The Ring Keeper, page 34
“You did this,” Mirithel said, glaring at Callonen. Her voice was cold and heavy with accusation. “You sent him to find her and now Talon’s dead because of you. How could you?”
“I’m sorry,” Callonen choked out the words. He took a step back, away from her. “I’d rather be dead myself.”
Unable to face her, he stumbled out of the room. Pain twisted through his body as he ran. He was the worst person in the world. His actions had destroyed the woman he loved and killed his best friend.
With no clear thought other than to get away, Callonen left the building. It was dark and quiet outside. The indistinct form of the hill rose steeply behind the outpost, and he started climbing. Callonen scrambled to the top and found that the far side of the hill cut off in a line of sheer cliffs. He stood on the brink of the precipice. Although he couldn’t see exactly how high they were in the starlight, he saw the shapes of rocks far below. High enough.
Callonen stood on the edge, the icy wind driving through his clothes. The chill was barely noticeable above the pain in his heart. His attempt to rescue Allia hadn’t saved her. Instead, she, Talon and Harrow had suffered an agonizing fate. Because of Callonen’s choices.
Allia had spent over a year in Ara with Haldreth tormenting her. She would never have chosen to have a child under those circumstances. But he wasn’t surprised that she loved the baby, even if the situation had been forced on her. Now she had sacrificed herself to save her daughter.
Callonen deserved to suffer as much pain as she had. A fall from this height would only hurt for a moment. When his body struck the rocks, it would all be over. The pain, the guilt, the responsibility for everyone. It would be finished.
He took a step closer to the edge.
For a long moment, he peered down. Callonen was alone on the hilltop. Except that as Emperor of Sarine, he was never alone. All of his people were with him. He could feel them. Especially the ones nearest. Harrow, still in pain. Tess, hopes for the future dashed. Mirithel, tortured by grief. Her small son was with her. Callonen could sense Zarek. Despite his youth, he was determined to be brave and take care of his mother. He was Talon’s son.
If Callonen jumped, the boy would likely be killed. When Callonen died, the Warding would fall, the demons would rush over the border. This is where they would come first, and there would be no protection.
Zarek would die, and Tess and Mirithel, and all the brave men who served Sarine. And that would only be the beginning…
Callonen stepped back. He couldn’t do it. No matter how much pain he felt, he couldn’t abandon the others. He stumbled away from the precipice and collapsed to the ground. A cry of frustration and pain escaped his lips.
He should never have allowed Allia into his life. She could have been happy, married someone else, and had the joy of a family. Instead, Haldreth had stolen her future. All that remained was a lost child, the last remnant of Allia left in the world. Callonen had to find her baby. It was the least he could do for the devastation he had brought on the woman he loved.
And Talon. Time and again, he had saved Callonen. Talon had endured injury, cold, hunger and terrible danger in order to help his friend. He had never once complained. And now his family was left to go on without him.
And Tess. Callonen had seen the way she looked at Harrow and noticed how he watched over her and appeared whenever she needed help. They would have been happy together.
Callonen barely noticed when footsteps surrounded him. He hadn’t heard them coming. All he’d been aware of was the biting wind and the voices in his head. “Emperor! Are you all right?”
They were asking if he was hurt. Oh, yes… He was injured. But there was nothing anyone could do.
Supporting his frozen limbs, two of his soldiers helped him back down the hill. They’d taken him inside and wrapped him in blankets and tried to force him to have something warm to drink. After a few sips, he set it aside.
It took a long time for him to stop shivering. Callonen remained where they had put him for a while. When the middle of the night had passed, he rose again and paced the building. He found Tess dozing in the chair at Harrow’s bedside. His eyes were closed, but he shifted restlessly in his sleep. Beads of sweat stood out on his forehead.
Callonen brought a blanket and covered Tess, yet he couldn’t rest himself. If he kept his feet moving, it was easier to endure the pain of what had happened. It had been his decision to allow Talon and Harrow to go after Allia, hoping against hope they could get her out.
A soldier approached Callonen. “Emperor? Lady Mirithel and her son rode out a short while ago. I sent guards with them.”
“Very well.”
The man held out a piece of parchment. “This was in Harrow’s pocket.”
It was addressed to Callonen. Taking a deep breath, he took the letter and opened it.
Cal, I’m writing you this message in case things go wrong. If everything goes smoothly, I’ll give you my report in person and you’ll never see this.
Harrow and I found a way into Hakvere. The approach is difficult, but we rescued Allia and her infant daughter, Cirana. Allia’s condition was serious when we found her, but she is already improving. The child appears to be in good health and seems to like Harrow.
Harrow’s service to Sarine has been exemplary. He is a good man and a loyal friend. He is capable and courageous, and deserves your highest honor when he returns.
Haldreth was using an enchanted artifact to summon demons. The healing ring was vital to the spell he cast. We had to stop his work. The artifact has been destroyed, and we have the ring with us. If your father’s sword is found again, you’ll be able to destroy these creatures, but at least we have stopped Haldreth from creating more of them. We’re returning to the Warding as quickly as we can. Allia is desperate to keep her child out of Haldreth’s hands.
