A Shift in Power (Shadow Claw Book 5)

by Sarah J. Stone

  “There's no life force in the basement,” Nathaniel said as they turned toward the stairs. He had sent a few pings out, but he was convinced the basement was emptying. “Ladd was lying. Or she's been moved. She's not here. She's not…” And then he gasped.

  As he rounded the corner, he saw what he never wanted to see: Eliza's broken body lying on the floor. Her eyes were open, and she was staring straight at the ceiling. There was no life force coming off of her.

  The basement had clearly been set up to live in. There were food stores, a kitchen table, a window, and a shower off in the corner. It was startlingly normal, but surrounding a dead body.

  “Mmph!” The old farmer that they had previously encountered was in the corner, tied up and gagged.

  Nathaniel rushed to Eliza, his voice breaking as Desmond rushed to the farmer, taking off his bonds. The man babbled, but it was clear that what he was saying was an apology. His eyes were filled with tears. He recognized his queen; he knew what had happened.

  “No, no, no!” Nathaniel brought Eliza's face to his, tears spilling down his cheeks. “No, this can't be. No. NO!”

  Desmond made no attempt to silence him this time. Nathaniel needed to let his grief pour out, and he needed to be with her.

  His heart broke for his former Tiro. It seemed almost surreal – impossible – that Nathaniel should still exist when Eliza did not. They had been together for so long that Desmond couldn't believe one could even speak without the other. They were pieces of each other.

  Sienna stood at the top of the steps, her chest heaving in shock. Desmond was afraid she was going to fall when she took a step forward, but she caught herself. On shaking legs, she went toward Nathaniel. Feeling her Maestro's grief, she put a hand on his shoulder.

  For a long moment, no one said anything. There was only the sobs of grief, the sobs of apology, and harsh breathing.

  Desmond wasn't sure how long they sat there. He didn't want to disrupt Nathaniel, but he knew that they had to get back eventually. He tried several times before he got the words out.

  “Nathaniel, she's gone.”

  “She's still warm,” Nathaniel cried. “She's still warm. If we had been only a moment or two earlier. If we had just–”

  “But we weren't, and we couldn't,” Desmond said softly. “You know that. You have to let her go. She is one with the universe now – at peace. You must accept that.”

  “I can't,” Nathaniel sobbed. “I can't. I can't.”

  “You have to,” Desmond replied. “I will help you.”

  “Apples,” Sienna said suddenly. It was such a random thought that they both turned to her.

  “What?” Desmond asked in shock. Her head was turned toward the barrel of apples near the farm.

  “Apples,” Sienna said, her hand extended. Magic danced on her fingers, reacting to the fruit.

  “Yes, but…” he said, confused as she went to grab one. “Sienna, no!”

  “Apples,” she said again, and turned to him. “Life. Life.”

  Chapter 19

  Before Desmond could stop her, she was dragging the barrel of apples over to Eliza's body. It made a horrible scraping sound, and even Nathaniel looked up in confusion. She was displaying an enormous amount of strength, her magic flying. She dipped one hand into the barrel, her arm reaching as she leaned over, and she put another hand on Eliza.

  Her magic flowed, and Desmond watched in shock as the apples began to shrivel. Some of them still had green leaves on them, being freshly picked. They turned brown and then black, becoming withered. He could see the magic flowing through her and into Eliza.

  “Sienna,” he warned, standing up. She was completely focused on the body below her, her teeth gritted.

  This kind of power was only talked about; it was only theorized.

  They could heal, but to actually transfer life from one source to another was impossible. Witches had tried it for generations and failed. Mostly, it left them drained, and sometimes, they failed. Sometimes, it ended up killing them when their own life force was mixed with the force they were transferring. It was past difficult and past advanced; it was impossible.

  Sienna grunted and wavered. Desmond moved forward, but she shifted away.

  “No,” she told him. “No.”

  “Sienna…” He was going to give her half a minute more. She was powerful – more than powerful – but this was impossible. “This…”

  “ARGH!”

