Storm Glass (39 page)

  “Why not?” he asked.

  “The two people she ‘woke’ from the dead came back with different personalities. They obsessed about death and eventually killed themselves.” Leif finished tying the bandage. “Now, I’m depressed. Let’s get out of here before I start to cry.”

  I checked on the horses as Leif and Ulrick gathered our supplies. The sky lightened, turning the darkness into a dreary gray fog. Rain and sleet continued to blow. Propelled by the wind, the chilly wetness soaked my cloak and reached my skin.

  After a cold breakfast, we continued our journey east. As expected, the roads softened into muck that clung to the horses’ legs and filled their hooves. The storm followed us into the plains.

  We stopped just past the border to clean the mud from the horses’ feet. The tall gold-brown stalks of the grass bowed under the weight of the rain. At least the ground remained firm. Spreading as far as I could see in the gloom, the plains’ terrain undulated as if it were a frozen sea. But then the scene shifted. It looked foreign. Hostile.

  “We’re lost,” Ulrick said. He pulled his sword, glancing around him as if searching for attackers. “We must go back.”

  I agreed. “We should leave. Now.” I peered around as my panic increased. Which way had we come? Which way was safe?

  “Relax,” Leif said. “It’s just the Sandseed protection. Let me…” He drew in a breath and closed his eyes.

  The landscape returned to a more benign setting. My conviction of being lost dissipated. “What did you do?”

  “Introduced you to the Sandseed’s magic. Promised you would behave and not be a threat to them.”

  “What happens if they think we’re a threat?” Ulrick asked.

  “You don’t want to know,” Leif said.

  “Bad?”

  “Very bad.”

  “How does the protection know you’re related?” I asked Leif.

  “My blood. It can…smell it, and knows if I’m family or not.” He squinted into the rain. “We better get moving. I want to be in Fulgor by tomorrow afternoon.”

  We mounted and Leif gave us a few instructions. “Follow my lead. Let your horses have control. And hold on!” He spurred Rusalka into a gallop.

  Quartz and Moonlight raced after them.

  Leif shouted, “Gust-of-wind.”

  My world changed. The ground under Quartz’s hooves transformed into a river of sand. Streaks of color flowed by me. I no longer felt I rode on a horse, but was propelled by a wave of air. Quartz sliced through the pouring rain. Exhilaration and terror pulsed in my veins, blocking out all other thoughts. A heady sensation.

  My world returned to normal when Leif stopped Rusalka. Quartz snorted and huffed as if she’d had a good run. Sweat darkened her coat. My cloak felt dry and we had outrun the storm. Sunlight painted the plains with wide swatches of yellows, golds, browns and reds.

  “Do you want to stop and eat, or ride farther?” Leif asked.

  “Ride.” I had no appetite. Memories of the Storm Thieves’ attack rushed into my mind. While Leif’s explanation had eased my heart-burning guilt over their leader’s death, I couldn’t shake the feeling that I should have ordered the bee not to sting. I hadn’t fully realized the consequences of these glass weapons. Packing them with vague thoughts of defense, I had never considered exactly what I would use them for and what the results would be. As if I had given a child a sword and didn’t tell him what would happen if he used it. It was irresponsible and dangerous.

  After we rested and watered the horses, we resumed our journey. When the horses slowed again, we stopped for the night.

  I helped collect a few sticks of wood for the fire from the stunted trees and sparse bushes growing in the plains. What I found wasn’t enough to cook with, but Leif had come prepared.

  “Mara gave me these.” He unpacked a handful of white scoals.

  While he made dinner, I groomed the horses. We ate in near silence.

  “What’s the watch schedule?” I asked Leif.

  “No need for one in the plains.”

  I lay down by the fire. The earth was still damp from the rain and I shivered.

  “Oh, for sand’s sake,” Ulrick whispered next to me. “I know we’re taking it slow, but this is ridiculous. Come here.”

