Simeon grinned and puffed his skinny chest out. “Yeah, that’s me. But that warrior, he came back with another one. They helped me escape. The big one with the blue wings, he made us invisible with some dark shadow magic—or something.” Simeon shrugged. “And the other one, he was a guard but he helped get me out of my cell. The big, blue-winged one just kept sayin’ if he helped, she would save the other one’s soul. Called him Atti something or other.”
Jack began to laugh.
Zane just stared at the boy incredulously. “You mean you were saved by Hugo—I mean Eryanth—and Attion? That cold bastard actually saved you? He set you free?”
Simeon shrugged again. “If you say so. I was in the forest, runnin’ far from that mad queen and the fightin’ when some other monsters found me. They brought me with them.” He grinned. “They thought I was one of them. I couldn’t understand all their growlin’ and stuff though. If I played dumb, they ended up ignorin’ me. I just followed them and ate the scraps off their kills. When we got back here, I tried to get away from them. Thought I’d swim up the coast and find a deserted village somewhere. This was the first cave I found. Seemed safe, so I stayed.”
“How long ago was that?” asked Tom, eyeing Simeon’s skinny body.
Simeon frowned. “Dunno really. Been at least three moon cycles.”
“That long?” exclaimed Karl. “But how have you survived? What have you eaten?” His eyes scanned the cave. There was no evidence of a fire or food.
“I turn before I eat.” Simeon shrugged. “That way I don’t need to cook anythin’. I just catch it out there and eat it here.” He gestured with a skinny arm at the shelf of rock they stood on. It was discoloured with old blood.
“You catch and eat fish? In that rough sea?” asked Karl incredulously.
Simeon nodded, his eyes flitting around the group.
Jack smiled, his admiration for this young boy growing by the second. It was grim living. “That’s some survival instinct, kiddo; you’ve done well,” he said, ruffling the boy’s hair. “Now, do you know anything about the castle above this rock—or the creatures in it?”
Simeon grinned and batted Jack’s hand away. “Course I do! I’ve been here an age, and it gets borin’ as hell. I’ve been explorin’ them dungeons above and watchin’ the monsters up there.” He smirked. “Wanna know where there’s a pretty lady?”
Zane snorted a laugh. “You’re kidding?”
Simeon shook his head. “Nope. She’s real pretty. Long white hair that looks like snow. And her skin is glittery. It looks like she’s covered in jewels when she has no clothes on. You’d like her.” He winked at Zane.
Now all the fae laughed.
“Zane is not into pretty ladies—not anymore,” Tom told Simeon as Zane raised his brows and a satisfied grin stretched his lips.
Simeon looked confused for a moment—then flushed as he looked from one to the other. “Oh,” he shrugged. “Maybe then you wanna know about the magic she uses every night?”
“Yeah, we do,” answered Arades. “How about you show us where she is.”
“Oh, she’s not there now.” He peered out of the cave. “She only comes down into them cells at night. She likes the dark and the cold. She’s frozen the whole place. Looks like an ice palace now.”
Jack’s heart stuttered. “The Ice Witch. If we can find her and keep her unconscious, we have one less enemy to fight above ground.”
“Yeah, and she can’t make anymore Ashmea if she’s dead,” pointed out Karl.
“No. We will not kill her,” commanded Jack.
“Why not? It will be far easier than trying to keep her imprisoned. She is a powerful magic-wielder, one it will be difficult for us to catch, let alone keep,” Arades pointed out.
“Elexon, Firan and Kilar may or may not be successful in garnering the support of the Ice Witches, and we don’t know who she is to them. She could be a powerful bargaining chip,” Jack replied.
“True. So we don’t kill her, but how do we catch her?”
Jack grinned and reached into his pocket. The cool glass phial slipped between his fingers. He gripped it harder and pulled it out. “Monksweet.”
“Who did you sleep with to get that?” Zane quipped.
Jack shrugged a shoulder, holding the phial up. He cast a dark look Karl’s way, an image of blonde hair and large grey eyes consuming his mind. “No one. Master Dervin happened to, err, acquire it from Rayan’s healer. Clarissa, I think her name is.”
