The Crystal Wood (Half-Breed Book 2)

by Brittany Comeaux

  “So the dagger that one enemy is after has fallen into the hands of another enemy,” Shalia stated.

  “Actually, Alastor and Jin are allies,” Milea admitted. “If Jin finds out what that dagger is before we can get it back, there is no telling what will happen.”

  “You're right, and now that we have what we came here for, we need to get back to Ironbarrow to help them fight off Alastor's forces,” Varg said.

  “Unfortunately you won't be able to leave this place easily,” the queen said. “In fact, I'd say it's downright impossible given the circumstances.”

  Milea eyed her curiously. “What do you mean?”

  Shalia placed a hand on Milea's and said, “Something else has happened, and it won't be long before the rest of the city knows.”

  Milea leaned closer and asked, “What happened?”

  Shalia softened her gaze and said, “The barrier protecting the Crystal Wood has vanished.”

  “Vanished?” Milea asked with her mouth agape.

  “That's right,” Shalia replied. “Whatever happened when you touched the sacred Crystal triggered the barrier to simply disappear, and now anyone can enter the Crystal Wood, human or elf.”

  “Then Jin won't need the dagger after all,” Varg said.

  “Which is why we need to keep him from finding out before it's too late,” Milea said. “But how in the world did touching that crystal trigger the barrier?”

  “Because the crystal is the source of the barrier's power.”

  Varg, Milea, and Queen Shalia turned to see High Priestess Morvyn in the doorway. She no longer donned her sleeping gowns, but now wore a full white robe with golden trim. Her hair was now tied back in a long braid and her head was adorned with a golden circlet with green crystals. She pierced them with an icy stare, then continued, “That crystal was put in place by the ancient elves who built our civilization. It housed the power that kept the barrier in place for thousands of years, and those who dedicated their lives to protecting it were advised to never touch it, lest the massive power contained within would be pushed out of balance and released. Because it was crucial that it not be touched, only the priestesses of the Temple of Laelith would be allowed inside to pray and perform the sacred rite to strengthen the barrier.”

  Shalia stood and faced Morvyn. “High Priestess, Milea had no way of knowing-”

  “Queen Shalia,” Morvyn interrupted, “I demand to know why this...abomination has returned and why you are harboring the fugitives who gave our enemies the means to defile our land and destroy our homes.”

  “I am not an abomination!” Milea shouted.

  “Milea,” Shalia said, placing her hand on hers again, “allow me to handle this.”

  Shalia edged closer to Morvyn. “High Priestess, I will not tolerate such words against my own flesh and blood. Whether you like it or not, she is my daughter, and I won't have you speaking of her in such a despicable way. Furthermore, do not forget who rules the elf people. You may be respected among elves, but they know that I am their queen above all else, and I would never lead them astray. Do I make myself clear?”

  The High Priestess shifted her gaze from the queen, to Milea, then back to the queen and said, “Of course, your grace. I merely questioned the motives of your guests.”

  “I will testify to the pureness of their motives,” Shalia explained.

  Morvyn glared at Varg and Milea, then bowed before the queen and said, “I will be in touch, Your Grace. The people will no doubt realize that the barrier has vanished before long, so you will soon have to deliver an address on the issue.”

  “I will take care of it when the time comes,” Shalia assured. “Good evening, High Priestess.

  Morvyn bowed her head and turned to the door, but before she did Varg caught a glimpse of her scowl. She whipped her head away once she noticed him looking and marched for the door, but Varg knew the feeling that formed in his gut, one he always felt when he knew something was far from over.

  When Shalia turned back to Milea, the latter said, “Thank you.”

  “For what?” the queen asked.

  “For standing up for me,” Milea said.

  Shalia smiled. “Well, I should have done it a long time ago.”

  Milea returned the smile, but then stared at the floor to avoid the silence that followed.

  In an effort to ease the tension, Varg cleared his throat and said, “Well, what should we do now?”

