Mythborn (48 page)

When she looked up, sincerity glistened in her eyes, “Thoth and I are trying to find a way that will yield a different outcome than what has occurred in millennia past.”

At that, Thoth stepped forward and said, “We have waged a war against Sovereign, the Maker of this world. He sent the assassins that attacked your Isle and took the lives of Thera and the lore father. Believing things are corrupt, he seeks to remake it. We seek to stop him and protect our way of life.”

Lilyth said, “But Thoth’s Conclave and I have been opposed, squandering our resources against each other while Sovereign continues to send weapons against us, those that can unmake the Way.” She looked pointedly at Arek, who stepped back in response.

Without hesitating she continued, “There is a better path.”

Silbane held a hand up and said, “You think Arek is a weapon? How?”

“He unmakes the Way,” she replied, sounding as if she were talking to a dimwitted child, “as you have seen.”

“Then why not kill him?” Kisan asked, her tone such that Arek felt he wasn’t even there. At least her question didn’t surprise him, further confirmation that she must have been sent to finish the mission his master had abandoned.

“Sovereign’s weapon is ingenious,” Lilyth replied. “Destroy it in Arcadia and you release a contagion that destroys the Way.” Then she seemed to change her tact and asked, “What do you think stays Sovereign’s hand?”

Silbane shook his head. “What stops any god—?”

Lilyth held up a hand. “We do not speak of gods, Adept. Are we not more enlightened than this?” She breathed out, and to Arek she seemed to be trying to explain things as simply as possible. “Sovereign needs energy to remake this existence… energy we use every day. Only our use of the Way holds Sovereign in check. With us gone, he has the energy he needs to begin the ending of life on Edyn.”

Silbane leaned back, comprehension dawning on his face. “He’s killing us off.”

Lilyth nodded. “Why create a genocide using magehunters? Why pull us into a war between each other than cannot be won? Sovereign has agents everywhere cleverly forcing our hand. Valarius is unknowingly one, as are we so long as we continue to fight. Most do not know they’re pawns in his deadly game of Kings.”

“Arek is a weapon,” Kisan stated, “but we can’t destroy the weapon.” She paused, then asked, “What do you suggest?”

“Arek, do you know who your true father is?” asked Lilyth.

Arek was taken aback by the sudden attention. He managed to shake his head no, but did not answer.

Lilyth continued, “While I can claim to be your mother because part of what you are stems from me, you’re not of my seed. Nor are you the seed of Valarius, as some have been led to believe.”

“Even the dragon Rai’stahn said my apprentice is the creation of Valarius,” Silbane said. He looked at Arek apologetically. “I would have told you had we not been separated.”

“Jebida and the king commented on how much he looked like a young Bernal,” Ash volunteered, “as if he were of the Galadine family. You’re saying he’s not?”

“Valarius influenced his growth,” Lilyth said. “Here he was the instrument of vengeance born from the highlord’s demented desires. Why should he not resemble the Galadine that shaped his purpose? Yet Arek’s true parents are not any of us.”

Arek nodded, his mind numb. That his father could be Valarius had never occurred to him only because he had been sure the man had died so long ago. After his encounter with Gabreyl, however, that certainty had waned, and a secret part of him wondered if the archangel had been taking him to meet Valarius, the man who would be his father. Now Lilyth dashed that hope, but left him wondering who the man who’d given him life was.

“Duncan and Sonya Illrys are Arek’s father and mother,” Lilyth said.

“What?” exclaimed Kisan. “The red mage?”

Arek did not know who that was, but Silbane was strangely quiet, and he wondered what his former master was thinking. He thought he heard his master mumble something but he could not be sure.

Kisan had moved away, clearly struggling with the revelation, but Thoth stepped forward and said, “The boy is pivotal, but more so his father. Hear Lilyth out.”

Lilyth turned to Silbane, and to Arek she seemed to be waiting for him, as if what she was about to say was important for his master to hear. When Silbane realized the silence was because of him, he shrugged off whatever he’d been thinking and nodded for Lilyth to continue.

