Schism: The Battle for Darracia (Book 1) (14 page)

“
Then there are no secrets?” Tulani came to stand next to V’sair as they listened intently to Ozre. “They believed their own myths to make them superior so they could continue to ravage the planet’s most precious resource.”

“
Peace,” V’sair said quietly.

“
Yes,” the orb said. “We come back to peace. The most precious gift we have given you, and it has been squandered.”

“
There are no secrets. I understand.”

“
Yes,” it hissed, “but do you now know what to do?”

Chapter 19

Staf Nuen sat on the golden throne. Beatha stood behind him, her hand resting on the arm. Reminda was seated at his feet, his Fireblade resting on her shoulder, holding her still. Should she move an inch, it would slice into her delicate neck. Drakko had been locked in a supply room, the most demeaning way for his brother to show his contempt for his older sibling. The adjoining Ambros room was a scene of carnage, with Quyroos murdered then chopped up and left to rot as the evening wore on.

Reminda hung her head, disgusted with the violence
; fear and worry for her family were etched in the new lines of her face. Her blue skin was dulled, and her hands shook, yet she remained defiant when Staf addressed her. Pacuto entered the room, boasting of his kill.

“
Ah, Pacuto,” Beatha purred, “you have returned.” She looked at Reminda with barely concealed hatred. “You are wounded,” she said.

“
Trifles, Your Majesty. Minor discomforts that I would gladly suffer for your success.”

“
The prince?” Staf demanded.

“
When you give me a mission, I commit it, Your Majesties,” he boasted. He held up the white braid of Prince V’sair, shouting, “Behold what’s left of the prince!”

Reminda paled, the blood rushing from her head.

There was an outbreak of noise in the room.

Staf stood and yelled,
“Silence!” then turned to his son and finished, ”You swore you would bring his head!” Staf could not hide his disappointment for not having another display of bloodlust to rouse his troops.

“
I had to leave. The Quyroos retaliated. It was a bloodbath, rest assured. Sire, we left more dead than alive.” He grinned devilishly, his pointy teeth bared.

Staf stood and walked down the dais.
“Are you positive the prince is dead?” he insisted, making sure Reminda heard their exchange.

Pacuto slapped the braid into his father
’s hand, “You need more proof, sire?” he asked sarcastically. ”I am more than sure, Father. We were vastly outnumbered,” he lied. “I would have taken his head, but I longed to return to share your glory.”

Staf grunted then took his son
’s beefy arm and raised it high above his head. “Behold, Darracia! Behold your new crown prince. Long live Prince Pacuto!” He turned to his son. “Where is your Fireblade? This is your squire’s.”

“
In Prince V’sair’s body.”

Staf roared with approval and motioned for his
second-in-command to hand over his Fireblade. “I will give you another, studded with crystals, once our victory is complete!”

There were cheers, and Reminda lowered her head, memorizing faces for revenge. She was sure her son still lived; she would know it if he did not. Feeling a gaze bore into her back, she turned to see the satisfied look on Beatha’s face, the pitiless black eyes triumphant. She balled her fists to stop their shaking and swore to the Elements that she would kill Staf and his family if any harm came to her son.

Chapter 20

“
What you are telling me is that we are outnumbered and alone.” Zayden spoke quietly with General Swart. They were in the landing bay at the south end of the castle. The automatic doors had been blasted and hung open. The fight was over; bodies had been carted away; and soldiers lounged in various corners of the room. Swart had ordered them to stand down, knowing they must be alert when the final battle arrived.

“
They have killed Mecon, Grenci, and two others in the high command,” Swart said. “Communications have been scrambled. I don’t know where General Vekin is holed up. Last I heard he had been backed into the service area of the castle. There was some fierce fighting there.”

“
Survivors?”

General Swart shrugged
. “Your guess is as good as mine.”

“
What of your men?” Zayden leaned against a table with a crude map of the castle on it.

“
They are at my base.” He gestured toward a group of about twenty. “We didn’t come prepared for a coup.”

“
Any word regarding my father?”

A young guard stepped forward, his arm in a sling
. “He’s been taken to the lower levels.”

Zayden nodded
. “Go on.”

“
I think he’s been locked in some sort of stock room.”

“
Below the kitchens?”

“
Yes, I saw him being dragged there.”

“
I know the area well,” Zayden stated.

“
Captain, I cannot let you try to rescue him. You will be needed here. Your father would expect me to secure your safety.”

Zayden smiled at the older man
. “I appreciate your concern, General, but I am a commander second and a son first. No one will stop me from saving my father.”

