Chain of Illusions (Bringer and the Bane) (17 page)

Shrieks erupted in Rell’s head, the same screams she had heard yesterday morning after Gregory had impaled the Bane. Pain ripped through her skull and she cried out. Pulling her head upward, she looked around, squinting to see the other Bringers. Rhys held onto Ravyn and her hands were pressed against her ears in obvious distress.

The shrill howls escalated and Rell’s vision blurred. Sharp pain jabbed behind her eyes. She cried out, but the wind sucked the sound from her. Just when she thought she would die from the punishing screams, they stopped. The wind lessened, the last gust swirling down the corridor and around the corner. Air returned to the space and Rell drank in a deep breath. Little by little the searing spike behind her eyes eased until it was nothing but a dull ache.

Chains rattled behind her and clanked to the floor. Siban grabbed Rell and hauled her against his chest. He swiped the hair from her face. “Are you all right?”

She stared up at him but didn’t have the strength to speak.

The other Bringers rose. Rhys helping Ravyn, who looked as if she was about to be ill. Had anybody besides her and Ravyn heard the screams? Aches racked Rell’s body when she tried to sit forward.

“I’m all right,” she said, finally finding the ability to speak. “Help me up.”

Siban bent and hoisted Rell to her feet. “Thank the Saints.”

“Thank the Saints we’re all still alive.” She got her balance and gently pushed away from him so she could assess his injuries. “Are you hurt?”

He shook his head. “No.” His gaze tracked around the corridor. “Our journey grows more perilous.”

“Yes, and if this is what we’ve endured so far, think of those who Vile holds captive,” she said.

He covered her hands with his. “From here on out, stay close to me. We’ll be more safe if we work as a team.”

His worry was evident in his tone, but his idea of working together was sound. “We’re not alone this time, Siban. We have others to help us now.”

His eyes searched her face. “A bitter blessing. With the Saints’ help we’ll all get out of here alive.” He held out her hand and she took it.

“Please tell me that somebody else heard those screams,” Meran said, stopping next to Rell.

“I did.” Rell rolled her shoulders. “It’s not the first time. I heard them yesterday morning as well.”

“And I heard them when Rhys and I fought the Bane near Willa’s inn.” Ravyn gave a shudder. “Their torment has haunted me and it was something I never wished to hear again.”

“What do you think it is?” Rhys asked, rubbing her shoulder.

She shrugged. “I have no idea, and I don’t really want to find out. I just want it to go away.”

“I don’t think that will be happening.” Gregory stood at the end of the hall, his arm around Juna, supporting her. “Come see what we discovered.” He slowly released her, but waited a second to make sure she was all right. When Juna gave him a nod, he walked to the end of the corridor. “It’s here.”

“I really hope this isn’t more bad news,” Luc grumbled as he limped forward. “I’m getting very tired of bad news.”

“I second that,” Rhys said.

In a far-less-uniform group than before, they shuffled forward and followed Gregory around the corner. He stood in front of another stone arch and beneath it a wooden door cut in the same chaotic star—the symbol of the Summoner.

Gregory held his sword before him and glanced back at the group. “I say we take a peek inside.”

“I was afraid you were going to say that,” Meran said, wiping her palm against her pants.

Gregory grasped the iron handle of the door and pushed. The door gave a little
click
. He waited, but no noise emanated from within.

“If somebody is inside the chamber,” Juna said, “I highly doubt they missed the maelstrom that just decimated the corridor.”

Meran and Ravyn exchanged glances. Rell wondered if there was trouble between the siblings. From what she’d been told, they barely knew each other, having been separated as infants.

Gregory looked over his shoulder at Juna, his eyes narrowing. “Still, caution is required.”

She scowled at him and tapped her toe twice. Her gaze drifted to the door and eventually Gregory turned back to face it. Watching Juna was a lesson in itself. Rell couldn’t imagine how the woman hadn’t come to more harm already.

“Open the door.” Juna’s order came out as a hiss, but there was a definite push of compulsion in her words.

Gregory’s head snapped around. “Do not use that on me.”

For good reason, Juna took a step backward. In the short time Rell had known him, he’d never raised his voice. The expression on his face now was enough to quell the most stubborn subordinate.

With a gentle push, Gregory eased the door open. Still no sound stirred from within. He raised his sword to a vertical position in front of his face and crept forward, inching the door open. His body leaned to take in as much of the chamber as possible, and when the space had widened enough, he slipped inside. Juna shifted from foot to foot, trying to see into the room, but didn’t enter.

A shiver skittered up Rell’s neck as the silence lengthened. The blackness she’s lived with as a demon oozed from the room. It would take all her willpower to enter.

Finally, Gregory pushed the door open. “It’s empty.”

