Alliance (37 page)

N
YKIN
WOKE
a few hours later, immediately reaching out to see if Ryneq had gotten up yet. And then he remembered. He rolled onto his back with a heavy sigh, and scrubbed the sleep out of his eyes.

Despite being exhausted, he’d had a fitful sleep and felt anything but well rested. He didn’t have time to laze around in bed, though. It would be four more days until they could return to Torsere, and even if he couldn’t help the elves with the amulets, there were plenty of things he needed to do.

He pushed the thick bedcovers aside and sat up, stretching out his sore muscles. Riding on Fimor for such a long period of time took its toll, and Nykin felt it everywhere. He glanced around the room, his gaze landing on the entrance to the bathroom. The warm elven showers sounded very appealing.

There were towels and soap laid out for him, and Nykin grabbed them as he walked across the room. The water soothed some of his aches and pains, but the memories of what he and Ryneq had done in there made his chest tight, and he ended up washing up as quickly as possible.

His uniform had disappeared from where he’d hung it over the back of the chair, replaced by a pair of dark blue pants, a matching jacket and a white shirt. It looked suspiciously like the uniform of the royal guard, but since he didn’t appear to have much alternative, Nykin shrugged and began to get dressed.

It all fit surprisingly well—the smooth fabric clung to his thighs and his ass, but not uncomfortably so. He opened the door to find Selene and Jaken poised to knock.

“We were just coming to get you for breakfast.” Jaken fidgeted with the collar of his jacket, and Nykin realized both Jaken and Selene were dressed similar to him. “I’m assuming they took our clothes to clean them, and that nothing nefarious is going on.” He gestured to their clothes and grinned.

Nykin felt himself returning it, and relaxed. “As much as I would never trade in my riders’ uniform.” He paused to run a hand over his thighs. The material had a velvety feel to it and made him want to run his fingers up and down. “I kind of like it.”

Selene looked as tired as Nykin felt, but she smiled and rolled her eyes. “Come on. Avelor sent us to get you. They’re serving breakfast downstairs.” She led the way when Nykin pulled the door closed behind him.

He spotted Faelon as soon as they entered the hall, and his hand immediately went to his side. Ever since the witch’s attack, when their connection had come to light, Nykin had felt their relationship shift. Faelon may have flirted with him at the beginning, his elf magic alluring and hard to resist, but now they’d saved each other’s lives and Nykin thought of him differently. Not family, but something more than friends. He ran his fingers over where the scar lay underneath his clothes, and caught Faelon looking over at him when he glanced up.

“I’ll join you in a moment,” Nykin said, as Jaken and Selene headed over to where three long tables were almost overflowing with food.

Faelon smiled as Nykin walked toward them, nudging Avelor with his foot so both elves were facing Nykin when he reached them. “Good morning, Nykin.” He let his gaze wander over Nykin from head to toe, a smirk on his lips. “Elven fashion becomes you, I see.” Faelon’s tone was as teasing as ever, but this time when Nykin felt the tug of Faelon’s magic, like the soft brush of fingertips on his skin, it didn’t affect him as it had before.

He relaxed, letting the magic seep into him comforting and warm and Nykin felt the tension in his shoulders ease. Faelon smiled at him then, genuine and happy, as though Nykin had done something wonderful. “What?”

Avelor slipped an arm around Faelon’s waist. “You’ve accepted Faelon’s magic, Nykin. Your bond will be stronger now, almost as though you were an elf.”

Oh Gods.
Ryneq is going to kill me.

“I didn’t… I mean….” He stopped when Faelon laid a hand on his arm.

“Relax, Nykin. It doesn’t mean what you’re thinking.” Faelon glanced at Avelor before continuing. “I am bonded like that to Avelor, but this”—he gestured between him and Nykin—“is more of a…
familial
bond. I saved your life, and you saved mine in turn. We were already connected as you know, and I didn’t expect it to fully develop, but it seems I was mistaken.”

“Well I just hope Ryneq sees it the same way.” He paused, the mention of Ryneq making all three of them tense. Nykin cleared his throat, refusing to get caught in dark thoughts when there was so much to do. “Anyway, I’m pleased to see you’re feeling better now.”

