World in Chains- The Complete Series

by Ryan W. Mueller

  Lost in thought, she almost didn't notice the fiery monster that appeared in front of them. It hovered in the air, perhaps as large as a small boulder, shrouded in flame.

  Deon reacted quickly, using his TWs to send a burst of water at the creature. The water extinguished the flames, and the monster fell out of the air, rolling on the ground like a large rock. Before it could do anything else, Nadia kicked it hard, sending it tumbling into the ravine.

  "Doubt that's the worst we'll face," Deon said.

  Nadia agreed, but she didn't want to admit it. She hated that fighting monsters had become a normal routine. She'd never imagined that she might be grateful for something Warrick had done, but he had kept his people safe from the world's worst creatures.

  That didn't excuse his atrocities, though. Nothing ever could. Sometimes, when Nadia closed her eyes, she could still see the flames towering over Crayden, still hear the cries of innocent women and children, still smell the smoke in the air, the burning buildings, the charring flesh. She feared nothing would ever erase these memories, and perhaps they should linger as a reminder of the evil Warrick had perpetrated.

  Evil under Krinir's influence, perhaps, but evil nonetheless.

  For now, she had to focus on Krinir, the greater evil, but after that, Warrick might have to face his own judgment. He'd killed too many innocent people. He'd taken her mother from her, taken family from so many other people. She understood that he'd done everything in the name of saving the world, or at least he thought he had, but that didn't excuse what he'd done.

  At least she didn't think it did. She had to work through that problem later.

  Right now, she had to save Markus—a task that sounded more impossible with every step she took toward Krinir's stronghold.

  Lost in thought, she followed the other three through the pass, and soon they emerged on the downward slope of the mountain. They were close to what had once been Tate City, but no lights glowed in the valley below. Nothing stirred at all in the darkness.

  This bleak and cold future felt more suffocating than ever, as if that blanket of darkness could descend from the sky and smother her. She tried to ignore it, tried to imagine the sun shining, the warmth of a summer day back home.

  "I never thought anything could be worse than Warrick," she said.

  "I know what you mean," Klint said. "I never hated Warrick the way you do, but I didn't like him either. Now it's easy to see that Krinir is the greater evil." He turned to Deon and Jen. "I don't know how you've survived in this world."

  "It's all we've ever known," Jen said.

  "It hasn't been easy," Deon said.

  Nadia shivered in the bitter cold. "We can't save your future, can we?"

  "No, you can't," Deon said. "That's the way time works. This world will remain unchanged. It's your world and countless other futures that we can still save." He ran a hand through his black beard. "I think I'd like to return to your time with you."

  Nadia took a few steps down the rocky slope. "I don't blame you."

  "But how're we gonna get back?" Klint asked.

  Somehow, Nadia had never considered that they might not be able to return, but now that she thought about it, Brandin had never told them how they'd return. She felt suddenly as if her own thoughts were choking her.

  "I have no idea how to return," Nadia said.

  "Maybe we aren't meant to return," Klint said. "Maybe we're supposed to defeat Krinir here."

  That was possible, though Nadia hated to admit it. Then again, if she could save every future that branched off from her own time, it was worth the sacrifice of living in this dark and cold world. Still, she prayed there was a way home.

  She couldn't think about that, however. She had to focus on rescuing Markus.

  If that was even possible.

  * * * * *

  Markus had no idea where all the soldiers had come from, but now Krinir's fortress was swarming with them. Maybe they'd been somewhere else, and Krinir had used his magic to teleport them here. Most of them seemed like hard men with no sympathy toward Markus and Lionar. Sure, guards brought them food from time to time, but none of them seemed happy about it. If it weren't for their orders, they would let Markus starve to death.

  "Nadia must be getting close," Lionar said, leaning forward at the edge of his bed.

  "You think all these soldiers are for her?"

  "Why else would Krinir have summoned so many soldiers?" Lionar closed his eyes for a few moments, adopting an expression of deep concentration. When he opened his eyes, he said, "I can see her in the Webs of Fate. She's on her way."

