Grunting, the executioner tried to redirect the blade. It continued its descent sinking deep into the wood of the platform an inch from Callum’s head.
Callum gasped and cried out in both shock and relief.
Maya ran down from the observation deck and up onto the platform. Kneeling before Callum, she undid his shackles and helped him to his feet.
“The fact is,” Maya said, “I am not my father. I will not rule based on power and fear, but with strength and courage. Go. Leave my home and don’t return.”
Callum stood, unmoving, eyes wide with shock.
Maya reached for a weapon, though she wore none, and made a motion as if drawing a sword. As she swung at Callum, a magnificent blade unlike anything Will had ever seen before materialized in her hand. From top to bottom, the weapon was black as the night. The crosspiece was made of two great wings, spread out like a raven in flight. Between them sat a brilliant red ruby.
The crowd gasped.
Callum fell backward to the ground.
“I said go!” Maya shouted. “Don’t make me change my mind.”
Spinning around, Callum jumped to his feet and ran down the platform. The crowd separated and he disappeared down an alley, out of sight.
7
Maya shuddered. Closing her eyes, she took a deep breath and exhaled slowly. She sheathed her weapon, and it once again vanished as she concealed its presence with the power of the Soul Shade.
Her eyes lingered on the blood staining the wood beneath her feet, then she lifted them to behold the faces of terrified people all around her. They must have thought she was every bit the monster her father had been. She had blood on her hands and a powerful magic they didn’t understand.
Except her father had never destroyed his own city.
As she walked down from the platform the crowd stepped back slowly, clearly wary of their new queen. One bold man, however, stepped forward and spat on her.
Maya stopped, startled. Surprise quickly turned to anger and she reached for her blade.
Maya, no! Merva shouted in her mind.
Maya’s hand faltered, and she blinked in realization of what she had been about to do.
The crowd erupted, shouting and mocking her with those closest to her thronging her. Maya’s anger morphed into fear and anxiety. Khal and the rest of the guard rushed in, shoving the people back.
Pushing past Khal, Maya ran from the harbor square, tears threatening to burst forth like a dam that had lost all integrity. She descended onto the pier leading to the Wave Wraith and thundered across the wooden planks.
I don’t believe it, Maya thought. After everything I’ve done for them.
They’re frightened, Merva said. Put yourself in their shoes. Their home is in ruins, uncertainty lurks around every corner, and now they know their new queen possesses the same otherworldly power as her father.
I freed them from him and they spat on me, Maya replied. I showed mercy and they mocked me.
No, you executed their family members and spared your own.
Maya froze and gasped in realization.
“Maya!” Will called out.
Maya clenched her teeth and balled up her fists. This was the last thing she needed right now.
“What happened back there?” Will asked.
Maya spun around and advanced on him. “What happened? What happened?” she asked. She shoved a finger into his chest and said, “You happened. This is all your fault. You killed my father. You destroyed my city. You turned my people against me.”
“Me?” Will asked, incredulous. “I saved us. I—” Will forced a smile and looked away, then sighed, turned back, and said, “You know what. I’m done arguing with you. I’m done with you. Do whatever you want. I’m leaving.”
“Fine by me,” Maya said, rage seething within her. She refused to let Will have the last word. “Good riddance,” she said, and then stalked off without looking back.
Will stood on the pier, blinking, mouth agape.
What just happened? Will wondered.
I think you just told the queen you hated her, Lotess answered.
I didn’t ask you, he said.
Then who were you asking? Lotess quipped.
Can’t a guy talk to himself anymore? Will fumed.
Easy, what are you biting my head off for? she asked.
You don’t have a—
It was metaphorical, she said.
There was a pause. You really think I hate her? Will asked.
No, I didn’t say you hated her, Lotess explained. I said that’s what you told her.
I didn’t say anything of the sort, Will retorted.
She’s a woman; she read between the lines, Lotess said.
There are no lines to read between! he said, raising his voice internally.
Will rubbed his head, turned, and started up the steps back into the harbor square.
She just gets on my nerves sometimes, Will said at last.
Sounds to me like you like her, Lotess said.
Will scoffed. She’s always blaming me, he said, ignoring her comment. Everyone is always blaming me. Jade won’t talk to me; Khal won’t even look at me; I haven’t even seen much of Robert.
Your brother loves you, she told him.
If no one wants me here, maybe it is time I left, Will said. We’re not getting anywhere anyway. There’s an army of elves out there somewhere led by two vindictive gods with grudges against us, and we’re sitting here doing what? Playing politics? We need another stone and we need it now.
Then let’s go get one, Lotess said.
That’s what I’m talking about.
On Will’s left, Khal and Jade stood atop the observation platform, arguing about something. Will guessed it was the queen’s security and the events of a few minutes past. Will gave them a wide berth, walking with purpose toward the escarpment leading out of the city.
Don’t you need to go back to the ship first? Lotess asked. At least tell someone where you’re going?
Why should I? Besides, I’ve got everything I need, he said, squeezing the blue stone that now hung around his neck.
Will felt Lotess give a mental shrug.
As the noise of the harbor drifted away, Will asked aloud, “So… where do we go?”
