From the Embers (The Born in Flames Trilogy) (7 page)

The room around us faded away, melding and transforming into the Hall of Knowledge. Fenn reached out and took my hand in his, gripping it tightly.

A man appeared before us. He wore the same pristine white robe that Lexi wore. His head lifted up just enough to show a set of large round eyes glowing white. Screeching overtook the room. It was a Fate. I covered my ears, trying to tune out the awful, painful sound.

“How are we supposed to decipher this?” I shouted over the screeching.

“Extium!” Fenn shouted, closing the spectol. Immediately the screeching vanished, replaced by the sound of flickering flames inside the Artifact Chamber. We stared at each other for a long time. The distant sound of cheery music seeped in from above, drowning out the quiet pounding behind my eyes.

There were no words for what I was thinking as we stood there motionless. “This could be great,” Fenn said excitedly. He turned to me. I watched him vacantly as he grabbed my forearms. “No, I’m serious, Rory. What if this was how Zordon communicated with Saeth? This could be an important message!”

“A message we can’t interpret,” I reminded him.

“But Astral can,” he pointed out.

My mood perked up. “He can.” I looked up at him. “We have to tell him!”

“We can do it tomorrow morning when we meet with Kaede. That way we can figure out how he got a hold of these in the first place and why he hasn’t said anything.”

“Okay,” I said. “Let’s take the box and go to bed. I don’t want to be down here anymore.” I didn’t add how the air suddenly felt stale.

Fenn grabbed the box, rummaging through its contents one last time. He pulled out another photo and held it up, his calm expression morphing into a sadness I had only seen on him a few times.

The photo showed Zordon and Gwenevere as teenagers. They were dressed elegantly and stood near a moonlit pond. Zordon had a sincere smile on his face. His arm was tossed casually over her shoulder. She was leaning into him with a rigid smile, her red gown matching the silent rage in his eyes.

How could she have turned rogue?

“Do you think they were ever happy?” Fenn spoke with a heavy sigh.

I took a moment to digest his question. “No,” I answered honestly. “I believe she was a cover for his wrong-doings. She made him seem normal. She hid his insatiable taste for power.”

Fenn’s head hung even lower. I pulled him back into a hug. “I love you.” I didn’t know what else to say. It sucked from every angle. How could such a perfect night turn so sour?

“We should go through the rest of this stuff tonight. Get it over with,” he said, sounding exhausted at the idea.

I placed my hand against his solid chest. “Instead, maybe we should slow down,” I coaxed. “Nothing good has ever come from rushing when it comes to our luck.”

His smile was unmistakably proud. “What brought on this change in pace?”

I felt my face flush as I awkwardly shrugged. “I’m just sick of screwing up,” I admitted wholeheartedly.

His eyes instantly filled with regret. “You’re right. I was just playing. Let’s take this and talk with Kaede in the morning. See what’s up.”

I shook my head and turned for the stairwell. But before I could take the first step, he grabbed my hand and spun me around as if we were still on the dance floor. His mouth pressed greedily against mine. My hands were in his hair, twisting and weaving it through my fingers, wanting him to give in to me. Wanting just a moment of privacy in his company.

“You still on for it?” he questioned, wriggling his brows up and down.

I smirked at him, answering with an equally pleasure-promising kiss. “I guess you’ll find out,” I teased.

Chapter 5

The Spectol’s Message

THE NEXT MORNING, I WOKE in Fenn’s strong arms to a loud pounding on Astral’s door. I shot up in our bed, completely naked. And completely exhausted. A sickening dread swarmed my body. The connection. I wasn’t ready to see Zordon again.

But then I realized something. I had been nothing but tired since I returned, and not once had I fallen into Zordon’s lap. Why?

An uncomfortable tingle spread along my skin and the hair on my arms rose in response. I needed to speak with Astral.

I eased out of bed and quickly dressed, rubbing the sleep from my eyes. They burned with a dire need to shut again.

Fenn sat up groggily, watching me through one eye. He laughed, rubbing at his eyes. “Bring your cute butt back over here,” he called with a sexy, raspy voice.

He was still being cautious of everyone around us, which is why we had to “end” our night near the edge of the island where the sound of rushing water hushed our cries of passion.

I pressed my finger to my mouth, quieting him, and then pointed next door. I honed in on Astral’s room and looked to Fenn to make sure he was listening. 

“What do you mean he has it? I thought your men on the inside were going to retrieve it,” Astral said, his voice heightened and shaking. It was the tone I most feared from him. Astral only ever panicked if the situation was truly bad.

“We have sent out as many as we can spare, Astral, but I’m afraid we have to abandon the idea. None of my soldiers want to take the mission knowing the odds aren’t in their favor. They either turn up missing, or are publicly tortured as a warning,” Kaede replied. His voice dropped an octave. “It was only a matter of time until Zordon found out about the Oraculus with how she abused the connection. How can I ask more of my men to sacrifice themselves for a lost cause, when she has yet to prove herself?”

