Chain of Illusions (Bringer and the Bane) (19 page)

After Jade stepped safely onto the ledge, she launched herself at Rell, squishing her in a hug. “Did you forget that I’m the risk taker?”

“You have taken risks for far too long.” Rell smiled and hugged her sister back. “It’s my turn to protect you.”

“I’ve never been so scared in my life for you.” Jade released her sister and stepped away. “I think I like being the one in danger much more.”

“Sorry,” Rell said.

“Don’t worry, Jade.” Luc’s arm slid around Jade’s shoulder and he gave her a little squeeze. “I’m fairly certain we’re only getting started and there’ll be enough danger for everybody.”

Jade groaned. “Great.”

“Never fear, little sister.” Rell rubbed Jade’s shoulder. “I’ll protect you.”

“I’m more worried about who is going to protect you,” Jade said.

Rell smiled at Siban. “He’s done a good job so far.”

He shook his head, giving her a quick kiss. “She doesn’t make it easy.”

Luc made a face as if he’d smelled something foul. “It must run in the family.”

Luc moved away to speak with Rhys. Several of the Bringers congregated around.

Juna joined them. “Well done.”

“I couldn’t have done it without you,” Rell said.

Juna looked at Siban, a smile tugging at her lips. “Let’s just say it was a united effort.

He dipped his head at her veiled compliment. Juna took a step toward the towering arch and turned back to look at them. “One obstacle down.” She paused. “I wonder how many more we have to go.”

Siban wondered the same thing. From his estimate, this puzzle had been fairly easy to figure out. Besides the last square, any of the ancient Bringers could have guided Rell, though probably not with as much certainty as Juna had done.

“It is good to see that we can work together for a positive end.” Gregory gathered the group beneath the arch. Though there seems to be nuances some of us cannot pick up that others can.” He turned and faced the path leading away from them. “Vile’s illusion traps are bound to grow more complex the deeper we travel.” He turned back to the group. “Remain vigilant. Help each other. Take nothing for granted.”

Gregory’s words unsettled Siban. On the surface of Inness, things were usually what they appeared to be. He counted on the grass being green, winter wind to blow cold, and the sun to rise each morning. In the Shadow World there were no rules. Siban latched onto that confusing bit of truth. The only way he’d be able to reason through the shifting dangers of the Shadow World was to let go of all he ever thought he knew and to open himself up to the one thing he’d been trying so hard to run from—the darkness.

Chapter Seventeen

Thick slabs of carved stone sat stacked on top of each other to create the soaring arch. Rell’s gaze followed the climbing columns that came to rest on the Summoners’ star at the top of the peak, a symbol that this was
their
domain.

Before them the path narrowed to an uneven trail that skirted along the ridge of a wide gorge. Jagged rocked jutted outward from the sides of the gorge like the mouth of a dragon and then faded into blackness, hiding whatever lurked at the bottom. How far of a drop it was, Rell couldn’t tell.

In single file, the Bringers shuffled forward, climbing over boulders that lay haphazardly across their path, hampering their progress greatly. Slippery frost clung to nearly everything, making each step they took and each rock they skirted even more hazardous.

Rell kicked a small stone over the ledge. Echoes of the rock as it bounced down the sloping gorge wall seemed to go on forever, eventually fading, but there was no sound of it hitting the bottom.

Their breath turned to frosty smoke once it hit the chilled air and thin clouds of vapor trailed the group. Rell blew into her folded hands and flexed her fingers, trying to coax warmth back into them. Magnus’s beard looked white, the rime particularly thick across his mustache. A fine layer of crystals dusted each of their shoulders. Rell lamented leaving her long cloak with the horse, though the bulky garment would have been a hindrance while crossing the tiles.

A low rumble reverberated through the caverns. The sound droned constantly, as if below the icy surface an inferno raged. Every so often the ground shifted, shaking loose parts of the gorge walls and sending an avalanche of rocks skittering down the slopes.

“Do you hear that?” Rell cocked her head. “It’s like thunder inside the caves.”

Siban nodded. “Once we passed the arch I heard it. Unfortunately, I don’t think that’s a good sign. I suspect we’re getting close to where Vile awaits.”

“I sense growing peril.” Rell flexed her fingers again and shoved them into her armpits. “As well as more Bane.”

“Some of that Shield heat would be welcome right now.” Siban took her hands in his and blew, rubbing them to get the feeling back. “I wonder how long we’ve been traveling.”

“We’ve yet to stop for sleep, but I’m tired, so it could be as much as a full day already.” She shook her head. “Since returning to human and then being brought to full power, I no longer know my limitations. I guess I will find out.” They stopped behind Juna.

Juna spoke over her shoulder. “I think we are all receiving a lesson in endurance and forbearance.”

As usual, she had claimed her place behind Gregory. Siban and Rell followed directly behind her. For a long time nobody spoke, as if each felt the stirrings of things they didn’t want to alert to their passing. Constant ripples of warning spooled back to Rell whenever she sent her Tell to search yards ahead. The danger was building, drawing closer. Or was it them who closed in on the menace? Was Vile the only threat, or were there unimaginable perils awaiting their arrival?

