The Wizard's Heir (22 page)

Alistair came around the edge of the branch and stopped, looking down at him.

“Why?” Tybolt said. “Why would Rowan do this?”

“He’s searching for you. Trying to kill you by the looks of it.”

“No, not now. The first time. He killed so many, and for what?”

“I don’t know. Does it matter?”

Tybolt sighed. “No, I guess it doesn’t.” He looked up. “What are you smiling about?”

“All of this.” Alistair held out his hands. “I finally understand a piece of history I’ve wondered about for years.”

“What is that?”

“There’s an engraving hidden in some tunnels below the castle. Aja and I found it when we were just boys. There was a picture carved into the stone of a boat sailing from Deasroc, the first wizard. Beneath it were the words,
“Behold, the very forces of nature begged him to stay.”
I thought it was odd, the wording. But now—” He smiled. “The land needs you. The trees did your bidding because you asked.”

Before Tybolt could reply, the trees began to move, pulling themselves vertical again. He slowly got to his feet, speechless.

The forest around them had been destroyed. The trees that had managed to stay standing were missing so many branches they looked like a forest of poles, stripped and ready to be planed for building. Only the trees that had bowed to Tybolt’s will had retained the leaves and needles hidden inside the shelter.

The wind had dropped to a weak howl and was decreasing every second. This wasn’t a second Fracture, thankfully, but the damage was still immense.

“Truly, you are Aja’s son.” Tybolt looked towards the voice to see Carac lowering to his knees. The other wizards followed suit.

Alistair put one hand on his shoulder and smiled down at the kneeling wizards. “It is time,” he announced. “Time to take Rowan off the throne. We have our heir, and nature has spoken, just as it did for the first wizard.” He motioned to the trees that had sheltered them. “Nature itself has begged him to stay.”

At those words the other wizards cheered, their eyes lighting with hope.

Rowan sagged to the floor, exhausted. His magic had not increased.

Tybolt lived.

Plans had to change before his window of opportunity closed forever. He eyed the chest grudgingly—the price needed to be paid now.

“Where do we go from here?” Tybolt asked.

“That depends on you,” Alistair said. “Are you going to take your throne?”

Your throne
. The words held a foreign feel. It wasn’t pleasant, more…heavy. As if the burden he’d already placed on his own shoulders was increasing tenfold.

But could he leave the people to Rowan without his presence to buffer some of their pain? How could he leave them to that fate?

Even stronger than his obligation and love for the people was his love for Auriella—the threads of which ran deep and had, without him knowing, pervaded every inch of his soul. He’d seen trust in her eyes when he’d promised to save her from marrying Rowan. He’d waited
years
for her to look at him that way. Whether he
wanted
to be King or not, he’d made her a promise, and he would not fail.

Tybolt took a deep breath, steeling himself. “I’ll take the throne.”

The wizards let out a simultaneous sigh of relief, followed by grins all around.

“Excellent!” Alistair patted him on the back. “My nephew has finally returned to us, and we will see him crowned!”

Cheers rose again.

Tybolt put up his hands, quieting them. “I hate to put a damper on the moment, but how exactly—” He was interrupted by the sound of his name being called. It was faint but audible. “What was that?”

“Hunters,” Carac said, panic lining the word. He turned to Alistair. “We have to hide the heir. If we lose him—”

“Tybolt!” The voice came slightly louder. Whoever it was approached via horse from the north.

“Carac is right,” Alistair said. “We must hide until we’re prepared. Rowan can’t get his hands on you.”

Tybolt shook his head. “Something’s not right. No Hunter would go shouting through the forest.” His name came again, and the voice sounded familiar.

“It’s a trap,” a wizard said.

“Alistair, is there still somewhere we can hide?” Tybolt asked

“There is.”

“Good. Get everyone to safety.” He shoved through the group.

“Where are you going?” Alistair demanded.

“I’m going to figure out who is stupid enough to give me his exact location by shouting.”

“Then we’re staying with you,” Carac said, “for protection.”

“I’m the only one among us who can keep up with a Hunter. There isn’t a thing you can do to help me. You’ll just give me more bodies to worry about, which will get us all killed.”

“I don’t like it,” Alistair said. “But he’s right.”

“Thank you. Now go quickly. If there are Hunters in the forest, I won’t be able to save you all.” Tybolt ran towards the voice that kept calling his name, his hand going unconsciously to his belt to verify he still had a sword and dagger. He turned, running back to the group. “How will I know where to find you?”

“Walk west towards the old river bed,” Alistair said. “I’ll find you.”

Tybolt nodded and took off at full speed. He jumped over fallen trees and broken limbs. He aimed for an area ahead where the trees had not been as demolished. He hoped the sparse leaves that remained would camouflage his presence until he identified who was calling.

A large oak surrounded by two other oaks and a pine stood alone. The center oak had been shielded by those around it, and one side was still thick with leaves. He ran straight at it and leapt into the air, grabbing the highest branch he could. He swung around and landed flat on the top, belly down. He gathered his feet beneath him and began to climb. When he reached the branch he was aiming for, he was dismayed to find that it wasn’t nearly as thick as it had looked from the ground. Even making himself as small as possible, he was sure he would be spotted.

