Riders of the Realm #3

by Jennifer Lynn Alvarez

  “Daakurans built the fortress for the Fifth Clan,” I’Lenna explained. “Only queens know how to use the magnets. Reyella would have learned the secret from her mother, but my mother doesn’t know, since she wasn’t born to the Fifth and didn’t, you know, inherit the throne.” I’Lenna swallowed those last words, guilt rising in her chest for what Lilliam had done to Feylah’s mom.

  “How did you find out then?” Feylah asked, her golden eyes piercing.

  “I found an old set of Fort Prowl’s plans in a Daakuran museum,” I’Lenna answered. “I wanted to find my room on the plans, and while I was looking for it, I noticed the tunnels and false fireplace doors. The magnet part I figured out later. Daakurans use them a lot, so when I couldn’t find a key or keyhole to open the doors, I tried this magnet my little sister bought for me when I was seven.”

  “I see.” The two girls studied each other a moment.

  “What’s taking so long?” Brauk whispered, interrupting them.

  I’Lenna tucked the blackstone necklace back into her dress and turned to the group. “The gate’s open,” she said.

  They all pressed into the tunnel, fighting the rushing current. Tully grabbed Feylah’s hand as the water pushed the child off her feet. Within moments, it was too deep for any of them to walk through. I’Lenna struck out, paddling like a dog. The group swam against the current and the passageway grew dimmer. “Keep going,” I’Lenna urged.

  The stone walls wept rainwater, and moss slicked the sides of the tunnel. After snaking through the long watery passageway, they finally reached a ledge pathway above the water level. The group pulled themselves onto it to rest and dry out.

  “I keep a tinderbox and candles tucked away in several landing spots,” I’Lenna said, feeling along the wall until her fingers located a natural depression. She found the box and handed it to Tully, who was closest to her. “Will you light it?” she asked. Her injured thumb prevented dexterous work like starting fires.

  Tully struck the flint against the steel. It took a few tries, but soon he shot a spark that set the tinder burning. He blew softly on the flame and when it swelled, he lit candles, handing one to each of them. The firelight blinded them after the darkness of the lower tunnels.

  The group was above the waterline now and the ledge path was slippery as they resumed walking. I’Lenna whispered directions. “Turn right. Now left. Watch your heads. Go straight.”

  Ossi grunted when her arm smacked against a protruding rock. Her candle fell and extinguished, then rolled away. I’Lenna’s small flame battled hard against the darkness, casting dim light.

  “I think that passage leads to the Eighth Tower,” I’Lenna said, pointing at a hoof-shaped tunnel carved off the main passageway. “It’s been years since I explored it.” Truth was, the mostly deserted prison tower had always frightened I’Lenna.

  Ducking, the group entered the passageway and slowed as they encountered a circular ascending walkway. “This is it,” I’Lenna said, “the Eighth Tower.”

  They passed several false fireplace doors. “These lead to the guards’ quarters,” she whispered. “We won’t be able to access the prison cells directly, since they don’t have fireplaces, but if we can find a set of keys in one of these guards’ rooms, we can unlock the cells from the main hallway.”

  Brauk chose the closest secret door and tried to pry it open. Thaan and Tully rushed to help.

  “I’ll open it,” I’Lenna whispered. “But be careful. It might not be empty.” She took a breath and unlocked the hinged back of the fireplace with her magnet. The guard’s room was vacant and they crept into the small chamber.

  A bed, a dresser, a chair, and an aged table stood against each wall. Thick furs covered the floor. The bedcovers were rumpled, and a few items of clothing—a pair of sandals and worn tunics—were scattered around the room. Brauk, Ossi, Mut, and Tam rifled through the guard’s belongings, looking for keys.

  A large man charged into the room. “Ay, what’s this?”

  Brauk shot up and struck the guard with the back of his elbow, knocking him unconscious before he could draw his weapon. The man toppled. Thaan and Tully quickly searched his pockets and found keys. The others let out their breath.

  A woman’s voice drifted toward them from the hallway leading to the cells. “Who’s there?” she asked, her voice muffled. “What’s going on?”

  “It’s Tuni,” Brauk whispered. He raced into the hallway toward the sound of the Headwind’s voice and located her cell. I’Lenna and the others followed

  “Brauk?” Tuni whispered.

