Frasie surveyed the coast. “There’s four more, but they aren’t coming toward us. Two of them are just sitting on the beach.”
After everyone took a moment to reload, they approached the encampment with guns drawn. The remaining Asarians stood and raised their hands.
“Sarah?” Olivia asked.
She looked at Olivia. “You know her?”
“She’s the ship’s doctor,” Olivia replied.
“Throw down your weapons,” Niv commanded.
“We’re unarmed,” Sarah said. “As Olivia explained, I’m the physician. And my associates are geologists.”
She searched them to ensure they had no guns or knives.
Sarah pointed to the smoldering wreckage. “Are you responsible for this?”
“You saw the fireball, didn’t you?” Frasie asked.
“Yes, but… What about the other ships?”
Niv stepped forward. “Magic.”
Sarah scoffed. “There is no such thing.”
Niv looked to the sea. “I beg to differ.”
“I don’t believe you,” Sarah said. “The verdic acid…”
“My dose has worn off,” Olivia said.
“But it’s in our blood,” Sarah said. “We’re immune.”
Niv pulled the Amulet of Balance from behind her neckline. “I took a page from Morgan’s book.”
Sarah shook her head. “Parlor tricks.”
Frasie walked toward her with a wet plank in her hand. “Can parlor tricks do this?”
Sarah shifted her stance. “What will become of us?”
“You’ll be taken into custody,” Niv said. “And stand trial.”
“For what?” Sarah asked. “We are scientists, not soldiers.”
Olivia smacked Sarah, drawing blood. “You are hardly innocent! You forced me to take that vile injection.”
Sarah wiped her lip. “All you superstitious ingrates need it.”
“You took my magic away from me!” Olivia exclaimed. “It’s part of who I am. Who are you to decide what others need?”
“Bind their hands,” Niv said.
Frasie walked to the water, then returned with several more pieces of wood. “Something’s not right.”
She examined the debris. Two of the pieces joined to form the upper half of a human silhouette. She found more that washed ashore, confirming her hypothesis.
“Where are your shipmates?” she asked.
“You killed them,” Sarah replied.
She drew her dagger and held it to Sarah’s throat. “Your life depends upon giving me an honest answer to my next question.”
Sarah’s neck muscles tensed as she swallowed hard.
“Were there any Asarians on board the ships when they sank?”
Sarah hesitated. She pressed the edge of her blade further into her flesh without drawing blood. She hoped Sarah believed her threat.
“No.”
A cold chill ran through her.
“They’re coming with us,” Niv said.
“It’s too late.” Sarah grinned. “You won’t catch up to them.”
“If we hurry, we can reach Ashmar by noon,” Frasie said.
Farius stepped away from the group. “I will fly to Ashmar and warn them.”
“Stay safe,” Niv said.
Chapter 58
“Our forces are in position.”
Morgan smiled. “Then by all means, Phillip. Commence your attack.”
Phillip yelled to his subordinates, and within seconds, the late morning Steelcove siege upon Ashmar was underway. Exchanges of gunfire, sporadic at first, echoed among the mighty trees that cocooned the town. Asarian cannons blasted dugouts while troops pushed through the outskirts with relative ease.
She approached the edge of town on horseback. Phillip tried to keep her behind their lines, but she wanted to see the battle for herself. Besides, she knew, if necessary, she could rely on magic to defend her. As they pressed closer to the town square, the Ashmar militia took heavy losses.
“They’re retreating to the inn,” Phillip said.
“Reload the cannons,” she said. “Take it down.”
Phillip ordered several guns to get into position. He used a scope to mark the target. Then he paused.
“Get on with it,” Morgan insisted.
He cleaned the end of the scope, then looked again. “There’s some kind of…cloud around the tavern.”
She snatched the scope from him and looked for herself. He was right. A shimmering curtain of purple energy encompassed the building. She immediately knew it was magic.
She collapsed the telescope. “Fire!”
