Dominion Rising: 23 Brand New Science Fiction and Fantasy Novels

by White, Gwynn

  “You’ll never do it without me, Nasty Reaper. I am your one and only—”

  A great streak of red light jarred out of Soul-Forged.

  It threw her off her feet and crashed her head against the wall. Pain vibrated through her skull, and bright sparks clouded her vision.

  The light snarled like a dragon, rearing its head and licking at the icy air.

  She rolled over on her side, trying to blink back the spots clouding her vision. “Soul-Forged!”

  “It’s the thieves, Nasty Reaper!” He clawed through her mind like he was trying to hold on. “They have me! They’ll use me and trick me and—”

  She stumbled to her feet, digging her fingernails into the grimy wall to keep herself upright.

  The red light growled and reared up.

  She drew Soul-Forged with shaking hands.

  The light chuckled—a sound like nothing she’d ever heard before.

  “Soul-Forged, stop!”

  “It’s not me! I’m trying, I’m fighting—”

  The light pulled back, gathering momentum before—

  Soul-Forged roared, and a second flare of light expelled from his steel form—a bright-blue ribbon. It flared to curl around her.

  A shield.

  The red light stopped to watch, growing darker and darker until it was the color of clotted blood.

  The blue shield pulsed with radiant, defiant light. Soul-Forged growled, “Don’t you dare touch my Nasty Reaper.”

  And then he struck.

  The two beams snapped at each other, twisting together and rolling like waves of water and blood.

  It took all her strength to hold onto Soul-Forged as he fought with a life and force of his own.

  Teeth and claws of blue and red shredded each other.

  Sweat beaded her face as Soul-Forged forced the red light into the wall. It shattered like glass, filling the room with starlight—and then darkness.

  The cold dungeon, and the odor of piss and mildew disappeared. It was replaced by gray dawn light reflected on snow, and the fresh scent of frost and evergreen.

  She blinked in the sudden quiet. Not even the sound of her breathing broke the preternatural silence.

  Still the two threads of light snaked around her, not fighting, but dancing—a dance of death.

  A twig snapped beneath a boot. A cold hand rubbed her calcified body.

  She was back in the Bone.

  “Look, Nasty Reaper,” Soul-Forged panted. “See where they’ve taken our Bone. See their faces and their woes. See, see, see.”

  Where was she?

  As that cold hand stroked her, she tried to place the endless snow-caked shrubs, the square, trimmed plants—

  And then it clicked.

  The maze. It stretched for miles and miles on the palace grounds. And the Bone was somewhere in it.

  Someone in the Round Palace other than Izanna had to have helped the Nyhans. Who else but Lord Sundamar Dakar?

  The two threads of light snarled at each other as they curled around and around. They lit a path in their wake. A path in which stood four of the Nyhans who had survived Soul-Forged’s attack in the tavern.

  One of them stroked the Bone.

  The blue light seared his hand. He yanked it back with a hiss. The sizzle of burning flesh filled the quiet glade.

  Darkness fell over her eyes like a veil. She slammed back into her own body in the dungeon.

  On the floor at her feet, red blinked. The blue light bore down on it. It slammed into it over and over until the ragged red ribbon retreated back into Soul-Forged’s steel belly.

  Breath ragged, Soul-Forged’s beautiful blue light caressed her face. “That’ll teach the Evil Fae to come after my Nasty Reaper.”

  She choked out a cry of relief. “Soul-Forged! Thank the Bone, you’re okay.”

  He brushed her braid off her shoulder and stroked the blood crusted on her forehead. “Did you see, Nasty Reaper? Did you see where the Evil Fae keep our Bone?”

  “Yes.” Her knees threatened to buckle, so she leaned back against the wall. “Why did you let me see? What changed your mind?”

  He sniffed. “Nothing changed my mind about cremating our Bone. But you are my Soul-Reaper, and my friend. I won’t let them touch you. Or our Bone.”

  Tears sprang to her eyes. She squeezed them shut. “So you’ll help me get it back?”

  Soul-Forged’s blue light brushed her skin once more before retreating into his steel cage.

