by J. E. Klimov
Silence expanded in the room. Upon closer observation, Isabel noticed patches of his blue fur had faded. His eyelids drooped, as if he were to fall asleep any minute. Suspicion stirred in her chest.
“My apologies. I just wanted to make sure everything was running smoothly here. Thank you, Dover. And you as well, Four.”
Sachiel leaned in and whispered, “Shall I escort you back?”
Isabel nodded as she curtsied to Dover.
“Four has been a blessing. Even though we weren’t spared the hand of death, the Kai feel safer with him around. Thank you for assigning him to us.” Dover coughed.
Her back tensed with a twinge of irritation. “You’re welcome.” She dove into the water and followed Sachiel back to shore.
The swim back seemed to take longer than the trip up. Her arms and legs burned as if she were swimming through mud. She couldn’t shake Four’s eerie smiles. His demeanor was much like One’s, although with a little more charisma. But Dover seemed happy with the new guard, which only drove the nail of guilt into her chest further. Each trip proved Raiden correct. Or at least, he wasn’t proven wrong yet. Her thoughts clashed as she swam ashore. They continued to battle as she sat on the beach wrapped in a towel.
“Sachiel?” She met his black eyes and hugged the towel closer. “Is Dover really okay?”
The coral bangles jingled as he scratched his ears. “I’ve known Dover for a long time, as you can see here.” He pointed to his wrinkles and laughed. “He’s been slowing down, but I agree with what he said. It’s his age and the injuries he had sustained. His recovery was slow and painful, and I just think it’s mother nature running its course. I think it’s nice to have a youth nearby to help. Even though he’s a bit creepy.”
“Right!?!” Isabel scooted closer to Sachiel.
“I said creepy. But he’s done nothing wrong, so I try to refrain from jumping to conclusions, Your Majesty, if I may be so bold.”
Isabel raised a brow, absorbing the shock. She tried to focus on each miniscule grain of sand.
“We haven’t had Healers in Deran for a long time,” Sachiel continued. “It would be interesting to see what their comeback brings.”
Pinching the sand, she rubbed her fingers together. “I guess.”
“Everyone is petrified for the return of the Aeonians. Word is that the eldest son of Damian disappeared. His body wasn’t recovered.”
Isabel’s ear burned. “Have you been to Cehennem since the war? It’s nothing but ash and plenty of Aeonian corpses.”
Sachiel’s tail curled around her. “What do you think? Who do you believe is behind this?”
Before she could answer, a large hawk dove from behind. It circled back and landed in front of Isabel. A scroll of paper was wrapped around one of its legs. After exchanging glances with Sachiel, she timidly reached for the scroll. The hawk ruffled its feathers and glared.
When she loosened the scroll, she said, “Um. Thanks?” The hawk screeched and shot into the air, leaving a brown feather behind. Anxiety cascaded from head to toe like an avalanche. Most news was delivered by foot, while risky transmission with hawks were reserved for urgent matters. The parchment crinkled as she unfurled it.
I write this in complete secrecy from the other elders and Two. Please make haste to Buryan to discuss a theory on these murders. I sent the same request to Jabin. Hurry. Tell no one. –Lief
“What is it?” Sachiel leaned in, but Isabel summoned a ball of fire in the palm of her hand and incinerated the note.
“Nothing. Just a request to return to the castle to deal with local matters. Thank you for your escort today.”
“What about your clothes? You’ll freeze to death riding back north.” He nodded to her tunic, still dripping at a steady pace. Her slacks clung to her skin.
“I’ll be fine. I have a wool cloak attached to my saddle. If I ride quickly, I should be at home before dark,” said Isabel, tugging at her sleeves to cover her goose bumps.
“Very well. Travel safe.”
Isabel grasped his paws. “You as well. Don’t hesitate for a second if you need me.”
CHAPTER
22
The room finally stopped spinning. Bence bent over and hurled into a tin bucket. Smearing a mixture of bile and saliva with a linen cloth, he scanned the area. He had been awake for a couple of hours, locked in a room he didn’t recognize. The last thing he recalled was meeting Maciji’s sister, Ki.
When he had come to his senses, he found himself in a bed, stripped of his clothes, aside from new slacks. Bence didn’t know who brought him there or who changed him, but he stretched, all his injuries seemed to disappear. That’s some potent medicine.
