"I never believed Warrick capable of such evil," Uncle Theo said. "If I'd seen something like this, I think I might have chosen death, even my brother's death as well, over serving him."
Markus tried to keep his expression neutral. "Finally, you understand."
"Yes, maybe I do. You're still foolish, but maybe living isn't everything."
Markus thought he saw tears in his uncle's eyes. Something he'd never seen before.
"What are you going to do now?" Uncle Theo asked.
"Well, there's always Mountainside. The way I look at it, nothing that's happened has really changed my plans. I still need to get away from here."
"I understand. I have half a mind to join you, but I'm too old for the journey."
"Do you actually think it's possible?" Markus asked.
"Difficult, but not impossible. People have made it to Mountainside before."
Markus felt as though a great weight had lifted from his chest, for he valued his uncle's approval. Despite everything, Uncle Theo was like a father to him.
"I guess there's more motivation to join the Order now," Markus said. "After what I went through today, how could I not try to oppose Warrick? How could anyone not try?"
"Oh, you'd be surprised. This is not the only terrible thing Warrick's ever done. People have a way of ignoring such things as long as they can keep a relatively comfortable life."
"Yeah, I guess that makes sense," Rik said from behind Markus.
The door opened, and Nadia stepped through. "That's how tyrants stay in power. As long as enough people are getting by, the people won't rise up. It's inconvenient. It's uncomfortable. Even those who fight against Warrick are afraid to do anything big."
Uncle Theo raised his eyebrows. "Who exactly are you? You look familiar."
"I'm Nadia," she said as Kara, Ander, and Aric also entered the cabin. Both men were stained by smoke. Ander had the look of a noble, while Aric wore the rougher clothing and reddish beard of a commoner.
"Lady Nadia, I presume," Uncle Theo said. "The high lord's daughter?"
She nodded.
"What brings you all in here?" Uncle Theo asked. "The cabin's a bit small for so many."
Ander cleared his throat. "We wanted to discuss what we're doing next."
"And you feel safe discussing it in front of me, a former Imperial Guard?"
"You proved yourself," Aric said. "You didn't have to save anyone. What a man does in a situation like that says a lot about him."
"Well, I'm glad you trust me. I promise I won't betray that trust."
"Good," Nadia said. "Because what we're discussing is very sensitive information. In fact, this could be the most important conversation in the history of the Empire."
Had Markus earned the right to this information? Yes, he'd saved her life, but that didn't mean he should share in her dreams, however much he might support them.
"I know how to kill Warrick," Nadia said, and the room fell silent. "There's a spell called White Fire, and it's contained in three scrolls. I don't know where all the scrolls are just yet, but the first one is located in the ruins of Woodsville."
That heart-pounding fear Markus had felt in Woodsville came back to him. She couldn't ask anyone else to go there, could she?
"I understand the dangers involved," she said, "but if we're going to do something that matters, we have to take that risk. A contingent of Imperial Guards managed to hide the scroll in there years and years ago, so it's not impossible."
"I've been to Woodsville," Aric said. "I don't care to repeat the experience." He settled his gaze on Nadia. "I understand why you want to go there, but it's too dangerous."
"I think we should give it a chance," Ander said. "We can't just pretend Crayden wasn't destroyed. Things can't go back to the way they were. Warrick started a war today."
"I understand that," Aric said, "but we don't even know where the other scrolls are."
Markus had to agree with Aric. The last thing Markus wanted to do was return to Woodsville. He turned to Nadia. "You haven't seen the place. It really is terrifying."
"You mean you've been there?" she said.
Rik chuckled. "Yeah, I thought it'd be a good idea to check it out. It didn't seem so bad to me, but Markus could sense the stuff in there in a way I couldn't. It wasn't until we got close to the temple at the center of the city that the ghosts made their presence known to me."
"Same here," Aric said. "That temple terrifies me." He turned to Markus. "Were you actually able to sense the ghosts sooner?"
