by Lora Palmer
"No," I said anyway. "I have to stop the disasters before it’s too late. There’s not much time left." Terrified but determined, I met and held his gaze, gathering my energy to defend myself and the crystals.
The king’s eyes searched mine as though trying to read my soul and determine whether I told the truth. "Yes, the disasters must be stopped. I have been researching this for some time now, and I shall be the one to stop them and put things right. Make no mistake, these crystals are mine."
"Have you researched the prophecy? Because there is only one person who can wield those crystals."
"Some story about a lost MirrorMaster? It’s nothing more than a fairy story for children, girl. Nobody is returning to save the world. We have to rely on ourselves, and track down the locations of the crystals and where they are to be positioned." His tone and expression held an air of resignation, as though he had finally been forced to give up on that story.
"I’ve seen the prophecy, and everything that is happening here so far seems to fit. Now, there’s little time before the signs it speaks of begin to occur."
"What signs? Nothing I’ve heard about this story has ever said anything of signs." The king furrowed his brow, torn between curiosity and suspicion.
I told him of the blue flame in the sky, the world’s crust slipping on its axis, and the sun bursting apart. He still appeared skeptical, but to my relief, he did not ask to see the prophecy. As the king considered what I had said, the heavy wooden doors at the entryway of the castle opened behind us.
"I thought I’d find you in here, Leah. How do you like my palace?" Aedalina's deceptively sweet voice echoed in the hall as she led the others into the castle. "And you," she continued, glaring at the king. All pretense of pleasantries were dropped now. "What are you doing here — playing king, boy?"
"It feels like this castle is a living presence," I said, shrugging at her misguided attempt at repartee. Then, my voice took on a sharp edge. "Or is that from all the souls you’ve trapped here?" I crossed my arms and stared hard at Aedalina.
"No, it’s always been a living presence, with or without them." Aedalina waved a hand dismissively as she approached.
"You put the souls there yourself," the king addressed me, his manner accusatory.
"What?" Aedalina asked, and I felt a thrill of triumph at the worry I saw in her eyes at this news.
"Yeah — well, it was the only way to save the souls trapped in the Soul Crystal. The crystal drains them," I replied, "so staying here in this corridor of souls was their only chance while they try to free themselves. Already they’ve managed it. You can’t use them now."
"As you said, there’s only one soul I need. Yours."
"No!" Brian yelled, but Caleb placed a steadying hand on his shoulder. Staring at me in worry and regret, Brian fell silent. I could sense that it was taking all the self-control he had to keep his emotions in check.
"You will not have her," the king declared, grabbing me from behind and holding his sword to my neck. "She has several of the crystals I need, and I will not allow you to entrap her soul or take them. Either she helps me, or she dies now and you condemn this world and everyone on it — including yourselves — to destruction. Think carefully before you make your next move."
Caleb quickly intervened. "High Lord Caleb Drake, your majesty, royal advisor to Prime Minister Roland and First Lady Rhianna’s court. I have brought the criminals Aedalina Florian and Erik Drake to justice, as they posed a danger to the world on which they’d been placed for their previous sentence."
Aedalina and Erik protested, but a glare from Caleb quelled them. Weird, I thought. Exchanging glances with Brian, I saw that he appeared just as confused as I was. Not that I paid much attention to this, being far more concerned with my current predicament. I couldn’t be sure that the pendant would protect me from the sword should the king decide to use it.
The king didn’t let me go, but he seemed to relax slightly. "Welcome, High Lord Drake. Allow me to take care of the problem for you. I have long wished for them to see justice from my court." He called his officers to assemble. Within seconds, the king’s army reported to the corridor of souls, some surrounding them and cutting off their exit. "Take these two prisoners into custody. Ensure their cells have the proper wards to prevent escape."
