The Winds of Time Page 6

  Rik turned to Lara. "Don't think we can escape at all."

  Garet stepped out into plain view. "There's no need to search. We are here."

  Rik didn't know if it was the right plan, but it was the only one they had at the moment. He and Lara joined Garet at the top of the stairs. They all carried their weapons, but they were careful not to show any indication that they might grab them.

  The commander gave the Grand Healer a snide smile. "See? Some people know how to cooperate."

  The Grand Healer cast them a confused look, as if asking why they'd turned themselves in. Rik didn't like the thought of becoming a prisoner, but what other choice did they have? Surely the Grand Healer understood that there was no escape.

  "Come down here," the commander called out. His tone had softened a little. He was dark-skinned like most people here in the jungle, and wore a neatly trimmed beard. A few scars crisscrossed his face.

  Rik followed Lara and Garet down the stairs, and they all stopped a few feet from the commander. He scrutinized them with his keen gaze. Rik wasn't sure what to make of the man. His demeanor reminded Rik of Dirk, back in the Shadowed Land.

  Lara spoke first. "What do you want from us?"

  "Come with me," the commander said. "We need to talk in private. Grand Healer, is there such a place where we can talk."

  "Yes, there's an empty office at the end of that hall." The Grand Healer pointed to his left.

  The commander nodded, then gestured for Rik and the others to follow him. Soon they stepped into the office. There were no chairs apart from the one behind the desk. Rik, Lara, and Garet remained at the walls of the room while the commander took a seat in the chair.

  "What do you want from us?" Garet demanded, his gaze stern.

  "Your fate is in my hands," the commander said. "I'd watch my words if I were you." He leaned forward, resting his elbows on the polished wooden desk, exuding confidence in the way he held himself. "Our High Mystic wants to speak to you. She was quite insistent on that. In fact, she should be arriving shortly. I don't know why she sent us here, but she'll tell you." He chuckled, appearing more human suddenly. "Well, if she feels like telling you anything."

  "Was all this necessary?" Garet made an expansive gesture, as if including the entire invading army. "You could have just asked us."

  "You might have refused." The commander's face twitched in a half-smile. "After all, you haven't heard what the High Mystic has to say."

  "I still don't see why you needed an entire army," Garet said.

  The commander's expression became more serious. "Look. I just follow the High Mystic's orders. She is a very important person, and she wishes to speak with you. How she goes about that is her business."

  Garet smiled thinly. "Then I'm interested to meet this woman."

  "Oh, I'm sure you'll find it an . . . interesting meeting."

  They waited another few minutes before a soldier knocked on the door. The young man announced the arrival of the High Mystic. In the intervening time, the commander had secured chairs for everyone, including the High Mystic.

  When the woman stepped into the room, she looked entirely unremarkable at first. She was dark-skinned like most residents of the jungle, and she wore her black hair as short as a man's. Dressed in rich red robes, she had the ageless appearance of a sorcerer.

  She motioned for the commander to stand up, then took his position in the chair behind the desk. From there, she swiveled her gaze around the room, scrutinizing everyone. At last, she said, "Interesting. I expected more of you three."

  Rik wasn't sure how to respond to that, so he remained silent. The High Mystic was calm, but something about her gaze looked dangerous. He'd spent enough time around sorcerers to know they were all dangerous in their own ways, and they always had a way of manipulating those they considered below them. Rik was sick of sorcerers.

  "Commander, you may go," said the High Mystic. It sounded like a request, but there was no doubt it was an order. The commander hastened out of the room.

  Lara leaned forward in her chair, her gaze fierce. "Now can we find out what you want from us? We're all tired of being manipulated by sorcerers."

  Rik wasn't sure he would have addressed the woman quite like that, but Lara had a way of never bowing before anyone's authority. He hoped it wouldn't get all of them killed.

  "You need to show proper respect," said the High Mystic.

  "I don't care about your title," Lara said. "I will give respect once it is earned."