Second to enter was Juna. She surged forward and the rest of the Bringers followed behind. To Rell’s surprise the chamber was sumptuously adorned. Thick brocade curtains ringed the bed and luxurious linens draped over the thick mattresses. Candelabra made of gold sat lit on an ornate table and a chair fit for a king held the center spot against the longest wall. Thick tapestries, like those she’d seen in Illuma Grand, hung from the walls. Instead of a hearth, two large round kettle braziers burned with a low white flame.

Rell held her hands over the flames, flexing her fingers and trying to return some of the warmth to their tips. “Real heat.”

Jade joined her. “Ah, that’s lovely.”

“Is this Vile’s chamber?” Rell scrutinized the room. “Surely this is not where he rests.”

Everything within the chamber was a stark contrast to what Rell had experienced with the Demon King.

“If I had to guess, I’d say yes.” Gregory walked to the table and examined the parchments strewn across it. He sorted through each one, shaking his head. “Yes, this is definitely his chamber.” He held up a yellow sheet. “It seems he’s planning on attacking Illuma Grand.”

Rell stepped away from the brazier and walked across the chamber. A thick tome rested on top of a small table near the bed, the emblem of the Summoners emblazoned on the leather cover. “Gregory.”

She waved him over and then stepped aside so he could look at the book. A curse slipped from between his lips when he saw the symbol. He picked up the book and opened it, his eyes growing wide. He thumbed frantically through the pages.

“What is it?” Dread rolled off him, engulfing Rell. “What does it mean?”

Gregory slowly closed the book and turned to face the members of the group. “An accounting of Vile’s life.”

Silence filled the room. There was more to come; Rell could feel it. His eyes searched the faces of the Bringers, coming to rest on Juna.

“Vile’s journal?” Juna asked.

Gregory nodded. “It appears that the Summoners are not working with the Bane.” He swallowed hard. “The Summoners
are
the Bane.”

Chapter Fifteen

Nobody spoke for several seconds.

Siban let the information sift through his mind, trying to reconcile that the treacherous demons could be some of their own.

“But how can that be?” Juna crossed the room to stand beside Rell. “I thought all the Summoners were imprisoned within the Abyss.”

“As did I.” Gregory looked at Magnus. “None of us have ever actually seen the Abyss. King Harlin kept its location a secret and I was born after my father’s death.”

“King Harlin thought that the fewer people who knew where they’d imprisoned the Summoners, the less likely it would be that anybody would free them.” Magnus paced the length of the room. “Once we crossed through the Arch, we suspected the Abyss was here. It appears we were right.”

“When King Arron sent the humans through the Arch in hopes of finding freedom, he essentially sent them into the path of the Bane,” Ravyn said.

“I’m sure he didn’t know where Harlin had imprisoned the Summoners, or he would not have chosen Inness for the humans.” Gregory walked across the room and held the book out to Okee. “It is of the utmost importance that this book makes it back to the manor before Vile discovers it’s missing. Take Odette.”

Okee accepted the book from Gregory. “I will see it done.” He turned to his twin. “Come.”

Odette nodded, her eyes cutting to Trace. The tall Bringer held her stare for several seconds. With a rare show of emotion, Trace walked to her. “Don’t stop. Get free of the Shadow World at any cost.”

Odette’s blue eyes rounded. Though it looked like she wanted to say something, she merely nodded and reached to press her hand against Trace’s chest. Without the fanfare of more good-byes, the two Bringers exited. Hopefully they would make it to the surface safely.

Siban contemplated Vile’s journal. It could possibly tell them everything they needed to know about how the Summoners had turned to Bane. Something in that thought poked at him. What did they know about the unstable group of Summoners who were also Bringers? They were dark and unpredictable. Even King Harlin had been forced to imprison his own brother and mother. Siban’s thoughts froze, the realization dawning.

“Gregory.” Siban took a step forward, the blood turning to ice inside him. “I know why your great uncle Ander seemed familiar when Magnus shared his memories.” He met the king’s silver gaze. “Ander is Vile.”

Ravyn gasped. “That’s it. That’s why his face was familiar but I couldn’t place him.”

The color drained from Gregory’s face. “That’s not possible. Ander was imprisoned within the Abyss, as was his mother.”

“What if your grandfather didn’t imprison his brother?” Juna laid a hand on Gregory’s arm. “What if he escaped and came through the Arch when the humans were crossing over?”

What Juna said vibrated with truth. Siban looked at Rell. She appeared to be weighing the words as the pieces began to fall in place. Slowly Rell lifted her eyes to Gregory. “What if he was the one who kidnapped your half brother?”

Again, the possibility rang with truth, not just because Siban’s Tell hummed at the statement but because it made sense. Silence blanketed the room, the logic of the situation stunning everybody into silence.

Meran, who had been quiet during the exchange, stepped forward. “Gregory, what if Ander took your brother and claimed him as his son?”