  "You think she can survive?"

  "It's difficult to tell. Krinir has made so many of the strands dark. That suggests that he does fear something about her arrival. However, that may be only wishful thinking on my part."

  "I still don't understand why Krinir needs all the soldiers," Markus said. "Couldn't he just kill Nadia himself?"

  Lionar sighed deeply. "Krinir always has a reason for doing what he does. We may not understand his reasons, but he never does anything without proper planning."

  "It all feels so hopeless," Markus said.

  "It might not be completely hopeless," Lionar said. "Now that I know you better, there is something I think I can do. It just might make enough of a difference."

  "And what's that?"

  "I'm going to make you the Restorer."

  Chapter 39: The Stone of Restoration

  Rik directed the light from his staff ahead of the party as they navigated the dark tunnels beneath the temple. Were they going the right direction, or would they find a dead end? How could they even know where to find the Stone of Restoration?

  The passage continued for what felt like an eternity, but eventually it did come to an end, opening into a large stone chamber, which reminded Rik that they were still in a temple.

  The chamber appeared to be empty, but he knew how quickly that could change. He scanned his surroundings for threats.

  "I don't like the way this chamber feels," Farah said.

  Tylen nodded. "I know what you mean."

  "I'll trust you on that," Rik said. He remembered all too well how Markus's magical intuition had sent him warnings back in Woodsville. Whenever Rik thought of the way he'd behaved back then, he hated the person he'd been. Sometimes, he was amazed that Markus had remained friends with him afterward. He'd been so stupid, so reckless.

  At the far end of the chamber, wide stone steps led up toward an open door. Blue magical torches glowed along the edges of the chamber, so Rik let the light from his staff die.

  They started up the steps, keeping an eye out for danger, but nothing threatened. Once they reached the top, they proceeded through the archway. On the other side was a narrower corridor illuminated by more magical torches.

  The corridor turned a few times but didn't offer them any alternative paths. Soon they stepped into another open chamber, in the center of which there was a lone pedestal. Sitting on top of this pedestal was a single scroll.

  Rik knew well enough that scrolls like these rarely held good news. In fact, this temple reminded him of the place where he'd spent so much time in the Shadowed Land. He still had nightmares about that time he'd been turned to stone.

  They approached the pedestal, and Rik said, "Who wants to read the scroll?"

  No one rushed to grab it, so Rik picked up the scroll, unfurled it, and read.

  If you've made it this far, then I trust that you know why you're here. You seek the Stone of Restoration. I have hidden it in this place, hoping to keep it away from Warrick and Krinir forever. If you work for either of them, then I did not hide it well enough. If, however, you are who I think you are—Rik, Tylen, Garet, Gram, Lara, and Farah—then I shall tell you a few secrets.

  Rik put down the scroll for a moment, irritated once again with the Webs of Fate. It was astonishing how people could see the future so clearly and guide every step of people's lives. At this point, Rik couldn't imagine a lif
e free from the control of the Webs.

  He continued reading.

  The Stone of Restoration lies in the next chamber, but I made it so that only one of the six people mentioned above could take it. Perhaps my defenses are not perfect, but I think they are. I tied the stone to the Webs of Fate so that only certain Weavers could grab them. It took a lot of time and effort, but I believe it will work. You must simply grab the stone. If anyone else tried, it would kill them. It is that simple.

  Cyrus had signed his name at the bottom of the note, but Rik had known the entire time whose scroll he was reading. It was hard to believe. After everything they'd been through, grabbing the scroll couldn't be as simple as Cyrus's words indicated.

  "What does it say?" Tylen asked.

  "All we have to do is go to the next chamber and grab the stone."

  Tylen furrowed his brow. "That sounds too easy."

  "Yeah, I was thinking the same thing."

  Garet peered at the scroll. "Cyrus wrote that, didn't he? I recognize his handwriting."

  Rik nodded.

  "Well, I trust Cyrus," Garet said. "He wouldn't lead us astray."