  He nodded, unlocked her door with the keys, and dragged her into a breathless embrace. “Are you hurt?” Brauk touched her face and stroked her hair. His golden eyes swept over her. I’Lenna and the others held back, watching.

  “I’m fine,” Tuni rasped.

  But she didn’t look fine. Her dark-red hair hung limp, her face was pinched, and her clothing hung off her body, frayed and torn. She looked years older since Harak arrested her and a Sandwen soldier shot her Flier with an arrow. I’Lenna had heard that Rizah was as good as dead.

  Tuni’s once-sparkling brown eyes, now as dull as mud, swept up Brauk’s legs. “You’re walking?”

  “Yeah,” he said, lips curving gently. “I’Lenna gave me the Queen’s Elixir.”

  Tuni smiled wanly at I’Lenna, then leaned against Brauk, her voice tight. “Get me out of here,” she said. “Please, get all of us out of here.”

  “We’re working on it,” he said, kissing the top of her head.

  Feylah interrupted them. “Where are the other rebels?”

  Tuni gaped at the girl, the female replica of Brauk and Rahkki, and pointed. “That way.”

  “Let’s release them,” Feylah said, and exited the chamber.

  “Turns out I have a sister,” Brauk said, smiling, and Tuni’s eyes lit with a hope that Brauk quickly extinguished. “My mother didn’t survive. I’ll explain later, let’s go.”

  The group raced out and jogged up the hallway, with Thaan using the keys they’d retrieved off the prison guard to unlock the iron doors. Captured rebels from both the Sky Guard and Land Guard armies poured out of their cells. Grateful expressions marked their thin faces and soft cheers erupted from their lips.

  As they prepared to return to the tunnels, Tully spoke. “Hold up. Does anyone smell smoke?”

  I’Lenna scented the air. Yes, she smelled it—smoke. “Where’s it coming from?”

  “The tunnels are blocked,” Brauk cried. “Someone has started a fire in them.”

  Now I’Lenna heard voices. “Add more wood, smoke the vermin out, yeah.” It was Harak. “My man followed you to these tunnels, Darthan,” he snarled. “Did you think you could fool my guards? Hunting? What a lie, yeah? Everyone knows you’re not starving on that farm of yours.”

  Darthan’s hands crushed into fists and disappointment lined his face.

  “I’ve got soldiers at the main entrance and fire in the tunnels. You’re trapped,” Harak snarled.

  “If we don’t get out of here, we’ll die,” Brauk said, beginning to cough.

  I’Lenna’s voice cracked as she spoke. “You heard him—soldiers are waiting for us at the main door and we can’t go back the way we came. The windows are the only way out, but we’re too high up to jump.”

  Tully glanced outside. “She’s right. Can we get lower?”

  “I hear you talking, you traitors!” Harak shouted.

  Far below, his soldiers threw open the main door to the Eighth Tower and began tromping up the spiral stairs. I’Lenna’s group could not get lower and the smoke was billowing deeper into the hall. “We are truly trapped,” Darthan said, also coughing now. They all lifted their tunics and shirts and tried to cover their faces.

  Tuni spoke, her eyes watering. “Break open the shutters. We need fresh air.”

  The freed rebels grabbed old chairs and stools and used them to batter open the shuttered windows in the main outer hallway. A sudden
draft of air swept toward them all.

  “But how will we get out?” asked a rebel Rider. “We can’t scale the tower walls without rope.”

  Feylah sheathed her sword. “I have an idea; we’ll fly out. I’ll call my stallion. Ossi, you yell for Mut. We need him to bring those wild steeds here.”

  Feylah leaned out the window and whistled for Drael. Brauk called for Kol, and Ossi shouted Mut’s name. Their whistles and cries carried over the drenched forestland. A fortress guard, seeing smoke pouring from the Eighth Tower, began to clang the alarm bells. Ringing noise ruptured the cool night air, waking sleepy villagers and rousing unaware guards.

  “So much for a secret rescue,” Brauk said.

  Meanwhile, smoke from the tunnels continued to fill the hallways. I’Lenna leaned out the broken-shuttered window. “Firo! Firo!” she shouted. The roan mare had saved her when Rahkki had pushed her off the cliff at Mount Crim. Surely the mare would save her again!

  Brauk joined her, whistling and yelling for Kol.

  “Do you think the Kihlari can hear us?” I’Lenna asked, choking on smoke.

  “If not, we’ll have to fight our way out.”

