"No kidding. This isn't something you can quell with force. Even your men are involved." I pointed to the gate where two guards in black were squaring off against one another, weapons drawn.
He held up a finger, unmoved by the scene. "But it's still not hopeless. I know why she's looking for me. She's foolish to have come here. Pride goeth before a fall, and all that."
Now it was my turn to be confused. "What are you talking about?"
"During the Dark War, the humans created a device to keep her at bay. I just happen to have it in my possession."
"What?" I whipped my head toward him. "How do you just happen to have this item? And how does she know?"
"It was in the possession of the Oubliee for centuries," Luthair explained. "They traded it to a D'ahvol man in exchange for his services, and this man gave it to my sister as a gift before her death. It was the only thing he owned. All that he had to give to her, and she, in turn, gave him a son. It cost her her life. Not a fair trade, in my opinion." He looked up at me, his face emotionless. "Although it appears it may now come in handy."
I was speechless even as my mind raced. Haklang, the foreman in the mines, had to be the D'ahvol he was talking about. Luthair had sentenced Haklang to life in the mines after his affair with Luthair's older sister was discovered, and sent his infant son, Xalph, down with him. Until we'd freed Xalph a few weeks ago, the boy had never even seen the sun.
"And how does she know you have it?" I asked.
"I might have mentioned it at a co-op meeting once or twice."
Bragged about it, more like. He was a collector of the rare and beautiful, after all. Why have something if he couldn't show it off? "Pride goes before a fall," I muttered.
He smiled unashamedly.
It occurred to me that perhaps this was why the stone brought us back here. Maybe the first step to finding the heir was to disable Savarah.
"Name your price," I said abruptly.
Luthair's eyes knitted together in confusion.
"What will it take for you to hand over the device? What would it cost me?"
"You already know what I want from you."
Yes, I did. He wanted to add me to his collection of finery. He wanted to keep me in his house on the ridge and dress me in silk clothes that he could take off me at will.
"And you already know my answer."
He held up one finger. "One night, then. Just you and me."
There was no humor in his voice. He was being completely serious. Savarah was bad, but was she that bad? I didn't think so. "Not going to happen. Besides, Savarah wants me maybe more than she wants you. If she finds us both together … we might as well just hand the world over to Dag'draath."
"Why is she after you?"
I pressed my lips together, deciding whether or not to answer him.
He saw my indecision and, to my surprise, changed the subject. "Erik still feels indebted to me, doesn't he?"
It was my turn to look confused.
"I'll tell him, I will confirm to him that he is free of his life-debt, if you'll tell me the truth about what's really going on. What it is that has my people in danger?"
Though I had no real reason to trust him, I did. He was mean-spirited at times, and unwaveringly strict, but in the end, he wanted only to do what was right for his people. It pained me to think it, but he was honorable when it came down to it. That was why Erik had honored his debt to him, and why Erik needed to make sure he was truly clear of it before being able to move on. The two of them were so very different from each other but were still the two most respectable men I knew.
"Savarah thinks I'm the heir of Onen Suun. That I have the power to free him from the prison or repair it and keep him and his minions there."
"She thinks you are, but you're not?"
I shook my head. "I'm a decoy. But I'm also the only one who can find the true heir. So, either way, if Savarah captures me…" I didn't need to finish. We both knew what would happen then.
He turned his back on Barepost and began back down the path to the elevator shaft. "I'll give you the device," he called over his shoulder.
"But I'm not—"
"For free." He held a branch back for me to pass. "Now, let's go get it before she does."
Chapter 7
We left Estrid and Stiarna on the plateau with instructions to return to the Wind Wraith and prepare it for departure. Then Luthair and I rode down the elevator shaft in silence, taking turns holding the rope. It was much quicker than the ascent, the rope burning my palms as I let it out slowly. I could feel Luthair's eyes on me, but I ignored him, not wanting to know what he thought about my predicament or my connection to the heir. I just wanted to get the device, get Erik, and get out of there. Hopefully for good this time.
