Ethon (The Other Worlds Series Book 2) (25 page)

Legann’s elbow hit the desk hard, causing him to fumble with the gun. He watched it fall away from him, his fingers only able to grasp at empty air. Olinia shrieked his name inside his head again as he landed on gravel, stinging his already throbbing elbow. Jumping to his feet, he spun around just in time to see Dagon extend his hand to the portal.

He uttered one word, “Return.”

The portal snapped shut, Olinia’s mind silenced, and the Sinith floated into Dagon’s hand. Legann winced as the realization of what had just occurred fully dawned on him. He was back in the Other Worlds.

:  :  :  :  :

Sazx’s apprehension was growing. With each mile the airplane traveled, it took him that much closer to the Velvitor king. Sazx’s relationship with Talik had been rocky at best. Neither trusted the other. Their last encounter had been in the Vrenyx, a few weeks before. Sazx remembered it vividly. Unfortunately, it had not been pleasant. Sazx had reminded Talik of his place below Dagon. The Velvitor king did not take Sazx’s point very well.

Now, he was careening through the sky toward the leader of a race Sazx had never truly respected. Sazx passed a hand over his eyes. Across from him, Tiara slept on Archrin’s shoulder.
Archrin the Craele,
Sazx mused.

Before the fall of Balinorre, Craeles intermingled with the other breeds freely. Since the destruction of Balinorre, however, most Craeles had migrated home to their world of Zeedyr. Today, to discover a Craele outside of Zeedyr was not unheard of, but it was indeed rare. In fact, Archrin was the first non-Velvitor Craele Sazx had crossed paths with.

Prior to Archrin, Sazx had held the assumption that Craeles were a lesser breed – devoted to strange rituals and animal instincts. Craeles and Velvitors had been one in the same to Sazx. Because of Archrin though, he no longer believed this. Archrin was a true Craele, yet he was no Velvitor.

The Craeles in the Other Worlds were often the odd breed out. Most worlds could be attributed to either Eveon or Saerdian majority. Only the world of Zeedyr contained a significant Craele population. In truth, Zeedyr was a world of only Craeles, as far as Sazx knew. The advantage of having one solitary breed within a world permitted the Craeles to develop into a society completely unique from any other in the realm. Every brush with the Velvitors Sazx had ever experienced had taught him that they were an anomaly amid the Other Worlds.

What always surprised Sazx about the Velvitors was that, for being such a small race in comparison to the Eves and Saerds, they honestly considered themselves the most intelligent, strategic, and formidable group of people in all the worlds.

Velvitors were innately arrogant. It was his insolence that led Talik to send Dagon a petition for war all those generation ago. The fool had believed that even with his lack of troops he would be able to overthrow the Vrenyx. He’d boasted of his devices as if they would level civilizations with the wave of his hand. Even though Velvitor devices were advantageous in combat, Talik had vastly overestimated them.

When Dagon received Talik’s epistle stating his intention to attack unless the Vrenyx surrendered, he found it to be an absurd challenge and immediately sent troops to deal with an overly confident Zeedyr. By sheer force alone – due to outnumbering the Velvitor armies – the Vrenyx claimed Zeedyr.

Dagon did not subject the Velvitors to his rule, though. Their devices had caught his attention. Instead of killing Talik as punishment for his impertinent demands, Dagon united with Zeedyr as allies in exchange for the use of all Velvitor devices, including the elixir of long life. Had the merger not been Talik’s only other option than death, he would have refused such a proposal. However, since he wished to live, Talik agreed to Dagon’s stipulation. It was an arrangement that Sazx had never fully agreed with. He personally despised the Velvitors. His dealings with them had been anything but amiable.

If Dagon had simply executed Talik and taken the devices, Sazx doubted he would be in his current plight. It was almost embarrassing for Talik that he chose Lady Aeorin as his new queen. Among the Nagreth, who rarely encountered her name, she was known as the beautiful babbling wench. It was widely rumored that she was only a pretty face with a lust for power. She practically threw herself at any man with a title, using her looks to snatch as much sovereignty as possible.

