The MirrorMasters (25 page)

T
he following morning
, the group travelled to the plains. All around, there were signs of devastation from the flood. Trees were bent and broken, their branches scattered everywhere. Groves of fruit trees, berry bushes, and wild edible plants had been uprooted and now swayed, limp, in the waters. A surprisingly few belongings lay strewn about the marshy grass in the hills least affected by the flooding. I also noticed a lack of debris from homes. Nearby, a river had swollen to overflowing, and in the distance, a huge lake had formed. Beyond the lake, the forest of crystal trees glinted in the sun.

"That's new." Caleb shielded his eyes from the sun as he, too, noticed the lake. "It's lucky there was somewhere for all the water to go, or the plains-dwellers would have nowhere to come back to."

"Where were all their homes? There's not even any wreckage here except from the trees and other plants." Grateful for the waterproof boots we had all worn as a precaution, I privately thought it would be a long, long time before anyone would be able to come back here to live.

First Lady Rhianna wrapped an arm around my shoulder. "They lead simple lives here, in tents they pack up and move when they migrate south for the winter. This is why they keep so few possessions. The land provides all they need."

I nodded. It must be a hard, but free, lifestyle.

I checked my data pad to review the fourth part of the prophecy. "The fourth warrior journeyed to the Eldyn Plains, where a crystal forest grows. From these rare crystalline trees, he formed a crystal of Knowledge, which carries the information stored in all the crystals of all of Jantyr as well as the memories of all past wielders. It is necessary to learn from history and form a new path at each renewal, moving forward and carrying forth all the lessons learned so the mistakes of the past are not repeated. Learn and remember, just as the plains-dwellers, the keepers of knowledge, do. This crystal is said to be kept by the tribe's leader always, passed from generation to generation for the next wielder."

Had Aedalina convinced the tribal leader that she was the next wielder? Of course — how else would my sister have managed to obtain the Knowledge Crystal from the man, unless she'd stolen it?

"I had a feeling you'd be here."

I turned to find Aedalina standing behind me with a feral grin, accompanied by a smirking Erik. Security Commander Lars and his army had also followed us here to the plains. My heart plummeted. I'd never fought anyone before, much less an entire army!

"Surprised to see us? We've made a political move to secure the rule of all of Jantyr: their allegiance in exchange for stopping you. We've even convinced some of the elders' council councils from the mountain region, as well as the plains, to join our cause. They have all pledged to be our army."

I shrugged, doing my best to appear casual when inside my stomach was clenching and tying itself in knots. "Fine; you may be able to get rule over the world for now, but you're not going to be the one to activate the device. It won't work for you, even if you managed to trap me in the Soul Crystal again—which you won't!"

"Keep your voice down!" Aedalina glanced over at Lars, seeming relieved when he didn't appear to have overheard our conversation.

Then I understood. Aedalina and Erik neglected to tell Lars how they themselves planned to end the disasters on Jantyr if all the world's leaders would cede them rule over the entire planet. He had to believe that this was about nothing more than establishing a centralized rule, and that the device would not be used.

Commander Lars waved his hand over his data pad. "This is Security Commander Lars of Astoria, with an important announcement." He'd established a communication link with the entire world, I realized then. "Time and again, First Lady Rhianna and Prime Minister Roland have failed us. Time and again, they have proven that without magic, they cannot be up to the task of leading us. And Astoria has always been the province the world looks to for innovation and guidance. Astoria has always been the backbone, the strength of this planet."

He paused, glaring at the two monarchs, gesturing widely to show those behind him agreed and were willing to back up his assertions with force if necessary.

"Now," he continued, "it is time to repeal the amendment allowing those without magic to rule. It was an experiment that failed. With the threat of cataclysmic disasters and the impending return of the sky-gods, we must establish centralized rule. Aedalina Florian and Erik Drake have shown themselves dedicated to this cause, strong in leadership, and willing to do whatever it takes to establish a command that will keep all of Jantyr safe in the face of the looming threats. Friends, we must now grant recognition of their rule over Jantyr."

