“I could see through!” Adara whispered in awe.
“Everyone, back in the hovercrafts. It will be easiest if you are all together,” I called out. “I will walk over and then you can follow me through.”
As soon as everyone had gathered into the six crafts and I truly gazed upon their immense size, I wondered if that had been such a good idea. The crafts were enormous, and they were so high up in the air. But we needed them to get us to Gryshelm City. It was too far to walk, and no one was outfitted for this weather. The bitter cold of the poles could not be compared to the winter in the mountains. Even with the Mist to help us, we would die of exposure.
I once again pulled aside the Edge and thrust back the evil that composed it. I pulled it further and further apart. I walked through the hole, across broken, barren dirt. Juxtaposed with the white of the tundra, it looked like something had clawed and scratched the Earth.
Perhaps something had.
Chapter 35
The first hovercraft pulled forward, slowly, tentatively. And then the second and third followed. Then the fourth. As the fifth started, I felt the heat of Gryshelm’s Edge growing. The hovercraft glided through the opening, but as the sixth started, I could feel Azabin’s red eyes turning to me. The cistea’a in my hand turned ice cold. Yelping, I dropped it and it tumbled into the snow.
The nose of the hovercraft emerged through Gryshelm’s Edge. This was one of the hovercrafts that carried only Empirites. I wondered how many aboard this very ship cheered as Drahwan had tried to suffocate me. How many had stood by as Drahwan signed my marriage license? How many thought that I, Hailey Troubade, could not possibly be the Promise?
Anger smoldered and hate bubbled.
The bottom of Gryshelm’s Edge slid back into place. The hovercraft froze momentarily, the pilot trying to decide whether to continue or retreat. The fear of the sixty souls aboard the hovercraft sang to me. I closed the gap in Gryshelm’s Edge like one might pinch a bug, slowly; watching the thing writhe, knowing the end was near.
Azabin laughed in pleasure. The sound jarred me. What was I doing? Instinctually, I pulled upon every thread of Mist within reach with one thought: save the hovercraft. I focused on keeping the sides and top of the hole pushed wide open. Beads of sweat formed on my forehead. I thrust all my strength into Gryshelm’s Edge, pushing against the avalanche that bore down upon me.
Azabin wrestled for control. I could either protect the hovercraft or myself. I chose the hovercraft. Strands of Mist rumbled, rolled, and seethed. It became everything I’d imagined the ocean during a storm to be. Suddenly, the hole expanded ten-fold. I continued to push the Mist from Gryshelm’s Edge against itself. Azabin’s savage red eyes, normally mere slits, opened into giant dots of surprise. Finally, the hovercraft was through, and I released my hold against Gryshelm’s Edge.
“We couldn’t feel your Mist anymore,” Adara’s voice crackled through my communicator. “We thought you were gone.”
“Me, too,” I responded to the air and not through the communicator. I didn’t think that anyone would appreciate me being so forthright. “I was trying to save my strength to find the other cistea’a,” I said into the communicator. “I’ll only be a minute.” I let Gryshelm’s Edge ooze back into place. Static filled my ears. I removed my communicator.
I had bigger things on my mind than a busted communicator. The cistea’a called to me in the same way the other one had. Another pink translucent barrier around a wooden pedestal that matched the one on the other side, but this cistea’a was a blue ball. I stepped inside the barrier and grabbed it. As soon as I picked it up, Arwan appeared.
Why did she always appear at times of significance along my journey?
“Where is that last page?” I asked the daemon. “What secrets does it tell me?”
“I cannot counter the Counter. That’s not how the Prophecy was written,” Arwan said, sadly. “But you’ve made a great first step. You’ll find it.” And with that, she vanished.
I was too tired to care. With the blue ball in one hand and the purple cube in the other, I lumbered back toward the hovercrafts.
I replaced the communicator, but it only buzzed and crackled. As soon as the hovercrafts came into view, I knew that something was wrong. Dozens of the passengers were outside standing in the snow. Several were wandering around in shock.
“What’s going on?”
“I can’t feel the Mist!” Kadir shouted, frantically.
