“I will never forget his sacrifice,” Maya said.
Ari sniffled and smiled. “That’s all any of us could ever ask for—that we will have done something with our lives worth remembering.”
“We’re about to start planning our next moves,” Maya said. “But take as much time as you need.”
“It’s fine,” Ari said, standing. “I’d just like to bring him with us when we leave.”
“Of course.”
Back in the audience hall, Khal was pulling Governor Gerard out of his office with his arm wrenched behind his back. “Found him in a safe room behind the bookcase,” Khal said. “Thought you could hide from us, did you?”
“It was the elves!” Gerard shouted. “They made me do it! I’m innocent!”
Callum was shaking his head. “The elves only arrived two days ago,” he said. Then he pointed at Khal. “You’ve had these fools in prison for a week.”
“Who are you calling a fool?” Khal said.
“Well what do you call getting yourself captured? Smart?” Callum spat.
“Hey!” Maya said. “Easy.”
“My boy is dead because of him!” Callum shouted, pointing at Khal.
“If you think that’s true then why even bother rescuing us?” Khal asked.
Callum inhaled sharply and clenched his jaw.
“I said knock it off!” Maya yelled.
Callum’s face softened and he said, “Can I answer his question?”
Maya nodded.
Callum turned to Evangeline and picked up her hand, cradling it in his own. “I heard a rumor that Evangeline had been raised from the dead, and if there was even a remote chance that was true, I couldn’t stand by and let her die again.”
“It’s true,” Evangeline said.
Khate gasped.
Evangeline turned to Khate and said, “There’s a lot I need to tell you.”
Evangeline took a step toward Khate, but Khate backed away, shaking her head slowly. “How—How is this possible? You’re Riley. You’re the girl I saved at Celesti fifteen years ago. You’re not my sister. You can’t be.”
“Riley is dead,” Maya said.
In the space beside them all, Maya created a miniature version of Will—in a guard’s body—Riley, Maya, and Maya’s father playing out the final moments before her father was killed. Will fought against the Royal Guard, produced a blast of energy just as Riley knocked one out of the way and took the blast herself.
Then Will took Drygo’s black soul stone and pulled a soul out, placing it into Riley. Riley’s body stirred, and called out, “Xandie?”
“Evie?” Drygo said.
Then the scene faded away.
Khate looked like she’d seen a ghost. “All these years… I thought you were dead. I watched you die. You were in that stone this whole time?”
Evangeline smiled and nodded tentatively. After a brief pause, Khate rushed forward and wrapped Evangeline in a great hug.
“You have some explaining to do yourself,” Maya said. “Auntie Khate. You have a soul stone?”
“How could you possibly know something like that?” Khate asked.
“Among other things, your soul glows the color of your stone. Teal, in your case,” Maya said. “I am guessing you’ve not had it long—you’ll figure these things out as you go.”
“I acquired it on Kent from the eye of a dragon statue, which sort of ended up being a real dragon,” Khate said.
Thallan said, “So it’s your fault I nearly got roasted on Kent?”
“Sorry about that,” Khate replied. “But not sorry if what Maya said was true about you trying to kill her.”
“It was a misunderstanding, people!” Thallan said in exasperation.
“Speaking of misunderstandings,” Gerard said, still being restrained by Khal.
“Shut it,” Maya said.
“I vote we feed him to Maya’s sea serpent,” Jade said.
“You know that wasn’t real, right?” Maya asked.
Jade gave a noncommittal shrug. “Letting him drown works just as well.”
“Well look what the cat dragged in,” Khal said.
Maya spun as General Kosta walked through the door.
“I thought I might find you all in here,” he said. “Gerry always did run like a little mouse at the first sign of trouble.”
“You want him?” Maya asked.
Kosta stared at Gerard and laughed with a perfectly wicked smile. “Gladly.”
Gerard squirmed and tried to get away, but Khal grabbed the collar of his shirt and dragged him right back.
