by Candy Crum
That smile melted when she saw a large, solid-metal plate that was no less than three inches thick and ran from base to top, and she had to assume through the entirety of the wall. It was brilliant. Several feet of concrete on either side encasing thick steel plating that had been salvaged from the old buildings in the new-ancients’ cities.
"Damn," she said. "Plan B."
After locating the bird again, she made sure the area was clear before pulling grapes from her bag and burying them in the dirt. Her eyes flashed again, and she grew the grapevines up the side of the wall and scurried up. She moved as quickly as she could to the other side of the wall, using the vines to lower her to the street.
She took a deep breath, hoping no one saw as she reached back to touch the vine, willing it to pull back down the opposite side to hide her tracks. Her feathered friend flew away, and she silently cursed it for abandoning her so soon. There was no choice but to make her way blindly through the streets.
She kept getting turned around, and she wasn't tall enough to see over the people wandering the streets.
"Excuse me!" she said to a random woman passing by. "Where can I find the queen?"
The woman looked at her as if she were disgusted and wandered away. Amara sighed heavily and continued, stopping every so often to ask for help or directions, but no one would speak to her. Some told her to go beg somewhere else, some told her to leave Jadid and that she didn't belong, but most simply ignored her.
A loud screech sounded overhead, and she looked up to see an enormous raptor. Her eyes flashed as she reached out to it. The bird screeched again as it acknowledged her call.
Can you point me toward the palace? I can't see it from here. I need to see the queen.
She was met with confusion from the bird, which shocked her. The large raptor had a higher level of thinking than other animals she'd connected with, and she didn't seem fazed by Amara's magic. It seemed natural to her.
My parents were killed by some very bad men. Those men are going to hurt a lot of people if I don't warn the queen. Please help me.
The raptor sent her images of where to go before flying in that very direction. Amara wasn't sure what she'd find when she saw the queen, but she hoped she'd get another chance to inspect that bird. There was something special about her; she could feel it. She was confident she would find the answers to questions she never knew she wanted to ask.
Chapter Nineteen
After everyone had a large breakfast, Queen Asim decided it was time to take the newcomers on a tour of the city. Arryn was excited because Bast and Cleo had told her about the underground tunnels and how the entire city had banded together to make it happen. While it had hurt Asim to cut off everyone from the outside, it had been necessary to keep the tunnels and their paths a secret.
The truth was, the tunnels were a potential weakness for the city, and if the information leaked, it could be devastating. The plan had always been to build them in secret and have trusted individuals lead the people through them. If the monsters came, the city gates would be opened for anyone and everyone to flee inside until they couldn't remain open any longer, and the newcomers would be welcomed into the tunnels before the entrance was slammed shut.
Arryn understood and thought it was wise of the queen to take such precautions. After all, had any information gotten into the wrong hands, an army could easily flood into Jadid without needing to touch the walls or fight a single guard.
"I can't wait to see everything," Arryn said.
"Me neither!" Corrine chimed in. She smiled from ear to ear. "Can we go see the giant pyramids? Or the ancient cities?"
The queen laughed. "Once this is all over, I would be happy to go with you to see the Great Pyramids. I would love to tell you all about them. Perhaps we could even take a long journey south to the Valley of the Kings. Such history there. The new ancient cities? Those are a little more complicated."
"Why is it complicated?" Corrine asked.
"The cities created by the new ancients are in ruins. They're home to the remnant," the queen responded.
Arryn looked at the twins incredulously. "And you were just gonna march us in there?"
Bast smiled and shrugged. "I thought you'd know that." When Arryn's sarcastic expression grew, Bast added, "Oh, come on. Don't tell me you're afraid of a fight with the remnant. After all we've been through?"
Cleo laughed. "Yeah, I didn't think it would be an issue, especially if we stuck to the outskirts. They pretty much keep to the cores of the cities unless they go hunting."
Asim sighed and shook her head. "I see your adventures have humbled you, girls." She smirked before turning to Arryn. "When our people moved away from the ancient capital of Kemet, it was to flee the remnant. My great-great-grandfather worked to bring the people together and tear down the least populated areas, using what they could to rebuild. Over the years, the fights with the remnant lessened as we forced them farther and farther away by destroying the outer parts of their cities."
"I'd think that would be an act of war for them. How did your ancestors avoid that?" Cathillian asked. "The remnant are very territorial."
"It was incredibly difficult. A lot of people died or were turned. It wasn't until the end of the Age of Madness that we began to flourish. That's when we were able to grow, and then came our magic, which made everything easier still."
Arryn was about to ask more about their magic when a loud screech echoed through the sky. Everyone looked up to see Cathillian's familiar fly overhead. She called again, and Cathillian's eyes flashed green.
"She says someone is looking for the queen," he reported.
"Who is it?" Asim asked as several Queen's Guard stepped forward alert and ready.
"It's...it's a teenage girl. Thirteen or fourteen at most," he said before turning to Arryn.
"A teenage girl?" Arryn repeated. "What does she want?"
There was a pause as Cathillian focused in again. "She said her parents were murdered by a man named Zuri, and she needs to warn the queen."