  To Rik's surprise, the woman smiled. "Perhaps I see some spirit in you after all." She paused a moment. "I am Jessa, the High Mystic of all Amazonia, but you are to refer to me as High Mystic. I have read the Webs of Fate, and I have seen you in them, however much you might try to hide yourselves."

  "Just tell us what you want from us," Garet said.

  She glared at him. "Such insolence!"

  "We're sorry," Rik said, "but we've been through hell lately. Please forgive us." He cast an irritated glance at Garet. Didn't the man know when to shut up? Angering this woman would accomplish nothing. But if they listened to her, they might learn how to cure Eliza. It was a faint hope, but Rik clung to it. Without that hope, he'd feel like giving up.

  "Very well," said the High Mystic. "I saw weeks ago that you would likely come to this place, and if I saw it, so did Krinir."

  "Then why hasn't he killed us?" Lara asked more respectfully.

  "His motives are a mystery to me, but you should know that he always has a way of watching. You've hidden yourselves within the Webs, and done a very good job of it. That protection is fading, however. At this point, you're only alive because he desires it."

  Rik felt chilled at that thought. "Can you see his plans at all?"

  "He has obscured them with dark strands."

  Rik nodded, feeling sick. "Then how can we hope to stand up to him?"

  "By doing the most dangerous thing of all. You must locate the Stone of Restoration and return his daughter to health. I can't see much beyond brief glimpses, but restoring her is vital to success." Her expression became grave. "However, recovering the Stone of Restoration is highly dangerous. With the three stones united under his control, Krinir will be too powerful to defeat."

  "Are you saying he already has two of them?" Rik asked.

  "They are currently in the possession of Darien Warrick, who is under Krinir's control. At a moment's notice, Krinir can claim them for himself."

  Rik tried to take in all this new information. "So, what you're saying is that the only way to stop Krinir could also lead to him never being stopped."

  "I'm afraid so."

  "Things never get easier," Rik said.

  "I can tell you the location of the stone. It is deep within the jungles of Malavia, under great protection in a temple located at the center of the continent. I used to be close to Marlon and Cyrus. They told me where they'd hidden it. Perhaps they foresaw this day."

  Garet's gaze remained stern. "And why can't you get it yourself? You're a sorcerer. Couldn't you teleport directly to the stone's location and take it?"

  "I'm afraid not. It's due to the nature of Malavia, of whatever power comes from this temple in its center. After Marlon and Cyrus hid the stone, they made it so that no full sorcerer could ever set foot in the place. As soon as you gain immortality, it is sealed off to you." She scanned each person across from her. "But you three can enter."

  "I feel like I'm being manipulated again," Rik said.

  "I am merely guiding you on the best path."

  "And how do we know we can trust you?" Garet asked.

  The High Mystic leaned back in her chair, looking relaxed. "You don't. In other circumstances, I might be your enemy. We sorcerers tend to fight over such petty differences. But Krinir is an enemy to all of us."

  Garet nodded weakly, looking unconvinced. "All right, what have we gotta do?"

  "I will send you to the Fire Kingdom. There, you'll go to the Fire Temple. Then you will sail nort
heast for Malavia. I would suggest heading to the northeastern corner of the continent so that you can go to the Lightning Temple before venturing into the heart of the place. I must warn you. Malavia is a very dangerous place."

  Rik shrugged. "Danger. That's nothing new for us."

  Her smile was chilling. "Oh, you'd be surprised."

  Chapter 10: Unlocking the Magic

  Kara stood alone with Warrick in a large chamber beneath the Tower of Light. She'd wanted to practice outside, where she could feel the sun enhancing her magic, but Warrick had overruled her, stating that her magic should remain a secret.

  The room was empty and dark, with walls of gray stone—a sharp contrast with the rest of the city, which was so beautiful and bright. This place felt like a dungeon.

  "I still don't know how to use this magic," Kara said.

  Warrick paced a few feet away from her, deep in thought. At last, he said, "Describe how it feels to you. That's the best way for us to start."

