Hail to the Queen (Sage Trilogy, Book 3) (35 page)

“We told them to go to Languor, but they’re very smart and resourceful. I’m sure they’ve learned of the attack on Languor and have changed course. All I care about right now is getting back to my Kingdom so we can organize.”

“I’ve only gotten to see this Thorn briefly, but I’m sure he’ll wait until we are all
gathered before he attacks, wiping out all of us at once. And I surmise that his next siege will be his worst. He won’t leave anyone alive he doesn’t want to.”

“I know,” Catherine said. “That’s why the more organization
, the better. Let’s go faster.”

“We’re stopping,” Arimus said as the staircase flattened in mid-air into a platform. The first of light shone from underneath as the platform slowed. James and Arimus stared off in thought as it came to a ful
l stop, the exit having been fashioned out of the dirt tunnel and leading into a polished, narrow hallway, floored in marble and lit with torches that shone brightly even after so many years. Arimus examined one and blinked, wondering what material was being used. Continuing on, they walked through a small archway and out into a massive hall that stretched upward for miles, the ceiling probably grazing up against the surface of the earth.

The ceiling was covered in
large markings that looked like lightning and this provided the light, each bolt brightly shining in neon blue, glowing radiantly throughout the room and giving it a technological feel. On the sides were thousands of torches to further provide illumination.

As they stood in the entrance, a few feet ahead of them and below was
a man-made pool, covered in water that reflected the ceiling’s lighting. And above it, about a half mile away, were ten floors, stacked upon one another like a building but each were also made of glass, hiding little from anyone gazing out upon the suspended structure. Each floor appeared like they were designed for specific purposes and James identified a training floor, a library and a common area where Sages could sit and eat together.

“Fascinating,” Arimus said in awe. “But how do we get there?”

“There are platforms everywhere hovering in the air,” James pointed out, noticing hundreds of platforms on the sides of the ten floors, suspended next to the glass like lifeboats. “That’s probably how they get around.”

Arimus looked down at their feet and saw that they were standing on a similar construct.

“James, look,” he said as he pointed to a glass lever by his feet, with the numbers 1-10 engraved next to it in descending order. Arimus then pointed to a painting to the left of his own feet, revealing a list of the floors and what they entailed:

1-
  
Rest Room

2-
 
Surveillance

3-
 
Missions and Debriefing

4-
Eidolon Fashioning

5- Library

6- Dining Commons and Lounge

7- Training Room

8- Library 2 (Authorized Access Only)

9- Advanced Training Room

10- Private Chambers

“Well, where should we go first?” Arimus asked as James studied the list.

“We don’t have time to tour the place, unfortunately. Let’s head to Library 2.”

James adjusted the lever to the proper place and the platform began to rise, kept in place by invisible forces. It ascended forward and upwards, but just as it hit floor 7, the platform halted. Floor 8 was immediately shut off by a steel wall that came down from its ceiling, and a small laser light rested on James’ chest.

“You are not authorized to enter,” a voice spoke from the top of the lever. James bent down and looked at the tip caref
ully, noticing a wire mesh upon it. The voice was speaking clearly from it but who was it and how?

“Please adjust the lever to another position,” the voice said, and James looked to Arimus for answers. Arimus looked toward the steel wall blocking their way.

“We come from Allay. We’re Sages, just like you. We need your help.”

“You are not authorized to enter. Please adjust the lever to another position. This is your final warning.”

“We are not here to fight!” Arimus shouted as the sides of the far walls opened up and hundreds of long, steel spikes, each the size of a soccer ball poked out in rows, aimed right at them.

“This is not good,” James muttered as the spikes began flying. As soon as one volley was released, another wa
s set in place and fired right after. James and Arimus unsheathed their eidolons and began cutting them down as fast as possible, narrowly avoiding them.

“We’ll wear out before they do,” James shouted as he fought for speed. “You have to cut through that steel wall! It’s the only way we can get out of this. I don’t have the strength!”

“Right!” Arimus yelled. “But can you handle this?”

“I have to!” James shouted. “Just do it!”

James picked up Arimus’ slack as the old Sage leapt into the air towards the steel wall, the winds keeping him afloat as he charged up his windmill eidolon to build strength. James picked up his speed and fought back both sets of spikes as they flew at him mercilessly. Just as James fell down to one knee in exhaustion, Arimus launched him forward with a gust of wind. The old Sage cut through the steel wall with his blade and the gust of wind sent James flying through a second after. Arimus batted away a couple spikes and then followed his friend inside.

“I must say,” Arimus chuckled. “I am enjoying being the strong one again.”

“I’m not,” James groaned as he picked himself up off the glass floor. Arimus walked past him and looked ahead at what composed the floor. It was quite bare, draped only in black curtains on the sides and lit up by just a few torches on the far wall. At this wall was a round pedestal, and one large book, sitting in its center. A red and gold banner hung above it without words. James glanced down at the floor and realized that the glass was so thick, there was no way one could see what was in the floors above or below them.

