Thinning his lips, Draben fought against his better sense and scowled at the fellow thymord. “For the record, when everyone asks what went wrong with this, I’m telling them it was totally your idea.”
A sly smile slid across Jethcal’s lips, but he said nothing as he turned to the darkened cell and pressed a button, brightening the room.
A shrill shriek pierced the corridor, and something slammed into the glass, causing Reven and Draben to instinctively duck, look around to make sure nothing had escaped, and finally they fixed their gaze on the now-lit room where they could hear a swooshing sound.
However, darkness still filled the room, but it looked to be tangible.
Draben touched the glass as if to touch the darkness in the air, but he thought better of it and withdrew his hand. He took an extra step back too and lowered himself into a fighting stance. “Where is it?”
Jethcal stood calmly in front of the cell with his hands tucked behind his back. He stared at the blackness within the room and listened to the occasional swooshing. “It’s hiding itself. I’m sure you are aware Anicocinas can teleport.” He shifted his gaze to the two thymords. “When they do so, they vanish in a cloud of black dust.” He set his gaze on the cell once more. “Usually it dissipates after a few seconds, but since it is trapped in such a small space, it creates that darkness.” He nodded to it.
“Thankfully the cell blocks it from teleporting out,” Reven muttered under her breath.
Still watching all of this, Draben shook his head. “Um...Jethcal? What’s your grand plan to keep it from teleporting away if we try to get it to accompany us?”
“They can’t teleport offworld. That is why we will have to take it through a World Orb.”
Draben crossed his arms. “I am not holding that thing’s hand as we pass through the portal.”
Jethcal chuckled but stepped toward the cell. “Celintath! I come to offer you a proposition.” The swooshing sound inside the cell silenced, and for a long moment, no sound was heard.
Finally, a deep voice spoke which reminded them of an insect. “Humans lie.”
“What if we were to offer you the opportunity to go back home?” Jethcal remained unperturbed by the Anicocina’s words.
A growl rumbled through the blackness of the cell, and again the voice repeated, “Humans lie.”
Jethcal shook his head. “I have no reason to lie. You do as we request, and we will finally release you. You’ve been here for what? Four hundred, five hundred years? Wouldn’t you like to go home?” He tilted his head to the side as he watched the darkness swirling within the cell. If the Anicocina refused to listen, he would be forced to take matters into his own hands, but Jethcal didn’t want to do that just yet.
Convinced this was still a bad idea, Reven caught Draben’s gaze, and the two of them stepped away from Jethcal and the cell. They didn’t want to be caught in the crossfire in case the Anicocina decided to display its full range of power.
A clicking sound echoed in the chamber—the sound of clawed footsteps, pacing back and forth, slowly but deliberately, like a predator measuring its prey. “Humans come. They speak good words, yet they lie!” It hissed the word ‘lie’. “They enslaved us, never released us.” And then its voice came dangerously close to the glass, yet the blackness in the chamber was so dark, no form could be seen. “Why should I believe you?”
“We’re not the ones who originally enslaved you.” Reven tried to reason with it.
“You’ve kept me here—all this time,” it shot back with a rumbling voice.
“Allow us to remedy that,” Jethcal spoke up. “You come with us, and you don’t even have to do anything.” He moved to the door of the cell and began typing in the code to unlock it, but Reven stepped up to him and grabbed his forearm, looking at him with wild eyes.
“What do you think you’re doing? It can rip your heart out if it wants to!”
Jethcal gave her a patient look. “I need it to trust me, so I need to show my trust for it.”
Remaining far away from the potential situation, Draben hugged his arms close to himself and shook his head, taking another step back. “Stupidity. This is a recipe for pure and simple stupidity.” Then he paused and thought for a moment. “Hey, when you die, can I rummage through your stuff? You know, take a few of your jackets and outfits? I’ve gotta say, you do have style.”
Jethcal just glared at him over his shoulder. “You’re shorter than me. I doubt anything I have would fit—in any capacity.”