I followed Luthair through the winding tunnels back past his office and into the bathing room. We took the stairs up into the narrow corridor, hurried past the kitchen, and through the grand lobby, where Missus was wringing her hands.
"Governor, sir," she called as we pass. "They're coming."
We hadn't noticed it before in our haste, but now that we stood still and listened, we could hear what sounded like chanting. Like a mob making its way up the path to the house on the ridge. I'd wanted to light the place on fire my fair share of times, but I never thought I'd live to see the day when his own people turned on him. Of course, it was because of Savarah, but that didn't make it any less surprising.
I recognized the hall of bedrooms where I'd spent the night once before at the top of the winding staircase. Erik stood outside one of the doors. When he saw us, he cracked the door open without looking inside, and said to its occupant, "Aysche? They're back."
Luthair's niece emerged a moment later wearing a dark blue gown, her eyes lined with kohl and her cheeks pink with rouge. But her hair was still done in the tight Ahvoli braids.
Erik touched one of them. "You kept them. I'm glad."
I thought I might have blushed about as red and Aysche did.
The door at the end of the hall opened to reveal a bedroom as large as our entire house back in Bor'sur. At the foot of the four-poster bed was a familiar trunk. I crossed to it without being invited and unlatched the lid.
"Your things." Luthair appeared beside me, looking down into the trunk's sparse contents with me. "I kept them, in case you ever came back for them."
"I'm surprised Gerves let you take them."
He shrugged. "Doesn't have much of a choice, does he? I am the governor, after all."
On the night stand beside his bed was a wooden box locked with a metal dial. Leaning low over the box, Luthair spun the dial and popped off the box's lid. After rifling around for a moment, he pulled out a necklace and handed it to me.
"That's it?" I studied the silver heart on its chain.
"That's it." He snapped the box shut so I couldn't see what other treasures he had squirreled away that might someday come in handy when saving the world.
Erik looked between me and Luthair, then asked, "Is my life-debt truly cleared? Not because of the bargain my sister struck with you, but because of the work that I did for you?"
Luthair sighed but nodded, keeping to our agreement. "Many times over, yes. You are free to go."
I tried not to see the hurt look that passed briefly over Aysche's face. I still wasn't used to her having feelings, after all. Especially not for my brother. Maybe her definition of monster had changed, though, these last few days.
There was a crash from outside. Luthair glanced out the large glass window across the room. "They're here. Quick, to the lobby. We'll be able to hold them off better from there."
We wasted no time returning to the lobby, passing Missus, who was stashing silver candlesticks and other valuables as if that were what mattered. I draped the necklace around my neck.
"What do I do?" I asked Luthair. "How do I use it?"
Luthair was in the middle of the room. His response was nearly drowned out by the sound of the mob outside bang
ing on the door. "Take it and go. I'll hold them off. Aysche, get down to the safe room. Wait for me there."
Erik was already dragging Aysche away when she turned back to her uncle. "What if you don't come for me?"
Luthair opened his mouth and snapped it shut. He obviously didn't have an answer and wasn't one to make false promises.
It was my brother who finally spoke. "I'll stay with you."
"Erik," I objected.
He didn't look at me. "I'll stay with you until he comes. I'll make sure you're safe."
With a nod, she let him lead her down the hall that would take them to the bathing room and then into the mountain. I was meant to follow, but I paused in the dark of the corridor and looked back at Luthair. He stood in the middle of his foyer, his sword drawn and his face stoic. He nodded at Missus who swung the door open. I'd expected him to be swarmed by angry villagers, but instead, there was the sound of two pairs of footsteps echoing on the stone floor, and beyond that, an eerie silence.
I felt her before I saw her—the tightness in my chest, the ringing in my ears. All the bad memories came back to me. My siblings treating me like I wasn't one of them. Luthair holding us captive in Barepost. The deaths of the miners on the plateau. Arun smiling at Captain Wynleth. His empty cot. I covered my mouth with my hand to suppress the urge to scream.