A knock on the door snapped him to the present. He dove for his dagger lying on the bed stand along with his satchel, but he missed and crashed head-first into the wall. His vision seemed to split into two. Another knock. When Bence tried to stand, he swayed and fell back onto the mattress. Rubbing his head, he said, “What the hell is wrong with me?”
After a click, the door swung open. “Are you decent,” sung a voice.
“Really?” Bence growled. He lay on his elbows, inching back toward the bed stand.
Ki strut in and winked. Bence rubbed his eyes until her six legs turned into four, then into two. Bracelets slid down her slender arm.
“How many fingers am I holding?”
Eight? That can’t be right. “Four?”
The blurred form of Ki’s face turned to her hand. She shrugged. “Close enough.”
“You drugged me!” he exclaimed. As he continued to blink, clarity slowly returned.
Reaching into her sleeve, Ki revealed a five-petal white flower. Black lines traced from the tip down to the base of the stigma. Ki breathed deeply, tracing the flower across her cheek. “It’s called the Swift Smuggler─it’s local to Irelle. It also contains sedating and hallucinogenic properties. It makes a great healing concoction, but I did warn you it had side effects. You should be thanking me. It healed some pretty serious wounds.”
Ki plucked a petal with her teeth. While she chewed, Ki snapped her fingers and a servant rushed to her side and kneeled. The servant offered up a fresh top. Bence picked up the flax fabric with a gold neckline.
“Black? I thought you guys were all about purple here,” Bence said, injecting each word with sarcasm.
Ki broke into a fit of giggles. Bence scratched his head.
When she caught her breath, she said, “In the event you’re sentenced to death!” Breaking into laughter again, she beckoned him with her finger. “Take your belongings. My sister is waiting for you.”
Ki’s continued laughter echoed through the corridor. She swayed left and right with Bence trailing behind.
“I really don’t see how that’s funny,” Bence said. He kept one hand on the wall to steady himself, focusing on breathing the fresh air. The odd sensations were wearing off slowly but surely.
When she didn’t respond, he fiddled with his collar. The solid gold was confining. Focus. You need to find Tulelo and figure out what to do.
As they walked up three flights of stairs, the satchel bounced on his thigh, reminding Bence of his pearl. His hand slipped in and pocketed it for safekeeping in case they confiscated his bag. On the top floor, they reached a cylindrical room filled with books that lined shelves hugging the wall. Ki opened the door and gestured toward the exit. As Bence approached, he noticed a cluttered desk. On top was a crinkled paper. It was his wanted sign. Swallowing hard, he passed Ki and avoided her gaze. Bence stepped into a courtyard, the one he passed when he first met Ki.
She continued to lead him beyond the gardens until they reached an iron gate. “Okay. Through here.”
Before he reached the handles, Ki clapped her hands, and two men from the other side unlocked the door and swung them open. Sand swirled in circles. Numerous copper framed buildings dotting the immediate area. Bence sighed in relief as his senses were returning.
“Are we back in the city? The trial�
��s not back at Maciji’s place?” Bence asked.
“No, we’re still in her compound. If you look past there, you can see an eight-foot wall that surrounds the property.”
“This looks like a town in itself.”
Ki chuckled and hooked her arm around his and tugged. She led him toward the farthest building. Dirt enveloped the walls of the three-story house, and weeds huddled against the foundation. There were no windows. The metal roof shivered as something inside rammed into the wall. She pointed at the barred door.
“There’s your companion, and here’s the key.”
Snatching it from her hand, Bence sped toward the door. His heart pounded in his chest. “Tulelo, are you inside?”
No answer. Bence repeated himself louder.
“Bence, is that you?” A voice rumbled from the other side.
He inserted the key into the lock and twisted his hand until he heard a click. “I’m opening the door, so please don’t come charging out.”
“You got it.” Glee laced the Dunya’s words.
The door creaked as it opened. Tulelo lifted his head and flashed a toothy grin. Broken chains wrapped around his front and back paws.”
“Looks like the chains couldn’t keep you down.”
“Nope. But that door was too tough. I tried my best though.” Tulelo panted, reminding Bence of a pup.
