“It’s very dark in here,” said Faith.
Falcon took a quick glance around, but to his dismay didn’t see his old friend anywhere. He pointed at an empty table at the far right end of the small pub.
Taking his cue, Faith followed him and took a seat. A second later a tall young woman came to take their order.
“I’ll just have some water,” said Faith.
“Water for me too,” said Falcon.
“You can’t just get water, you know,” said the waitress, rolling her eyes.
Falcon sighed. “Fine then, give me a mug of ale.” As the girl walked away, Falcon took hold of her apron. “Before you leave, miss.” He lowered his voice. “I would also like to see the owner—Braden.”
The waitresses’ eyes widened. “Uh. There is no one by that name here.” Without saying a word, she hastily took off through a set of swinging double doors behind the counter.
“I’ll be back,” said Falcon, standing up.
“Where are you going?” Faith asked.
“The waitress knows something, and I’m going to find out what it is.” He walked slowly behind the counter; the last thing he wanted was to arouse any suspicion. Luckily, most of the soldiers were too busy drinking or talking to one another to pay him any attention. He opened the door and his stomach turned icy when he saw the long-nosed young man speaking to the waitress. Falcon reached for his hood and brought it down.
Braden smiled nervously. “My friend, Falcon Hyatt. I haven’t seen you in a long time. How are you doing?”
Falcon glanced at the waitress. “Get out.” The girl hunched her head and darted out of the back room. “You and I are going to have a little chat.” He turned his attention back to Braden.
The pimple-faced man pointed at himself innocently. “Me? Whatever would you want with me? I’m a simple pub owner. What information would you want with someone so insignificant?”
Falcon took hold of Braden’s collar and shoved him against a table, knocking down bottles of wine. They crashed loudly on the floor. With Braden still in his grip, he wielded a spear of ice in his middle finger. He willed the spear to grow, until the sharp point was pressing against his former friend’s neck.
“Hey, hey, hey.” Braden gulped as he brought his hands up. His breath reeked of alcohol. “No need for this violence.”
“Where is the emperor? And don’t say you don’t know. You have your nose in everything that happens in Ladria. I know you know something”
“I want to tell you, I really do. But could you–”
Falcon pressed the ice tip an inch deeper. “Don’t even try to talk your way out of this one. Spill the information, or I spill your miserable guts all over this floor.” He held his breath, hoping that Braden would believe his bluff.
The double doors swung open, and Faith strode in. She took hold of Falcon’s hand and pulled it back. “You’re making such a ruckus that some soldiers are trying to come back here. The waitress is keeping them occupied.”
“All the more reason I have to beat the information out of him,” said Falcon, returning his gaze to Braden.
“Have you tried to simply ask nicely instead of demanding answers?”
Falcon let out an exaggerated sigh. “Faith, I told you, asking doesn’t work on guys like this.”
“Yes, it would,” said Braden in a squeaky voice as he pushed Falcon’s hand away. He turned to Faith. “Ever since he got back here I’ve been trying to tell him, but every time I try, he threatens me.”
Falcon felt a pang of guilt in his chest. He was so sure that Braden was the same person from their childhood that he never considered that he had changed.
Braden turned to Faith. His eyes were watery. “At least someone here isn’t ready to kill me to get information from me. He thinks that because he’s a Rohad, he can do whatever he wants”
“Please tell us what you know about the emperor’s whereabouts,” said Faith.
Braden wiped a tear. “Like I was trying to tell Falcon, I don’t know where he is, but I do know who knows.”
“Who?” asked Falcon.
“A few days ago I overheard a few soldiers saying that Draknorr believes Commander Meloth aided the emperor’s escape.”
“What about Hiromy? Is she alive?”
“I don’t know, but last I heard, she was on the brink of death. It is possible she didn’t make it.”
Falcon felt the air leave him. His heart settled in his stomach and stayed there as he recalled how Hiromy, despite her privileged upbringings, had always been kind to him. And despite such kindness, he never took a minute out of his time to thank her.
“Let us pass,” said a deep voice from the pub. “What are you hiding back there?”
“It’s the soldiers,” said Braden. “Follow me.” He pushed a crate to the side, revealing a bronze handle on the floor. He pulled it open. A set of stairs that led underground folded out. “This will take you to the entrance of the city. Hurry.”
Falcon hesitated for a second. What if it was some kind of trap? But before he had time to think on it, Faith thanked Braden and jumped in. Seeing that he was out of options, he went down the stairs as well.
Braden reached for the handle. He wiped the tears from his eyes as he looked into Falcon’s eyes. “They killed my dad and mom right in front of me. Then they kept me alive so I could provide them with drinks.” He gritted his teeth. “Make them pay.” With those last words Braden shut the door. A second later Falcon made out the scratching noise of a crate being pushed over the secret door.
Slowly, they made their way down the short stairs. They came out in a narrow tunnel, much like the one they had traveled in earlier. Except that, fortunately, this one smelled of wet dirt instead of excrement.
Falcon ran his hand through his hair as he took in a deep breath. He felt like an idiot. How could he have invested so much hate in something that had happened so long ago?