Gregory’s lips tightened into an angry pinch, his head shaking as if not wanting to accept the next conclusion of what she said.

“Icarus.”

A low growl rumbled from Gregory’s throat. “You think Icarus is the bloody king?”

“Impossible,” Magnus said.

“Why?” Rell strode to the center of the room to stand in front of Magnus. “You admitted you’ve never seen Ander as a Bane. You’ve purposely concealed your presence from Vile until it was time to fight the demons. And Gregory, you were not even born when your brother was kidnapped. There would be no way to recognize him.”

“She’s right,” Gregory said. “My uncle has covered his tracks well. There is no way I would have recognized him, and he has been careful to not let us see him. That is why he killed the Bringers left here after the Bane war.”

“That is why he didn’t kill me.” Bile roiled in Siban’s stomach as his memories of being tortured by Vile rose up like an angry beast, threatening to devour him. “He and Sha-hera asked me the same question every day. ‘Where are the other Bringers?’ I had no knowledge of you at the time and refused to reveal Rhys—but he was looking for those who could identify him.”

“This changes nothing.” Juna released Gregory’s arm and moved closer to him, bending slightly so he would look her in the eye. “More than ever we must vanquish Vile. He means to open the Abyss, and with Icarus heir to the throne, Vile will then use
him
to open the Mystic Arch.”

Siban swore. “I knew Icarus could not be trusted. He’s been playing us to get information for Vile.”

“No.” Rell spun to face him. “He wouldn’t do that.”

Normally he would applaud her tenacity, but in this case it was misplaced. “Rell, he’s a Demon Bane. Of course he would. And just because you want to find the good in him doesn’t change the fact that he’s not.”

“Let’s not jump to conclusions,” Meran said. “I’m not convinced Icarus knows of Vile’s treachery.”

“I agree,” said Brita. “He was impossible to read when we captured him.”

Siban grunted his disagreement, but didn’t argue any further.”

Gregory scrubbed his face with his hands and then lowered his arms, looking like a man who just had the weight of the world placed on his shoulders. “Forget Icarus for the moment. If there are other Summoners free then our fate is truly dire. We cannot triumph in a fight against them.”

“We are the Trilation.” Juna straightened. “If anybody can defeat him, it is my sisters and I.”

“I’m glad you’re so confident,” Ravyn said. “But we don’t even know what that means.”

“Then we’ll figure it out.” Juna glared at her. “But we can’t give up and turn back now. Yes, the danger has increased, but so have the consequences of not defeating Vile.”

“Noble words, Juna.” Luc said. “but do you even know how to use this supposed awe-inspiring power?”

Juna sneered. “It will come to us. It’s in our blood.”

Luc rolled his eyes. “I feel much more confident now.”

She opened her mouth to argue, but Gregory cut them off. “Arguing will not get us anywhere.” His gaze swept the Bringers. “Who is willing to journey forward?”

Siban waited for Rell’s response. When her hand lifted, his heart sank, though he couldn’t fault her for wanting to continue on. After all, he was going to do the same. Siban raised his hand.

“At least when we are all killed we can say we didn’t die a coward’s death—a fool’s death, yes—coward, no.”

“Not a lot of comfort,” Luc said, raising his hand.

At varying speeds all the Bringers volunteered to continue. But not before each of the couples exchanged glances, silently consulting with their partners.

“It is decided then.” Gregory paused. “We move forward with our plan.”

“Where do we go from here?” Siban wanted to know exactly what Gregory was planning. “We don’t know where Vile is.”

“The Tells can help with that.” Juna walked to the door, with her sword pointed forward. “It’s what you’ve trained for.”

Rell glanced at him and then trailed Juna out the door. Hesitating only a second, Siban followed her. Time had come for him to fully embrace his Bringer powers. There could be no wavering from here on out. If he wanted to get Rell safely from the Shadow World, he’d have to become the Bringer he was meant to be and take back the life Vile had stolen from him. The Demon King and Sha-hera would pay for all they had cost him. Somehow he’d have his revenge.

The empty passage sent a wave of unease through Siban. “Why haven’t the Bane come to see what the disturbance was?”

“Vile probably knows we are here,” Brita said, joining them in the hall. “I wouldn’t be surprised that he orchestrated this whole thing to draw us in.”

“Agreed,” Magnus said. “The dark powers of the Summoners are unfamiliar to those who refuse to engage in such acts. There’s no telling what they are capable of.”

“Then it’s best to be prepared for anything,” Gregory looked at Brita. “Where to now? What path does your Tell sense.”

Brita took several steps in the direction the group had originally been heading. “We must continue on.”

“I agree,” Juna said.

A smile tugged at the corner of Siban’s lips. Even during these dire times Juna made sure she had her say. Though he didn’t know exactly how old she was, Siban was certain that Brita had nearly a thousand years on Juna. Being part of the Trilation may give Juna increased powers, but he doubted her Tell abilities were as finely honed as Brita’s. Plus Brita had seen two violent wars and survived. Siban thought that experience, not pride, was the best teacher.