Faelon smiled back, but both he and Avelor looked far more serious than they had moments earlier. “I am, thank you. Come eat.” He waved at the tables of food. “The day will be a long one, I fear.”

Faelon turned out to be right.

Queen Ahlyria interrupted their breakfast to inform them that an
egrath
had been summoned from the keepers’ lodge. Lerran’s
egrath
, to be more precise. It wouldn’t be back for at least two or three days, so it would be an agonizing wait to see what Seran and the witch had to say.

In the meantime the elven elders were busy working on crafting all the amulets and the
Ka’reth Magri
, or
magic catcher
as Avelor had kindly translated. They wouldn’t be able to enchant them until the dragon’s blood was ready, but they still had to carve the amulets from chunks of dark green opal, and since they needed one for each of the riders, and the elves accompanying them, that meant a lot of carving.

The
Ka’reth Magri
took a little more skill to create, apparently. According to Faelon, it could only be made from black marble found deep under the city. The elves had some in their stores, but the marble needed to be purified first—eliminating all other magic—before it could be used.

It all served to give Nykin a throbbing headache—so much to be done, and all the while hoping they’d be given enough time to do it. He felt useless being so far away from his home, while those he loved and had vowed to protect were being held captive.

“Nykin, they’re ready for us.” Selene touched his elbow and ushered him over to the table in the queen’s chambers.

Ahlyria sat at the table with Nihathyl, Cerylea, and Morkryn, with Faelon and Avelor on the side opposite them. Nykin had taken Selene and Chaiss with him, while he left Jaken to organize the other riders into checking their saddles and harnesses.

They’d moved up here after breakfast to figure out how to rescue everyone once the amulets were ready, and Nykin itched with the need to be doing something.

First Ahlyria outlined the proposed plan that the elders had come up with. “The spell Glaevahl was working on in Torsere has been adapted and enhanced to account for the witch’s enhanced power. I think it’s safe to assume she has gorged herself on elf magic by now.”

Everyone quieted at the mention of Glaevahl, and the reminder of how the witch had gotten that increased power.

“Once the amulets are infused with the spell, they will protect you from the witch’s magic. Each elf and rider will wear one around his or her neck.” Ahlyria exuded confidence—no question of “if” they would work, and Nykin was extremely thankful for it. “In order for the
Ka’reth Magri
to work, however, the bearer will not be able to wear an amulet. The witch’s magic will need to be uninhibited.”

Silence settled around the table as that sank in. Finally Faelon cleared his throat and asked what everyone had no doubt been thinking. “Will the witch’s spell still work, even though her magic will be consumed?”

Ahlyria sighed, and Nihathyl clasped her hand. “The elders are unable to tell us.” He looked apologetic as he spoke, and Nykin had a feeling he wouldn’t like what Nihathyl said next. “The books are a little vague, but Cahlith believes if the witch has sufficient power when she casts the spell, there is a strong possibility it will complete before her magic is consumed.”

Nykin felt all the color drain from his face at the implication. He caught Selene’s and Chaiss’s worried glances, both of them fully aware of what that might mean, and he squared his shoulders. They were looking to him for assurance, or guidance, it didn’t matter which. As lead rider, he was responsible for all of them, and he refused to let Eldin’s faith in him be misguided. “If it’s the only way to destroy the witch, then we need to take that chance. If you would excuse me for a moment, I would like to quickly discuss this with Fimor.”

Ahlyria nodded, and Nykin rose from his seat to slip outside the room.

“Fimor?”

“I’m here. Your heart is beating at an alarming rate, Nykin. What’s wrong?
”

Nykin summarized everything Ahlyria had said and waited for Fimor to reply. He felt his dragon’s resigned sigh through their connection and braced himself against the wall.

“Nykin, I didn’t tell you what spell the witch cast on Eldin and Vashek, because you were under enough pressure at the time, but….”
He paused, and
Gods
Nykin was sick of waiting for people to tell him bad news.
“She managed to break their bond.”

“What? But how? I though
—
”

“I don’t know exactly, but she had enough knowledge and power to do it once. I think it’s safe to assume she means to do it again. None of the other riders know about this either. We thought it prudent not to share it just yet.”