Other leaders of their army stepped forward, announcing their support for this bold political move. I stared in shock as the army advanced. If I had to fight, I would, but I couldn't risk them stopping me from activating the next crystal.

First Lady Rhianna tapped her data pad to make her own announcement to all of Jantyr. "Join me in aiding my daughter in this quest, our quest, to save Jantyr from the disasters unleashed by Aedalina Florian and Erik Drake. We will establish a centralized rule — with the appropriate measures to ensure that this does not lead to a dictatorship — but these criminals are not fit to lead us. These are the ones who have ensured our doom if our last hope, the genesis device, does not renew the world."

First Lady Rhianna's words were met with a rallying cry from the more progressively minded regions, but others vowed to follow Aedalina and Erik due to their strong, bold actions.

I could take no more. Acting on impulse, I blurted out, "Aedalina and Erik, I believe you once had the best intentions, but the disasters you've unleashed have killed millions already and could annihilate billions more. Then you align yourselves with
him
? Lars thinks the device will destroy Jantyr! He's going to do everything he can to make sure I don't activate the device. But he's wrong. Why would you align yourself with someone willing to let the disasters go unchecked?"

"First Daughter, you did not grow up here. You'd be well advised to allow those of us who do understand what's going on to work this out." Ex-Commander Lars sneered. "These disasters, as most people well know, are cyclical. Yes, they have become more extreme every 10,000 years, but they certainly won't destroy the planet, much less the galaxy. Our people do not need fairy stories about prophecies and a mythical device. They need action and a clear plan to stop the threat of the sky-gods."

Aedalina stepped forward, reaching out to play with a lock of my hair. "Sister, dear, I am truly sorry for...before. You must understand, nothing can be left to chance."

"Yeah, I know the planet needs centralized rule!" I protested hotly, pulling back. Bile again rose in my throat as I remembered the attack. "I agree with you. About that, anyway. Mom and Dad agree with you."

"Then why was nothing ever done about it!" Erik roared. He approached the group to stand by Aedalina. Brian and Korin moved in front of me, edging me backward to shield me from them.

"You know why." Prime Minister Roland crossed his arms. "Negotiations fell apart when we failed to come to a reasonable plan to achieve it."

"Sister?" First Lady Rhianna went pale. She stared hard at Aedalina, as if seeing her for the first time. It was a moment of revelation, and the first lady's emerald eyes widened. She delicately held one hand to her chest. "They lied to me — they told me my baby girl died."

"You may have given birth to me, but I'm not your ‘baby girl', " Aedalina spat, fire flashing in her own eyes that so resembled the first lady's.

Prime Minister Roland glanced from his wife to Aedalina, his expression shocked. He wrapped an arm around First Lady Rhianna to support her. "All these years, we never knew. Where did you grow up?"

"With your greatest enemy, who once was queen of the desert lands—Merlene." Aedalina lifted her chin defiantly, resembling me in that moment. "She saved me from growing up with traitors who stole the throne...and murdered her husband! I'm grateful my sister grew up away from you as well."

The revelation had everyone talking at once, bickering with each other. "Enough!" My shout rang strong and clear above it all, shocking them all into silence. "We need unity, not war. Find a way to create a centralized rule before the sky-gods get here, or you know what's going to happen. If we fight among ourselves, they win."

"Oh, this will be settled long before they get here," Erik assured me. "There is only one way — eliminate the opposition."

Aedalina's and Erik's army lined up, raising swords, energy spheres, crystal weapons, and all sorts of weapons I couldn't begin to identify. Before I could blink, a major battle ensued between their army and the ones fighting for me. Fast and furious, the blows struck. Brian, Korin, and I protected all those who had come from Earth with energy spheres, though I once saw Korin use his crystal sword to absorb and deflect incoming magic. My birth parents and Caleb rushed forward to attack with energy weapons, the same kind I'd seen in my vision long ago, the night this all began.

Aedalina advanced on me. "Let's see what you've got, Leah. Show me you're strong enough, and I may consider letting you be the one to activate the device."

