The Blue Flames, page 62
Until she began to speak.
“Isaac? Isaac, can you hear me? It’s time to wake now. Time to open your eyes.” Her words were as soft as a breath, filled with tenderness and heartbreak. “Isaac? Darling, you must come back. You must give me a chance to say how sorry I am. How deeply wrong I was about everything. God, you cannot leave me now.” She suppressed a sob, then rested her brow against his and shut her eyes. “Your heart beats still. I can feel it. It has always been the strongest I’ve ever known. Please, dearest, wake. Wake. I need you. Please. Oh, God forgive me. Don’t take him. Don’t take him now. I beg you.”
The Colonists were stunned. In that moment, they could hardly remember their grief or their panic, the dozens of dead hunters lying a few feet away, or that Pallaton had just tried to kill them. Nothing compared to the shock of Seherene’s tender words and heartfelt tears.
And then, Caradoc began to stir, moving his head ever-so-slightly, his chest rising and falling with deeper breaths. Encouraged, Seherene moved her hand down over his heart.
“Isaac?”
She breathed his name as if speaking a holy word in secret. Slowly, he opened his eyes and gazed up at her. He blinked, then frowned—as much in pain as in confusion.
“Is this a dream?” His voice was weak and hoarse.
She took his hand in hers and clasped it to her breast. “No, darling. It’s not a dream. I’m here. I’m here.” A fresh round of tears welled in her eyes. “I was so blind. And so bitter. Please, forgive me. Please.”
The look in his eye softened. He entwined his fingers in hers.
“Always.”
A sob escaped as she bowed her head. He reached out his hand, hesitant, then touched her face and gently brushed her tears away with his thumb.
“I was right,” he said.
She choked back another sob and nodded. “About so many things. I know. I’m so sorry.”
The faintest hint of a smile tugged at the corner of his mouth. “No. I was right . . . about being nervous to meet your mother.”
Laughter broke from her instead of a sob.
“Leave it to you to make jokes at a time like this.”
She kissed his hand. His smile faded. He blinked heavily once, then closed his eyes again. His body went limp. She frowned and put her hand to his face.
“Isaac?”
Simon broke from the others and knelt beside him. He checked for a pulse, felt for breath, then checked them both again. Seherene looked at him in tearful alarm.
“Unconscious,” he said. “He’s lost too much blood. We need to get him to the infirmary. On Riverfall.”
“On what?”
“Our village. It’s there in the bay, about five miles out. We landed on Fenmire in a small airship but it’s out of commission now.”
Seherene glanced back at Caradoc worriedly, then rose to her feet and nodded at Ink.
“Show me.”
Ink turned and hurried towards the end of the promontory. Seherene followed, her hands and clothing spattered with blood. Chester looked at the others with his mouth agape and his eyes still wide.
“What the hell just happened?”
When they reached the far end, Ink stopped and gestured towards the dark shape half-hidden in the storm. Seherene raised a hand. A wave of air swept through the fog and swirling snow, clearing a path six feet across until it reached the hulking village in the distance.
“Is that it?”
“Yeah. But I don’t see how we’re gonna get him there in time. Not even if we stole your airship.”
“It looks like a ruin. Has it always been that way?”
“No. It used to be up in the sky. Riva raised it. But we hit some kind of trap.”
“In the sky? That’s impossible. No Entrian could do such a thing alone.”
“Well . . . she weren’t exactly alone. The others . . . they sort of . . . lent her a hand.”
She looked down at him, bewildered.
“I know,” he said. “Cassrians can’t do enchantments. But it turns out we can help.”
“How? Did she ever explain it to you?”
“She said it was like . . . harnessing energy. Drawing in all the strength she could feel around her. But we have to be linked up somehow. Holding hands usually. And the more people, the better.”
She seemed to hesitate, but a single glance back at Caradoc turned it to resolve.
“Then we must try it. And quickly.”
