Quest Of The Dragon Tamer (Book 1) (41 page)

Alise gave a slight nod.

Korin smiled. He knew Alise would find the Quy with little difficulty. “Call to it, Alise. Think of the Quy as air inside a room. You’re looking at it through a windowpane. I want you to open the window. Let the air free.”

Alise gasped, eyes open wide.

Korin grabbed her hands. “Hold it. Before you can use it you must sense it. Feel it flooding through every vein. It’s fire and ice together. Just when you think it will burn you through it becomes elation.”

“It’s beautiful,” Alise said as her eyes fluttered to him and widened even further.

“Yes, it’s beautiful,” Korin smiled. “The Quy is everywhere inside you, churning just below the surface, waiting for your command. But until you try to use it, you must learn how to master your emotions. That will be my first objective when I begin training.”

Alise blinked, the Quy’s light still lingering in her eyes, and smiled her thanks.

“You’re strong, Alise. Tomorrow you’ll be able to find the Quy even more easily.”

“Really?” Alise’s hazel eyes lit with fervor.

“Yes, really,” he said, wishing he could be the one to teach her.

Alise put her hands on her hips and raised an eyebrow. “How do you know so much already?”

Korin forced a cocky grin. “You forget I’ve been learning for days.”

Alise nodded in satisfaction and then broke into a smile, already thinking of another subject. “I wish Mari had the power. You know, I thought she did. When magic was reborn I thought I saw the pain in her eyes, but I must have imagined it.”

“You must have.” Korin sat at his small desk and opened one of the books, insinuating he needed to be left alone.

“But it was strange. As soon as my pain was gone she fell backward against the wall, saying her heart hurt, almost cramping.”

Korin spun. “What?”

“After the power was born,”Alise repeated, “Mari said her heart hurt.”

“Holy Maker,” Korin said. Why hadn’t he though of it before? He should have thought of it before. Ista hadn’t infected Marianne, but Ista would know the cure.

He ran to his closet and grabbed the silver dust he kept concealed on the top shelf. He heard Alise’s questions but didn’t bother to respond. There was no time for explanations. Korin dismissed Alise with a glance and ran down the hall toward the royal suites.

He heard Alise’s footsteps behind him but didn’t slow. He prayed he wasn’t too late. If it had spread through Mari’s bloodstream she didn’t have a chance.

When he reached the royal hallway he turned down the corridors leading to Mari’s private chambers. He knew the path by heart. He had passed through the suites many times just for a glimpse of her.

As always, guards stood outside her door. He didn’t pause. He sprinted between them, crashed through the door, and slid to a halt inside chambers he had always dreamed of entering. The guards grabbed him by the arms and tried to pull him out. Marianne sat on her bed in her nightdress, hair spilling down her back. Korin’s heart went to his chest. The terror he now felt was unprecedented by anything Ista had ever done. If Mari died nothing would matter.

Marianne dropped the book she was reading as her eyes flickered over the guards. She quickly pulled a blanket over her shoulders to conceal her nightdress. Alise came to a sudden halt beside Korin, ordering the guards to release him at once. Korin had yet to take his eyes off Mari, and when the guards released their hold he almost fell, unaware of how hard he had been straining to reach her.

Candles were lit around the room. Their flames were reflected in Mari’s eyes and cast a soft glow around her loose hair. Korin wished he could have been sitting with her, talking of books and dreams, of future plans and children. She was so gentle, why did this have to happen to her? That was why. She was gentle.

He fell to the floor and took her frightened face in his hands.

“Marianne, listen to me. I want you to concentrate and answer my questions as best you can. When the power was released Alise said you felt pain afterwards, is that correct?”

She nodded.

“In your heart?”

“Yes,” she said, placing one of her hands on his outstretched arm. Her hand was cold. Korin fought back tears.

“Have you noticed any discoloring or bruises on your body?”

The door burst open as Lorlier pushed his way in, along with two guards Korin knew well. There was confusion in every eye, but also duty. Korin understood. He would have alerted Lorlier as well. He was an intruder in Mari’s room. It didn’t matter that he was a trusted soldier in Lorlier’s guard.

Lorlier’s sharp hazel eyes flashed with anger. “Korin, what’s the meaning of this?”

