Thief of Lies

by Brenda Drake

  “What a sweet display,” Ricardo said, dragging me out of my haze. “I’m not one for rules or laws, but I’d be careful there. The punishment would be much worse for him than you.”

  “Why?” I stared at the door as if I’d see Arik there.

  “He’s a leader. He knows better.” Ricardo headed to the window. “Are you ready to fly?”

  “Did you say fly?”

  Chapter Twenty-Four

  Ricardo gave me a wicked grin, complete with sharp canines. “Well, not exactly fly per se.” His dress shoes clicked across the floor as he sauntered gracefully to the window. “Shall we be on our way?”

  “You do realize we’re five stories up, right?”

  He beckoned me with his fingers. “Trust me. I won’t drop you.”

  I took a deep breath and grabbed his hand.

  “We’re going down the side of the building,” he said. “Remove your shield and sword.”

  My free hand rested on the hilt of the Chiave. “I can’t leave the sword.”

  “You must.”

  “I won’t go if I have to leave it.”

  He eyed me suspiciously. “Okay. Leave the shield. Put the sword on your back.”

  I removed my shield and dropped it on the floor. Then I unstrapped my scabbard and belted it across my chest.

  “Ready,” I said.

  He gathered me to his side. “Extend your free arm for balance as we go down. Do you understand?”

  “Yes—”

  Before I added anything else, Ricardo flew out the window with me and ran down the side of the building. We raced down so fast, his legs were a blur.

  I dragged my feet against the sandstone wall and held my arm out for balance. It was like a scary drop on an amusement park ride. My heart quickened with the rush of adrenaline. The ground sped toward us. He arched his back and pushed away from the wall with his feet, pulling me with him, our feet aiming for the ground.

  “Pull your knees up!” he yelled.

  I drew them up right before his feet hit the ground with a loud thwack. “No time to reflect on how magnificent I am,” Ricardo said and headed for the outbuilding.

  I stumbled after him on wobbly legs. “That was wicked awesome.”

  We rushed along the cobbled streets, screams and cries echoing through the village.

  “Stay in the shadows,” he ordered when I stepped into the light of a nearby lamppost.

  Dark figures hunched in front of the pale plaster of the outbuilding. When we neared them, the animals looked like seriously buffed Dobermans. I stopped. “What are they?”

  “They’re werehounds, but you needn’t fear them. They know you are Gian Bianchi’s great-granddaughter,” Ricardo said, affection icing over Gian’s name. “He is a hero with the Mystiks. He fought for our rights when others turned on us. It is an honor to protect you. Just walk by them. They won’t harm you.”

  I smiled nervously at each werehound I passed. A couple of them sniffed me as I went by, their breaths beating against my boots. “How did Conemar’s men get in?” I stepped over a fluffy tail.

  He shooed a couple of werehounds out of our way. “With Couve’s High Wizard dead, the protection wards broke. A less powerful wizard made a spotty attempt at bandaging the old wards. The true mystery is: Who let Conemar into Couve earlier today? My bet is on Odil.”

  Ricardo held the door to the outbuilding open for me, and I stepped inside. I removed my scabbard from my back, belted it to my waist, and created a light globe in my hand. He led the way down the narrow steps to the tunnel.

  “Why do you suppose they attacked Couve twice?”

  “Only a few men entered during the first attack.” He unplugged a golf cart. “Probably to kill Gareth and remove the wards for the bigger attack.”

  “Gareth?”

  “That is Bastien’s father’s name.”

  “How evil do you have to be to sacrifice your own father?”

  “Odil has been a burr in his father’s side since birth, but I highly doubt he’d let someone kill his father.” Ricardo slipped into the driver’s seat of the golf cart. “I bet he’s not aware of the consequences from his actions. He’s not the sharpest tooth in a Laniar’s mouth.”

  I rolled my eyes and slid into the passenger seat.

  He turned the key, and the cart whirred to life. I dropped my light globe when he turned on the headlights. He backed the cart up and guided it down the tunnel.

