“You know I think I liked you better when you didn't know who you were. When did you get so stubborn?”
“Right about the time you gave me something to fight for. Shall we get a move on then?” He gestured for her to lead the way.
“Fine. But if you get killed, don't go haunting me like it's my fault.”
He made a noise like he was thinking. “What if I haunt you for other reasons?” He wiggled his eyebrows cheekily, earning him a punch in the arm even though she laughed. “That's better.”
“The punch or the laugh?”
“Both,” Cedwen said with a wink.
They made their way to the leigheas, where Zelene knew the others would regroup. She found them in the private room Isauria usually inhabited. They all wore various forms of traveling gear. Tate and Nolan were dressed almost exactly like Cedwen, complete with swords at their hips. Terrena appeared to have raided her future husband's closet as she wore a long black shirt with a gold belt over a pair of black lace up pants, while Rhaya was dressed more in the style of Adelphi with an earth toned tunic underneath a loose corset and leather pants. They all appeared to be waiting for her, save Isauria and Bianca, and she was met with relief and confusion when they all noticed Cedwen.
“We have a new addition to our rescue party,” she announced as she drew closer to them.
Nolan immediately reached out and clamped his hand around Cedwen's wrist in a sort of manly handshake. “Brilliant idea, Zelene. We can use a fighter on our side.”
Zelene turned to Tate, getting right down to business. “What were you able to gather from the information on the rebels?”
He blew out a slow breath and shook his head. “Not enough. With what we know, it could either be Banagher or Seoras out of the worlds we already narrowed it down to.”
Isauria slipped inside, looking pale and drawn. Her ginger hair was coming loose from the neat updo it was in for the funeral. “It's neither,” she said. “She's on Seirbigoine. I saw it.”
“Did you tell the Duillaine Banair this?” Terrena wrung her hands together in fear of the answer.
“Bianca did,” Isauria said and pulled out a large rolled document. “I figured we might need this.” She handed the map to Tate, who opened it and immediately began to study it.
“My father is arguing with them now.” Nolan said. “He wants to rescue Ariana, of course, but they refuse to take immediate action. They said they need a day or so to plan.”
“But Kellen has them now,” Terrena pressed.
“Then I guess it's time to go,” Rhaya said as she looked around at the commitment on each of their faces.
“How are we going to get out?” Isauria asked anxiously. “There are Siegwards posted at every entrance.”
“Leave that to me,” Nolan said. He reached down to the pile of cloaks beside him and started to pass them to the girls. “You four will be recognizable. Wear these and follow me.”
CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE
Terrena stood breathless in the center of the tairseach. She knew how the portal between worlds worked, of course, but it was something she’d never experienced before. It left her blood pumping harder through her veins and her eyes alight with excitement. She could still feel the power of every element tingling against her skin; the warmth of the bright light signaling their arrival was still pink on her cheeks. She had to resist the urge to skip away from the tairseach once they were all ready to move and begin their hike.
Getting to the tairseach proved to be easier than Terrena thought it would be. Nolan really knew how to sneak in and out of Anscombe, though Terrena didn’t know whether this should leave her impressed or concerned. The same could be said for Rhaya’s actions since the group arrived on Seirbigoine. Her sister moved through each member of the group, carving the same symbol into their hands and touching it with her power. Terrena recognized the rune. It was a square, with loops outside of each corner, and three connected spirals inside. Truthfully, she hadn’t expected Rhaya to know anything about the subject. Clearly her sister had been studying more than she let on.
Terrena glanced around the group warily, still uncertain as to how they were going to pull this off with so small and unskilled a force. Now that Ariana had been captured again, their chances of succeeding were even slimmer. Even with the Cynewards help, who had yet to arrive. The group had moved away from the tairseach in case anyone else came through, but the wooded area they were in now shouldn’t mask them from the Cynewards.
“Where did Isauria go?” Zelene asked, interrupting her thoughts.
Rhaya pointed to her left. “She’s over there. She’s trying to connect with Ariana again while Cedwen and Nolan are scouting. Give me your hand, Tate.”
