by JD Franx
“Like a trigger?” Max asked. “Say the word Kveysa and lightning appears?”
“That’s not inaccurate, but it’s a bit more complicated than that,” Giddeon said, letting the ball of electricity fade.
“Do you have to be able to speak the words, or can you just say them in your mind?” asked Ember.
“Most mystics have to cast their spells verbally. People like Kael, who are born during a Black Sun, are born with a cruus already, two of them actually. They don’t have to learn and train to connect with their power. Their cruus, though, is not just with the earth and with life.” Giddeon’s face darkened. “It is also with the underworld and death. The powers they draw through this connection consume their humanity in very little time. After so much as a few seconds in possession of this power, one’s sanity and moral sense are gone. One of Talohna’s few universal laws, effective since the Cataclysm, is that any child with this power must be killed at birth.”
Ember jumped from her chair. “That’s barbaric! How can you justify killing an innocent child? What the hell is wrong with you people?”
Giddeon realized he had little choice but to tell them of the vision of the horrors wrought by Jasala Vyshaan he had experienced twenty years ago. When he finished, Ember sat back in her chair, trembling, too frightened and disgusted to speak. Max frowned quietly through the story, placing a calming hand on her shoulder.
“I brought Kael to your plane because his birth was tied to a very old prophecy that foretold such days would return,” Giddeon explained. “We don’t know for sure who brought him back, but he’s already tried to kill you both.”
“What do you mean?” Ember exploded. “He’s my husband! He would never hurt either of us. I’ve known him since before we could walk. I will not stand by while you hunt him down like an animal for something you only think he might do.”
Max rose, glowering at the ArchWizard and his daughter. “You can’t even begin to understand the mistake you’re making,” he said. “Kael has never had an evil thought in his life. If you plan to kill him, you’ll have to kill us first, and I promise you that’ll be no easy task.”
Saleece stood, raising her hands in an attempt to calm the escalating argument. “Kael is the one who dragged you two into the gateway and he used underworld magic to do it. I saw it with my own eyes. I’m the one who cut off that energy to free you and bring you here saving your lives. If I hadn’t, you would have died at his hands.”
“He was reaching for us to help him,” Max said. “It was just instinct. He was in agony. I saw that with my own eyes. And I can assure you, Kael’s accustomed to pain.”
“He almost died to save my life,” Ember cut in. Her eyes glistened with tears as she recounted to them the events of that terrible night four years past. On finishing, she sank into her chair. “Does that sound like someone evil to you?” she whispered, before her hands covered her face.
It had been a long time since Giddeon had found himself at a loss for words. For the first time in twenty years, he wondered if he had been wrong, but quickly pushed the idea aside. Kael may have been a good man before he was brought back to Talohna, but as soon as the bridge had opened and he felt threatened, instinct made him reach for underworld magic, something a DeathWizard always did. It was already too late; the corrupt power would have taken root in his soul, eating away at any good that resided there.
Saleece broke the silence, addressing the newcomers in measured tones. “You can’t imagine the power he has now. It will be intoxicating. Especially for someone who has never experienced any kind of magic. Its effect on a first-time magic user is similar to that of the spirit lotus: euphoria, giddiness, an indescribable rush. And that’s when one is only bonded to the earth. How it feels when bonded to the underworld as well is anyone’s guess. Such power can be addictive for a normal wizard, let alone when that power is corrupted. He will want to use more and more, but the more he does, the more it will destroy the man you knew.”
Giddeon studied Ember and Max’s reactions to his daughter’s words. The two people who knew Kael best might be of great value when they did find him, if only as decoys so that he and Kasik could kill him. Regardless of what these two had to say, a DeathWizard was not going to rise to full power while Giddeon lived, even if that DeathWizard happened to be his only son.
He finally spoke. “I want to believe you both. But you must understand, we have seen what people like him are capable of. Most of it is so despicable that we’ve had to keep it a secret from the citizens of Talohna. We can argue all day, but it will get us nowhere. I propose the four of us try to track him down instead.”