"Yeah, I did sense them. I don't know why."
Then he remembered healing Rik on the mountain. Magic. The ability to sense ghosts had to mean the same thing. "Actually," he said, "it might be because I can do magic."
Everyone looked at him, and his face burned.
"It's true," Rik said. "I got an arrow wound through the leg, and Markus healed it. I limped around for a day or two, but I feel completely better now."
Nadia was frowning. "Have you ever sensed this odd cold feeling in the forest?"
"Yeah," Markus said. "Do you know what it is?"
Standing in the corner of the room, Ander said, "Tylen sensed the same thing."
Nadia's frown deepened. "I know what's causing the cold. It's called the Spirit of Malavia. When I was sick here in the forest the other day, it spoke to me."
"What did it tell you?" Aric asked. "I've heard of it, but I never thought it was real."
"It said that Warrick has taken control of it, that it needs someone like me, someone with magical powers, to free it from this servitude."
Aric scratched at his reddish beard. "Strange. Two people with magical powers survived Crayden. Maybe three. After all, Tylen could sense that spirit, too. What are the chances?"
"Magic doesn't seem to make much sense," Rik said. "I mean, people with magic can't use staffs like the one you have, Ander. I can do a whole lot more magic than Markus."
Ander turned to him with a frown. "You mean you can use these staffs, too?"
"Yeah, and I think I was pretty good at it."
"Let's get back to Woodsville," Nadia said. "I'm going despite the dangers, and you promised you would come with me, Ander." She looked at Markus. "I don't want to force you to come along, but we could use more people on our side who can sense ghosts."
Markus's stomach roiled. "Maybe it's crazy, but I see what you mean. I want to do something to help in Warrick's defeat."
"Thank you, Markus," Nadia said, her expression lightening.
"I'm coming, too," Rik said. "I want to see the place. Really see it."
"Are you sure that's a good idea?" Markus asked.
"Yeah, I know it's stupid, but I could be useful. After all, if something in there kills Ander, you need someone else who can use one of those staffs."
"Good point," Nadia said. "I hadn't thought of that."
Rik smiled, the first true smile Markus had seen since the burning of Crayden. Rik did like to be complimented on his intelligence—the kind of compliment Markus would shrug aside.
Uncle Theo had remained silent a long time. What was he thinking?
Nadia looked at everyone in turn. "Who's coming, then?"
Markus and Rik raised their hands, as did Ander. So did Kara, who'd been silent awhile. Aric also raised his hand, but hesitantly, and Markus couldn't blame him. Markus didn't want to return to Woodsville himself, but it was for the good of all.
He had to consider the needs of others, not just his selfish desire to run away from his problems. Now he even wondered if he might accompany Nadia on her quest to defeat Warrick. After all, would anyone else accompany her? Ander, Aric, and Kara didn't seem eager to do so.
Ander nodded. "Well, it's settled then. We should leave tomorrow morning. The busier we are, the easier it will be to handle what happened in Crayden." He started toward the door. "I'm going to tell some of the others to wait. A small number of us intend to make the journey to Mountainside."
"I'll go out,
too," Markus said. "Let Berig know what's going on."
Soon they all stood outside among the refugees. Everyone looked weary, bruised, and battered. They sported burns and wore bandages over other wounds. Ander went over to talk to a small group, which included Berig.
"There's something we need to do around here," Ander said to the group. "It might take a day or two. When we finish, we'll set out for Mountainside. However, if it gets to three days and we haven't returned, you should set out on your own, because we've probably died."
"Where are you going?" asked a brown-haired woman Markus didn't know.
"To find something we can use to possibly defeat Warrick. That's all I can say."
The group nodded their agreement, but there were murmurs of discontent. None of them looked happy.
Markus stepped over to Berig. "What're you doing here?"
"Don't know. Guess this all just got me thinking. I've never done anything good with my life. All I've ever done was survive. Survived when the rest of my village was killed. Survived when that whole city burned down. I don't know. I guess it has me wondering if I'm destined for something great, you know."
