Broken World Book Two - StarSword (19 page)

"What of your
mother? Will you take her?"

Kieran frowned.
"If she wishes."

"Oh, she will,
I assure you. Go then, find your girl and your mother. But you
won't leave this castle alive, that I promise you, Brother,"
Tyrander said.

"I would advise
you not to try to stop me, if you value your life."

His twin smiled
in a cold, twisted manner, a mocking glint in his eyes. "You'd
better hurry and find your prize. They have orders to drown
her."

Kieran spun
away with a curse, sheathing his sword. Ardel and Roth followed
close on his heels, but at the door Ardel tugged at his sleeve.

"Don't leave
him unguarded, Highness, he has the staff."

"What staff?"
Kieran demanded.

"The Staff of
Law. He can open any door. No lock will hold him."

Kieran swung
back to face his brother. "Where is it?"

Tyrander folded
his arms and smiled. "In my room."

Kieran glanced
at Ardel, who frowned at Tyrander. Concern for Talsy pounded at
Kieran's heart, making his breath catch. He did not have time to
deal with Tyrander now. He had to rescue Talsy before anything
else, and he knew Tyrander would not hand the staff over without a
fight. Since he did not have it with him, it seemed prudent enough
to confine him in the room.

Kieran looked
at Roth, who nodded and turned to bark orders at his men. As Kieran
strode away down the corridor, two soldiers took up position
outside the door. He gave no more thought to his brother as he
hurried to find Talsy, Ardel guiding him and Roth and his men
guarding his back.

Tyrander turned
from the door and smiled without mirth. The sight of Kieran filled
him with a hatred that made his hands shake. He had sensed the
powerful bond between them the moment he had met his twin's eyes,
seeing in them a burning passion for the girl he held captive. Of
all the people who might have challenged him now, Kieran was the
last person he had expected. Pulling the Staff of Law from his
jacket, he held it before him.

"Are there
guards outside?" he asked it.

Fiery words
formed. “There are two.”

He opened the
golden cage and removed the stone, holding it in the palm of his
hand. "Make a stairway to the room below."

Tyrander smiled
as the floor before him shimmered and flowed, opening a hole in
which stairs formed, leading down. He tucked the staff back into
its cage and descended the stairs, emerging into an empty room.
Marching along a corridor and down a flight of steps, he arrived at
the quarters of his general, Darton. The grey-haired man looked up
in surprise, then jumped to his feet to bow to his Prince.

"Darton, gather
your men, I've been betrayed," Tyrander said. "My brother has
returned, and is organising a rebellion."

"Kieran is
here?" Darton's jaw dropped. "How?"

"Never mind how
or who or why, just do it. Get me some archers, as many as you can,
and bring them to the great hall. He has a group of traitors with
him, Roth and Ardel amongst them."

Darton bowed
again, his scarred face twisted with confusion. "Surely, Highness,
you cannot mean to kill your brother? Not with soldiers. You and he
must duel for the throne, that's the law."

"He has a
magical sword. A duel would be unfair. He does not want the throne,
but seeks to steal the girl. Without her and the Mujar to protect
us, we're all doomed. We must fight for our lives, and yes, we must
kill him if necessary."

Darton's face
firmed, losing its uncertainty. "I'll stop him, Highness."

"Good man. I
always knew I could rely on you. Stop him and you shall be Lord
Darton, Chief Advisor to the Throne."

"Yes,
Highness."

As the general
strode out, Tyrander settled into a chair and poured a cup of wine,
smiling. He pulled the Staff of Law from his jacket again and
addressed it.

"Ensure that
Kieran cannot enter the dungeons."

"I can lock the
door, but I cannot prevail against the sword he carries," the
staff's fiery words wrote.

"What do you
mean? You're the Staff of Law; you must be more powerful than a
mere sword!"

"My power is
holding the world in order."

"So, let some
of it go to pot. Who cares?"

"I cannot do
that."

"You're
useless." Tyrander gulped the sour wine, pulling a face. "How can
Darton drink this swill? Never mind, I'll stop the bastard myself
if I have to."

Roth hammered
on the dungeon door to no avail, then turned to the soldiers.
"Break it down."

