The palace was quiet, filled with an earwigged silence tolerated like a whispered conversation. Beams from the risen Ulah moon trickled through the windows and cast blue light across the long corridors. Sage pressed her back against the wall when she heard the low creak of the infirmary door. She waited until she heard the soft click of the door being closed shut before she dared to peer past the corner. Hidden within the depths of a black cloak, Layla Echowood peered down the hall. Sage caught a glimpse of Layla's charcoal grey eyes as they glinted in the light of the moon before she started down the hall.
Sage followed after her, making sure to stay within the shadows and a good distance away to prevent discovery. She moved fast and with practiced stealth. She'd forgone her armor for tonight. Spying was better done without the weight of three pounds of metal slowing her down and restraining her movements.
She'd been watching Layla all day under the pretense of checking up on her sister. Layla hadn't done much of anything yet, other than sleep. But Sage was certain it'd be only a matter of time before she made a move. She'd waited. Now as the hour neared midnight she was on the move.
Layla moved through the servant halls, avoiding the main hallways which were patrolled by both palace and Kuth guards. The number of guards had been increased around the palace since the kidnapping. The empress was panicked, worried for the safety of her children. She had guards stationed in front of each of the young royal's rooms at all hours of the day and refused for them to move freely without escorts. It'd been nearly impossible to get a minute alone with Val all day.
Layla turned down a passageway that led down to the kitchens as soon as she'd reached the ground floor. Sage thought she knew where Layla was headed; there was a service exit through the kitchens, it led out to a rather secluded path away from the palace. If she timed it right she could slip past the guards during a shift change. If Sage wasn't mistaken there was one scheduled in a few minutes. However, her theory proved false when Layla stopped midway through the passageway, in front of a tapestry of the goddess Atrina, the goddess of rain. She was depicted on her knees, her face turned to the heavens and her arms spread wide as she embraced the falling drops. Layla checked the passageway, Sage ducked between the indentation in the wall, before she pulled the tapestry away to reveal a secret door. She pulled a key from a hidden pocket in her cloak.
Sage waited and watched as Layla slid the key into the lock and turned it, then quietly pulled the door open. She disappeared through the door. Sage gave her five minutes before she came up to the door. She made a silent prayer to the gods that Layla hadn't locked the door behind herself. The gods were listening. Sage gently turned the door handle and it clicked open.
The door opened up to a dark spiral stone staircase. Sage stood at the top staring down into the abyss below. She couldn't see to the bottom of it but she could hear Layla's slightly muffled footsteps as she descended the stairs. She couldn't be far ahead of her. Taking unsteady steps, keeping close to the wall she started her descend.
Sage was certain she was almost to the bottom when she saw the low flicker of light. Layla stopped when her name was whispered into the dark. "Layla," the name was spoken with such familiarity, as if the voice had said it countless times before.
Sage stopped where she was, too cautious to get any closer. She heard Layla's relieved sigh before she heard her ask, "Did they find her?" There was a desperate plea to her voice.
The other voice, deep but soft, said, "I'm afraid not."
"They will," Layla sighed. "She won't be able to hide for long."
"Are you certain you want them to?"
"I'm not certain of anything at this point but," she paused, "what is done is done. I made my choice."
"It's not too late to change your mind," he sounded sympathetic.
She laughed. It wasn't a humorous laugh. It was bitter and jarred, like the sound of ice cracking. "It is."
The other voice sighed, exasperated, as if he'd made this argument before and he no longer had the energy for it. "Have you made any progress with your other mission?" He changed the subject.
"No." Sage heard her shifting. "I haven't had much time. The healer girl has been watching me like a hawk."
"You think she suspects you?" Sage's breath hitched; she didn't like the sound of the underlying threat in his voice.
"No," Layla waved him off. "She knows nothing. She's only concerned for my wellbeing."
"Okay, but you need to find the artefact soon," he warned. "The Wythynians will not give us much time. If we don't do this..." he left the threat hanging the air as if the mere mention of the Wythynians was implication enough of the consequences of failure.
Layla took a moment to say, "I understand." Then she added, "And your mission. Is everything ready."
Sage could hear the smile in his voice as he said, "Yes. Everything is in order. Before the week's end the empress will be dead."
>>>>>>>
"Are you sure this is safe?" Anna asked as she eyed the gate warily.
"As sure as I can be." Kellen came to stand beside her. "No one has used this gate in nearly a century. I'm not even sure it still works but if it does, it's the fastest way off this island."