I don’t know, she answered in his head.
“What do you mean you don’t know?” Will asked, incredulous.
What do you mean ‘what do I mean?’ Lotess replied. I. Don’t. Know. It’s pretty clear.
“You’re telling me you don’t know where to find a soul stone?” he said in annoyance.
Isn’t that what I just said?
“But you’ve got to have some idea, right?” Will pressed. “You were there when they were made.”
That doesn’t mean anything, Lotess explained. Each god chose a different method of concealment. Me? I placed my stone into the hands of guardians that passed it down generation after generation. Iket created a village in the middle of the Wandering Wood, crafted a barrier around it, and raised up his own minions to protect the Soul Siphon. And you saw Merva’s; she created a whole series of traps and puzzles to protect hers.
Will reached the edge of the city and started his ascent up the escarpment.
Lotess continued, The best places to search will be somewhere defensible where no one would ever look, or somewhere that is difficult to reach so no one would stumble across it by accident.
“Where do you suggest we start?” Will asked.
How many times do I have to tell you: I don’t know, Lotess said again. I’m not your mother.
Will mulled it over. “Hmm… Maybe—Wait, what did you just say?”
What? ‘I don’t know?’ Lotess answered.
“No, after that.”
‘I’m not your mother?’ she repeated.
“My mother!” Will shouted. “That’s it!”
What about your mother? Lotess asked.
“My mother taught me how to fight. She had military training he
rself. It’s a long shot, but she might know something,” Will said. “I’ve got nothing else to go on.”
A weak plan is better than no plan, Lotess said. So back to Celesti?
“Back to Celesti,” Will affirmed.
Maya paced around her room aboard the Wave Wraith.
“That could have gone better,” Merva said in her projected physical form.
“It was a disaster!” Maya said, ruffling her hair. “I got mobbed! People spat on me, mocked me, shoved me. I’m supposed to be—”
“I wasn’t talking about the execution,” Merva said with a frown.
Maya furrowed her brow, and then said, “Oh, that. As I said outside, ‘good riddance.’ ”
“Maya—”
“Don’t ‘Maya’ me. You’re not my mother,” Maya said.
Wood groaned and hinges squealed as the door to her room opened.
“No, but I am,” a voice said.
Maya turned her head to regard the newcomer. A young woman with blond hair stood in the open door. On the outside, it was Riley Harper, one of her father’s royal guard specifically assigned to watch over her cousin Luka Callum. But Riley had died during the battle for Shadowhold.
This was indeed her mother, Evangeline. Maya struggled to believe that her father had carried her mother’s soul in a stone for nearly two decades and she hadn’t known. When Riley’s soul was destroyed, Will had used his power to remove Evangeline’s soul from the stone and place it into Riley’s body.
She guessed she had that to thank Will for. She’d lost a father and gained a mother all in the same night. In truth, she’d lost her father years before—some say the night she was born. Khal, her mother’s brother, had raised her.
When Maya didn’t respond, Evangeline said, “I heard about this morning and I wanted to check on you. Are you okay?”
“I’ll take my leave,” Merva said and vanished from sight.
“The only thing that’s hurt is my pride,” Maya said. “I’ll be okay.”
“A change in leadership is always hard, but they’re even harder in the midst of struggle,” Evangeline said. “I remember when your father became king. Your grandfather died in our own streets at the hands of Havanite spies. Those were dark days as well. The people will come around. They just need some time.”
Maya forced a smile. “I’m not so sure.”
“Well I am,” her mother said, placing her hands on Maya’s shoulders and looking her in the eye. “They saw your heart today. Your love, your kindness, your forgiveness. That’s something they never saw from your father. They’ll realize that soon enough.”
Maya smiled again, a real smile. Then she remembered the events on the pier. She pushed out of her mother’s arms and stepped a few paces away.
Silence hung in the air between them for a moment.
“Can I ask you a question?” Maya asked, turning back to face her mother.
“Anything,” Evangeline replied, joy and warmth filling her face.
“Suppose a friend betrayed you,” Maya said with a sigh. “Suppose he did something so despicable that it took the life of someone you loved and ruined thousands more in the process. What would you do?”
“I think,” Evangeline started, “I think life is too short to shoulder the weight of bitterness. Anger, grief, frustration. These were burdens your father would not lay down, and look at the life he lived. Look at how he treated people.”
“But if he hadn’t held on, you wouldn’t be here,” Maya said, sitting down on her bed.
“True,” Evangeline responded, sitting beside her and draping an arm around Maya. “But at what cost? How many lives did he destroy? How many people truly loved him?”
“I did,” Maya said.
“As did I,” Evangeline replied.
“And Uncle Callum,” Maya responded.
“But if we’re honest, I think the list stops there,” her mother said.
“What about all those people we’ve executed this week?” Maya asked.
“Those people,” Evangeline said, looking up at the ceiling, “did not love your father. They loved the power and position that your father afforded them. There are three kinds of people in this world, Maya: Those who will love you for who you are, those who will love you for what you give them, and those who will hate you no matter what you do.”
“That’s all well and good, but what does this have to do with my question?” Maya asked.
