The Study Series Bundle

by Maria V. Snyder

  “I know where they are,” I said. “I can take you to them.”

  The boy smiled. When I held out my hand, he grabbed it. I gathered him to me, inhaling his soul before sending it to the sky.

  The true job of a Soulfinder.

  Not to save souls and return them to their bodies, but to guide them to where they belonged. My true purposed flared to life finally. Stono and Gelsi should have both been released to the sky. Their personalities changed because they were unhappy at being denied peace.

  Death was not the end. And I knew Valek waited for me, but he wouldn’t want to see me until I finished finding all the lost and misplaced souls and sent them to their proper destinations.

  There hadn’t been a Soulfinder in over a hundred and twenty-five years. Why wasn’t Sitia filled with lost souls? Perhaps they were rare.

  Renewed determination to find a way to defeat the Fire Warper spread throughout my body. I left the building and stopped. Five souls hovered in different locations along the street. The leathery flap of wings announced my bat’s arrival. He settled on my shoulder.

  “Did you call them?” I asked the bat. “Or did I?” I guess I should have been more specific when I called to the boy. Either that, or now I’d learned a trick I couldn’t shut off.

  I gathered and released souls as I headed back to the Cloverleaf Inn. Most went to the sky. One dripped with hate and when he sank into the ground, I worried I might have increased the Fire Warper’s powers.

  Before I could enter the inn, the clatter of hooves sounded behind me. I spun in time to see Leif stop Rusalka. His panic reached me before his words.

  “Moon Man,” he gasped. “Moon Man’s been captured!”

  31

  BACK IN THE INN’S common room, the five of us sorted through all the details we had. Moon Man had been captured that afternoon.

  “We found no references to the tunnel in the Council Hall’s library,” Leif said. “We were meeting with an old magician who was hiding from the Vermin. Another had told us he had information on the construction of the Keep, but when we talked to the magician he only had vague details. He knew how to create a null shield and he taught me how to make one. I shouldn’t have tried it. The magic called the Warpers and we were attacked as we left his house.”

  “How did you get away?” Janco asked.

  Leif threw his hands up. “One minute we’re surrounded by Vermins, the next a group of brawling merchants and screaming children practically rolled over everyone. It was mass confusion. A man grabbed my hand and pulled me out. I hid until dark. One of the children from the Helping Guild told me Moon Man hadn’t escaped.”

  “The Vermin will know we’re here,” Ari said. “We need to leave now. There’s a caravan camping about two miles north of here. We can stay with them.”

  “Which way is the caravan going?” I asked Ari.

  “They have a delivery in the Citadel tomorrow, and then they’re going south to the Greenblade lands. Why?”

  “Oh no!” Leif said. “She’s got that look in her eyes. What are you scheming, little sister?”

  “We have to get inside the Keep.”

  “Impossible. There’s a bubble of protective magic around it. We couldn’t find the entrance to the tunnel. A few Warpers have gained master-level power. You’re powerful, but nowhere near their level. You’ll be caught in an instant.” Leif crossed his arms as if his statement ended the discussion.

  “That’s a great idea,” I said.

  “What?

  I ignored Leif’s confusion. “Ari, how ready are the people in the Citadel to revolt?”

  “They’re organized, have some weapons and a few magicians. What I would really like to do is run a few training sessions, but that’s not going to happen. They’re as ready as they’re going to get.”

  “Would the caravan be willing to lend us one of their wagons?” I asked.

  “Something could be arranged.”

  Comprehension dawned in Janco’s face. “If we get you inside, can we keep the five golds?”

  “Only if you get us back out again,” I said.

  “I don’t like the odds,” Janco said. He brightened. “Gotta love the underdog, though.”

  “There are no odds. It’s suicide,” Leif said.

  “Look at it this way, Leif. It’ll put an end to our arguing,” I said.

  “How?”

  “We die, you’re right. You don’t die, I’m right.”

  “I feel so much better now.”

  Janco tsked. “Sarcasm is detrimental to the team spirit.”

