Our party heads into the woods toward where Fiona sensed the Magi were hiding with the locator spell, all while I keep an eye on our backs. My stomach tightens. Dawn creeps across the edges of the sky, every scrap of light bringing us closer to destruction. And something fizzes in the air—an accumulation of magic.
Then, we see them: the Magi march toward where the metal forest meets the plains, much closer to the walls than I expected. They’re not bothering to hide under a shield now because they’re preparing to cast their spell. They must reserve their magic for that.
It’s going to get them killed.
Suddenly, a hot plume of rage bursts through me.
Darian, wearing Isaiah’s face, stands in front of the gathered Magi not far from the city gates. The guard houses are abandoned, which of course he knows. All the soldiers are trapped in the aqueducts waiting for a cue they won’t be able to heed now that they’re sealed inside.
Aro is bound and gagged, propped up to Darian/Isaiah’s right.
I’m glad I’m not alone. It’s no longer just me and my sister. We’ve gained allies. True ones, not spies out to deceive. As I take in my gathered friends, pride swells within my chest. Each member of the Alchemist Alliance we’ve brought together has a unique talent, something necessary they bring to the table. And I’m grateful that every single one of them is here.
Because if I were facing down a hundred Magi—and who knows how many Technocrats who could find their way out of the aqueducts at any moment—on my own, I’d be done for. As special as my magic may be, it was never meant to be used alone.
Our real power lies in the mission that binds us together, stronger than any metal alloy.
The noise coming from the city reaches a fever pitch, drawing my attention. For a moment I see a flash of metal in the sky, illuminated by the breaking dawn. Then the southern gates crumble with an earsplitting roar as an enormous mechanical elephant barrels through, knocking over several Magi—including Darian/Isaiah—in the process.
More giant mechs follow the elephant—a horse with a mechanical whinny, a lion, and a bear. They halt next to the elephant, their bejeweled eyes boring down on the gathered Magi who’ve scattered back into the metal trees. Two small figures appear beside the mechs—Leon and Vivienne. Behind them, the hum of people grows louder, and curious faces peek out from around the corner of the now-destroyed city gates. Some are Technocrats, but many are Magi we freed. Leon and Vivienne must’ve raided the storehouse where the huge mechanimals from the annual Victory Parade are housed and released them, sending them clomping through the city streets to wake everyone up. And our Magi allies knew it had to be our doing.
Just as the shocked silence seems ready to break, a huge, shining form rises over the city, swooping up and over the tops of the buildings. Its wide steel wings flap, sending blasts of air across the rooftops along with a metallic roar. Here and there I catch a glimpse of a figure on its back—one with bright red hair. The mechdragon makes another circuit of the city, seemingly determined to wake every single person who lives in Palinor.
Owen lets out a whoop, and I almost burst out laughing. Instead I throw my arms around Catoria, nearly knocking the older woman over in the process. “You brought the mechdragon!”
She gives me a sly smile as she extricates herself from my surprise embrace. “It was the fastest way to travel. And I thought, given the circumstances, it might prove more useful here than guarding the Sanctuary.”
“Where the Anvil did you hide such a thing?”
“When I arrived, I simply sunk it in the eastern forest. I knew either you or your sister could raise it later.”
Darian regains his footing and shouts commands to the Magi. They’re gearing up to attack Leon and Vivienne and any Technocrat bystanders. We need to put a stop to this right away.
I address the Magi we freed tonight. “Those Technocrats are not our enemies, despite what you may have been groomed to believe. Only people like Darian are, the ones who seek to hoard power and abuse it. You’ve all sworn allegiance to the Alchemist Alliance. If we ever want to be free from this cycle of cruelty, this is the time for us to stand.”
While they’re understandably wary of the enormous mechs, the freed Magi are brave. We lead them forward to form a small but steady line between the Magi and the Technocrats. The other Alliance Magi who were hiding in the city join us, increasing our ranks. But we’re still vastly outnumbered.
“Friends!” I cry to the other Magi. “Don’t be afraid. Please, just listen to what we have to say.” Murmurs ripple through their ranks and the Technocrats behind us.