“I hate to break up this lovely reunion, but Maciji is waiting in the main building,” Ki said.
Bence and Tulelo exchanged looks.
“A trial apparently,” Bence added, rolling his eyes.
He followed Ki back through the courtyard with Tulelo trailing behind. She cast a sideways glance and flicked her wrist. Her several gold rings glistened in the sun.
“Dunya. Please be careful not to ruin the garden.”
Tulelo growled. The Dunya furrowed his golden brows and swung his tail back and forth. Before Bence could open his mouth, Tulelo’s tail smashed into a gilded cage. The birds inside screeched in alarm as it crashed onto the ground. Chunks of the cage flew about, and the birds fluttered into the sky.
Tulelo stared at Bence, wide-eyed and claws on his cheeks. Ki flushed purple.
“So,” Bence said, unsure if she was going to explode with anger or laughter. “Back to the main room, correct?” He placed an arm on her back and steered her forward.
The group traveled in silence. The only sound came from the subtle rumble from Tulelo’s footsteps. A sense of fear crept up his spine like a lingering cold. He wasn’t given any time to figure out what to do. He had gone through a lot of trouble saving Tulelo that it’d be a pity if he betrayed him now just to have a chance at living here. After this debacle, he had to accept the possibility that he may have to try his luck in Waaken.
“Watch your step,” Ki said.
Tripping over a raised platform, Bence caught himself on a column. He shook off Tulelo’s offer to help and continued to follow Ki. Her hips swayed with each step, revealing a tan leg through a generous slit. He looked the other way, trying to focus on the intricate carvings in the ceiling.
A gentle breeze danced through the open corridor carrying the sound of a lute from beyond the compound’s walls. The image of Ami flashed before his eyes. She was just a stranger, but she had appeared in his dreams from time to time. And every morning he woke from those dreams, his chest ached. He focused on the sound of the lute. The melody was slow and mournful.
“Ugh. Some of the poorer folk like to sit by our walls and play music for coins. I wish they could play their songs elsewhere.” Ki stopped short of an arched doorway with a thick purple drape. A hand pulled it aside and fasted it against a gilded hook. “And this is where I head back to my gazebo. Go that way, boys. Good luck, handsome.”
“Thanks,” said Tulelo as Bence stifled laughter.
“Not you, reptile,” she hissed and disappeared behind the drape.
Tulelo nudged Bence and flicked his forked tongue. “We’ll be okay. Won’t we?”
“Hope so…”
When Bence entered the room, he noticed Bald Man was the one who parted the drapes. He knelt but peeked up with wide eyes. Bence jerked his head in greeting, but the man simply dropped his head.
Maciji lay in a fainting chair and gestured toward a plush over-sized pillow. “Please sit.” Her eyes shot past Bence at Tulelo. “Not you. You can stand.” Her lips curled.
As Bence sat on the pillow, he gave a reassuring look to his Dunyan partner before turning his attention to Maciji.
“So, I’ve been thinking it over.”
Sinking further into the pillow, Bence was glad she couldn’t see his chin quivering.
She examined her nails. “Even if by the slightest chance you’re related to the royal family, you still broke our law. Same goes to the possibility if you’re the wanted Bence Brechenhad. Turning you in for a reward may give me some much-needed revenue, but it won’t solve our problems in the long run. And besides, the warriors and their families expect me to execute the law with no exception.”
Bence sat up straight. “What?” Shock streaked through his nerves like lightning. “What about Tulelo?”
“He’s considered an accomplice, and quite frankly, he’s already at a disadvantage because he’s a Dunya.” She narrowed her eyes at Bence, staring with fiery intensity. “Irellian girls used to be sold into slavery. The most common buyer? Dunyas. Of course, they’d just turn around and sell them at a higher price, but I’ll spare you the pitiful history.”
She whistled, and footsteps flooded into the room. Bence leapt from his seat and turned around. The other side of the room had been cleared of all furniture and décor. A tarp covered the marble floor.
“For the blood,” Maciji said as if reading his mind. “Restrain the Dunya. He goes last.”
“B-but─”
A dozen men rushed by Bence with rope and pinned Tulelo down. When Bence tried to jump to his aid, another man locked his arms behind his back.
“Tulelo!”