The cannons rained molten lead on the tavern, but rather than set the building ablaze, the magic barrier dispersed the attack into harmless ripples of energy along its perimeter. Phillip ordered another round to no avail.
She stared at the shielded inn. “Cease fire.”
“What are your orders?” Phillip asked.
“Move your men into the square,” she replied. “Make sure there are no surprises. I want to see this barrier up close.”
He ordered the soldiers to take the square. A few shots rang out as the side alleys were cleared. As soon as it was safe for her to proceed, she walked to the barrier. Energy hummed as it pulsated through the translucent field. The magic resisted her as she tried to push her hand through the barrier. The deeper she reached, the stronger it repelled her.
The soldiers flanking her readied their weapons as two women and a man left the inn.
The tallest, a woman in a long, leather dress, presumably a Proctor, approached the barrier. “You are not welcome here.”
The shorter woman with light eyes and hair caught her attention. She attempted to catch a better glimpse of her, but the Proctor stood in the way.
“There is nothing here that interests you, Morgan.”
She examined the barrier in greater detail. “There’s only one kind of magic powerful enough to resist me.”
“You don’t believe in magic,” the Proctor quipped.
She flashed a sly grin and looked behind the woman. “I didn’t catch your names?”
“I’m Lilly.”
She rolled her eyes. “Not you. Her. Come here. I want a better look at you.”
“Don’t listen to her,” Lilly said.
She held her hand to the barrier. Her skin tingled as magical energy resisted her touch.
The man and woman walked up to her. “My name is Adrious, and this is my friend Aja.”
She stared into Aja’s eyes. A spark of familiarity danced between them.
“Where’s your mother, Aja?” she asked.
Aja gave her a strange look. “My mother?” After a long pause, she answered, “My mother died.”
“When?”
Adrious pointed at her. “Leave her alone.”
Aja put her hand on Adrious’s arm lowered it to his side. “It’s alright. I was five years old.”
“Step outside the barrier,” she said.
Lilly glared at her. “Enough. Only friends and family are allowed.”
She continued her stare. “Search your memory, Aja.”
“Don’t look at her,” Adrious said. “She’s trying to charm you.”
“I can do no such thing through this shield. Aja, listen to me. Think of your first memories.”
Aja’s disturbed gaze softened.
“This is a trick!” Adrious exclaimed.
“Search your heart.”
Aja lowered her jaw. “You… No, it can’t be.”
Another woman emerged from the tavern. She didn’t have to ask her name. Only Maeva of the Ael’Shanar could descend the steps of a backwater inn in the middle of a war and turn it into a celebrated event.
She closed her eyes and grasped for the presence of the Amulet of Darkness with her mind. Those who wielded either could sense the presence of its companion. Yet something was missing.
“Where is your precious artifact, Maeva?”
&n
bsp; “It is not your concern,” Maeva replied.
“I’m glad you could be here for this reunion.”
“What do you mean?” Maeva asked.
“That which you stole from me…so long ago, is right before my eyes.”
“I don’t have the Amulet of Darkness,” Maeva said.
“That’s not what I mean, you materialistic wench. No. You stole something far more precious.”
Maeva looked at Aja. Her face turned as white as the snow.
“You do look familiar,” Aja said.
“I should, my dear Aja. Oh… That name. It was slapped on you like a cheap label.” She took a deep breath. “But because you are so magnificent, you have made it your own.”
“Who are you?” Aja asked.
“I’m your mother.”
Maeva’s jaw tightened. “You did all of this to settle your score with me?”
She laughed. “How you manage to fit such narcissism in that head of yours will forever be a mystery to me. No, Maeva. She… Aja… Is my focus.” Her daughter’s visible confusion tugged at her heart. “I know this must be a shock, Aja.”
“Damn you, Morgan!” Maeva yelled. “All those innocent lives lost. Just to find your daughter. It didn’t have to be this way.”
“No, it didn’t.”