  There was an explosion of magic. Desmond ducked, if only by instinct, and dove forward, catching her before she fell backward. The rafters of the house shook, and the barrel exploded. The debris fell everywhere, and Sienna went limp in his arms. His arm throbbed, and he felt blood running down it. He just hoped it was his and not hers.

  When the smoke cleared enough for him to see, he looked down frantically. She wasn't bleeding, but she also wasn't breathing.

  Across the room, a cough came, and then another, deceivingly feminine.

  “Eliza?” Nathaniel choked out. “Eliza? Oh, my creator!”

  Eliza's color was coming back, her eyes open, and her body already struggling. Eliza was never one to sit down, and she fought against Nathaniel's tight grip.

  “Oh, my creator!” he bent down, kissing her full on the lips. “You're all right. You're all right.”

  “What happened?” she asked, confused. His eyes were glistening with tears, not believing that she was really speaking to him.

  “It’s okay. Don't worry about it,” he said. “You're alive. You're fine.”

  “Nathaniel!” Desmond snapped, as he put Sienna's limp body on the floor quickly. The only life saving measures he could possibly do at this point was CPR.

  There was another theory about the kind of magic that she had just used, and that was that one life was traded for another.

  “Come on,” Desmond said. He could feel Nathaniel's presence hovering as he pressed down on her chest. “Come on, little one. Not like this. No, not like this.”

  The seconds ticked by, and each one brought a new sense of doom. Each moment that went by was one moment that was against them.

  “COME ON!” Desmond never got angry; he never rose his voice. But in this moment, he was close to losing his mind. She would not die on her first quest under their protection, trading her life for another's. That was the duty of a martyr and of a much older witch. That was not the duty of a young witch in training with so much potential in front of her.

  ‘Little one.’

  It was Nathaniel who reached out with his mind and pulled her back. Nathaniel, who hadn't wanted her, and had been so angry and so resentful. Nathaniel, who would have left her at school. And now Nathaniel, who was forever in her debt.

  She choked and rolled over, taking a deep gasping breath.

  Desmond slumped back in relief, placing a hand on her side to monitor her breathing, making sure that she was taking regular breaths without any trouble.

  No one said anything for a long moment as she recovered, taking joy in simple breaths.

  Eventually, Desmond gave her a tiny smack on the side.

  “Don't do that again without practicing,” he said, and she turned to look at him. He said nothing, but she could tell that he was smiling. Glancing at Nathaniel and Eliza who was sitting up, she, too, smiled.

  ‘It worked.’

  “Yes, little one,” he said, softly. “It worked.”

  They stayed another few minutes until Sienna could get up. She felt lightheaded, but she was happy with the way things had gone. She had saved Eliza's life. The queen nodded to her as she also got up, her arms wrapped around Nathaniel's waist. The Jeffroian farmer accepted Desmond's arm up, but shook his head when asked whether he planned to come with them to the palace.

  “This is…home…” Sienna translated slowly. “Stay here.”

  “But…” Desmond started, and then decided against it. Eliza wasn't acting as if this man was anything more tha
n a victim of the circumstances, and so he didn't take it too seriously. He knew the queen well; if she wanted to see someone brought to justice, she would carry it out herself.

  Eliza only batted an eye as they stepped over the dead bodies on the way out the door. Nathaniel said nothing as they walked out into the orchard. He looked shell-shocked by the situation, focusing on the craft ahead.

  “Shall I drive?” Desmond asked, worried about Nathaniel's shock. But then his former Tiro gave him a grin, and Desmond knew he would be just fine.

  “Not a chance,” he said as they reached the ship. He opened the door for Eliza in a startlingly act of chivalry. He normally was not anywhere near that courteous, and it made Desmond smile. Nathaniel finally seemed to be coming into his own.

  Before the engine was powered up, he dialed through to Mariah, who answered right away.

  “Are you all right?”

  “We're fine,” Desmond replied. “Everyone is alive, Eliza is with us, and we're coming back. Do you mind phoning in to the Jurors for me?”

