Storm Glass g-1

by Maria V. Snyder

  “Bad?”

  “Very bad.”

  “How does the protection know you’re related?” I asked Leif.

  “My blood. It can…smell it, and knows if I’m family or not.” He squinted into the rain. “We better get moving. I want to be in Fulgor by tomorrow afternoon.”

  We mounted and Leif gave us a few instructions. “Follow my lead. Let your horses have control. And hold on!” He spurred Rusalka into a gallop.

  Quartz and Moonlight raced after them.

  Leif shouted, “Gust-of-wind.”

  My world changed. The ground under Quartz’s hooves transformed into a river of sand. Streaks of color flowed by me. I no longer felt I rode on a horse, but was propelled by a wave of air. Quartz sliced through the pouring rain. Exhilaration and terror pulsed in my veins, blocking out all other thoughts. A heady sensation.

  My world returned to normal when Leif stopped Rusalka. Quartz snorted and huffed as if she’d had a good run. Sweat darkened her coat. My cloak felt dry and we had outrun the storm. Sunlight painted the plains with wide swatches of yellows, golds, browns and reds.

  “Do you want to stop and eat, or ride farther?” Leif asked.

  “Ride.” I had no appetite. Memories of the Storm Thieves’ attack rushed into my mind. While Leif’s explanation had eased my heart-burning guilt over their leader’s death, I couldn’t shake the feeling that I should have ordered the bee not to sting. I hadn’t fully realized the consequences of these glass weapons. Packing them with vague thoughts of defense, I had never considered exactly what I would use them for and what the results would be. As if I had given a child a sword and didn’t tell him what would happen if he used it. It was irresponsible and dangerous.

  After we rested and watered the horses, we resumed our journey. When the horses slowed again, we stopped for the night.

  I helped collect a few sticks of wood for the fire from the stunted trees and sparse bushes growing in the plains. What I found wasn’t enough to cook with, but Leif had come prepared.

  “Mara gave me these.” He unpacked a handful of white scoals.

  While he made dinner, I groomed the horses. We ate in near silence.

  “What’s the watch schedule?” I asked Leif.

  “No need for one in the plains.”

  I lay down by the fire. The earth was still damp from the rain and I shivered.

  “Oh, for sand’s sake,” Ulrick whispered next to me. “I know we’re taking it slow, but this is ridiculous. Come here.”

  He lifted his blanket and I rolled to him, ending with my back to his chest. He covered us both and put his arm around my stomach, pulling me tight against him.

  “It’s been an awful day. I need to hold you,” he said.

  His warmth drove the chill from my body.

  “I thought you were dead. Some protector. If it wasn’t for you, we’d all be…” He swallowed. “You did what you had to. I would have done the same.”

  I agreed. “But I feel like I cheated.”

  “You played by their rules. They set the standard when they attacked without warning, creeping up while we slept.”

  His arm trembled and I wondered if he was angry or finally reacting to the fight.

  “I landed a few blows, but couldn’t reach my sword. Then being ordered to my knees and feeling so…”

  “Powerless,” I supplied.

  “Yes. I didn’t like it.”

  Having been in the same situation many times, I was about to commiserate. But with the morning’s events still fresh in my mind, I made a realization. “We really weren’t completely powerless. In this case, we had Leif’s intelligence, tricking them. And there is always the power to choose. Cooperate or die—not a stellar choice, but a choice nonetheless.”

  “What about cooperate or someone you love dies?”

  “You still have a choice.”

  “But when he jabbed his knife into your throat, the choice was no longer mine.”

  “Right. It was mine,” I said.

  “That’s why I felt so helpless.”

  “You shouldn’t. It’s my choice. You need to trust me to make the right one.” And I needed to trust myself. Recognizing the lack was one step in the right direction.

  Sleep came in fits and my dreams hovered on the edge of nightmares. I dreamed about a cave of lights. The images were sharp and the air smelled of wet minerals. Dampness caressed my skin. A pleading voice scratched at my thoughts. It beckoned and begged from its hidden location. Whispered promises in exchange for freedom. Promises of power.

  I woke with a cry and Ulrick’s arm around my waist.