"I thought you didn't believe in that kind of stuff," Markus said.
"After this, I don't know what to believe anymore." Berig shook his head. "Besides, after seeing what Warrick's done, how can I not try to do something? I've never had a purpose. Maybe I've found one."
Markus almost smiled. "Well, I hope you do find that purpose, Berig."
"You gonna come with me?"
"Well, I'm going with Ander first," Markus said. "After that, I don't know."
"I'll miss you if you don't come with me. I don't know. I'd kind of like to have a friend along. These other people seem great and all, but I don't really know them."
"Look. I don't know. I haven't decided yet."
"But you said you wanted to come to Mountainside," Berig replied.
"I know, but things have changed. Nadia—you know, the girl who got us out of prison—she has a plan to kill Warrick. I might go with her."
"You like her, don't you?"
"I don't know. I never really gave it much thought. She's a bit closed off if you ask me. Not that I blame her. She's led a rough life, rougher than you'd think. She has her plans, and if something doesn't fit into those plans, she just blocks it out."
"Whatever you do, I wish you luck. You're a good guy, Markus."
"You too, Berig. You're not as bad as you think you are."
"Yeah, maybe. Who knows, really?"
Markus had a feeling he knew which decision he'd make, provided he survived Woodsville. Either way, he'd disappoint someone. Berig's way was probably safer—a little bit at least, but Nadia's meant more.
Exhausted and depressed, Markus shuffled back into the cabin.
* * * * *
Tylen felt as if he didn't belong here. He had suffered like everyone else, but he didn't share their views. Most of them were commoners, people who'd been opposed to Warrick, or at least indifferent to him, before Crayden. The only nobles there were people he didn't like, people like Ander, who was planning something.
Not that Tylen cared.
To his surprise, he saw Nadia approaching him. What could she possibly want? Had she decided to taunt him with the fact that she would never marry him? He wasn't sure he could control his temper this time. Not after today.
He glared at her. "What do you want?"
"There is no need to be so hostile," Nadia said.
Tylen relaxed his expression. It was a struggle keeping the mockery out of his voice. "Is that better?"
"A little," Nadia said. "I just wanted to ask you what you intended to do now. I might not like you, but I can care about you as another human being who went through something horrible. Is it so hard for us to declare a truce?"
Though Nadia was covered in dirt, her hair a tangled mess, there was something in her spirit that seemed beautiful. For Tylen, who had always judged women only on their physical appearances, it was a strange feeling, one he couldn't explain.
"All right, we may declare a truce," he said, gathering his thoughts. "For the moment, I intend to go back to my manor and salvage what I can. As long as I can find my gold, I should be able to start a new life, probably in Varner City. I have family there."
However, his family in Varner City had not seen eye to eye with him. Where he had pledged his support to Warrick, they had only done so publically. As a matter of fact, they were Order members. Of course, with everything he'd experienced, he could now identify with their position, however foolish it might be.
In all honesty, he'd never liked Warrick. Supporting the emperor was a matter of convenience, of safety. Now that Warrick had destroyed Tylen's illusions on those matters, was it a stretch for Tylen to turn traitor?
He didn't know. Today had destroyed everything he'd ever thought about the world.
Then again, the Imperial Guards had warned him, and he'd ignored them. It was his fault he'd almost died, and he probably hadn't been the only noble warned.
"Well, I wish you well," Nadia said stiffly.
Tylen wanted to say something, wanted to tell her how he truly felt about her, but everything that came to his mind was biting and sarcastic. As he watched her go, he knew he would probably never see her again.
In the morning, he would start a new life. She had made that clear enough.
Chapter 29
Tylen left before anyone else that night. He'd tried to fall asleep on the ground outside the cabin, but he was too accustomed to sleeping in beds.
