Songbird

by Colleen Helme

  He pushed against the window, but it didn’t budge. Bran hummed, directing the still-pulsing magic into it. With ease, it swung open, and he climbed out. Jax followed and they quickly covered the ground toward the stables and waiting Braemarian carriages.

  Bran’s breath caught to hear the crunch of boots on gravel, and they altered their route into the bushes for cover. Two palace guards walked past, but didn’t see them. Waiting to make sure they didn’t come back, Bran felt the magic thin as Teya’s song ended, leaving him on his own.

  His sense of loss was tempered by the necessity to get out of there as fast as possible. From the corner of the palace garden, the carriages waited on the gravel path. But they couldn’t get to them with the guards in the way.

  Jax nudged Bran. “We’ll have to go around. See over there?” He pointed to the dense foliage on the other side of the carriage path. “The guards aren’t watching that side. We might be able to climb aboard before we’re seen.”

  Bran nodded and they began the long trek around the gardens and outbuildings. With the stables and carriage house in the way, it took precious time to get to the other side, especially when they had to keep to the shadows and slip between the large numbers of stable hands.

  He ducked behind the trees on the other side and let out a relieved breath. Jax came to his side, and Bran nodded at him to make a run for it. As they started toward their goal, Rasmussen and the others left the palace and quickly boarded the carriages.

  Bran took off anyway but heard Jax stumble and fall behind him. Reaching to help him up, the unmistakable whoosh of an arrow sailed past his head. He ducked to get out of the way, and pulled Jax down after him. They scrambled toward the carriages, but didn’t get far before men had them surrounded.

  With arrows pointing directly at their hearts, Bran and Jax raised their hands in surrender.

  “Good decision,” the officer said, then spoke to the others. “Tie them up and take them to the guard house.”

  There were five soldiers, including the officer, and all loyal to Turner. Bitter disappointment churned through Bran. They were so close! The soldiers bound his hands tightly behind his back, then tied his legs so he could barely shuffle. If not for that, Bran might have run for it. His teeth clenched in frustration to hear the carriages pass beyond the palace grounds.

  The soldiers marched them to the guardhouse, then pushed them inside a tiny cell and locked it up. One soldier stayed beside the cell, but the others left, and Bran wondered why they had been brought here instead of back to the palace dungeon.

  This guardhouse stood at the far end of the palace grounds, and bordered a street into the city. It differed from the one with the tunnel to Braemar under it, and Bran doubted that it held any kind of escape route.

  “Let’s see if we can get these off,” Bran said. Jax agreed and they turned back-to-back and fumbled with the knots in the rope. It was slow going, but they soon loosened them and Bran tugged at the rope until he got his right hand free, then both, and quickly freed Jax.

  Bran untied the ropes from his legs, while Jax slumped to the ground and rubbed his twisted ankle. He searched the walls and windows for any kind of weakness, but finding nothing of the sort, threw himself next to Jax in defeat, realizing it was over. They were stuck here.

  The night progressed into the early hours of morning before the crunch of gravel roused him. He came to his feet, but staggered back when a bright light shone through the bars in the door.

  “I wondered if you’d try to escape.” The voice belonged to Chancellor Turner. He sounded amused and surprisingly pleased. “I still don’t know how you did it.” The guard opened the door and preceded Turner, training a gun on them. “I hope you don’t mind the extra precautions, but I can’t be too careful.” Turner strolled to a bench along the far wall and sat, leaning forward as he spoke.

  “I have to admit, you two are pretty resourceful. That’s why I have a proposition for you.”

  “For us?” Bran could hardly believe it.

  “That’s right,” Turner continued, noting his surprise. “I want to work together. I know who Colonel Porter really is. I had to support him to get rid of the king, but now I find myself in a precarious position. Korban has big plans, but he’s dangerous.

  “I’ve known Korban for a long time. His men brought the Songbird to me as a gift for the king. He made an alliance with the king by supplying him with sym in exchange for anything Korban wanted. First, the Kalorians were hunted down and turned over to Korban at his request. He controlled the amount of sym that came into our country, and now yours. He has grown rich and powerful, but it wasn’t enough.