  He lifted his blanket and I rolled to him, ending with my back to his chest. He covered us both and put his arm around my stomach, pulling me tight against him.

  “It’s been an awful day. I need to hold you,” he said.

  His warmth drove the chill from my body.

  “I thought you were dead. Some protector. If it wasn’t for you, we’d all be…” He swallowed. “You did what you had to. I would have done the same.”

  I agreed. “But I feel like I cheated.”

  “You played by their rules. They set the standard when they attacked without warning, creeping up while we slept.”

  His arm trembled and I wondered if he was angry or finally reacting to the fight.

  “I landed a few blows, but couldn’t reach my sword. Then being ordered to my knees and feeling so…”

  “Powerless,” I supplied.

  “Yes. I didn’t like it.”

  Having been in the same situation many times, I was about to commiserate. But with the morning’s events still fresh in my mind, I made a realization. “We really weren’t completely powerless. In this case, we had Leif’s intelligence, tricking them. And there is always the power to choose. Cooperate or die-not a stellar choice, but a choice nonetheless.”

  “What about cooperate or someone you love dies?”

  “You still have a choice.”

  “But when he jabbed his knife into your throat, the choice was no longer mine.”

  “Right. It was mine,” I said.

  “That’s why I felt so helpless.”

  “You shouldn’t. It’s my choice. You need to trust me to make the right one.” And I needed to trust myself. Recognizing the lack was one step in the right direction.

  Sleep came in fits and my dreams hovered on the edge of nightmares. I dreamed about a cave of lights. The images were sharp and the air smelled of wet minerals. Dampness caressed my skin. A pleading voice scratched at my thoughts. It beckoned and begged from its hidden location. Whispered promises in exchange for freedom. Promises of power.

  I woke with a cry and Ulrick’s arm around my waist.

  “A nightmare?” he asked.

  “Not quite.” I told him about the cave of lights.

  I drifted through the rest of the night. The voice haunted my sleep and the morning sun was a relief. Leif already had a pot of water heating on the coals. “These are wonderful.”

  “They’re expensive,” I grumped.

  “Rough night?” he asked.

  “I’ve had better.”

  He poured three cups of tea. I sipped mine and savored my sour mood. I felt trapped and the feeling lasted for the rest of the day. By late afternoon, we arrived at the main road to Fulgor. By then, the insistent voice from my dreams echoed in my mind. I ignored it and focused on the world around me.

  The crowded cobblestone streets of Fulgor buzzed with activity. As the capital of the Moon Clan lands, the large city hosted all the government offices and boasted the wealthiest market district. The proud citizens chose to ignore the fact no one wanted to travel all the way to the Emerald Mountains to purchase jewels from the Cloud Mist Clan. Far better to have the mine owners ship their goods to Fulgor for sale and trade.

  Unfortunately, rich shoppers attracted thieves and beggars; so the city guards patrolled the streets and kept a close watch.

  “Yelena and Irys are staying in Councillor Moon’s guest quarters,” Leif said, angling Rusalka through the late-day traffic. “She said there was enough room for us.”

  I scanned the goods in the windows of the closing shops. Fulgor was known for its variety of clay, and, sure enough, I spotted several bowls and plates fashioned from the clay. Why anyone would want to eat from a clunky, heavy piece of pottery when they could use glass was beyond my imagination. The earthenwares competed with the glasswares at the market stands. My father always sent his sturdiest cups when selling to the Fulgor merchants.

  A few pottery pieces drew my attention. I would have liked to stop and examine them, but Leif was determined to reach the Councillor’s Hall before it closed for the evening and the cooks left for their homes.

  The white dome of the Hall rose above the other city buildings. All Sitian government buildings had been constructed from the white marble mined from the Moon lands. The green-veined slabs had been painstakingly chiseled from the ground and exported to the other capital cities.

  When we arrived at the courtyard, our horses were taken to the stable and we were directed inside. Leif had been “communicating” with his sister through his glass messenger.