“Hey, don’t doubt my ability—”
“Will you two shut up?” Reven hissed at them and glared. Then she set her gaze firmly upon Jethcal. “You sure about this?” She removed her hand from his arm.
He smiled at her. “I don’t see you volunteering.”
“That’s because she’s not stupid!” Draben said from behind them, earning a glare from both of them.
Finally, Jethcal nodded with confidence. “Felhelm trusted me to do whatever was necessary to contain this situation, and we need the Anicocina to make this happen. It will simplify a lot of things—”
“You and I have very different definitions of ‘simplify’,” Draben spoke up.
Ignoring Draben, Jethcal fastened his gaze on the keypad as he finished typing in the code. Immediately the gauntlet of his handblade scaled over his hand, and he made a fist then looked at Reven. “Lock the door behind me.” With that, he set his gaze ahead as the door opened, and he stepped into the darkness, disappearing.
Only the voices of Jethcal and the creature could be heard.
“If we’re successful, we’ll release you,” Jethcal said.
Another growl rippled through the darkness. “Always the same lie.”
“Not exactly,” Jethcal countered. “Last time, the humans urged you to fight their wars. We are not asking that now. All we need is for you to merely stand there. All we need is your presence. You don’t have to do anything.”
An insect sound scurried through the blackness.
Booted footsteps and the clicking sound of clawed footsteps moved around the chamber, careful to avoid one another.
Draben finally stepped closer to the chamber once Reven locked the door behind Jethcal, and he caught Reven’s gaze then whispered, “Of all the crazy thing Jethcal has done, this is the craziest!”
“Says the man who stood on a planet until the last possible moment before it was struck with an asteroid before he teleporting off-planet.” Reven arched a brow but then shook her head, crossed her arms, and watched this confrontation.
“Hey, that had been a good bet! I got you those diamonds!” Draben argued.
“I didn’t ask for diamonds. Now be quiet!” Reven hushed him then listened to what else Jethcal would say to the Anicocina.
Jethcal’s voice sounded once more. “So what say you? Do you agree to come? Or have you grown so used to your prison that you do not wish to venture out?” When the Anicocina did not respond but only growled once more, Jethcal decided he had had enough. He willed his handblade to unsheathe and held up the blade, watching as the black air was sucked into the blade.
The blackness began to fade in the chamber, slowly revealing a tall, dark creature in the center of the room. Draben and Reven stepped back at the sight, but they allowed their eyes to feast on this fascinating creature which they had only seen in holographic documentaries in the Archives. Wearing a strange, black, tattered cloak, it towered over Jethcal. It appeared to wear a hood, but Reven knew the hood was actually part of the Anicocina itself. Its face was hidden by the shadows of the hood. Its shoulders were wide, but it seemed to hunch forward a little as if it preferred to be on all fours rather than standing upright. It hissed at Jethcal with an otherworldly shriek, and it stalked away from him. As it moved, Reven noticed its feet were clawed.
Reven took a deep breath and squared her shoulders, ready for anything.
Jethcal saw how the Anicocina responded to him, and he nodded. He knew it didn’t fear him but rathe
r his unsheathed handblade, yet this would work for him. “You will come with us, and I will see to it you return to Anicoce—to whatever you may find there. Otherwise...” He lifted his hand to inspect the blade. “I believe your usefulness here has come to an end, and I will dispatch you immediately. Which will it be?”
The Anicocina stood before Jethcal. The shadows of its hood concealed its face, but thin silver eyes glowed within the darkness. It growled again.
The thymords waited for its answer.
34
Lorrek magicked into Nirrorm immediately beside Skelton. They stood on a balcony overlooking the activities in the High Court, and Skelton jumped at Lorrek’s sudden appearance, only to calm down when he realized who it was. Skelton shot him a sharp glare before leaning back over the railing to stare down.
With his face void of any expression, Lorrek stepped toward the banister and looked down as well. He saw Moren on the throne as king, but on his right hand sat Princess Mordora. Lorrek’s own mother and regent of the land, however, was nowhere to be seen. He narrowed his eyes at this but said nothing.