  “In spite of their differences, Odil loved and respected his father. No, something else is at hand and comes from Conemar, I am certain. I must get you to the shelter before I sneak into Esteril and find out what’s going on there.”

  “You’re going to Esteril?”

  “Yes. In order for Conemar to weave Sean’s and Carrig’s minds together, the two must be alive. I believe Carrig might be in Esteril.” He flicked his eyes at me and returned them immediately to the tunnel. “Carrig is a powerful Sentinel, and we need his skills to defeat Conemar, so I’m willing to risk it.”

  “I know Carrig is in Esteril,” I said. “I had a vision of it.”

  “You’re favored by the spirit seers? Gian was as well. They show you what they think you need to see. Be wise and remember all you’ve witnessed.”

  “Why do the visions have to be so nightmarish?”

  “Only by understanding the evil events of our past can we learn to prevent future disasters.” The blaze of the headlights ricocheting off the tunnel’s walls illuminated his perfectly aligned, sharp white teeth. I pulled up the collar of my leather vest, hiding my neck. He smirked. “I will deliver you unharmed to the shelter.”

  Everything about him was smooth and dark, like melting chocolate. No wonder Faith was heartbroken over him. “Why did you dump Faith?” I gripped the window frame as he swung the cart around a corner.

  “Most Laniars have no control over the desire to love many.” He kept his focus on the winding tunnel. “It’s a survival thing. Unfortunately, Faith is different and has many human feelings. Monogamy, one of them.”

  “I see.” My toes clenched in my boots as he veered around another corner.

  “I saw Katy when we rescued Asile. She told me to tell you she’s well.”

  Nana had mentioned she’d gotten together with a Ricardo when she was young. Oh no. Eww. “You’re not the Ricardo. The one she had a romance with years ago, are you?”

  “I am. She was a fiery little witch back then. A true beauty.”

  My stomach churned. “I don’t want to hear any more.”

  He laughed.

  “Anyway,” I said. “I’ve decided to go with you.”

  “What do you mean, you’ve decided?”

  “I’m going to help you save Carrig. You’re right, we need him—I need him if I’m ever going to master my powers.”

  “You know, Merlin—not to mention Arik—will stake me.” He slammed on the brakes as we came to the end of the tunnel.

  “I’ll say I followed you. You had nothing to do with it. So, how do we get into Esteril?”

  “Well, they will let me in, but not you. We can’t get you through the wards without a wizard. It’s best I go alone.”

  “I can take care of the wards.”

  He got out of the cart. “It won’t work. The moment you enter the library, they can track you.”

  I walked around to his side of the cart, stood in front of him, and pulled down the collar of my shirt.

  He eyed my chest. “You’re too young. Even I have standards.”

  “Gross. I mean this.” I pointed to my scar. “This is a charm. It shields me from the Monitors and this”—I held up my palm and formed a pink globe—“disables wards and stuff.” I popped the globe, tugged up the neckline of my shirt, and waited for the side effects of conjuring. They didn’t come; I felt fine. “One more thing,” I said. “If you’re tricking me, I will stake you.”

  “Impressive, but you’re not going with me. I’m taking you to the shelter first.”

  W
e scrambled up the stairs. Once in the library, he found the gateway book and opened it to a photograph of a library I didn’t recognize.

  “How do you know where the shelter is? I thought only—”

  He raised his hand to stop me. “It was my home for many years. I testified against Conemar and was sent to the shelter for protection.”

  “They didn’t blindfold you or something?”

  “I’m too cunning for them. I withstood their attempts to wipe my memory. You don’t live as long as I and not pick up tricks.”

  “I see.”

  “Blast it all,” he snapped, leaning closer to the page. “One of Conemar’s search parties is in the library leading to the shelter.”

  “How can you see that?”

  “My ring.” I glanced at it. It was large and gold with a lion’s head on it. “Merl spelled it so I can see into the libraries through the photographs.”

  I practically fell over him trying to see the photograph. “Oh no, can they get in?”

  “Personal space, please.” He pushed me away with his back. “No, they’d have to know the key. No one knows the key but the Couve Sentinels and their High Wizard. And me, of course.”

