by J. A. Comley
“Not to Galatians or Cosmaltians, but the Aurelians are biologically quite different from us. And they have not faced them before,” Naleiya said, sending a message to the members of the Order who were liaising with the Aurelians. They needed to be aware that they bore this natural weakness. She didn't explain how she knew, she just ordered them to pass it on. All too soon she would be unreachable.
“I have sent a message to warn your people of the potential dangers,” Naleiya said to Valana.
They all looked at the Aurelian as she absorbed this.
“Then I will follow you as long as I am of help. After that, you must leave me,” she stated, no fear in her voice. She had faced death many times. She knew well enough not to fear it.
“Don't be stupid,” Shaneulia said, getting up, colour back in her cheeks. “Drink this, it might help.”
The Aurelian eyed the green gloop with raised eyebrows. Eventually, she shrugged and drank the lot in one steady gulp.
Melor reappeared while they waited for the potion to take effect. “I have left the far entrance sealed, just in case. I will open it when we get there. After you—” He trailed off as he finally noticed the group huddled around the silver-eyed woman.
“Her hand,” Litzie said, a moment later. “It is almost back to normal.”
Valana reopened her eyes, bright in the darkness, the black rim and pupil standing out. “Potent stuff. Thank you,” she said, as Shaneulia helped her up, her strength returning swiftly.
Shaneulia beamed at the Aurelian Queen. “You’re welcome.” Then she answered Zerina with a shrug. “It is of my own making. I was trying to make a healing potion for the drodemion. For Kara. It didn't work on her. But I thought it might, here, because Valana's skin was decomposing.”
Naleiya gave a little chuckle at her friend's tone. Shaneulia and Markis were well suited to one another, forever experimenting.
“Quickly now,” she said, gripping both staves tightly, “we must move fast.”
The others eyed the dark hole Melor had dug with varying degrees of apprehension. Except Valana, her eyes allowing her to see the smooth, neat lines of his creation.
“You have done good work.”
The little creature sat on his springy tails proudly before darting in.
“Let's go,” Litzie said. The other creatures following her.
Shaking their heads, the three other woman followed them into the darkness.
They were edging along the smooth, black walls slowly, the wind tugging at their mantles, exposing flashes of those concealed within. Naleiya's heart was pounding with fear and frustration.
In the tunnel, Heny had contacted Flek again. Kyron was planning on leaving. At first, the party's spirits had soared at this news. It would make their rescue mission easy. But then Flek had continued. The room in which their quarry was being kept would soon flood with lava, submerging the cages the prisoners were being kept in.
That news had come just before Melor had detected drodemions marching past the gate. He had deviated their course so that they could exit out of sight of the gate.
We must reach them before Kyron leaves, Naleiya thought desperately.
A moment later, she felt Flek trembling beside her.
Then Biki spoke, translating his words.
“Kyron has left the chamber. He has put your brother and Starla safely out of reach of the lava. But the humans and Guardians are chained to the floor.” Biki's voice was broken, bereft.
“We'll get there in time,” Naleiya told her, picking up the pace, unable to quite keep the selfish relief out of her voice.
Above them, the sky burned red with the morning sun, but its light did not reach this land of perpetual dark.
“Stop,” Litzie said suddenly, as they were nearing the last stretch to the gate.
Everyone froze, straining their ears and eyes into the darkness around them. Litzie, however, was staring through the wall beside them.
Litzie's hiss was their only warning as Makhi Ditte walked out through a gap in the wall that hadn't been there a moment ago. He was swiftly followed by others. Almost all the others who had abandoned Galatia.
The spell which had created the gap sent a strong whirl of wind up from the ground. Naleiya gave her own hiss as her mantle flew up before she could catch it. She heard similar gasps from behind her and knew they were discovered.
Ditte's jaw dropped open at the sight of Naleiya and her band of women and odd assortment of creatures. The others poured out nervously behind, although few were able to get far enough past their fear of Kyron to bother being afraid of the glowering Makhi and sword-wielding Aurelian.
