Call of the Colossus: An epic fantasy novel (The Mindstream Chronicles Book 2) (45 page)

“Finn!” she cried, launching herself at him. She wrapped her arms around his neck, not caring how much it pained her burned skin, and held him more tightly than she ever had. Tears flowed with her sobs as she clutched him to her. He was safe, thanks to all that was good. Seeing him, feeling him warm and alive, his heart beating against hers, made everything all right again.

Except that it wasn’t.

Their parents were still dead. Their brother Loel and sister Cacie, their half-siblings and cousins and step-mothers, aunts, uncles, and friends. Everyone was dead, murdered because of what Boden had seen.

No. Because of what she had seen.

“It’s my fault,” she murmured. “I’m so sorry, Finn.”

He pulled back first and took her by the upper arms, the splint on his left hand giving him an awkward grip. “Is it true? Did you murder your own elder in cold blood?”

She drew back, horrified. “God’s challenger, no. What on Aerta did they tell you?”

“Lies,” Rivva said. “They told him the lies that made them look innocent of any wrong-doing.”

“Then what’s the truth,” Finn asked.

“Telle him later,” Arc said. “We must hie.”

Jora nodded and started to suggest that they go someplace safe, perhaps leave the city to form a plan, when she noticed Korlan standing to one side, his hands clasped in front of him. He gazed nonchalantly around, as if he weren’t there. She pointed at him. “What’s he doing here?”

“He wants to help,” Rivva said.

“He’s Milad’s eyes and ears. His presence will give us away.”

“No,” Rivva said. “We’ve another wrist cuff in the vault—the one my younger brother wore. I’ll fetch it. Wait for me.”

The room dimmed by half when the princess left with her candle. The five of them stood there, each waiting for another to call her back or speak out against her plan. None dared, though Jora feared Rivva would be delayed or apprehended by Milad’s men who would know she was helping the escaped prisoners. With Truth Sayers positioned throughout the city, they could communicate quickly and coordinate their offensives. It wouldn’t take long for them to apprehend her.

“We should leave him behind,” Arc said.

“We can’t leave without the princess,” Jora said. “Her presence will buy us a measure of safety.”

“We should kill him,” Ludo said, drawing his sword.

“No,” Jora said. She stepped in front of Korlan, guarding him with her body, though she didn’t know why. His betrayal could never be forgiven. Still, he didn’t need to die for it. His family was in danger—that was the only reason he’d attacked Sundancer. “I have a better way.” She summoned Po Teng.

Finn startled and jumped back from the tree-like creature. “Challenger! What is that thing?”

“Fi-nuh,” Po Teng said. His gentle, human-like eyes were moist, as if his wooden heart were filled with emotion.

“He used to be Boden. That’s why he knows you.”

“What kind of monster summons monsters?” Finn muttered.

Tears welled in her eyes. His words cut her deeply, but she recognized too much truth in them to defend herself.

“Hold thy tongue, boy,” Arc said, his voice a growl. “The portwatcher is nie a monster. Thou’lt nie speak so about thy sister, whose only concern was for thy safety.”

“It’s all right, Arc,” she said.

“Nay, ’tis not. Thou’lt do well to mind thy tongue in my presence.” He leaned in toward Finn. “I have taken a vow to protect her and will nie stand for insults from a boy who knows nie what hath bechanced her.”

“I’m not a boy,” Finn said.

“Then cease acting the part.”

“Stop, please,” Jora said. “Finn doesn’t know all that’s happened or what we’re up against now. We mustn’t fault him for being misled. Po Teng, statuize–”

“Wait,” Korlan said, holding his palms out. “Let me help. I want to help.”

“I know,” Jora said. “I only mean to keep you statued until the princess–” She was silenced by the approach of hurried footsteps.

Arc and Ludo readied their weapons.

Rivva burst into the room, her candle extinguished. “Hurry. They’re coming.” She handed the silver bracelet to Korlan, and he clamped it onto his left wrist.

Ludo stepped into the Meanders and waited, while Arc beckoned with one hand for Jora and the others to follow him in. “Make haste,” Arc said.

