by John Corwin
I took a more conservative approach from then on, careful to gauge my jumps if needed, while Elyssa clambered onward like a monkey girl. She reached the top a good ten minutes ahead of me, breathing heavily, face flushed, and a big grin on her face.
"It's been too long." Elyssa set her hands on her hips and stared down at me. "Isn't this fun?"
Heart racing from the thought of the long fall, I looked at her like she was crazy. "It's terrifying!" I scrambled for the next grip and refused to look down. Elyssa grasped my hand and pulled me up and over the lip.
"Templar basic training involves base jumping, skydiving, and bouldering." She rubbed her hands in the blue grass to remove the clay. "It was my favorite part of boot camp."
I rolled onto my back, grateful to be back on solid ground. "I prefer having a broom between my legs."
She laughed and kissed my forehead. "Up and at-em, sunshine. We're running low on time."
"I know, I know." I got up and looked at the slope. The summit lay several hundred yards away, but Ulladon—thank the heavens—was small for a mountain. We set off at a jog and made good time, despite a couple of areas with loose soil and prickly bushes that forced us to circumnavigate their thorns.
Ten minutes overdue, red-faced and sweating, we crested the summit and found Arturo standing outside the white meeting tent. His forehead creased when he saw us, confusion and maybe a little worry drawing deep lines in his youthful face. I spotted Thomas's carpet on the ground nearby and strode over to Arturo as if everything was copasetic.
"Where's Commander Borathen?" I asked.
"He's inside explaining why you're late." Some of Arturo's imperious attitude crept into his demeanor. "You're filthy, and you were supposed to come alone."
I wasn't sure what Thomas had told him, so I kept it vague. "Circumstances forced me to do otherwise." I motioned toward the tent. "Shall we?"
Arturo considered Elyssa for a long moment and nodded. "Proceed."
I unslung the brooms and set them on the ground. When Elyssa and I walked toward the tent Arturo made no move to follow us, remaining instead with the squad of archangels standing at attention outside.
"You coming?" I asked.
His lips tightened into a line. "Only if the Empress wills it."
Cold chills ran from my nipples all the way down to my belly-button, forming an arctic triangle of heebie-jeebies. "Empress?" I hadn't expected him to bring their new ruler along.
"Yes. She decided to attend this matter personally." He jabbed a finger toward the opening. "She awaits you. Enter."
I pulled back the flap of the tent, and saw Thomas sitting at the table, eyes steely, his face set in stone. Across from him, her back to us, sat a sera with long golden tresses. Her white dress shimmered like gossamer threads and her hands and bare shoulders were white as porcelain.
My first thought nearly stopped my heart. Daelissa?
Thomas's concerned gaze found us. "They're here, Empress."
The sera turned and regarded Elyssa and me. "Welcome, boy. It has been too long."
Chapter 8
She wasn't Daelissa.
My dread enemy was still rotting in her grave, but seeing who now sat on the Brightling throne twisted my insides with uncertainty.
"Kaelissa." I offered her a slight bow. "How—"
"I am the mother of she who ruled the Brightlings," she said. "My blood is ancient, my powers formidable. Though my affinity is for Murk, I am powerful with Brilliance."
"They made you Empress just like that?" I snapped my fingers.
Kaelissa tilted her head slightly. "Do you mock me, boy?"
I waved my hands defensively. "Absolutely not Your, uh, Eminence. I just find it surprising the Brightlings would raise a Darkling to the throne."
"I am the mother of Daelissa." Kaelissa stood and hooked a fingernail under my chin, pulling me closer. "When last I saw you, I decided it was time to bring greatness back to this sad realm. I journeyed to Zbura and met with Arturo. It took only one look for him to realize I was the rightful Empress. Once I demonstrated my power, the others swore their loyalty and I took the throne."
I jerked up my chin and backed away. "Really? That easy?"