Savarah approached Luthair casually, no weapon in her hands. But she didn't need a weapon. Her mind was her weapon. Tsarra Trisfina was on her other side, carrying two small knives in her hands. I wondered if she was here of her own free will, or if she was under Savarah's control.
"Governor," Savarah said by way of greeting.
Luthair didn't step back, to his credit. "Savarah."
The empath smiled slyly. "So, you know who I am."
"Of course." His eyes flickered to the door over her shoulder at something I couldn't see. "Your reputation precedes you."
"Then you know what I want." She was close to him, running a finger down his cheek.
"I have a pretty good idea."
"You have it, then?"
He looked down at his hands, as if surprised not to find the necklace dangling there. That was when I knew he was under her spell. "No. Not anymore."
Her nails dug into his shoulder, but he didn't flinch or pull away. The sword hung limp in his hand, useless against her.
I pulled the necklace out of my shirt and fumbled with it. How did it work? Did I have to be beside her? Touching her? In my vest pocket, the wayfinder's stone was ice-cold against my chest. I was so tired of magical objects that didn't come with any obvious instructions. How was I—someone who had no magic—supposed to figure this out?
"Where is it?" Savarah hissed, her anger barely concealed. The mob she'd left at the door felt it too, and began to grow restless. I could hear grumbling and shuffling feet. Someone must have knocked into someone else because there was sudden shouting that ended with the sound of a fist against flesh.
Luthair lifted his head and began to turn toward my hiding place in the corridor. He was going to give me up, and the power to stop her was literally in my hands if I could just figure out—
A hinge. My fingers brushed against what felt like a small hinge in the silver heart. I dug my nail into the crease.
Savarah began to turn, following his line of sight.
The necklace—a locket, I realized—popped open, and a wave of blue light exploded out of it, sweeping over the room and out of the house.
My mouth dropped open and I looked up, but Savarah wasn't looking at me. I poked my head around the corner and saw what had her attention. The mob in the doorway was dispersing, people wandering away, scratching their heads in confusion, clapping hands on friend’s backs, apologizing to each other.
Her army was deserting. Only Tsarra was left. Savarah seemed to realize this, because she grabbed Tsarra in a panic and held one of her own knives to the elf's throat.
"Savarah!" Tsarra gasped, fingers grappling at the pale white arm across her shoulders.
Savarah didn't even look at her. "Give it to me! Give it to me or the elf dies!"
Luthair was still for a long moment in that way I knew meant he was weighing his options. I'd seen that look on his face before. Of course, Savarah hadn't, so she didn't know to be afraid.
Then, quick as a snake lashing out at an unsuspecting rat, Luthair drove his sword into Tsarra's chest.
Savarah gasped and stepped backward. She was not hurt, but surprised. I couldn't blame her. I'd known he was planning something but hadn't seen that coming in the least.
Tsarra stumbled toward him, still speared on the end of his sword, her eyes wide with shock. Blood bloomed on her dress.
Luthair braced his arm against her shoulder and tugged his sword free.
She collapsed to her knees, and then fell face-first against the floor.
Luthair turned his eyes on Savarah. "Get out," he said coolly. "Do not let me see you in my town again."
I didn't wait to see if she left. Instead, I turned and fled down the corridor. It was time to go. I was done with Barepost, for the last time.
Chapter 8
When I burst into the underground office, I came face-to-face with Erik's sword. I knocked it aside with my gloved hand.
"What happened?" he asked, sheathing the weapon.
Aysche emerged from where she'd been behind the desk. "Is my uncle okay?"
"Your uncle?" I laughed at the idea that anything could possibly happen to Luthair. "He's fine." To Erik, I added, "He killed Tsarra."
His pale eyebrows knit together over his eyes. "Tsarra? Why Tsarra?"
"To spare her."
Whirling around, I found Luthair in the doorway. His sword was still in his hand but had been wiped clean. I didn't want to know with what.
