Chapter Nineteen
The light from my globe reached out into the tunnel until I made it to the end. All that was there was a rustic brick wall with black smudges all over it. I searched for a lever or something to open the entrance. A large pile of used candles lay on the ground to the right.
I shone the light globe over the bricks. Not one was out of place.
“How do you get in?” I asked, as if the wall would answer me. Then I spotted it. Something was written above the door. It wasn’t in a language I understood, but one word stood out. Fuego. Fire.
My eyes went to the candles then to the soot on the wall.
Fire triggers the door.
I closed my fingers on my light globe and held up my open hand.
“Accendere il fuoco,” I said and a fireball formed on my palm. I touched the bricks with it, and the wall separated at the seams and opened.
The countryside was green, with many trees. I tugged my hood over my head and followed the road carved into the grass. It led me to a village with white stucco buildings and red tiled roofs. A few of them were crumbling or had burned in a fire. People stepped out of their homes as I walked along the road. In the distance, a beautiful castle was built into the side of a tall mountain.
My eyes took in the destruction around me.
It looked like there had been a battle there. Tears stung my eyes, thinking about how the men, women, and children now lining the road must have suffered. They watched me—not with hatred. Not loathing. But what looked to be hope in their eyes. An older man, dirt on the knees of his pants, skin weathered, and his white hair like cotton in the wind, approached me and handed me a cup.
I studied the water inside before drinking it down and handing him back the cup. “What happened here?”
“Our rebels were defeated,” he said. “Are you she? Gianna?”
I nodded, tears falling from my eyelashes and tumbling down my cheeks.
He bowed and hobbled along the middle of the road. “Gianna Bianchi,” he yelled. “Gianna Bianchi! Nuestra salvación!”
More heads bowed as I passed.
That last word sounded like salvation. I was just a girl. How could I be that for them? This was too big for me. I wiped my eyes with the flap of the cloak and swallowed hard, gathering the courage to continue.
As I neared the end of the street, Bastien stepped out from one of the houses. He shielded his eyes from the sun with his hand. From the condition of his clothes, he looked like he’d just climbed out of a dirt pit.
He was gorgeous in all his filthy glory, and it was like my entire body lifted, as if I could take flight and soar through the sky. And I couldn’t stay still. Couldn’t hold back. I ran for him, and he caught me in his arms.
“You’re here,” I mumbled against his shoulder, my breath heavy, my arms shaky. One of his hands cradled the back of my head while the other squeezed me to him.
“Gianna, you scared me,” he whispered. “Why weren’t you in Mantello?”
“I went to Tearmann to get the heir’s blood.” I inhaled the scent that was only him. No one ever smelled as good as he did, even covered in dirt. “I thought I would be back before—”
He released me, his brows pushed together as he studied my face. “You were careless. Why did you go off on your own? You could have been caught.”
The anger on his face made me back away from him. “I had to go.”
“Why? You could have waited for us.”
“Because Mardiana told me to go.” Now the anger in my voice matched his. “She said there was a storm coming, and we’d lose our chance to get what we needed in Tearmann.”
He ran his hand over his head, dust wafting from his hair. “And you went knowing there’d be a storm?”
“Oh, stop it, you two,” Edgar said, passing us. With my eyes stuck on Bastien, I hadn’t seen him approach. “Kiss and make up. We need to get out of here.”
I ignored Edgar’s comment. There was no way I was going to kiss and make up, not with Bastien looking at me with venom.
“I can handle myself.”
The bite in my voice startled Bastien. He pulled at his neck and lowered his head. “You frightened me. I thought—”
“You thought what?” I cut him off. “That I was a helpless girl?”
His head shot up, his focus on me. “No. I don’t think that. I was worried you’d be harmed.”
“Well, I’m fine. And why didn’t you wait for me in Mantello?”
“I knew you’d go on your own. You’re not very patient. It was either Santara or Tearmann.”
“So you chose the one that had a recent uprising?”
