In some small way, they all played a role in helping him uncover the truth. Why were there so many dark strands? Why couldn't he remember some events from his past? The Webs of Fate showed him paths to the answers, but not the answers themselves.
He had to keep guiding the paths of so many people.
"Your Majesty," Farah said, "is there anything else you require of me?"
"I'm sorry. I must have gotten lost in thought." He stroked his chin. "For now, I require nothing else of you, but you should remain in Varner City."
"Of course, Your Majesty."
"You may go."
As she departed, Darien rubbed his tired eyes. He wished he could see farther into the Webs, wished he could uncover the truth behind the dark strands.
Wished he could find out who truly had the world in chains.
Chapter 44: Outsiders
"I wonder if they're really gonna be suspicious of us," Markus said as they traveled westward, leaving the Hunters' camp far behind, walking toward uncertainty. Long grasses stretched ahead of them, lining gently rolling hills.
Nadia turned to him with a smile that made her beautiful despite the sweat and dirt. "I don't see how one of the strongholds of the Order could be so unwelcoming. Maybe the Hunters simply haven't been there in a long time."
Markus prayed that was the case, but he had a bad feeling. Should he have taken the opportunity to abandon this quest? After all, why did it matter so much to him?
Nadia. That was why. He couldn't deny the attraction he felt toward her, though he wished she'd open up a bit more and let him into her world.
But she was too focused on her quest, on being a hero. Markus couldn't decide if he was a hero himself. He'd never felt all that heroic. Heroes belonged to another time, another place, to children's stories, not the real world.
Markus put a hand on Nadia's shoulder. "Do you feel like what we're doing is heroic?"
"Where did this come from?"
"I was just wondering."
"Of course it's heroic," she said. "We're doing it for the people of the Empire."
"But are we?" Markus asked. "You were planning to do this long before Crayden, and while I won't say you aren't thinking of the people, you have to admit you're thinking of your own vengeance."
She hesitated. "Well, yes, I am, but it's not just for my mother. Not all heroes have to do things for completely selfless reasons. In fact, I'd say there's no such thing as complete selflessness. Even when you make sacrifices to help someone else, you still feel good about what you did. In that sense, even a selfless act has selfish motivations. No matter what our motivations, we're doing the right thing, and doing the right thing makes you a hero."
Rik stroked his red beard. "It's not the right thing from Warrick's perspective. I mean, there are a whole lot of people who're pretty happy with things. From their perspective, we could actually be villains. Just a different way to look at it."
"It doesn't matter," Nadia said. "We know that what we're doing is right."
Markus agreed that they were doing the right thing, but he could see Rik's point. A lot of people would be unhappy if they killed Warrick. Many would suffer in the civil war that was sure to follow. Things would get worse before they got better.
A lot to think about.
That evening, as expected, they reached the western edge of the plains, where the long grasses gave way abruptly to orange sand.
Markus pointed. "How the hell is that possible?"
"It's Warrick's magic," Nadia said. "He can do amazing things."
Rik let out a low laugh. "And we're gonna try to kill him. Yeah, I think we are crazy."
"It takes crazy people to change the world," Nadia said.
Markus felt the weight of that statement. Nadia spoke with confidence, but her doubts were written on her face. He shared those doubts. Even if they did acquire all three scrolls, Warrick still had his magic, and if he could read potential futures, then he'd see them coming.
Well, there was no point worrying about it right now.
They stepped onto the sand, where the air became hot and dry and the gentle breeze died. Markus pointed to the northwest. "I think I see something up that way, just over the horizon."
They started in that direction, and soon Markus's throat felt as dry as the sand. How could they travel across this desert?
For that matter, how could anyone stand to live there?
Eventually, the Oasis Outpost came into view, displaying buildings of sandblasted stone, streets of nothing but sand. Dozens of people walked those streets, looking comfortable in the dry heat. At the city's eastern side was a large oasis.
The townspeople stared at them, muttering indistinctly, and Markus's stomach churned.
Shortly after the party reached the oasis, the town guard appeared. One man stepped forward, probably a captain. "You are outsiders. Outsiders are not welcome here. Outsiders seek to destroy us."
Nadia's eyes widened. "What? We mean nothing of the sort. We are travelers. We are here to see Cyrus. Why would we want to destroy your city?"
"I don't believe you," the captain said. "You're under arrest."
"Is this some kinda joke?" Rik said.
The commander's gaze was stern. "No joke. Put down your weapons and come with us."
Markus exchanged an anxious glance with Nadia, who nodded. They placed their weapons on the ground, hoping to put the guards at ease. The guards approached, took the rest of their belongings, and began marching them through the streets.
Townspeople looked on, their eyes narrow with distrust. What had happened to make these people so resistant to outsiders? How were they going to convince the people they posed no threat? And where was this Cyrus person Nadia had mentioned?
"Why are you doing this to us?" Nadia demanded.
The captain kept marching them along. "Only imperial spies would come here. The journey is too difficult for anyone else."
Nadia's eyes had a wild look. "That's absurd! We are not imperial spies. We are far from it. We came here to speak to Cyrus because we intend to kill Warrick."
