The Winds of Time Read online

  The Winds of Time

  World in Chains: Book 4

  Ryan W. Mueller

  Copyright: 2018 Ryan W. Mueller

  The following is a work of fiction. Any resemblance to real people, places, or events is purely coincidental.

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  Contents

  Chapter 1: The New High Sorcerer

  Chapter 2: An Old Acquaintance

  Chapter 3: Healers of the Jungle

  Chapter 4: The War Inside

  Chapter 5: The Voyage North

  Chapter 6: The Sea Monster

  Chapter 7: The Island

  Chapter 8: The Search

  Chapter 9: The High Mystic

  Chapter 10: Unlocking the Magic

  Chapter 11: The Founders

  Chapter 12: The Fire Kingdom

  Chapter 13: The Resistance

  Chapter 14: The Continent of Ice

  Chapter 15: Through the Skies

  Chapter 16: After the Battle

  Chapter 17: The Fire Wastes

  Chapter 18: What Lies Ahead

  Chapter 19: The Breezelands

  Chapter 20: The Fire Temple

  Chapter 21: An Unexpected Quest

  Chapter 22: Wind's Edge

  Chapter 23: Deeper Secrets

  Chapter 24: Where the Tunnels Lead

  Chapter 25: Malavia

  Chapter 26: The God Realm

  Chapter 27: Windhaven

  Chapter 28: Escape from Windhaven

  Chapter 29: Flight

  Chapter 30: The Winds of Time

  Chapter 31: Prisoner

  Chapter 32: The Future

  Chapter 33: Through the Jungle

  Chapter 34: The Cold Wastes

  Chapter 35: The Restorers

  Chapter 36: The Temple

  Chapter 37: The Temple's Secrets

  Chapter 38: The Journey to Crayden

  Chapter 39: The Stone of Restoration

  Chapter 40: Storming the Fortress

  Chapter 41: The Battle of the Future

  Chapter 42: The Floating Fortress

  Chapter 43: The Decision

  Chapter 44: Back in Time

  Chapter 45: From Light to Darkness

  Chapter 46: The Evil Beneath

  Chapter 47: Caught in the Webs

  Chapter 48: A Lack of Guidance

  Chapter 49: Two Scrolls

  Chapter 50: The Greater Evil

  Chapter 51: The Gateway

  Chapter 52: Reunion

  Chapter 53: The Crucial Task

  Chapter 55: A Time to Recover

  Chapter 56: After the Severing

  Chapter 57: The Ghost Forest

  Chapter 58: People from the Past

  Chapter 59: The Protectors

  Chapter 60: The Darkness Temple

  Chapter 61: The Challenge of Fire

  Chapter 62: A Challenge Interrupted

  Chapter 63: Fallen

  Chapter 64: Warrick's Memories

  Chapter 65: Attaining Godhood

  Chapter 66: Immortality

  Chapter 67: The Final Battle

  Chapter 68: Beneath the Fortress

  Chapter 69: The Power of the Source

  Chapter 70: The End of Everything

  Chapter 71: One Last Hope

  Author's Note

  Sunweaver Preview

  Chapter 1: The New High Sorcerer

  Luminia was a shell of its former self. Many of its buildings lay in ruins. Dead bodies littered the streets. The smells of smoke and blood and things much fouler hung in the air.

  Kara pulled the collar of her tunic over her nose, but it did little to block the smell, little to ease the sadness that overwhelmed her. After all her time in the Shadowed Land, she'd finally returned and seen Nadia again, and now Nadia was dead. She had to be.

  There was nothing left of the library. Kara had searched the ruins. A few Imperial Guards lay dead among the rubble, but not her friends. That gave Kara a tiny flicker of hope, but it was hard to retain any optimism amidst the devastation.

  Also dead were many of Luminia's sorcerers, including High Sorcerer Marlon, though no one had seen his body. She'd stayed out of the fighting as he'd suggested. It had felt cowardly, but her practical side had known it was the right thing.

