by Janeal Falor
Sooner than I would have thought we could do it, the prisoners are all free. Now we just need to get ourselves, and them, away from this place safely. There's not many warlocks left standing at this point. As long as nothing goes wrong, we'll make it.
I join Cynthia's side, attacking the last ten or so warlocks. They are fierce and strong, hence why they are left. A burgundy spell comes out of nowhere and splices my leg open. I hiss in pain and throw a sleep spell back. The warlock puts up a shield spell before it can reach him.
We need another weakness, like the feet from before, but there's nothing left but hardened warlocks. The only consolation is that I don't see a single prisoner in sight. I only hope we don't become the new prisoners.
“Retreat,” I call out.
Cynthia gives me a quizzical glance but backs up to the hallway as the rest of them do. Once we're out of sight of the warlocks, I say, “Why don't we bring the building down, like we did to the law office before the rest of you joined us?”
“That was you?” Theodore asks.
I shrug, but inside I'm glowing.
“I think it would work,” Jack says.
“It would slow them down at the very least,” Tawny says. “That may be enough to get everyone out of here.”
“Let's get out of here then so we can bring it down,” I reply.
A dark green spell flies over our heads, explodes over us, burning us where the sparks hit. It stings my face and arms.
“Move it,” I call out.
Cynthia throws a purple spell behind us as we all file through the hallway. It's too narrow to move fast as we need to. Another spell, yellow this time, comes sailing at us. Before I can react, Theodore casts a shield spell, blocking the attack. It gives the last of us just enough time to escape out into the open.
It'll do no good to bring the building down. The others are already fighting off attackers, the rescued prisoners safely in the middle of them, trying desperately to hold each other up. I ache from the last fight. I don't know how much I or anyone else has left for a fight. But I didn't come here just to be captured. I'll spit on the Grand Chancellor before I'll let the Chardonians capture me.
I run to the front of the line while using my battle cry. Before I even reach the front of the line, I blast out a flurry of sleep spells, trying to hit as many warlocks as I can. Several fall to the ground by the time I reach the front lines. Only, the attackers like my idea so much, they're flinging sleep spells back at us. One hits a warlock next to me, but I don't stop until I've reached the front line, screaming the entire way.
My presence seems to re-energize my group. The rate they fling spells increases enough that the other side is back off. I turn toward the back and yell, “Bring the building down!”
I fling several more sleep spells in front of me, aiming toward the warlocks moving the fastest. There's a crash behind me. The building is coming down, power lines snapping. One comes flying our way, landing on the ground between us and the forest of our escape. I curse under my breath.
“Get away from it,” I yell. It could still be live and who knows how many of these people, especially the women, know about electricity. One more thing to add to the list to teach them. At least, after we get out of this mess.
Which gives me an idea. If the two are going to collide, we might as well make it as full on of a crash as we can. I siphon my magic toward the downed line. Before my magic reaches it, I will it to touch the line and shove the energy toward our attackers, then break off the connections.
“Run,” I yell.
Some are already doing so, but at the sound of my voice, the rest join in, many helping the people we rescued. We go around the crushed building, making our way around the fallen line, just as I make it to the building, my spell goes off. Or rather, the current of electricity slams into the remaining warlocks.
I cringe, wishing it didn't need to come to this, but for now, we're safe.
Chapter Forty-Nine
Because the people are so weak, it takes over a week to get everyone back to the cave, but there are no further problems with being spotted. It's a near miracle we make it without further delay. Everyone is worn and tired, but I would love to see the Grand Chancellor's face right now. To know how badly we hit him. We should meet with Nathaniel soon to find out how much damage we're really doing, if we're doing any good at all.
Serena and Bethany do a good job of getting the people we rescued settled. Each of them is paired off into a smaller cavern room with at least one other person that was here before. They are weak enough that someone needs to be able to keep an eye on them. A man comes up to me, the one I remember yelling at me the first time we came to come back for them.
“Thank you for saving us.”
My cheeks heat. “It wasn't just me. But I'm glad you're here and safe.”
“You are doing more than you know.”
As he walks off, a voice behind me says, “He's right, you know.”
I spin around to find Jack watching me, almost smiling.
“How long have you been standing there?” I ask.
“Long enough to know I'm not the only one who's had a change of heart because of you.”
“I've had a lot of help.” But my cheeks grow warmer. He leans in, and in front of anyone passing by, kisses my cheek. My face is now flaming, but so is my chest, in the best possible way.
“Katherine sent us both a message,” he says.
“Oh?” I try to collect myself.
“It seems you talked her into something.”
I grin, knowing exactly what he's talking about. “There's to be a wedding.”
“And we're invited.”
***
Everyone who matters is here. Katherine and Charles, of course. Jack, Serena, Tawny, Cynthia, Lukas, Bethany, and many tarnished who I don't know. Everyone except Zade.
