Authors: Colleen Helme
Enduring a long moment of dread, she opened her eyes again. This time it wasn’t so bad. She caught sight of a man standing just below her. Soon his hands reached for her feet, and guided her safely to the ground.
“I’ve got you,” his rough voice said. “Now, let’s get that harness off you.” She unbuckled the belt and slipped it off her feet. He took it, and smiled to reassure her, but all she could see were his white teeth in the darkness. “Take cover in those bushes until Bran gets here.”
He pulled the rope toward him taking the extra slack, and then steadied it. Teya moved back toward the bushes and crouched down to watch the ambassador step out of the window.
He seemed to have a little trouble squeezing his broad shoulders and head through the bars, but he finally made it out, and soon worked his way down the side of the building. Once he hit the ground, he quickly untied the rope, and his companion pulled it free of the bars.
With no time to lose, Bran reached for Teya’s hand and led them through the outer gardens to a small building at the back of the grounds. Teya knew this was the gardener’s shed. At Bran’s tap, the door opened and a slight figure in black stepped out.
“Any trouble?” Bran asked.
“No. Everything went as planned. Hello Teya.”
“Clare?”
“Yes. Sorry about the way I spoke to you, but I had to convince the guards and the king.”
“Oh,” Teya said, stunned. Now she understood Clare’s words of comfort.
“This is Jax,” the ambassador said. “And I’m Bran.” Jax gave a brief nod and Bran continued. “Follow me and try to stay low.”
She followed Bran, keeping to the edge of a path. They followed it all the way to the far end of the palace grounds. Here, a rock wall separated them from the city, and Teya groaned at the alarming prospect of climbing over it. Jax and Clare moved some dead branches away to reveal a small crawl space under the wall and she sighed with relief.
Jax ducked through first, followed by Clare. They gave the all-clear sign and Teya went next. The ground was wet and soggy from the rain, and dirt smeared all over her clothes and hands, but she didn’t mind. As she came out on the other side, Clare ushered her across the street into a dark alley.
Bran soon joined them and nodded to Jax. “Get Clare out of here.”
“But…” Clare began.
“No. You can’t go back,” Bran said.
Clare let out a sigh, then reluctantly agreed. To Jax, he said, “I don’t know how long we’ll be, but watch for us at the inn, and make sure Clare gets back to Braemar safely.”
“Be careful,” Clare said, then she and Jax quietly slipped into the darkness.
“Where are we going?” Teya asked.
“We have to split up. It’s easier this way. Come on, we need to get out of the city before they discover you’re gone.”
He led her through a maze of back alleys until she was totally turned around. She hadn’t been away from the palace grounds since her capture, so nothing made sense to her anyway. Still, she was out, and this amazed her.
Why had Bran done this? He said he needed her help, but what did he want her to do? What if it was something terrible? Would he really let her go after she’d helped him, or had he just said that to get her to leave with him? There were many who would pay handsomely for her. Was this a possibility? The thought curdled her stomach. He didn’t seem like the type, but how could she know?
They neared the city wall and Teya sucked in her breath. It was huge. Building walls was one thing King Thesald excelled at, and she hoped Bran had a good plan to get over it without anyone seeing them.
Bran led her to the back of a church and through a gate that opened into a massive graveyard. As they carefully weaved around the headstones, the shifting wind rattled through the tree branches with a soft moan. An owl hooted and Teya shivered. Creeping through a graveyard in the wild hours of the night, and walking on top of dead bodies filled her with foreboding, and she moved closer to Bran.
At the far end of the cemetery, a mausoleum stood against the outside wall. They circled around until coming to a staircase that led down to a bolted door. Pulling a key from his pocket, Bran deftly unlocked the bolt and motioned Teya inside. It was pitch black, and the sound of the closing door sent a shock of panic through her. Bran lit a candle, but the sudden light did nothing to stop the terror that froze her blood.
“What’s wrong?” Bran asked.
A large coffin with the shape of body molded on top of it took up most of the space. Teya tried to get her breathing under control, but couldn’t seem to get enough air. “I have a hard time with closed spaces.”