"Of course I am glossing over details, a few individuals who refused to acknowledge me." She pursed her lips. "It was a small matter to dispose of them." Her tone sounded so much like Daelissa's it made me shudder. Kaelissa had spoiled her blond daughter and disdained Nightliss. For millennia she'd done little but breed in an attempt to create another perfect daughter, but all had come into the world bearing the taint of the Desecration from the end of the First Seraphim War. All would die of old age because Daelissa's defeat had cursed them.
Thomas spoke. "Kaelissa—"
"Empress Kaelissa." Her eyes went hard as stones.
Thomas didn't miss a beat. "Empress Kaelissa has expressed interest in uniting the nations under one rule," Thomas said. "She has modified the treaty Primarion Arturo discussed." He tapped a gem on the table and stood up. "Perhaps you should take a look."
I sat down on the crystal chair and charged the gem. Cyrinthian words projected into the air. The treaty was short, to the point, and about as one-sided as it gets. "You want the Darkling legions and our army to disarm and leave the borders."
Kaelissa sat back on her chair. "Of course. It shows that you are ready to unite under one government."
I barked a laugh. "No, it means that we're to roll over on our backs so you can scratch our bellies."
Kaelissa attempted an empathetic expression, but it came across as condescending instead. "I understand the plight of the Darklings. I do not wish them to suffer under the thumb of oppression. Once they have demonstrated obedience, I will grant them equal rights." She spread her hands as if preparing for a hug. "We will again be one people."
I didn't believe her for a second. "And if we don't?"
Her face hardened. "There will be war. I am the rightful ruler of all in this realm, and I will not accept defiance."
I wondered how Kohval would feel about this new peace treaty. Unless Kaelissa gave him assurances of power, he'd probably do an about-face on his stance. "You may have nearly three times the soldiers we have, but they still have to breach our defenses. Are you willing to sacrifice thousands?"
A confident smile spread across her lovely face. "I am willing to do whatever is necessary." Kaelissa stood. "There is little hope you could win a war. If you refuse, I will soon sing a song none can resist."
I held up my hands in mock terror. "Please don't karaoke us to death!" Kaelissa was too confident for my comfort. It was almost as if whatever she expected to get from Voltis was a sure thing. I wanted to straight-up ask her what it was, but then we'd lose an advantage. If her secret weapon was so guaranteed, maybe we could sneak in and steal it first.
Kaelissa's chin tilted imperiously. "We will meet here in two weeks. I expect you to have the documents signed by then."
I felt my eyebrows climb my forehead. "We don't even have a proper government in place. Who's supposed to sign it?"
Kaelissa pressed a cool hand to my cheek and gave me a motherly look. "I am certain either you or the commander is qualified."
"What if the legions don't agree to it?" I asked.
"Then we will see if your prediction of our losses is as dire as you believe." Kaelissa turned gracefully and strode from the tent. I stood and followed her, hoping to talk some sense to Arturo, but before I could get his attention, pinions of white fire burst from Kaelissa's back. "Two weeks," she told me and leapt off the cliff, soaring gracefully away.
Arturo and the archangels sprouted wings and followed her without so much as a goodbye, take care, or see you later, alligator.
"She can't be serious," Elyssa said. "Kaelissa is crazy!"
Thomas stared into the distance, eyes lost in thought for a moment. "It would seem whatever she expects to gain from Voltis is powerful indeed. Even without the peace treaty, she seems confident Pjurna won't b
e a threat."
"My thoughts exactly." I pinched the bridge of my nose as my headache intensified. "We can't let her have it. Somehow, we have to reach it first."
"Agreed," Elyssa said. "The only question is, how do we get there? Will the Mzodi help?"
"Perhaps," Thomas said. "I'll communicate with Xalara and see if she'll agree to providing transport." He looked us up and down. "I take it there was some difficulty shaking the Daskar?"
"Eh." I gave him an unconcerned shrug. "It wasn't so bad."
Elyssa snorted. "Yeah, piece of cake."
"Would've been easier if our brooms hadn't died," I said. "Both of them conked out on us."