The men flung
themselves at it, and the stout door shuddered under their attack,
but held firm. Roth ordered them to bring a battering ram but, as
they turned to leave, Kieran stepped forward.

"That won't be
necessary." He drew the Starsword, and Roth stared at him as if he
had taken leave of his senses, swapping glances with Ardel.

When Kieran
faced the wall and raised the weapon, Roth objected, "Highness, you
cannot mean to wield a sword against stone."

"Watch me."

Remembering
Chanter's words, Kieran placed the tip of the sword against the
stone and pushed. The Starsword lighted, turning from black to
brilliant silver, the Mujar mark below the hilt blazing. With a
soft, grating hiss, the blade slid into the wall with hardly any
resistance, taking even Kieran by surprise. Roth and Ardel gaped as
Kieran gripped the hilt and pulled the blade through the stone. The
Starsword sliced through the wall, cutting an arched doorway as
Kieran guided it. Just as Chanter had promised, the sword cut stone
like butter, leaving a hairline incision. Kieran bent to run the
weapon along the floor, then withdrew it.

Sheathing the
sword, he placed his hands against the rock and pushed. Roth came
to his aid, as did several soldiers. With a soft grating, the loose
piece of stone rocked from its place in the wall, then fell over
with a dull crash. Kieran was first into the gap, drawing the sword
again as he sprinted through a dimly lighted room hung with chains.
He ran into the next, which several men populated, two of whom
languished in chains on the floor while three were busy around a
tub of water. Talsy was bound to a seesaw plank, her head over the
water, and Kieran charged the torturers with a roar.

They fled, and
he wielded the Starsword in mighty strokes, uncaring of its power.
The blade passed through the wooden tub like paper, digging deep
into the floor. Water poured out, swirling around his feet. He
sheared off the end of the plank and some of the ropes, the weapon
flashing silver as it cut through stone and wood.

Talsy wriggled
free and jumped up, and Kieran stepped back and dropped the sword
as she flung her arms around him. He gathered her to him and bowed
his head over her bedraggled hair.

"Enough," she
murmured. "I'm all right."

He held her
tight, then stepped back to look at her, his eyes lingering on the
cuts on her face. "You're not all right, look at you!"

"Just a few
cuts and bruises, that's all. They hadn't even started dunking me
yet."

Kieran brushed
wild blonde hair from her face and cupped her cheek. Talsy pulled
free to survey the wreckage. Deep gouges marred the floor where the
Starsword had cut into it, and she stared at the blade.

"Where did you
get that?"

He glanced at
it. "Chanter made it for me, so I could rescue you."

"A Mujar
sword," she murmured. "Can it kill?"

"I'm certain it
can."

Kieran picked
up the sword and sheathed it, turning to Roth and Ardel. "Now we
can leave this accursed place."

Roth bowed.
"We're ready, Highness. Those who would come with us are
waiting."

Talsy stared at
Kieran. "Highness?"

He made a
depreciating gesture. "It's a long story."

"I thought he
looked like you! Are you related to this crazy Prince
Tyrander?"

"He's my twin
brother. My father gave me away to the man who raised me. I only
found out when I came here."

"Your father
was the king of this place?" She grinned. "How very droll, Prince
Kieran."

Kieran scowled
and headed for the door. Talsy followed and the rest fell in
behind, including the two prisoners, whom the soldiers had
freed.

Out in the
corridor, Ardel hurried to the front of the procession to lead the
way. Talsy fell into step with Kieran, who shot her a quelling look
when she grinned up at him. Her smile faded as they entered the
castle's more populated areas, becoming nervous.

"Perhaps we
should find another way out," she suggested. "What if Tyrander
tries to stop us?"

"He's locked up
and guarded," Kieran told her. "He won't cause any trouble."

Ardel glanced
back at them. "We must free the Queen."

Talsy flashed
Kieran a delighted smile. "Your mother? How wonderful!"

"Why? I've
never met her, and she gave me away as a baby. This hardly
qualifies as a family reunion. I'm only helping her because
Tyrander keeps her prisoner."

"She's still
your mother!"

He shrugged.
"She's a stranger to me."

