by T. G. Ayer
He was shaking his head. “The Elders don’t believe it is in anyone’s interest to have you risk your life accessing that particular portal.” He got to his feet, sending the armchair swiveling behind him.
Horner walked to the floor-to-ceiling bookshelves on the left wall. The shelving was ornate, mahogany with a glossy veneer that made it look more ancient than his telephone.
He opened one of the drawers and retrieved a small black box. Returning, he placed it carefully in front of me.
I reached for it, opening the box just as carefully. Inside, lay a carved bronze disk. A portal key not much different to the one I’d had fashioned for me by the High Priestess of the DeathTalkers to give me access to the Graylands.
I frowned, lifting the key from the silk-lined box. “Doesn’t this need blood to allow the bearer to move through the Veil?”
I knew because Lady Kira had bled me to give life to the portal key. Keys were created specific to one person only.
Horner looked at the key as I weighed it in the palm of my hand. “Most keys are fashioned that way. But there was a time, centuries ago, when the keys were more flexible.”
Flexible? “You mean the bearers could change?”
Horner nodded then lifted the silk fabric that covered the base of the box. Beneath lay a silver knife, its blade deadly sharp, and I knew. “The keys could be recoded with the blood of the new bearer?”
Horner lifted the knife and stared at its point. “There are very few of these universal keys left. The DeathTalkers hunted them down and destroyed them. I doubt they know about the existence of this one.”
“But why did they destroy them?” I’d never heard this particular story before.
“Across the planes, people were taking advantage of the flexibility of the keys. Agents of the different races were moving from plane to plane wreaking havoc. Portal keys that are so flexible they allow thieves to cross the veil unchecked.”
“But demons move through the veil as they please.”
Even I knew that.
He nodded. “They are of the Veil. In a sense the in-Between is their plane. Hard to stop them from residing within it. Besides, demons leave a trace of themselves behind. If they commit crimes then they are tracked, found and punished.”
“Including ghosts?”
Horner laughed. “You and I both know that ghosts are particularly hard to punish. Beyond exorcism.”
I smiled. Even the big bad Supremes couldn’t punish an evil spirit without ending their existence in totality. I didn’t feel bad though. Beyond the Graylands, lay the land of light. An existence of the soul that is said to be beyond happiness and joy. But the dead who commit the worst, the most unforgivable crimes, once exorcised, move to a plane of nothingness. An existence feared by all paranormals. An existence that humans cannot comprehend.
My boss shifted, his stiff coat rustling, then handed me the knife. He pointed to the seal.
“Okay then. I guess it’s time.”
He cleared his throat as I held my hand over the seal. “Of the other two portals, only one is accessible from this plane.” He watched as I sliced the heel of my hand open with the barely visible blade of the knife
“So where exactly is this access point?” I fisted my hand, forcing the flow to increase.
Blood dripped onto the seal, pooling along the crevices and carvings until every valley and hollow was filled with blood. A searing heat began to rise from the metal and a red smoke rose as the blood began to boil, then burned off the surface slowly.
Oddly enough no odor of burnt blood emanated from the boiling portal key. At last, every last vestige of my blood was gone, absorbed by the metal itself.
The ritual complete, Horner sighed and walked around the table, taking a seat in his chair and sliding it back into place.
“The Mendenhall Glacier.”
Chapter 30
My eyes widened.
I huffed. “Guess I’m going to have to dress warmly?”
He nodded. “The third entrance is top-secret. Need to know only. Right now, the glacier access is all I can give you. Use the portal key. And you enter Drakys as an official envoy of the Elders.”
I stared at him, shocked, sliding forward on my seat. “Why did the Elders think that was necessary?”
It seemed unprecedented for them to support me in this. Could the whole search-and-rescue be of more importance than I knew?
Horner averted his gaze, concentrating on the screen of his tablet. The irony of the modern device sitting right beside his ancient telephone did not escape me.
He said, “I requested the envoy position to sweeten the deal . . . so to say. But from what I’ve been told, the Elders believe it really would be the most advantageous route for both you and them. Our treaty with Drakys is on dangerous ground. It has been for the last two decades, considering there is no residing monarch on the throne. There is much danger within the land, and we cannot trust that the current Queen will continue to uphold the treaty.”
“So despite the treaty, I will still be in danger?”
Horner nodded. “I wish I could ensure your safety, but unfortunately I can’t. We haven’t had an envoy enter Drakys in at least five years.”
“Why is that?”
The air between us simmered with tension.
“Because the last envoy was killed under suspicious circumstances.” Horner’s eyes were hooded with shadows, regret, fear. “We could never be entirely certain how he died. If he was assassinated, if it was an accident, or if he brought his death onto himself.”
I cleared my throat.
“But we can’t sit here wondering about something that happened in the past. The only hope for saving the girl is to enter Drakys and find her. If you’re telling me that an envoy will gain easier access to the palace, then I will take that, no questions asked, despite the danger.”