  “Because running a whole planetary system isn't enough?” Mariah teased him. Eliza leaned over and took the com-link right out of his hand, which startled him.

  “Can you give me a report?” she asked. Mariah and Eliza had a long friendship, which was probably because of their relationships with witches. Desmond even had a suspicion that they had spoken without the men present, talking about their woes and issues.

  “Everything is fine,” Mariah said. “The rebels are settled. Sybil has given a report about your cousin's death.”

  “Yes,” Eliza said, “I heard the men talking about him being dead. Good riddance; I should have done it a long time ago.”

  “We all have moments like that, your highness,” Mariah answered. “I'll see you all soon.”

  “Indeed,” Eliza said, and handed the com-link back to Desmond. She then turned to Sienna, speaking rapidly in Jeffro.

  “Your bravery will not be forgotten, little one,” she said, and Sienna smiled.

  “It was easy.”

  “It was easy, was it?” Eliza teased her. “It didn't look so easy. It looked like everyone was in shock. Not to mention that when I woke up, a barrel of apples was ruined.”

  “No one likes apples anyway,” Sienna answered, and Eliza chuckled.

  “That may be your opinion,” she said. “Sit tight. We'll get you honored at the palace.”

  Sienna leaned against Desmond, watching the queen.

  “Nathaniel will want me now.”

  Nathaniel heard his name and turned his head slightly, making sure to keep the ship on an equal angle.

  “What did she say?” he asked. Eliza ignored him, speaking to the young girl in her native tongue.

  “Of course, he wants you,” Eliza said. “He hoped for a strong Tiro, and you are just it.”

  “I wasn't,” Sienna said. “But I am now.”

  “You always were,” Eliza said. “I think you just didn't know it.”

  “Does she want me?” Nathaniel asked impatiently, trying to figure out what was happening.

  “No, she's fine,” Eliza answered, turning around again.

  Even though they came in the back entrance of the palace, they were met with fanfare and celebration. The death of the queen would have been a huge blow to the system, and, in addition, Eliza was very well loved. She may have ruled with an iron fist, but she had a kind heart. As they walked into the palace, everyone bowed or cheered, reaching out to touch her and to bless her.

  “Had we not been here, I think the whole country would have been out searching for you.” Nathaniel said, resisting the urge to wrap an arm around her waist.

  “But without your Tiro,” Eliza said, quietly, “this whole thing wouldn't be happening. I'd be dead, Nathaniel. I thought that magic couldn't bring people back.”

  He swallowed. “Only the most powerful and rarest witches could even attempt such a feat. As much as anyone has known, no one has ever done that before. From the brink of death, yes, but with healing magic only. This has never happened before.”

  “No doubt she'll be studied for the rest of her life,” Eliza said as they crossed the threshold into her private chambers. Sienna and Desmond had stayed with Mariah, happy to be reunited, and Eliza was grateful for a private moment. She figured that everyone was so grateful that she was back that they would give her a moment or two to herself if she wanted. “Do you know what she said to me in the ship? She thought that doing this would make you want her. She thought you didn't want her, Nathaniel. You can't do that to a child.”

  “Argh.” He ran a hand over her face. “How could she…” And then he stopped. “I might have given off that impression.”

  “No kidding,” Eliza answered. “And she wanted so badly to be your Tiro that she was willing to trade her life for mine – likely for anyone's – just to make you happy. This is your Tiro, the one you are supposed to bring up in the galaxy. This is real.”

  “No kidding.” He leaned against the dresser. “Creator, I'm an idiot.”

  “Don't let her be studied the rest of her life,” Eliza said. “Don't let them treat her like she's an animal to be tested. She's a little girl, and she needs to be protected. All she wants is to be trained.”

  “I won't,” he said, raising his chin. “I won't. It won't be an easy path, though, Eliza.”

  “So,” she moved forward, taking his hands. “We'll do it together. Her language is weak. You'll need my help. Besides, she's a girl. You'll need help anyway.”

  He laughed at that, shaking his head. Eliza caught his face and leaned in, kissing him gently.

