A Soul For Atonement (The Soulbearer Series Book 4)

by Crista McHugh

  “My thoughts exactly,” Dev muttered.

  Sazi had dropped him off at this cave hours ago, but so far, Callix hadn’t been able to translate the incantation that would open the portal. He hoped Varrik would have better luck when he arrived. Every second that passed knowing Arden was trapped in Chaos was its own special form of torture, mainly because there was nothing he could do to free her. It was completely out of his hands, and that frustrated him more than anything he’d ever experienced, even dealing with the antics of the prior Soulbearers.

  “What’s Chaos like?” he asked in an attempt to prepare himself for what lay ahead.

  “What do you think?” Callix shot back, his attention still on the runes. “It’s chaos. Always changing without any rhyme or reason. Strange creatures that seem to be made up of odds and ends. Never know what Loku’s going to throw at you.”

  Dev nodded with each piece of information he gleaned. Nothing he didn’t expect from Loku. After nearly a century of dealing with the chaos god, he knew enough of his tricks. “And where did you last see Arden?”

  “In an apple orchard with living trees that like to be petted.”

  Dev stopped short, and even Cinder lifted his head. “Trees that like to be petted?”

  Callix nodded. “I told you nothing made sense there, but Arden knew enough to get us past them. At least, until Loku used them to corner us.”

  Dev shook his head and resumed pacing. Callix was his only guide to Chaos, and even he seemed a little mad from his experiences. “Do you think he’ll hurt her?”

  Callix paused and turned to Dev. “I pray to Ivis that he doesn’t. Most of his malice was directed toward me.”

  “And if we don’t give him what he wants?”

  Callix pressed his lips together and swallowed hard. “Then I’ll wrestle her out of Chaos with my bare hands, if I have to.”

  “You won’t be alone.” Dev met his gaze, and for the first time, he had a common bond with the man whose place he took. Callix wasn’t the coward he’d once thought him to be. He’d changed, and maybe at another time, he would inquire about it.

  A bright light blazed through the cavern, blinding him and ending their conversation. When it faded, Sazi and Varrik stood a few feet away with an open portal behind them.

  Callix scrambled to his feet. “Do you think you can translate this?”

  “If what Sazi has told me is correct, this should help.” Varrik opened the book in his hands and entered into a quiet conversation with his apprentice.

  Sazi moved to Dev. “Your soul is troubled.”

  “What makes you think that?” he replied with a healthy dose of sarcasm.

  “Then perhaps this will help ease your worries.” She held out a small urn bearing Loku’s mark.

  Dev’s breath froze, and judging by the shock on Callix’s face, he had the same reaction.

  “You can’t let him have his ashes,” Callix said in a hushed voice.

  “Do you really think I am foolish enough to do that?” Sazi removed the lid and turned the urn over to show it was empty. “His ashes remain securely hidden. This is just a decoy.”

  But it was enough to fool both him and Callix. “Do you think he’ll fall for it?” Dev asked.

  “There is only one way to find out.” A mischievous light danced in her dark eyes. “But if we are to trick a god, we must make the deception as believable as possible. First, we will need to gather some ashes.”

  Dev used his boot to sweep what was on the cavern floor into a pile for Sazi to scoop into the urn. “Is that enough, or should I have Cinder burn a few more things?”

  “That is enough. Now, I will seal it using the same spells as on the original.” She focused her attention on the urn. A rainbow of spells rippled from her fingertips, each one forming a separate colored band around the lid. Sweat beaded her forehead by the time she finished, but a weak smile formed on her lips. “It is done.”

  “So is the incantation.” Varrik snapped the book closed with a thud and recited something in a language so ancient, Dev doubted any living person would understand it.

  The runes started glowing with the same eerie yellow-green light he’d come to associate with Loku. They drifted along the stone wall to form a circle, then started to swirl in a counterclockwise direction. Faster and faster, they spun until they blurred into a solid line. A green spark formed at the center and spread like a drop of ink staining parchment until it reached the borders of the rune circle.

