World in Chains- The Complete Series

by Ryan W. Mueller

She felt cold all over even though it was a warm evening.

  "You look like you're about to pass out," said the guard. She took Nadia under one of her arms and lifted her up. With Rik helping, they held her above the ground, and the guard said, "There's a doctor two streets away."

  The next few minutes passed in delirious agony. Before Nadia knew it, she was lying on a soft bed with white sheets, covered in sweat and shivering.

  A middle-aged man frowned as he examined her. "It's a clean break. That's a good thing."

  Something about the man made Nadia uneasy. He reminded her of someone she'd met before, but in her delirium, she couldn't place this feeling. All she could think about was the pain.

  Rik rested a hand on her shoulder and smiled down at her, but the smile looked forced. He had changed a lot in recent days. No longer was he too carefree, or too sullen. He'd matured a lot. She wanted to tell him these things, but her mouth felt dry.

  "Is she going to be all right?" Rik asked. "How soon can she travel?"

  The doctor looked away, as if considering something. "She will take at least a few weeks to get on her feet again, and it will take longer than that before she can handle the rigors of travel. Where do you need to go in such a hurry?"

  "Taylorville," Rik said.

  "The journey's too long."

  "You don't understand," Rik said. "She has to come."

  The doctor's mouth became a thin line. "Do I look like a sorcerer to you? I'm a mere doctor. I can't work miracles." His expression softened. "I'm sorry. I really am."

  "What about Miracle Fruit?" Rik asked. "You got any of that?"

  "How do you know about Miracle Fruit?"

  Rik grinned. "So you do have some?"

  "I never said that."

  "If you have some, give it to her. We can pay you."

  "It's not that simple," said the doctor. "You have to understand that Warrick controls the distribution and use of Miracle Fruit. If he finds out that I've given it to somebody without his permission, I'll be in trouble." He ran a hand through his short brown hair. "How can I be sure you aren't rebels? Warrick wouldn't be happy if I helped out a pair of rebels."

  Rik reached into his pocket and pulled out a small handful of gold coins. "I can pay you well. You can say someone stole it. Just give it to her. We need it. My best friend is dying, and the only means of curing him is in Taylorville. I need her to get it."

  Nadia summoned the strength to sit up and speak. "The dying man is also the man I love. Can you truly deny us the chance to cure him?"

  The doctor began pacing, then stopped and smiled at them. "All right, you've convinced me. I'll take your money and give you the damned Miracle Fruit."

  He left the room, and Rik shuffled to Nadia's side again. "That seemed too easy. Why'd he suddenly change his mind?"

  "No idea," Nadia said, grimacing as the ache in her leg became more intense for a moment. "But I don't really care right now."

  The doctor returned a few minutes later, carrying a cup of yellow juice that Nadia recognized at once. She sat up straighter and moved to take the cup, but the doctor didn't let her take it.

  "I think this needs a steady hand," he said. He put the cup to her lips, and she drank.

  To her surprise, the juice was delicious—sweet and tart, like a green apple. As she drank it, she felt her strength returning. A crawling sensation crept up her leg.

  When the cup was empty, she sat back against the pillow at the end of the bed.

  "You should be ready to go in a few hours," said the doctor. He turned to leave the room, but Rik grabbed his arm.

  "Why'd you have one of these Miracle Fruits?" Rik asked. "As you said, Warrick controls them. We heard the same thing from another man who had one of these. I know these aren't common knowledge. What're the chances that you'd just happen to have one?"

  The man hesitated. "I'm a doctor. It's only natural."

  "But you don't use them all that often, do you?"

  "Stop asking questions," said the doctor. "I've healed her. Isn't that enough?"

  Nadia realized, then, why the doctor seemed familiar. He had the same brusque manner as Taren back in Riverside. Even their facial features bore some similarities. And they both had these Miracle Fruits. Rik was right. What were the chances that two people would show up with Miracle Fruit just when they needed it most?

