Songbird (18 page)

Teya worked hard to keep the shield around them, and they made good progress. Coming to the end of the main road, Teya felt a pulse of magic come from behind. A lone rider came into view, and paused to search with his magic.

Teya strengthened the shield, and sat stiffly until the rider continued on. As she relaxed, Bran let out his breath, and she realized how tight she’d held him. She was about to explain, but found she didn’t need to. Bran had felt it through the bond, and she realized she hadn’t shielded her feelings from him since their agreement. Maybe this bond was useful after all.

They left the soldiers behind at the outskirts of town and rode quickly to the eastern side of the city wall. The hill was exactly how she remembered it, and when Bran removed the covering only the first two rungs of the ladder could be seen in the inky blackness below. Teya shuddered involuntarily and was relieved when Jax said he’d go first and find the torch Bran had left behind.

After Jax lit the torch, the faint glow coming from the tunnel didn’t make it any better, because now she could see exactly how small and narrow the passage was. How was she ever going to do this? Already, her palms were moist with sweat and her stomach churned.

“Come on,” Bran said, and she felt his strength pour over her. This was easy, nothing to be afraid of. She focused on the feelings he shared with her, and stepped into the hole, following the ladder until she felt the ground under her feet. Bran came beside her. He took her hand and squeezed, then led her along the passage and into the vault.

The torch went out, sending her into a brief panic in the dark. Thankfully, Jax opened the door, and cool night air touched her face. With a quick breath, she followed Bran through the grounds to the gate, keeping her hand clasped in his.

As he ushered her through the gate, she kept hold of his hand, knowing it was like a lifeline, and despite everything, she needed him.

“At this time of night the gates at the great wall are locked and barred,” Jax said. “But there’s another way out. It’s near the palace, so stay low.”

Teya didn’t want to go anywhere near the palace, but followed Jax anyway. The fact that it was several hours after midnight helped, but she kept careful watch, attuning her senses for anything unusual. She also used her magic to cloak them, needing it now more than ever.

A few blocks from the wall between their countries, Jax veered toward the palace and Teya caught her breath. She didn’t like being this close to the king and she tensed with anxiety. At the end of the lane, Jax pulled them behind some bushes.

From where they hid, the entrance to the palace stood at the end of the street, illuminated by several street lamps. Two guards conversed in low tones as they stood in front of the gate. A guardhouse was just inside the gate, and even though a light shown through the window, Teya couldn’t tell if anyone else was in there.

“Below that guardhouse is a tunnel that leads to the outer side of the wall and Braemar,” Jax explained. “The tunnel is big enough for a small army of men to pass through quickly. It comes out about a hundred yards down the wall.

“This late, there’s usually just the two men standing guard in front of the palace. If Teya can get them to take a little nap, we could slip into the guardhouse, then through the tunnel, and be in Braemar in no time.”

“How did you know this?” Bran asked.

Jax smiled, showing his teeth. “I’ve been busy while you were gallivanting around. If the king wanted to catch us by surprise, this would be the perfect way to send his troops into Braemar.” He glanced at Teya. “Can you do it?”

“I have to get a little closer, but yes, I can do it. You two stay here. I don’t think the guards will be suspicious if I approach alone.” Teya walked off before either of them could protest. She could feel Bran’s disapproval through the link and he started to follow, but Jax stopped him.

Both guards noticed her at the same time, but only stared in appreciation. She smiled to put them at ease and then wove a song of sleep into their minds. She hated the thought of these men getting in trouble or dying because of her, so she made sure they would only think she was part of their dreams. With their eyes a vacant stare, she motioned Bran and Jax forward. They passed the guards quietly, slipped through the gate, and entered the silent guardhouse.

Inside, there was no sign of a door that would lead anywhere.

“Where is it?” Bran asked, slightly panicked.

“It’s here, but I’m not sure where, I never got that far,” Jax said, then pointed. “Try behind there.” A large tapestry hung along the back wall hung. Bran parted the hanging from the wall, revealing doors behind it. Unfortunately, a padlock and chain bound them together.

“Where’s the key?” Bran asked.

“Damn,” Jax said and shrugged. “I didn’t know it was locked. It’s got to be around here somewhere.”

“While you’re looking, I’ll try and get this open.” Bran took a sharp metal object out of his pocket and inserted it in the lock. He maneuvered it around but didn’t have any luck. Jax returned empty-handed.

“The guards must have it. I’ll go get it.” Jax started toward the door, but a shout coming from the palace with the sound of several soldiers rushing toward the guardhouse stopped him.

Teya ducked behind the hanging beside Bran, listening as an officer told the guards that absolutely no one was allowed to leave the city. More shuffling came as several soldiers continued toward the wall, but the officer remained, and Teya swallowed in fear that he would come into the guardhouse.

In desperation, she spun a thread of magic into the lock to make it break and pulled on it. The metal snapped off in her hand and she fumbled the chain. Bran caught it, but not before one end clattered to the ground.

With widened eyes, he pulled the door open, and propelled her inside. As footsteps echoed outside the guardhouse, Jax dove through the opening, and Bran swung the door shut behind him.

Teya hardly dared breathe, waiting for the officer to yell, but nothing happened. Bran carefully let go of the door handle and it held. It was pitch black except for the light that came from under the door, and that was scarce.

After adjusting to the darkness, the outline of a landing dropped off at the beginning of a huge staircase that led down into a black hole. The larger space lessened the panic this normally caused Teya. Still, it helped that Bran took her arm before starting down the stairs.

Jax went first. He’d gone several feet before coming to the bottom of the stairs and continued into the dark tunnel. On the verge of panic, Teya’s breathing quickened. Jax disappeared into the dark and Teya slowed her steps. Soon she heard a scraping sound and jerked to a halt.