“Well,” he said, his voice softening. “I thought it best to try the most dangerous one first. In case you had chosen it.” He held up a small bottle with what looked to be blood inside. “I did get this from the woman inside.”
Edgar came back, eating a big chunk of bread. “We also have Esteril and Couve’s donations.”
I smiled, a half one, not fully felt. “Good. Then, Royston’s the seventh. We have everything we need.”
Bastien shielded his eyes again and inspected the road. “There is still the matter of finding the Tetrad.”
“I found it,” I said, my eyes going to where he was looking. “What is it?”
“We need to take these people with us.” He spun around to look at the castle. “How did you get here? Asile guards have blocked the entrance into Santara, and I placed a charm on it to block them.”
“Through a Talpar tunnel.”
“There is no way to take an entire village with us,” Edgar said. “They won’t harm the villagers. A king needs subjects to rule.”
Edgar was right. The council wouldn’t harm people who could work and make them rich. There was a cart on the side of the road. I climbed up on it.
Bastien reached out a hand to me. “What are you doing? Get down.”
I ignored him and yelled, “Hello, everyone.” Those who weren’t watching us already turned their heads. “Um…I am Gianna Bianchi McCabe. Great-granddaughter of Gian Bianchi, and the presage from Agnost’s prophesy.” The people gathered closer to the cart. “I know this is a scary time.”
The old man who had given me water translated what I was saying to the crowd.
“What I have to do is risky. If I fail, the storm will come.” I waited for the man to translate. Concern crossed their faces, and they whispered among themselves. I swallowed a deep breath to calm my nerves, to push down my fear.
Okay, get out of your own head, Gia. You can do this.
“But I won’t give up,” I continued. “I will fight to the end. You must go about your routines as usual and not provoke the authorities. Keep your families safe.” I paused again for the man as he repeated my words in Spanish. “There will be a time to rise, but now is not it. We will send word when you are needed. I guess that’s all.”
The concern on their faces changed to hope as the man finished translating what I’d said. I hopped off the cart.
Bastien’s eyes met mine. There was so much love in them that it caused me to pause. He placed an open palm on my cheek, and I leaned into it even though I was still mad at him and he hadn’t apologized. “I wish we could run away from all this madness. Spend time alone, and truly enjoy each other without mayhem and ruin clouding over us.”
“Me, too.”
“And I do think you’re strong. I apologize if my concern made you feel differently. I was just scared for your safety.”
Though his anger earlier still stung, his words were a start at tamping down mine. “I worry about you, too.”
Edgar put a hand on Bastien’s back. “We must get out of here before your charm is broken.”
I glanced at the faces around me. Old and young, men, women, and children, all helpless to what could come if the Tetrad ended up in the wrong hands. Really, were there any right hands? I didn’t think so. Power changed people.
That’s why Athela wants me to destroy it.
It made me wonder why she chose me. Because she had used her magic to set all this in motion after her father created the monster. It should have happened way before this time, but the Wizard Council threw an ax at her plans, first by killing her, and then by keeping Sentinels from marrying other Sentinels.
I led Bastien and Edgar through the Talpar tunnel and into the library. We jumped through the gateway book and returned to Barmhilde. It was the raining cycle in the coven. Lightning shot across the sky like a synchronized dance against the clouds. Rain smacked the hood covering my head and clapped the ground around me. Mud sucked at my boots with each step.
The Red met us when we entered his camp. “Ah, it’s good to see you made it back. There have been some unsettling things happening in the havens. Tearmann was invaded.”
“Gia filled us in about Tearmann.” Bastien pushed his wet hair from his face. “What else has happened?”
“Let’s get you somewhere dry,” The Red said, motioning us to follow him.
Demos peeked out of his tent as we passed. “I wondered what all the commotion was about.”
Shyna looked over his shoulder. “Hello, Gia.”
I gave them a puzzled look. “What are you two doing? And why is she here?”
Demos turned and said something to Shyna. She nodded, and he darted after us.
