Belarus hopped off the platform and walked to the front row. He grabbed the kid with his good hand, lifting him up by the back of his collar.
“You look like a rich boy,” the headmaster observed. He glanced at Belarus. “If his parents try to raise a fuss, send them directly to me. He’s out, and he’s not coming back.”
“Yes, headmaster. Understood.” Belarus grinned as he spoke.
Rendal looked at the kid once more. “We’ll see how you like going through life knowing no more magic than what you know right now. How’s that sound?”
The kid was blubbering. Begging to be allowed to stay.
“This is brutal,” Lionel whispered.
Both of them understood what was happening, the same as the kid down there did. He’d spoken up, saying he didn’t want to be here, and now he wouldn’t be.
Without anyone teaching magic in the kingdom, his skills might never improve. For all intents and purposes, his magic might be as good as it was ever going to be.
That sentence sent Brighten’s mind down other paths. Only the people in this place would learn magic, and only at the hands of this man. Magic had been free for all who could use it for so long in Sidnie…
“But that ain’t the case any longer,” he thought aloud.
“Huh?” Lionel asked.
“Nothing. We better shut up before we’re thrown out next.”
“You’re smarter than ya look, Jenkins.” Lionel actually appeared frightened.
But then so did the rest of the kids in the auditorium as they listened to Sal’s cries echo off the ceiling. They were all realizing just how much Sidnie had changed in a matter of days.
Kris looked like a teenage chef, although the clothes were too baggy. She hadn’t heard anyone running down the halls looking for her while she changed. She imagined the kitchen staff thought she was some homeless kid playing a prank.
If they reported the break-in the guards would get in trouble, then the guards might make kitchen life hell.
Kris was just glad they weren’t coming for her.
Now to get to the top of the tower.
The castle was large, and although a lot of people worked in it, there were still many empty hallways. Kris slipped down them, hardly making any noise.
The apron and chef’s outfit were insurance.
It took her five minutes at a fast jog to reach the base of the tower. There were two entrances to it—the tower stood high above the castle, but at its base, there was an entrance both inside and out.
Kris reached the massive room that held the base of the tower. A guard stood on either side of the door, which was closed.
She peered around the corner at them, but they were beyond lackadaisical, like the guards outside.
They weren’t sitting down, but they were leaning against the concrete blocks behind them.
“We’re gonna get replaced,” the shorter one said. “Sure as my fuckin’ name’s Sam, we’re gonna get replaced.”
“Yer name ain’t Sam,” the taller one responded with a slight grin.
“Just testin’ ya, but what I say still stands. We’re gonna get fired, and most likely sooner rather than later.”
“Who’s gonna replace us?” the taller one asked. “This job sucks donkey balls, and you know it. Ya stand here guardin’ this tower as if someone’s gonna try to sack it, and ya do it for twelve damned hours.” He shook his head. “Who else is gonna come in here and do this?”
“I know you heard the rumors,” the short one responded. “About those men on the ships. The ones wearin’ the necklaces. They’re the ones about to take our places.”
“I hear them rumors, but I ain’t seen none of ‘em. Just a bunch of scared housewives gossipin’ if you ask me,” the second one grumbled.
Okay, enough. Get on with it, Kris thought.
What’s your plan? Brighten’s voice challenged.
She didn’t really have one, and that was the fuckin’ problem. Last time she and Brighten had worked together to distract the guards, but now it was just her.
To hell with it, she thought. She never planned much anyway. Why start now?
She stepped out from behind the doorway and entered the circular room.
“Hiya, fellas. Been summoned upstairs.” Kris grinned as if she had every right in the world to be there.
“From the kitchen?” the short guard asked.
“You’re a bright one,” Kris shot back. “What gave it away? The apron, or the chef’s uniform?”
“Watch it, soup girl,” the tall one snapped, “or you’ll be the mystery meat tomorrow.”