“Jax?” Bran whispered. A sudden flame burst in front of them and there stood Jax, holding a lighted torch.

“Come on!” he said urgently, and began jogging down the tunnel.

That was enough encouragement for Teya. The bare stone walls and floor passed quickly under her feet. With several twists and turns, she ran longer than she thought possible, keeping up with Bran until they finally came to another staircase leading upward.

At the top, a single door of heavy wood was covered in cobwebs and didn’t look like it had ever been opened. It was bolted on the inside but had no lock. Bran threw the bolt and pulled, but the door didn’t budge. Jax joined him and the door moved a few inches. As the door opened further, Teya felt a jolt of magic leap around the doorframe and pulse past her. In a whirl the magic was gone, and her mouth went dry.

“Hurry,” she said, turning back toward the struggling men. “When you opened the door, it released magic of some kind. It won’t be long before somebody comes.”

Teya joined them, pulling with a growl of impatience that sent the door flying open. When they stepped through, she sang a few notes and tugged on the ring. It swung shut with a clang and the deadbolt slammed home.

Both men gazed at her with open-mouthed stares. “What?” she asked. Then they glanced at each other and something unspoken passed between them. Her lips turned down. “I didn’t know it would be so easy or I would have helped sooner. Where do we go from here?”

She glanced into the darkness, and by the light of the moon, took her first glimpse at the country on other side of the great wall. Braemar. The land next to the wall was bare of trees and vegetation for several yards, before it opened up into a beautiful rolling countryside. In the dark it was hard to see what lay beyond, but Bran and Jax knew where to go and they surged ahead.

“There’s an outpost not far from here,” Bran explained. “With a garrison to house soldiers. I imagine it will be full because of the king’s threat, but they’ll have maps, and it shouldn’t take long to figure out where the Kalorians are.”

“Will they try to stop us?” Teya asked.

“I don’t know who will be in charge, but if it’s a friend, we might get some help.”

“And if it’s not,” Jax interjected. “They’ll try to arrest Bran.”

“I won’t let them,” Teya said heatedly. “Just see if they try, I’ll show them something they won’t easily forget.”

“Thanks,” Bran said dryly. “But let’s see what happens first. We don’t want to bring the whole army down on us.”

Teya knew he was right, but it wasn’t what she wanted. She wanted to break something. So much had happened that was beyond her control, and she was tired of running. She glanced back at the city. Above the wall, the top spires of the palace were visible, and she imagined how easy it would be to call down lightning and blast it to bits. She could do a lot of damage in a short amount of time.

Anger swelled to a boiling point, dangerously close to exploding. Cold fury settled over her like a shroud and she wondered what it would be like to let it go. Killing the king could end everything, and the years of misery he’d heaped on her would end. He’d never have power over her again. He’d be nothing but dust...

“Teya.”

“What?”

Bran caught her gaze, staring into her eyes until she calmed down. His clear gaze cut through the anger, and she flushed at the turn of her thoughts. The anger still burned, but she tried to push it aside. He wasn’t fooled. Some of what she felt passed to him through the bond.

“You’re so angry,” he said evenly. “Anger like that is always destructive. It will destroy you.”

“I know,” she bit out. “But it’s ... hard. He deserves to die, and being this close to the palace brought it all back. I can’t seem to let it go. How can I, after what they did to me? Show me how to let it go and I will. I don’t want to be a monster.”

“If you really want to let it go, you can. All you have to do is open the box and let it out. Take it from your heart and free it. Think of it as something dark that you’re going to replace with something light.”

“But Korban... and the king. Even Jesse. What they did…”

“It was wrong, and they hurt you. But the anger is hurting you more. Free yourself and you win against them.”

“But if I let it go, that means they win. I would have to forgive them for what they did to me, and I don’t think I can.”

“Letting go of your anger is a beginning. That’s where it starts. Forgiveness can come later, once you’ve let yourself heal.”

Calm returned, along with the balance she’d lost. The anger was gone for now, but she didn’t know if she could keep it that way. “All right. I’ll make you a deal. I’ll give up my anger, as long as it means that Korban will still pay for what he’s done.”

“Oh, he’ll pay,” Bran said, determination in his eyes. “In fact, I’m looking forward to meting out the justice he deserves. But first, we have to find him.”

“Then we’d better get started.”

Together, they started down the narrow track, and Teya’s heart lifted. For the first time, she felt a control she’d never imagined. It was going to be all right. Without anger, her magic would come to her pure and free, a tool for justice.

Thinking of it this way lightened her heavy load and a sudden love for Bran swelled in her heart. A love that had been building for days, but now deepened into something sustaining and substantial. He shook her world and made it better. She squeezed his hand, letting her appreciation flow through the bond. Maybe when this was over, she could let him know how she felt. Maybe by then, he would feel the same way.

The outpost consisted of a large building to house the commanding officer with a row a barracks and a training ground. The main building had an air of efficiency about it that bolstered her confidence. Even though it was late, a light at the front of the building shown through the window and Teya let out a sigh that they’d reached help.

Bran knocked on the door. An officer on duty opened it, and Bran stood a little straighter. As the golden light spilled over him, Teya took a moment to admire Bran’s chiseled profile and broad shoulders. She realized with sudden clarity how much she admired his strength and character. 

“Who’s the commanding officer here?” Bran asked the soldier.

“It’s Colonel Porter.”

“Oh... yes. I know him. Can you get him for me? This is an urgent matter.”

“He’s asleep.” The soldier’s eyes narrowed with suspicion.

“Then wake him, he’ll want to see me.” Bran’s voice resonated with authority, but the soldier still hesitated.

“Not until you give me your name, and state your business.”