Instead, Krinir had conjured a powerful shield. The shield sent the ceiling on a different trajectory, right toward the party. Markus covered his head, knowing it would be no use. Chunks of ceiling came crashing down upon them. Each impact hurt.
Markus had been foolish to try this.
But at least he'd see Rik again.
To his surprise, no more of the ceiling came down upon him. He pushed aside those chunks that had struck him, then staggered to his feet. Nadia, Berig, and Eliza remained standing, but Lara and Garet were nowhere to be seen, lost somewhere in the rubble.
Markus felt as if someone had punched him in the gut. That wasn't what he'd intended.
Krinir stood in the middle of the carnage, completely unscathed. He stepped toward them calmly, his gaze set on Eliza. "You, my daughter, are the biggest mistake I've ever made. It is against my nature to create, and yet I created you."
He pointed a finger at her, almost lazily, and darkness blasted toward her. That darkness struck her a moment later, and Markus was sure she'd die, but instead the spell rebounded, striking Krinir. He screamed and fell backward, clutching at his chest where it had struck him.
He lay upon the stone floor, unmoving, the flames growing closer.
"He isn't dead," Eliza said. "It will take a lot more than this to kill him." Her expression faltered, and she staggered a few steps forward.
"Are you all right?' Nadia asked.
"I feel like I understand everything. He created me and tried to destroy me. Such a duality cannot exist, not within the role he fulfilled as a god. He is meant to destroy everything else, but never to destroy a piece of himself, and that is what I am. A piece of him. In a way, I am a god, and killing a god is not something you do lightly. Now I understand why."
She staggered again. "When he tried to kill me just now, he acknowledged the fact that he created me, and in doing so, he gave me more than a piece of himself. I can feel it. I've taken on some of his powers, if only briefly." She faced Nadia, Markus and Berig. "I can send you away from here, just as he could send people out of the Shadowed Land."
Another stagger. "But in the process, I will die, because I was never meant to be."
Markus took a step closer. "I don't understand."
"I don't either. Not really." She pointed toward them. "It's time to say goodbye."
A moment later, the fire disappeared. Markus swam in a strange blackness like nothing he'd ever experienced. When the world came back into focus, he sat on the grassy ground, listening to the sound of waves crashing against the shore.
"Where are we?" he asked. "What the hell just happened?"
Nadia sat up gingerly. "I have no idea."
Berig was gazing toward the south, where a city sat against the horizon. "I think that might be Seaside. We passed through it on our way to Luminia." At their looks of confusion, he added, "It's on the eastern side of the continent with the Empire on it."
Markus felt unsteady on his feet. "But why would she have sent us here?"
"I have no idea," Nadia said.
Covered in soot, bruised and battered, they staggered toward the city. All the deaths had not yet sunk in. Maybe, if Markus ignored them, if he didn't think about anything at all, he could pretend Rik wasn't dead.
But this cruel world would never allow that.
Epilogue: A Land of Ruin
Lionar stood in the room that had been his prison for so many years. If he hadn't been a god, the confinement would have driven him insane by now. The room was small, giving him barely enough room to live, if this could be called living at all.
They did not bring him food or water. Hunger and thirst made him feel weak, but they would not kill him. The curse of being a god.
He stared out the barred window, at the gray sky, at the snow blowing in the fierce wind. This was the world Krinir had created, a world of death and destruction. Lionar had to stop it, but he could do nothing. This cell negated his magic. He was less than the weakest channeler.
He was nothing here.
But he had hope. The only thing he could still do was look at the Webs of Fate. He'd been following the distant past for a long time, waiting for the people who could free him.
Now they were on the path to doing so.
Their stands had gone dark, and that was a good sign.
But would they be strong enough to save him?
Did it even matter?
Chapter 1: The New High Sorcerer
Luminia was a shell of its former self. Many of its buildings lay in ruins. Dead bodies littered the streets. The smells of smoke and blood and things much fouler hung in the air.
Kara pulled the collar of her tunic over her nose, but it did little to block the smell, little to ease the sadness that overwhelmed her. After all her time in the Shadowed Land, she'd finally returned and seen Nadia again, and now Nadia was dead. She had to be.
There was nothing left of the library. Kara had searched the ruins. A few Imperial Guards lay dead among the rubble, but not her friends. That gave Kara a tiny flicker of hope, but it was hard to retain any optimism amidst the devastation.
Also dead were many of Luminia's sorcerers, including High Sorcerer Marlon, though no one had seen his body. She'd stayed out of the fighting as he'd suggested. It had felt cowardly, but her practical side had known it was the right thing.
Now she stood near the entrance to the Tower of Light, a few ordinary people of Luminia hovering nearby, their expressions downcast. A large contingent of Imperial Guards marched toward the tower. They looked bruised, bloody, and exhausted.
The battle had been kind to no one.
Kara felt adrift in a strange haze. She couldn't believe this was the world she'd returned to: a world of horrors worse than she'd seen in the Shadowed Land. How could she hope to change this world? Would Warrick accept her into his confidence even if she showed him she understood his secret code? Or would he kill her without a second thought?