Alise put her hand on Lorlier’s arm and stopped him with her eyes. The scene would have been comical under other circumstances, Alise so small and Lorlier so large, but the king softened under Alise’s worried gaze.

Korin turned back to Marianne. “Marianne, did you hear me? Do you have any discoloration?”

She looked at him with wide-eyed innocence. Korin bowed his head, knowing the answer before it was spoken. “Yes, my toes.” She took her feet out from under her. Her toes were turning a bluish color and her toenails were brittle.

“Oh please, dear Maker,” Korin whispered.

“What is it, Korin?” Lorlier asked.

Korin tried to conceal his inner terror. “The backlash.”

“What’s the backlash?” Alise asked.

Korin turned to Marianne. Her brown eyes were full of apprehension, and something else – love.

He didn’t deserve her love. He was an impostor in her home. He had to tell Lorlier everything. Mari and Davis were out of time. Together he and Lorlier would find a solution. Davis would live, but Ista must think him dead or Mari would die. He brushed Mari’s cheek in affection, knowing it would be the last time he would ever see her. When Lorlier heard his history he would be banned from Fest.

He squeezed Mari’s hands, trying to convey all the love he felt inside. “Mari, you had the power but you didn’t accept it. You pushed it away because it frightened you. It forced its way in anyway, except it did so in a different fashion. The power has now turned into a disease called the backlash. Because you didn’t let magic take hold, it’s taking what it can from you.”

Korin looked up at Lorlier. “My lord, it’s slowly eating her alive. She’ll die if we don’t find a cure.”

- - -

Korin was exhausted. He didn’t know how many more questions he could take. He had answered everything at least twice. He was sick at his own revelations.

Lorlier barked another question. Korin answered it. He rubbed his hands as if he could wipe off the stains only he could see.

He recalled the look of horror crossing Marianne’s features when he had first revealed the truth. She looked at him as if the words he had spoken in the stone enclave had been a lie. Nothing, no amount of pain, no anguish Ista could send, no rejection he would live, would ever be as tormenting as the look in Marianne’s eyes.

If only he could hold her one last time, assure her of his love, he would make her see how special she was, how beautiful. But that day would never come. He would never speak to Marianne again. He would never have a chance at life. He had just sentenced himself to death.

At least he had made the last play of his life against Ista. That gave him a small pittance of pride.

They had long since left Marianne’s room and now it was just Lorlier and himself, along with the two guards flanking him.

He would give anything for Marianne’s life, even his own salvation. He had cast a magical weave over her with silver dust. Although it would slow the infection, it may not be enough to stop the disease until he found what he needed to cure her.

The backlash was something he had read about in Lorlier’s books. The books said the only cure for the backlash was “a blanket of power” to draw out the contaminated force residing in the victim.

He didn’t know what that meant.

Lorlier cleared his throat and Korin wearily raised his head. His king’s hazel eyes glared at him. It was a dagger through Korin’s heart.

“Give me one good reason why I shouldn’t put you and Brice to death immediately,” Lorlier said.

Korin didn’t hesitate. “Because I’m expendable and expendable people are sometimes sent on hopeless journeys.”

Lorlier raised his eyebrows, indicating for Korin to continue.

“My lord, Davis’ life is in danger. Ista believes I’ll kill him by sunup. Marianne will die if a cure isn’t found. Ista knows the cure. If she believes Davis lives she won’t hesitate to kill me, and Marianne will die. If she believes Davis is dead I’ll live and be able to help Mari. Please, my lord, let me help her. I give you my word I’ll come back and then you can run your sword through me. I deserve life less than the disease living in your eldest daughter. Please, Lorlier, I beseech you, trust me one last time.”

“Trust you!” Lorlier rose from his seat, eyes filled with rage. “How could I ever trust you after what you’ve revealed!”

Korin flinched. “You can’t, my lord, but I’m Mari’s only chance.”

Lorlier bowed his head. “My Mari, my first born, how I love her.”

Korin turned away. He was unworthy to witness Lorlier’s sorrow. He was formed in the pits of the lower plains and would reside there for all eternity.

Korin heaved an unsteady breath, desperate to make Lorlier understand. “Ista doesn’t care if Marianne lives or dies, my lord. She only holds it over my head to force me to do her bidding.” Korin swallowed and looked to the floor, unable to take the look of betrayal in Lorlier’s eyes. “Ista thinks if I find a cure, and if your only son is dead, you’ll allow me to wed Marianne.”

