Conrad Edison and the Broken Relic (Overworld Arcanum Book 3)

by John Corwin

  She bobbed a nod. "I know, I saw you. I tried to yell, but I have little enough voice as it is."

  I laughed through the tears. "We should get you a better amplifier."

  "Indeed." She looked up at the asteroids. "Are you ready to go?"

  I nodded enthusiastically. "Oh, yes."

  "And the heart?"

  I patted my satchel. "In here." My joy faded as I remembered what lay above. "How are the others?"

  "The Seers thought you died when the planetoids exploded." Shushiel bound a web to me and began to climb the web she'd strung between here and the last one. The webs reached all the way back to stable land, binding the rocks together like a chain. "They are escorting them out of the Glimmer."

  "Even Evadora and Treek?" I asked.

  We reached the next asteroid and Shushiel transitioned to the next web. "I did not see Evadora, and I do not know who Treek is."

  "They must have escaped," I said. "When did you find us?"

  "I arrived sometime after our friends were captured." She sighed. "There were too many for me to fight. They spoke of the planetoids and asteroids and how to reach you, but then the planetoids crashed together and exploded. They thought you died, but I have eight eyes." Shushiel chuckled softly. "I saw you vanish below. Keeping camouflaged, I crossed the marsh and reached the edge of the world. From there, I was able to find you."

  "You're amazing." I felt like dead weight dangling from the web attached to her abdomen, but we were nearly to the top of the cliff.

  "Thank you, Conrad. I feel the same about you." She crossed the thread to the cliff, and using her sticky spider feet, crawled up and over the edge where she released me.

  I got down on my hands and knees and kissed the earth. "It feels so good to be back on solid ground."

  "What happened out there?" the spider asked. "Why did the small worlds explode?"

  I gazed across the marsh and saw no signs of my friends. "We can talk about that later. For now, we need to catch up with the others."

  "Agreed."

  I motioned toward my broom where it sat on the ground a few hundred yards away. "I'll get my broom. Maybe you should get started crossing the marsh again and meet me on the other side."

  Shushiel bobbed. "I will see you soon." She shimmered into camouflage. The reeds spread apart as the invisible spider crawled through them.

  I ran over and got my broom, took it away from the edge until it was able to rise into the air again, and affixed the blindfold once I oriented myself properly. Then I jetted forward. The ducks didn't so much as quack on my return trip. I assumed they didn't care about me returning to the other side, or perhaps Ezzek had told them to guard the asteroids until someone successfully retrieved the heart.

  Shushiel reached the other side twenty minutes after me, and then we set out on foot since the broom couldn't support both of us, and the night fliers in the next region made it dangerous anyway.

  We reached the Crimson Forest and continued onward into the dark tunnel of trees. We hadn't gone far when Shushiel stopped me.

  "Something comes this way," she said as she shimmered into invisibility.

  Chapter 32

  I looked around, but whatever it was probably lurked in the dark.

  A huge figure burst from the foliage, a small girl perched on one shoulder. Recognition stifled my cry of terror.

  "Evadora?"

  "You're alive!" She leapt from Treek's shoulder and landed on me, knocking me over backward. As if nothing were the matter, she sat on my chest and spoke rapidly. "Treek got hungry, so we went into the forest so he could root and feed. When we came back, the robed people had captured everyone and there were too many for us to fight. Then the planets exploded!" Evadora balled her fists, smashed them together and made an exploding sound. A tear trickled down her cheek. "I thought you died." She kissed my cheek. "I'm so happy you're alive."

  "Can I get up, please?" I asked.

  She giggled and jumped up, pulling me to my feet with ease. "Of course, silly."

  "Where are the others?" I asked.

  "Not far ahead. Some of the robed people wanted to eat on the other side of the forest, so they stopped." Evadora patted Treek's leg. "We're gonna try to rescue them near the mountain."

  Shushiel shimmered into view. "Hello, Evadora."

  The girl squealed with delight, wrapping the spider in a fierce hug. "I thought you died! I thought you died and it was all my fault!"

