“Back when we were taken captive in Magia,” she began, “we made friends with two of our cell mates: Iona and Benjamin, both mages.”
“And?” Patrick asked, unable to keep himself from sounding impatient.
“They’ve come here to Hahl—to speak with Mistress Orellia, who then came to speak with me. They said that Archmage Duncan has overthrown the ruling council. He’s apparently so powerful that he’s singlehandedly made himself the sole ruler of the order of mages.”
Patrick widened his eyes. “Duncan took down Issius?”
“You know him?”
“Only in name. Officially, there are no diplomatic relations between Magia and the kingdom—or between Magia and any sovereign so far as I’m aware. But I do know that he is purported to be a very powerful mage.”
“He is,” Cah’lia agreed. “And Duncan was able to subdue him along with many others.”
“I see. Well, if nothing else, this means that the attack on Sehn was not sanctioned by the ruling council. Speaking of Sehn, what does any of this have to do with him?”
As Cah’lia continued to explain, the same hope Patrick felt growing within himself was reflected in her eyes.
“I don’t know all the details, but from what Mistress Orellia told me, they tossed Sehn into a prison along with the rest of the Archmages and the Holy Magus. Only, it’s not a prison like the sort you’re familiar with. It’s not a dungeon, either. It’s an endless world that exists in another dimension. And if that’s hard for you to believe, it is for me too, but it’s what she told me, and I believe her.”
A need to restore some semblance of hope drove away the last bit of Patrick’s resistance. Even without proof that Cah’lia’s words were true, he believed all of them without question. If Sehn was alive…if he was alive, there was still a chance. Gods let it be so!
“You have a plan to get him out, I assume?” Patrick didn’t bother hiding the eagerness in his voice. With each passing second, he felt his energy return. His spirit flourished, and the desire to protect his kingdom, family, and friends came back in a rush. “Cah’lia, there must be a plan. There’s always a plan.”
She smiled. “There is. Mistress Orellia told me her closest friends are forming a resistance to take down Duncan or at least to distract him long enough to have a small group of people free the Holy Magus and the others trapped with him. And one of those trapped with him is our Sehn.”
“And how do we go about doing this?”
“I don’t know. I’ll find out when I meet with Mistress Orellia tomorrow night. But I’ll need your help in getting out of Hahl unnoticed. That’s actually why I’m here, Patrick.”
“What do you need me to do?”
“I need you to clear an area where we can depart on gryphons without anyone seeing us leave. Orellia thinks Archmage Duncan might have spies capable of reporting back to him even from all the way down here. Some kind of magical communication, she thinks.”
The thought was disturbing. “You’ve got it. I know just the place. Also, I’m coming with you.”
Cah’lia gave him a sidelong look. “Are you sure that’s a good idea?”
“Why wouldn’t it be? Because I’m a prince?” Cah’lia nodded, and he chuckled. “I’m nothing if we don’t rescue Sehn.”
“Good point.”
Patrick smiled at her, and it was the first bit of happiness he’d felt in a week. But his smile soon gave way to a frown. “Ick. This is no good.”
“What’s wrong?”
“Me. I’m what’s wrong.”
“What do you mean?”
Patrick’s skin began to crawl, and he shifted uncomfortably on his feet. “It only just occurred to me how much I need a shave, a bath, and a change of clothing.”
Cah’lia laughed. “I agree. You stink.” She half turned around, but before leaving, she added, “I’ll come by tomorrow morning to give you a location where we’ll all be meeting up later on tomorrow night.”
“Understood.” Patrick bowed his head. “Thank you, Cah’lia.”
“Don’t thank me. Thank Mistress Orellia and the others willing to help us.” Then, with another smile, she said, “Take your bath. You need one.”
Patrick waited for her to leave, and then once alone, he returned to his desk, removed a sheet of paper, and wrote down an order for a change of clothing, hot water, and a barber. He had hope again. Thank the Gods. Sehn was still alive.