  “A nightmare?” he asked.

  “Not quite.” I told him about the cave of lights.

  I drifted through the rest of the night. The voice haunted my sleep and the morning sun was a relief. Leif already had a pot of water heating on the coals. “These are wonderful.”

  “They’re expensive,” I grumped.

  “Rough night?” he asked.

  “I’ve had better.”

  He poured three cups of tea. I sipped mine and savored my sour mood. I felt trapped and the feeling lasted for the rest of the day. By late afternoon, we arrived at the main road to Fulgor. By then, the insistent voice from my dreams echoed in my mind. I ignored it and focused on the world around me.

  The crowded cobblestone streets of Fulgor buzzed with activity. As the capital of the Moon Clan lands, the large city hosted all the government offices and boasted the wealthiest market district. The proud citizens chose to ignore the fact no one wanted to travel all the way to the Emerald Mountains to purchase jewels from the Cloud Mist Clan. Far better to have the mine owners ship their goods to Fulgor for sale and trade.

  Unfortunately, rich shoppers attracted thieves and beggars; so the city guards patrolled the streets and kept a close watch.

  “Yelena and Irys are staying in Councillor Moon’s guest quarters,” Leif said, angling Rusalka through the late-day traffic. “She said there was enough room for us.”

  I scanned the goods in the windows of the closing shops. Fulgor was known for its variety of clay, and, sure enough, I spotted several bowls and plates fashioned from the clay. Why anyone would want to eat from a clunky, heavy piece of pottery when they could use glass was beyond my imagination. The earthenwares competed with the glasswares at the market stands. My father always sent his sturdiest cups when selling to the Fulgor merchants.

  A few pottery pieces drew my attention. I would have liked to stop and examine them, but Leif was determined to reach the Councillor’s Hall before it closed for the evening and the cooks left for their homes.

  The white dome of the Hall rose above the other city buildings. All Sitian government buildings had been constructed from the white marble mined from the Moon lands. The green-veined slabs had been painstakingly chiseled from the ground and exported to the other capital cities.

  When we arrived at the courtyard, our horses were taken to the stable and we were directed inside. Leif had been “communicating” with his sister through his glass messenger.

  Yelena waited in the main lobby, which was a huge cavern with a black-and-white marble floor and was open all the way up to the dome ten stories above.

  She rushed over and hugged Leif. “It’s been so long. I’m beginning to think you’re avoiding me,” she said.

  He smirked. “Then you’d be thinking right. Every time I visit, you get me into trouble.”

  “You have it all wrong. Again. Every time you visit me, you bring trouble.”

  Yelena winked at me. I introduced her to Ulrick. He stuttered through his greeting, seeming to be awed by her. I didn’t blame him. Not only were her Soulfinding abilities legendary, but she radiated warmth and intelligence. And with those stunning green eyes and long black hair, she never lacked for admirers.

  Of course, they wouldn’t dream of competing for her attentions. Valek, a master swordsman, assassin and leader of the intelligence network for Ixia was her soul mat
e. Sitia’s number one enemy. Despite her connection to Valek, she had become Ixia’s and Sitia’s liaison.

  I glanced around the Hall’s lobby, searching for Valek.

  Yelena laughed. “He’s not here, Opal. If the Councillor heard even a whiff of a rumor about him, she’d have heart failure.” She grew serious. “I’m glad you’re here. We’ve had some…interesting developments.”

  Leif groaned. “That’s Yelena-speak for life-threatening danger.”

  She shot him an annoyed look. I would have wilted under her stare, but Leif was nonplussed.

  “Come up to my office. Irys and Kade are waiting for us.” Yelena led the way to a sweeping staircase.

  An elaborate chandelier hung above the first landing. I marveled at its intricate construction and brilliance.

  “That’s one of Gressa’s pieces,” Ulrick said in a neutral tone. Gressa was his talented younger sister. “She has a glass shop in Fulgor. She and Mother never worked well together. Gressa left as soon as she turned eighteen.”

  “Do you want to visit her while we’re here?” I asked.

  “I guess, if we have time.”

