The Ancient Ones (The Legacy Trilogy Book 3) (50 page)

Leopold shook the old man by the shoulders. ‘Salu! What is it?’

‘What has happened?’ Captain Orrell asked, but Leopold did not know.

A low moan issued from Salu’s throat, fading to a trailing gasp.

Prithamon’s attention immediately shifted towards them. ‘Well done, old man. At least you have some sense. I am glad you have decided to join me. I will enjoy your power and add it to my own. Your friend will not be far behind you.’ The sorcerer smiled, but the moment was short-lived as discomfort appeared on his face. ‘What is this?’ He grimaced, then he screamed and bent over at the middle, crying out in pain. He ripped open his blood-red garment to reveal a gleaming device clamped around his waist. He threw his jacket aside, letting it billow lightly to the steps.

Around his middle was an oversized replica of his bracelets—a hinged device of red and gold—and he began shaking at it; the relic was locked tight and would not release. His shouts continued as he fought with it, growing more frantic.

The other sorcerers around the courtyard became stiff as statues. Those still hovering plummeted to the ground. Those standing pitched over, unminding if they landed on their faces and Prithamon’s screams grew louder, more desperate.

Leopold could feel the bracelet on Salu’s arm growing hot, and it was beginning to glow, searing the old man’s skin. He tried to pry it off, but it hissed at the touch, burning his fingers. Across the courtyard, on each Eudan sorcerer’s arm, their bands were doing the same, becoming incandescent rings of steel, smoking and cooking the flesh beneath.

The one in Samuel’s hand was likewise white-hot, but the magician did not seem to mind; his gaze locked firmly on Rei.

The contraption around Prithamon’s belly was also glowing hot, cooking him alive within it.

‘Get it off me!’ he roared in pain, but it was too late.

The band became intensely bright, and Prithamon gave a final ear-piercing shriek, a horrid boiling noise that bubbled in his throat as he fell back, stiff and steaming, his fingers bent into jagged, clutching claws.

Prithamon’s waist band, the bracelets on his sorcerers, the one on Salu’s wrist and the one in Samuel’s grip all turned to dust and blew away with the wind. Salu was left with an ugly welt around his wrist, while Prithamon’s belly was a revolting sight: pink broiled meat, split open and spilling smoking, fleshy innards down the steps.

‘What has happened?’ Rei cried with horror. She stepped away from Samuel and wailed as if in pain.

Captain Orrell ran to her side. ‘Jessicah, what is wrong?’ He checked her for sign of injury.

‘What is wrong?’ she asked, shoving the man away. ‘Get away from me, you clod!’ She looked to Samuel and back to the ruined form of Prithamon in disbelief. ‘What has happened to the bracelets?’ she cried, shaking her fists. She continued to scream as if in a demented rage. ‘How can we subdue him now? I will not be denied again!’

Captain Orrell was mystified. ‘What is it, Jessicah? What is the matter?’

Leopold left Salu resting gently on the stairs and came down to be with the captain. ‘It is not Jessicah. It is the witch, and she is unhappy that she has lost yet again.’

‘Unhappy?’ she bellowed. ‘I am not unhappy. I am enraged! I am beyond enraged!’

‘Witch?’ Orrell repeated, blinking with confusion. ‘What witch?’

‘No time, Captain,’ Leopold told him. ‘Suffice to know that this woman is not Jessicah. She has Jessicah trapped inside her. This is Rei, the Witch Queen of Cintar.’

The woman was stamping her feet and furious, and Leopold grabbed her firmly by the shoulders to hold her still. She tried to spit in his face, but he saw it coming and shifted his head in time. He shook her violently so that her hair tumbled down in knots across her face.

‘Jessicah!’ he shouted, continuing to shake her. ‘Jessicah, can you hear me?’

The woman gave up struggling and relaxed in his grip. She scowled at him through her golden, matted hair. ‘Damn you, boy.’ Her voice was softly spoken yet full of malice. ‘You have betrayed me and I will not forget it. You could have killed him, but you let the chance slip through your fingers. Have your precious woman back ... for now.’

She had no sooner stopped speaking than she reached up and brushed her hair from her eyes, looking at Leopold with surprise. Leopold released her and stepped back, unsure.

‘What ... what is this place? What has happened?’ she asked.

‘Jessicah?’ the captain asked.