Sazx had always thought her supposed beauty as nothing more than that of an exalted Saerd. In addition, her eager acceptance to the man guilty for her doting father’s death proved that she was nothing more than an excessively spoiled, selfish child, who cared not about that which was right and wrong. No, she only prized herself on consuming as much of the Other Worlds as she possibly could. Perhaps she and Talik were well-suited after all.

With a sigh, Sazx tilted his head back against his seat. His thoughts were leaving a bitter taste in his mouth. He was anticipating his own death. The feeling of absolute repulsion was mutual between he and Talik. Without the position of Nagreth Captain to protect him, Sazx was certain Talik would finally act upon the secret threats they had shared together.

Death by a Velvitor,
Sazx grunted to himself. He’d always believed he would die in battle. To die at the hand of a Velvitor was an insult. With any luck, he might convince Talik to duel. If Sazx were slain by Talik’s sword, he deserved to die.

Just then, Archrin straightened slightly, as if he were startled. Sazx frowned. Did the Craele hear something his own ears could not? Before Sazx had the chance to ask, Archrin shook Tiara awake.

She blinked up at him. “What’s the matter?”

Archrin glanced at Sazx. “Olinia’s in my head. She wants to know how she can help us.”

15

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Thirty minutes before, Olinia – along with the rest in the room – was rooted in place. From the two minds she could hear, the same disbelief mirroring her own was overwhelming any other thought. Zedgry was stunned that their uncle had taken Legann, while Hillary was utterly astounded that two people could disappear through a wall. Also, Legann shooting the instructors evidently answered a previous inquiry of Hillary’s about whether or not he had ever killed. Olinia had no idea why that had ever been a question, nor how it had come up in the past.

Will touched her arm. “Olinia?”

She shook her head to release herself from her daze. “Ohreen doveem naunt. Legann’s gone.”

“I was an idiot for thinking that coming to Ethon would be an in and out job,” Zedgry grumbled. “I never should have listened to you, Will.”

“W-where did Legann go?” Hillary stammered.

“To our realm,” Olinia answered. “He’s not here in your world anymore.”

 She turned away from the group around the table, facing the still napping Trenton. It was odd to see the youthful old man so tired. Perhaps his age was finally catching up with him. Or it was jet lag. Olinia released her breath out in a rush.

The shock from Legann was wearing off, leaving a repulsive cold throughout her. The worst part was that it wasn’t really upsetting to her that Dagon had Legann – Dagon was in a weak condition and she knew where they’d gone, since she was in Legann’s mind at the time of his departure. No, what was actually bothering her the most was that Legann was no longer in Ethon. He was in the Other Worlds. Olinia felt sick.

For the past couple weeks, basically ever since Will returned to her life, an uneasy sensation had been quietly growing in the pit of her stomach. It was the fact that one day in the near future she would have to go back to her old life – she would have to be queen in a realm she might not belong to anymore.

In the Other Worlds, she had blindly accepted her planned destiny to reclaim the throne her uncle once stole, and avenge her parents’ deaths in the process. How could she have been so naïve to honestly believe that everything would turn out just the way she’d wanted it to? Since coming to Ethon, she’d spent a great deal of time pondering over her role in the Other Worlds. She had come to the obvious conclusion that in order for her to reach her goals she would need to do a lot more than simply win Caprith.

A lifetime of warfare awaited her if she were to continue on the path to becoming queen. What would that mean for those she cared about? She worried for Legann and Zedgry, and even Will for that matter. She knew he wouldn’t leave her side unless it killed him, and if she were murdered then it would. He only lived as long as she did. The fool should’ve never given her his Silver Heart, and she never should have let him fall in love with her.

The pressure of a hand on her lower back made her jump. Only Will could sneak up on her so silently. She glanced over her shoulder at him. “Yes?”

“I think we need to get Tiara and the others as soon as possible.”

Olinia moaned inwardly. She was doomed to be a princess no matter what she wanted. “You’re right. Hillary can find out where in the labs they’ll be held. Then we’ll figure out a plan of action from there.”

“I think you should talk to Archrin,” Will advised. “We should make sure they’re alright.”

