by J. A. Comley
“We can catch him,” Gaby muttered. “I can get us as far as my Birth Tree by magic. Not even his fire could taint that place while I still breathe.”
“To what end?” Zerina asked, her amber eyes showing she understood Gaby's pain.
Before Gaby could respond, Naleiya spoke up.
“We can't catch him.” She raised her eyebrows when the Sacrileons turned on her. “You know we can't. Without the Guiding Stone, we must traverse at least part of the way on foot. Your Birth Tree is at least two hours' walk from the Northern Wall,” she added to Gaby. “So listen, if he thinks we died in that lava spill, then we have surprise on our side,” Naleiya said, thinking like her wife. She stilled a pang as she thought of her, knowing she might not get to see her in this life again.
“Where is the Guiding Stone?” Larkel asked hopefully.
“I gave it to Ditte. He proved himself under Verelios Beam,” she added quickly as her brother's eyebrows shot up in disbelief. “He and all the others were going to try to get back to the City to help. I didn't know if we could get to you in time, or even if we would get that far, so I gave him the stone, ensuring some help for Galatia and preventing Kyron from ever getting it.”
No one spoke. Starla watched their faces. The humans looked worried, their eyes still dark with the tortures they had suffered. All except Pierre, who was going on about angels again, staring at Starla. The others' faces were scrunched in concentration, trying to come up with a plan. Gaby and the other Sacrileons were all just staring at the destroyed wood, fury blazing in their eyes.
“I can definitely get us to my Birth Tree,” Gaby was muttering, her teeth worrying her bottom lip.
Starla jabbed Larkel in the ribs. He had been staring at Pierre, a look of concentration on his face.
“I already have a plan,” Larkel said smoothly into the silence, discretely rubbing his ribs. “Well, mostly it's the Baron's plan really.”
Rya hissed in a perfect imitation of a magmus. All the Sacrileons were showing their teeth.
“You actually trust that back-stabbing, traitorous, idiotic, son of—” Naleiya began.
“Whoa! It's actually a good plan,” Starla said, stilling Naleiya's torrent of insults. She had seen it in Larkel's mind and believed it was their best course of action, even though it did rely a lot on the Baron.
“Starla, even if he has changed his mind, like Ditte told me, he would never be selfless enough to actually put his life at risk for us,” Naleiya said, unconvinced.
“Just hear it out,” Larkel began, his eyes growing excited. “First, Guardians, I need you to make us Totality Shields. So that our magical signatures will be hidden from all except those covered by the same shield. Others' eyes will simply slide over us.”
“You're crazy,” Alli said, shaking her head, white curls flying. “Even if the drain on our power was acceptable, which it is not, we can't do it without all of us.”
“I can help you in place of Beky,” Larkel said. “And the drain to our powers is acceptable because we will get it back before we need it again.”
“How?” Lua asked, hovering a few inches above the ground in agitation.
“Your Stones. Now listen, please.” He waited for them to nod before he continued.“We will split up when we near the city.” He raised a hand at Naleiya's protest. “The Guardians will be with Starla and me. You, sister, must take the others to safety.”
“Safety?” Raoul said disbelievingly.
“I can fight. Pierre too. We were trained,” Antonio said stoutly, though his confidant smile slipped a little as he eyed his cousin, who was now drawing little stick people in the ash.
“And so can I,” Elise added, her face as hard as the men's, though fear still tightened her eyes. “My father, despite the trouble it caused, believed that both his sons and his daughters ought to know how to defend themselves by blade or bow. Starla learned with us, too,” Elise added, looking sideways at Starla and then quickly away again.
Starla sighed. She had seen it there in Elise's eyes. Starla of Earth, her bridesmaid and best friend, was as lost to her as the twins were.
Larkel took in the looks on their faces. There was no hint of doubt in their resolution. They had seen Kyron's evil first-hand. They knew what they were risking. He nodded.
