The Wizard's Heir (23 page)

“I thought you believed me,” Asher said as Tybolt stripped him of weapons.

“I’m leaning that direction. Leaning does not make me trust you.”

“You’re not taking her weapons.” Asher jerked his head toward Auriella.

“I trust her.”

“Auriella!” Asher objected. “I broke you out of the dungeon. A little help?”

Auriella shrugged. “I trust you, but it’s not my call.”

Tybolt continued to search Asher for anything else he might have concealed. “I would love to take Auriella’s word for it, but she’s known to be soft-hearted. You’ll have to convince me.”

“Soft-hearted?” Asher snorted. “She’s the Ice Queen.”

“Hey,” Auriella said, half smiling. “Watch it, Asher.”

Asher rolled his eyes, “This is ridiculous.”

Tybolt got to his feet and nudged Asher in the back. “All right, walk.”

Auriella kept a little more distance between them than he would’ve liked. He wanted to grab her hand but didn’t dare, not now. With him being a wizard, it was possible that everything he’d worked so hard for had evaporated.

“Where are we going?” she asked.

“West.”

They walked in silence for what felt like an hour, and Tybolt was grateful for it. Too much to say, and he still hadn’t found the words to say it.

Asher finally asked, “Are we almost there?”

“I honestly don’t know.”

“Look, as much as I want to help you, I would really rather not be in the open when Terric comes looking for us.”

“I second that,” Auriella said.

Asher glanced at her. “Speaking of soft-hearted, I saw Terric’s face.”

Auriella’s expression darkened. “He deserved what he got. And if I had to do it again, I’d go for his heart.”

Asher looked forward just in time to duck, avoiding a broken tree limb. “So, how long have you known you’re a wizard?”

Tybolt flinched. “I don’t want to talk about it.”

“I do,” Auriella said. “We’re preparing a coup, Tybolt. I would like to know the situation going in.”

He didn’t want to do this—not now, not ever. But the hope that it could somehow be avoided was laughable. “About a day and a half.”

“A day and…” Asher turned back to look at him. “I don’t believe it.”

“Believe it. Nineteenth birthday. One second I’m a Hunter, the next I’m billowing fire.”

“Billowing?” Auriella asked.

“
Billowing.
Fire was literally rolling off my skin.” He shuddered. “Not my best day.” That was an understatement.

“So, right after we split up?” Auriella said.

“Yes.” He averted his eyes. “That’s why I didn’t come back for you.”

“Well, Tybolt,” Asher said. “You’re handling this well…considering.”

“So are you,” Tybolt said. “Considering.”

A voice rang out from the trees. “Please tell me you didn’t bring a Hunter back with you.”

Asher and Auriella froze, looking for the source.

“Two, actually. Your eyesight is not that good, is it?”

“Tybolt!”

“It’s a long story,” Tybolt said. “Where are you?”

A man in a long purple robe stepped out from behind a naked trunk. He shook his head in disgust at the sight of Asher and Auriella. “They aren’t going to like this.”

“They’ll deal with it. My friends claim to have information that will help us.”

“Hunters aren’t known for their honesty.”

“Honesty!” Auriella said. “Between Hunters and Wizards, we are far more trustworthy.”

“Alistair,” Tybolt said wearily. “Just shut up and show me where we’re supposed to hide.”

“Alistair!” Asher blurted.

Auriella slid her sword from her sheath, but Tybolt shook his head. She slowly returned it to her hip, eyebrows knotted in confusion.

“Very well, Tybolt,” Alistair said tightly. “But I hold you accountable if this goes badly.”

“Alistair! That’s Alistair!” Asher spun to look at Tybolt. “Tell me you’re joking. Please, for the love of everything that is good,
tell
me that is not Alistair.”

“You get points for dramatics.”

“Tybolt!”

“Asher, I’m heir to the throne and Aja’s son, which you said you already knew. Who did you think was helping me?”

Auriella looked ill. Asher’s mouth helplessly gaped like a sad sort of beached fish.

