A Gathering of Souls

by Dianne Keep

  “We can’t risk it, Ehre,” Rhion said. “Khrisk isn’t here.”

  Khrisk? What would Khrisk do? thought Bree.

  He makes us forget. Remember? We promised not to forget. Don’t forget.

  Bree brought her shield back up. “To remove the temptation of attacking me.”

  Every Seyh spoke at once. A rope wove together in the air, twisting around her.

  Not this time. Whatever the other girl did worked. Her alhor split the rope in two. Run!

  Bree ran down the main hall. Her alhor spread, covering every device, ripping every mechanism into tiny pieces.

  She turned left at the end of the row and ran the perimeter of Level One. She had to destroy all the relics.

  Resh Osling had to understand it was fruitless to recharge the ancient machines.

  The Faewyn weren’t coming back.

  And the devourers would never be satisfied.

  Not until the last soul on the planet was consumed.

  CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE

  With every step, she could taste the people’s fear, sharp and metallic. Some fell to the ground as she passed, cradling their arms or legs. She hoped her shield hadn’t hurt them. When she’d made her way around the entire floor, she headed toward the vaulted door, where Shane stood ushering people through.

  “I need to pass,” she called. There were more relics in the research labs.

  Shane nodded, and yelled, “Move aside.”

  The people pressed themselves against the walls.

  “Stop her,” Ehre shouted at the entrance to the room, but no one tried to.

  Bree hopped on the platform to the upper floors and the researchers jumped off. The flashing lights in the tube didn’t bother her this time.

  Faster, go faster, the girl chanted, and the platform complied.

  No one stopped her as she made her way to the researcher’s hall because no one was in the palace. Not one courtier. Not one guard.

  As soon as she reached the hall, devices flew to her. With a thought, the mechanisms rained to the floor in piles of crushed metal. “We need to get to the labs. In the back by the library,” Bree told the voice.

  Glass littered the floor as relics burst from their pedestals along the library’s walls only to disintegrate the next moment. The doors to the labs were locked, but not for long.

  A researcher opened it. Her eyes widened and she moved to shut the door. “Please, please don’t hurt me,” she yelled.

  Bree held the door. “I’m not here to hurt you, I’m here to protect you.” She touched the young lady’s shoulder. “Everyone needs to evacuate. Can you help me with that?”

  “I can.” The woman’s expression softened. She pressed a button next to the door. “Everyone, please vacate the labs.”

  Chairs scraped the floor and people mumbled. The researchers eyed Bree, but since the lady didn’t seem unsettled, they remained mostly calm.

  “Thank you,” said Bree. “You should go, too.”

  “All right.”

  “Wait, do you have access to the vault?”

  “Would you like me to open it for you?” the lady asked.

  “Please, and any other storage units in the palace.”

  “All the storage units are in the vault,” said the researcher. She led the way through the maze of lab rooms.

  Relics flew off the shelves and bumped into the walls of glass dividing the labs, breaking to pieces as Bree passed.

  The woman placed her hand on a screen, opening the doors to the vault.

  “Thanks,” said Bree.

  The researcher smiled.

  We can demolish the relics from here, the girl said.

  Power rushed through Bree. Light pierced her eyes. The researcher gasped.

  A cloud of dust blasted through the doorway.

  “I guess that’s it,” said Bree. “Unless I need to know anything else?”

  The lady’s eyebrows furrowed in concentration. “There might be relics hidden in the bunkers, my star. We’ve sent some over there in the last few months. This is all I know.”

  She speaks the truth. “Thank you,” Bree and the other girl said in unison.

  The lady led the way to the library. In the hallway, the researcher glanced around.

  “Best to leave,” said Bree. “I’d say you’d be safe in the second tier.”

  She nodded and left.

  Ehre’s study is the only place left with relics.

  “Right,” said Bree.

  The hallways were empty and quiet. Along the way, Bree destroyed the inoperable belt walks and gearboxes. “What about the bunker and the gates?”

  We’ll get them on the way out.

  “Wait, we’re leaving? What about Khrisk?” Bree asked.