  Sazi held out her hand, and a wave of protective magic surrounded them. They all took a step back, not knowing what could come out of Chaos once the portal opened. Dev reached for his sword and swallowed his fear. He was about to blindly go into the unknown, but he would do it for Arden.

  The runes slowed and faded back into their original positions along the top of the cave wall, but the shimmering green portal remained. Dev drew his sword and moved toward it.

  “Wait!” Callix intercepted him. “We need to have a plan before going in there.”

  “My only plan is to get her back.”

  “And I’m the only person here who knows what lies on the other side.” Callix turned to Sazi. “It might be wise to cast the same binding spell on him, just in case Loku tries his little stunt on Dev.”

  “Agreed.”

  Before Dev could ask what they were talking about, Sazi pressed her hand to the center of his chest. A bolt of magic ripped through him, blurring his vision and making his stomach lurch. He stumbled back and pressed the heel of his hand to where the spell had struck him. “What was that?”

  “She bound your soul to your body so Loku won’t try to evict it and take over your body.” Callix adjusted his weapons and reached for the urn. “I’ll take this, just in case it’s needed.”

  The nausea passed, and Dev did his own check of his weapons. Sword at his side. Five daggers—one hidden up each sleeve, one hidden in each boot, and one at his belt. Small collapsible crossbow, strapped to his thigh, with ten drug-laced darts. Six spiked metal stars, ready to throw from the hidden pocket along his other thigh. If Chaos was going to launch everything it had at him, he needed to be prepared.

  “I’ll lead the way to where I last saw her, and we’ll go from there.” Callix waited for Dev to nod before adding, “Warning—the landing’s a bitch.”

  He disappeared through the portal, and Dev looked to Varrik. Arden’s father hugged the book in his arms, his face pale and tight.

  “Don’t worry, Varrik,” he said. “Callix and I will bring her back.”

  “I know you will.” But the concern didn’t ease from his face.

  Dev tested his grip on the sword and ordered Cinder to stay before stepping up to the portal. The ground disappeared from under his feet, and he tumbled through the air, not sure which direction he was falling in but knowing that he was completely out of control. Pulsating lights flew past him, adding to his disorientation. Then the haze cleared, and the earth rushed up to greet him. The blow knocked the air from his lungs, and the taste of blood filled his mouth.

  But all that meant nothing when he heard a familiar voice call out his name.

  He lifted his head to find Arden rushing toward him. Praise be to Lady Luck, she was alive! He managed to get to his knees just before she collided with him and threw her arms around his neck.

  “Dev, you’re alive.” Her sweet kisses showered his face, followed by a wave of healing magic that erased the taste of blood. “Sweet Lady Moon, you’re alive.”

  He wrapped his arms around her and captured her mouth with his own. In the past week, he’d dreamt of her kiss, but nothing could compare to holding her in his arms now. The warmth of her touch drove away his fears, and he indulged in the sweetness of her mouth, making a silent vow to whatever gods were listening that he’d never let her go.

  “Yes, that’s all very nauseatingly cute, but can you please take it outside of my realm?” an equally familiar voice asked dryly. “There’s a reason I brought you back to the p
ortal.”

  Dev forced himself to end the kiss and peered over Arden’s shoulder to find Loku standing about a hundred yards away, his arms crossed. He’d seen drawings depicting the chaos god, but none of them had prepared him for the real thing. Even with a semi-transparent body, the god radiated power. Black lines coiled over his skin like a den of serpents preparing to strike, and the sinister light glowing from his eyes made Dev’s palms grow damp.

  He pushed Arden behind him and retrieved his sword. “We’re taking her home.”

  “Oh?” Loku asked, arching one brow. “What if she wants to stay with me?”

  The way Arden tightened her arm around Dev’s waist answered that question. “The game’s up, Loku.”

  “Are you certain?” The god’s grin widened as the earth rolled under their feet and knocked them off balance. “We could have all kinds of fun yet.”

  Arden let go of him and moved between him and the chaos god. “Loku, remember our bargain.”

  A bitter taste filled Dev’s mouth. “What bargain?”