  Even with her eyes closed, the dull daylight was dark without his glow.

  “Yes, Nasty Reaper. I will help you get it back. But we must hurry. Our Bone doesn’t have much power, or else I couldn’t have saved you. And the thieves will not be held for long.”

  She opened her eyes.

  Her guards stared shamelessly between her and the Sword in her hand. When they had arrived, she didn’t know. Or care.

  But to ease their minds and to ensure they spread the rumor that she had won, she swept her cloak back and sheathed Soul-Forged with a flourish.

  Hopefully, they wouldn’t mention that she’d spoken out loud to her Sword.

  She said haughtily, “I’m going back to the catacombs.” She couldn’t help her blink of surprise that her voice didn’t shake and that she sounded so... strong. “One of you go to Garrik. Tell him what happened and that I wish to see him right away.”

  Mouth gaping, one of the Fae scurried away.

  Had she looked like that while Ayda had reaped souls and fed the Bone? She hoped not.

  “Why do you call on Traitorous Fae?” Soul-Forged hissed. “He’ll lock us in an iron cage to bleed and blister and suffer.”

  No one will ever put you in an iron cage again. Not while I’m your Soul-Reaper. And we need Garrik if my plan to get the Bone back has any chance of working.

  As she turned to leave the dungeon, a whimper came from Izanna’s cell. “Please, Soul-Reaper, you must see that I had nothing to do with this. I would never attack you. Never.”

  She didn’t even slow. “The king will be told that the Bone has been found. And I’ll make sure a healer is called.”

  She strode to the stairs and ran straight up them. The thieves would never have tried to kill her. This stunt had another purpose: to lure her into the maze to rescue the Bone so they could capture her and Soul-Forged.

  She gritted her teeth.

  Good luck with that.

  20

  Caeda strode across the icy courtyard to the catacombs. Although still early, the palace maintenance crew was already out clearing pathways through the snow. They ducked out of her way, mumbling apologies for bothering her.

  A voice shouted. “Hey, Caeda. Wait up.” Dain ran, slipping and sliding across an icy path to join her. “News?” He looked as tired as she felt after a night of no sleep.

  “Plenty. Come with me to Dominik, because you’re part of it.”

  “Good. That’s more like it. I hated being left out of things.” He shot her a sideways glance. “You do know he’s betrothed, don’t you?”

  She blushed like a youngling. “If things unfold the way I suspect they will, I don’t think that’ll be an issue for much longer.”

  If Sundamar worked with the thieves, that was treason. The king would be under no obligation to repay the debt he owed the Dakar family. In fact, if Yatres was bankrupt, he’d no doubt scramble to find a new, wealthy suitor for Taliesin’s hand. Once disgraced, Sundamar would have no more power over his sons. Dominik would be free.

  But first she had to prove that Sundamar was involved.

  Dain whistled. “Whatever happens, you know I’m on your side.”

  She bumped his shoulder. “You’re the one Fae on this planet I trust implicitly.”

  “But you still won’t tell me what you’re planning?”

  She sighed. “Actually, there’s been a change of plan. I will be telling you everything. Just be patient.”

  Sweat prickled on her neck. Today, she would destroy the Bone
and face the consequences when it was done.

  Soul-Forged growled.

  But to survive those consequences, including the lies she would be forced to tell, she could have no witnesses she didn’t trust to see what she’d done. That meant she couldn’t take a contingent of soldiers with her into the maze—the soldiers she would need, if the adventure in the tavern had been anything to judge by.

  That left it to Dominik, Elion, and Dain to come with her.

  But before she could embroil them, she had to get their approval of her plan. If they refused to help her, she risked them betraying her to the king before she could even enter the maze.

  Life had been so simple before Soul-Forged had chosen her. Why oh why did you pick me?

  “You heard what Bright Reaper said about asking questions. Yet Nasty Reaper probed and pondered.”

  Remind me to keep my mouth shut in the future.

  “Oooh, permission to tell Nasty Reaper to shut up! Soul-Forged likes that.”