She said, “You brought Duncan here, knowing of his quest to find his wife and son. He was convinced Valarius held them, and despite my attempt to stay his hand, he infiltrated Avalyon on a rescue mission.”

“Avalyon exists in phase.” Orion asked. “How did the man breach her walls?”

“It is my fault,” Lilyth replied. “The price I offered Duncan in return for helping me secure Bara’cor against Valarius’s imminent invasion was a lens.”

That drew some looks of consternation, to which Thoth answered, “This object allows for travel about Arcadia or Edyn. It is a personal portal, much like your finder spell except it can be reused.”

“I knew he would use it to look for Sonya and Arek,” Lilyth said. “Somehow, he found a way to open a portal to Avalyon. I did not anticipate that.”

Silbane held up a hand. “I mindread Duncan. Nothing in his thoughts turned to a bargain with you, nor that Arek was his son.”

The demon-queen smiled and said, “He himself did not know of Arek’s identity, not until I revealed it, hoping to aid his quest. As for the rest, have you assimilated all his thoughts? Two hundred years’ worth?”

Silbane stared at her, holding her gaze. Then his eyes flicked left and right and he looked down, conceding, “No, that would have been too much.” He put a hand to his chin, considering, then asked, “What of this invasion and Valarius?”

“Valarius blames all of Edyn for what he feels was their betrayal. He has amassed an army here, one that he will return to Edyn to subjugate her lands. If we allow this, we will never be able to withstand Sovereign, and the world will be remade. Valarius needs to be stopped here, before he invades Bara’cor,” Lilyth said.

“Valarius lives, and is preparing to invade?” Silbane asked, incredulity plain in his voice.

Thoth stepped forward and asked, “What did you see in the vision given to you by the dragons?”

Silbane was quiet, his eyes measuring the Keeper. Then he drew a breath and said, “He was angry at not being given help. And after he left, the dragons decided to end the war by sending him here, to his death.”

Lilyth leaned forward and asked, “You’ve seen the dead come back to life. Is that not reason enough? Vengeance is a powerful emotion, and here in Arcadia, it can sustain one with a legend such as Valarius.”

Kisan took that moment to ask, “Then where’s Piter, my apprentice? What have you done with him?”

Lilyth was quiet, and Arek thought in some way she was measuring the master. When she spoke, it seemed it was to Kisan alone, though everyone could hear. “I do not have your apprentice.” While she said this, her eyes flicked to Arek, but since there was no accusation or question, he remained silent.

“Why?” she demanded, her gaze steady on the demon-queen.

Lilyth sighed and said, “The faith of Edyn gives Aeris life, and Piter had not yet become fabled enough… not like Valarius.”

Kisan seemed clearly unsatisfied with that answer, pacing back and forth. Then she spun on the demon-queen and asked, “What would you have us do? Kill Valarius? Attack Avalyon?”

There was a moment of silence, then Lilyth simply said, “No.”

Thoth looked at her in surprise, and more than one person in the group appeared confused. It had seemed clear to Arek that stopping Valarius was the only choice. Yet Lilyth did not ask that. Instead, she looked at Arek again and then rose, coming to stand behind him and placing warm hands on his shoulders.

“Arek cannot come to harm. You must return to Edyn. My Furies and Thoth’s Watchers will deal with the highlord.” She gestured, and a new portal opened. It was hazy at first, but then cleared to show the pyramid room lying deep below the fortress, the very room they had entered to come to Arcadia. The group looked at it unbelievingly. Home, only a few steps away!

Heartbeats went by, long, slow moments of time that seemed stretched out as each looked through the portal and into the world they knew. It was Ash who spoke first, clearing his throat and looking at Silbane. “You go. Take your apprentice and the princess to safety.”

“And you?” Silbane asked.

Ash turned to Lilyth before replying, “Niall is still missing. I’ll not return without him.”

“I’m not going anywhere,” said Yetteje adamantly. “I promised I’d find Niall and I’ll not face his father empty-handed.”

