King Of Souls (Book 2) (32 page)

Devery spoke with a young naval officer near the shipyard. He gestured toward Ripool’s city gates that led through the mountains deeper into Meranthia.

The officer gathered the small handful of Bawold’s survivors and formed ranks. The soldiers marched along Ripool's empty streets. They passed Bawold's burning husk, and left the city through the open gate.

Tara remained hidden too sickened to oppose the soul knight’s retreat. She still controlled many dark soldiers and souleaters, but she needed time to think and regroup. She didn’t know how to capture Meranthia without General Demos.

As the Damocles sank, Lora’s child shape-shifted into a pitch-black bird of prey. The soul knight limped toward the bird with agony etched on his face. He climbed atop the bird, flicked his wrist, and surrounded them both with a shimmering blue sphere. The bird lifted off, leaving Ripool empty and alone.

Tara collapsed and leaned against the stone wall. She buried her face in her hands and wept while the blue knight’s shield faded into the gray morning sky.

A Grim Discovery

Danielle ducked beneath a thick root hiding amid the hallway’s murky shadows. A few minutes earlier, she’d almost fallen down a shadow-strewn stairway. She’d never considered herself graceful, but something felt off.

In the past two days, the natural glow illuminating the heartwood’s root system had dimmed. Dark shadows tripped over winding stairs and sloping tunnels.

Danielle loosened the straps on her leather pack, flipped open its soft cover, and peered inside. She pushed aside a dark wool blanket and gazed on Lora’s Sphere. They'd almost made it to Elan's Gap. In a couple of more hours and they would enter Meranthia.

Green and red light flickered against the root walls chasing away the shadows.

Danielle pulled the blanket over Lora’s Sphere. She tied closed the leather pack’s cover leaving the group shrouded in a veil of shadows.

“Why do you insist on looking at that ball every ten minutes?” Keely said. “We’ll get it to Elan’s Gap in one piece. Stop worrying so much.”

“It’s not that Keely. It’s the heartwood trees that have me worried,” Danielle said.

“What’s wrong with the trees Your Highness?” Jeremy said. “This section of the forest hasn’t yet come under attack.”

Danielle nodded. “That’s what’s bothering me. And please Jeremy, just call me Danielle. I think you’ve earned the right. We’re friends aren’t we?”

Jeremy blushed dropping his gaze. “Of course. It’s just…well…you’re a royal princess, and I’m just a knight.”

“When we’re alone, just pretend I’m Ayralen the same as Keely. Okay?”

Keely barked out a short laugh. “I don’t think Jeremy’s ever looked at you like just another Ayralen Danielle.” A lopsided grin twisted her lips.

Jeremy’s cheeks turned a deeper shade of crimson, and his eyes widened. “If I’ve ever implied anything inappropriate —”

“Relax.” Keely said cutting him off. “It’s just an observation. But, I’d have to be blind not to see the way you look at her, and I’d wager a fair bit of gold on it too.”

Heat spread through Danielle’s cheeks and sweat formed on her palms. She’d never considered Jeremy a romantic interest, but she couldn’t deny his good looks. A twinge of guilt pricked her conscience as her thoughts drifted to Brees.

“Danielle…I mean…Your Highness, I —”

Danielle raised her hand cutting him off. “You don’t owe me any explanation Jeremy.” She glared at Keely. “Keely has a way of saying whatever pops into that tiny little head of hers no matter the consequences.”

Keely’s grinned turned mischievous. “I figured someone should have guts enough to break the ice between you two.”

Jeremy’s jaw slackened, and he stared at Danielle through cool blue eyes. He rubbed the two-day growth of blond stubble spreading across his chin and sighed.

“Are you going to stand there and deny it?” Keely said.

Danielle’s pulse raced as Keely’s question caught her off-guard. Her eyes flickered toward Jeremy, and she kept silent wondering what he’d say.

Silence hung heavy in the old heartwood’s shadowy root system while Jeremy stood wearing a numb expression. “I —”

A tiny warm hand grabbed Danielle’s fingers and tugged.

Danielle jumped. She’d forgotten Ferris. She knelt before the boy and calmed her pounding heart. “What’s wrong Ferris?”

