Balestone (24 page)

“We shall behead him,” the officer in charge said. “Bring the chopping block and fetch an axe.”

Tiberius focused on breathing. His face hurt, and he couldn’t breath out of his nose. He decided to focus on repairing as much of the damage to his face as possible. He would leave his lips bloody and the cut on his forehead open. He would need to leave his eye swollen, too, but he could repair his teeth and heal his nose.

Acies Intrinsecus Accipio Ceptum Sarcio Adiflictus Ossis
, he thought, directing the magic into his ruined face. He was wondering if Lexi would still be attracted to him with his face so mangled when the pain of the
Corporeus Adfectus
flared to life and he had to shut his eye to keep the tears at bay. He felt a hot tear squeezing out of the swollen eye, but his teeth began to hurt less, and he felt his nose mending.

The soldiers untied the rope and began to drag Tiberius to the chopping block. The crowd was murmuring with excitement. Tiberius was forced to his knees by the large square block of wood. His arms were wrenched behind his back by a very strong man, who then put his knee on Ti’s spine, just between the shoulder blades, forcing Tiberius to bend at the waist until his face was pressed hard onto the wood.

“This man has been found guilty of sorcery, treason, and murder,” the commanding officer bellowed. “He has been sentenced to die. You may carry out the verdict.”

Tiberius couldn’t see the soldier with the axe, but he guessed that man was raising his weapon to carry out the execution.
Scuti Incantatio
, Tiberius thought, feeling the reassuring touch of his shield spell. The axe fell hard, and the blow knocked the breath out of Tiberius’ lungs and jarred him so hard that his face ground against the rough surface of the chopping block. The solder holding Ti down suddenly let go, and there were screams of panic as Tiberius sat up, his head still intact and without so much as a scratch where the axe had fallen.

“Restrain the prisoner!” bellowed the commanding officer.

But this time Tiberius was ready for them.

“
Accendo
,” he whispered and fire swirled around him.

The crowd roared in panic, and Tiberius got to his feet. Through the swirling flames he could see the soldiers hurrying down the steps of the palace and toward the crowd. The heat around the flames was high, and inside the ring of fire, Tiberius could barely stay on his feet.

“
Abdidi Incantatio
,” he said and simultaneously clamped down hard on the fire spell. The flames fluttered and then disappeared in a puff of black smoke. When the smoke cleared, Tiberius was gone.

Chapter 32

The first day alone had been a welcome respite from the long journey north. Lexi had lounged, wondering what Tiberius was doing, and played with Dancer. Late that night she heard the sounds of animals in the distance. Dancer sat still, the little glider’s body rigid as it listened. The horses looked up, too, their ears turning toward the sounds.

Eventually, Lexi sent Dancer up for a look, but the animals were on the plains below the mountains, and Lexi felt safe enough in her small valley. The next morning, however, she searched her surroundings for a more defensible location, just in case something decided Lexi or the horses smelled like a good meal.

She found a small cleft in a nearby hill. The path leading up to the cleft was just wide enough for the horses to walk up single-file. Lexi didn’t want to make camp in the cleft in case Tiberius came back to look for her. The little valley had fresh water and grass for the horses to graze on, but the cleft was barren and rocky. So Lexi spend the day gathering firewood. She stacked the wood in the cleft and made sure she had torches ready if the need to flee came.

It came that very night. Dancer was the first to hear the sounds of the animals moving their way. She jumped up and down, chattering wildly and sending thoughts of danger straight into Lexi’s mind. When Dancer flew up to see, the wind glider caught sight of a pack of graypees approaching the valley from the wide plain. There were six of the deadly creatures; each had a triangular head that was nothing more than a small skull and thickly muscled jaws. Their snouts were long and pointed, with pointed teeth all along the edges of their long mouths. Their skins were scaly and their bodies wide. They had long, thick tails that tapered to a point, with ridges of tough, hide-covered bone running the entire length. They moved quickly and easily, first across the flat, dusty prairie and then up into the rocky terrain of the foothills.

“We have to move,” Lexi told the horses.

