Well of Tears (Empath Book 3) (24 page)

Perhaps Quinn
’s
earlier words did have an element of truth, that Neyv was stronger
than she thought she was, and one day she would be even more
powerful. Quinn had been able to resist her, and yet now she was
completely under her spell. This only served to fuel the girl’s
ego. Neyv no longer thought that she could stay under the
subservience of Sammah, though she knew that because of her age, he
would be an excellent shield for her until she was old enough
people to take her seriously. The first step in this, though, was
proving that she could kill someone else. Quinn was clearly in her
way, so Quinn could be the first victim.

“Knock on
the door
,
Quinn, get Elias
’s attention."

Quinn did as Neyv asked without question. Oh,
how this felt! Power! Quinn rapped her knuckles on the wooden door
and it snapped open, Elias’s brutal face peering through the gap.
He cocked his head, making a gesture with his hand. Neyv wasn’t as
fluent with their hand gestures as Quinn was, but she could make
out that he was annoyed quite easily.

Quinn looked to Neyv, as if seeking assurance
that their deception would work, just with Quinn asking the
question. The girl nodded encouragement, knowing perfectly well
there wouldn’t be a problem. “We need to go down to the springs,
Elias. You need to take us there, and guard us. You know that
Sammah wouldn’t be happy if you let us go alone. Though you can’t
come in with us," Quinn added with a rush of afterthought. “He
wouldn’t want you seeing us naked.”

Elias made another sweep of gestures, to
which Quinn had a ready answer. “To bathe. We spend entire days
doing what Sammah wants, and this is the only time we have to
ourselves. Please, Elias, it’s a simple enough request. You will be
there waiting for us, and it’s not as if there’s a way out of
Everfell through the springs.”

Elias cocked his head, seemingly thinking
about this. He rolled his eyes, and opened the door all the way.
This gesture was simple enough, showing he was happy for them to
leave the confines of their room. Quinn glanced again at Neyv, who
nodded. “Just give us a second to get our things.”

Quinn grabbed her little wash bag left in the
small box by her bed. Neyv grabbed one, too, and they left. The
quiet city Quinn experienced during the day was uncommon, and not
something Everfell should be. This was a capital city and should be
a hubbub, an absolute hive of activity. The noise had been during
the days, which was why Quinn had worked nights with Ross and the
other maids. Now it was exactly the way had been when she was a
maid here. The corridor was quiet, devoid of life. Their walk down
to the springs was without a problem. Both girls walked ahead of
Elias, confident of their route down. All they needed was to make
sure that the mercenary brute didn’t suspect that they were
planning foul play. Of course, under the influence of Neyv, Elias
would think nothing of the girls wanting to just go down to the
springs to bathe. Even without her ability, it had been a simple
enough request, and Elias was easily mastered.

* * *

As the corridor turned to the warm dampness
that Quinn was familiar with, the walls turned to green moss in the
air humid heat from the natural springs, Quinn’s hope began to
surge. This was it. This was her escape, and it would all be thanks
to Neyv. Sammah thought that putting them together would keep them
under his control, but he had been wrong. Together, Quinn and Neve
were going to be able to stop Sammah before he did anything to
them.

Quinn looked ahead to the caverns, and asked
Neyv to follow. She turned on Elias, giving him a quizzical look.
“I told you not to come in. I do not want you to see me naked.”

Elias grinned, trying to look intimidating,
but Quinn had seen it all before. She had killed these men, and
seen their souls. Elias didn’t scare her any more. “You want me to
tell Sammah what you’ve been doing? He might know that we’re down
here to bathe, but I’
m sure he
’d be
interested in finding out what you were doing snooping around
behind our backs.”

That wiped the grin off Elias’s face and he
retreated around the corner. Quinn stepped forward and Neyv,
grabbing her bag nervously, followed. The springs were empty, just
as they’d always just as they always been at this time of night,
apart from when Eden had been here, Quinn remembered wistfully. She
shook her head. Now wasn’t the time for reminiscing. That was
looking on the past, and she was about to do something to secure
her future.