Gregory claimed his post at the front of the line and strode forward, leading them to an unknown fate, and possibly, Siban ruminated, the same nightmare Rell had freed him from a year ago. He wiped his sweating palms on his pants, repositioned his sword and took his place beside her. What had started out as an attempt to rescue the Bringers had now turned into a quest to save two worlds.

…

Sha-hera circled the treetops and glided downward to perch on a low branch overhanging the trail. The quiet jingle of an approaching rider tinkled through the night air. She waited until the donkey was twenty yards away and then spread her wings and floated to the ground to land in front of the animal.

The donkey reared at the presence of the predator, but Fatima retained control, quieting the animal with soothing words and magic. Once calmed, she slid from the animal’s back. “Sha-hera, you startled me.”

“Yes, I’m sure I did.”

“What is it?” The Splinter gripped the reins and took a few steps toward her. “Does Vile have a message for me?”

“Why else would I be here?” Sha-hera lied. She sauntered toward Fatima, closing the distance between them. Though the donkey shied away, Fatima stood her ground. Not many were brave enough to travel these roads at night, but the Splinters had their own magical protection. “He has another task for you, but you are to report only to me.”

The Splinter laid her hand against the animal’s neck and it instantly grew quiet.

“What are his orders?”

From Fatima’s tone, Sha-hera could tell that the woman was not happy about the prospect of doing more of Vile’s bidding. “You are to gather the Splinters from your clan and travel north to the Frost Lands.”

“The Frost Lands? But that’s nearly three weeks ride with our wagons.” She lifted her chin a fraction of an inch. “For what purpose?”

“You should ask fewer questions and concentrate on the task at hand.” Fatima was becoming far too inquisitive. Sha-hera contemplated her response. She needed the woman to believe the orders came from Vile, but didn’t want to reveal too much of her plan. “My army and I are under orders to transport several items for Vile. He wants you and your clan to smooth the way for our arrival.” She paced around Fatima and the donkey. “Keep the residents of Pillager’s Peak occupied until we’ve accomplished our goal.”

Though her explanation was true, the Splinters’ presence had nothing to do with moving the Bringers. Sha-hera needed the clans’ magic if indeed the Abyss rested within the Threshold. This could be her one chance to open the prison and she would not suffer a lost opportunity.

“But what about my daughter?” Fatima turned, never giving Sha-hera her back. “She is too young to make such a journey.”

Sha-hera stopped in front of her. “I care not what you do with your offspring. My only concern is subduing the town so they will not notice our presence. It would be unfortunate if they were to stumble upon Vile’s precious cargo.” She reached out and let one of Fatima’s coppery locks slide along her talon. “Are we understood?”

Several seconds passed before Fatima replied. “Yes, Sha-hera, we understand each other perfectly.”

Something other than compliance laced the woman’s acquiescence. As long as Fatima gathered the other Splinters, Sha-hera didn’t care if she railed against her when she was out of earshot. Results were her only concern. The curl slipped from her talon and Sha-hera lowered her hand.

“Send four of your clan members to other Splinter clans in the area. They are to do as I have instructed, subduing the smaller villages surround Itta, Alba, and Faela. In turn, they should send messengers to the southern clans, instructing them to do the same. I want Splinters in every small village in the land.”

“You mean to control the outlying areas?”

“No, my sweet.” She gave Fatima her sweetest smile. “You are to control these villages.”

“And what are we to do with the people once we accomplish this?”

She could see the Splinter trying to work out the logic of what Sha-hera was asking, perhaps even plotting how best to use the situation to her benefit. “What you do best. Bleed them of money, lure them under your spell, steal, lie, whatever it takes to subdue them.”

Fatima stiffened, her jaw clenching and unclenching. She took a shallow breath. “Is there anything else?”

“No.” Sha-hera shook her head. “That should be enough—for now. I shall give you further instructions once you reach Pillager’s Point.”

Not saying anything further, Fatima turned and remounted the donkey. With a light tap to its hindquarters, she urged the animal forward. Not looking back, Fatima continued on her previous course, spine straight and head held high.

Sha-hera watched the Splinter until the darkness swallowed her, only the tinkle of bells could still be heard. With that task out of the way, she could now concentrate on transporting the Bringers to the Threshold. For her army the journey would be arduous. Flying would be a more desirable option, but stealth was of the utmost importance and that meant moving the Bringers through the tunnels. Some of the passages had not been traveled in centuries and may very well have collapsed, but Vile’s plan would not be waylaid—and neither would hers.

Sha-hera turned, preparing to take flight and froze. Icarus stood in the center of the trail, his yellow gaze peering at her through the dark. “So the banished son has taken to skulking in the woods?”