Vortex Chronicles: The Complete Series (Air Awakens: Vortex Chronicles)

by Elise Kova

  Adela fought to carve out her place in the world. What made her any different from anyone else?

  Chapter Twenty-One

  Taavin and Deneya arrived on the Stormfrost later that day, brought on the vessel by a skiff, and Adela showed them to their temporary quarters. Vi was reminded of the Dawn Skipper—two bunks, a table between them, and not much else.

  “I don’t want to say I doubted you but…”

  “You doubted me.” Vi grinned at Deneya. “I’m not offended. Adela’s reaction was a coin flip.”

  “It was, and I’m relieved this worked out.” Taavin crossed to the window, looking out at the sea that was now drifting past them as they moved toward the Dark Isle once more. “What did you have to promise her to get her to agree?”

  “Nothing of consequence.” Vi folded her arms and leaned against the closed door.

  “Why do I get the feeling you’re lying?” Deneya said uncertainly.

  “Consequence is a matter of perspective.”

  “She’s avoiding answering for a reason.” Taavin faced Vi. “What were the terms of the deal?”

  “We have ten years, or five trips on the Stormfrost, whichever comes first.”

  “Is ten years enough time?” Deneya asked.

  “It all ends soon.”

  “That sounds ominous.” Deneya sat heavily on a bunk.

  “You still haven’t told us what Adela expects in return,” Taavin pressed.

  “As for what I offered her… I offered a way into the Archives of Yargen.”

  “You what?” Taavin and Deneya said in unison.

  “I had to give her something. But that was all I offered her.”

  “That’s all, she says, as though handing the Archives to Adela isn’t anything major,” Deneya muttered.

  “You didn’t though.” Taavin took a step toward her. “Did you?”

  A smile curled Vi’s lips. “All I promised her was a way in to the Archives. I didn’t guarantee it’d be safe, and I didn’t promise her a way out.”

  “You mean to ensnare her.” Deneya was now grinning as well.

  “I mean to prevent the world from ending. What the people of Risen do is up to them.” Vi shrugged.

  “I’ll make sure the people of Risen are ready to protect the flame,” Deneya proclaimed.

  “The flame will be gone long before then.” And you’ll be the one to take it, Vi added mentally.

  “If we take the flame from Risen, there’s no more rebirths—no more turns of the vortex,” Taavin said solemnly.

  “As I said, it all ends eventually. It must.”

  He stared at her for a long moment. Vi could almost feel him reading her thoughts through her eyes. She tried to shield herself from it with an encasement of Yargen’s magic around her.

  “You have plans,” he said finally.

  “Of course I do.”

  “Care to share them?”

  “When the time is right.”

  “You act like you don’t trust us.” Deneya rolled her eyes.

  “I trust you both with my life.”

  “Then why didn’t you tell us what you planned on offering Adela?” Deneya asked.

  “Because it was inconsequential.”

  “What about your work with the shift?” Taavin’s voice took on a hard edge. Even Deneya stilled as the atmosphere in the room became nearly suffocating. They’d found out. They must’ve heard from Ruie when word spread that she escaped through the shift surrounding the Twilight Kingdom without the help of a morphi.

  “Is it true?” Deneya whispered. “Did you really go through the shift without the help of a morphi?”

  Vi nodded.

  “How?” Deneya shifted uncomfortably. “You shouldn’t be able to… none of us can. Only morphi can master the shift.”

  “I’m not quite sure how,” Vi finally admitted, staring down at her hands. “I got a feeling when working with Arwin. A feeling that led to an understanding.”

  “You can understand the shift.”

  “I can,” Vi answered. But she didn’t know if that was entirely the truth. Did she understand the shift? Or did the goddess within her, working through her mortal form? “Perhaps it’s a boon. Now I will be able to make all the crystal weapon replicas so that the major events surrounding the crystal weapons remain unchanged.”

  She looked to Taavin as if she was the one giving a peace offering. If she could make crystal weapons, they could continue along his mission of ensuring the birth of a new Champion. Surely, he should be thrilled.

