Chapter 39
CHAPTER THIRTY NINE
The ride had been long, arduous and a fucking pain in the ass. But we’d made it. Somehow, for reasons beyond my understanding, the stars were looking out for us. Three Cascadian traitors and a Flamebringer who had risen from the damn dead.
We’d finally reached the cavern set into a mossy hillside where Kaiser promised a magical archway awaited us and despite Ransom and Galomp’s questions about such a thing, they had placed their trust in me that this magic would lead us far away from the Cascadian army.
It had been an awkward ride, Kaiser leading the way on Ransom’s stallion Bay while my brother rode with Galomp on his mare Lalakin – much to his disgruntlement. But every time he tried to raise it with Kaiser, the Fury possessed him and forced agreement from his lips.
Kaiser had kept his distance for the most part while Ransom, Galomp and I remained close together.
Sometimes I’d wake to find Kaiser pacing outside whatever cave or shelter we’d taken for the night.
On several nights he’d drawn his sword, struck at trees until exhaustion took him and I’d silently taken watch in his place when he passed out.
We rarely spoke. But our eyes met more often than I liked.
There were unvoiced words between us, like we’d broken the rules of fate and were sharing a twisted secret.
But I wouldn’t put a name to it. I only looked at him and he looked back.
Then we carried on riding toward freedom.
Apart from one close call with a cavalry squadron, we’d managed to avoid the hunting Cascadians. Whenever we met a town, we stole through it in the night, taking what supplies we could from the abandoned houses and moving on toward our destination.
Despite Ransom’s complaints, we never chanced sleeping in the towns.
They were too obvious a place to look for us.
Perfectly comfortable hideouts. So we roughed it instead, making the three week long trip all the more difficult.
But if I was honest with myself, it had been a long time since I’d felt this alive.
Living as a pampered creature hadn’t suited me.
I much preferred roaming these lands with purpose, even if that purpose went against my own people.
Or at least that was how they saw it. I was focused on the monster now, a being who would destroy all the beauty of this world and every Cascadian in it.
So perhaps they’d thank me one day, but that day was certainly not today.
I dismounted Karkinos, following suit as Kaiser climbed down from Bay and both Galomp and Ransom dismounted too.
“Come, we’re here,” the Fury clipped at us, his eyes lingering on me again. It always felt as though he could see beneath my flesh, like any guise I wanted to wear could be melted by that look alone.
I nodded to Ransom and Galomp in encouragement then led Karkinos into the cave, sending a Faelight out ahead of me to light the dark passage.
My skin prickled as I thought over what was to come.
Kaiser could be leading us all to our imminent capture, I’d considered that possibility night after night.
But something in my gut was telling me to place my faith in this plan.
Not him. But this promise of an alliance.
I had no care in my heart for Mirelle Brimtheon or her Flamebringer nation but if she wanted the monster dealt with then she needed me.
And I needed an army if I was going to survive another trip to Never Keep.
Still… working alongside my enemies felt utterly wrong. It went against everything I was.
Kaiser tugged on Bay’s reins, drawing him alongside Karkinos, his arm brushing mine and sending a tremor through my body. Calcifiend trilled excitedly to me from his shoulder like he’d sensed my reaction and I scowled at the little beastie. “Mirelle will welcome you. You need not fear her.”
“I’m not afraid,” I muttered.
“You are a little,” he answered and I clenched my teeth, irritated that he could read that emotion from me with his Order gifts. And that he was using it to bolster his own magic.
“Well I have nothing but blind faith and a gut feeling to guide me forward, hollow man. Great warriors have died for following their instincts. They’re not always right.
Perhaps the stars want me dead and they’re luring me into your net.
Or perhaps you have some plot to make me your prisoner again. ”
“Perhaps,” he agreed darkly. “But would I really have come alone if that was my intention? I could have brought many warriors and I could have stolen you from your bed when I had the chance. But here we are…”
“I’ve considered that,” I admitted. “Which is why I’m willing to take the risk.”
We rounded into a dark cavern where a stone archway stood, unassuming yet the hairs on the back of my neck lifted to attention. There was no stone bowl here full of black powder to ignite the magic within it, but Kaiser moved to a wall, reached into a concealed hole and pulled out a handful of it.
I glanced back at Galomp and Ransom, their eyes reflecting the glow of my Faelight.