"Oh, no," Asim said.
"What is it?" Bast asked her mother.
"I went south to look into an issue we'd been made aware of. It turns out there was a man named Zuri recruiting an army. Some of his men showed, and there was a fight. A few of Zuri's men died, including his only son."
She bit at her bottom lip as her eyes closed for a moment. "If I had to guess, I'd say the little girl searching for me is the daughter of the couple whose house we fought at. We buried the dead and rushed back here with the prisoners. I sent a handful of men out to check on and guard them, but it was too late. Her parents had been killed, and she was nowhere to be found. I should have taken more men, enough I could have left some behind. This is my fault."
Asim’s eyes became wet with tears she struggled to hold back. Rage filled her expression, but she seemed determined.
"There's something else," Cathillian said. Everyone turned eyes on him, but his focus was on Arryn. "She's a nature-magic user. It's weak, but she has it. Still, I could feel the remaining bit of the connection she created with Echo, and there's something off about it. I just don't know what."
Arryn nodded. "Well, I'd say we should figure out who she is and why her magic is off. Hopefully, it's nothing, but we can't be too sure with everything going on."
Asim nodded. "I agree."
"I can be of service in that department," Amon said. "If the girl will allow me, I will make sure she means no harm."
The queen nodded once before turning to one of her guards. "Shai, please follow Echo to the girl. Bring her to me but be subtle. There's no need to alert the people to anything just yet."
"And be gentle," Cathillian said. "From what I could see in Echo's thoughts, the girl is scared. Introduce yourself, and I have no doubt she'll go with you without issue."
It took twenty minutes or so for the guard to make his way through the city, locate the girl, and return. When they arrived, she seemed to be in much better spirits t
han Echo had reported. There was a smile on her face and a fresh apple with a few bites taken out of it in her hand. When she approached the queen, her expression turned serious and she knelt, lowering her eyes to the ground.
"Please rise, child," Asim said with a gentle smile, her voice soft and motherly. "Are you hungry? I see you have an apple, but you must be very hungry after traveling so far."
The girl's eyes lit up, and she nodded. As Asim guided the young girl toward the tables under the shelter, Arryn allowed her instincts to run. The girl seemed innocent. There didn't seem to be anything bad about her, but she noticed what Cathillian and Echo had. There was something.
"You're right," Arryn whispered to Cathillian as they walked behind the queen and the young girl. "I can't put my finger on it, but there's something there."
"I can," Corrine said flatly.
Arryn and Cathillian turned to their adopted daughter. Corrine's face was sad, her brows furrowed as she stared at the girl who appeared to be not much older than she was.
"What is it?" Arryn asked.
Corrine's neon-green irises faded to their normal green. "It's death."
Arryn's eyes widened briefly, unable to hide her surprise. "What do you mean?"
"When you were captured and I thought you were going to die, my fear and desperation allowed my healing energy to explode out of me," Corrine started.
"Mmhmm," Arryn responded with a nod. "You have an affinity for healing. You're the best healer we have, even among the Elders."
Corrine nodded. "That gift also allows me to see good and bad in people, just like you do. As you said, my affinity is healing. Mine is life." She pointed to the girl. "Hers is death."
A cold chill ran down Arryn's spine as she turned to look at the other young woman before turning back to Corrine. "Are you saying she's dangerous? Will she try to harm anyone?"
Corrine shook her head. "No, I don't think so. No one good, anyway. It's just what she's good at. She's like Jerick was. He also had an affinity for death, even though his powers were capable of growing and healing. The difference is he had a dark soul. He craved power. She seems to have a pure heart, and it's full of love. Unfortunately, her strongest ability is the death touch. I say that lightly because if I'm right, she doesn't even have to touch someone to kill them."
Cathillian and Arryn gasped. They were shocked. They had no idea the death touch could be so strong in someone who was inherently good.
Arryn turned to Amon, who stood behind them. "I have the ability, but I trust yours more than my own. Can you take a look?"
"I'll ask the girl. If she has nothing to hide, she'll grant me access. If she does not, I'd imagine the queen will order it. In either case, yes, though I prefer to do it with permission, especially with a child who has suffered trauma."
Arryn nodded. "Thank you. I appreciate that."
She admired Amon and his moral code. He was an honorable man, and with all the bad she'd seen in the world over the past year, she was grateful to meet someone like him. She was happy he'd accompanied them to the capital city.
They'd barely made it to Kemet, and everything seemed ready to head to hell in a handbasket. She couldn't help but think about what could have happened if they hadn't arrived when they did. More than that, she hoped and prayed she and the others would be able to make a difference.
Chapter Twenty
After Asim finished speaking to Amara, Amon asked if she would allow him to look inside her mind and if it was okay if he showed Arryn how to as well. He explained his magic to her calmly, and his voice soothed even Arryn.
The girl granted them access without hesitation, though it seemed to Arryn it was more out of curiosity than wanting someone to dig around in her thoughts. As he looked through her memories, asking her questions to trigger certain images, Arryn watched and learned how to do the same. While she was uncertain she could do it on her own, at least not yet, she learned the process.