Ditte dropped his staff and raised one palm in surrender, the other hand he used to put a finger to his lips.
Naleiya levelled her staff at him, her eyes narrowing in hate.
Ditte gave a sad smile.
“Please, hurry, we won't harm you,” he whispered. “Get inside,” he added motioning to the hole he had created.
“I think he speaks the truth,” Zerina murmured in Naleiya's ear, her amber eyes taking in the terrified people.
Naleiya lowered her staff and Valana gracefully extended out of her crouch.
“What are you doing?” Naleiya whispered at Ditte, unable to disguise her disgust for the traitor.
“Correcting my mistakes,” he whispered as the others cautiously approached the hole. “We all are.”
“Not that we'll make it back,” a young Makhi murmured before looking at Naleiya. “Please remember that we tried to return. That we realised our errors.”
Without warning, Ditte was surrounded by a Verelios Beam. Naleiya waited, indigo eyes flashing.
“I swear that we have all abandoned Kyron. We have done what we could to sabotage his plans and perhaps even delay his departure a little. We are going to try and reach the Royal City but it is unlikely that we will make it back before he catches us. This will seal itself up in a few minutes, as magmus fire damage always does, here. Please hurry. Save our High Lord, our Princess Starla and the Sacrileons. Galatia will need them.”
“You see,” Zerina said as the light remained white. With only a nod for the turncoats she darted into the passage beyond the hole.
Naleiya released the beam.
“I hope you do make it back in time,” Shaneulia said earnestly. “We could use every one of you.” She, too, entered the fortress.
“Valana,” Naleiya said, reaching a decision, “the Guiding Stone, please.”
Ditte's eyes widened in hopeful disbelief.
“I don't condone what any of you did. But I believe you mean to help us, now.” She handed Ditte the Guiding Stone. “Try and get as far from this fortress as possible before you use that, but get home.”
“Take this, too,” Valana said, her blue hair sparkling in the small lights from the Makhi staves.
Ditte took the clay tablet and looked at it dubiously before meeting the silver eyes watching him.
“My husband, General Okano, can read it.” Then she smiled roguishly. “It will stop them from killing you on sight when you arrive. Hold it high.”
“Focus on the Hall green,” Naleiya added, as Ditte's eyes widened at the Nightstalker.
“A gift for you, too. All I can offer,” Ditte murmured, offering his hand.
Naleiya took it and opened a mental connection. With it, Ditte showed her the quickest route to get to the cavern. He had no knowledge of whether or not the way was guarded.
Ditte nodded and was about to motion everyone away when Naleiya grabbed his arm.
“And here.” She handed him the six Darkness Mantles, hoping they'd stretch wide enough for the large group. “They'll be of no use to us inside, but they may help you all get to the border.”
Naleiya could see the grateful tears in many eyes, but she knew her time was up. Carefully, she passed the mental bond that she used to keep contact with the Order into Makhi Jensula's mind. He would feel it, but he would keep the others calm. As her second,
they would be accustomed to his giving orders.
She jumped through the hole. As the wall regrew shut behind her, she looked back but could see no one any more. She hoped that they would make it back to the city.
They crept along dimly-lit passageways, always sloping downwards. Litzie looked through the walls when they reached corners to confirm that the way was clear. Despite the Verelios Beam, Naleiya still followed Ditte's directions cautiously, getting Litzie and Biki to check for danger and asking Flek often if Heny had said any more about Kyron's current whereabouts. Silently, the group continued into the softly glowing dark.
“I can't see through these walls!” hissed Litzie in frustration after a while, her long tail slashing the air in agitation.
Naleiya knew enough about cargons to know that they could create lightning bolts with their tail when angered.
“Don't worry,” Naleiya said soothingly, patting Litzie's head. “According to Ditte's directions, we are nearly there. We will just have to proceed more cautiously.”