Without her power, she might be able to
return to Eden. She could try to earn a position in Sevenspells and
become a part of his life without also being a threat. If she had
no ability, perhaps even Shiver would be able to look beyond what
she had been born as, and see what she wanted to become. She hadn’t
known who she was, and she didn’t want to be a part of this
anymore. Surely, they would see this, and let her live in
peace.

Quinn quickly stripped off her clothes and
Neyv did the same. Both girls sank into the waters, and Quinn was
again reminded of how this had been a place of peace for her. Of
course it made sense that, along with the other places, this would
be key to Quinn’s future. They fit together, all three of them.
Quinn tried to remember what the mythology was for the Sea of
Sighs. She knew the beach—everybody knew the story the Beach of
Bones. How had the Sighs come about again? It did have something to
do with the fogs, as she thought about it, but she couldn’t put the
story together in her mind. Hadn’t it been the witches? Something
to do with vengeance? Quinn couldn’t remember. Neyv knew the story
of Indigo, so did she know this. “Neyv? Do you know why the Sea of
Sighs were created?”

Neyv was treading water not far away, and bit
her lower lip as she thought about the answer to this question.
Eventually, she shook her head.

“I’m sorry, no,
I
don
’t. Isn’t it something to do with the weather? Just…It’s
a warning. A danger to sailors."

“No, there’s more to it than that. You see,
when I was in Sea of Sighs, I was able to do everything with my
abilities. I was never able to control people before, but when I
was in the Sighs, I could feel everything. When I left the Sighs, I
was able to use the power but didn’t know how. After an encounter,
I was able to use it. These places these mythologies, they are all
central to this, Neyv. I don’t think this just affects me, I think
this could be something for everyone in Sha’sek that has an
ability. I bet that, if you went through the Sea of Sighs, you
might find more about your ability too.”

“There isn’t anything else that I need to
know.” Neyv gave a little shrug in the water. “I say things and
people believe them, or other people say things with me nearby, and
then they believe them too. There are only two people that have
never been able to resist my abilities, and that’s you and my
father."

“What if the Sighs made you more powerful?
What if you could manipulate me and father?”

“
I don
’t think my
life would be any different,” Neyv lied.

“Maybe you’re right. I don’t really
understand any of this, and I wish I understood it more. But, I
also know that I want to be rid of it, so I’m glad you told me
about this. I wish I’d figured it out for myself sooner. Come on,
let’s get this done.”

Neyv swam closer, and Quinn found herself
suddenly reluctant to go through this. Could you really submerge
yourself past the edge of panic and reason? That’s what Neyv had
said. She needed to go beyond how she normally felt. She needed to
overcome and master her panic, and stay underwater long enough to
put her on the cusp of the bones. Only then would her power be
removed.

What if she stayed underneath for too long?
Not staying there long enough was not a problem, because she could
just submerge herself again. They wouldn’t have all night, but if
Quinn did this for too long, she would only have one chance.

“What are you waiting for?” Neyv asked,
sounding impatient.

“I’m about to nearly drown myself Neyv, I
need a minute.”

Quinn took a deep breath, submerging
herself.

At first, it was just like every visit she’d
had to the baths. She tried to relax; she always felt at peace in
here, and she needed to remind herself of that. As she held it
longer, she became nervous. How was she meant to feel? How did she
know when the well had taken her power? Was she meant to pass out?
Her heartbeat increased and she could feel it thudding in her ears.
She opened her eyes, and could see Neyv’s body floating in the
stillness of the well’s waters. The little girl was right by her.
Quinn clung to her words. She had to overcome her panic in order to
let the well do its work. Neyv swam closer. Quinn’s lungs began to
burn. She couldn’t hold this for much longer. She was fighting her
own body now. She wanted—no, she needed—to breathe.

Quinn knew she couldn’t fight it. She’d have
to try again. She moved, but felt hands press her down. Neyv moved,
taking her feet down on Quinn’s shoulders. This wasn’t right. Quinn
opened her mouth to scream, to take in air, to do anything, but all
she did was swallow water. The shock jolted her out of Neyv’s
influence. It had been a trick. It had all been a trick.

Shiver and
Eden stood outside the gates, along with Farn. They’d been
surveying the castle for some time, and no one could decide what to
do.

