He hated the thought of being attacked with no way to strike back. And even though the archers presented a very real threat, Rafe knew that Queen Ariel was some type of sorceress. She could use the same spells to deflect his arrows that Tiberius had used to save the sky ship from Hamill Keep when it was under attack.
Magic was at work in the world, and it had little regard for the lives of men. In many ways it was like a sickness, working its way through the entire realm, and Rafe fully believed that only Tiberius could stamp it out. He didn’t fear magic the way he had been taught, the way he had before Tiberius’ healing magic had saved his life. But he didn’t like having to plan for something he knew he couldn’t predict. The queen—and whatever evil magic she was dabbling in—could have powers beyond his imagination. Rafe only hoped that he could get his feet back on solid ground before he had to face that threat.
Leonosis made his father wait. The more powerful individual always had the right to arrive later than his subject, but the wait was overly long. Rafe would have been angered, but every moment the king delayed played into their plan. The earl’s war band might not be strong enough to defeat the king’s army outright, but Olyva would get as many people from the city as she could. Even if Avondale was completely destroyed, there would be a remnant of survivors left to rebuild it.
Finally the king arrived. He was dressed in the finest clothes and surrounded by a dozen men, as well as his wife, but nothing could hide the fact that Leonosis looked horrible. His hair was falling out, leaving bald patches around his golden crown, his body so thin that he looked like a starving man. His belly was distended, while his chest, shoulders, and arms were little more than skin and bones. The billowing silk garments couldn’t hide the weakness of the king’s body, yet he stood straight and strode toward the stern railing with confidence.
Rafe heard the earl’s sharp intake of breath at the sight of his son, but he didn’t speak. His face was frozen in a frown meant to reflect his concern for Avondale. Rafe did his best not to let his own horror show, but it was difficult. The queen looked less than healthy herself. When she’d come to Avondale only a few months before, she had been beautiful and vivacious; now she looked tired. There were dark circles under her eyes, and her skin seemed pale. She stood just behind and to one side of Leonosis, who, despite his own appearance, seemed fearless.
“Father, how good of you to welcome me,” Leonosis said. His voice was loud and carried across from one sky ship to the other seemingly without effort.
“I would welcome you,” Earl Ageus said, “but not a fleet of war ships.”
“Ah, it is my power that you fear.”
“I don’t fear you, son. You may be king now, but I will always be your father.”
Leonosis laughed. Rafe had heard Tiberius’ eldest brother laugh many times. He had been cruel when they were children, and often irreverent, but now his laughter seemed more maniacal than before. He felt the earl stiffen slightly beside him, even though there was no motion to his body, just a tensing of the muscles that were already on edge.
“Let us dispense with the jockeying for position,” Leonosis said, once his laughter had subsided. “I care very little how you see me, father. Your eyesight is old and dim. I’m here for Tiberius.”
“Your brother?” the earl said in mock surprise. “He is not here—you banished him.”
“Do not play games with me, Father.” Leonosis said the last word with such derision that Rafe shuddered involuntarily. “He is in Avondale, and you are protecting him.”
“I don’t know what you are talking about and I protest you coming here with your army in tow. Perhaps I spoiled your plans by not dying, as you and your brother Brutas wished. Is that what this is about? You promised Brutas my place, but my recovery has foiled your plans.”
“I do not care about Brutas,” Leonosis said coldly.
“No, you care only for yourself, but your plan to replace me was against our laws, and even kings are bound by the laws of Valana. You cannot remove me as earl without a council of earls. That fact remains, no matter what other treachery you have in mind.”
“Old man,” Leonosis said, “your dithering bores me. I care nothing for who sits on the throne of Avondale. I only want Tiberius and all his possessions.”
“He is my son,” Earl Ageus bellowed. “I will not give him to you.”
“I am king,” Leonosis said menacingly.
“What crime has he committed?” Ageus shouted. “Why is your brother of such importance to you now? You cared nothing for him when you were younger.”
