by Dyan Chick
“Go and hide, Bethany. Get somewhere safe,” I whispered.
She pulled a key from a wall of hooks behind her and tossed it to me. “In case you need somewhere to go.”
I caught the key and closed my fingers around it. “Thank you.”
“Good luck, your highness,” she whispered.
Celeste and I headed up the stairs toward the room. Inside, we found the packages that we had purchased. Digging through them we found what we were looking for, two simple brown cloaks. We put them on and pulled up our hoods. Despite the fact that I knew we couldn’t hide from the king’s magic, the cloaks made me feel better. They might be enough to buy us a little bit of cover.
“You ready?” I asked.
“Let’s go.”
As soon as we opened the door to the room, I was hit was a wave of magic. My entire body tingled. The king is here, somehow I could feel him. Then the cold hit me, making me gasp.
“What’s wrong?” Celeste whispered.
“The Reapers. They’re close by.” My stomach tightened and I swallowed hard. I focused on the thoughts I needed to make the arctic fire. I needed to protect my friends. Celeste, Ashton, Saffron, Max. I couldn’t let anything happen to them. My body was vibrating with energy and the cold intensified. I knew it was my own ice building up inside me rather than a response to the Reapers.
The tingle of magic was more intense than I had ever felt. Long shadows filled the alleyway as we walked noiselessly toward the edge of town. Every so often I got a peek at the main streets and shops. They were empty. We were told that the town was made up of many who were loyal to the Ravens and they would get to safe places. I didn’t realize how effective the hiding would be.
Being alone in the silence of a town the size of Luxor was unsettling. Eerie quiet had replaced the usual sounds of the town. I expected to see Reapers at every corner. The alleyway dead ended as we neared the edge of town. We were forced onto the main roads. I pulled the cloak up around me tighter as we walked along the abandoned street.
The twilight ahead of us was glowing and it wasn’t from the last bits of daylight. Flames illuminated the sky in bursts. As we put the town behind us, the flames grew stronger. It wasn’t a natural fire, it was sorcerer fire. The scent of smoke filled my nostrils and my whole body tensed.
The sound of yelling traveled through the still evening air. From where we stood, it was impossible to tell who was making the sound. The attack is happening right now. All I could think of was my friends facing off against the king’s sorcerers. Or worse, his Reapers. I didn’t wait for Celeste, I ran, focused on getting to my friends as quickly as possible.
The sky was darkening quickly, but the illumination from the sorcerer fire flying back and forth cast shadows over the figures engaged in battle. Pausing to catch my breath, I squinted into the smoky air, trying to find somebody I recognized. People were running from place to place and it was difficult to concentrate with the noise of the battle.
Celeste caught up to me, just as breathless as me. She leaned over and put her hands on her knees, taking deep breaths. “What’s happening?”
I was still trying to make out where my friends were in the chaos in front of me. Golden curls caught my eye, and I stood on my tip-toes, straining to make out the figures in-between the flashes of firelight. Saffron. She was engaged in a sword fight with a tall man wearing the armor of the King’s Guard.
I shouted to Celeste over the din of the battle, “There’s Saffron.”
Following Saffron, I was able to locate a crude line being held by the Ravens and the few sorcerers who had come with them. Saffron and the Ravens were out front, Max and the other sorcerers were behind them. The Ravens attacked the King’s Guard while the sorcerers threw whatever element they favored at the opposing sorcerers. For now, the sorcerers seemed to be focused on one another rather than the other people who were present in the battle.
Scanning the line, I searched for Ashton. A lump rose in my throat. He’s not there. Where is he? My heart pounded in my chest. He has to be here.
“There’s Ashton,” Celeste yelled, pointing to a tall man with honey-blonde hair.
I let out a sigh of relief, then instantly tensed up again. The tingle from the Reapers was still lingering. We weren’t close enough to the battle to see all of the details. I needed to get closer yet, but I didn’t want to draw the Reapers out to my friends.