  “Please, let’s get out of here first,” she replied with a plea in her eyes.

  He was going to have to trust her for now, but when they got back, he’d want to know more.

  “Fine, you can go,” Loku said with a flippant wave of his hand, “once Callix gives me what he’s hiding under his cloak.”

  He exchanged glances with the apprentice Lore Keeper, forcing himself to keep his face blank, before Callix slowly revealed the urn.

  Loku’s eyes widened, and his mouth twisted into a cruel grin.

  Arden’s mouth fell open in horror. She ran between Loku and Callix, her arms stretched out wide. “Loku, don’t.”

  “They brought it here to barter for your life.”

  “Maybe, but we’ve already reached an agreement,” she countered, her tone calm and soothing.

  “But they’re mine.” Green lightning forked through the sky, and the wind picked up, all matching the anger in his words as he stared at the urn.

  Dev reached for Arden to pull her back, but she slipped out of his reach and dashed toward Loku. “If you take them, our agreement will be voided.”

  “I don’t care.”

  The second Dev took a step toward her to pull her back, a wall of sharp rocks erupted from the ground in front of him. His heart jumped in his throat. He called out her name, but she didn’t turn around.

  Callix, on the other hand, stood rigid in defiance as he stared down the chaos god. “You want your urn? Then you can have it once you promise to let us all return to the other side of the portal.”

  “I don’t have to promise you anything,” Loku growled, the winds rising in response.

  “No, but you made a promise to me,” Arden said, inching closer to the irate god. “And if you break it, I refuse to keep my end of our agreement.”

  Dev tried moving around the wall of rock that kept him from Arden, but the ridge kept widening with every step he took. His fingers curled into his palms while his magic churned inside his gut. He held out his hand and released it, shattering an opening through them. “Let her go, or you get nothing.”

  “That’s where you’re wrong, Dev.” He snatched Arden’s wrist and pulled her against him like a shield. “I have her.”

  “Then you’ll get nothing,” Callix replied.

  The word no lodged in the middle of Dev’s throat as Callix smashed the urn against the ground. The ashes scattered in the gale force wind, and Loku released her with a howl of anger to chase after them.

  It was just the distraction they needed. Dev grabbed Arden and pulled her toward the shimmering green portal, Callix following close behind with a shield of magic cast over them. This time, when he found himself hurtling through space, he didn’t feel the same sense of nauseating dread. They’d rescued Arden, and he didn’t care what he had to endure, so long as her hand was entwined with his.

  When they landed, he wrapped his body around hers to bear the brunt of the impact and rolled out of the way before Callix landed on them.

  “Close the portal,” he ordered once everyone was back.

  Varrik shook his head. “There are no instructions on how to do that. We have to wait for the spell to run out.”

  Dev cursed under his breath, but Arden laid a calming hand on his shoulder. “I can close it.”

  She stood and closed her eyes, extended one arm toward the portal. An incantation in the same ancient language rolled off her tongue, but the words were different. The glowing green circle started to recede, slowly shrinking into a tiny spark that fizzled out.

  Dev released the breath he’d been holding. It was finally over. The relic had been returned, and he and Arden were both safe.

  She turned around, her smile mirroring the same sense of relief. Then the ring in her eyes flashed, her mouth forming a perfect circle. “You tricked him.”

  Callix laughed, and Dev pulled her into his arms. “What’s he saying?”

  “The urn contained the ashes of a half-eaten Ornathian and a cow.”

  Callix laughed even harder. “Serves him right.”

  Dozens of questions filled Dev’s mind as he held her. What had Loku done to her? Was she hurt? Would she show any signs of madness from this? And what kind of bargain did she strike with the chaos god? And would she still keep it based on his behavior?

  But all that could wait. Right now, he wanted to get her as far away from the portal as he could. He looked to Varrik. “Should we take her to Lothmore or the Conclave?”

  “The Conclave,” her father replied. “She’ll be safer there, and we’ll have more resources at our disposal.”

  Varrik didn’t have to say what sort of resources. As soon as Arden passed through the gates, she’d be examined for any injuries, any harmful spells, any traces of taints or madness. Dev only hoped it would be over with quickly because once the Mages Council was done, he was going to keep her by his side until their wedding day.