“Damn,” Bran exclaimed. “That’s too bad. But this is the only way out. Do you think you can make it? I promise it’s not far.”
“I’m…I’ll try.” Teya swallowed the scream that rose inside her, and clenched her fists in an effort to fight the panic.
“Look, there’s a path right here.” He held the candle toward a small opening in the wall. “It leads outside the city. It’s not far. Just a few steps. Can you do that?”
Teya nodded, but couldn’t seem to move. She wanted nothing more than to leave the coffin and small room behind, but that space was even smaller. There was no way she could walk in there.
“Teya,” Bran said. The sharpness of his tone snapped her gaze to his. “We have to go. It’s the only way out. Come on, I’ll be right here with you. We’ll do it together.”
She nodded, but still couldn’t move. With a sigh, Bran put his arm around her and pulled her close. She hadn’t expected that, and his sudden nearness took her mind off the small space. His warmth and strength comforted her and she breathed in his warm woodsy scent.
“Just hold onto me and I’ll get you out of here.”
“Okay,” she agreed. Maybe she could do this after all. He held her close, and her panic subsided. With a deep breath, she found the courage to step toward the darkness.
It didn’t last. One step inside the tunnel caused the panic to hit with a vengeance, and she threw both arms around Bran and clenched her eyes shut. Bran let out a sigh, but didn’t berate her like she thought he would.
“That’s all right,” he said. “Keep your eyes closed, and pretend we’re somewhere else. Hold on to me. You’ll be fine. I won’t let anything happen to you. I’ll be right here all the way.” She took a step and he continued. “That’s it, just one step at a time. You can do it.”
Teya’s breath hitched, but she moved with Bran, even knowing that each step took her into a smaller, more confined space. Sweat broke out on her upper lip, and her heart raced, but how could she stop now? After everything else, this was her only chance at freedom. Bran pulled her along, and even though she cowered, she stayed beside him.
She tried to imagine the scene of the forest glade that always helped her in the box, but the dank, musty air wouldn’t let her hold that image. Bran bent his head lower and pulled her closer to him, and even with her eyes closed, she knew the space was getting smaller. A few clods of dirt fell on her arm and she flinched. Was the tunnel caving in? Would they be trapped in here forever? She trembled, and her stomach clenched.
Bran coaxed and cajoled her, and she poured all her concentration on him. His smooth voice, with a slight accent, was pleasant to the ear. His strong arms and body sheltered her, and she took comfort in his protective touch. She wasn’t alone this time.
With her face pressed against his neck, she felt his pulse, and realized she hadn’t been this close to a man in her whole life. Awareness of how tightly he held her took her mind off everything else. Now her heart beat fast for a totally different reason.
“All right,” Bran said. “You made it. Look up. See the stars? You just need to climb this ladder and you’ll be out.”
Teya’s eyes flew open and she took a deep breath. He was right. The stars shone in brilliance above her. “Wow,” she said.
Bran glanced down at her face. They held each other so close that their lips nearly touched. She could feel his breath on her cheek and a sudden desire to close the distance to his mouth washed over her. Embarrassed, she pulled away, and backed into the wall, knocking her head against the dirt.
“Oops,” she said. “Uh...where’s the ladder?”
Bran’s lips turned into a lopsided grin. “Behind you.”
“Right.” She twisted around with her back to him. As she lifted her leg to climb the rope, she backed into his stomach and heard his breath whoosh out. Her face flamed, but at least he couldn’t see it. His hands steadied her as she climbed up, but felt like hot brands burning through her clothing. On trembling legs, she made it to the top, and pulled herself out, then sank onto the ground.
Bran came out right behind her, and she swallowed at the sudden awareness of his body. She scooted back to give him room. Once he emerged, he began to lay a covering of branches and limbs over the opening.
Breathing deeply, Teya took in her surroundings, realizing they were in a copse of trees outside the city wall. All at once it hit her. After ten long years, she was out of the palace. Free. Gratitude surged through her heart, and she glanced at the man responsible.