  “I think we should head down to the dungeon to find out what Zita knows. Maybe we can get some information out of her,” Milea suggested.

  “I doubt it. She seems far too loyal to Jin,” Varg said.

  “Yes, but she doesn't know what I saw in the vision and she probably doesn't know yet that the barrier is gone. Maybe we can either trick her or persuade her into telling us something. For all she knows, we're just as in the dark about the key as Jin is,” Milea explained.

  Varg thought for a moment, then answered, “I suppose it's worth a shot, but we need to be careful how we word everything so that she doesn't get suspicious.”

  “Agreed,” Milea said as she stood up. The ensuing vertigo nearly made her collapse. If it hadn't been for Varg catching her, she probably would have.

  “Careful now,” Shalia said as she went over to help them, “you've been through quite a shock, Milea. Do you really think you're ready for an interrogation right now?”

  “I don't trust that woman, especially not around Varg. There's no way I'm allowing him to face her alone,” Milea argued.

  For a moment, Varg wondered whether Milea was referring to Zita's intentions to kill him or their little incident back at the inn. He decided on the former, but even he had to admit that it was wishful thinking.

  “Where is the dungeon?” Milea asked when she was herself again.

  “I'll have one of my royal guards take you there,” Shalia said. “Let me know the minute you find out anything.”

  “We will,” Milea said, “and thank you...Mother.”

  Shalia bowed her head in acknowledgment of her thanks, then summoned for a royal guard. When one arrived, the queen gave him his instructions and then sent him on his way to the royal dungeon with Varg and Milea following closely behind.

  As Varg and Milea followed the guard to the dungeon door, Shara emerged and crossed their path. When she saw Varg and Milea being escorted in without any restraints, she pointed her finger at them and said, “Why are you not rotting in a cell with the other one? Because of the three of you, our beloved land is entirely vulnerable!”

  Before Varg and Milea could argue their defense, Shara faced the royal guard and barked, “You there, under whose orders did you receive the task of leading them around the castle like they were nobility?”

  The guard saluted and answered, “The queen, Princess.”

  Varg stifled a laugh as Shara's face flushed with embarrassment. She attempted to correct this by clearing her throat and saying, “Yes, well, I will have to have a word with the queen about this. If you will excuse me.”

  The guard saluted again and said, “Yes, Your Majesty.”

  Shara soon disappeared around the corner and the guard opened the door to the dungeon and let them inside. He closed the door behind them without going inside.

  The dungeon door led to a large spiral tower with a staircase that wrapped around it in the middle of the large chamber. Varg looked up and he could see that the pillar housed a cell on each floor. He and Milea went up the stairs to the third floor, where they finally found Zita seated in the cell.

  Zita looked up when she heard them approach and she offered them a sly grin.

  “I was wondering when you would come to see me, Varg,” she said. “It's quite lonely in this cell.”

  “Enough with your games, Zita,” Varg said. “I'm not in the mood.”

  “You certainly were that night at the inn,” Zita mused.

  “That's enough,” Milea spat.

  Zita smiled again. “Oh my, I think she's
jealous of us, Varg.”

  “Zita,” Varg said as he tried to calm Milea, who was fuming, “this isn't a social visit.”

  “Oh, let me guess, you want information, hmm?” Zita said. “You think you can get me to reveal sensitive information about the Shadow Hand that will ultimately help you bring us down and make yourself feel like a hero? How adorable.”

  “Surely you must see the kind of things that Jin has done to get what he wants? No one is safe from his greed,” Varg said.

  Zita scoffed. “You think this is all about greed? Your ignorance knows no bounds.”

  Varg shrugged. “If you are more informed than I am, tell me what Jin is after and why he's going through so much to get it. I'll decide whether or not I agree with it.”

  “Nice try,” Zita remarked, “but you can't trick me that easily.”

  “Either way, you won't be returning to your master anytime soon so you can carry out murders for him and who knows what else,” Varg said.

  “You truly believe that Lord Jin is the evil one here, don't you?” Zita asked.