“Sea serpent would have been kinder,” Jade remarked. “I like it.”
“I take it you won?” Maya asked.
“Did I win?” Kosta asked in a mocking tone. “What type of question is that? If I had listened to you, I wouldn’t have. What was I thinking? Five ships? Come on. As soon as you left my head cleared up. I brought twenty, each manned with sixty men. There wasn’t going to be a civil war, because there wasn’t going to be a Berxley when I was done with them.”
Maya wasn’t sure whether she should be miffed that Kosta had ignored her orders or thankful that he did, since it had been Thallan making those demands in the first place, worming his way into their heads.
“What are my orders?” Kosta asked.
“Are you going to obey them this time?” Maya countered.
I guess you aren’t going to let it go, Merva said.
Maya ignored her.
“Depends if I like them,” he remarked.
“Like them or not, you will obey me or—”
“Or what?” Kosta asked, stepping up to Maya and shoving a finger in her chest. “If you kill me, my second in command will fire every last cannon at you until you’re nothing but a stain on the ground.”
Khal pushed his way between Kosta and Maya with his sword raised.
“Easy there, guard dog,” Kosta said. “Down, boy!”
Maya glared at Kosta, but said, “It’s fine, Khal.”
Khal lowered his sword and stepped back.
“There’s a good boy, let me get you a trea—”
Maya lunged forward, stuck her leg behind Kosta’s, and tossed him to the ground. Pulling out her knife and kneeling on top of him in one fluid movement, she pressed the blade against his throat.
He smiled. “There’s the little firecracker who came to my island. Look, this is how it’s going to be. I own this military, and if you want to use it, you need me. I have only agreed to cooperate because we’ll all be dead if I don’t, but make no mistake. I am not your friend and I am not your subject.”
Maya snorted. “At least now we’re being honest with each other.”
Withdrawing the blade, she stood and climbed off of him.
“So, I’ll repeat the question,” Kosta said as he regained his feet. “Where are we going?”
“You’re going to Derton,” Maya said.
“Derton?” Kosta exclaimed. “You realize Derton doesn’t have a port, right? They’re at least a three-hour hike from the nearest town with anything close to a harbor.”
“I don’t know where Ophi is, but Celesti is already gone,” Maya said.
A flurry of gasps and whispers erupted at her comment.
“How can you be sure?” Khal asked.
Maya nodded at Thallan.
“While I can’t know for certain,” Thallan said. “I have no reason to distrust what I heard from another of my kin. He was, after all, assuming I was on his side.”
“As I was saying, I’m not sure if Ophi would go west or south, but south toward Shadowhold makes more sense,” Maya said. “There’s a chance Luton hasn’t been attacked yet, but I can’t guarantee we’ll make it in time. Plus, Luton has no defensible walls, where Derton does. It’s a much better location to mount a sizeable resistance. Still, I can’t ignore the possibility that Luton isn’t aware of the looming threat, so the Wave Wraith and I will be sailing for Luton in less than an hour, but I want every
other able-bodied soldier to head to Derton.”
“Do you want me to go back and get the rest of my men?” Kosta asked.
“No,” Maya said, shaking her head. “There’s no time for you to make it to Kent and back. Send word somehow. Use a pigeon, send a single boat on a skeleton crew, I don’t care how you do it, but I need as many people in Derton preparing for an attack as possible.”
“What of Ciara and I?” Ari asked.
“You’re more than welcome to come along,” Maya said. “Though I understand if you want to take Alban back to his family in Penrythe.”
“It’s probably for the best,” Ari said. “As much as I would have liked to be the one who takes the smug look off of that changeling elf.”
“Do what you must,” Maya said. “Your assistance has been appreciated. Know that Alban’s sacrifice will not have been in vain.”
“Thank you, my queen,” Ari said.
