Heart of the Ocean (The Equilibrium Cycle Book 2)

by Jason A. Gilbert

  "Can I help you, Consul?" one of the Guardians said. Dio straightened his shoulders—a little too much, Laila thought.

  "Yes, Centuri," Dio began, glancing at the rank insignia on the Guardian's shoulders. "I have a message for the Magus watching our prisoner. We need to bring the prisoner with us for questioning by Consul Wardein."

  "I received no word. I was told to let no one pass without Consul Wardein's permission."

  "I am bringing you word, Guardian. And it is Consul Wardein that requested this," Dio said, doing his best to maintain a commanding tone to his voice.

  The Centuri studied Dio, sizing him up. The other Guardian watched the exchange silently, glancing between Dio and Laila. Laila kept her head down.

  "And this?" the Centuri asked, waving at Laila.

  "My assistant," Dio answered. Laila could hear the waver in his voice.

  Hold on, Dio, she thought, almost there.

  The Centuri eyed Laila. The cold was enough to warrant the cloak, but she knew she looked suspicious underneath the hood. But she had to keep it up. The chance that she would be recognized otherwise was too great.

  "Very well, but I'm going to check with the Consul," the Centuri said.

  "There's no—" Dio started, but a hidden jab from Laila stopped him. "As you wish, Centuri."

  Laila smiled to herself at the arrogance that Dio had let slip into his tone. She wondered if that was how he thought all Consuls spoke.

  The Centuri motioned for his companion to head back into the Consulate and then stepped aside, opening the heavy door that led to the ancient cells. They moved inside quickly, avoiding the piercing gaze of the Centuri. They made a few turns and moved out of earshot of the Centuri. Dio let out a heavy sigh of relief and leaned against the wall.

  "That was close," he said.

  "You did good," Laila said. "But we don't have time to stop. If my father is in his office, we have ten minutes before he gets here, maybe another ten if they have to search for him. We need to move quickly."

  Dio pushed himself off the wall and nodded. Laila now took the lead, pulling the hood of her cloak back off her head. They turned another corner and saw Icarus and the Aurai facing each other in much the same position she had seen them in earlier. She could feel the bonds of Earth that Icarus was maintaining. They were not enough to hold the Aurai still, but they could be quickly strengthened if the elemental tried anything. Icarus turned as they entered.

  "What is it?" he said, seeing the urgency on Laila's face.

  "We have to go, now," she said.

  "What do you mean?" Icarus continued.

  "My father won't release Wyndam. He thinks it's too dangerous, so we're going to take him with us."

  "You mean, break him out?"

  Laila nodded. Icarus’s eyes widened slightly, and then his head tilted to the side thoughtfully.

  “Why the sudden urgency, child?” the Magus finally asked.

  “Look at the city, Icarus. His people did this,” she flung a hand out, pointing at Wyndam, “And they will not stop. He’s said as much. And Nuriel! What about him? I need to stop him. I can’t do that from here.”

  Icarus’s face softened as Laila’s voice rose. “Good. I had hoped you would come to that conclusion without my guidance.”

  Laila nodded grudgingly. She did not have time to be frustrated with Icarus’s aloofness. She finally turned back to Wyndam. The elemental's face was passive, but he stood and stepped closer to the bars.

  "I need your word that you will lead us to the Sacred Waters. After that, you may return to your people. But if you do anything between now and the time we reach our destination, I will kill you myself."

  Laila was surprised at the anger in her own voice, but she let it play out, hoping it would give her words more emphasis.

  The elemental regarded her for a long moment. "You have my word," the creature said in its willowy voice.

  "Good," Laila said. "We need to break that lock," she continued, turning to Icarus.

  "There might be a way," Icarus said.