“Do not heed their words,” Darian/Isaiah says over the burgeoning whispers. “These are the traitors I warned you about. They’ve betrayed their own kind and now stand with our enemies.” He points in my direction. “She even rescued the Technocrat prince, not once but twice!”
Horrified cries break out from the Magi. But then I see a familiar figure. Remy pushes his way through the crowd to stand with us, and I’m so relieved that tears burn behind my eyes.
He clasps my arm in greeting. “Glad you made it,” he says. “I was beginning to worry.”
I pull him closer and whisper into his ear. “Remy, I’m sorry to tell you like this, but . . . Isaiah is actually Darian. He’s been masquerading as your father since the Chambers was destroyed.” Remy’s face darkens, reddening with rage for a moment before he swallows it down, shoving it away to deal with at the right time. First, we have to stop a war.
“Thank you for telling me.”
The clomp of metal boots begins to echo across the plains. The guards have discovered a way out of the aqueducts. They may have had to use an exit farther away, but they’re making faster progress toward our tense standoff than I anticipated. More and more stream out of the metal structures every second, forming the lines of war platoons and cutting the Magi off from escape.
Remy addresses the Magi. “These are our friends and fellow Magi. We must heed them.”
As they begin to recognize their friends, some of the Magi shout the names of those we’ve rescued, tinged with surprise and dismay. Others glance between Remy and Darian/Isaiah, confused and unsure.
“Stay strong!” Darian/Isaiah cries. “Do not let their lies twist your resolve. Look!” He points to the quickly approaching Technocrat army. “They have us surrounded. It’s us or them.”
It’s a lie, but a compelling one. To the Magi trapped between the plains, the metal trees, and the crushed city gates now swarming with curious bystanders, it seems like they’ve been cornered.
They lash out accordingly.
Some begin the sinking spell, making the earth tremble beneath our feet. The wards I set in place over the last week hold—for now. I don’t know how long they’ll last. I ran out of time to finish my work. Others throw up defensive spells, like shields.
But far more of them strike at the Technos on all sides. One lobs a blast of fire at Leon and Vivienne, but I cast a water spell quickly enough to head that off.
“Get behind the mechs!” I yell to our Technocrat allies, and Leon does. But not Vivienne. She pulls the staff off her back to defend herself. But her staff can’t protect her from magical attacks. Remy sees this too and puts himself between her and the Magi, fending off any attack spells that come their way. But he needn’t worry too much. Vials full of defensive spells sit in Vivienne’s belt. The first Magi to get past Remy is hit with a sleeping spell.
The rest of the Alliance members do our best to hold the crumbled gates, counterspelling every blast of magic we can. I finally have an opportunity to use my shortsword. It does its job even better than I expected, negating every magical attack on me without fail. Soon, however, the Magi’s full attention is drawn to the Technocrat guards still streaming from the aqueducts. There are at least four or five times as many guards as there are Magi. The threat is real and present. A group of Magi toward the center begin the sinking spell in earnest. The ground trembles forcefully enough to knock the first f
ew rows of Technocrat soldiers off their feet.
“We can’t let them destroy each other,” Catoria says at my side.
Anxiety slides over my skin like ice freezing. We’ve lost control of this fight before it even began. Suddenly the screech of metal in the air grows louder. Zandria and the mechdragon soar over our heads, then swoop down, sending a huge blast of fire into the Technocrat ranks. Many of those Technos do not rise again.
“Zandy, what are you doing?” I scream up at her, but I doubt she can hear me. Killing Technocrats indiscriminately isn’t going to help our cause. It only serves Darian. But at the same time, it did force them to retreat. The mechdragon perches on top of the aqueduct, its snout still smoking.
Catoria, who has been murmuring a spell beside me for some time now, spins the last words of the incantation: “Verra bulle!” The Magi under Darian’s sway are encircled by a giant bubble, blocking them off from the Technocrats. Surprise halts everyone in their tracks for a moment, even Darian/Isaiah, who is stuck outside the dome with Aro.