Thomas took one of the brooms from Elyssa's back and unfolded it. He inspected the shaft and the saddle. "The more I thought about the broom malfunction, the more suspicious I became." He grunted and turned the broom to reveal a tiny gem hidden between the seat and the broomstick. "Someone sabotaged this broom."
I picked up the other broom and found an identical gem in the same spot. I hadn't even thought to check my broom for anything suspicious. "Why didn't mine stop working at the same time?"
"Perhaps it would have, but you turned it off first," Thomas said. He pried the gem loose and flicked it away. "Give it a try now." He held it out to me.
I placed my hand around the control runes and twisted it. The broom hovered in place. A growl rumbled in my throat. "I'm gonna break Kohval in half."
Thomas put a hand on my shoulder. "Later. For now, you need to rendezvous with the Falcheen and request they take you to Voltis. I'll circle wide around Kohvalla and connect with the skyway to Tarissa far to the south. It's imperative I notify McCloud and the other faction leaders about the tenuous situation here."
The capitol city of Pjurna was a long way south of Kohvalla, even by skyway. I blew out a sigh. "Yes, sir."
Thomas turned to his daughter and gave her a brief hug. He kissed her forehead. "Be careful. I'll see you soon."
"I'm worried about you trying to reach Tarissa alone," Elyssa said. "I thought the plan was for you to come on the ship."
He shook his head. "We don't have time for the Falcheen to detour to Tarissa." Thomas checked the time on his phone. "They'll meet you at the eastern mouth of the Acheron Canyon within the hour. You should leave now."
Elyssa gave him one last worried look and nodded. "See you soon."
Thomas strode back to his carpet and took off to the east so he could circle around Kohvalla. We hopped on our brooms and headed north toward the valley.
This part of the Vjartik Mountains was relatively easy to traverse, filled with low peaks and shallow valleys. We flew low in case the Daskar were still on the hunt, but I suspected it would take them days of searching snow and debris to realize we weren't dead and buried. Even so, I wanted to avoid any Brightling patrols that might be out this way. I hoped with their greatly reduced numbers, the chances of running into a patrol would be slim.
"Isn't this the place?" Elyssa slowed as we entered a wide canyon.
I checked the map on my arcphone, Nookli, and found the label for the Acheron Canyon. "It says we're here."
Insects hummed and a flock of golden doves exploded into the air when a herd of pink zebras galloped into a grove of trees. Except for the chilling heights of the mountains, it was much warmer here in northern Pjurna than in Tarissa far to the south. My stomach growled, reminding me I hadn't had a decent meal since breakfast.
Elyssa pointed down. "I think those are glurk trees."
I grimaced. Glurk was filling, but it was also the chicken of Seraphina—eaten for nearly every meal. My stomach gurgled to remind me that it was too empty to turn down a meal so I sighed and nodded. "Might as well eat while we wait."
We dropped down to the trees and harvested some of the tomato-like fruits then flew back up and perched on the lip of the canyon for a better view when the Falcheen showed. I peeled open the glurk to reveal the thick pasty insides. Lacking a utensil, I tried to channel enough magic to make a spork, but a spike of pain in my head warned me my body wasn't ready yet.
I found two thin pieces of hard clay and dusted them off for us to use as makeshift scoops.
Elyssa noticed my wince. "Magic still not cooperating?"
I swallowed a mouthful of glurk. "I'll be fine after a night of sleep."
"I hope so." She looked up into the cloudy sky. "Looks like it might rain."
Moments after her prophetic statement, the heavens dropped a load on us. Despite the warmer climate, the rain was freezing cold. I couldn't even channel an umbrella to keep us dry, so we huddled together for warmth and waited until it stopped. By the third hour, I prowled restlessly around, scanning the gray skies for any sign of the ship.
"Something must have happened to them." I looked at the map again and confirmed we were in the correct canyon on the eastern side. "Nookli, is our location accurate?"
"Justin, there is one Indian restaurant nearby," Nookli reported in its slightly robotic monotone. A blue blip highlighted the glurk tree.
Elyssa raised an eyebrow. "I swear to god, I think your phone likes to punk you."