“Nor did you, Father,” Leonosis said. “But we are children no longer. I am a man and your sovereign king. You will give him to me, or I will take him by force.”
“Tiberius has been given sanctuary in Avondale,” the earl said.
“I can see that you are harboring all sorts of unwanted riffraff these days. Is that not Rafe Grentzson by your side? He was banished from Avondale, along with the whore from Hamill Keep. What is more—he is wanted for the murder of Earl Marcus, as well. Yet I will grant him and his lover amnesty in exchange for Tiberius.”
“You are a cruel man,” Earl Ageus said. “Rafe served me when your brother tried to have me killed. His father gave his life for me.”
“You are stalling,” Leonosis said.
“Fine, I will give you what you ask, but let me bring him to you. I do not want the greatest city in Valana surrounded by your ghastly ships of war.”
“See that you bring him quickly,” Leonosis threatened. “And all that he possesses. Or else my ships of war will descend on your city like carrion birds feasting on the dead.”
The threat was clear, and Rafe’s fury boiled within him, but he didn’t move. He couldn’t reach Leonosis at any rate and he knew that the entire war band would be looking to him soon. He needed to set an example of discipline in the face of almost certain death, not foolish anger over insults and posturing.
“It is late,” the earl said. “I will bring him to you tomorrow.”
For the first time, a look of uncertainty crossed Leonosis’ face. Rafe wanted to cheer, not because they had scored a perceived victory, but because their adversary had shown weakness. It was nothing more than a seam in Leonosis’ armor, but Rafe knew that if there was one weakness, there would be others. Whatever was happening with Leonosis, Rafe was confident that Tiberius could defeat him.
“If you are not sailing by first light,” Leonosis threatened, “I will take your city from you. If you resist, I shall destroy everything you love.”
He raised his hand in a dismissive gesture and turned away. It was a common sight, one person ending a conversation as if they were too busy or important to be bothered any longer. Rafe started to relax, but then he saw the ropes that bound the two ships together burst into flames. The fire started in the center of the ropes, between both ships, and his eyes grew wide as the thick ropes were parted in seconds. Rafe doubted that a strong man with an axe could have cut them any faster.
Queen Ariel had waited until after Leonosis stalked away, watching their reaction. Rafe heard her cackling gleefully at the look of surprise and fear on the faces of the men at the stern of the ship.
“Let’s go!” the earl barked, but his face seemed pale to Rafe.
They followed the earl back around his stateroom and up the massive staircase that led to the command deck. The earl waved at the captain, who began barking orders to the sailors, who jogged out onto the thick masts and shimmied across the rigging like human spiders, releasing the sails and moving the ship slowly back toward Avondale.
“Well,” Earl Ageus said quietly to Rafe, “we have one night to prepare. Let us hope it is enough.”
“And that Tiberius is almost home,” Rafe added.
Chapter 24
Tiberius
They walked for what seemed like hours, but Tiberius knew that his longing to explore the Emerystone’s powers was making every minute seem like an eternity. His aching muscle
s didn’t help matters. Night and day were the same at the bottom of the twisted forest, but luckily their trek to the dome had been marked in the soft, loamy soil, so with only a tiny amount of light at their feet, they were able to retrace their steps.
All around them were dark trunks and huge, uprooted stumps that seemed like gnarled, deformed hands reaching for them out of the darkness. Tiberius longed for light almost as much as he wanted water and rest. He was exhausted, but the stone was still warm—he could feel it in the bottom of his pack that was slung over his good shoulder.
Stamina had never been Tiberius’ strong suit. He was hurting and tired, but he kept plodding on, anxious to be out of the forest and headed back to Avondale. He had no idea what was happening to the city he thought of as home or to the people he loved so much there, but he was afraid they needed him, and that fear gave him the strength to keep walking.
“How are you holding up?” Lexi asked.
“I’m fine,” Tiberius said, his voice hoarse from his dry throat.
“You don’t sound fine,” Lexi said. “We don’t have to keep going. You can rest.”