She put her hands on the shield and struggled against the barrier. She surged magic through her arms, sending violent ripples through the shield. When the pain from the energetic feedback became too great, she withdrew.
She looked back at Maeva and seethed as she struggled to catch her breath. “You smug, self-righteous…” She closed her eyes and channeled the anger within her. “I’m not going to argue with you. I’m going to show you.”
“Leave Niv out of this!” Maeva exclaimed.
“As you left my daughter out of your jealous crusade against me?” She shook her head. “No, Maeva. You had your chance to make this right, and you blew it. Time and time again. Your daughter will pay.”
She spun on her heels and left the inn. As she neared the edge of the square, she caught a pair of golden eyes spying her from a nearby tree. She looked again and saw it was only an owl.
Chapter 59
Mae caught a glimpse of Farius flying behind the inn. She entered the tavern and proceeded through the kitchen and out the back door. Her husband descended from a nearby tree and transformed next to her.
She hugged him. “I’m glad you’re safe.”
“Morgan has set a trap for Niv’leana,” he said. “We sunk their armada, but no soldiers were aboard the ships.”
“She’s taken Ashmar. We’re safe in the inn—for now, unless she finds a way past Niv’s barrier.”
“You two spoke with great familiarity,” he said. “Do you know her?”
“I had dealings with her long ago.”
His expression soured. “What kind of dealings?”
“She was the explorer who helped me locate the amulets.”
“I see. So, her child she neglected…”
She sighed. “It’s Aja.”
“This is starting to make more sense.”
“She’s insane,” she said. “She says she wants to reunite with her daughter, but I’m sure she’s really after the Amulet of Darkness.”
“If that’s true, our daughter is the target.”
She shook her head. “I have no intention of letting Niv deal with Morgan. This is my fight.”
“You cannot defeat Morgan without the Amulet of Darkness.”
“I must get to Niv before she reaches Ashmar. I need a horse.”
“I saw a few near the blacksmith,” he said.
“I’ll need a distraction. If I’m lucky, I can circle around the edge of town and evade Morgan’s guards.”
Farius nodded. “Leave that to me.”
He started to leave, but she stopped him. “Farius…”
“You will prevail.”
“You don’t know how powerful she is,” she said.
He touched her face. “I know how powerful you are. You have enough courage and tenacity to face anyone… Even Morgan.”
She smiled. “I love you, Farius.”
He embraced her. “I love you.”
* * *
“You see it, don’t you?” Shareis asked Niv.
“Mmm hmm. Morgan thinks she’s clever.”
Frasie looked through the scope. “There must be thirty troops on either side of the road. It’s almost too obvious, Nivvy.”
“She wants us to avoid it,” she said. “Which is precisely why we won’t.”
A sudden rustle in the leaves startled them all. In a split second, Shareis, Aiden, Frasie, and Olivia had their guns pointed at Mae.
Her mother dismounted and tied her horse to a tree off the road. “Niv’, Morgan is offering you a false choice. The town is surrounded. There is no easier path.”
“We’re aware of the trap,” Shareis said.
“That’s only part of it.” Mae approached her. “I need the Amulet of Darkness.”
She instinctively assumed a quick, defensive stance. “You gave it to me for safekeeping.”
“Yes. And, normally that would be the wisest course of action. But Morgan must be stopped.”
“Then I’ll stop her.”
Mae shook her head. “That’s not your responsibility.”
“What do you mean?” Shareis asked.
“This…feud, for lack of a better term, between Morgan and I, goes way back.”
“She invaded us because of you?” she asked.
“The Steelcove demands for coal remain. But Morgan’s personal motivation revolved around her daughter.”
“Who is her daughter?” Frasie asked.
“Aja.”
“And you knew this?” she asked.
“I didn’t know Aja was Morgan’s daughter.”
“But you knew Morgan!” she exclaimed. “I can’t believe it. Again, with the secrets. What is it with you?”