Cah’lia didn’t like it down here. It was too enclosed, too hot, there wasn’t much light, and it felt like the walls were closing in on her. As far as meeting places went, Mistress Orellia could have done a lot better than the cellar of a spice merchant’s summer home.
She sat at a small round table barely large enough to seat four people. The cellar itself only had enough space for about five to fit comfortably, so it was quite unpleasant to be cramped in here with Patrick, Kellar, Shina, the Champion, Mistress Orellia, Iona, and Benjamin. Still, she was not about to let the discomfort deter her—no, not when there was a very real chance of getting Sehn back.
If what she’d been told was true, then right now, at this very moment, he was trapped inside of another world, and someone needed to get that lovable idiot out of there before he ended up losing his mind and doing any number of insane things.
With my luck
,
by the time we get there
,
he’ll refuse to leave and say it’s become his ‘kingdom’ or something
.
Cah’lia smiled; it was out of place considering the grim look on everyone else’s face, so when they stared at her, she was quick to lose the grin. And when they continued to stare, she said nothing. If they wanted an explanation for her smile, they weren’t going to get one.
For two full days after Sehn had disappeared, she had gone into a state that was nearly catatonic: eating, sleeping, and speaking were impossible for her. In all honestly, she did not know what would have become of her if Mistress Orellia had not come to her with the knowledge that Sehn still lived as well as Rina and her little brother. It was enough to completely reverse her situation, much in the way she suspected she’d done for Patrick, who earlier yesterday smelled like rotting cabbage and looked more like an ape than a man. Now, he was as regal as ever.
He wore a loose-fitting white military jacket with gold cufflinks and the image of a shield emblazoned onto its right breast pocket. A ring adorned both his thumb and forefinger on his right hand, each with a magnificent blue gemstone. All he needed was a crown and he’d look more like a king than a prince. It was almost as if he were making up for the appearance of a shipwrecked captain that he’d taken on when Cah’lia had last seen him.
Shina, on the other hand, was dressed so inappropriately that Cah’lia considered forcing her to change. As though doing so just for the benefit of Kellar, she wore a sleeveless, backless gown with a pair of trousers that were cut so low they barely covered her backside. And while Cah’lia was certainly not one to judge, Shina was far too young to be wearing that kind of attire. Mistress Orellia seemed to feel the same way, because the moment Shina had shown up here, she had glared at her apprentice.
Oddly, Cah’lia was also annoyed with Kellar for either going out of his way not to notice Shina or simply not caring enough to bother. Then again, the boy’s reflective, thoughtful expression made him seem far more mature than she’d expect from someone his age. It was possible he was too mature for someone like Shina, who while far less of a pain than her older brother, still shared in some of his more annoying traits. Kellar remained calm and quiet while he listened to Patrick ask his questions, doing little other than scratching his chin and nodding along.
He’s a prince as well
, she remembered.
Or would’ve been if he hadn’t become a mage
.
“Let’s start with the most basic and important question,” Patrick said. “How do we free Sehn?”
Benjamin and Iona looked at one another as though nervous, and after a brief pause, both began to speak at the same time. Benjamin closed his mouth and gestured for Iona to go ahead and answer, which she did.
“We know where the Holy Magus and the others were at the time he was overthrown. We’re almost positive that the spell that sent him away was cast while he was conducting official business in the Hall of Governance.”
“And how is this relevant?” Patrick asked. He leaned forward somewhat in his chair. “Is this location significant?”
“Very,” Iona said. “Very, very significant. I don’t know anyone aside from Archmage Duncan—anyone we can use, at least—who has the power to open a dimensional rift, but if there was one already opened in that location, then there should be a way of easily reopening it as long as too much time hasn’t passed. And I don’t believe that it has.”