“Why would we help you?” Max spat. “Are you fucking stupid?”
“We may get to know him through you. Perhaps you can break through the corruption—talk him down.”
“He’s not corrupted,” Max growled. “Nothing on any world could turn Kael into what you said.”
Giddeon smiled and said, “Then we’ve nothing to worry about. But the journey may present other threats. Can either of you fight?”
Ember wiped her eyes. “Max has been training law enforcement officers for five years. He’s the best shot in Washington, especially with a bow. I can fight a little, but I’ve spent the past three years studying to be a doctor.”
Giddeon furrowed his brow. “Doctor?”
Ember smiled in spite of herself. “Healer, I guess you’d call it.”
“Ah! Good. I’ll introduce you to Zefar Nadeen, the King’s alchemist, and his surgeon, Kyria Lynn. You will spend the next week learning everything you can from Zefar about our magical plants and herbal healing. Kyria will explain the physical differences between Humans, the Elvehn, and the Northmen. She should probably give you a crash course on the physiology of the Orotaq as well, in case we run into them. Max, I will introduce you to Kasik, our best warrior. He will see to your armour and what weapons you feel you may need.”
Ember eyed him closely, a frown of scepticism settling over her features. “Why the drastic change of heart? Five minutes ago you were ready to kill Kael at all costs. You honestly expect me to believe all this is to find him and help him now? I may be new here, but I’m not stupid.”
Giddeon had no choice but to tell her the truth—a version of it, anyway. It was the only way she would believe he was trying to help, and he needed her to believe just that if he expected to get close enough to kill a mature DeathWizard safely. “I told you both earlier that I was the one to take Kael to your plane. What I didn’t tell you was why I took him to exile rather than kill him straight away. He is my son.”
Ember gaped, speechless. Max wasn’t. “You’ve got to be fucking kidding me.”
“Saleece is Kael’s sister,” Giddeon continued. “If he has not been corrupted, we will want to protect him as much as you do. There are others after him, others who will do all they can to make him the DeathWizard they believe he was born to be. The only reason to bring him back to Talohna would be to take advantage of his powers. If we don’t end up having to stop Kael, then it is our responsibility to stop them.” Ember appeared convinced, as did Max, more or less.
“All right,” Ember said, holding up a hand to stop Giddeon from going further. “We’ll come along. At least that way Max and I can stop you from doing something that’ll hurt him.”
“Good. Now Saleece can show you where to get cleaned up. Royal court ends in a little over an hour. King Bale wants to meet you both.”
Max shook his head, his disbelief evident. “Damn, Giddeon. We’ve never met a goddamn king...”
“It’s not difficult. Be respectful. Address him as Sire, or as Your Majesty, and you’ll be fine. And no matter what he says about Kael, don’t argue and for all the gods in the pantheon, Max, don’t threaten him. The First Pillar will be with him. Any threat to the king and the Knight will act—you will die. Understand?” Both Ember and Max nodded, glancing at each other. “Good. Stay strong, think before you speak and everything will be fine. If we
find Kael and he’s not corrupted by his magic, we’ll do all we can to help him,” Giddeon said, smiling.
It wasn’t a lie, strictly speaking. He had said if. But Giddeon’s heart ached, knowing there were no ifs about it.
His son would have to be stopped.
As Ember climbed from the huge bathtub in the adjoining room of Saleece’s chambers, she fought to keep her stomach from turning inside out. The warm water and scented oil had felt amazing at first, but fear quickly replaced the sense of contentment. How could she meet a king in a dimension so very different from her own, a king who wanted the person she loved most dead at any cost? Wrapping one of the softest towels she’d ever felt around her dripping body, the memory of what Kael told her the day he was finally released from the hospital after being shot came to her, as clear as if it were that very day.
“This world hands us what it will, Ember,” he’d said. “We have no choice over what that is, good or bad. Even if I am leaning on you, I’m walking home today because you gave me the strength I needed to deal with this hand dealt to us. Whether you were at my bed-side, or at home, I knew you were always there. I will always know you are there...”