"Bring it." Staying in place, I formed an energy sphere. I would not allow myself to be drawn away from my family and friends, to leave them unprotected. "You know it wouldn't work for you. Do you know what that device does to the person who activates it, Aeda? None of the wielders before me have survived. Their souls might not even have survived, not intact anyway. Are you willing to give everything up for that?"

"Are you?"

We circled each other, our gaze meeting and holding with electric intensity. Aedalina struck first, trying to push me away from the others through sheer force of her blows. Still, I stood fast. Our battle erupted in a rapid-fire flash of light, both of them exchanging a flurry of brightly colored, powerful energy spheres. Mine started out more defensive until Aedalina escalated her attacks.

"Fight me!" Aedalina snapped, frustrated with my defense-only strategy and probably hoping to goad me into attacking. "Use your spheres to at least try hurting me, not that you'll succeed."

"I can handle my own strategy, thanks."

"You're weak," Aedalina spat, all the more infuriated at my calm reply, "because you refuse to fight and rely only on defense."

I shrugged, keeping a close watch on Aedalina. "Works for me. I'm still standing, aren't I? Admit it. My defense is strong. You can't break through."

"Prove it." Aedalina sent an attack at Brian, one I was hard pressed to defend. It was only by calling out a warning in time that I helped Brian deflect the blow in time.

I saw red. Literally. My body felt like it would explode with rage. "Attack me, not him! Or have you given up because you know you'll lose?" Powered by sheer fury, a flaming orange-red energy sphere shot from my fingers, again and again. The force of it stung Aedalina and drove her back.

"My, my, I have touched a nerve." Aedalina laughed, barely grimacing at the pain. "You're in love. But you have to know you can't have him even if you survive."

"Doesn't matter. The important thing is that the disasters are stopped."

Aedalina arched an eyebrow. "Noble. For what it's worth, I hope you aren't killed in the process." She let loose a rapid-fire blast of energy spheres, so fast all their tendrils mingled together and managed to hit me at once.

I hissed in pain before firing back once more. "Ow! Wait...you're not going to try to stop me now from using the device?"

Aedalina smirked and shook her head. "Better you than me."

I nodded back before taking a quick peek to see if everyone else was all right. Brian ran to confront Erik, energy spheres sparking from his hands as he sent them flying with lightning speed at Erik.

"I'm going to kill you for what you did to my mother," Brian said, face aglow and twisted with murderous rage. "But first, I'm going to make you suffer."

"Brave words, artist." Erik's lip curled into a sneer. In his hand, he formed a silver flashing sphere that rose into the air between them and sliced through Brian's attacks. "Let's see if you can back them up. Or are you just good for painting pretty murals of castles?"

"Try me."

Another barrage exploded from both Brian and Erik, a blur of motion as energy spheres clashed and sizzled. They struck flesh and everything else within reach. An acrid scent of smoke stung my nostrils. Battle cries from Brian, from Erik, from those around them, rent the air.

Kara had a sword and was fighting Erik, distracting him. She whirled and swung, nicking him and dodging energy spheres, deflecting them with her sword when they came too close.
Impressive skills, girl!
The others, including about thirty remaining plainsdwellers, were fighting with whatever weapons they had available, and were holding their own against Aedalina and Erik's army. Turning to my sister, I frowned, serious again.

"You need to free yourself from the Soul Crystal before I do this, because otherwise I'm pretty sure it will end you."

Aedalina saw how many of Commander Lars' people had fallen already. There were only a handful left who could continue to fight, and they were outnumbered. Wisely, she knew better than to go on. "Your little army has fought well, Leah. Looks like you won this battle, but we will win the war. For Jantyr."

"Oh, no. You're not getting away so easily," Brian said, his face red and sweat-streaked. He pursued Erik, who was backing away, until his father grabbed his arms to restrain him.

"No," Caleb said. "Brian, stop."

Brian thrashed in his grip. "He deserves to pay for killing Mom. Don't you want him to?"

"Not like this, son. Not at the cost of what getting revenge will take from you."