A Gathering of Souls

by Dianne Keep

  Osling sat back and folded his arms across his chest. “How can I trust you? You blew up a thanum production plant. Then you shut down the generator to the palace and obliterated most of my relics. Now, you say my son is in danger. I don’t believe it.”

  “You brought a plague to your people,” said the girl, using Bree’s mouth. “Instead of asking for my help, you captured me, and forced lies down my throat.”

  Osling’s eyes widened. He looked to Ehre, who shook her head.

  The other girl continued. “I’ve felt no bonds from the necklace since I encountered the first Nexvene.” Bree pointed to Shane. “Ask him.”

  The Resh’s eyes moved from her to Shane. “What do you know of this?”

  Shane bowed. “Nothing, Resh. I only noticed the cracking on the gem.”

  “Ehre, what are you not telling me?” Osling eyed Bree’s amber necklace.

  Ehre’s eyes darted to Bree. “Keir Ryne would have reported to me if he had experienced any complications. I haven’t heard from him or his man.”

  “Nathan,” Osling said. “Send for my brother.”

  Nathan handed Ehre the magical blue cords, which turned purple as soon as Ehre accepted them. “Of course, Your Excellence.”

  “So, you seem to have come back to yourself a little earlier than planned,” said the Resh. He ran a hand through his hair, came forward, and touched the amber gem. “And without Khrisk’s guidance.” He glanced at Ehre.

  Ehre reached inside her tunic and brought out a chain with more than twenty tiny figurines attached to it. She touched a raven figurine and all the others glowed purple at once.

  “Hollders,” Bree whispered, having full use of her mouth again.

  Osling controls the Seyhs through Ehre.

  It wasn’t Bree’s idea to snatch them off Ehre’s neck. In a blink, the Hollders were in her hand. “I don’t think we need all those Seyhs down here,” the other girl said.

  Ehre’s face remained unreadable. “I already called them.”

  “I can fix that.” Bree’s silver alhor covered the Hollders, and Ehre slumped to the ground. “Osling, it seems your Seyhs are overworked.”

  “How dare you.” Osling’s hands fisted. “I had Seyhs searching for Bayan and Khrisk.” His voice cracked.

  “Khrisk,” Bree and the girl said together.

  Sighing, Shane ran his fingers through his hair. “My light, are you here or not? I think now would be a fabulous time to leave Stav.”

  Shane. The handprint. He was hers. “I’m here,” Bree said. “If not completely, enough to know that we belong to each other.”

  “What!” Osling moved faster than Bree thought possible. He took the laser pistol from Shane’s holster and pointed it at Shane’s head. “You’ll stay here until Ehre wakes.”

  With a thought, Bree dissolved the pistol. “No, I will not.”

  Shane elbowed Osling in the chin. The Resh fell to the ground. “What do you mean not completely?”

  “I’m Bree, but I’m someone else too. She knows you. She knows a whole world outside of Stav and Rysa. There are memories, but I can’t connect with them. I think they might be hers or ours. We’re together in this body and separate at the same time.”

  Stepping over Osling, Shane came to her side and hugged her. “We’ll figure it out, little one. Let’s find Copia and see what she thinks.”

  “Copia? Who’s Copia? I thought we were leaving.”

  “Copia became your sweet Tosha.” Shane winked. “Can you shield us? I’m not sure what all these cracked non-possessors will do with their Seyhs out of action.”

  “So Copia and you are Seyhs?”

  Shane smiled, “I’m not sure what I can show you, but yes. We possess magic.”

  “Meaning?”

  “I’m something entirely different. I’ll let Copia tell you what she is. Can you shield us?”

  Bree nodded. “We can do that.”

  “Good.” Shane smiled. “All the same, stay behind me.” Shane opened the door and they met a hall full of black-armored soldiers each carrying a reflective shield and blaster cannon.

  CHAPTER THIRTY-FIVE

  “Can we get through?” Bree asked as she counted helmets. “There are more than a hundred.”