"Okay, but why Teri'are?" Kol moved to stand on Anna's other side. "Couldn't the gate take us directly to Ellimer?"
"That's not how gates work," Hae explained. "One gate is tethered to another, linked through magic and can only open where the other gate is."
"And that other gate is in Teri'are," Kellen filled in.
Hae frowned crouching in front of the gate. It was a large arch built from black stone and brandished with several Volenoth symbols. The symbols were etched into each of the stones. She let her finger graze the first symbol at the bottom of the arch. It was the symbol for Ulah, the Gomean goddess of the oceans and life. It was two hooks side by side, a curved line crossing over the top of the second hook and another curved line crossing over the midpoint of the first hook and then intersecting with the other curved line at the top of both hooks. Ulah was also the goddess of protection and safe journeys, so it wasn't an odd occurrence to see her symbol on the gate. The other symbols were spells cast upon the gate, she recognized a few but not all.
Getting back on her feet she turned to Kellen. "What I don't understand though," she said, "is why there's a gate here on this island. Paralous was supposedly a deserted island before the arrival of your tribe. How did this gate windup here? Who built it? And why?"
Kellen turned his spring gaze from Anna to her. "I'm not certain," he told her. "I only know what I've been told. The gate is the reason my tribe is on this island. A hundred years ago when the war started my tribe fled Teri'are to this island using the gate. And it hasn't been used since then."
"Okay, so if the gate does work and we end up on Teri'are, what then? How are we supposed to get to Ellimer from there?" Kol questioned.
"There are other gates," Cleya said coming from behind them. She had her shawl wrapped tightly around herself to keep warm from the night chill. "There are sixteen gates all across Omora," she went on. "Nine of which were destroyed during the war with the Wythynians. The remaining seven have remained a closely guarded secret among our tribe. But I am choosing to trust the three of you with this secret." She pulled out a rolled-up piece of parchment from her shawl. "By the will of Mou, may you find success in your quest."
Anna accepted the parchment. "Thank you," she gave a small reserved but earnest smile, "for everything you've done for us."
"No need to thank us," Kellen said. "We know first hand of the pain the Wythynians inflict and we wouldn't wish it on anyone. If there's anything we can do to ease the suffering of others we're happy to help. I wish there was more we could have done for you though."
"You've done more than enough," Hae told him.
"You must be on your way now," Cleya said directing them to the gate. "Be careful." She said the words not out of sentimentality but as if it were a warning. As if she knew the road that laid in front of them would not be an easy one.
Anna, Kol and Hae stood together at the threshold of the gate, holding hands. "This is it," Anna said. "There's still time for you to back out. You don't have to come with me if you don't want to."
"It's going to be dangerous," Hae said looking to Kol.
He smiled, his bright and bold smile. His smile that spoke volumes in its careless nature. "I live for danger," he said.
Hae turned to Anna. "We care about Andy too. We want him back too. We're going with you."
There was no turning back now.
>>>>>>>
"There's no turning back now," Arlin said, his head and gaze tilted up to the ship docked in front of them. His ears and half his face were again hidden within the hood of his shrug.
"I wasn't planning to," Andy replied him, though he was half certain Arlin was saying the words more to himself than him.
Arlin turned to him and smiled. "Okay then, let's get on board before they leave without us."
The ship was a mid-sized vessel compared to the other ships in the harbour. It had three masts with square black sails branded with Wythyn insignia, a pair of white wings and two gold blades crossed over them. Andy swallowed the lump in his throat.
This could be a trap, a voice in his head nagged. He felt inclined to listened to that voice. It sounded like reason begging him not to be foolish. But there was another voice, you don't have any other choice, the voice said. He knew this voice. It was the voice of necessity. Yes, this could very much be a trap but what were his other options? He had no other way of figuring a way out of this city without the help of Arlin. Against his better judgement he knew he needed to work with Arlin.
"Coming?" Arlin asked over his shoulder. Andy nodded and followed him up the creaky plank and on board the Deakin.
The ship's crew moved quickly preparing to sail. They were so many people moving about, it left Andy feeling nervous. His social anxiety was flaring up. He tried to turn for the only familiar face he had but Arlin wasn't where he'd been a moment ago. Dread settled in his gut like a large stone and he cursed under his breath. He felt exposed, out of place, as he stood awkwardly searching for Arlin. It didn't take long for someone else to realize he didn't belong.