  She shook her head, knowing she’d left herself wide open for that, just as she’d probably targeted herself with all her questions.

  They reached the vast oak door into the catacombs. Dain swung it open for her, and they clattered down into its cool depths. Healers doing their early morning rounds bustled down the stone walkways with trays of tonics, sweet-smelling serums, and salves.

  She stopped one of them. “There’s a prisoner on level one in the dungeon with a badly broken arm. She needs help.”

  The glass flutes on the tray the healer carried rattled as she bowed. “Of course, my lady. I will attend to her myself.”

  She smiled her thanks. “Is Lord Dominik still in his room?”

  “Yes. His brother is with him.”

  Fueled by her desire to see Dominik, she almost ran to him.

  Although Dominik lounged on the bed, he radiated his usual brutal charm. Dressed in a clean tunic and leggings, only the stones strapped to his forehead, chest, stomach, biceps, and thighs indicated that anything ailed him.

  With his hands in his pockets, Elion sat lazily on a chair that must have been brought in.

  Not wanting Elion to suspect that she and Dominik could be inching toward an affair, she had to fight to suppress her smile of joy at seeing Dominik’s wicked grin. “How are you feeling?”

  “The wound is healed. Blood is pumping like it should. Remind me to bring our healers a box of Winter Solstice chocolate oranges.”

  Elion patted Dominik’s arm. “Apart from the garish stones, they’ve got him on some rather interesting tonics. I’m told it’s all designed to restore his magical balance. I’m not convinced.” He propped his feet on the bed. “He’s been grinning like a buffoon since I got here.”

  Dominik gave her a knowing smirk. “I had interesting dreams last night.”

  She flushed. Had Dominik told Elion about their stolen kiss? She hoped not.

  Dominik called to Dain, standing at attention at the door. “Glad to see you with her.”

  Dain’s eyes widened, no doubt surprised that a noble had acknowledged a guard—she would have been. “I wouldn’t be anywhere else.”

  She asked Dominik, “Did Taliesin come last night?”

  “Of course not. Did you really think she would?”

  Elion grimaced. “I’m sad to say that Taliesin kept me chained to her side last night. She was very distressed about it all.”

  “I’m sure she was. Sleeping comfortably in her bed while Dominik was stabbed must have been harrowing for her.”

  Dominik grinned. “Absolutely horrifying.”

  She wasn’t sorry that Taliesin had been true to form; it made kissing Taliesin’s betrothed less reprehensible.

  “Taliesin aside, we have other matters to discuss.” She glanced at Elion. “And I need both of your help.”

  The time had come to break this jolly atmosphere with her suspicions about their father. There was no way she could not tell them what she suspected, especially if she wanted their support in destroying the Bone.

  Dominik’s smile faded. “What happened with Izanna?”

  The door opened with a bang. Garrik strode in.

  “Traitorous Fae! Traitorous Fae! Make him go away!”

  Just trust me on this one, okay?

  Garrik slammed the door shut and marched over to her. “The Sword attacked you?”

  “What?” Both Dominik and Elion snapped.

  She gave Garrik a curt nod and stood at attention like a good, obedient soldier. “The thieves used Soul-Forged to show me where the Bone is hidden.”

  “Another obscure clue?” Dominik asked.

  “No. Nothing obscure about this.”

  Elion jumped from his seat. “You know where it is?”

  “Yes. It’s in the maze, guarded by Nyhan soldiers. Maybe they’re hoping I’ll come rushing in to grab it so they can capture me.”

  Dominik scowled like a storm cloud. “A lure? You’re not going anywhere near there.”

  “I’m not as stupid as you seem to think I am. I have a—”

  “How the hell did they get it there?” Elion interrupted.

  She opened her mouth to speak, but Garrik cut in. “There are dozens of entrances. They could have used any one of them. And they could be anywhere in it.”

  “Caeda, I get that you’re wary after last night,” Elion said earnestly, “but shouldn’t you get to it before they move it again? This time you go with a contingent of guards.”