  “Speaking of…” Deneya reached for her pack and produced the fake crystal crown she and Arwin had made. “We have it.”

  “We’ll return south and find what Baldair did with the actual crown. Hopefully, it’ll be an easy swap,” Vi proclaimed. “We’ll go by way of Norin so we can stop in the Crossroads and collect some gold from our hideaway.” She looked to Taavin. He still regarded her with a thoughtful and somewhat wary gaze. “If my plans meet your approval as well?”

  “The stones of fate in the river are unchanged. We’re still heading toward the birth of a new Champion and protecting the future of this world in the process.” His words were approving, but his body language said otherwise.

  Vi reached out, taking his fingers and trying to smooth away the tension between them with her thumb on the back of his hand. A smile broke across her lips, one he reluctantly returned. Her fingers tightened. She had to hold onto him, for as long as possible, because holding him felt like holding the last remnants of the woman she’d once been.

  Adela took them just south of Norin. They were taken ashore by rowboat and left without fanfare. In the distance, the Stormfrost was barely visible. By the time they reached Norin that evening, there were already whispers of the legendary pirate Adela being spotted.

  They left the rumors behind and began the long trek to the Crossroads.

  When they arrived a few days later, it was late, and the stars had been their only companions on the road for the final hour. Even the center of the Solaris Empire was relatively quiet.

  “Glad to see it didn’t burn down.” Deneya looked up at the vacant storefront Vi had purchased years ago as she slid her key into the iron rose lock.

  “It won’t burn down,” Taavin said confidently. “This place is going to play a pivotal role in the future of our world.”

  A deep rumbling distracted them. Vi and Taavin shared a look. Both turned to Deneya.

  “Was that your stomach?” Vi asked with a laugh.

  “It was a long walk today.” Deneya rubbed her stomach. “Here, take my pack, I’m going to go find some food.” Vi accepted the woman’s pack and Taavin gave a nod. “I’ll be back with sustenance soon.”

  Deneya headed off in the opposite direction as Vi and Taavin stepped into the darkness of the store. The shelves were perpetually vacant. Darkness clung to every corner. Vi crossed to the back of the room; there, hidden behind a curtain, was another doorway. This led to a narrow stairway and up into a cramped second-floor apartment.

  Vi dropped her pack heavily and rolled her shoulders. Taavin’s hands covered the sore spots, rubbing slowly. Vi sighed as he took a half step closer to her.

  “You should take a hot bath.”

  “I should, and you should join me.” She smirked into the darkness. “It’s been a while since we’ve been alone.”

  “Now that sounds a delight,” he whispered into her ear, lips brushing against tender skin. Warmth flooded her, from the top of her head to the bottom of her abdomen. “I’ll draw the bath.”

  He stepped away and Vi caught his hand, then his gaze. Taavin locked his fingers with hers, pulling her hand to his face and kissing her knuckles thoughtfully. He straightened, a mischievous smile quirking his lips.

  “Don’t keep me waiting,” Vi said softly, her voice gone deep with yearning.

  “Never.” Taavin stepped back, keeping his eyes locked with hers until the last moment he disappeared into the bathroom. He could have h
er yearning with just a look or a simple touch in an otherwise chaste location.

  Being back on the Dark Isle, with him, made things feel simpler once more. At least for a little while, they could find moments to pretend he was a normal man, and she a normal woman. Their love could be uncomplicated.

  As he rummaged in the bathroom, she set about sorting their things. The chest of gold coins from old Lyndum was right where they’d left it. They’d have to convert it once more into usable currency, restock supplies, and then head south. Vi closed the top of the chest and walked over to the lone window wedged between the buildings on either side of their narrow shop, as though their place was a weed that couldn’t be contained.

  She opened the window, allowing the room to air out with the cool desert breeze. Vi rested her hands on the sill, leaning out, savoring the sounds of revelry that hung on the crisp night. Laughter echoed up to her, drawing Vi’s attention down to the street.

  Two men clung to each other, swaying like willowy branches. They were both clearly intoxicated; their dark hair was thrown every which way. She watched with a little smile as their steps mirrored that of a rolling tide, up and down and not quite stable.

