The MirrorMasters (14 page)

"Forgive me," I began, inclining my head in a slight nod of respect as Caleb had taught me was the custom. "I was being chased by those who would do me harm. There was nowhere else around, so I sought refuge here…"

"Silence!" the king thundered, his violet eyes flashing as he advanced on me. "You...you are the one responsible for what's happening here! The deaths of many people are on your head, most recently my people just outside the palace! And you have the audacity to trespass and try to reclaim your former palace? It is mine now. You are younger than I realized, but you shall not escape justice this time." He withdrew a gleaming sword with a jeweled hilt from its sheath, aiming it at my heart.

Belatedly, I realized that he had confused me with Aedalina. "I was two years old when that began," I protested. "This had nothing to do with me."

He cut me off before I could continue. "You have the crystals. Give them to me now." The command carried with such force, I had no doubt he would kill me to achieve it.

"No," I said anyway. "I have to stop the disasters before it's too late. There's not much time left." Terrified but determined, I met and held his gaze, gathering my energy to defend myself and the crystals.

The king's eyes searched mine as though trying to read my soul and determine whether I told the truth. "Yes, the disasters must be stopped. I have been researching this for some time now, and I shall be the one to stop them and put things right. Make no mistake, these crystals are mine."

"Have you researched the prophecy? Because there is only one person who can wield those crystals."

"Some story about a lost MirrorMaster? It's nothing more than a fairy story for children, girl. Nobody is returning to save the world. We have to rely on ourselves, and track down the locations of the crystals and where they are to be positioned." His tone and expression held an air of resignation, as though he had finally been forced to give up on that story.

"I've seen the prophecy, and everything that is happening here so far seems to fit. Now, there's little time before the signs it speaks of begin to occur."

"What signs? Nothing I've heard about this story has ever said anything of signs." The king furrowed his brow, torn between curiosity and suspicion.

I told him of the blue flame in the sky, the world's crust slipping on its axis, and the sun bursting apart. He still appeared skeptical, but to my relief, he did not ask to see the prophecy. As the king considered what I had said, the heavy wooden doors at the entryway of the castle opened behind us.

"I thought I'd find you in here, Leah. How do you like my palace?" Aedalina's deceptively sweet voice echoed in the hall as she led the others into the castle. "And you," she continued, glaring at the king. All pretense of pleasantries were dropped now. "What are you doing here — playing king, boy?"

"It feels like this castle is a living presence," I said, shrugging at her misguided attempt at repartee. Then, my voice took on a sharp edge. "Or is that from all the souls you've trapped here?" I crossed my arms and stared hard at Aedalina.

"No, it's always been a living presence, with or without them." Aedalina waved a hand dismissively as she approached.

"You put the souls there yourself," the king addressed me, his manner accusatory.

"What?" Aedalina asked, and I felt a thrill of triumph at the worry I saw in her eyes at this news.

"Yeah — well, it was the only way to save the souls trapped in the Soul Crystal. The crystal drains them," I replied, "so staying here in this corridor of souls was their only chance while they try to free themselves. Already they've managed it. You can't use them now."

"As you said, there's only one soul I need. Yours."

"No!" Brian yelled, but Caleb placed a steadying hand on his shoulder. Staring at me in worry and regret, Brian fell silent. I could sense that it was taking all the self-control he had to keep his emotions in check.

"You will not have her," the king declared, grabbing me from behind and holding his sword to my neck. "She has several of the crystals I need, and I will not allow you to entrap her soul or take them. Either she helps me, or she dies now and you condemn this world and everyone on it — including yourselves — to destruction. Think carefully before you make your next move."

Caleb quickly intervened. "High Lord Caleb Drake, your majesty, royal advisor to Prime Minister Roland and First Lady Rhianna's court. I have brought the criminals Aedalina Florian and Erik Drake to justice, as they posed a danger to the world on which they'd been placed for their previous sentence."