  He stood and walked to the cell door. He reached out and placed his hand on the flat lock. Laila felt the familiar surge of magic down her spine as Icarus tapped into his own power. She had realized, as her familiarity with her own power grew, that she was able to see what Icarus did more clearly. She watched as the power gathered around Icarus’s hand. Then the dust and dirt that were a perpetual part of Icarus’s clothes shifted and slid down his arm onto his hand and into the lock. Laila could see him manipulate the magic carefully, using the earth from his clothes to fill in the lock in the form of a key. Laila nodded her head, impressed with the feat.

  There was a metal click as the lock turned and the door was able to swing freely. Icarus stepped back, allowing Wyndam to approach the door. Laila stepped in front of him before he could leave completely. She placed a hand on his chest, stopping him.

  "Don't test me, Aurai. I have your word, and I will hold you to it." Laila let her anger seep into her voice, using the anger to tap her power, as she had done before gaining the staff. There was a rumble beneath her feet as the Earth responded to her. She had not let her emotions activate her power for months, and it was much easier using her staff, but she hoped this would be an effective message to the elemental.

  Wyndam glanced down at her hand on his chest. His pale skin made Laila's own light skin look almost dark in the dim light of the cells. His eyes lifted back up, staring into Laila's own. The elemental held her gaze for a moment, and Laila tried to read his emotions. Tried to determine the real purpose behind his deal. His clear eyes stared unblinkingly back into hers, and she could see nothing. The elemental was alien to her, unknown.

  "I will uphold my word as long as necessary, Magusari," the willowy voice finally said.

  Laila hesitated a moment, feeling her power run through him, along with her anger.

  "Laila," Dio said. "They're going to come back."

  Laila let her power go, nodding in response to both the Aurai and her friend.

  "Let's go," Laila said. "I don't know how much time we have left before my father gets here. We need to be gone before that."

  The four of them began to make their way through the cells back toward the Consulate. The damp prison seemed to close in around Laila as they walked. She felt her anxiety increase with each step toward the exit. The torchlight flickered, casting dancing shadows across the stone walls. Hopefully they would be able to get past the Centuri at the entrance before running into her father. She actually hoped that they did not run into her father at all. He would be livid that they’d used him as an excuse to release the Aurai.

  They came around a corner and approached the entrance to the cells. Laila could only see the Centuri standing at the door. She let herself feel a small amount of hope that their plan might work. Hearing their approach, the Centuri turned to watch them. Laila started to tug at her hood but stopped herself. Dio walked in front, approaching the Centuri, trying to display the arrogance he had earlier.

  As they drew closer, a sound echoed down the hallway past the entrance. Laila heard voices approaching. Dio cursed and Laila saw the other Guardian approaching, quickly, with her father and two other Guardians in tow.

  "What are you doing?" Alain snapped as the four of them approached, "I did not—Dio?"

  Dio stopped at the entrance; the rest of them stopped behind him.

  "Dio? What are you doing?" her father said, scanning the group. Seeing Laila, even with her hood pulled tight over her face, he realized what was happening. "Oh no. Laila, no," he said, almost pleading.

  Laila pulled her hood back, forsaking what little help it was. "I'm sorry, Father."

  "Go back, now. Take the Aurai back to its cell, and I can hide this. No one has to know."

  Even as he said it, Laila saw that even he did not believe that was true. It was a gut reaction to seeing his daughter in danger.

  "I can't, Father," Laila said softly.

  The Guardians, b
eginning to understand what was happening, placed their hands on their weapons. They began to move around the group, surrounding them, preventing their escape.

  "Laila, what have you done? I..." her father stuttered, emotion catching in his throat. "I can't protect you from this. Why?"

  Laila felt her own emotion rising to meet her father's, but she forced it down, trying to remain in control. "I'm sorry. We have to do this. There's...there's something that we have to do. I have to protect you, and Mother. And in order to do that, we have to leave with Wyndam."

  Her father looked at her, his eyes pleading. "Oh child. I..." he could not finish. The Centuri glanced back and forth between Laila and her father, waiting for some indication about what to do next. With a heavy sigh, her father motioned for the Guardians to move.