  “Keep the shield up. I’ve got a plan,” Shane whispered before he moved forward. The first five soldiers held their position, raising their reflective shields. Shane pushed them apart with his arms. “I need to get Superior Bree to Rishi Fara. Keir Ryne needs her healing powers. Something went wrong with Ehre’s casting, and now the Resh and the Zeirs are in trouble.”

  The men didn’t budge.

  “Where’s your commander?” Shane elbowed more men aside. “Who ordered this?”

  A man stepped forward from the last row. “I was given orders to keep Bree in the prison if anything happened to the Seyhs.”

  “Do you want to be held responsible for Keir Ryne’s death?” Shane kept moving forward. The soldiers parted.

  Terror was written on the soldiers’ faces. Bree’s heart broke to think they would be afraid of her. She had no desire to hurt them. Escape, yes, but not kill.

  A flicker of memory scorched through Bree’s mind.

  A man glowing brilliant gold.

  He changed. His body transformed to pure light.

  White flames rushed over the treetops.

  A massive army camped on the foothills.

  Within seconds, there was nothing but blackened dirt.

  Her father. The Rysans. The wasteland that had haunted her dreams for so long. It was real. The visions were her memories. All of it was real. Her father had massacred over a hundred thousand people.

  Bree couldn’t contain the swelling of grief. And now, her family was…. Her mind cracked. She couldn’t finish the thought. Her heart squeezed until she was sure it had ripped open. Her body swayed. Was she dying? Tears spilled down her cheeks.

  The Rysans trespassed. We might have handled the invasion differently, but Father made the choice. He must live with what he did.

  “But he’s not here, is he?” asked Bree.

  Shane stopped and turned around. “Who’s not here?”

  “My father. He’s gone.” The other girl remained silent, but the pain of loss cut them deep. “They are all gone except me.” Her limbs refused to work. Her body shivered. “They’re gone.”

  Shane grabbed her hand and warmth spread over her, pushing her grief aside. He leaned in. “You must shine all the brighter because they are gone, my star, you must be strong. There are things that must be done,” he whispered, and wiped the tears from her face. “We need to get to Ryne. Now.”

  The soldiers had crowded around them again. “Move aside,” called Shane. “I don’t know how much time we have until phase two occurs. It is crucial that she get to Keir Ryne before the charm fades.” The guards pressed themselves against the walls, and this time the commander walked toward them. Shane saluted and lowered his voice. “We both know what happens if she doesn’t transition successfully.”

  The commander shuffled his feet. “I can’t give way. Unless.”

  Shane pulled the laser pistol from the commander’s holster and shot him in the leg. The crowd of soldiers stirred. “Since you’ve been injured, I will take command.” He turned to the group of men. “Stay with the Resh and First Seyh. Protect them at all costs.”

  Patting the officer on the shoulder, Shane said, “Keep pressure on that. You don’t want to bleed to death.”

  “Hurry,” the commander said. Another soldier wrapped a cloth around the wound.

  Shane placed his hand on the panel and door opened. They stepped onto the platform and it whizzed them upward.

  Bree huddled under Shane’s arm. “I don’t want my memories. I can’t stand that my family left me here.”

  “You haven’t lost everyone. I’m here,” said Shane. “And soon you’ll see that you have other people. You’re not alone.”

  She longed to be comforted, but the hol
e in her chest was too big to be filled by words.

  He’s right. We need to be strong for these people. The devourers will consume them and move on to other nations. If we don’t help, the world will die.

  “I can’t.” Anguish stole Bree’s words. I can’t, but maybe you can.

  We’re the same. We have to agree. We need to accept what happened.

  Shane rubbed her arm. “Copia will know what to do.”

  The platform stopped and Shane opened the door to the barracks. Soldiers lay scattered across the floor. Bree checked the one closest to her. He had a pulse.

  “What happened here?” she asked as they stepped over the bodies.

  “Copia,” said Shane.

  Outside the barracks, more guards lay haphazardly. “And how do we know Copia?”

  Someone tapped Bree on the shoulder. “Hi, little one.”

  “Tosha,” said Bree.

  Tosha’s body flickered, grew taller, and curvier. The blond hair and blue eyes morphed to a vibrant rainbow of colors. Her pale skin darkened, and her maid’s uniform transformed into a white leather bodysuit. The woman standing before Bree was Shane’s height. She frightened Bree more than the Resh.