  “Veronique does, and she’s on Conemar’s side.”

  “Merl wiped Veronique’s memory of all keys and important information when she was captured.” He slammed his fist on the page.

  “He should have wiped her entire memory.” My lip twitched. I hoped he hadn’t notice the jealousy lacing my words.

  “That would have killed her and is against the laws.” He eyed me suspiciously before returning his attention to the book. “Damn it. You’ll have to go with me. But you must stay out of sight.”

  “I can do that.”

  He looked up. “I have a feeling you won’t.”

  The library in Saint Petersburg was spooky at night. I pulled a history book from a shelf and hid behind a display case under the white arches of the ceiling. When my eyes began to droop, I put the book down, got to my feet, and paced. I spun around to face a movement in my peripheral vision, sliding the Chiave out of my scabbard and readying it for an attack. Nothing was there.

  “Get a grip, Gia,” I muttered to myself, slipping the sword back in its case.

  I checked the time on Ricardo’s wristwatch, which he’d given me before he went through the bookcase. I was to leave in an hour if he didn’t return by then. He gambled on the bulk of Conemar’s men either being at the battle in Couve or stationed at the siege on Asile. He hoped he would be in and out with Carrig before being noticed. I wasn’t sure what his plan was, but I had a terrible feeling about it.

  “What are you doing here?”

  Startled, I whirled around on my heel. “Sinead? How did—” Three tiny fairies with multi-colored wings and spindly green bodies flew around her. “Hey, I saw those fairies the night I was drugged. They’re real?”

  “They’re not fairies; they’re sprites. I had them follow you. They came for me when you didn’t go to the shelter, and you came here instead.” She frowned. “Are you trying to get yourself killed?”

  “We couldn’t get to the shelter. Conemar’s men were there.”

  Sinead took a step closer to me. “Where’s Ricardo?”

  “He went to Esteril to rescue Carrig.”

  Her pointy ears pricked back, and she crouched to the floor behind the display cases. “Get down.” The sprites darted off.

  I squatted beside her. I whispered, “What is it?”

  “I’m not sure. Stay here.” She crawled to the end of the long display stand, peered around it for several seconds, then stood.

  “Well?” I rose.

  “A rat, is all.”

  “A rat? Gross.” I tried to scratch the heebie-jeebies from my skin.

  She ignored my freak out. “So what’s Ricardo’s plan?”

  “I don’t know.” I checked the wristwatch again. “If he doesn’t come back in another twenty minutes, I’m to leave and go back to Couve.” I pointed to a large wooden eyesore with dusty books aligned on its shelves. “He went through there. I think our cover is blown. They can’t read me in the libraries, but I bet they know you’re here.”

  “I’m sure they do.” She motioned with her pointer finger for me to get down. “Someone’s coming for certain this time.”

  “Great,” I seethed, returning to my hiding place behind the display.

  “Whatever happens, stay down.”

  “What are you going to do?”

  “They sensed me here. I have to go with them willingly, or they’ll discover you. So don’t do anything stupid. Once it’s clear, go to Asile. The sprites will make sure your path is clear.”

  I tensed. “But—”

  “Do as I say. I’ll help Ricardo.”

  She worked her magic on me again. Its hypnotic control sent a chill slithering down my spine, but I tried to fight it.

  Focus, Gia.

  The bookcase shook and rattled as it slid open. A glass front bookcase nearby reflected the room. Several muscled guards stormed the room. Even the young women were menacing—tall and broad shouldered.

  “Hold on boys,” Sinead said to two young male guards. “I come in peace. I’m here to speak to Conemar.”

  The guards each seized one of her arms. “Oh, you will speak with him. When he returns,” the taller, bulkier one said, his accent as thick as his arms.

  “She’s fey, and she’s trying to compel us,” one of the girls said. “Remember our training and block her magic from your minds.”

  The two guards dragged Sinead away.

  I held my breath, waiting for them to leave. A woman’s voice spoke a charm in what sounded like Russian. I had assumed all keys were in Italian, but obviously, they weren’t. I kept repeating the phrase within my mind, trying to memorize it.