Swart looked at the ceiling then agreed.
“You will need help.”

“
I will go with you!” Hilde jumped up from her seat and gripped Zayden’s arm. “We played there as children. The guards will think…The guards will listen to the daughter of Staf Nuen.”

“
No!” Zayden shouted.

“
I don’t think you have another choice, Zayden. Take the girl.” Swart pointed to a group of his men and motioned for them to stand up. “I will give you these four.”

“
If we don’t return within two hours,” Zayden said, “try to get out and see if you can mobilize troops from the outside.”

“
If you do not return, we won’t need to,” Swart replied grimly. “There will be nothing left to fight for.”

“
My brother?”

“
Is missing and presumed dead.”

Hilde
gasped, and a sob escaped, but no one acknowledged it in the tense room.

“
May the Elements guide the light of your Fireblade and Sradda have mercy on our souls.”

Chapter 21

V
’sair struggled with his tunic, his arm sore, blood staining his bandage. Sweat dotted his forehead, and his eyes shone with feverish intensity.

“
Stop, V’sair! You cannot go anywhere,” Tulani implored him.

“
I have no choice. My parents are in danger.” He continued to get dressed, his fingers clumsy.

Tulani
placed her gentle hands on his and urged him again. “You surely will die. It’s not safe.”

“
Then I will die,” he responded simply. He took her hands in his own. “If I die, I only regret that we had so little time together, Tulani.” He tenderly kissed her full lips. “I love you. I think I must have always loved you.”

“
You never even noticed me before last night!”

“
I have known you in here.” He pressed her hand against his thumping heart, and her legs became liquid. Tears welled in her star-shaped eyes, and when they dripped, five silver runnels streamed down her cheeks.

“
You don’t even have a way to get back,” she told him after a soft hiccup that he found endearing.

His thumbs caressed the softness of her face
, and he rested his forehead against hers. “I will come back for you.” He kissed her again deeply, their tongues entwining. Tulani pressed her body against his, as if she could hold him next to her forever. He was headed for certain death.

“
What do they do here?” Bobbien cackled loudly. “Can’t leave these young’uns alone. Do you not think of anything else?” she demanded. They turned but did not separate until V’sair saw what trailed behind the old woman. “Oh, like you what I found?” she asked.

A soft
snort greeted them, and V’sair cried out with delight, ”Hother!”

“
Wandering around, getting attacked by wysbies, stupid stallius.” Bobbien nodded. “Knew this would cure what ails you, young man.” The stallius’s hide was dotted with sting marks, and blood stained her white coat. Tulani reached for the medicine cloth attached to her belt and gently rubbed the many wounds . Hother knickered with gratitude as the stings were extinguished.

“
Thank you. Thank you!” V’sair pressed his face against Hother, tears smarting his eyes. “The Elements have made it possible, Tulani. I have a job to do.”

“
Take me with you!” She ran to his side.

“
No, it is not safe.” He shook his head, and Bobbien agreed.

“
Not your place, Tulani. Not your place.” Her grandmother shook her head as well.

Tulani picked up
one of the Fireblades and handed it to V’sair, her face solemn. She turned to the old woman. “Have you any zandies left?”

“
O’course. Let’s make him an arsenal to take with him.” Bobbien pulled several of the homemade grenades from her bag. “Better you should eat before you leave. Need your energy, I’m thinking.”

They ate dried fruit
—the Quyroos never ate meat—while they packed a double-sided pouch for V’sair to carry over the front of Hother. Together they put in as many grenades as they could.

Tulani walked him to the very edge of the tunnel. He touched her thin arms
as he memorized her face. Kissing her quickly, he saluted her grandmother and said, “I will come back for you. You will be my queen someday.”

Hopping on
to Hother’s back, he lit his Fireblade with his passion of purpose, and Tulani watched him ride off, afraid she never would see him again.

Chapter 22

Zayden kept his back to the wall, his Fireblade out but its glow extinguished for stealth. He heard Hilde’s ragged breathing and the reassuring footfalls of the extra men.

“
I will distract them,” Hilde mouthed, and pointed to the two guards outside the storeroom.

“
Over my dead body,” he whispered back.

“
Then why did you let me come?” she demanded in the merest puff of air.

“
So I could keep my eye on you.” He motioned toward his last soldier and nodded for him to clear the next hall.

The young
man put his sword away and walked into the lit corridor. “Which way to get something to eat?” he asked a group of Darracians guarding a doorway.