  “What I didn’t know until now was that he is a Kalorian.” Turner paused, and Bran could sense his revulsion. “He even brought the Kalorians here, but luckily they are all collared. Apparently, Korban lost his power, but now he says he knows how to get it back. I can’t let that happen.

  “He commands a small army of his own, but I am the commander of the king’s soldiers. Their allegiance is to me. If it comes to a fight, they will fight with me against him.”

  “What do you want with us?” Bran asked.

  “Korban is planning to return to this lost grove of his. It has something to do with restoring his powers, but that’s all he will say. He told me that you know where the grove is. I was thinking that you could lead us there ahead of him. I want him stopped before he returns to the grove, and it can only be done with your help.”

  Bran’s mind raced with this turn of events. He’d never thought Turner would betray Korban, but given his dislike of the Kalorians, he could understand his reasons. “You’re right about Korban, and I agree that he needs to be stopped. I have only one request.”

  “Teya?” Turner’s lips twisted into a frown.

  “Yes. She’s mine.”

  “Fine,” he said, letting out a sigh. “Once Korban is defeated, you can have her.”

  “Good.”

  Turner motioned to the guard to put his gun away, then caught Bran’s gaze. “I need to keep your presence a secret, but I’ll have clothing and food brought. You’ll be dressed as king’s soldiers and I want to send you with a group of soldiers ahead of Korban’s men, so you can get into position. That means you’ll probably leave tomorrow. If I don’t get back before you go, Robert here will deliver our messages. Is there anything else?”

  “Yes,” Bran said. “Who will be commanding your army?”

  “Me. Don’t worry, I have it all worked out.” Turner stood to leave. “I’ll have Robert show you to your new quarters. Now get some sleep if you can.”

  Sleep? Bran doubted that would happen for a long time. Robert ushered them into a different room, a bunkhouse with mattresses and blankets. “I’m keeping watch for the night, so let me know if you need anything,” he added, before closing the door behind him. Bran tested the door. It wasn’t locked.

  “What do you think?” Bran asked Jax. “Can we trust Turner?”

  “It’s hard to say,” Jax answered. “He’s sincere about stopping Korban.”

  “True. I wish I knew more about his plans. His dislike of the Kalorians bothers me, but this turn of events is a complete surprise.”

  “I know. Did you ever think we’d be helping Turner get rid of Korban?” Jax shook his head with disbelief.

  “No. He has his reasons, and they make sense, but it still makes me uneasy. We’ll just have to make plans of our own.” Bran refused to let anyone dictate his own actions, especially with something as uncertain as this. He was convinced that Turner hadn’t told him everything, but it was the chance he needed to stop Korban and help Teya. It would work as long as Teya and the Kalorians made it to the grove. That was something Turner didn’t need to know about, along with the fact that Bran meant to take off their collars.

  ****

  As Teya ate her breakfast, Korban burst into her room, sending her heart into a panic.

  “You,” he pointed at Iris. “Get out! Go to your room a
nd stay there!” After casting a worried glance at Teya, Iris calmly left the room. Teya swallowed back her fear and settled the mask of indifferent boredom over her features. It had served her well with the king. It would do the same with Korban.

  “I don’t know how you did it, but Bran and Jax are gone.”

  “What?” Her eyes widened. She’d hardly slept last night, worrying if Jesse would follow through with her request. Then later, worrying that Bran would get caught and killed. She’d tried to reach him several times through the bond, but the only thing that came was a lingering awareness that he was there. She understood it now.

  Korban didn’t miss her surprise, and his lips turned into a dark frown. “I’m sure you know what I’m talking about, even if you’re acting surprised. I know you had something to do with it.”

  “I don’t know what you mean,” she said. “How could I do anything with this collar on and locked away up here.”

  Korban stopped pacing and jerked her up by the arms. “It doesn’t matter where they’ve gone. I will find them, but don’t think you can get away with it. I know you used your magic to help him escape. If that kundar won’t hold back enough of your power, then I know something else that will.” He pulled her toward the door, and she knew he meant to take her blood.