“Go on,” Tybolt said. “We can’t just stand here. As I recall, you didn’t want to be in the open when Terric comes looking.”

Asher frowned at the twisted grin on Tybolt’s face. “You’re enjoying this.”

“A little, yes.”

“Unbelievable,” Asher muttered.

Auriella came up next to him. “See, now
that
you should’ve mentioned.”

“Would you’ve come with me if I had?”

“Maybe, but we’ll never know now, will we?”

Alistair bent to lift a silver ring, pulling open a wooden lid. “In you go.”

Asher peered into the hole. “Are you kidding me? There could be anything down there. I’m not going to just—”

“We’re in a hurry, remember?” Tybolt said. “Go.”

Asher grumbled, but he knelt down and grasped the metal rails of a ladder, descending into the dark. Auriella went next, refusing to look at Tybolt. He should’ve told her. He sighed and climbed down last.

His feet moved from metal down to dirt. He backed away from the ladder and looked around. The light from above illuminated very little.

“Hunter!” someone in front of him shouted.

A blaze of light went up, and the suddenness of it sent lances of pain through his eyes. Asher spun away, throwing an arm across his face. Auriella went for her sword again.

Maybe he should’ve reconsidered leaving her with a weapon.

Tybolt’s eyes burned and he shouted, “Enough!” The brightness of the light dimmed. Carac stalking forward, murder written on his face.

“Stop right there,” Tybolt said. He stepped in front of his fellow Hunters and pulled his sword. “They are here with me. They’re on our side, and they will remain there until they prove otherwise.”

“They’re Hunters,” Carac objected.

“Exactly. What were you planning on doing?
Spelling
them to death?” Tybolt leaned in. “If either of them wanted to defend themselves, you wouldn’t last thirty seconds, so
step back.
”

Carac obeyed, but his face was twisted in disgust.

“You have your heir, but you seem to forget that I’m half Hunter. Don’t be surprised when I not only work with Hunters but sympathize with them once I am crowned. If that is too much for you all to handle, I suggest you leave now.”

Alistair stepped down from the last rung of the ladder. “Is there a problem here?”

“I told you we shouldn’t have left him with the Hunters,” Carac said. “He’s turned.”

“Turned?” Tybolt said. “Turned!” He took a step forward, his eyes not leaving Carac’s. “After all these years, that is how you want to look at things? Us and them. Wizards, Hunters, and everyone else. These ridiculous rules of classes and systems have done nothing but lead directly to the murder of thousands.

“If you want me on the throne, all of that ends now. We will work together for the good of the people, or you will work alone. From now on there are only two sides, those with Rowan and those with me. All other differences end there.” Tybolt held the sword inches from Carac’s chest, knowing it would make him angry. He wanted him angry. “So I ask you again—is that how you want to look at things?”

Carac’s body trembled and his hands twitched at his side. For a moment Tybolt thought they would have a magical battle on their hands…which, if he were honest with himself, he hadn’t a prayer of winning.

Suddenly the myriad of roots that wound their way through the walls twitched and wiggled. Then they pulled away from the dirt and stretched towards him. Tybolt’s sword sagged as he warily eyed the strange white roots that wiggled and waved like a host of loyal worms.

“Tybolt,” Auriella said. “What is going on?”

The delicate root system brushed over Tybolt’s face and arms, almost caressing in their touch.

Carac watched in awe and stepped back, his eyes lowering. “It will be as you say, Your Majesty. I am by your side and yours alone.”

“Your Majesty,” Asher repeated. “That’ll take some getting used too. But aren’t we getting a little ahead of ourselves? We have to get you on the throne first.”

Tybolt sheathed his sword and waved at the roots. “Enough.” They slid backwards and returned to their motionless state as if nothing had happened. Tybolt handed Asher’s sword back. Asher grabbed the hilt, but Tybolt hung on for a moment. “If I have to take this away from you again, it’s not the only thing I’ll take.”

Asher met his eyes and gave a short not. “Understood.” He sheathed the sword and then pointed behind them. “These tunnels. Where do they lead?”

