by Brandon Mull
Violet shrugged. “It’s the price of being a Wayminder outside of Creon. A lot of what I know about Creon was learned at the school in Junction, not remembered.”
“Will you remember when you go back?” Cole asked.
“Yes, everything,” Violet said.
“Will I forget stuff?” Cole asked.
“You don’t forget coming in,” Violet said. “Only going out. We believe the founders of Creon designed it that way so you can’t send information back in time and have it leave Creon.”
“Because people can time travel in Creon,” Cole said.
“Yes. Not frequently, or easily, but yes. The time travel doesn’t stick when you leave Creon. If I took you to Creon right now, and you went back in time a hundred years, stayed a week, then left Creon, you would find yourself a week from now. You stay linked to the timestream in the rest of the Outskirts no matter how far back you go in Creon.”
“So why would they need to wipe your memory?” Cole asked.
“If you went back in time and gave information to somebody a hundred years ago in Creon, and if that person left Creon, it would still be a hundred years ago for him or her, because the person fully belongs to that time. But because of the mindscreen, anyone you told wouldn’t remember the message when they left Creon.”
“Write it down,” Cole said.
Violet smiled. “Smart. Except the writing in Creon doesn’t translate when it leaves Creon. However you normally write outside of Creon, inside Creon, it always comes out in Creonese. And outside of Creon, the same power that translates all languages in the Outskirts into a universal tongue leaves Creonese incomprehensible.”
“They planned well,” Cole said.
“Some Wayminders theorize that the mindscreen may not have been deliberate. They speculate the mindscreen and the barriers to written communication might have been an unavoidable consequence of placing a kingdom where time travel is possible beside kingdoms where time is inflexible.”
“Now my brain is hurting,” Cole said.
“It’s you!” came a voice from across the room.
Cole turned to find Jenna hurrying toward him. With her hood down, the wavy curls of her dark hair spilled across the shoulders of her silver robe. Gilda had not returned, but an old woman with a kindly face followed behind Jenna.
“Hi, Jenna,” Cole said, catching her in a tight hug.
“You’re not an echo this time,” she said, hugging back.
“Alive and in person,” Cole said, releasing the embrace. “This is Violet. She’s a Wayminder.”
“Hello,” Jenna said with a little curtsy. “We don’t see many Wayminders here.”
“Have you seen any?” Violet asked.
“You’re the first,” Jenna admitted.
“Who is the lady?” Cole asked quietly.
“This is Granny Helki,” Jenna said. “She’s the echo I spend the most time with.”
“We’re like family,” Helki said in a sugary voice, smiling sweetly. “And how do you know my Jenna?”
Now that Cole looked closely, he could see that the old woman was faintly translucent. “We’re old friends,” he said.
Helki’s smile suddenly looked more forced. “How charming.”
“Did you find Dalton and Hunter?” Jenna asked.
“Not yet,” Cole said.
“They’re looking for you,” Jenna said.
“You saw them?” Cole exclaimed.
“I thought that might be why you came by,” Jenna said. “They were just here yesterday.”
“Really?” Cole said, then glanced at Helki. He stepped closer to Jenna. “Should we maybe talk in private?”
“No use in whispering,” Helki said. “I have superb hearing.”
“She knows they were here,” Jenna said. “I trust her.”
Cole felt uncertain. “I have some sensitive info for you. It could put Helki in danger.”
“Then it could put my Jenna in danger,” Helki said. “Darling, why not return to our project?”
“What project?” Cole asked.
“She’s teaching me to crochet,” Jenna said. “I’m working on a scarf.”
“Jenna has a golden touch,” Helki proclaimed.
“Do you know where Dalton and Hunter went?” Cole asked.
“They didn’t get specific,” Jenna said. “They thought it could endanger me. But I know they were looking for you.”
“Any idea what direction they went?” Violet asked.
“I really don’t know,” Jenna said. “They promised to come back for me when things are more settled.”
Cole rubbed his forehead. “That’s frustrating. I was really hoping to find them.”
