Riven (The Arinthian Line Book 2) (11 page)

The table once again fell quiet as Augum approached. He noticed Sydo was sitting amongst them now. The girls gave the prince urging looks. He finally stood up and cleared his throat.

“Err … I apologize for having said that you should go to your father,” the prince said in forced tones. There was a frantic whisper and he added, “And I hope you will forgive me as I have forgiven you … for striking me with lightning and almost killing me like your fa—OW! How dare—STOP IT!” but he fell silent after the second kick under the table.

Augum frowned. When had Sydo forgiven him? He was certain he’d have remembered
that
happening. “I accept your apology,” he nonetheless said, unable to bring himself to argue right now.

Bridget smiled. “Come on, Aug, have some fruit.”

His eyes travelled to Mya, who stood tall, shiny jet hair streaming down her front. She smiled. He felt his face grow hot.

A knock came at the door.

“I’ll get it—” Augum said quickly, expecting to see Thomas, but after opening it, he was surprised to find a millennial instead. It was the withered old woman with milky eyes, disheveled hair, and triangular symbol on her cloak.

She pointed a crooked finger at him. “You are the heir to the Lord of Death, are you not?”

Augum took a step back. “I really hope not … but where’s Thomas Stone?”

She grunted and shuffled inside, bent so far forward she only came up to his chest. The others, still at the table, stood upon seeing her.

Her head shook uncontrollably as she spoke. “Thomas Stone is readying for judgment and penance.”

“M’lady—” Mya began, stepping forward and curtseying, “forgive my impertinence, but, what exactly is Mr. Stone doing penance for?”

“I am no lady! My name is Magua. Remember it well, childling. As for Thomas Stone, he will serve penance for breaking the vow. He is young and foolish, much like that wife of his—too quick to act, too slow to contemplate
.
It is forbidden to harbor the uninvited. It is forbidden to train them. It is forbidden to pass on secret knowledge. And it is forbidden to perform an unsanctioned Karma.”

Sydo’s face lit up with recognition. “ ‘Unsactioned karma’? Your Eldership means the statue trick—!” His tone seemed to suggest Thomas had done him great wrong.

Magua fixed her eyes upon the prince. “A Karma is a grave thing. It is not to be used lightly. We Leyans took the Vow of Isolation—we are not to interfere in the happenings of mortals. Even your being here is an affront to the sacred oath.”

“But is it not so that Leyans were once far more involved with the world?” Bridget asked.

“That is so, and so it was once, but no more can it be, for learned we have become.” Magua glanced at Augum’s apprentice robe and grunted. “You wear history with little concern, childlings. You were permitted to come to Absalon only because old bonds are hard to break. Thomas’ judgment is clouded by his attachments to the world—by the way of husband and wife.”

“His judgment isn’t clouded—” Augum said, stepping away. “He believes Leyans need to help us mortals again—and I think he’s right! We need Leyan help defeating my father.”

Magua scoffed. “Helping mortals is no longer our way. Our way is long and quiet. It is the way of peace and the keeping of ancient knowledge.”

Was it just him or was that disdain in her voice? “But what’s the point if there’s no one to share the knowledge with?”

The millennial studied him a moment with those milky eyes. “The Lord of Death has much the same argument, only he goes further still, coveting long life for his devoted followers.”

“And what if you’re wrong? I mean, what if Leyans were
meant
to help us ordinary mortals? Since you’ve withdrawn from the world, your numbers have only shrunk—”

“—Great Elder Magua,” Sydo interrupted in a sweet voice, “is it not your opinion that the best possible course of action would be for Augum to join his heinous father—to prevent war of course?”

Mya gasped. “Your Highness—”

Leera turned purple while Bridget just closed her eyes and shook her head. Augum, on the other hand, was hardly surprised.

The old woman made a hissing noise. “What are ears for if not for listening? I have taken the vow. I cannot advise your course. The vow is in place to protect the mortal world from itself. You have already gained knowledge that breaks the vow.”

“You mean the Centarro spell?” Bridget said.

“There is that indeed, but graver is the knowledge that possession of all seven scions would destroy the possessor. This knowledge breaks the vow, for you have gained it from a Leyan.”

“But we won’t tell anyone, promise—” Leera said.

The millennial smirked. “Is that so?”