  “Don’t be worried,” said Copia. “I’m here to help you. I’ve been here since that thing—” She pointed to the charm. “—started dying. Remember the dew bird?” Copia condensed into a little brown bird with a blue bill. Then, in a flash she was a woman again. “I thought you needed a touch of reassurance that your friends were still by your side. And later, I had to help the purple ogre along.”

  Bree remembered the bird from the staircase and the bird Ehre had talked to on the balcony. Could they have been this woman? Seyhs couldn’t transform. “You were the bird?”

  “I can be anything I want.” Copia wagged her eyebrows. “It’s my special talent. And I’m a Lumen not a Shiner. I’m ten times stronger than any Seyh.”

  The Seyhs were all that was left of the time before the Faewyn brought about the Changing. Her father had taken the Faewyn power from the world and the Lumen’s magic. The Lumen that hadn’t died in the wars had perished from old age like non-possessors.

  Not all of them. The loyal ones survived in Anthea and in other parts of the world.

  Why didn’t you tell me? Bree asked.

  I just remembered.

  “What happened to Tosha?” Her maid had been so sweet.

  “I sent her to the kitchens,” said Copia. “With my transformation, she will also alter and be Tosha again.”

  Remember the songs? Those are songs from home. We know them. Copia sang them so we’d remember.

  “The songs Tosha sang.” And Bree remembered seeing Tosha’s eyes light up sometimes.

  Copia smiled and her rainbow eyes glittered. “Yes, but not Tosha, me as Tosha.”

  Shane hugged Copia. “It’s good to have you back.”

  “I was always here, nettle brain.”

  “But you were the maid. I couldn’t touch you.” Shane kissed her cheek and Copia laughed.

  They love each other.

  “Don’t we have to find Keir Ryne?” Bree wasn’t sure she wanted to watch more of their reunion. She wanted her own with Khrisk, Khrisk who might already be dead. “Aren’t the Seyhs going to wake up soon?”

  “Depends on how long you want them out,” said Copia. “Neat trick. Used the Hollders?”

  “I did. And we—”

  Shane interrupted. “Bree’s not quite herself yet. Two people are in her head. I thought you might have some ideas.”

  Copia touched Bree’s forehead. “She’s in there.”

  Familiar warmth spread over Bree. “Who’s in there?” Bree asked. Copia’s touch felt like Shane’s and Khrisk’s.

  “Give her time. We can’t unravel the memories for her.” Copia removed her hand. “You’ll figure this out.” She smiled. “You’re safe with us.”

  We are safe. Copia is a genius. She taught us all about plants and how best to heal the human body.

  Flashes of memories with Copia occupied Bree’s mind. Copia was a healer in a massive white city named Herrum in Anthea.

  “You’re from Herrum?” Bree asked.

  “Yes,” said Copia. “I hope you know enough by now to realize you’re not Rysan.”

  “They lied to you,” Shane said. “Anthea is your home. You were captured. You know that much.” He looked at Copia. “I thought you said she had to unravel the charm by herself.”

  “Telling her a few things isn’t going to hurt.”

  Remember them. We’ve known them since infancy. They are our friends. Ehre lied to us. Everyone in Stav has. You know this. We can trust Shane and Copia.

  Copia brushed Bree’s cheek. “I can see her talking.”

  “What?” Bree took a step back, out of Copia’s reach.

  “She’s talking to you.” Copia said. “She’s right there, under the surface. She’s seen Shane’s honsworn and remembers. I have pledged myself to her also but have no marking to prove it.”

  “Honsworn?” Bree asked.

  “Your handprint on his chest.” Copia motioned to Bree’s chest. “His is right under your collar bone.”

  Bree looked down. A large, white handprint glowed right over her heart. Her breath quickened. “What, when did….” She looked at Shane. The small handprint on his chest glowed gold.

  As a baby, we were given a honsworn to protect us. All of us have one since we can die of fatal injuries just like non-possessors.

  Shane placed his hand over the print on Bree’s chest. “I live to serve.”