Arades smirked. “Have you got any other tricks up your sleeve, my king?”
Jack grinned. “Maybe.”
“Good. We might very well need them.”
“Wow! You really a king?” Simeon asked, eying Jack up and down. “You sure don’t look like one.”
Jack turned to Simeon. Out of the mouths of babes comes the truth, he thought wryly, hoping no one noticed the flush that spread up his neck. He didn’t want to admit how little like a king he felt right now, let alone looked; instead he asked, “Have you ventured inside the castle?”
Simeon nodded and shuddered. “Yeah, I am ignored if I’ve changed. I go up to see if I can find food sometimes. It’s like a nightmare up there. There’re people screamin’, monsters like me and then big blue ones eatin’ whatever meat is available—sometimes each other,” he swallowed and curled his lip. “And that witch...” he gulped. “She’s pretty, but she’s evil. I’ll take you to her if you like, but I ain’t goin’ nowhere near her again. Last time I saw her she turned some poor woman in to one a them bat things.”
Jack inhaled through his nose, the stink of stale seaweed and old fish wafting up his nose. “Don’t worry, you don’t have to go near her, but can you show us where she sleeps—where that ice cave is?”
Simeon squared his shoulders, clearly trying to be brave despite the spark of fear in his eyes. “Yeah, I’ll show you.”
“Good man,” responded Jack. He looked at Simeon’s naked state. None of them had spare clothes with them.
Simeon seemed to follow his thoughts. He shrugged and cocked his head thoughtfully. “Don’t worry, king, err, what is your name, anyway?”
Jack chuckled at the same the others did. “You don’t need to address me as king. My name is Jack.”
Simeon looked up at Arades and cocked his thumb up at the big fae. “Why not? He does. You are one, ain’t you?”
“Yes,” Jack answered slowly.
Simeon narrowed his eyes on Jack. “Then you should wanna be spoken to like one. And me da taught me to show respect to people who are more important than me. If you’re a king, whether you’re young or old, I have to show respect.” He gestured with his hand into the darkness where Jack knew the tunnel led to the cells. “So it’s this way, King Jack.”
Arades grinned at Jack. “That told you, your majesty,” he commented. “Don’t try to hide from who you are; even one as young as Simeon can see through you. It’s time you embraced it.”
“I am, or I wouldn’t be here,” grumbled Jack.
“You comin’?” Simeon shot over his shoulder as he prowled into the dark. The sound of bone breaking and a pained growl filled the air before Simeon’s Seeker appeared.
Jack scowled but strode into the darkness after Arades.
Carefully, they picked their way along the dark tunnel, allowing only a faint glow from Arades’ wings to light their way,
The deeper into the rock they moved, the colder it became. Simeon halted at the base of a flight of narrow stone steps. Jack shivered violently, his breath puffing out in a cloud from his nostrils.
“Gods, that’s ice coating the walls,” Zane whispered as he raked a fingernail down the stone wall.
“Shh!” hissed Jack, working his numb fingers.
Silence descended, the only sound was their gentle, shuddering breaths. It seemed all of them were suffering.
Arades pushed past Simeon. “Which cell does she sleep in?” he whispered.
Simeon snarled and pointed upwards with
his clawed forefinger then flicked it at the wall.
“Opposite the one above us?”
Simeon nodded once.
“Will she be in there yet?”
Simeon shook his head.
“Good. We use the darkness. No light or magic. Does she use magic to see?”
Simeon shook his ugly wolf-like head, his eyes glowing yellow.
“Remember, we need her alive, but if I fail to put this Monksweet over her face and she threatens your life—kill her,” Jack ordered his warriors.
Simeon crouched down and allowed Arades and Zane to pass. It went utterly black as Arades doused his magic. They pushed their huge backs up against the aged stone slab. It lifted easily, a telling sign it had been used recently.
Frigid air blasted them all.
Simeon shrank away from the evil that seemed to reach out to them. Jack swallowed hard as Arades held the trapdoor up a few inches whilst Zane peered out. Nothing but more blackness greeted them.
“I can’t see,” Zane hissed.
