The Dread: The Fallen Kings Cycle: Book Two

by Gail Z. Martin

  Royster gave a tired smile. “Don’t mind if I do. Here, let me pour.” Quickly, he set down the book and scrolls and made himself a cup of tea, and then settled into a chair near where Kiara sat. “I’ve been spending a lot of time looking up the last two gifts your ghost ancestors gave you,” he began, nearly spilling his tea as he tried to set out the scrolls on a small folding campaign table. “You’ve already figured out the necklace—that was to win the favor of the Western Raiders and get them to send us grain. The sword bought you the support of the eight warlords, and got rid of the Durim. That leaves us the lens and the runes.

  “Let’s start with the lens,” Royster said breathlessly, tea forgotten in his enthusiasm. “I didn’t want to talk about this in front of Morane, but everything I’ve found on lenses confirms that—if you have the right kind of magic—you can focus and amplify the magic of other mages.” He looked up at Kiara excitedly. “Do you realize what this means?”

  Kiara crossed her tent and removed the lens from her trunk. She took it out of its velvet wrap and placed it on the table, looking at the lens thoughtfully. “If it works, it might make up for our side not having as many mages.”

  Royster nodded enthusiastically. He nearly bounced in his seat with excitement. “That’s not all. I spent some time with the old maps, and I located several shrines and temples in this area, as well as places that people seem to think have power. In my opinion, we need to think about where you use the lens during the next battle, so that you can focus any power from these nearby sites as well.”

  Kiara set her tea down and rubbed her temples. “I don’t know, Royster. Just being a focus for several mages seems risky enough. I wish we had time to practice. I’m not sure about trying to focus anything bigger—”

  “That’s just it,” Royster said, his eyes alight. “The Flow itself is rumored to run beneath these lands. You can bet that the Temnottan Volshe are drawing on it. If the Volshe weren’t drawing on the Flow before the warlords destroyed the Durim, they’ll need to now that you’ve stopped whatever power the Durim’s sacrifices were generating.” He paused. “Think about the potential, Kiara, if the lens would let you focus some of the Flow’s energy as well as the mages’ power.”

  Kiara shook her head. “We don’t know whether the Durim’s sacrifices actually did help the Temnottans, or whether they were using blood magic to raise the Nachele. What if I try to use the lens and it does something we don’t expect, like make me burst into flames?”

  Royster chewed his lip when he thought. “The reports of something like that happening are rare.”

  “Rare? How rare?”

  Royster shrugged. “The records tend to be a little vague—”

  Kiara fought a growing headache. “Great. That’s great. I’d really like to have tried this once or twice on a small scale before we’re in the thick of battle.”

  “Oh, that’s easy.” Royster brightened. “I can set that up. Just wanted to clear it with you first. We can try it with two or three of the mages, on something small.”

  “Let’s start with that,” Kiara said. She could hear the weariness in her voice, and she didn’t doubt that Royster could also hear it, because he gave her a concerned look, which she dismissed with a shake of her head. “I’m fine, just tired.” She paused. “Have you found anything interesting about the runes?”

  Royster smiled. “They’re very sympathetic to the working of magic. In other words, strong magic makes them move.” He held up a hand at Kiara’s worried expression. “Don’t worry—I haven’t cast them. But when I was working on the maps, I could hear some of the mages outside my tent reinforcing the camp wardings. The runes started to tumble around like mad inside their bag. So you might want to have them out when you use the lens, to see what they have to say.”

  Kiara sat up and stretched backward, yawning widely and arching her back. “Let’s get some sleep, and in the morning, I want to do a test with that lens before we’re under fire. Can you arrange that?”

  “As you wish,” Royster replied with a grin that told Kiara he was looking forward to testing his theory. “I’ll meet with Morane and the mages and set up a meeting at ninth bells.”

  Royster left the tent, and Kiara heard a scuffing noise near the brazier. Jae waddled out from under her cot to linger next to the warm brazier and then gave a flap of his leathery wings and landed on her lap. Absently, Kiara stroked his scales, and Jae rumbled contentedly.