He stared at me for a moment then reached for the tablet beside his hand. He swiped the app open then handed it to me. “This is a copy of the letter from the Elders, declaring you as our official envoy to Drakys. I will have the jumper give you the original when he takes you to the portal. The Elders also require that you act on their behalf, both officially and unofficially. Officially, you will attempt to regain the Queen’s trust, and put forward a proposition that will allow us to provide them with an income again. And to provide us with access to their lands. A situation of mutual benefit if you will.”
Interesting turn of events. “So how are we giving them an income?”
Horner sat back again, rocking in his chair. “The mining industry on Drakys has been stagnant over the last five years. The envoy that we had placed with them was responsible for overseeing mining of Erulite. It’s a rare mineral that we have used for centuries to support the effectiveness of our ammunition.”
“It’s a poison?”
“No. It acts as a carrier, ensuring the effectiveness of the ammunition. In the old days we used to dip our arrows in a muscle relaxant, then in the Erulite. It helped us to avoid the use of deadly force. And allowed us to use less poison with greater result.”
I nodded. “So, a small amount of poison goes a long way. Less pillaging of our flora. Less damage to the suspect.” I could see the benefits. I knew that Tara had always used an enhancer that amplified the toxins she put in my bullets. Could that have been Erulite?
“After our envoy’s death, the Drakyr refused to have any other representatives of the Supreme High Council on their land. The mines were shut down, and of course their income ceased. We know they suffer for it, but the queen refused to budge.”
“So I’m supposed to convince them that it’s a good idea to begin the mining again?”
Horner nodded although he still looked troubled. “You will need to do your very best to convince them.”
“But why not just send a second envoy and plead our case?” I asked.
“The body of the envoy was sent back to us in pieces.” Horner sighed. The look he gave me wa
s one of regret, as if he suspected that he was sending me to my death. “The Supreme High Council was very afraid that sending anyone to Drakys would needlessly endanger their lives.”
I nodded, fully aware of what was going on. “And now, considering I have no choice but to go, the Elders can’t ignore the opportunity.”
Horner looked guilty on behalf of the Elders.
“I understand, and really it’s no problem. I’ll do what I can to help.”
“There is one other thing.”
I raised an eyebrow.
“Part of the mission is to find out what, if anything, the queen is doing for income. The Drakyr had always depended on us to help sustain their people. Their lands have never been bountiful and they’d always depended on mining and trade to boost their coffers. Since the death of the last Queen, Drakys had pulled away from all their trading connections. The Elders believe they are still trading with someone, but we have been unable to ascertain who.”
“Who stands the most to gain?” I asked, curious now.
“Anyone who needs the power of the DragonFyr.” Horner’s smile was cold, unfeeling. “The power of the average dragon is an asset to anyone who wants to manipulate it. But the power of the queen is incomparable.”
“And the power of the twins?” I asked, beginning to understand as Horner’s expression hardened at my words.
He didn’t need to answer.
Chapter 31
Back at the house in Tukats, I sat at Logan’s side, hoping he could hear me.
“I’m going to Drakys to find her, Logan. Darcy and Nerina will be here with you.”
I smiled at him, and my heart ached when he didn’t open his eyes.
“What we need for you to do is keep in contact with Sienna. Keep talking to her. Make her understand that the two of you deserve to know each other. And while you do that keep trying to find out more about where she is. I spoke to Horner today, and he said the queen may be in contact with other paranormal councils. The Elders are hoping she’s not up to something nefarious and since Sienna is close to her maybe what she sees could be important.”
I sighed and traced his cheek. “But most importantly you need to help her remember. I’m going to try and get her out but you need to convince her that I’m safe. That when I come for her she should join me. I’m entering as an envoy of the Elders and I’ll get access to the castle and to the queen herself so I should encounter Sienna fairly quickly. She needs to trust me, Logan. Please make sure she knows I’m there to help her.”
I leaned over and kissed his forehead.
Dear Ailuros, please keep him safe. Please bring him back to me.
I sent up the prayer, putting every iota of my emotions into the words. I wasn’t the bargaining type. The goddess aided us out of love, not in exchange for trifles we may offer her or any bargains she would see fit to enter into.
She was an eternal goddess, who watched over us, gave us the strength to pass through each of the trials that life brought. I could only hope that she would hear my plea and send Logan the strength that he needed.
With a deep sigh I pushed to my feet and stared at his sleeping face. His eyelids flickered and I stiffened, holding my breath.
Had I just imagined the movement?
When his lids shivered again, I was certain he was trying to tell me something. I hoped he was saying that he’d heard me, that he’d do as I asked as best he could.
I left the room and walked slowly downstairs, my heart aching. I hated that I was so helpless, so unable to save him from this nightmare.
In the kitchen, I found Darcy, Lily and Nerina, gathered at the table, their expressions expectant. Each had a mug of something in front of them, and all had failed to finish their drinks.
“You ready?” asked Darcy, spotting me first. The others looked up.
I didn’t miss Lily’s accusing glare.
I nodded, pasting a smile on my face. “Ready as I’ll ever be.”