“That…is correct,” the Champion whispered. He seemed far too at ease for Cah’lia’s taste. If he was even slightly worried about rescuing Sehn, it did not show on him. Whether this was due to indifference or overconfidence, Cah’lia could not be sure, but clearly the Champion was not overly concerned.
Patrick pressed his index finger against his lips and hummed to himself a moment as though thinking over what Iona had told him. Following a brief pause, he nodded and said, “That sounds like a good enough plan. I don’t know much about magic, but if this works as you say it does, then so be it. What concerns me, Iona, is the nature of Duncan’s hold over Magia.”
“What do you mean?”
“Well, it seems a little…difficult to believe that he has managed to assume command. If what he’s done to the ruling council is common knowledge among you mages, then how is it that so many are now cooperating with him?”
“Fear,” Mistress Orellia said before Iona could even open her mouth to respond. “Obviously, it’s fear.”
“That’s…that’s right,” Iona said. “Everyone is afraid. I don’t believe anyone wants to accept him as the new Holy Magus, and I don’t think anyone does just yet. But when he gives a command, people obey. And I do not fault them for that, either, nor should you. In fact, I caution you to remember that those who serve him do
not
do so willingly, and they regret what they are doing in his name. If he was able to take down Issius along with so many of our most powerful mages—and all by himself, too—then who would willingly be the first to throw away their lives opposing him? Would their sacrifice even matter?”
“Good point,” Patrick agreed. “And I apologize if I’ve offended you.”
“You haven’t.”
“Ah, it’s just that you sounded a bit…defensive, and it was not my intention to speak negatively about your friends who’re caught in this mess. Will they interfere with us?”
Iona gave him a firm shake of the head. “Eventually, that might be a possibility, but as of right now, while all but a few loyal High-Mages detest Duncan, I cannot believe anyone will intervene if a direct attack is made on him. It will be months before people come to accept him as the new ruler. Maybe even longer. And even then, I do not think he will ever be well regarded for what he’s done—and what he has forced many of us to do.”
Cah’lia had little to say while she observed the exchange. She prayed to the Gods that she would find the children and Sehn, and that they would be unharmed. Much like Kellar, she observed in silence while Patrick asked an assortment of questions.
“So about this…resistance. Mistress Orellia, have you seen it for yourself?”
“No,” Orellia said. She did not sit at the table but instead stood behind Benjamin. “I haven’t gone back since Sehn disappeared. I stayed behind because I was uncertain of the situation above. I see now that was probably for the best. But why do you ask?”
Patrick sighed. “Because—and I mean no disrespect in saying this—I trust you, Mistress Orellia, but I do not trust your two friends, as I don’t know them or what they’re capable of.”
Both Iona and Benjamin smiled, and each indicated that they were not hurt or offended by Patrick’s suspicion.
“It’s completely understandable,” Benjamin said. “What is your concern?”
“My concern,” Patrick said, “is that this resistance will be too paralyzed by fear to do much in the way of ‘resisting.’ It seems illogical to me that men and women willing to fight for their homeland would not already be doing so. From what you’re telling me, they don’t seem willing.”
“Oh, no, many of them are
quite
willing to fight,” Iona said, sounding just as defensive as Patrick had called her out on earlier. “A great deal are, in fact. Especially if the plan is to free the Holy Magus and the Archmages. Together, we’ll more than have the power to overthrow a mage that no one wants in power.”
“Are you one-hundred percent sure? I can’t help but think this ‘resistance’ sounds too good to be true.”
“I give you my word. Count on them being there when we arrive.”
Patrick studied her a moment, then waved his hand in reluctant agreement. “Very well. If you’re sure that’s the case, then I suppose this is a good enough plan.”
The others also voiced their agreement, and with a nervous pinch in her belly, Cah’lia realized that things were soon going to be underway. There would be violence, of course, but that was to be expected. She didn’t care how many throats she needed to slice open: anyone who stood between her, Sehn, and the children would suffer for it.
“I just have one question,” Cah’lia said, causing the others to turn their heads her way.
