Liberator (19 page)

“I found something!” Elyssa began grabbing stones and throwing them to the side. Jason and Edison leaped
up and joined her, one at each side, pulling, throwing, and rolling stones away from the heap.

“Can you tell if it’s a body?” Jason asked, gasping as he rolled a boulder.

Sweat rolled down her reddened cheeks as she nodded. “A human. That’s all I know.”

They continued the desperate digging, grunting in three distinct tones. Finally, Jason unearthed a hand.

“Here!” he shouted.

The three joined together at the site and soon uncovered an arm connected to a male torso. A bit more digging revealed his gray-haired head, wobbling loosely attached to the torso, his neck obviously broken.

Edison turned the man’s face upward and brushed dirt away from his cheeks and eyes. With a deep sigh, he whispered, “It’s Uriel.”

Jason swallowed through a lump. Half of his mind shouted in relief,
It’s not Koren!
But the other half wailed for his friend.

“Poor Uriel!” Elyssa dropped to her knees and wept.

“It’s so awful!”

His stomach churning, Jason picked up a stone and slung it away. Uriel Blackstone had survived for all these years, seemingly handpicked by the Creator to live long enough to find a cure for the disease, only to be buried in a heap of boulders before the job could be finished. It was all so senseless. Such a waste.

Edison touched Elyssa’s shoulder. “Could there be another body?” he asked.

“I …” She sniffed back a sob. “I don’t think so, but I’ll keep looking.”

“No need.” Edison climbed to the top of the ridge and shouted at the men, “I want everyone here, on the double!”

Soon dozens of hands joined the search. Stones flew everywhere, and even the biggest boulders were no match for the strong and practiced arms that rolled them aside. Wallace joined in and dug ferociously.

Magnar watched from his perch on the wall, apparently aware that he wouldn’t be much help. After a while, the ridge flattened to a field of scattered debris, but no other bodies turned up.

Jason, Edison, and two other men buried Uriel under a pile of rocks. When they finished, Edison knelt at the side of the pile while everyone gathered around. “We will not have a funeral here. We erected this to protect Uriel’s body from scavengers. When we return, we will take him home. I swear it.”

Jason draped Koren’s cloak over his arm and took Elyssa’s hand. Tear tracks stained her cheeks, but they seemed dry now. “I wonder if she ever found out that Uriel was her father,” Jason said.

“Impossible to know.” She touched the cloak. “It’s still wet.”

“The material’s thick,” Jason said. “It holds water.”

“No matter.” She took the cloak, whipped it around her back, making it flare out, and settled it around her shoulders. With a new tear trickling from her eye, she raised the hood. “In Koren’s honor.”

“It’s appropriate.” He looked her over. Elyssa’s eyes sparkled green from within the hood’s shadow, sad but vibrant. “Very appropriate.”

After everyone gathered on the south side of the field of rubble, Jason surveyed the crew—forty-seven men, a boy, one woman, and a dragon. The men had swords in scabbards at their hips, many clutched spears, some had quivers on their backs, and the woman wore a blue cloak and a pendant on a chain. Yet the woman without a weapon might prove to be the most powerful of them all.

Jason gestured for his father, Elyssa, Wallace, Captain Reed, and Magnar to gather around. When they formed a close circle, Jason spoke in a low tone. “I once heard Taushin speaking about his plans, and if I understood him correctly, he and the other dragons will be holed up somewhere to hide from an attack. They won’t be in the village.”

“Taushin is crafty.” Magnar’s eyes pulsed. “He is not hiding like a cowardly child. He is merely waiting for all the pieces to fall into place while he is away. He wants a Starlighter, and his absence will make everyone feel safe enough to come to the village, including either Koren or Cassabrie.”

“An interesting theory,” Edison said. “I had planned to march straight for Frederick’s refuge in the wilderness before launching a search for the dragons, but if a Starlighter comes to the village, shouldn’t we be there to protect her? When we saw Koren fly overhead with Alaph, I thought she might be heading there, but finding the cloak made me think otherwise. Now I’m not sure either way.”

Magnar wagged his head. “It is folly to try to protect a Starlighter. The stubborn girls choose their own course, and there is nothing you can do to stop them. Since Cassabrie is within Exodus, and Koren is with Alaph, they
are not vulnerable to Taushin. I suggest following your original plan.”

