Storm Glass

29

IF I TOLD the Ixian soldier I was a hostage, we would be arrested and two scenarios could happen from there. Devlen would claim I was a magician and I would be executed without hesitation. Or they would listen to my story and confirm my connection with Liaison Yelena through one of Valek’s corps.

Valek’s corps. Of course.

“We met these men last night, sir. My husband and I are returning home from my parents’ house,” I said. The tension in Devlen’s arm eased.

The Lieutenant handed my papers back to me. “You’ll want to hurry. A big blizzard is coming. I can feel it. You have three, maybe four days at most. Perhaps these merchants can take you north with them?”

“It would be our pleasure,” Namir said.

Right back where we started. I would have laughed at the ironic twist if the Ixians hadn’t been with us. The soldiers weren’t in any hurry to part ways, either. They traveled with us to the border of MD-1. The Lieutenant guided his horse alongside the lead wagon, talking with Namir and Devlen as if killing time.

I sat on the second wagon as far away from Rutz as possible. His extra-wide smile when he had patted the seat next to him made my insides feel queasy. Glancing behind me, I counted the three other wagons. Shen leered and waved. Bile pushed up my throat, but I focused on the man driving the last wagon.

Now I knew why Yannis wore his woolen cap all the time. Most people knew Janco, one of Valek’s second-in-commands, was missing the lower half of his right ear. And it wouldn’t be wise for these merchants or Devlen to suspect that Yannis was really Janco in disguise. I had put it together when I recognized the Lieutenant as Janco’s partner, Ari.

They both had been at the Warper battle when Yelena defeated the Fire Warper. I had met them briefly after crafting the prisons for the souls. Janco had joked and called me the glass warden.

I swung my attention forward. Ari and Janco were obviously part of an undercover operation, and I hadn’t wanted to jeopardize it. Janco knew about my predicament, yet he kept quiet when his partner showed up. I would just have to sit tight.

A wave of relief passed through the men when the Ixian soldiers headed west. We crossed into MD-1 without any trouble. Namir took the Lieutenant’s warning about the coming storm to heart. He pushed the caravan farther than usual, stopping late into the night.

At least there was one person on my side. Five against two seemed better odds than six against one. Plus Janco’s skills with the sword were legendary. He wouldn’t be Valek’s second unless he could fight.

I worried about when Janco needed to follow Namir, leaving me and Devlen alone again. Once we arrived at Icefaren Station, how would I find Kade? Pangs of nervousness echoed in my chest. I suppressed my turmoil back into my glass heart.

The storm also proved to be a good distraction, especially since Namir promised to wake everyone well before dawn. The men collapsed into bed without a word about my situation. Although Devlen insisted on sharing my cot again, I was able to endure his touch by noting Yannis’s proximity.

The next night Devlen and Namir held an intense discussion out of earshot. Devlen’s amused smile and hearty laugh stabbed through me. The chumminess couldn’t be to my benefit. Devlen confirmed my unease when he joined me, sliding under the covers.

“I have a surprise for you,” he whispered.

I tensed. “What is it?”

“Namir’s delivery is to Icefaren Station. He can take us there.”

“But I didn’t see anyone.” Mixed emotions rolled through me. Glad Yannis would be close, but scared about the other boys.

“Did you see inside the buildings?”

“No.” And that would also explain about the bloodstained snow. If it had happened during the hot or cooling season, the snow would have covered the stain by now.

“Well then,” he said. Discussion over.

As I considered this new information, a bit of hope bloomed. Miners at the station meant more people and potential allies.

The next two days followed without incident. We reached the ice sheet as fat snowflakes drifted down. A blanket of dark gray clouds sealed the sky, allowing a pale half-light through. Full darkness would descend by early afternoon.

According to Namir, it could snow for a full day before the killing winds came. The men hurried to switch the wagons’ wheels for wooden skids, making sleds. Dogs were exchanged for the horses.

“No stops until we reach the station,” Namir said.

“How long?” Devlen asked.

“Four hours if we don’t hit any surprises.”

I asked, “Surprises?”

“Snow cats, crevasses, ridges, or if the winds start early.” Namir stared off to the west. “Bad timing.”

I couldn’t agree more.