My blood pressure rose making my skin feel hot. A part of me felt betrayed, but the other part, the part that knew the truth, knew that Kaede had every right to say what he said. I haven’t proven myself, and I had no right to ask anything more of his men.

“Do not!” Astral said, the threat in his words clear and dangerously calm.

A door down the hall slid open. Someone must have woken from their bickering.

“Not here,” Kaede bit off quietly.

“Then where? Because I’m sure when the end is upon us, Zordon will show no interest in following social etiquette,” Astral replied desperately.

There was a short, uncomfortable pause, and then Kaede said, “I will be in the advisory room.” Hard footsteps carried down the hall.

I turned to look at Fenn. He shoved off his sheet, his nostrils flaring. “Don’t listen to it, Rory.” He stood from the bed, and walked over to the dresser, cracking his knuckles.

“But Kaede is right. This is all riding on me and I have done nothing to show them that they can believe in me,” I said, blindly staring at the papered windows. “I have to make a move soon before doubt sets in.”

He tugged his shirt over his pants and then in two great strides, pulled me into a heartwarming hug. “Good morning,” he said. The steady sound of his heart calmed the scattered thoughts coursing through my mind.

“Good morning,” I replied, reaching up on tiptoes to kiss his cheek. His smile stretched underneath my lips.

“I refuse for either of us to have a bad day today,” he said when I stepped back. “So put your chin up and let’s head to Kaede’s room. We’ll wing it from there.”

“Wing it?”

“Yes, wing it. Some of the best laid plans are those that are not over thought, or so I’ve heard.”

“Heard from who?” I asked as he grabbed the box with the spectols off the top of the dresser.

He shrugged his shoulders. “You know, whoever it is that always says wise-sounding things. That person.” He offered me a charming smile when he walked over to the door.

“Oh, right. That person,” I said, laughing. I slid the door open and started down the hallway for Kaede’s advisory room. “Should we say anything about what we heard?” I asked him when he reached for my hand.

“No. I wasn’t going to say anything, but Kaede has had a hard time finding allies to fight with us. Everyone is scared. When you disappeared, word spread that you were dead. Everyone believed that Zordon had won. It will take time for people to believe that you are alive and ready.”

Even though I appreciated his openness, I still felt like I had just been punched. “Well, when you put it so mildly…”

He squeezed my hand. “I’m sorry, Rory. When word spreads that you’re alive, and when we successfully take Pyre Island, more will come.”

“I sure hope so,” I muttered, feeling more lost than ever. How was I going to fight against Zordon’s army without aid? How could I save our realms if the people living inside of them wouldn’t fight with me?

“Ignore the negative for now. Let’s just try to get some answers. Okay?” Fenn said, holding the box out as a reminder.

I nodded absently, too many thoughts spiraling through my head. The Oraculus, my missing connection. That was something I couldn’t ignore. Astral and Kaede had to have been talking about it.

Fenn nudged me mid-thought. “Okay?” he repeated.

Our steps ended sooner than I wanted them to. I sucked in an encouraging breath as we stopped in front of a guard in iron-clad armor outside the advisory room.

“We’re here to see Kaede,” Fenn said. The guard’s expression was detached from the world as he slid the door open, then immediately stood back at attention.

Kaede and Astral stood when they saw us, both wearing a constrained smile. “Fenn, Aurora, what a pleasant surprise!” Kaede said after clearing his throat.

Banjamin smiled and reached for his tea. “Have you come to talk about the wedding?” he asked intently, searching our faces with hope. Kaede looked away from us, clutching the edge of the table.

I looked to Fenn, my mouth suddenly dry. We hadn’t discussed this yet. I blushed at the memory of the previous night.

Kaede laughed awkwardly and lifted his chin, attempting to look confident. “Let the young lovers have some time to talk it out. Come, sit with us.” He extended his arm out to us.

Astral’s eyes locked with mine. I wasn’t sure he wanted me here. But when had that ever stopped me?

“You found his spectols,”
he stated inside of my mind, giving away no emotion on his face.

I lifted a brow.
“Do you know what’s in them?”

He had nothing to say.

Fenn guided me to the end of the table where Masami was waiting with fresh, aromatic tea. My mouth watered at the memory of the silken taste.

“To what do we owe this honor?” Kaede asked when he sat. His hands fidgeted on the table. His face pulled tight, like he had to force himself to remain calm.

It made my stomach prickle in fear. Why was he so nervous? Was he worried I overheard? Was it something more? Something I didn’t know about yet?

Fenn set the box he had been holding down on the table, pushing it forward in Astral’s direction. Kaede’s posture went rigid.

“A box?” Banjamin mused. Astral pulled it towards himself, tilting the lid open.

“It’s what’s inside the box,” I answered, sitting up on the pillow, watching Astral for any signs of recognition. “We found it last night.”

Kaede leaned over and inspected the contents carefully. “Zordon’s things,” he said darkly, his tone dropping a few octaves. “From my Artifact Room. I see you two have made yourselves most welcome.”