  He makes us forget. We need to remember.

  “The necklace makes us forget too,” Bree reminded the girl.

  Then take it off.

  She tried, but she still couldn’t lift it farther than her chin.

  It’s dying. Soon we won’t have to wear it.

  At the top of the stairs, Bree felt a twinge of panic. How long before Ehre came for them? “Better get the relics from here. Can you do it?”

  Do you have to ask us?

  Bree heard a crash. “To the bunkers?”

  Yes.

  “Bree, wait,” Ehre said from the landing below. “You have to stop.”

  “We can’t. We’re getting rid of the temptation.”

  “We? I thought you said you were alone in there.” Ehre tapped her temple as she climbed the stairs.

  “We lied.” Molten power dripped from Bree’s fingertips to the floor. “Don’t come closer.” Her shield pulsed. “I don’t want to hurt anyone.”

  “No, you don’t,” said Ehre. “But maybe you should.”

  Sharp stabs of pain radiated through Bree’s back, legs, and arms.

  Drugged darts! Move now!

  Bree couldn’t. Whatever was on the needles was already taking effect.

  Ehre touched the lining of Bree’s shield. Little lines of purple bounced off the swirling gold. “I’m not alone either and my life depends on you staying here. You’re too easily distracted. Your compassion makes you weak.” She reached through the flickering gold shield and pulled a dart tipped with a purple feather from Bree’s arm. “Remember these?”

  Bree shook her head. What was Ehre talking about?

  The other girl showed her memories of the time they hid in the pines. Darts tipped with purple feathers sticking out of her arm, thigh, and chest. The woozy feeling that came after. The slip of cold metal against her neck and chest.

  Ehre stepping out from behind a tree.

  “You,” said Bree.

  “Don’t forget again,” Ehre whispered. “It’d be a shame if this worked a third time.”

  Bree’s lids closed. She was falling into nothingness.

  A pair of strong arms caught her. A familiar voice told her not to worry. He’d not leave her side. And for a moment, she was comforted.

  ◆◆◆

  Bree woke to Tosha’s humming. Her whole body ached except her head. Her head felt like it was in a thousand little pieces.

  “Tosha, can I get something to drink?” Bree touched her arms, legs, and chest. She still wore the Ranking suit, but the comms and handheld had been removed from her pockets.

  “What would you like?” Tosha asked.

  Bree tried to open her eyes. “Something for my head.” A new wave of pain exploded in her skull.

  Tosha placed a cup in her hand. “Drink all of it.”

  It tasted like sand mixed with mud but ran down her throat like water. “Thanks.”

  Twelve seconds passed, and Bree opened her eyes. She was in her tower bedroom. Are you there?

  No answer.

  What would Resh Osling do with her now? Getting caught wasn’t part of the plan. She didn’t know the plan, outside of destroying the relics and leaving Stav. She hadn’t thought it through and now the other girl was hidi
ng. Bree inspected the charm pendant. Three cracks. The girl had said the charm was dying. How soon before she was free?

  And what about Khrisk?

  “How long have I been asleep?” Bree asked. She didn’t have the strength to move yet.

  “A few hours. Shane brought you up with what appeared to be Osling’s entire Seyh army, which is only twenty. Well, twenty in Stav. I’m sure he has more roving around the countries he’s occupying.” Tosha went into the dressing room. “They stood about watching you, and when you didn’t wake up, they left. There are five Seyhs in the stairwell and five posted outside your balcony.”

  “Outside my balcony? Are they floating?”

  “On the roof.”

  “I hope they’re wearing ropes.”

  “Or not,” Tosha said. “Either way, you’ve raised an alert. The palace has been evacuated except for essential staff. And no one can find Khrisk or Bayan, so they’re stuck with you the way you are.”

  “And what’s wrong with the way I am?” Bree asked.

  “You blew up all their devices. Not just the relics, but every newly minted copy in the vault. And you were going for the bunkers.” Tosha brought out a pair of leather pants and a tunic. “You are to report to the Resh once you’ve eaten.”

