City of Gold (9 page)

She paced back to
The Speaking Sands
. As it had been all night, the sand was tranquil and undisturbed. The silence affirmed what she already knew to be true—something had gone wrong. She could tell; she could always tell. It was her curse.

Prince Kantan stroked his chin as he gazed absently toward the flames dancing in the fireplace. The quiet night was soothing. He reached into his desk and unlocked the bottom drawer, retrieving the only object inside: a framed picture, with the simple caption—
Kantan and Arianna
.

The woman’s playful smile caused his stone face to soften. He brought the picture to his lips and kissed her forehead gently.

“Brother….” The startling voice caused him to jolt. He flung the picture back into the cabinet and slammed the drawer.

“Sister, you are not to enter unannounced!” His face was flushed, but he felt his anger slowly ebbing out. “What is it, Eva?”

“Something’s wrong with the quest.”

Kantan’s eyebrows pulled toward his nose. “One of your feelings?”

Eva nodded.

Kantan stood. “Then we must consult our sister.”

Suddenly a large shadow engulfed Eva. General Levenworth appeared from behind, blocking the entire door frame. “I apologize for the untimely intrusion—but there’s been an incident.”

Kantan exchanged glances with Eva. “With the mission?” Levenworth’s face was hard as rock. “No, sir, with the prison…Randilin has escaped.”

19

Clash of Steel

SPARKS ERUPTED WITH THE SOUND of clashing steel. Tiana’s dagger danced in smooth arcs through the air. The three bodies littering the floor were instantly replaced as warriors continued funneling into the room. Despite Tiana’s furious defense, they were being backed against the wall inch by inch.

Cody watched helplessly. “Help! Help!” he screamed out the window. Tiana winced as blood smeared down her cheek from a newly-carved gash. The golden golems engulfed them in a semi-circle.

Cody’s stomach began to tingle. He clutched his chest and felt the outline of the Book still tucked under his shirt. The sensation raced toward his head. Closing his eyes, he took a deep breath and relaxed his jaw. Like a distant spectator he heard himself whisper, “
Duomi
.”

Then the entire room exploded.

Dace was instantly alert. The ground still trembled from the roaring boom. He tightened the grip on his sword.

Without a sound, he crept to the front door. The smell of smoke polluted the air—across the clearing a building was engulfed in flames.

His trained ear instantly recognized the low whistling noise ringing out beside him. Without hesitation he flung his body backwards—half a second before an arrow lodged into the wooded archway an inch from his face. Emerging through the shadows a legion of golden warriors swarmed into the town square.

Dace allowed the tension to drain from his body and willed his muscles to relax. Pressing the cold hilt of his sword against his forehead, he mouthed a soundless oath. He could now smell the charging assailants. With a deep breath, he flung himself at the front line of attackers.

Cody shoved off the rubble that imprisoned his lower body. A gaping hole in the ceiling exposed the bedroom above. They had fallen through into the bottom storefront that now was aflame. The scorched bodies of the soldiers had been blasted around the room.
I definitely need to remember that word!

“Hurry!” He was yanked to his feet by his collar. Tiana’s face was smeared black with ash and her blonde hair powdered gray with grime. “We need to get out of here before…” A loud cracking noise sounded from above as the ceiling sagged. “
Run!
”

Cody bolted after Tiana across the room. He felt the intense heat of the fire as he dodged a collapsing piece of flaming debris. Then came another loud crack from above. “
Jump!
” Cody hurled himself toward the door. “
Umph!
” Falling debris slammed against him mid-jump, pinning him to the ground.

Dashing back through the flames, Tiana grasped Cody’s hand and pulled with all her strength. She dragged Cody through the fiery door as the roof came crashing down.

As Tiana heaved Cody to his feet, he saw that the entire courtyard had been consumed by furious combat and already several slain soldiers lay crumpled on the ground.

Tat perched on a rooftop picking off warriors with his bow; each arrow perfectly penetrating between the embedded golden platelets. Below, Wolfrick, Sheets, and Tryin formed a shield around the building.