Skelton nodded his head. “I know. I know. I know what you’re thinking. You’re angry I didn’t listen to you when you told us to go to Serhon with the thieves, but I figured it wouldn’t hurt if Mordora came back to her home.” He shifted his gaze over to Lorrek. “And you’ll be pleased. Her brother, that boy...he didn’t immediately offer her the throne. Actually, he hasn’t offered it to her at all yet. I’m not sure if that’s because he’s greedy for power or because he’s actually smart. Not sure. Never been one to play with politics.”
Although Lorrek had been frustrated that Skelton hadn’t obeyed his direct command, he understood why the fellow sorcerer had made this choice and he couldn’t fault him for it. However, he didn’t think Skelton fully understood what they were trying to accomplish. “Where is Adonis?” Lorrek asked this question although he already knew the answer. He needed to ask this in order to approach the topic at the right angle.
Hearing mention of his brother, Skelton swallowed as he leaned forward, resting his forearms on the banister and clasping his hands together. His eyes remained on Mordora as he took a deep breath. “She turned him into stone. He’s in the forest of Talhon—somewhere.”
“And that does not bother you?” Lorrek lifted his brows, but his question earned him a sharp glare from Skelton, who pushed away from the railing.
“Sure it does, but so what? We can’t do anything about it. No one has ever managed to reverse the spell. Even if it was reversed, we don’t know if he’s still alive. There’s nothing that can be done.” He hugged his arms close to himself.
Lorrek regarded the sorcerer’s body language then met Skelton’s gaze. “So you escorted the one who is responsible back to her home and pretend all is well? Are you trying to earn her favor? What is your motive?”
Skelton scowled at Lorrek. “Why do I need a motive? I’m just trying to help her—”
“After she took your brother from you, why would you do that?”
“Because everyone uses her!” Skelton almost exclaimed, but he forced himself to quiet his voice, though he clenched his teeth. “And I don’t want to be like everyone else!”
“Why is that?”
“Why does it matter?”
Lorrek took a step closer to Skelton and had to credit him for not stepping back. The two locked eyes. Lorrek searched Skelton’s soul. “You care for her.” These words caused Skelton to break eye contact and lower his gaze, but Lorrek went on, “You have found a kindred spirit, and you wish to hang onto that.”
“I don’t expect you to understand,” Skelton snapped at him, but he knew there was no use in arguing. Instead, he glared at Lorrek. “I don’t expect you to know what it’s like to actually love someone. The things you’d do for that person so they would stop hurting...” He shook his head.
Lorrek thought of many instances where those he loved were in great straits and there was nothing he could do for them—Loroth, Therth, Atheta, his father, Honroth, Vixen, and so many others. He looked at Skelton and nodded. “I may know exactly what you mean. Nevertheless, Princess Mordora may hold vital information we need to reverse the statue spell.” Lorrek set his gaze upon Mordora down below. “I need her help.”
Skelton narrowed his eyes. “You really think you can reverse that spell?”
Lorrek arched a brow at Skelton’s disbelief. “There is a very real possibility, yes.”
“And what do you need from her?” Skelton jutted his chin toward Mordora, who watched the proceedings of the High Court and observed proudly how easily her little brother handled the courtiers.
Lorrek watched her as well. “I know the locations of those King Roskelem turned into stone. I need to know the location of all those Mordora has turned into stone.” He looked at Skelton. “Her reach was much more broad.”
“And how do you intend to get that information from her?” Skelton tightened his hands on the banister because he had a feeling he knew the answer, and he didn’t like it.
“She will give me her memories of each and every statue.” Lorrek remained cool and calm, and Skelton shot him a glare.
“You mean you’ll just take them? Isn’t that what you did to Princess Atheta? Look how well that turned out.”
Lorrek sucked in a deep breath and crossed his arms as he muttered under his breath. “I really wish people would take a moment to learn what really happen between Princess Atheta and myself rather than simply assuming all the rumors are true.” He had thought he had cleared all that up a year ago in the court of Cuskelom when he had revealed everything that had happened and had even relayed a message from Atheta herself to confirm it. Yet, he supposed only those who had witnessed that event knew the truth. Everyone else had the option of believing all the lies. There was no way to convince the entire world of his innocence, so he decided to focus on what needed to be done.