"To spare her what?" I asked.
"She was Savarah's next victim. She likes to play with her food. The elf was nothing but a tool, something to hold over those of you with hearts."
I noticed that he hadn't said those of us. Ignoring him, I beckoned to Erik. "Let's go."
He didn't move. "Frida, I…"
"You what?"
He squared his shoulders. "I'm not going."
"Not going where?" I didn't understand. I looked at him, then down at Aysche who was peeking out from behind him, then at Luthair, who shrugged.
"I'm staying in Barepost."
I narrowed my eyes and took a step toward him. "For a girl?"
"Because it's where I want to be."
"You want to be here? In Barepost?"
"It's not all bad," Luthair chimed in.
I glared at him. "It's awful."
"And maybe it is a little bit for a girl," Aysche added.
Erik grinned back at her. He was practically glowing. It was disgusting.
I decided to try a different tactic. "Estrid will be furious. She won't leave you."
"Estrid doesn't need me any more than you do. I trust you can convince her to go."
"Erik."
He crossed the room to where I stood in the doorway and put his hands on my shoulders. "There was never any guarantee that our destinies would take us in the same direction always. I was so lucky to have been given the opportunity to be your big brother, but here is where our paths diverge. The longer you stand here and argue with me, the more at risk your mission becomes."
My mission. Not his, not anymore. Part of me wanted to rage against Aysche, to blame her or Luthair. But I bit my anger back in an effort to see his reasoning. So instead, I asked, "What will you do?"
Erik looked to Luthair, who was also standing close by. Close enough that he was able to reach up and finger the locket hanging around my neck.
"We're going to make more of these," he said.
"What? How?"
"It hasn't just been sitting in my room. I've been studying its composition, and at its core is ublarite, a mineral that is found in the depths of the mine." He turned the locket over in his fingers, his knuckles coming
awfully close to my chest.
I pulled away and it slid out of his grasp.
He was unfazed, taking a step away. "It's difficult and dangerous to mine, but with your brother's consent, I would like him and Haklang to gather an extraction team. I will work with the local smiths on the settings."
"You should make as many as you can." I held up a finger to catch his attention. "This isn't a for-profit venture. Get them out into the world as quickly and as cheaply as possible."
Luthair looked sheepish, but Erik nodded. "She's right. As soon as Savarah discovers the source of the device, she and the ur’gels will return to shut down production in the most violent way possible."
"We will be ready for them," Luthair promised, an arm around his niece's shoulders. For once, the girl didn't look scared or like she was putting on a show. She looked prepared, ready to face whatever was coming as long as she had Luthair and Erik with her.
I would never admit I was a bit jealous of her.
"You'd better go," Erik said to me, nudging me toward the door. "Foregin willing, we will meet again."
I had never been a fan of the god of fate, but I wouldn't argue the point with Erik, not now. I clasped his hands in mine. "Be safe."
He raised his eyebrows at me. "Be brave."
When I walked away, I didn't look back.
The pulley-elevator was much harder to work by myself. I had to take a break several minutes in, tying the rope off in a knot to keep me from falling back to the ground. By the time I reached the top, my arms, shoulders, and back burned with the effort. But it was a good distraction. It kept me from thinking about having to leave Erik behind, and having to tell Estrid that we were doing it.
Once in the clearing beside the burned guardhouse, I pulled the wayfinder's stone from my pocket and flipped open the compass beside it, spinning until I was facing the north. The western point of the stone lit up, burning hot against my thumb. Barepost—and Erik—were to the east. The ship was waiting for me through the trees to the west.
I snapped it closed and stuffed everything away, the locket and the compass knocking into each other beneath my vest, the stone warm in my pocket. Then I trampled through the trees back to where the ship was. It was strange to be alone, and even stranger to think when I returned home, it would be without Erik. For the first time, I wondered at my father's reaction when only two of us returned home. Would it be disappointment instead of joy?
Finding the Suun Page 5
