King Of Souls (Book 2) (28 page)

“I agree,” Danielle said. “But, we have to figure out what it is, and soon. Meanwhile, I could try instilling magic in every Ayralen and see if we can make a connection.”

Connal sighed and shook his head. “I’ve ordered the Heartwood’s evacuation. By now, three quarters of our citizenry are in Meranthia. The rest are somewhere between here and Elan’s gap.”

“Are they keeping to the root system?” Danielle said.

“For most of the trip, yes,” Connal said. “What guardians we’ve left are managing the exodus.”

“I noticed the influx of refugees when I crossed Elan’s Gap,” Jeremy said. “I ordered scouts to Freehold with the information and to send what reinforcements they could offer. But since Ayralen and Meranthia are no longer at odds, Elan’s Gap holds few militia, and only a bare handful of knights.”

“What’s to stop the sorcerers from invading Meranthia?” Danielle said.

Jeremy ran a hand through his blond close-cropped hair and sighed. He stood before the worktable and leaned forward. “I’m afraid I’ve brought more bad news.” Jeremy spent the next half hour recalling Davin Keel’s journey to Freehold. He recounted the events surrounding the attack at Porthleven, and Ronan’s confrontation with Tara.

“Ronan’s left Freehold?” Connal said.

“Yes, he and Lady Rika flew for Porthleven the day before I left for Ayralen,” Jeremy said. “I’ve heard no news out of Freehold for weeks. The king ordered me to come here and warn you of Tara and to enlist your aid.”

Connal barked out a short bitter laugh. “A lot of good I can offer. It seems we’re stuck.”

“Papa, I need to tell you a few things Keely and I discovered during our time in the desert.”

“Do I want to hear it?” He held up a hand. “Don’t answer that.” He rubbed the rough stubble on his unshaven face and pulled a chair forward. “Let’s get it all out. What do you need to tell me?”

Danielle glanced at Brees, and he tipped his head forward as if encouraging her to continue. “Keely and I found Arber.”

Connal reared backward in his chair as if struck. “Where is he? I didn’t see him come in with you.” Rage flared in his eyes, and he pounded his fist on the worktable. “Did he bring this down on us?”

Danielle held up both hands. “Let me explain. We never caught up with him, but I have seen him, and we found his journal at a desert oasis.” She pulled open the flap to her belt pouch and produced a small worn journal. “He met a man named Martell at the forest’s southern rim.” She handed the journal to Connal. “It seems Arber intended to take Lora’s Sphere to a city named Zen in Obsith.”

Connal’s brow furrowed as he leafed through the journal. “Why?”

“He never said why in his journal. It seems he had to make a hasty departure from the oasis. We saw some signs of a struggle.”

“How do you know he’s still alive?” Connal said.

“I saw him this morning,” Danielle said.

Connal’s eyes widened. “This morning? He’s here?”

“We passed over a group of Obsith sorcerers breaking camp. A pair of dragons chased us into the Heartwood, and Arber rode atop one of them.”

Connal’s eyes took on a distant glassy look. “What’s he planning?” He spoke the words using a low hushed tone as if expecting no answer.

Danielle glanced toward Brees. “There’s something else you should know. It’s the reason Brees came with us.”

Connal’s trance broke. “What is it? Not more bad news I hope.”

“Do you remember when Dimrey’s Plague nearly wiped out the Ayralen population?”

“Remember it? No.” Connal shook his head. “But I’ve read the historical accounts. Wardens snuffed out the plague when they discovered the cure growing inside a piece of heartwood fruit.”

Danielle nodded. “During my academy training, we read accounts of the illness and its spread among the population.”

“Don’t tell me it’s back,” Connal said.

Danielle and Brees exchanged a look of worry. “Not in Ayralen, but it’s spreading among the Obsith.”

Connal leaned back in his chair and sighed. “Which one of you carried it?”

Danielle’s face flushed. Had her time spent among the Obsith made the problem worse? Her thoughts turned to Fizzle, and her stomach sank.