  We climbed three stories before walking down a long corridor. I marveled at the sculptures and paintings decorating the hallways. The Moon Councillor’s Hall made Booruby’s look dumpy in comparison.

  Yelena escorted us to an impressive office with a reception room. Dark crimson couches and brown leather armchairs contrasted in a pleasing way against the white marble walls. Thick red-and-gold carpets covered the floor.

  “Good thing I was traveling with Master Jewelrose,” Yelena said. “Otherwise, they would have stuck me in the basement, using a barrel for a seat and an old packing crate as a desk.”

  Third Magician pished at Yelena. “She exaggerates.”

  Kade lounged in one of the armchairs. His dusty boots matched his disheveled appearance. One elbow was propped and he rested his head in his hand. He said nothing. Master Jewelrose waved at us to sit down and sent Yelena for tea.

  Ulrick coughed. He was the only one bothered by sending a Soulfinder for refreshments. Leif plopped on the couch, kicked off his muddy boots and put his feet on the table.

  “We’ve come to a standstill,” Master Jewelrose said. “Councillor Moon’s sister is organizing a coup, but the Councillor refuses to believe us. She insists the Commander of Ixia has sent Valek here to assassinate her.” She leaned back in her chair. A few black strands of hair had escaped her tight bun. Dark smudges stood out under her emerald-colored eyes.

  “Why is she convinced Ambrose is out to get her?” Leif asked.

  “Ambrose?” Yelena raised a slender eyebrow. She carried a tray of tea and fruit. “You’re on a first name basis with the Commander now?”

  “I usually call him Amby, but not in mixed company. Hey!” Leif caught the apple his sister threw at him.

  They looked chastised after Master Jewelrose gave them a stern stare. Yelena retrieved a black statue from a desk in the corner. She handed it to me.

  “What’s this?” I asked.

  “You tell me.”

  Carved into the shape of a dagger, the smooth statue glinted. “It’s not stone. Probably a type of high-quality glass. Just like those fake diamonds.” I turned the piece in my hands.

  “What’s the significance?” Leif asked.

  “It was found on Councillor Moon’s pillow. Her advisers warned it was a calling card from Valek, and she had been targeted for assassination,” Yelena said.

  Before the Commander’s takeover of Ixia, Valek had assassinated the entire royal family. To make the job more interesting and challenging, he would leave one of his carvings on his victim’s bed to warn them.

  “Valek doesn’t leave warnings anymore and, truthfully, if the Commander wrote an order for Councillor Moon’s assassination, she would be dead by now.”

  Ulrick gaped at Yelena’s matter-of-fact tone.

  “There has to be another reason the Councillor thinks the Commander is after her.” Leif reached for the dagger.

  “The Councillor recently sent a team of specialists to search the Moon lands for diamond deposits. She believes the Commander wants to stop her before she finds any,” Yelena explained.

  “Meanwhile, dear old sis is amassing arms and soldiers by selling fake diamonds?” Leif guessed.

  “Right, but we had no proof. Until now.” She smiled at me. “Opal and Kade found the link between the sister and the fakes. Chun. Kade followed him straight to the mine.”

  “It’s in a cave,” Kade said.

  “What about the real diamonds? Any ideas on those?” Leif asked.

  “Nothing substantial. Although…” I wondered if I should say more.

  “Although?” Yelena prompted

  “When I held the real diamonds, a vision entered my mind. It was cold with white all around.”

  “Like a marble quarry?” Master Jewelrose asked.

  “Perhaps.” I had assumed the white was snow, but it could be marble.

  “So we still haven’t connected the real diamonds with the sister,” Yelena said.

  “Does it matter?” Leif asked.

  “Not for this case, but I would like to know where they’re coming from. Perhaps if Opal accompanies me and Kade to the cave, she can sense where the real diamonds are.”

  Happy tones emanated from the dream voice in my mind. It had been quiet all day as if growing roots deep into my soul. An uneasy feeling rolled along my spine, and dread pulsed. Something waited for me in the cave.

  25

  “ARE YOU UP for a trip to the cave?” Yelena asked.

  “Sure,” I said.

  “No,” Ulrick said.