Aedalina and Erik sent furious glares their way as a large group of soldiers approached. Erik acted first, blasting them against the wall with a wave of his hand. Some crumpled to the floor, but most managed to regain their footing. Aedalina formed a bright yellow energy sphere and tossed it at the soldiers, fingers splayed to control the magic. Tendrils like vines shot out from the sphere and wrapped around the soldiers’ legs. Almost simultaneously, white lightning bursts erupted from the soldiers’ fingers, dissolving the yellow glow until it no longer bound them.
Relief flooded through me as the king released me to participate in the battle. Brian motioned for me to come over, but I shook my head and backed away from him. He ran a hand through his hair, hurt and frustration flitting across his face. I could swear I heard his voice in my head, saying, "Remember." My facial muscles twisted in anguish, and I gave a slight nod. Still edging away from the king, I quickly had to form a white shield as a sallow green energy sphere came my way. Rather than toss it back at the sender, I allowed the sphere to dissipate, worried about hitting the wrong person in this crowd.
The king apparently had no such compunction. When a bright, swirling ball of purple light came hurtling toward him, he lifted his sword in defense. Then, to my amazement, the purple energy sphere stopped, suspended in the air in front of him as the diamond-hard crystal of his sword glowed a soft blue. With a sharp parry, the king flung the sphere at his attacker, somehow unerring in its trajectory. Aedalina let out a small cry and collapsed as it struck her. Two of the newest soldiers to arrive slapped some sort of cuff-like object on her wrists and led her away.
Erik didn’t give up so easily. When the king turned to speak with a man who appeared to be the chief advisor, Erik took advantage of the opportunity. He threw a smoky black ball filled with flashes of lightning energy.
"Look out!" I cried, seeing the ball head for the king with eerily precise accuracy. He squinted but did not seem to see the strange energy ball. I stepped in front of the king and created a flashing white ball of my own. The two spheres collided in mid-air, creating a shower of grey and multicolored sparks which fell harmlessly around us.
Erik stared at me with a mix of rage and astonishment, as though it were inconceivable that anyone could block his deadly sphere. My Protection Crystal glowed softly before fading, and then I knew it must have helped me see the object. With Erik distracted, two soldiers behind him cuffed him and he, too, was led away.
"Your Majesty, I advise that as many of your army as you have available go with them to prevent escape. My brother and his consort are...notoriously slippery," Caleb suggested.
With a brisk snap of his fingers, the king ordered the remaining officers to accompany the rest. As they hurried to comply, the king returned his attention to Caleb, Brian, and me. "Since four of the crystals have now been gathered, I believe it is time to take the first to the only known location, a place I have recently discovered. Come."
"Four? You have one of them?" I asked as he led the way outside. Maybe this task wouldn’t prove as impossible as it seemed.
"I do," the king replied, pulling out a red crystal held on a fine gold chain from beneath his tunic. "This is the Power Crystal, and its home rests out in the desert in a crystal cave. I have two hover scooters we may use to travel there."
"How convenient," Caleb remarked, smirking. "So, you know none of the other locations?"
"I’m afraid not." The king shook his head and sighed. "Though I have just begun to research this ancient device spoken of in the old legends as a serious possibility. At this point there’s nothing left to lose, but if it exists, it may be the only hope Jantyr has. Perhaps your young companion here knows. She
seems to know quite a bit about the legend and the prophecy."
"Not nearly enough. The answers should all be in the legends of old, which the prophecy says are housed in the largest library in the world — wherever that is," I said, keeping my distance from the king.
Brian stepped between us — a misguided effort to protect me. "We’ll find it, but it may have changed since the prophecy was first given," he said, attempting to draw me into conversation.
"Mmm-hmm," I reluctantly agreed, edging away from him. His actions toward me earlier still stung. At first, all I wanted to do was avoid him, but the impulse to confront him overwhelmed me. I stopped and faced him. "Brian, what was that earlier? Aedalina was going to use that Soul Crystal on me, and you grabbed my arms so I couldn’t move! This whole week, you were what, playing me?"
"No! Leah, I would never do that to you. But I’ve heard what awaits anyone taking the journey you are, and I was trying to spare you that. I figured the only way to save you was for it to happen to her and then get you out of the crystal."