Ink turned and beckoned. “Up here! All of you! Join hands!”
There was no time to hesitate. Simon stayed at Caradoc’s side, monitoring his pulse, but nodded his encouragement to the others. They hurried forward and formed a line across the promontory, taking hands.
Seherene reached for Ink’s, then closed her eyes and held out her other hand towards Riverfall. As had happened during their attempt to make the Auric Key work, Ink felt a surge of energy traveled up one arm and down the other. It made him feel more alive, as if he could run for days and not get tired, or jump across the bay in a single leap.
But nothing happened. The fog began to close again over the path she had cleared. Ink glanced up at her face. Another tear slipped down her cheek. Her hand began to tremble in his. She was losing her focus.
“Don’t,” he said.
She looked down at him.
He shook his head. “Don’t think of him back there. Think of him well again.”
She took a deep breath, drew herself to her full height, and tried a second time.
And then he saw it. Riverfall was drifting closer, breaking through the fog, sailing straight towards them. A loud mooing sound echoed across the water as Nyssa panicked over the sudden movement. Ink felt almost giddy, so much that he laughed aloud in triumph. It was working! Even picking up speed! And what a sight they were—the last free Colonists, standing shoulder to shoulder with the Angel of Reckoning, with a runaway pickpocket between them.
The far end of the precipitous cape was still a good distance from where they stood, but the water was deep enough for the village to be brought right up against it. This Seherene did, being careful to slow its momentum just before it made contact. There was a rumbling sound and a noise of scraping rock. The trees on Riverfall’s border shuddered, scattering snow from their limbs as the floating land mass finally came to a stop.
“Upon my soul,” Delia said beside Ink, staring wide-eyed at what they had done.
Seherene opened her eyes and stared down at her hands. “Merciful heavens. What can this mean?”
“I’m losing his pulse!”
Simon’s desolate voice drew their attention. His face was wracked with dismay.
“His wounds are healed, but the blood can’t make up the depletion fast enough. If he doesn’t get back to the infirmary in a few minutes, he will still be lost.”
Ink’s heart sank. They had made a way to return, but it was at least a good fifteen-minute walk to make it to the infirmary. Before anyone could say another word, Harriet turned and strode a half dozen paces towards the village.
“Annabelle!” she cried. “Bessie!”
She clenched her fists, wildly scanning the tree-lined perimeter.
“Annabelle! Bessie! To me, now! To me!”
Everyone held their breath. A long silence followed.
Shadows moved among the trees, then broke into sight. There were the horses, summoned by the voice of their beloved keeper. They were quick to find sure footing onto the promontory, then sped towards the astounded group.
“I’ll go,” Jeremy said. “I can ride bareback.”
As soon as the horses reached them, Harriet put a hand to Bessie and steadied her as Jeremy got astride. Chester, Evering, and Martin raced back to help Simon lift Caradoc onto the horse. The Keyholder slumped forward but Jeremy held him tight with an arm across his chest. Simon hurried to Annabelle and mounted.
“How do we guide them?” he asked, looking down at Harriet.
“Lean in whatever direction you want them to go. And talk to them. They’ll know by the sound of your voice if they’re doing right. Hurry!”
“Come on, Annabelle!” Jeremy said. “Come on, Bessie! Good girls! Turn about!”
The horses swung around. Simon glanced down at Seherene.
“He’s got a fighting chance now. I’ll do everything I can.”
She nodded. He tapped Annabelle’s flanks with his heels. The mare needed no further urging and broke into a gallop across the snow. Bessie followed close behind. Everyone watched until the horses had reached the village and disappeared through the trees.
Delia put a hand to her brow, then turned and fixed Seherene with a cold glare.
“Can you place a shroud around it once we’re all aboard?”
“Yes. And a shield if you wish.”
“Good.” Delia glanced at the others. “There’ll be plenty of time for questions later. Right now we need to get home.” She looked at Seherene again, then turned aside as if to make way for her. “After you.”
