Vortex Chronicles: The Complete Series

by Kova, Elise

  “What’s that?”

  “What we want to show you.” Deneya walked ahead this time.

  “About a month ago, we came across this.” Taavin pointed.

  They stopped at another opening in the cliffs. Water roared out of the mouth of a cave in giant splashes, foaming with white, and racing to the sea. All of the other openings had water flowing in from the ocean. But this one was like a giant spigot someone had long forgotten to turn off.

  “Some kind of spring, or waterfall created by mountain run-off?”

  “We thought that too since the water is icy and fresh,” Deneya said.

  “But look closer.” Taavin pointed to something wedged between the rocks just under the water’s surface. It was a speck of gold, shining in the moonlight.

  Vi crossed over and knelt down. Reaching into the chilly water, she retrieved a coin from where it had been stuck for what appeared to be a long time, judging by its worn surface. Vi flipped it over in her fingers, summoning a mote of flame to see by. On the side of the coin that had not been blasted by water for years, an imprint was still legible.

  “Solaris,” she murmured. But this was not a coin used by the Solaris Empire. “The Kingdom of Solaris.” Vi stood. Now that she knew what to look for, dozens more flashes of gold illuminated the night. “Then this means…” She turned her gaze back toward the sheer rocks. Vi could think of only one way ancient treasure would be collecting here—Adela’s stolen gold was somewhere close. The treasure, and the crystal crown, had never left the Dark Isle. “We should go into the caves tonight.”

  “I wanted to when we found it a month ago. He wanted to wait for you.” Deneya gave Taavin a look. Vi’s attention went to the man as well.

  “You didn’t need to do that.”

  “You are the Champion. It is your right to find and protect the crystal weapons.” The sentiment was sweet, even if it made Vi tremble with agitation.

  “Then we go now.”

  “Henrietta’s crew will be docked in the caves. It’s not safe to go through them now. We could risk altering something in the flow of fate that would result in a new Champion not being born.”

  “I am the flow of fate!” The words burst from her with a ferocity Vi didn’t know she possessed. Taavin and Deneya both gaped at her. Vi pushed slick strands of hair from her face, fighting to compose herself. “We are trying to stop the world from ending. This is it; this is our chance. We get the crown now—we know where it is. Even if we change things, we will have all we need to stop the world from ending. All of the other crystal weapons are waiting for us. A new Champion doesn’t need to be reborn.”

  “And if you fail?” Taavin stepped forward.

  “I won’t.”

  “If you do?” he repeated. “Are you ready to condemn every man and woman on this earth to death? Are you prepared to know that you alone were responsible for the end of light and life? Are you ready to usher in an age of darkness from where there is no return?”

  “Taavin, that’s enough,” Deneya said gently. But Taavin didn’t back down. He continued to lock eyes with her in an outright challenge.

  “I won’t fail,” she repeated, though her voice was weaker than it had been a moment before.

  “Guarantee me you won’t,” Taavin demanded. Vi was silent. It was a promise she couldn’t make. “Guarantee it!” His voice echoed off the cliffs, briefly overpowering the waves.

  Another shout of frustration struggled to rise from her throat. All Vi let escape was a meek, “I can’t.”

  “Then we do as I say.” Taavin put his back to her and stalked away.

  Vi glared at his back, her eyes burning with frustrated tears. What was the point? She wanted to ask. What was the point of any of it if they weren’t willing to take risks?

  Clearly, she didn’t have an answer. She fell into step behind him, and didn’t speak another word about the crown.

  Chapter Fourteen

  Vi should be exhausted. After being up half the night and sneaking back onto the Lady Black, she’d only managed a few hours of shuteye. But she was up and tending to her duties, more alert than ever.

  Her spat with Taavin was still mostly unresolved. At least, it felt unresolved. They hadn’t spoken for the rest of the night.

  Vi finished swabbing the deck and looked out to the cliffs. The crown was there. It had to be. She took a deep breath. One more week, and the Lady Black would leave without her. She would go get the crown, and then… What?

  Her path forward seemed murky and uncertain. Taavin was the only person in the world who could shake her like this.