Litzie eyed the black walls with distaste. Here, they were no longer smooth but run through with veins of red and orange. They seemed to be alive. Breathing. Still, she stopped swishing her tail quite so violently as they crept forward.
“Can Heny help?” Shaneulia asked hopefully.
“NoheisbusykeepingtrackofKyronwhoisstillinthefortressbutweseemtobeheadingforHenyanyway,” Flek said.
“He says no,” Biki piped up. “Heny is concentrating on Kyron at the moment, he is still in the fortress. But Flek says that we seem to be heading in Heny's direction. He did say he'd get as close as he could to the cavern.” Biki's fluffy grey body seemed to shrug. “I can check out the way ahead alone from now.”
With that, she turned herself invisible and glided around the next bend.
“No guards,” she said, reappearing.
Letting Biki lead, they continued to make their way down the passages, a little faster than was safe, but they had no time. If Kyron left before they got there, it would all be for nothing. Their last chance would be gone.
Chapter 24
The Cost of Freedom
“Your Majesties!” Makhi Jensula cried triumphantly as he entered the Hall. “We did it. High Lord Larkel is a genius! And your daughter, Duke Rother! Amazing. Utterly amazing.”
Without any further explanation, he bowed and then gestured grandly behind him.
Two young women entered the Hall. One was definitely a Rother, with soft, russet skin, straight, black hair and her father's piercing ice-blue eyes, and dressed in a blue tunic. She was supporting the other. She was dressed in a simple, cream tunic, the V-neck threaded through with gold. Markis squinted his eyes. That was one of his wife's tunics, he'd wager his axe on it. But this woman was not his wife. Her deep purple hair hung down to her slim waist, lighter purple flickering in its depths as she moved, her light-gold eyes were brimming with tears and her full lips trembled.
“Kara,” the King breathed, suddenly needing Markis's support.
Niden took three long strides. He felt a bubble of laughter rise in him as he realised that he was really seeing her. That she was alive and untainted.
“Kara.” He dragged her into his arms, laughing and crying at the same time.
“Niden?” she gasped, as he crushed the wind from her lungs.
He pulled back at the slight hollow quality to her voice.
Noticing the distress in his eyes, she smiled and laid a hand gently on his cheek.
“I am all right, brother, grandfather,” she added, as the King stumbled forward to embrace her. “It is like waking up after a terrifying nightmare.”
“How did you do it?” the King asked Jensula, stroking his granddaughter's hair, still amazed that she was here.
“I didn't. Not really,” Jensula said, shrugging. “The High Lord and Duke Markis had kept very careful records of all the tests they'd run on the samples,” he said, then he smiled at Markis. “Then the Duke found out his daughter, Lady Eltara,” he gestured to the Rothers' daughter, “and the Duchess were keeping a separate account. They had been trying to devise medicinal cures from the elixir and some Earth remedies. Eltara could get the mixture right and had made two vials. They were planning on testing them when High Lord Larkel is restored to us.” He paused, eyes losing focus. Then he stumbled down on one knee, hands clutching his head.
“Naleiya!” Medara said, rushing to Jensula's side. This was how she had been after creating the mental bond with the Order. All those minds suddenly pressing on hers. Only Larkel was powerful enough to bare it without strain.
“She,” Makhi Jensula began, his eyes widening in horror-struck realisation as they swept the Hall for a High Lady that wasn't there.
Outside, a sizzling noise began, growing louder with every second.
“We will go and see what that is,”Commander Medara said, ripping her eyes from Jensula. Naleiya would be fine and she had a duty to protect the King. The magic mirror Astria had created to view Kyron's approach was showing only a bright white light consuming the Hall green.
General Okano nodded and called for his daughter. “Thira. Thira?” he added when she wasn't beside him straight away.
Thira's black-rimmed, silver eyes were locked on Kara. Tracing her hair, her eyes.
“Thira!”
She jumped and was at his side in a few swift motions, the other warriors following behind.
“She looks like Falantha, sort of,” Thira said in wonder.