A cheer rose up from our line and I narrowed my eyes on the scene in front of me. It looked like one of the king’s sorcerers went down along with several of his guards. From our vantage point, it looked like we were winning. It seemed too easy.
“I’m going to help,” Celeste called to me.
I nodded. “I’m looking for the Reapers. Promise me, if you see them, you run.”
“I will.” She ran toward the front line and positioned herself near Madame Lyndsey.
I searched the sky, the space around me, and behind me. I knew they had to be here, waiting.
The chill of the Reapers crashed through me like a wave, pulling me toward the battle. My breath caught in my chest, as if I had been drenched with cold water. They were close, I could feel them. Gray smoke from across the field started spread over the ground toward my friends. Time to go. No more waiting, I had to get there. I pushed my way to the front line. My breathing was coming fast and shallow.
As I reached the line, the sky darkened. All the fire was gone. In the faint light of the moon, the remaining King’s Guard ran from us, toward the king’s sorcerers. Leaving the the Ravens standing there in the dark. The attacks ceased. I found Max staring at his hands in bewilderment.
“What’s happening?” I asked. I took a few deep breaths, steadying myself. Something isn’t right. My eyes darted around in the darkness, trying to make sense of what was happening. Somebody stepped on a twig near me, the noise sounding too loud. I spun around, heart trying to break out of my chest. It was just Madame Lyndsey. I tried to calm myself down. All of my senses were overloaded as I prepared for something to jump out of the darkness.
Max looked at his hands then looked at me. “You’re not supposed to be here.”
“Well, I am so tell me what’s going on,” I yelled.
“Something’s wrong,” he started, “my magic’s gone.” He lifted his hands like he was trying to call his fire. Nothing happened.
A chill deeper than I had ever experienced before came over me. Four hooded figures glided across the field. The Reapers.
I looked at the helpless sorcerers around me and anger burned inside me. I knew it was probably pointless, but I reached inside myself to feel for that fire. My insides burned with heat and the ice flooded my veins. My magic is still here. I stepped in front of Max, ignoring him calling out to me. The blue flames started to crackle in my hands as I walked toward the hooded figures.
I could smell the death they carried with them and concentrated on breathing through my mouth. You are not going to hurt my friends. I took a few more steps toward them, then slowly raised my hands. The flames shot from my palms, freezing the Reapers in their path. I started to feel light headed, but pushed through it, reaching to my toes to find any power that had not been used. The light was so bright it illuminated the entire field as if it was daylight.
Consciousness was slipping from me and knew I reached my limit. Releasing the flame, I collapsed to my knees, fighting to remain alert. My eyes took a moment to adjust to the darkness now that the flames were gone. I didn’t see the Reapers anywhere in sight. I pushed the sweat tinged hair from my face and sucked in breaths in rapid succession.
The sound of a single person clapping echoed through the wide open space. A dark hooded figure slowly walked toward me. I tried to push myself to standing but collapsed back onto my knees. I wasn’t strong enough yet. It was taking everything I had to stay conscious.
I glanced behind me but all I could see was darkness, my friends were gone. My heart was pounding in my ears. This is it. This is how I die. I lift
ed my chin, at least I’d die with some dignity.
The hooded figure was only steps away from me now. When the hood was pushed back I could make out the dark features of a bearded man in the dim light. He knelt down next to me. The king.
“I must say, Etta, you have been exceedingly difficult to kill. Now that I’ve seen your power, I understand why that is. You are everything I hoped you would be.”
His words didn’t make sense, but in my state I didn’t know if I could even trust my own ears. All I knew was that he’d been trying to kill me for weeks. He was probably here to finish the job. I kept my jaw set in defiant silence. I wasn’t about to beg for my life. Though, I wasn’t above begging for the lives of my friends.
I swallowed. “Be done with it then, just let my friends live.”
His mouth turned upward and a row of perfectly white teeth showed in his smile. I shuddered. There was something so unnatural about his smile.