“If this floor is such a secret, how come we got in so easily?”

“Remember that the Academy was always filled with Sages,” Arimus said, staring at the book in the distance. “If one was attempting to break in this area, there would not only be the spikes, but a number of warriors as well.”

“Speaking of which, where’s the guy who was talking to us from the lever?”

“I’m not sure if there was someone here…it seems…artificial in nature.”

“You can’t know that.”

“Call it a hunch. If there was someone alive here, our eidolons would have sensed it.”

“This is true.”

“And it would also explain how it knew that we were not authorized to this area. Perhaps our biology was scanned the way we use our eidolons.”

“Well, I hope it was worth it,” James sighed, finally catching his breath. “All this for one book.”

“No doubt a book that holds much knowledge,” Arimus said as he approached it, staring at the plain wooden cover and the worn pages. “Let’s begin skimming through it.”

Arimus picked up the book and extended it out so they both coul
d read from it. They only read for a couple minutes when their eyes widened in shock.

“This is impossible…
” James said in awe. “But it explains everything!”

*              *              *              *              *

Catherine and Zain reached the south gate just as two male Allayans burst though the entrance and stuck their bronze swords in their faces.

“State your business!” one of them said. He could have been no more than twelve.

“No one enters without stating their business!” the other said, no doubt his brother based on his looks.

“Calm down, boys,” Catherine held back a laugh as she and Zain put their hands in the air. “Do you know who I am?”

“BOYS! DOWN!” Kyran growled, coming outside. “That’s the Princess of Allay and the King of Languor you’re sticking your blades at!”

The boys yelped in fear and scurried inside before Kyran could pass judgment. As the doors closed, Catherine could see hundreds of people crowded in the courtyard. They all appeared to be Langoran.

“I’m happy you’re here,” Kyran said flatly. “I’m not good at…hosting.”

“I’m sure you’ve done fine,” Catherine said, hugging him. “When did you get back?”

“Only an hour ago. Going through the tunnels were quicker than running above ground. You were right. They did have a secret tunnel extending right here to the south gate. As soon as we were out, I caved it in so none of those red creatures would follow. I had to kill a great deal of them to get here. Lost some of the Langorans with me.”

“But you saved as many as you could. That’s what matters. How many are here?”

“There are some in the courtyard. Most are in the meadow or the village receiving food. I would estimate about six thousand in total between the ones I brought, and the ones that came here on their own.”

“That would mean we lost over forty thousand,” Zain scowled. “All in the span of what felt like minutes.”

“Those red creatures were efficient.” Kyran said flatly. “Thorn is devising more clever ways to take us down. His next attack will hurt.”

“What of the Prattlians?” Catherine asked.

“They’re still filing in slowly. They started building a number of tunnels underneath the village and I put a stop to that so it wouldn’t all cave in. They’ve turned around and devised a network to the meadow. No one wanted to go above ground until they were well within the confines of the castle, which I understand.”

“Was King Nathaniel correct? Are there new Sages?”

“Fortunately, yes,” Kyran said with no emotion. “Approximately thirty.”

“That’s not a whole lot, but far more than we’ve had before! Where are they now?”

“Keeping order in the meadow. With the Langorans and Prattlians both there, I wanted to ensure there was order.”

“And Tyuin? Has he arrived?”

“Of course,” Kyran said. “He’s in the courtyard as we speak.”

“
Good. Have him meet me and King Zain in Arimus’ old quarters. We can talk privately there…have we heard anything about Scarlet?”

“No…”Kyran said, placing a hand on the Princess shoulder. “And my eidolon stopped sensing her not long after t
he attack….”

“You’ve done a great job,” Catherine said, keeping back her emotions. “Start escorting the others to the meadow. The Kings and I will address them shortly.
Use any carriages you need.”

“Sure,” he said. “
And just so you know, James’ father wants to speak to you urgently. He’ll be waiting in the meadow with the other villagers.”

“I’ll keep that in mind,” Catherine said. Kyran bowed and led the way into the courtyard in front of the Sentinel Academy. The Princess took a deep sigh as she saw all eyes fall upon her and Zain. They were terrified an
d looking to them for answers, and it was the first time that she was unsure of what to say.

“I’m glad you’re all safe,” Zain shouted for all to hear. “But make no mistake. We are not out of danger
yet. From this point on, I want you to listen to the Princess and her allies. Though they were enemies, we are not anymore. Spread the word. Allay and Languor are temporary allies.”

The crowd murmured and squeezed against one another with their muscular and broad shoulders. Many of them were forced to climb on the backs of their comrades or the pillars just to see.

“We have a common enemy now, and he is ruthless,” Zain continued. “You saw what he did to us, and that won’t happen again. We need to unite against this foe and defeat him before he gains anymore strength!”

The Langorans nodded and shouted in agreement as Zain motioned for Catherine to take over. She stepped forward and lifted her head.