“Okay, Naleiya will get you armed, then. And the twins to safety.” His eyes fell for a moment on Father Joe. Seeing the steely determination there, he moved on. “Naleiya, you must also get Astria to release the real Star. It will be drawn to Starla automatically, especially now that she has handled both pieces of the amulet. My group will get as close to Kyron as we can without him noticing. As soon as I can see the box that has the Blossom, I will summon it. Guardians, your task will be to summon your Sacred Stones in the same moment.” He turned to Starla, whispering in her ear. “Starla, I need you to wait until it is the only option before you unite your amulet and try to unlock it.”
There was some deeper urgency beneath the request, Starla tried to take his hand, wanting to know more, but he turned from her as Gaby spoke, casually moving beyond her reach.
Gaby smiled at the thought of taking her Stone back, right from under Kyron's nose. “They'll regenerate our powers almost immediately; however, mine will still be diminished.” She gestured at the faded flowers along her body.
“What about yours?” Fey asked the High Lord as he nodded to Gaby.
He looked over at Shaneulia. “I believe that little blue vial will do the trick.”
She grinned back at him, handing him the bottle in question, the one she had tried to give to Naleiya to restore her spent powers.
“It will. Every Makhi in the City should have some of these with them, too.”
“Wait,” Zerina said, her amber eyes still sceptical. “How do you summon anything without Kyron noticing?”
“My Makhi will cause a distraction. The Baron has said he will help us by pretending to lose control of his magmus and bump it into Kyron's, or some such thing. Starla, you will need to be in the front lines, by me, so that I can give you the amulet when the time is right.” His voice sounded unhappy with the idea of Starla being so close to the danger. His indigo eyes filled momentarily with fear. “As soon as the Guardians are controlling their Stones, I will raise my shield, too. The Baron's plan—”
“That plan will no longer work,” came a ghostly voice from the still-smouldering tree stumps, causing everyone to jump several feet in the air and the Sacrileons to raise their hands ready for elemental weaving.
Pierre grinned up from his stick people, “Welcome,” he called cheerily.
The two Makhi readied their staves. Zerina and Valana unsheathed their weapons.
The shimmering form of a robed Makhi appeared through the ashy haze.
“Wait!” Naleiya and Larkel cried, recognising Grolen, as the Guardians began to speak.
“This is Makhi Grolen. Ditte said he was staying with the Baron, but he wasn't following Kyron any more,” Naleiya explained quickly.
“How are you here and not with Kyron's army?” Zerina asked, mistrust burning in her eyes. Clearly, he had heard their discussion. What was to stop him from betraying them again and ruining their plans?
“This is merely my projected form. My mother was an Inagium. I have minimal ability with Spirit-casting, but no spirit self. My body remains with Kyron's army,” Grolen said. “I came to see if any of you had survived Kyron's trap. I searched from the fortress outward, looking for you. I must return to my body soon but first I must warn you.”
“About what?” Starla asked, standing close beside Larkel.
“Wait,” The High Lord said, raising his staff again as Grolen opened his mouth. A halo of light appeared on the form's head, a type of Verelios Beam that would work on an astral projection. “Now speak. And try not to lie.”
“Kyron has transferred the half of the amulet in his possession.” Grolen began. “It is now in a meteor of his own making. Nothing can touch it except for his mag
ic, alone.”
“So you came to tell us that we're all doomed and should run while we can?” Rya asked, eyeing the Makhi distrustfully.
“No. The Baron believes that Kyron will take this battle slowly. The spell he placed on you, High Lord, and its link to his stronghold was costly to him. The Baron believes he will wait, that he will take time to gloat and recover some strength through the deaths that will happen. He knows Ezira will be watching. He goes to fight her, next.” Grolen shook his head. “We know that, after battering the people with his army and demoralising them with his drodemions, he plans to show the people the half of the amulet he has, proving to them their imminent destruction and your failure. He wants many to join him willingly, knowing that it would break his sister's spirit and gain him more magically powerful slaves.”
His voice made Starla shiver as it whispered out of his insubstantial body.
“So I must summon it, then, once it is out of the meteor?” Larkel tried to clarify his role.
