Arcanius (32 page)

“That might help,” Tiberius agreed.

Robere slipped a pillow between Tiberius and the back of the chair. Then he poured wine from a crystal decanter into a small cup. Tiberius picked up a peach and looked at it. It felt warm in his hands and perfectly ripe.

“Those were just brought in from the orchards,” Robere said. “I thought you might enjoy them.”

Tiberius bit into the peach, its soft, furry skin parting easily to reveal the sweet flesh underneath. The peach was so juicy, the sticky, delicious nectar ran down his chin and into his hand. He hadn’t realized how dry his mouth was, but as the juice of the peach flooded his mouth, he sucked it down eagerly. He took several bites of the peach in rapid succession, then added a piece of cheese to his already full mouth.

The wine was rich and strong. As Tiberius let the wine roll across his tongue, his taste buds seemed to explode in his mouth. Everything tasted so good, he felt like he could eat an entire feast by himself, but then after only only a few moments, he was full.

“The peaches are perfect,” Tiberius said. “I want to be sure we have a sack of them loaded onto the ship before we leave the city.”

“I can see to that, lord. I can see to all your provisions,” Robere said.

“That would be a huge help,” Tiberius said. “We need enough food and water for the small crew and three passengers.”

Robere nodded and left the room again, but Tiberius was struck by a sudden sadness. He realized he didn’t want to leave Avondale without Rafe. As children they had dreamed of grand adventures together, and as men they had shared everything since the banishment. But now Rafe was staying to take his father’s place as the earl’s champion and personal guard. The ache in his heart over the loss of his friend was almost as painful as the wound deep in his back.

When Lexi returned, Tiberius had the soldiers lay Rafe’s body down on the bed. The soldiers were the same group that had carried Rafe from the roof.

“They haven’t left him since we pulled him off the wall,” Lexi said quietly about the guards.

Tiberius guessed that Lexi was suspicious of the men, but Tiberius thought they were simply hopeful. Rafe’s father had been the pride of Avondale and the earl’s commander for decades, and everyone had expected Rafe to be just as famous. The men of the earl’s war band had respected Rafe, and now it seemed they were looking to him to show them what to do, now that their loyalty was called into question.

“They’re fine,” Tiberius said, getting slowly to his feet.

“Are you really strong enough to do that?” Lexi said. Then she saw his back. “Did you heal it?”

“Just the cut. Like I told you, the area around the stone won’t heal magically. I tried everything I knew to do.”

“You need to rest,” she said, sounding worried.

“There will be time for rest soon. Right now, Rafe needs me.”

“He hasn’t woken up yet,” Olyva said. “He’s not in pain, but his breathing seems to be getting worse.”

“Cut off his clothes,” Tiberius said.

The soldiers stepped forward with daggers and knives. They were gentle, and Olyva covered Rafe’s hips with a towel. Tiberius spent several minutes looking his friend’s body over. It was bruised from his knees up. His thighs, arms, and shoulders were all splotched with dark bruises, but his abdomen was swollen, and it was obvious that Rafe had several broken ribs.

“This will take a while,” Tiberius said.

“Here.” Lexi offered Ti the other chair. “Sit down at least.”

Tiberius sat gingerly on the edge of the chair and placed his hands on Rafe’s shoulder and swollen belly. Lexi stood to one side of Tiberius, and Olyva was on the other. The soldiers stood against the far wall, watching, as Tiberius closed his eyes and began to chant his healing spells.

Chapter 36

Tiberius

Restoring Rafe’s body took time, but otherwise Tiberius had no trouble helping his friend, who was still unconscious from the stems Olyva had plucked from her body. Tiberius would have loved to spend time trying to understand all the incredible things Olyva could do since her changing, but there simply was no more time.

“I have to see my father,” Tiberius told Lexi and Olyva. “Then we should leave.”

“So soon?” Olyva asked.

“I’m afraid so.”

