Ryleigh dipped a cloth in the basin on the small bedside table, wrung it out, and placed it back on Vaughn’s forehead.
“Thanks.” His smile flickered, just for a moment, but it still warmed her.
“No problem.”
Mia and Cyenne huddled on the other side of the bed, a stack of books on the floor between them.
“Well?” Ryleigh was getting impatient. They needed answers.
“I can’t find what we need in any of these.” Cyenne tossed a book on top of the others, and toppled the pile. She stretched her legs in front of her and leaned back on her hands. “We really need the Book of the Ancients. It has a whole section on magic and spells. I’m very sure I’ve removed all traces of the spell Thaddeus cast on the arrow that injured Vaughn, but using magic comes natural to me. It’s different from having to cast spells. I can’t teach Mia to do it without the book.”
Ryleigh would have to accept that for the moment. At least Cyenne was here for now. If any of the others returned in the same condition, hopefully, she’d be able to save them. She stood and paced. No way could she sit still while Jackson was in Argonas. The memory of how he returned last time was still too fresh in her mind.
Vaughn snored softly. He murmured in his sleep, and his eyes fluttered but remained closed.
Ryleigh bent closer, but she couldn’t make out any words. “He still seems so weak.”
Cyenne stood and leaned over him. She smoothed his hair away from his face, careful not to dislodge the cool cloth. “He’ll gain strength now the magic’s been removed. Dark, evil stuff, the magic Thaddeus is using. Dangerous.”
“Can we fight it?”
Cyenne stayed quiet too long.
“Cyenne?”
“I don’t know. I think we can, but not without the book. Even the faeries can’t counter this kind of magic on their own. There’s just no way. We need guidance. You have to understand. No one has used this kind of dark magic in hundreds of centuries, so no one but the strongest sorcerers, who’ve lived and practiced for that long, are even slightly familiar with it. And they are few and reclusive. Dark magic was banned a very long time ago, and for good reason. The book, with the knowledge of the ancients, is our only hope of combatting such evil.” Sweat dotted her forehead. Her hands shook. She’d expended a tremendous amount of energy just healing one man. “I’m not strong enough to fight this alone, though. We’re going to need help.”
Great. “What kind of help?”
She swiped a strand of hair that had fallen loose from the knot atop her head. “I’m not sure yet. Let me think about it and see what I can come up with. No matter what, it seems our best chance of success lies with retrieving that book from Thaddeus.”
Ryleigh nodded. There was nothing more they could do about that until Jackson returned with the Death Dealers or Thaddeus showed up. They didn’t have enough soldiers left to mount a search for the sorcerer and still have any hope of protecting Cymmera.
She paced toward the fireplace. Images flickered in the flames. Death. Destruction. The fall of Cymmera played out over and over.
The chamber door screeched open, and Kiara entered. “How is he?”
Ryleigh turned her back on the visions. “He seems to be doing better.”
“Can you spare a minute?”
“Of course. Is something wrong?” Okay, that was a stupid question.
“I just wanted to talk to you.”
“Sure.”
“Alone.”
“I’ll be right back.” Ryleigh headed toward the door.
“Actually…” Mia stood and stretched her back. “Cyenne hasn’t had anything to eat since we returned. Why don’t you guys stay with Vaughn while we go to the kitchen and see if we can put together some kind of meal?”
Ryleigh nodded. “Thank you.”
Once Mia and Cyenne left, Kiara pushed the door shut softly.
Ryleigh dropped onto one of the rocking chairs in front of the fireplace. “Sit. You look tired.”
She sort of smiled and huffed. “I’m exhausted.”
“Is there anything I can do to help?”
“I hope so.” She sat opposite Ryleigh. “Oh, Ryleigh. I don’t know what to do. I can’t even believe any of this is happening. I’ve never been so scared.”
Ryleigh’s heart broke. There had to be something she could say or do to ease Kiara’s pain. But she had no clue what.
Kiara’s clasped hands trembled in her lap. “I’m sorry, Ryleigh. I don’t want to put you in a bad position, but I need your help.”
“What can I do?”
Max propped his head on Ryleigh’s lap, and she petted him.
“You have to talk Jackson into pardoning Lucas.”
Ryleigh jerked back. She had no clue that was even allowed. “You know I’ll do what I can, Kiara. You don’t even have to ask.”