She couldn’t read his face in the darkness, and wondered again what he wanted from her. His kind words to get her through the tunnel forged a thread of trust, and she was willing to give him a chance to explain.
She also couldn’t forget how safe she’d felt in his arms, nor his steady hands helping her up the ladder. Her pulse quickened as she thought of her response to his nearness, and how much she wanted to feel his arms around her again.
But she couldn’t let that get in the way of his motives for helping her escape. If she could only talk him into removing the
kundar
, then she’d know she could trust him. But that might be harder than she thought.
Given the rumors about her and her people, he’d have to be crazy to free her. She might be willing to trust him, but how could he ever learn to trust her?
As Teya contemplated Bran’s motives, he turned toward her and paused, catching her staring. She flushed again under his scrutiny, but hoped the darkness kept it hidden.
“I have horses hidden over the rise,” Bran said, a little sharply. “Can you ride?”
“Yes, of course. But... now can you tell me what you want and where we’re going?”
“I’ll explain after I get you to a safe place.”
“Please. At least tell me why you got me out of there.”
Bran let out his breath, clearly not wanting to talk about it. “All right, but explanations will have to wait, understand?” When she nodded he continued. “I want you to take me to your people…to the Kalorians.”
Shock sent a shiver down her spine. “Why?”
He let out a breath. “I have my reasons and I’ll tell you everything, but there’s no time to explain right now. We’re still too close to the city. We have to keep moving or we could get caught.”
“All right,” she agreed.
He started up the hill and Teya hurried to catch up, puzzled by his request. What could he possibly gain by finding the Kalorians? Did he intend to exploit her people? A knot of dread formed in her stomach. It was the one place she wanted to go, and now she didn’t know if she should. Did he intend to exact a price for returning her?
The horses stood just where he’d said they’d be, and Teya realized he’d coordinated her escape down to the last detail. He’d probably been planning it for a long time, and she was impressed. It gave her hope that this might actually work.
She mounted her horse and followed Bran away from the towering wall. They took a downward path and Teya glanced at the city below, surprised at how far the city spread beyond the wall. This ‘outer’ city was almost as big as the one inside the gates. Inns and houses dotted the land in front of the city wall, which soon gave way to larger estates before filtering out to farmhouses and country roads.
Bran led her through the outside fringes of town, then into the countryside, skirting around homesteads and farms. Every once in a while he turned in the saddle to look back. At first she thought he was making sure she was following, but then realized he was watching for pursuit from the city. It rattled her that he thought there was a chance that they could still get caught. Soon she cast quick glances over her shoulder as well.
As dawn approached, they’d left the last of the settlements behind. Bran turned off the road and took another path through the trees, leading toward a rocky ravine. He coaxed his horse into the ravine, and she followed down the trail through dense underbrush.
Leveling out near the bottom, the flat ground led to a stream. Further on, the ground opened up into a little valley. Trees and brush helped camouflage the small cabin that stood in the thick shadows.
Much to Teya’s relief, Bran stopped to rest. She hadn’t ridden a horse for years. Coupled with the exhaustion from being up all night, and she was completely worn out. Still, she couldn’t rest until she knew why Bran wanted to find her people.
“It’s not much,” Bran said, dismounting. “But I have food and extra supplies here.”
Teya dismounted as well, but once she hit the ground, she had to grab the saddle before her legs gave way. After she made sure she could walk, she straightened and followed Bran to the cabin. The unlocked door swung open on creaky hinges, and fear to enter the enclosed space caused her heart to race.
Noticing her hesitation, Bran stepped into the cottage, and held the door open. “It’s safe, and not as small as you might think.”
Taking a deep breath, Teya followed him inside. On one side of the room a fireplace lined the wall. The center held a table and chairs, while a narrow bed took up the rest of the space on the other side.
“Why don’t you find something to eat while I take care of the horses?” He set a food pouch from his saddlebags on the table and turned to leave.
“How long are we staying here?”