“But Rafe hasn’t woken?”

“Stay with him. I will send for you once we’re ready. And Olyva, if you choose to stay, we will support your decision completely.”

“No,” Olyva said. “This will never be my home again. I can feel the call to move on, and I want to help you.”

“We could really use your help,” Lexi said.

Olyva smiled, and Tiberius turned around. The Balestone was still lying in the corner. His blood had dried so dark that the stone looked brown, but Tiberius could still feel the stone’s power calling to him. He knew he couldn’t risk losing the Balestone again and couldn’t send it with one of the soldiers, but he didn’t want to touch it, either.

“Lexi, pull out my trunk from under the bed,” he said.

Tiberius walked over and picked up the metal tongs. They were heavy but effective. He picked up the stone easily enough and turned back to Lexi.

“There’s an old coin purse in there,” he said.

“I’ve got it,” Lexi confirmed.

She poured the coins out into the box. They were mostly old coins, struck with the images of earls and kings long dead. Tiberius had collected them as a boy. Most earls cast new coins at some point during their reign, collecting the old coins and melting them down so that the new currency carried their own image. Tiberius had often wondered what Leonosis’ coins would look like. Now he hoped that his brother didn’t live long enough to reforge Valana’s currency—or the very nature of the kingdom.

Lexi held open the pouch, and Tiberius carefully dropped the Balestone inside it. He could feel the stone responding to his murderous thoughts. It wanted him to kill his brother; the strange magical object seemed to revel in pain, destruction, and death. Tiberius felt guilty for wanting his brother to die, but Tiberius wanted to live. He wanted his friends to live and even the people of Avondale, the other cities of Valana, and the free people living across the blighted lands to live. He wanted them to thrive, to know peace, to prosper. He doubted that he could give them all those things, but if he could stop Leonosis, he knew they at least had a chance.

“All right,” Tiberius said, setting down the tongs and taking the coin purse. “Let’s go find my father.”

The palace was buzzing with news, and there was a sense of relief on the faces of the servants and city officials. Brutas had been defeated, and Earl Ageus was back where he belonged. Almost as soon as Tiberius left his room, his back spasmed so hard that he could hardly walk. Even breathing was difficult. He had to stop every few steps and clench his teeth against the pain.

“What is it?” Lexi asked.

“My back,” Tiberius said. “The wound is making the muscles spasm.”

“Is there anything I can do?” she asked. The worry on her face was reflected in her voice.

“Can I lean on you?” Tiberius asked.

Lexi nodded, and Ti put his arm around her shoulders. They walked slowly through the palace, taking special care as they descended the stairs. Every step sent a jolt of pain through Tiberius, but he knew they couldn’t stop. He had to find his father and begin his search immediately. Every moment he spent in Avondale gave his brother time to trap them there.

It took a while, but they finally found Earl Ageus in the earl’s audience hall, which was also filled with soldiers. Those who had joined Brutas’ quest for power were swearing fealty to Earl Ageus. Those that didn’t would have been executed, and Brutas sat on the floor not far from his father, surrounded by guards with their spears held ready. He was in a temporary prison of blades, on display for everyone to see so there was no longer any doubt as to who was in charge of Avondale.

Tiberius knew he should have been happy to see his brother brought low, but instead he felt sad. To Ti, the entire scene was a testament to his family’s failure. Earl Ageus raised his hand to silence the soldier who was swearing allegiance to the rightful ruler of Avondale. The man had laid his weapons at the earl’s feet and then lay down on the ground, his arms and legs spread wide. The earl had one boot on the man’s head as a sign of his sovereignty, but he quickly stood up and called for his son.

“Tiberius!” the earl said. “Come here.”

The crowd parted before Tiberius and Lexi. They walked through the crowded space, and with each step the Balestone, which Tiberius held by the straps of the small coin purse, urged Tiberius to slay his father and take control of the city.

“Father,” Tiberius said when they reached the front of the dais. “We need to talk.”