“You can’t let him execute him, Ryleigh. Please. You have to stop it.” Pain etched deep lines in Kiara’s face. Dark circles ringed her eyes.
She had to, somehow, talk Jackson out of killing him, but now just wasn’t the time.
“He’s a good man. A good mate. A good father. And a good friend. He made a mistake. He shouldn’t have had any involvement with Chayce, and he freely admits that. But he didn’t have any knowledge of the letter’s content.”
Ryleigh lifted Max’s head and pulled her chair closer to Kiara’s. She gripped Kiara’s clasped hands in hers. “Please, Kiara. We’ll sort it out. Let’s just get through this mess we’re in right now, and then we’ll straighten everything else out. I’ll talk to Jackson. I can’t promise Lucas won’t stand trial or be found guilty or be punished for his crimes. But I can promise you, we’ll all listen to everything he has to say before any decisions are made.”
Kiara nodded and squeezed Ryleigh’s hands.
“But you have to do me a favor.”
Kiara looked Ryleigh straight in the eyes. “Anything.”
“You have to talk Lucas into telling the Council of Elders exactly what happened. I can’t help him if he won’t help himself, Kiara. You have to understand that.”
“Yes. I understand. He’ll testify. I promise you that.” She wiped her eyes and sat back. “I’m so torn. I want, need really, to stay with Lucas, but I’m worried sick about Sadie. She’s never been away from me before. Do you think it’s safe to bring her here?”
The fact Kiara had to ask spoke volumes for why Lucas had made the decision he had. They couldn’t protect their people. Plain and simple. She couldn’t allay Kiara’s fears, because they were well founded. Truth was, it was probably not safe to bring Sadie back to Cymmera, not even to the castle.
The chair creaked as Ryleigh rocked back and forth, staring hard into the flames, searching for answers. Visions of Elijah taunted her. Would he have lived if not for that letter? Would things have played out differently? Mia seemed to think Elijah would have sent Jackson away regardless, determined to change Jackson’s fate. Had the letter not been delivered, had Elijah not been offered that excuse, would he have found another reason to send Jackson away? And what if he hadn’t? What if Jackson had been in the castle when Chayce had attacked? Would he have died in Elijah’s place?
The questions battered her, relentless in their intensity, demanding answers she didn’t have. She massaged her throbbing temples.
Hurried footsteps pounded down the corridor. The door burst open.
Max jumped up and growled.
Ryleigh shot to her feet.
Tristan barreled through the doorway. “Ryleigh.” He glanced at Kiara and skidded to a stop. “Uh…I mean, Your Majesty.”
“What’s wrong, Tristan?”
“People are pouring into the courtyard.”
“People?”
“Cymmeran citizens. They’re saying the Death Dealers freed them from an underground prison in Argonas.”
Ryleigh headed for the door. “Will you stay with Vaughn until Mia comes back?”
“Of course,” Kiara called after her.
She took off down the corridor with Tristan and Max. “Are you sure they’re citizens?”
“Darius and Tatiana are there. They recognized many of them, but Darius said to send for you before we do anything.”
“Thank you.” They ran into the courtyard.
Hundreds of people stood around the clearing. Darius stood at the far side of the courtyard beside an open portal talking to several men. Tristan took her arm and guided her through the chaos. Max kept pace beside her.
Men and women ran through the portal into Cymmera. Many of them kept running toward the castle.
Darius spotted her and waved her over.
“What’s going on, Darius? Where are the Death Dealers?
“They are still fighting in the prison.”
“Are you going to help them?”
“No.”
“No?” She had to trust the head of the Security Council’s decision, but she didn’t have to like it.
People returned to the courtyard, stacks of weapons cradled in their arms. Women rushed groups of children toward the castle while the remaining adults handed out weapons.
Darius grabbed a couple of weapons. “We’re distributing weapons from the armory. We will make a stand here. There are only about thirty or forty guards in the prison. No sign of Thaddeus.”
“What about the Death Dealers?”
“They’ll handle their responsibility.” He shoved a flail into her hand. “Jackson wouldn’t expect us to come to their rescue. They will complete their mission. He will expect us to secure the castle, keep the children safe, and defend our kingdom.”
That was exactly what Jackson would expect. Knowing that didn’t make it any easier to leave him there.
“The kids are not safe here.”