  "Weapons!" the Centuri snapped, and the other three Guardians freed their weapons with a ring of steel.

  Laila tried to call on her power. She had hoped they would not have had to fight their way out, but that did not look feasible now. But before she could grasp at her magic, she saw Icarus slam his foot down. The dust and dirt on his robes blasted off of them in a wave. The Guardians and Alain were thrown back against the walls violently.

  "Run!" the Magus shouted.

  Dio, Wyndam, and Icarus bolted through the entrance and into the Consulate, passing the stunned Guardians. Laila hesitated a moment as she passed her father.

  "I'm sorry," was all she could say.

  "Laila, run!" Dio shouted back at her, seeing her hesitate.

  One last glance showed Laila the pain in her father's eyes. Then she was off, running down the hallway, weaving her way back through the Consulate.

  Laila brushed quickly at the faint tears that appeared on her cheeks and pushed her legs harder, keeping up with the other three. They could not leave through the main entrance. Catching up to the group, she motioned them down a side hallway. They could hear shouting echoing from behind them as the Guardians recovered from their escape. The side entrance that Laila was looking for should be close. If they could get out of the Consulate before the Guardians were fully aware of their breakout, they might have a chance.

  Laila turned down one more corridor and saw the door she was looking for. She rushed toward it, throwing it open and continuing out into the twilight of Terus. She risked a glance back as her three companions followed her. She could hear a large group of Guardians rushing through the halls. She slammed the door, hoping that they would not see them immediately.

  Pushing herself harder, she ran into the streets. A quick turn led them down the alley where she had left her staff. She slowed just enough to pick it up and then returned to her original pace. Now she just had to hope they could make it to the docks ahead of the Guardians. The Guardians would not know for sure where they were headed, but the docks would be a likely place to search. The four of them continued to run. The few people in the streets stared as their odd group passed. But Laila just kept running, pushing for the docks.

  Laila noticed Wydnam loping along easily and could see his natural magic infusing his movements. Remembering the attack, Laila had an idea. She reached out with her own power, tapping into it easily now through her staff. She pulled at the lines of Air around Wyndam and tried to replicate the same effect around her own legs. She felt her speed pick up suddenly. She stumbled and almost ran into a wall as they came around a corner.

  Catching herself, they stopped for a moment, trying to recover. Laila could see Icarus gasping for breath. The older man would not be able to maintain that pace all the way to the docks.

  "Icarus?" Laila said.

  He waved her off. "I'm fine, child. Let's go."

  They moved off again, this time at a slower jog, having not seen any Guardians in pursuit yet. Laila reached out again, trying to recreate the Air effect around Icarus's legs. She could see his pace increase, and his eyes widened. He looked at her. She nodded as they ran. She kept the effect small, hoping to avoid the near crash she’d almost had.

  After a quarter hour, they finally came to the street that would lead them to the docks. Pushing herself harder, she wrapped Air around her legs and Dio's legs as well, increasing their pace slightly. They both stumbled at first, adjusting to the change. Wyndam glanced at the three humans as they increased their pace, but Laila could see no change on his sharp face.

  Within moments they pounded onto the wood of the docks. Laila let go of her power abruptly and she, Dio, and Icarus stumbled to a stop. Laila felt a wave of exhaustion wash over her. She leaned heavily against her staff. Dio stepped up next to her, placing his arm around her shoulders, trying to help her stand straighter.

  "I'm all right," she said, pushing him away gently.

  Dio stepped back, but he still watched her carefully.

  She saw Connor waiting for them near the jetty. She also saw another figure standing next to him that Laila thought she recognized. Noticing the running figures, and assuming correctly who they were, Connor ran over, followed by the other figure. Laila's heart dropped as she realized who was there.

  "Mother. We have to do this. Please don't try and stop me. I've already had to... Father." She stumbled over the words, still catching her breath from their run through the city.

  "It's all right, child. I'm not here to stop you. I'm here to join you," she said, stepping up to Laila.

  "You're what?" Laila said.