  "It was not your fault," the spider said.

  "Is Cumberbatch with the Seers?" I asked.

  Evadora looked puzzled. "Oh, those people are the Seers?"

  "Yes, they're the ones trying to capture me," I said. I described Cumberbatch. "He's tall, pale, and very thin with thick black hair."

  "Yes, that man is with them," Treek said. "He was very upset when he thought you died. He left long before the others did."

  I opened my satchel and took out the heart. "I found this inside the planetoid with the tree."

  Evadora's huge eyes grew wider. "Ooh, what does it do?"

  "According to Underborn, it heals scars." I shrugged. "I don't know how to use it."

  "Perhaps all of us together could free your friends," Shushiel said. She rotated, looking at the forest. "We should try to stay close to the Seers."

  I checked what gear I had in the satchel and readied some spells on the arcphone and the wand. "We have to try."

  "Yes!" Evadora cried. "Let's save them."

  We headed down the path in pursuit. It wasn't long before we reached the village on the other side. Shushiel scouted ahead, returning to tell us that the way was clear, so we continued onward. It wasn't until we were nearly at the crooked mountain that we found the Seers.

  Men and women, mouths open in silent screams, eyes wide with terror, lay scattered across the road, robes and flesh charred. I raced among the dead, heart in my throat, deathly afraid of what I might find. There were thirteen bodies. None of them were my friends. I didn't know whether to be relieved or concerned.

  "What could have happened to them?" Treek said.

  "I don't think Max and the others could have done this." I shivered and backed away from a corpse so badly burned I couldn't tell if it was a man or woman.

  Shushiel twitched and skittered off into the woods without warning. Moments later, she returned, pushing Seer Plinth in front of her.

  He held a burned hand to his chest and walked with a limp. His eyes widened when he saw me. "You survived?"

  "I had help." I grimaced at the sight of his hand, red and swollen. "What happened here?"

  He shook his head. "It happened so fast. Spells hit us from behind. Before we could turn and face the attackers, half of my people were dead or dying." He nodded with his head toward a tree. "I saw a hooded person standing there. They hit me with a fire spell and knocked me off the path. I heard screaming, but there was nothing I could do, so I ran and hid."

  Anger swelled in me. "Where are my friends?"

  "The last I saw of them, they were running down the path, away from the attack." His shoulders sagged. "I don't know if they survived or not."

  "How long ago was this?" I asked.

  "Perhaps ten minutes," he said. "Not much more."

  I stared forlornly into the distance. If we'd been a little faster, we might have caught up and prevented the ambush from happening. I wanted to rush after them immediately, but whoever had set up this attack might still be lurking nearby. Perhaps even now they waited to spring another trap on us.

  Yes, caution is wise, Della said. Assess before you jump.

  That's what I'm trying to do. I calmed myself and tried to think of what to do next.

  "Let me see your wound," Treek said to the Seer.

  Plinth backed away from the tree man. "What are you?"

  "An abomination of Naeve's making." Treek stepped closer, his bark-like skin creaking. "Let me see your wound."

  Plinth looked from Treek to Shushiel and then at me. "You keep strange compa
ny."

  "I keep good company," I told him. "Now, let Treek see your wound."

  The Seer held out his hand tentatively. Treek held his hand over it and sap dripped onto the skin. Plinth cried out and just as suddenly stared with surprise at the tree man. "It soothes."

  Treek nodded and dripped more sap on him. "Cover the wound and you will recover."

  Plinth did as he was told and sighed with such relief it brought tears to his eyes. "Thank you."

  "You are welcome." Treek withdrew his hand and looked at the dead. "I can do nothing for your comrades."

  Plinth nodded silently, more tears forming. "I know you don't want to hear this, Conrad, but this is proof that you should have been cleansed before taking on this quest."

  I resisted the urge to punch him—not that my small fists would have hurt him. "Enough of that, Plinth! We're going to save my friends from whatever trap you walked them into." I took a deep breath to ward off the dark building anger. "Shushiel, can you cloak and scout ahead? I need to make sure we're not walking into another trap."