  The court might mistake Jae for a pet, but he had proven today just how well he could fight in battle. “I’ll need you, more than ever, to watch my back if I’m supposed to concentrate on that stupid lens,” she murmured. She drew a deep breath. Look at me—I’m talking to my gyregon. Lady true! I need some sleep.

  Kiara put Jae down, and he waddled over to find a place close to the brazier for the night. Kiara was just unbuckling her cuirass to get ready for bed when Cerise stuck her head through the tent flap.

  “Aren’t there guards out there?” Kiara grumbled good-naturedly. “It seems as if everyone’s paid a call on me tonight!”

  Cerise chuckled and stepped inside, not waiting for an invitation. “Queen’s Healer’s privilege, my dear. Even your father knew better than to second-guess Trygve.”

  The words made Kiara duck her head and turn away. She’d done well today at holding back memories of her father, but every time she looked across the army camp, she expected to see him come striding up through the campfire smoke, healthy and alive and ready for action. “How is Trygve?”

  Cerise shrugged and gave Kiara a look as if she could guess where Kiara’s thoughts had strayed. “Busy. Still tending casualties from the last battle. Cam and Wilym have been his best customers.”

  “I didn’t notice any visible new scars on Wilym, but Cam did look a little worse for the wear.”

  “Trygve was in the mood to vent a little, healer to healer. I guess Cam hasn’t really changed his ways since he blew himself up to alert your father about the Divisionist stronghold. Still taking crazy chances, still at the front of the action.”

  “That’s Cam,” Kiara replied with a smile. She struggled with the last of the buckles on her cuirass, and Cerise stepped up to help her out of the armor, but when Kiara went to remove the chain mail, Cerise shook her head.

  “No. You need to wear that all the time. No telling what damage a stray arrow could do. Keep the chain mail on.”

  Kiara scowled. “Easy for you to say. It’s not comfortable to sleep in.”

  Cerise made a dismissive gesture. “You’re in an army camp, not back at the palace. Think how good your bed will feel when we can go home and you can take it off.”

  Kiara grumbled, but she knew Cerise was right. “All your fault if I don’t sleep,” Kiara replied.

  Cerise smile broadly. “I can help with that.” She let Kiara dress for bed and brought her another cup of hot tea. Cerise mixed some powder into Kiara’s tea. “There. You’ll fall asleep quickly and sleep soundly, but if there’s a real commotion or any danger, you’ll wake with your wits about you.” She winked at Kiara. “Part herbs, part magic. Always worked for your mother.”

  Kiara couldn’t help smiling as Cerise handed her the cup. “Did you ever have to follow mother to war?”

  “Viata? No,” Cerise said, shaking her head. “Don’t forget, your mother was a long way from home, and being from Eastmark, she had no standing to lead Isencroft troops, no matter how well she had been trained as a warrior. I think your father was relieved, because there’d have been no denying her if she’d have been able to go. Sometimes, though, she would follow just close enough to be within a few candlemarks’ ride, and we’d take a room at an inn or in the home of a nearby noble. Your mother would scry and cast runes and send messengers to your father with the results.” Cerise chuckled. “They had quite a partnership, though only a few of us knew it.”

  Kiara managed a sad smile and met Cerise’s gaze. “I’m sorry for dragging you out here.”

  Cerise made
a dismissive gesture. “Tarra’s a sweet girl, but she’s never been outside the city, let alone this close to a war. In my younger days, I held a position much like Trygve’s, a battle healer. I’ve seen the worst war has to offer.” She chuckled. “It’s hardly as if I’ll be run ragged dressing you for court balls. In the field, you’re lucky to get a single change of clothing, let alone an outfit for every occasion. As a ‘lady in waiting,’ I figured I got the best of the deal.”

  Kiara sipped at the hot tea and sat on the edge of her cot. Jae was curled up near the brazier, sleeping, and she watched the shallow rise and fall of his chest. She was silent for a while, until she realized Cerise was watching her, patiently waiting for her to speak.

  “I’m nearly sick with worry about Tris. I’m not even sure he knows I’ve gone to Isencroft, and there’s been no word about how the war is going for him. Tonight, Morane said that the mages think the Temnottans have sent their dark summoner to Margolan. I’m frightened for what that means for Tris.” Without thinking, Kiara’s hand fell to her abdomen.