The Red held the flap to his tent open for us to enter. I removed my cloak and dropped it by the entry. Bastien dropped a flaming ball onto the logs stacked in the fire pit.
I stood over the fire and held my hands above it. My fingers thawed, and a final shiver shook my body. Bastien came up behind me and rubbed my arms.
“Better?” he asked.
“Yes,” I said, nodding. “I could sleep forever.”
“Please don’t. I’d be lonely if you did.”
I flashed a smile over my shoulder at him. That was sweet.
Bastien took a seat on one of the pillows.
Edgar warmed his hands beside me, glancing from me to Bastien. “You know, when all this is over, if our side wins, there will no longer be a Wizard Council,” he said under his breath, for only me to hear. “The talk is that there will be one ruler over a united council with both Mystik and wizard representatives. And that ruler would be Bastien. He’s sacrificed and given much to take care of both the covens and havens. He hasn’t hesitated in denouncing the council.”
Edgar walked off, not expecting a response from me. It hadn’t surprised me. I’d heard it mentioned when I first arrived in the Mystik world that his people loved him and that they wanted him to be high wizard of their haven one day. But what would it do to our relationship? I was too young for all this. Too young to fight beasts. Too young to have everything counting on me. Too young to wonder what the future held for Bastien and me. I just wanted to survive and go to college next year.
All the dreams I had for myself before I was sucked into the Mystik world were like the smoke rising from the fire—a hazy, thin line dissipating into the air.
The Red cleared his throat while rubbing the wetness from the stubble on his scalp. “So Tearmann’s queen is in exile, and her parliament has been removed from power, replaced by Comyn MacColgan. Horrible man and wizard, that one. Once bit a man’s nose off just for looking at him wrongly.”
“What’s happening to the guards and their families?” I asked, my thoughts going to Buach and Galach.
“We sent word for them to show no resistance,” The Red said. “A few ignored us. Some are dead. Others are in the gallows under the Vatican.”
“I see.” I lowered my head, hoping neither Buach nor Galach was one of the dead.
“Once the new high wizard is in place,” Bastien said, “they plan on expunging Conemar’s criminal record and allowing him to resume his role as Esteril’s high wizard.”
Demos slammed his fist against a pillow. “This is felonious. They can’t reverse a court’s finding.”
Bastien nodded, staring at his folded hands in front of him. “If they’re in control, they can do whatever pleases them.”
The Red picked up a bottle with dark red liquid inside and poured himself a glass. He downed it in one gulp. “There’s more. The High Wizard of Veilig and his family escaped before the guards sent by the council to arrest them arrived in their haven. We received word from Greyhill that the family is hiding within their coven.” A quick look passed between The Red and Demos.
Shyna must have brought the message.
“You have some time to rest,” The Red said. “Make sure to use it wisely. We must plan for our library invasion. So get some grub and some sleep, and we’ll meet again in the morning.”
…
The smell of breakfast wafted on the cool morning air. Rain plunking against the hard shell of my pod-like tent had kept me up all night. I yawned and picked at the eggs on my plate with the bent tines of a fork. The uneven surfaces of the log tables caused the dishes to tilt, and the chairs, made of stumps, rocked if not positioned just right on the lumpy grass.
Bastien placed a plate of food down and sat beside me, his stump rocking. He scooted it around until it was steady. “You dressed for a battle?”
My fingers went to my scabbard on the table. “Lei ordered us to be ready at all times. Just in case.”
One of his eyebrows shot up. “Ordered you?”
“Since—” I stopped before mentioning Arik. It hurt to think of him against us. “Anyway, she was next in line to lead our Sentinel group.”
He picked up his cup. “I see.”
“Where’s Demos and Edgar?” I asked, changing the subject. “I haven’t seen them around this morning. And both of them usually wake early.”
He took a sip from his cup and put it down. “They’re going over the distraction plan for the libraries with The Red’s forces.”
I rubbed my eyes.
“Didn’t sleep well, huh?”