  Ari frowned at me. “Don’t you mean, we don’t die, Yelena?”

  I didn’t answer. Valek waited on the other side. My reward.

  We packed our supplies and headed out. The merchants of the caravan agreed to include us in their group and we spent most of the night preparing our wagon. When we finished with the cart’s alterations, we stood around it, discussing the plan for the next day.

  “Marrok, you’ll ride Garnet. Janco can take Kiki, and Ari, you’ll drive the wagon. No matter what happens, Ari, make sure we get to the Keep’s gate,” I ordered.

  “Yes, sir.”

  “What about me and you?” Leif asked.

  I grimaced. “We’re the cargo.” The last thing I wanted to do was get inside one of those crates again, but there was no other way. “Ari is going to use me to get us inside. He’ll demand his five golds for bringing me to the Vermin.”

  “I never thought I’d miss my days as necklace snake bait,” Leif said.

  “What happens once we’re inside?” Ari asked.

  “That will be the signal for the Citadel’s citizens to riot, which should keep a bunch of the Vermin and Warpers busy.”

  “But what about all those powerful Warpers?” Leif asked.

  “Can you make a null shield?”

  He hesitated. “Yes.”

  “When the riot starts, all the magicians will come to the Keep’s gate and help you build and maintain a null shield,” I said.

  “But it won’t last long.”

  “I just need a little time.”

  “Time for what?”

  “To get to the Fire Warper.”

  Leif stared at me. “You can fight him?”

  “No.”

  “Tell me again why this isn’t a suicide mission.”

  “I think I can stop him and keep him in the fire world. And in doing so, I think I might be able to pull some of the Warpers’ powers from them. If Bain and Irys are still alive, and if you round up as many magicians as you can, then you should be able to counter the Warpers.”

  “That’s a lot of ‘ifs’ and ‘thinks,’” Janco said.

  “And there’s no ‘when,’” Ari said.

  “When?” Leif asked.

  “When she returns. There’s a when, isn’t there, Yelena?” Ari asked.

  “The only way to keep him in the fire world is if I stay, too.” The words tasted like ash in my mouth. Thinking about an event was completely different than stating it aloud. Once said, it was final. But Valek would be there and I would find him. No “if,” “think” or “when” about it.

  “There has to be another way,” Leif said. “You always manage to produce ingenious plots.”

  “Not this time.”

  Everyone remained quiet.

  I was about to suggest we all get a little sleep when Leif asked, “What if we can’t counter the Warpers?”

  “Then you’d better have a person who’s unaffected by magic on your side,” a voice said from beyond the wagon.

  We all looked at one another. The same question perched on everyone’s lips. A ghost voice?

  “Although this time I would appreciate it if you didn’t leave me behind.” Valek stepped into view. He appeared to be solid. His angular face held annoyed amusement. The faint moonlight glinted off his bald head. He wore the brown tunic and pants of a Bloodgood clansman.

  Disbelief followed surprise; I reached out to touch him. H
e pulled me close and my world filled with the sight, smell and feel of Valek.

  Seconds, minutes, days, seasons could have passed and I wouldn’t have noticed or cared. I clung to him as if my feet dangled over a precipice. His heart beat in my ear. His blood flowed in my veins. I molded my body to his solid flesh, wanting to fuse with him and let nothing—not even air—come between us.

  Relief and joy frolicked in my heart, extinguishing the smoldering grief until I remembered my promise to the Fire Warper.

  Blazing sadness ignited, flooding my senses. My reward for babysitting the Fire Warper would have to wait. Better to have him here.

  I gathered my resolve and calmed myself. The others moved away, leaving Valek and me alone. His lips found mine. Our souls twined. The gaping emptiness inside me filled.

  He pulled away, breathless. “Easy, love.” His panting turned into a coughing fit.

  “How did you survive the fire?” I asked. “The roof collapsed and you didn’t…”

  “Two things happened at once. At least, I think they did.” He gave me an ironic smile. “I was carrying Gale when the roof fell. The force of it sent us through the floor and into a small root cellar.” Valek rubbed his ribs and grimaced.