  Kara thought a moment. "Well, it feels like there are colors within me, and like those colors come from the sun. Sorry, I know I'm not making much sense. That's just how it feels." She paced as well, fighting against frustration. "I think each color could perform some kind of magic, but I don't know how to do it."

  Warrick stroked his beardless chin. "I wish I had an answer for you. My magic has always felt like a natural part of me. I don't have to think to use it."

  "That's not very helpful."

  Impatience flashed across Warrick's face, but then his expression relaxed. "I know it isn't. I'm trying to think of something."

  Kara still wasn't sure she could trust him. It appeared she had broken through Krinir's spell for the moment, but what would happen when Krinir returned? Would she lose all the progress she'd made with Warrick?

  "Do the colors remain separate?" Warrick asked. "Or do they combine?"

  "I think they do both. I'm not sure what that means."

  Warrick bit his lower lip. "Just think about releasing one of them. Think about it like you're launching an arrow. Focus and then release."

  Kara caught hold of the Red light within her and concentrated on releasing it, but nothing happened. She still felt it inside, just as strong as it had been. Growing frustrated, she focused again This time, she felt something, a slight release perhaps.

  The air around her grew warmer, just a little bit.

  "You did it," Warrick said. "Whatever you did made the air a little warmer."

  "I know. I felt it too."

  "Do you want to try any of the other colors?"

  "No, I think I'd like to try that one again." Kara focused on the Red within her, calling it forth. This time, it released more easily, and the air warmed even more. Warrick stepped back to avoid the intense blast of heat that came from her.

  He smiled. "Impressive."

  Kara and Warrick spent the next hour practicing this one ability. By the time that hour ended, Kara had gained some control over how much she could release at once. However, she did run out of Red light, which ended the training session. She thought about trying some of the other colors, but she was exhausted and hungry.

  She and Warrick parted ways, He had governing tasks to attend to, and he couldn't afford to present the appearance that he'd broken free from Krinir's control. That wasn't all that difficult, he'd told her. All he needed to do was rule as he always had.

  Kara wasn't sure she cared for that tactic. She remembered the atrocities he'd committed in the Empire. But there was nothing she could do about that.

  On the first floor of the Tower of Light, there was a large dining chamber. The servants working there had adjusted well to their new rulers. They still prepared the food as if the old sorcerers of Luminia were in charge. Surprisingly enough, many of the old sorcerers who'd held power here had joined ranks with Warrick.

  But how many of them were lying? Once, Warrick had told her that people with magic could conceal their true loyalties from him. Strangely, she worried about him. He was the most powerful sorcerer in the world, but if enough people stood against him, they might be able to kill him, and she didn't want that to happen. As much as she hated to admit it, she cared about him.

  She didn't know if she could ever truly like him, but she'd come to respect the man he could be, the man he'd been in the Shadowed Land.

  Warrick had told her why no one would threaten him, though she had the feeling he was trying to reassure her. He had a connection with Krinir, and if he ever faced difficulties, he could call Krinir to him. Krinir had a teleportation stone and could arrive in moments.

  Hopefully that would never happen.

  Kara ate alone, enjoying a beef and cheese sandwich. She hadn't grown close to many people here in the Tower of Light. They had all pledged their allegiance to Warrick, and that worried her. Did they support the Warrick she'd known in the Shadowed Land or the Warrick who'd committed so many evil deeds here on Terra?

  Her life had become lonely. She'd been reunited with Nadia, but now she didn't even know if her best friend was alive. When she'd asked Warrick, he'd told her he could not see Nadia in the Webs of Fate. In a way, that was reassuring. If she'd died, he would have seen that in the Webs. So it was proof that she was alive. Somewhere.

  "May I sit here?" a man asked, startling her out of thought.

  When she glanced up at him, she felt a hot stab of anger. "Tylen."

  "There's no need for anger. I thought you might like to see a familiar face." Tylen stood beside a young woman with curly brown hair.

  The woman looked vaguely familiar, but Kara couldn't come up with her name. She had been present prior to the battle, during their talk with Marlon.

