Arcane (The Arinthian Line Book 1) (39 page)

“Who’s there—?” said a voice from the dark.

“That you, Bridge?” Leera asked.

A dim green light flared up a short distance away. A moment later Bridget emerged, smiling broadly. Leera instantly shot forward and the two friends embraced.

“Thought for sure they got you,” Bridget said, giving Augum a hug as well. He winced from the grinding pain.

Leera gently grabbed Bridget. “Careful of his arm, we think it’s broken.”

A deep look of concern passed over Bridget’s face.

“I’m fine,” he said. “Where is everybody anyway?”

Bridget nodded at the path. “They’re hiding by the fountain. The portal to outside didn’t work, so I opened the one next to it and ended up here. Thought you would have come much sooner. Where are Lord Boron and Ms. Grinds?”

Augum exchanged a look with Leera. “They … they didn’t make it.”

Bridget stiffened. “Oh. I see.” She glanced at his arm and at the various bloodstains on them both. “Come have a drink of water. The others are anxious to see you’re okay.”

The trio made their way to the fountain where the prince, Rafinda, Mandy and Mya huddled together, looking like refugees from a tornado. After a brief welcome, Augum and Leera drank fountain water, splashed it on their cuts, and sat down, quietly recounting what happened to them while they healed. Unfortunately, the fountain did not fix broken bones.

Prince Sydo put on a brave face when they finished, though his voice cracked as he spoke. “So Lord Boron managed to get himself killed, did he?”

They averted their eyes. It was the first time Augum recalled the prince using the man’s proper title.

“Poor Ms. Grinds,” Mya said quietly. “She was a decent woman.”

“A portal to the land of the Ley …” the blonde-haired Rafinda whispered. “How do we activate it?”

“I think Mrs. Stone knows how,” Leera said.

“Why did you let them in?” Sydo blurted, pointing at the trio. “I hold you fully responsible for the death of my royal minder and my royal guard!”

“I told you, Your Highness, we didn’t have a choice,” Bridget said. “You would know that if you had been there.”

“You speak with respect when you address me, peasant! You should have sacrificed yourselves for me! Your gutterborn lives have no purpose other than that! I am heir to the kingdom!”

“I’m too tired to argue with you,” Bridget said in a resigned voice, “and that is a very hurtful thing to say.”

Augum and Leera were about to jump in on her behalf when Mya spoke.

“Your Royal Highness,
please
… now is not the time.”

Sydo looked like he was going to say something else, but he made a rude dismissive gesture and crossed his arms.

“Here, let me fix that for you,” Leera said quietly, splaying her palms over Augum’s torn sleeve. “Apreyo.” They watched as the sleeve reattached itself, the fibers re-weaving and reconnecting. “There, good as new.”

“Thank you.”

Bridget smiled warmly. “She fusses over you like an old hen.”

“Somebody has to,” Leera said.

Sydo only snorted.

“We should extinguish our lights,” Bridget said after a time, snuffing hers first. “Someone could walk in on us.”

Leera extinguished hers too, drenching them in darkness.

“Does the crone even know where we are?” Sydo asked. When no one replied, he added, “One of you ought to search for her.”

“That’s far too dangerous,” Bridget said. “We simply have to sit and wait. She’ll come here, it’s where the portal is.”

“Lazy peasants …”

The castle suddenly shuddered from a series of distant muffled explosions. The group stirred.

“The castle defenses,” Augum whispered, hoping he was correct. He remembered them described as “fearsome to behold” in that burned note. The castle had to be swarming with the Legion by now. It was just a matter of time before someone discovered them. The questions was, who?

He took another sip of cool fountain water and waited, listening to the distant cacophony.

A Moment Too Late

The noise subsided and for a long stretch of time, the only sound was the trickle of the fountain. Augum’s exhaustion, the dull pain in his arm, and the pitch-dark all combined to make him deliriously drowsy, so much so that when he heard the squeak of rusty hinges, he believed himself back in Mrs. Stone’s cave.

“We ‘aven’t checked this room yet, Sir,” a reedy voice said from the darkness.

Augum froze—that voice did not belong!

“Give me your torch, O’Donnell,” said a second voice.

“Oy then—what is this, some kind o’ strange magic forest?”

“Why hasn’t Commander Rames come back?”

“I don’t know, Sir. He is disappeared, he is.”

“Follow me.”