By the time he crossed the bridge into Crayden, the fires had all died down, but the stench of smoke and charred wood remained. He pushed past ashes and rubble, through a landscape that no longer resembled a city. In the early morning light, he made his way to the west side of the city, where he entered his crumbling manor. The flames had burst through the windows and incinerated everything within. Even some of the stone had warped and melted.
Chest tight, he strode to the vault at the back of his manor. The fire had melted the locking mechanism, and the stone door had sprung open, revealing an empty vault. Bandits must have seen the flames and looted from the dead.
Disgusting people, he thought bitterly. That money hadn't belonged to them. They hadn't made the sacrifices necessary to obtain it. Yes, they'd lived rough lives, but it was of their own doing.
Tylen fell to his knees and cried. Yesterday, he had lost the woman who gave him a future. Today, he had lost the most important thing in his life.
* * * * *
Nadia and the group headed to Woodsville awoke in the early hours of the morning. She hadn't slept at all, her mind racing with the images of yesterday. The others looked tired as well, probably reliving the tragedy themselves.
After a quick, silent breakfast, they gathered a few supplies and started on their journey.
"How bad is it there?" Nadia asked shortly after sunrise.
"You're not going to like it," Markus said.
Rik frowned. "Yeah, and I have the feeling we're going to have to go into that temple. It seems the most logical place to hide something so important."
Soon sweat drenched Nadia, reminding her of her swordplay with Kara She thought then of Varek, Avia, and her father. All dead. When would it truly hit her? To distract herself, she went on about what they might face in the ruins. Ghosts. Wraiths. Skeletons. Other undead.
Around midday, they arrived at the broad valley containing Woodsville.
"I never thought I'd come back here," Markus said.
"I could say the same," Aric replied.
"Why did you come here anyways?" Nadia asked, trying to ignore the dark shroud hanging over the cursed city.
"When I was younger, I had a bit of a thirst for adventure. I went with a friend of mine." He hesitated, looking away from her. "I made it out. He didn't."
Nadia put a hand on his shoulder. "I'm sorry."
"It's been ten years. I've learned to live with
the guilt."
But Nadia could tell it still ate at him. She knew all too well how it felt to blame yourself for the deaths of loved ones. A tear came to her eye.
Ander tightened a hand on his staff. "Let's get going."
"I really don't like this place," Nadia said as they started down the hill leading toward the city, passing trees and patches of dense vegetation.
"It hasn't even gotten bad yet," Markus said, face pale.
"When does that happen?" she asked, fearing the answer.
"Toward the pyramid at the center of the city," Rik said, pushing forward with a strange smile. Vines had begun to crowd their path.
Markus rounded on him. "You can't actually want to go back there."
"We have Ander's staff now," Rik said. "We can handle that wraith."
"I doubt that's the worst we'll see," Markus said.
Rik turned away, increasing his pace as though he hadn't heard anything Markus said. Nadia had an inkling of how it must have been the last time they'd been here.
They reached the first row of crumbling stone buildings, where vines had overgrown most of the doors and windows, preventing entry. A strange chill hung in the air, like the Spirit of Malavia, but worse. Markus had turned a ghostly white. How could Nadia ever repay Markus for returning to this horrible place?
There was movement to her left, but when she turned, she saw nothing in the unnatural darkness.
They passed building after building, pushing toward the center of town. The closer they got to the pyramidal temple, the colder the air became, the more Nadia's instincts told her to run. The path had been cleared for the most part, probably by Markus and Rik. Still, she had to make sure her feet wouldn't get caught.
The cold intensified, like an icy dagger plunging into her back, and she shivered. Every hair on her body stood on end.
She took deep breaths, but they didn't help. Markus was trembling as well.
"This place doesn't seem so bad," Kara said from behind her.
"You can't feel it the way I can," Nadia said.
"Believe me, it will get bad," Aric said. "My friend and I went into that temple. That's where all the bad things are."
Empire of Chains (World in Chains Book 1) Page 23