Talsy noted the
hard glint in Kieran's eyes, and they followed the advisor in
silence. Kieran's large, powerful presence beside her was
comforting, though deep in her heart she wished that Chanter had
come for her instead. Still, there must be a reason why the Mujar
had sent Kieran. Soon she would be back with Chanter again.

The soldiers'
boots rang on the floor as they marched through the castle,
servants scuttling from their path. Richly dressed courtiers and
lordlings stared at Kieran as though they had seen a ghost. Roth
and his men thrust aside any who dared to approach, and, since they
allowed none near, it seemed that little trust existed between Roth
and the nobility. A hubbub sprang up in their wake, and some
courtiers stared after Kieran while others hurried away,
disappearing through doorways.

Talsy grew more
nervous as they traversed the castle, aware of the faint tingle of
Dolana as the staff's power held the structure in place. They
passed through rooms hung with drab drapery and blurred paintings,
hiking up and down flights of stairs and along gloomy corridors
until Talsy became lost and impatient. The steady tramp of the
soldiers' boots heralded them, and frightened faces peering from
doorways watched them pass with open mouths. Soon word would spread
that something was afoot, and Kieran's close resemblance to his
brother would leave little doubt as to what. She sighed with relief
when Ardel stopped and banged on a huge brass-bound door. At a
query from within, Ardel announced himself. The door was pulled
open, and several guards turned to face them.

Ardel cried,
"Make way for Prince Kieran!"

Some of the
guards stepped back, but a few frowned and glared at Kieran. One
advanced on the Prince's party.

"We answer to
Prince Tyrander only. Is he overthrown?"

Roth stepped
forward. "He is. Prince Kieran is in control now, so step
aside."

The men gave
way, and Kieran's bodyguards surrounded him as he passed through a
short hall to another door. When Ardel pounded on it, a tall,
elderly woman in a blue silk gown opened it. She gasped and
curtsied low, backing away from Kieran. They moved past her into a
silk-hung chamber filled with delicate furniture and padded with
dozens of finely embroidered cushions. From the beautifully woven
rugs on the floor and the tapestries that hung on the walls, Talsy
deduced the manner in which the Queen and her ladies spent their
time. A regal voice called out from within the silken cocoon,
enquiring as to who was visiting, and Kieran stopped, turning to
Talsy.

"I can't do
this."

"Yes you can.
She's your mother."

Kieran shook
his head. "Ardel, tell her what's happened and get her safely from
the castle. Take some men, I'll meet you outside."

He tried to
make his escape, but Talsy clung to his arm. "You've got to face
her sometime. Don't be a coward!"

"Who's there?"
a soft voice enquired.

A tiny woman
with grey-streaked dark hair and liquid black eyes parted the
curtains and stepped through. Her face was perhaps a little too
narrow and high-browed for true beauty, but her small nose and high
cheekbones gave her an exotic air. A royal blue gown trimmed with
seed pearls and white lace clad her slender form, and jewels
peppered her hair, sparkled at her throat and graced her wrists and
ears. She was well into her middle years, and lines of worry and
despair framed her mouth and crinkled the corners of her eyes.
Talsy knew without a doubt that she was Kieran's mother.

Kamish stopped
at the sight of him and gasped. "Tyrander?"

Ardel bowed,
smiling. "No, Majesty -"

"Kieran!"

The Queen
raised thin hands to her mouth in shock, then her eyes rolled up
and she collapsed. Ardel leapt forward to catch her, lowering her
onto a couch as the flock of women that had been hovering in the
background rushed forward to fan her face and pat her hands. They
were of a similar age to their monarch, and wore elegant gowns of
various shades, similar to the Queen's, though not as fine.

Kieran grunted
and turned away. "Well that does it. Ardel, you see to her, I'm
going on ahead."

"Kieran!" Talsy
grabbed his arm and jerked him around to face her. "You're not
leaving your mother like this! What happens when she wakes up and
you're gone again?"

"Then she'll
think she had a bad dream," he said, prying her fingers from his
sleeve.

"Over my dead
body!"

Kieran glared
at her. "That can be arranged."

Roth,
apparently taking them seriously, pushed in between. "Highness,
don't act in haste, I beg you."