“What for?” he asked skeptically.
“It's for protection,” she insisted before grabbing his hand and pulling out her knife. “Don't be such a wuss,” she teased when he tried to pull away again.
He sighed loudly and then willingly held out his hand, wincing when she began to carve a symbol into his skin. When she finished, he looked down at the top of his hand. “This is outdated.”
Terrena took offense to the condescending tone Tate used with her sister. “Those symbols aren't outdated. They are ancient and deserve your respect,” she chided. “What's got you in such a sour mood?”
“Because this,” he gestured around them, “isn't right.” He looked back down at the map in hand and the worry lines on his face increased.
Zelene folded her arms over her chest. “What isn't? Did you dial right?”
He scowled at her. “Yes, I dialed right. Unlike you, I actually know what I'm doing.”
Terrena rolled her eyes at their bickering. “Children, please. We're all on the same side here.”
“I'm not a child,” Zelene snapped.
“Then stop acting like one.” Terrena turned back to Tate. “What did you mean?”
Tate brought the map over to her and pointed to the west. “This is where the tairseach is supposed to be.” He pointed to the river on the map. “We're somewhere along here, unless I'm mistaken and that's just a creek,” he nodded to the river they had come across not even a mile from the tairseach.
Zelene looked over his shoulder with worry. “If you're right and the map is right, then what does that mean?”
He shook his head gravely. “It means that Kellen has so much power, she was able to move the tairseach. In short, it means we're in a lot more trouble than we thought.”
“You don't know the half of it,” an unfamiliar addition called out.
They all turned to find a woman approaching them, using Isauria as a shield. Judging by her attire, she was definitely a Cahiran soldier. Terrena recognized the emblem on the gloved hand holding a knife to Isauria's neck all too well.
“Lady Kellen will be quite pleased to find the Duillaine Ainnir practically on her doorstep. It's not every day we get such visitors,” the woman said in an amused tone. “Or perhaps I should just deliver your heads to her as a gift. Should I start with yours, dear? I think—” She made a strangled noise, a look of confusion upon her face as her grip on Isauria slackened.
Nolan twisted his knife deeper into her back. “One day, you Cahirans will learn,” he said and let her drop to the ground. “You touch my sisters, you die. It's that simple.”
Isauria threw her arms around Nolan with relief. “Thank you. I'm so sorry. I was trying to connect with Ariana and she took me by surprise.”
“It's fine,” he assured her. “We should probably get moving in case she wasn't alone.”
“I think that's a good plan,” a deep voice intoned as four shadows stepped out of the trees.
“Dad!” Rhaya cried out before rushing past Kenward and crashing into Raemann's arms.
“Cahirans travel in groups,” Kenward continued. “She will not be alone.”
“I knew you'd find us,” Isauria beamed up at Liam and made to hug him, but he held her at arm's length.
Liam gripped Isauria's shoulders and se
arched her face for any sign of injury. “She's lucky your brother got there first,” he mumbled before hugging her.
“Varrick,” Zelene choked, struggling to find air thanks to Varrick’s wrapping his arms crushingly hard around her torso. “Can't . . . breathe . . . ”
Varrick relaxed his embrace, though he still held Zelene close. “It's only because of Isauria's fear that we were able to track you.”
“The rest of you are surprisingly calm,” Kenward added, his arm pridefully around Terrena's shoulders. “You're very brave.”
“You're eyes are black,” Zelene noted as she looked up at Varrick. “That means Ariana is afraid.” She whipped around to Isauria. “Can you see anything?”
Isauria nodded. “She's still in the dungeon. They moved her to a cell, but so far Kellen hasn't been down yet.”
“That won't last,” Varrick said heavily and then pointed south. “She's that way. And she's close.”
Zelene pried herself away from Varrick. “Let's get going then.” She beamed at the Nolan and Isauria. “Let's go save our sister.”
