Third Earth, page 18
“Does Temnon?”
Leaning against the wall, Rein lay the coin on the tip of his finger and sprayed a fine jet of water into it. The light, tin coin danced on top of the fountain for a few seconds.
“He tried to come to you. You know how he gets, all fired up and determined to be the dashing hero. But Thayn”—he hesitated—“Thayn literally changed his mind. It was frightening.”
I hardly believed what I heard. “Just like that? Temnon gave up on me?”
“It’s not like that.”
Rein seemed to be struggling. His flirty confidence vanished into sincere confusion. His finger fountain burst, pushing the coin up in a spray of water droplets. Rein caught it as the water dispersed.
“I know he loves you, Agnes, and normally, he’d be loyal, heart and soul. Tem was raised to have a deep sense of responsibility,” he said, carefully choosing his words. “Sacrificing what he wants for the greater good is in his nature. Thayn is telling him exactly what appeals to that nature. It’s almost calculated. Tem doesn’t want to give you up, but Thayn is preventing him from talking to you and painting you as—well—you know.”
“No. I don’t know. What’s he saying about me?” I asked, not really wanting to hear the answer.
Rein ran a reluctant hand through his black hair, and the greenish highlights shone between his fingers.
“Thayn says you’re lying about the interference,” he sighed. “He’s telling Temnon that when the dragons scared you, you subconsciously retaliated out of your lack of self-confidence. He doesn’t believe your gift of truth is all you claim it to be. Honestly, I’ve never heard a more convincing bit of psychoanalytic brainwashing in my life, and it’s perfectly targeted to Temnon.”
My tired brain took a minute or two to process all that. What Thayn said—it was so close to the truth I almost believed it. The dragons did scare me, and I did struggle with self-confidence sometimes. If those few sentences had me doubting myself, how could Temnon trust me?
“So Thayn won’t let Temnon come talk to me himself?”
Rein shook his head. “He needs Temnon to continue his work.”
“What about the trial?” I asked Rein. “Will Thayn let Lumi get convicted to get rid of me?”
“No, he’s not a monster.” He held the coin between his fingers, thinking. “He’s only using this situation to get Tem to pick Third Earth over you.”
This was too much. I was worn out before I even came to this horrible planet, and then the terror of arriving, the core, the court, being eaten, and my hijacked gift all hit me one at a time. I felt tied to a pole with an automatic tennis ball launcher hurling horrors at my face.
Bam. Bam. Bam. Bam.
I curled up on the dirty floor and shut down. Rein didn’t leave. He didn’t talk. He just sat there, being with me, while my imagination dove into the darkest folds of my own personal fears.
19
Even After Death
A few hours later, Rein shook me.
“Agnes, Nemantia’s coming. Don’t tell her I was here, okay?”
Water trickled, and when I dragged myself off the floor, he’d gone back down the drain. Nemantia and her devoted bodyguard/boyfriend returned with Bandlash. The little dragon gave me a handful of natsa fruit, as he promised. I slurped down the purple mush, and then Nemantia helped me change out of my ruined armor into one of her own gowns. It was a deep, coral pink, and though she wore it to a stunning effect, I didn’t fill it out in critical places, and the color made my skin gray.
“The trial will begin soon.” Nemantia pinned up the extra fabric to keep me covered. “Father has sent a paladin to find a way to contact Phar Sekmet. We’ve never needed an Aether Stone to her quarters before; Grimmal always takes her messages. She has a right to plead for her kindmates, but she won’t be needed. Iloress herself will reveal who is behind all this.” She tugged the creases straight and gave me a final once over. “Not perfect, but good enough to face the regent.”
“Can’t Temnon make it fit?”
Anger weighted down her brows and her voice trembled a bit. “He’s been, um, occupied.”
“Oh.”
She leaned away to tuck up my sleeve and hide her rage. “We are on our own for now.”
I didn’t need my gift to tell me Nemantia hid something from me. Maybe she heard Thayn convincing Temnon I was a loser. They’d been visiting for hours, and Thayn was probably talking the whole time about what a weak, little liar I was.
