Traveler (29 page)

“It feels...like I’m not all here,” she murmured.  “Like the more I read...the more I feel like what I’m reading is real....” she looked up, feeling very reluctant to move her eyes from the page.  “Can that be possible?”

“Yes...I have heard of the book attempting to send its chosen to places where they are needed.” He reached out and grabbed her hand gently.  “...the wards here will make it...almost impossible for the book to completely send you to the other world.  Tell me...what does it say...and whatever it is...I’ll take care of it...alright?”

Lin shook her head.  “It’s nothing, really...just a bunch of descriptive things about the capital of Avaldiir....and some very....ehm...steamy bits about Bird and Dragon’s relationship...I think you were wrong about her still being a virgin the next time we got there to visit,” she joked, glancing at Alex out of the corner of her eye.  “And I’m pretty sure you don’t want to poof into the middle of their....rather...intimate reunion.  Twice.”   
Good for them
, she thought, as she read on about how close they felt to each other, how much they revealed to each other in such a short period of time.  “They are married..in the old ways now, it says.  How is that, exactly?”  she asked him, curious.

He blinked in surprise before answering slowly.  “Married? In the old ways?  Light...the old ways...it was when a couple committed completely to one another in every way.  More often than not, there was usually some magic involved that bonded their souls together.  There is more...but after Silvertongue came to power, it was outlawed...as a heathen custom.”

Lin’s eyes got wide, and her breath was a little short.  “Wow...that sounds so....romantic,” she whispered, her eyes looking wistful.  “To be happy like that...” she sighed, resting her chin on her hand.  “That connection really must be something.”  The book lay forgotten on her lap, now, as she thought about the two of them.

“I have heard tales...of the bonds being so deep that the couple could almost read each other’s minds.  How true that is...it’s hard to say.”  Alex sighed softly.  “Of course...it is also said that bonded couples could not live without the other.”

Aislin looked him in the eye, her expression somber.  “So if one dies...the other one does too?” she whispered.  “So then, if they are truly bonded....does that mean if one of them dies the other will as well?”  her voice was breathy.  
Oh shit, if that happened...
”I need to read more, make sure they’re going to be okay!”  In a panic, she dove to pick up the book again.

He watched her silently, a troubled look on his face.  That Rahim had chosen to actually marry Brileia in the old ways...it had not surprised him too much.  As much as the man sought to protect her, Alex would never have guessed that he would forget Silvertongue long enough to marry her
now.
 This made things even more dangerous now.

Aislin grabbed the book and read a few pages ahead.  “Uh-oh....this isn’t good...” her face was ashen as she looked up at Alex. “Alex...I think we have a serious, serious problem...and I don’t know if we have the cavalry to take care of it.”  She frowned.  “Will the book let you read it?”

“It should allow me to...”  Alex replied slowly, shifting closer.  “Why? What’s wrong?”

“The Bird and the Dragon...they’ve been taken.  By Silvertongue.”  She tilted the book towards him, so he could read the passage she was talking about.  

“As Bri took his hand, Silvertongue laughed. Where Bri was standing, there was now a column of flame. Silvertongue withdrew, laughing darkly. Rahim felt his heart die. Where Bri had been was now a pile of ash...only slivers of silver-blue silk remnants there an indication she had even existed. A low wail welled up in his throat. She was gone. Gods, she was gone.  

Rahim took a handful of ash in his hand, tears in his eyes. ‘You will pay for this, Silvertongue,’ he promised. "I swear it by the throne of Avaldiir...’Silvertongue's eyes widened a little in pleased surprise. ‘My my...my prize has shown himself early....’

‘Take me with you, then, Silvertongue,’ Rahim said bleakly. ‘You have your prize. Leave the crew here with their new captain...and take me.’ Silvertongue laughed.
‘With pleasure.’
Silver chains magically appeared in the air, then wrapped tightly around Rahim, his chest and his arms, making him drop his cutlass. ‘Let's go men,’ Silvertongue yelled. ‘To our ship and then...to home.
With our new prize.’”
 Aislin read the passage out loud to him, just in case the book wouldn’t let him read it.

