Finder: First Ordinance, Book One (26 page)

* * *

Amlis shuddered at the amount of blood soaking into his mother's clothing. "Don't let her die," he whispered to Farin as Farin dumped half a bottle of whiskey over the wound.

"It won't be from blood loss," Farin muttered, blowing out a troubled sigh. "It'll be from infection, if we can't stop it."

Omina's face was quite pale as she lay on the narrow bed inside Orik's quarters. The wound was in her side; Farin was thankful the knife had missed the bowel and other organs. If infection set in, though, her death would be a slow and painful one.

Pulling a wad of folded, clean cloth from his bag, Farin shoved it against the knife wound to stanch the flow of blood.

"Have any of you ever sailed to the glass castle before?" Orik asked. "We left harbor half an hour ago."

"No. None of us have," Rodrik replied.

"In two hours, we'll go through the strait."

"What's that?"

"Some wizardry or devilry, you decide," Orik breathed. "It shortens the trip between us, somehow. Otherwise, we'd be traveling at least three days, if my star calculations are right."

"They're likely correct," Omina's voice was weak as she opened her eyes. "I know about the strait, Captain."

* * *

Deeds and Sofi studied Fen's shoulder wound while Yissy looked on in curiosity. "Not much blood, and that's not good," Deeds mumbled, washing the thin, bloody line with a whiskey-soaked cloth.

"That girl could help him. She helped me," Yissy's voice was high and firm.

"Yissy, hush," Sofi muttered. "That girl is gone."

"What girl?" Fen asked. After all, if someone could heal him, he wanted to know about it. He was a dead man if an infection came. The smell of the bandits who'd attacked them almost guaranteed that their blades weren't clean.

"She's dead," Sofi sighed. "They called her Finder, as if that were a proper name for anyone with such ability."

"How did she die?" Fen knew of Finder—through Chen. As for holding any sort of power, that had never been mentioned.

"Taken to the glass castle," Sofi said. "I can't say more than that, I'm afraid. She was a half-blood, if I understand things correctly."

"You're right—she's dead," Fen lay back on the bed they'd given him. "They don't let anything like that live."

* * *

Things were about to go strange in a short amount of time, and I was in a quandary as to what to do about it. Some things I couldn't control—or at least I felt as if I couldn't.

Other things, well, I hoped I'd be allowed to control those as needed. The first thing I needed to do, however, was go straight to Gurnil and explain what I knew to him. Instead, he came to me, the Orb hovering over his head as if it were guiding him to my side.

Chapter 17
 

"Stop asking questions and come with us," Ordin snapped.

"How do you expect me to explain this to Jurris?" Justis frowned as he gathered clothing from his wardrobe. He'd been in bed when Ordin arrived, and Ordin had a difficult time convincing the Commander to get up.

"The Orb spoke to Gurnil, then to me," Ordin said. "I've never heard of it speaking to anyone except the Queen before. It told both of us to go with Quin to the Receiver's Crevice—there's a boat coming."

"An envoy?" Justis grabbed pants and almost leapt into them.

"So it appears. None have come for more than twenty turns—since Tandelis sailed the last time."

"What do you suggest I do if the murderers are on board?"

"Quin says it isn't them," Ordin said. "She says Omina, her youngest son and a few others are coming, because the ones who murdered Camryn and Elabeth want them dead, too. That isn't what needs our attention first, however," Ordin added, then explained what else the Orb had said.

"Filth," Justis muttered as he shoved feet into sandals and nodded to Ordin. "Lead the way, Healer. Let's get this over with. My brother will have to do his duty, according to the First Ordinance and according to Avii law. He's never done it before. Let's hope the Orb stays with us, tonight, to explain that to him."

* * *

Halthea slipped around the corner; Wimla and Vorina slept in a combined suite designated for them, on the level below Justis'. It wasn't difficult in the past for him to fly down to their terrace, as it was directly below his.

Halthea had kept him from his other wives on many occasions, never allowing him to forget that together they would make a Red-Winged heir. He was looking to make an heir with one or the other, now—whoever could produce a Red-Winged child first.

Cursing softly, she walked from grass to tile, heading toward the glass doors that would allow her into the combined suite. No guards stood there—Halthea had seen to that. She'd poisoned the drinks she'd offered them earlier.

Both lay dead beside the doors.

Too bad, one of the Black Wings was quite handsome. Halthea reached for the door handle. It turned easily.