“I can, but it is so weak,” Rcanian reported. “It seems those of us who had a strong grasp of the Mist can feel it, but barely. None of the communicators work, and all of the hovercrafts lost ninety percent of their charge.”
As soon as I had closed Gryshelm’s Edge, my Mist-powered communicator stopped functioning. And now that I thought of it, the Mist that had felt so strong and vibrant only moments ago felt muted. I opened Gryshelm’s Edge again.
Kadir fell to his knees. “It’s back! Guardians be praised!”
“The Guardians have nothing to do with it,” I said as I closed Gryshelm’s Edge again. “The Mist is broken in this Slice. Most people here cannot feel it. At first, I thought it was the people. That our side had bred out the Mist ability, but it seems as if it is the Slice itself.”
Rcanian gasped, “I Foretold the Mist itself bound. I thought it represented the Mitanni if we integrated with other societies, but maybe I Foretold the Mist here.”
“The hovercrafts can’t make it to your queen. There isn’t enough charge,” Bahlym said.
“Not enough for all of them, but what about just one?” I suggested. “What if we filled up one with the energy from all the others? Then we can send the other five back.”
“But even if we crammed it to capacity, only two hundred of us can go,” said Bahlym. “And it wouldn’t be very comfortable.”
“Fine, the others will return through Gryshelm’s Edge and wait for us back at the capital.”
No one particularly liked the idea, but there was no other choice. I insisted that the delegation be split equally between the Mitanni and the Empire. But since there were only one hundred Mitanni, it meant that all the Mitanni has to come and the Empire had to leave behind a large contingent of people, most of whom were more than happy to return to their own Slice and retouch the Mist. We quickly removed dozens of boxes that held the Channeled Mist from the hovercrafts, leaving the abandoned Crafts with barely enough charge to return to the capital.
While my normal Mist was dampened here, it did not affect my ability to touch the power of Gryshelm’s Edge. The five crafts passed safely back through. I closed Gryshelm’s Edge.
In order to conserve as much Mist as possible, we flew low to the ground by flight carriage terms. Although night had fully descended, at each village, the people came out of their houses to stare with fear and wonder at the flying monstrosity upon which we rode. Perhaps it was for the best that we were only one craft rather than the parade of six we had intended to be.
On and on we flew. Hours later, we’d reached the city walls. Dawn had not yet broken, but it was only a few hours away. The hovercraft floated to the ground, and when I stepped out, twenty guards were waiting, arrows pointed at me.
“I am Hailey Troubade, Journeyman to Chief Priest Altis,” I told them. “Please tell Queen Mauzaca that I have returned and have brought a delegation of foreign dignitaries to meet her.”
“The girl to fix The Edge?” one of the soldiers, barely out of his teens, his face checkered with pockmarks, asked in wonder.
“I am,” I smiled sadly thinking how impossible healing just one Edge had seen. And I was about to tell them that five more Edges existed.
After several excruciatingly long moments, their captain stepped forward. I recognized him from the training field, although we’d never fought, of course. He was not a Weaver. “We had heard that you’d been lost to The Edge, Warrior Troubade. I am very glad to see that’s not the case.”
“In a way, I was. I fell through Gr
yshelm’s Edge…what you call The Edge.” I paused, letting my words sink in. “The foreign dignitaries that I bring with me are from the other side.”
The captain stared uncomprehendingly me, but then seemed to regain his composure. “The queen is upon her deathbed. We shall take you and a few others to Prince Jaysen. The rest of the men in…”
“The hovercraft,” I filled in for him.
“Can wait here,” he said.
“I have one other request for you,” I told the captain. “Please, do not reveal to my aunt or any of the Scholars that I have returned.” It killed me to order it. I’d missed Nazarie so much, but obviously, things would never be the same between us. She’d killed my mother and my sister.
“Are the rumors true?” the captain asked.
“I’ve been a bit behind the news recently. What rumors?”
“Ever since Scholar Shezdon’s death, there have been rumors about the Weavers and where their true loyalties lie.”
“I do not think that all Weavers are part of whatever conspiracy is underway, but some are very much a part of it.”
