The Quartz Tower (Kingdoms of Oz Book 2)

by Carrie Whitethorne

  “Save it. There isn’t time,” I snapped, walking past them all to the stairs. “Can one of you help that poor thing?”

  I didn’t look back and was halfway down the stairs to the entrance level when Sayer caught up with me.

  “Ella,” he said, gripping my arm.

  I pulled it free and kept walking. “Did you set that thing on me?”

  “She wanted it outside, waiting. It was shrouded. I left it on the roof to watch through the dome. It was expected to attack when the disc spun,” he rushed out, trying to explain before Glinda could hear.

  I was tempted to glance at him but managed not to. “Well, it looks like it screwed up.”

  “You really didn’t claim it?” he countered, incredulous.

  “I was busy trying not to be eaten,” I growled.

  He tugged me back by my shirt and pushed me into the wall. With one hand by my head, the other cupping my cheek, he warned, “If she sees the reformed quartz you impaled it with, she’ll know you’re lying. You can’t take those sort of risks, you’ve come too far.”

  His nose was bloody, but his eyes were bright. I gazed into them and almost allowed myself to get lost in them, remembering the last time we’d been together, how much I missed him, and how I’d worried for him. “Why?”

  He pulled in his brows. He looked so conflicted that my heart ached.

  “Why are you keeping this up? You don’t have to, not anymore. If you stay with me, you can help—”

  He leaned in, his lips brushing mine, and said, “I can’t. Not yet. When the time is right I will come to you, Ella. I belong with you, but not yet.”

  Using the heel of my hand I pushed against his chest. He willingly stepped back and bowed his head. “I’m—”

  I turned and continued down the stairs, not letting him finish his sentence, and Sayer followed without a word.

  The sun was setting when I stepped outside, and as tempting as it was to leave her ladyship waiting while I descended however many hundred steps to the bottom, I figured it would save time to just float down.

  I didn’t bother to ask Sayer’s permission and swept us both up on a breeze, over the outer wall of the outdoor staircase, and down.

  There was a certain amount of satisfaction in showing her that I’d mastered something. She didn’t know any of what I could do. She certainly had no idea I could access the fire power I’d inherited without having claimed the tower, or that I’d had chance to practice with it well in advance of this meeting. I wasn’t nearly ready, but I was better prepared than she knew and that gave me an advantage, however slight.

  “Glinda,” I greeted, as I brought us to a halt before her. She was wearing one of her signature gowns—a huge, pink mélange of satin and tulle, all finished off with pearls and silver balls.

  She didn’t bother to hide her annoyance.

  “Ellana, you now possess the tower I take it?” Glinda huffed, her shoulders rising and falling as she tipped her head and blinked at me.

  I pulled my lips to one side and shrugged. “Not yet. A three headed dragon thing crashed through the roof and I had to stop what I was doing to handle that.”

  Her eyes narrowed and she straightened. I’d caught her attention. “You handled that?”

  I shrugged again. “I’m a fast learner,” I replied, keeping my voice neutral.

  Her eyes snapped to Sayer, tilting her head in question. If she was concerned about the blood crusted around his nose, she gave no indication.

  “My lady, it seems a Wyrm found its way south and attacked. It must have seen her alone in the tower and—”

  “Where is the archer?” she chirped, her voice unnaturally high and dripping in fake concern. “Surely he was there to protect you?”

  “Oh yeah,” I concurred, smirking. “He was there too. He’s waiting up there for me.” I waved my hand over my right shoulder, roughly indicating the tower. “Not sure where exactly, but I told him to keep an eye out while I came down.”

  Her eyes scanned the tower and I saw her top lip twitch when she failed to locate him. “I see... well, this is awkward...”

  “Is it?” I countered, slinging out a hip. “In what way?”

  Glinda smiled. “The thing is, Ellana, I know you’re lying. The shoes give it away.”

  I frowned, looking down at my feet.

