Fire Study (47 page)

for entering the Citadel. After what seemed like hours, the wagon began to move. Ari

picked up the pace and I guessed we had broken off from the caravan.

When the sounds from the market reached me, the wagon slowed. Ari called out

to the stand owners, giving them the sign to prepare to revolt. A network of

messengers would fan out to spread the news, then remain in place to deliver the

signal for action.

The fighting would erupt when our wagon went inside the Keep. The cart turned

around a corner. It stopped with a jerk.

Ari cursed and the jangle of many horses surrounded us. A familiar voice called

out, “Oh no. This will not do.”

Cahil.

CAHIL AND HIS MEN had found us. Trapped inside my crate, I could do

nothing but wait for the inevitable. I hoped Valek and the others hiding in the wagon

would be able to sneak away.

“I assume you have Yelena hidden somewhere in your wagon?” Cahil asked.

“Have who, sir?” Ari asked, playing innocent. “All I have is goods for the

market.”

“For the market? The market you just rode through without stopping to unload? I

don’t think so. Despite your disguises and weak attempts to explain your presence, I

know who you are and why you’re here. In fact, I was sent by Jal to come and

escort you to the Keep.”

I heard a creak as Ari shifted his weight and I detected a faint rustling from below

me. Probably Valek opening his escape panel.

“Relax,” Cahil said. “I’m not here to capture you. I’m here to join you. And I

hope for the sake of all our lives you have a decent plan.”

I had to let Cahil’s words sink in. Had he just said he wanted to join us?

“A plan, sir?” Ari asked.

Cahil snorted with exasperation. “Yelena! Leif!” he called. “Come out and tell

your big northern friend I’m telling the truth. Look for yourselves. My men have not

drawn their—”

A surprised yelp followed a thud. Then Ari moved off the wagon and the rugs on

top of my crate scraped away. The lid lifted. I had my switchblade in hand, but Ari’s

amused face greeted me. He helped me stand. Valek had a knife to Cahil’s throat. He

and Cahil were on the ground. Cahil’s men remained on their mounts. The men

appeared tense and alert but hadn’t drawn any weapons. Leif and Janco joined Ari

and all three pulled their blades. Marrok stayed on Garnet.

“Tell me why I shouldn’t cut your throat?” Valek asked Cahil.

“You won’t get into the Keep without me,” he said. He kept still and held his

hands up and away from his body.

“Why this sudden change of heart?” I asked.

Cahil’s gaze met mine. Hatred still radiated from his eyes but the pain of betrayal

tainted them. “You were right.” He said each word as if it hurt him. “They’re using

me and…”

“And what?” I prompted.

“The rituals and killings have gotten out of hand. I can’t be a part of it anymore.”

He looked at Marrok. “I wasn’t raised to be a killer. I was raised to be a leader. I’ll

earn my throne the old-fashioned way.”

Although the expression on Marrok’s face never changed, his body relaxed.

“How do we know you’re telling the truth?” Ari asked.

“Yelena knows through her magic.”

I shook my head. “I can’t use it. It will alert Jal and risk the mission.”

“She already knows you’re here. You have thwarted her a number of times,

although it will be more difficult now, as she has gained an incredible amount of

power through the Kirakawa ritual.”

“She?” Valek and I asked in unison.

“We thought Jal was Gede,” I said.

Cahil blinked at us for a moment. “You didn’t know? What else don’t you

know? You were planning an attack at the Keep, right? I thought you had it all

figured out.”

“You thought wrong,” I said, annoyed. “We had to guess about the state of

affairs inside the Keep.”

“Then here’s a way for me to prove my loyalty. I’ll tell you what’s been going on

and will help you get inside. Agreed?”

Valek and I exchanged a glance.

“Do I still get to kill him?” Valek asked.

“At the first sign of betrayal, yes,” I said.

“What about after this is all over?”

“Then it’s your call.”

Cahil stared at us. “Hold on. I’m risking my life to help you. I’d like some

guarantees.”

“We’ve come to a point where there are no guarantees. For any of us,” I said.

“That’s not very encouraging,” Cahil said.

“It’s not supposed to be. You should know what happens when you play with

fire, Cahil. Eventually, you’ll get burned. Now, tell us what you know,” I ordered.

Valek removed his knife from Cahil’s throat and stepped back. Cahil scanned the

area. We had attracted quite the crowd, but I saw to my relief that there were no

Vermin among them. Then it hit me—why not? I asked Cahil.

He gave me a sardonic smile. “They’re all at the Keep. Roze plans a massive

Kirakawa ritual using all the magicians she has captured to empower all her favorite

Warpers in one sweep. And you’re to be the coup de grâce.”

My blood turned to ice. “Roze?”

A superior expression settled on Cahil’s face. “Yes, Roze Featherstone, First

Magician also known as Jalila Daviian, First Warper and founder of the Daviian

Clan.”

All color drained from Leif’s face. “But how? Why?”

“I had no idea until Ferde was caught. She asked me to rescue him in exchange

for the Council’s support to invade Ixia,” Cahil said. “I thought it was an undercover

mission to learn who else was behind his bid for power. Though, when I discovered

the truth about her and the other Warpers, I must admit it didn’t bother me at the

time. She promised to attack Ixia and make me king.”

“How many Warpers are inside and who are the victims for the ritual?” I asked.

“Six very powerful Warpers, including Roze and Gede. They have been very

careful about who they allow to increase their powers, keeping crucial information

about the Kirakawa ritual to a select few. There are fifty Vermin soldiers and ten

medium-powered Warpers. Two of those Warpers are scheduled to be given

master-level powers during the massive ritual. The victims for this ritual will be the

three other Masters, who are incarcerated in the Keep’s cells, Moon Man and the

Councilors.”