  Heat passed through his hand and touched her heart. The connection between them solidified. She knew him better than anyone. “You’re a Seyh.” She placed her hand over her handprint on his chest. “I live to serve.”

  “You do and I am, but a special kind. Made just for you by you.” Shane tapped her on the head. “You’ll remember soon enough. Right now, we have to get you out of Stav.” Shane spoke to Copia. “Get her things. Where’s Ryne?”

  Copia closed her rainbow eyes. “He’s with the Rishi.”

  “Meet us there,” said Shane.

  Copia nodded and disappeared.

  “How did she do that?” asked Bree.

  “Shifting is easy. You did it as a baby and scared us to our graves.” Shane grabbed her hand. “I don’t suppose you remember how to do it?”

  “Not yet.”

  “Then we run,” said Shane.

  CHAPTER THIRTY-SIX

  The guards outside Rishi Fara’s quarters slumped in their chairs. Shane glanced around before leading Bree across the hall.

  At the door, Bree checked the soldiers for pulses. “Who do you think did this?”

  “Copia probably knocked them out before she went to fetch your things.” Shane gently tapped the door. “She’ll be here in a flash.”

  Fara’s maid, Feli, opened the door. “Hurry, hurry. Come in.” She led them to the garden. “My lady, our star is here.”

  Fara stood next to the stargazers. “You’re awake.” She glanced at the amber pendant. “Are you truly awake?”

  They want us to be ourselves. We have to accept what happened.

  “Sort of.” Bree shook her head. “We have to find Khrisk and Bayan. They’re trapped. I can feel it.”

  “But do you remember?” Fara’s hands went to touch her but stopped. “I…I never wanted you this way.”

  “I just need to save Khrisk,” said Bree. She had liked Fara.

  But they lied to us. Kept us here where we don’t belong.

  The Rishi tried to help. Bree reminded the girl. They all did in their own way. We didn’t listen.

  We could’ve escaped a long time ago.

  Anger boiled within Bree.

  “Feli, please go and get Keir Ryne.” Fara moved to the chairs and sat. “He’s not well.”

  “Is he dying?” Bree asked. Ehre had said that in order for an incantation to expire, then something had to happen to the person connected
with it. Not only her life was connected to the charm.

  “Yes.” Fara tugged at the end of her sleeves. “For you, Ryne will pass to the beyond. That is a worthy cause. But I should let him explain.”

  Feli brought a wobbly Keir Ryne out to the patio. Shane went over and helped Feli settle him onto the canopied bed.

  Ryne drew a ragged breath. “Bree…I’m…I’m so glad to see you one last time.” His face was ashen, his lips colorless. He pulled the pendant from under his shirt. There were three cracks on it just like Bree’s. “When we found you, you were so wild. Full of grief and ready to murder us all.”

  “I would never,” Bree said.

  “Let him finish, my light,” Shane said.

  “The memory-erasing charm wasn’t enough. We had to link you to me. And then, even then, you almost killed me.” Ryne closed his eyes. “We…well, I should let him explain.”

  “Who? Who needs to explain?” Bree asked.

  Ryne’s eyes filled with tears. He shook his head. “We knew you couldn’t be near me. Not anyone really. So many things triggered the charm on the way home. We thought it best to keep you isolated.” Ryne sighed, and Bree tasted his death in the air. “When we got here…I couldn’t stand the sight of you. Not that you’re not beautiful to look at.” He winked.

  “But you were and are sad and confused,” Ryne continued. “My brother wants to keep you forever and I can’t allow that. You need to be yourself, and for that, the charm has to die.”

  “You,” Bree said. “You don’t have to die. The charm is fading on its own.”

  “No, I’m…”

  Look, said the girl.

  Bree saw the poison swimming in Keir Ryne’s veins. “You poisoned yourself?”

  “It was the only way to kill the evoc piece. We’re linked,” Ryne said. “My life feeds the charm.”

  Bree grabbed his hand and sent healing energy through her fingers.

  He yanked his hand from her grasp. “You won’t be free if I live.”

  “He’s right, my star,” said Shane. “Leave him be.”