“I’ve seen the disease first hand among the villages north of Zen,” Brees said. “I don’t know how many people I’ve infected during my travels.”

Connal’s face drained of color. “You’ve contracted the plague?”

“I carried an antidote with me. He’s cured,” Danielle said.

“And you came to the Heartwood in search of a larger quantity of antidote?” Connal’s face flushed, and he leaned forward edging toward Brees. “Your countrymen are outside destroying the very tree that will save them. Do they know that?” His face trembled with barely contained rage.

“No, they don’t even know the plague exists. And, at this point, I’m not sure I could convince them.”

“I think they’re searching for Lora’s Sphere,” Danielle said.

Connal nodded. “Based on what Arber said in his journal, I’d agree.” He folded his arms and sat back. “Brees, do you have any idea why they’d want the sphere?”

“No, but I’m sure the emperor has good reason,” Brees said.

“And Arber must know something,” Danielle said.

“We’ll never find out if we can’t stop them from destroying us all.” Dark circles appeared under Connal’s exhausted eyes, and he shook his head. The confidence and surety he’d displayed last autumn had evaporated. Connal Deveaux appeared shaken. “Danielle, we can’t let those savages take Lora’s Sphere. I want you to take it to Freehold. Your brother can help with its protection.”

“I’m not abandoning the Heartwood,” Danielle said. “And, I would never leave you alone.”

“You’re abandoning the lives of every warden defending the forest if you don’t go,” Connal said. “At least we can provide a diversion while you escape. But, if we lose the sphere, any hope of rebuilding the Heartwood dies.”

Danielle remained silent studying her father’s exhausted face. “I’ll go only if you come with me.”

Connal barked out a short hard laugh and shook his head. “I’ll die before leaving the Heartwood Danielle. My place is here with the first tree, and you know it.”

Danielle thought about Ferris. What would happen if she stayed and lost? He and every warden inside the first tree would die.

Her thoughts drifted Lora’s Sphere. She understood little about its inner workings. If Obsith’s emperor would invade a foreign country to steal it, the sphere must hold more power than she’d ever imagined. She needed to understand how it worked or she’d never unlock its secrets. With the Ayralen population fleeing to Meranthia, she might find a way to grant them Lora’s magic.

Danielle found herself nodding. “I’ll go.”

Brees turned to face Connal. “My people stand to lose everything if this forest dies. I’ll stay here and help you fight. Maybe I can find a way to reason with the emperor.”

“Suit yourself, but if I find out you’re up to some trick, I’ll have you hanged,” Connal said.

Danielle glared at Connal. “Papa! Without Brees’s help, I wouldn’t be here.”

“Are you sure about that? Do you think running across those sorcerers in the middle of a giant desert was a coincidence?”

Danielle stood shoving her chair back. “That’s enough!”

“Danielle, please. I can fight my own battles,” Brees said. “I don’t blame your father. I’d feel the same way given the circumstance.”

Connal nodded folding his arms. “Thank you.”

“And, you don’t want to leave Ayralen letting harsh words be the last spoken to your father.” His eyes took on a distant glassy look. “You can’t ever pull them back.”

Danielle’s shoulders eased, and her expression softened. “It’s just that he can be so stubborn sometimes.”

Connal laughed. “And you aren’t? You’re every bit as stubborn as your mother ever was.”

Danielle smiled, her gaze drifting downward. “Okay, maybe I can be a little hardheaded.”

Connal stood and moved around the table until he stood before Danielle.

Danielle leaned into her father’s chest, and he folded his arms around her.

Connal Deveaux let go a long sigh and kissed his daughter on the crown of her head. “Stay underground as much as you can. It’ll take longer to reach Elan’s Gap, but you’re more likely to make it.”

Hot tears welled in Danielle’s eyes as she wrapped her arms around her father. She might never see him again and the thought terrified her. “Papa, please don’t do anything foolish. If the Heartwood falls, don’t die with it. We need you.”

“I can’t make any promises Danielle. I —”

“I know you can’t. Just know I love you,” Danielle said cutting him off.

The gray patches in Connal’s dark hair and unshaven face doubled in that moment. “I love you too. And tell Ronan….”