“Yes?” Orellia asked.
Cah’lia stood up from her chair and eyed the stairwell that led up and out of the cellar. “Can we leave tonight instead of tomorrow night?”
“Wouldn’t you prefer more time to prepare?”
She shook her head. “No. I need to…I promised myself I wouldn’t…” Cah’lia took a moment to calm herself. “My little brother, Rina, and Sehn are all trapped inside some kind of hellish world, and I need to get them out of it.”
“But what is one more day?”
“It’s just that:
it’s
one more day. It could mean the difference between this mad Archmage deciding to kill my little brother, Rina, and Sehn or allowing them to continue living.”
Orellia turned her eyes on Iona and Benjamin. “Will this be all right with you two?”
Iona bowed her head. “Our friends are waiting on our signal to begin their attack on Duncan. We can arrive at any time. I will just need a moment to inform them ahead of time.”
At this, Orellia raised an eyebrow. “You know how to communicate across great distances with magic? You’ve learned this now, too?”
“Yes, I learned recently. Benjamin as well.”
The older mage, Benjamin, nodded. “It’s very useful.”
“You’ll have to teach me that sometime.” Orellia glanced around the tiny cellar. “Does anyone else have anything else they’d like to say before we depart?”
“Yes,” Cah’lia said. “Just to make sure I understand everything: we’re going to be using the spare gryphons you brought along to fly us all to Magia. When we get there, your friends will be waiting for us, and we’ll fly with them straight towards the Hall of Governance. Then, when we get close, they’ll split off and engage Duncan in an all-out assault, and while they’re keeping him busy, a few of us will sneak into the governing hall and open the rift that’ll take us to Sehn and the Archmages.”
“That’s exactly it,” Benjamin said. “It sounds simple, but it won’t be.”
“No, it
will
be.” Cah’lia lowered her hand down to her side and caressed her dagger through her tunic. “Let’s do this now and get it over with.”
“I agree,” the Champion whispered.
“Myself as well,” Patrick said.
“Yeah, let’s go in and get my brother out of there so I can hold this over his head for as long as he lives!” Shina grinned maliciously. “Saved by his little sister. Oh, I’m gonna enjoy that one.” Her grin turning into a sneer, she reached into her low-cut pants and removed two antistatic rubber gloves, placing them on each of her hands.
Kellar laughed but said nothing. He and the others followed behind Patrick as they made their way up the cellar steps, out of the summer home, and towards whatever area it was that Patrick had cleared for them to depart from.
Cah’lia was the last one out. By the time they were ready to leave, it was just after midnight, and if her memory served her, it would take no more than five or six hours to reach Magia from here. It would be just before or just after dawn when they arrived: an early-morning attack.
She let her mind drift while she followed Patrick and the others, who after a short, five-minute walk, led them to a gated-in garden belonging to some noble or another. He unlocked the gates with an old iron key, then let them all inside.
The gryphons were already there waiting, and they must’ve been very well trained, because they were not bound or tied to anything. They turned their heads as Orellia, Benjamin, Iona, and Shina approached them.
“We’ll have to fly double,” Orellia said. “We have four gryphons: just enough for everyone to fly at two riders per gryphon.”
“I’ll fly with you,” Cah’lia whispered to the Champion, who nodded. Patrick mounted a large brown beast which belonged to Benjamin, while Iona paired with Orellia, and Kellar and Shina rode Pancake, who Shina was all-too thankful to learn had been brought down here for her.
Although Cah’lia wasn’t exactly counting the time as it passed, she estimated that Shina cost them as much as ten wasted minutes on beak-kissing and repeated chants of “I missed you so much, Pancake” and “who’s my baby?”
“Now that I think about it,” Iona said, “I think it’s probably good we left tonight.”
“Why’s that?” Cah’lia asked as the gryphon she rode on with the Champion began to flap its wings and lift off the ground.