“They will arrive hither erelong,” Ludo said.

Rivva went in, followed by Korlan. Jora reached for Finn’s hand, but he pulled back, out of her reach.

“No,” he said. “I’m not going with you. You’re a killer, and you need to face justice. They’re holding me hostage until you do.”

“Finn, no,” Jora said. “How could you believe that about me? I did what I had to do.” How was she going to explain about Kaild? She had to tell him that everyone they knew and loved was dead, but blurting it out now just to manipulate him into going with her was not the right time or way to do it. “The king himself pardoned me.”

“She speaks the truth,” Rivva said. “If you won’t take Jora’s word for it, then at least take mine. Would the Princess of Serocia, heiress to the throne, side with a murderer?”

The footsteps and voices grew louder as someone shouted, “Down here.”

“Forthwith!” Arc said, grabbing Jora’s arm to push her through the doorway.

“Finn, come on!” Jora cried in a loud whisper.

He cast a glance behind him, then once again at Rivva, who beckoned urgently from the doorway. Without further argument, he stepped into the Meanders, followed by Jora and Arc. Arc pulled the door shut behind him. Ludo’s candle went out, leaving them in pitch blackness.

The six of them made a human chain, each grasping the hands of the one in front of and behind him. Finn’s hand was moist in Jora’s left, much smaller than the strong, dry one in her right. She shuffled along behind, trying to ignore the skittering of rats’ feet ahead and behind them. With her foot, she bumped Finn’s heel. “Sorry,” she whispered.

“Challenger, it’s dark in here,” Korlan said.

“Why did you blow out the candle?” Rivva asked.

“We need a light,” Korlan said. “I can’t see a thing.”

“Nay,” Ludo said softly. “A candle in the Meanders casteth abundant light that is visible at long distance.”

“Portwatcher, canst you lead us by the Mindstream?”

If she used the Mindstream to guide them, she would open herself up to Milad jumping to her thread and exploring things she didn’t want him to know about. “I could, but that’s not ideal. They can Observe me.” Then she remembered her burned hands and forearms. “I can summon my newest ally. He can at least light your candles.”

“Do it,” Arc said. He stopped, pulling Jora to a stop, which pulled Finn to a halt.

“We’re stopping?” Korlan asked. “Why are we stopping?”

“Nay,” Ludo argued. “Light nie the candles.”

Jora felt a tug on her arm from Finn moving forward again, but Arc held her firmly in place. She lost her grip on Finn’s hand. A panicky feeling arose in her chest, and she groped in the darkness for him. “Finn.”

“I’m here.” Finn’s hand brushed hers, and she grasped it tightly.

I can’t lose him again, not now.
Though the thought was silly, she couldn’t help the fear of losing him or the relief of having his hand in her own.

“Cease thine argument bro’er,” Arc said. “The call is mine to make.”

“Aye,” Ludo muttered.

“Call thine ally, portwatcher.”

Jora opened the Mindstream just long enough to call for Foul. When the creature appeared, his fiery blaze was as brilliant and hot as the sun in the dark Meanders. Several of her companions cried out in pain and covered their eyes or turned their backs to him. “Can you dim yourself?”

Foul dimmed to a warm, red glow of embers. His raccoon-like form, almost reaching her hip in height, was clearer now.

“Challenger’s bloody fists,” Korlan muttered, stumbling back from the ally.

“It’s fine, Kor,” Jora said. “He won’t hurt you.”

“I know, I know. It’s just...” He licked his lips and looked around with a worried expression.

“Let us go,” Ludo said, starting forward once more. “They will follow anon. Jora, come hither. Thine ally shall lead us.”

They started forward again, now with Jora behind Ludo, though with Foul’s red glow, they didn’t need to hold hands. The rats watched boldly as the party approached and ran away, squealing, when the ally opened its mouth and hissed fire that singed their fur and lit the way before them.

The six walked in silence through the Meanders, weaving their way through the labyrinth. Jora was grateful for the Colossi’s familiarity with the tunnels. Though the tunnels were ancient, so were the two men, and their memories had not suffered the effect of time.

“Are we almost at the end?” Korlan asked. His breathing sounded louder than everyone else’s. More labored.

