81. Chapter 81
CHAPTER 81
Dynalya
T he hooves of Dyna’s Pegasus cantered as she landed on hard ground. The air here was warmer than in Greenwood, and dry. It was night now, but she sensed it grew hot here beneath the sun. Before them was an immense obelisk made of stone.
The gateway had brought her to the Covenant Pass.
Sowmya and the Valkyrie formed a perimeter around her as they quickly surveyed the area. Other than the twenty female warriors, there was no one else nearby but them.
“The others must have landed elsewhere,” Dyna said, looking toward the east.
It was too dark to clearly see the East Wall. That was where King Leif and Raiden surely arrived with his delegation. She sensed Lucenna a little further up north.
That put her ahead. Good, it gave her a head start.
Dyna nodded to Sowmya. “You know what to do.”
“The Valkyrie await your command.” Sowmya clanked a fist over her heart and bowed her head. “Be safe, Your Majesty.”
Tugging the reins, Dyna rode for the west, kicking up sand. The muscles of her Pegasus shifted, and she stretched her large white wings. Dyna crouched low, her gaze fixed on the horizon.
“Lashamayim, Shira ,” she said. “Lashamayim.”
The wind rushed to meet them as they galloped faster. Shira’s wings caught the wind and carried them off into the air. Dyna looked back at the east where she had left a piece of her in the care of another. She will return to him when this is over.
Dyna faced ahead and focused on what she came to do.
She flew into the night. Time past swiftly until the sky began to lighten with the coming of dawn as she soared over the sharp peaked Mountains of Erdas, the border of Red Highland.
The Blood Keep appeared in the far distance among the sea of red sand. She was close. Shutting her eyes, Dyna cast an invisibility spell over herself and Shira.
As the sun rose over the horizon, the desert heat came with it. It blazed down on her, sprouting sweat on her skin beneath her armor. She felt relief when she at last reached the Blood Keep. It was an odd name since the tower was made of a pale stone. But as Dyna grew closer, she then saw the bodies long dead prisoners hanging from the ramparts. Their blood and the blood of many others had stained the walls a dark red.
Her empty stomach churned.
Dyna shut her eyes and looked away. In the middle of the keep’s courtyard was another Elder Tree. This was one black with thorny branches and what looked to be red maple leaves.
That will serve for a good escape.
She made it to the roof and landed. Dismounting, she petted the Pegasus’s muzzle. “You did well, Shira. Now return to Sowmya. It’s not safe for you here.”
Shira knickered softly. Turning, she cantered for the edge of the tower and took off into the sky.
Dyna surveyed the land. Many miles of sand dunes and rocky formations in all directions. On one side, if she squinted enough, she could just make out the hazy silhouette of what must be Agarmon, the capitol of Red Highland. On the other side of the keep, the rising sun illuminated stone barricade in the mountains.
West Wall.
The delegation would have reached it by now. Her Guardians, too.
She had to sneak in the keep and retrieve the key before the trade for Raiden took place. They would not allow Rawn’s son to be taken.
Dyna took out her roll of rope and quickly tied a knot to the ramparts of the tower she landed on and began to scale down the side. She was careful to go slow and step lightly. The invisibility spell may keep her hidden, but elves had keen senses and could catch her if she made a sound.
She made it to a narrow window and climbed inside. Voices and faint wailing cries echoed off the walls. It was difficult to tell from which direction. The narrow windows created a constant stream of wind that passed air through the tower, carrying ventilation and sound with it. Which may work in her favor.
Dyna stole along the walls, keeping alert. Spotted guards patrolling below along with large beasts. Bloodhounds, Zev had called them. If they caught her scent, no magic would be able to hide her.
She continued, searching for the warden’s quarters. It was her best guess on where to begin searching for the other half of the key. Leoake said it would be here, but he didn’t say where. If it was with King Altham, then that would prove more difficult.
Voices neared and she ducked into an alcove.
“To leave your elevated sanctuary, you must surely be desperate to be rid of him if you are willing to align yourself with elves.”
“Desperation is an overstatement. Think more of it as … eager .”
Dyna’s pulse jumped at the sound of Lord Gadriel’s voice. She carefully peered past the edge of the wall and spotted the pureblooded Celestial casually striding down the hall with a male elf in elegant red robes and a gold crown sitting on his head.
King Altham, she had to assume.
But what was Gadriel doing here?
“He wields Seraph flame, you say,” Altham mused as they went into a room and Dyna’s chest caught with a gasp. “I’m intrigued. A rare phenomenon I would be glad to study, but as such, I am aware of the might behind such power. If your army cannot stop him, why do you expect me to place mine in his line of fire?”
