Chapter 57
Chapter
Fifty-Seven
The carriage approached a large tower. Grey stone crumbled from what years ago would have been an imposing structure. Now it looked like a strong breeze would topple it. Torchlight flickered within and on top.
For over an hour, they’d travelled after leaving the White Monastery, passing through forests and fields. Elias had never heard of this tower on the island.
“Is Gerard up there?” Despite his best efforts, Elias could not keep the note of desperation from his voice.
The empress chuckled. “You’ll have to just keep doing as you’re told if you want to find out.”
The carriage ground to a halt. A small army with horses gathered in front of the tower, as if waiting to ride out. Elias doubted he could take all of them at once.
Unlike before, these wore uniforms. Zephyrian wind sorcerers, soldiers, and even two councillors, the latter of which Elias knew personally.
He sucked in a breath. Because then he spotted several Voltarian lightning sorcerers and soldiers amongst the army. Fewer than the Zephyrians. But still … Then he saw Councillor Allard of Voltaria.
Traitors! Blasted fucking traitors!
“Are you surprised, Elias?” the empress asked, voice like honey. “Your own compatriots have betrayed you.”
Elias didn’t answer. He didn’t look at her.
There were also three robed individuals wearing masks, exactly like the robed figure who sat opposite him.
Who are they?
He could see Gerard nowhere.
A Zephyrian soldier opened the carriage door from the outside. The empress, Beau, and the robed figure exited. The soldier who’d been beside Elias shoved him out, grabbing his arm as soon as his feet hit the ground. Another soldier grabbed Elias’s other arm.
The robed figure approached the three others and conversed with them.
Beau strode towards his sister, Anais, and his husband, Duke Albert. It seemed Gerard’s cousin had turned against Draconia.
Fucking traitors everywhere.
But he didn’t see any others from Draconia present. Or anyone from Botanial or the Grey Mountains.
Empress Emmeline approached the army gathered in front of the tower. The soldiers tightened their grips on Elias’s arms and tugged him forward, forcing him to follow.
Elias fixed his gaze on the Voltarians. “You have a fine collection of traitors, Empress,” he said, voice loud.
Councillor Allard sneered, her cheeks flushing. “Who are you to insult me? I fought in the war! I’ve served as a loyal councillor, finding the best way forward for Voltaria. What have you ever done for our kingdom? You’re nothing but a weakling and a coward!” She looked to the empress. “May I?”
The empress stared at Elias. She nodded.
The soldiers gripping him immediately released him and stepped back.
As one, Councillor Allard and the lightning sorcerers lifted their hands. Their fingers wove together in perfect synchronicity. Elias could see the flashes of their metal bracers in the moonlight as the sleeves of their robes fell back with their moments. Their fingers sparked.
Elias took a deep breath. His muscles clenched as he braced, knowing what was about to come. Their fingers flicked towards him. Lightning zigzagged. It hit him in the chest. He cried out as pain tore through him. He collapsed back, body convulsing.
He gritted his teeth. He could so easily grasp the power they wielded against him. So easily turn it around and strike them.
She won’t let them kill you. Not yet. She wants you to suffer first. You have to wait. You have to find Gerard. You have to see what they have planned. You have to work out what the fuck is going on and stop it!
Elias squeezed his eyes shut, fighting the urge to retaliate. Still, he reached to the core of his power, ready in case they did not let up soon. He wouldn’t let them kill him.
His fingers tensed. Sparks danced along them. But he held back. He wouldn’t release his power. Not yet.
“That’s enough,” the empress said, voice calm.
The pain stopped. Elias sagged onto the ground. He gasped, pulling breath into his aching lungs. He released his power.
“Was he just doing his little sparkles?” Anais laughed. “Did he really think he could fight back?”
“Stand up, Elias,” the empress said.
Elias didn’t move.
“I said, stand up!”
Trembling, Elias staggered to his feet. He wanted to say something clever. Something cutting. Something brave. But he was doing everything to resist killing the empress.