“What about the Lord of Death?” Augum asked. “What if he finds a way into Ley? Wouldn’t that destroy you? Why won’t you help us mortals prevent that like once before?”

Magua paused before replying. “You have seen the darkening skies. Ley suffers from that error. We should have let events unfold. Besides, now there are only two means for the Lord of Death to gain entry. The first is using a scion to build a portal to Ley. That knowledge is extinct among mortals and solely resides with the ancient father, Krakatos.” Her tone seemed to suggest it impossible to wrest it from the man.

“The second is finding an ancient recipe that creates a portal
without
using a scion.” Her milky eyes wandered over them, eventually fixing onto Sydo, whose fiery brows rose up his forehead. “And that recipe is long thought lost to mortals. So you see, there is no need for Leyan involvement.”

“Wait,” Augum said, “aren’t you breaking the vow just by telling us this?”

She made an impatient wave. “It matters little.”

His neck prickled. “Why not?”

There was a tint of malice in her voice. “Because our judgments are always sound.” She turned her back on them. “The elders have much to discuss,” and departed, Bridget closing the door after her.

Augum couldn’t shake the anxious feeling he had about Magua. What was even the point of her visit? Why did she tell them things they weren’t supposed to know or talk about? He plopped down at the table. Mya sat across from him, porcelain features wrinkled in thought.

Bridget’s robe swished as she began pacing. “Hmm, remember the last thing Mrs. Stone said to her husband?”

Leera took a seat beside Augum. “Something about judgment in the old way.”

“Exactly. Well, what if Thomas isn’t the only one being judged—what if we are too?”

Leera opened a jar of dark jam and smelled the contents, only to make a revolted face. “Relax, Bridge, we’re only waiting for Mrs. Stone. When she comes back, we’ll be gone and they can go back to …” she swatted idly, “whatever it is they do around here.”

Bridget stopped midstride, voice a conspiratorial whisper. “Did anyone else find it strange Magua told us about the ways the Lord of Death could enter Ley?”

“I did,” Augum said immediately.

Leera shrugged. “Sparkstone would have done it by now if he knew how to make a gate, or portal, or whatever—”

“Yeah, but what I’m saying is—” Bridget’s voice dropped even lower, “I think that old woman was hinting Sparkstone
could
make a portal with our involvement somehow.”

“Now that is quite preposterous,” the prince said, taking a seat beside Mya. “I hardly think we could influence the Lord of the Legion with regards to such a thing.”

“And you—” Leera began, pointing a jam-covered finger in his face. “I can’t believe you backstabbed Augum like that!”

“I merely asked what needed to be asked. What is wrong with the lot of you? Do you not understand the elders’ meaning? If we give Augum over to his father, we can avoid war and murder and … and return the throne to someone more … moderate.”

Leera’s fists clenched and unclenched. “Give. Augum. Over? You just want the throne!”

“You fault me for wanting what is rightfully mine? Besides, I am sure that to save the kingdom from ruin, Augum would
want
to turn himself over.” He gave Augum a sanctimonious look. “How did that line go again?”

“ ‘Return me mine son and I shall henceforth unburden thy kingdom of mine wrath’,” Augum said, deflating in his chair. “He’s right. I have to try, don’t I? If there was only the smallest chance, wouldn’t it be worth taking?” He glanced between the girls. “I mean, what if I could prevent what happened to your parents from happening to other people?”

Leera, whose mouth hung open, slowly turned to the prince. Suddenly she lunged across the table and tackled him, the pair falling backwards. “This is your fault, you nasty, spoiled brat! If Augum goes, I’ll—”

Bridget and Mya sprang into action trying to claw the two of them apart, while Augum sighed, picked up what looked like a blue Leyan orange, and left to go upstairs.

“You wretched gutterborn,” Sydo said to Leera mid-struggle, “it is not as if his father would
kill
him!”

Augum closed the door to his room and pressed the Helix on a torch. He sat on his cot and began mindlessly peeling the odd fruit. His shoulders felt heavy. What he needed was to find a way out of Ley … or maybe what he needed was to wait for Mrs. Stone. Besides, even the thought of leaving the girls made him light-headed.

Yet, if he truly could stop his father, change his mind, or turn his heart … would it not be the right thing to do?