“Not more than a few hours.”
“Okay.” Teya let out a relieved breath and barely managed to flop into a chair at the table. She was so exhausted, she didn’t think she could eat much, but rummaged through the pouch anyway. She found bread, cheese, and dried fruit, along with a waterbag, and set them on the table. Her stomach chose that moment to growl, and she decided a little food wouldn’t hurt.
A moment later, Bran came in and sat beside her. He took an apple and bit into it, then settled back in his chair. His casual movements took some of the worry out of her and she relaxed. He had risked a great deal to get her out of the palace and sudden warmth swept over her. “Thank you for freeing me from my prison.”
Bran caught her gaze and smiled. “How long were you there anyway?”
“Ten years,” she answered. “I was a child when they kidnapped me.”
He shook his head and frowned. “Well, you’re out now, and I’ll do all that I can to keep it that way.”
Her lips twisted in a wry smile. “Is that because you’ll probably be dead if you don’t?”
“Something like that,” he drawled, smiling. “So…what do you think the king will do when he finds you missing?”
Teya considered it. “First, he’ll probably send guards to search the grounds, and servants to search the palace. He won’t let them rest until I’m found. I’m not sure what he’ll do then, but it won’t be pretty. He’ll do whatever he can to get me back. He’ll probably have the guard killed who escorted me to my room last night. If Clare was still there he would have her tortured before executing her.” A spasm of pain shook her body. “He’s shown such cruelty before. Anyone who ever cared for me is dead.”
“It’s not your fault.”
“I know.” Her voice turned hard. “Now, tell me why you want to find the Kalorians.”
Bran frowned, pausing to choose his words carefully. “I’m here because of
sym
. Have you ever heard of it?”
His question caught her off-guard and spiked her curiosity. “No. What is it?”
“We don’t have magic in Braemar. But recently we’ve stumbled upon an elixir that gives magical abilities. It’s called
sym
, and comes from the Old Country…uh…here. The magic only lasts a few hours, but in the wrong hands, it’s deadly. In fact, we have reason to believe that whoever is behind it is a threat to Braemar. I need to find out where it’s coming from, and the Kalorians are the only people who possess magic. That’s why I want to find them.”
“You think my people are making
sym
?” She frowned, confused.
“No, not your people,” he said quickly. “But maybe some of them.”
“The Kalorians would never use magic to hurt anyone,” she said defiantly, then realized her blunder. “Unless it was the only way to defend themselves.”
“Like you?” His eyes narrowed. “I know you hurt the king the other night. I’m pretty sure he deserved it, but people were saying that was exactly why Kalorians needed to be collared. They can’t be trusted because they wouldn’t hesitate to kill anyone who didn’t agree with them.”
“That’s not true!” Teya said, hurt and outraged that he would believe this. “Those are lies. Kalorians love peace and treasure life.”
“All Kalorians?” Bran asked. “There must be a few who don’t feel that way. Not everyone loves peace, and ruthless ambition is everywhere.”
Teya couldn’t deny his reasoning, but she also couldn’t believe one of her own would use magic to destroy others. “I was only ten when I was kidnapped. My memories of home are filled with love and contentment. I was happy there. It was only after I was taken that I learned anger and hate.”
She held his gaze, challenging him to disagree, and continued. “That didn’t come from my people, and none of them wore a
kundar
.” Sudden comprehension dawned. “You aren’t planning to take this off, are you?” She fingered the collar. “Are you afraid of me? Of what I might do without the
kundar
on?”
“Why shouldn’t I be concerned?” he answered. “After everything I’ve heard, I would be a fool not to consider your power. You’re right. You have learned anger and hate. You’ve been a slave for ten years. Without the
kundar
, how do I know you won’t seek revenge?”
“Why should you care what I do to the king? He deserves to die.” As the words left her mouth, she realized how vindictive that sounded, and knew it wasn’t the best thing to say to gain his trust. She softened her voice, hoping he would understand. “But I wouldn’t go back now. Not before I returned to my people. You got me out of there, and because of that, I would honor our bargain.”
