Emergence (Book 2) (36 page)

Berk kept his eyes lowered
, and turned to gesture Ciara ahead of him toward the garden gate. "After you, my lady."

Ciara's frown deepened. "You needn't be so formal."

"You will have to get used to it," Ariadne said, a laugh touching her voice. "Especially if you spend much time around me. Seems I can't get anyone to be informal in my presence."

"You are the sister of the Emperor, Lady," Nialyne said.

Ariadne rolled her eyes. "Yes, and Duchess of Courrin, and a whole list of other titles I'd have to look up in the public records. All of which are simply splendid when I need to impress some Lord of the Empire at court, but totally meaningless when I want to spend an afternoon in the company of friends." She turned her attention back to Berk. "Did the good General suggest how long he would be keeping Ciara?"

"No, Your Highness." Berk shifted. His left hand rested on the grip of his sword, his finger idly tapping the pommel. "Just that he wished to see her alone."

The Emperor's sister rolled her eyes. "Cryptic as always." She turned to Ciara. "Don't put up with him if he's brooding. He gets stuck in those moods for days, and there are much more pleasant ways to spend your time."

"I'll keep that in mind," Ciara said. She wondered just how well Ariadne knew Bolin, and the thought ushered in a spike of jealousy that she forced herself to smile through as she took her leave.

Ciara waited until they were well away from the garden before releasing the sigh she'd been holding in. "Thank the Goddess. I feel like I've been rescued."

Berk shot her a confused look. "You weren't enjoying yourself?"

"I'm just not used to--" She waved her hand in a circle. "All of this. It's so...different. Everything is big, and formal." She grabbed the skirt of the russet gown they'd found for her to wear and flared it out to the sides, giving a small twirl as she did so. "I mean, look at this. I've never even owned anything half this nice, and this is one of Ariadne's 'casual' gowns."

Berk pressed his lips together. His gaze trailed over Ciara and then immediately snapped away to some distant point. "You deserve much finer than that. For what it's worth, the gown becomes you."

"It's just so delicate," Ciara said. "And then there are the people. It seems no matter where I turn I bump into someone. Usually a guard or ten. I can't seem to get away to even catch my breath."

"I'm sorry," Berk said.

Ciara wrapped her arm around his. "Don't worry, you're one of the welcome ones."

He tensed at her touch, and his brow creased. "I shouldn't be."

He said it softly, and Ciara wondered if he'd meant for her to hear. "Why?"

Berk didn't respond. He turned away from the castle and led Ciara up the narrow, stone steps of the outer wall. They switched back twice before reaching the top. Ciara leaned through one of the crenels, and her breath caught at both the height and the view. The walls had
seemed unbelievably tall when viewed from the ground. Standing on the battlement and looking down was like standing on a mountain. The ribbon of road appeared to be nothing more than a narrow footpath. Beyond it, a broad expanse of open land spread out for at least a league before being swallowed by the deep green of a huge forest. If she leaned out just a bit further, Ciara could get a glimpse of the river off to her right.

"It's beautiful," she said, closing her eyes and letting the crisp wind wash over her as she inhaled deeply. She stayed that way for a long time, her mind empty of everything, relishing in the warm sun and clean air. Finally she sighed, opened her eyes, and pulled herself back through the opening. "I suppose we better not keep Bolin waiting any longer."

Berk nodded once and turned to start down the length of the wall. Ciara followed for a bit as they moved further and further from the castle. They passed through a guard tower and the soldier's there saluted. Berk acknowledged them with a curt nod, but didn't stop, and didn't say anything to them. Then the city came into view on their left. Row upon row of buildings, some standing three and four stories tall, lined streets that spread out in some sort of chaotic order Ciara couldn't make sense of. Sounds drifted up; people shouting and laughing, dogs barking, the rumble of carriage wheels on cobblestone. Smells reached her as well. Some pleasant, some not so. Ciara paused and looked out at the scene. It amazed her that people could live so closely to one another with not a bit of grass or even a tree around them.

She turned to Berk standing a few paces away and watching her, his brows furrowed. He didn't hold her gaze, and moved on as soon as she looked his way. Ciara trotted to catch up to him.

"Is something wrong?"

He stopped and ran a hand through his hair, but still refused to look at her. "The General didn't send for you. I'm sorry. I just...I wanted a moment to talk to you alone and I didn't know how else to do it."

"All you had to do was ask," she said, smiling.