Mae extended her hand. “This is my problem, and I intend to fix it. But I can’t do it without the necklace.”
After a moment of hesitation, she gave her mother the Amulet of Darkness.
“We will eliminate her forces and I will put an end to this.”
She wasn’t sure if her mother’s willingness to help was authentic. From her experience, Mae usually had her do her bidding.
“I don’t trust you.”
Mae’s resolute stance softened. “I know. I can’t fix everything between us, but I can fix this.” Mae mounted her horse. “I will deal with the trap.”
Chapter 60
Mae led the charge through the gauntlet that Morgan had savagely prepared for her daughter. As she approached the soldiers in wait, she summoned the power of the Amulet of Darkness and blasted intense bolts of lightning in a cone-shaped pattern in front of her, reaching out deep into the forest and dispensing Morgan’s soldiers.
As she neared the square, she faced an onslaught of bullets and cannon fire. She erected a magical shield around her, absorbing the incoming attacks. She channeled her anger, both at herself, and at Morgan, into every blast of energy she sent at the troops, intensifying her attacks to the point her hands began to ache from the magic pouring from her fingertips.
Scores of Steelcove soldiers fell, both to her attacks and the conventional weapons of her daughter and friends from covered positions. When she feared Niv and her companions were drawing fire, she intensified her attacks. Fortunately, the tremendous power the Amulet of Darkness availed to her drew nearly all their attention.
Only the soldiers surrounding Morgan remained. They dropped their weapons and raised their hands in surrender. She signaled for Niv to approach and take their arms.
“It’s over, Morgan,” she said. “Cadrin is dead, your mighty ships are gone, and your army has surrendered. You have nothing left.”
Morgan looked at Aja. “You are wrong. I have everything I always wanted.”
“So many have died for
your greed.”
Morgan laughed. “My greed? Oh, that’s rich, coming from you. Niv, tell me, did your mother ever tell you the story of how we became acquainted?”
“I’m not interested in hearing your lies,” Niv said.
Morgan approached Niv. “You don’t have the amulet… But you have worn one.” Morgan pointed to Niv’s chest. “The Amulet of Balance is within you.”
“Pieces of it remain,” Niv said. “But it is of no concern of yours.”
“Your mother wanted all three amulets, but I told her that was far too dangerous. Had me declared insane for my trouble.”
Niv looked at her. By now, she was used to her daughter’s incredulous glare. Niv asked no questions but Morgan’s accusation certainly gave her pause.
“That’s not exactly how it happened,” she said. “I wanted to put all three in trust to the Order of the Ael’Shanar.”
“You and your sister were the order!” Morgan exclaimed. “But there were three amulets, and two of you.”
“That’s why no one wore the Amulet of Balance,” Niv said.
“Exactly,” Morgan said. “Until your cousin Vorea went insane.”
“That doesn’t make sense,” Niv said. “If I had the Amulet of Balance, and Mae the Amulet of Darkness… Why didn’t Vorea use the Amulet of Light?”
“Because Morgan stole it,” she replied.
“Stole it back, you mean,” Morgan said. “You’d better be thankful Vorea didn’t have an amulet, else you wouldn’t have defeated her. I discovered all three amulets. Your mother was so blinded by greed to possess them all, she weaved an elaborate illusion and conspired with other members of the order to have me ejected.” Morgan reached out to Aja, though she couldn’t touch her for the barrier. “I lost you, my only daughter, in the process.” Morgan’s voice broke. “Oh, Aja, I tried to find you. I searched the whole continent.” Morgan’s glare returned to her. “Later I learned Mae had you placed in an orphanage. By the time I tracked it down, you were already adopted.”
“That’s why you wanted to search the Masola town archives,” Adrious said. “You used me.”
Morgan shrugged. “Yes, Adrious, I did. I used you to help find my daughter. But you got something out of it, didn’t you? Your precious transcription.” Morgan winked at Adrious. “And a few good memories.”
Maeva Page 21