  Nadia sat up. "You have a brother named Taren, don't you?"

  "I have no idea what you're talking about," said the doctor, too quickly. "My name's Jared. I am a simple doctor, and I have no brother." He stepped to the door. "You've already paid me more than enough, so I'd appreciate it if you get going as soon as you're ready."

  The moment Nadia felt she could walk, they left the building. They stopped at an inn for a quick meal, restocked their supplies at a local store, then made their way north toward the ruins of Sandersburg.

  "What should we expect in this place?" Rik asked.

  "I have no idea. We need to be prepared for anything. This place was meant to safeguard knowledge like what we're seeking. It won't be easy."

  "Nothing ever is."

  They arrived at the ruins the next morning. The city was larger than any Nadia had ever seen, including Imperia. When they stepped into the outskirts of the city, Nadia felt the resistance of an invisible barrier. She tensed and scanned her surroundings.

  Nothing threatened, but how long would that last?

  They walked through the deserted streets, passing years of dust and decay. These stone buildings had once been grand, but most had succumbed to the fury of time, or perhaps they'd fallen in Warrick's attack on the city. The place felt eerie, as if ghosts were lurking unseen, reminding Nadia of Woodsville.

  Rik chuckled. "You know, there was once a time when I would've loved to see a place like this. Now it's just something I have to do. Strange how that happens."

  "Maybe you never were the adventurer you thought you were."

  "Yeah, maybe."

  Nadia stared across the desolate landscape. A few small animals scurried through the sparse vegetation covering the ground. This wasn't like Woodsville. There, the forest had grown over everything. Here, the plain surrounding the ruins seemed almost as if it had never intruded, as if the place's latent magic kept nature out.

  Rik scanned their surroundings. "So where do we go now?"

  "I don't know." Nadia closed her eyes, remembering the map the Spirit of Malavia had given her. Perhaps it had also left her hidden knowledge of this place. Soon she felt a strange sense of certainty, and started forward without speaking, crossing ruined cobblestone streets.

  Rik followed. "You know something?"

  "I'm not sure. I'm just following my instincts."

  Rik grinned. "The best kind of plan."

  Nadia led the way, keeping the mysterious map in the back of her mind. She shouldn't trust what the Spirit of Malavia had given her, but it had helped them through the volcanic caves.

  Her instincts led her to a large building in the center of the enormous city.

  Rik swayed on his feet. "Is this the building?"

  "I-I think so." Nadia pushed against the large stone door. At first, it didn't budge, but once Rik lent his help, they pushed it aside. The chamber within looked as if Warrick's attack had never touched it. The polished stone floors still gleamed. The shelves on the walls were full of books untouched by hundreds of years of dust.

  Magical torches cast bluish light upon everything. Nadia felt as if she'd traveled back to a moment that belonged to the past.

  Rik stared at everything in awe. "How does this place look like this?"

  "Magic." It was the only explanation Nadia had.

  "And we're supposed to face whatever challenges this place has in store for us?"

  "I know. I don't like our chances either." She trusted her instincts, stepping to the far corner of the chamber, where she found a set of stairs spiraling downward. They followed these stairs until they reached a dimmer chamber.

  D
ust and spider webs covered everything, and massive cracks split the walls. Some of the stones from the ceiling had fallen onto the ground. Nadia took a deep breath and moved farther into this chamber. The place smelled of dust and age. A rat scurried between her legs, and she yelped in surprise.

  Rik grinned again. "A bit jumpy, are we?"

  "This is not a place to joke about."

  At the far end of the chamber was a large stone door. It showed no cracks, no dust, no signs of age. She stepped closer to the door and read a small inscription in Luminian.

  Only those with magic can enter.

  "This is where we need to go," she said, but she didn't see a lever or any other way to open the door. She placed her hand against the cool stone. A low rumble filled the chamber, and the door shifted out of the way.

  As soon as they both stepped through the door, it slammed behind them with a resounding crash. Nadia placed her hand against it, but it didn't budge.