The trip to the station turned into an ordeal. Big snowflakes soaked into our cloaks, and getting a sled full of sand over ridges involved a lot of muscle from everyone, including me. Each hour of effort meant I drew closer to the station, and I remained the only person not to be too excited by the sight of a cluster of wooden buildings in the distance.

When we arrived, no one braved the weather to come out and greet us. By the time we stored the supplies in the shed and fed the dogs, the wind had increased. Those fluffy flakes became projectiles, stinging exposed skin. Rolling waves of snow encompassed us like a fog and visibility shrank. For once, I was glad of Devlen’s guiding hand on my elbow. Snow blindness took on a whole new meaning.

We tumbled into the main building like an invading army—shouts and curses and stamping feet, surprising the occupants.

I guess I should have known. Should have learned not to be shocked by anything and anyone. But no. My mouth gaped and my thoughts scattered.

Sir and Tal argued with Namir. By Sir’s tone, I guessed our arrival was unexpected.

“You’re not due for another week. And the last time you came, you led the Stormdancer right to us,” Sir said to Namir in anger. “Who did you bring this time?”

They both looked at Devlen with expectation. An explanation was in order.

A rush of movement to my left and I was slammed into the wall. Fists bunched in my cloak and my feet no longer touched the floor.

Tricky. Pure fury burned in his eyes, and I feared for my life. He pulled me toward him and then shoved me back against the wall. My head banged hard enough to blur my vision as pain ringed my neck.

More shouts. Yannis and Devlen yanking on Tricky’s shoulders. He dropped me and I huddled on the floor, thinking about my stupidity. How could I save Kade and Ulrick when I couldn’t even save myself?

Then I began to understand Tricky’s hoarse yells.

“Bitch…has…to…die.” He struggled against four other men. “Nothing…nothing left. She stole all my…magic…let me go.”

Devlen’s fingers dug into Tricky’s collarbone. In moments, the big man slumped to the floor, unconscious.

For a few heartbeats, the men panted and regained their breaths. I counted them. Namir and his three men, Devlen, Sir, Tricky, Tal—the traitor—and Crafty. Yannis hung near me. No Kade or Varun. Ten against two. No way.

“Who the hell are you?” Sir demanded of Devlen.

“Devlen, and I can prove it.”

“An illusion?” Crafty asked. She was the only other magician in the room.

“Blood magic.” Devlen explained about switching souls with Ulrick. “And I brought you a present.”

Grabbing me by the arm, he yanked me to my feet.

“We already know the sand recipe,” Tal said in a dismissive tone. “Ash has been making orbs for weeks and shipping them to us.” He gestured to Namir.

“But she’s the only other person who knows it. Right now the Stormdancers don’t have anyone with that knowledge.” Devlen smiled. “I need her to help me, after that, she’s all yours.”

Sir’s eyes gleamed with sudden understanding as cold calculation caused him to dance with glee. “And she’ll be very useful with a certain stubborn Stormdancer. Especially with this blizzard. He can fill all the orbs for us.”

“It’s too soon,” Tal said. “The full energy of the storm won’t be on us until tomorrow.”

“Then there’s plenty of time to convince him,” Sir said.

“I can help with that,” Devlen said. “I’ll only need a few hours.”

Horror swept through me, crushing my bones into powder. Kade was here. And they planned to use me to make Kade help them.

“Take her in the back,” Sir said. “Next to the Stormdancer. Let them get reacquainted.”

Tal carried a torch and led the way as Devlen pulled me along. I exchanged a glance with Yannis. Wait, I mouthed to him, hoping there would be an opportunity to use him later.

The back ended up being a storeroom. New locks gleamed on the thick door. Inside the room, barrels littered the floor and piles of burlap sacks rested against the walls. A few empty orbs rested on a table. No windows and no fireplace, yet the one stone wall might be the backside of a hearth. I felt a bit of heat when I passed it. The torchlight swung over a net-covered bundle.

“Over here,” Tal said. He pointed to a pair of manacles dangling from long chains attached to the ceiling.

My metal cuffs wouldn’t fit inside, so Devlen removed them. I had a second of relief before my raw wrists were snapped into the manacles. He pocketed the small silver key and surveyed my new predicament. My feet didn’t touch the floor so Devlen moved a few sacks under me until I could stand.

“No sense making you suffer yet,” he said. “Perhaps your friend will be reasonable and you won’t suffer at all.”