“Not exactly. Once out of the meteor, it will be under Kyron's personal shield.”
Everyone waited, staring at the astral form with hard eyes, waiting for it to offer them a solution.
“There will be a moment, seconds only, when the meteor is opened, but before Kyron's hand touches the amulet. That is your only chance, High Lord.”
The High Lord thought fast. “The Sacred Stones, how are they protected?”
The astral form smiled. “They are protected by me.” He turned to the Guardians. “When you are ready, summon them. My protection will not stop your Sacrileon magic.”
“Good, then this is what we do.” The High Lord was talking only to the Sacrileons now.
Naleiya drifted closer to the astral form of Grolen, unnoticed.
“As soon as that meteor is open, you five get your Stones. In that momentary distraction, I will summon the Blossom and throw up my Shield.”
Starla looked back at Grolen in time to see Naleiya move away and Grolen's eyes widen in shock.
“What about you?” Larkel asked suddenly. “And the Baron? Kyron will not take your betrayal lightly. Both of you may be in mortal danger once the plan is enacted. Are we expected to protect you both, too?” Larkel's voice still held an edge. Although he believed the Baron had decided not to fight them, he hadn't forgotten Redkin's murder, nor the fact that the Baron was still playing it safe, not really doing anything to draw suspicion on himself. Grolen was carrying most of the risk, here, just like Trent and Ditte had done before.
“All you need to concern yourself with is her.” Grolen pointed a transparent finger at Starla. “The Princess must unite the amulet.” Larkel twitched. “I will be beyond anyone's help as soon as the Stones are gone, and I ask for none. The Baron has said nothing about wanting protection.” His eyes flickered to Naleiya. “I believe he will do anything necessary, even if it costs him his life.”
“What would prompt that kind of self-sacrifice?” Larkel demanded, unable to keep the scorn from his voice.
Naleiya took his hand and showed him the vision Jensula had shared as they raced to save them. Kara, alive and free.
Larkel staggered back. Starla, finally grabbing hold of his other hand, had seen it all, too.
“My sister,” she whispered.
The astral form gave a last, sad smile. “It seems you already know the answer, High Lord.”
With those last words, the form vanished.
“No time for gawking,” Gaby moaned, as the others stared transfixed at the place where the Makhi had vanished.
“You're right. We know the plan. We must hurry. If we are not there when Kyron chooses to gloat—” Larkel left the words hanging.
Gaby put her palms together and cast a spell that sounded like a song.
Suddenly, they were in a different ashy landscape, one lone tree standing tall at the centre, its bark shifting between colours, though its shimmer seemed faded, as if it, too, mourned the loss of its brothers.
The other Sacrileons steadied Gaby and then gestured to the High Lord.
“Wait,” Valana said, interrupting them as they began to focus on creating the Totality Shields. “Are you sure we can trust them? They betrayed first Galatia and now Kyron. Their newly-found conscience might disappear as swiftly as it came,” she finished, her tapping foot raising ash from the ground. Traitors were something she was all too familiar with.
“We must trust them, for now,” Starla murmured, still reeling from the image of her elder sister, a drodemion thought dead and now alive and free of Corruption again.
“We can adjust the plan later, if necessary. For now, we go on what we have and leave,” Raoul piped up, his voice authoritative.
Everyone goggled him curiously. Then the High Lord and Sacrileons were casting their spell, before anyone could interrupt.
Starla and the others moved back to give them space. What was Larkel hiding? She watched him for a while and then turned away in frustration.
“Father?” The old priest was sitting on a blackened stump, lips moving in silent prayer.
He opened his eyes as she called him and gave her a welcoming smile.
Starla took a deep breath, preparing to tell him that she had forgiven him for lying, that she didn't hate him, that she was happy to see him again. “I wanted to—”
Lua landed beside them. “We're ready to leave.” Her words were emphasised by the two wind discs that suddenly lifted Starla and Father Joe off their feet.
“No,” Larkel said, grasping Lua's wrist, “it will cost too much of your power. Besides, these shields won't stop Kyron from sensing magic projected beyond our bodies. He cannot know we are there until the last moment. We must enter the City undetected.”