  Oh, to be that young and—

  Vi clutched the windowsill.

  “It can’t be. It’s too early,” she whispered. Her eyes didn’t lie. “Those idiots.” Vi spun, racing through the room, not even bothering to change. Taavin had just emerged from the bathroom, naked to the waist, and the sight of him stopped her in her tracks. Vi let out a groan, resting a palm on his chest. “I need to make sure two drunks make their way home safely.”

  “What?” Taavin called after her as she started down the stairs.

  “It’s Aldrik and Jax. The Imperial army is here, now,” Vi called back before dashing through the store and emerging out on the street beyond. She was only several paces behind the two men and closed the gap quickly. She could’ve stabbed them both between the ribs before they noticed her at their backs.

  Vi rubbed her eyes, pressing to the point of pain and stars popping behind her lids. Then she pinched her cheeks till they were splotchy—though it might have been impossible to tell on her tan skin in the middle of the night. She began running, head down; her shoulder clipped the taller man and she stumbled, sprawling on the ground before them like a proper damsel.

  Aldrik was nearly taken down with her. Jax held him up with the arm that was already around his waist. The booze slowed their reactions and they both reached to help her up on a delay.

  “Aaaare—” a burp “—are you allrisht?” Aldrik tried to ask.

  Clearly, this was not one of his prouder moments.

  “I’m fine,” she said curtly, batting their hands away and collecting herself off the ground. Vi stopped herself, blinking the tears she’d pressed into her eyes so they’d roll down her cheeks as she looked up at them. “My prince!” Vi bowed, bringing her forehead to the ground.

  “Shhhh.” He brought a finger to his lips. “I’m incognitooo. Haaving a night of fshun.”

  “Sorry, miss.” Jax extended his hand and Vi ignored it, helping herself to her feet. He looked like he was barely managing to keep Aldrik upright. Jax tilted his head so far he nearly fell over. “Do I know you?”

  “I doubt it.” Vi played with the short ends of her hair. She’d cropped it back to her ears before arriving on the Dark Isle. Long, short, long, short, her hair was the one thing that she could easily make sure was never the same between each meeting.

  “I’m sure I do,” he insisted.

  “Forgive me for being blunt, but I think that’s the alcohol speaking.” Jax grinned wider at the remark and Vi smiled as well. “I’m a lowly one who wouldn’t have the honor of meeting a prince or an illustrious member of the Golden Guard.”

  Aldrik burst out laughing. “She, she called you a member.”

  Vi had no idea why that was supposed to be funny. But Jax laughed along, snorting as he tried to regain control of himself.

  “Well, now you have. Please do keep our appearance a secret? It’s my fault the prince is out so late, and I don’t want him or I to get in trouble.”

  If you wanted it to be a secret, you shouldn’t be walking down the middle of the main street drunk, Vi nearly snapped. What she said instead was, “My lords, the Crossroads at night is not the safest of places. Perhaps I could have the honor of escorting you? I know these streets well, and I planned to enlist in the army come morning. I’m quite capable of being your temporary guard.”

  They had not planned on enlisting in the army come the morning. Their plan had been to head south, switch the crown, and then head North. But Vi didn’t miss an opportunity when fate handed her one.

  If she did this favor for them tonight, it was likely that they would keep her close at the front.

  “Let her,” Aldrik declared. “Secoond pretteh lady of the nighhht.”

  Second? Just what did that mean?

  “Come on, then, walk with us back to the center of the Crossroads,” Jax said lightly. The brief moment of recognition had passed and they began to walk. “Why do you want to join the army?”

  “To serve the Empire.” Vi sniffled, rubbing her eyes until a few more tears squeezed out.

  “What’sh wrong?”

  “I got in a fight with my parents about it,” Vi said, looking at her feet. The sorrow in her voice at the mention of parents was genuine; it was compounded when she looked over at Aldrik. He had the bump in his nose now that she remembered her father having. His cheeks were gaunter than the last time she’d seen him. Deep bags clung underneath distant, harrowed eyes. “They don’t want me to enlist. But I’m a woman grown. And well…”

  “Yooou ran away from hoome.”

