by Devri Walls
“Aimon will not give it up easily,” Drustan said.
“I am counting on it,” Alcander said darkly.
“Where does he keep it?”
Alcander threw his hair behind his shoulders. “He keeps it on his person at all times, and he is surrounded with guards at all times as well.”
“Before we can do anything else, we have to get that staff,” Kiora said. “Alcander, you know the court. When would be the best time to retrieve it?”
Alcander stared at the blank set of Wings before him. “Show me the throne room in the castle of Tavea,” he said.
The Wings obliged. The room was empty, the throne vacant.
“Where is everyone?” Emane asked.
Alcander sat up straighter, pulling his shroud of logic and concentration over him like a protective covering. “Aimon and the guards only occupy the throne room during certain hours for public complaints that need to come before the king. The rest of the time, he is in various rooms in the castle. The problem with the other rooms is that they all have glass doors or balconies leading outside, making it very easy for the rest of the guard to join a fight. The throne room is located in the very center of the castle, and although it has many entrances”—Alcander pointed to the multiple sets of doors around the room—“they are all solid and could be secured from the inside. That way, we could control the battle and the number of people involved in it.”
“And how do we get out?” Emane asked.
“The kings knew the throne room could be a trap, so they not only set protections in place, but the staff opens a trap door under the throne that leads to tunnels running out of the city. And, incidentally, through the dungeons.”
Drustan ticked items off on his fingers. “We storm the castle, secure the throne room, defeat the false king, escape through a hidden door, rescue the Taveans from the dungeons, and slip out a tunnel into freedom. Did I get that right?”
Alcander’s eyes shifted over to him, warning him without a word.
“I thought so.” Drustan leaned back in his chair. “Only you forgot something. When exactly are we getting the Light?”
Kiora could tell by the way Alcander’s lips drew themselves into thin lines that he had indeed forgotten the purpose behind going.
“Is there a way out of the throne room besides under the throne?”
“Not a way that won’t be filled with Tavean guards trying to get in.”
Kiora ran through scenarios, trying to find a solution. There was only one, and she didn’t like it. “What if we sent Lomay and Drustan down to free the prisoners and then we opened one of the doors?”
Alcander raised an eyebrow.
“I could use the talisman to get the rest of us out of the palace and then we would go to the crypt.”
“Kiora,” Alcander said gently, “do you understand the swath of destruction you would have to cut to get us out of the castle alive?”
“No,” Kiora said quickly. “And I don’t want to. All I need to know is, is it possible?”
Alcander hesitated. “I would need to think about the best path to take, but…with the talisman, I think it could be done.”
“How do you propose Drustan and I get all the people out without detection?” Lomay asked.
“They can all bubble, can’t they?”
“Most likely not,” Lomay said. “They will be weakened from the magical drain they have endured.”
“Magical what?”
“Show us the dungeons beneath the castle,” Lomay asked the Wings. The same scene she saw before came into view. Filthy, weak Taveans slumped inside cages. But as the view panned the room, she saw multiple dark-haired Taveans, each of them surrounded with a slight glow.
“Magical beings are very hard to contain. Tavea was the first to figure out that you could employ someone to drain the magic from those being detained to keep them from building up enough power to escape. The spell has many limitations, but if your prey is contained, it is fairly easy.
“Once we free them, it may take a while for their magic to become strong enough to use a bubble. But if you are planning on using the talisman, it takes away the possibility regardless, and without magic, I certainly cannot shelter them, either.”
“Could you shelter them if I gave you a head start?”
“He’d need a very large head start,” Alcander said. “Lomay will need to take out the guards, free the prisoners, and then get them through the tunnels and far enough away that his magic will not falter when you use the talisman.”
“I know. We just have to hold the throne room for a little while longer.”
“Kiora, those doors are thick—but not impenetrable,” Alcander said.
“I think it could be done,” Lomay said. “That is, if Drustan is willing to help move the prisoners at a faster pace.”
“Of course,” Drustan said.
“How many prisoners do we need to move?” Kiora asked. The Wings responded, slowly scanning the room so they could count.
“One hundred and twenty-three,” Kiora said. “How many can you carry at a time?”
Drustan clicked his tongue. “Lomay will have to bubble us, but I should be able to carry twenty-five at a time in a modified dragon form.”
“That’s impressive,” Lomay said. “Are you sure?”
“Yes. If I keep the body long and thin, we should be able to make it through the tunnels without a problem. And it would be for a relatively short distance—so, yes. I could shift into something smaller and faster to get back for the next trip.”
Kiora could feel the excitement building. This was going to work. “Lomay, you could build an enclosure out of range of the talisman to keep everyone in until Alcander, Emane, and I secure the Light. Then we could take everyone back to the city.”
Lomay nodded thoughtfully. “It should work, barring something unexpected.”
“Isn’t there always something unexpected?” Emane asked.
“Not always, no.”
“Just usually,” Alcander said tightly, his eyes tense and worried, watching his people who still occupied the picture in the Wings.