Nature begged him to stay.
Couldn’t hurt to try. “A little help? I need some cover.”

The branches responded immediately, pulling in, shielding him. Tybolt smiled. Maybe he could get used to this. He pushed a leaf to the side and waited.

“Tybolt!”

The idiot, whoever he was, was getting very close. Finally a horse came into view.

Asher.

Tybolt waited, watching to see who else was with him. Terric and Kelton no doubt. Asher plodded on, shouting his name like a fool, but no one else came into view behind him. Tybolt tried to figure out what game he was playing at, but no matter how many scenarios he thought of, nothing could explain Asher’s behavior.

Asher came to a stop beneath the oak Tybolt sat in. He looked from one side to the other. “Demon spawn, Tybolt,” he muttered. “Where are you?”

Tybolt leapt from the tree, crashing into Asher and knocking him from his horse. Tybolt grabbled for the top position and shoved Asher’s shoulders into the ground. He pulled his dagger from his belt and pressed the blade to Asher’s throat. “Where are the rest of them?” he demanded.

Much to his surprise, Asher didn’t fight him but instead relaxed. “I’m alone.”

“Why?”

“We need to talk.”

Tybolt scowled and pushed the blade harder against the skin. “Do you think I’m stupid?”

Asher stretched his neck back to avoid the blade. “Before you cut my throat, I think you should listen to what I have to say.”

Another voice called his name, from the west this time. “Auriella?”

“Ok, maybe I’m not completely alone.” Asher gave a lopsided grin. “Surprise.”

“Unless you’d like me to apply a little more pressure,” Tybolt said, “I suggest you talk.”

Asher explained the series of events that had taken him from the castle to the woods. When he was done, Tybolt just stared. “I don’t know how you expect me to believe this.”

“Which part?”

Which part? For one, Tybolt worried that Asher had nothing to do with Auriella being out here. What if Rowan had sent Asher looking for the both of them? The entire story was completely unbelievable.

Asher’s calmly stared up, waiting for Tybolt to answer.

Tybolt frowned. “The part where you find out I’m heir to the throne, and you run out to help me reclaim my birthright!”

“Listen, there is nothing I can say to make you believe me. I’ve given you all my reasons, all my logic. If you want my help, you’ll have to take the rest on faith. But we can’t stay like this all day, so you better make up your mind soon. Rowan knows who you are. It’s only a matter of time before he sends them out hunting for you.”

“If you’re here to help me, how do you suggest I take the throne back?”

“Auriella suggested we find the thieves.”

Auriella came into view over a ridge, riding a horse that was not Fire Dancer. “Tybolt!” she shouted. “No!” She kicked the horse to go faster, and it bolted towards them.

That was as much proof as he was going to get. “It appears Auriella does not want me to slit your throat.” He stepped off Asher.

“I would hope not.”

Auriella yanked her horse’s reins and dismounted before it halted. “What are you doing?” She bent to help Asher to his feet.

“Making sure I didn’t have Hunters on my tail.” Auriella’s hair was matted, and dirt was smeared over her face and hands. “Are you all right?” he asked her.

“Yes, thanks to Asher. He broke me out of the dungeon.”

Tybolt ground his teeth so hard his jaw ached. “He failed to mention that.”

Asher rubbed at his throat. “Oddly enough, I was worried that news would anger you. With a knife at my throat and your reasoning skills in question, I thought I’d keep quiet.”

Auriella was staring at Tybolt as if she’d never seen him before. “What?” he asked.

“Nothing, it’s just…” She blushed and looked away. “Asher explained everything.”

The way she said
everything
made his cheeks flare and his stomach drop. She knew. “Oh.” That was all he could say. He had a million questions:
Are you ok? Do you still care for me? Can you still care for me? Do you despise me now that I’ve become what you’ve hated so much?

The silence must’ve been too much for Asher, who cleared his throat. “So.” He rocked back on his heels, shoving his hands in his pockets. “What’s the plan?”

Tybolt looked from Asher to Auriella. “We take the throne.”

Auriella grinned. “Is that all?”

At her smile, Tybolt nearly laughed out loud. “That’s it.”

“We’re here to help,” Asher said. “But we need a plan.”

Tybolt turned to face him, eyes narrowed. “I do have one question first. What happens when we reach the city and you have to choose between me and Terric?”

“I was never loyal to Terric.”

“Don’t lie to me,” Tybolt said.

Asher looked to Auriella as if hoping for some assistance. She just shrugged her shoulders.

“Listen, there is no ‘falling out’ with Terric, you know that. Leaving the group would’ve meant my death, so I stayed. Maybe it was cowardly, but I can do more alive than dead. Loyalty is something I give to people who earn it. Terric’s as bad as Rowan, maybe worse.”

“If you’re so scared for your life, why go against Terric now? The moment he finds out that you came to help me, he
will
kill you.”

“For the first time, I can see a possible path out of this hell we’ve all endured. I’m ready to take that path. Let me help you.”

“That means putting a wizard on the throne again. Are you prepared to do that?”

Asher smiled. “No, I’m not. I’m prepared to put a Hunter on the throne.”

Auriella grinned. “I like the sound of that.”