“What’s wrong with the trees?”

Jeremy cleared his throat seizing on the boy’s words. “Yes, I wondered the same thing.”

Keely gave Jeremy a sideways stare and mumbled. “Chicken.”

Danielle pretended not to notice Keely’s insult. “I’m sure this tree, like the others we’ve traveled through, is under stress from the attacks. It’s no different than a human expressing worry just as I feel for my father and —” She cut off her words before she added Brees’s name.

Keely folded her arms and raised an eyebrow while a slight knowing smile showed on her face. “And who Danielle?”

Danielle scowled and anger flashed behind her eyes. “And the citizens fleeing for Meranthia,” she said through a clenched jaw.

Ferris bit his lower lip and frowned. “Is the tree going to die Miss Danielle? Please say it won’t die.”

“No sweetheart. It won’t die.” She embraced the boy. “We’ll stop the bad men and the dragons then the trees will be just fine. You’ll see.”

“Is there any way to know for sure?” Jeremy said.

Danielle stood and faced the shield knight. “I know how these trees react. I can feel their stress.”

“So you’re just guessing?” Keely said.

Danielle sighed. “No. I’m not just guessing. I can prove it.” She moved to the wall and flattened her palm against its smooth surface. She closed her eyes and channeled nature magic reaching for the tree’s consciousness.

The heartwood tree remained still and silent ignoring her call.

Danielle’s chest tightened. Maybe the tree didn’t appreciate her prodding, but her worry deepened. She channeled a deep flow of magic and bright green light spread beneath her palm extending far into the tree’s root system.

The floor rumbled, and the tree groaned low and deep.

Danielle gasped and felt the blood drain from her face. She yanked her hand from the root wall, and her legs buckled.

Jeremy slipped his hand around Danielle’s waist as she swayed.

Danielle wrapped her arm around his shoulder trying to steady herself, but her head spun. Her breaths came in short ragged pulls, and she leaned into Jeremy’s body for support.

“Something’s wrong with the tree. Isn’t it?” Panic touched Ferris’s words, and his eyes welled with tears. “I knew it was sick. I could feel it Miss Danielle.”

Keely scooped Ferris into her arms, and he buried his head in her shoulder, his tiny body quaking with sobs. She walked off with Ferris speaking quiet words of comfort.

Danielle spoke in a low whisper. “The tree’s dying Jeremy. It’s hanging on by a thread.” She steadied herself and stood straight.

“Maybe the tree’s under attack,” Jeremy said.

Danielle shook her head. “No. It wasn’t pleading for help. The tree is sick.”

“How could that be?”

“I don’t know. I can’t explain it. To see a healthy heartwood tree turn sick so quickly is rare, but it’s not just this tree. Every tree we’ve passed has grown worse the further we travel from the first tree. It’s almost as if…” As Danielle spoke the words, a sickening realization pounded in her head like a bass drum. Somehow the first tree kept the others alive. As the first tree struggled for life, so did the heartwood trees it spawned. Her legs buckled again.

Jeremy’s hand tightened around her waist. “I’ve got you Danielle. Stay calm and explain what’s happening.”

“I’ve got to go back Jeremy. I never should’ve left.” On trembling legs, Danielle turned toward the first tree. She wobbled ahead moving toward the forest’s heart.

“Hey!” Keely stormed ahead cutting off Danielle’s retreat and glared. “Where do you think you’re going?”

“I’ve got to go back and save the first tree. It’s the only way.” Danielle mumbled through a hazy fog of shock.

Jeremy jogged ahead before stopping beside Keely. “What’s the only way? We can’t help, if you don’t explain what’s happening.”

Danielle took a deep breath and collected her thoughts. “I think the heartwood trees are linked.”

“Linked how?” Keely said.

“Linked to the tree that gave them life,” Danielle said. “It’s the only explanation that makes any sense.”

“It might make perfect sense to you, but it’s a little fuzzy to me,” Keely said.

Jeremy gripped Danielle’s shoulders and held her gaze for several moments. “Why do you need to reach the first tree? I’m sure many heartwood trees have spawned saplings over the centuries.”