“You know I can’t touch you, Etta,” he said.
“You had no problems sending in your guards and your Reapers to finish me.” I didn’t recognize my voice. It was defiant, I sounded brave. My fingernails dug into my palms and I forced my mouth into a tight line. I might have sounded brave, but inside, I was screaming.
“Not today, Etta. You’ve earned at least that much. But I will expect you at my castle for dinner tomorrow. I assume you got my invitation?” He turned his hand in the air and produced a scroll just like the one I found on the raven’s leg. I pulled away from it as if it were poisonous.
“Why would I come to dinner at your castle? So you can kill me there?” I said.
“I can guarantee your safety at dinner. However, I cannot guarantee the safety of your friends if you do not show.” The smile turned to an exaggerated frown.
I looked away from him. He knows exactly how to hurt me. I was willing to die for my friends. Not wanting to show weakness, I locked my eyes on his. “I’ll be there.”
He stood. “Good. You may bring a guest, but not that meddlesome brother of yours.” He dissolved in a cloud of gray smoke.
“Etta!”
“Wilona!”
I turned around to see a large group of people running toward me, crying out frantically. In front on me, the king and his sorcerers were gone. Only the Ravens remained in the field. I tried to push myself up to standing again and instantly felt dizzy. Staying seated was probably my only option right now. They could come to me.
Ashton was the first to reach me. He dropped down next to me and lightly touched my arm. It was as if he was afraid he’d break me. “Are you hurt? What were you thinking?” His voice was high pitched with panic.
I took hold of one of his hands in mine, giving it a squeeze. It was all I had the energy to do. “I’m fine. Just tired.” I sighed. “I’ll need help getting back.”
“What happened?” he asked me quietly as people circled around us.
“I’ll tell you later.” I locked my eyes on his. He didn’t press the issue.
Max knelt down next to me and Ashton moved away from me. I wanted to tell him to stay. I didn’t want him out of my sight. But Max was in charge. He set his hand on my shoulder. “How did you do that?”
“I’m not sure,” I said.
“You made them all go away,” he said.
He hadn’t seen the king.
30
My head was throbbing and each step I took felt like I was carrying a hundred pound sack on my back. I winced every time I moved. I was grateful to Saffron, who had convinced Max to let me rest before he began interrogating me.
I turned over on the blanket, trying to find a comfortable position. It wasn’t happening. Despite my exhaustion, my mind wouldn’t let go of my conversation with the king. He was expecting me tomorrow. I turned again, unable to make the king’s face leave my mind. How was I going to explain this to Max? He would never agree to let me go. But if I don’t go, the king will keep killing the people I care about. I pressed my palms into my temples hoping for some relief from the pain. Using the arctic fire made my entire body hurt. I wondered if Celeste was still awake. I could use that orb right about now. I sighed. If she’s asleep, I don’t want to wake her.
None of this had gone the way we hoped. I laid back down on the blanket. There wasn’t anything I could do about it tonight. Tomorrow I’ll tell Max the truth. And then I’ll go to the castle. There is no way around it. I won’t let him stop me.
Somehow, my body finally beat out my mind and I sunk into sleep. It was a restless sleep. In my dreams, the king appeared and turned into a dragon that swallowed up all of my friends one at a time before finally turning his massive jaws on me. I woke up drenched in sweat.
The sun had already broken through the horizon and the sky was a warm orange color. I half expected it to be a gray, colorless day. It didn’t seem right to have such a cheerful sky when my insides were churning with fear and anxiety.
The Ravens were already awake and in the process of serving breakfast. Over the last couple of days several large wooden tables had been constructed. The camp now looked very similar to the old Raven camp. When I made my way toward the tables, a hush fell across the space. My heart picked up, everybody was staring at me.
I swallowed hard and pushed my hair out of my face, self conscious. The hush remained for what felt like several long minutes. A man I didn’t know walked up to me.
“Thank you, your highness,” he said.
