Elder

by Thomas, Raine

  When it exploded, sand blew everywhere. But there were no casualties.

  Ariana sagged against Tiege as the drain on her energy caught up with her. She questioned her frame of mind when she realized she was happy that the Waresti were now able to battle with their more conventional weapons, on equal footing with the Mercesti, rather than wishing there was no battle at all.

  “That was brilliant, Ariana,” Tiege said, giving her a quick kiss. “You’re brilliant.”

  Though she was exhausted, she actually felt rather brilliant. Knowing she was helping to spare lives gave her added strength.

  That feeling lasted until she glanced up and spotted Eirik heading right toward them.

  Chapter 38

  In the form of the Waresti, Metis made her way across the floor of the empty temple and approached a doorway on the far side. Sounds of battle reached her from beyond the door. She had to decide whether it was worth risking her safety by entering the battle without knowing how to properly wield a weapon, or waiting for an opportunity to leave the temple unnoticed.

  She watched two Mercesti fall just feet away. Maybe Eirik’s followers were as incompetent as she was when it came to fighting. That would give her a chance.

  As she neared the doorway and prepared to step out, she spotted Eirik in the distance. He was approaching the large statue with the head of a male and body of a lion. Her gaze moved to the base of the structure.

  Tate and Ariana.

  Metis ran back to the spot where she had killed the Waresti and picked up his sword. It was large enough that she expected to struggle with it, but her muscular male form had no difficulties. It made her think that if it came down to a battle against Eirik, she might have a chance to at least injure him so she could retrieve the scroll pieces.

  When she reached the doorway where she had seen Eirik, she paused to make sure she wasn’t stepping into the middle of swinging weapons. Then she felt a presence behind her.

  “Hello, Metis.”

  Turning, she faced her opponent. “Malukali.”

  The Orculesti elder’s expression was calm, her eyes fathomless. Her dark hair was secured behind her head, an indication that she was prepared to fight. She even wore the same conforming black armor that Metis had seen on Tate and Ariana, a short sword strapped to her side. The contradiction between her ensemble and her unruffled demeanor puzzled Metis.

  “Your mental signature is quite distinctive,” Malukali said. “I only wish I had been able to find you before you killed Aaron.”

  Metis scanned the temple. “Where is the Wymzesti? He would not have left you to confront me alone.”

  “I’m surprised that you’ve developed that level of insight into relationships, Metis,” Knorbis said from behind her.

  She shifted at the sound of his voice so she could keep both elders in view. She assessed his posture and potential threat to her as she responded, “I have learned that you develop sentimental attachments to each other that can be used as leverage. You are all fools.”

  “What is it you hope to accomplish here?” Malukali asked.

  “I am sure you already know the answer to that. You two are supposedly the most intuitive beings on the plane.”

  “We know you want the scroll,” Knorbis said in the same level tone that his wife used. “You’ve been working with Eirik and he’s made his goal clear enough. What we don’t understand is why you’re going about acquiring it this way rather than working with Eirik. Traveling to Central on your own? Trying to kill the Kynzesti elder?”

  “You know it was not my intent to kill her,” Metis snapped. “She is the key to acquiring the scroll...or activating it.” She lifted her chin. “I intercepted your thoughts.”

  “Parts of our thoughts, perhaps,” Malukali allowed. “But certainly not all of them. Your primary weakness is your failure to think things through before acting. You form judgments with very little information upon which to base them.”

  Knorbis moved closer. “Because you can change forms, you feel you have an understanding of each of the abilities and base personality types of those you assume. But you only absorb portions of those abilities and you have little insight to apply to them. Your arrogance leads you to believe you are stronger and more intelligent than you actually are.”

  Fury burned the back of her throat. She focused on harnessing the instincts of the Waresti. Not as strong or as intelligent as she thought? She would show them.

  Bending, she retrieved the dagger hidden in her boot, throwing it at Malukali in one smooth movement. It deflected off an invisible barrier with a spark of lavender light. Growling, she raised her sword. She would get around the shield somehow.