“Keeping this secret will be an easy task for my men,” the captain assured me.
“Thank you,” I said to the captain before turning to the rest of my party. “We can’t all go. Desha, Kirta, Rcanian, Adara, and Bahlym, you come,” I said pointing to each in turn.
Kadir slid forward. “Promise, the Empire deserves to be fully represented.”
“There are two Empirites in the group,” Desha said.
“Bahlym sits on both Councils,” responded Kadir, “and while he does agree with my goal to unite the Mitanni and Empire, he does not represent me to foreign dignitaries. I must go. And to even the numbers between us, the Empire deserves two additional attendees.”
“That’s reasonable,” I agreed. “You and two others. Pick quickly,” Desha opened her mouth as if to retort, but thought better of it. The captain led us through the main way, which, despite having lived in the Keep next to the castle for ten years, I’d never gone through. I always entered through the Keep itself. “Is this the best way? Aren’t we announcing our arrival?”
“It’s the side doors where the comings and goings are more marked. Besides, most everyone is asleep,” the captain said.
The doors parted, revealing an open foyer six stories high. At each floor, balconies disrupted the darkness with pillars of candlelight. At each landing along the curved staircase, a gargoyle stood guard. We climbed to the third level. This gargoyle grasped twin daggers in his fore claws. He perched upon the railing ready to launch to the skies. Somehow, the artist had managed to capture the creature’s blood lust in its eyes. I shivered and plunged down the hallway after the captain and the rest of my delegation.
As we moved further into the building, the architectural style became more recognizable. The stone beneath our feet had been buffed glass smooth, but it was the same as the stone in the Keep. Nowhere else in either Slice that I’d seen had the same shade of grey mixed with veins of blue and shards of sliver. These rocks marked home.
We were taken to a large reception room, one I’d not been in before. Squares of pristinely white marble interrupted the stone on the floor. A constellation of chandeliers hovered above us, the lights of their candles bounced from their dangling crystal. Red velvet sofas lined the wall, and I plopped down on one.
“Guardians, I’m tired. Do princes know how to hurry?”
Everyone chuckled at first and remained standing at attention, figuring it was all right for the pregnant lady to sit but not them, I suppose. But eventually, one by one, they joined me on the sofas. All told, it was less than an hour from entering the room until Altis, the Prince, and, to my immense displeasure, Altis’s fiancée, Princess Krystin, joined us. As weary as each member of my delegation was, we pushed it aside. Bowing to each of the three royals in turn.
Desha frowned when Altis was introduced. “We asked for no Weavers.”
“He’s my cousin and my heir,” said Jaysen. “You speak to both of us or neither of us.”
We were in no position to argue. If Altis’s loyalty lay with Kael and Nazarie, he already knew enough to sound the alarm. I’d fallen through Gryshelm’s Edge and survived. I was quite obviously who the White Knights had feared I was.
I told the whole story. Falling through Gryshelm’s Edge, my experiences in the Empire, the Empire’s amazing technology, my time in the mountains, and most importantly, what I’d learned of the Prophecy’s Promise and The Edges. There was not one Edge, but five. And that we were not alone in our world.
“There are other worlds connected to ours?” the prince exclaimed after hearing our story. “Obviously the gods have creations out among the stars, but life beyond The Edge…” he cocked his head at the singular mention of Edge and corrected himself, “Gryshelm’s Edge, I suppose. That is unbelievable.”
“There is another Edge across the ocean?” Princess Krystin asked. “Dybreakea borders the ocean. Should we be concerned?”
“There is, I call it Water’s Edge. But, when we destroy Gryshelm’s Edge, it will buy us some time before the other Edges resume their destruction,” I explained. “But if we don’t act quickly, all the Edges will continue to destroy our world, including Water’s Edge.”
“Rabbit, you surprise me,” the prince conceded. “Not just with your news but by how you have changed since the first time we met.”
“Rabbit? Is that a formal title?” Adara asked.
“It’s a long story,” I said, “one that we don’t have time for right now.”