“How exactly?” She lowered her eyebrows “I doubt Sazx still has his cell on him.”

“I was talking about going into his thoughts,” Will replied slowly. “Haven’t you been inside his head before?”

“I have.” Olinia blinked, remembering that day in Evedon. It had been so long ago. Having found herself alone with Archrin, she’d secretly ventured into the expanse of his mind only to be detected a moment later. She’d forgotten all about it until now. “Actually, he’s the only one, out of the three of them, that I have.”

“Really?” Will raised an eyebrow. “You haven’t listened in on Sazx?”

“In the Other Worlds, I never quite managed to get past his mental barriers,” she admitted. “But here, in Ethon, I never had to try – his thoughts came to me whether I wanted them or not.”

“Great. Find out how we can save them and the Nagreth,” Zedgry muttered a little more bitterly than he’d intended to. He was replaying inside his head some scene from Dagon’s throne room he’d experienced.

Hillary wondered what a Nagreth was. They kept using the term. To her, a Nagreth sounded something like a hooded, soul-sucking monster. Olinia smiled slightly at Hillary’s description, and rolled her eyes at her twin. “Sazx isn’t a Nagreth anymore, Zedge.”

I don’t really care what he is now,
he grunted.

Olinia decided it would be best for Zedgry to never learn that she’d once kissed Sazx. She faced Will. It was a good idea to try to communicate with Archrin, but it would be difficult to focus with her brother and Hillary nearby. Outside would be the best option.

“Come with me outside,” she said softly so that only Will could hear. A little louder, she added, “I can’t concentrate in here.”

He nodded once. “Okay.”

“Thanks.” She headed for the back door with Will close behind her. On her way out, she tossed at her twin, “I’ll be back.”

“Where are you going?” He blinked.

“To talk to Archrin. I can’t do that with you thinking so loudly,” she retorted.

 “Good luck,” Zedgry called as she and Will slipped onto the back porch.

Once the door closed behind them, Will took Olinia’s hand and led her into the little grove around her house. Zedgry and Hillary’s thoughts slowly grew quieter as they moved deeper into the trees. When the house was out of sight, Olinia stopped Will. “This should be good.”

“Okay.” He nodded his head toward a nearby tree. “Let’s sit.”

Will sat down, leaning against a nearby tree trunk, his knees raised. Olinia went to sit next to him, but he pulled her in front of him so that she could rest her back on his chest. “I’ll keep an eye out for any unwanted company,” he whispered into her ear. “Go ahead and talk to him.”

Olinia wasn’t so sure now if bringing Will had been a good plan. Being wrapped in his arms was almost as distracting as listening to Zedgry and Hillary. Olinia shut her eyes and bit at the inside of her lip. Then, slowly, she eased her mind outward. She worried that she wouldn’t be able to find Archrin’s thoughts at all. It had been a while, after all.

A moment later though, she was greeted with his internal expanse, taking her by surprise. Once again she noted the unique clarity and speed of his thoughts.

Archrin?

He’d noticed her presence.
Princess?

Relieved that she’d found the connection, she began her interrogation.
How are you? Are Tiara and Sazx alright? Are they with you?

Aye,
came the reply,
we’re fine and together.

Good. What happened?

We were captured by hired hands.
An image of men dressed all in black flashed through his mind. He paused.
Lady Aeorin of Relivaynt is behind this. She believes Tiara to be you.

This was news to Olinia.
Aeorin captured you? Was Legann with you at all?

He was confused.
We haven’t seen Legann since this morning.

So you don’t know,
she sent him
. Legann was captured, too. He’s with Dagon now in the Other Worlds.

Archrin’s mind jumped between multiple scenarios, trying to deduct what might have happened. Olinia answered his unasked question.
Aeorin took him to a place where Dagon was as well. Together, Legann and my uncle escaped, ending up in the Vrenyx.

Will you go after him?

Olinia frowned. Archrin was concerned that she would retrieve her brother before she did them. Did he really have that little faith in her?
I will, but not until I save you.

The Craele relaxed slightly.
Thank you. Tiara is going to continue with the charade of being you for now.