I peered over at him from under my lashes, afraid to make eye contact. The muscles in his jaw were tight, his eyes narrowed in our direction.

“We stumbled upon the room on accident,” Fenn said, stuttering a little. I reached for his hand under the table. He glanced over at me. 

I swallowed and said, “Actually, we ran into Soothe last night and he pointed us in the direction of the Chamber. He hinted that I would find something down there. Something of use.” I sounded way more sure of myself than I felt. “I was curious to find out exactly what it was, you know, since he can never just come out and say things.”

Both Kaede and Banjamin chortled in agreement. I forced myself to join in laughter with them. Astral remained silent.  

“That is the way of a Seer,” Kaede said knowingly, flicking a glance at Banjamin. “I must say I am relieved. I was worried that you were coming to speak of something else, and when I saw this box…” He trailed off, his gaze growing distant. A moment ticked by and then he looked back at me, searching my face. “You have to understand, Aurora, I have lost a lot of great men in this fight against Zordon. A lot of lives were lost to attain what you see before you.”

I ducked my head down, fighting back the heavy guilt that plunged like a rock in my stomach. Astral pulled out the three spectols and spread them out in front of him on the table.

Kaede let out a long breath, reaching for one of the spectols. He rubbed the symbols of The Fates on the outside, the light from the magic awakening reflecting off of his face.

He motioned Masami over for more tea. After taking a long sip, he closed his eyes for a moment, as if reliving a memory. When he opened them again, his gaze was far off and filled with pain.

“I never did like Zordon, but when he called on me before all of this happened, I went to visit him out of curiosity. To see what he had to propose. When I discovered his intention to destroy not just our realm, but our mirroring realm as well, I did my best to remain cordial and supportive while rallying against him with the Draconta. I was able to leave men in his court for a long while under the assumption that I was on his side. They intercepted this box when trying to take his Oraculus. It was on its way to Saeth in the Hall of Knowledge. Though they were successful in retrieving this box, they were unable to secure his Oraculus.”

He looked at me, his gaze burning through me. “My men were slaughtered before they had the chance to make it home. Only one made it back, but he died shortly after from fatal wounds we could not heal.”

“I’m so sorry,” I said, breaking away from his gaze. I blinked back the stinging behind my eyes, using Fenn’s reassuring hand squeeze to steady my emotions.

“These spectols are from Saeth to Zordon,” Astral said as he reached for one and flicked it open. I was grateful for the subject change. “But this one is enchanted and is still in use.” His face grew grim, his tone darkening. “Go get the others.”

Fenn got up and slid the door open just enough to tell the guard to summon Zane, Adam, Soothe, and Lexi.

“What’s going on?” Soothe asked the moment he stepped through the portal from his room. Zane, Adam, and Lexi came through the sliding doors, looking freshly woken.

“Did you guide her towards these?” Astral asked in a low voice, holding up the spectols in his palm.

“I most certainly did,” he said. “This is the Progeny’s journey and you know secrets have never been my forte.” He looked over at me and smirked, and then turned back to Astral. “It’s not like what’s inside of those spectols is news to you anyway.”

The sudden shock I felt quickly changed into rage. My grip tightened against Fenn’s hand. I faintly remembered Zordon telling me that Astral wasn’t telling me everything. I clearly remember figuring that out after I died and found Astral in the Hall of Knowledge. After I was stabbed in the back while trying to do the right thing by stopping Zordon from obtaining the Stone.

I thought that maybe Astral would have learned that being honest was the better route, no matter what the truth meant. I thought he realized by now that mistakes happened when information was withheld. I guess I thought wrong.

I made sure he heard my every thought.

“Little Flame,” he said as his head turned toward me.

“Don’t,” I warned, trying to use Fenn’s hand as my grip on controlling my temper. Steam wisped out from my nose in white puffy curls. “Open the spectol, Astral. The one with the message from Saeth. You have kept things from me for far too long. I want to know what it says.” My voice came out in a quiver.

Astral watched me for a moment. I wished that I could read his mind. I wished that I could pluck his brain full of deep, dark secrets that he felt I shouldn’t know.

His eyes widened at that thought.

“Little Flame,”
he said in my mind, his voice tender. At the same time, he looked at Lexi and said out loud, “Alexis, I’ll need your magic so the others can hear.”

She promptly nodded, her hands already glowing white. He slowly turned the dial on the spectol, waiting for the world to shift around us. We were back in the Hall, Saeth standing before us in a pristine white robe. With Lexi’s magic, his screeching had turned into a shrill, demented voice.

Everyone else disappeared as Saeth’s words seemed to circle around me, engulfing me in evil.

“I have done everything in my power to infiltrate my sister’s records, but she has them hidden somewhere I cannot touch. I fear we will never find a solution to undo the bind between you and the Progeny. It is crucial that you follow my instructions now more than ever. Do not stray from the plan.”

He glanced over his shoulder and then back into the spectol, his hands folded neatly in front of him.