  She frowned at both Garrik and Elion. “The Bone isn’t going anywhere. I’m convinced of that. But perhaps if you’ll both stop interrupting me, I can explain what I think is going on and what needs to happen.”

  Dominik smirked. Elion and Garrik watched her silently.

  “That’s more like it.” She sucked in a breath. This could go well, or very, very badly. “I’m convinced Izanna was part of the theft, but she didn’t work alone.” She fixed Garrik with a sharp eye. “Perhaps it’s time to tell Dominik and Elion about their family finances.”

  Dominik sat up in his bed. “What are you talking about?”

  Garrik strode across the room and leaned against the wall. “Are you aware that your father loaned the kingdom a million or so gold coins?”

  Dominik snorted disparagingly. “I didn’t even know that he owned a million or so gold coins. But what’s that got to do with anything?”

  “Taliesin mentioned to me that the king agreed to your marriage as part of a debt settlement.” Elion shook his head bleakly. “But I had no idea so much was at stake.”

  Dominik’s mouth dangled. “She told you that, but it didn’t cross her mind to tell me?”

  Elion shifted in his chair. “She mentioned it last night, but she was stressed.”

  She understood exactly how frustrated and hurt Dominik must have felt. She longed to take his hand, but couldn’t. Instead, she said, “It turns out that the war against the Nyhan wasn’t as profitable as the king hoped. He doesn’t have the spoils to pay your father back.”

  “What does this have to do with the Bone?” Dominik’s eyes widened. “Are you suggesting he’s involved?”

  “It’s a possibility.” Garrik pulled out his throwing knife and cleaned his fingernails. “The Nyhan would pay handsomely for the Bone, the Soul-Reaper, and the Sword.” He turned to her. “How are you going to rescue the Bone without being captured?”

  Now to unfold the first part of the plan that Garrik would be involved with. “I have some ideas. They involve taking a small group of Fae I trust with me.”

  Garrik wagged the knife at her. “I don’t like that at all. You should take a proper guard detail with you. The king would expect it.”

  “I reaped my first souls last night. In acknowledgement of that achievement, the king has given me free rein to act as I wish.”

  “You reaped? That is marvelous!” Garrik glowed with pride. “You have indeed become the Soul-Reaper of Yatres, Lady Caeda.” He bowed to her from the waist. “Like the king has done, I ple
dge you my troth.”

  He would no longer question her. Good. One hurdle crossed.

  Now to move into phase two of her plan.

  She patted Soul-Forged’s hilt. “This time we’ll know exactly what to expect. We aren’t going in blind like we were in the tavern.”

  “Who are you taking?” Garrik’s dark eyes flashed. “I’m hoping my lady will consider me worthy of being part of her team.”

  “I do. I need you to command the guards who will wait beyond the maze.” His face fell, so she quickly added, “Part of the problem last night was that we couldn’t get help when we needed it. With you commanding operations, I know that won’t be an issue.”

  Dain’s eyes bored into her back. It was only decades of training that kept his mouth shut at that flagrant untruth. He would have been on hand to help if she had not deceived him. She would have to make it up to him after all this was over.

  “As for who’s coming into the maze with me.” She jerked a thumb at the brothers. “These two. And Dain.”

  Dain stood taller.

  Elion nodded his agreement.

  The muscles in Dominik’s arms flexed as he pulled himself up a little straighter. “What did you see in the vision? Wards? Magic shields?”

  “Nothing. A clear run to the Bone.”

  “Strange,” Garrik murmured. “I would expect them to keep up protective barriers at all times.”

  “If they don’t have wards, maybe they’re powerful enough not to need them.” Dominik rubbed the stubble on his jaw. “That could be a problem.”

  “Your powers?”

  He gave her a crooked grin. “The stones have helped restore my internal balance. I can now start to restock. But I would need to rip a fair bit of magic from someone to be of any use in a battle.” He gave a wry smile. “Fae generally don’t go around offering Element-Fabricators their magic. And it’s considered rude to take without asking.”

  “Pity.” She gnawed her cheek. “I was going to suggest we hide behind some kind of glamour to get in, grab the Bone, and get out undetected.”