  What would her punishment be? Would she be sent out into the wilds to be shredded by mutated animals? Marry Bayan sooner? Or would Osling be subtle and take away Tosha and Fara, leaving her with no one to talk to but the lying, no good Ehre?

  She wouldn’t survive the next three days. The Resh could bring Khrisk back and make her forget everything she’d recovered.

  But she hadn’t forgotten yet. Maybe Khrisk’s talent for making her forget wouldn’t work now that the charm was dying.

  “I had to rid the palace of the relics to keep Osling from being tempted. They want to use the old devices for war, but power them with this awful green stuff that is dead, used souls. I can’t really make sense of what I know, I just know it’s bad.”

  Tosha dropped the clothes. “What?”

  Deep down Bree knew she could trust Tosha. “There’s another voice inside my head. A girl, like me, and she knows things.”

  “Have you told anyone?” A shimmer of rainbow swirled in Tosha’s eyes.

  “You and Ehre. But I told her when I thought it was the charm making me cracked. I don’t think it’s the charm anymore. There is another person in here.” This meant, of course, that she was truly cracked. Sanity required one person per head.

  “Keep it that way,” said Tosha. “If Osling finds out you’re coming back to yourself, he’ll kill you.”

  Death. She could accept death. It sounded pretty good not to have to worry all the time, or have another entity take over her body. Or wonder why she loved Khrisk. “I’ll see what he wants, and I’ll tell him what I know.”

  Tosha grabbed her arms. “You listen to me. You’re the only thing on this world that can make those darkens leave. The. Only. Thing.” A current pulsed through Tosha’s hands, warm and pleasant. “You must stay alive. You. Have. To.”

  “Why would you say that? What do you know?” Why wasn’t Tosha surprised about the other girl inside her head? “How do you know about me? How do you know the name darken? Why do you know about them? Does Osling know about them?”

  “He knows.” Tosha let go of her arms. “He has to know to have brought them here. Or his grandfather knew. Either way, Osling is living with the consequences.” She sat in one of the chairs by the balcony and rubbed her temples. “You can’t tell him you know about the devourers. You’re just supposed to heal the people.”

  “And you know all this because?” Bree didn’t know if she preferred lies or truth.

  The bedroom door opened.

  “Dinner,” said Gallie. The old woman hobbled in and set the tray on the small table next to Tosha. “I’m to stay here and watch you eat it. Sit. Eat.”

  Bree stretched her arms and legs. Her body ached, but she could still move. She scooted off the bed and sat next to Tosha by the balcony. “Thank you, Gallie.”

  Gallie mumbled something, something, “Blasted shiners causing a….” Something. Something. “Need me to clean up all their messes.”

  “I’m not hungry.” Bree stood. “I should change.”

  “No, no, no missy. You sit and eat, or I’ll have one of those shiners come in and help you.” She limped over and uncovered the tray. “And you don’t want their help.”

  Bree shoveled the white mush into her mouth and swallowed a red, sour drink that made her eyes water. “There. All done.”

  “Wasn’t that delicious?” Gallie faced Tosha. “In a few minutes, she can be brought before the Resh. Wait until then.”

  “I understand.” Tosha nodded.

  “And make sure she doesn’t vomit.” Gallie picked up the tray.

  “Yes, I know, I know.” Tosha stood and helped Gallie out the door.

  The old woman shook her finger. “I’ll know if she throws it up. Ehre put a spell on it.”

  “Thank you, Gallie,” Bree called from her chair. “I won’t heave, promise.”

  As soon as Tosha shut the door, she whispered, “Go throw up. Right now.”

  CHAPTER THIRTY-TWO

  “What? I just promised I wouldn’t,” Bree whispered.

  “And why would you keep that promise?” Tosha went to the dressing room and came out with a bowl. “Do it.”

  “One of the Seyhs might hear you.” Bree peeked behind her shoulder. The balcony doors were closed, but that didn’t mean the Seyhs out there couldn’t hear every word they said.

  “Why are you so stubborn?” Tosha put Bree in a chokehold and shoved her finger down Bree’s throat.