I didn't know why Nookli had an obsession with incorrectly translating my queries into a desire to locate fine Indian cuisine, but it was comforting to know it cared. I repeated my question, and this time it confirmed that we were in the right spot.
"How far are the northern vortexes from here?" Elyssa asked. "Maybe the Falcheen is still out to sea."
I ran the query past Nookli and calculated a distance of a couple hundred miles. It didn't take the sky ships long to traverse such a distance, but if they'd encountered problems in the vortex, that could have slowed them considerably. As the sun began to reach for the horizon, I realized there wasn't much else we could do except wait.
Elyssa's comm gem beeped and Thomas's voice crackled. "Elyssa, are you reading me?"
She tapped the gem. "Yes, but there's a lot of static."
"I'll make it quick then," he said. "Xalara said she would consider the request about Voltis, but that was several hours ago. I'll let you know when that changes."
"Confirmed," Elyssa said. "The Falcheen still hasn't shown for our rendezvous."
"Hmm." Thomas went quiet. "Could be they're just running late. I'll check back within two hours, provided I can break through the interference. I'm nearly to the skyway."
"Be safe," Elyssa said.
"Same," Thomas replied, and the gem went quiet.
"I'm sick of waiting." I blew out a sigh. "What if they came already, didn't find us, and left?"
"Shelton would never let them leave without us," Elyssa said.
"The Mzodi don't always listen to us," I reminded her.
"True," she admitted, "but I'm sure Shelton would've left something behind to let us know."
The Mzodi were an interesting group of Seraphim, both Darklings and Brightlings who worked together to harvest aether gems from the intense magical pressures of the vortexes all over the realm. Unlike their land-dwelling brethren, they held no prejudice against Seraphim simply because of the kind of magic they channeled. In a sense, they were like a nation unto themselves, their homeland a secret place I'd never seen.
They were also driving me crazy with this long wait. I tapped on the Mzodi communication gem on my waist, a small silver stone, and waited for the chime that told me the flagship Uorion received my request. Like arcphones, the gems utilized aether to transmit communications, but beyond that, I didn't understand the mechanics. Shelton told me the gems were charmed to have an affinity to one another, meaning they all operated on the same frequency.
I hadn't used it yet because bugging the leader of the Mzodi was the last thing I wanted to do, especially since Thomas had already contacted them. Unfortunately, my patience had reached an end.
A faint chime emanated from the gem and the image of a sera with a sharp nose and hawkish eyes projected into the air before me.
"How may I assist you, Minister Slade?"
"We sent the rendezvous request and received affirmative ping several hours ago." She looked at something to the side. "They are scheduled for the Acheron Canyon, correct?"
"That's right." I shifted impatiently. "Can I contact them directly?"
"Not without the proper gem," she said. "I will resend the request. Please hold."
The magical projection went blank but didn't disconnect. I gave Elyssa a disbelieving look. "They just put me on hold!"
She rubbed my arm. "At least they're more responsive than customer service at a cable company."
The wait stretched on a few minutes and the sera reappeared. "Apologies, Minister Slade, but I received no response."
Fingers of ice gripped my heart. "Meaning what?"
"Either interference from a vortex is blocking communications or"—her forehead creased with worry—"something happened to the ship."
I'd ridden through a vortex on a sky ship and thought the turbulence was going to kill me. The sky fishers did what sailors do, shouting and running around a lot, but had gotten us through the storm with our pants soiled, but our bodies unscathed. My mouth went dry and I struggled to swallow. "Is it possible they shipwrecked?"
"Despite our best precautions, it does happen." She looked to the side and nodded, probably to acknowledge someone standing near her then turned back to me. "Maintain your position and we will let you know the moment anything changes." Her holographic image flickered away.
Elyssa squeezed my hand. "I'm sure everything is okay, babe."
"Shelton and Adam are on that ship." I jumped to my feet and grabbed my broom. "We've got to go look for them."
"Not a good idea." Elyssa gently took the broom away. "Flying a broom into a vortex is only going to get you killed."