  "Guess we're stuck in here," Rik said.

  "At least until we pass whatever challenges this place requires."

  "Let's hope those challenges are easy," Rik said.

  "I highly doubt that."

  Chapter 38: The Great Challenge

  The corridor that Nadia and Rik followed was lit by bluish magical torchlight, which cast an eerie glow. Nadia kept an eye out for danger, but the dusty corridors seemed deserted.

  "Stop!" Rik shouted.

  Nadia froze. "What is it?"

  "Look at those tiles just ahead. They're a slightly darker color than the others. I think it's a trap."

  Nadia stepped up to the edge of the discolored tiles but didn't put any weight on them. She noted small holes in the walls. "I bet something will come out of those holes if we step on the tile."

  "But how're we gonna get past it?" Rik asked. "We can't jump that far."

  "I know." She examined the challenge. The leap across the tiles was at least ten feet. "Rik, is there any magic you can use? After all, this place specifically said that those without magic couldn't enter. That has to be the answer."

  Rik turned his staff over in his hands. "I have one idea. Not sure if it'll work."

  "What is it?"

  He pointed his staff at the floor up ahead, narrowing his eyes. A low rumble began, but the spell didn't work. After a few tries, he gave up and wiped sweat from his forehead. "Why isn't this working?"

  "Maybe it isn't so simple. We have to think of something." Nadia hated the desperation in her voice, but she couldn't help it. Markus grew closer to death with every second they delayed. He could be dead already. Her insides felt suddenly cold.

  She paced at the edge of the discolored tiles, amazed that Rik had noticed the difference in color. They were only a little darker gray than the rest.

  "I'm going to try something," she said, and placed her foot on the darker tiles. Something clicked in the wall, and she backed away moments before dozens of arrows flew across the corridor from the left to the right. When she placed her foot there again, the same thing happened, but this time the arrows came from her right.

  "I have a feeling the supply of arrows never runs out," Rik said.

  Nadia resumed her pacing. "There has to be a solution here."

  "I think I might have one," Rik said. "These tiles are obviously meant to go down when the weight of a person is on them. But what if there's a way we can spread out that weight? If I cover the tiles in water and then freeze it, the ice should spread out our weight."

  Nadia smiled. "That sounds crazy, but it just might work."

  "I'll get to work." Rik grinned as he sent jets of water from his staff. It took a while to cover the floor in perhaps an inch of water. Once he managed that, he touched his staff to the water, creating an ice bridge like they had while crossing the river.

  He stepped onto the ice bridge first, then slid across its surface. Her breath caught in her throat, but no arrows flew from the wall. Once he reached the other side, he kept the tip of his staff against the ice bridge.

  Nadia stepped onto the bridge. She slipped a few times as she crossed, but the arrows did not release. When she reached the other side, she collapsed against the wall for a few moments.

  Then they followed the branching corridors, using the intuitive map Nadia had in her head. It was a good thing she had it, for otherwise they would have been lost.

  Soon they came to an open chamber in which there were four giant statues, one at each corner. Red light came from the eyes of each statue, directed toward the corners. There was no door at the other side of the room, only a place that looked like it might hold one.

  "What the hell are we supposed to do in here?" Rik asked.

  "I have no idea."

  Rik stepped over to the left, toward where one of the statues was gazing. He stopped just beyond the edge of its vision, then shuffled his right foot as if he wanted to step into its sight.

  "Rik, I wouldn't do that. You have no idea what will happen."

  "Maybe it's what we need to do. How can we know?"

  "Please, Rik. I don't like the look of these statues."

  Rik stepped into the statue's line of sight. The statue's eyes glowed a brighter red, and a low vibration filled the room. Rik backed away, suddenly pale as the red glow became so bright Nadia had to shield her eyes.

  Rik inadvertently looked into the statue's eyes. He opened his mouth as if screaming, but no sound came out.

  Then he vanished.