Jack jumped as clawed fingers grabbed his arm. Simeon’s eyes glowed with purpose, aware that out of all of them, he could see best. Jack patted his back, a gesture of thanks.
He easily lifted the trapdoor. Sticking his grotesque head and shoulders through, he scanned the cell. In one swift move, he pushed the slab of stone sideways and leaped out. He fell on all fours and prowled into the darkness.
Jack silently swore at his utter lack of sight. There was a scuffle as Arades and Zane scrambled out. Using the rough stone wall as a guide, he climbed the steps and curled his fingers over the lip of the trapdoor. His palms burned with cold when he flattened them and slipped over the ice-covered floor on his hands and knees, scrabbling away from the hole.
“She’s not here,” whispered a voice.
Simeon.
Arades allowed the tiniest bit of light to glow from his wings. It was just enough to see the glittering caves and Simeon.
“What does she do when she comes down here?” Jack whispered.
“Sleeps. I only got caught ‘ere one time when she didn’t.”
Jack held in his sigh. “All right, so what happened that time?”
Simeon grinned cheekily. “She stripped off, then began to chant. It brought some sort of white snake thing to her out of the ice.” He gulped and looked away awkwardly.
Jack’s brow furrowed. “What happened then?”
“They, err, you know…got it on.”
Zane snorted quietly, his big shoulders shaking. Tom shot him a warning glance, but his own eyes shone with amusement at Simeon’s change from cheeky to embarrassed.
Simeon’s skin darkened. It was hard to see but the flush covering his face and chest was definitely there.
Jack swallowed his grin. He raised his brows in disbelief. “With a snake?”
“No, King Jack, majesty, sir, it turns into a man,” Simeon answered seriously. “He’s big, bigger than him,” he said, nodding at Arades. “His skin sparkles like hers does, but his eyes are like blue lights. They glowed. I didn’t mean to watch them but he was scary, and I daren’t move once he was here, in case they saw me.”
“What happened when they finished?” Jack asked, keeping his face serious.
“She was glowing something fierce, all sparkly and stuff. He told her he would return to seal their bargain when the time was right. That she would have enough power for anything she desired.”
Jack gulped, dread tugging at his heart. “She has even more power now?”
Simeon nodded.
“Did they say what their bargain was?”
“No.” Simeon shrugged his skinny shoulders. “But she seemed happy about it. When he left, she kept on laughing and sent ice flying from her fingertips. She was hitting where he had been standing. I think she’s mad as hell,” he whispered, his eyes wide.
“Does she summon her lover every night?” Arades asked.
“Don’t think so. It about nearly froze me solid in here that night. Only survived ‘cause of my beast. I haven’t felt it as cold anywhere since.”
“We have to strike swiftly and make sure she cannot summon whatever that thing is,” Arades instructed.
Jack nodded. He turned to Karl, whose head and shoulders hovered in the trapdoor opening. “You and the others wait below. If this goes wrong, you don’t come to our aid; you leave and inform the guardians of our failure, then return to Rayan and take your orders from him.” Jack hesitated, then added. “And Karl? Tell Lyana—”
Karl raised his brows expectantly. “Yes, majesty?”
Jack shut his thoughts down. “Never mind,” he muttered.
Karl pressed his full lips together, clearly biting his tongue. “As you wish,” he said darkly.
“Go,” Jack ordered, feeling foolish all of a sudden.
Karl nodded and disappeared, heaving the stone trapdoor back into place with the help of Arades.
Chapter 22
They waited silently. The steady drip of melting ice their only entertainment.
Thoughts of Lyana’s happy face during their lessons and their time together on board the Hourian ship helped Jack daydream the time away. He shivered uncontrollably by the time a faint light glowed down the ice-coated corridor.
Thank the goddess, he thought. Time was running low. Rayan and the others were to attack the camp outside the city at four that morning. Jack checked the small pocket watch Rayan had gifted him. They had just over an hour until Rayan launched his attack, and Jack needed to stop the Ashmea from being freed. Burning them in their cages would be far safer for everyone. Then Jack and his men could fight their way through the castle to the gates and open them for the Combined Army.