Concern had crossed Amon's face when he watched what had happened to Amara's family. Tears filled Arryn's cloudy eyes as she saw the images play out in her own mind. Watching the girl dragged away from her family, unsure of what might happen to her, broke Arryn's heart.
She had hope for the girl when she saw how fierce she'd been in the face of her captor, smarting off to Zuri and speaking her mind. The many trials she'd faced over the last few days was terrifying, but it was her final moments in the camp that broke both Arryn's and Amon's hearts.
They watched as young Amara was forced to defend herself, forced to use the dark magic she had access to despite being such a pure soul. Corrine had been right about everything. The girl was good, but she had an affinity for the death touch. It had barely weakened her.
Arryn shuddered as she thought of Amara's escape failing and Zuri learning of her dark power. He could have used her as a weapon. He could have nurtured that darkness, growing it inside the girl until she was as dark as Jerick and his brother Alaric.
Once things were settled with Amara, Queen Asim went to work creating battle plans. Amara had told the queen that Zuri planned to go south and get a monster. She'd overheard him discuss it with someone, but she didn't know what he planned to do with it.
If Zuri found a way to lure one up north, there was no telling what else he was capable of, and Asim refused to take any more chances with him. Subtlety wouldn’t work. She needed to hunt him down and reclaim the loyalty of the people he'd so severely damaged.
Around nightfall, when the shift change was upon them, Arryn and her group helped Asim, and the twins set the tables under the shelter. She adored how loving the queen was to her people, and she took care of them with her own hands. She didn't order others to do it for her. Arryn admired that.
Just as they were about to settle in for dinner, a voice rose from the street. "Your Highness!"
Everyone turned to see three guards with a man in chains. Asim smiled at Amara and poured her a glass of water before making her way over.
"What is it? Who is this?" she asked.
"This is another of Zuri's men. He has a lot to say, both about Zuri and about the portal and monsters," one of the guards told her.
Asim looked at Amon. "Would you accompany me to question this man? I believe you will get the truth, no matter what his traitorous mouth says. Normally, I wouldn't jump to such desperate measures right away, but given what the girl says and now this man, I fear time is not a luxury we have."
Amon bowed. "It would be an honor, Your Highness."
"Arryn, I know you're learning how to use your mental abilities, so you're more than welcome to join us," Asim said. She turned to the guards. "Take him to the jail. We'll be down soon."
The guards took the man toward the palace, and Arryn turned to the queen. "Your Highness, I would love to help, but I need to check in with Margit, a master mystic back at the temple. She knows more about those monsters than I do, and if that man has information, perhaps talking to her will help."
The queen nodded. "Whatever you need to do. I'm interested to see how their stories line up. I'm betting he'll be able to fill in the holes from Amara's story she wasn't aware of."
The city jail wasn't much different than the one in Arcadia, though it was about five times the size. With a city as large as Jadid, that was to be expected. Looking around made her think back to her brief period in the jail. She'd met Elon, and he'd helped her. He'd been the catalyst for every bad thing that had happened to her before going to the Dark Forest, but he'd helped her in the end.
While looking back on that time still angered her, she no longer held Elon responsible. He'd redeemed himself in more ways than one, even earning a pardon from Amelia. Arryn couldn't help but hope he'd found his son Gregory. She hoped he was able to repair the damage that had been done, but there was no way for her to know. She doubted she ever would.
When the prisoner was given permission to speak, it was like flood gates opened. She couldn't believe how chatty he was, and he didn't bother to hold ba
ck anything. Her eyes flashed white and Amon's flashed gray as they both searched the man's thoughts for any sign of lying, but Arryn could already tell that would be unnecessary.
"I know all this sounds crazy, but it's true!" he exclaimed. "Zuri has lost his shit!"
"What made you turn tail and come to Jadid?" the queen asked.
"He damn near got us all killed!" he said. "I repeat, he's lost his shit. The man is so grief-stricken over the loss of his son that he'll do anything to get revenge, even trapping one of those monsters and using it as bait. Everything was calm and calculated before, but his plans are extreme now. I’m pretty sure he’s going to get everyone killed, with or without a fight with the crown."
The queen waved her hands. "Okay, just hold on. Start from the beginning."
The man took a deep breath, steeling himself. He slowly exhaled and began. "After Zuri figured out his son was dead, he demanded we go with him to the last place he was seen alive, just a group of his most trusted. He knew it would get bad, and he didn’t want any of the outsiders to see him do his worst. When we got there, we found a family of three. Long story short, he killed the parents and took the girl. It wasn't until later that night that he figured out royal soldiers had been involved. The girl told us."
Asim nodded. "Yes. She said she told him that, though she purposely hid my being there. How was he able to bring a random girl back without raising any red flags?"
"Right. Well, we didn't know you were there. I didn't until this minute. As for the girl, Zuri passed her off to Asher, his right-hand man. Asher was instructed to keep her safe and away from the outsiders at all costs. She stayed in our camp in her own tent. Zuri told them her family abandoned her, and he planned to keep her until he found a safe place to take her. Those people were so shoved up his ass by then that they believed it."
He shifted in his seat, and Arryn listened to his racing thoughts. So far, everything had been accurate.