“And Berxley?” Khate asked. “There’s still a lot of unrest here, and I don’t believe these people will so quickly support you after the battle they just endured. It’s probably better if someone stayed back to manage the recovery efforts.”
“I’m not sure that I can spare anyone,” Maya said.
“If I may?” Khate asked.
Maya nodded.
Turning to Evangeline, she said, “I’m not saying this to get rid of you, and there’s nothing more that I want than to spend an eternity making up for lost time, but you are the best suited for this job.”
Evangeline forced a smile, but worry was as clear as day on her face.
To Maya, Khate said, “Evie is in Riley’s body and there’s something about her I remember that few might not know. Riley was a Haerford.”
Callum coughed, then squinted at Riley’s face. “By the gods, it is you. I’m so sorry Alexander killed your—”
“I’m not Riley, Davion,” Evangeline said. “You don’t need to apologize for Alexander.”
“Right,” Callum said.
“What’s a Haerford?” Jade asked. “I thought her last name was Harper.”
“A cover,” Khate said. “To hide her lineage in case Alexander ever wanted to hunt her down. She was the last true queen of Berxley, and since Evie was also queen of Shadowhold for a time, I don’t see a better fit. Besides, I don’t even know if my sister knows how to hold a sword, let alone use one.”
Callum chuckled.
“What?” Evangeline asked.
“Just picturing you holding a big claymore,” Callum said. “The old you. The way I remember you.”
“Well, Mother?” Maya asked. “Up for playing politics again?”
“I’d rather be with you all, danger or no,” she said. “But if this is where you need me, it is where I will gladly stay.”
“I’d like to stay back and help as well,” Callum said. “If you’ll allow it.”
Maya nodded. “It’s settled, then.”
36
In the body of a sparrow, Will circled the elven encampment from the air. It was well hidden along the foothills of the Frostpeaks, no roads leading in or out. Will and Sowena probably never would have found it by foot.
There must have been a few thousand tents. Will guessed Ophi wanted precision attacks, wiping out whole cities and provinces before they were even aware of her presence. The majority of Aralith was still oblivious to the impending doom, and Will wasn’t sure if that was a good or a bad thing.
If Will and the others were doing their job right, then Aralith would never have to know—the people could continue in their obliviousness. At the same time, awareness allowed for preparation. Luton had had the fortunate chance to evacuate and stay alive; Celesti had not been afforded such an opportunity.
Will began to doubt whether they’d taken the correct approach. He was so certain he needed a soul stone, but Maya was just as certain she needed to raise support in secret. Yet one city was gone and another displaced, and nothing Will or Maya had done so far had prevented that.
If anything, they were worse off than when they started. Somewhere in the camp below, the elves were very likely at this moment unlocking the powers of another soul stone—a stone he’d hand-delivered to them.
He should have known Ophi had been watching, just as she was likely watching right now. Could she see Will in this bird’s body? He didn’t know. Perhaps she just saw Sowena and his elf body lying on the ground some three miles to the west.
Will entertained the idea of returning for Sowena, but she wasn’t cut out for this type of thing. He had seen it from the moment he met her as she’d let herself get caught by a band of pathetic tricksters. She’d done very little to aid Will’s cause, and more often than not she delayed it with her humanitarian missions to save the world one person at a time.
Will would rather save the world by wiping out an entire encampment at a time. If he just dive bombed in right now, came out of his body in a flurry and started soul hopping—or maybe one big soul explosion that wiped everyone out—then it would all be over. The elves would be dead and that would be that.
But it was never that simple. Each time he killed someone, it sapped more and more energy from his body. The magnitude of the blast required would surely kill him in the process, if he was even strong enough to kill half the camp.
All he needed to do was find Ophi. What was that old saying? Cut off the head and you kill the body?
Or three more heads will rise up in its place, Lotess said. I’m afraid you’ll have to do more than take out Ophi if you want to stop this army. Elves have long and unforgiving memories.
Then why did they not attack sooner? Will asked.