***
ALCANDER HAD ASKED TO STAY at the Wings in order to refresh his memory of the castle and make sure that nothing had been changed in the years of his absence. The rest of them retired for the night. The first room Kiora went in looked eerily similar to Jasmine’s room and she backed right out and continued down the hall. The room she chose was simple. It had white stone floors and a window with green curtains that hid the earth encasing them. The bed took up most of the room and was so large that she rattled around in it as she tossed and turned.
She was in and out of sleep, nervous about what the next day would bring. Her eyes felt like they were full of sand when she awoke again to the sound of lilting laughter carrying down the hall. Sliding out of bed, she followed the laughs and giggles back to the Wings.
Alcander sat in one of the chairs, watching.
Three beautiful little Tavean princesses danced and teased a young Alcander. The youngest girl would dart forward and try to weave flowers in his hair while the oldest would magically pin his arms to his sides despite his laughing protests. Every time young Alcander would free himself of his eldest sister’s magic and push the other sister back, the girls would collapse into fits of giggles while he raked the flowers from his hair. A third sister grinned and then knocked his feet out from under him. Alcander leaned up on his elbows, glaring at the middle sister. He was so young; he must have only been seven years old. He hadn’t grown into his harsh angles yet. The girls erupted into giggles again, taking off into the palace with Alcander hot on their heels.
“Is this your family?” Kiora whispered from behind his chair.
“Yes.”
“Your sisters are beautiful.”
He held his hand out to her. “They were.”
Kiora put her hand in his and allowed him to pull her onto his lap and wrap his arms around her waist. He leaned his head on her shoulder.
“Children!” a voice rang out as a Tavean woman stepped out through a door. She was tall and willowy, with bright blue eyes that sparkled like gems and hair that was completely white and hung past her waist. It flew back as she stormed into the hall. “Your father is working. How many times must I ask you to keep your running outside?”
The eyes of the children shifted to their mother, but no one spoke.
“Well, what have you to say for yourselves?” Her eyes met Alcander’s sorry expression. She released them from the magical hold she had on them and all the children muttered their apologies.
“Enough,” Alcander said. The Wings went black.
“How long have you been watching?” Kiora asked.
“Too long.” Alcander sighed, brushing her hair back.
“Did you find what you needed to know about the castle?”
“I did.”
Kiora leaned over, gently resting her lips against his forehead before giving him a small kiss, rich with magical exchange. His arms tightened around her waist and she thought for a moment he would kiss her, but he stopped, just as he had that last time.
“Why don’t you want to kiss me?”
Alcander chuckled darkly, murmuring into her shoulder, “If I kissed you the way I want to kiss you, I would not be able to stop myself.”
Imagining that, butterflies exploded through her stomach. “You could try.”
Alcander ran his hand under her jaw, pulling her to his lips. The first kiss was gentle, but as the magic began flowing Alcander deepened the kiss, pulling her against him as if he were trying to meld them into one person. Kiora’s hands moved to the back of his neck, letting his hair tangle through her fingers. For the first time in her life, she wasn’t afraid. Whatever the reason, Alcander felt right.
When Alcander finally broke the kiss, he tore away, breathing hard, his pupils constricted. “By the Creators, Kiora. I don’t know what you do to me.”
Kiora gasped with regret at the loss of contact and set her forehead back against his. “Alcander,” she whispered before biting her tongue at the words that were willing themselves forward.
“What?” He ran a finger over her cheek, sending rivers of fire through her.
“I think I am falling in love with you.”
Alcander’s features softened to the sweetest smile she had ever seen cross his face.
“Kiora?”
“What?”
“I am already in love with you, so I am very glad to hear it.”
***
EMANE WASN’T SURE WHOSE giggles had woken him up originally, but Kiora’s giggle was the one that had kept him awake. He tried to go back to sleep, but that giggle, the murmuring voices—the kissing. Maybe he was hearing things that weren’t there, but it was nearly enough to drive him mad.
He had to let her go. She had told him that much and he had seen nothing to make him think the contrary, but it hurt so badly. And it wasn’t just that—there were so many things he was trying to forget, just as Lomay had advised. The mixing of the two had set his broken heart and his frazzled nerves on end.
Having heard nothing but silence since the two pairs of footsteps had passed his door a while ago, he kicked back his blankets and strode toward the Wings.
Standing in front of them, he commanded, “Show me Meros.”
Nothing.
“Show me my father.”
Nothing. The Wings mocked him with their silence.
“Please, I just need to see it,” he pleaded.
The Wings were as cold as this land, treating him like the Witow he was. Just enough magic to keep him alive, but no more. His shoulders slumped as he trudged back to his room.
***
KIORA WOKE TO THE sound of hundreds of insect feet. She was becoming strangely accustomed to them. She peeked over the edge as the beetles poured in her door, surrounding her bed. Thankfully, they stayed on the floor and did not start pulling themselves up the bedding. They all looked at her, antennas waving.
“What?” she asked. Their eyes shifted in unison to the door and then back to her, still waving. “Is it safe?”