“What about the students?”

“The older apprentices have been put in the cells. The younger ones obey out of

fear.”

“How does Roze plan to control the Master Magicians?”

“She has the power, but I think she does plan to prick them with Curare to save

her energy. Once they are tied down, a dose of Theobroma will weaken their

defenses.”

“They seem to have an unlimited supply of Curare,” I mused out loud.

“Gede Daviian has provided the drug for them. He also helped recruit dissatisfied

Sandseeds to the Daviian Clan. And having a pet Fire Warper has made him the

Daviians’ most valued member.”

I mulled over the information. “How do you plan to get us inside?”

“As my prisoner. She knows I went to find you. I’ll bring you to her and since

my feelings for you haven’t changed, I won’t have to act like I hate you. Sensing

nothing wrong, Roze will probably order me to take the rest—” Cahil pointed to Ari

and Janco “—to the cells.”

“Why would I cooperate with you?”

“Because I’ll have Leif, and I’ll make a bargain to keep him safe in exchange for

your cooperation.”

My mind raced through the options and possibilities. For the first time, I felt

hopeful about my friends’ survival. “Cahil, when you take the others to the cells, can

you free everyone inside?”

“As long as Roze is occupied.”

Valek smiled. “What’s the plan, love?”

We approached the Keep’s gate at a slow walk. I sat in front of Cahil on his

horse. Ari and Marrok sat on the wagon with their hands tied behind their backs.

Valek and Janco hid in the bottom crates, and Leif sat on Kiki with one of Cahil’s

men sitting behind him armed with a knife.

I didn’t have to pretend to be scared and concerned for my friends. We were

waved through the gate without hesitation. Ari had informed the Citadel’s citizens to

wait ten minutes before storming the entrance to the Keep. Ten minutes for Cahil and

the rest to free the prisoners and for me to jump into the fire. I hoped it was enough

time.

The wagon bypassed the Keep’s administration building to where the apprentice

barracks formed a ring around an open area. A few students hurried past, keeping

their gazes on the ground as they carried out their tasks.

The grassy glen had been transformed. I stared at the waste-land in shock. The

bonfire was expected, but the grass around the fire had been covered with sand.

Brownish-red stains soaked the sand and stakes had been driven into it.

It was the killing ground for the Kirakawa ritual. And the next victim had already

been tied down and prepped.

Bloody cuts crisscrossed his abdomen, legs and arms. Although in pain, Moon

Man still managed to smile. “Now we can start the party,” he said.

Roze frowned at him and he writhed in agony. She stood next to Moon Man.

Gede was beside her. Other Warpers ringed the fire pit, watching with predatory

eyes.

“I see you finally managed to get something right, Cahil,” she said. “Bring her

here.”

Cahil slid off the saddle and grabbed me around the waist. He knew he didn’t

need to help me down, so he must have a reason. I let him yank me from the saddle,

and drop me on the ground.

“Where do you want to go?” he asked in a tight whisper as he jerked me to my

feet.

“As close to the fire as I can.”

“Really?”

“Yes.” Although my heart beat a different answer. No! it pounded. Let’s go!

Run!

He clamped his hand around my arm and pulled me to Roze. We stopped a few

feet from the fire. The heat pulsed in waves. Sweat dripped down my back.

Roze gestured to a couple of Warpers. “There are two hiding in the boxes. Take

them.”

The Warpers and a few soldiers advanced on the wagon. After some banging and

cursing, Janco and Gale were hauled out.

“There are three compartments, but one is empty,” a Warper called.

Roze looked at me with a question in her eyes.

“For me. So I could get inside the Citadel.” The truth. I kept my mind on the task

at hand and didn’t allow it to wonder about Valek.

“At this distance, Yelena, do you realize your mental defenses are nothing but a

thin shell? I will see your lies before you can form them in your mind. Remember

that.”

I nodded and strengthened my barrier.

She laughed and ordered the soldiers to take the others to the cells. “I’ll deal with

them later.” Once the cart was out of sight, she peered at me and Cahil.

“Your capture was too easy,” she said. “You must think I’m a simpleton, but no

matter, I’ve only to expand a sliver of power to find out what you’re planning.” Her

strong magic invaded my mind.

I kept my thoughts on saving Moon Man, Leif and the others as I mentally

dodged her onslaught. It failed to work. To distract her, I asked, “Why?”

“Nice try.” Her magic crashed through my defenses, and seized my body. “You

are in my power now. Sitia is saved.”

“Saved from me?” At least I could still talk. In fact, even with her incredible

strength, she could only control either my mind or my body. Not both.

“Saved from you. The Commander. Valek. Our way of life is secured.”

“By killing Sitians? Using blood magic?”

“Small price to pay for our continued prosperity. I could not let the Commander

invade us. The Council failed to see the problem. I created the Daviians as a

backup—a hidden weapon for when we needed them. It worked. The Council

eventually agreed with me.” Smug satisfaction shone in her eyes.

Through our mental link, I sensed she didn’t understand the whole truth or she

chose to ignore it. “The Daviians forced the Council to agree with you. They had

their children.”

Extreme annoyance creased Roze’s forehead. She shot Gede a venom-laced

look. He wisely remained quiet, but his muscles tensed.

“Are you sure you have control of the Daviians?” I asked.

“Of course. And once we choose a new Council we will attack Ixia and free

them. They will welcome our way of life.” She smiled.

“So you saved Sitia? Tell me, how is sacrificing the Council different than Valek

assassinating them?”

Roze frowned and a wave of pain pulsed through my body. My thoughts