The bite of the Bane had changed from a painful to an almost seductive scratching that left her feeling violated. She rubbed her arms, trying to chase away the chill stealing through her. She spoke to Siban’s back. “Something isn’t right.”

“I feel it too, but I can’t pinpoint what.”

They rounded a corner and the trail spread out to form a wide ledge. Now instead of a single path, there were three, each branching in a different direction. Gregory approached the first corridor, peering into the darkness. “Magnus and I will scout this passage. Stay here until we return.”

With swords drawn, the two men entered the opening. A couple of yards in the darkness swallowed them. The dim light of Gregory’s glowb sparked and then grew. Rell watched until both men had rounded a bend and disappeared. As usual, Juna paced at the entrance, occasionally peering down the dark tunnel. The minutes ticked by and still Gregory and Magnus didn’t return. Rell tried not to show her growing concern as their absence lengthened.

In an effort to divert her attention, she walked to the beginning of another trail that led in a straight, open path across the ravine. On the left the cavern wall extended upward into darkness. To her right was a straight drop to what was probably the bottom of the gorge. The trail was barely one person wide, but in her opinion, seemed by far the safest route. She stared along the skinny path. It may seem hazard-free but she was learning things were not always what they appeared.

The seductive scratch of the Bane increased. She turned and opened her mouth to say something to Siban, but Gregory appeared from the dark passage.

Juna spun and looked at him and then back down the tunnel. “Where is Magnus?”

“Exploring another passage. He’ll join us in a few minutes.” Gregory walked to the trailhead and stood next to Rell. “That passage leads to a drop-off. There is no way to traverse the path.” He pointed across the open trail. “It appears this is our only choice.”

Instantly Rell was on alert. She stared at Gregory. Perhaps it was the way he spoke or his mannerisms, but something seemed off about him. Her Tell skated over him, trying to decipher what was different, but could not identify anything specific.

Siban inched forward, his eyes locking with hers. “Rell, come walk beside me.”

His burning stare told her he felt it, too. Brita moved forward to stand beside Siban. “Perhaps we should wait until Magnus returns, Gregory.” She paused. “In case we run into anymore Bane.”

Gregory smirked. “They haven’t been a problem for us as of yet.”

“But the demon at the arch nearly killed you.” Brita pressed her hands over her heart. “We must be cautious.”

“But I was victorious.” Gregory held his arms wide, his words confirming the deception unfolding before them. “Magnus will catch up.”

Trying not to make any sudden movements, Rell took a slow step toward Siban, but Gregory’s hand shot out and gripped her arm. “Where are you going?” He pulled her toward him. The familiar darkness swamped her, fastening to her like thick molasses. “I said we travel this path.”

With a hard shove, he pushed Rell forward onto the path. She stumbled. Her right foot slipped over the edge but she caught herself before she fell. The suffocating presence eased somewhat. She drew in a deep breath and slowly turned to face Gregory—or whatever was pretending to be Gregory.

He smiled, his expression sending a shiver through her. “You see, there is no danger here.”

Jade glared at him. “Why did you do that?”

Before Rell could take a step back toward safety, a small rivulet of water that had been flowing down the wall shifted and streamed across the trail. It spread across her feet. She jumped backward, but the shimmering liquid followed her, covering her boots like a silvery sheet.

The sensation of the ground shifting beneath her sent a rush of panic through Rell. She stumbled toward the ledge but righted herself. “The ground is moving.”

Gregory laughed, the sound maniacal and not like the man she’d come to know.

Jade made to lunge forward but Luc grabbed her arm, pulling her to a stop. “I don’t think that’s Gregory.”

Rell struggled to keep her footing on what felt like sifting sand. No matter what she tried, she could not gain ground forward or back to safety. She clutched a jutting rocked sticking out of the cavern wall and tried to climb above the water, but it was impossible to lift her feet from the liquid. Deciding it best not to move, she clung to the wall and forced herself to remain still.

Her eyes beseeched Siban to do something. His Tell touched her, giving her comfort that everything would be all right, but she didn’t relax.

Siban gripped Brita’s arm and pulled her to his left. At the same time Ravyn rushed forward. Both she and Siban raised their daggers and in one smooth motion, hurled the weapons at Gregory. The blades buried deep in their supposed leader’s chest. Juna cried out, as if still not understanding the situation.

Gregory’s image wavered. His mouth opened and closed, his now-yellow eyes rounding in shock. He grabbed for the knives, but Siban rushed forward and yanked the immortal weapons from his chest. In an instant, Gregory transformed from Bringer to Bane. Black tattoos covered every inch of the demon’s body. At the center of its chest the Summoner’s symbol extended outward, the points of the star reaching across its body.

Rhys leveled a solid kick to the Bane’s stomach and catapulted the demon over the edge of the trail. A high-pitched scream followed the creature’s descent, the sound of its body hitting the bottom of the gorge abruptly cutting off the screech.