Not a good idea,
Olinia protested.
That puts her in danger. She’s not as gifted as I am.

It may be safer, though
, he argued.
Aeorin wants you alive for something.

Olinia winced, recalling her latest Globing trip.
Yeah, Aeorin wants a sample of my blood. She wants the Drainers to now include the crippling of Wends.

Drainers?

She decided to not explain that quite yet. Instead, she sent,
You’re going to be put in the DS labs. The Velvitors run it. I’m not sure what they will do to you and Sazx.

His mind shifted to different images of Tiara. He was worried. Olinia took a deep breath.
Archrin, Will and I are coming for you. I won’t let you get hurt for my sake
.

As High Royalty shouldn’t it be our duty to offer you our lives?

This coming from a Kendren?
She teased.

A former Kendren,
he corrected.

Right.
She smiled.
We’ll catch the next plane out to California to get you.

Archrin relayed their conversation to Tiara and Sazx. When he finished, he sent Olinia,
Do you still have a shimmer stone?

Yes. Why?

Use it to come instead of an airplane,
he answered.
You can open a portal to another place within the same world. I’ve done it before.

Olinia sincerely wished she’d known about this little feature sooner. Why had she never been told this before?
Much faster plan than mine.

I look forward to seeing you again.

She grunted.
As your former Kendrens would say, may victory become your future.

With that, she released herself from Archrin’s mind and opened her eyes to the trees of her backyard. Will must have noticed a change in the tension of her body because he asked, “It worked, didn’t it?”

“It worked.”

“So?” Will prodded.

Olinia pulled her unzipped hoodie tighter around her as a new chill sent a shiver up her spine. The warmth of the past week had completely disappeared within the past two days. “So now we go after them in California.”

She began to stand, but Will stopped her, pulling her around enough to face him. He was frowning. “Are you alright? Today hasn’t been an easy one.”

“Yeah, I’m fine,” she lied.

He snorted. “Despite what you may think, I know you better than that. Something’s bugging you.”

“You don’t need to worry about it.” She tucked a strand of loose hair behind her ear.

Will swore, startling Olinia. “Why won’t you tell me? I’m so sick of begging anything out of you. I’m sorry I was gone so long, but just once can you pretend I wasn’t and tell me what’s the matter with you?”

She blinked, and before she really knew what she was doing, she blurted, “I don’t want to go back to the Other Worlds.”

“Why?”

Olinia grimaced. “When we save Tiara, I know I’ll have to go back, but I’ve been in Ethon for almost two years.”

“You told Tiara to come get you, though.”

“Part of me didn’t think she actually would,” she admitted.

Will had his hand on her knee. He brushed it with his thumb. “Olinia, why don’t you want to go back?”

“Because I-” she hesitated “-I don’t want to be queen.”

“Then don’t be queen,” he said simply.

She stared at him. “It’s not that easy.”

“Sure it is,” he replied. “You have two younger brothers. One of them can take your place.”

“Just like that?”

He shrugged. “You say you don’t want your throne so what does it matter if you just give it away?”

“It’s not just that I don’t want it.”

“Then what is it?”

She ran her hand through her hair. “I’m incredibly inadequate, and I don’t know if I still belong in the Other Worlds. I’m afraid I’ve got too much Ethon in me now.”

Will took a moment to process what she’d said. This was the real reason behind her fear of leaving Ethon. He knew that inadequacy was just a small concern. He’d seen her under pressure before, and she always performed just fine. Her new gift of producing an earthquake from her fingertips was sure to scare away most of her enemies. What really bothered her was the question of whether she could feel at home within her own realm.

She’d become accustomed to his world. She worried that when she returned to the Other Worlds she would feel out of place. Even though Trenton Alridge had warned Will about making sure that Olinia returned to the Other Worlds and fulfill her destiny, Will didn’t really care what she did. His biggest concern was to be near her. If she wished to go back then that was fine by him. Whatever her choice, Will would stay with her. He had no intention of leaving her ever again.

“Olinia,” he pressed his forehead against hers, “I don’t care what world you choose for us to live in.”