  Now she stood near the entrance to the Tower of Light, a few ordinary people of Luminia hovering nearby, their expressions downcast. A large contingent of Imperial Guards marched toward the tower. They looked bruised, bloody, and exhausted.

  The battle had been kind to no one.

  Kara felt adrift in a strange haze. She couldn't believe this was the world she'd returned to: a world of horrors worse than she'd seen in the Shadowed Land. How could she hope to change this world? Would Warrick accept her into his confidence even if she showed him she understood his secret code? Or would he kill her without a second thought?

  A hole appeared at the center of the Imperial Guard formation. Striding forward through that hole were the last two people she wanted to see: Warrick and Krinir. Her stomach clenched. Would they recognize her?

  She had to remain calm, had to be patient. Marlon had told her to wait until Krinir was gone. As long as he remained at Warrick's side, his control over him would be too strong. Warrick would not be able to exert his true self.

  A risky plan, but it was the best she had.

  She hung back in the crowd, watching Warrick approach. Now she truly understood the power of Warrick and Krinir. She'd seen them in the battle. They'd slaughtered the resistance with little effort. Those sorcerers with any self-preservation instincts had surrendered or fled.

  Warrick stopped perhaps ten feet from the entrance to the Tower of Light. With a satisfied smile, he faced the crowd. "From now on, I am your new High Sorcerer. Obey me and you will prosper. Fight me and you will die. It's as simple as that."

  This was not the man Kara had come to know in the Shadowed Land. She thought about meeting his gaze, then realized that was a foolish move. There was no telling what he'd do if he recognized her. She had to wait for the right moment, if it ever came.

  No one said anything as the army entered the tower. They were all too stunned to speak. From what she'd heard, Luminia had long been a safe haven in a dangerous world. Despite the presence of so many sorcerers, no war had ever threatened the city.

  Not since the Great War at least.

  Once the army passed, Kara made her way to an inn. The building had suffered damage, but not enough to keep it from serving its purpose. In truth, much of the city remained intact, probably because Warrick and Krinir hadn't wanted to destroy it.

  They'd wanted to rule it.

  The inn was brighter than those back home. Even the curtains on the windows couldn't block all the city's magical light.

  She sat alone at a table in the corner, eating a meal of stale bread and meat that tasted as if it had been cooking since the day before. A few Imperial Guards had positioned themselves in the inn, watching the patrons with predatory gazes. Kara gave them no reason to find her remarkable. She was one of many people eating a silent meal.

  But something about her must have attracted attention. She looked up to see an Imperial Guard with an unshaven face striding toward her.

  Deep breaths. Perhaps he just wanted to talk to her.

  "May I sit here?" he asked. "All the other seats are taken."

  She was taken aback by his politeness. It wasn't the natural thing for a conquering army to do. He set his own plate of food on the table and took a bite of the same meat. "Well, I've definitely tasted better."

  "Did you expect great food in a city you just conquered
?"

  "I guess you've got a good point there." He set down his fork and knife. "Now what's a young woman like you doing here, eating all alone?"

  She couldn't keep the anger out of her voice. "Perhaps I've lost everyone I care about."

  "Well, don’t blame me. I killed no one in the battle."

  She gave him a stern glare. "I highly doubt that."

  "It's true." He leaned forward in his wooden chair. "My name's Gram, and I'm not on Warrick's side. Marlon told me to find you."

  The former High Sorcerer had mentioned an Imperial Guard named Gram, but she couldn't be sure he was truly who he said he was.

  "Prove to me that you are who you say you are."

  "How am I supposed to do that?"

  "Where were you stationed?"

  "Bradenton."

  That was right, but not enough proof. "Name the man you helped escape the city through the teleportation system."

  "Berig."

  That wasn't something any random Imperial Guard would know. "All right, I believe you."

  "Glad we have that straightened out. I think you'll need my help in the days to come."

  "Thank you for the offer," Kara said, "but how exactly are you gonna help me?"

  "Warrick still believes I serve him."