  They’d come so far; it couldn’t end like this! The two yelled louder and watched the sky for wings.

  22

  Rescue

  ECHOFROST HAD WATCHED WITH PINNED EARS as I’Lenna and the Landwalkers snuck off and disappeared into the fortress. “What are they doing?” she’d asked.

  No steed answered because no one knew what the Landwalkers were doing. Mut and Tam had stayed behind, but she couldn’t ask them.

  Echofrost paced. Since landing here and getting captured, she’d been frustrated by her inability to communicate with the Sandwens. And now, watching them creep toward danger and not knowing why, her stomach churned with worry. If they were caught and imprisoned, how would they rescue Rahkki from the giants? She pranced in small circles to ease her mind.

  Hazelwind assigned sentries to watch for dragons and other predators, and the rest of the pegasi grazed to ease their nerves. Mut whittled a branch with his hunting knife, and Tam leaned against a rubberwood tree. Dewberry’s twins suckled. “Do the foals look thin to you?” Echofrost whispered to Hazelwind.

  He peered at her through his thick, matted forelock. “You’re worrying.”

  “Of course I am,” she said, stamping her hoof. She faced north, toward Anok. “What do you think is going on at home? Do you think Star won the final battle against Nightwing? Do you think Anok is safe?”

  Hazelwind swallowed. “Do you want to return home?”

  “No. I’m just . . . frustrated. I feel blind.”

  “Maybe after we settle, Redfire could ride the jet streams home and find out what’s happening there,” Hazelwind suggested.

  “Yes. That’s a good idea,” Echofrost nickered. She resumed prancing, her hooves splashing in pools of rainwater that the soaked soil could no longer absorb. The usual clatter of insects, birds, and monkeys seemed subdued by the rain, which had lessened to a soft drizzle.

  Graystone preened his feathers, Shysong grazed, and the twins continued to nurse while Dewberry drowsed. Shysong pricked her ears. “I hear I’Lenna calling.”

  The pegasi lifted their heads.

  The whistle sound came again, sharp and coasting over the trees.

  “Feylah is calling too,” Drael whinnied.

  Alerted by the swiveling ears of the pegasi, Mut and Tam stood and listened. “I think I hear my sister,” Mut said.

  Graystone neighed. “There’s smoke rising over the fortress.”

  “Formation,” Hazelwind whinnied. The pegasi galloped together.

  “Mount up,” Mut said to Tam. “I’ll take Drael, you ride Kol. Something’s wrong at the tower.” He climbed onto Drael’s saddle and urged him into the sky. For a brief moment, Mut’s entire face lit up with a white-toothed grin. “I’m flying!”

  Tam leaped atop Kol and followed him into the sky. “How do I steer?” he cried.

  “I don’t know,” Mut said, tugging on Drael’s reins. “Like you would a horse, I guess.”

  Behind them, the Storm Herd pegasi lifted off and followed the two teens. The moon’s gentle rays set their rain-washed feathers aglow as they all cruised over the treetops.

  “That tower looks like it’s on fire!” Graystone whinnied.

  Echofrost squinted and her focus sharpened. She spied Princess I’Lenna and Rahkki’s sister leaning out a high window, waving their arms. Smoke billowed around them. More Landwalkers leaned out of other windows that spiraled around the tower. Desperation rounded their eyes.

  “That’s the rebel army that Harak imprisoned,” Echofrost whinnied.

  “Whatever I’Lenna’s plan was, I think it failed,” Dewberry said, adding a haughty flick of her tail. She flew low with her foals fluttering beside her, their eyes huge in the darkness.

  “We’re going to have to fly the Landwalkers out,” Echofrost said. “Keep the twins away from the smoke.”

  The pegasi flinched.

  “This is the army that will free Rahkki,” she whinnied. “Let’s get them down from there.”

  Hazelwind nickered agreement and the herd swooped toward the tower, the wind screaming through their feathers. On the ground, villagers swarmed out of their huts. “Kihlari!” they shouted.

  I’Lenna’s lips curved into a huge grin when she spied her mare rocketing toward her. “Firo!”

  The trapped Landwalkers cheered and Echofrost studied the disaster ahead of her. The Sandwens might be able to tame fire, but it seemed they’d lost control of this one. She pinned her ears. So they weren’t all-powerful; she stored that information away.

