by M. L. Greye
A dull stream of light appeared. Tiara grinned again. “I think it worked.”
“Good.” He slipped the stone back around her neck. “But here is where the true danger begins.”
“Don’t worry.” Tiara traced his eyebrow with her finger. “Just stay by me and you won’t get hurt.”
17
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The Dark. Olinia stared up at the castle that had once served as her home. She’d hoped to recognize at least a portion of it, but not one of the towers or battlements sparked even an inkling of a memory. Tamar had taken her at too young of an age. Her uncle had stolen the life she’d been meant to have before she was more than a toddler. Olinia frowned up at the dark mass. She no longer remembered the castle than she did her own parents.
But now was not the time to reminisce. With a snap of her fingers, Olinia released herself and the mare she’d taken from Sazx’s stables from paused time. She’d ridden hard, hoping to catch up with Treveri, but she hadn’t found him on the road. Still frowning, Olinia slid silently off her horse’s back and sent it off down the road they’d just traveled, certain it would find its way home. Then, Olinia snapped again, making herself invisible. When was the last time she’d used her gifts so much in one twenty-four hour period? Olinia grunted. The last time was probably in Sivean when she was struggling to learn them.
Once again, Olinia stared up at the place of her birth. What had it been like when her parents were alive? Her hand began to itch, urging her to peek into her own past. Later. She promised herself. Now, she needed to find Treveri and Caiden. Taking a deep breath, Olinia began towards the castle, and reached out to Treveri’s mind, thankful now he had agreed to let her hear him internally.
Trev, where are you?
She felt his momentary surprise at hearing her voice in his head before he replied. I found her.
Good. That was a slight relief. Olinia quickened her pace. I’m coming in.
I wouldn’t do that, princess, Treveri warned.
Olinia blinked. I’m not going to just stand outside.
Then, don’t come in the way I did, he told her. Find a side entrance.
Why not the front?
Just don’t.
An image of hanging bodies made it to her mind’s eye. Olinia gulped back the contents of her stomach as she felt the emotions and smells Treveri had experienced. Alright, I believe you.
He must have noticed the strain in her voice. Can you see what I see?
Just as memories.
Sorry. He paused. What do I do about Caiden?
Start getting her out, Olinia answered. I’ll be there soon.
As Olinia removed her thoughts from his, she neared the exterior wall of Avyrithe Castle. Olinia shivered. The air was so cold here. She stared up at the expanse of her former home and frowned. Vines crawled up the side of the castle, creeping in through the shattered windows. The rubble of a fallen tower laid off to her left. And somewhere there was a horrendous stench. Olinia wrinkled her nose as she passed through the open gate. There was no need to draw the portcullis here. There was no one to keep out – no decent person wanted to come in. Olinia began to rub her arms with her hands. Inside the outer wall, it was freezing. She felt as if she should be able to see her breath. In the distance, she heard the roar of the ocean as it crashed against the cliffs on which Avyrithe Castle sat. Above her, the moon managed to sneak through the thick gray clouds, shedding a few rays onto the ruins. Some unseen depression weighed down heavily upon her. What was this cursed place?
And suddenly Olinia’s hand began to burn – just as it had that night in Andin. Olinia let out a startled cry of pain as the burn shot through her, scorching every inch of her being. No, this was worse than in Andin. There was no use fighting it. In one fluid movement, Olinia raised her hand and swept it through the space in front of her, leaving a trail of light.
The scene that opened was a complete transformation of Avyrithe Castle. There were no crumbled towers or broken windows. The windows were all gleaming and the towers stood proud with Caprith flags flapping at the highest points. No tangled vines covered the cool gray stone. Instead, lush green trees sat below the castle, casting their shadows along the lawns of rich, velvety grass. There were flowers of all different colors lining the paved lanes. And here the sun shone down brightly with only a few wisps of clouds to break up the expanse of blue sky. Olinia couldn’t stop herself from gaping. The air here was pleasant – no hint of decay. This was what her home had once been? Anger suddenly flared up inside her. Dagon had destroyed Avyrithe’s beauty just as he had her future.