“I would never!”

“I know,” Korin said softly, “but that’s what Ista believes. She’ll give me the cure because she says I’m strong in the Quy. She wants me despite my deception. I’ll be a vessel for someone else. She means to send a spirit of a wizard inside me. She’ll be able to control me still, even with a spirit inside.”

Lorlier took a deep breath and sat back down, face softening. Korin thought he saw compassion on his king’s features but quickly disregarded it. How could Lorlier have compassion for one of the demon spawn?

“What will become of you if a spirit enters you?”

“I’ll be no more. Spirits of the ancient wizards will overpower all remembrance I have. I’ll no longer exist. But if we work together, my king, we can deceive her.”

Lorlier was silent, so Korin continued. “She told me she would give me the cure. I’ll have to travel to Stardom to retrieve it. When I do, she’ll send a spirit inside me. She’ll send me back here to save Mari. As soon as I save Mari, kill me.”

Lorlier was silent. Korin lifted his head. The king’s expression was unreadable. Korin waited.

“I’ll let you go,” Lorlier said quietly, “but if you don’t return you better be dead or I’ll hunt you down and kill you with my bare hands.”

Korin nodded with doleful relief. “I can’t tell you what to do about Brice, but if you kill him Ista will be suspicious and she’ll turn on me. If I’m dead I can’t help you. But that’s for you to decide. You need to announce Davis’ death by morning so Brice can authenticate it. If I were you, I’d send your son far, far away from here.”

“I’ll send him to Ramie,” Lorlier said, thinking aloud. “Davis can inform the king of Yor we’ll join him in mounting an offensive against Ista. Ista will die for her crimes.” Looking back at Korin, Lorlier’s eyes hardened. “Make sure you’re well away from her when I attack.” Korin had never felt so small, so undeserving. The king thought Mari would die, and he still let him go, let him live.

Korin walked to the door, saddened that Lorlier had no idea how much he had come to love him and how much he truly loved his daughter.

“My lord,” Korin said, staring at the worn door in front of him. “I know you can’t believe what I say, but please hear me with your heart. All I’ve ever wanted my entire life was freedom, salvation. When I came here I found something far better. I found love. I didn’t mean to fall in love with your family but I have, knowing all the while I was unworthy of your trust. But know this. I would have stopped anything from hurting you. My life is yours, not Ista’s. That’s why I tell you what I know. That’s why I want you to take my life when I return. I want to die at the hand of someone who knew me as the man I wanted to become. And please, my lord, tell Mari … ”

Korin couldn’t finish the sentence. He opened the door and walked out.

Chapter 21

Lazo and Jasta sat before the Red Eye. Jasta crushed Lazo’s his hand in her own. Although her grip hurt, he didn’t pull away. Jasta needed him more than she had ever needed him before.

Justin stood behind a glass window that filtered in light from the afternoon’s sun. He appeared calm, but inside his thoughts were chaotic. He and Jasta were murmuring with quick, constant force, as if they could store up their contact while the ritual was taking place. Lazo refrained from joining their murmurings. The twins’ relationship was special and Jasta and Justin needed every breath remaining to immerse in their incessant world of chatter. Lazo forced himself to remain content just hearing their familiar tonality even though he desperately wanted to speak to Justin one last time. He knew he would never see his brother again.

Jasta knew it too, and she was frantic.

Justin would only survive if they came back quickly, but Lazo didn’t know how long it would take for the Red Eye to reveal its secret. No twin had survived an alienation past two days, but most died within a sun’s click after the separation.

Because of Lazo, Jasta would survive, but Justin would succumb to the killing Mar within heartbeats, and if Jasta wasn’t back soon thereafter Justin would be forever out of reach. He would die from the Mar even if Jasta was by his side. Once the connection was severed it was severed for eternity.

Lazo squeezed Jasta’s hand. There was no hurrying the Red Eye’s apparitions. The amount of time it took depended upon the aura the Eye brought forth from his timbering drone.

Lazo sat naked, as did Jasta. Nothing but flesh and the object in question could enter the ritual. Thankfully, that included their chains.