“Please, that’s not necessary.” I waved him away. “I didn’t do anything special. I just did what was right. Anybody else would do the same.”
“No,” he said, “most people do what is easy.”
I bit my lip. Being unused to recognition, I wasn’t sure how to react to this. So I smiled at him and nodded once. He seemed satisfied with my reaction and returned to the people who had gathered around to watch.
Out of the corner of my eye I saw a group of people walking toward me. Turning, I saw Max and several sorcerers trailing behind him. My heart leapt at the prospect of seeing Ashton, but he was missing from the group. Saffron and Celeste were not among the entourage either. That’s strange. Since I met her, Saffron had almost always been with me or Max. I’m sure I’ll see them soon.
Max paused his progress but didn’t really stop walking. “Did you eat yet?”
I shook my head.
“Have some breakfast then join us in the barn.” He walked away without waiting for a response.
The circle of chairs had returned to the barn and were occupied by the sorcerers that had stayed to help the Ravens. There was only one empty chair, directly across from Max. The conversation broke as I took the empty chair in the circle.
Max lifted his chin in greeting, then addressed the sorcerers sitting around us. “We’ll continue that conversation later. For now, let’s hear Etta’s report from the incident last night.”
I glanced around the room and clenched the sides of my chair with my fingers. Where were Saffron, Ashton, and Celeste? They were usually at these meetings. “Where is everybody?”
Max looked around the room. “This is the senior council for sorcery. Everybody’s here who needs to be here.”
I noticed Master Flanders smiling at me and I loosened the grip on my chair a bit. “Where should I start?”
Max rested his chin on his fist. “Start at the point where you disobeyed me and came to the fight.”
I pressed my lips together. “You mean the part where you lied to me?”
He narrowed his eyes. “Plans changed. You disobeyed. Continue.”
I wanted to yell at him. He was the one who changed the plans, not me. After everything we’d been through, how could he still treat me like I couldn’t take care of myself? Fighting with him now isn’t going to fix anything. I pulled my shoulders back, sitting straight up in the chair. “After I realized that I was missing the battle, I asked Celeste to teleport us to the inn. She was able to get us there and then we joined you.”
Max nodded. “Go o
n.”
I looked around the circle. The faces of the sorcerers around me were impassive. Master Flanders offered me a small smile and nod. I swallowed then continued. “Celeste went to join the line and I looked for the Reapers. I could feel them, so I knew they were close.”
“You could feel them?” Madame Lyndsey asked.
“Yes,” I shrugged, “can’t you?”
She lifted her eyebrows. “No, Etta.”
I looked up and my eyes met Max. He eyed me suspiciously. My palms started to feel sweaty.
“When I finally saw them, none of you could use your magic. I could still feel mine so I went out to meet them. To try to protect everybody.”
Max leaned forward in his chair. “What happened after the Reapers? We couldn’t see you for a few minutes.”
I glanced at Master Flanders. He nodded at me. I took a deep breath. “That’s when the king came to me.”
Gasps filled the room around me and I winced. They really hadn’t seen it.
“That’s not possible,” Max said. “The wards should keep him from you.”
“They only prevent the king from touching her. Not from speaking to her,” Master Flanders said.
I hesitated a moment before saying the next part. The part I knew would cause the most controversy. “He told me he’d kill everybody if I didn’t agree to meet him for dinner at his castle tonight.”
Max slammed his fist on the arm of the chair and shot up to standing. “Absolutely not.”
I stood up across from him, fists clenched. “You know I have to do this.”
“It’s a trap,” Madame Lyndsey said. “You have to know that. He might not be able to touch you, but he could have the Reapers waiting for you.”
I shook my head. “I don’t think it is. You weren’t there. He was right next to me and I couldn’t move. I was too worn out from using magic. If he wanted me dead, I’d be dead right now.”
Max started pacing inside the circle of chairs.
“Max, I have to do this.” I was surprised how strong my voice sounded. “Besides, he said I could bring a guest - it just can’t be you.”