Blue eyes widened in shock as he listened with growing horror as Aislin read from the book.  
Gods, this can’t be happening...
Alex shook himself out of his stupor before turning a determined gaze on Aislin.  “Is there anything else there, Aislin?  Any hints as to where he’s taken them?  Read me everything you can.”

Aislin nodded, her own expression bleak.  “There’s nothing else, Alex...” she whispered.  “Only that Silvertongue said he was going home...but as to where...the rest of the book is blank.”  She tilted it up so he could see it.  “I don’t think it wants me to read that far ahead....what do we do?  We can’t just let them die.”

“
We
aren’t going to do anything.  You’re still recovering and still learning.  I am going to sneak in and pull them both out of there.  It’ll be faster and safer that way.”  He replied decisively.  “Do you think you can be ready to help me when I get them back here? I’m sure that Silvertongue won’t have left either one in perfect health.”

Aislin’s jaw dropped.  “Are you kidding me right now?  You want to go there.  Alone.  Without me.  After all that we’ve been through?  I don’t think so, mister.  I am going with you, no ifs ands or buts about it.  I will not let you die in Silvertongue’s house of tortures because you’re being a stubborn mule.”  She sat up on her knees her hands on her hips, her eyes determined and bright.

Alex sighed softly before gripping her shoulders.  “Aislin, you’re the one who is being stubborn right now.  It isn’t safe for you to be anywhere near Silvertongue, not when you haven’t figured out your powers yet.  If something happens, I won’t be able to save all three of you at the same time...not with those two most likely hurt.  I am not going to die there.  The bastard won’t even know I’m there.  After all...there is a reason I am known as Ghost.”

A tear rolled unbidden down her cheek, her shoulders slumping a little.  “And there’s a reason he is Silvertongue,” she whispered miserably.  “You don’t think he may have known your reputation and prepared for this, Alex?  Or done something similar?  Boobytrapped the castle?  Nullified your magic?  Something?”  she shook her head vehemently.  “What am I supposed to do if you don’t come back?!”

Wrapping his arms around her, he pulled her into a tight hug.  “Aislin...he doesn’t even know that I have any connection to Dragon...how would he even begin to plan for my arrival when he doesn’t know that I would be coming?  I promise you I will do my best to come back to you.  I won’t leave you alone.”

Aislin nodded, burying her face in his shoulder.  “You better,” she muttered.  “Or I’ll kick the crap out of you.”  She wiped tears away from her eyes.  “I won’t be able to read the book while you’re in there...I just can’t.  So just...hurry back, okay?  In one piece?” she begged.

“I will, I promise...” He murmured softly, leaning down to steal a kiss.  “I’ll be back before you know it...with company even.  Keep the bed warm....”  Alex winked playfully before disappearing from the room completely.

Chapter 16

                The Capital of Avaldiir was a beautiful city, full of towering spires and low, spread-out buildings.  The entire thing was made of a silver-blue stoneware that had been excavated specifically for this purpose, turning the Capital into something prized.  It made for defending the city easy, truth be told...but Rahim hadn’t been back in the city since he was twelve years old, since his family had ruled inside the castle Rahim now felt himself imprisoned in.  The colors had changed, from the scarlet and black of his family to the green and silver of Silvertongue’s sigil.  Except for the rooms Rahim was in.  Those rooms were decorated in scarlet and gold, and looked like they had been used recently. There were warm coals in the fireplace and the chairs looked used.  

                A frown crossed Rahim’s face as he paced the room like a restless tiger.  What did Silvertongue want with him?  Why would he had imprisoned him in a suite of rooms?  Why wouldn’t he throw him in the dungeons, treat him like the prisoner Rahim knew he saw him as?  With a frustrated sigh, he sat down on the bed.  Why did he care, anyway?  Brileia was dead.  All that was left of her was the pendant around his neck, and his fingers worked it like a worry stone.  They had been married in witness of the old ways....but he was still here.  And she was gone.  His dark blue eyes, nearly black, narrowed in his olive face.  He was still here.  The connection they had, thanks to the old ways, was soul deep.  If she died...he was supposed to as well.

                From the darkness in the corner, a shadow split away, lengthening and gaining color until it revealed itself to be the tall form of Alex, his blue eyes scanning every inch of the room before lingering on Rahim.  He frowned at the way the man was acting, moping on the bed like some of the little emo boys he had come across while working as a librarian.  “I would not think a dragon would give up so soon...especially when his bird is stuck in a cage much worse than his.”  