One pulled
out his sword, and it hummed to life. “What are you doing here? It’s off limits!” he shouted.

“
Sorry…” He raised both hands, his palms up. “Just got in from the Desa. Missed all the fun.”

One of the two guards grinned
. “Yeah, it was like picking off keewallas in the trees. The Quyroos just sat there.”

“
Too bad you weren’t on patrol. I got this.” The young solider reached down and retrieved a small pouch from deep in his pants pocket. “Got myself some crystals.”

“
Let me see!”

“
No, they’re mine. I earned them.” He pulled back, the crystals encased in his fist. “Well, OK. I’ll show you, but it’s better when you come under the light.”

“
Stupid, stupid…” Zayden smiled as they took the bait. He pushed Hilde back and told her, “Wait and be still.”

Resting their
weapons against the wall, the Darracians moved closer to see the crystals, and Zayden shouted, “
Now
!”

His men leaped from the hallway
. Zayden sliced deeply and took out the first guard, almost slicing him in two. A few moments later, the second guard’s head rolled to the floor, his eyes blinking in disbelief, his mouth moving wordlessly.

“
The door!” Using his hilt, Zayden banged against the lock until it gave, and the door swung open to reveal a pitch-black room.

“
Father?”

“
Zayden!” King Drakko rose from the corner and stood as the group knelt at his feet. The king’s braid looked bedraggled, and his eye was blackened.

He glanced at his niece
, and she shook her head. “I am loyal to you, Uncle. My father betrayed me more than he did you.”

“
Where is V’sair?”

“
I’m sorry, Father. He is presumed dead, but no one is sure.”

Zayden saw his father
’s eyes dull with grief, as he asked quietly, “The queen lives?”

Zayden nodded
. “She is held captive in the throne room. Communication has been shut down. Your two loyal generals are separated on either side of the castle. I…I don’t see a solution, Father.”

The
king agreed darkly. “So all we have is Svart and Vekin. It doesn’t look good, Zayden. I will need a Fireblade.”

One of the men bowed, holding his weapon up as an offering.
“Take mine, sire.”

Another then another
knelt and said the same.

Drakko looked at each of them and took the first soldier
’s sword. “You will be rewarded.”

“
It is an honor to serve,” the grizzled soldier responded.

“
The best defense is an offense. I think, Zayden, that we should cut the Hydra’s head off at the top,” the king said as they set off for the throne room.

Chapter 23

Tulani looked blankly at her grandmother. “Is this all there is?”

“
No, no, girl. This is just the beginning. Heard what he said, did you? He means to make you the queen. Sit there like a fool, will you?”

“
But you said I should not go with him!”

“T
hat I did. Certain death it would be. He is running like a keewalla without a head. Do you think I did not have a plan?”

“
What plan?” Tulani demanded impatiently.

Bobbien
knelt and placed her forehead to the floor. She turned her wizened face to her granddaughter. “Time is wasting, child. Kneel and appeal to the Element.”

“
The Element said the knowledge is within us.”

“
Then pray for enlightenment!”

Tulani got down, pressing her knees
to the stone, her forehead on the floor in silent appeal. “Oh, Great Sradda,” she implored, “I don’t even know what I’m praying for. I just want to keep V’sair safe.”

The room turned red, and the orb appeared
. “You are calling for help, perhaps?” it asked playfully. Without waiting for a response, it laughed and said, “I am Ozre, Element of the earth. In what way can the land help you? Think, Tulani.” It rumbled, and the room fairly shook.

What
can Ozre do?
she wondered. She had learned it refused to force its will on all kind, but what other way could she harness the power to aide V’sair?
Think
, she told herself.
Think
!

“
I don’t know what to do,” she said.

“
I can’t think for you, Tulani! Use your brain and think. I am Ozre. I am Ozre, Element of the land. I am the creator of the stars and planets. Through me you can use the land to your advantage. Think, girl! I never had to spell it out for your grandmother,” Ozre admonished.

“
The belly of the beast!” Tulani looked up, taking in the polished walls of the interior of the volcano, her eyes shining. “Can you force an eruption?”

“
To what purpose?”

“
If Aqin erupts, the Quyroos will run down the sides of the volcano to the safety of the Plain of Dawid. Once they are there, I can speak to them—tell them of Staf Nuen—and perhaps they will storm the castle.”

Bobbien got up slowly.
“Only a high priestess can move the Quyroos. I have lost my status.”

“
But I have not,” Tulani said.

The room flashed with lightning, and a roar rolled up the hollow inside of the volcano,
Ozre making good on its end of the job.