“I don’t want to rest,” Tiberius said. “Besides, the stone is still too hot to handle.”
“The stone will be waiting for you after you get some rest,” Lexi said. “I can tell you’re hurting. Please, just stop and sit with me for a while.”
“Only if you’re tired,” Tiberius said.
In truth, his whole body was crying out for rest, but he felt selfish resting when his friends could be in danger. He could rest on the ship if they could just make it back up the tunnel and get onboard.
“I am tired,” Lexi said. “We can take shelter there, against the ruins.”
Lexi pointed. It was difficult to see anything beyond the small circle of light near their feet. Tiberius kept the floating sphere of light close to the ground so that it wouldn’t attract other animals. They could hear other creatures in the darkness, but he guessed that most were small by the sounds they made. They had heard some animals of size on their trek, but those creatures were aways moving away from the light, which was a relief to Tiberius. He didn’t want to have come so far only to be eaten by a giant squirrel or some mutated woodchuck.
Tiberius could see what looked like the remains of a building. Two stone walls came together, forming an L-shaped corner, but the rest of the building was gone. His will wanted to push on, but his body refused.
“Okay,” he said. “Just for a little while.”
Lexi led the way. She used her foot to brush away the fallen leaves and built-up debris in the small nook. Tiberius was dirty; he could feel the grime on his skin and tasted the salt of sweat on his lips as his dry tongue raked across them hoping to coax a little moisture out of his parched mouth. Ti sat down, marveling at how good it felt to be off his feet. He hugged his pack, which was full of climbing supplies and the Emerystone. Lexi pulled out the canteen and handed it to Tiberius. His hands shook as he tipped the container up, letting the water flow into his mouth. The canteen was almost empty, and he only drank two swallows before handing it to Lexi. His whole body craved more water, but he refused to drink more than his share. He knew he would be weak no matter what, but Lexi didn’t have to be dehydrated on top of everything else they were facing.
“You hungry?” she asked, holding out a strip of the dried meat.
Tiberius knew he didn’t have enough moisture in his mouth to soften the tough meat, and the salt would only make him even more thirsty.
“No thanks,” he said.
He forced himself to stay awake while Lexi ate a small strip of meat and drank some more water. He didn’t want to fall asleep and leave her in the darkness before she was ready to sleep.
“I can keep watch while you rest,” she offered generously.
“There’s no need,” Tiberius said. “It’s too dark to see anything. We should both sleep, then we can get the hell out of this place.”
“Okay,” Lexi said.
He could hear the smile in her voice. He liked making her happy, and it gave him a thrill when she snuggled against his shoulder. He let go of the light spell, watching as the tiny sphere winked out of existence. The mental effort it took to keep the spell going was the last part of him to relax, and he fell asleep almost instantly.
He had no idea how long he’d been asleep, but his whole body ached from sitting in one position. Lexi was beside him but curled on the ground, using her pack as a pillow. Tiberius ran his hand over the pack and felt no heat. The stone had fully cooled, and he could handle it now, but his back was hurting too bad, and his legs were both numb.
He slumped over, still hugging the pack and waiting as his legs and backside tingled with the return of blood into his stiff extremities. The wait took longer than he expected, and he fell asleep, even though he didn’t mean to. When he woke up again, it was his neck that was aching. He rolled onto his stomach and pushed himself up onto his knees. His back ached, and the rope burn seemed to hurt even worse. It was like an open wound, but he knew there was nothing he could do about it.
Then suddenly he realized the cramping muscles and rope burn weren’t a result of the Balestone. He should be able to heal himself and he had let that fact slip his mind.
“Fulsi,” he said, conjuring the light spell.
He checked on Lexi, who was still sleeping soundly. There was barely enough water for each of them to have a drink, but Tiberius knew he needed the water desperately. He took two tiny sips, then recorked the canteen, leaving the rest for Lexi.