“Nia!”
That voice. Olinia whirled and found herself face to face with a light haired woman with striking eyes. Olinia gasped and fell back a step. Afraid to even hope the woman was her mother, Olinia searched the face for any hint of resemblance. Then Olinia noticed the woman wasn’t looking in her direction. Olinia followed her gaze and sank to her knees. Twin children, barely more than infants, sat playing on the grass at either side of a handsome Eve.
“Oh, she’s fine.” He grinned, using Eveon.
The woman waddled slowly to him and the twins. Olinia blinked. The woman was pregnant, practically bursting. “It’s not becoming of a young princess to belch in public,” she said, also in Eveon. “No matter her age.”
The Eve laughed and lifted the little girl – the little Olinia – into his lap. She giggled as he kissed her neck. “Alright, your highness, you heard your mother. There will be no more having fun today.”
“Is that what we are calling the lack of manners?” The woman grunted. “If so, then you may raise them by yourself, Legann.”
Legann grinned up at his wife. “You’re so beautiful when you argue.”
And suddenly Olinia was crying. This was her family – people who had loved and wanted her. She could have grown up beneath their loving guidance and care. Yet, she had been raised as a discarded slave – an orphaned nobody. During her childhood, she had grown tough – unwilling to declare herself a hopeless mess. Her determination had proven to work out in her favor. Still, her childhood was stolen from her at an age when she wasn’t able to defend herself. But now she could. Olinia’s eyes narrowed as she wiped away the wet streaks on her face. It was time to reclaim her life.
She stood and left her parents, heading for the castle. There had to be a side entrance somewhere. It would be easier to find here during the day and without the ruins than it would in the present. Within moments, she reached the keep. She began around its perimeter, her eyes searched for any hint of an opening. She didn’t have to go far. Barely off to the left of the main entrance, a small oak door stood, hidden deep within the shadows. If Olinia hadn’t been searching for something, she wouldn’t have even noticed it. Disguised as one of the drains surrounding the keep, the door was meant to be passed by. Olinia grinned, pleased with herself for finding another way into the castle. Hopefully it was still there.
Olinia stared at the door wondering where it would lead her in the present. She slightly feared what she would find. Before she and Treveri had set out from his home, Treveri had described what to expect. Olinia frowned as she remembered their conversation…
“Do you know what’s inside, princess?”
“Not really.”
“Then let me elaborate for you,” Treveri spat out the words in disgust. “Think of the deepest depths of a pit where no light ever ventures. Next, add a dampness that penetrates to your bones. Now, picture grime encrusted stone and a stench of a decade of rotting bodies.” The fury in his eyes was inescapable. “There are no cells in the Dark, Olinia. Only massive tombs full of both the living and the dead thrust together in darkness. Lice, rats, and maggots – all are inevitable here. And you cannot leave.”
“Why not?”
“You’re chained to the wall, your neighbor, the remains of prisoners before you – whatever and whomever in sight.”
After hearing Treveri’s words, she didn’t doubt why he dr
eaded the Dark. Olinia chewed at the inside of her lip, suddenly anxious. But Treveri was waiting for her. He’d faced the horror of the Dark. Now, it was her turn. With a groan, Olinia took one last look at the beauty of her past and snapped her fingers, returning herself to her present.
The bright sun gave way to the silvery gloom of night – the majestic fortress to crumbling ruins. And all at once Olinia was captured.
They must have been advancing on her before she Globed. But then, she had been invisible – no one should have seen her. Olinia groaned inwardly as the rough hands – warrior hands – held her in place. She should have brought herself back invisible. That way this crisis could have been avoided. She fought to release herself, but the men who held her were obviously stronger. One shouted something over his shoulder, but Olinia didn’t bother to hear what he’d said. Her focus had turned inward. She wanted to do what she had managed in the courtyard of the Captain’s Quarters. It had been startling easy. Whether or not she could repeat it, though, was the question.