“It’s too simple, sire, and too quiet in
there. It must be a trap. I suggest we wait at least until morning,
until we have daylight and we can see where we are going.” Harn was
hedging his bets. He was a seasoned fighter, and had decided that
no conflict was easy. There was no way they’d just be able to walk
into Everfell and take it. Sammah must have brought all of his men
inside the castle to make a stand. It made tactical sense.

“The city’s been abandoned, father, who is
going to be in there to defend him? Every single man that we’ve
come across has surrendered to us. They don’t want to fight for
him—all you have to do now is walk in and take it!”

“Both of you hush! I don’t know what to do.
It looks too easy. I think Harn should be right. Then I see no
movement at any of the windows. Usually there are torches, people
moving about their business. There’s absolutely nothing. No staff,
the pages, not even any drunk soldiers. This place is dead. So I
think Eden might be right, and we should go in. But how many men,
where do we go?"

“That’s a simple one,
father—Sammah’
s quarters."

“Or the king’s?” Harn added.

“If there’s any fortifications about
anywhere, is going to be those two places. How many do I take in
there with me? Will we be seen? I cannot believe he’s in there
alone. How many of those awful mercenaries did he have scattered
around the place? They’ll be in there, have no doubt. You say you
killed two of them already Eden?”

“
I don
’t know
father,” Eden shook his head “I know Elias led a pack of men
against me on the beaches at Farn, but I don’t know if the other
men with him were the same."

“I’m nervous,
I
don
’t mind saying.”

“
No
need to risk
yourself, sire. That’s what you have men—send me in with a handful
of your most trusted, and I’ll clean the place out for you. Those
mercenaries present no challenge to
Sevenspells
’ men. They may be tough against farmers
and boys, but let them taste the steel of real men.”

Shiver turned to both of them. His glance
moved from one man to another, trying to figure out which one he
believed more. It was just a matter of time now before they did
attack, because there was enough evidence to show that Sammah
wasn’t properly guarding this place.

What Shiver had to decide now, was how best
to finish this. He didn’t want to lose any of his men’s lives, any
he certainly didn’t want to risk one of his sons. That being said,
he was quite merrily contemplating risking his own life going in
there, and Eden seemed confident that the place would be abandoned.
Even if they did come up against the mercenaries, if Shiver took
enough of his own men, Harn was right. Their enemies would be
easily outnumbered, because the numbers of the mercenaries were
limited. Shiver tried to remember from his times at court, and the
times he’d taken meals in Sammah’s suites, how many of the hired
hands he’d seen sitting around. There was Elias, and Shiver had
seen one or two others, but because the men all looked the same and
couldn’t be distinguished by voice, Shiver had never really taken
notice of any of them. Was it worth the risk? So few of his men, to
win the throne? Eventually, Shiver’s greed won out.

“Get your best men, Harn. Half a dozen of
them. We are going in there tonight. I won’t wait till dawn,
because, what’s the point? We know those hallways, and Sammah isn’t
defending them. We have the advantage here, so let’s take it. Go,
be quick.”

Harn nodded once, and left to get his men
from the camp.

“We have to get into Everfell, Eden, and I’m
trying to do it without bloodshed, though I doubt you believe me on
that score.”

Eden looked away, slightly ashamed at the
accusation. He didn’t believe his father was capable of finishing
anything without bloodshed, and so, no, he didn’t believe him.
Actions spoke louder than words though, and the end of the night
would show them just how committed to those words King Shiver
was.

Sammah threw the
book down on his desk. He couldn’t rest. He hadn’t been happy with
the day. They hadn’t achieved enough—he wasn’t making any progress.
He could see the strain Quinn was under during the sessions with
Neyv, and Sammah feared another day spent forcing the girl’s mind
would be the end of her. Reluctantly he decided to give them a day
of leisure, and that left Sammah with absolutely nothing to do. He
considered writing to his brother again, but requests were now
turning into pleas, and Sammah wasn’t the kind of man to beg. When
he’d rid himself of Shiver, he would turn his attention to Pax. He
was sure that the rest of the lords would accede to him with Shiver
gone, especially with Neyv’s influence. With Quinn, they’d have
absolutely no chance to resist him.