  “You’re hurt and I can’t heal you!” A nasty gash snaked along the side of his skull.

  “Just bruised.” He ran a hand gently over his head. “A beam knocked me out and I would have probably died from the smoke and heat, but Gale kept us in a pocket of cool air. She had been hit by a piece of the barn’s wall when it shattered. But she came to and used her magic. She conjured a cushion of air around us to keep the burning debris from filling our hole.”

  “Why didn’t I see you the next morning? Why didn’t you call out?”

  “The roof had tented around us, and there was nothing you could do to help until the fire died.” His hand went to his ribs again. “I didn’t have enough air to yell and Gale needed all her strength to keep us alive.”

  “Why couldn’t she blow the fire out? Or save the children?”

  “Her powers are limited. It’s all part of her weather dancing thing.” He gestured past the wagon. “You can ask her. I’ve brought her along.” When he saw my questioning look, he added, “We’re going to need all the help we can get.”

  I looked on the other side of the wagon. Gale held Onyx’s and Topaz’s reins. Kiki had already found them and nuzzled Topaz. Garnet stood nearby. Gale’s unease about being surrounded by horses was reflected in the queasy look on her face.

  “Did you learn anything else?” I asked Valek.

  “Yes. Finding clothes when you’re half naked is harder than you think. And scared horses can travel pretty far in the wrong direction before you find them.” He studied the group of horses. “Onyx and Topaz are fast, but there’s nothing like a Sandseed horse when you’re in a hurry. And despite your detour to Booruby, love, I had a hard time catching up.”

  “You could have found a way to tell me you were all right. I’ve spent the last week in utter misery.”

  “Now you know how I felt when you jumped into the stable fire. And you know how I’ll feel if you don’t come back from fighting the Fire Warper.”

  I opened my mouth then closed it. “You were eavesdropping.”

  “I had hoped to hear everyone discussing how much they missed my altruistic qualities, my legendary skills as a fighter and as a lover.” He leered. “Instead, you’re making plans for tomorrow. Interesting how life goes on in spite of itself.”

  Valek sobered and stared at me with a fiery intensity. “With all that planning, love, I’m sure you can figure a way to return.”

  “I’m not smart enough.” My frustration wrapped around my chest and squeezed until I wanted to scream aloud. “I don’t know enough about magic! I don’t think anyone does. We’re all just bumbling along, using it and abusing it.”

  “Do you truly believe that?”

  “Yes. Although I’ll admit to being a hypocrite. First sign of trouble and I fall back on using magic.” My ability to guide souls hadn’t taxed my energy like using magic. I didn’t draw from the power source. It was a natural effort just like inhaling and exhaling. “When I think about magic, all I see is the harm it has done to this world.”

  “Then you’re not looking in the right places.”

  And this from someone who was immune to magic’s effects. I’d seen firsthand the Kirakawa ritual, the blood magic, the corruption of power, the Sandseed massacre and the tormented souls. It had to stop.

  Valek studied my expression. “Think about what you said to the Commander about magic.”

  “I tend to agree with the Commander about how magic corrupts.”

  “Then why did you mention to the Commander how magic could harness the power of a blizzard and save his people instead of discussing the possibility of using power as a weapon? If magic corrupts, then why hasn’t it corrupted you? Or Irys? Moon Man? Leif?”

  “We haven’t let it corrupt us.”

  “Right! You have the choice.”

  “But it’s a very tempting choice. Power is addictive. It’s only a matter of time.”

  “Oh yes. Sitia has been battling Warpers for ages. Though you wouldn’t know it from all the peace and prosperity hanging around.” Sarcasm dripped from Valek’s words. “Let’s see, how long ago did the magicians use blood magic? I think Moon Man told me two thousand years. Then you’re right! It’s only a matter of time. A matter of two thousand years. I’ll take those odds any day.”

  “I never realized how annoying you can be.”

  “You know I’m right.”