“I’m just playin’, gents. The Prefect asked me to check on his guests’ food upstairs, so I gotta get up there for a few minutes.” Kris didn’t drop her smile, but she knew she needed to drop the dickhead comments.
“We ain’t hear nothin’ ‘bout it,” the taller one remarked.
“Nah,” Kris answered, “ya wouldn’t have, because he just told me a few minutes ago. I was servin’ him his food, and he asked me to come check. Told me to get back with him when I finished.”
“The Prefect said that?” The short one’s eyes were narrow, his voice skeptical. Kris knew why, of course. From everything she’d heard, the Prefect was basically stumbling around like a shell of himself.
He wasn’t askin’ nobody to do nothin’.
Yet, here Kris was with a lie she had to keep forcing.
“Sure did. If you want to go check with him, feel free. I’ll wait here while you go ask the Prefect to repeat himself to a lowly sentry. Either of you mugs got a cig I can smoke while you’re doin’ it?”
The sentries looked at each other, then the big one shrugged and the little one grinned.
“Go on, soup girl. Try not to hurt yourself on the stairs.”
Kris kept her mouth shut, although she wanted to say something.
She was getting what she wanted, though—and that was all that mattered.
Kris walked between the two guards and started up the spiraling stairs. She moved quickly and silently, but when the stairs kept going higher, she found herself short of breath.
There was a fuckin’ lot of them.
Finally, though, Kris reached the top.
“Never again,” she whispered, completely out of breath. “Brighten’s right. I’m never doing this again.”
Last time, this was where she and Brighten had stopped. Now, though, she had to go inside and find out what other information she could.
You’ve found out enough, she thought. You know more now than anyone back at the shanty does. You don’t need to go inside. Just turn around and head back down.
Then why the hell did ya come up here? Get yer ass inside and quit bein’ scared.
Whatever was going on in Sidnie, people weren’t dying. She wasn’t going to be killed here. She might get a few days in the stocks or something, but that was it.
“Death ain’t on the other side of this door,” she whispered, steeling herself.
On her last word, the door opened.
A man stood in front of her. He wore a sword and no smile.
“It just might be, little girl. How about you come in and find out?”
Kris tried to run; she turned, but the man was much too quick.
He grabbed her shirt and yanked her in the room.
“My name’s Harold. Nice to meet you.”
He slugged Kris in the face, and the world went dark.
Brighten was exhausted as he made his way across the city. The magic school had stretched late into the night, the mage apparently needing no sleep.
One kid had complained about the late hour, but that ended quickly when Rendal had him tossed out just like the first one.
There were no more complaints.
He and Kris had agreed to meet back at the shanty, so he didn’t bother looking on the streets for her. She should have been back long before him. Making it to the tower was dangerous, but it was relatively quick.
He reached the shanty a
bout four in the morning.
William sat inside, using a whetstone to sharpen his sword. Erin lay with her back to him, apparently asleep—though Brighten couldn’t understand how anyone could sleep with that going on.
William looked up. “You two find anything?”
Brighten’s eyes narrowed. “Where’s Kris?”
“With you, ain’t she?” William asked. He stopped sharpening his sword.
“No. We split up. I went into the magic school, and she went to the castle.”
Erin started blinking, and Lucie came out of the back room.
Brighten had missed Verith on entering, but saw the man stand up from a cot.
“She ain’t back yet.” William stared at Brighten, his face unreadable. “Why did ya split up?”
“She should be here. She should have been here hours ago.” Brighten’s anxiety was quickly ramping up.
“She ain’t, son. I been up all night waitin’ for you two little ingrates. Nobody’s come.” William stood up. “When was the last time ya saw her?”
“Before I went to the damned magic school!” Brighten shouted, tears flooding his eyes.
Lucie walked quickly across the room and put her arms on him. “Hey, there, it’s okay. That girl is as fast as anyone I’ve ever seen, ‘cept maybe for my friend Riley. Ain’t nobody got ahold of her.”