I don’t waste a second. “You’ve been misled. In more ways than one. First”—I point at Darian—“that man is not Isaiah.” I move my hands, performing the cancelling spell we learned at the Sanctuary, and Darian is stripped of his disguise. He glares at us.
The Magi under the dome who’ve been following him, however, are even less amused. So are the Technocrat guards who’ve re-formed their lines on the plains.
Owen casts an amplification spell so everyone gathered in the woods and plains can hear what we say.
“You thought you were following Isaiah. But Isaiah is dead. Betrayed by Darian Azul, who’s been playing both sides for years. He was leading you into a trap. Those guards? They were hiding in the aqueducts waiting to capture you, all so Darian could experiment on you.”
Remy backs me up. “It’s true. I’ve seen it myself. He’s built a machine that can steal Magi power.”
Our people sound angrier inside their dome.
“Don’t listen to them,” Darian says. He waves his hand and a violent blast of wind sends Catoria flying.
Then chaos breaks loose.
With Catoria down, her spell is interrupted. The Magi are no longer cut off from the Technocrat army, which immediately attacks. Most of the Magi, who seemed confused about who to trust a moment ago, fight back and defend themselves. Beside me, Owen and Remy help Catoria to her feet.
A sharp ache in my temple sends me staggering, knocking into Remy.
Then I double over, pain ricocheting through my gut.
“Aissa!” Vivienne shouts, joining us. “What’s happening?” she asks Remy.
“It’s Darian,” he says, gritting his teeth. “He’s hurting Aro. Because of their bond, it hurts Aissa too.”
“We need to stop him,” Owen says.
A sharp sting pierces my hands. Blood wells up in my palms. Catoria has regained her feet and begins a healing spell over me. But Darian is determined to harm Aro, cutting him up piece by piece. By now, Darian must realize that what he does to Aro impacts me too. And if he hasn’t yet, he will soon.
Metal screeching against metal steals my attention away for the moment. Zandria and the mechdragon have taken off into the air, sending an orange column of flame into the Technos attacking the Magi. They fall back, but the Magi ramp up their magical attacks.
Pain explodes in my face and my nose begins to bleed. Through watering eyes, I can see Aro doubled over too, with Darian hovering over him.
And now he holds a knife.
He doesn’t have to kill Aro in such a fashion. He could do it the way we were trained. The less bloody method with magic. But killing Aro is only half the point. Darian’s angry that Aro isn’t the fool he assumed he was. That he dared question him and ally with me. Darian doesn’t just want Aro to die; he wants him to suffer.
My pulse throbs in my neck, the beat connecting me and Aro ticking off the seconds we have left.
With the entire Magi and Technocrat armies battling between us, there’s no way I can reach him in time.
But someone else can.
Zandria circles the mechdragon around again, this time sending the dragon’s flames toward Darian. I cringe when she does this; Aro could easily be caught in the fire as well, but my sister is nothing if not reckless. Darian sends a plume of water at the dragon, shoving back the flames. Rage and frustration burn over Zandria’s face as she pulls the dragon up and circles over Darian and Aro.
Aro has crawled away as best he can with his hands and feet bound, but Darian stalks toward him again. My palms turn slick as the shadow of the mechdragon passes over us all.
With a sharp cry, the mechdragon speeds down toward Darian. If Zandria keeps up that pace, she’s going to crash and possibly destroy the mech and herself.
Darian sends an attack spell at her—I can’t tell which—but she counters with a spell of her own. Beside me, Owen mutters an incantation, sending his magic spinning across the plains toward Darian. Meanwhile, my sister and the mechdragon bear down on our enemy, her shortsword held aloft as they charge. Darian tries to dodge out of the way, but his movements are now slowed, as if he moves through quicksand, thanks to Owen’s spell. Aro rolls on to his back and uses both feet to kick Darian in the legs, sending him careening toward Zandria and the mechdragon.
Zandria’s shortsword whistles as it arcs through the air, then she banks the flying machine at the last possible moment, its steel wings spread wide, and soars back into the sky.