"And who may you be?" asked a burly man, his voice guff and demanding. He had a rowdy beard, a gnarly scar across his right cheek and the palest blue eyes Andy had ever seen. They sent a chill through his body as the man stared him down.
"Um..." Andy muttered taking an uneasy step back. He hit something. When he turned a woman, tall, with a hard look in her eyes and a tick in her jaw was standing behind him with her arms crossed over her chest.
"Who let him on the ship?" she asked the burly man.
"I think we have a stowaway."
"Not a very good one," she commented. "We're still docked. Get him off the ship, Jem."
"Ay," the burly—Jem grunted.
"Wait," Andy managed, panic tightening his throat. Where was Arlin?
"Yes?" the woman asked, crocking a brow. "I'm waiting."
"I'm supposed to be on this ship," he said uncertainly. Was he supposed to be on this ship? He cursed Arlin's name again.
Jem laughed. It was a loud, unsettling laugh. "Uh-huh, according to who?"
"According to me," a third voice came.
Jem's features stoned. "Captain," he muttered.
The woman he referred to as captain smiled. She was shorter than the other woman, but still tall, a couple of inches taller than Andy. She had dark braided hair with wood carved beads. She wore knee high black leather boots, beige trousers, a white shirt with a ruffled front and a black naval coat with gold buttons. She also wore a captain's hat with the Wythyn insignia.
"These two will be my guest on our voyage to Zouye," the captain explained. Andy noticed Arlin standing next to her. "Jem, can you show them to my cabin."
"Ay, captain."
Without even a glance at Andy she turned and left. The other woman followed after her. Jem turned to them and grunted, "Here we go then." He started for the head of the ship. Arlin gave a sly smile and shrug and followed after him. Andy was last to move.
The captain's cabin was a medium sized room. It had a rectangular desk in one corner with a large leather, stuffed armchair. The desk was unkempt, crowded with askew stacks of books, crumpled sheets of paper and an assortment of random frayed objects. A round table with several chairs was in another corner. It was littered with used cups and empty bottles of alcohol. The walls were made up of book shelves, stacked with large volumes. The shelves were surprisingly well kept, all the books straightened and in order.
Jem stopped at the door and let them enter. "Stay in here," he grunted before he left. As soon as he was gone, Andy turned on Arlin.
"What was that?" he nearly yelled.
"What was what?" Arlin played dumb.
"You left me out there, alone," he said, his tone filled with contempt. "They almost made me walk the plank."
"No, they didn't," he said matter-of-factly. This annoyed Andy further.
"How would you know, you weren't there."
Arlin crossed the cabin and plopped down on the large armchair. "First," he held up a finger, "these are merchants not pirates." Andy frowned. "And second," he held up another finger, "I was gone for a second. It wouldn't have gotten that far."
Andy huffed, crossing his arms over his chest. "And if it had?"
Arlin smiled. It was a slow action. His lips curved at one side and his eyes lit with blatant amusement. He got to his feet, leaned over the desk, grabbed Andy's chin, his fingers dug into his cheek. "It's almost as if you expect me to abandon you."
Andy glared at him. "I don't trust you."
"Smart." Arlin dropped his hand and dropped back into the chair. "You really shouldn't."
Before Andy could comment on that the door swung open. Both he and Arlin turned to who it was.
Standing in the threshold was the captain. "Am I interrupting something?" she asked.
Arlin smirked. "Never," he said getting to his feet. "Captain Vae, may I introduce you to Andy."
"Andy?" she repeated. "Is it short for something?"
"Yes, Andrew."
She smiled. She had a beautiful but intimidating smile, much like everything about her, beautiful but intimidating. "It's a pleasure to meet you Andrew." She put out her hand for him to shake. He took it. "I'm captain Julika Vae."
"The pleasure is mine."
"The captain has generously agreed to take us to Zouye," Arlin interjected like a child unwilling to be left out of the conversation.
Captain Vae smiled again. A bitter tight-lipped smile. "Yes, generously agreed," her voice was forcefully sweet. For the first time Andy wondered what Arlin had done to get them onto this ship. What was he capable of doing? Andy wasn't sure he wanted the answer to that.
Instead he said, "We appreciate the help," with as much sincerity as he could offer.
"The voyage is two days long." She gestured for Arlin to get away from her seat. He did. "You better get comfortable."