  “If Jin isn't evil, then what is he?” Milea asked.

  Zita's head snapped in Milea's direction. “He is a leader, an inspiration, and a savior. Most members of the Shadow Hand were once bereft and abandoned by society, but the Serpent came to relieve them of their suffering, myself included. He gave us all new life and a place to call home when no one else wanted us.”

  “If Jin is as caring as you say, why does he see it fit to murder those who get in his way?” Varg pressed.

  Zita laughed. “Lord Jin warned me about your self-righteous attitude. Tell me, Varg, what murders do you know of that were supposedly committed for or by the Serpent?”

  “Lionel Lerington, for one,” Varg answered. “His murder was what got Milea and me into this mess in the first place. There was also Oliva's near death, not to mention the royal family...”

  “Let's also not forget that Jin tasked you with Varg's assassination,” Milea added.

  Zita folded one leg over the other, then said, “You forget that the Count's death was Edric Greenwood's doing, not Lord Jin's. The coward simply panicked when he realized how much Lionel knew and killed him when he thought he might get caught. As for the girl, Lord Jin knew that she would be a threat if she were to go to the king about her grandfather. If Jin had not silenced her, our entire operation would have been ruined.”

  “And the royal family?” Milea asked. “You're telling me that the king's young daughters and his wife deserved to die?”

  “They would have been left unharmed. Women cannot succeed the throne if there is a male heir present in Fellen. Sad, I know, but that's the world we live in. As for the king and the duke, well, let's just say that they aren't as innocent as you think they are.”

  “What do you mean?” Varg pressed.

  “Their family has been full of scandals for generations. They're just good at hiding them. The duke is especially guilty of his fair share of scandals. Lord Jin may not be a saint, but his sins are nothing compared to the ones I've witnessed. You couldn't possibly imagine the horrors I lived through, and what kind of people inflicted those horrors upon me. Jin saved me from those people, and I will be eternally grateful to him.”

  “Don't assume I haven't seen the worst humanity has to offer,” Varg remarked. “I've lived far longer than you think.”

  “I already know all about your centuries of life, Wolf,” Zita said. “And even if you have seen what I've seen, I wouldn't be here if it weren't for the Serpent and the Shadow Hand.”

  Varg edged closer to her cell and placed a hand on one of the bars. “You know, Zita, I've done things, bad things, in my youth. I thought I found someone to make life worth living, but I lost her. I spiraled out of control, but as I finally grew up, I realized that bad things will always happen to good people, but what matters isn't who or what they pledge themselves to or what they believe in, it's their actions. Think about the things Jin has done, the things you have done, and tell me that it's all worth it in the end. If you can honestly say that hurting others like yourself is worth whatever end Jin has planned, then I will take back everything and admit that I was wrong.”

  Zita was about to say something, but Varg put up his other hand and added, “Just...think about it.”

  Varg released his grip on the bar and walked away, with Milea soon lagging behind.

  Once they were out of earshot, Varg said, “Well, so much for that.”

  “I'm honestly surprised we got as much out of her as we did. I never expected her to give away anything,” Milea stated.

  They exited the dungeon, went into the corridor, and stopped.

  “So what do we do now?” Varg asked. “We know what the key is, but we still don't know why Jin wants it.”

  “Or how my father got it in the first place,” Milea said.

  “Well,” Varg said, “Oliva's family was descended from an elf priestess and their family was charged with guarding one of the decoys, so perhaps your father's family had the same situation, only the dagger was just something passed down from generation to generation.”

  “Maybe...” Milea said. “At any rate, I think our best option for now is to return to my mother so we can decide what to do next. Maybe she has some ideas.”

  “Sounds good,” Varg said. “Lead the way.”

  The invaders still had not yet advanced by the time Conley rode his horse outside of the city straight for Alastor and Edric. As Conley came within earshot, Edric smiled and said, “Well, Count Rowan, I take it you've come to surrender? It seems that you do have a shred of good sense, contrary to popular belief.”