  “You see,” she went on, “when you arrived here you were cautious. Easily alarmed. The shoes took on a color representative of your mood and told me how much of a problem you were going to be. The answer then was not much. But now... orange represents something entirely different. You’ve changed. You’re growing in confidence. You have a newfound enthusiasm. Your new control over both the fortress and the tower—yes, I can feel the power roiling off you and know you’ve claimed the tower—have given you a sense of power, leaving you to believe you can accomplish something. You are determined.

  “The question I must ask myself is what are you determined to do, Ellana? As of right now, you have served your purpose, and have want I want…” She looked at her nails, then to Sayer. “She is done here. Unleash the second.”

  I turned to him as he waved his left hand without hesitation and looked skyward.

  I did the same to see a second dragon appear as though an invisible blanket had been pulled from over its head.

  This one was massive. With five heads and its wings fully extended, blocking the light of the setting sun and casting a huge shadow over the three of us.

  I was about to run when Sayer grabbed me, pulling me against his chest and holding me around the throat.

  Glinda had backed up several steps, grinning maniacally. She seemed to like the sight of Sayer overpowering me.

  “Struggle. Make it look convincing,” he instructed quietly, but I didn’t have to pretend. I was struggling. “Good. Listen to me. Use wind to push me away. Run for the tower. Don’t use wind to flee, the dragon will catch you. Ignore her, she won’t get involved until it’s time to strike the final blow. She wants to watch you struggle. Make for the tower and don’t stop until you reach Fallon. I’ll do what I can from here.”

  There wasn’t time to ask questions, and I raised my booted foot and stomped it down hard on Sayer’s foot, flinging back my head as I did.

  It worked, and he released me just as the dragon lunged forward.

  I leapt to the side, throwing myself to the ground and hoping it wouldn’t catch me before I made it to my feet.

  There was a piercing cry from above me and the dragon turned its attention to the sky, assessing the new threat.

  That distraction gave me chance to escape and I scrambled to my feet, turned, and ran.

  The relief of getting away only lasted seconds.

  I saw what held the dragon’s attention.

  “Kali!”

  If she heard my desperate yell, she showed no sign, flying straight for the dragon with her front legs stretched out in front.

  I ran on.

  “Ella, get up here,” Nox shouted, and I heard the twang of Fallon’s bow.

  “Now, quickly!”

  I didn’t think. I leapt and the air took me.

  No wind. No raging gale. I simply moved through the air, climbing steadily toward the entrance to the tower.

  When I was high enough, I saw them. Nox had changed form and was about to turn and head downstairs, Fallon was on his feet with bow pulled taut, his shot aimed at the dragon.

  “No, not that. Her,” I yelled, reaching for the low, polished wall of the staircase and swinging myself over. “Nox, stay here. She knows I’ve claimed the tower somehow, I clearly can’t bluff for shit, but she doesn’t know about you. Kali appeared out of nowhere, and I think Sayer brought her to buy us time. I don’t know how he knew about her, but she didn’t get here herself. Aim for Glinda, force Sayer to defend her and give him a reason to leave.”

  Fallon glanced at me and moved his aim a fraction. Nox shifted back as he fired the shot.

  “How does she know?”
<
br />   I looked down at my feet and pressed my lips together in a grim line. “Damn shoes.”

  “We need to get out of here,” he urged, “while the bird has the dragon occupied.”

  I nodded, then looked at Fallon. “Will she be okay?”

  He fired another shot in answer and the dragon roared. I could hear Kali’s angry shrieks and pulled myself to my feet.

  “We have to get to the far edge of the mountain,” I ordered.

  “And risk that thing hitting us?” Nox responded, watching the huge creature thrash wildly as Kali dug her claws into a pair of its eyes.

  “Yep. Move.”

  Without thinking, I set off downstairs, hoping the two of them were behind me.

  Nox overtook me, sprinting down in his lion form twice as fast as I could run.

  The sound of Fallon’s arrows clattering in his now half empty quiver told me he was on my heels and it took less time than I expected to reach the bottom.

  I couldn’t see much except for the dragon, but I was sure Glinda and Sayer were gone, and I led the way, the three of us rushing over the rocky mountain top to the northeastern side. “Kali, the forest!” I yelled as we passed, and I heard an answering cry. “Nox, jump off, I’ll catch you.”