“Go on,” King Eldos murmured, not really able to care what was happening outside, eyes still fixed on Jensula. Would he get one daughter back but lose another, and all she represented.
“The High Lady has passed all mental communication to me. I now carry the Order's mental bond,” Jensula managed, cringing as he got to his feet. He shook his head as he realised that that was why he had been summoned to the Hall. He grimaced, his magic struggling to keep up with the demands of so many minds.
He turned back to the King, motioning towards Kara, and continued his previous point. “Naleiya sent me to look at all the research, to see if I could understand what Larkel was getting at. It was very similar to the reverse Healing patterns we use on poison. And—” He trailed off, still distracted by the idea that High Lady Naleiya was one of the volunteers the King had spoken about earlier.
“And it worked,” Kara said, her voice still sounding a little unnatural, a little rougher than her usual smooth purr. “The rest will come with time,” she whispered, holding her brother and grandfather's hands tightly to her. “The cost I paid to be free of that waking nightmare is the pain of having lost my child and, I have been told, my husband, too. I will find myself again, with time.”
“We still have one vial,” Jensula said, holding up a metallic syringe, still capped.
“We will keep it for an important target,” the King said, thinking that if any of the key figures in this battle fell as drodemion, one of them, at least, could be revived.
“I can suggest an important target,” a familiar voice rang through the Hall
Niden drew his sword at its sound. In one fluid motion he had placed Kara behind him and was pointing his sword at Makhi Ditte.
Commander Medara was staring between Ditte and General Okano with confusion and distrust. The Makhi's staff was still in his hands, despite her protests.
“What is going on?” King Eldos demanded, a hand on the hilt of his sword.
“They have returned,” Medara mumbled, still incredulous. “All of them, my King. Well, except for a couple of handfuls, including the Baron and Trent.” He grimaced at his words when Kara winced. From the look on her face, Jensula had told her everything about her husband, mind-to-mind.
“We have come to correct our mistake,” Ditte said, hands raised in surrender. “And Captain Trent will not return. He is a drodemion now.”
In the mirror, a large group of Galatians was sitting on the grass, with eight Aurelian warriors standing guard around them.
Niden didn't sheath his blade, but he lowered it a little. “Makhi Jensula, if you'd be so kind.”
Jensula nodded and wrapped Ditte in a Verelios Beam.
“Speak,” the King ordered.
Ditte quickly repeated everything he had told Naleiya, adding everything else he knew about Kyron and his troops.
“He speaks truly, my King,” Jensula spoke, sounding stunned.
King Eldos shook his head. “If you wish to fight, then fight. But you will all stand trial when this is over.”
Ditte bowed. “I don't believe there is a man or woman out there who was expecting anything less.” The light around him continued to glow white.
“Commander, please see that the returning men and women are armed and spread between our groups, after they have each been tested with a Verelios Beam.” Medara bowed and left, still looking like she would rather be taking them to prison, three of the King's Makhi following behind. “Acting High Lord Jensula, could you share this encounter with the other Makhi? I want no misunderstandings.”
Jensula started at the title and then cringed. Both Larkel and Naleiya were in Kyron's fortress.
“Yes, King Eldos,” he said, his eyes losing their focus as he sent out a mental broadcast.
The King turned to Markis. “Is there enough spare elixir to arm these new soldiers?”
“I believe so,” Markis said, bowing and running out through the doors, his son Eben following after, pulling his eyes from Kara.
“What target do you suggest, Ditte?” the King asked, his tone as hard as his eyes as he turned back to the disgraced Makhi.
“The Sacrileon Guardian, Beky, your Majesty,” Ditte said. “She was turned into a drodemion by Kyron. I asked Naleiya to try her best to get the Sacred Stones, if Kyron doesn't take them, too, but we still have one here. If Beky can be brought back—” He let the thought trail off. They all knew as well as he did what even one Guardian with her Stone could mean. If Beky could regain control of her element, Fauna, the ergothan would leave Kyron's ranks. She could even try to sway the magmi.