If we don’t make it back, please let Mirithel and Zarek know how much I love them. I think of them every moment, and I didn’t intend to stay away for so long. Tell Mirithel that I did this because I had to protect her and Sarine, that I miss her and I’m sorry. And tell Zarek how proud I am of him.
Cal, you have to take care of Sarine now. The Warding is the only thing keeping these creatures from destroying our land. Allia loves you, just as she always did. I can see it in her eyes and hear it in her voice when she speaks of you. She was afraid you’d be angry with her because of what happened. I told her you wouldn’t be, that you understood that none of this was her choice. I will do all I can to protect her.
Thank you for your friendship.
–Talon
It was nearly dawn when Callonen took a chair near Tess. He had been dozing when Harrow stirred. Callonen and Tess woke as soon as Harrow moved. He blinked and looked around in confusion. His eyes fell on Tess. “You’re here,” he murmured. “I thought I dreamed it.”
“No. I’m here.” She put a hand on his shoulder. He covered her hand with his.
“I missed you,” he said. “I’ve been thinking about you.”
Tears flowed down her cheeks. “I missed you too. Just hold on,” she pleaded. “You’ll feel better soon.”
“This is the second time you helped me when I was dying,” he said, his eyes drifting closed. Tess gripped his hand in both of hers.
Callonen moved forward and knelt beside the cot. “Harrow? Can you tell me where Talon and Allia are? And where is the baby?”
Harrow turned to look at him, but he didn’t recognize Callonen. “Talon, I should have stayed with Allia and sent you home to your family. But you can tell Allia that the demons won’t find her baby or the ring. She still has the ring, and I hid her.”
“Where?” Callonen asked. Was the baby out there alone?
“I found someone to take care of her while I led the demons away,” Harrow said, and Callonen breathed a sigh of relief.
“Where is she?” Callonen asked. But Harrow’s eyes were closed, and this time he didn’t respond.
Callonen and Tess sat beside him all day as his fever rose ever higher. “Isn’t there anything else we can do?” Callonen asked the healers.
“We’re doing everything we can, my lord.”
Tess never left Harrow’s side, and Callonen stayed with them. Harrow didn’t speak again.
They watched through the day and on into the dark hours. Harrow died in the middle of the night. A healer shook his head sadly and pulled the blanket up to cover Harrow’s face.
Callonen held Tess as she cried. How could he have allowed this to happen? His own emotions overcame him. He’d intended to comfort Tess, but now he clung to her as if she could comfort him.
Eventually, he convinced her to find a place to lie down and rest. He pulled a blanket over her, wishing she could sleep.
He couldn’t.
CHAPTER THIRTY-FIVE
Year of Warding 23, Sarine’s Countryside
Mirithel
MIRITHEL GATHERED her belongings and her son and began the journey home. What else could she do? She’d known this would happen when Callonen sent Talon on this fool’s errand. She couldn’t bear to see Emperor Callonen right now.
As she and her son rode side by side, the cold wind stung her face. Her jaw was firmly set. Talon was dead.
A voice interrupted her grief.
“Mother? Will you tell me what’s happened?” Zarek asked. “All you told me last night was that Father was gone.”
What should she tell him? How could she say the words?
He looked at her with earnest gray eyes, the exact shade of his father’s. “Tell me.”
She sighed. “Demons attacked Harrow, but he escaped and made it back to the Warding. He said your father went back to meet them.”
“Do you know anything else?”
Mirithel shook her head.
“Then we don’t know what happened, not for sure. Maybe he’s still out there somewhere,” Zarek said. “I think he’ll come back.”
Mirithel shook her head. “Not this time. Your father is dead.”
“But he’s the strongest man in the world. They wouldn’t be able to kill him. Father will come back. And I’m going to make sure he’s proud of me when he does!”
Zarek lapsed into silence, his small face set stubbornly.
The boy had faith in his father. But this time, Zarek was wrong. He didn’t understand that this was final. Talon wouldn’t be coming home.
The day after they returned to the city, Zarek came back to their rooms wearing a sword that seemed too big for him. Mirithel stared at the weapon in shock.
“I spoke to the new captain and asked him to train me,” Zarek announced. “He said he would.”
“Take that thing off!” she screamed. “Don’t ever let me see it again.”
He unbuckled the sword belt and took it to his room. He came back and insisted, “Mother, I will do this.” His face was determined, and his voice calm—much calmer than Mirithel felt.
He looked up at her with serious gray eyes and her anger dissolved.
She hugged him. “I couldn’t stand to lose you too.”
“You won’t lose me,” he promised instantly. “But I need the training.”
“No! You mustn’t.”
Over the months that followed, Mirithel tried everything she could think of to change his mind, but still she caught him practicing constantly. She wanted time to stop, for him to be a little boy forever. But on the day they received word about Talon, Zarek’s childhood had ended.
Allia
ALLIA WOKE SLOWLY and saw familiar bare stone walls. The last several days were a jumble of confused images, pain and the motion of traveling. Now that she was entirely awake, she realized she was in the same room she’d been locked in since Haldreth had brought her to Ara. Her head pounded, and a fit of coughing racked her body. When she could breathe again, her eyes fell on the cradle beside her bed. Cirana was gone. She wrapped her empty arms around herself and felt tears spilling from her eyes. Harrow had taken her to safety. Where were they?