He didn’t reply, and it seemed as though a wall had gone up between them. How could she blame him for his caution? In his place she would probably feel the same way. Fatigue overcame her and she let out a big sigh. “Why do you think my people would help you anyway?”
“Once I explained the situation, they could give me an idea of who might be involved in making the elixir, especially if it bothers them as much as it bothers you. I know the king has made it his business to capture or kill the Kalorians, but no one really knows where they come from. I’ve heard rumors that they’ve disappeared, but no one seems to know anything. I just want to talk with them, and I thought that if I brought you back, they would be more willing to help me.”
She glanced at him sharply. “Oh, I get it. You’re using me as a bargaining tool.”
“I guess you could say that if you like.” His eyes narrowed. “Do you want to go back to your people or not?”
“Of course I do.”
“Then we’re helping each other.”
Silence stretched between them. Now that she knew he didn’t trust her magic it was hard to tell him what she wanted. But if he didn’t take it off now, she wasn’t sure he ever would. “I can take you to them, but the
kundar
limits my sense of direction. I know they’re out there somewhere, but I can’t sense them like I could without it. If you want me to find them, you’ll need to take it off.”
“How do I know you’re telling the truth?” he asked, skepticism in his tone.
“I promise I won’t hurt you. After you risked your life to help me escape, how could I?” He didn’t respond, so she continued with the truth. “I’m afraid if you don’t take it off now you never will. I can’t risk it. If there’s a chance of getting caught again, I have to know I can use my magic to defend myself. I won’t go back.” She paused, then caught his gaze. “I’d rather die first.”
Her declaration hit a nerve with Bran, and he rubbed a hand through his hair before responding. “I need to think about this. Why don’t you rest for a bit? I’ll keep watch.”
Without waiting for a response, he fled the cabin, probably eager to get away from her. She wanted to call him back to dispel his fears, but what more could she say? Only time would convince him that she meant what she said. Time they didn’t seem to have.
****
“Teya, wake up.” Bran shook Teya’s shoulder, but she couldn’t seem to open her eyes. It felt like she’d only been asleep for a minute. She blinked them open to find Bran sitting on the edge of the bed next to her. Without thinking, she smiled up at him, grateful to have him close.
“When you asked me if I could get the
kundar
off, I told you I wasn’t sure I could. Remember?”
That pulled the cobwebs from her mind and she sat up. “Yes, but...you said there was a way.”
“I did, but I’m not sure it will work.”
“So...what are you saying?”
“I’ll try to get it off, but I can’t guarantee anything.”
A wave of hope coursed through her. Did he mean it? Was he really going to try? “What made you change your mind?”
“I tried to imagine what it would be like if I were in your place,” he said. “I realized that I’d hate having a collar like that around my neck. It’s wrong. You deserve the opportunity to decide your own fate. So I’m going to take a chance on you.”
Something inside Teya cracked apart, touching her heart with awe. His kindness astonished her. It had been so long since someone cared about her feelings that she didn’t know how to respond. Did he really mean it?
“I need to put this,” he said, holding up a piece of leather. “Between the
kundar
and your skin to protect you, then I’ll wrap this string around the gold. It’s coated with an explosive powder, and once I ignite it, the metal should melt down. The collar is gold, isn’t it?”
“I think so,” Teya said, swallowing. “But it has some kind of magic in it.”
“Do you think it will hurt you?”
Teya suppressed a sarcastic laugh. “This collar’s been hurting me ever since I can remember. I’ll try anything...do anything, to get it off.”
“Okay. Then let’s try it. Lie down, and turn your head.” Bran folded the piece of leather under the
kundar
and spread it as far as he could over her neck and face.
“I didn’t think you’d do this,” she said.
“I just hope it works. Okay…this is ready. Hold still.”
As Teya heard a sizzle of fire, she held her breath. The acrid scent filled her nostrils before a small pop reverberated through her body. It was soon followed by a thin, high-pitched wail that made her eyes water. Then it was over.