Nerina scowled, her pale features tightening. “I have to be honest with you. I think this is way too dangerous. I completely understand why you need to be the one to go, but why do you have to go alone?” She gave Darcy an accusing glance from which I understood that the two had disagreed on the necessity for me to travel without company.
I sighed and sank into the nearest empty chair. On each side of the table sat a friend, and they were all waiting for my answer. “Because that’s the only way I’m allowed. And because even jumpers can’t travel into the Dragonlands. The Veil around their plane is much denser than the other realms. Only the strongest jumpers can get through, but the trip weakens them too much. I won’t put Mel in danger.”
Darcy nodded. “And if Kai took someone else with her, they’d have to go in secret because neither the Elders nor the Queen and her court can know. And that would increase the danger. Besides, what difference would one more person make?”
“The difference would be in awareness. Someone to watch her back.” Nerina’s spine was stiff, and I could see that this discussion had been raging since before I entered the kitchen. Before I could comment Nerina said, “Besides, I can enter the Dragonlands.”
“You can?” Lily and I asked in unison.
“Yes. With you as a host, the same way I contacted you in the Graylands.”
“Right.” I nodded. This was definitely a possibility. “Okay, you can also dial in to let me know if Logan found anything.”
“I can do more than that.”
“How so?” Darcy leaned closer, intrigued.
“I can piggyback on your awareness in such a way that I can be in the same room as you. I can essentially watch your back from here.”
“Sounds like a plan to me,” I said with far more cheer than I felt. Again, I was leaving to cross the Veil and enter a strange land where I’d encounter people who didn’t want me there. Why did I always end up in this situation?
A glance at Darcy confirmed that though she approved of the plan, she was still concerned about something. “What’s wrong? I need us all to be on the same page here.”
She shook her head, her golden hair swinging. She’d let the severe ponytail down and her hair framed her face nicely.
Iain must like her hair down.
Darcy cleared her throat and leaned toward me. “It’s not doubt. I’m just worried about you being in danger. You don’t have any backup other than one ethereal presence.” She pointed a thumb at Nerina, “And an ancient dagger.”
I glared at her. “How do you know about that?”
She shrugged, completely unapologetic as she said, “I had to access your mind while you were unconscious.” At my angry glare she raised her hands. “Your father’s orders. Sorry.”
“Why did he do that?” Although annoyed at the invasion, I knew that my father would never have suggested such a thing unless he felt it was completely necessary.
“He wanted to be sure that you didn’t forget any crucial information. You were out of it for hours, and he couldn’t be sure that you weren’t magically injured as well as physically. And since I was here, I offered to help.”
A tiny part of me hoped she hadn’t messed with any of my memories and then I blushed.
As I opened my mouth she raised a hand to stop me. “Don’t worry. Whatever I saw in your head will remain in your head.” There was a mischievous smile on her face that I didn’t like.
I raised an eyebrow. “And what happens if some other Mind Mage accesses your mind?”
She shrugged. “Then they get nothing. I’ve erected shields around my thoughts that’d fry the mind of any Mind Mage who wanted in.”
I laughed. “Harsh.”
“Necessary, to protect the people I care about.” She grinned as I got to my feet, coming around the corner of the table to take my hands in hers. “You be careful, okay?”
I smiled. “I’ll do what I have to.”
“I know,” she said sadly.
Nerina was up too. “I’ll check in every few hours. If I
have something to report I will, otherwise I’ll just take a quick peek. I won’t have the energy to stay too long. I want to preserve my power for when you need me the most.”
She was less emotional than Darcy but her pale eyes told me how worried she was. She did have a reason since the last time I’d gone off-world I almost died.
She took a step back and Lily left the table. “I’m going with you, at least as far as headquarters.”
“You don’t have to, kid. It’s a long trip.”
She pursed her lips. “I don’t care. I’m coming with so you better tell your private Teleporter that I’m on the passenger list.”
“No, Lil’s. I’ll be fine. I promise.” Time to put my foot down.
Lily sighed, giving in at last. She raised an eyebrow.
I snorted in response.
Lily cleared her throat. “I’ll be starting the first of my sessions with your dad while you’re away.”
Her soft voice was calm and even, and I was relieved to see that the decision wasn’t stressing her out. That meant she was happy with her choices.
I drew her into a hug. “Good luck, okay. You take care of yourself. And don’t push yourself too fast. You’ll know when you’re ready.” She nodded calmly. “Be strong, kid. I need you to be okay when I get back.”
“I will.” Then she sighed. “I only wish I was coming with you.”
I nodded, understanding her longing to be there for me and her regret that she couldn’t.
Chapter 32
After a quick stop at my apartment to pack a small overnight bag, paste on some goth-girl makeup – an attempt to hide my identity in case those who protected Sienna in Sand Beach were around - and to load up on ammo, I headed to Elite HQ. Just outside the house, I received a message from Tara.
The suspicions that the Winter Queen was connected to the poisoned trees was now stronger. Tara had found compelling evidence in the form of two witnesses. She wasn’t happy to go on hearsay so she planned to put someone on the inside.
I texted my thanks for the update, then sent off messages to my parents and Grams.