“Clear the room!” the earl shouted.

The soldiers hurried out of the audience chamber, all except for those members of the earl’s personal guard who were holding Brutas as spear point. Earl Ageus stepped back from the throne-like chair from which he held court. He waved invitingly to Tiberius to sit in his chair.

“Come, sit here,” the earl said, then turned to Lexi. “And you, young lady, join him, please. You have both proven yourself to me and to Avondale. This is your birthright, Tiberius. To rule Avondale.”

“Father,” Tiberius said, never moving from in front of the dais. “You must know that is impossible.”

“Why?” the earl asked. “You are my son. Brutas is a traitor.”

He spat in the direction of Brutas, who cowered on the ground like a frightened dog. He was still cradling the hand the Balestone had burned. The skin was black, and Brutas was obviously in great pain.

“Everything is as it should be once again,” the earl continued.

“No, it isn’t,” Tiberius argued. “Leonosis will come here looking for me.”

“I can deal with your brother,” the earl said. “If this is about your banishment, have no fear.”

“No, Father, please listen to me. Something is trying to find the Balestone. It isn’t from our world, but it wants to dominate us all. It wants to turn Valana into a hellish place where innocent people suffer. We have to stop it.”

“And you think Leonosis is in league with this creature?”

“I think so, or perhaps even possessed by it. If not Leonosis, then Queen Ariel is. She’s a witch, Father. I’ve seen her power.”

“Yes, yes, you said as much before.”

“But now I’m telling you. There are other stones like this one.” Tiberius held up the pouch. “Only not evil, and I must find them. They have to be destroyed before whatever is controlling Leo uses them to destroy Valana.”

“How many men do you need?” Earl Ageus said.

“I don’t need men,” Tiberius said. “Well, perhaps a few to help sail the ship, but that’s all. What I really need is time.”

“And how can I buy you time?”

“You could leak word to Leonosis that I’m still here, hiding from him. He’ll send war ships and troops, but you can stall them. Try negotiating—do whatever you can to make him believe I’m here. Meanwhile I’ll go in search of the other stones. Once I have them, I can destroy them and defeat Leonosis.”

“You’re asking me to risk our city and the lives of every person here to help you overthrow your brother?”

“I don’t want to overthrow anyone. I want to stop the evil that’s spreading—”

“You always hated your brother,” Earl Ageus said, interrupting Tiberius before he could finish. “Avondale can be yours. Isn’t that enough?”

“You don’t understand, Father,” Tiberius tried to explain. “Leonosis won’t let you live. He won’t let anyone rule Avondale but himself. He’s already taken control of the other cities.”

“This is madness,” the earl said, his voice rising with anger. “Do you really expect me to believe these outlandish tales? Wake up, Tibeirus! Stop living in this dream world you have created.”

Brutas began to laugh. Tiberius and Earl Ageus both looked at him. The laugh was strange, a high-pitched cackling that seemed completely unnatural, especially coming from Brutas. It made the hair on the back of Tiberius’ neck stand out, and his skin tingled. Lexi stepped closer and took hold of Ti’s free hand in both of hers.

“What are you laughing at?” the earl demanded.

“You two fools are no match for Leonosis,” Brutas said. “He will come, and when he does, he will raze this city to the ground. And not just for the Balestone. He wants to crush you both. It’s only a matter of time.”

Brutas laughed again, as if he’d just said something funny instead of terrifying.

“He’s gone mad,” the earl said.

“No, he’s seen what Leonosis is capable of,” Tiberius argued.

The earl stepped down from the dais and approached Brutas. The guards separated but kept their spears trained on Brutas. If he tried anything, they would kill him instantly, but he seemed content sitting on the floor, cradling his black and shriveled hand.

“Is Leo under the control of some beast?” the earl asked.

“
King
Leonosis cannot be stopped. He will slay you, Father, and make your body his puppet, just as he did with the other earls.”