A hole appeared at the center of the Imperial Guard formation. Striding forward through that hole were the last two people she wanted to see: Warrick and Krinir. Her stomach clenched. Would they recognize her?
She had to remain calm, had to be patient. Marlon had told her to wait until Krinir was gone. As long as he remained at Warrick's side, his control over him would be too strong. Warrick would not be able to exert his true self.
A risky plan, but it was the best she had.
She hung back in the crowd, watching Warrick approach. Now she truly understood the power of Warrick and Krinir. She'd seen them in the battle. They'd slaughtered the resistance with little effort. Those sorcerers with any self-preservation instincts had surrendered or fled.
Warrick stopped perhaps ten feet from the entrance to the Tower of Light. With a satisfied smile, he faced the crowd. "From now on, I am your new High Sorcerer. Obey me and you will prosper. Fight me and you will die. It's as simple as that."
This was not the man Kara had come to know in the Shadowed Land. She thought about meeting his gaze, then realized that was a foolish move. There was no telling what he'd do if he recognized her. She had to wait for the right moment, if it ever came.
No one said anything as the army entered the tower. They were all too stunned to speak. From what she'd heard, Luminia had long been a safe haven in a dangerous world. Despite the presence of so many sorcerers, no war had ever threatened the city.
Not since the Great War at least.
Once the army passed, Kara made her way to an inn. The building had suffered damage, but not enough to keep it from serving its purpose. In truth, much of the city remained intact, probably because Warrick and Krinir hadn't wanted to destroy it.
They'd wanted to rule it.
The inn was brighter than those back home. Even the curtains on the windows couldn't block all the city's magical light.
She sat alone at a table in the corner, eating a meal of stale bread and meat that tasted as if it had been cooking since the day before. A few Imperial Gu
ards had positioned themselves in the inn, watching the patrons with predatory gazes. Kara gave them no reason to find her remarkable. She was one of many people eating a silent meal.
But something about her must have attracted attention. She looked up to see an Imperial Guard with an unshaven face striding toward her.
Deep breaths. Perhaps he just wanted to talk to her.
"May I sit here?" he asked. "All the other seats are taken."
She was taken aback by his politeness. It wasn't the natural thing for a conquering army to do. He set his own plate of food on the table and took a bite of the same meat. "Well, I've definitely tasted better."
"Did you expect great food in a city you just conquered?"
"I guess you've got a good point there." He set down his fork and knife. "Now what's a young woman like you doing here, eating all alone?"
She couldn't keep the anger out of her voice. "Perhaps I've lost everyone I care about."
"Well, don’t blame me. I killed no one in the battle."
She gave him a stern glare. "I highly doubt that."
"It's true." He leaned forward in his wooden chair. "My name's Gram, and I'm not on Warrick's side. Marlon told me to find you."
The former High Sorcerer had mentioned an Imperial Guard named Gram, but she couldn't be sure he was truly who he said he was.
"Prove to me that you are who you say you are."
"How am I supposed to do that?"
"Where were you stationed?"
"Bradenton."
That was right, but not enough proof. "Name the man you helped escape the city through the teleportation system."
"Berig."
That wasn't something any random Imperial Guard would know. "All right, I believe you."
"Glad we have that straightened out. I think you'll need my help in the days to come."
"Thank you for the offer," Kara said, "but how exactly are you gonna help me?"
"Warrick still believes I serve him."
Kara checked that no one was listening to their conversation. A general chorus of voices filled the common room. "You sure about that? He can read the Webs of Fate, and if he can do that, he can see your treachery."
"Maybe he can," Gram said, "but he hasn't killed me yet."
"He is fully under Krinir's control now. If he sees you, he'll kill you."
Gram gave her an amused smile. "I could say the same for you. Marlon told me you'd try to earn Warrick's trust and help him reclaim himself. You think he'll let you get close if he's under Krinir's control?"
"I don't know, but it's what I have to do."
"I can help protect you," Gram said. "Even if Warrick doesn't kill you, you'll find a lot of people around him will be suspicious of you. You'll need a guard."
Kara wasn't sure she should accept his offer. She was doing something highly dangerous, something she needed to keep secret. Even if she trusted him, he was one more person who knew what she was doing. What if they found out about him and tortured him?
"I can see the doubts in your expression," he said. "But it's the only way. Marlon told me that much. I can't claim to understand sorcerers, but I think he was telling me the truth."
Kara took a deep breath. "All right, I'll accept your help."
"I'll head to the Tower of Light, and I'll get word to you when Krinir leaves."
"But why would he leave?" she asked.
"He probably has his own matters to attend to."
Kara hoped that was true, but she felt like her plan was full of holes and sure to get her killed. And if she couldn't help Warrick reclaim himself, the world would suffer.
* * * * *
Tylen sat on a cushioned chair in one of the Tower of Light's many living chambers. Most of the sorcerers who'd lived here were dead now. Marlon had allowed Tylen and Farah to have this room before the battle, however. Would the Imperial Guards kick them out now?
Steel-booted steps struck the stone floor out in the corridor. Despite his reservations, Tylen opened the door to watch the army march past.