“That you chose to call him a ‘friend’ should answer your question,” Evangeline said. “The days are dark, Maya. The road ahead will be rough. If I were you, I would want every friend that I have standing beside me to give me strength. Tell Will you forgive him and move on.”
Boom, Merva said.
Maya blinked in shock and her mouth dropped open. “How—?”
Evangeline laughed. “I’m your mother. And even if I weren’t, the whole ship would have known who you were talking about.”
Maya chuckled herself and smiled. “This… this was good. Thanks.”
“Anytime,” Evangeline said, placing her hand on Maya’s.
Maya took a deep breath and let it out slowly.
I guess I should go find Will.
8
If Maya was fast enough, she might be able to catch Will before he left. Maya exited her room and raced below deck to his room.
Flinging open the door, she saw Will squatting down, hunched over a trunk, digging through it.
“Will!” Maya called out. “I have something I need to say. I’m sor—”
Will stood and turned around. Only it wasn’t Will. It was Robert.
“Oh,” Maya said. “I thought you were Will.”
“He’s not here, sorry,” Robert said. “Want me to tell him you were looking for him?”
“When was the last time you saw him?” Maya asked.
Robert gave a shrug. “Couple of hours ago? Why?”
“We had another fight,” Maya said.
“What else is new?” Robert asked. “He’ll get over it.”
“No, Robert, I don’t think you understand,” Maya explained. “We said some pretty hurtful things, and… well, he said he was sick of me, and that he was leaving.”
“What?” he asked, eyes wide. “Then what happened?”
“I don’t know,” Maya said, shaking her head. “I sort of told him to get lost and stormed off myself.”
Robert sighed.
“You sure you haven’t seen him?” Maya asked again.
“Uh.” Robert closed his eyes to think. “No, sorry.”
“I need to find him before he does something stupid we’ll both regret,” Maya said.
Robert grabbed his cloak. “I’ll come with you.”
Maya led the way back above deck. They asked the crew about Will, but they all shook their heads. They hadn’t seen him either.
“Where was he last?” Robert asked.
“We were on the pier,” she said.
“Let’s check the harbor,” Robert said. “Maybe he’s just sitting at the end of a dock somewhere, tossing stones in the water.”
They searched up and down the docks for a quarter of an hour, but came up empty. They were about to give up, when they spotted Jade and Khal walking down onto the dock.
“Hey, Jade,” Robert said. “Have you seen my brother?”
“Yeah, about an hour ago,” she said. “Why?”
“Do you know where he was going?” Maya asked.
“No, I didn’t talk to him. But he went off in that direction,” Jade said, pointing toward the escarpment.
Maya cursed. Without another word, she spun around and ran back for the ship, Robert following right behind.
“Are you doing what I think you’re doing?” Robert asked.
“Yes,” Maya said. “And don’t try to stop me.”
“Stop you? I’m coming with you.”
“Great,” she replied. “Grab your things and meet me in my room as soon as you can.”
Robert n
odded and ran ahead.
Maya raced up the gangplank and headed for her room. One of the crewmen who was swabbing the deck didn’t see her and backed up right into her path. Before she could stop herself, they collided and both fell down—the crewman yelling in fright.
“Sorry,” she said, jumping to her feet and darting off again without checking to make sure he was okay.
As she stormed into her room, she nearly tore the door off the hinges. Her sword lay propped against the wall. She strapped the belt on and slid it into place, then looked around the room wondering if she needed anything else.
A plate of half-eaten food sat on the table, a few books were stacked beside them, her clothes hung in the wardrobe behind her, and an empty knapsack lay in the corner of the room. With as big a lead as Will had, they might not catch him for a day or more. Maya grabbed her sack, opened it up, and scooped the uneaten food into it. It wouldn’t be much, but she’d need the energy.
The door swung open with such force the top hinge snapped as it slammed against the wall.
Maya jumped back and drew her blade.
It was Ocken, his own weapon brandished. As his eyes darted around the room, he visibly relaxed and lowered his claymore. “What happened? Are you all right? I heard a scream.”
Just then, Robert appeared beside Ocken in the doorway. “Are you ready to go?”
“Go?” Ocken asked. “Go where?”
“To find Will,” Maya said, following Robert out the door.
“Wait a second,” Ocken said. “What do you mean ‘find Will’?”
“He’s run off on his own, probably to hunt for another soul stone,” Maya said. “We’re going after him.”
“You most certainly are not,” another voice said.
Maya turned to see Khal and Jade climbing up the gangplank.
“You don’t get to tell me what to do,” Maya said. “I’m the queen.”
“That is the very reason that you won’t be going anywhere except Berxley,” Khal said. “Or have you forgotten that we’ve been attacked?”
“You don’t know that with any certainty,” Maya said.
“Neither am I willing to risk another chance on your life,” Khal explained. “You heard what Callum said. All it takes is one province—just one—and the entire kingdom will crumble. Then what will we do? Ophi and Erintos will march in with their army and slaughter us all. The only way we have a hope of defending ourselves is with a unified front. And the only person capable of holding us together is you.”
Soul Shade (Soul Stones Book 2) Page 5