The discs vanished. “How will we ever get there in time if we don't fly?” she asked, clearly distressed.
In answer, Larkel pursed his lips and a strange, high whistling came out.
“I don't think they survived,” Naleiya said gently, recognising the call.
Valana's ears twitched to the left of the group, hearing things the others couldn't.
After a moment's silence, with Gaby visibly getting more and more impatient, a soft noise reached their ears, a noise of giant paws landing on the ash covered ground.
Huge wolf-like forms loomed in the distance, still slightly shadowed by the ash-thick air.
Seven vapurix lumbered up to the group, led by Larkel's alpha, who was limping badly, its hide singed, flank bleeding.
“Herio,” Larkel smiled, greeting his vapurix. He healed the deep gash and small burns covering its body. Naleiya raised her staff and healed the others.
Shaneulia was calming the humans, explaining to them that they were really just domesticated, oversized wolves, trying to get them to ignore the extra tails.
“Use these as harnesses,” Gaby said, briefly using her element to bring up some roots that had survived the fire. She bent them into shape.
“Just like with Lua's wind discs before, all you have to do is hold on to these harnesses,” the High Lord was saying after everyone was in place. “I have secured Davan and Orla to the vapurix,” he added to Elise and Antonio, who each had a twin lying in front of them, “so you won't have to hold them on yourselves.”
Raoul held the harness for his vapurix, Father Joe holding onto him around his waist. His chocolate-brown eyes found Starla's emerald ones. For a moment, he just held her gaze, then he shut his eyes and turned his head, opening them again to stare straight ahead.
Naleiya and Shaneulia rode together, flanked on the right by Zerina and Valana.
“Pierre? Pierre! He cannot fight like this,” Antonio said to Elise, looking at Pierre, who ignored him and continued to talk to the tree.
Starla looked to Larkel. He shook his head.
“We don't have the time for such a delicate Healing. If I get it wrong, his mind will be lost forever.”
Starla watched her old friend. It was as if his playful, childish side had become his only
personality trait.
“Pierre?” she called, an idea forming in her head.
He looked over and bounded to her immediately.
“We have need of your services,” she began, command ringing in her voice. “Will you lend us your aid?”
She ignored Larkel's curious look.
“Of course, my lady. Ha! I shall be your knight!” he pledged, dropping to one knee. “What is my quest, noble Princess?”
Starla only just managed to keep her face straight.
“They need guarding,” she gestured to the twins. “Will you accompany their escort to a place of safety and then remain with them until the battle is won?”
“I will guard them with my life,” he said, jumping up and looking around. “Ah! My steed!” He ran at his vapurix, which only held still because of Larkel's whispered command.
“Then mount your steed, brave sir knight,” she said, playing along, even as yet another burden of fear was added to her mind. How many more would she lose to Kyron?
“Are you certain he is all right?” Naleiya asked in a hushed whisper as the human grinned at the vapurix laying down to allow him on.
“Yes, I think he will play along. But try to keep him focused on his task if he seems to be getting distracted.”
Naleiya nodded and Starla turned to Larkel.
“We will ride Herio,” Larkel said, draining the blue liquid from his flask and then mounting the largest beast, pulling Starla up behind him. “Naleiya, you ride the second-in-command, Gaxis. Herio will order him to leave on my command. The others will follow you. You must guide him from there.”
Starla looked up. The Guardians were already hovering above them, ready to leave. Lua looked tired. The link allowing the other Guardians to fly without wind discs was clearly draining what little power she had left after creating the Totality Shield.
Larkel finally released the shield, letting it settle over the group.
Hidden within shield, Starla felt Herio's strong muscles brace beneath her and then he was shooting forwards towards the Royal City. She could only hope that they reached it in time.
***
Line after line of drodemions was now visible in the mirror as they slowly came to a halt before the towering Outer Wall. Everyone held their breath, waiting for the attack, the indifferent sun illuminating the grotesque figures as it slid closer to one o'clock.