  No sooner did she lift her sword than it flew from her hand—her hand along with it. She stared at the garish injury, not even feeling it. A moment later, she fell to her knees.

  “For example,” Malukali said, walking up to her. “You considered the fact that my husband wouldn’t leave me to face you alone.” Knorbis joined her, looking down at Metis without expression. “But you didn’t consider that our ‘sentimental attachments’ extend to more than just one being at a time.”

  Metis’ gaze shifted to the Lekwuesti and Waresti elders as they joined Malukali and Knorbis. Uriel’s blade was stained with her blood. None of them conveyed any emotion.

  “It’s over, Metis,” they said at the same time.

  Ini-herit stopped walking again when the spinning medallion glowed. They stood in front of an open doorway leading to a small chamber. On the far side of the chamber was an elaborate carving of a tree. There were no furnishings or other obvious signs of the room’s purpose.

  “What symbols are highlighted this time?” Clara Kate asked.

  Holding the medallion up so he could see the lit markings more clearly, Ini-herit studied it as the others crowded around. He deciphered the symbols. One resembled a dripping leaf and the other a single eye. As he interpreted them and part of his memory about the trap returned, his curiosity transitioned to dread.

  He looked up and caught Quincy’s gaze. The other male’s brow was furrowed as he also reasoned through the meaning of the symbols. His gaze moved to the etching of the tree on the back wall of the small chamber.

  “What do they mean, Harry?” Clara Kate asked.

  Although Ini-herit was tempted to lie, he knew that wouldn’t help. Tightening his hold on the medallion, he said, “It means there’s poison involved and healing required to get through this trap.”

  Quincy issued a soft curse, shaking his head and looking again into the chamber. “That’s the Bahun Upas tree, isn’t it?”

  “Yes.”

  Sophia swallowed hard. “Isn’t the poison derived from that tree fatal?”

  Ini-herit nodded. “I remembered creating this trap once I saw the symbols. At the time, I thought I’d only be coming down here with another elder. That elder would have to go into the chamber first. Then, once the poison was ingested, I would heal him or her.”

  “I didn’t think your healing abilities were that strong,” Clara Kate said. “My mom mentioned that she once brought Aunt Skye back to life, and that no one could believe it because they hadn’t seen it done before.”

  “When it comes to the connection between the elders, our abilities are enhanced. Sebastian can pair to all of us at once rather than just one being, for example. Uriel’s offensive skills are enhanced when put to the task of rescuing an elder. Gabriel’s defensive abilities are similarly heightened. So the belief is that my healing abilities will also permit me to bring an elder back from the brink of death.”

  “You didn’t save Volarius,” Sophia pointed out.

  “Volarius was dead for too long before I learned about it. Besides, I said on the brink of death. I haven’t ever brought a being back from the dead.”

  There was a long pause. Then Clara Kate said, “So a fellow elder needs to go into that chamber and allow him or herself to be killed by the poison, then you go in and bring that elder
back to life?”

  He knew where she was leading and shook his head. “You aren’t fully connected with all of us yet, Angel.”

  “But you’re avowed to me,” she said. “Our connection should be at least as strong as the elder bond.”

  Panic set in as he realized what she was suggesting. “But the baby—”

  “Look,” Quincy interrupted. “Just heal me before I die, all right?”

  Then he ran into the chamber. The door slammed behind him. They all stared at the closed door for a moment, frozen in shock.

  “Quincy!” Sophia cried, running up to the door and searching for a handle. It didn’t have one. She pounded on the wood. “No!”

  “What has he done?” Clara Kate asked in a hoarse voice, her hand pressed to her chest. “Holy light…what has he done?”

  Ini-herit walked up to Sophia and pulled her away from the door. When he saw the tears in her eyes, he wanted to go back in time and punch himself in the head to stop from creating such a dangerous and unpredictable trap. It was truly amazing how experiencing no emotion affected one’s judgment on such things.