  It happened in the blink of an eye. Nadia couldn't believe it. She almost raced toward the spot where Rik had disappeared, but then she stopped herself. For all she knew, the statue had killed him, and she couldn't take that chance.

  Still, it reminded her too much of Kara. There one second. Gone the next.

  Her thoughts ran in chaotic circles. How could she hope to brave this place on her own? Her visions and intuitions were useless in a place like this. What if she encountered another obstacle like the one they'd already faced?

  Even worse, what if Rik was dead? How could she go back to Markus and tell him she'd lost his best friend?

  No. She couldn't think like that. There was no proof Rik was dead.

  Deep breaths, Nadia. This isn't over yet.

  She returned her attention to the statues, trying to determine what she should do. This was only a puzzle, and she had a logical mind. She could work through this, and then she'd worry about Rik's fate.

  She stepped around to the other side of the statue that had made Rik vanish, and then she ran her hands along the statue, testing its surface for any inconsistencies. There were none. As she touched it, though, it swiveled. At first, she thought it was turning to face her. But, no, her touch had made it move.

  How was that possible? This statue had to weigh ten times as much as a person. She touched it again, and it turned with ease. Maybe she had to turn the statues a certain direction.

  Acting on instinct, she pointed the statue's gaze toward the statue in the opposite corner of the room. Nothing happened. She had thought the other statue might vanish, but maybe that happened only to people caught in the line of sight.

  She raced to the statue on the right, close to the entrance of the room, and made her way to its other side, keeping out of all the statues' lines of sight. Feeling sick to her stomach, she turned the statue so that its gaze went to the statue in the far corner. She made sure to stay behind the statue at all times. Something about what she was doing felt right, but she couldn't be sure.

  Had the Spirit of Malavia planted more than a map in her head?

  She skirted the wall of the chamber, remaining as far as possible from the statues' gazes. Thankfully, their field of vision was narrow and clearly defined by the red light. When she reached the next statue, she realized she had a problem.

  This statue gazed into the corner of the room. The first statue gazed at the back of this statue. So she couldn't cross in front of the statue, and she couldn't stand behind it.

  How was she going to turn
the statue? It was impossible.

  She couldn't duck beneath their gazes, couldn't jump over them. For what felt like hours, she stood there, trying in vain to think of a solution. At last, she gave up. There was only one option. She had to see where the statues would send her if she stood within their gazes.

  Taking a deep breath, she stepped behind the statue closest to her, directly in the first statue's line of sight. She expected something to happen, but nothing did.

  Then she realized the answer.

  Rik hadn't disappeared until he'd looked the statue in the eyes.

  She turned the closest statue until its gaze could lock with that of the first statue she'd turned. Both statues vanished. Why had it taken her so long to think of this? She prided herself on her intellect, and it had failed her.

  No. It hadn't failed her. It had simply taken longer than she would have liked.

  She trotted to the other statue and carefully moved it into position. Both statues vanished once again, and the room became eerily still. Had she done the wrong thing?

  A low rumble came from the wall next to her, and the wall opened like a door. Exhaling with relief, she stepped through. There was no sign of Rik on the other side.

  Please, God, let Rik be safe. Do something for me, just this once.

  But she felt as if there were no one up there to answer her prayers. Dispirited, she walked through the corridor beyond the statue chamber. She remained alert for any traps, but everything around her looked the same in the magical torchlight.

  There were many paths, so she let the strange map guide her way. At last, she came to a large stone door, which rumbled open as she approached.

  She stepped into the next room. It was a large rectangular chamber with a raised platform in the center. She approached the platform, but then a wall of flame burst to life ahead of her. Recoiling from the heat, she looked for a way out. She could return the way she'd come, but that would do her no good.

  A figure appeared in front of her. Markus.

  "What are you doing here?" Nadia asked.

  "Oh, I'm not actually here. I'm not even the Markus you know. I'm a magical projection meant to test you. The magic of these ruins has conjured me from your thoughts."