"What?" I began, stunned and shaken by this. "What happens?"
"Brian, enough!" Caleb thundered, grabbing Brian by the arm and escorting him away. "For the sake of Jantyr, this must be done. Forget those legends. They may be mistranslated, or the people of that time may have misunderstood how the device works. People back then were superstitious. Or, the story may have drastically changed from the original after being told for so many generations before finally being written down. So quit worrying."
"Maybe, but what does it say?" I asked, my tone firm. This was too important for them to keep secret. "Brian...," I pleaded, catching his arm. "Tell me."
"Leah, what do you think? Can’t you imagine what activating all those crystals will do to you?"
My heart skipped a beat as I pondered his question. This was something I hadn’t yet considered — I’d barely had time to even begin to come to grips with all that was happening — but I realized that Brian was right. The Soul Crystal alone was enough to destroy me. Add that to all the power of the other crystals, and I knew.
I would not survive this.
"It’s going to kill me, isn’t it?" I asked, my voice a strangled whisper.
Brian nodded, his expression grieved. "Or worse."
"I said enough!" Caleb cut in sharply. "Brian, you should not be worrying Leandra like this. Her task is daunting enough without your wild speculations."
"No, Brian’s right," I said, "and it’s something I needed to know, or at least start thinking about. I won’t be able to do this otherwise."
"First Daughter Leandra?" The king stopped and turned back to stare at me, openmouthed. "My intended?" His expression became one of finally receiving the precise thing he’d longed for his whole life.
I blinked. My brain seemed to go into overload, refusing to process anything more. Heavens, I could not deal with this — I could not deal with one more thing right now. "What?" I squeaked. At Caleb’s stern look, I quickly corrected myself. "Pardon, I mean?" To my relief, my voice sounded lower and more composed this time.
"You have got to be kidding me!" Brian exclaimed at the same time. His expression darkened, and he glanced over at me. Instead of seeking support and assurance from him as I once would have, I glanced between Caleb and the king, searching for answers from them.
"Yes, your majesty," Caleb replied.
"You’re saying we’re supposed to have an arranged marriage?" I wanted to be sure I was clear on that point.
"Yes, my love, since before your birth. Our parents arranged it as a sign of unity, to celebrate a new alliance between our lands. I never gave up hope you would one day return." The king reached out to take my hand, his eyes sparkling with desire.
Unnerved by him, I stepped back out of reach and held up my hand to stop him. "Two seconds ago you had a sword at my throat and were about to kill me! I’m sorry, I am, but after leaving my family and friends, the planet I grew up on, and everything else, this is just too much to deal with right now. I don’t even know your name."
I hated to see the disappointment my words brought to the king. As his head bowed and shoulders slumped, I bit my lip, feeling horrible for being so harsh. Again, I mumbled an apology, this time more gently and with genuine regret.
Seeing Brian’s triumphant grin, I turned on him, too. "And you — I don’t even know what to believe anymore."
Now Brian’s face fell. Seeing him and the king both crestfallen at my words, I sighed heavily and ran a hand through my hair.
"First Daughter...," the king began.
"Leah...," Brian said.
"Please, let’s just get to the cave. I don’t want to hurt either of you. There’s a lot to sort out here, and I can’t do that yet. Maybe not ever. Top priority is saving Jantyr, okay?"
The king gave me a quizzical expression at my unusual turn of phrase, but he nodded in understanding. "Of course, my...I mean, First Daughter. Please, forgive me for frightening you. I would never have harmed you, but I needed them to think I would have. Just know that I am here for you and will be as patient as you need me to be. By the way, my name is Korin Aster." He offered me an irresistible smile, and I found myself smiling back.
"Thank you for being so understanding, Korin," I replied, responding to his playfulness.