He tore off a slice, but his hand froze in mid air.

No, he
had
to try. As unpleasant and dangerous as the task was, he might just be the only person in all of Sithesia that could potentially reach his father’s soul. He got up and reached for the door handle.

“M’lord Augum—?” came Mya’s soft voice from the other side.

“Mya—” he managed to stammer after a moment, quickly swallowing the orange slice.

“M’lord, despair is not the solution, nor is going to your father. Do not concern yourself, Mrs. Stone will find another way.”

“And how many must die in the meantime? I should go, I
need
to go and try. How can the Leyans be wrong?” He turned his back on the door, angry with her for … for … he did not know for what, truth be told. Oh, if only he were her age …

“M’lord …” her voice was even softer. “Please, come downstairs and talk.”

But he didn’t feel like talking. There really wasn’t much to say, was there? It would just cause more heartache all around. He had decided to leave, and that was that. Why couldn’t they just leave him alone?

He straightened his robe and opened the door.

Mya stood there smiling at him with those almond emerald eyes. The vision of her almost broke his resolve. He desperately wanted to stay and be near her … but he knew he couldn’t, he had to do the right thing.

“Come drink and eat something, m’lord, you must be ravishing with hunger.”

He held up the blue orange. “I have this …”

She laughed, the musical sound making his heart thump and his cheeks burn. “I’ll come down,” he said at last, “but can you please do something for me?”

“Anything, m’lord.”

“Please stop calling me
m’lord
. Just Augum is fine.”

She smiled. “As you wish,
Augum
,” and led him downstairs, where Bridget and Leera sat at the table with sullen expressions. Sydo stood off to the side, arms folded close to his chest. He turned away upon spotting Augum. Bridget and Leera gave him painful smiles as he sat down across from them.

Bridget’s lip stiffened. “You can’t go, Aug.”

Leera nodded along. “Yeah, you
better
not, or I’ll—” She blinked rapidly. “Don’t worry, we’ll find another way to stop your father … or Mrs. Stone will at least.”

Augum smiled half-heartedly. “I’ve decided to leave.”

Leera winced and looked away.

“I have to try … it’s the right thing to do.”

Suddenly the front door opened. In stepped Oba Sassone carrying a large torch, his metallic muscles rippling.

“With me you come. Now.”

“We’ll talk about this later,” Bridget whispered as they got up. “Where are we going? Should we take anything with us?” She asked Oba.

Oba merely scowled and turned his back, leaving them to scurry after him. He marched off through dark alleys, curved swords clinking. No one dared light their palm.

After turning a corner, they saw a great circle of torch-bearers standing in the vast square of Absalon.

Augum’s hands went clammy as they descended wide stairs, coming to a stop in a gap evidently left for them. As they lined up, he recognized the elders on the opposite side. He searched for his great-grandfather, but torches obscured many of the faces. Their metallic bodies and dark eyes gave the Leyans a demonic appearance in that torchlight. There was a skin color for every shade known, and some unknown, along with a wide variety of exotic dress.

Magua shuffled forward. “We gather in our ancient ancestral home of Absalon to hide from angry skies above. Change has come.” She stepped back into the circle as a pink-skinned elder stepped forward.

“We come to assign penance and answer a question.” Her gray eyes fell on Augum and the others. “What are we to do with these uninvited mortal childlings, testaments to the broken vow?”

The Leyans muttered amongst themselves as she stepped back.

“I propose we train the childlings,” a voice boomed. It was Thomas—he had stepped forward on the far right.

There were many mutterings of disagreement and shaking of heads.

Thomas raised his bronze hands to appease them. “I further propose the time has come for us to put aside the vow.”

The crowd grew louder, some hissing in displeasure.

Magua stepped forward again, calming the crowd with a single withered hand. “Thomas Stone speaks from the heart, but it is his heart that breaks our vow. The Vow is the balance we have strived to maintain for over fifteen hundred years. It is holy. It is sacred. What Thomas Stone proposes is nothing short of blasphemy.” She paused before continuing in a louder voice. “I move to banish the childlings from our land and wipe their minds of the time spent here.”

This time the crowd murmured with agreement. Augum turned to Bridget and Leera, sharing silent expressions of alarm. He could barely breathe, wondering what it would be like to remember nothing.