Augum recognized the voices now—the first was the man that tended to Rames’ horse, and the second was the traitor, Sir Dollard Canes.

Torchlight flickered as it fought its way through thick brush. Augum quietly drew Burden’s Edge. Just as he was contemplating retreat, the door behind them opened and more torches appeared, moving quickly.

They were trapped.

The faster moving men appeared first. His throat went dry when he saw a dozen crimson-armored warriors—those were not torches he saw, but the burning swords of the Red Guard!

“Kill them all except this boy here!” said a manic voice. Augum turned to find Canes pointing a stubby finger in his face. More Red Guards stood behind the man.

“No—” Augum said, Burden’s Edge limp in his hands.

Screams tore the air. He turned back to witness the Red Guardsman at the head of the line raise its burning blade and make a rasping sound. A nauseating stench filled Augum’s nostrils that made his stomach spasm.

Those things were walking corpses! The realization made his blood run cold.

Augum’s broken arm exploded in pain as Canes grabbed it from behind. He struggled to break free but the man was too strong, forcing him to drop Burden’s Edge. Augum could only watch as a burning sword came whistling down on Mandy, the shy servant girl. She instantly fell silent, slumping to the ground.

“NO—STOP!” He thrashed in the vice-like grip.

Bridget and Leera dove to protect the girl from further strikes while Sydo scrambled to get away, pushing Mya forward in his attempt. She only wept, seemingly resigned to die.

The flaming blade rose and swooped down again, this time on the blonde servant girl, Rafinda. She too went silent.

Augum now knew madness; he flailed wildly. Suddenly one of Canes’ giant hands grabbed his head and forced it to look at a Red Guard. He immediately went limp, transfixed by dark horizontal slits. He was aware of a burning sword rising into the air. Dimly, he knew Mya was next; the pretty girl with the almond-shaped eyes and that radiant smile … He wanted to do something, but could not quite make up his mind what. A heavy feeling settled over him. It was over, she was as good as dead, then it would be Bridget and Leera …

Time slowed to a stomach-churning crawl. Let it just end, he thought, please just let it end …

Yet the sword did not come down for a third blow. It simply hung there, blazing quietly above Mya, who stared vacantly at Rafinda and Mandy’s bodies. Strangely, the red guardsman did not move either. In fact, nothing moved—everything had become still and silent.

Was he dreaming?

Someone else entered the room, approaching from behind the column of Red Guards, someone with a bluish arm. The crimson warriors did nothing to prevent the figure from strolling past them.

“Unnameable gods, the Lord of the Legion …” Canes whispered. “I have your son here, Great Lord!”

Augum’s stomach plunged … his father had come.

“I am honored, my lord, I was just about to—” but the words died on Canes’ lips.

“I suggest you let go of my great-grandson,” Mrs. Stone said, emerging from behind the foremost Red Guard, her arm a solid crackling sleeve. She stood erect, eyes smoldering.

Augum’s hopes surged until he felt the touch of cold steel against his neck.

“Stay back, crone, or I’ll slice his neck—” Canes tried to retreat but bumped into something.

Mrs. Stone stopped underneath the suspended burning sword, which hung over her like a flaming guillotine.

Sydo crawled to her feet, whimpering. “Save me—I am the heir!”

Mya realized who had arrived and joined Bridget and Leera in huddling over the bodies of Rafinda and Mandy, even though they were plainly beyond saving.

Mrs. Stone’s steel gaze was fixed solely upon Canes. “You were the one.”

“My allegiance has always been elsewhere.”

She extinguished her arm and placed her hands behind her back. “What is it you think Lividius wants?”

Canes’ beefy arm began to sweat. “Isn’t it obvious?”

“Do enlighten me.”

“The boy, the scion, and the portal.”

“Ah, so he knows about the portal. I seem to have underestimated my grandson once again.”

“Lord Sparkstone is more powerful than you can imagine. He found a second scion, and will soon find more. He will destroy you.” Augum held his breath as the knife pressed in a little.

Mrs. Stone’s face remained placid. “And it was you that brought the Legion here?”

“I proudly say yes. My reward shall be great.”

“I see.”

“The Lord of the Legion will come any moment now—”

“I do not think so, not any
moment
that is. I activated the castle’s ancient defenses. I also found that little hole in the cellar and plugged it. I have frustrated Lividius’ efforts to gain entry, and by the time he does find a way in, we shall already be gone.”

Canes’ breath quickened.