Aedalina and Erik protested, but a glare from Caleb quelled them. Weird, I thought. Exchanging glances with Brian, I saw that he appeared just as confused as I was. Not that I paid much attention to this, being far more concerned with my current predicament. I couldn't be sure that the pendant would protect me from the sword should the king decide to use it.

The king didn't let me go, but he seemed to relax slightly. "Welcome, High Lord Drake. Allow me to take care of the problem for you. I have long wished for them to see justice from my court." He called his officers to assemble. Within seconds, the king's army reported to the corridor of souls, some surrounding them and cutting off their exit. "Take these two prisoners into custody. Ensure their cells have the proper wards to prevent escape."

Aedalina and Erik sent furious glares their way as a large group of soldiers approached. Erik acted first, blasting them against the wall with a wave of his hand. Some crumpled to the floor, but most managed to regain their footing. Aedalina formed a bright yellow energy sphere and tossed it at the soldiers, fingers splayed to control the magic. Tendrils like vines shot out from the sphere and wrapped around the soldiers' legs. Almost simultaneously, white lightning bursts erupted from the soldiers' fingers, dissolving the yellow glow until it no longer bound them.

Relief flooded through me as the king released me to participate in the battle. Brian motioned for me to come over, but I shook my head and backed away from him. He ran a hand through his hair, hurt and frustration flitting across his face. I could swear I heard his voice in my head, saying, "
Remember
." My facial muscles twisted in anguish, and I gave a slight nod. Still edging away from the king, I quickly had to form a white shield as a sallow green energy sphere came my way. Rather than toss it back at the sender, I allowed the sphere to dissipate, worried about hitting the wrong person in this crowd.

The king apparently had no such compunction. When a bright, swirling ball of purple light came hurtling toward him, he lifted his sword in defense. Then, to my amazement, the purple energy sphere stopped, suspended in the air in front of him as the diamond-hard crystal of his sword glowed a soft blue. With a sharp parry, the king flung the sphere at his attacker, somehow unerring in its trajectory. Aedalina let out a small cry and collapsed as it struck her. Two of the newest soldiers to arrive slapped some sort of cuff-like object on her wrists and led her away.

Erik didn't give up so easily. When the king turned to speak with a man who appeared to be the chief advisor, Erik took advantage of the opportunity. He threw a smoky black ball filled with flashes of lightning energy.

"Look out!" I cried, seeing the ball head for the king with eerily precise accuracy. He squinted but did not seem to see the strange energy ball. I stepped in front of the king and created a flashing white ball of my own. The two spheres collided in mid-air, creating a shower of grey and multicolored sparks which fell harmlessly around us.

Erik stared at me with a mix of rage and astonishment, as though it were inconceivable that anyone could block his deadly sphere. My Protection Crystal glowed softly before fading, and then I knew it must have helped me see the object. With Erik distracted, two soldiers behind him cuffed him and he, too, was led away.

"Your Majesty, I advise that as many of your army as you have available go with them to prevent escape. My brother and his consort are...notoriously slippery," Caleb suggested.

With a brisk snap of his fingers, the king ordered the remaining officers to accompany the rest. As they hurried to comply, the king returned his attention to Caleb, Brian, and me. "Since four of the crystals have now been gathered, I believe it is time to take the first to the only known location, a place I have recently discovered. Come."

"Four? You have one of them?" I asked as he led the way outside. Maybe this task wouldn't prove as impossible as it seemed.

"I do," the king replied, pulling out a red crystal held on a fine gold chain from beneath his tunic. "This is the Power Crystal, and its home rests out in the desert in a crystal cave. I have two hover scooters we may use to travel there."

"How convenient," Caleb remarked, smirking. "So, you know none of the other locations?"

"I'm afraid not." The king shook his head and sighed. "Though I have just begun to research this ancient device spoken of in the old legends as a serious possibility. At this point there's nothing left to lose, but if it exists, it may be the only hope Jantyr has. Perhaps your young companion here knows. She seems to know quite a bit about the legend and the prophecy."

"Not nearly enough. The answers should all be in the legends of old, which the prophecy says are housed in the largest library in the world — wherever that is," I said, keeping my distance from the king.