  “Drop the rope ladder!” the guard on the deck called up, distracting her from her thoughts.

  Another of her shipmates looked at her and Vi gave him a nod, a non-verbal, I got this. Hopefully this would be the head of the city guard here to make his check. He would find out that everything matched up, since the Lady Black’s illegal cargo had been offloaded days ago.

  She crossed over to the railing, adjusting her braids to look over at who was coming to call. All the air in the world vanished.

  Three men stared up at her: the young prince Baldair, Erion Le’Dan, and a familiar set of dark eyes that Vi would have known anywhere. She knew them as well as her father’s because another version of this man, in a lost world, had been like her father. Tears stung her eyes as emotions bubbled up that Vi couldn’t contain.

  Jax.

  “Don’t just gawk, girl. This is an Imperial prince who’s waiting on you,” the guard scolded, jostling Vi from her shock. She knelt down and tossed the rope ladder over the side of the ship.

  Vi rushed over to Cole’s cabin. “Prince Baldair is here,” she said hastily.

  “What the—oh, by the Mother’s love,” he grumbled. “All right you lot, all hands on deck,” Cole commanded. The crew lined up in their usual places for greeting Twintle.

  Vi fidgeted as the three men tipped over the railing, landing on the deck with small bounces. She forced herself to stay still, pushing her emotions away.

  “They sent a prince to inspect my goods?” Cole tilted his head to the side.

  “It should be an honor to have the attention of an Imperial prince,” Erion retorted. Even though Vi had only met his father briefly in Norin, she could see so much of Richard Le’Dan in him. But his blue eyes were that of a Southerner. She’d told Richard he’d learn to love the South. It looked like she’d been right.

  “Oh, I’m honored. I just don’t want to waste your time.” Cole chuckled and spread out his arms. “I’m Captain Dower, and it’s a pleasure to meet you, Prince Baldair. Let’s settle this matter behind us. My cabin is this way. I’ll let you review my logs and written inventory, complete with signatures all the way from Norin.”

  “My prince,” Erion started as Cole was leading them to the cabin. “May I propose we go with the good captain while Jax goes directly to the hold? We can check at the same time.”

  “Good suggestion,” Cole said, knowing he had nothing to hide.

  “I leave it to you.” Baldair passed the papers he was holding to Jax.

  “Jax?” Cole stroked his scruff thoughtfully. “Unique name, that. I heard of a man named Jax a few years back. Did something monstrous, somehow didn’t lose his head, and became a dog of the crown instead.”

  Vi bit the inside of her cheek. She saw the flash of hurt in Jax’s eyes at the horrible brand he couldn’t escape, not even in the South. Yet he grinned, pushing the pain away and pulling a mask in place.

  This was certainly the start of the man she’d known as her uncle. But he was rougher, less polished and confident.

  “You caught me! Though you’re a little late, as the crown got me first.”

  “This matter has long been decided and need not to be discussed further,” Baldair said with a firm tone.

  “I don’t know if I want such a man—”

  “If Jax isn’t endeared to you, you only have yourself to blame,” the prince said sharply. Vi barely res
isted cheering. “I trust Jax to do the right thing more than any other guard in this city.”

  Jax took the last of the papers from the prince and asked, “Where’s this cargo hold?”

  “Louis, you show him,” Cole said, starting for his cabin.

  Vi struggled to resist the urge to do it herself. But she had no reason to insist she be the one to show him. Violet didn’t know this man.

  So she was left standing uncomfortably as Louis led Jax below decks to the dark cargo-hold.

  She milled about the deck as she waited, using the time to think. If the prince cleared the ship, she could get off. The ship would offload and be out of port. Then—

  A conversation disrupted her thoughts.

  “Fallen lord, how dare he step foot on this ship.”

  “Henrietta wants us to teach the royal and his lackeys a lesson for poking their noble noses into our business. They’ve been rooting around where they don’t belong since they got to Oparium and hosted that little soirée of theirs.”

  Someone shh-ed. “Don’t say her name so loudly.”

  “They’re going to find out if they keep investigating.”