"I don't believe you," the captain said. "Even Cyrus won't want to see you."
"Why don't you let him decide?" Rik said. "What could it hurt?"
The captain narrowed his eyes. "Cyrus is not our master. Our duty is to protect this town from outsiders like you, not to accommodate them."
Markus, Nadia, and Rik fell silent and marched toward the center of the city in grave spirits. The guards led them into a rundown stone building, the prison. Inside, there were two cells and a lone guard sitting in a stone chair.
The guards shoved Markus and Rik into one cell, led Nadia into the other, then slammed and locked the barred doors before walking away. One guard remained.
Nadia turned to him. "Why are you treating us like this?"
The guard shrugged, but he looked more sympathetic. "We have a bad history with outsiders. Imperial Guards can't get through the barriers around the city, but spies can, and they have. It's better if we treat everyone as dangerous."
"Do you think we're dangerous?" Markus asked.
"I have no idea. You don't seem dangerous, but appearances can be deceiving."
"What will happen to us," Nadia asked.
"There'll be a trial tomorrow." The guard stroked his clean-shaven chin. "You'll have a chance to state your case before Lord Aron. Then we'll decide your fate."
"And if we're found guilty?" Nadia said.
"You will likely be executed."
Markus felt a hot surge of anger. "What? That's ridiculous! You can't execute people for just coming to your town."
The guard shrugged again. "Better to be safe than sorry."
"Couldn't you just let us go?" Nadia asked.
The guard shook his head. "Too dangerous. You seem okay to me, but the law's the law."
"Is this Lord Aron a fair man?" Nadia asked.
The guard looked away. "Well, he's fair in that he sticks to the law, but that p
robably won't do you any good."
Rik stared at the sandy floor. "Could you at least get us food and something to drink?"
"I can do that." The guard stepped over to a cabinet at the side of the large room, then returned with dried meat and small cups of water. Markus took the offerings gratefully, though he seethed at their treatment in general.
He'd never expected to face so much resistance in a place that was supposed to be a haven for the Order. Through the bars at the side of the cell, he looked at Nadia, who had sagged against the stone wall.
"This is ridiculous," she said in a low voice. "I can't fail like this."
"Maybe things will turn out okay," Markus said, but he didn't believe it.
A few hours later, the guard left, and another took his place. Whenever they tried to ask the new guard anything, he remained silent. He didn't offer them anything and threatened to beat them if they talked.
The next morning, the first guard returned, bringing them food and water.
"Your trial will begin in about an hour," he said.
Nadia moved to the edge of her cell. "Could you bring something from our supplies to the trial? It's a scroll written in symbols you probably won't be able to read."
"Is it dangerous?"
"Not by itself," Nadia said.
"All right, I'll get it for you."
Markus didn't know whether to feel anxious or relived. When the time came, six guards manacled their hands and led them out of the small prison, through the empty streets, and into the courthouse, a large stone building in the middle of town.
Markus's stomach twisted into knots as the guards directed them to a sandy bench at the front of the room. Townspeople jeered at them, and few appeared sympathetic. Markus strained against his manacles, on the verge of panic.
A clamor of voices filled the room. Distrustful. Mocking. Markus felt the crushing weight of hopelessness, like he'd felt while imprisoned in Crayden, but worse.
The voices came to sudden silence. Markus turned to see a middle-aged man in long, dark robes striding down the central walkway, toward the raised platform at the front of the room. The man took a seat in a chair on this platform, looking down at the prisoners.
He banged a gavel on the stone table in front of him. "I call this trial to order."
No one made a sound, and Markus felt as if he were suffocating.
The man kept his gaze on the prisoners. "I am Lord Aron, the leader of this city. It is my duty to determine the threat you pose and how you should be punished for your transgressions."
Markus felt sicker than ever as they stated their names to begin the proceedings.
"Why have you come to our city?" Aron asked afterward.
"We came here seeking Cyrus Middleton," Nadia said. "Back in Crayden, I was a member of the Order. I discovered a way to kill Warrick, but I need Cyrus's help to get what I need. I've wanted Warrick dead ever since he had my mother executed."
Aron's face remained expressionless. "I don't believe your story. It sounds exactly like the kind of story Warrick's spies would come up with. You'll need to try harder."
"I told you the truth," Nadia said, exasperated, "and you won't accept it. What can I say that will make you trust us?"
"Trust is hard to come by around here," Aron said. "You could be telling the truth, but unless you can offer proof of what you're saying, we have to err on the side of caution."
Nadia looked flustered, her entire body shaking. "All right, where's Cyrus? Let him come here."
"We have long since cut ties with Cyrus. He's a powerful man, but he spends more time in Mountainside than he does here. We prefer to remain separate from the political issues of the Empire. It allows us to be much safer."
"Can't you at least call Cyrus here?" Nadia said.
"The last I knew, he was away in Mountainside. I doubt he'd believe your story either."
Rik glared at the man. "Shouldn't we at least give him the chance?"
"It is not your place to make demands, prisoner."