  As if noticing her question, Tylen gestured to the woman. "This is Farah. She's from Crayden as well."

  Kara's first response to Tylen had been anger, but he hadn't reacted the way she'd expected. His expression was calm. His posture had lost the arrogance she remembered. But still, in her mind's eye, she could see him pressing his dagger against Nadia's face.

  "What're you doing here?" she asked.

  "Well, after Crayden, I got into a bit of trouble with the Imperial Guards. I faced a choice between death and becoming one of them, so it was an easy choice."

  "Easy? Imperial Guards burned down Crayden. How could you join them?"

  Tylen smirked, a reminder of his arrogant nature. "I don't think you have much room to talk. I've seen you spending time with Warrick. He's the one who burned Crayden. The Imperial Guards were forced to follow his orders."

  Kara held back her anger. "Warrick isn't the monster you think he is. I spent time with him in the Shadowed Land. He saved my life many times. I know who he is as a man. It's Krinir we have to worry about. Krinir is the evil behind everything."

  "You still haven't told me if we can sit."

  Despite her reservations, Kara motioned for them to sit. She didn't think Tylen could have changed, but she had to give him the chance to disprove her feelings.

  "You do know of Krinir?" she asked

  "Yes. Warrick has told us about him. So did Marlon, the old High Sorcerer."

  Kara fixed her stern gaze on Tylen. "If you're here, then you've professed your allegiance to Warrick. What about him do you support?"

  Tylen smiled, leaning back casually. "I could ask you the same."

  "I support him because he's our only chance to stop Krinir."

  "Then we're on the same side."

  Kara continued to glare at Tylen. "That still doesn't mean I have to like you. I remember the way you treated Nadia. I will never forget what you did in the forest."

  Something flashed across Tylen's expression. Regret? "I don't blame you for hating me, but I'm a different man now. I regretted my actions then as soon as I realized what I was doing. You may not believe it, but I liked Nadia. I didn't want to see her hurt."

  "Well, you sure did a good job convincing me otherwise."

  Tylen's expression remained patient, as did his voice. "
Look. I know it's hard to forgive me for the man I was. I was an arrogant, self-important ass. But I'm different now. Crayden changed me. Being an Imperial Guard humbled me. Now I want to do what's best for the world. Warrick has told me how important I might be. I don't want to see the world destroyed."

  "Neither do I," Kara said, "but that still doesn't mean I have to trust you. Or like you."

  "I understand."

  Kara was shocked to hear the resignation in Tylen's voice. That, more than anything, convinced her that he might have truly changed. The Tylen she'd known had been a good actor, but never this good. His reactions now appeared genuine, but it was hard to reconcile this new Tylen with the man she'd known before. It hadn't been that long.

  Of course, she had changed a lot in these few months. Her adventures had made her more determined, more resilient. Her time with Warrick had allowed her to open her heart and realize that anyone could be forgiven. Everything she'd been through had shown her that the world was not so simple. If all these things could change, then why couldn't she forgive Tylen?

  "What about you?" Kara asked Farah. "What's your part in all this?"

  Farah hesitated a moment. "I wish I could tell you for certain, but Warrick keeps his plans close. I think he's afraid to let us know too much. All I know is he's our only hope of saving the world. But he's under Krinir's control now."

  "Not entirely," Kara said. "I managed to break through that control. Krinir will likely renew that control when he returns, but for now Warrick is at least mostly in control."

  Farah nodded, relief spreading across her face. "That's good to hear."

  "Has he told you anything you must do?" Tylen asked. "We haven't seen him since he tested us for our allegiance."

  "I think he's trying to keep his doings secret from Krinir," Kara said. "I don't understand how the Webs of Fate work, but Warrick does, and he must know the right things to do to keep Krinir from growing suspicious."

  "Where is Krinir?" Farah asked.

  "He's gone to the future," Kara said, "where he's holding Lionar hostage." And where Nadia may be going. Kara still wished she could know Nadia's fate. As far as Kara could tell, she would never see Nadia again. They'd had so little time together since Kara's return.