His roars drowned the men’s shouting, but no matter how much Tulelo struggled, his four limbs were bound tight. He crashed onto his side as his eyes glazed over with terror.
Bence jerked his head at Maciji. “Let him go! He’s just a baby!”
Raising a hand to her mouth, she yawned. “You’re sentenced to a battle to the death.”
“A battle?” A miniscule bubble of hope rose in his chest.
“You’ll be fighting the men and women you had attacked. Of course, the whole point is that you don’t survive, so don’t get too excited.”
As soon as Maciji finished speaking, metal struck the floor. Turning his head slowly, Bence found six familiar faces; however, their faces were wiped clean of their warrior paint. The female chuckled and twirled her spear. The rest played with the tip of their sickles, licking their lips.
“Take your dagger and go play.” The soldier restraining him pushed Bence then pulled out a bow. “I’ll be here in case they fail.”
In a blur of gray and black, the foremost warrior charged at Bence. He drew his blade and clashed metal with metal. The sickle hovered inches from Bence’s neck as his strength wavered. Swallowing the lump in his throat, Bence knew he hadn’t fully recovered from the Swift Smuggler concoction.
Bence tilted his head back and dropped to his knees, letting the sickle swing full circle and graze his hair. Extending his leg, he swept the man off his feet and turned his attention to three men that had been circling them. Bence hurtled his dagger, sending it deep into one man’s shoulder. He then swiped his first victim’s sickle and kicked him so he stayed down.
When he twirled around, he threw so much force into his swing that he knocked the next man’s weapon from his hand. “Ha!” Bence exclaimed, letting the rush fuel his body. He swung his leg into a roundhouse kick, slamming his boot into his opponent’s face.
Hands grabbed his shoulders and yanked him back. The third attacker throttled Bence with the handle of his weapon. In the corner of Bence’
s eye, the female warrior leapt into the air, wound her arm, and launched her spear. As it spiraled at lightning speed, Bence clung onto the handle pressed against his throat and kicked his legs into the air.
The blade grazed his right hamstring, sending searing hot pain through his spine. Bence was a few breaths from fading into darkness. He hooked his injured leg around the spear and kicked it high enough for him to grasp the weapon. As soon as his fingers wrapped around the cool metal, he blindly jabbed it behind him.
The spear hit flesh, and the man screamed, releasing his hold on Bence. Gasping for breath, Bence shook the lights from his vision in time to brace the female warrior’s tackle. Strands of blonde hair brushed over his face as they both collided onto the ground. Bence grabbed those strands, yanked her head back and slammed his palm into her nose. Shrieks rang as she gasped her face with both hands, glaring at him through teary eyes; blood poured liberally between her fingers.
Focusing on steady breathing, Bence leapt above the two injured men and retrieved his dagger. He spun the handle around, sending flecks of scarlet rain onto the tarp. He counted four bodies twitching or crawling on the floor. A fifth was circling to his left, but he didn’t see the sixth.
Before he could turn around, the tarp tugged sharply, sending him face first onto the ground. A pair of hands gripped his ankles and the fifth warrior drew closer. Bence groaned as he attempted to push himself up, but his body responded with a high-pitched snap. Clutching his ribs, he fought to keep his eyes open. His feet were still bound by one man, while the other was now within feet of him.
A small dark object rolled in front of him. It glistened in the light, teasing him with shades of teal, then pink, then gray. My… pearl?
Once his free hand clutched it tightly, heat radiated from the pearl, filling his body with borrowed adrenaline.
A shadow loomed over him. His assailant was about to strike, and Bence had to find a way to get up. In one swift motion, he dug the dagger into the ground and pushed. His abdomen burned, but he continued to push until he was in a plank position.
Suddenly, the hands on his ankles released, and the sickle above Bence never fell. Silence swept the court aside from a muffled cry. Wisps of dark mist radiated from the point of contact between his dagger and his opponent’s shadow. Looking up, Bence gasped. The attacker was frozen in place, weapon inches from his skull. His lips twitched as he tried to cry out, and his pupils darted around the room; however, the man was motionless. Bence peeked at the pearl; it glowed proudly and its waves of energy pulsed even stronger. The pearl I plucked from Kai’s Bay must also have powers!