It took no time at all to reach the edges of Kellen's compound. It was a massive square building only a few stories tall, but its sharp edges against the landscape loomed over them. They made it to the back entrance with the aid of the darkness still consuming the skyline, but their path ahead was littered with leather-clad men and women with matching swords and scowls.
“Great,” Zelene muttered as she watched the dozen or so soldiers move about. There was no way they could fight them without alerting others to their presence. “So much for slipping in unnoticed. There's really no way our small band of merry men can take on those guys without sounding the alarm. What now?”
Raemann and Varrick exchanged matching looks, anticipatory glints in their eyes. “Now it's time for some fun,” Raemann said and rubbed his hands together, smiling. “Gentlemen, shall we?”
Liam turned to Tate, Nolan, and Cedwen as the others began to creep ahead. “Wait here with them.” He silently eased forward until he was in line with his cohorts.
The Cynewards exchanged a look of affirmation before they all rushed forward, snapping the necks of every guard they came across in a flash until they were at the entrance to the building, which was nothing more than a set of wrought iron gates. Liam signaled for the rest of the group to join them.
Zelene, who had never really seen the Cynewards up against so many foes before, was clearly impressed as her slackened mouth tried to form words. “You really are badass,” she breathed.
He gave her a lopsided grin and ruffled her hair. “Show's just starting kiddo.”
Isauria closed her eyes, brows furrowed in concentration. “She's still in the dungeons and alone,” she said as her light eyes opened again. “I don't know how to get there.”
“Well, we know it will be below this level,” Liam said. “If we all follow Varrick to Ariana, it will be a bit obvious. The only hope we have of remaining inconspicuous is if we split up. Isauria can help guide us from what she remembers, so she and I will accompany Varrick while the rest of you keep a look out and keep the path clear.”
“Zelene's with us,” Varrick said in his usual surly manner that left no room for argument.
Cedwen stepped forward. “Then I am with you as well.”
“And I,” Nolan said as he stood beside the young prince. “I'm not letting my sisters out of my sight, Varrick,” he said, daring anyone to challenge him. “There's no time to waste arguing. Let's go,” he urged them before he darted into the building.
***
Ariana allowed herself to be marched out of her cell and back into the open area of the dungeon. She tried not to look at the walls, where the tools of torture hung ominously. She swallowed hard, one particular item standing out to her. The weapon on the wall drew her attention, and phantom pains shot through the soles of her feet, as though the whip that she couldn't look away from was slapping against her flesh once more. For all she knew, that treatment was in her near future even though she remained relatively unharmed—for the time being. She stumbled, and the unnamed soldier caught her.
“Why are you doing this?” she asked him. Fear rose in her chest, and she knew that there was no coming back from whatever Kellen had in store for her. She needed to understand. The alternative was to hate them all, and she couldn't stand that feeling. “Why do you want to kill me?”
The soldier was taken aback by her question. He was older than her, probably in his mid-twenties. His dark eyes were unexpectedly kind when he looked at her and his grip on her arm softened. “I don't. But I do want this war to be over with, and I know Kellen will be the one to end it. I don't have to agree with her methods to side with the Cahirans, my lady. The Cahirans don't want to see the lands suffer as they have. It's all well and good for the worlds with an abundance of power and resources that are able to negotiate with the Duillaine or other plentiful worlds to get what they need. But what of the rest of us?”
He approached reluctantly. “I have to chain you now so that I can retrieve Alec. I am truly sorry, Ariana.”
“What's your name?”
“Luciano.”
She held out her wrists to him. “I've seen what Kellen does to people who disobey her.” Lara's village flashed through her mind. “I wouldn't want anything like that to happen to you.”
“Thank you for your understanding,” he whispered, his face twisting with remorse as he locked the chains around her wrists. Keeping his head lowered, he disappeared down the hallway and returned with an unconscious Alec, with whom he was surprisingly gentle. He let Alec's feet drag across the ground and held onto his torso with one arm and cradled Alec's head with the other. Luciana lowered Alec to the ground next to Ariana, not bothering to chain him. “He'll be too weak to do anything when he wakes up,” he explained.