  Vi strolled over to the railing to get closer to the whisperers without looking suspicious.

  “Stay calm and don’t act rashly.”

  “Twintle doesn’t pay us enough for this.”

  The conversation was between some of Henrietta’s crew and Dower’s. Usually, a few of Henrietta’s crew stayed with the ship after they traded off the rubies. They were there to make sure that everything went according to plan—that was all the explanation Vi ever got.

  Movement distracted her. She saw Joyce walking down into the hold. Vi pushed away from the railing as magic rippled the air. The last thing Vi saw was dagger of ice in the woman’s hand.

  At the same time, Dower’s door opened.

  The next few seconds unfolded as the world slowed to a fraction of its speed. Magic ignited below deck while Joyce retreated above. Vi lifted her hands and blocked the woman’s path with fire. Joyce had gone rogue.

  Vi’s fire melted away with a hiss of steam as water pushed against it. A trident made of ice appeared in Joyce’s hand and she lunged. Vi clamped her mouth shut so Lightspinning didn’t escape.

  She could go for the rest of her life without ever seeing an ice trident again. Joyce dropped her other hand, spreading ice across the deck, slowing the rest of them as she launched herself over the railing.

  “Stop her!” Jax shouted as he emerged from below, alight with fire. He threw himself over the railing in hot pursuit of Joyce.

  Vi followed on instinct.

  They pushed through the crowds on the docks, already dissolving into panic. Vi watched Joyce cut down any who stood in her way. Behind her, Vi could hear Erion and Baldair shouting, but she worked to keep up with Jax. Instinct told her to do so above all else.

  They rounded market streets, not far from the hovel. Joyce headed down a side alley and Vi was just close enough to see Jax disappear through an illusion in a cliff-side. Sprinting over, Vi ran her hands along the surface of the wall; sure enough, they sank through a misty illusion concealing a narrow passage.

  She plunged through.

  “Stop and I might make this painless for you,” Jax’s voice echoed ahead. Vi pushed her feet harder as magic erupted.

  The narrow passage opened up into a cavern that had an interior cliff with a sheer drop down to the sea. It was no doubt one of the openings she’d seen the night before, with Taavin and Deneya. White hot flames assaulted Joyce as she levied a volley of ice spears with a wave her hand. Jax lifted his arms on instinct. Vi did the same, bringing a thin veil of flames to cover them both.

  “What’re you doing here?” He blinked at her.

  “Helping you!” Vi shouted back. “I’ll keep her pinned, you kill her!”

  With a scream, Jax lunged forward for Joyce, fire alight. He missed his target. Vi watched him twist and Joyce caught his leg, ice coating his foot.

  He certainly wasn’t the skilled combatant he’d been in Vi’s time—at least, not yet.

  “You never should’ve chased me.” Joyce looked to her with a snarl. Then turned to Jax. “You shouldn’t have gone asking about Adela Lagmir.”

  Joyce pushed Jax away and his arms pinwheeled. Vi caught him, helping right him, but let go just as quickly to lunge for Joyce with flames alight.

  The Waterrunner parried her blow for blow. Vi had spent decades learning and perfecting her Lightspinning. Her Firebearing had improved naturally with her combat instincts, but she wasn’t nearly as good with it.

  If only she could use her chants.

  “I’m not letting you go,” Vi growled, throwing a ball of fire.

  “Petulant child.”

  Jax was all flaming hands and feet as he rejoined the battle. He was more of a liability than a help in such close proximity. Vi found herself dodging his attacks as frequently as she was avoiding Joyce’s.

  The awkward dance distracted her and Jax reached out, searing a spear of ice that was meant for her. Vi’s breath hitched. He’d overextended and left himself exposed. Joyce impaled him to the hilt on an icy weapon and Vi bit back a cry of agony on Jax’s behalf.

  This could still be salvaged. If she let his consciousness fade due to blood loss then she could use her Lightspinning to finish off Joyce and heal him. Assuming Jax didn’t die in the gamble.

  “What a noble soldier,” Joyce sneered as Jax coughed blood. “You shouldn’t have gone looking for the pirate queen if you didn’t want to find her.” Joyce pushed him away and Jax staggered backward.