Jack wished Eryanth were with him; they needed the shadows right now. He shrank back against the wall of the cell.
The Ice Witch did not turn her face their way; she glided over the slippery floor and turned into the cell opposite. She pulled away her cowl, allowing her white hair to cascade down the back of her pristine white robes.
They all watched as she turned to place her lamp down. The soft glow illuminated her face.
Jack nearly gasped out loud at the sight; she was utterly expressionless and smooth, as though she were carved out of the ice itself.
Quickly, Jack wet a piece of shirt with Monksweet. He was nearest the Ice Witch. Heart banging in his chest, he stealthily crept over the ice, careful not to slip. Arades followed close behind him.
The witch’s fingers seemed to be working at the front of her robes. Slowly she dropped them from her body, a body that was as perfect as any statue. Flawless—and made of ice.
Jack did not falter at her glittering beauty; he pounced forward and pressed the cloth over her mouth and nose.
She made no sound. None. That very fact spooked Jack more than anything as she thrashed in his arms. Magic sparked from her fingers.
Jack winced as ice shards cut his hands and face. “Help me!” he yelled when he lost his grip on her writhing and slippery body.
The Ice Witch turned. The force of her forearm hit his jaw, as solid as piece of wood. It seemed she was formed from the ice itself. Jack flew across the floor, his body sliding over the ice. Breath exploded from his lungs as he hit the cave wall.
Arades attacked her from behind. His blade clanged as it hit her spine. His vicious strikes sent small chunks of ice flying upward.
Still, she made no sound. Her glistening body pivoted and ice shards shot towards Arades. Arades flung himself to the floor, rolling away. Zane lunged for her legs, his momentum carrying them both to the ground. The only sound was Zane’s huff of effort as he held her. Seeing his opportunity, Arades pounced forward and pinned her arms down.
Jack skittered over the ice on his hands and knees, the rag clutched in his hand. He had to steal his courage when her pale blue eyes found his. The rest of her may be made of ice, but her eyes were not. Pure hatred and malice gleamed back at him. Jack shoved the rag over her mouth and nose. He hoped th
at she still needed to breathe or this wouldn’t work.
As Arades and Zane struggled to keep her under control, Jack lifted the phial and poured more onto the rag.
The Monksweet began its work. The witch became weaker, her magic soon disappearing until her body became that of a woman again. Her arms fell limp under Arades’ grip, and her head lolled backward. Arades held her arms whilst Zane tied her wrists and legs together. Not wanting to risk her regaining her magic, Jack fixed the Monksweet-laced rag loosely over her face after tipping a few more drops in her mouth.
Once she was secure, the fae lit their wings, illuminating the cave. Zane lifted the Ice Witch easily and flung her unceremoniously over his shoulder. Back in Seeker form, Simeon shoved the trapdoor out of the way.
“Somal? Can you carry her back to the ship?” Jack asked.
“Easily, majesty,” Somal replied from his position halfway up the steps.
“Good, get her to Princess Lyana. She will know what to do—and give her this. Tell her what it is and to keep the rag damp with it,” he instructed Somal, passing him the Monksweet phial.
Somal took it and slipped it into his tunic pocket. “Yes, majesty.”
Zane passed the unconscious witch into Somal’s arms and climbed back up the steps.
“We will see you on the battlefield,” Jack instructed Somal.
“I will find you, my king,” Somal promised before illuminating his wings and striding away down the tunnel.
Jack stood back to allow the others to enter the cells.
“Everyone, de-armour your wings,” Arades commanded. “The light from mine will be enough. We will head up into the guard tower. From there we must reach the cages in the inner courtyard. We need to keep the Ashmea contained until the guardians can burn them. King Oden will fight by my side, the rest of you concentrate on our mission.”
They all nodded as one. “Yes, sir.”
Jack flexed the fingers of first one hand then the other, trying to work circulation back into his frozen limbs as they passed many empty cells, their barred gates hanging open. His toes burned with pins and needles, but the increased circulation from ascending the stairs caused his heart to pump and his blood to circulate. Adrenaline rushed through him and, by the time they stopped at the door to the guard tower, his heart thumped against his ribs.
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