44. New Foundations
New Foundations
Kaiden
Kaiden lurched forward with a groan. His muscles flexed as a wave of muscle spasms racked through his body, turning his stomach to slush and head dizzy.
He would never get used to jumping through dimensions.
It was as if every particle in his body separated and then zapped back together within seconds.
He placed his hands firmly on the ground, panting and waiting for the effects to wear off.
“Are you alright?” Cahira held her arm against her, cradling her elbow. She walked slowly toward him on unsteady legs. Or perhaps his vision was still blurring.
He nodded but instantly regretted it as he leaned forward and emptied his stomach.
A small chuckle escaped Cahira’s lips. “Here let me help you.”
“Gods above,” he whispered, looking around.
Arkan was enveloped in darkness. Clouds once cotton colored had turned black and streaked down toward the palace.
In the form of Ukoron’s hand, it wrapped around the keep reaching for the man who had unleashed him.
Lightning flashed across the sky and the ground shook.
They had portaled outside the city walls and the gates, usually open, had been closed shut.
Guards stood on shaky ground, maintaining their positions.
He looked around them, searching for Fintan and Aradia.
“Fintan?” Cahira called weakly, walking around. “Aradia?”
Kaiden groaned but stood to his feet as best he could. His body ached from being spit out of the portal.
“Over here,” Aradia’s voice sounded distant and feeble. She laid underneath an oak tree, clutching her stomach and curled into a ball.
Kaiden’s footsteps hurried to her. “Are you hurt?” He placed a hand on her back, attempting to pull her up.
“No.” Aradia hauled herself away from him, dry heaving immediately.
Relief flooded through him. “Dimension hurtling doesn’t suit you either huh?”
Aradia shot him a dark look but shook her head, clutching her stomach as another heave racked her back. Kaiden ran his hands in circles on her back.
“You’ll get over it soon.” Cahira walked toward them with Fintan in tow. He was the only one unfazed by Byron’s portals.
“We don’t have much time,” Fintan said. “My father should have hurtled through his portals by now with Rhydar and Jasper. They have to be somewhere within the lower city.”
Kaiden nodded. His gaze followed the others toward Arkan. It would be their doom. He was certain of it.
“Arkan will not stand the wrath of Ukoron. He’ll reduce our home to nothing but rubble,” he said.
Cahira scoffed. “This hasn’t been our home for a long time.” She looked at him and his heart squeezed at her words. “To build something new we have to start at the foundation.”
Kaiden nodded. Emotions clogged his throat and his eyes watered.
Aradia’s hand pushed into his. Her hazel eyes bore into him. A thousand words were written across her face.
“Alright,” he willed strength into his voice. “We need to get everyone out of the city. No one inside the walls will have a chance of survival. Rhydar and Jasper can focus on that.”
“I can help get the people out too,” Aradia added. “I want to be there to stop the kin —”
“No.” Kaiden's voice was sharp, silencing Aradia’s sentence.
Cahira and Fintan stiffened at the sound, glancing at each other.
Kaiden squeezed Aradia’s hand. “I don’t want you anywhere near my father.”
“That’s not your decision to make.” Aradia ripped her hand from his. “We made a deal from the very beginning. I will be there when we take the king.”
“If. If we take him down here, then fine. But this might only be the beginning.” Kaiden pinched the bridge of his nose.
They didn’t have time for this. “Please, let's just focus on evacuating the city and the palace. Then you get to safety, Aradia. Don’t forget there was a reason why the king wanted you in the first place. To go straight to him would be …”
Aradia swallowed. “Would be what?”
Suicide. The wrong timing for her sacrifice.
“Would be giving him exactly what he wants,” Fintan said.
“We’ll go after our father.” Cahira gripped Aradia’s shoulder with a slight nod. “You’d be more helpful saving the thousands living within our walls. Trust me, we won’t kill the bastard without you being there.” A wicked smile lifted the corner of Cahira’s lips.
Aradia huffed a laugh but nodded slowly. “Fine.”
There was a quietness between them. It was more unsettling than seeing his city and home being descended upon.
“I’m not sure what to expect, but knowing the king … nothing will be easy. Don’t expect the guards to be on our side. They’ve no doubt orders to bring us to him.” He looked at Fintan and Cahira. “We’ll be fighting our own people.”
They looked away. The meaning was clear as they readied to face allies and friends.
“Where will we be meeting when everyone is safe?” Aradia asked.
Kaiden’s heart fell. He didn’t have the strength to look her in the eye.
Fintan opened his mouth but closed it.
“No,” Aradia choked on the word. “We’re all going to make it through this. We will live to see another day.” Tears sprang to her eyes and she looked between them wildly. “Kaiden?”
Kaiden hung his head.
“We can meet here.” Cahira cleared her throat. She stretched her arm out and Kaiden clasped it, drawing from the strength she offered. “All of you, be here.” She looked between them with pointed glares. “Be safe.”
Kaiden’s heart warmed. He held Cahira’s hand and gently squeezed Aradia’s. Her small hand now roughened with hard-earned calluses from wielding a blade.
“Stay alive,” Kaiden said. He looked directly at Aradia, willing the words he meant to say into her heart.
She squeezed his hands in acknowledgment. Fintan joined them, wrapping an arm around Cahira’s waist. They turned to look out across the fields toward the darkened walls.
“And unleash the gods,” Fintan’s voice cracked with emotion.
Kaiden steadied himself, if just to keep him grounded and not running away. He didn’t want Aradia anywhere near his damaged home. The darkness clung to the very foundation and corrupted all who lived within. He took a deep breath, turning to Cahira. He rested his forehead against his sisters.
“To new foundations,” he whispered.