"Give me another chance to prove it to you," Nadia said. "In our supplies, we have a scroll containing the first part of a spell called White Fire. Cyrus himself wrote of this spell, and the chance it has to kill Warrick. Look at the scroll for yourself." She turned to the guard. "Could you show him the scroll I asked you to take here?"
The guard strode forward and handed Aron the scroll. Aron frowned, then returned it to the guard. "This is nonsense. I can't read it."
"It's written in Luminian," Nadia said. "Cyrus would be able to read it. Please, put off your decision until he can see the scroll. If he doesn't believe us, then you can do whatever you want. I was told you were a fair man. Show me that you are."
Aron narrowed his eyes. "Justice is fair, and you are on the wrong side of the law."
"How can you call that justice," Nadia demanded, rising and clenching her fists. "Convicting people who have done nothing wrong isn't justice. It's a travesty of justice. You're no better than Warrick."
Aron glared at her. "Sit down, or I'll have you killed right where you stand."
Nadia sat reluctantly, her face red with anger. Markus wanted to comfort her but could only strain against his manacles. He looked down at his knees.
"Do you have any other evidence?" Aron asked, his gaze stern.
Nadia shook her head. Markus and Rik said nothing. What did it matter now? Aron and the townspeople had made up their minds.
"In that case," Aron said, "it's time to determine the verdict." He gave instructions to the townspeople, and they stood on one side of the courtroom to declare guilt, another to declare innocence. Only a few people decided in favor of Markus, Nadia, and Rik.
Aron banged the gavel again. "The verdict is guilty. The prisoners shall be executed today behind the courthouse. Attendance is voluntary."
He strode out of the room. The guards pulled Markus, Nadia, and Rik out of the courthouse, then circled around to the other side of the building, where the executioner's block had already been set up.
Yet another sign that there'd never been any doubt about their fate.
The executioner was the guard who'd treated them harshly the night before. He watched them approach with a smile, and Markus shuddered. The axe looked sharp, but Markus had the feeling the man would make it more painful just to torture them.
Aron presided over the execution, standing about twenty feet away. "Let's get this over with quickly," he said. "Better not to dwell too long on things like this."
You just want to forget this because you know it's wrong, Markus thought. He stepped closer to the block, looking down at his knees, fighting against nausea.
"Which one first?" the executioner asked.
Aron considered a moment. "Kill the red-haired one."
A pair of guards pulled Rik forward. He struggled until one of them clubbed him over the head with a gauntleted hand, and then he staggered toward his fate. The guards placed him face-down on the block while the executioner raised his axe.
Goodbye, Rik, Markus thought, tears streaming down his face. At least I'll be right behind you.
Chapter 45: Secrets from the Past
"Stop the execution!"
A man strode toward the execution site, walking with authority. This man had a clean-shaven face and long, silvery blond hair. He appeared to be forty to fifty years old, but something about him looked almost ageless.
Aron glared at the man. "I wasn't expecting you so soon, Cyrus."
Markus's heart fluttered.
"Why are you executing these people?" Cyrus demanded.
"It isn't your concern," Aron said. "You have no authority to interfere in this matter."
"I have authority wherever I want. What have these people done?"
"They've threatened the safety of the town. They're imperial spies."
"Have you proven this?" Cyrus asked.
"They didn't disprove it, and that's all that counts."
"Guilty until proven innocent," Cyrus said. "I'
ve never cared for your justice system."
"It is not your place to judge our ways. You don't have the best interests of this town in mind. You still hold your delusions of opposing Warrick."
"And who allowed you to separate yourself from such matters?" Cyrus asked. "Who created the barrier protecting the city? Who fills your oasis with water? It seems you've forgotten that you prosper because of me. I may allow you to govern yourselves, but don't delude yourself into thinking you're the master here. I am the master."
"That may be so," Aron said, "but why are you so interested in these prisoners?"
Cyrus stroked his chin. "These prisoners could very well be the ones to defeat Warrick. I've read the Webs of Fate, and they figure prominently into the fate of the world. And you would have destroyed that without even giving them a chance to state their case."
Markus was confused. What were the Webs of Fate, and how could someone read them? Did Cyrus see the chance that their insane quest might succeed? How did he even know who they were?
Rik still lay against the block. The executioner had lowered his axe, but he stood ready to use it.
"Fine, have it your way," Aron said. "I know I can't stop you."
Cyrus turned to the guards holding them prisoner. "Release the prisoners from those chains."
The guards hesitated, but when Aron nodded, they removed the manacles.
"Now we'll recover their belongings," Cyrus said. The guard with the scroll returned it to Nadia, then accompanied them while the rest of the guards remained behind. The executioner let Rik go with a dark look, and Rik hastened over to join Markus and Nadia.
"Sorry about all this," said the sympathetic guard. "We have problems with trust."
Cyrus turned to him. "I know you're sorry, Leo. You're one of the few good men around here. I would welcome you into the Order."
"Well, I don't know about that."
"Keep an open mind," Cyrus said.
They went to the small prison and retrieved the rest of their belongings. Then Cyrus bade farewell to Leo and motioned for Markus, Nadia, and Rik to follow. They walked through the narrow streets, clouds of sand rising at their feet as the heat grew more brutal.
World in Chains- The Complete Series Page 37