  “I could prove you wrong. I can be corrupt.” It was my turn to leer.

  Valek looked over at Janco and the others. They milled about a small fire, trying to appear nonchalant, but I knew they listened to every word.

  “Not in front of the children, love. But I’ll hold you to that.”

  The night disappeared in a hurry. We finished prepping the wagon and updating our plans to include Valek and Gale.

  The others had taken Valek’s return in stride, although Janco made a comment about Valek’s lack of hair. “You ever notice how couples start to look alike?” he asked.

  In a deadpan, Valek replied, “Yes. In fact, I was just thinking how much you and Topaz resemble each other. It’s uncanny.”

  Ari chuckled at Janco’s chagrined expression before saying, “The caravan is leaving soon. What part of the line do we want to be in?”

  “Near the back, but not the last wagon,” Valek instructed. “When we’re out of sight of the gatehouse, head to the Keep.”

  “Yes, sir.” Ari snapped to attention.

  I stared at our small group. Marrok eyed Valek with dislike, but he had assumed the posture of a soldier waiting for orders. Leif chewed on his lip, a nervous habit. Gale’s face was bleached with fear, but she set her mouth into a determined frown. She told me her power was weak compared to a Stormdancer, but she could agitate the wind and kick up enough dust to impair the Daviians’ vision.

  “We don’t know what we’ll encounter inside the Keep. Listen for instructions and follow orders even if they don’t make sense,” Valek ordered.

  “Yes, sir,” everyone said in unison, including Gale.

  Before we could get into position, I handed three of Opal’s glass animals to Leif and the other three to Gale.

  “What are these for?” Leif asked.

  “Keep one each, but give the rest to Moon Man, Irys, Bain and Dax if they’re still alive.” I swallowed the sudden lump in my throat. “I think I can use the animals to communicate with you when I’m in the fire world.”

  Leif peered at me with sad eyes, but I turned away before he could say anything. “Come on, you first.” I gestured to the cart.

  Leif, Gale and Valek hid in the three boxes at the bottom of the wagon. We put another empty crate and some genuine goods on top of them. Then I lay down inside the top crate.

  When Marrok closed the lid, my hear
t slammed in my chest in a sudden panic. My throat closed when the rugs were piled on top. The wagon lurched. I wanted out. I felt trapped. The others could get out of their boxes through the hidden panels we had installed on the wagon’s floor. I could not. This wasn’t going to work. The Vermin would figure it out before we could reach the Keep. And then what would happen?

  I drew in a few steadying breaths. We would be captured. I would be fed to the Fire Warper just like I wanted. All we would lose was the element of surprise. While helpful, I believed even with it the chances of the others living through the encounter were little to none.

  My morose line of thought was not helping my state of mind. So I focused instead on the motion of the wagon. It had been a long and emotionally exhausting night. I fell asleep during the trip to the Citadel.

  The sound of an unfamiliar voice roused me from sleep. We had stopped, and I gathered by the voices we were at the Citadel’s north gate. The voices came closer and a person banged on my box. I jumped, clamping my lips against a shout.

  “What’s in this one?” a man asked.

  “The finest silk sheets woven by the Moon Clan, sir,” the merchant replied. “Perhaps you care to purchase a set? Just feel the fabric and you’ll know your wife will be most anxious to try them out.”

  The man laughed. “I’ll not be spending a month’s pay for a night with my wife. That’s why I married her.”

  Their laughter trailed away as the guard questioned the merchant on his reasons for entering the Citadel. After what seemed like hours, the wagon began to move. Ari picked up the pace and I guessed we had broken off from the caravan.

  When the sounds from the market reached me, the wagon slowed. Ari called out to the stand owners, giving them the sign to prepare to revolt. A network of messengers would fan out to spread the news, then remain in place to deliver the signal for action.

  The fighting would erupt when our wagon went inside the Keep. The cart turned around a corner. It stopped with a jerk.

  Ari cursed and the jangle of many horses surrounded us. A familiar voice called out, “Oh no. This will not do.”

  Cahil.