She reached with her strange black metal claws to her belt. She pulled out one of the daggers. Her left fingers danced in the air, weaving and signing. Meanwhile, she held the dagger between two of her clawed right fingers.
“What are you doing?” Elias stepped back.
The empress smiled. Her clawed metal fingers glowed a bright blue. Empress Emmeline flung the dagger up, straight into the sky. It flew. Then it spun, circling around and around in the air above. At the same time, Empress Emmeline spun her left fingers.
Then she swooped her hand. The dagger swooped, coming straight at Elias. Elias jumped back and turned, trying to dodge. Air whisked passed him as the dagger sliced through his sleeve over his shoulder, cutting fabric and skin.
“Ahh!” Elias cried out, trying to grab the wound, but he couldn’t with his hand bound. He stared at the blood seeping into his clothes. Despite the sting, he didn’t think it was too deep.
“What do you think, Elias?” Empress Emmeline held up her black-clawed fingers, no longer glowing.
“This new invention works rather well. It allows me to harness my wind magic in a rather useful manner. I can even use it without any assistance from other sorcerers.” She smiled at him.
“I’m sure you can appreciate the brilliance. ”
Elias breathed heavily as the blood soaked his clothes. Then he saw a group of wind sorcerers, fingers weaving. Elias braced.
The wind knocked into him. He flew through the air. He grunted as he smashed against the ground, bones and flesh knocking together. He lay still. He felt warm blood trickle down his face.
He groaned. Fucking wind sorcerers!
It seemed they were using both old and new techniques to torture him tonight. Footsteps approached and stopped beside him. He opened his eyes and stared up at his stepmother.
“I’ve wanted to watch you in pain for a long time, Elias. I wanted to wipe all those smug little smiles from your face.” She rested her hand with the black metal fingers across her chest, as if showing off her new bit of magic jewellery. “I’m going to enjoy tonight. Now stand up.”
Elias struggled to his feet. But then he stumbled, crying out and letting himself crumble to the ground. Maybe if she thinks me too injured, she won’t attack me again.
“I said, stand up!” she bit out.
Once again Elias made a play of stumbling to his feet. Once again he pretended he lacked the strength. He collapsed into a heap. “I can’t,” Elias whined as pathetically as he could.
She exhaled. “You two. Bring him.”
Two soldiers gripped his arms, yanked him up, and dragged him towards the tower. Elias hung from the soldiers’ arms. He pretended to try to get his feet under him before going limp.
The empress paused before entering the building. She pointed at a dragon harness. “What is that dragon harness doing here?”
Beau stepped forward, chest puffing up. “I am going to ride Albert into battle.”
“You can’t cast on your own,” she said simply. “Albert can fly alone. You ride with the other wind sorcerers.”
Beau’s shoulders drooped.
So there would be a battle. But with who?
“Now go,” Empress Emmeline instructed. “Ride out.”
Beau, Anais, Duke Albert—along with the majority of the soldiers and sorcerers—and the three robed figures mounted their horses. Empress Emmeline watched them depart.
“Where are they going?” Elias asked, voice hoarse.
She smiled. “Wouldn’t you like to know.” She turned and strode into the tower, the silent robed figure walking beside her. The soldiers dragged Elias. The handful of sorcerers and soldiers who’d remained also followed.
Elias glanced around. I can take this many. Even injured I can kill this small a group with ease.
They walked up several flights of wooden stairs, leading up and up. Elias hoped they were taking him to Gerard. He needed the man to be okay.
They came to a battered wooden door at the top. A soldier stepped forward and turned the handle. The door swung open.
Elias’s heart sank. More sorcerers and soldiers were assembled on top of the tower. The odds of an easy win suddenly lessened. He might be a lightning archmage, but that didn’t mean he could take on almost ten lightning sorcerers, twenty wind sorcerers, and the same number of soldiers.
Then Elias let out a breath.
Gerard! He’s here. He’s alive!
Gerard knelt on the stone on the opposite side of the tower. Queen Consort Adelina stood over him, leaning down and talking to him.
What is she doing here?