  "Of course," she replied. The spider skittered ahead and rippled into invisibility.

  I gave her a few seconds to get a good lead then set off at a brisk pace.

  The others hurried to catch up.

  "I would not approach the attacker lightly," Plinth said. "Whoever it was is extremely powerful."

  I looked around at the dead littering the road. "I'm already aware of that."

  As we walked, Plinth kept looking at my satchel. "Did you find anything out there?"

  "No," I lied. "Just a piece of parchment."

  His eyes flared. "Might I see it?"

  I shook my head. "It doesn't say much."

  "Please tell me." He looked at me so pleadingly that I gave in.

  "Only one power can mend a broken heart," I said. "Only one power can change the world." I didn't tell him about the final sentence for fear it would only strengthen his resolve about cleansing my soul.

  "That's it?" Plinth's forehead pinched in disappointment. "Why would anyone take such care to hide a simple piece of parchment?"

  I didn't answer.

  Shushiel found us as we neared the base of the mountain. "I saw five people going up the side of the mountain. Two of them wore robes and I'm certain the others were our friends."

  I looked toward the crest. "How long ago?"

  "Moments ago." She rotated to face the mountain. "They flew up, but without brooms or carpets."

  "There's an invisible levitator." I started walking toward the way up. "You said there were two people in robes?"

  "The killers must have had others waiting ahead of us." Plinth limped alongside me. "They killed my companions from behind and drove your friends forward into another trap."

  "Who would do this?" Possibilities raced through my mind. "Who else has access to the Glimmer?"

  Evadora began listing people with her fingers. "Nobody except you, Ambria, Max, Gwyneth, me, and Shushiel." She frowned and looked at Plinth. "How did you get here?"

  Plinth looked away from her. "We have—or had—a relic. The Dagger of Jura allows all who touch it to become perfectly invisible, though at a price. We used it to pass through the Rift not long after you vanished into that pond."

  "You followed us?" I stopped and glared at him. "What kept you from catching us sooner?"

  "It took me five trips through the Rift to bring everyone through since only a few people can touch the dagger at a time." He seemed to sag inward, eyes taking in the brick road. "By the time we were all through, we'd lost your trail."

  Evadora walked up to him, her eyes curious. "What's the price for using the dagger?"

  "Imagine being stabbed in the gut, the blade twisting in your organs." He shuddered. "The pain is constant, every step torture. I endured it so many times I thought I might go mad."

  "That's awful!" She patted his uninjured arm. "Do you feel better when you release it?"

  "Immensely." Plinth breathed in relief. "I can only imagine how the dagger became a relic in the first place."

  "Where is it now?" I asked.

  Plinth looked to the east. "We found a tree unlike any other I've ever seen." His eyes filled with wonder. "It was so huge, it filled the sky. Its boughs were filled with strange wisps. A mere touch gave me visions of other lives, other times."

  "Yes, the Soul Tree," Evadora said.

  I scowled at the thought of Plinth touching the tree where Cora's memories resided. "You didn't answer my question. Where is the dagger?"

  "A massive furry white creature chased us." Sadness returned to his eyes. "I dropped the dagger between some roots and couldn't retrieve it for fear the beast would kill us."

  "Yoghra probably would have just ripped off your arms," Evadora said matter-of-factly. "He doesn't like killing."

  Plinth looked horrified.

  The dagger is at the Soul Tree. I knew now why Ambria had sniffed two relics with the nose. I began walking toward the cliff again. "We're going to rescue the others and find out—"

  Evadora tilted her head. "Find out what?"

  My skin went cold from the inside out. "Two people in robes. Two kidnappers." I met Evadora's gaze. "How did Victus and Delectra get into the Glimmer when they were working with Naeve?"

  She shrugged. "I don't know."

  "They must still have a way, because the only people powerful and evil enough to massacre all those people are my parents." I trembled with fear and anger. "Shushiel, we need to take Delectra alive. We'll kill Victus if we have to. Can you sneak in and incapacitate them with my help?"