  The bookcase rattled open, boots slapped down steps, then the bookcase slammed back into place. I peered over the display. The sprites flew around me, all talking at once. It was like an annoying buzzing in my ear. “One at a time. I can’t make out what you’re saying.”

  One with shocking red hair fluttered in front of my face. “You have to go after her.” Her voice whistled like a quiet teakettle. “You can do it. You’re the presaged.”

  “I think she compelled me or something. I want to go but can’t.”

  “It will wear off. Go help her when it does. We will clear the path to Couve and the Shelter.”

  “How are you going to do that?”

  “Not to worry. We have our tricks.”

  They flew off, leaving me alone in the library.

  After several excruciating minutes warring against Sinead’s magic, I blew out an exasperated breath.

  My globe! It can undo spells. I held up my hand and willed it to life. The pink membrane engulfed me, releasing Sinead’s magic. Thankfully, there weren’t any aftereffects, other than a slight tingle in my stomach.

  I hurried to the bookcase and spoke the key. It took several attempts to get the pronunciation of the Russian charm correct before the bookcase finally opened.

  Too frightened to fire up a light globe, I felt for each step with my boot as I eased down the wet stairwell. Drops of water fell from the ceiling and landed on my head. At the bottom, I dragged my fingertips across the rough wall to guide myself down the pitch-black tunnel. I couldn’t believe I was doing this, but I had to risk it for Sinead. Ricardo didn’t know she was there, and I had to tell him, somehow.

  I took a deep breath to calm my nerves and wrinkled my nose. It smelled as if something had died in the tunnel. The darkness freaked me out. The scurry of tiny critters’ feet sounded below me. Something with many legs fell on my arm and skittered across my skin. I shrieked and quickly slapped it away.

  Since I had probably woken the dead with that scream, I figured it wouldn’t hurt to ignite a globe. After I had, I wished I hadn’t. Tons of spiders and other nasty bugs crawled across the walls and ceilings, and on the ground, several rats rushed
in and out of holes in the mortar. I centered myself within the tunnel and stepped carefully over the fast moving hairballs underfoot. I shuddered with every step I took.

  Nearly twenty minutes later, I reached the bottom of another staircase. I inched up the stairs and paused at the door. After extinguishing my light globe, I created a pink one in its place and threw it at the door, hoping to eliminate any wards attached. This time the magic shocked me. I rested against the door and waited for the spins to stop.

  Using magic sucks.

  After jerking the door open, I crept inside. Figuring I was in an outbuilding just like the ones in Asile and Couve, I continued to the other side where I hoped the door to the outside would be. Fur coats hanging on the wall by the door brushed my skin as I passed.

  I stepped outside onto a cold and barren field, shivered, and darted back inside. Unbuckling my scabbard, I slipped it off and placed it on the floor. Then I grabbed one of the furs from the wall, slipped it on, and belted my scabbard around it.

  Icy snow bit my face. Crouching low to the ground, I hid in the shadows. A dark, menacing castle sat on top of a rocky hill. Attached to a pole on the highest tower, a black flag with a red flame blazing in the middle flapped in the biting wind.

  My heart pounded louder in my ears the closer I got to the castle of doom. Instead of going through the front entrance, I went around the side. Soft drapes blew in and out of a couple of glass doors left ajar on an enclosed patio. I crawled over the wall and landed softly on the stone patio.

  I tiptoed to the doors and peered around the drapes. Only a long dining table with a dozen or so chairs filled the room. The Chiave protested with a shiiiiing as I removed it from my scabbard, and I paused, listening for any movement inside. With cold, stiff hands, I held the blade out in front of me and then continued inside.

  I crossed over to a door and eased it open a little. My heart knocked so hard against my chest as I peeked through the crack, I was sure someone could hear it. Opening the door wider with my boot, I tightened my hold on the Chiave and inched into a scary-movie vacant hallway. One direction led to a vast sitting room, so I hurried down the other direction instead and ended up in the foyer.