Ariana nodded. “Kellen's done a good job of weakening us both.” She held out her hand, trying to call a flame or water or anything, but nothing happened.
Luciana covered her hand with his. “Don't try. She'll sense it and come down here.” He hesitated and squeezed her fingers gently. “Maybe you should rethink Lady Kellen's offer. Side with her, and perhaps you could help to influence a change in her methods. Or perhaps an alliance with you would mean her methods would no longer be needed. Think about it.” He patted her hand and then walked over to the stairwell. He resumed his post by the wall, clasping his hands behind his back and holding his head up like a good soldier.
Ariana watched him for a few minutes before her attention shifted to Alec. He had been unceremoniously dumped beside her and was starting to wake. She pulled him into her arms, holding his head against her chest and stroking his sweat-matted hair. There were several holes in his tunic, which was stained with blood. She knew Kellen would continue this attack until one of them caved, and she wondered if maybe that time had come. Maybe Luciano had a point. If she were to help the Cahirans, she might be able to keep Kellen from hurting anyone else.
Alec's eyes cracked open and his breathing grew ragged. “Ariana?”
She continued to stroke his hair. “I'm here.”
“Are you hurt?” he managed to say. His voice was thick with pain.
“I'm okay,” she assured him. “My new friend Luciano here is taking really good care of me,” she turned her smile to the young soldier, but it quickly fell when she saw Varrick standing behind him with a sword in hand. “Varrick, no,” she cried out, but she was too late. She watched Luciano's eyes widen with fear and pain, confused by the blood he choked up. “I'm so sorry,” she said to him before he fell to the ground.
Varrick stepped over Luciano's body to get to her, and then promptly snapped the chains binding her to the ground. He barely gave her enough time to move Alec before scooping her up into his arms. “I've missed you, kiddo.”
Ariana pulled away from him angrily. “You didn't have to kill him.”
“You're welcome,” Zelene said derisively.
Varri
ck flexed his jaw. “Ariana, this is your twin sister Zelene.”
Ariana lifted her hand in an awkward wave to the redheaded girl. “Nice to meet you. And . . . thanks. For the rescue.”
Zelene lifted her shoulder casually. “It was nothing.” She circled Ariana, looking her up and down.
Ariana squirmed under the scrutiny. She wasn't sure what she expected to find when she finally met her twin, but she wasn't expecting to feel like a specimen to be studied and that was exactly how Zelene looked at her. Ariana finally threw her hands up in the air before clapping them onto her hips, exasperated at the look she was getting. “What?”
“Yup, I'm definitely the pretty one,” Zelene said before a playful smirk crept across her face. She turned around to the handsome young man behind her. “But just to be sure, what do you think, Cedwen?”
His bright eyes widened, a mixture of amusement and dread in them. “I think that's a trick question if I ever heard it.” He reached out his hand for Ariana to shake and then helped Alec to his feet. “I'm Cedwen. Nice to rescue you. And meet you. We should probably just skip the pleasantries and get out of here.”
“That sounds like a good plan,” Isauria said as she joined them. She beamed at her youngest sister and they both approached one another at the same time. Isauria hugged her tight, eyes welling up with tears of relief. “I've been wanting to do that for so long now.”
“Thank you for looking out for me,” Ariana whispered to her. “For everything. All of you,” she said, pulling away from Isauria.
“Where are Nolan and Liam?” Cedwen asked.
“Nolan said he needed Liam's help looking for something down there,” Isauria gestured to the hallway.
“We need to find them and get out of here,” Varrick said and started to brush past them.
“Wait,” Ariana grabbed his arm and then looked around at everyone apologetically. “I know you've already risked a lot coming here but we have another friend here who needs our help. We can't leave without her.”
“I am not going to risk your lives just to drag Kellen's daughter away from here because you think you owe her, Ariana. We are leaving. Now,” Varrick said with finality.
Heirs of War, Crown of Flames Page 36