  "I'm coming with you. There's nothing here for me now."

  "But Father...?"

  She saw her mother take a deep breath and look back toward the center of the city. "I hope he'll understand." She glanced at the group of fugitives behind her. "And I don't think my actions will be the ones he remembers from tonight."

  Laila lowered her head. She knew she had to leave. And now there was no choice. She would no longer be welcome in Terus, even beyond the city's fear of the Magi. Whatever bonds to her Citizenship she had maintained over the last few months were now gone. Her father would never forgive her for this. But, she still did not want her mother to share her fate.

  "But, Mother, you can't. You don't know..."

  "Enough, Laila-sa. I'm coming. If for no other reason than I am still your mother, regardless of what else you might be. And I want to come with you."

  Laila opened her mouth to protest further, but she stopped, seeing the determination on her mother's face.

  "This is all well and good," Connor interjected, "but it doesn't look like you were able to get out quite as cleanly as you hoped. Shall we get going?"

  "Do we have a ship?" asked Dio.

  "Aye," Connor said, leading them down the docks.

  He led them to a smaller ship that Laila felt looked somewhat familiar, but in the dark she could not be sure. They climbed onto the deck quickly. The crew shuffled around them, pulling lines as they stepped onto the ship, ready to leave. Connor led them to the rear of the ship, where the captain stood shouting orders to his crew. The ship began to pull away from the docks as the captain turned toward them.

  "Ah," Icarus said. "Captain Drachus, good to see you again."

  "And you, Magus," said the charismatic captain. "Looks like you've got yourself into a little bit of trouble."

  "And that's not a problem?"

  "I've done worse," the captain returned, smiling. "Let's just say I'm not well-appreciated by the establishment in the Confederacy even before this."

  Laila tilted her head questioningly, but she let the statement drop for now. Her exhaustion had continued to mount as they made their way onto the ship. She felt herself lean more desperately on her staff.

  "You all look like you could use some rest. There's a room down below you can use. It's small, but it should be enough." He shouted to one of the crew, who quickly jumped to comply.

  Connor stepped up to Laila as the rest of the group was led away.

  "You look terrible," he said, a half-smile on his face.

  "Thanks," Laila said.

  "What happened?" Connor asked, the h
umor in his voice fading.

  Laila took a deep breath. "I'll tell you later. Let's just say that I won't be welcome back home for some time...if ever."

  Connor nodded. "I'm sorry."

  Laila shrugged. There was nothing they could do to change it now.

  "I'm glad you're all right," he said softly.

  She glanced up at him and tried to smile wearily. Then she moved off after the group. Connor moved back near the captain, apparently wanting to stay on deck until they were free of Terus. Laila followed the tall form of the Aurai into the bowels of the ship, a place to rest.

  Part Two: To the West

  Ten

  Lake Artus

  Laila stood at the side of Captain Drachus's ship. The morning sun rose in the east, creating a reflective path for them to follow as they made their way across Lake Artus. She could see the north coast of the lake off in the distance and the haze of the barren plains that lay beyond that. That was where Artus Socratis had united his people and then moved south, freeing the people and creating the Confederacy. At least, that was what they had been taught. Having seen the things Laila had seen, she wondered at the truth of what she had learned. It seemed to her that history could easily be manipulated, at least by those who had won. A part of her wondered at what history might say of her, if anything.

  A cool gust of wind forced her to pull her robes tighter, trying to keep out the cold. She shivered involuntarily and then took a bite of the dried fruit that the crew had given them as a breakfast. Connor stepped up next to her, not speaking, but looking out over the water as she did. They both stood for a time, watching the water lap at the hull of the ship. Shouts of orders and acknowledgement rang back and forth from the deck at the rear of the ship and the crew as they moved among the lines and sails.

  "How are you doing?" Connor finally asked.

  Laila did not turn to look at him. "I'm all right. I wish everyone would keep asking me that."

  "We're just worried about you," Connor said.

  "I'm all right, really."