Otherworld: A Son of Two Realms

Chapter 76: "Latchkey"

Despite the half-dozen armed guards surrounding them, Jack thought everything was going perfectly to plan.

They'd gotten much further than he expected, making it all the way into the White Palace's inner bailey before the guards spotted them. Within seconds, they had been surrounded and arrested, but not before Alba had bloodied a few soldiers. They had been stripped of their weapons, including Brigand's Bane and all twelve of Alba's knives, and led into the White Palace under heavy guard.

Now, they rode the familiar lift up into the Palace's highest tower, where Lord Chancellor Cera was waiting.

Glancing over, Jack saw Alba eying the guards on either side of her, noting gaps in their armor and the position of their weapons. Her hands wavered at her side and he knew she was just waiting for an opening. She would probably disorient one guard with a jab to the chin, snatch his dagger, and use it against another. Except, if she did that, she would ruin everything. Catching her eye, Jack squinted, knotting his brow. Her shoulders dropped and she glared back with a look that said, Don't make me regret this.

Turning his head, Jack found Kate staring ahead, her face frozen in fear. He tried to catch her eye but she seemed to have retreated inside herself, blocking away any thought of where they might be headed. He offered her a smile anyway, though she did not see it.

As the lift raised them into the domed portal room, Alba uttered a curse. Jack's heart sank. His confidence in the plan wavered.

The room was bathed in the sapphire glow of a hundred dead eyes. In the center of the room, amid the sea of entranced magicborn, Cera stood next to the arched portal in a spotless white robe. Next to the burning braziers, flanked by two bodyguards in full armor, stood King Korda Wayland, his hand resting on the pummel of Brigand's Bane. He wore chainmail under a red surcoat and his face drew out with a grim expression. If he remembered any of the promises he'd made to Jack earlier that week, he didn't show it.

The lift jolted to a stop and Cera lifted his arms like a conductor. "Now, at long last, we can begin."

A dangerous hunger burned in Cera's eyes as he watched the three prisoners step off the lift. However bad Jack wanted to win, Cera wanted it more.

The guards gave Jack a rough jab in the back and he walked forward, through the blue haze. Jack saw an old man on the table next to him, his mouth agape. Then a young boy. Then a beautiful woman. On and on they stretched, bathing the dome in an aqua glow.

As they approached the clearing in the middle of the room, Cera put on a playful smirk. "Were my instructions misinterpreted? You didn't have to sneak yourselves into the city. I know Talon's a coward, but I at least expected him to deliver you in person."

"I came to you on my own," Jack said, forcing himself to look away from the bodies. "I want to make a deal with you."

Cera's smirk wavered and he crossed his arms. "Very well, state your terms."

"I know how to open the portal."

Cera huffed. "You claimed as much last time we were here."

"I wasn't willing to open it for you then," Jack said, slipping into the lie with practiced ease. "But Talon lied to me about his prophecy. I'd rather deal with you than be his pawn." Cera still didn't look convinced so Jack motioned to Alba and Kate. "Would I have brought them if I was going to trick you?"

"What do you want in return?"

"Talon is a fool but the rest of the Resistance shouldn't pay for that. I'll open the portal and guide you through but you have to call off your army. Leave the island in peace and release these magicborn. You won't need them after I open the portal, right?"