Chapter Fifteen

Dawn’s light was turning the sky golden when it woke me with a touch on my eyelids. I rolled over, stretching. Essa was sound asleep, pillow clutched to her chest as though she feared theft in the night.

Fon!

I sat bolt upright. The king of fire had promised to wake me, so I could take a shift watching Leea and Geedan. Instead, he’d left me to sleep. I wasn’t a feeble child. If I was the guardian, I should be included in the kings’ work!

I scrambled out of bed, remembering partway to be quiet so I wouldn’t wake Essa. I froze, checking on her, but she’d barely even shifted. I pushed the covers aside and stood carefully on the wooden floor while I pulled on my leggings and tunic.

The floorboards creaked beneath my feet, and the door latch echoed loud in the silence. I winced, but again Essa didn’t rouse. I’d leave her to sleep as long as possible.

Outside my door, the corridor was dim. I saw Fon’s shape against the wall opposite Leea’s door, sitting cross-legged with his arms folded. My lips twitched. Fon had clearly decided to show how strong he was by guarding Leea’s door for the entire night. I felt better at knowing he was treating me the same way he’d treated his fellow kings.

“Fon!” I lowered my voice and hissed as I drew close to him. “My turn.”

He didn’t respond, or even turn, and my heart dropped. He’d fallen asleep.

“Fon.” I put my hand on his shoulder.

Still, he didn’t wake or reply. My heart lurched. “Fon!” I shook him … and he slid slowly to one side until he rested on the floor, snoring gently. I knew Fon liked to sleep, but this wasn’t natural. I glanced at Leea’s door. Had she cast a spell on Fon? Or had Geedan?

Heart pounding, I ran farther along the corridor to the kings’ rooms. Axxon was closest. I rapped on his door. Nothing. Another knock. My palm pressed against the wood, I tried to listen through the door, but the solid oak gave nothing away. I swallowed. I didn’t want to burst in on him, but if the fears taking shape in my mind were correct, he wouldn’t notice.

Taking a deep breath, I cracked the door open. “Axxon? Are you awake?”

My only answer was a sigh as the figure on the wide bed turned over.

“Axxon!”

Nothing.

Next door along was Vashri’s. He was sound asleep, too. The same for Rey. I even went so far as to shake his shoulder, but he was as unresponsive as Fon. “I really need you guys,” I said aloud.

Rey snorted and shifted so one of his hands flopped over the side of the bed as though he were reaching for me. I patted the stray limb. “Nice try, but I was thinking of something more practical,” I muttered.

I tucked Rey’s hand back under the covers. I didn’t need the kings. It was time for me to prove my worth. I could handle this. Especially when I already had my top suspect.

~

I hurried back up the corridor, only to pause outside Leea’s door. What might they be doing? What spell did I need to be ready to counter? There was no sound from within. I took a deep breath and cracked the door open, hoping to enter without being spotted by the plotting pair. I slipped inside soundlessly, disappointed not to find a maelstrom of evil magic inside. There was a shape in Leea’s grand, carved bed. I crept silently closer. Lady Leea was sleeping, not casting spells. I shook her shoulder but got the same response from her as from the kings: nothing. Leaving her to her slumber, I skirted the bed. A mattress had been laid beside her bed for her brother, since the siblings couldn’t bear to be parted.

It was empty.

My pulse surged as my fears were confirmed. Geedan had cast a spell and sent the entire castle to sleep. Now, I just had to find him. Whatever he was doing, he clearly didn’t need to be able to see those he was casting a spell on. Which meant powerful magic. Not the sort of thing a young man weakened by days in a dungeon would be capable of. But if he hadn’t asked Leea for help … I had to hope he would be alone when I found him.

I hurried down the steps and ducked into the rooms we’d used yesterday. Nothing. The main door of the keep was closed, but the bolts had been pulled back. I heaved it open to reveal the courtyard beyond. Geedan was sitting in the middle of it, his back to me, facing the gates and the drawbridge which had been opened and lowered. I shivered. Geedan had sent the castle to sleep, and now he was waiting for … the Emperor?

I straightened my shoulders. If the kings were right about my abilities, I could handle Geedan. I could also handle the Emperor if I could get close enough to touch him. My heart beat harder again – but driven by excitement this time. This whole matter could be resolved in minutes. By me.

I walked towards Geedan. A cool wind tugged at my hair and cut through my clothes. But the sound of the breeze also shielded my steps from the young man sitting cross-legged facing away from me. I couldn’t see his face, but I suspected he was chanting. A potion wouldn’t need his direct attention – but a potion would have taken more time than he had to brew. It had to be a direct manipulation of magic. And the moment I touched him, I should end it.

I walked forward cautiously, checking the youth and the ground around him to assess any immediate threats. My stomach fizzed with anticipation. He was casting magic, believing that made him dangerous, believing magic was all he needed. But he couldn’t enchant me. For the first time, I understood what the kings had meant in telling me this was a talent. For the first time, I perceived strength rather than weakness.

I didn’t see anything to threaten me. It was possible Geedan had a dagger concealed at his waistband, but it was equally likely he hadn’t brought anything with him. He had magic – why would he think to need anything else? The idea that someone wouldn’t be sent to sleep by the spell hadn’t occurred to him.

I reached him. “That’s enough.” I set my hand on his shoulder and he jumped up.

“What?!”

His movement dislodged my hand. I had no idea whether that brief touch would be enough to end the spell. I grabbed for his hand. “Enough, Geedan.” I glanced towards the gate and the countryside beyond. “Are you working for the Emperor? Hasn’t he done your family enough harm already?”

“You!” Geedan scowled. “You should be sleeping.” He lifted a hand, muttering something under his breath. I’m not sure what his spell intended to achieve, but it had no effect on me. He touched a hand to his chest. Through the folds of his shirt I caught a glimpse of a blue gem. He was wearing a horn of magic. No wonder he had plenty of power. And the presence of the talisman scotched any doubt that he was working with the Emperor.

“Your magic’s weak,” I told him, grinning with confidence. He didn’t have a weapon, and no spell he might cast could affect me.

Then he lurched for me and I was too slow to dodge. He had no weapons, so he simply grabbed for my throat, his fingers tightening with more strength than I’d have thought possible for the young man who had staggered into the castle the day before.

I twisted, trying to shift out of his grip so I could breathe. The pressure eased. I bent his finger back and twisted out of his grip. He swore and let go. I jumped away from him. “Not much of a spell,” I goaded. “Didn’t work very well. The whole castle is waking.”

He glanced away from me, his gaze tracking to the door into the keep to see if I was speaking the truth. He was distracted – which was just what I needed. I kicked, my foot connecting with his stomach. He staggered back, falling to the ground.

“You’re working for the Emperor, aren’t you?” I demanded. “How close is he?”

His face twisted. “The Emperor’s men are nearly here. If I hand the four kings over to him he’ll restore our fortune and the land that was taken.”

I couldn’t let that happen. “Wake up, everyone!” I bellowed as loud as I could. “Guards, wake! Raise the drawbridge!” The enchantment might have finished, but the effects were slow to wear off.

Geedan grinned. “The Emperor’s men will be here any moment. Your ridiculous rebellion is at an end.”

I shook my head, keeping my distance. “You were a fool to trust the Emperor. The four kings are your only hope.”

“The four kings will soon be dead,” Geedan snarled.

“Wrong!” A cold voice replied.