  Vi nodded at Aldrik’s slurred words.

  “You should go back,” Jax said firmly.

  “Jax, don’t lose-us sholdiers.”

  “You only get one family. Hold them close.”

  She’d been worried about the two men getting a dagger between the ribs by a cut-purse in the night. But it was Jax who caught her off guard, striking her breathless. Vi took a second to compose herself. Her family was, and would always be, a soft spot. She formed an answer befitting the seventeen-year-old girl she’d once been, and not the timeless traveler she now was.

  “I do hold them close,” she insisted. “But they have to understand I’m doing this for them. I’m fighting for them. So they can have a better life. They have to understand that this is my choice, not theirs.”

  “Yooou’re doing ah goodthing.” Aldrik patted her on the shoulder and his hand stayed. He blinked into the brighter lights of the center of the Crossroads as they entered their aura. “Not like me. Not like someone who’s done terrible things.”

  “That’s enough for tonight. We’re not far from your bed.” Jax led them over to the Imperial lodging. Three, large, circular windows kept an eye on the square below. “Wait here just a moment, I’ll be back,” Jax said to her, giving her no time to reply before disappearing inside with Aldrik.

  Vi sat on the stoop, elbows on her knees, staring at the other revelries happening at a bar across the square. Her mind was on Aldrik, on those haunted eyes— the ghosts of her actions haunting his nightmares. She clutched her hands so tightly together that her nails left crescent moons in her skin.

  The door behind her opened again, startling her. Jax hopped down two steps, wobbled, and sat with a sigh.

  “He’ll be fine,” he said.

  “‘Fine’ is an interesting word choice for the hangover he’ll be nursing.” Vi glanced up at the second-floor window that she knew to be her father’s room. “Does the prince drink to excess often?”

  Jax’s long silence was answer enough. When the “No” finally came, Vi knew it was a lie.

  “Well, that’s good, I suppose,” she lied right back, pretending she didn’t hear all his unspoken hesitations.

  “And, for that reason, I appreciate your discretion about tonight’s events.�
��

  “I don’t really have any friends. So I’ve got no one to tell. Not that I would tell anyone. I’m looking to be in service to the crown and I know what’s best for the crown isn’t rumors of what the prince does during his downtime.”

  “He gets precious little of it.”

  “I’m sure,” Vi murmured. “But he still has it better than he thinks.” What Vi wouldn’t give to be a “tortured” princess again.

  “I wouldn’t count on that.”

  “How so?”

  Jax shrugged and Vi let that topic of conversation die. She didn’t want to seem too eager for information on the prince.

  “You said you wanted to enlist, right?”

  “That’s right.”

  “Come find me in the morning.” Jax stood. “You can be under me, or Raylynn, depending on if you have magic or not.”

  Vi didn’t have to force or fake her smile. She could enlist in the army and be near Aldrik. Moreover, she could fight along Jax and Raylynn. The idea of continuing to protect them both was appealing.

  “Are you certain?”

  “Yes, just remind me I was when the sun is up. Nights like this have a tendency to be forgotten.” Jax laughed.

  “I will.”

  “See you in the morning then—” Jax paused, holding out his hand.

  “Gwen,” Vi said, filling in the blank. “My name is Gwen.”

  “‘Soldier Gwen’ has a nice ring to it, don’t you think?” Jax clasped her hand and they shook on both their second introduction and a deal.

  “It does,” she agreed. “Almost like it was fated to be.”

  Chapter Twenty-Two

  Vi, Taavin, and Deneya enlisted under Raylynn. Since Vi was the only person among them who could conjure her magic in the elemental ways of the Dark Isle, it was too much of a risk for them to try and join the sorcerer-warriors of the Black Legion.

  Instead, they were foot soldiers—part of the nameless, faceless masses that exercised the will of the Emperor in his thirst for conquest.

  Part of her thrived in the anonymity. It guarded her heart from seeing the Northern peoples she’d once considered friends and kin put to the sword. Being no one allowed her to move without raising attention or suspicion.