“Almost,” Ludo said.

“How long did it take you to learn your way around down here?” she asked.

“Yeres,” Ludo said.

“Did one of the kings have these tunnels built?”

“Nay, the Meanders were built by thieves in ancient times. The king had them flooded to drown the thieves who were hidden there. ’Tis why people say ‘a cheating husband must be drowning.’”

“I’ve never heard that saying,” Jora said.

Ludo cast a smile at her. “Much has changed.”

They continued in silence for a half hour longer, turning down some paths and walking past others. The floor became increasingly uneven and strewn with debris of both stone and old wood.

“The way ahead is blocked,” Ludo said, stopping. “Collapsed.”

“Challenge the bloody god,” Korlan said. “Do you hear that rumbling? Retar’s bollocks, the whole thing’s about to come down on top of us.”

“Nay,” Arc said. “’Tis the rumble of wagon wheels on the street above. Calm thyself.”

Ahead, Jora made out the dim form of a debris pile that reached to the ceiling. Indeed, the tunnel had collapsed, blocking their way. “Is there another way out of the city?”

“North,” Ludo said. “Go back.”

Everyone turned around, putting Arc in the lead.

“Step left so that Foul can get past without burning you,” Jora said, tugging Finn’s arm to urge him to hug the left wall. “Go on,” she told Foul. Everyone shifted left, and the smoldering raccoon-like creature shuffled past. She followed him and fell into step behind Arc.

He led them back the way they’d come, with Arc directing Foul with commands to veer left or right. At some point their path diverged, for she didn’t recognize the doorways and side paths. Foul hissed and spit fire at the rats that didn’t get out of his way quickly enough. One caught fire and ran squealing in mad circles, filling the tunnel with the stench of burning fur and flesh.

“Foul, stop that,” Jora said. “Don’t burn them.”

“They are rats,” Arc said.

“Yes, but being a rat is no crime. They’re merely doing what they were born to do. That’s a terrible way to die.”

“Halt,” Ludo said in a loud whisper.

“What is it?” Rivva asked.

He shushed her and held up a hand. No one moved. In the distance behind them, Jora heard voices echoing off the stone walls.

“They’re here,” Korlan said. “They’re coming.”

“Hurry,” Jora said, pushing Arc from behind.

“We shall fight them here,” Ludo said as he drew his sword.

“Nay,” Arc said. “We must find a defensible position. Come.” He started off at a jog, and the others followed suit. He paused every couple dozen yards to test a door, ramming it with his shoulder. All held firm, and he continued on, checking every door as they passed.

“What do these doors lead to?” Jora asked.

“Shops and homes. I wot nie which are empty, but any room is better defended than this.” He rammed his shoulder against another door to no effect. “Ludo and I must stand beside one another.”

The voices and footsteps grew ever closer, as did the yellow glow from their candles and lamps. Anxiety crept up the back of Jora’s neck.
Hurry
, she wanted to say, but she knew they were going as fast as possible.

Arc pushed past Foul and ran ahead to the next door, checked its handle, and then shoved it with his shoulder. It gave a few inches, and with another couple of hard shoves, it opened with the scraping sound of something heavy sliding across the floor. “Here,” he said. “We will find sanctuary therein.” He shoved aside a heavy wooden table, and ushered them all inside.

By the light of Foul’s red glow, Jora saw they were in another store room, this one filled with old books and scrolls arranged on shelves, and crates stacked four and five high against the walls. Jora’s first impression was that they had found the library. A few crates were opened and sitting atop the table that had been blocking the door. Ludo shut the door behind him, and he and Arc pushed the table back in front of it.

Everyone stood stock still, barely daring to breathe. The only sound in the room was that of Foul’s crackling breath.

Footsteps and voices neared. “They went in here, sir,” someone said on the other side of the door.

Something bumped the door, knocking it open by a fraction of an inch. Arc and Ludo took a wide stance to brace themselves and pushed against the table, trapping the door shut behind it. Korlan helped, and Finn took the same position. With the four men pushing the table, that door would not open, no matter how many men pushed on the other side.