  “Don’t you think three magicians can keep her safe?” Yelena fixed Ulrick with her powerful stare. He blanched and quickly apologized.

  “Three?” I asked her.

  “Kade, Leif and me.”

  “Me?” Leif squeaked. “Why me?”

  “I need someone to light the torches. And Kade knows where to go.”

  “What about Irys?” Leif asked.

  “Someone needs to guard the Councillor at night. We don’t trust her people,” Master Jewelrose said.

  “We’ll go tonight. Around midnight.”

  “Tonight? We just arrived,” Leif whined.

  Yelena frowned, then brightened as if she had a sudden idea. “Rest now and join us for a late dinner. I’ve made friends with the Councillor’s cook and I’ll ask him to make your favorite beef stew with garlic potatoes and apple cake for dessert.”

  Leif’s petulance disappeared in an instant. “When’s dinner? Maybe I should grab a piece of cake now to tide me over for later. Which way is the kitchen?”

  Yelena shooed us out the door. “Guest quarters are behind the Hall, next to the stables.”

  As Leif, Kade and Ulrick headed out, I asked Yelena, “Friends with the cook?”

  She gave me a conspiratorial smirk. “The Councillor is in danger. I don’t want her poisoned on my watch.”

  “Leif, light the torch. There’s no one around,” Yelena said.

  We crouched a few feet inside the mouth of a cave; inky blackness surrounded us as the wet smell of minerals filled my nose. The cave was located about an hour’s ride north of Fulgor. Kade had seen Chun enter and then exit carrying a bulging bag.

  “I had to make a decision,” Kade had said during the ride north. “Either follow Chun or investigate the cave. I chose the cave, but didn’t get far without a light.”

  “Any luck with the sand suppliers?” I asked.

  “No. Although the Brubaker brothers offered me a discount on something called lightning strike?”

  I laughed. “How much?”

  “Twenty percent.”

  “I would have haggled for thirty.”

  “Excuse me, what is lightning strike?” Leif asked.

  “When lightning strikes the sand, the heat melts the grains. When it cools, you can have a crude glass rod shaped like a lig
htning bolt. Its purpose is decorative. They must have guessed Kade was connected to the Stormdance Clan.”

  Two torches blazed to life, pushing the darkness back. Shadows danced on the uneven walls of the cave and pebbles crunched under our boots. Leif peered at a small hole toward the back of the chamber with a dubious expression.

  “I’m not squeezing. If I don’t fit, I’ll just wait for you,” he said.

  “Relax. Once you go through that tunnel, the cave opens up,” Yelena said.

  “Have you been here before?” I asked. The prospect of getting lost was unappealing.

  “No. My friend told me.” A bat sat on her shoulder. “He agreed to scout for us.”

  “Wonderful,” Leif muttered.

  I really couldn’t say anything about a scouting bat. I claimed glass and spiders spoke to me, and diamonds gave me visions. Each person’s magic had their own quirks.

  Yelena led the way with one torch. I followed. Leif held the other torch and Kade came last. We crawled through the narrow chute. As predicted, the tunnel widened until we could stand. I wiped the dirt from my hands as I looked around the small chamber.

  My dream voice cut through my skull as if the person stood next to me and shouted in my ears. He wanted me to save him. Promised me more magical powers and whatever else I wanted. I tried to block the voice with my hands. It didn’t work.

  Kade glanced at me with a question in his eyes. I waved his concern away. Nothing he or anyone could do about a voice in my head. If Yelena heard it, she would have said something. Ignoring it, I focused on the cavern. A few stalagmites ringed a pool of water. I couldn’t see another opening.

  “Here’s where it gets…interesting,” Yelena said.

  Leif and I exchanged a horrified glance. My heart flipped as Yelena placed her torch in a sconce and removed her cloak.

  “It’s just a short swim to the bottom and there’s a rope,” she said.

  My thoughts scattered as fear roiled the contents of my stomach.

  “Are you insane?” Leif asked. “How do you know there’s a rope? Are you going to tell me your bat can swim?”

  “I sent him here to observe the workers after Kade told me the location. And I can see the rope.” She pointed down.