“So the spell she casts….”
Nykin couldn’t finish that sentence. The thought of having his connection with Fimor ripped away had him slumping to the floor with his head in his hands. He couldn’t do it. He didn’t want to do it. He would willingly risk his life for Ryneq, but Fimor’s wasn’t his to gamble with.

“It’s all right, Nykin. It’s a risk I’m prepared to take to get close enough to the witch. She killed Vashek, and we have a right to exact our vengeance.”

Ryneq, Nysad, and so many others were depending on them, and Nykin wouldn’t ask one of the other riders to do it when the thought of doing it himself make him sick to his stomach.

They had no other way.

“I’ll let them know.”

When Nykin returned to the table, all conversation stopped as he sat down. By the expressions on their faces, everyone knew the decision he’d come to. Selene reached for his hand under the table and gave it a gentle squeeze before letting go. “Fimor and I will take the
Ka’reth Magri
.”

Ahlyria nodded once, and the planning resumed.

Nykin listened intently as Cerylea described the tunnel the witch had used to get into the castle. He was beyond relieved that no one saw fit to challenge him about his decision. It had been hard enough to make without having to justify it as well.

Faelon and Avelor volunteered to lead an attack up through the tunnel. With the aid of the dragon’s blood, Avelor thought they could use the same sort of shield Lerran had used when evacuating the villagers in Torsere. The blood should enhance the spell enough that they could fly in undetected.

The tunnel would no doubt be guarded, but the elves were unconcerned.

“So.” Ahlyria glanced around the table, her gaze resting briefly on Nykin. “I believe we have a plan of sorts, albeit it’s somewhat tenuous.” Nykin nodded in agreement. “Until we hear from King Seran, we can do little else but wait. Faelon, Avelor, I suggest you select the elves you wish to take with you and inform them accordingly.”

With that, Ahlyria and Nihathyl stood, and Nykin took it as their cue to leave.

Nykin spent the rest of the day with the other riders. He explained the plan to them, not leaving anything out. Everyone needed to know the risks involved. Nykin might be the one volunteering, but things rarely went according to plan.

When he went to bed that night, he felt a little more settled than the night before, but sleep still eluded him for a long while. The not knowing was the hardest thing by far.

T
HE
NEXT
day followed much the same pattern. He ate breakfast in the main hall with all the others, then spent the rest of the morning working out the finer points of the plan. By the afternoon Nykin had had enough of being indoors, so he grabbed Selene and Jaken and took a walk down to the beach to see their dragons.

“I want to go with you.” Selene looked straight ahead as she spoke, not even glancing over when Nykin’s steps faltered a little. “I’ve already spoken with Kalesh.”

“Me too,” Jaken added. “And I know all the others feel the same.”

Nykin stopped walking and waited for them to turn and face him. He felt a rush of warmth for his friends and his fellow riders, all willing to follow him into almost certain danger. But as much as he would love to have them backing him up, he didn’t want to risk any of them if he could help it.

“Thank you.” He looked up at the sky as three shapes appeared above them. “But until we know what they want, I don’t know if that’ll be necessary. Besides….” He toed the sand, burying the tip of his boot. “I need riders to transport the elves to the tunnel. Once they break into the palace, I thought the dragons could provide a distraction by attacking from the front.”

Selene gripped Nykin’s arm. “Lerran is in there somewhere, and I—”

“Wait!” Nykin held up his hand to shush her, ignoring the indignant look on her face as he felt the unmistakable tingle of magic under his skin—and it wasn’t from Fimor.

“Nykin?”

“I’m here. Are you all right? Is Ryneq?”
Nykin felt Selene’s fingers tighten on his sleeve, and he quickly placed his hand over hers.

“We’re being held in the cells, along with Nysad and Peros. We’re fine, but Peros is badly injured. Nykin, the
egrath
will be with you tomorrow by sundown. I don’t know what the message says, but you should have enough time to prepare.
”

Nykin wanted to ask what had happened, but Lerran interrupted before he had a chance.

“I have to go, but contact me later with your plans.”