“Even I don’t know the extent of them,” Alistair answered. “They run under the castle and into the forest. It’s a maze, a dangerous place to go exploring.”

“I’ll venture a guess that the reason they’re dangerous is because the thieves are using them?” Auriella said.

“How did you know that?” Alistair demanded.

“I’ve heard them on occasion. I could tell they were underground, but I never could find a door.” She looked down the black tunnel. “It’s fortuitous, actually. The thieves are most likely our only hope.”

Tybolt’s eyebrows pulled together. “What do you mean?”

“Look—” She turned to address the whole room with that confidence he loved so much. “We need a lot of help if we hope to defeat Rowan. The people are half-starved, the Hunters are with Rowan, and your band of magical refugees is even smaller than I thought it might be. The thieves are the only option we’ve got.”

“I’ve heard the people favor Tybolt,” Carac said. “Surely—”

“No,” Tybolt said. “I don’t want to involve them. Auriella is right—they’re starved. They won’t make it halfway through a battle before they collapse.”

Asher cleared his throat. “They’re involved whether you like it or not. Although I don’t think they can do much, I’ve sent Malachi to gather support.”

“What?” Tybolt yelled. He took a deep breath, trying to calm the panic that rocked through him at the thought of Malachi trying to raise a rebellion against Rowan. “He can’t even walk down the hall without tripping over his own feet. What were you thinking?”

Asher leveled his gaze with Tybolt’s. “I was thinking you needed someone loyal to you. That idiot servant would take a sword for you. I can’t think of anyone more loyal than that. Although I’m sure he’ll drop everything he carries, he’ll do what needs to be done and won’t stop until it’s finished.”

Tybolt gripped his head and let loose a string of profanities. When he couldn’t think of any more, he sagged.

“Asher’s right,” Auriella said.

“I’ve protected Malachi from himself for years. I just…I didn’t want him involved.”

“Everyone will be involved,” Alistair said gently. “This is a coup. People will die, and homes will be destroyed. It’s the price of freedom.”

Tybolt rubbed at his temples. “It’s too high a price.” He wanted to go back and sweep every person he cared about out of the city under the cover of night. But what then? Hide them in the forest where they would certainly starve to death? There was no running from this. He looked up and around at his sad band of rebels. “You’re right, all of you. I can’t watch another parent bury a child in the middle of the night. I won’t. This has to stop.”

“So,” Auriella said, “how do we find the thieves?”

“This is madness,” Alistair muttered. “The thieves don’t like wizards anymore than they like Hunters.”

“I hear Tybolt is very persuasive,” Asher said.

Alistair stared at Tybolt for a long time. “Just like your father—not an ounce of sense.” When Tybolt didn’t respond, he shook his head. “Fine, follow me.”

Alistair led, lighting the way. Tybolt, Auriella, and Asher walked side by side while the rest of the wizards followed behind at a far enough distance to make it abundantly clear that their discomfort had not been diminished by Tybolt’s lecture.

“Do they think I’ll bite?” Asher asked under his breath.

Tybolt smirked. “Worse, I’m sure.”

Something Asher had said earlier gnawed at him, and he finally leaned over. “Did you really talk to Aja?”

“I did.” Asher grinned. “I even surprised myself with that one. Might I point out, it was easier to convince Aja of my intentions than it was you.”

“Tybolt’s hard-headed,” Auriella said, spinning a dagger around her fingers. “A bit like a mule.”

“A mule, she says,” Tybolt muttered. “You stole that line from me.”

“The hard-headed part or the mule part?” Asher asked.

“All of it!”

“He may have called me a mule several times,” Auriella said.

Asher whistled softly. “You called her a
mule
?”

“A hard-headed one, yes. And it’s true.”

“And yet you live.” Asher grinned. “My respect for you just grew several notches.”

Alistair stopped and held up his hands, illuminating a dead end. “I closed this off years ago to keep the thieves from discovering the tunnels I used to get from the forest to the village.

“Wait a minute, you were in the village?” Asher said.