                Rahim looked up in surprise, reaching for a sword that was no longer on his hip.  “What are you doing here, Ghost?” he growled, his eyes darkening more in anger.  “And I’m not giving up...I’m trying to figure out what Silvertongue’s motive is in all this, what his next move is.  And I’m trying to figure out why....you know.  You know she’s alive.”  His eyes narrowed to slits.  “You knew!” he accused, standing up and stalking over to Ghost.  “You knew she was alive...that’s why you’re here.  Why else would you be here?  Where is Traveler?  Did you drag her here with you?”

                If not for the fact that he could understand how much stress the man was under, Alex might have been tempted to smack some sense into him.  He crossed his arms over his broad chest, just watching Rahim impassively.  “Is this how you treat someone who has come to help you escape with your life and your bondmate, Dragon?  Traveler is safe...waiting impatiently for me to return after helping the two of you get out of this hellhole.”  He was quiet for a moment before continuing.  “No, I didn’t come here because she was alive...I came here for you...because in the end you are still first and foremost my responsibility.  You have been for your entire life.”

                Rahim arched an eyebrow at him.  “I have been...your responsibility?  And why is that?  How would I be of any use to an Assassin?  Any importance to the Ghost, the most feared assassin in all the empire?  And no.  This is how I treat someone who pops into existence in potentially what is the most dangerous place he can be, trying to rescue possibly the most dangerous man he could try to rescue from the sneakiest bastard ever to walk this earth.  So tell me...who are you.  Really.”

                “Do you think I was always an Assassin?  You are not the only one who had to find his way after Silvertongue slaughtered everyone.  Assassin simply worked the best with the skills I had accrued over my life by that point...just as pirate was what you chose.” He replied calmly, his eyes never leaving Rahim’s dark blue eyes.  “Now...we really need to get out of here and find your bird...before that snake gets ideas into his head.”

                Rahim sighed.  “They were training you to be my double, weren’t they?” he asked, his voice quiet.  “To protect me.  Light, Ghost, I never knew...I’m sorry to put you into that position.”  A regretful look crossed his face.  “Lead the way, then, Assassin.  I cannot get out of here on my own, having no magic....but clearly, that is not such an obstacle for you.”  He looked at the assassin in amusement.  “I don’t like to beg.”

                “Don’t apologize...that decision was never in your hands to begin with...and besides, I don’t regret the twists and turns my life has taken.” A wry smile briefly twisted Alex’s lips before being replaced by a serious look.  “Silvertongue stole Bri away in flames, correct? Leaving behind ashes and bits of her dress?”  Not waiting for the man to confirm his suspicions, he searched the room before finally finding a slightly worn black silk shirt.  That would have to do for his purposes.  “Ready yourself, Dragon...we don’t know what state she is in or what traps might be there.  Keep your eyes open and your mouth closed if at all possible.”  This time he didn’t even bother to wait for an answer before he grabbed the man by his arm and dragged him into the shadows, using tendrils of magical energy to take them from the suite-turned-prison cell.

                Rahim watched him maneuver around the room with narrowed eyes.  What was the assassin up to?  He grabbed a black silk shirt.  “Of course,” was all he had time to murmur before he was grabbed like a child and hauled into the shadows.  When Rahim blinked, they were in the dungeons.  Flashbacks flew across his vision as he remembered playing with Bri down here, as children, dodging through the cells playing hide and seek.  Now, though, the cells looked much fuller than they had then, much more used...he glanced at Ghost.  “I have a bad feeling about this,” he muttered under his breath.

                “You aren’t the only one.” He commented very quietly, giving Rahim a pointed look.  “Let us move as quickly as we can.  We cannot afford to be caught by Silvertongue’s seekers.”  Alex glanced around thoughtfully, trying to guess where the man would have hidden Brileia away.  Obviously she couldn’t possibly be with the general prisoners, being of noble birth and such a necessary piece of Silvertongue’s nefarious plots.  Abruptly he gestured to Rahim before striding silently down one corridor, heading for the most isolated cells, the ones usually reserved for the most important prisoners.