She squeezed his hands and nodded. “I’ll tell him you love him.”

Connal nodded wiping tears from his eyes.

“I’ll protect her with my life sir. You have my word,” Jeremy said.

“I’ll hold you to that shield knight,” Connal said.

Danielle let her father go and faced Brees. “Stay with him, and don’t let anything happen to him. Okay?”

“I promise, I’ll do my best,” Brees said.

Danielle smiled and took his rough warm hands in hers. “Thank you. For everything.” She embraced him in a short hug.

Brees pulled away and squeezed Danielle’s hand. “It’s I who should be thanking you.” He bowed.

“We’ll be back father. I promise.” Danielle reached up and kissed her father’s warm rough cheek. She turned to leave sparing a last glance over her shoulder.

Deep sadness settled in Connal’s face as his tear-rimmed eyes followed Danielle from the room.

An Arid Peak

Ronan groaned, pulling himself the final few feet to freedom, and breathed in the cold night air. An hour of twisting his body in directions Elan never intended left his muscles sore and aching. He tapped his healing magic and channeled relief though his worn muscles.

A high-pitched growl came from the dark cleft Ronan had crawled from. A shaggy white mop-top popped free before turning its head upward and staring at Ronan.

“Relax. I didn’t forget about you.” He reached down and scooped up the bear cub lifting her free of the cave.

The bear cub nestled in Ronan’s arms and pitched her head upward sniffing the air. Steam billowed from her tiny nostrils, and a wet pink tongue slid from the mass of white curly hair. The baby ice bear licked Ronan across his cheek. She strained her neck forward sniffing at the leather pouch strapped to his belt. She bit at the leather binding holding the pouch closed and yanked, but the straps held firm.

“You’re welcome, and I know you’re hungry. I am too. But we have to find Moira first. Then we’ll eat.” Ronan settled the bear atop the ice-packed snow near his feet. He turned his attention toward the sea and the jagged cliffs below and channeled spirit energy into his vision.

Ronan stood on a six-foot wide rocky outcropping jutting outward from the rock face. To his right and left, the rock face descended in a sheer vertical drop.

A hundred feet below, the faint embers of a dying fire stood like a beacon against the black rock and dark night sky. Near the fire, Moira’s sled sat unmoved from hours earlier. Mounds of thick furs draped the sled, and even Ronan’s enhanced vision wouldn’t let him see through solid objects. Near the sled’s foot, the heavier packs of supplies appeared untouched.

A smile touched Ronan’s frozen face. Moira wouldn’t have left camp without her furs and at least a small cache of supplies. “She’s still there girl. It’s our lucky day.”

The steep trail running between Moira’s camp and the ice cave had crumbled beneath the massive avalanche. Ronan tracked the sharp rise from Moira’s camp leading toward Dragon Peak’s summit. He lost sight of its trail behind high rocky crags.

He inched forward and peered over the platform’s edge.

Beneath Ronan’s narrow platform, the mountain’s face descended at a near vertical angle.

Ronan’s stomach fluttered as a gust of wind picked up causing him to sway. His foot slipped, kicking free an ice slab. It plummeted seventy-five feet before shattering against a black boulder far below. Ronan eased back from the edge and took a deep breath. Could he survive a jump from this height? If he landed near Moira’s camp, the impact might not kill him outright. He could heal broken arms, legs, or maybe a broken back. If he missed the ice shelf, he’d plummet thousands of feet, and death would find him in an instant.

“Do you have any ideas girl?” Ronan’s gaze drifted toward the bear cub lingering near his feet, but the little bear had vanished.

Ronan whirled searching for the bear cub, but he didn’t see her anywhere. He bent and peered inside the dark cleft from where he’d escaped, but saw nothing. Maybe she’d fallen down the hole? He bent, pitched his legs inside the crack, and froze.

The wind gusted bringing with it a high-pitched mewling sound. The bear’s distinct shrill came again laced with greater urgency.

Ronan tracked the sound downward to his right and peered over the platform’s edge near the mountain face.