Gadriel followed him in. Dyna slipped into the room behind him, keeping her steps soundless. Her training served her well. She slinked behind a sofa for a better view of the room.
“Your soldiers are skilled in magic,” Gadriel said as he took a seat across Altham at his desk. “Paired with the weapons I provide, your force stands to defeat him. Strike his weaknesses, and victory is guaranteed.”
Dyna’s heart pounded. Weaknesses? But she was supposed to be the only one.
“Then, when the time comes to confront the threat beyond your walls, you can expect our support.”
Altham canted his head. “Nazar would wage war against Greenwood?”
“If it means my people will flourish beneath a new king, my sire pledges you will have the might of Hilos and the Four Realms on your side. We will ensure you win your war.”
Chills scattered down Dyna’s arms.
They were planning to depose Cassiel, even if that went against the code of never spilling Celestial blood for the gain of others. And she had the sinking feeling who Gadriel’s sire was.
She should have known killing Cassiel was only part of his plan.
Raziel intended to sit on the throne too.
A slow smile sharpened on Altham’s face as he leaned back in his chair. In his fingers he turned a bronze piece of metal. It flickered in Dyna’s eyes as it that caught the light.
The other half of the key. Her heart pounded in anticipation.
“If all goes according to plan today, it may not come to that,” Altham said. Trumpets sounded outside and his grin grew. Standing, he turned to the bureau behind him and opened a small set of doors. “You are not invited to today’s occasion, but I suppose I have no control over what others choose to d, do I?”
Dyna’s brow furrowed. That was a strange way to put it.
Gadriel’s wings whooshed as he rose to his feet. “We await your signal.”
With a slight bow of his head, the Lord of Edym strode for the open terrace and took off into the sky.
What did that mean? Did they bring Celestials here? Altham had given his oath that the trade would go peacefully, but it was clear he found a way around it.
She gritted her teeth and prayed the others would be ready.
King Altham looked up. “I know you’re there.”
Dyna froze.
The door opened and another male elf strode in. He had dark hair and similar features as him and a spiked coronet on his head. She held her breath, careful not to make a sound with him so near.
Altham pursed his lips. “Well?”
“They’re here, father.”
No. She didn’t have the key yet.
Glee crossed the red king’s face. “Is Geraea ready to greet her intended?”
“I will send for her.”
“She should already be here, Anon. Find her.” Altham slipped the key into his pocket as he stood.
“It may be best to leave that behind,” his son said indifferently.
“I never leave it off my person.”
“As I am sure the green scat would have predicted. Once you revealed the key to Leif, he will want it for himself. Why risk the chance he could take it from you?”
King Altham paused, narrowing his eyes. “Leif gave me his oath.”
Anon shrugged. “Rather foolish of us to believe they have not found a way around their oaths as we have.”
Then he strode back out into the hall, his cloak flowing behind him as he took the stairs.
Shutting the door, Altham paused there a moment. Dyna watched, waiting. He then returned to the bureau behind his desk, opened a set of small doors and placed the key inside. With a wave of his hand, he encompassed it within of an orb. Some sort of protection spell. Then he swept out of the room.
Dyna internally groaned. She opened the set of doors, frowning at the spell. She wasn’t skilled in spell breaking yet and this was elf magic.
The door jingled and Dyna quickly shut the doors. She held still, beneath the invisibility spell as another came in. A female this time with another delicate crown. She was beautiful. Long dark hair, warm eyes like honey and a white cloth like dress elegant yet practical for the heat. She glanced around before rushing to the bureau. Opening the doors, her face lit up.
Princess Geraea, Dyna assumed.
Sneaking in here to steal her father’s key? They came to save Rawn and to stop Raiden’s engagement, but Dyna couldn’t help but think the she-elf would have made him a good match.
With a glowing finger, Geraea drew the spell for dissipation on the enchanted dome along with other runes in a complicated array. She murmured a spell, and the sphere burst. Smiling, she snatched up the key.
But then the princess froze and glanced right at her. “Alever.”
The invisibility spell peeled away, leaving Dyna exposed, and the princess gasped.
Dropping, Dyna swept out her foot, knocking Geraea off her feet. She snatched the key. “Thank you, princess.”
Geraea rolled to her feet with a hiss and two yellow blades of magic appeared in her hands. “I need that.”
“So do I.” Dyna knocked her back with an Essence blast and bolted for the doors.
“Intruder!” Geraea shouted behind her. Her voice echoed through the keep like a rising tide. “There is an intruder in the Blood Keep. She stole my father’s key!”