"No. They wouldn't have let you come with me if I had no reason."

"Of course they would have."

He jumped sideways like a shying horse when Ciara touched his arm. Pain and confusion swirled in the depths of his eyes. He backed out of Ciara's reach, and the sunlight glinted off
the sweat gathered at his temples.

"Berk, please, tell me what's wrong."

"You shouldn't care," he said, his voice sharp.

***

Goddess's blood, Berk hadn't meant to snap at her like that. Ciara looked up at him, question and concern on her face. Honesty and caring that cut him deeper than any knife ever could. Try as he might, Berk couldn't find any mistrust there. None of the judgment or loathing he expected.

"I don't understand why you don't hate me," he said. "After what I did."

Ciara closed the distance he'd put between them. "You didn't do anything I should hate you for."

"I tried to. I would have if the pain hadn't stopped me." He lifted a hand to her cheek and lowered his voice. "I wanted to. Not like that though. I would never want to hurt you. You know that, right?"

Ciara took his hand in hers and lowered it between them. "I know, and you wouldn't have then, no matter what you think."

Berk looked down. Her hands were so small in his. They were gentle hands, but strong, too. "I can't seem to convince myself of that. We haven't known each other very long. I have no right to expect anything from you. But I care for you. More than I should, I suppose. I just need you to understand that. Even though I know--" Damn the unholies, what was wrong with him? He had planned out exactly what he wanted to say to her, and now he couldn't even remember the words. Something else picked at the edge of his thoughts and vied for his attention. "I'm not sure what I'm doing."

Bring her to me.

Berk flinched. He stared down the length of the wall and shook his head. "No."

You will not defy me. Bring her to me and stop those who would intercede.

"Berk?"

He drew his gaze back to Ciara. His voice sounded hoarse in his own ears, his words coming in a rush. "You need to go. Now. Please. I shouldn't have brought you here. I didn't mean for any of this to happen. I swear. I don't know how to stop it. I'm trying. She did something--"

Bright flashes of light pierced his skull behind his eyes, and Berk swore. He put a hand out to steady himself. Ciara took him by the elbow. She said something, but the words
were garbled by a sudden buzzing in his ears that drowned out any other sound.

Bring her to me.

They were moving again. Berk had a tight hold on Ciara's wrist, practically dragging her behind him. He'd take her back to the castle. Back to the gardens. Before it was too late. Before he made an even bigger mistake than he already had.

No one used this portion of the wall any more. They didn't even post guards on it. Some centuries-old battle had left it scarred, battered, and four times repaired before the new wall rose up behind it. Berk blinked, coming to a sudden halt at the bottom of the narrow flight of stairs that had brought them to it
; the farthest northwest corner, away from the castle. His breath caught. No. No, he swore he had turned them around and headed back. He hadn't wanted to come here. Not to bring Ciara here. Her sudden gasp sheared through the haze in his head. Berk drew his sword and pushed Ciara behind him, holding her there.

Three men faced him. Lords Arnok and Reihold in their amber robes of office, and another man, dressed all in black.

CHAPTER THIRTY

Ciara got a glimpse down the wall before Berk stepped in front of her. Enough to see Donovan flanked by two men in the same kind of amber robes Thadeus wore.

"Put your sword away," the taller of the two said, his voice dripping with disdain. "Or do you think it wise to threaten me?"

Ciara tried to step around Berk, but he kept his left arm back, his hand firmly on her waist to keep her tucked behind him.

"I won't let you have her," he said.

"No?" Donovan said.

Ciara shivered. She couldn't see him, but she knew the look in his eyes, the slight upturn at the corners of his thin lips as though he too
k delight in some private joke.

"Do you not remember what we discussed? We have a bargain, do we not?"

"We did," Berk said. "I changed my mind."

He no sooner said the words, than he cried out and dropped to his knees, clutching his head, his sword clattering to the stones. Ciara knelt beside him, but he pulled away from her touch.

"Go. Please. Leave while you can."

"Leave and I kill him," Donovan said.

Ciara glared at him. How she hated his perpetual smirk. "What have you done to him?"

"Nothing that cannot be undone. Unless you choose to make this more difficult than it need be. In which case, his life is forfeit."

"He has nothing to do with this."

"Perhaps not. But your influence over him is incredible." Donovan's glittering gaze fell on
Berk. "We have an arrangement."

"I told you to be careful of this one." A woman stepped out from behind the mages, and Ciara recognized her from the wall at Broadhead. "He is stronger than you guessed."