Darian’s eyes are wide with shocked pain, but unseeing. Blood pours over his clothes from the deep gash in his neck. Then he crumples to the ground and doesn’t rise again.
Everything stops.
Magi and Technocrat alike knew this man, trusted him, and were betrayed by him. Both considered him one of their leaders. Without him, all they have left is the fight and the hate. And maybe, like I realized weeks ago, that can be overcome.
My eyes meet Aro’s across the plains. Cooling relief fills us both. Zandria lands the mechdragon not far from him and cuts the ropes on his wrists and ankles. Then he climbs onto the metal beast’s back too, and they fly to our side of the battlefield to join the rest of the Alliance members.
I throw my arms around both of them—my heart and my family. Darian is gone. But when I look up, it’s clear the problems he caused, the fires he stoked, remain.
“Owen?” I say. “Can you cast the amplification spell again?” He does as I ask.
I address the Technocrats first, both guards and bystanders. “You recognized your Head Scientist, didn’t you? He was really the Magi spymaster. And the man the king and queen entrusted with their secrets. With being their successor . . . but only when their son died.”
One of the guards shouts, “They don’t have any children!”
Aro steps forward. “Yes, they do. I’m their son and the rightful heir. Darian has been trying to kill me for weeks. He murdered my parents earlier this evening. I was the only thing standing in his way to throne.”
“Who can vouch for you?” another guard asks.
Leon comes forward and a hush falls over the Technocrats. Due to his role, a Master Mechanic commands respect. Leon may not have lived the life of a courtier, but that was because he chose not to. Every Technocrat knows who he is.
“He tells the truth. I’ve known him since he was a small boy. Aro was born Heartless, and I was enlisted to personally make his clockwork hearts.”
Murmurs punctuated by shouts roll through the gathered crowd and the Technocrat army.
“He’s Heartless? Then how can he take the throne?” a voice in the crowd calls out. Echoes quickly spread through the woods.
Aro stands up straighter and glances at me. We’ve discussed this moment many times, late at night. We’ve examined it from every angle. Either this will work, or everything will go horribly wrong because of it.
But our peoples have been kept in the dark for too long. It’s time for the truth.
Aro add
resses the crowd again. “While my heart may not be flesh and blood, I no longer require replacements.” He takes my hand. “This woman, a Magi, saved my life. Removed the poisonous havani that once powered my heart and filled it with magic instead, all at great personal risk to herself. My heart will beat as long as she lives.”
Shock descends on the crowd, Techno and Magi alike. Then voices erupt on all sides.
“Impossible!”
“We can’t trust magic users!”
“Lies! Magi can’t use magic on machines!”
Zandria appears at my side and twines her hand with my free one, giving it a quick squeeze. We’ve kept this secret for so long that exposing ourselves now, in front of all these people, is terrifying.
But it’s the only thing that will convince them we speak the truth.
I hum while Zandria weaves her hands. For a moment, it’s almost like we’re back in the tunnels beneath the city, about to take apart the digger mechs to render them unusable. But now the stakes are much higher. My spell ensnares the mechanical elephant, throwing its trunk high, then stomping its feet. Zandria takes control of the metal horse, making it rear and toss its silver-threaded mane.
Leon startles, as do many of the Technos and Magi who surround us. “I swear to you all,” he says. “Those machines are powered down.”
“It’s a trick!”
“Liar!”
The crowd isn’t as impressed as they should be by this display, but we have another trick up our sleeves. The tune of my incantation shifts, and the elephant shivers, a horrible, metallic rattling. The bolts holding its pieces together unscrew in unison, then shoot into the air to hover over our heads. When the note spins higher, the sheets of metal that make up the elephant’s body spread apart almost as if the mech momentarily expands, then fall the ground. Next to me, Zandria’s hands weave continuously, then they stop and squeeze together. The horse folds in on itself, all that metal—some of the pieces very thick—responding in a most unnatural way. In a few minutes, all that’s left is a giant ball of squished steel.
The hush that falls over the southern plains is so thick you could slice it like bread.
Heartless Heirs Page 30