  Conley then gave Edric a glare that could have pierced a hole in his skull and said, “You truly have no dignity, do you?”

  “Who needs dignity when you have power on your side?” Edric remarked.

  “Now now, Count Greenwood,” Alastor said. “There's no need for that kind of talk. We're here to be civil, at least at the moment, right Count Rowan?”

  Conley grudgingly answered, “Right.”

  Alastor smiled. “Good. Now then, if you have come to surrender your city, that is a very wise decision. However, if you are riding out here simply to tell me that you will not be surrendering, then I fear you may not make it back to the gate in time to deliver the news. In that case, you've made a very foolish decision indeed.”

  Conley sighed. “I am here to surrender.”

  “Excellent,” Alastor said. “Now, why don't we discuss the terms of your surrender someplace more comfortable. In your castle, perhaps?”

  “I have several conditions to lay on the table before we do anything else,” Conley said.

  “I don't believe you are in a position to argue,” Greenwood began, but Alastor put up his hand to silence him.

  Alastor then turned back to Conley and said, “What are your terms?”

  Conley lifted his chin and said, “The people of Ironbarrow are not to be harmed.”

  Alastor nodded along. “Go on.”

  “I also want your men to wait outside of the city until our discussion is complete,” Conley said.

  “Fair enough,” Alastor said. “I'll have them make their camps outside of the walls of the city.”

  “I have one more condition,” Conley said.

  “Oh, and what is that?” Alastor asked.

  “I want you to allow me to keep governing Ironbarrow,” Conley stated.

  Alastor thought for a moment, then said, “You will still have to take orders from me or the Serpent...” he noticed Edric giving him a sideways glance and added, “...and Count Greenwood, of course.”

  “Fine,” Conley snapped. “Let's just get this over with.”

  Conley turned his horse around and rode back to the gate, and once Alastor gave his orders to his captain to have the men set up camp, he and Edric galloped to catch up. They caught up just at the gate, and then they followed Conley into the city.

  The soldiers were already getting
the fires under control even as Oliva and Tain came out to help. Oliva began hurling ice mist at the fire and Tain began lifting the water from the barrels nearby into the air and sending it over the inferno to douse it. They spotted Conley as he passed, and something in him made him turn away. He couldn't bare to look at their faces.

  Conley finally made it to the courtyard, and without speaking he dismounted from his horse and handed him over to the stable hand. He then waited for Edric and Alastor to do the same, then he led them through the doors of the castle.

  Inside, the people of Ironbarrow were huddled together trying to comfort one another. Citizens, servants, and guards all stopped to look at the newcomers, and none of them seemed at all shocked by the sight of the enemy in their own keep. It seemed that word of Conley's decision to surrender had spread quickly. Catrina and Erril were waiting for Conley near the throne, and to Conley's surprise, Erril came darting straight for him as soon as she saw him.

  “You! How could you?” she screamed. She reached Conley and began banging her fists on his chest and stomach, though he suspected that with his armor she did more harm to herself than to him.

  “Erril, please...” he said, grabbing hold of Erril's arms and pulling her off of him.

  Erril broke away and stood her ground. “How could you surrender to them? Why won't you FIGHT?”

  “It's not that simple, Erril,” Conley said. “Sometimes leaders have to do things they don't want to do for the good of the people who depend on them.”

  “Those people you refer to were ready to follow you to the end, Conley,” Erril shouted. “They weren't about to let these bastards take their homes and run their city. They would have died for you. We all would have.”

  “Erril,” Catrina said as she came up behind the girl and placed her hand on her shoulder. “It's all right, come with me.”

  “It's not all right!” Erril argued.

  “Erril, please,” Catrina said, a bit more urgently this time.

  Erril shook her head and Conley could see her fighting back tears. Finally she looked at Conley one last time before she turned away and marched out of the room. Catrina turned to Conley and gave him a reassuring stroke on his cheek, then she ran off after Erril.