“Our past defines us, but you shouldn’t allow it to become your burden.” Faith smiled at him and started down the dark path.
Falcon gazed at her golden brown hair that bounced evenly as she moved. All this time he had believed that Faith had a narrow view of the world, but now, for the first time, it occurred to him that he might be the one with a one-dimensional view of life.
Chapter 4
“What does it look like?” asked Faith as Falcon peeked out the small sliding door at the end of the path.
There was a large metal gate that extended to the skies. The giant double doors were opened wide, and dozens of children lay tied to the floor. He slowly closed the lid and turned to his companion.
“Well?” asked Faith. “Is it safe to come out?”
Falcon turned to her. “It looks like we’re back at the entrance of the city. We can sneak out and try to rejoin Chonsey. I’m sure he can get us into his father’s home.”
“But we can’t simply leave those poor children behind.”
“My thoughts exactly,” said Falcon. “Except that I don’t know what to do. How are we going to take so many children out without being stopped? There has to be over two dozen soldiers out there, and every kid is tied down with chains. There is no way we’ll be able to get every one of them free.”
Faith grimaced as she rubbed her forehead; no doubt she was going over possible solutions in her head. Every once in a while she would sigh in frustration. Falcon leaned on the grainy wall. No matter how much he thought about it, he couldn’t figure out a way to help, not without getting themselves captured in the process.
Slowly, he forced the words that had been forming in his mind out of his mouth. “Maybe we should leave them behind. For now.”
“What?” asked Faith, shock in her voice.
“We won’t be much help if we’re trapped too.” He was trying to convince himself. “At least if we leave we’ll be able to come back for them eventually.”
“When? When they’re dead and buried?”
Falcon lowered his gaze. He knew F
aith was right, but he had a point too. What good could they be for the millions of other people on Va’siel if they got captured trying to help half a dozen?
“No,” Faith continued. “We must get them free now, and I know exactly what we need. Space.”
“Space? That would be great if we had the Ghost Knight or Sheridan with us, but they’re not here, are they?”
Faith stared back at him expectantly. “They’re not, but you are.”
Falcon remained quiet, not sure how to tell Faith that he simply couldn’t do it. Space was something he had very little experience with. Now he was supposed to simply teleport a dozen kids to safety? That was nigh impossible. To him, at least.
“You space wielded once before,” said Faith, no doubt noticing his apprehension. “You can do it again.”
“That was once, and besides that all I have is what I read in texts and the little I discussed with Sheridan.” Inside he was kicking himself. He spoken to the Ghost Knight in private more than once, and never in those conversations did it occur to him to ask him for space wielding lessons.
“You can do it,” encouraged Faith. “I’ve seen the way you pick up holy wielding. It’s the same principle with space. Simply concentrate.”
Falcon gulped. She was right. He had to give it a shot, for the kid’s sake.
“Let’s do it, then,” he said, nervousness creeping into his body.
“I will try to give you as much time as you need.”
Falcon pushed open the sliding door. Quickly, he hopped out of the secret passage. He blinked rapidly as the sudden brightness of the sun assaulted his senses. To his surprise, not a single soldier seemed to have noticed him. They all busied themselves talking, sitting playing card games, or walking from one place to the next.
Falcon tried to suppress his anger as his eyes darted to the chained children. He needed to concentrate if he was to help them, which meant keeping his emotions in check. He brought his hands together as he forced his mind to think of space wielding. He already knew how to create space force; all he needed to do was to elevate that to the next level.
He smiled inwardly as he sensed gravity increase around him. He was doing it! He opened his eyes and moved the invisible force over the children. In seconds he had it drifting over every single prisoner. Now all I have to is take it to the next—
“Hey, you there,” called an unknown voice. “What do you think you’re doing?”
Falcon felt his wielding weaken a bit as his gaze darted over to an incoming soldier. He was short, and his legs were so spread out that walking seemed to be a struggle. He didn’t look like much of a threat, but Falcon was now looking beyond him at the dozen soldiers who had taken notice of him.
“I asked you a question, peasant!” demanded the guard as he unsheathed a sword. The rest of the soldiers did the same.
“Bubble charm,” called Faith as she stood in front of him. She put both her hands over her head and spun them around, almost as if she were churning invisible butter.
“Get back, you wench,” ordered the soldier. “Or I’ll cut you down where you stand.”
Oblivious, Faith continued churning.
“Die, then.” The soldier brought his sword under his belt and ran forward.
Falcon looked from the kids to Faith. He had to make a choice quickly. He was seconds away from dissolving the force he had over the children when the soldier suddenly stopped moving. He bounced back and fell, his armor clinging loudly on the ground. The remaining soldiers met the same fate.
“What was that?” asked the stubby soldier furiously. Spit dripped from his mouth as he moved forward again, this time much more slowly. He suddenly stopped. Falcon suspected he had reached the same shield as before. He poked it with his sword. The weapon ricocheted. Another soldier tried to force himself into the obstruction, but he too bounced back onto the ground.
Faith had put up some type of shield! But it wasn’t unlike any hard, firm shield Falcon had seen before. This one was barely visible, and it shape-shifted and molded itself like water.