"Then I have no further use for him."

The witch curled a lip in Donovan's direction. "You promised him to me."

"Leave him alone," Ciara said. She stood, putting herself between Berk and the others.

"Ciara, please, don't."

She barely heard Berk's plea. Her eyes locked on Donovan's, those midnight pools where lightning seemed to flash and play in rhythm to his moods. The air around them shimmered with so many different strands of magic Ciara couldn't tell where one began and one left off. Not all of them were Donovan's doing. In fact, most she didn't recognize.

Berk moved behind her, and before she could react he pushed her to the side and lunged for Donovan, sword leveled. Donovan waved a hand, and Ciara heard Berk's breath explode from his lungs as he slammed back against the wall. He stuck there, his feet dangling above the ground, his fingers clawing at his throat.

"Stop it!"

"Then persuade him to do as he agreed," Donovan said. "Or would you prefer even more innocent blood on your hands?"

Berk met her look. He shook his head, and his mouth formed the word 'no'. Then his face contorted in pain. His hands dropped to his sides, his eyes showing white as they rolled back in his head.

"Let him go." Ciara screamed i
t as she rushed to Berk's side.

"Convince him to honor his word."

Berk's feet hit the ground, and he slumped forward into Ciara's arms, sucking in huge gulps of air. She cupped his face with her hands, and lowered her voice for his ears alone. "Just do it, Berk. Please. Whatever he told you to. He'll kill you otherwise."

But he shook his head again. "No."

"Please. I don't want anything to happen to you."

"It's my fault," he said in a
grating whisper. "I brought you here."

"You didn't mean to, Berk. I know that. It will be all right, I promise. I need some time
, so just do as he says." She attempted a crooked grin. "I have a plan."

"Ciara--"

"I got us away from the marauders, right? Trust me."

He studied her for a
moment, his gaze flicking over her shoulder and back. "Hurry."

Ciara turned back to Donovan. "He'll do it."

"Excellent." Donovan looked toward the witch and the two mages. "Time to prove your worth."

The three of them moved down the wall to where it bowed out in a wide arc, but Donovan's eyes never left Ciara. She could feel Andrakaos stirring, but try as she might she couldn't call him. Something shielded him from her.

I need you. Now.
She sent the thought toward him.

I am not allowed here.
His mental voice seemed distant.

"The city wards," Donovan said, eavesdropping on her thoughts. His fingers wrapped around her arm, and he dragged her toward the others. "You see, my dear, Nisair is warded against any power not sanctioned by the Emperor and his mages. Greedy, paranoid, upstarts that they are, they feel it within their rights to dictate the use of power. They fear any that may be greater than theirs. Do you think they would not do just as I am, were they given the opportunity? The Emperor is likely drooling at the thought of it, and scheming even now."

Ciara twisted in his grip. She tried to plant her feet, but the light slippers she wore only slid beneath her. "I won't let you do this."

"I expect you believe as much. No doubt you will try to stop me. For your sake, it would go much easier on you were you to relinquish control."

Donovan propelled her forward. Ciara gave out a sharp cry as she tripped on the hem of her gown and fell to her knees. She thrust her hands out to break her fall, remaining on all fours as her brain worked to sort through the sudden crush of sensations swirling around her. She lifted her head and spotted the two mages and the witch standing in a loose circle around her. Magic threaded its way between them like a multi-colored, shimmering rope.

I am free here.

"And so I shall claim you here," Donovan said.

He began to chant, the ancient words taking shape in the air around Ciara just as they had done in the old woman's chamber. A shudder ran through her. Andrakaos reared back on his haunches, great wings fanning the air in his chamber and extinguishing the torches that lined the walls. Ciara scrambled to her feet, fists clenched at her sides.

"Not this time," she said.

There had been a moment when she healed Bolin where she had joined with Andrakaos. She didn't know how she had done it, just that she had. In that moment, she became all that he embodied. His power had been hers. His strength flowed through her. She had seen with his eyes, and felt through his body. As the words Donovan chanted grew thicker around her, like moths around the flame of a lantern, Ciara let go her consciousness and allowed herself to fall into the surging power within.

***

A sudden wave of dizziness tipped the ground beneath Bolin's feet, and he staggered to the side. Someone grabbed his arm to support him. They asked him a question, but he didn't pay any heed. He couldn't. His blood surged through his veins in an overwhelming feeling of complete release. Open sky replaced the room around him. Below him
, Nisair fell away to nothing more than a tiny dot in a kaleidoscope landscape.