The graypees were still several miles away, but they were heading in Lexi’s direction, and she was wasn’t about to take any chances. After quickly saddling the horses and loading their supplies onto the mounts, she tied their reins together so that the horses would walk single-file. She considered leading the horse into the stream so that the water might hide their scent, but then she realized that she had been all around the area collecting firewood. The graypees would find them, and the horses might crack a hoof on the stones of the stream bed. She led them further up into the hills, taking the most direct route possible. She had a flaming torch in one hand, and Dancer circled high over head.

It didn’t take long to reach the cleft, and she led the horses up the narrow trail, then untied their reins. The hillside around the cleft was steep, but if the horses had to escape, they might survive the descent, and she didn’t want them tied together if the worst happened. Lexi had lined the edge of the cleft with firewood that she could light to hold off any animal, and once she had the horses settled, she moved more wood onto the trail. Nothing could reach them now, and if something tried, she would light the firewood and pray that the animals’ natural fear of fire would scare them away.

It was not the greatest of plans, but surely Tiberius and Rafe would be back from the mountain soon. All she needed to do was stay alive until they returned. Dancer fluttered back down, and Lexi hid the torch, letting it continue to burn in case she needed the fire to ignite her barricade. They watched the dark valley below them. Dancer kept the connection with Lexi, so all she had to do was close her eyes to see in the darkness. The valley was still and empty. Hours passed, and eventually Lexi fell asleep. It was dawn when Dancer chattered in her ear.

Lexi sat up, rubbing her eyes and listening. She heard a rock fall, and she knew the graypees were close. Dancer trilled mournfully.

“Maybe it’s Tiberius,” Lexi said, trying to remain positive, but she was almost certain it wasn’t him.

Dancer’s eyes looked sad, and Lexi couldn’t help but wonder what the little creature knew that she didn’t. Lexi picked up a long stick she’d found. It was sturdy, not very straight, but usable for her purpose. Using her Wangorian dagger, Lexi whittled down the end of the stick into a sharp point. She still had the long spears, but they were heavy and hard for her to manage. She felt like the spears would be more of a hindrance than help when it came to holding off the graypees. Lexi had no illusions about her makeshift weapon. It would never penetrate the incredibly tough graypee hide, but she determined that she would shove it down any creature’s throat that tried to eat her or Dancer.

When the first graypee came into view, Lexi felt a knot form in her stomach, and her head began to buzz. Dancer wanted to flee. Lexi guessed that she could take one of the horses and ride hard, hoping to outpace the ravenous animals. She remembered being attacked on the wagon on the night she had gone to get water for the ailing Hoskali tribe. The horses had run hard, but so had the pack of animals chasing them. Lexi could hope that by leaving three horses behind, the graypees would take the easy meal and leave her alone, but she doubted that rational thought played much of a role in the lizard-like graypees’ lives.

“We can’t run,” Lexi whispered. “But you shouldn’t stay.”

Lexi stood up and took Dancer in both hands, holding the little animal as its furry tail wrapped around her wrist.

“If I don’t make it,” she said softly, “you find Tiberius and tell him what happened to me, okay?”

Dancer trilled sadly, and Lexi felt tears stinging her eyes. She held the little animal close for a moment, remembering the way Dancer had risked her life to free Lexi from the vile old wizard.

“Don’t try to save me,” Lexi whispered. “Just find Tiberius.”

She didn’t wait for an answer but flung the glider out of the small cleft in the hillside. She watched in the gray light of morning as Dancer rose up into the air. It was almost magical, Lexi thought, and she longed for Tiberius. Then a pang of guilt stabbed at her conscience. She couldn’t help but feel that she was getting what she deserved for betraying Tiberius. Tears filled her eyes, but she refused to give in to the feeling of hopelessness. She determined that she would do everything she could to survive.

The graypees took their time approaching. Lexi’s torch had gone out in the night, but she had plenty of kindling. After an hour, there was no doubt that the pack was closing in. The reptilian predators yapped and growled to one another as they swept up the valley toward her hiding place. Lexi used flint and the steel blade of her dagger to start a fire. She moved from place to place along the barricade of firewood, carefully starting fires that would hold the animals at bay. Soon the wood was burning brightly, making the valley shimmer until it was almost like a dream.

Lexi moved to the back of the cleft, holding her makeshift spear and waiting. She could hear the growls of the graypees above the crackling of the fire and the sounds of the nervous horses. She gripped her stick and said a prayer to Addoni that Tiberius would find her soon; otherwise, there would probably be nothing left to find.

