The Flames of Deception - A Horizon of Storms: Book 1 (102 page)

“
I can think of the
perfect
way,” she said, her voice growing quite
stony. “By
finding
Silar, and ripping his
head
from his shoulders.”

“
I
like
this girl, she has
spirit
,” Emary chuckled, standing and leaving the
inn.

“
Where is
she
going?” Luccius asked, following her with his eyes
to the door.

Matthias shrugged. “It’s best to leave her to it.
She’ll be back, I’m sure. We will stop them
all
Josephine,” he continued from
Josephine’s comments. “The sorcerers have to be stopped. If they
have managed to convince the emperor of Aslemer to invade his
neighbour, then their influence is greater than anyone could
probably imagine,
especially
my people.”

Josephine blinked with realisation a moment and placed her
drink on the table. “You have just reminded me,” she said, and
rifled within the pockets of her garment. She drew out the small,
green figurine and held it out to Matthias.

“
What
is
it?” Luccius asked.

“
It’s an
Artefact!
” Matthias exclaimed, and took it from Josephine’s
hand. “Where did you
get
this?”

“
Fenzar caught up to me a while ago,” she advised.
Matthias looked shocked. “He tried to lock me away inside
that…
thing
.” She withdrew the corresponding ring from where she had
placed it on her index finger. “I stopped him.” She handed the ring
over to Matthias as well.

“
You don’t
mean
…?” the wizard began. “Fenzar’s
inside
this
Artefact?”

“
As far as I can tell,” she replied. “I overpowered
the ambassador and cast him and two other wizards inside it, then
using a thread of energy, I managed to ‘compress’ the device again.
I wasn’t sure
what
to do with it.”

Matthias stared at the intricate item. “I
think
I
do.” He pocketed it, together with the ring. “But that’s
for another day. Well done,” he smiled. “It looks like we have one
less thing to worry about now.” He swallowed and looked at her
regretfully. “I am so sorry Josephine. I should
never
have left you in Crystal Ember. I
should have found you sooner. If I
had
done, Thadius might still be
alive.”

“
It was not your fault Matthias,” she said.
“Someone told me recently not to concern yourself with the past.
What is done is done. The only thing we can influence is the
future. That is where we should be focussing our efforts. Though…
it
is
difficult to let go
of the past, especially when that is where old friends and family
reside.”

The
door to the inn reopened and Emary reappeared. She sat down with
them and leaned in close.

“
Where did
you
run off to?” Luccius asked.

“
I needed to
relieve
myself,” she commented. “Whilst I was out there I
picked up on talk amongst the people of this town. The fighting
between their country and this
Aslemer
is continuing on one of the plains outside
the village. It looks like the fighting began again about an hour
ago.

Matthias nodded. “Then we
should
leave soon.”

“
To go
where?
” Luccius asked. “You don’t intend us to go to
Aslemer to stop this sorcerer by ourselves do
you?”

Matthias shook his head. “Defeating a sorcerer
will need greater planning and more people than just
us
four.” He mulled a
moment, before continuing. “The dragon was key to their plans, that
much is certain, but the problem is, we still don’t know
what
their final goal
will be. We need
answers
.”

“
Fenzar?” Luccius suggested.

Matthias shook his head. “He’s too intractable to answer any
questions. Besides, I would rather not let him out again with the
princess around.”

“
Then… you intend us to go to
Mahalia?
” Josephine asked warily,
sensing the direction of the conversation.

The wizard shook his head. “I didn’t keep you out
of the clutches of the council just to hand you to them on a
plate
,” he said. “But there
are
people I trust there that might be able to help
answer our questions. I can’t go there with you. I think it’s about
time I took you
home
princess.”

She looked up at him and for a brief second her
eyes flashed with excitement. “Really?” she asked. “But what about
your people? Won’t they come
looking
for me again?”

“
Something tells me they have
bigger
things to worry about at the moment.
Besides,” he tapped his pocket. “I’ll bring them a
message
from you.” He
smiled. “For
now
,
at least, I think it will be safe enough for you to be in Rina.
We’ve derailed the sorcerer’s plans. Hopefully that will keep them
off balance for long enough for me to speak with my friends and to
figure out what else is going on here. I think we have a
right
to know now, don’t
you?”

Josephine looked sombre. “Then… you intend
to
leave
me in Rina and return to Mahalia?” she
asked.

“
Only for a while. I
promise
that after I have found out what I need
to, I’ll come back.” He smiled. “I wouldn’t leave you
now
princess. Not after
everything.”

In a
quiet shock, she nodded to herself. “Well, I suppose that’s that
then,” she mused. Then she beamed, and for what felt like the first
time in months felt a pang of true joy. “I’m going
home.”