Brian stepped between us — a misguided effort to protect me. "We'll find it, but it may have changed since the prophecy was first given," he said, attempting to draw me into conversation.

"Mmm-hmm," I reluctantly agreed, edging away from him. His actions toward me earlier still stung. At first, all I wanted to do was avoid him, but the impulse to confront him overwhelmed me. I stopped and faced him. "Brian, what was that earlier? Aedalina was going to use that Soul Crystal on me, and you grabbed my arms so I couldn't move! This whole week, you were what, playing me?"

"No! Leah, I would never do that to you. But I've heard what awaits anyone taking the journey you are, and I was trying to spare you that. I figured the only way to save you was for it to happen to her and then get you out of the crystal."

"What?" I began, stunned and shaken by this. "What happens?"

"Brian, enough!" Caleb thundered, grabbing Brian by the arm and escorting him away. "For the sake of Jantyr, this must be done. Forget those legends. They may be mistranslated, or the people of that time may have misunderstood how the device works. People back then were superstitious. Or, the story may have drastically changed from the original after being told for so many generations before finally being written down. So quit worrying."

"Maybe, but what does it say?" I asked, my tone firm. This was too important for them to keep secret. "Brian...," I pleaded, catching his arm. "Tell me."

"Leah, what do you think? Can't you imagine what activating all those crystals will do to you?"

My heart skipped a beat as I pondered his question. This was something I hadn't yet considered — I'd barely had time to even begin to come to grips with all that was happening — but I realized that Brian was right. The Soul Crystal alone was enough to destroy me. Add that to all the power of the other crystals, and I knew.

I would not survive this.

"It's going to kill me, isn't it?" I asked, my voice a strangled whisper.

Brian nodded, his expression grieved. "Or worse."

"I said enough!" Caleb cut in sharply. "Brian, you should not be worrying Leandra like this. Her task is daunting enough without your wild speculations."

"No, Brian's right," I said, "and it's something I needed to know, or at least start thinking about. I won't be able to do this otherwise."

"First Daughter Leandra?" The king stopped and turned back to stare at me, openmouthed. "My intended?" His expression became one of finally receiving the precise thing he'd longed for his whole life.

I blinked. My brain seemed to go into overload, refusing to process anything more. Heavens, I could not deal with this — I could not deal with one more thing right now. "What?" I squeaked. At Caleb's stern look, I quickly corrected myself. "Pardon, I mean?" To my relief, my voice sounded lower and more composed this time.

"You have got to be kidding me!" Brian exclaimed at the same time. His expression darkened, and he glanced over at me. Instead of seeking support and assurance from him as I once would have, I glanced between Caleb and the king, searching for answers from them.

"Yes, your majesty," Caleb replied.

"You're saying we're supposed to have an arranged marriage?" I wanted to be sure I was clear on that point.

"Yes, my love, since before your birth. Our parents arranged it as a sign of unity, to celebrate a new alliance between our lands. I never gave up hope you would one day return." The king reached out to take my hand, his eyes sparkling with desire.

Unnerved by him, I stepped back out of reach and held up my hand to stop him. "Two seconds ago you had a sword at my throat and were about to kill me! I'm sorry, I am, but after leaving my family and friends, the planet I grew up on, and everything else, this is just too much to deal with right now. I don't even know your name."

I hated to see the disappointment my words brought to the king. As his head bowed and shoulders slumped, I bit my lip, feeling horrible for being so harsh. Again, I mumbled an apology, this time more gently and with genuine regret.

Seeing Brian's triumphant grin, I turned on him, too. "And you — I don't even know what to believe anymore."

Now Brian's face fell. Seeing him and the king both crestfallen at my words, I sighed heavily and ran a hand through my hair.

"First Daughter...," the king began.

"Leah...," Brian said.

"Please, let's just get to the cave. I don't want to hurt either of you. There's a lot to sort out here, and I can't do that yet. Maybe not ever. Top priority is saving Jantyr, okay?"