Talon must be dead. She’d seen the demons claw him. If only she could have made him go with Harrow.
When Allia lifted her head, she saw a guard in a blue uniform standing by the door, watching her. Once he saw she was awake, he left the room. She didn’t have much longer to live. Haldreth would be coming to question her.
Slowly, Allia sat up and realized that an iron manacle secured her ankle to a heavy chain that ran to an anchor in the wall.
Moving caused her head to spin. She felt sick and faint, and it was difficult to breathe. Even so, she savored the sensation of air coming and going, knowing that her heart still beat. Life filled her body. She concentrated on the love she felt for Callonen and for Cirana, wishing them happiness.
When Haldreth stormed through the door, she knew her time was up. Her stomach clenched, and her hands gripped the edge of her cot when she saw him. His dark eyes burned with fury. His skin was flushed, and a vein throbbed in his temple. She’d watched him kill people, and he’d never been this angry.
At least she could no longer sense what he was feeling. She would never have to share his darkness again. But she didn’t need to sense him to know he would kill her. Allia tensed, trying to prepare for the pain. Hopefully, it would be over quickly.
He crossed the room, seized her arm, and pulled her up. He struck her face and her head snapped back, pain radiating from her cheekbone.
“Where are the ring and gate pin?” he demanded, grabbing her wounded hand. He tightened his grip, and she groaned in pain.
“Gone,” she gasped. “They’re gone.”
“Don’t lie to me,” he warned. “I’ll make you tell me everything.” He struck her again. Her vision burst into white light.
She tried to catch her breath. “There’s nothing left to tell. It’s all gone. I destroyed the gate pin and the ring.” She felt liberated, knowing that he couldn’t force her to help him anymore. There would be no more demons.
“Tell me where you hid them! Tell me everything or I’ll make you beg for me to kill you,” he hissed.
Her body shook with terror. He excelled at causing pain. She desperately needed to escape.
He seemed to read her mind. “There’s no way out.”
His words echoed in her head. No way out. No way out…
“I melted them.”
The blow struck her jaw, and she flew backward, falling over the cot and slamming her head into the rough stone wall.
The world receded.
What a relief. She could only hear a faint echo of Haldreth’s angry voice. Some pain remained. Her head ached, and her heart was broken.
Her mind had shattered into pieces. Fleeing from despair and suffering, Allia’s consciousness escaped into memories bright with Callonen’s presence. Nothing else remained for her.
CHAPTER THIRTY-SIX
Year of Warding 23, Sarine’s Countryside
Callonen
MISSING ALLIA EVERY DAY had not kept time from passing, and Callonen had been carrying the Warding for over fourteen years. He knew she wouldn’t be back. Though his heart was broken and he hadn’t been able to save her, he dedicated his life to protecting the rest of his nation. From the moment he had learned of the existence of Allia’s child, he had been determined to help her if he could. He had sent several groups of men out of the Warding in an attempt to find her, but so far, none had succeeded.
One morning, Callonen woke to the feeling that something was wrong. Exhaustion weighed him down and waking up felt difficult. His bones ached. When he washed, he stared in shock at his face in the mirror. He had aged noticeably, and he couldn’t help but remember how his father’s health had failed so quickly.
No one had been able to do anything to help Caldoreth. Was Callonen doomed to die the same way?
The healers tried every cure they knew on him, but over the next several days, Callonen only grew worse. He called a meeting of his closest councillors. Before entering the room, he paused outside the door and took a deep breath.
A few of his councillors gasped as they saw him, but he ignored them and took his place at the head of the table. The room fell silent. It would be best to be direct.
“I am not well. And we need to make some plans in case my health does not improve. I fear that if we can’t find a cure, the same thing will happen to me that happened to my father. My life will end within a year.”
He looked around the table as everyone began talking at once. A few of his noblemen, advisers and the best of his military were represented—General Gray, Captain Toren, Captain Dane and…
Callonen’s eyes rested on Zarek. He felt his throat tighten. He’d heard the boy had returned after completing the last of his training. All the reports praised his abilities, saying he had far surpassed the other soldiers. Zarek had been abroad to complete his studies, and Callonen hadn’t seen him for years. Now here he sat at the council table looking just like Talon.
Taking another deep breath, Callonen said, “If I die, the Warding will fall. Should that happen, the demons will destroy our nation. There won’t be anything that can be done at that point.”
“Emperor, isn’t there something we can do?” General Gray asked.
“I hope there is,” Callonen said. “But we tried every remedy we knew of to help my father, and nothing worked. We even tried to find another magician to undo the spell, but we couldn’t locate one.”
“If we could find the ring,” Zarek said, “it could heal you and protect the Warding.”
Callonen’s memory went back to a much smaller Zarek lying on the ground, near death after a poisoned spider’s bite. The boy had experienced the power of the ring firsthand. It would have been the perfect solution. If only it were possible.
“The ring is lost,” Callonen said. “None of our people have found any trace of it, not in all these years.”