  If he disagreed, he showed no sign and didn’t look back. Fallon reached for me and grasped my hand only moments before the ground ended and the sky began.

  I ran. I ran and ran until my legs were moving midair, but neither I, nor Fallon, nor Nox, fell.

  I fixed my attention on the forest, on a clear line where the treetops changed from lush green to lifeless grey-brown. On Tatiana’s lands.

  Chapter 13

  The forest was dark and I couldn’t be sure if I set us down where I intended. But at least we were off the mountain.

  “Whew!” Nox yelled as he shifted, turning to face Fallon and me. “That was something.”

  I smirked and nudged Fallon. “I don’t think he shares your enthusiasm.” I turned and looked at him. “You seemed okay with Kali. What’s so bad about my flying?”

  He looked sideways at Nox, then at me, and frowned.

  “More like controlled falling?” I offered.

  He nodded as an apologetic smile tugged at the corners of his mouth.

  Nox laughed, loud and long as I looked up at the night sky through the sparse branches of the trees. “Where did Kali go? She was right behind us,” I pondered, concerned.

  “Did she overestimate and fly over?” Nox asked, composing himself.

  I frowned. “I don’t know, but I’d rather she wasn’t out in the open. Who knows what Glinda is going to send next.”

  Fallon ran his hand down my back and I leaned into him, and murmured, “Yeah. I’m sure she’s fine... I suppose I should handle shelter.”

  Nox was looking at me, I couldn’t make out his expression—it was too dark—so I pretended not to notice and looked around. “Is there anywhere near here we could—” I was interrupted by a shriek high above and my heart stopped.

  “Lioneag,” Nox declared, moving to my other side as another sounded farther away. “Are you expecting anyone?”

  I nodded. “Tatiana said she would meet me after. She said she’d be watching.”

  “But not helping, I notice,” he muttered.

  “No...” I knew how it looked, but I understood her predicament. “She was trying to maintain the pretense a little longer. Don’t suppose it matters now, since Sayer brought Kali to even the odds. Glinda will know now.”

  “You think he brought Kali?” he asked.

  I could hear the skepticism in his voice, and I fully understood it, but I knew it was him. “Yeah. I think she had him plant and disguise the dragons, but he also brought Kali to help us out. He’s trying to balance the odds.”

  Nox made a disbelieving sound in his throat and I gazed up to Fallon. “I think he sent the wolves, too, but he knew you could handle them.”

  Nox cleared his throat.

  “Yes, that didn’t go as anyone expected, and we have you to thank for getting us out of there, but I’m pretty sure she’s making him send... problems.”

  “Can you do something about the dark or shall I light a fire?” he inquired, changing the subject.

  “Umm...” I looked around for a fallen branch, but stopped when I heard another cry, this one directly above us, and we all heard the beating of wings.

  Seconds later, Kali crashed through the trees, breaking branches as she came, and landed right in front of us.

  Turning her head, she blinked a few times and snapped her beak. Damned bird. I hadn’t been exactly friendly toward her, but she’d come to save my ass anyway. I rushed forward, leaving Fallon and Nox, and wrapped my arms around her neck. She was warm, her feathers soft as I pressed my cheek into her and cooed, “That was dangerous, Kali. You could have been seriously hurt.”

  She clicked her beak four times and scratched at the ground, and I hugged her tighter.

  “Thank you.”

  She made a strange piping sound, and I stepped back as another Lioneag, this one much larger, landed at her side.

  “Ella, thank the wizard you’re all right,” Tatiana exclaimed, with no small amount of concern as she slid from her mount. I wouldn’t have recognized her if she hadn’t spoken, she looked so different in her armor. It looked like leather, the tunic well-fitted. The pants and boots matched perfectly, and she had swords attached to her belt.

  She closed the distance between us and pulled me into a hug. “I’m so sorry you had to do that alone. Are you hurt?”

  “No, I’m fine, we all are. I was just looking for a branch to make a torch when Kali arrived.”

  She looked down at my feet.