At the sound of running feet, Olinia shut her eyes and pushed her energy out through her pores. The stunned cries of pain told her she’d done it again. As the old pair of hands gave way to new, Olinia shot out fire once more. Over and over again, men collapsed around her. Olinia couldn’t help but grin at her somewhat newfound gift. It oddly pleased her she could now control who touched her. More men took hold of her and fell like those before them. Where were all of them coming from? Then, only one pair of hands grabbed onto her. The touch seemed stronger than the others had. This man was far surer of himself. Olinia grimaced as she once more jerked away, releasing the red-hot flames into her skin. But his hands didn’t budge. He didn’t even flinch. Olinia tried once more to fight her way out of his grasp.
It wasn’t working. The man was pulling her closer, moving her body against him. The man must have nerves of steel! Or skin that couldn’t be torched. Olinia turned to kick him, but before she had the chance, she noticed he was chuckling. And it was a very familiar sound.
“I’m not letting you go, Olinia.”
She whirled to see his face. “Will?”
He smiled down at her as he released his grip on her arms. “Hello, princess.”
“How?” She stared. “How’d you find me?”
“Archelda,” he answered simply.
“My grandmother?”
“She and Yrond helped us.”
“Are they here now?”
“No, they’re still in Evedon with your brother.”
“Legann.” Olinia had to say his name out loud, just to remind herself that Zedgry was still stuck in the Vrenyx.
Will’s eyes darted past her. “What did you do to them?”
“Oh, I think I burned them.”
“Burned them?” He blinked. “Is that why they couldn’t grab you?”
“Ecknreef, Olinia.”
Olinia turned in surprise at the Eveon curse, realizing with a start she’d been using Saerdian with Will. Her eyes widened at the sight of all the Eves on the ground, all nursing some unseen wounds on their hands and arms. Dallyn was limping to them. Olinia bit the inside of her lip. Her captors had all been Eves.
“Save the princess,” Dallyn muttered in Eveon. “Ha! Looks to me that we’re the ones in need of protection.”
“Hello, Dallyn.” Olinia smiled sweetly, feigning innocence. “Did I do that to you?”
Dallyn snorted. “Me and half my men. What’s gotten into you? I’ve never seen anyone burn someone without actually being on fire.”
“It worked on the Nagreth, so I assumed it would work on who grabbed me.” She shrugged.
“Well, you were right,” he muttered.
“Does it hurt badly?”
“At first it did, but now it’s starting to wear off.” He shook his head. “What did the Nagreth do to you to make you so jumpy?”
Olinia thought of Sazx. “They didn’t hurt me because I’m High Royalty. They were saving me for Dagon.”
“How long were you in the Dark?” Will asked from behind her. Olinia felt his chest vibrate against her back.
She glanced up at him. “I was never in the Dark. The Nagreth kept me at the Captain’s Quarters.”
“Then what are you doing here?” He raised one eyebrow.
“I came to take the Dark.”
“By yourself?”
Olinia smiled sheepishly. “Well, I was invisible.”
Across from her, Dallyn rolled his eyes. “High Royalty. They think they’re invincible.”
“Why are all these Eves here?” Olinia asked, ignoring his comment.
“They’re part of my devatte,” Dallyn told her. “Yrond gave them to me to help save you.”
She grunted. “He trusts you?”
Will broke out into laughter as Dallyn stared at her in surprise. “Will has one too,” he retorted.
“Do you really?” Olinia blinked.
“They were meant to rescue you.” Will nodded.
A slow smile spread across her face. “Well, since I’m not in need of rescuing, could they be used to save someone else?”
Will and Dallyn exchanged glances. “Who did you have in mind?” Dallyn asked.
* * * * * *
It was a near miracle that Treveri had found Caiden in the first place. He’d overheard one of the Dreens mention a Silver Heart and had decided to follow him. If Treveri hadn’t chased after the man, he may never have found her. Too many tunnels without torches to guide him. But the point was that he had found her. Now, how would he get her out?