Approaching footsteps stole Cody’s attention. Three golden golems charged toward them. Tiana flipped her dagger into the air and caught it by the blade. With a fluid motion she sent the blade whirling across the clearing.
Thud
. The knife plunged up to the hilt into the lead soldier’s neck, killing him instantly.

The two remaining warriors continued the charge, but their path was unexpectedly blocked by the hulking mass of Chazic. Before the surprised golems could react, Chazic’s giant scimitars ended their lives. The Enforcer positioned himself in front of Cody, daring more challengers to attack.

Dace was seasoned enough in battle not to be blinded by success. He recalled General Levenworth’s favorite proverb: “
It’s not the hundred conquered foes that determine your fate; it’s the remaining one who plunges his dagger into your back as you admire your victories.
” They had fought valiantly; but the waves of enemies were relentless.
There are too many of them.
Tat’s quiver would eventually run dry and even Chazic’s brawny arms would tire. We
need to flee
.

“Dace! Behind you! A Dark-Wielder!” Xerx dashed toward him pointing urgently. Dace pivoted and braced himself. Approaching slowly was a bald being whose entire body shone as though made of diamonds. It wore a dark purple robe that trailed behind it as a cape. Its expressionless face tilted. As it did, Dace’s legs stumbled and he plunged waist-deep into sinking sand. He fought to climb out, but every move pulled him deeper into the earth. Dace stretched his neck to keep his face above ground.

The Dark-Wielder opened its mouth and boiling lava poured out like a waterfall, streaming toward Dace.

“
Colania!
” Xerx shouted. The flowing lava began to slow, hardening into an icicle in front of Dace’s face. “
Gadour! Gadour! Gadour! Byrae!
” Three fist-sized stones appeared, circling above Xerx’s head in a whirlwind. He flung his arms and the stones launched like bullets toward the diamond foe.

The first rock chipped off a large shard from its shoulder. Before the other two stones could strike, the Wielder’s eyes focused and the rocks imploded into dust. The Wielder sliced its arm through the air. Xerx gagged as he felt something hairy forming on his tongue. Soon a thick fungus filled his mouth, obstructing his breath. Xerx collapsed, his head burning for air as the mold climbed into his nose and out his nostrils.

The Wielder stood over Dace. A thick cleaver grew into the man’s hand. Dace winced as the blade came swinging down.

Thump!
A body collided with the Wielder, sending both toppling to the ground. Poe rolled to his feet swinging a sledgehammer. The adversary was equally as quick, jumping up and launching a lightning-fast strike toward the stubby servant. To Dace’s surprise, Poe ducked, allowing the blade to swing over his head. Pirouetting in a full circle, Poe threw his full momentum into a weighty swing of his hammer. The diamond foe’s head shattered into a thousand glittering shards.

Poe stumbled back. As he did so, his hood fell from his head. Dace gasped. “What in the name of…
Randilin?
!”

Randilin’s dry lips formed an ugly smile. “A thank you wouldn’t ruddy hurt….”

20

Trust No One

“OPEN THE DOOR,” KANTAN COMMANDED. He shoved past the two flustered guards and through the thick, stone entranceway of the prison. “Light.” One of the guards handed him a lit torch. The Prince marched to the jail’s lone cell, his furious eyes burning brighter than his torch.

“P-p-p-prince K-K-Kantan?” stuttered a meek voice from within the cell. “Th-th-thank heavens! Are you here to let me out?”

Without responding, Kantan turned and exited the prison.

“What shall be done?” questioned Levenworth.

Kantan fought to slow his breathing and quench his billowing rage. “Find Randilin. Bring him here alive. I want the satisfaction of killing him myself.”

Four Days Remaining…

“You had better have a good explanation, boy!” Dace scolded. Cody looked sheepishly to Randilin who sat wearing an unnaturally large, amused grin.

The Company had managed to fight its way to the stable and charge through the enemy mob out of Redtown. Although bloodstained and heavily wounded, none had been lost in the ambush. Their miraculous survival did little to quell Dace’s anger.

Cody shrugged. “I trust him. When Cia prevented him coming, I guess I just took matters into my own hands the night we departed.” Dace strode to where Randilin, whose hands were bound by thick rope, was sitting.