Chapter 33

The captain barked orders at his men. Olyva and Rafe were on the main deck of the large sky ship. The Hamill Keep vessel was different than those of the other cities. The hull was long and boxy, built to carry a large quantity of heavy cargo. The ships from Avondale and Sparlan Citadel were sleek vessels that spoke of wealth and luxury. The Hamill Keep sky ship was a workhorse, nothing more. Its crew slept in long, low-roofed cabins that ran the length of the ship’s main deck center section. The sides of the main deck were clear, and a short railing ran around the entire deck. The captain had a small cabin at the stern, and the guest quarters were at the bow. Olyva and Rafe stood looking over the starboard side railing at the city on the mountaintop below.

“Can you see him?” Rafe asked through clenched teeth.

Olyva knew that Rafe’s broken jaw was surely excruciating, but his worry over Tiberius seemed to cause him the most pain. Olyva wished that she could do something for him, but all she could offer was relief from his physical pain, and she knew that Rafe would not accept it, not while Tiberius risked his life for them.

“I can’t,” she said softly. “I’m sorry.”

“We can’t leave him,” Rafe said.

“We won’t, I promise. I’ll speak to the captain right now.”

Olyva hurried away. She was relieved to be out of the city and relatively safe, but she hated being so far from the ground. The sun felt exquisite, but she longed to root her toes into soft soil again. She had to climb the stairs up onto the command deck, which was over the captain’s cabin.

He looked at her with a frown and said, “I expect you’ll tell me what’s happening now.”

“Captain, there are many things happening, and there will be time enough to explain it all, but for now, the city is rioting, Earl Marcus is dead, and a man down there needs our help.”

“You want me to go back down?”

“I want you to stay close to the city. Can you do that?” she asked.

She knew it was a risk. If the captain ordered his crew to take Olyva and her family hostage, they could dock at the palace again, and the captain could turn his prisoners over to the rioters. The better bet would be to sail away from the city immediately and remove the temptation for the sky ship’s crew to join the rioting city, but then they might lose Tiberius forever.

“Of course I can, but it makes no sense to risk the earl’s family and this entire ship for just one man,” the captain said irritably.

“Tiberius Aegusson is the Earl of Avondale’s son. Would you really have us simply leave him behind?”

“Perhaps,” the captain said. “Is it true you and your friends crossed the blighted lands?”

“How else would we have gotten here?” Olyva said.

“Magic, perhaps,” the captain replied, looking pointedly down at Olyva’s feet.

“Magic has been unleashed on the nine cities of Valana, but not by us. You were with my father in Sparlan Citadel. How did he behave on the return voyage?”

“I don’t know,” the captain said. “He stayed in his cabin the entire time.”

“Is that normal?”

“No,” the captain said with a sigh. “Your father loved this ship. He spent the entire voyage to the capital here on the command deck with me.”

“And what happened to the servants who accompanied my father into the city?”

“I don’t know,” growled the captain.

“They didn’t return with the earl?” Olyva asked, already knowing the answer.

“No.”

“Well,” Olyva said, “for now, we require your ship and your help. Keep an open mind, Captain, and I assure you that your ship and crew will be safe.”

“If you say so, my lady.”

Olyva left the captain and returned to Rafe’s side. She could see a massive group of people in the marketplace, but she couldn’t tell what was happening.

“What’s going on down there?” she asked.

Rafe looked up with tears in his eyes, and suddenly Olyva realized what was happening. The crowds had found Tiberius and were attacking. Olyva looked back over the railing, noticing Rafe’s hands on the ships railing. He was squeezing the wood so tightly that his knuckles were white.

“They can’t kill him,” she said. “Surely he would use magic to stop them.”

Rafe was silent beside her. She glanced over and saw the tears streaking down his face. She had never had anyone she loved as much as Rafe loved Tiberius. They had had been friends since they were children and had saved each others lives so many times she had lost count. She had hoped that Rafe would love her the same way, but since the Hosscum had changed her, Rafe had been distant. She had thought she could be okay with that, that she could embrace the gifts that had been given to her and live her life happily, but now she realized that she wanted Rafe’s love more than ever. He was her hero. He had saved her family, freeing her father from whatever heinous thing had taken over his body and then rescuing her mother and sisters from the rioting mob. She wanted to comfort him, to ease his pain, but nothing she possessed could stop his heart from breaking for Tiberius.