“No.” I yawned again. The air between us was as thick as the porridge in the bowl beside my plate. Though he’d apologized for getting angry with me, I still felt the sting of it. I didn’t like him scolding me as if I were a child. I’d faced many dangers before. Even if I was scared, I was a Sentinel born with the natural ability to fight, armed with more than one battle globe.
He gave me his signature cocky smile. The one a little higher on one side of his mouth than the other. “You could’ve slept in my room.”
“Yeah, thank you, but no.” I shoved a fork full of egg in my mouth.
“What? Are my arms not warm enough for you?”
“Oh, they’re warm, all right,” I said, going back to poking at my eggs. “I’m just not sure I could handle myself.”
“I detect sarcasm in your tone,” he said and took a bite of his potatoes.
I picked up a slice of toast, tore off a piece, and dipped it in the egg yolk. “Sorry. I just need some time alone. I’m worried about everyone. It feels like I’m juggling a bunch of globes and any moment they’re all going to fall around me.” I swung my leg over the stump and faced him. “It’s everyone. Pop, Nana, Nick, Afton, Carrig, Sinead, Royston…Uncle Philip. I see them all ready to drop. And which ones do I catch? I can’t grab them all at the same time.” I’d omitted Arik’s name, but I was concerned for him, and for Emily.
Bastien wrapped his arms around me, and I rested my head on his shoulder. “I’ll help you catch them. So will Demos. Lei and Jaran will be there, as well. You’re not alone, Gianna.”
I tilted my head to look at him. He gently kissed my lips, and my heart finally forgave him.
“I’m most terrified of losing you,” I said.
He flashed a crooked smile. “Never going to happen.”
“Are you always so sure of everything?”
“Not everything,” he said. “I doubted you would ever come to your senses and realize I was the better man for you.”
“You never doubted that.”
“All right.” He laughed. “I knew you’d come around. Besides, who could resist me?”
I laughed that time. “You’re so full of yourself sometimes.”
“I was raised to never lie, weren’t you?”
“Yes, of course.”
“Then tell me a truth about yourself.” Amusement sparkled in his eyes and flipped my stomach.
This game made me uneasy. “I have a mean uppercut and knee strike.”
He frowned. “How about something about you, not something you can do.”
“I have thick hair.”
He stifled a laugh. “This makes you uncomfortable, doesn’t it?”
“So uncomfortable.”
“How about I start?”
“Okay.”
“I once caught the pantry on fire,” he said. “Odil and I were nine and eight, respectively. He warned me not to play with matches. My brother was my best friend growing up. I looked up to him. Then he changed, became more self-centered. I miss the Odil from our youth. It crushes my heart to see how he’s turned out.”
“That has to be hard,” I said.
“Now you.”
“I wish my mother was still alive. She’s a shadow in my mind. I’m not sure which memories are my own and which are ones I’ve made up from the photographs and videos I’ve seen of her.” I glanced away, hiding the sadness noticeable in my eyes.
“That must be difficult.” He lifted my chin and kissed me again, his lips soft and tender. “All right, then, I’ll stop torturing you.”
Screams broke out somewhere in the distance, and I pulled away from him. “That can’t be good.”
Bastien scrambled off the stump at the same time as I grabbed my scabbard and jumped to my feet. We dashed out of the dining tent. Shouts and screams came from the village. We ran toward the sound.
I struggled to strap my scabbard to my waist as we sprinted up the hill. It slipped a couple of times before I got the buckle fastened. The closer we got to the area, the more my heart sank. It was coming from the curer’s building.
Oh no. Carrig.
The Red stopped me before I could charge inside.
“Let me through.” I pushed against him. “Carrig!”
“What is happening in there?” Bastien asked.
“A mad woman is inside,” The Red said. “The coven’s guards are handling it.”
“That won’t do. They haven’t any magic.” Bastien brushed by him and produced an electric charge in his upturned hand.