“I am, Kael. I’m here.” Taking a deep breath to calm her rattled nerves, she smiled. Even in another dimension, somehow she managed to follow him, to be there for him, even if she wasn’t always at his side. Always. No goddamn king was going to say otherwise, or stop her from finding the only person who ever cared about her.
“Ember!” Saleece shouted through the closed door. “The King’s here. The Queen, too.”
Pulling a brush through her curly red hair, Ember looked at herself in the mirror, smiled again. and pulled on the ankle-length velvet black dress Saleece had given her before her bath. “Okay,” she yelled. Lowering her voice, she added. “Let’s go meet a king and Queen. What the...?” Taking a last look in the mirror, Ember could see that though the dress hugged her hips perfectly and flowed out, covering her ankles like an elegant frock from the 1800s in her own world. From the waist up, however, the dress was a disaster.
“Saleece! Something’s not right here. Ah, help?”
“Can I come in?”
“Yes. Something’s very wrong with this dress.” Entering the bath room, Saleece chuckled immediately. Rushing into her bedroom, she returned in a matter of seconds.
“You didn’t put on the corset,” she said, helping Ember out of the top half of the black dress.
“I didn’t think I’d need it,” she whispered, covering her breasts with her hands. “I’m not exactly small up here.”
Saleece snorted. “The problem’s not you. The dress is designed to accommodate all sizes, but without the corset, you can’t fill the top. Understand?”
“Yeah,” Ember mumbled. “I always thought wearing a dress like this would be amazing. Like going to an extravagant ball or reception.”
“Don’t mumble, Ember, it’s rude.” Saleece wrapped the corset around Ember’s chest, waiting for her position it comfortably. “And no, this old thing is for every day wear in noble society, but eventually you’ll get to wear a ball gown. I promise, it’s magical, nights like that.”
“I can’t imagine,” she said, groaning as Saleece pulled the corset’s ties tight. “Can’t breathe, can’t breathe...”
“Breathe from here,” Saleece said, rubbing Ember’s upper stomach over her diaphragm. “Not from your lungs. I’ll loosen it some. Better?”
“Okay, much better.” Saleece helped her finish dressing and quickly combed through her hair one last time as someone knocked on the bath’s door.
“Mistress Saleece?” Giddeon’s formal house servant called through the door.
“Yes, Avery.”
“The king and queen are waiting. Your father wishes for you to hurry.”
“We’re coming. Tell my father we’re on our way.” Turning to Ember, she smiled. “You’ll be fine. Ready?”
“Let’s go.” Ember followed Saleece out of the bath and down the long hall. Admiring the crown molding on the ceilings and feeling the soft lush carpet under her bare feet left her with a sense of over-abundant extravagance. No expense had been spared building the ArchWizard’s mansion. As they walked down the massive central staircase with its gold and silver filigree railings, again the sense of wasted wealth struck her. The position of ArchWizard was clearly an important one, at least for appearance’s sake.
Avery waited for them at the entrance to Giddeon’s large study. Startled at the drastic change the study had undergone, Ember couldn’t help herself from staring.
Two high-backed wooden chairs with plush red velvet seats had been placed about five feet apart along the study’s far wall. King Bale sat on the right chair, his Queen on the left. A large man dressed in polished steel plate armour stood between them, his sword unsheathed, the point rested gently between his feet. Both of the Knight’s hands were wrapped around the pommel of the massive sword. One look instilled an unnatural sense of fear in her already-cold stomach. She realized it had to be the king’s personal bodyguard, a man who Giddeon called the First Pillar of Rule: The Knight. Her eyes drifted slowly back to King Bale. Given age in her own world, she guessed him to be around fifty, his long hair and neatly trimmed beard were almost completely white. The queen was almost the opposite. Lush, straight black hair disappeared behind her shoulders, and her bronze complexion made her brown eyes seem even darker. Ember smiled; she was everything one would expect from a queen. Beautiful and ten years younger than her husband, she was a vision of confidence and power.