“They’re moving him,” Rafe said.

Olyva looked back down. She could see the soldiers as the captain brought the sky ship closer to the city. The wind was blowing, but they could still hear the taunts occasionally rising up from the mob below.

Olyva pulled herself away; she didn’t want to see what they would do to Tiberius. He had proven himself capable and kind. His sacrifice for their safety made her weep. She went across the ship to the guest cabins. There were several small rooms and one larger one that was used by her father whenever he traveled. Olyva found her mother and sisters inside.

“What’s wrong?” Desyra asked when she saw Olyva.

“Nothing. Everything is fine.”

“Well, your triumphant return wasn’t so grand, was it?” Cassandra taunted her. “And you’ve ruined all of our lives in the process.”

“What happened to Father?” Frezya asked angrily. “Did your friends really kill him?”

“He was already dead,” Olyva said. “Ask Mother, she’ll tell you.”

“Ask me what?” their mother managed to say from the bed where she lay, her body racked with pain.

“Mother, are you all right?” Olyva asked, moving to her mother’s side.

“Ulbert said her ribs are cracked,” Desyra said.

“I’ll be fine,” their mother said in a strained voice. “I just need a little rest, that’s all.”

“Here,” Olyva said, raising her sleeve and plucking some of the furry stems from her upper arm. “Chew on these — it will ease the pain.”

She put them to her mother’s lips.

“Oh my God!” Cassandra said. “What are you doing?”

“I’m helping.”

“By giving her your hair?” Frezya said.

“What happened to you?” Cassandra said.

“I will explain everything to you later,” Olyva said firmly. “Mother, take this.”

“Don’t!” Cassandra said, grabbing Olyva’s wrist. “She’s trying to bewitch you, Mother.”

Frezya grabbed Olyva from behind, pinning her arms to her sides.

“Girls!” their mother said, but her face contorted in pain.

“Let me help her,” Olyva said.

“You’ve helped enough!” Cassandra said angrily.

“If we give her to them, we can go home,” Frezya said to her sister.

Olyva looked at Cassandra, who smiled wickedly back.

“But I doubt they’ll mind if they don’t get her back in one piece,” Cassandra said.

Olyva raised her foot then slammed it down and back onto Frezya’s toes. The younger girl screamed and let Olyva go. Without even thinking about it, Olyva punched Cassandra hard in the nose. Then she stuffed the stems that were still between her fingers into her mother’s mouth.

“You hit me!” Cassandra screamed.

Olyva turned on Frezya, but she was already backing away, hobbling on her heel and crying about her toes.

“That was amazing!” Desyra cried.

“Oh, Olyva, what is this?” her mother asked. “I feel so much better.”

“Rest, Mother. All will be well,” Olyva said, before turning to Cassandra again. “Do not get in my way, sister. I am not the same girl you knew.”

“You hit me!” Cassandra said again.

Olyva gave her a cynical smile and said, “At least you’re still in one piece.” Then she stormed out of the cabin. She went back to Rafe’s side. The sky ship was hanging over the palace, and Rafe had moved to the bow where he could see what was happening with Tiberius.

“They’re killing him,” Rafe said.

“Can we stop it?” Olyva asked.

The look of pain on Rafe’s face answered her question. She knew he would die for his friend, but Tiberius had made the choice to stay. He had made their escape possible, and now Rafe would stay with Olyva and honor his friend’s sacrifice by keeping her safe.

They watched as the chopping block was brought out and Tiberius was held down for execution. Olyva couldn’t watch and buried her face in Rafe’s chest. She could feel him sobbing, and his heartbreak only made her feel worse. Then suddenly he started jumping up and down.

“What is it?” she asked, looking down.

“Tiberius!” Rafe crowed.

Tiberius was standing up now, the guards backing away, and then fire erupted all around him. Olyva watched in horror thinking that Tiberius was burning, and then the fire disappeared and Tiberius was simply gone.

“What’s happened?” Olyva asked. “Where is he?”

“Lower the stairs!” Rafe said, grimacing with pain. “Do it now!”

Rafe ran for the hatch that led to the stairs, and Olyva ran with him, feeling hopeful for the first time since seeing her father that morning.