“Even though the soldiers are probably contagious?” Elyssa asked.

Captain Reed scratched his chest through his tunic. “Not merely contagious, I’m afraid. We will keep our distance and see if we can lead the children to safety.”

Jason scanned the soldiers. Many were scratching here and there, and some grimaced as they paced. “Elyssa and I will sneak into the village and look for Koren and Cassabrie. I’d feel a lot better if we knew they were all right. When you collect the children, we can meet in the forest just past the grottoes, and we’ll let you know what’s going on.”

Edison nodded. “The men will make signs here telling the second company to go to the meeting place as well. When they arrive, we can all invade the village at the same time.”

“What about me?” Wallace asked. “I know this place better than any of you.”

Jason grasped Wallace’s shoulder. “Stay with us until we get near the village, then you can mingle with the other slaves and find out what’s going on while we search the Zodiac or the Basilica. If we can’t find each other, we’ll meet in Arxad’s cave before we go to the forest.”

Wallace nodded. “Sneaking around is my specialty.”

After saying their good-byes, Jason, Elyssa, and Wallace marched toward the forest. “I’m impressed,” she said as they strode over rocks and old cart ruts.

Jason kept his focus on the rough path. “Why?”

“What we’re doing is probably more dangerous than going to the wilderness. I mean, if the Benefile are killing humans, it’s like walking into a death trap.”

“I suppose it is.” He gave her a quick glance. “What’s your point?”

Smiling, she faced straight ahead and marched on. “Just an observation. Lead the way, warrior.”

“If you say so.” Jason broke into a medium-pace run, Elyssa at one side and Wallace at the other. When they entered the forest, Jason slowed and hacked at brambles and vines with his sword.

Soon they broke into an open span of flat, arid ground, some parts covered with sparse heather and some parts completely lifeless. The grinding mill basin lay in the center of the expanse. As they skirted it, Jason peered over the edge. Neither Mallerin nor Julaz stalked the floor, and the cage embedded in the wall was still open, its gate charred and broken.

They jogged to the village from behind the Zodiac, a safer route than the street out in front, and slowed to a walk. Without a word, Wallace broke away and strolled boldly into the street. Seconds later, he was out of sight.

As Jason and Elyssa skulked around the Zodiac’s left side, keeping close to the wall, they passed a broken cart partially covered with hay. Human boot tracks led to the front of the building.

Jason stopped at the corner and peered around. Elyssa pressed close, her arm against his. Hundreds of people stood, sat, or lay in various positions under and around the Zodiac’s portico, all motionless except for hair or clothes flapping in the light breeze. Closer to the corner,
several ice-covered objects lay in a row, and Randall stood like a statue between the corner and the portico, his sword clutched at the end of his stiff arm.

“Psst! Jason!” Something tugged his sleeve.

Jason froze. A tingling sensation rode up his arm.

“Over here! It’s me. Deference.”

Shaking off the shock, he turned. The shining girl waved a hand. “Follow me,” she said. “I think Koren’s in trouble.”

“Koren’s here?” Jason followed Deference into the open, Elyssa close behind. When they passed Randall, Jason gave him a quick scan. Although bruises and cuts marred his chin and cheeks, he appeared to be relatively unharmed. He had the look of a hypnosis victim, so it seemed that a Starlighter had been here. But why would he be in a trance if the Starlighter was no longer present?

Still following Deference, Jason and Elyssa ran up the portico stairs and stopped at the Zodiac’s entry corridor. At the far end, a light flashed on and stayed bright for several seconds before slowly dimming.

Deference dashed into the corridor, hissing, “Come on!”

Jason whispered to Elyssa, “Quietly now,” then walked in on tiptoes. Once well inside, his heavy exhales echoed. He held his breath, stifling the noise, but his trousers, dampened by sweat, swished with every step.

When they reached the dome room’s doorway, they flattened themselves against the wall to its right. Jason leaned and peeked inside. Elyssa laid her hands on his shoulders and watched from behind.

At the Reflections Crystal, Koren and Taushin stood facing each other, Koren to the left of the crystal and
Taushin to the right. Deference glided in, stood behind a column, and peered around it. With the dome wide open, Solarus’s rays filled the chamber with light.

Koren locked her gaze on Taushin, her green eyes glowing. “If fewer than half of the remaining slaves fail to go Darksphere alive and healthy,” she said, “you will release me from your service.”