‘I think so,’ Leopold told him. ‘Here. Take her. Hold onto her tightly. Whoever she is, someone should guard her. Don’t let her go. I will see to Samuel and Salu.’

Captain Orrell stepped in and did as he was told, for the woman looked unsteady on her feet and clung to him like an anxious child. The captain looked nearly as bad, mentally and physically exhausted.

It was then that the last remnants of fire around Samuel flew back into him with the noise of rippling paper, and the magician gasped aloud, drawing in a sudden breath. His eyes opened wide with pain or surprise, then he too fell back onto the ground, hitting his head hard on the stones.

Leopold dropped to his side. ‘Lord Samuel! Are you injured?’

The magician was alive. His eyes were open, and he was whispering to himself. Leopold put his ear to the man’s mouth, but the sounds were unintelligible. Then, the whispering stopped and Samuel uttered one word that Leopold could understand.

‘Salu.’

‘What about him?’ Leopold asked. ‘What about Salu?’

‘Save him,’ the magician croaked. ‘Quickly.’

Leopold jumped up and ran back to the old man on the steps. He shook him by the arm and shouted his name. Then, putting his head to the man’s breast, he listened. He was alive but would not respond. His mouth was wide, his eyes staring up at the sky.

‘Is he dead?’ Orrell called to him.

‘No. He’s not dead,’ Leopold said. ‘His heart still beats, but he will not move.’ He turned back to the old man, calling him and squeezing his hand. ‘Salu! Salu, wake up!’

Someone was then beside him, and Leopold was surprised to find it was Samuel. The magician was stiff and shaky, moving with sawdust in his joints, and he scooped up the old man into both of his arms, cradling him like a baby.

‘Samuel!’ Leopold said with surprise and stood to face him. ‘You’re alive.’

‘Yes. I am,’ the magician replied without hesitation, although he looked emaciated and weak. ‘Sorry to disappoint you. There will be more chances to kill me yet, but not now. Come, we must get him back to the ship before it is too late.’

The woman in Captain Orrell’s hands jumped forward, nearly breaking free of his grip, and she shouted, between her efforts to claw and bite the captain. ‘Kill him, Leopold! This is your chance! He is defenceless! Kill him now and the demons within him are banished from this world! Do it, you stupid boy! Kill him now and save us all!’

‘What—what is she doing?’ Orrell asked, aghast, as he held her at arm’s length, keeping his face out of her reach.

‘That is not Jessicah, Captain,’ Leopold explained, following Samuel down the stairs. ‘Remember, it is the spirit of Rei inside of her.’

‘But ... how is that possible?’ The man was beyond exhaustion, hollow and withered, wavering on his feet.

‘It’s too hard to explain, but we cannot trust anything she does or says until Lord Samuel has a chance to heal her. Just don’t hurt her or let her harm herself.’

‘So Lord Samuel now is it?’ Samuel said, coughing as he spoke.

‘I’m sorry,’ Leopold confessed. ‘I didn’t know I would cause all this trouble.’

‘Don’t give me your apologies, Emperor. I told you to come back for us and you did. Our agreement remains unbroken. Just keep an eye on Rei. I see she is no longer too timid to show herself. She does not have any magic, but she is still capable of mischief.’

‘Samuel, can you help her?’ Orrell pleaded. ‘I … I don’t know what to do.’

‘Not now. Just hold onto her. That will have to do. We have to stop her from causing us any further grief until I figure out the rest. Now follow me.’

‘Where are we going?’ Leopold asked.

‘Back to the ship.’

Leopold regarded the old man in the magician’s arms. ‘Can you save him?’

‘He cannot be saved, Leopold. Salu is gone.’

‘But ... he is still breathing.’

‘His body persists but his soul has departed. I saw him. He came to me and he found me in the darkness. He plunged himself into the fire and he fought against my demons; he gave me the strength to find my way home, at the cost of his own life. His heart will continue beating for a short time, for his soul left so quickly his body has not had time to run itself down. I need to get him into my casket before it does.’

‘If we get there in time can you bring him back?’

The magician shook his head. ‘I cannot, Leopold. Dead is dead. Only gods can step across that boundary, and I am certainly no god ... not yet.’

‘Then why do it? I don’t understand.’

‘Salu has saved us all and left me with a parting gift.’

‘What gift is that?’

‘His body. There is no time to explain now, but once his heart beats its last, it will be wasted.’

‘Do you know the way?’