  It turned passionate very quickly. He pulled her closer, breathing her in. He never wanted to let her go; never wanted her to be more than arm's length away from him.

  These times were always the hardest. He would have to leave her, and he never knew when he would see her again.

  It was moments like this that he wondered if he chose the wrong path. How could he leave her here? How could he be separated from her?

  “I love you,” he said softly into her hair. “You know that, don't you?”

  “This gets harder every time,” she muttered. “But you have to go. Your quest is done; they will recall you within a day or two.”

  “If something happened to you and I wasn’t there, I don’t know if I’d be able to take that again, Eliza,” he said.

  “So, don't,” she said, pulling back. “We learned that today. You made a commitment to that little girl, and you must honor it. But when she ready is leave you, come back to me.”

  “Yes,” he resolved. “Yes, I will. Once Sienna is trained, I will never be away from you again.”

  “And if she doesn't make the tests, if the witch path isn't for her,” Eliza said, “she will always have a place here. This is her home, after all.”

  “Thank you,” he said, kissing her again. “Thank you.”

  “Go,” she said, giving him a little shove. “They'll be waiting.”

  “Mmm.” He buried his face in her neck once more, and then pulled back. “One day, Eliza.”

  “One day,” she said. “But one day isn't today. Go.”

  He reluctantly went, leaving her to change. Although it was hard to even be three feet from her, he was strengthened by her promise.

  He would be back to stay one day, and it wouldn't be long. But for now, he had an adventure to look forward to.

  Chapter 20

  “Are you packed?” Desmond asked her doubtfully. Sienna was standing at the door to her chambers in the Jeffroian palace, and her rucksack was nowhere near full. “Why not?”

  ‘I got distracted?’ She tried with her mind, but he pointed back to the door.

  “Go,” he said. “Otherwise, you will never see the things you brought again. Eliza is not a fan of things lying around.”

  “Where is your jacket? It's freezing out.” Mariah was on the other side of the hallway, rea
dy to take Sybil's arm. But as soon as she felt bare skin, she turned, scolding her grown Tiro. “Unpack it? Are you kidding me?”

  Desmond smirked, calling across the hall to Mariah. “It never ends, does it?”

  “Apparently not,” Mariah answered. “Where's your other one?”

  “Ah, Nathaniel is saying goodbye to Eliza,” Desmond said, glancing at his watch. “And that is all he better be doing, because he agreed to teach class in approximately fourteen hours, and it's a twelve hour trip.”

  “I'm here. I'm here.” Nathaniel showed up in the hallway, a packet in his hand.

  “What's that?” Desmond asked, confused. Nathaniel held it up, a smug grin on his face.

  “I wrote the reports,” he said. “Don't look so surprised. I can actually take the lead once in a while.”

  “I'm shocked. In the whole time I've known you, you have never written a report,” Desmond answered.

  “Doesn't the Maestro usually write the reports?” Nathaniel answered. “That's me now. Here.”

  “Why are you handing this to me?” Desmond asked, in surprise “These go to the Jurors.”

  “Can you proofread it?” he asked. “I didn't really do that part.”

  “Some things never change, Nathaniel.” Desmond rolled his eyes as Sienna came out of the room. “That's better. You have everything?”

  She nodded, and they all finally seemed ready.

  Eliza was waiting for them at the landing platform. She was in full regalia, surrounded by guards. There would be no tearful goodbyes here and no private moments. They approached her, bowing deep. She dipped her head.

  “Long live the alliance we have,” she said. “For I shall forever be in your debt. And you, Sienna.” She nodded to one of her ladies who brought forward a beautiful box. Sienna's eyes lit up, and she turned to Desmond, who nodded her approval.

  The box was opened, and inside was a golden apple, inscribed with the Jeffroian coat of arms.

  “My thanks to you, young one,” Eliza said. “Especially.”

  “Thank you!” Sienna practically hugged the box. It was heavy, and she stumbled. Desmond took it out of her arms, and she looked grateful.