Tiberius wasn’t sure if he should use the spell for healing burns or cuts to deal with the raw strip of skin across his back and over his shoulder. He decided to start with the spell for lacerations and simply let his magic explore his body.
“Sano Sarcio Acies Deprimo Abscido,” he chanted softly.
It was harder to conjure the healing magic than he remembered. It was as if the positive, life-giving energy that he normally felt when he cast a healing spell was somehow absent on the bottom of the twisted forest.
“Sano Sarcio Acies Deprimo Abscido,” he continued to chant as his mind’s focus shifted to the magic slowly working its way into his body. The rope burn wasn’t a deep wound. It affected several layers of skin but caused no damage to the muscle underneath. The aching muscles in his back were a different story. Unable to heal his back magically, the wound left by the Balestone was slowly being dealt with by his body’s natural healing abilities. Tiberius could feel the fluid that had saturated the torn tissue all around the small void in his back. Other muscles were overworked to make up for the wound, and everything was knotted and cramped.
His mind focused the healing power first on the rope burns. His chant changed to incorporate the burn-mending spell.
“Acies Sano Cuticula, Acies Penetralis Resarcio Viscus,” he said. Immediately his pain doubled. The scorching ache than ran up his back and across his shoulder intensified so much he felt tears stinging his eyes, even though they were closed tight. Fortunately the pain began to dissipate almost as soon as it started. Tiberius focused on the burn until it was gone completely. Then he turned his attention to the muscles in his back.
There wasn’t a spell to relax muscles specifically, and any magic that Tiberius worked in the area of his back wound that was caused by the Balestone was completely ineffective. The evil talisman had left traces of magic that refused to be touched by the bright, life-giving magic of the First Order. Still, Tiberius did his best to bring himself some relief.
“Acies Penetralis Deprimo Sano Crudus Viscus,” he whispered in the darkness.
The spell to heal internal bleeding also seemed to work on the buildup of fluid and antibodies that were cramping his back muscles. He let the healing magic flow. It was slower than he expected, and the stream of Sana Magus was thin, almost a trickle, but Tiberius’ will to heal himself was strong. The magic was scarce, but at the same time, it seemed to be drawn to Tiberius.
After a while he
felt better, at least as good as he had felt before starting their journey into the twisted forest. He was still painfully thirsty, his body still weak, but the pain was minimal, and he could move freely again. He sat up and looked around their tiny camp. It was so gloomy that he felt an almost physical depression trying to pin down his emotions, but Tiberius refused to be negative. He had the Emerystone and he was finally going to explore the stone’s magnificent power.
He opened his pack and rummaged through it for a few moments. He had to remove most of the contents just to reach the stone. But finally it lay in the open pack before him. The light from the Fulsi spell shone down onto what appeared to be a very large diamond. Gemstones were rare in the nine cities; most had been brought to the high places when the citizens had fled the cataclysm long ago. Only Rosslyton in the east mined gems, but there were no diamonds in the deep mines. Tiberius guessed the old wizards had used a diamond because it was the most valuable and strongest of all the stones. Even the crucible spell, which could melt stone and metal, would not harm a diamond. The power of the Emerystone seemed to glow and flash in the small magical light that Tiberius conjured.
He reached out his hand to pick the stone up and felt a shock when his fingers touched the gem’s surface. The Balestone had seemed powerful, even sentient at times. He could hear the voices of the Balestone and their longing for power. When he touched it, it was like a small part of his mind connected with the ancient beings sealed in the Balestone. Tiberius hadn’t known what to expect from the Emerystone, but it didn’t have the same urge to connect with him as the Balestone. In many ways it seemed like a simple gemstone, but when he touched the stone, his mind was consumed with a vision.
Light suddenly assaulted him from every side, but the light was warm, reassuring, and even comforting. He didn’t have to squint or shade his eyes. The filth from the forest floor was gone, and Tiberius felt a wonderful sense of euphoria. He wanted to bask in the wondrous light forever and didn’t even notice the two beings who came to speak with him until they were standing right in front of him.
Avondale V Page 15