Brian slowed to walk on my right, as King Korin walked on my left side. Not to be outdone, he offered me the smile he knew melted my heart. "We’ll figure out a way around this without you getting hurt. I promise. I won’t let anything happen to you. You know me, Leah. In your heart, you know what to believe about me."
I gazed into his eyes, searching his soul. Finally, I nodded. All along I’d known the truth inside. His feelings for me were real. "Yeah, but I also know there’s a lot more going on here. Whatever plan my sister or your uncle have with your dad, one thing I’m sure of is you’re caught in the middle of it."
"It’s more complicated than you think," he agreed.
"And none of it matters at the moment. Right now our focus needs to be on finding the remaining crystals. After this first one, we shall journey to Astoria Province. The castle Crystonea is your home, Leah, and the surrounding city contains the world’s largest library," Caleb said, again leading Brian away from me.
A short walk later, the group reached a cluster of small buildings, again of clear crystal and metal. Several of the buildings appeared to be greenhouses — I could see an endless variety of plants growing inside. King Korin led us to a building that served as a garage, as it held several hover scooters.
"Awesome," Brian commented, heading straight for one of them.
With two gold-colored seats, one behind the other, and ample width for foot space below, each vehicle resembled a jet ski. The body of the hover scooter was the color of pale gold sand, adorned in a diamond pattern of red and black. King Korin led me to one, while Caleb followed Brian to another.
"I thought technology was forbidden here," I asked, settling myself in the front seat as King Korin sat down behind me.
"An ancient and long outdated law," he said with a scoff. "I abolished it as my first act as king. These days, we import what technology we can from places like Astoria and Brisa."
Caleb scowled, appearing none too pleased with this development.
"How progressive of you," I replied. "You did a great thing for your people."
Brian frowned, watching us. The king waved his hand over the hover scooter’s front panel, and a blue light fired up beneath the scooter. Engines roaring to life, the vehicle lifted to about two feet off the ground. Caleb followed suit, and the two vehicles flew out of the building.
Up ahead, several figures came running toward us from the castle. The king flew toward them, stopping as they drew close.
"My king, the prisoners have escaped. The woman knew the castle, and took us by surprise in the atrium. There’s a security wall there we’d never been able to access, yet it responded to the woman like it was keyed specifically to her magic
, and we couldn’t follow them through," reported a tall, slender young woman. Her dark hair fell halfway down her back in loosely-tousled curls, and she had silver-violet eyes lighter in color than the king’s own. Based on her uniform, she must be one of the security officers, I mused. She was beautiful, and I felt pale and plain in comparison.
The king gave a curt nod in acknowledgement. "Thank you, Jaedyn. They may yet be in the castle, but if not, they cannot have gotten far on foot. Let the castle search continue, and post scouts to search the surrounding area. Post guards here and at each point of exit as well to ensure they do not get ahold of the scooter and do not leave the grounds. You are in charge while I am away on matters concerning the safety of all of Jantyr. I am not certain when we will return."
With these plans in place, the small group set out east into the desert. About an hour later, we arrived at the cave and dismounted, parking the hover scooters inside. The king reached into a rectangular trunk at the back of the vehicle and withdrew a crystal lamp. Inside, the lamp held the soft blue-white glow of a bioluminescent flower. It provided enough light for us to see in the dim cave. Somewhere in the distance, I could hear water flowing.
"How did you find this place?" I asked, glancing around. This cave was so remote and well-hidden, I wondered how anyone could have found it at all short of sheer luck.
"I managed to obtain a copy of the legend of the Power Crystal, along with a map from a friend at the library. A local merchant from whom I acquired this crystal at market told me she’d found it in a desert cave. This cave," the king recounted. "Luckily, she didn’t seem to know what this crystal was."
"So the other crystals might still be stored near where they’re supposed to be used?" A thrill of hope lifted my spirits at this possibility. Maybe all we needed to do was find those locations, and the remaining crystals would be there.
"It’s possible, First Daughter Leandra, but nothing is guaranteed."
I nodded, still not used to hearing my full name. "True. So what did the legend say?"