The words were respectful, but the tone was every bit an unspoken warning against trickery. Seherene hesitated. Ink could tell she was wondering what kind of fate might befall her in the village she had brought to them. Even so, she answered with a nod.
“Wait!” Ink said.
He ran to where her blue cloak lay, retrieved it, and brought it back to her.
“Here. You must be freezing.”
Her worried expression softened. She reached out and touched his cheek for a moment, moved by the gesture. In times past, such an act would have been enough to make him blush for days. Now he didn’t know what to feel. She took the cloak, then turned and started off towards Riverfall.
Ink followed close behind. The others kept a cautious distance.
Not one of them glanced back again. This suited the cloaked figure who stared after them, standing in the midst of the fallen hunters. She clicked her tongue with a shake of her head.
“Not until I say so, Broken One.”
With a flick of her hand, the burning trees were quenched.
An hour later, Lady Madara woke in her cabin aboard the Adrasteia. She frowned at the two men staring down at her. One was the captain. The other she did not recognize.
“Oh, thank heaven, she’s all right,” the captain said.
Madara narrowed her eyes. She had been placed in her bed and propped up against several pillows. “What happened?”
“We found you unconscious, my lady, almost a mile inland. We found the missing Colonist-hunters as well, slain on a beach two miles south of camp. Horrible sight, it was. We are working now to recover them all.”
“Where is my daughter?”
“There’s no sign of her yet, but we are still searching.”
“And the Colonists?” Madara continued, her voice rising. “Is there no trace of them? Did you not find even one?”
The captain looked almost sheepish. “I am afraid not.”
Madara’s eyes burned with rage. She grasped the bedcovers between her hands as if to tear them apart. “Lord Pallaton has been murdered.”
“No!” the captain said, horrified. “But . . . are you sure? We did not find his body amongst the others.”
“I saw the deed with my own eyes!”
The noise of clinking glass caught her attention away. Irritated, she swung her gaze to the second man who stood pouring a small glass of brandy.
“Who is this?” she demanded.
“Uh, this is the ship’s physician, madam,” the captain answered. “Doctor Alec Percival.”
“A Cassrian? A Cassrian physician aboard an Entrian ship?”
The second man smirked, twitching his pencil-thin mustache, then turned and handed her the brandy. “Yes, my lady, but please . . . don’t hold it against me.”
“He came to us on the highest recommendation—”
“Fine,” Madara said, cutting the captain short. She squinted at Percival and raised her chin with an imperious air. “I need an arrest warrant drawn up, immediately. Since there is no longer anyone onboard who is qualified to do so, you will have to undertake the task. Do you think you can manage it?”
“Of course. I spent the first half of my career as a professor of law. I have a particular knack for legal language. If I may be so bold as to inquire . . . who is the subject?”
“The Lady Seherene. Guilty of high treason. Now fetch your pen and paper.”
Chapter 58
The Brightest Light
Riverfall was in ruins. Every window in every remaining house was cracked or broken. Fallen trees and debris had smashed the cobblestone path in many places. Rubble from the tower had been blasted across the village. The air was thick with the smell of cinders and ash. Almost a quarter of the path had tumbled into the sea, along with Riva and Jeremy’s houses.
They had to make their way through the garden grove in order to reach the infirmary, carefully sidestepping the wreckage as they went. Chickens wandered about, largely unruffled. At the edge of the cornfield they came across Nyssa grazing on the dead stalks. She was unharmed but fairly skittish when Delia went to lay a hand on her. A few soothing words soon calmed her, and she was quickly led back to her pen.
Annabelle and Bessie stood outside Simon’s house. Harriet rushed to them at once and looked them over. They had suffered no injury during Riverfall’s descent and seemed to be in steady temperaments. The rest of the Colonists gathered close to the front steps. They could hear Simon’s voice inside as he gave Jeremy instructions on what medical supplies he needed from which cabinet.