“You can leave a message with me in case they come back,” Jenna said.
“Unless you want to leave with us,” Cole said.
“She is a slave of this temple, young man,” Helki said. “Illegalities are unacceptable. A runaway slave faces execution.”
“I don’t mean as a runaway,” Cole said. “I talked with the prelate. I’m an agent of the High King. I have permission to free you.”
“Really?” Jenna said, hope and disbelief at war in her gaze.
“Sounds like a lot to swallow,” Helki said. “Jenna, dear, are you sure you trust this ragamuffin?”
“Absolutely,” Jenna said.
“It’s true,” Cole said. “You’re free.”
Jenna threw her arms around Cole. “Thank you! I can hardly believe it.” She released him. “But how did you become an agent to the High King? I didn’t think you were exactly on his side.”
“We all have a bigger enemy now,” Cole said. “Helki, have you heard of Nazeem?”
“Jenna, dear, you don’t want to get involved with this scoundrel,” Helki said. “I know the type. He’s talking about foolishness you don’t want in your life.”
“Nazeem is incredibly powerful,” Cole said. “He escaped the echolands. He’s temporarily trapped, but if he gets free, the entire Outskirts is toast.”
“Are you trying to stop him?” Jenna asked in wonder.
“Yeah,” Cole said. “Your echo friend is right that you don’t want to get mixed up in that.”
“First reasonable thought of the night,” Helki muttered.
“Do you have to be mixed up in it?” Jenna asked.
“It’s me or nobody,” Cole said. “I’m in deep. I have to see it through. The question is what you want to do. I could free you, and you could stay here. It’s really easy to get to you now. I have a special way of traveling.”
“We see the Wayminder,” Helki said. “That can get you here quickly. But it’s a one-way journey.”
“Not really for me,” Cole said. “I have other options.”
“Is he talking sense?” Helki asked.
“Yes,” Violet confirmed. “We have some unusual methods of traveling together.”
“It means you could stay here, and we can come back for you no problem,” Cole said. “Or we could take you to the First Castle, and you can wait with Queen Harmony.”
“I have heard some whopping tales in my time,” Helki murmured.
“All true,” Violet verified. “Cole directly serves the High King. I’m with him by request of the queen.”
“What do you think I should do?” Jenna asked.
“It depends where you would be more comfortable,” Cole said. “We’ll be off trying to stop Nazeem. Do you like it here?”
“She loves it here,” Helki assured him. “Jenna is an extremely gifted summoner. She belongs in Necronum. She has a future here. It would be cruel to tear her from her home and her loved ones.”
“I really do have friends here,” Jenna said. “If I wasn’t a slave, it would be about as good as I could hope for. Plus, Dalton and Hunter may come back here looking for me. I want to help you find them if I can. I think I should stay.”
“Makes sense,” Cole said.
“You’ve got that right, buster,” Helki said with
a sniff.
“Be nice,” Jenna told Helki. “He’s my friend.” She faced Cole. “She’s protective.”
“I noticed,” Cole said.
“Is Hunter really your brother?” Jenna asked.
“Yeah,” Cole said. “I didn’t remember him at first. He was taken before us, obviously, so we forgot him. He remembers me, though. He’s awesome in a fight. In the echolands a powerful lady helped me find some memories of him.”
“He seemed great,” Jenna said. “And it was so good to see Dalton. Good job rounding us up!”
“I’ve been trying,” Cole said.
Violet covered a yawn. “Sorry. Long day.”
“We should probably get going,” Cole said. “There’s so much to do.”
Jenna hugged him again. “Am I really free?”
“Yes,” Cole said. “I’m not sure how much good it will do you if you’re just staying here.”
“Lots of good,” Jenna said. “I can get paid. I can advance. I can come and go when I want.”
“I just have to finalize the details,” Cole said.
“You’re a miracle worker, Cole,” Jenna said. “Thank you so much. You’re going to be out there fighting Nazeem?”
“Hopefully not fighting him,” Cole said. “Hopefully just keeping him contained.”