  Bree promptly threw up and pushed Tosha away. “Now Gallie and Ehre will know.”

  “Gallie won’t find out because that little purple ogre won’t tell. Not if she wants to see tomorrow.” Tosha took the bowl to the dressing room and returned to the bedroom. “They’re coming to take you for questioning. Remember, you don’t remember anything.”

  Tosha peeled the Ranking outfit off Bree and handed her a wet towel.

  “How do you know all this?” Bree wiped the sweat from her body and put on the leather pants and tunic Tosha had set out. “And won’t they know if I’m lying? They’re Seyhs.”

  “You can fool Seyhs easy. Don’t tell them anything.” Tosha hugged her. “Don’t tell them one single thing.”

  Hugging Tosha felt right in every way that could be right. Like she was in the arms of her best, oldest friend, not a maid that she met three months ago. Bree studied Tosha’s face. “I know you.”

  “Better than anybody.” Tosha winked.

  Shane opened the door. “We need to go downstairs. Ehre is waiting.”

  “Let’s get this done,” said Bree.

  Tosha whacked her on the back and coughed, “Drowsy.”

  Bree leaned to one side, fell into Shane’s open arms, and groaned, “So dizzy.”

  His strong arms held her for twenty seconds and she savored the smell of forest, leather, and something spicy. She knew that smell. She looked into his eyes and saw sparks of white burst on the surface of his blue irises. He too, was someone her heart trusted. He was more than a guard or possible trainer.

  Yes. Look. See. He’s Shane.

  Bree focused on the spot where her hand laid on his chest. Under her hand, a light shone brighter than her gold alhor. “Oh.” Pulling her hand away, the glowing handprint lingered underneath his armor almost as if she’d seared his flesh with her hand.

  He’s ours and we’re his.

  Mine. A link strummed between her and Shane.

  Ours.

  “You’ll feel better when we get to Ehre. Take my arm.” Shane placed his arm under hers and held her up. “Take each step carefully.”

  The entire way down, Bree tried to force a vision. She believed Shane might be her trainer, but she’d also seen him with the people who might be her family. All of them could
be the enemy. The Antheans could have planted all the visions in her head as some weird mind control technique to get her to blow up the palace. Blighted curses, she knew she could do it.

  Or, she could be completely insane.

  Who were all the people surrounding her in Rysa? What did she really know about any of them?

  They’re waiting for us to figure it out.

  “Why?” Bree asked.

  Ehre asked, “Why what?”

  Bree and her quad had reached the bottom of the stairs. “Why am I so dizzy?”

  Ehre rolled her eyes. “This way.”

  Readjusting his grip, Shane supported Bree as they walked through the empty palace, past the training yard to the barracks. Ehre took them to the last barrack on the row, its side pressed against the palace wall. Around at the back was a white door with a panel on the front. Ehre placed her hand on the panel and the door creaked open, sweeping along a well-worn path on the stone floor.

  The same acidic chemical smell from the lower levels greeted Bree. She choked and sneezed, but Shane held her steady and helped her cross the threshold. Inside, another platform waited for them. Ehre pressed a button and down they went. Bree kept her eyes closed and let her head rest on Shane’s chest so the blinking lights wouldn’t make her sick. Being questioned by Seyhs would require all her strength if she wanted to fool them.

  Not strength.

  “Then what?” she asked.

  “What?” Ehre asked.

  “Nothing,” said Bree.

  Shane rubbed her arm. Bree accepted the simple comfort. He was on her side. Somehow, he was impossibly on her side, even if he was Anthean and the enemy. Maybe he had his reasons and maybe she shouldn’t be upset at being brainwashed.

  The platform jerked to a halt and Bree waited. Her body jostled with a slight bounce as each person stepped off. Opening her eyes, she saw the same setup as the lower levels where the relics had been stored. Apparently, the Resh had back up power from an alternative source or there was another production plant close by.

  “Where are we?” Bree asked.

  “A very special place not many people get to see,” said Ehre. “This way.”