Nemantia called for Bandlash. “We are ready to be escorted to court.”
The little dragon’s stubby horns popped up in the doorframe almost immediately, even though he waited on the other side of the cavern while I changed.
Splendid. We have permission to transport, just this once. May I cast a tracer spell on you?
“You may.” Nemantia answered for the three of us.
Bandlash’s yellow-green magic twinkled, and he vanished in a flash of blue. Caught by the tracer spell, my vision blurred, and I felt yanked away.
When my vision cleared, I stood about where I had earlier, on a low wooden platform. Above me, the huge, metal chandeliers stayed dark. The dragon court had not yet decided whether I was friend or foe.
Grimmal and Lumi were on a second platform to my left, guarded by four dragons. The binding spell still halted Grimmal between forms. He wasn’t much bigger than his saber-toothed tiger form. His front half had jet-black human arms and half-formed human hands. He sat on his stone haunches, unsure of where to put his awkward arms. My poor Lumi remained as a frightened kitten. I tried to give them a hopeful smile, but knowing my luck, the only thing they saw on my face was my out-of-control fear.
The First Earth delegation, including Nemantia, Jenz, Rein, and a half-dozen lawyer types, followed King Odric and Claude to my low platform. King Odric gave me a comforting nod. Behind the rest of the group trailed Thayn and Temnon. Thayn regarded me with squinting eyes, but my boyfriend avoided eye contact and crossed behind his grandfather, so he didn’t have to stand next to me.
My heart broke a little.
Nemantia huffed in disappointment at his behavior and left Jenz to stand by me.
Most of the boxes in the horseshoe arena were already full. Iloress’s box housed a mountain of gold, and her fancy neck jewelry draped around the opening, as a tribute to her status, I guessed.
From his own box, Regent Menneth studied me with his yellow, reptilian eyes. To his right, Kyprios sat with his tail anxiously flopping on the stone floor. To the left, the formerly empty box was now occupied by Dominath. His warm eyes didn’t stare at me, but at Ambassador Thayn.
Kyprios startled us all by leaping from his box and slamming the flat of his tail spade to get the attention of the court.
Let us begin this trial.
His voice rang, filling my head with his commanding mental shout. The growls and roars of the hundreds of dragons ceased. Kyprios stomped over to my sciftan friends. The hair on Grimmal’s neck stood up and his spine arched.
Lumi of Fifth Earth, Kyprios stated, you stand accused of the murder of Iloress, heiress of the Foras na Gaeilge bloodline and beloved member of our noblesse. What say you to these charges?
“We responded in a reasonable manner to her unprovoked attack,” growled Grimmal loudly.
I spoke to the Pharess, Kyprios stated calmly. Pharess Lumi? What say you?
I barely heard her tiny, kitten voice.
“The black dragon ate Agnes. I had to save her. She is my best friend.”
Sorrow and love struggled for control of my heart. Lumi saved me from being digested. Kyprios continued with the trial, heedless of my aching heart.
Your claims are noted, he said. Are there any to speak for you?
“I will speak.” Temnon stepped forward to address Kyprios, eyes steeled in determination.
Prince Temnon of First Earth. You were present at the attack and the events leading to it. You may testify.
Temnon recounted with confidence everything that happened from our arrival on Third Earth, including how I’d complained of not being able to tell the truth from a lie on several occasions. Claude testified next, confirming Temnon’s report and citing the favor I had done for Third Earth by discovering the sun larva and the true nature of the planet’s composition. Ambassador Thayn then stepped forward and made a big deal about the alliance between First and Third Earth. He quoted all kinds of complicated laws and policies, statute this and amendment that. He lost me after a few seconds, but the dragons lapped up every word. Then he added that Temnon and Claude had spoken the truth.
It seemed like he had done everything possible to speak in favor of Grimmal and Lumi. At least, until the very end. He sighed heavily and looked at me with regret.
“However,” he announced, “I would be remiss in my job as ambassador to Third Earth if I neglected to report that Miss Agnes did”—he paused for dramatic effect—“directly lie to us.”