“You’re incredible,” Jenna said. “Be careful. Keep me updated.”
“You bet,” Cole said, feeling pleased and a little shy. He didn’t feel as giddily attracted to Jenna as he once had, but he still cared about her and appreciated her praise. “We’ll confirm everything with the prelate on our way out. I’ll see you again soon, unless, you know . . .”
“He visits as an echo,” Helki said.
Jenna shook her head. “You can do it. I’ll see you soon.”
Cole gave a tight smile. “You’re the first person who thinks I have a chance.”
“Perhaps because she doesn’t understand what you’re up against,” Helki said. “Take care not to drag her further into it.”
“I’m glad you’re watching out for her,” Cole said. “Stay alert, Helki. Scary times are coming. Watch out for Enforcers. Any controlled by Owandell are working for Nazeem.”
“We’ll be careful,” Jenna promised.
“Tell Dalton and Hunter to wait here if they come back,” Cole said. “We’ll check in again before too long.”
“I’ll be waiting,” Jenna said. “Nice to meet you, Violet.”
“Same,” Violet said.
“Bye,” Cole said.
He and Violet walked away.
CHAPTER
12
THE IRON FORT
I’m coming with you,” Mira announced as she entered the room where Cole sat eating his breakfast.
“Good morning,” Cole said, taking another bite of his omelet.
“Sure, hi!” she said with an edge. “Tasty eggs? How’s the weather? Aren’t we in a hurry?”
“Who knows when I’ll get another breakfast this good?” Cole replied.
“Whenever you want,” Mira said. “With you around, Violet can open unlimited wayports. We can come back and eat here every morning.”
“You’re right,” Cole said, wiping his lips with a fabric napkin. “I guess I don’t have to completely stuff myself.”
“Everyone else is ready,” Mira said.
“I was hungry!” Cole said. “I slept in. I was up late.”
“What about the big race against the end of the world?” Mira said. “Never mind. We’ll wait. Want anything else? A soufflé?”
“I worked hard yesterday. I’ll work hard today.” Cole wiped his lips and chin. “I’m done. I’m glad you’re coming with us. Is your mom really okay with it?”
“She tried to talk me out of it. I reminded her that we’re top targets if Ramarro gets free. Trying to stop him beats hiding.”
“Makes sense to me,” Cole said.
“It did to her, too,” Mira said. “She’s just scared. And worn out from so much worry. I think this has been harder on her than on any of us. In the end I asked if I was supposed to be her prisoner to match Father holding Honor and Destiny.”
Cole winced. “How’d she take that?”
“She cried,” Mira said. “But I have permission to go.”
Cole finished a glass of apple juice and stood. “Then let’s go.”
Mira led him back to the parlor where they had first entered the tower together. Jace, Violet, Twitch, and Harmony awaited them.
“Hi, guys,” Cole said. “Sorry to keep you waiting.”
Violet jerked her head toward the queen.
Cole gave a bow. “Hello, Your Highness.”
“Greetings, Cole. I trust you rested well?”
“And had a good breakfast,” Cole said. “How is Joe?”
“Stable,” Harmony said. “It will be a couple of weeks before he should walk on that leg. My physician will keep him in prolonged sleep for the next few days to accelerate the healing.”
“He might miss all the action,” Jace said.
“How do I get involved in that plan?” Twitch asked. Everyone laughed, and he smiled uncertainly.
“Can you keep an eye out for my friend Dalton and my brother, Hunter?” Cole asked Harmony. “They’ll be looking for me. I missed them by a day when I visited Jenna last night in Necronum.”
“How was Jenna?” Jace wondered.
“Very pretty,” Violet said. “She appreciates Cole. Not much chemistry, though.”
“Ouch,” Cole said.
“She likes him,” Violet said. “They’re friends.”
“I will watch for Dalton and Hunter and put out the word to my contacts,” Harmony said. “Can I trust you to protect my Miracle? And to be careful with my Elegance?”
“I’ll do my best,” Cole promised.