Again the ground shifted beneath Rell. Her grip slipped slightly. She clawed at the wall, trying to get a firmer hold on the icy rocks and pressed her cheeks against the cold stone. The silver water bubbled around her feet, its flow increasing to run across the ground and over the edge. The liquid churned and roiled up her legs.

“Siban!” She attempted a step forward but nearly lost her footing completely. “I can’t move.”

“Hold on.” He crept toward her and extended his arm, stretching his body in an effort to reach her. “I’m coming.”

Rhys gripped Siban’s wrist and then latched onto Luc. One by one the Bringers formed a human chain. Again Rell tried to move toward them but the water welled up, encompassing her legs, as if its single purpose was to drive her over the edge.

A thunderous roar erupted from below her, shaking the ground more violently than before. Wind swept through the cavern, battering each one of them and pushing Siban back toward safety. One of her hands slipped free. Rell cried out, her arm swinging wildly in an attempt to grab the wall again, but the wind and water beat against her. Rocks tumbled from above, sliding downward in an avalanche of water and stones.

Again the screams she’d heard in the corridor pierced her skull, their cries even louder than before. The water surged and lifted one foot completely from the ground. Rell could hear Siban and the other Bringers yelling at her, but the cries ricocheting through her head muffled their words. Her nails scraped along the stones as the force of the water drove her toward the edge. Pain throbbed through her fingers from trying to hold on, but inch by aching inch her grip slipped free.

Time seemed to slow, all movements around her registering at once. The ground shifted and Siban lunged for her. Rell’s feet gave way and suddenly she was falling.

The shrieks inside Rell’s head were replaced with her own screams. Wind beat against her ears as she toppled head first into the black gorge. There was no way to save herself. Her one thought was of Siban and how they’d never gotten the chance to live a life together. She closed her eyes, waiting for her death.

Something hard slammed into her, knocking the breath from her. Intense pain speared her arms and for a second she’d thought she’d hit the sharp rocks jutting from the wall. Her body lurched, her neck snapping backward, nearly halting her in midair. A hard
thump
of wings sounded above her and she was yanked violently upward. Her stomach flipped, nearly causing her to vomit.

The realization that talons wrapped around her arms sent another wave of panic through her. Had the demon they had thrown over captured her? Her instinct to fight back reared up. But to fight and win would mean falling again. She craned her neck, trying to see what Bane held her, but the darkness and the angle at which she hung made it impossible.

Upward they flew and to her surprise, the demon dropped her, though none too gently onto the ledge a few feet from the group. Siban rushed forward, his sword drawn. He scooped Rell into his free arm, crushing her to him. Though he spoke, she couldn’t understand him with her head pressed against his chest. Stunned that she wasn’t dead, Rell collapsed against him, the tears coming unbidden.

The
whoosh
of wings and the heavy
crunch
of stone pulled her from her shock. She pushed away from Siban to see the Bane who had saved her. “Icarus?”

Tall and imposing, Icarus stood a few yards from where he’d dropped her. His yellow eyes glimmered in the cavern’s dimness and his shoulders were squared, as if completely at odds with his noble feat. “Being human has made you rather clumsy.”

Siban shoved her behind him and pointed the sword at Icarus’s chest. “Do not come any closer.”

“He saved me, Siban.” Rell tried to step around him, but he held her in place.

“Why is he here?”

Rhys and Ravyn moved to stand on either side of Siban. Bright orbs of fire burned in the palms of their hands.

“You mean to vanquish me after I saved your friend?” Icarus’s voice pulsed with anger.

Frustrated by the Bringers’ reaction, Rell pushed past Siban. He reached for her, but she dodged his grasp and walked toward Icarus. “Thank you.”

The demon’s brows furrowed when her step didn’t slow, and when she threw her arms around his broad chest his body stiffened, as if shocked by her reaction. Though he didn’t return her embrace, he didn’t pull away.

“Rell.” Siban’s voice lashed out at her. “He can’t be trusted.”

She released the demon and stepped back. “I think he’s proven he can.”

Icarus inched away from Rell. “You have also become emotional.”

She nodded, still trying to reconcile what she’d just experienced. “Perhaps.”

Footsteps thundered from inside the passage and Gregory and Magnus appeared, swords held ready. Both men slid to a stop.

“What is going on here?” Gregory looked from Icarus to Juna.

“Another illusion trap.” She flicked her head toward Rell. “She fell and Icarus saved her.”

The stilted explanation was correct if not brief. Though Magnus’s stance didn’t relax, Gregory released a heavy breath and straightened.

Siban took a step forward. “Why did you save Rell? Because you owe her for your freedom?”

“Siban!” She turned and glared at him.

“Rell, what does Siban mean?” Jade asked.

Rell’s eyes searched the group. All of them watched her and she could see their understanding dawn.

“It doesn’t matter.” Meran stepped forward. “If Icarus hadn’t been here, Rell would have died.”