She must have gotten it right because the bugs jittered excitedly before flowing out of the room. She heard the tiny feet making their way back down the marble floors. She smiled to herself. She was beginning to like those creepy little things. Pulling her boots back on, she went to go wake the others.
Pushing open the door to Emane’s room, she paused. He was lying on the bed shirtless, his arm thrown over his eyes. She watched him for a while, remembering how it was before they came through the pass. He had done so much for her. Had built her up when she needed to be strong, believed in her when she hadn’t believed in herself. And even more, he had opened his soul—confessed his love to her, taking the chance that it would be requited if he could wait long enough—and she had torn his heart out, leaving a hole in her own heart as well. Regretfully, she ran her eyes over him one more time, memorizing every bit of him before she moved to wake him.
“Emane,” she whispered. “Emane.”
Emane jerked up, reaching for his sword and swinging the point toward her throat. “Kiora!” he said before collapsing back on the bed, the sword slapping down at his side. “How many times do I have to tell you not to scare me like that? I can’t feel threads!”
“I’m sorry. Is there another way you would like me to wake you?”
Emane’s eyes changed for a minute as they roamed over her, resting on her lips. “No,” he said, blinking. “Never mind.”
“I need to wake the others,” she said, nervously twisting the side of her pants. “We are ready to leave.” She turned to go, but was stopped by his voice.
“Kiora, thanks for keeping me with you this time while we get the Light.”
Kiora smiled. “You’re welcome.”
She woke Drustan and Lomay, sliding into Alcander’s room last. She was looking forward to seeing him sleep. It was one of her favorite times, when all the tightness and all the pain on his face gave way. But he sat on the edge of the bed lacing up his boots.
“You’re up,” she said, unable to hide the disappointment in her voice.
“Would you rather I not be?”
“No, I was just coming to wake you.” Kiora blushed.
Alcander tied the laces and crossed the room to her, sliding his arm behind her and kissing her lightly on the lips. “Are you sure you’re ready for this?”
She knew what he was really asking. Was she ready for the death that would ensue? “I haven’t been ready for any of this from the second it began—it doesn’t really matter. Are you ready to go home?”
His eyes turned to flint as his arm dropped from her waist. “Very ready. Is it safe to go?”
“Yes. The others should be waiting for us by the main door.”
As they headed down the hall, Alcander kept his hands to himself. Out of respect for Emane, Kiora was grateful, but she longed to reach out for him. Stop it, she thought. You are about to storm the Tavean castle. You need to focus. You can think about the beautiful prince when it is all over.
At Kiora’s approach, the beetles chirped and hurried forward, leading them through the tunnel. Her boots were thick with mud that stuck like glue by the time they got to the top.
The beetles passed through the wall that held them back last night. Kiora cautiously stuck her arm out, not anxious to repeat the face-plant of yesterday. Her arm went straight through.
“It’s open,” she announced.
The temple room was nearly destroyed from Jasmine’s wrath. The painting of the Dragon Queen was obliterated and the altars were smashed to pieces.
Arturo, we are ready to go, she thought.
Kiora! Jasmine destroyed the enclosure you put up. All of your threads are in the open!
Kiora’s heart raced. They had to get out. “Go!” she sho
uted, pulling at Emane’s arm. “We have to go. The enclosure is gone.”
They raced up the stairs just as Arturo landed. A battle cry rose from over the hill as masters of the slave camp poured forward, magic shots volleying out before them.
“Drustan, shift!” Kiora cried, throwing a shield. Alcander threw another shield to protect their flank. “Arturo and I will be right behind you.” Red and green magic sizzled across the shields.
Lomay climbed on Drustan’s scaly back. “We must stop the volleys or the bubble will pop before we get off the ground.”
“I will take care of it.” Kiora climbed onto Arturo. “Alcander, shield them until I am up and then go.”
Alcander took over the shield as Arturo and Kiora rose. She pushed out a separate shield in front of them as they flew toward the attackers.
Right here, Kiora thought to Arturo. He stopped, keeping their place with slow wing flaps.
Kiora called the wind to her. It responded immediately to her pull. Gathering it around her, she dropped the shield, sending the whirlwind rushing forward. It bowled over the attackers as if they weighed nothing, sending them head over heels. Lomay put up the bubble.
Some of the Taveans immediately rose to their feet, harnessing the same wind she had thrown at them and turned it back toward her.
You are not the only one with the ability to control wind, Arturo snapped as he struggled to keep them aloft against the wind attack coming from every direction.
Kiora added more wind to what she had already sent, pushing it back with more force than she knew she had. Before the wind reached its target, she threw a bubble. “Go!” she shouted. “Before they send it back.”
Arturo sped forward. Kiora looked over her shoulder to see the Taveans struggling back up the hill, sending small, twisting tunnels of wind zipping across the land in search of them.
She watched as the whirlwinds grew smaller in the distance, making sure that Lomay and the others had indeed made it out. Moving around deep in evil’s territory was proving more difficult than she had anticipated.
CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE
Heading For Tavea
THAT WAS TOO EASY, Arturo thought.