  Storm Herd whisked around the tower, their wings sweeping the hard stone walls. Rebel warriors stood on windowsills, ready to jump.

  “Here,” I’Lenna called.

  Shysong darted to the sill and I’Lenna leaped onto her back. Rahkki’s sister landed behind Mut, riding Drael double. They soared out of the way, allowing room for new steeds to approach and catch the next Landwalkers. All around the tower, people jumped onto the backs of pegasi.

  Echofrost spotted a female with dark-red hair and recognized Tuni. Smoke stung Echofrost’s eyes and drifted down her throat as she coasted toward the woman. Tuni’s eyelids sprang wide. “Sula!” The silver mare dropped below the windowsill and Tuni jumped, landing hard on Echofrost’s spine. Echofrost spun out of control.

  Tuni purred encouragement into Echofrost’s ears and, using her body as a counterbalance, she helped Echofrost right herself. They cruised toward the heights.

  Bells clanged from the fortress, drawing the rest of the clan. “FIRE!” a guard screamed. Soldiers, Riders, and villagers raced to form two lines from Leshi Creek to Fort Prowl. Buckets were dunked into the raging waters and passed person to person down the line.

  The Sky Guard Riders and Fliers cast nasty glances at the escaping prisoners, but the fire was the larger threat. The entire fortress could burn if they didn’t put it out. More soldiers raced inside the Eighth Tower, attacking the flames from within.

  Harak Nightseer staggered out of a lower tower door, covered in soot. He collapsed, coughing and screaming. His ash-filled yellow hair puffed around his face like a lion’s mane. The Borla came with a stretcher and Harak shoved him away. His eyes drifted up and spotted the escaping rebels. He spit ashes from his mouth, his green eyes blazing.

  Tuni’s legs gripped Echofrost as she twisted around. “I’ll be back for you, Harak Nightseer!” she screamed at him.

  The pegasi and the rebels banked left and flew toward the southern mountains, allowing Tuni to lead the way.

  “When we’re out of sight, turn west,” Brauk told her. He had landed on Graystone. The white stallion flew with pinned ears, and Echofrost felt sudden, overwhelming gratitude for his help.

  Behind them, the fire raged. The villagers, land soldiers, and Riders worked together, shouting instructions and tossing water on the flames. No
one could risk leaving the fire to chase Storm Herd. As soon as they were out of sight, Tuni urged Echofrost to bank right and fly west, away from the sun that had just begun to rise over Mount Crim.

  23

  The Team

  “RAHKKI, WAKE UP!” IT WAS BRIM’S VOICE, AND she was shaking him.

  “I’m awake,” he said, wiping his crusty eyes. Dawn light streaked through the cracks in the horse stall where he’d slept. Tak roused also and stretched his golden wings.

  “Sula and her friends are back,” Brim said.

  Rahkki sat up and swayed. “What? Where?” he cried.

  Brim twitched with excitement. “I’Lenna and your brother broke the rebels out of the Eighth Tower just before dawn. Sula and her herd helped them.”

  “Wait.” He blinked, confused. “Did you say my brother? How? He can’t walk.”

  “He’s healed!” Brim paced the floor, trousers swishing.

  Rahkki threw off his blankets. “Why didn’t you wake me sooner?”

  “I wasn’t here. I left to spread the word about the giants. Then Harak’s soldiers stopped me. They were questioning every single person in the village about the breakout. Harak is beside himself. He’s shouting at his army, the villagers, even at the queen. He’s cracking, Rahkki.”

  Rahkki swallowed. “Everything is happening so fast. Which way did my brother fly?”

  “Witnesses said he flew south, but once he was out of sight, he could have gone anywhere.”

  Rahkki glanced from the stall, back to Brim, and then looked down at himself. He noticed an old pair of boots next to the cot, about his size.

  “Those are for you,” Brim explained, nodding toward his filthy bare feet.

  He pulled them on and left the stall, which opened to Brim’s clinic. Confusion had scattered his thoughts. “So, Brauk is walking?”

  “Not just walking, he’s flying Kol.” Brim’s cherry cheeks rounded as she smiled. “Once the rebels regroup, they’ll come back and fight Harak and Lilliam. I know it. The villagers are preparing, sharpening hunting knives, whittling new spears, stockpiling what food they can.” Brim’s excitement wilted with her next comment. “The timing is terrible for a Gorlan attack.”