  Cerise looked at her and frowned. “Feeling poorly with the babe?”

  Kiara shook her head. “Not too bad. Tired, mostly. A little nauseous, but that might be the camp cooking. I don’t think tonight’s gruel was fresh today.”

  “Army cooking’s meant to be filling, not delicious. But I might have some herbs I can slip to the cook that would help, since it won’t do to have a queen with the heaves.”

  Kiara was silent for a few moments while she drank her tea. Then she set the cup aside and looked at Cerise. “Tomorrow, at ninth bells, Royster wants me to test his theory about the burning glass lens. He wants to see how well I can use it to focus magic. I’m a little nervous about that. Will you come?”

  Cerise stepped closer and took Kiara’s hand. “Of course I’ll come. Just promise me that your days of making magical glass objects explode are behind you.”

  Kiara chuckled. “I can’t promise, but I’ll do my best.”

  Cerise banked the fire in the brazier and turned down the oil lamp to a dull glow. She motioned for Kiara to get into bed. “Don’t worry. I’ll be there. Now let the tea do its work and get some sleep.” Kiara tried to give herself over to the soothing warmth of the tea and Cerise’s herbs, but her dreams, when they came, were of fire and runes.

  True to his word, Royster was waiting in his tent at the ninth bells with maps set out on a broad campaign table and the burning glass lens sitting in the middle of the maps. With him were Morane and Brother Felix.

  “I took the liberty of telling Morane and Brother Felix what we discussed last night,” Royster said, clearing his throat. “We thought it best to try this with just a few participants, until we know how well it works.”

  The better to minimize casualties, Kiara thought dryly.

  “Let’s get to it,” Kiara said. “The sooner we know, the more chance we’ve got to fit it into the battle plans. Cam and Wilym were pretty sure that the Temnottans are up to something, which means we’ll need to strike sooner rather than later.”

  Royster led them from the tent to the rear edge of the camp. Captain Remir’s guards trailed them at a respectful distance. Royster gestured toward a large boulder not far from where they gathered. “Brother Felix, I’d like you to try to move that boulder over to the road.”

  Kiara saw Felix size up the distance, which was about three wagons’ length. “That’s a big boulder,” Felix said.

  Royster smiled. “Just try.”

  Brother Felix closed his eyes in concentration and then brought his hands up to chest level, palms out, as if he meant to push the rock himself, though the rock was at least ten paces distant. Felix took a deep breath, and then exhaled. The rock, which was nearly the size of a large wagon, began to tremble. Trembling gave way to rocking back and forth to free itself from the ground around it, and then, slowly, the rock began to roll, gradually gaining speed until it was moving slowly toward the road. After a few minutes, the rock reached its destination, and Brother Felix opened his eyes. He wiped the sweat from his forehead. “That was one heavy rock.”

  Royster’s smile widened. “Let’s see how well you move it back again—with Kiara’s help.” Royster gestured for Kiara to bring the lens and stand next to him. “For the first test, I want you to try holding the lens and have Brother Felix touch the lens at the same time. You’re already familiar with his magic.” Royster motioned for Felix to move so that he could lay his hand on the top of the lens while Kiara held it on the sides.

  “Kiara, I want you to think about Felix moving the rock back to where it was, and picture it happening in your mind, but imagine that you look through the lens like a window. If you have any sense of your regent magic, focus it on the lens and then on the image in your mind. Felix, use your magic again, but pay attention to anything that seems different this time. Begin.”

  Kiara closed her eyes. Before her coronation, the regent magic had always seemed elusive and very faint. Now, as Kiara held the smooth sides of the burning glass lens between her hands, she felt the regent magic flow through her, vibrant and strong. Kiara took two deep breaths, trying to concentrate. In her mind’s eye, she saw the boulder move and then, slowly, begin to tumble. She concentrated on the image through the lens, feeling the regent magic flow through her. As she watched, the boulder began to move more quickly, until it was back in its original position.

  Kiara took another deep breath and opened her eyes. The rock had rolled back to its original position.