  “Wait! I can’t help you get past the Destroyer if I’m weak.” She didn’t want to lay suspicion for Bran’s disappearance on Jesse, but neither did she want to endure another bloodletting.

  Her outburst seemed to restore a sense of calm to Korban and he slowed his angry steps. “By the time we get to the grove, you’ll be fine. It didn’t kill you before, and my patience with you is long gone. It’s time you learned a lesson.”

  His black eyes were hot with anger, and she flinched away from his spiteful gaze. As they continued out the door, he jerked hard on her arm and she stumbled, but managed to get her feet under her. He pulled her down the stairs, then rounded the corner to what used to be the king’s rooms, and continued down the hall, passing several rooms until coming to another flight of stairs.

  At the bottom of this staircase, they came to a halt in front of the room she recognized from the day she’d saved Jesse’s life. In fact, just inside Jesse sat at a desk with a quill in his hand. His startled glance indicated he knew nothing about Korban’s plans.

  “What’s going on?” he asked in a calm, soothing voice

  “I need your help to draw her blood.” Korban shoved Teya down on the bed. “She is responsible for Bran’s escape, and I intend to stop her from doing any more damage.”

  Jesse plastered an agreeable expression on his face, and Teya felt sure he had dealt with his father like this many times before. “Certainly. Let me get my things. I’ve finished with the letter you asked me to write. If it needs to be off soon, I’d better find a messenger now. Or do you want me to wait?”

  The question took Korban’s attention from Teya, and his anger subsided. “It needs to go now.”

  “Why don’t you let me take care of this unpleasantness with Teya? You’ve got more important things to do. I can manage her.”

  Korban’s eyes narrowed shrewdly at Jesse, not missing the meaning behind his words. “I suppose you’re right. Here, give me that letter and I’ll send it off.” He took the envelope from Jesse and glanced at Teya. “He probably won’t take as much blood as I would. Maybe that’s a good thing. In the state I’m in, I’d probably kill you, and that would put a damper on my plans.”

  He turned back to Jesse. “Go ahead. Just be sure you take her back to her room after you’re done.” There was a veiled threat in that statement. Did Korban suspect she and Jesse had talked, or worse, made plans of their own? Korban stalked from the room and Jesse followed, closing the door as he left.

  He came to Teya’s side with a troubled frown that creased his brow. “We can’t let him know we’re working together,” he said under his breath. “If he suspects anything at all, he’ll keep us apart.”

  “Why do you think I kept my mouth shut about Bran’s escape? He thinks I did it with my power, and that this kundar isn’t strong enough,” she said, then told him everything. “Korban knows I healed you. He knows you covered for me that day, but it didn’t stop him from bringing me to you now. He obviously has no idea you’re the one who got Bran out.” She caught Jesse’s gaze.

  “Are you sure you have to do this? It’s only been a few days since the last time. It might weaken me too much.” Thoughts of losing her blood curdled her stomach.

  “You’ll be fine. I’ll make sure of it. But I have to do this, you know that, right?”

  “Yes.” She sighed.

  Jesse pulled a black bag from a dresser drawer and set it on the bed beside her. He took out several instruments and arranged them in order, working with an air of efficiency that sent a chill through her. How many times had he done this to his own people?

  “Your frown isn’t making this any easier,” Jesse said. “But I have to take some blood, even if it’s not very much.” When she didn’t look at him, he continued. “I promise it won’t hurt you. By tonight you’ll be back to normal.”

  His earnest expression eased her distrust, even though it wasn’t enough to quell the ugliness of what he was going to do. She didn’t know which punishment was worse, the box, or this.

  “It will be easier if you lie back on the pillows.”

  This was ridiculous! In a burst of anger, she shot off the bed and ran to the door.

  Jesse got there first. “Don’t fight me Teya, please.” He grabbed hold of her arms, his fingers digging into her soft flesh. “This is hard for me too.” She only struggled a moment, before sagging against him. He relaxed his grip and held her tenderly until her breathing settled down.