“We all will,” Jace assured her.
“Then you had better be off,” Harmony said. “Come back often.”
“We will,” Mira promised.
“Violet, do you know how to approach the Iron Fort?” Harmony asked.
“I understand the basics, Your Highness,” Violet said, “but I’ve never done it.”
“What makes it tricky to approach?” Twitch asked.
“The walls of iron are not the main protection,” Violet said. “The space around the Iron Fort has been shaped so that a Wayminder can’t open a wayport into the fort or anywhere near it. If you try to walk or ride there, you will find the distance to it ever increasing.”
“So how do we get there?” Jace asked.
“Access must be granted,” Violet said. “I know where to go. I’m not sure how it works.”
“Nor am I,” Harmony said. She held up a sealed message. “This letter asks for admittance in my name. It should suffice. If not, Cole can use his status as an agent of the High King. Don’t begin with that, since Elegance would resist anyone coming in the name of her father.”
“We should go,” Mira said.
“Give Elegance my love,” Harmony said. “Return as soon as you can.”
“We won’t remember much of what happened in Creon when we check back in,” Violet said.
“That’s right,” Harmony said. “The mindscreen. But at least I will know you are well.”
“Thank you, Mother,” Mira said, giving Harmony a hug. “I’ll see you soon.”
Violet opened a wayport near Cole.
“Off we go,” Cole said.
One step later, he stood on a sandy expanse. Low dunes overlapped into the distance in all directions. Heat poured down from the morning sun and reflected up from the sand. Before him stood an ancient statue of a hooded snake, rising out of the sand as if prepared to strike, four times his height, most of the details worn smooth. Not far from the statue bloomed a large orange-and-yellow-striped tent, a blue pennant hanging limp at the top.
Jace came through the wayport, followed by Mira, Twitch, and finally Violet. Scanning all around, Cole saw no other signs of life—no buil
dings, no roads, no vegetation, no animals, no fences, no footprints. Certainly no iron fortress.
“Whoa,” Violet said, raising one hand to her temple. “I just got a big chunk of my life back.”
“Your memories?” Cole asked.
“It’s like waking up,” Violet said. “I wasn’t ready for it to be so sudden. So much so quickly.”
“Big snake,” Jace said.
“A monument to the Perennial Serpent,” Violet said. “Hundreds of years ago, it plagued Creon, unpredictably appearing and slaying whoever it encountered, usually Wayminders. It gets the blame for killing two Grand Shapers.”
“Gets the blame?” Twitch asked.
“Witnesses don’t tend to survive the Perennial Serpent,” Violet said. “A lot of what we know is speculation. Educated guesses.”
“Is it still around?” Mira asked.
Violet fished a couple of copper ringers from her robe and tossed them onto the sand near the statue. “Not for a couple hundred years.”
“If you have too many ringers, I’ll take them,” Jace offered.
Violet smiled. “The monuments are used as warnings to intruders. And as superstitious petitions for the serpent to pass by a location.” She tossed one more copper ringer onto the sand. “We can use all the luck we can get.”
Jace shrugged. “You think it’s lucky to throw away money? We were raised very differently.”
“What about the tent?” Cole asked.
“That’s where we’re going,” Violet said.
“Kind of flimsy iron,” Jace said.
Violet rolled her eyes. “It’s not the fort. Hopefully whoever is inside can grant access.”
Cole followed Violet over to the tent, feet sinking halfway into the sand with each step. They huddled together near the flap covering the entrance.
“Hello?” Violet called. “We seek the Iron Fort.”
“Enter,” a voice replied.
Violet lifted the flap, and Cole stepped into the tent, the others right behind him. The coolness inside washed over him in stark contrast to the desert heat. Could it be air-conditioned? He didn’t see any machinery.
A man and a woman stood toward the center of the generous space. They wore robes like Wayminders, but iron bands circled their foreheads, and veils hid their faces. Embroidered rugs covered the ground, with large pillows and cushions serving as furniture. Most incongruently, a stone fountain babbled near one silky wall.