“Gryshelm’s Edge and Water’s Edge aren’t the most creative of names,” Jaysen teased.
“I figured enough was complicated. The names need to be easy,” I said before realizing that he was being sarcastic. I didn’t really understand how anyone could joke or be sarcastic learning the sort of information that I had brought. Princes were an odd bunch.
“To be honest,” Kadir interjected, “we were very surprised by your Hailey. We didn’t expect a woman to be the Promised One, much less a mother-to-be. But it is actually very fitting. She, through much work, will put the world back together. In a way, she will be a mother to all of us.”
“You’re pregnant?” Altis gasped.
I reached for Bahlym’s hand and clasped it. “Yes, we are very excited.”
Everyone from the mountains knew good and well that Altis was the father, but thankfully, they didn’t correct Altis when he shook Bahlym’s hand. “Congratulations,” Altis said stiffly.
“I’m... ah, that’s to say…” Bahlym stuttered.
“Enough pleasantries,” Kirta interjected before Bahlym could give away my secret. “Gryshelm might hold a savior, but we have reason to believe that it holds the Counter as well.”
“I’m sure your cousin told you about the White Knights,” I said, motioning at Altis.
“White Knights? Aren’t those tales to scare children?” Jaysen’s right eyebrow rose quizzically.
“No!” I responded, with more shock in my voice that I’d intended. Several guards moved toward the prince.
“I’m sorry. I’m just surprised that Altis didn’t tell you,” I said.
Altis moved closer to us. “There was a small misunderstanding,” he explained. “Kael and I worked it out after Hailey disappeared. Everything is fine.”
“Everything is not fine,” I hissed, and Rcanian placed his hand on my shoulder. I took a deep breath. “Duke Kael captured me. He ordered Altis’s death. He betrayed the crown.”
Altis interrupted. “I wouldn’t say that. It was a misunderstanding,” he repeated.
“He locked me in a dungeon. He chased us across the forest. I think his intent was pretty damn clear.”
I pushed on. “That was not my first run-in with White Knights. They, along with my aunt Nazarie, murdered my mother and my sister when I was twelve.”
“I thought you couldn’t remember your childhood,” Altis said dismissively.
“The White Knights have known of the Prophecy. Throughout the centuries, they’ve sought to contain it. Their most recent act, murdering my sister, the child who should have been the Promise. I should have been the Counter. But, the Prophecy’s Promise, unbeknownst to the Knights, passed through my bloodline. I am now the Promise, and Nazarie is the Counter.”
Prince Jaysen pursed his lips. “Had you not brought that… hovercraft… with you, I’d think that you’d lost your wits.”
Altis opened his mouth to speak, but Jaysen raised his hand, signaling silence, but nodded for me to continue.
“You told me that you believed there was a conspiracy in your kingdom and you were right,” I said. “Later that very night, Shezdon was killed because of it, but not before he managed to give me a book.”
“And that is why we are here,” Kadir cut in. “Your Weavers have the remaining pages. We must have those so that Hailey can heal our world.”
Jaysen considered us for a few moments. Even Kadir kept silent as Jaysen thought.
“Duke Kael Ondes of Tabor has been accused of treasonous acts. No man may threaten the life of a prince of Gryshelm, even if that prince does not wish to call offense. Lead Scholar Nazarie Troubade has been accused of murder and conspiracy,” Jaysen said, his even tone not giving away anything. “Their status demands that we hear their testimony before peers. We will reconvene in the morning. In the meantime, I welcome my peers.” He nodded to Desha and Kadir. “We will see that you all have comfortable quarters for the evening.” He gave me a long, searching look. “Until tomorrow.”
Jaysen left and his guards followed. Altis faltered, holding back. Krystin reached for his hand. I think she noticed the look that past between us because her burnished golden eyebrows furrowed. One of the servants approached us, pointing us in various directions toward rooms due our status. Rcanian introduced himself simply as a priest, which apparently scored the same points as me because our rooms were next to each other. We bid good night to our companions as they were shuffled toward a more prestigious wing.
Prophecy's Promise (Prophecy of the Edges Book 1) Page 25