  Kara checked that no one was listening to their conversation. A general chorus of voices filled the common room. "You sure about that? He can read the Webs of Fate, and if he can do that, he can see your treachery."

  "Maybe he can," Gram said, "but he hasn't killed me yet."

  "He is fully under Krinir's control now. If he sees you, he'll kill you."

  Gram gave her an amused smile. "I could say the same for you. Marlon told me you'd try to earn Warrick's trust and help him reclaim himself. You think he'll let you get close if he's under Krinir's control?"

  "I don't know, but it's what I have to do."

  "I can help protect you," Gram said. "Even if Warrick doesn't kill you, you'll find a lot of people around him will be suspicious of you. You'll need a guard."

  Kara wasn't sure she should accept his offer. She was doing something highly dangerous, something she needed to keep secret. Even if she trusted him, he was one more person who knew what she was doing. What if they found out about him and tortured him?

  "I can see the doubts in your expression," he said. "But it's the only way. Marlon told me that much. I can't claim to understand sorcerers, but I think he was telling me the truth."

  Kara took a deep breath. "All right, I'll accept your help."

  "I'll head to the Tower of Light, and I'll get word to you when Krinir leaves."

  "But why would he leave?" she asked.

  "He probably has his own matters to attend to."

  Kara hoped that was true, but she felt like her plan was full of holes and sure to get her killed. And if she couldn't help Warrick reclaim himself, the world would suffer.

  * * * * *

  Tylen sat on a cushioned chair in one of the Tower of Light's many living chambers. Most of the sorcerers who'd lived here were dead now. Marlon had allowed Tylen and Farah to have this room before the battle, however. Would the Imperial Guards kick them out now?

  Steel-booted steps struck the stone floor out in the corridor. Despite his reservations, Tylen opened the door to watch the army march past.

  Marlon had told him about Krinir's control over Warrick. Would Warrick be the same man Tylen had served, or would he be lost to Krinir's evil?

  Farah placed a hand on his shoulder. "You look tense."

  "Really?" Tylen said. "I hadn't noticed." It had been a long time since he'd lived anything resembling a carefree life. The destruction of Crayden still lingered in his thoughts. He hadn't slept well ever since, and he'd never felt at ease among Imperial Guards. Now, with Warrick possibly under the complete control of a madman, Tylen felt more anxious than ever.

  What was he doing here? How did this serve him? He had no idea when he'd decided he should do others' bidding. He'd always been his own man and lived by his own rules. But he'd lost that person somewhere. Whether that was a good thing, he had no idea.

  A few hours later, the Imperial Guards came knocking on all the doors, calling for all residents of the tower to assemble in the lobby. Tylen knew better than to disobey. He chafed inwardly at the command but showed nothing of it in his expression.

  He and Farah walked down to the lobby together, surrounded by the tower's other residents. Soon everyone had congregated in the lobby.

  When Warrick strode to a raised platform at the lobby's far end, no one else stood with him. Had Krinir already left to do whatever it was that insane gods did?

  "Many of you have called this your home," Warrick said to the stunned crowd. "But this tower is under new leadership. You may only remain here if you choose to serve me. All will come before me, and I will test you for your allegiance." He chuckled. "I promise. It won't be painful. If you don't think you can support me, leave now. Otherwise, you'll meet your death."

  Most of the people left the lobby. Imperial Guards blocked all the stairs, so these people couldn't gather their belongings. They all exited the tower with downcast expressions.

  Tylen exchanged a glance with Farah. Should they remain?

  She nodded. As long as Warrick asked if they supported him, they could tell the truth and live. Tylen did support the man Warrick could be if not for Krinir's control. Hopefully that would be enough. Tylen's chest tightened as he waited for his turn.

  Perhaps a dozen people didn't leave the lobby. Of those that remained, two met their deaths after Warrick probed their thoughts. Farah's turn came before Tylen's. She strode up the steps to the platform, pale but composed.

  Warrick placed his hand against her head, closed his eyes for a few moments, then nodded. "Thank you for your allegiance."