Seherene had placed shroud and shield enchantments around Riverfall as soon as they’d left the promontory. The storm overhead was like a dark fury, casting torrents of snow and ice down around the invisible bubble. It was an odd sight but a very welcome one, for the shield had the added effect of keeping out the worst of the freezing winter temperatures.
Ink snuck frequent glances at the Entress. She paced slowly a short distance away from them, lost in her thoughts. He was still struggling to make sense of things himself. Nothing could have prepared him for the way Seherene and Caradoc had looked at each other a few minutes ago. How they’d spoken as if they had been the only two people in the world. It occurred to him that until that moment, he’d never actually heard either of them say the other’s name. Seherene had always referred to him as Ink’s ‘Protector’ or ‘the Keyholder’—but never ‘Caradoc’, and certainly never ‘Isaac’. And Caradoc had always found ways to avoid saying her name in turn. What kind of pain had made them keep even each other’s names at arm’s length for nine whole years? It was staggering.
Delia rejoined the group, having returned from the cow pen. By then, the pacing Entress had caught everyone else’s attention as well. Margaret folded her arms and nudged Chester with her elbow.
“So? What do you think now you see her?”
He raised his eyebrows. “I think ‘Goddess of Reckoning’ is more the proper phrase, in all respects. The fight she put up against that Entrian brute was nothing short of impressive. The sheer power of it! I never saw anything like it!”
“You talk as if that’s a good thing,” Evering said. “She could probably crush this village with a snap of her fingers if she wanted.”
“Maybe nothing quite so drastic,” Delia replied. “But you’re probably not far off. We’ll have to watch her like a hawk every moment. Who’s to say what she’ll do next?”
The storm winds howled around the shield, gusting to the south. Harriet stroked Annabelle’s silken neck with a thoughtful expression. She glanced at the others.
“Did you know? Did any of you know?”
No one had to ask what she meant. Each shook their head in answer. A moment later, Simon appeared in the doorway at the top of the steps. He raised his hands as they rushed towards him.
“He’s all right—for now. His pulse is steady again and he’s breathing fine, but he still hasn’t regained consciousness. His body needs time to do its work. It will take hours, perhaps even days. But Jeremy and I will stay with him every moment until he wakes again.”
Martin stepped back and turned his glare on Seherene. “What kind of bullet does that kind of damage? He may as well have taken a cannon blast to the chest! He should’ve been dead before he hit the ground!”
Seherene stopped pacing but kept her gaze on the broken pathway. “My mother used black spells to ensure it would reach him, and to cause as much suffering as possible.”
Martin threw up his hand. “Black spells? Fantastic. So do you all deal in them? Are occult enchantments all the fashion now in Entrian society?”
“Far from it.”
“What about those trees?” Jeremy asked. “Was it you who set them on fire?”
“No. But it wasn’t until they were lit that I was able to find you. I thought for a moment you yourselves had done it.”
Delia narrowed her eyes. “And the spyglass? Why didn’t you signal us?”
“I did. About twenty minutes before I found you on the ridge.”
The Colonists exchanged knowing glances. That was just about the time they’d decided to try escaping to an Otherworld. No one had paid much heed to signals after that.
“Did you know that Entrian lord was going to kill all those hunters?” Margaret asked. “Was that always part of your plan?”
“No, it wasn’t. I gave orders for everyone to remain in our camp until I released them. But once I learned the truth of the situation, Pallaton decided to take charge of things.”
“She’s lying,” Evering said.
Ink was so surprised to hear the rancorous tone in his voice he nearly scolded him for it. Instead, he settled for a word of defense.
“You don’t know that.”
“Of course I do!” The young man’s cheeks flushed with anger. “Because this is all just a big trick, isn’t it? Getting us to bring her here! Luring us into believing we can trust her! She’s only waiting for her own moment of glory! When she can take us all to Ciras as one big happy group and then parade us in front of an executioner!”