  “Oh... yeah,” I mumbled, feeling a little foolish. “I keep forgetting.”

  I blinked and several torches appeared around us, all burning brightly, and Tatiana grinned. “You’ll pick it up soon enough. I see everything went as planned.”

  “If you call being attacked by Wyrms a plan,” Nox muttered.

  Tatiana shrugged and looked at Kali. “Did she defy your orders?”

  I shook my head. “No. Sayer brought her to me.”

  “He needs to be careful,” she cautioned with a concerned frown.

  “She just appeared. Sayer must have positioned her there, or summoned her in or whatever it is he does, so Glinda thought she was always with me. I don’t think he—”

  “Shut up,” Nox hissed, looking directly at Fallon. “Movement, southeast,” he noted, listening and apparently sniffing the air. “It’s her.”

  Tatiana drew her sword. “Ella, get behind me.”

  “And why would she do that, Tati?” Glinda sang from a few feet away. I couldn’t see her, but the light from the torches obscured my view. Luckily, Fallon knew precisely where her voice had come from and fired an arrow in her direction.

  “Tsk, not very friendly, Fallon,” Glinda scolded, then ordered, “Sayer, relieve him of his weapons.”

  I stepped in front of him and raised a hand. “Leave him alone.”

  Her girlish giggle made the hair on my neck stand on end and I felt rage stir in my chest. “Have the roles reversed, Fallon? You see, Sayer? I told you he wasn’t a committed pillow biter. He was never worthy of your attention.”

  I looked back at Fallon. He was frowning in confusion but hadn’t lowered his bow.

  Sayer’s attack never came.

  “What do you want, Glinda?” I asked, turning the subject away from whatever lie Sayer had told her about him and Fallon. “Come out and speak to me properly, you damn coward.”

  That seemed to do the trick.

  Sayer came first. He strolled from the darkness as though he were joining us for a picnic and took us all in.

  “Hello, Sayer,” Tatiana greeted pleasantly. “Bree sends her regards.”

  His lip twitched in irritation at that name as he replied, “Tell her to keep them.”

  Glinda giggled again and I was forced to grit m
y teeth.

  “Sayer,” she chided, “she is still your sister.”

  He inclined his head and looked at me. “She is no sister of mine. Apologies, my lady, it appears Miss Rose escaped unscathed.”

  She stepped into the light, and the silver beads on her gown glinted as she passed the flames and placed her hand on his shoulder. “That will be short lived. Now, Ellana, you seem to have something that belongs to me in your possession. Give it up, do not resist me, and none of your friends will be harmed. You have my word.”

  She took three steps forward and Fallon loosed his arrow. It missed her by a mile, embedding in the tree she had stepped away from, but the warning was clear.

  Kali seemed to think the witch was too close and moved between us, rearing up and beating her wings.

  Tati said something under her breath and her mount joined Kali, the two of them forming a noisy barrier between us and them.

  “Ella, I can distract her while you make your escape,” Tatiana offered.

  I shook my head. “No. I’m not running. She wants a fight, so I’ll give her one.”

  “You can’t beat her, not here,” Nox warned. “She wouldn’t have shown herself if she didn’t have something up her sleeve. Safer to retreat now and plan your attack.”

  “He’s right,” Tatiana agreed. “Go, I’ll keep her busy.”

  “I’m not leaving you here,” I argued, as Fallon drew his bow. “She just threatened to kill me. I’m not letting that slide.”

  Tatiana didn’t get chance to respond as the torches spurted, their flames shooting many feet in the air before extinguishing entirely.

  The Lioneag startled, the one Tatiana had arrived on taking flight. Kali, however, was furious. She opened her wings full span, and I was almost certain she intended to attack.

  “Kali, no,” I demanded sternly, before she could act. I’d seen her go after Sayer before, and that was when he wasn’t a threat to either of us. I’d hate to see what she would do to his face now. “Bring that one back,” I instructed, pointing in the direction the other Lioneag had flown to get her away from Sayer.

  The look she gave me said a thousand words, but however reluctant she was, she did as I said and took off after it.