The stacks of boxes echoed with the growls and angry protests of the dragons seated within them. They didn’t like that at all.
Clarify your last statement for the court, Ambassador, demanded Kyprios.
Thayn cleared his throat and shuffled his feet. What was he doing? To me, he seemed to be making things much worse by acting so guilty.
“As you are aware,” he said, eyes shifting and shoulders slouched, “the young arch mage of Second Earth is a Wielder of Truth. She cannot lie. Yet when she claimed that she meant no personal offense to Iloress by excluding her from the report on the sun larva, she stumbled over the words. My grandson has told me this indicates a lie.” He turned to Temnon. “Isn’t that right, m’boy?”
Temnon dropped his head and nodded solemnly. “Yes.”
The air heated with the dragons’ angry breath blowing out their exclamations. The whole situation turned against me as I watched, helpless and unable to say a word.
What does the Arch Mage say?
Kyprios stared at me with those deep, accusing eyes. For freaking pity’s sake! I already told him I couldn’t testify. What did he expect from me? Just like before, I felt the lie building up inside me. It sat at the back of my throat, and I tilted my head up to keep it from sliding down my tongue and out my mouth.
“Miss Agnes can’t testify.” Nemantia put a hand on my back and practically shouted to the court. “Someone or something is interfering with her gift of truth. Both Prince Temnon and Arch Mage Claude have already confirmed that she has felt the interference for days now.” She stared coldly at her grandfather. “Ambassador Thayn is also aware of this.”
A few dragons nodded in agreement. Kyprios was one of them. That has been officially recorded. However, Agnes is the only one who can confirm what motivated her actions.
“Can’t she just give a signal for yes or no? Or write down her testimony? The spell influencing her doesn’t control her body, only her words and her telepathy.”
“I’m sorry, my dear,” Ambassador Thayn interjected. “Testimonies on Third Earth are limited to directly spoken or telepathic communication only. Agnes must testify or forfeit her right to defend the sciftans.”
The Ambassador speaks rightly, Princess. There is no other who can speak to her motivations.
“If that is the case, there is one who can speak to Iloress’s motivations. Let me ask the black dragon herself.”
Enraged roars sounded from above where Grimmal sat. Iloress’s family, no doubt. I had to admit, I didn’t blame them. I’d be upset too. They stomped and slashed at their boxes, breathing flames in my direction and shaking the spines along their necks.
Kyprios didn’t react to the increased hostility. He simply proceeded as usual. A controversial request. However, it may provide the information we need to make an accurate decision. I yield to the wisdom of Regent Menneth.
The regent rose from his pile of coins and shook his furry ruff. Green, glowing magic particles floated like fireflies up in every direction and settled on the scales of the dragon noblesse. The angry roaring ceased. Outrage calmed into concern, and aggressive postures relaxed.
No wonder the regent was the regent. His talent of peace was amazing, but what would he say? Was he for me or against me? He asked me here. Was he the evil mastermind? But why ask me to find the traitors if he was their boss?
He stared into the distance, thinking for quite a while, before shaking his ruff again.
After some pondering, he announced, I believe the necromancer is correct. Iloress’s life was robbed far too soon, and she should have her say. So long as the necromancer requires only Iloress’s own words in testimony and swears to release her to the afterlife immediately following her words.
“I so swear,” Nemantia said clearly, the blood draining from her face.
Very well. Iloress’s body lies in the tombs of our ancestors below this hall. It may take some time to retrieve it and have it brought here.
Temnon lifted a hand to get the regent’s attention. “Allow me, Regent Menneth,” he volunteered.
Ah, yes. Menneth stretched out his tail and flicked it against the wall of his box. The prince’s substantial talent will make the task easier, he explained to the rest of the noblesse. Proceed, young ones.
Temnon’s golden magic flooded from his hands to the thick stone of the floor, bathing it in a shimmering metallic pool. The stone shifted, falling into the space below at different heights, until a dragon-width staircase descended into the tombs. A pungent smell of ancient decay, rot, and mold wafted up into the arena. My stomach immediately churned, and I resisted the impulse to cover my nose. I breathed slowly through my mouth and took Nemantia’s hand for comfort. She was trembling.