Tal had gone over to the bundle and kicked it. “Wake up. We have a surprise for you.”

The net-covered bundle groaned and rolled over. Kade appeared between the netting. I bit my lip to keep from crying out. He had been beaten. Bloody welts and huge purple bruises marked his jaw. His hands and feet were hog-tied behind him.

Tal gestured to me. Kade turned his head and met my gaze. He closed his eyes for a moment as if enduring a wave of pain.

The traitor watched him with a gloating satisfaction. “She’s special to you, isn’t she? You won’t let her get eaten by a snow cat like you did Varun. Will you?”

Kade said nothing. He switched his attention to Devlen—he saw only Ulrick, though. Disappointment and chagrin touched his eyes before he stared at the men with determination.

His stubborn resolve gave me an idea. Why not have him dance for these men? He would be allowed out of the null shield net. Given access to his powers. But I had to make it seem as if I didn’t want him to do it.

I said, “Don’t give in. They won’t kill me.”

Tal moved toward me, raising his fist. Devlen intercepted him. “Your crude methods won’t work.” He rummaged in his pack until he found one of his clamps.

I couldn’t stop my cry of alarm.

“Hold her still.” Devlen instructed Tal where to hold me to immobilize my right leg.

I struggled, not about to make it easy. “Don’t give in,” I yelped when he found the horrid spot and positioned the clamp. “They won’t kill me.”

“There are worse things than death,” Devlen said as he tightened the screw. “We’ll give him a few hours to think it over.”

Once the clamp pressed into my leg, my ability to form coherent words dissolved as my world shrank to a single intolerable sensation—worse than death.

When the pain stopped, I reconnected to the world.

Devlen stood before me. “Good news. Your Stormdancer decided to cooperate. But you’ll have to hang out here for a while. At least until the storm blows over.”

He moved aside to let Shen and Rutz build up a pile of sacks under me. Enough so I could lie down and still be attached to the ceiling.

“The boys are very concerned about your welfare,” Devlen said. “I think they’re hoping you’ll show your gratitude.”

Rutz rubbed against me as he positioned another bag. I jerked away.

“They even offered to help convince the Stormdancer, because they thought my methods too harsh.” Devlen swept his arm out, pointing toward Kade.

Kade had risen to his knees. He was pressed against the net as far as he could go. If it hadn’t been attached to the wall, I guessed he would have been next to me.

“Perhaps they are harsh, but they are effective. No one expected him to give in so easily,” Devlen said. “I have not failed yet.”

The three men left, taking the light with them. After the locking sounds ceased, I lay there and tried to put my thoughts into words. The wind howled through the rafters. My sweat-dampened clothes turned icy on my skin.

“I never did like him,” Kade said in the darkness.

“He’s not Ulrick. He’s a Warper.” I explained about the blood magic.

“I trusted you to stay safe. Did Ul—Devlen trick you into coming here?” Kade asked.

“I actually led him here.”

No response except shuffling sounds as Kade moved into a more comfortable position.

“Why?” he asked.

“So I could rescue you.”

He laughed, but it was a strained, incredulous sound.

“I know what you’re thinking,” I said. “It looks bad—”

“Bad? Watching you tortured for hours was the worst thing I’ve endured in my entire life. My sister’s death…was quick. She didn’t suffer.”

“What about Varun?” Tal had mentioned him being eaten.

“I agreed to work for them as soon as they threatened to hurt him. When Varun heard about his brother’s and sister’s death, he flew into a rage and attacked Sir. He even managed to escape, but they found the bloodstained snow and evidence a snow cat had gotten to him before he left the compound.” Kade’s voice cracked. “Once he was gone, I was free to refuse them. But now…You said not to give in. They wouldn’t kill you, but I couldn’t stand…”

“You did the right thing, Kade. I was counting on you to give in.”

“Then why didn’t you ask me to, like Varun did?”

“Because I wanted you to see that death is better than Devlen’s torture. So you won’t hesitate to do the right thing.”

“What do you want me to do?” Kade asked in alarm.

I drew in a deep breath. “When you go out into the storm, I want you to use the storm’s energy to rip apart the buildings, scatter everyone to the four winds, and—” I steeled myself for his reaction “—to kill me.”

“Absolutely not. I could use the storm’s force to help us escape.”