Silbane was about to argue when Arek stepped forward and faced the group. His movement stopped everyone, and all eyes turned to him. This time, no dryness of the mouth, no faltering confidence stymied his voice. He knew exactly what he wanted to say. He met their eyes, then turned to face Lilyth. “I came here to meet my father. He tried to rescue me. I’ll not abandon him.”

“Arek!” shouted Silbane, “Duncan has no idea who you are!”

“And that makes a difference?” Arek replied, his tone dark. “If Valarius has him, I intend on rescuing him and my mother.”

“And what about your death releasing that contagion?” Kisan remarked. “Do you care about anyone but yourself?”

“Be careful,” Arek warned, and his expression caused Kisan to falter. “I’m not a kid in the sparring ring. Dare me, and you’ll see.”

Silbane held up a hand, holding Kisan in place. He peered at Arek, and the young adept felt his master’s gaze looking through him, measuring him in some way. Finally, Silbane nodded and said, “Your power is clear. Regardless, do not be foolish. The only answer is to get you and the princess out of here.”

“No!” Yetteje said, and went to stand beside Arek. “I told you I’m not leaving! Not without Niall.” When Ash began to say something, Yetteje snapped, “Firstmark, stand down. These are my orders and you’ll follow them.” Her eyes flashed amber as if punctuating her resolve.

A moment passed, then Lilyth said delicately, “I do not think this is well considered—”

“I’m not asking,” Arek said in response, cutting her off. “I came here for my father, and I’m not leaving without him.”

Thoth looked at the group, then addressed his two Watchers. “What do you say?”

Orion looked at Helios, who with a nod let him speak for them both. The silver Watcher stepped forward and bowed, “We follow the princess.”

Thoth gave a hesitant nod to that, looking uncomfortable.

“You’re going to have to trust me,” Arek said. “Rescuing them is important.”

“Arek…” Silbane began, “Duncan is insane. He barely knows himself—”

“Actually,” interrupted Lilyth, “Arcadia has healed him of much of his madness. The Way is strong here. So much so that most of your ailments are comforted. Have you all not felt stronger and more alive than ever before?”

The silence told Arek everyone had. He certainly had. It was at that moment that he knew what to do. “We’re going to save Niall, my father, and my mother.” He looked around, uncertain, his eyes finally coming to rest on Lilyth and her gate.

As if understanding what he wanted, Lilyth reluctantly said, “Duncan’s inadvertent use of the lens has fixed Avalyon’s position. If you are certain… I can transport a small group there.”

“Wait,” said Kisan. “Are you crazy?” She stepped around Silbane and looked from Arek to Lilyth. “The only place you need to go is home,” she said with a finality that brooked no argument.

When Yetteje opened her mouth, Kisan snapped, “He killed your father, remember? You wouldn’t be here if not for Duncan, and now you want to help Arek save the man who murdered your family?” A short ,derisive laugh followed, forcing the princess to shrink back in on herself.

“My apprentice died because of you!” Kisan said, pointing an accusing finger right at Arek, “Yet I’m still trying to do what I think is best for the land, when the only thing I really want to do is make you pay for it. Meanwhile, you want to go on some half-baked quest to save a man you don’t even know, when the man closest to being your true father braved two worlds to find you, and is standing right here?” She pointed to Silbane, fire in her eyes when she said, “Thankless… and now you’ll give Piter’s death no meaning.”

She turned to face Silbane and said, “You need to do something, talk some sense into him. Saving Duncan is beyond foolish.”

Silbane was about to answer when Lilyth said, “Impressive logic.” She took out a golden magehunter torc, brandishing it so that it caught the afternoon sun and flashed yellow. “You should be quite familiar with this,” she said, looking directly at Kisan. The young master didn’t say anything, but her lips curled into a snarl, making her look like an animal.

Lilyth tilted her head and said, “Used to hunt and kill those born to the Way, like your mother. Yet it was created to kill Aeris.” She nodded when Silbane’s eyes widened at that revelation. “If this collar snaps around an Aeris neck, we die.” The demon-queen was quiet for a moment, then she descended the steps and offered the torc to Kisan. “Who do you think made it?”

Kisan avoided the torc as if it were white hot and said, “Why should I care?”