Is it time to go?” she asked.
“It is. Carina has the horses ready for us.”
Faedra turned and leaned over to give Jocelyn a gentle shake. “Time to get up, Jocelyn.”
“Already?” Jocelyn mumbled.
“Come on, sleepy head. Up you get,” another voice spoke.
Faedra and Jocelyn propped themselves up on their beds to see Etyran leaning up against the door way, arms crossed over his chest and one foot crossed lazily over the other at the ankle. He gave Jocelyn a warm smile and Faedra could feel his energy radiate into the room. Faedra and Jocelyn looked at each other and exchanged knowing smiles.
Faedra sat up and took Faen's offered hand as he pulled her up to stand.
“Thanks.” Faedra leaned in and kissed him on the cheek. “Well, let's get this show on the road then, shall we?” She grabbed her pouch and slung it across her body.
Etyran stepped aside and let the two ladies exit first. They walked into the main cavern to be greeted by Carina and Anwynn, who were waiting with six horses.
“Six horses?” Faedra looked up and asked Faen.
“Carina and Anwynn are going to ride with us to the edge of the forest. They know the quickest and safest route through,” Faen explained.
Faedra nodded. It made sense to her.