  Yelena waited in the main lobby, which was a huge cavern with a black-and-white marble floor and was open all the way up to the dome ten stories above.

  She rushed over and hugged Leif. “It’s been so long. I’m beginning to think you’re avoiding me,” she said.

  He smirked. “Then you’d be thinking right. Every time I visit, you get me into trouble.”

  “You have it all wrong.
Again.
Every time you visit me,
you
bring trouble.”

  Yelena winked at me. I introduced her to Ulrick. He stuttered through his greeting, seeming to be awed by her. I didn’t blame him. Not only were her Soulfinding abilities legendary, but she radiated warmth and intelligence. And with those stunning green eyes and long black hair, she never lacked for admirers.

  Of course, they wouldn’t dream of competing for her attentions. Valek, a master swordsman, assassin and leader of the intelligence network for Ixia was her soul mate. Sitia’s number one enemy. Despite her connection to Valek, she had become Ixia’s and Sitia’s liaison.

  I glanced around the Hall’s lobby, searching for Valek.

  Yelena laughed. “He’s not here, Opal. If the Councillor heard even a whiff of a rumor about him, she’d have heart failure.” She grew serious. “I’m glad you’re here. We’ve had some…interesting developments.”

  Leif groaned. “That’s Yelena-speak for life-threatening danger.”

  She shot him an annoyed look. I would have wilted under her stare, but Leif was nonplussed.

  “Come up to my office. Irys and Kade are waiting for us.” Yelena led the way to a sweeping staircase.

  An elaborate chandelier hung above the first landing. I marveled at its intricate construction and brilliance.

  “That’s one of Gressa’s pieces,” Ulrick said in a neutral tone. Gressa was his talented younger sister. “She has a glass shop in Fulgor. She and Mother never worked well together. Gressa left as soon as she turned eighteen.”

  “Do you want to visit her while we’re here?” I asked.

  “I guess, if we have time.”

  We climbed three stories before walking down a long corridor. I marveled at the sculptures and paintings decorating the hallways. The Moon Councillor’s Hall made Booruby’s look dumpy in comparison.

  Yelena escorted us to an impressive office with a reception room. Dark crimson couches and brown leather armchairs contrasted in a pleasing way against the white marble walls. Thick red-and-gold carpets covered the floor.

  “Good thing I was traveling with Master Jewelrose,” Yelena said. “Otherwise, they would have stuck me in the basement, using a barrel for a seat and an old packing crate as a desk.”

  Third Magician pished at Yelena. “She exaggerates.”

  Kade lounged in one of the armchairs. His dusty boots matched his disheveled appearance. One elbow was propped and he rested his head in his hand. He said nothing. Master Jewelrose waved at us to sit down and sent Yelena for tea.

  Ulrick coughed. He was the only one bothered by sending a Soulfinder for refreshments. Leif plopped on the couch, kicked off his muddy boots and put his feet on the table.

  “We’ve come to a standstill,” Master Jewelrose said. “Councillor Moon’s sister is organizing a coup, but the Councillor refuses to believe us. She insists the Commander of Ixia has sent Valek here to assassinate her.” She leaned back in her chair. A few black strands of hair had escaped her tight bun. Dark smudges stood out under her emerald-colored eyes.

  “Why is she convinced Ambrose is out to get her?” Leif asked.

  “Ambrose?” Yelena raised a slender eyebrow. She carried a tray of tea and fruit. “You’re on a first name basis with the Commander now?”

  “I usually call him Amby, but not in mixed company. Hey!” Leif caught the apple his sister threw at him.

  They looked chastised after Master Jewelrose gave them a stern stare. Yelena retrieved a black statue from a desk in the corner. She handed it to me.

  “What’s this?” I asked.

  “You tell me.”

  Carved into the shape of a dagger, the smooth statue glinted. “It’s not stone. Probably a type of high-quality glass. Just like those fake diamonds.” I turned the piece in my hands.

  “What’s the significance?” Leif asked.