  “What he’s done is put his faith in me,” he said, looking at Sophia. “You told Clara Kate to have faith in you before. Now I ask you to have it in me.”

  Although tears trailed down her face, she nodded. He hugged her. After a moment, he reached for Clara Kate’s hand. She stepped closer, then took over hugging Sophia so he could position himself outside the door.

  The wait seemed interminable, though it was probably less than a minute. Finally, the door clicked open.

  Ini-herit ran inside and fell to the ground next to Quincy. Not even bothering to check for a pulse, he brought forth all of his healing energy and placed his hands on Quincy’s chest.

  Nothing happened.

  Closing his eyes, he focused on his new bond with Quincy and the others. Sweat beaded on his brow as he concentrated. If his abilities were heightened for the elders, it sure as hell should be heightened for his family. And that’s exactly what Quincy was now.

  After several long minutes, Quincy’s heartbeat resumed. Sophia sobbed and joined Ini-herit on the ground. Clara Kate placed a hand on Ini-herit’s shoulder as he slumped in exhaustion.

  He opened his eyes and met Quincy’s gaze, sharing a silent understanding. He knew Quincy had sacrificed himself rather than risk Clara Kate and the baby. He wouldn’t ever be able to repay that. He didn’t even know what to say.

  But Quincy did.

  “Took you long enough, Harry.”

  Chapter 39

  Eirik ignored the battle as he advanced on the statue. His shield protected him against weapons and his followers kept the Waresti occupied, so he had no concerns. As he passed a temple not far from the statue, he spotted the kragen. A lift of his hand had his followers casting the enchanted net he had brought along for just this purpose. It brought the creature down.

  Perfect.

  He wasn’t surprised when Zachariah walked out of the alley leading to the statue. The space was too confining for a fight, and there was no avoiding one now. The Waresti guarding the alley were currently engaged in battle with swarms of Mercesti, so Eirik didn’t have much of a challenge getting through their defenses. In fact, this entire undertaking was proving ridiculously easy. He knew he would soon have the third scroll piece.

  Although he expected Zachariah to meet him alone, he watched as Tate, Ariana and a Kynzesti male lined up behind him.

  “Relying on reinforcements to try to defeat me, Zachariah?” he asked as he came to a stop fifteen feet away from them. “It is hard to blame you, considering you would have died the last time we faced each other if not for your former elder. I do not suppose Gabriel is here this time, is he?” Glancing to each side, he shrugged. “It appears not.”

  Zachariah stared back with a bland expression, his arms crossed over his chest.

  Eirik shifted his gaze to Tate. He scanned her form, then said, “I see your avowed is healed. She appears in excellent shape, as a matter of fact.” Looking back at Zachariah, he asked, “Did you feel it when my followers attacked her?” Seeing the other male’s eyes narrow, he tilted his head. “It was a delight to watch. Next time, I have even better things planned for her.”

  None of them replied. They hadn’t moved from their positions since stopping to face him. He clenched his jaw, fighting his growing rage.

  “You must be Tate’s brother,” he said to the male Kynzesti. “As I see that Ariana now bears Kynzesti-colored markings, I will assume you have avowed with her.” He looked at Ariana, who met his gaze without flinching. “She and I had a lot of private time together before she met you. I can attest to what a…special female she is.”

  He expected outrage. He expected loud protests defending the Lekwuesti’s honor. He received neither.

  They were toying with him. He gripped his weapons and calculated the best way to use them to cause the most damage. “Where is the third scroll piece?” he asked, his tone promising death if they didn’t answer.

  They didn’t.

  He took a step forward. A loud commotion stopped him. Glancing behind Zachariah, he watched as the battlefield flooded with Waresti and Mercesti reinforcements led by Harold and Derian.

  Impossible. His forces should have stopped them.

  Finally, Zachariah spoke. “In regards to the first question you asked, you bloody bastard…you can take that as a yes.”