“And you need not bother threatening my great-grandson. We both know Lividius wants him alive. Besides, I have no intention of killing you today.”

“You … you don’t?”

“No. Allow me to demonstrate,” and without blinking or making any apparent gesture, Canes’ arms folded back and away. He cried out in pain as the knife dropped to the ground. Augum immediately escaped to stand with the others, where he watched as Canes’ arms slowly went to his own neck.

“No, what are you—” His eyes widened suddenly as his hands began to squeeze. His face turned purple and the veins on his forehead popped out. “But … you … said …”

Mrs. Stone raised her chin slightly and he fell to the ground, coughing.

“You are unworthy of what I offer,” she said in a cool voice. “Your life in exchange for a message and a sacred vow. What say you?”

Canes’ stood up, still gasping, rubbing his throat. “I accept … Mercy, I accept …”

Her eyes narrowed slightly. “Leave the castle and inform Lividius that the hole in his heart cannot be filled with what he seeks.”

He nodded. “I will do ask you ask. And the vow?”

“Vow that you shall never use the title ‘Sir’ again. Henceforth, you shall be known as a Knight of Disgrace.”

Canes blanched. “I … I …”

Mrs. Stone cocked her head slightly.

He hurriedly raised an arm in defense, the other still on his neck. “All right, all right! I swear I shall never use the knightly title of ‘Sir’ again. I shall henceforth be known as … as a Knight of Disgrace … a fallen knight.”

“So be it, you have sworn your last knightly oath. You are henceforth a Knight of Disgrace. You may now leave; I grant you safe passage through the castle. And take your sidekick with you.” She flicked her wrist and the one called O’Donnell unfroze with a start, took one look at her, and scurried away. Canes stood only a moment longer before he too turned and fled.

Sydo stood up and turned on Mrs. Stone. “Why did you let him go? He deserved nothing short of death!”

“Death comes to us all, young prince. Killing does not right wrongs, something your father understood well.”

“Even my father had an executioner!”

“Ah, but his axe was rusty.”

“And none of this would have happened if it was not for them!” Sydo pointed at the trio.

“Mrs. Stone,” Leera began, voice trembling a little. “It was my fault the Legion got in. We went exploring through the tunnel—”

“—and my fault too, Mrs. Stone,” Augum added. “If I hadn’t—”

Mrs. Stone held up a hand silencing them. “Lividius planned a major attack using his scion to gain entry. It would have succeeded with far greater consequences had you not forced them to undertake it early. I consider us lucky.”

Augum shared a look with Leera; they needed to tell Mrs. Stone about her former apprentice, though he feared what she might say. “Mrs. Stone … I … we … we killed Vion Rames defending ourselves.”

She stared at them a moment. “So be it. Many have died today. We shall hold a memorial ceremony to honor them on the other side.”

“Other side—?” Bridget asked.

“Yes, we are travelling to the land of the Ley, where we shall continue your training.”

“What about all these … things?” Augum asked, pointing to the paralyzed Red Guards.

“Ah yes, Lividius’ death knights.” She raised her arm, flaring it into a sleeve of crackling blue light. The space around her warped and electrified, making the hairs on the back of Augum’s neck stand on end. She opened her palm and an enormous bolt of lightning shot forth, plowing through the column ahead. Every death knight in the line vaporized in a sizzle of electricity, the charred crimson armor falling as empty husks. She did the same to the other column. When she finished, the air was filled with acrid smoke.

The cool darkness lasted only a moment, until Mrs. Stone cast her familiar floating globe, bathing them in blue light. She then shuffled over to Mya, who lay by Mandy and Rafinda, and placed a veined hand on her shoulder.

“Come, child, there is nothing more to be done.”

Mya did not move. Mrs. Stone looked to Bridget and Leera. The two gently helped Mya move along with quiet words, leaving Mrs. Stone to stand over the bodies of the slain servant girls, face grooved with weariness.

Tears rolled down Mya’s porcelain cheeks. “I shall miss you so much, my special girls …”

Bridget and Leera gently hugged her. Augum rested a hand on her delicate shoulder and gave it the lightest squeeze.

“Let them rest in peace,” Mrs. Stone said, making a graceful gesture. A pile of earth moved near the fountain, making two shallow graves. Mandy’s body rose into the air and into one hole, Rafinda the other. With another gesture, the earth pulled itself over them, leaving gentle mounds.