  "Let's hope you're right," Tylen said, starting across the chamber. At its other side, there was another open archway, leading into the next chamber, where they would find the stone. Rik's heart fluttered, and he felt queasy.

  They stepped through the archway, entering another chamber with a pedestal in its center.

  On this pedestal, there was nothing.

  Rik rushed forward, feeling as if something were tearing him apart inside. He'd been so close to healing Eliza, and now the world had ripped that possibility away from him. It didn't seem possible, but someone had reached the stone before them and found a way to overcome Cyrus's protections. Tears formed in Rik's eyes.

  He hadn't realized until now how much he cared for Eliza. Now the fact that he couldn't heal her made him feel cold inside, as if all happiness had fled his world.

  "Where's the stone?" Gram asked, taking a few tentative steps toward the pedestal.

  Rik struggled against tears. "It should be here. Why isn't it here?"

  Anger coursed through him, hot and sharp. Their hopes couldn't all come to an end, not like this. He must have missed something in Cyrus's note. With tears trickling down his cheeks, he read it again. But he hadn't missed anything. The stone was supposed to be here.

  In his mind, he saw Eliza growing weaker and paler, saw all the vibrancy and life leaving her. He couldn't let that happen. Before, he might have considered not healing her, but he couldn't do that. Despite their short time together, he loved her too much. He didn't care who her father was. He didn't care if the stone might fall into Krinir's hands.

  He'd never been all that lucky with women, but he had something special with Eliza. The thought of losing that bond was too much for him. He took a few deep breaths, trying to hold in his tears, and failing.

  Lara put a hand on his shoulder. "We can't give up, Rik."

  "Maybe Cyrus had to move it," Garet said, "and he didn't write another note."

  "Or maybe he did," Gram said. "There's another pedestal at the other end of this chamber."

  Rik got to his feet, blinking away tears. The second pedestal did contain a scroll. He'd hoped it might hold the stone as well, but the scroll sat alone. Before anyone else could grab the scroll, Rik took it in his hands and unrolled it.

  He took a few deep breaths, willing himself to relax, and read.

  Even as I write this, I am not sure if I will succeed in what I am attempting. No doubt you believe the Stone of Restoration should be here, in this chamber, but it is not. I, Darien Warrick, knew that it would be vulnerable here. To a man of Krinir's talents, sending someone to retrieve the stone from this place would be too easy, too simple.

  Therefore, I had to find another hiding place. A better hiding place. I cannot state this location outright, for that would give Krinir's allies a chance to find the Stone of Restoration. I recently moved the stone into the realm of those who could never reveal its location. One among your group should know the place to which I refer. I have also placed three teleportation stones there for your use. Each one has one use remaining. Use them wisely.

  Rik put down the scroll, shaking his head in confusion. Should he trust what Warrick said? And even if he did trust Warrick's words, how could he figure out such a vague clue?

  "What does it say?" Lara asked.

  Rik handed it to her. "It makes no sense to me."

  She frowned as she read, then gave the scroll to Tylen. "I'm not sure either. That's a rather vague clue. Does anyone else know?"

  They all read through the scroll multiple times, but nothing came to them.

  "We have to think through this," Rik said. "It's our only chance." Already, he could feel desperation and frustration welling up within him. He took a few deep breaths, pushing those feelings aside, but he couldn't hold them off forever.

  Tylen looked at the scroll in disgust. "I expected better from Warrick."

  "He couldn't be too specific," Farah said, putting a hand on Tylen's arm. "Not without revealing the location to Krinir."

  "I don't understand," Tylen said. "If he moved the stone, why did he send us here?"

  Farah chewed on her lower lip. "I don't know. Perhaps this is something he forgot, or perhaps the Webs needed us to go here for some reason."

  Tylen shook his head with disgust. "It's all guesswork, and I hate it."

  "Can't blame you there," Garet said.

  Lara was pacing, as if her mind was working feverishly. "I feel a small flicker of recognition when I think about his words. I should remember something."