I hurried behind him. A Laniar with dark hair falling to his shoulders blocked the entry into the room. Beside him was a Djallican girl, not much older than me, with small horns sticking out of her wide forehead, long earlobes, and short spikey hair the color of cinnamon. The two guards pointed their swords at a woman whose face I couldn’t see with the uniformed bodies blocking my view.
“Let us through,” Bastien commanded.
The guards glanced behind them and, spotting the electricity in Bastien’s hand, stepped aside.
“Accendere il ghiaccio.” I ignited an ice globe and weaved around the guards, almost tripping when I saw the woman. Fear grabbed my breath, and I gasped.
Lorelle. She stood over Carrig, a large dagger to his throat. I hadn’t seen her since she hit me with an ancient spell that stole my truth globe from me. She had murdered my aunt Eileen and posed as her to spy on Nana and to find me.
“Step away from him, Lorelle,” I warned, holding my globe up higher for her to see.
Her screeching laugh scratched across my scalp and rattled down my bones. “I’m not Lorelle. Her brain was a blank canvas after the scryers had their way with her. Easy for me to move in. Usually, I can only claim the mind of a magical child, but here I am in the shell of a Fey. Drop your magic, or I’ll cut him.”
I stumbled back, fear choking my throat. Not Lorelle?
Bastien lowered his hands, the electric spark between them snuffing out, but I refused to bust my globe. I processed the information she’d given us.
The scryers had used their magic to gain information on Conemar after Lorelle’s arrest for trying to destroy me. If she wasn’t Lorelle, then who was she? And it hit me.
No. It can’t be. But the clues in her statement gave me all I needed to know who she was.
“What do you want with Carrig, Ruth Ann?”
“Conemar was right,” she said. “You are a smart little girl, aren’t you?”
Ruth Ann was a Bane Witch from Branford, Connecticut, who had been sentenced to death during the witch trials in the sixteen hundreds.
“You didn’t answer me. Why Carrig? He isn’t a threat to anyone in his state.”
“He may wake up. He is the leader of the Sentinels and is too powerful and persuasive to let live. Too much of a risk for Conemar.” Her grin looked sinister, and her eyes held evil, her hand lifting a little and the blade leaving Carrig’s neck.
She noticed her hand had moved, and she returned the blade to Carrig’s skin.
The ice globe on my palm bit at my skin. I could stop her. Throw my globe when she was distracted again. So I waited, not feeling scared, not panicking, just watching her and waiting for my moment to strike.
“I will trade his life for Katy Kearns,” she said.
“We cannot make that trade,” a voice came from a hologram image on the counter opposite Carrig’s bed. It was Queen Titania, and beside her was Nana. In the background, Sinead slept in her hospital bed. My heart crushed in my chest.
“Hell, no, they can’t,” I affirmed. “What do you need her for—?” I stopped, knowing exactly what Ruth Ann was after. “You want to possess her body because she’s skilled in the magic of Incantora.”
Bastien slid a confused look at me. I couldn’t explain it to him, so I shook my head.
Nana had never used the Incantora, saying with that power came responsibility. She had been a young girl when it was discovered that she had the power. Her mother had forced Nana to make a witch’s pledge to only use it when preventing a major disaster that could cost many lives, not just one or a few. Since there was magic behind her promise, she’d face grave consequences if she ever broke it.
“This is not a deal we are willing to make,” Queen Titania said.
Nana turned her head toward me. “I’m sorry, Gia.”
“Not your fault.” I focused back on Lorelle before my eyes could fill with tears.
Ruth Ann glared at the hologram. “I’ll give you one minute. That is all. Make the deal, or I will kill him.” She held the long dagger above Carrig’s chest and watched the antique clock on the table beside the bed.
And that was her mistake.
One minute. So much could change in just a moment. I could lose a father I’d only recently discovered. The Mystik world could lose one of the greatest Sentinels in their history. Deidre could lose the only father she’d ever known. And her mother, since Sinead would die with him. Such a small amount of time to lose so much.
One minute.