Danielle’s lower lip quivered and tears welled in her eyes. She shook her head. “The wardens have carefully governed the planting of new heartwood trees over the years. The council takes saplings only from the first tree whenever they plant a new heartwood. Lora created the first tree, and wardens consider it perfect in every way.”

The color drained from Jeremy’s face. “You mean the existence of the entire forest might depend on the first tree’s survival?”

“Of all the stupid decisions!” Keely glared at Danielle but lowered her voice as Ferris flinched. “Haven’t we learned the hard way, this past year especially, that diversity allows us all to thrive? Why would the trees be any different?”

Danielle’s shoulders sagged as she hung her head. She couldn’t bring herself to look at them. “It’s been that way for so long nobody ever questioned the ancient warden’s wisdom. We assumed they knew best.”

Jeremy placed himself between Danielle and Keely. “It’s easy to second-guess their actions now. But you can’t hold Danielle responsible for that decision.”

“It doesn’t matter,” Danielle said pushing past Jeremy. “I can’t let the first tree die. There’s no sense arguing.”

“You’re not going anywhere.” Keely grabbed Danielle’s shoulder holding her in place. “I don’t know much about that glowing ball strapped to your back, but I know you’re linked to it in some strange way. And that means everybody’s life could depend on yours. Everyone Danielle.” Keely’s voice trembled as she paused letting her words sink in. She raised her free hand and pointed at Danielle’s chest. “You don’t have the right to sacrifice your life.”

Danielle face prickled as if slapped, and she stared aghast at Keely. She started to argue then stopped. She understood the truth, no matter how ugly. “What if I’m the only person that can save the forest? What then Keely?” Her words came out soft and low, free of vitriol as tears streaked her face.

“What if you’re not?” Keely said with compassion lacing her voice. “We’re less than a mile from Elan’s Gap Danielle. We’re almost there.”

Danielle nodded. She’d find Ronan. Maybe he’d have some idea, but she didn’t think her father could hold on much longer. She wiped the tears from her face and stood tall. Self-pity wouldn’t help anyone, and her father had trusted her to carry Lora’s Sphere to safety. “Okay, but let’s hurry.”

A few minutes later, they climbed a dark narrow staircase leading to the surface. The heartwood tree stood less than a half-mile from Elan’s Gap marking the last great tree near the forest’s edge.

Danielle emerged from the tree and glanced upward.

The heartwood’s branches clattered in the stiff breeze bare and naked of their giant green and red leaves. Near its base, half-rotted fruit lay amid piles of shriveled dead leaves and broken black branches.

Danielle faced the forest and stifled a gasp.

An unbroken chain of dying heartwood trees stretched toward the first tree like a parade of wounded soldiers.

“I can see the Gap ahead,” Jeremy said. “We’re almost there.”

Danielle dropped her head and followed Jeremy and Keely.

They pushed through dry, waist-deep grass and high uneven shrubs. The group emerged among throngs of Ayralen refugees pushing toward Elan's Gap.

Danielle raised her hood covering her face and hair. She didn’t want to draw the crowd’s attention. Finding Danielle Deveaux fleeing the forest would only serve to weaken Ayralen resolve.

Jeremy nodded toward a battle knight standing beside a makeshift highway.

The knight’s nervous gaze shifted between the refugees and the gray clouds hanging over the forest. A quiver filled with arrows hung from the knight’s shoulder while he held an Ayralen longbow loose in his right hand. He caught Jeremy’s eye and returned his nod with a slight bow before resuming his watch.

Danielle lifted Ferris holding him tight so not to lose him in the throng of refugees.

Three-hundred yards ahead, iron gates, built to keep Ayralens out of Meranthia, stood wide open. Refugees flooded through Elan’s Gap into Meranthia beyond. A dozen knights stood atop high stone walls carved into the mountainside a hundred and twenty feet over the forest floor.

Ferris sat upright in Danielle’s arms craning to catch a glimpse of the battle knights standing on the high walls.

Blue spirit shields surrounded every battle knight, each equipped with a longbow and a full quiver of arrows. Their telltale shard blades hung still while the knights scanned the low-hanging clouds.