My heart aches for my brother. I don't just miss him. I need him. There's no one like a brother, and he's been gone far too long. I can't even think on what he must be going through. I have to get him back. No more of this waiting.
At least, not after the wedding.
For now, it's time to celebrate. Time to give Katherine and Charles the moment they deserve. The moment we all need.
We're sitting on the ground, with the couple in the center, a tarnished woman standing next to them. I don't know if this is customary in Chardonia or not, but it's different than our ceremonies. Sitting on the dirt could just be because of the lack of chairs in nature, but the rest I don't know. Or maybe they like to sit in dirt for weddings.
Then again, I don't know what the engagement ceremony was like, but Serena despised it so much she would never talk about it. Just clams up whenever I bring the topic up. I would think wedding ceremonies would be the same. Maybe here and now they are beginning a new tradition. A new way of marrying two people.
Charles and Katherine look so happy, beaming at each other. They are different too. Never before have I seen a tarnished get married. Katherine is still shaving her head, tattoos across both her and Charles’ faces. It's so much a part of them. I only notice when I stop to think about it. Both are wearing nice clothes but not spelled like an Envadi's would be. Simple dark green breeches and white shirts for them both. Elegant material made up simply, but beautifully.
“Does anyone have any words of wisdom for the bride and groom before we start?” the tarnished woman next to them says, her voice clear. It's harder to tell because of her tarnished state, but she looks older, like she might have gray hair if she still had hair. She's dressed in bright colors, an orange skirt and a bright pink shirt.
No one says anything. Even if I could think of something, I'd remain silent. All my advice can be given in private. Not that I have any more to give now that she's taken my advice to get married. That's the best I could do.
“Never take advantage of having each other,” Serena says, her voice cracking with emotion. “Enjoy each moment.”
I swipe away the tears
that trickle down. Serena would know better than anyone else just how important those words are. I scoot closer to Jack, wishing it could be any other way.
“Charles,” a male tarnished says, “Remember that your wife is always right.”
There's a small amount of laughter through the crowd. Not enough to break the peace of the moment, but enough to bring back the spirit of happiness.
“Always say you’re sorry when you've made a mistake,” a female tarnished says. “No matter how small, you'll be happier in the long run if you admit your wrong doings and work to fix them.”
“Never go to bed angry,” a female tarnished says.
“Tell him exactly what you're feeling and thinking, Katherine,” a male tarnished says. “Us men can be dull-witted when it comes to guessing. You need to spell it out for us.”
Katherine's grin grows at this as she gives him a nod.
Silence follows.
“Doe anyone else have any words to add?” the standing tarnished asks.
No one speaks up.
“Well then, as mother of the groom,” there are several gasps from the tarnished, “I think it’s only fitting I do so.”
Katherine's grin beams even brighter as she looks at her future mother-in-law.
“Cherish each other,” the tarnished woman continues. “No matter what's to come, take care of one another and value each moment you have together. Have you any words for each other?”
Katherine leans forward and whispers something in Charles’s ear. He kisses her on the cheek and the replies in a voice lower than we can hear. The two look so perfect together, happy and wonderful as they share words meant only for them.
Jack grabs my hand. I glance up at him, surprise reverberating through me. Who knew such a tough guy could be a romantic? I lean toward him, resting my head on his shoulder as the ceremony continues. Peace settles through me, more than I've felt in the years since I've come to Chardonia. I'm surprised to realize, I'm content.
“May we all remember this day,” the woman says, “the love of this couple and strive to spread its warmth throughout all of Chardonia.”
The thought strengthens me, making me want to do what she says. To share this bright light burning inside me. To help others see like Jack has seen. We may be making war with the Grand Chancellor, but we're bringing kindness and love to everyone else. Like all those we've saved from power plants, hunger, and torture.
We've all done much more than we thought we could.
Chapter Fifty
The wedding is a memory I will always cherish, but we can't linger on it. There's a war to plan.
“I think we're ready,” I say to the core group of leaders. “We need to attack now that we've weakened key players and places.”
“Do you really think we can win this?” Annabelle asks.
“Maybe,” Theodore says. “If we do it right.”
“We will win,” I say, hope a bright flame inside me.
“She's right,” Jack says. “I think now would be the best time to attack the Grand Chancellor's home.”
“We need to attack with everything we have.”
“Don't you think it's a little dangerous to be putting everything we have into this one battle? If we lose—” Bethany says.
“We won't lose,” Chadwick says. “Not if we put everything we have into it.”
Serena replies, “But if we do, there's more than just us at stake.”
I put an arm around her. “Which is why we have to win.”
“And we can win,” Tawny says. “It won't be easy, but we can do it. We will bring down the Grand Chancellor.”
“I'm scared,” Bethany says.
I move to her side and slip my arm around her like I just did to Serena. “I know. I am too. I think we all are. But this is something we can take on. Something we're past ready to do. We can't let the Grand Chancellor go on ruling the country the way he has been.”