Marlon had told him about Krinir's control over Warrick. Would Warrick be the same man Tylen had served, or would he be lost to Krinir's evil?
Farah placed a hand on his shoulder. "You look tense."
"Really?" Tylen said. "I hadn't noticed." It had been a long time since he'd lived anything resembling a carefree life. The destruction of Crayden still lingered in his thoughts. He hadn't slept well ever since, and he'd never felt at ease among Imperial Guards. Now, with Warrick possibly under the complete control of a madman, Tylen felt more anxious than ever.
What was he doing here? How did this serve him? He had no idea when he'd decided he should do others' bidding. He'd always been his own man and lived by his own rules. But he'd lost that person somewhere. Whether that was a good thing, he had no idea.
A few hours later, the Imperial Guards came knocking on all the doors, calling for all residents of the tower to assemble in the lobby. Tylen knew better than to disobey. He chafed inwardly at the command but showed nothing of it in his expression.
He and Farah walked down to the lobby together, surrounded by the tower's other residents. Soon everyone had congregated in the lobby.
When Warrick strode to a raised platform at the lobby's far end, no one else stood with him. Had Krinir already left to do whatever it was that insane gods did?
"Many of you have called this your home," Warrick said to the stunned crowd. "But this tower is under new leadership. You may only remain here if you choose to serve me. All will come before me, and I will test you for your allegiance." He chuckled. "I promise. It won't be painful. If you don't think you can support me, leave now. Otherwise, you'll meet your death."
Most of the people left the lobby. Imperial Guards blocked all the stairs, so these people couldn't gather their belongings. They all exited the tower with downcast expressions.
Tylen exchanged a glance with Farah. Should they remain?
She nodded. As long as Warrick asked if they supported him, they could tell the truth and live. Tylen did support the man Warrick could be if not for Krinir's control. Hopefully that would be enough. Tylen's chest tightened as he waited for his turn.
Perhaps a dozen people didn't leave the lobby. Of those that remained, two met their deaths after Warrick probed their thoughts. Farah's turn came before Tylen's. She strode up the steps to the platform, pale but composed.
Warrick placed his hand against her head, closed his eyes for a few moments, then nodded. "Thank you for your allegiance."
Tylen was next. His chest tightened as he walked up the steps leading to the platform. He looked up into Warrick's dark eyes, hoping Warrick couldn't see his fear.
"I'm glad to see you here, Tylen."
Let's hope that remains true, Tylen thought, feeling sick. Warrick's probing didn't leave any impression in Tylen's mind. He tried not to squirm, tried to exude the confidence he'd displayed for most of his life. But it felt like he was a different man now—stronger in some ways, weaker in others. Could Warrick see through his lies?
"Thank you for your allegiance."
* * * * *
"Krinir is gone."
Kara looked into Gram's eyes. "You sure?"
He nodded. "As sure as I can be."
"But will he stay gone?"
"I have no idea."
Kara massaged her temples, leaning forward in her wooden chair at the inn. "That's not a good enough answer. I can't afford to have him return."
Gram scratched at his unshaven face. "You'll always face that risk."
Kara wanted to argue, but he was right. She couldn't sit around here, waiting for definitive proof that Krinir was gone. He could return at any time. It was a risk she'd have to take. She would probably die in this foolish mission, but she had to do it.
As far as she could tell, Warrick was the only one who could stand up to Krinir.
She nodded to Gram. "All right, let's go to the tower."
They walked across the
damaged cobblestone streets, the city's bright light glowing all around them. Gram spoke to the Imperial Guard at the entrance, who allowed them both inside.
Warrick stood on an elevated platform at the other end of the lobby. At the moment, Tylen was kneeling before him.
"Thank you for your allegiance," Warrick said.
Gram gave her a nudge. "You'll have to prove your allegiance to him."
She took a few tentative steps forward, her stomach churning so much she thought she'd vomit. Warrick's gaze landed on her, making her feel even worse. How could she prove her allegiance to him? She did support him in her own way, but would that be enough?
Her legs felt like wet noodles as she made her way to the platform. When she reached the top, Warrick placed his hand on her head. "I recognize you, but I can't remember your name."
Kara felt suddenly cold inside. She hadn't realized that Krinir's control could be so strong, and she knew she was about to die.
She kept her voice level. "My name is Kara."
"Kara." He closed his eyes, as if lost in deep thought. "It's familiar."
She recognized the opportunity she had and pulled the scroll from her pocket.
He flinched. "What is that?"
"It's written in your secret code," she said. "You told me it was the one way I could gain your trust."
She expected him to kill her right then.
"Go on," he said. "What does it say?"
She read a few lines, and his eyes widened. He removed his hand from her head, then gestured for her to follow him out of the lobby.
"We need to talk in private."
Chapter 2: An Old Acquaintance
Markus was sitting at a table in a Seaside inn, the same thought repeating in his head over and over again. Rik was dead. No matter what Markus did, he couldn't escape that fact.
He, Berig, and Nadia were eating a silent meal. No one felt like speaking. They were all too stunned by what they'd experienced. But none of them could feel as depressed as Markus. He'd lost his best friend, and his actions had killed Garet and Lara.
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