“If we put them in the castle, we might—”
“No.” No way she’d risk subjecting children to a phantom’s mind invasion.
“Well, what do you suggest we do?” Frustration shortened his tone.
“We’ll take them to the faeries. I’ll see if Cyenne and Mia can open a portal and talk to Queen Allura. Maybe she’ll agree to keep the children safe if we send a few soldiers with them to offer protection in her realm.”
Darius was already nodding. “Yeah. It would be a relief to know the kids were safe.”
“Choose a few soldiers to go with them if Allura agrees. Keep the remaining men and women here to fight.” Though she couldn’t explain the feeling in her gut, she didn’t dare ignore it. Something evil was coming. The urge to send Mia with the children to the Realm of the Fae overwhelmed her. The image of Mia, arms raised, shadows consuming her brought bile up her throat.
She dismissed the instinct to hide her. Mia would play a role in this battle. The only thing Ryleigh could do was keep an eye on her.
* * * *
Jackson entered the castle in Argonas with Dakota, Ranger, and Noah.
The remaining Death Dealers fanned out and took up positions outside the castle doors.
Jackson headed straight for the throne room, where he’d sent word for Caleb to meet him. He didn’t have much time. Things were moving quickly, and he had to get back to Cymmera and prepare.
No doubt Thaddeus already knew his soldiers in the prison had been destroyed and his prisoners freed. His attack would come soon. It made no sense for him to wait. Jackson’s army would only gain strength as time went on.
He strode through the doors into an angry mob. Heated voices assailed him.
“Your Majesty?”
“Sir?”
“I need to talk to you.”
He held up his hands. “Wait a minute. I’ll answer your questions.”
Ranger and Noah moved in front of him, clearing a path among the people.
Dakota had his back.
Jackson strode through the crowd and ascended the throne platform. “Please. I don’t have much time. I will answer your questions and address your concerns, but give me a moment to speak with the head of my War Council.”
Caleb entered the platform with twenty or so men. They all bowed.
“Your Majesty.” Caleb stood. “As you know, Argonas has no army.”
True enough, the savages had been the only army Chayce needed. They were much more easily controlled than men.
“These men are willing to take positions among the Cymmeran Guard and fight for Cymmera and Argonas. Most are prisoners the Death Dealers freed from the mountainside.”
“Thank you, gentlemen.” He bowed his head in acknowledgment of the sacrifice they were willing to make. “What about the others?”
Caleb shook his head. “We couldn’t talk any others into joining. They’re afraid, Jackson. They want to stay here and defend their homes, not wage a war in Cymmera.”
“Do they understand defeating Thaddeus is imperative if we are to keep Argonas safe?”
“I’ve tried to explain.” Caleb lowered his voice and leaned close. “You’ve got to understand, Jackson. These people have been kept down, tortured even, first by Daygan and then by Chayce. Thaddeus stood at both their sides. They fear him.”
Understandable. “Okay. I only have a minute. As soon as we’re done here, I have to go. I’ll meet you in Cymmera with any soldiers you can find who are willing to fight.”
“Very well, sir.” Caleb bowed.
“Give any who aren’t here a message, though.”
“Sir?”
“Tell them I’m willing to grant them freedom in exchange for their willingness to fight. When this is all over, Cymmera will offer protection until they choose a king.”
“Or queen.” Noah grinned.
Jackson shot him a glare.
“Be happy. I just saved you a tongue lashing from Ryleigh. Show a little more appreciation when someone saves your ass.” He waggled his eyebrows.
Jackson left Ranger huddled with Caleb and the others, and moved to the center of the platform.
Dakota and Noah took positions on either side of him.
A tense hush fell over the chamber.
“People of Argonas. First, let me confirm Chayce Maynard has been defeated.”
An excited mumble rushed through the crowd.
“However, a tremendous threat still exists. Cymmera is about to engage in battle with Thaddeus, one of the strongest sorcerers in existence, and the massive armies he’s created. We cannot defeat him alone. We are asking for your help. I am willing to offer you our protection, but we also ask you to defend yourselves. Come to Cymmera. Fight with us. In return I will offer you freedom. Argonas will remain under my protection until you choose a king. Or queen.”
He turned away. Let them make their decisions.
Noah smirked.
Jackson couldn’t help but like the other man, even though he really tried not to.