Brighten shook his head. “No. She would be back by now. There’s no way she’s still at the castle, and there’s no way she would have gone anywhere else.”
William walked over, and his voice was calm when he spoke. “You say she should be back. You sure about that, son? I need to know the truth, not what fear is tellin’ ya.”
Brighten nodded. “Yes. There’s no way she’s not back.”
William sighed and looked at Lucie. “You need to just start listenin’ to me. That’s the new rule: what William says goes. Understand?”
“That’s what we need,” Lucie remarked. “The dumbest among us making all decisions. I’d rather just walk to the castle and tell Rendal to kill me.” She turned to Brighten and winked. “I’m still makin’ decisions, and right now, I’m tellin’ ya, William is going to go see what’s what with Kris. He’ll get her back if she’s been taken, okay?”
“I’m only agreein’ because that’s exactly what I was about to tell the kid. The rule still stands—what I say goes.” He gave Brighten a slight smirk, and some of the boy’s worries dissipated.
The man was huge, and his confidence was catching.
“You need to toughen up, lad.” The big man tightened his grip on Brighten’s shoulder. “So you’re comin’ with me. And while you’re at it, you’re gonna tell me all about this little magic school.”
“What are we going to do?” Brighten swallowed.
“I thought you were smarter than that, boy. If you say she went to the castle and didn’t come out, where do you think we should look for her?” William asked.
“You’re not smarter than you look,” Brighten shot back. “There ain’t no way you’re getting in them gates. Her and I did because we have a hookup and because we’re small and fast. Or at least she is. You go anywhere near that place and you’ll be arrested. If you are who you say you are, they’ll kill you.”
William looked at Lucie. “This is your doin’, ya know that? Ya got him thinkin’ like a scared woman only a few days after meetin’ him.”
Lucie rolled her eyes but said nothing.
William looked at Verith. “You goin’ or stayin’?”
“I’ll stay in case something happens here. Two of us going won’t do much.”
“Smart man,” William responded and looked at Brighten. “Time to grow a pair of balls, kid. Let’s go get your friend back.”
Rendal came back to the tower in good spirits. The first night of class had gone well, and he was beginning to organize what he would do with the teenagers.
Tomorrow the castle might hear from a few parents about their precious little ones being removed from the school, but Rendal was about to implement phase two of his plan.
Phase two meant no more complaints.
He’d start that tomorrow.
Rendal opened the door to the room at the top of the tower, walked in, and immediately stopped. “What is this?”
A young girl sat in front of him, an ugly bruise on the side of her face.
“We had some company while you were gone, sir,” Harold answered. He stood behind the wet bar, a glass of whiskey untouched in front of him. He gestured to it.
Rendal crossed the room and took the drink. He kept his eyes on the girl, and she stared back.
He took a sip and asked Harold, “So, who is this?”
“I don’t know her name, but she is stubborn. Won’t say a word to me,” Harold answered. “I thought about hurting her a bit more, but then figured I would just let you see her.”
Rendal looked at Mason. “You know her?”
“If I did, would I tell you?” Mason spat back.
“No, probably not. You’re a most unpleasant man, Mason. You should take life less seriously, especially given how close yours is to ending.” Rendal looked at the girl, grinning. “You didn’t feel like talking to Harold, huh?”
“The sonofabitch sucker-punched me when I walked in. Then says he wants to hurt me some more. Come do it now when I’m ready.” The girl’s eyes held hatred.
“A lively one, yes?” Rendal asked without looking away.
Harold didn’t respond, and Rendal liked that. The man understood his place.
“I don’t think you know her, Mason.” Rendal took a step closer, holding his drink in his right hand. “You can hide nothing from me, dear. Not your name nor where you’re from, or why you came here. To me, you are an open book.”
“To me, you’re an overgrown pubic hair.” The girl didn’t so much as flinch.