The Dreen he had followed was now reclining on a filthy chair at the opening of the room Caiden was sprawled within. Treveri grimaced as he scanned once more the interior of the Dark. Caiden lay between what looked to be an old man and the remains of a teenage girl. Caiden’s head rested on her outstretched arm, a dried trickle of blood across her cheek. Treveri hated to see her like this. She’d sacrificed her life just to preserve the little trinket around his neck. The torch to his left began to sputter, casting an eerie semidarkness over the chamber. Caiden didn’t even blink. She continued staring at her dirty hand. The Dreen coughed loudly, not bothering to cover his mouth.
Treveri pulled a face. How was he going to free her? The chains were bolted to the walls of the room, as well as to everything else in the room. His invisibility wasn’t going to help him with those.
Loud voices from down the hall made Treveri suddenly jump. They were coming from the direction he and the Dreen had just walked. “I want her now,” the voice boomed. “I don’t care if you haven’t cracked her yet.”
The Dreen practically leapt out of his chair as three figures approached. Two wore the black garb of the Dreens, while the man in the lead was undoubtedly a Nagreth. The Dreen bowed at the waist. “My lord Sazx, what brings you to the Block Nine?”
Sazx was a tall man, with wide, broad shoulders. In the tight quarters of the Dark, he was an intimidating beast with a face of stone. He glared down at the Dreen. “The Silver Heart, bring her to me.”
“Yes, sir.” The Dreen scampered off through the archway into Caiden’s chamber and began working with the chains to release her.
Caiden glanced up listlessly as the Dreen tugged at her arms. “Up with you,” he ordered.
“She can’t move, Dreen,” Sazx spat out the words Treveri was thinking. “Lift her and follow me.”
The Dreen blinked but quickly obeyed. Before he even had Caiden in his arms, Sazx was already making his way back to where he’d come. Both the Dreen and Treveri had to hurry to catch up with him.
Within moments, they were past the tunnels and on their way to the surface. Treveri soon found himself panting. Sazx kept a brisk pace. But before they even neared the main level and the row of swinging bodies – former prisoners deemed the worst traitors to Dagon – a thunderous horn reverberated off the stone walls, reaching into the very depths of the Dark.
Sazx whirled to the Dreens behind him. “What was that?”
&
nbsp; As Sazx’s eyes moved from one startled Dreen to another, he realized they had never heard an Eveon horn. Sazx grunted. Only an Eveon horn could be heard for miles and pierce the walls of a castle, no matter how deep underground one was. Who had blown it? It wasn’t the princess. She had no horn. Nor was it a Caprith. Only the gifted could wield something Eveon, and Sazx doubted there were any Capriths who could still claim Eveon blood. The Dark had managed to change the entire world’s population to Saerds. So, the perpetrator had to be an Eve.
He frowned. The princess must have had Eveon reinforcements. At his suggestions to take the Dark, she most likely rallied her troops. Sazx slowly faced the direction to the surface once more.
“Then switch sides.” Olinia’s last words had rung through his head for the past hour. They were the reason he stood in the Dark now.
When the princess left him in his chambers, Sazx had not been able to return to his bed. Instead, he paced his floor, replaying their conversation over again and again, analyzing her every gesture. She could have killed him, but she hesitated at the sight of his true face. Olinia let him live. For what? To return to Dagon? Sazx frowned. His life had placed him in the paths of two very different members of High Royalty. One valued her people, while the other cared very little for anything other than his position and the power it brought him. Both Dagon and Olinia sought after the same throne. Yet, by birthright it belonged to Olinia. If the throne Dagon claimed actually belonged to Olinia, then why was Sazx fighting for him? All these years, Sazx fought to protect a position that was being held by the wrong sovereign. To swear allegiance to Dagon’s throne was to really swear oneself to Olinia. Of course. There was no need to switch sides – there was only one side. And it was Olinia’s.
The horn sounded once more. Sazx’s hand dropped to the hilt of his sword. He’d come to the Dark in an attempt to find the princess. Now, he would free the Silver Heart himself. There were only three Dreen’s behind him. Sazx could destroy them easily. No. That was the Nagreth talking. He didn’t need to kill these men, just to send them away. The surface was not too far and he doubted the battered young woman weighed much.