“Are you sure you want to walk through the archway? I can’t promise safety lies beyond it,” I said.
“This is your last chance to run. I’ve decided I’m walking through.
I told you of the monster and what it will do to this world, so I’m going to do whatever it takes to stop it.
But you don’t have to take on that burden too. ”
“I go where you go, Miss Everest. I am your Sentinel,” Galomp said confidently.
I took a step toward him with a tug in my gut. “You understand how dangerous this is, don’t you? I can’t promise I can protect you.”
Galomp nodded. “I have never had such a good friend as you. I will face a monster at your side. I will be there. That’s what friends do for each other.” He lifted his chin and my heart squeezed with warmth for him.
“Thank you.” I looked to my half-brother and the hard frown on his face.
“I’m coming,” he grunted.
“That’s it?” I pushed. “No doubts?”
He shrugged and I narrowed my eyes at him until he sighed and gave me more of an answer.
“Yes, I have doubts. Fucking thousands of them. But the only path that feels right to me now is following you. You’re my runt sister and I’ve hated you for as long as I can remember, but you’re the only family I have left that I actually respect.
And maybe you’re not as much of a runt as you used to be.
So I’m coming. And whatever Galomp just called himself – your Sentinel?
I’m that too now. So just keep walking and I’ll follow. ”
“What about the monster? The end of the world? The fight we’re going to have to face to stop it?” I demanded. “You can’t just blindly follow me to your death.”
He pressed his lips into a tight line, thinking over that before responding. “My eyes are wide open. I’m coming. Stop yapping.”
“There’s your answer,” Kaiser said firmly. “No more time wasting.” He threw a handful into a hollow at the side of the archway and the portal lit up in a shimmering glow, making Ransom and Galomp gasp in awe.
“I wasn’t sure I believed you about these archways until right now,” Ransom admitted. “Will it really transport us somewhere if we walk through it?”
“Yes,” I breathed excitedly, feeling like I was headed on the path I’d been destined for at long last. Perhaps the greatness I was meant to claim had never been among the army of Cascada. Maybe it was awaiting me right beyond that gleaming light.
“Are you ready, silka la vin?” Kaiser asked in a low voice.
I stared at my enemy, thinking of my mama as doubts clawed through my chest. But I’d made my choice, and there was no turning from it now.
“I am.” I took the lead and guided Karkinos after me into the glittering archway.
It enveloped me like the hand of the sun, warming me through and guiding me from this place to another.
I stepped out on the other side and found an empty stone chamber awaiting me where two other archways stood empty.
How had the Flamebringers come to possess these?
Karkinos nudged me with his nose, pushing me aside as if he wanted to see the chamber for himself. He assessed the room with a bland look then let out a snort which sounded disapproving.
“Ever the grumpy pony.” I petted his nose, leading him aside as Kaiser came through leading Bay, then Galomp and Ransom appeared with Lalakin.
“Oh boy,” Galomp exhaled. “That was something. Really something.”
Ransom looked at his hands, patting himself down as if fearing he might have left a body part behind. “What the fuck kind of magic is that?”
“The kind the Reapers like to keep secret,” Kaiser answered. “But they’re not the only ones. The Vampires know of it too. They’ve been sharing their knowledge with us since Mirelle allied with them.”
I didn’t have any time to process that because another archway lit up beside us and the damn Sky Witch walked through it accompanied by that big bastard Bastian she’d been keeping company with the last time I’d seen her on the battlefield at Cinder Vale.
They were followed by a horrified-looking North Brimtheon, the imposing form of Lazarus Astrophel and a group of six more Fae in their wake.
“Vesper?” I gasped.
“Kitty-cat?” she questioned in shock and I noticed she was bleeding, pale, and looking like she’d been dragged through a gutter lined with broken glass.
“What are you doing here?” I asked, confounded.
“Kai!” North howled, shouldering past Vesper and pulling Kaiser into a fierce hug. “You won’t believe what we just did!”
“We?” Vesper questioned dryly.
“Are you working with them?” I demanded of her and her eyes snapped back to me.
“I wouldn’t put it that way. But they’re of use to me. For now.”
“You must be the Void.” Lazarus swept forward keenly and I rested a hand on my dagger’s hilt, a snarl rolling up my throat, warning him to keep his distance. “Ah, it seems you’re not so fond of my kind either.”
“Not so much,” I agreed.