Rendal laughed. “Oh, I like her, Harold.” He went into her mind. He had to admit he was growing tired, and he would need to recharge soon. The green bracelet was completely drained.
Still, he had enough energy to get inside the girl’s head.
He saw everything within seconds.
“Kris. That’s a pretty name.”
“I wish I could say the same about you, but you look like a wrinkled nutsack.” She glared at him, apparently not impressed with his brief bit of magic.
“They’re here, Harold.” Rendal didn’t turn from looking at the girl.
“Who, sir? Riley?” Harold asked.
“Everyone but her and that mage, it seems,” Rendal answered. “The rest of the crew came, but Riley didn’t. Kris here doesn’t know why she didn’t come.”
“Can you see where they are?”
Rendal nodded. “The poor part of the town. I believe Kris here thinks of it as Shantyville. Or, as she calls it, fuckin’ Shantyville.”
“Would you like me to go get them?” Harold asked.
“I’m considering that.” He looked at Mason. “Where is she? Where’s Riley?”
“You’re dumber than you look, Rendal. How am I to know where she is? The only time I leave your presence is when you throw me into a cage.” Mason glared at the mage.
“And if you’re not careful with that mouth, you’ll end up right back there. I know you haven’t been around her, Mason. I’m asking you to use that poor excuse for a brain you’ve been given and think. Where else might she be?”
Rendal took a step closer.
Mason shrugged. “I have no idea. As far as I know, she would have come with them.”
Rendal’s hand flashed up and squeezed the air. Mason grabbed his neck and his mouth sprang open as he started gasping for air.
“Think, Mason. Think as if your very life depends on it,” Rendal growled.
“I…don’t…know,” Mason choked out.
Rendal dropped his hand, and Mason started coughing. He fell onto his side, taking deep, ragged breaths.
Rendal turned back around and looked at Harold. “This is most disconc
erting.”
Harold said nothing, but he was obviously frightened.
Because Rendal was angry. Riley was supposed to be here with the rest of them; that had been the plan.
He closed his eyes and listened to Mason coughing on the couch.
Rendal was exhausted, and he didn’t have the energy to deal with all this right now. He needed to rest and recharge.
He shook his head. “No, I don’t want you to go get them. They can’t stop me, regardless of what they try. We’re going to focus on this city. Riley will come, and when she does, I want everything ready.”
He opened his eyes and faced Kris.
“I have a better idea.”
“What’s that, sir?” Harold asked.
“We’ll set up bait for a few of them. Maybe they’ll come looking for her and save us the trouble of going after them.” Rendal felt his tiredness fade momentarily. “Tomorrow. Call the kingdom. We’ll make it a public display.”
“What the hell are you talkin’ about?” Kris spat.
“You, my dear, are either going to bring us who we want or you’re going to be in a lot of pain. Either way, Sidnie is going to start moving down the route I have planned for it.”
Rendal spoke to Harold next. “Go ahead and take her away. Drain her tonight, and tomorrow have her outside the castle. We’ll do it at dusk.”
“Don’t you put your fuckin’ hands anywhere near me.” The girl’s face was granite as she’d jumped to her feet.
Rendal laughed. “I do like this one. She has spunk. Would you like me to handle her, Harold, or do you think you can?”
“Oh, big men, the both of ya,” Kris snapped. “Going to ‘handle’ a little girl. You don’t know how bad you’re fuckin’ up right now.”
“The mouth on her, Harold,” Rendal joked. “Have you ever heard such a thing?”
“Poor parenting,” Harold remarked with a slight smirk.
“William’s gonna be both your daddies when he finds out what’s happened to me. Go ahead and do what you want now, because once he gets here, it’s lights out for the two of you.” Kris put her hands up as if she were ready to fight.
“Oh, the hell with it,” Rendal declared.
He flicked his fingers dismissively, and the girl flew against the wall. She hit it hard, knocking off picture frames.
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