He glimpsed at the sorcerer beside him and clarified, “I will not take her memories. She will give them to me and still retain them for herself.”
“Why does she need to give them to you—of all people?”
Lorrek merely gave him a look. “Perhaps because I am actively seeking to reverse the spell? I do not see you coming along, as you would rather stay here and fantasize about Princess Mordora viewing you as a reasonable suitor.”
“I am not...!” Skelton began to protest but saw the knowing look on Lorrek’s face, so he thinned his lips and growled. “Fine! Maybe I am hoping she’d notice me—”
“An impersonator of pure magic,” Lorrek interjected. “A sorcerer known for his deception of others—especially women. I’m sure she will believe you readily.” He nodded, not at all convinced.
Skelton scowled at him. “It’s not....I mean...it’s different this time!” When Lorrek slid him an unimpressed look, Skelton wanted to punch him in his face but restrained himself. “I...I actually feel something for her.”
“Lust you mean?”
With a growl, Skelton grabbed Lorrek by the front of his tunic and pushed him back until Lorrek’s back hit a pillar. Skelton made a fist, ready to pummel Lorrek’s face with it, but he paused, breathing heavily with fury and glaring at Lorrek. “You’re solid now. I can beat your face right off you. I could stab you with a sword, and I wouldn’t heal you—neither would Mordora—”
“Moren would.” Lorrek smiled at Skelton, and his grin only widened when Skelton slammed him into the pillar once more.
“Will you shut up and listen? We’re not your pawns. You can’t just make us do whatever you want and take what you will. I’m removing Mordora from your game. She doesn’t need to be a part of it. She needs to rediscover her life here in Nirrorm with her brother.”
Lorrek straightened, ignoring Skelton’s hold on his tunic, and he met the sorcerer’s gaze. “And where does that leave you?” He asked firmly, so Skelton would fully comprehend his question. “You—a deceiver, womanizer, imposter. You bleach your hair blond t
o appear as one from Athorim. Do you even know the true heritage of Athorim?” Lorrek thought of the kelliph and everything he had recently learned of Athorim’s history, and it made Skelton’s deception all the more laughable. However, he shook his head and locked eyes with him. “Do you even know who you are? Who you are without your brother trailing you and fixing all your messes, balancing you out? Do you know who you are without all the deception? Who you are as a tainted magic user? As a person?”
Each question caused Skelton to tighten his fist on Lorrek’s tunic. He shifted his jaw, trying hard to remain in control. He hated Lorrek, hated that he could so easily get under his skin and irritate him, but he refused to let him win.
Leaning in close to Lorrek’s face and locking eyes with him, Skelton told him calmly, “I know one thing. Regardless of everything I’ve done, I’m still a better person than you!” He shoved Lorrek into the pillar once more but finally released him and stepped back.
Skelton’s words hurt, but Lorrek was careful not to let it show. Instead, he straightened his tunic and gave the fellow sorcerer a curt nod. “Very well. If you are so noble, then perhaps you can persuade the princess to give you her memories of her statues’ locations, and then you will prove your honor by accompanying me back to Serhon to unlock the spell.”
“How do I know this isn’t a trick?”
Lorrek just looked at him. Why would he think it was a trick? It made no sense to Lorrek. Nevertheless, he responded, “You don’t, but what other choice do you have? I need access to those memories. You already said you refuse to allow her to be my pawn and want her to stay here, so that means someone else must have those memories. Again, you also already said you do not want me to have possession of her memories, so the only person that leaves in the equation is you.”
Skelton stared at Lorrek, trying to think of a smart comeback but failing. He glared. Sometimes—a lot of times—he hated how Lorrek always thought through everything. With a sigh, he nodded. “Very well. I will talk with Mordora—leave the choice up to her.”
The Chronicles of Lorrek Box Set Page 104