Bolin shook his head. His heart slammed against his ribs as though it intended to burst from his chest. So much power. No longer chained but exalting in its freedom.

I can't call him back.
Ciara's voice from somewhere very distant.

A scream. Anger, defiance, pain. And then laughter at the sheer thrill of it all.

Bolin forced his breathing to slow, and his eyes to open. The panic he felt as he did so didn't come from Ciara or her power, it came from his own soul, and he squashed it before it could grow.

"Too late," he said, and raised his face to meet Dain's concerned look. "We're too late."

He pulled from Thadeus's grip, and bolted for the door with Dain following hard on his heels. The Emperor caught him in the hallway, and Bolin spun on him.

"You can't do this alone," Dain said.

"It's very likely we can't do it at all," Bolin said, giving voice to his fear.

"We'll need the mages--"

"Some are already there," Thadeus said, a distant look on his face that turned to an icy scowl as he drew his focus back. "It appears two of my brothers have cast their lot with our enemy."

"Where's Ari?"
Bolin asked.

Dain started to shake his head when footsteps echoed down the corridor, and Ariadne
and Nialyne rounded the corner.

"What's going on?" Ariadne asked, the hint of demand in her voice as she joined them. "The wards barely gave a shiver, but someone is flinging around an awful lot of power. Ancient power."

"Ciara and Donovan. We're going to need you." Bolin looked at Nialyne. "Stay here with Thadeus."

"No."

"Damn the bloody hells, Alyne, you'll do as I say and not argue."

Nialyne stiffened, and the corridor became deathly quiet as the world held its collective breath. The Galysian elder's chin lifted the merest fraction. Her eyes hardened and slid from Bolin to Dain. "By your leave, Your Majesty, I offer the aid of the Greensward where it shall be needed." When Bolin opened his mouth, Nialyne put a hand up to stop him, but still didn't look at his way. "You will need whatever resources can be gathered if we are to salvage this day."

"Alyne, please, listen to me." Bolin took her by the arms and forced her to face him, desperation coloring his tone. "I won't have you putting yourself in danger. Stay here with Thadeus. Please. For the love of the Goddess. You can aid us just as easily from inside the castle as you can from outside it."

Her expression didn't soften. "You waste precious time, General."

Bolin implored Dain. "Please, talk some sense into her."

"You need to hurry," Thadeus said before Dain could respond.

Bolin fought the cold dread growing in his gut. He shook his head, released Nialyne, and sprinted out of the castle, leaving the others to trail behind.

By the time he reached the top of the north wall, Bolin's legs ached and his lungs burned. He paused to catch his breath, then blindly followed the undeniable pull of Ciara's power westward along the battlement. The currents of magic being called into play buffeted him from all sides. If
Imperial Mages were aiding Donovan, that would explain the city wards not giving notice. It would also complicate matters. He'd be facing them along with Donovan and his witch. Alone until the others caught up to him. But that fact didn't slow his pace because from the skies overhead came a deafening roar.

Alarm bells rang from the watch towers, and Bolin prayed Dain had the good sense to pass along orders before someone started taking shots at the apparition Bolin didn't want to acknowledge. Stairs to his right lead down to an old portion of the wall, and he took them without thought but came up short at the bottom. Berk blocked his path, sword in one hand, a long dagger in the other, his stance suggesting he had
no intention of moving.

"Out of the way," Bolin said.

"No, sir."

A whisper of powerful magic trailed past Bolin like a faint scent on the breeze. "Berk, step aside."

The soldier glanced behind him then back at Bolin. He shook his head, but it appeared he did it more to clear his thoughts than in response to Bolin's order.

"I
..." Berk's brows drew together. "I can't seem to do that."

"I think you want to."

"I do." He flexed his fingers on his sword's grip. He winced then, and when his eyes finally came back to Bolin they looked glazed. "But I can't."

"He'll kill her. You realize that, don't you?"

"No. He won't. He just wants to talk to her."

Bolin gestured behind Berk. "Does that look like he's interested in talking? Put your weapons down, and let me pass." He raised his hands, palms up. "I'm unarmed, Berk. You've more honor than that. Or has he taken that as well?"

Berk's lip curled and anger flashed in his eyes. He flipped the dagger, catching it by the blade, and bent to slide it across the ground toward Bolin. "Arm yourself then."