  Chapter 20

  Callix tapped his feet to the unaccustomed quick beat of uncertainty despite the fatigue that weighed down the rest of his body. When they arrived at the Conclave, Sazi led him up to her chambers in the tower and cast a brief set of spells on him before instructing him to wait there for her return. Hours had passed, and the first rays of the sun appeared through the clouds. He shivered and pulled his cloak tighter around him, wondering if he should catch a few hours of sleep before she returned.

  As soon as he allowed himself to drift off, the door to her chambers opened, followed by a jumble of voices. He jerked to attention and rubbed the sleep from his eyes. “Am I free to go to a warm bed now?”

  “Not quite, Lore Keeper,” Sazi replied, offering him a mug of steaming tea. “We need to discuss a few things with you about the Soulbearer.”

  And by we, she meant the most influential people in the empire—Marist, Arano, and Varrik. They gathered their chairs around him and watched him with a mix of wariness and curiosity, as though they half-expected Loku to take over his body.

  “Ask away.”

  Sazi waited for permission from the empress before speaking. “First off, I have removed the spell binding your soul, so take care. Second, I wanted to let you know that it bore no trace of chaos.”

  “That’s good to know.” He shivered again and took a sip of the tea. A calming sensation flowed through his veins as the hot liquid reached his stomach. Great. They’re drugging me. But he had little willpower left to fight it.

  “I find that quite strange,” Sazi continued, “considering everything that has come from Chaos bears that taint. Even Dev’s soul bore faint traces of it from his brief visit.”

  “Maybe the binding spell had something to do with it?”

  “Perhaps,” the empress replied, “but there may be more to it than that. There was a reason the Jaquoix family was chosen to be the original Soulbearers. They could resist Loku’s corruption longer than those that followed.”

  “Yes, elvan blood and all that.” />
  “No, I don’t think that is the case.” Varrik cupped his chin in his hand and studied Callix. “But the fact that your soul resisted chaos’s influence is quite interesting.”

  “Yes, well, if you don’t mind, can we test your hypotheses at a later time?” he asked, the tea loosening his tongue far more than he’d normally allow. “After my adventures in Chaos, I’m overdue for a nice warm bed and a long sleep.”

  The empress arched a haughty brow, and the Mage Primus covered his mouth to conceal a chuckle.

  Marist silenced him with a sharp glare before asking, “The matter we wish to discuss with you involves this so-called bargain the Soulbearer made with Loku.”

  “I know nothing of it, so it must’ve either happened after I was expelled from Chaos or in her mind. What did she say it entailed?”

  “So you have no idea how she came by the mark on her wrist?” Empress Marist asked, ignoring his question.

  “Didn’t notice it.” His tongue grew thick and heavy, slurring his words. “Why don’t you ask her instead?”

  “He is speaking the truth, Your Majesty,” Sazi said.

  “Of course I am. After all, you’ve drugged me.”

  All four of them looked away. A sure sign of guilt, even if none of them came forth and confirmed it.

  “Then we will deal with this matter as best we can.” The empress rose and motioned for the others to follow her out of the room.

  Callix stood and stumbled after them, but Sazi stopped him. A wave of magic rippled through him, and the effects of the drug eased.

  “I am sorry I had to do that to you.” She gave him an apologetic smile.

  He straightened his clothes and nodded. “If the empress commands it, I suppose you have little choice in the matter.”

  She nodded. “But you have no idea what terms Arden may have agreed to?”

  “No, but if she made a bargain, then she must’ve put a few fail-safes in place.”

  “Meaning?”

  He rolled back on his heels. The drug might’ve been out of his system, but the interrogation continued. “Arden may be a good number of things, but one thing is certain. She has inherited her father’s sharp mind. When she negotiated for my freedom, she made sure I had the Blood of Lireal on me so it would make it back to this realm, and her terms with Loku were quite precise. She knows how to deal with him, and if she agreed to anything, she worded it very carefully.”