  Tylen was next. His chest tightened as he walked up the steps leading to the platform. He looked up into Warrick's dark eyes, hoping Warrick couldn't see his fear.

  "I'm glad to see you here, Tylen."

  Let's hope that remains true, Tylen thought, feeling sick. Warrick's probing didn't leave any impression in Tylen's mind. He tried not to squirm, tried to exude the confidence he'd displayed for most of his life. But it felt like he was a different man now—stronger in some ways, weaker in others. Could Warrick see through his lies?

  "Thank you for your allegiance."

  * * * * *

  "Krinir is gone."

  Kara looked into Gram's eyes. "You sure?"

  He nodded. "As sure as I can be."

  "But will he stay gone?"

  "I have no idea."

  Kara massaged her temples, leaning forward in her wooden chair at the inn. "That's not a good enough answer. I can't afford to have him return."

  Gram scratched at his unshaven face. "You'll always face that risk."

  Kara wanted to argue, but he was right. She couldn't sit around here, waiting for definitive proof that Krinir was gone. He could return at any time. It was a risk she'd have to take. She would probably die in this foolish mission, but she had to do it.

  As far as she could tell, Warrick was the only one who could stand up to Krinir.

  She nodded to Gram. "All right, let's go to the tower."

  They walked across the damaged cobblestone streets, the city's bright light glowing all around them. Gram spoke to the Imperial Guard at the entrance, who allowed them both inside.

  Warrick stood on an elevated platform at the other end of the lobby. At the moment, Tylen was kneeling before him.

  "Thank you for your allegiance," Warrick said.

  Gram gave her a nudge. "You'll have to prove your allegiance to him."

  She took a few tentative steps forward, her stomach churning so much she thought she'd vomit. Warrick's gaze landed on her, making her feel even worse. How could she prove her allegiance to him? She did support him in her own way, but would that be enough?

  Her legs felt like wet noodles as she made her way to
the platform. When she reached the top, Warrick placed his hand on her head. "I recognize you, but I can't remember your name."

  Kara felt suddenly cold inside. She hadn't realized that Krinir's control could be so strong, and she knew she was about to die.

  She kept her voice level. "My name is Kara."

  "Kara." He closed his eyes, as if lost in deep thought. "It's familiar."

  She recognized the opportunity she had and pulled the scroll from her pocket.

  He flinched. "What is that?"

  "It's written in your secret code," she said. "You told me it was the one way I could gain your trust."

  She expected him to kill her right then.

  "Go on," he said. "What does it say?"

  She read a few lines, and his eyes widened. He removed his hand from her head, then gestured for her to follow him out of the lobby.

  "We need to talk in private."

  Chapter 2: An Old Acquaintance

  Markus was sitting at a table in a Seaside inn, the same thought repeating in his head over and over again. Rik was dead. No matter what Markus did, he couldn't escape that fact.

  He, Berig, and Nadia were eating a silent meal. No one felt like speaking. They were all too stunned by what they'd experienced. But none of them could feel as depressed as Markus. He'd lost his best friend, and his actions had killed Garet and Lara.

  Markus set down his glass of ale. "It feels like a dream."

  Nadia looked up from her food, tears in her eyes. "I know what you mean."

  "I keep thinking I'll wake up," Berig said. He'd had more to drink than anyone. With the death of Lara, he looked like he might sink back into old habits.

  Markus met Berig's gaze. "I'm sorry. It's my fault she's dead."

  "You couldn't have known. You were trying to save us all."

  "That doesn't change the fact that I killed her."

  "We all make mistakes." Berig took another drink of his whiskey. "I've made more than a few of my own." His expression became distant, as if he were remembering his many failures. There was no point trying to break him out of that mood.

  At the moment, Markus couldn't have cheered anyone up if he'd tried.

  "I know it's terrible what happened," Nadia said, "but we can't focus on the past. We still have the future to worry about." She paused a moment, as if getting her emotions under control. "We know that Lionar is trapped in the future. We must find the sorcerers who can get us to the future and go there like Marlon told us."