Avery interrupted her thoughts as the servant cleared his throat. Saleece joined her father as Giddeon stood, and Ember noticed Max step over to her side.
“Quite the sight aren’t they,” he whispered, smiling. She nodded but didn’t dare answer.
Avery’s voice caught her full attention. “Your royal majesties, King and Queen Bale, it is my pleasure to introduce you to Maxwell Soryn and Ember Tollen-Symes.” Ember and Max approached the king and queen, stopping five feet away and bowing low, just like Giddeon and Saleece had showed them earlier.
“You may both rise,” King Bale said. “We’re not in court or in public. My wife and I merely wanted to meet and talk to such amazing new people to our kingdom.”
“Thank you, Your Majesty,” Ember offered, seconds ahead of Max.
“That being said,” Queen Bale said curtly, staring at Ember as if she were dirt under her shoes. “You should be aware for next time that making your king and queen wait for you is incredibly rude.” Ember noticed the king flash a quick glare at his wife.
Ember felt her temper flare at the blatant arrogance of the queen, regardless of the truth. “My apologies, Your Majesty,” she said, a touch of disrespect leaking through in her tone. “I am unaccustomed to the strange fit of your attire here in this world. It took longer than expected.” She got a nod from the queen, but nothing more.
King Bale cleared his throat, staring back and forth from Ember to Max. “Giddeon tells me that you both know our unexpected problem quite well. Kael is your husband, Ember?”
“Yes, Your Majesty. We have been married for four years, and—”
“No children?” the queen asked, interrupting.
“No, your majesty. We haven’t been—”
Again, the queen cut her off. “Well, we can thank the gods for that at least. We don’t have to worry about another threat to our world being brought here.”
Ember was shocked by the queen’s callous attitude. “I apologize, Your Majesty, if we have done something to offend you. In case you were not aware, we did not come here of our own free will and neither did my husband, Kael.” She hoped putting a name to the threat they were so concerned about would help them see Kael as a living, breathing person.
“Your very existence here is an offence, young lady,” the queen said, sitting up straighter. “Your husband is the biggest threat our world has faced in five thousand years, and by looking into your face I can t
ell that you will do whatever it takes to ensure he survives, which in reality means you will assist in helping him destroy all we hold dear.”
“Enough,” King Bale said, but the queen never even slowed.
“You said you were not a mother. I am, the mother of Cethos’ future queen. It is our duty to see she lives to sit on the throne, not die at the hands of a DeathWizard!” Ember opened her mouth to object but Giddeon beat her to it.
“Your Majesty,” Giddeon said, standing.
“Enough, Vyrenna!” King Bale barked, finally backing the queen down. Ember shook with anger, and thoughts swirled through her mind almost too fast to focus on. “You berate this young woman for wanting to protect the one she loves, for doing the very same thing you are trying to do for our daughter. This is not the way to find answers.”
“In our world, you cannot condemn someone to death for something they haven’t done,” Max said, his firm voice commanding respect throughout the room. “It doesn’t seem to me that you’re all that interested in answers, only a scapegoat for your problems.”
King Bale frowned. “No, Max, we are not. Under normal circumstances most countries in Talohna are the same as yours. But when a DeathWizard’s first act can destroy our world, we cannot afford to wait until the crime has been committed. Giddeon has told me that you are aware of Jasala Vyshaan and what she did to our world. How half of Talohna’s landmass disappeared, either sunk below the oceans or destroyed by volcanoes and molten rock and ash. We can’t wait. We won’t.”
Shaking her head, Ember couldn’t believe what she was hearing. “Then you will murder an innocent man because you fear the unknown. What kind of a king does that?” she asked, quickly adding, “Your majesty.” Ember smiled inwardly as King Bale blushed with embarrassment for a split second before recovering. She almost choked as the Knight flexed his hands on the handle of his sword, the chains on his gloves rasping against the leather.