“No. They’ll have me close so if even an errant wind comes, they’ll hurt me.”

A pause. “You said they won’t kill you. Why not?”

Time for a confession. “Devlen needs me. I can find his mentor’s prison, which he desires. And the truth is…I’ll tell him. I can’t…I’m too weak to resist. A few sessions of his torture and I’ll do anything. Anything. I’m not proud about it. It’s just a fact.”

“Opal, you’re not—”

“Let me finish.” The howling of the wind turned shrill as the storm approached. They would come for him soon. I lay on the sacks, and, for once, I knew my course of action was the right choice.

“With me…dead…” Despite my decision, the word was difficult to say. “…there is only one person left who knows the locations of the prisons. I’m no longer a liability. No other Warper can use me to find them.”

“A noble sacrifice, but you’ll have to figure out another plan. I’m not going to kill you.”

“You want Devlen to torture me? Get what he wants and become a powerful Warper?” Anger fueled my words. “That’s all I am. Someone to use. Alea used me, Yelena used me, and now Devlen. And they do it because I let them. I want it to stop. I won’t be useful to anyone when I’m dead.” I screamed with the wind, releasing all my pent-up fury and frustrations.

“Feel better now?”

“A little.”

“Good. I don’t want anyone to use you, Opal. I don’t want to see you hurt. I would love to tear them apart with the storm’s force. But I’m too weak.” His voice trailed off.

“Once the net’s off you should have enough energy.”

“I didn’t mean…” He huffed. “Time for a weather analogy. I don’t have the strength to be more creative. Opal, you arrived in my life like an unwelcome hot-season squall. After my sister died, I just wanted to languish in the sun and be left alone. But no, you wouldn’t let me. You blocked the sun and pelted me with your raindrops of curiosity and empathy and intelligence. And you blew out of my life as fast as you arrived—”

“But you told—”

“Quiet until I’m finished.” He paused. “I should have been glad you were gone, but I found myself missing the turbulence. When I saw you at the Keep with Ulrick, I convinced myself you were better off with him, and I didn’t need the heartache of losing someone I loved again. I managed to hold on to that conviction until today.

“No. I won’t do anything to endanger you, because I’m being selfish this time. There will be an opportunity for you to escape, and I’ll hold out hope. Because without you in my life, I might as well let the storm take me, too.”

“I thought…You made it clear…” Logic dribbled from my mind. Deep cracks snaked through my glass heart. It broke apart.

I had known what to do. It had made sense. I wouldn’t have left any regrets behind. But now…“Kade, I can’t—”

“I know I hurt you and I understand if you no longer feel the same toward me. But I’m not changing my mind.”

Chained to a ceiling, recovering from torture, staring at a bleak future and yet I managed to find an instant of joy. Kade had been my choice from the moment on the beach when he handed me Kaya’s orb. I wished I had trusted myself, held on to hope and waited for him.

“Opal?”

“My feelings for you haven’t changed. I just lied to myself for a while. But now…Damn it, Kade, you’ve given me a reason to live.”

“How is that bad?”

“My plans worked so much better when I thought you didn’t want me. I don’t have any other ideas on how to get us out of this.”

“You’re smart, Opal. You’ll figure it out.”

Kade’s words matched his sister’s exactly. They both had such confidence in me. Perhaps it was time I proved myself worthy and had confidence in myself. Time to stop moping over Devlen’s trick. He romanced me. Plain and simple. I fell for him and probably would still be with him if he hadn’t revealed his true self. Another fact I wasn’t proud of, but I can’t change the past. My thoughts reviewed all the dumb and tragic mistakes I had made.

Yelena’s words, You can’t let the past ruin your future, had just been words to repeat before. The past shouldn’t be forgotten. It should be used as a guide for future situations and not used as a reason to avoid making difficult decisions. There was always a choice.

I focused on my abilities. So far, I tricked Devlen into coming here. I had discovered who made the fake diamonds. Tricky could no longer access the power source because of me.

My goals were simple. Save Kade, save myself and rescue Ulrick. I hoped Devlen hadn’t lied about him being safe and sound. With the possibility of Kade in my future, I had a reward. Now all I needed was a plan.

“If I manage to figure something out, you have to promise me one thing?”

“I promise.” His content tone made me smile.

“Don’t you want to know what the promise is?”

“Tell me later.”