She lets out a shaky breath and nods.
“She's right,” Jack says. “We can win this if everyone is behind us. We can finally put an end to the Grand Chancellor's tyranny.”
“How do we win?” Annabelle, sounding resigned.
“Let me go over the plan,” I reply, eager to finally put it in the works.
***
“Are you ready for this?” I ask Serena, Cynthia, Tawny, and Bethany.
Bethany's eyes are wide as if she's still scared, but she nods. It's just as well. I'm scared, too.
“More than ready,” Cynthia says.
“Honestly,” Serena says. “I'm frightened. It's going to be a dangerous job, but it needs to be done.”
“Agreed.” I try not to bite my nails. It's a habit I've never gotten into, and I'm not about to start now.
“I'm past ready,” Tawny says. “If my people knew how bad this was, they'd be here at our side. At least more than are already here.”
“Your people?” Serena questions.
“She means our people.” I give Tawny a look. “The Envadi. Just think how wonderful it would be to see the faces of those with the Grand Chancellor if a bunch of barbarians were joining you in the attack.”
“That would scare them good.” Serena smiles. “I remember how scared I was the first time I saw Zade.” Her grin fades.
“We'll get to him,” I say. “We'll get there, and he'll be just as safe as can be. Only bored out of his mind from sitting around so long and thrilled to see us.”
She nods, but the doubt in her eyes matches the doubt in my heart. I don't know that the Grand Chancellor would really just let him sit around. But I've learned more about healing than I used to know. As soon as I can, I'll heal him up as best I can. If we can get him good enough to go home, we'll buy him the best healers in Envado. I only hope his injuries aren’t too severe. I hold onto that thought. The Grand Chancellor wanted to show off his death at the next tournament. He has to have left him in good enough shape to be there.
And maybe my fears are wrong. Maybe the Grand Chancellor is treating him better than I thought. Unlikely though it may be, maybe there is reason to hope.
We're silent after that, all lost in our own thoughts, fears, and hopes. Time passes, what seems like an infinite amount of time, but it does move. Eventually, Lukas comes for Cynthia. They are darling together. But from the look in Serena's eye, I know she's missing Zade. They should have been married by now instead of being separated by a sadistic lunatic.
“We'll see him soon,” I whisper to her.
Her mouth pinches together like she's trying to keep from crying out, but she nods. It takes several hours to form a plan of attack. One I hope will win us the day, but with backup plans in case it doesn't. With any luck, we'll be seeing Daniel and Zade in the near future.
Chapter Fifty-One
This is it. It’s finally time to take down the Grand Chancellor. We will not just meet him on his own territory, but we will smash him. And then, we'll save Zade and Daniel.
There's no hiding this time. No cowering behind bushes or running from guards. It’s just us, straight up, ready to attack. We're numbered many more than the guards and servants the Grand Chancellor keeps. With a little help from Nathaniel on the inside, the Grand Chancellor isn't going to know what hit him.
I'm in the front of the line at the Grand Chancellor's house, ready, next to Jack. To one side is Cynthia, Lukas, Chadwick, Katherine, and Charles. Those two are the only tarnished present. On the other side of me are Serena and Annabelle, the former with a gun in hand, and both with the fierce look of a determined warrior on their faces. I would not want to be the person standing between them and those they love. It will be dire.
No holding back. No waiting for an attack. It's just us, ready to charge ahead.
“Before we do this,” Jack says for my ears alone. “I want you to know something.”
“What is it?”
“I think I've fallen in love with you.”
“And I think I've fallen in love with you.”
&nb
sp; I don't know who starts the kiss first. We both move toward each other like we're the only thing in the world, and we won't let anything stop us from being together. From kissing.
His lips are on mine, and I kiss him back with all the energy and feelings I have for him. It moves through me, filling me with peace even amidst the war. But the peace quickly turns into something more. A blaze building through me. Consuming me. It's like being in the midst of thousands of firework spells, all reaching toward a grand finale more spectacular than any before it.
When our lips finally part, it's with great hesitance. I'd much rather go on kissing him then do what needs to be done. But we are needed.
As the world comes back into focus, those around us are grinning at us. But it doesn't last. Not now. Not when blood is what's to come.
We grab hands, and I savor the final moments we may have together. Our group must have finally been noticed from the inside because the guard is spreading out on the front lawn.
“Let's go to war,” I call out.
Behind us, the world fills with war cries. The type of war cries that say they've never been to war before, but they're ready to give all they have for a freedom that's been ripped from them. A freedom we're about to take back.
I step forward, and the others follow. All six hundred of them. There's only a few who aren't here, like Phyllis who refused to come and Pernilla who's taking care of the babies. Everyone else is a group of rage at what's been done to them. The moment we've worked toward, the freedom I've wanted for Chardonia, is about to finally happen.