  "We don't know which one of us is supposed to figure out the clue," Garet said. "It could be any of us. Can anyone remember anything that might help?"

  Rik paced near the stone wall. "All right, who wouldn't be able to reveal the stone's location? Somebody's who's been made to forget—possibly?" He shook his head. "No, Krinir would be able to break through any kind of memory spell."

  "What if they can't talk?" Tylen asked. "That was part of our training as Imperial Guards. If you ever had sensitive information and were captured by enemies, we were told it was best to silence ourselves—through suicide if necessary. A person who can't talk can't reveal secrets."

  Lara's eyes became suddenly wide. "I think I've figured it out."

  They all turned toward her in silent anticipation.

  "Berig, Aric, Klint, and I met these creatures in the Clanlands. We've come to call them goblins because they resemble an Old World mythological creature. But they aren't goblins. They're humans. They used to support Krinir and were sent to the Shadowed Land for their crimes. Krinir sent them back at some point, but in doing so, there was a cost. They lost the ability to communicate with other humans."

  "That means they couldn't reveal the location," Tylen said, "even if they wanted to." He smiled at Lara. "You're quite an intelligent woman, aren't you?"

  Rik almost froze in shock. A compliment? Out of Tylen?

  The world had become a very strange place.

  Lara nodded to Tylen. "Thank you, but it was just a bit of a logical deduction."

  "It's still quite impressive," Garet said.

  "It all makes sense," Lara said. "These goblins can't reveal the stone's location because they could only communicate with Berig for some reason. I'm also the only person here who knows of them. Warrick's note said, 'one among the group.' I must be that one."

  "Then what are we waiting for?" Rik asked. "Let's go."

  Tylen pulled a blue teleportation stone from his leather pack. "Let's hope you're right."

  "Can't say I'll be sad to leave this place," Rik said.

  Garet chuckled. "Amen to that."

  "Would have been nice if Warrick had warned us ahead of time," Gram said.

  "You're an Imperial Guard," Tylen said. "You and I both know that Warrick's ways are so convoluted that no normal person could ever understand them.
"

  Gram smiled faintly. "Can't argue with that."

  They all placed their hands against the teleportation stone. Rik closed his eyes, knowing the next few moments would be nauseating. A moment later, it felt as if something grabbed him and jerked him violently into the air. The world spun around him, so he kept his eyes closed, waiting for it to end.

  After a few disorienting moments, he felt solid ground beneath his feet. He opened his eyes to see they were standing in a large clearing within a much larger forest. Dozens of wooden shacks filled the clearing, looking sturdy but plain.

  "Where are we?" Rik asked as they stepped farther into the clearing. Many people milled about in the clearing, darker-skinned like Lara.

  "This is my home," Lara said. "It's close to where we need to go, and I couldn't resist the chance to see my father again."

  "I understand," Rik said. It had been so long since he'd seen his own family, so long since he'd seen Markus. He thought of Tomas, now dead, of all the people he'd lost in the last few months. Good people like Alana and Jakob and Dirk.

  Would he have anyone to return to in the end? At some point, this would all be over. Either that or he'd be dead. However, he had the feeling he could survive this. He'd been through so much, survived so many things that should have killed him.

  Did he live a charmed life, guided by the Webs of Fate? Or perhaps a cursed life? Maybe they were two sides of the same coin.

  The people from the settlement noticed the party's entrance. A few of them approached hesitantly at first, but as soon as they saw Lara, they raced toward the group.

  "Lara! You're back! I can't believe it!"

  There were many variations on this sentiment, and Rik felt as if the rest of the group had gone unnoticed. Maybe these people trusted Lara's judgment and figured the rest of the party was all right. Even so, Rik felt as if many eyes were scrutinizing him.

  Soon the people let the group pass. A few of the villagers went ahead to tell Lara's father of their arrival. The party strode toward the largest structure in the village. Like the rest, it appeared well-built but simple—the kind of place Rik could appreciate. He'd never cared for the overdone ornamentation of the nobles' manors back home in Crayden.