  “Very good,” Royster said with a wide grin. “Very, very good.”

  “Did you see that?” Brother Felix said, turning to Morane. “That rock moved twice as fast with her help as it did when I moved it by myself.”

  “Now, let’s try it another way,” Royster said, but he moved off to the side a bit and drew a circle with a stick in the ground. He withdrew the pouch of runes from his belt, the runes that the ghost queen had given to Kiara. Carefully, he took each rune out one by one and laid them blank side up.

  “What are you doing?” Kiara asked, straining to see.

  Royster straightened. “When you helped Brother Felix move that rock, the runes in the pouch were positively dancing in response to the magic. It would seem that they’re very sensitive to your power. If they moved when you focused one mage’s power, let’s see what they do when you focus both mages.”

  Kiara gave the circle with its runes a wary glance and then brought her attention back to the lens in her hands. She visualized the focused magic passing through the burning glass and the lens began to glow.

  “Are you ready?” Royster’s voice brought Kiara back to the task at hand. She nodded, and Morane stepped up to stand beside Brother Felix. He found room to add his hand to the lens as well.

  “I’m not certain that the mages actually need to be in physical contact with the glass,” Royster mused aloud. “Obviously, if they don’t, it would mean you might be able to focus the magic of more mages than if they all have to stand close enough to touch. We’ll try that next.”

  On Royster’s count, Kiara closed her eyes again, focusing on the lens. Her magic seemed to leap up to meet the burning glass this time. Kiara saw the image of the lens glow even more brightly in her mind, and she felt Morane join his magic with Brother Felix.

  Kiara concentrated on the boulder, and this time, it began to move almost immediately. She felt the magic flow through her, and then through the glass, as the boulder began to tumble faster and faster. It thudded to a stop in the middle of the road, moving too quickly to stop in its original resting place.

  Kiara opened her eyes. Royster, Brother Felix, and Morane were staring at her wide-eyed.

  “Damn! I’ve never seen a rock move like that when it wasn’t falling down hill,” Morane exclaimed. He grinned. “Oh, we can do some damage with this on the battlefield!”

  Royster had crossed to look at the runes. He turned and shook his head. “Nothing. They moved in the pouch the last time, but no
thing this time.”

  “Maybe they’re too far away from the magic,” Kiara suggested.

  Royster nodded slowly as he considered her words. “Perhaps. If so, that may change on this next round.” Royster brightened and looked from Kiara to Brother Felix and then to Morane. “This time, I want to see whether Kiara can focus the magic without you touching the lens. You’ll try to do the same thing with the boulder, and we’ll see what happens. Kiara, I want you to keep doing what you’ve done the last two times, only focus on the magic around you. Felix and Morane, I want you to imagine pouring your magic through the lens and then out to the boulder. Is everyone ready?”

  Kiara could feel a pounding reaction headache and wondered how much effort it was costing her to channel the regent magic through the lens. Neither Felix nor Morane seemed to be feeling any effect. Kiara centered herself with several deep breaths with the lens clasped firmly between her hands.

  “Ready?” Royster asked. Kiara gave a nod.

  Kiara focused on the lens and visualized magic flowing from Felix and Morane like golden waves of light. She smiled to herself as magic touched the lens. She knew by its feel that it was Brother Felix. A second later, she felt Morane’s magic touch the lens and begin to bend through it, toward the boulder.

  She was unprepared as a flood of energy washed over her. The magic seemed to come from everywhere: from the land itself, from the camp below, from places of power that she saw only as glimpses in her mind, roadside shrines, family crypts, temples, and altars. The power hit her like a tide, rolling her beneath it like a powerful wave, taking her breath away. From somewhere nearby, she could hear a low thudding noise growing nearer.

  “Break the contact, Kiara! Break it now!”

  The crashing noise was closer, coming faster. But the power that washed over Kiara was as unrelenting as the sea, and nearly as limitless. It seemed hungry to find her, and to drain through the lens. The ground trembled, and as Kiara struggled to free herself, someone plowed into her, knocking her off her feet and landing hard on top of her. The lens fell out of her hands and Kiara abruptly lost consciousness.