  The spider bobbed up and down. "Yes, Conrad."

  "I'm coming too," Evadora said. She scrambled up Treek's body and perched on his shoulders. "We'll make them pay."

  "I'll remain here." Plinth's eyes filled with fear. "I'm too injured to be of help."

  The rest of us marched for the invisible levitator without acknowledging his response. Evadora touched the cliff. The invisible force lurched upward at incredible speed. Plinth watched us go, craning his neck until he became a speck on the ground.

  "Shushiel, I need you to scout the palace and find out where our friends are." I touched her leg. "Be careful."

  "I will be vigilant." She rubbed her leg against my arm. "We will not fail."

  "What can we do?" Evadora asked.

  I hid behind the plants growing on the terrace and motioned Treek and Evadora to do the same. "I don't know. You're both strong, so you can help me subdue them."

  We waited and waited, the minutes stretching on until nearly thirty minutes had passed. It didn't seem possible that Shushiel would take so long to search. I crept toward the archway leading into the throne room. It was empty, so I ran across the room to the next door. I heard creaking bark and turned to see Treek and Evadora following.

  I motioned them to stop and dashed over to them. "Evadora can come, but Treek, you're too noisy."

  The tree man looked down. "Very well. I will wait on the terrace."

  Evadora patted his arm. "Don't worry. We'll be back soon."

  The two of us crept down a winding hallway and through rooms of rotting furniture and faded paintings. We heard footsteps and hid as a man with a vacant stare walked up nearby stairs and into the rooms above.

  Evadora opened her mouth to speak, but I put a finger to my lips. If that was one of the two people, then that meant only one might be guarding my friends.

  My theory was tested when we saw two more men, each one identical to the last searching the rooms in the next hallways. Evadora's forehead pinched with confusion and she looked back and forth between the twins.

  I heard a faint voice in my head, as if Della were trying to say something, but I couldn't quite make it out. I wondered if she knew what was going on.

  Once we made it past the men, we descended some stairs and stepped across the threshold into the next hall—or at least we tried to. My feet suddenly wouldn't move. Evadora grunted, but she seemed as fixed to the floor
as I was.

  A hooded figure appeared, wand in hand. "New guests. What a pleasant surprise!" His voice didn't sound like Victus's, but it sounded familiar.

  "Who are you?" I shouted. "Reveal yourself!"

  The man said nothing. He flicked his wand and Evadora gasped and crumpled to the floor.

  "What have you done?" I screamed. "Did you kill her, you bastard?" I touched her neck and sighed with relief when I found a pulse. She was just unconscious.

  "We are with the Seers," the man said. "One might call us enforcers. Plinth and his people interfered with you and may have altered your actions, so we're here to repair the damage." He flicked his wand again and my feet came free. "Come this way, and don't try anything foolish."

  He's not Victus? That meant these robed people weren't my parents. It meant Plinth's interference had cost his people their lives. Numbly, I stepped inside, leaving a slumbering Evadora behind. The man guided me down the hall and into a large room. Max, Ambria, and Gwyneth lay prone on tables, hands folded over their stomachs as if prepared for burial. Something that looked like a translucent crystal coffin lay on the floor in the back.

  Ignoring the man with the wand, I ran across the room and touched Ambria's hand. It was warm as was Max's. Something thumped against a closed wooden door near the crystal coffin.

  "Your spider friend," the man said. "She is unharmed."

  I spun to face him. "What do you want with us?"

  "We'll need to wipe some memories from your minds and then you'll be free to go," he said. "If I wanted to kill you or your friends, they'd already be dead."

  I had no doubt of that. I backed away, thinking desperately for some way out of here with our memories intact.

  "Your friends thought you dead," the man said. "Crushed by tiny worlds." He chuckled. "Yet here you are, alive and well."

  I stumbled over the crystal coffin and fell on my backside next to it. The top was transparent, offering a clear view inside. My breath caught when I saw the identity of the occupant. Naeve! Her face looked gaunt, body thin and frail, but it was definitely the Glimmer Queen.