‘I know the way,’ the magician replied soundly. ‘Only it’s best if we avoid any trouble. I’m not in any state to protect us. Here, you will have to carry him.’

Leopold took the body of Salu as it was hefted to him and slung it over his shoulders. The old man felt like skin and bone.

A handful of Eudan guards had chosen that moment to come running into the courtyard, but on seeing the devastation, the bodies and blood, their sorcerers and ruler slain, they turned tail and went back the way they had come.

Samuel led the way up the steps and through the Harmony Chamber, leading them back into the tunnels. Rei was screaming and kicking all the while, and Captain Orrell dragged her along as gently as he could. At one point he became fed up and dropped her roughly to the ground, binding her hands and feet with his bloodied shirt torn in two. After that she was not nearly as much trouble.

They moved through the tunnels, with Samuel moving quickly, somehow knowing the way, bypassing the sections that had collapsed from the battle. Leopold paused on passing Empress Moon’s cell, but Samuel seemingly read the thoughts from his head.

‘Not now, Leopold,’ he said. ‘We have enough to contend with as it is. She will not suffer by remaining in her prison a few hours longer.’

So they left the old woman behind, silent in her cell.

They traversed the Temple of Shadows, where the statue now waited forlornly, bereft of its decorations. They too had gone up in smoke, leaving charred marks on each emerald wrist.

‘Your hand!’ Orrell declared, for ghostly fire was once again issuing around Samuel’s fingers, shining in the dim chamber.

‘There is time,’ Samuel responded, noting their alarm. ‘If I rest soon they will not be a problem. At least now we have something to light our path.’ Indeed his devilish light flickered upon the floor and walls, guiding their way.

They came out into the tunnel mouth, back into blinding daylight, where the Farstride remained waiting. Daneel was standing tall on the railing and shouted at once for the plank to be sent across. As soon as it was in place, they each hurried to safety.

‘Here,’ Samuel said to Leopold. ‘I will take him from here.’

The magician took the body of Salu from Leopold’s arms and went directly to his cabin, with Leopold dogging his steps. They ignored the questions and comments from everyone as they passed, for Leopold could sense the increasing urgency in Samuel’s pace, and the fire around him was growing. It was much dimmer in the daylight, but it was there, flickering subtly upon the magician’s skin, licking along the cloth of his robes.

‘Open it,’ Samuel commanded, standing beside the casket in his cabin, and Leopold quickly did as he was told, flicking open each sprung buckle.

Samuel placed the old man inside, closed the lid and locked each clasp in turn. With that, his strength left him and he turned around and slid to the floor, his back against the box, and sighed.

‘There. It is done.’

‘But what about you?’ Leopold asked. ‘Are you not going to get inside?’

The magician shook his head. ‘No. There is not the room for both of us. Salu’s body must stay inside or it will degrade. I will persevere out here.’

Fire simmered upon his sweaty face, but Samuel took a few deep breaths and the flames subsided, drawing into his flesh, leaving red-hot spirals snailing about, fading under his skin. Only tiny remnants of flickering remained.

‘Can you do it?’ Leopold asked with concern. ‘Can you keep them inside?’

The magician shook his head gravely. ‘Leopold, I need to ask you for something ... something I need to take from you.’

‘What is it?’ Leopold responded nervously.

‘You are like your father in many ways, Leopold. There is magic inside of you. It is dormant, but it exists. I would ask you for it now, to sustain me, to keep my demons at bay.’

‘Magic? In me?’

Samuel nodded, closing his eyes a moment as if gathering his strength. ‘Don’t act surprised. I know you know about it. I know everything, remember? Your father worked to keep it subdued, but it is there. Truthfully, that is another reason I have kept you beside me, to access that power should the need arise. I can think of no better time than now.’

‘What—what will happen to me?’ Leopold asked.

‘Nothing. You will remain as you are now.’

‘Then take it,’ Leopold stated, eager to make up for his prior failings. ‘I do not want it.’

‘Come closer,’ the magician instructed and hesitantly, Leopold did as he was told. ‘Take my hand.’ Samuel offered his palm, struggling to raise it.

Leopold placed one hand into the magician’s and used his other to keep them propped up. Rei’s warnings sounded in his head, but Leopold pushed such thoughts aside. Now was not the time.

Samuel closed his eyes again, and a look of calm passed across his face, the sharp edges of his cheekbones and jawbone softened. The last of his mage-fire receded.

‘It is done,’ he said, and released his grip.