* * *

"I see it," Gurnil said softly. He, Dena and I stood in what I'd learned was the Receiving Crevice. The boat, its white sails aloft, floated in the distance.

"Master Gurnil," I said, blinking as the vision came, "Halthea is on Vorina and Wimla's terrace."

"Commander Justis will see to it," Gurnil replied. "At least I hope he will."

* * *

"The airchopper is on the way, High President," Melis said, following the glowing spot on the screen.

"Why now—at night?" Edden shook his head. "All the others came during daylight. Will ours arrive in time?"

"They are on an intercept course," Melis replied. "Our troops should arrive just as they do."

* * *

"You will do this, or your wife and child will die." Dorthil offered Jhak a cruel smile.

Jhak had been abducted on his way to guard the High President's home for the night. "You have them?" He was terrified, suddenly.

"I do—they'll be released, once the High President and his son are delivered to me."

"What will you do with them—the High President and Berel?" Jhak's voice trembled. He cared for both and he enjoyed his job. This would destroy everything he'd built so carefully, along with taking his life if any discovered what he'd done.

"That's not your concern," Dorthil laughed. "Don't worry, the moment my associates have both in their charge, you and your family will be free to go."

Jhak laughed bitterly. There'd be no place for him to go afterward—he'd be a traitor, according to the laws of Kondar.

* * *

Ordin hushed both women—he'd herded them into Vorina's closet and told them to remain silent. Wimla shook with fear—her life had never been threatened before. It came as no surprise, however, that Halthea was behind the threat. Justis waited in the receiving area for Halthea to make her way into Vorina's suite—it was closest to the terrace doors.

* * *

Jurris swallowed the last of his wine and set the glass down before straightening his collar and checking his image in the mirror. He'd decided to visit Vorina and spend the night in her bed.

Moon-turns had passed since he'd done that; Halthea wasn't at his side, filling his ears with promises that were never delivered, and he was free to do as he wanted. With a second glance at the mirror, he walked out of his suite and past the guards standing at his terrace door. Both fell in behind him; they'd follow wherever he went.

* * *

Halthea crept through the darkness, feeling her way through the suite with one hand, holding the long knife she'd stolen from the kitchen in the other. It served them right, to die in their sleep. She smiled at the thought.

* * *

"Remain calm, my King," one of Jurris' guards hissed as he stared at the bodies of two dead guards.

"My wives are inside," Jurris' whisper was urgent. "I am trained well enough to help."

"Then let us proceed with caution," the guard said softly. All three walked through the open terrace door and into blackness.

* * *

Berel woke—there was an unfamiliar noise outside his bedroom.

"Jhak?" he called out. Jhak headed his father's night guards, but generally they protected the perimeter of the house. They only came inside if his father invited them. Berel knew Jhak well—he'd visited several times when Berel was hospitalized.

"Time to get up, Berel," Jhak walked inside. "We have to go."

"Why?" Berel pushed the covers back and sat up, blinking sleepily at the guard.

"Because I made a mistake, and you and your father are about to pay for it."

"You've started a coup, haven't you?" Berel woke in a hurry.

"Under duress. If I don't follow through, they'll kill my wife and baby."

"What about my father? He isn't here," Berel said. He was angry—and frightened.

"Others have been sent to his office. They'll keep him alive—for now."

* * *

"Getting rid of the High President and offering as many prayers to the gods as you think to offer will not relieve Kondar of this spreading poison," Firth snapped. He'd been kidnapped and herded unwillingly into Edden's office, finding the High President and Melis inside, watching a screen. Melis turned off the screen immediately, once he realized it was a takeover. Ten military officers—high-ranking ones, actually, had arrived to seal the coup for the one bent on taking over the High President's office.

"What do you intend to tell the people?" Edden demanded. "They elected me, not Dorthil Crasz."

"Who's in charge here, you or us?" A general waved a weapon in Edden's direction. "We have your son. If you want him to live, then I suggest you do as I say."

* * *

Everything was unraveling at once.

Jurris unknowingly walked toward Halthea.

The airchopper making its way toward us had just received new orders.

Omina would die if she didn't receive aid soon—her wound festered already.

All of them could die if the airchopper's commander obeyed his new orders.

The balance in Kondar was gone. The balance that was Siriaa was about to crumble. It terrified me.

Do not fire your weapons
, I sent mindspeech to the pilot and his crew.