  Vi stepped forward. Joyce levied a spear of ice against her. Vi melted it and uttered, “Juth calt.”

  Two simple words, and Joyce was dead with a flash of light. Now, for Jax. Vi was just in time to see him stumble back into the open air beyond the cliff. Gravity mercilessly pulled the dying man down into the dark waters below.

  “Jax!” Vi screamed, lunging into that void as well. She would not let him die.

  Saltwater went straight up her nose and Vi surfaced, sputtering and looking around frantically for Jax. The tide was heading out—her first lucky break. They wouldn’t be pushed deeper into the Caverns.

  A lifeless body rolled over in the currents, dipping below the surface.

  “Yargen above, don’t you dare die on me,” Vi snarled. Looking behind her, she said a quick “Kot sorre.” The glyph pushed on the water, giving them forward momentum.

  As she tumbled in the waves she made, Vi reached for Jax. Dark waters, swirling with blood, surrounded her. Sand crunched beneath her feet as she found footing. Her elbows scraped against pebbles and rocks.

  Her arms closed around the man and she pulled him to her. Vi tipped her head back, surfacing for air, clutching onto him for dear life. She gasped as they beached on one of the rocky shores she’d walked with Taavin and Deneya only a night before.

  The wound was bad. Jax was coated in blood. But his heartbeat was weak and fluttering under her fingers. Water gurgled up from his throat as his lungs struggled to inflate.

  Vi closed her eyes, dipping her chin down as she laid her hands over his chest. She could feel the man’s shaky breaths, his struggling body, his quivering magic, his fleeting life. She could see it all as clearly as she’d seen Taavin’s body, inside and out, when she’d made it.

  “Halleth ruta sot,” she whispered. Glyphs illuminated her hands. She opened her eyes, both seeing and feeling his skin mending.

  “Halleth ruta toff,” Vi continued. She moved deliberately, as if guided by an unseen teacher. Light and skin merged, weaving together and becoming one. Vi gave herself to instinct and her body moved as though it were no longer her own.

  It was afternoon when she finally finished the job. Vi looked up at the young man. She reminded herself for the dozenth time in a few hours that this was not her Jax.

  But… she would look after him to honor the memory of the Jax she’d known. He had spent the
latter half of his life looking after her. Even if this Jax had nothing to do with the man who had made that sacrifice, Vi would look after him. She would repay that favor as best she could.

  Vi twisted and sat with a sigh. She wiped the salt water that mixed with sweat from her eyes—certainly, these were not tears from emotions she didn’t have names for—and looked out to sea. Jax slumbered at her side, breathing steadily; Vi would wait for him to wake naturally. She’d monitor him. And when he was ready, they would take on Henrietta’s crew together.

  * * *

  A sigh at her side had Vi stopping the tune she’d been humming. She didn’t know where she’d heard the song, or where it came from. Phantom memories that didn’t quite feel like her own paraded through her head as she’d sat watching the waves, thoughts and visions that scattered like rats as Jax stirred.

  “The Mother did not want you yet,” Vi said faintly. Perhaps that was what had allowed her to pull him back from the edge of death—Yargen’s blessing. At the edges of her vision she could see him turning to look at her.

  “You’re the sailor,” he said slowly. Vi nodded in reply. “You saved me?” She merely nodded again. Not going into too much detail was for the best. “Where are we?”

  “I don’t know exactly.” Though Vi had a very good suspicion. “We got dumped out here after you fell off the ledge and I went in after you.”

  Jax finally sat and Vi paid careful attention to his movements. Luckily, nothing seemed out of sorts. She watched as he inspected the holes in his clothing, pressing on newly mended flesh.

  “How long was I out for?”

  “A few hours.”

  “How did you heal me?”

  Vi fought a smirk at that question. “Magic,” she answered coyly. He stared at her, disbelieving, and Vi laughed. He’d never understand Lightspinning, and she wouldn’t tell him. “Fine, fine, I had a salve on me. So you’re doubly lucky I was here,” she lied.