“Everyone attack this bubble at once,” said the short man. In an instant the soldiers slammed their swords repeatedly on the shield. A few of them even wielded balls of fire. Every attack bounced off harmlessly, sending loud ringing notes through the air.
“Falcon,” moaned Faith, her voice strained. “Hurry up, please.”
Falcon snapped into attention. Guilt gnawed at him. Faith had been putting all her effort into maintaining a shield up for him, and all he’d done was stand idly by admiring the shield. “Yes, of course.” He concentrated on a vision. There was only one place he could think of that wasn’t too far and where the kids would be safe. The vision of K’ran’s home nestled between thick forest trees flashed in his mind. He could see it all vividly, the smoking chimney, the water-drenched wood, even the short, green grass.
The soldiers’ yells became nothing more than useless echoes as he opened the force he had over the children. The kid’s bodies stretched like dough as they whirled into the holes that had opened before them. A second later they had all disappeared.
Falcon felt a heavy weight leave him.
“Now get us out of here,” said Faith breathing heavily. “I can’t hold this bubble much longer.”
“You’re not going anywhere!” cried the soldier.
“Falcon!” called Faith once more, her voice pleading.
He tried to think quickly, but that only served to jumble his mind even more.
Faith brought one hand down, while the other continued churning.
“She’s weakening,” cried a soldier. “We got them now.”
Her warm hand rested on his chest. Her familiar warmth spread from his stomach to the tip of his toes and to every last strand of his hair. Suddenly, his mind was clear. He pictured the opening in the gate where Chonsey was waiting for them. A hole materialized above him. His and Faith’s body stretched into it. Like before, he felt no pain.
“Get back here!” he heard the men shout as he warped out of their grasps.
~~~
“He said what, mate?” asked Chonsey.
Falcon and Faith were now standing before Chonsey, who still appeared shocked to have seen his friend materialize through a hole in space. The sun was close to descending.
“I already told you, Chonsey,” Falcon repeated. “Braden said that if anyone has any information, it’s your father. Which means that you need to get us into his home.”
“What makes you think that I can get you in?” asked Chonsey, playing with his hair.
“Your father is the top commander of the Ladrian armies. I know all high-ranking commanders, council members, and generals have hidden passageways that lead out of their home. It’s a security measure they have in case they are attacked.”
Chonsey’s gaze drifted from Falcon to the ground. “I’m guessing Aya told you.”
“Yes.”
“She must really trust you, mate.”
A wave of anger and hurt spread through Falcon. He had known and been close friends with Chonsey since they were children. Was he saying that he was not to be trusted?
“I didn’t mean anything by that, mate,” said Chonsey, noticing the questioning look in Falcon’s face. “It’s simply that no one is supposed to know.” He stalled. “I would have told you, but my dad would have killed me. You know how he is.”
“It’s no big deal,” lied Falcon. “But you will take us to the hideout now, won't you? I’m sure your father would understand.”
Chonsey nodded his head. “I don’t want to see him. You saw how he kicked that little girl. He may have turned to the Suteckh. He always did crave power after all, just like Lao.”
The unexpected mention of his former friend caused Falcon’s stomach to twist. “Please, Chonsey. Lao chose his—” He took a breath, letting the thought of his dead friend fade to the back of his mind. “Lao and your father are not the same. Let’s go speak to him.”
“You go, mate.
I’m staying right here.”
Faith, who until now had remained silent, stood before Chonsey. “We need you. You’re his son. He’s more likely to give information to you than to two strangers.”
In his face, Falcon could see Chonsey struggling to make a choice.
“Fine, mates,” he said after a minute of silence. He slowly crouched and entered the opening in the wall.
“Where are you going?” asked Falcon, confused.
“The hideout is this way, mate. You actually probably passed it without knowing on the way into the city.”
“If you say so.” Falcon moved into the opening, followed closely by Faith.
“Your home city is so strange,” said Faith once they had moved quite a ways deeper into the sewers. “Back in Asturia we don’t have nothing like this.”
“What do you mean?” asked Falcon, covering his face with his sleeve as he spoke. The stench that assaulted his nose was now stronger than before. His eyes were close to watering.
“There are so many hidden paths and secrets here. It makes it hard to know who you can and can’t trust.”
“I suppose you’re right,” said Falcon. “But don’t forget, I may have spent many years in Ladria, but Asturia is also my home.”
Faith smiled. “Yes, of course.”
“We’re here,” said Chonsey.
Falcon looked around but saw nothing out of the ordinary. There was the same slimy path, sludgy waters noisily moving down at his side, and grimy brick walls. “Where’s the hidden entrance?”
“Actually there’s something there,” Faith exclaimed, pointing at a brick on the wall. “It’s slightly less grimy than the bricks around it, which means that it’s been touched more than the other bricks.”
Chonsey’s jaw dropped. “Wow. That’s actually correct.” He pressed the brick. It screeched loudly against the bricks that encased it as it moved in. The wall collapsed, revealing a torch-lit tunnel. “I’m sure glad you weren’t hired to take out my family while we slept.”
“Me?” asked Faith, pointing innocently at herself. “Take out someone? I think not.”
Heir of the Elements Page 3