Why should they have? she countered. They lost the war; their gods were gone. But now they know the land of man is weak, fractured by the champions of their cause. I’m afraid they’ll stop at nothing short of taking back the land or imminent defeat.
So what’s the play here? Will asked as he made another round through the air.
There is no play, she replied. You can’t do this yourself. You’re not invincible.
No, but I’m the closest thing to it, Will said. What’s the worst that can happen? I die? Been there done that how many times now?
There are forces at play not even you can understand. I’m telling you, go back now, get Maya, and march an army here,” Lotess said.
Far below, elves were starting to break apart the tents all across the hillside.
They’re getting ready to move, I can’t guarantee they won’t hurt more people before help arrives, Will said. I’m going in.
Lotess sighed. Will could almost hear her shaking her head.
Aiming for the camp, he soared lower and lower, dropping through the sky like rain on a cloudy day. Will flew until he was three feet above the head of an elf, then he let his soul fall from the bird straight onto the unsuspecting soldier. The force of the collision knocked him down, but the rending of his soul was flawless.
Will didn’t know where Ophi was, but he figured if he made a big enough ruckus, she’d come running. He drew twin swords from the elf’s hip sheaths and launched himself at the nearest elf.
One blade went under the soldier’s chin and another in his gut before he knew what was going on. Nearby elves turned at the sound, but Will was on another before they registered the scene. Two blades came together, and the elf’s head fell from his body.
By now, a few shouts erupted throughout the camp, and the sound of elves drawing weapons could be heard in the air. Another elf dropped before he could raise his sword in defense, and yet another after a weak attempt at a block from an odd angle.
And with that kill, Will’s chain of freebies ended. As more and more of the camp became aware of the fight, the hardened warriors pushed to the front and took on Will in force.
When the first sword pierced his heart, he burst forward with his soul and dominated an elf that had been swinging his blade. Will took control, altering the sword’s angle to take down three more elves in the follow
through. Tossing aside the weapon, Will raised his hands and punched the air, producing a cone of energy that destroyed four more souls, their bodies dropping to the ground.
With each passing death, Will’s bloodlust only grew. It wasn’t just kill or be killed—Will was actually enjoying the fight.
Settle down. You need to put a check on these emotions, Lotess said. You’re falling away again. You’re becoming like him—like Drygo.
Maybe Will was finally beginning to see why Drygo had been the way he was. He’d known this war could happen, and he’d held a tight leash to make sure it never did.
Listen to yourself, Lotess said. Drygo’s rage hurt or killed the people closest to him. If you’re not careful, your friends are the ones who are going to get hurt.
I’m doing this so they don’t get hurt, Will said.
I’m sure Drygo said the same thing, Lotess said.
Besides, Will added. My friends aren’t here. There’s no one to get hurt.
Engaging his energy staff, Will ducked, swung, jumped, swung, dodged, and swung again. At least three dozen bodies had piled up around him when his staff suddenly disappeared.
Will tried to bring it back up again, but it felt like his magic was out of reach. Will shrugged—the staff wasn’t the only weapon in his arsenal. He tried an energy blast, but it, too, failed him. Then he attempted to leave his body, but found he couldn’t.
What’s going on? Will asked. Did you do something to me?
No, Lotess said.
Seeing Will’s apparent confusion, the elves barreled in, yelling with swords raised. As a blade came arcing down, Will raised his hands in defense.
“Hold!” shouted a shrill voice that Will recognized.
A particularly big elf hoisted Will into the air and tossed him out of the ring of death he had created.
Will pushed himself up on his hands and lifted his head to find Ophi standing over him. He tried to stand, but Ophi kicked him in the chest and knocked him on his back.
“Allynna,” Will said. “Or, should I say, Ophi?”
“Hello, Will,” she said with a smile on her face. “I was beginning to wonder whether I’d ever get the chance to thank you.”
Soul Shade (Soul Stones Book 2) Page 28