“You okay?” I whispered.
She tried to smile, but her lips were tight and thin. “I haven’t summoned a draugr as myself before, only under the influence of Vi Lorina. My will must be a stronger will than the subject, or I lose control. And my subject is a murderous dragon.”
“What?” I squeaked. “Oh sh—”
I squeezed my mouth shut before the swearing leaked out. Dominath once told me that wizards grew more powerful with age, and only a few were born powerful. Temnon was one of those few, but Dominath never claimed Nemantia had the same advantage. She was only four years older than Temnon. Was she too young to attempt this kind of advanced necromancy?
“Nemmy,” I hissed in a panic, “you don’t have to do this. I’ll testify for myself. I’ll control the curse and make my truth work.”
“You will, will you? Just like that? When you haven’t been able to all day?” She drew in a deep breath of the stench and straightened her back. “I can do this. I don’t need that controlling old witch inside my skin to use my own gift.”
A soft blue aura shone around Nemantia. It grew and intensified with each passing second. She whispered strange words, and I noticed subtle movement from the arena. Within each box, the dragons leaned toward her, their necks extending as far as they reached.
I studied her magic until I deciphered its purpose. She created a compelling command of obedience before summoning Iloress’s spirit. It was strong enough to influence even the living dragons.
A second spell formed, and bits of magic floated upward, filtering through the metal chandeliers and into the ceiling. Minutes ticked by. Nemantia whispered constantly, and a few of the dragons swayed to the patter of her words. I glanced over at Temnon. His eyes were on me, but they darted away, like looking at me was now a crime. His rejection pierced me deeper than a knife.
My heart sunk and an unpleasant crawling sensation raced inside the muscles of my legs. I scratched them, but my fingernail couldn’t reach that deep. I tried deep breathing, but the stench made me gag. I sent all my stress into the floor, but Iloress was down there. I pictured myself on the beach at my Apex, but it reminded me of Temnon. All attempts to calm myself failed. Grimmal’s freedom and Lumi’s life in jeopardy, Temnon hating me, my hijacked truth, and now Nemantia attempted a dangerous summoning that she might not be able to control? Yeah, my legs shook, and my crawling nerves drove me nuts.
Come on, Tem! Give me something, my heart cried.
The only thing he gave me was a nice view of the back of his head. He stood firmly against me, casting a shadow on his grandfather’s face. At least Thayn acknowledged me; his intense stare was better than being ignored.
A bright light drew my attention upward. The enormous shape of a dragon coated in Nemantia’s blue magic oozed from the ceiling. It gently fell, hissing at me as it passed me and dropped into the stairway. A few moments later, a raspy roar ascended from the pit beneath us, and the stone stairs shuddered with resounding footfalls. The dragons in the hall trembled from excitement, or possibly Nemantia’s magic, but the tension was insane.
With each thundering step, my fear increased. The coral gown didn’t sparkle with anti-dragon magic and Iloress’s teeth were still deadly as a draugr.
Be still, child. Dominath spoke to me. He must have noticed me shaking like a leaf under all that flimsy fabric. I will protect you. I cannot be charged with her murder when she’s already dead. Besides, the princess is quite in control of Iloress.
That was a huge relief because right at that moment, the curly black horns rose from the pit.
Her yellow eyes, so intense and unreadable before, glowed in docile awareness. One slow step at a time, the reanimated body climbed the steps into the chamber. A crown that dwarfed the glory of the regent’s and a fortune of riches adorned every inch of black scales.
As her torso cleared the steps, I saw the gash that ended her life. It was horrifying. I closed my eyes, but there, in the dark, I remembered sloshing around in her stomach, fighting for my own life. Stupid Third Earth. I wanted to go home and forget that dragons existed. But how could I? How could I abandon my beautiful Lumi? Or Grimmal? Or even Temnon, who might be unintentionally agreeing to a life he didn’t choose? Even if he rejected me, I had to stay. I still had hope for us.