* * *

As weak as the moonlight was, Jurris could only make out vague shapes in the darkness. His guards had spread out to cover more ground, leaving Jurris in the center. The King didn't have to ask who would attack his wives—he knew who it was.

"Halthea, we are here," he called out. "Stop this and I will let you live."

He never suspected how vicious she could be, or that she'd attack him first. It was as if a wild animal clawed at him, drawing blood. First from his shoulder, then his chest. The lights blinked on suddenly and he was blinded as he fell.

He heard Justis snap Halthea's neck as darkness came.

* * *

Fire rained from the sky as Amlis and Rodrik carried Omina to the deck. Projectiles struck the railings about them, splintering the wood and flinging sharp slivers toward exposed skin and eyes. They ducked as the airship dipped closer and continued its assault.

Farin and two sailors were already dead; the physician's body, sprawled across the far side of the deck, was almost cut in half by the dangerous weapons aimed at the ship. Deeds and Wolter had already shoved Sofi and Yissy overboard to save their lives, before following them quickly into the water surrounding the boat. Amlis and Rodrik intended to follow their lead.

Hoping that the water would save them from the burning boat as well as the danger from overhead, Amlis and Rodrik leapt overboard, the Queen between them. Omina screamed as she fell, before the cold seawater closed over her head.

Orik, who'd gone after Fen, pulled the wounded man with him, as more projectiles rained upon the Sea Hawk's deck. Boards creaked and groaned beneath Orik's feet, then collapsed behind him as he struggled to move faster. The ship exploded from below, launching him and Fen into the sea.

* * *

"We have to help them," I shouted.

Gurnil and Dena were too frightened at first to render aid—the flying craft continued to fire at the ship and we all ducked when the ship exploded with a mighty boom, flinging burning wood and shredded sail into the air. Reflections of the fire as the ship burned lit the waters before us, and the airship's noise deafened us as it flew closer.

"They're still alive," I shouted over the noise. "They're in the water."
Fly
, the Orb shouted into my numbed brain.

I flew. Perhaps it was instinct—perhaps it was the hours of practice with Dena. Regardless, I flew perfectly—unerringly, casting the wonder of my flight aside and focusing on the task at hand. I had to rescue those I could before they drowned or died in the airchopper attack. I had no idea whether I could gather all of them before either of those things happened.

What I do know is this—something protected all of us from the weapons that night, as I flew low over the sea. Gurnil, mastering his fear, followed close behind and then Dena after him. Desperately, we hooked elbows with one and then another victim, all of whom were flailing in dark, choppy waters.

Gurnil and Dena held Omina between them first, hauling her toward the narrow strip of sand and the safety of the crevice beyond. We flew several rescue missions, terror causing our hearts to pound as projectiles continued to rain into the ocean about us. The three of us worked under the most difficult circumstances that night, to save those who'd escaped the ship.

I wondered, too, at what had caused the ship to explode. The projectiles fired at us held nothing to cause such a conflagration. Using my talent, I searched for a reason as I pulled Sofi and Yissy from dark, freezing waters.

Yevil's weapon
. That caused the explosion. At least it was destroyed and I hoped there were no others like it. Shaking aside that fear, I dropped my live cargo onto the sand surrounding the castle and went out again.

* * *

Once we had all safely inside the crevice, I learned something new—the weapons firing against the glass castle had no effect. I feared the glass would crack and chip before crashing down. It didn't.

It stood, impenetrable against what Kondar's new regime had sent against it.

That was the least of my worries at the moment.

"Master Gurnil, please take them to the Library," I begged. Amlis, lifted to his feet by a shocked and open-mouthed Rodrik, stared and blinked at me.

"Finder?" his voice quavered.

"I have to go," I said.

In some way that I didn't understand as yet, the Orb transported me to Vorina and Wimla's shared quarters. I heard the Kondari weapons continuing to fire outside the castle as I knelt at Jurris' side.

The King was dying.

Wet and shivering from my ordeal outside the castle, I reached out a hand to help and began to glow.

* * *

Epilogue

"Liron is dead. We know that," Marid snapped. "Why not profit from what he asked us to conceal? He didn't pay nearly enough in the beginning, you know."

Morid shook his head at his father's words. "What if we can't contain it?" he asked. "You didn't provide spells for that; you merely hid a small continent. Others contained the poisoned organism."

"Not our problem. I have buyers waiting. After they pay when we deliver, we'll disappear. I've grown tired of living on Shaaliveer—haven't you?"

The End