  Clara Kate didn’t want to know what other surprises awaited them inside the statue’s depths. Just thinking about it made the low ceiling and narrow corridors feel as though they were pressing in on her. Since she knew the power of the Elder Scroll, she understood the need for having these traps in place. But disarming them was a terrifying prospect.

  According to the markings on Ini-herit’s medallion, there should only be one more trap. She supposed she should thank heaven for small favors. Instead, she was uncomfortably aware of the fact that everyone besides her had now done something to get them to the scroll piece. Judging by how these things typically went, there was a balance and reason behind why the four of them were allowed into the statue while the others weren’t. In all likelihood, her abilities would be needed.

  In other words, she thought, batter up.

  After walking back up several ramps, they approached another chamber. By now, they knew that they only encountered rooms when a trap was involved. Sure enough, Ini-herit’s medallion began to glimmer as they neared it.

  “Well, this is it,” he said. “The last trap.”

  “I don’t suppose your memory is returning to you?” Clara Kate asked, glancing from the dark chamber to meet his gaze.

  “I wish it was.” He turned the medallion to study the lit markings. “All I know is this symbol is a flame, and this one is the ankh.”

  “The Egyptian symbol for eternal life,” Sophia mused.

  “While that’s true,” Ini-herit agreed, “this symbol is the only true sign of faith among Estilorians. It’s because we are long-lived and once placed such importance on this symbol that the ancient Egyptians adopted it.”

  “Okay. Faith and fire,” Quincy summed up.

  They all looked at the empty chamber. Then they exchanged glances.

  “Is someone about to get barbecued?” Sophia asked.

  “I wouldn’t have created a trap that a being couldn’t survive if approaching it the right way,” Ini-herit said, but they all sensed his hesitation. They knew he wasn’t sure.

  Clara Kate’s skin tingled with fear when she envisioned walking into fire. She pictured her skin roasting, her hair burning, her lungs filling with heat as she screamed. Just thinking about it brought a light sheen of sweat to her brow. But she knew her turn had come.

  “Well, I’m no stranger to fire,” she said out loud. When everyone looked at her, she held up her hand and produced a ball of flame. “It’s my elemental ability. If I can summon it, maybe I can control it.”

  “You’ve never tried to befo
re,” Sophia argued. “You don’t know that you can do it.”

  “No, I don’t.” Clara Kate agreed. “None of us do. But I know I have to do this.” She met Ini-herit’s gaze. “I know you, Harry. I know your core traits and those characteristics that you’ve contributed to your class. All of this is about faith. These traps center around it. Faith in one’s self, faith in others…” Her gaze moved to the dark chamber. “And faith in the unknown.”

  After a moment, Ini-herit reached for her. She expected him to argue. Instead, he kissed her.

  She didn’t bother protesting. Pushing past her fear, she tapped into his mind and allowed his love to fill her as she enjoyed his kiss. She would use both as motivation to get her through this.

  The kiss was over before she was ready, but she knew there was much more riding on this than a single moment with the male she loved. She parted from him, touching the side of his face and communicating her feelings without words. Then she turned and entered the chamber, allowing the resulting flames to engulf her.

  Ariana’s breath came too quickly as she stared at Eirik. Her heart beat so fast that she felt it throbbing in the sides of her neck, prohibiting speech.

  This was a good thing. There was much she wanted to say to the evil male standing in front of them, but she knew Zachariah wanted all of them to keep quiet. He conveyed that their silence would provoke Eirik. As usual, the Mercesti’s strategy was correct.

  He’s off-stride now, Zachariah thought. Be prepared in case he opts to throw a weapon. I’m the only one the curse on his blades won’t kill if he happens to get through the shields.

  They all issued mental nods.

  “It appears my time to acquire the final scroll piece has arrived,” Eirik said as he watched the new arrivals take over the battlefield. “You will have to excuse me.”

  As he started to walk past them to the statue, Zachariah mentally conveyed his intentions. Responding to the thought, Ariana shifted with Tate and Tiege until all four of them blocked the alleyway from Eirik.