“Under those conditions, I will release you.” Taushin’s blue eyebeams danced across Koren’s chest. “Immediately.”

The crystal brightened, almost too radiant to behold.

Jason’s face stung as if tiny needles pricked his skin— irritating but not too painful.

As the sphere slowly dimmed, Koren glanced at it before continuing. “All the released slaves and the humans from Darksphere will be allowed to leave without resistance from you of any kind.”

Taushin nodded. “That is correct.”

Again the crystal flashed, verifying the dragon’s words.

Koren walked around the sphere and stood in front of Taushin, her back to the doorway. “What do I do now?”

“Let me look into your eyes. Allow me to connect more fully than I ever have before. In the past, you have successfully resisted. Now it is finally time for our union to be complete. No chains. Only trust. You will walk freely in my service.”

The crystal flashed brightly yet again.

“I understand.” Heaving a sigh, Koren bowed her head. “Allow me one moment to search for news of my friends from Darksphere. Before I seal our covenant with a final vow, I want to know that they’re safe. If they are all dead, then the slaves’ rescue will be impossible.”

“Very well. I, too, will be interested in a report on their well-being.”

Koren closed her eyes. “I will decide whether or not to let you know.”

Elyssa grabbed Jason’s arm and shook it, whispering, “We have to put a stop to this!”

“Right.” Jason drew his sword. “Never make a deal with the devil.”

“Are you going to attack Taushin?”

“That was my plan.”

Elyssa raised the cloak’s hood. “If he’s using Koren’s eyes, he’ll see you coming.”

“Only if she’s looking this way.” Jason bent over and padded in. While near the perimeter of the room, the partial roof shaded his progress, so he stayed close to the wall and circled to the right side. Now able to see Koren’s profile, he halted. Any farther and he would walk into her field of vision.

He crouched and took in the scene. Why would Koren do something so foolish? It didn’t make any sense. Might it be better to wait and see whose side she was really on before attacking? But waiting too long might be just as dangerous. Once Taushin had her in his grasp, it might be too late.

Koren lifted her head. “I am ready.”

“Did you see the Darksphere humans?”

She nodded. “An army has breached the barrier wall, and they are approaching the wilderness refuge. It seems that a rescue is at hand, as we both had hoped. All we need now is to find a cure.”

The Reflections Crystal brightened once more.

“Excellent. Now open your eyes fully. I am coming in.” Taushin’s beams flashed brighter. The blue shafts struck Koren’s chest and began shifting upward. She trembled. With a look of panic, she rotated her head as if searching for something. When the beams rose to her chin, her stare locked on Jason’s. She mouthed the words, “Help me!”

Jason leaped up and charged with his sword. Just as he made ready to swing at Taushin’s neck, Koren thrust out her arms. “No!”

A wave of bright light flew from her hands and slammed into Jason’s face, sending him flying backwards. He landed on his bottom and slid until his head smacked against the wall.

Elyssa grabbed his sword, fire in her eyes as the cloak fanned around her. Jason reached to stop her but pulled back. With his world fuzzy and twirling, he wouldn’t be able to stand, much less fight.

As Elyssa stalked toward Koren and Taushin, the sword quivered in her grip. “How dare you! Jason has done so much for you! He would die for you!”

The Reflections Crystal pulsed with brilliance. Needlelike radiance flowed across Jason’s face, again stinging his cheeks, worse than before. He blinked to keep the needles at bay. It had to be far more intense where Elyssa stood.

Taushin shook his wings and roared, “What is happening? Koren, give me a report.”

“In a moment.” Koren extended her hand and spoke in a soft tone. “Give me the cloak, Elyssa.”

Elyssa touched the clasp in front. “Why?”

“Because it’s mine.” Koren gave her a pleading look, an expression that didn’t match her demanding tone.

After eyeing her for a moment, Elyssa took the cloak off and tossed it to her. Koren caught it and threw it over the crystal.

“Taushin!” Mallerin flew into the open dome and landed next to him.

Jason cringed. More trouble. But with his head swimming, he could do nothing but watch.

Taushin slapped his tail against the floor. “Finally. Now I will be able to see.”

“I returned as quickly as I could,” Mallerin said. “I saw Magnar helping the invaders from Darksphere, but I saw neither Fellina nor Xenith. I told a drone to bring a report to you if he saw either of them.”