  She pulled away. “Are you sure you have to do this? It’s so wrong!”

  “I know,” he said. “But for now, we have to do what he says. Once we’re away from here, it will be different. I’m making plans, but I can’t implement them until we’re on our way to the grove. It’s too dangerous here. Too many people are watching.”

  “Fine.” She knew people watched them, but would it be any different after they left? Jesse thought it would, so for now, she’d have to believe him. “The only reason I can do this is because you helped Bran. I know I probably seem ungrateful, but I hate that you’re doing this.”

  She took her place on the bed, and from his silence, she realized he was still upset with her. “I’ll be good, I promise.” A faint smile creased his face and he sighed, then pushed the sleeve of her shirt above her elbow.

  The silence stretched between them while he got everything ready and she realized there was a lot she didn’t know about him. “Where did you learn to do all this?”

  “In Braemar,” he answered. “I grew up there from the time I was about seven.”

  “With Korban?”

  “Yes. When Korban left the grove, my mother went with him. I was born shortly after that, but we didn’t see much of my father. He spent most of his time trying to find a way back into the grove. When I was seven, my mother got sick and sent for him. I think one of the reasons she died was because of her yearning for the grove. It was her home, and she never got over leaving. After we buried her, Korban stopped trying to go back to the grove, and we left for Braemar shortly after that.”

  It surprised Teya that Jesse’s mother left the grove. Korban was banished, but it was hard to believe they’d banish his wife as well. Maybe Korban forced her to leave because of their child. His son. She shivered, realizing how important Jesse was to Korban. They’d made a life together, and Teya wondered if Jesse would have the will to defy his father when the time came.

  Before she knew it, Jesse was filling up a small bottle with her blood. Her stomach went queasy at the sight, and she closed her eyes, hoping Jesse would stop. With each small bottle she willed it to be enough, but he kept going until she wasn’t sure he would ever stop. Finally, he pulled the needle from her arm and had her hold a piec
e of cloth over the wound.

  “I know that looks like a lot of blood,” Jesse said, motioning to the five small bottles he had filled. “But you would have to lose a lot more than that to really feel the effects. It’s probably not enough to satisfy Korban, but it will have to do. At least you won’t be so weak this time.”

  Teya watched Jesse carefully pour the blood into smaller vials. Next, he added several drops of a milky-white substance that caused the blood to bubble and change to a rusty pink color. Then, he corked the vials to seal them. Sym. And Jesse made it.

  “What is that white liquid you put in it?”

  “It’s a plant extract. It preserves the blood, and enhances the ability to ingest it into your own body. At first, Korban tried drinking pure blood, but it always made him sick. The plant extract alters it enough to make it digestible.”

  The vision of Korban drinking blood sickened her, and she wondered if he would ever resort to actually doing that if he ran out of sym. She clenched her teeth as small tremors of revulsion shivered over her.

  “Are you cold?” Jesse asked.

  “I’m fine.” She lied, not wanting Jesse to know her thoughts.

  His eyebrows drew together quizzically, but he didn’t say anything, and she was relieved he let it go. Her stomach clenched with apprehension at his casualness toward sym, and how easily he made it. He treated it like it was nothing out of the ordinary. It bothered her to know it had cost some of her people their own lives, yet he’d done it anyway.

  She closed her eyes against the repulsiveness of it all and took a deep breath. At least Bran had escaped, and she focused on that. She must have dozed off for a minute, because the next thing she knew, Jesse gently shook her shoulder.

  “I need to take you back to your room,” he said.

  “I guess I fell asleep.” Teya sat up and waited for the room to stop spinning before she stood. Jesse put an arm around her waist to steady her before they began the trek up the stairs. Teya needed his strength and didn’t pull away, even though it was his fault she was weak.

  Not him, she amended...Korban. This was Korban’s doing, but even as she thought it, a part of her blamed Jesse as well. At least Jesse had helped Bran escape. If he hadn’t done that, Bran would probably be dead by now. She owed Jesse a lot for that.