Heir of Shandara (Book 4) (20 page)

A quick glance at the skyline told him the sun would be setting soon. He quickened his step, cursing inwardly for the lack of time they had to prepare for that attack. By Gavril’s account, Shandara had almost sixty years to prepare for the Zekara to invade. In that time, the city was transformed to become something of a hybrid of Safanarion and Hythariam design. Even his ancestor, Daverim, had no idea how long the barrier he put in place would hold. Rexel had only six months to prepare with no confirmation that the Zekara would choose the city as a target. Not enough time by a long shot. The Hythariam’s contingency plan for if the city fell was evidence enough of that. Should he tell Verona? Cyrus thought it best to keep it from him. Aaron had sworn to the prince that should the worst occur, he would get Verona to safety. Aaron shook his head and remembered that he also needed to speak with Tanneth about the Zekaran infiltrators.
 

C
HAPTER
17

TRAP

The grandeur of the palace in Khamearra was well known throughout the land. Almost a city within the city proper. The proud gray walls could be seen from almost anywhere. Thick carpets and fine wooden furnishings (meticulously maintained) adorned the interior. Over hundreds of years, each successive ruler had contributed to the splendor of the palace. Nothing could compare to the magnificent views of the sprawling city and the countryside beyond. The dark cloud that had been her father’s rule was gone. The servants and guards throughout the palace greeted their High Queen with heartfelt affection. So much blood had been spilled during her father’s reign, and it was a cruel twist of fate that the peace that Khamearra deserved would need to wait a little longer. Nolan, the captain commander of the city districts, had made substantial gains in rooting out corruption. With her approval, Nolan had removed the more corrupt district captains while giving others a chance to change their ways. The people of the city were still haunted, and Sarah saw the echoes of fear mirrored among many faces.
 

The High Queen would be holding court this day at the great hall. Isaac reminded Sarah that a High Queen didn’t attend court in breeches with a sword at her hip. To make their trap convincing, Sarah had to look the part, which included wearing a gown and having servants attending to her appearance. She was no stranger to the formalities of court or any other time her father had paraded her around like a trophy piece to be auctioned off. Not this day. Today, she presided over the day’s events of
her
kingdom. She would give her people the beautiful and strong High Queen they deserved. It was now well known that she was involved with the Resistance, which had stood against her father. She would bring honor back to the Faergrace name and restore Khamearra to the proud kingdom it once had been. The gown she selected was a velvety deep blue. Dark enough to conceal the breeches she wore underneath but fit well enough to hug her striking figure. Sarah stood before a large mirror. Her long blonde hair was braided into ringlets, setting off the angles of her face. If only Aaron could see her like this. He found her beautiful no matter what, but wearing a gown like this would steal his breath away. Her lips curved slightly, and her pulse quickened. She pulled in a small tendril of energy and felt for the bond she shared with Aaron. The bond had been forged when Aaron used his own lifebeat to bring her back from the brink of death. She knew he was alive and worried. He was always worried now. So much was riding upon his shoulders, and she knew there was only so much she could do to ease the burden.
 

She exhaled the breath she had been holding, and her gaze went to the window behind her. On top of a small wooden table, near the window, lay a purple travel crystal. She could be at his side in moments. Take off this foolish gown and fight by his side as she ought to. A slight flutter like the wings of a butterfly in her stomach reminded her of the lives growing inside her. Their children. She wanted to tell him, but this was something she wanted to do in person.

Sarah crossed the room and snatched the travel crystal from the table. After tempting fate for a moment, she stuffed the crystal within the hidden folds of her gown. She needed to be here. Her brother was desperate enough to align himself with the Zekara. It was something she had never considered. Rordan was foolish enough to believe whatever lies General Halcylon was feeding him.
 

Sarah pressed her lips together. There was a time when she thought that perhaps Rordan was different from her other brothers. He would listen and come close to breaking away from that malicious and cruel boy he had been. Goddess knows Aaron gave him the chance. Rordan had a taste of power and now craved it. If by some cruel twist of fate Rordan had become High King, then Khamearra would have sunk into open civil war. While blood had been spilled when she took the throne, it would have been much worse if Rordan had. He dealt out death and craved putting people under his power.
How like Father you’ve become, Rordan
.
 

She would stop him. The people of Khamearra must be united to face the Zekara. Halcylon wanted to punish the human race, and no one would escape his wrath. Roselyn had shown her records of what Halcylon had done on the Hythariam home world in the name of survival. He was a brilliant tactician and could give her father a few lessons in ruthlessness. She needed to stop Rordan quickly so they could focus on the real threat to them all.

Sarah turned in one swift motion and walked quickly to the door. She had an escort of twelve guards in total. One of them carried her sword for her. She may have been at court this day, but that didn’t mean she wouldn’t have a sword nearby. Isaac frowned at her.

Sarah leaned in so only Isaac heard her. “There is a place for it on the throne,” Sarah said, smiling sweetly.

Isaac nodded, and they headed for the great hall. The palace was a buzz of activity. Knowing the High Queen was in attendance had everyone stirred up, and most rejoiced in having their beloved ruler safely within the palace. Only safety was far from Sarah’s intention at the moment because she was here to set a trap for her brother.
 

People of all stations stopped what they were doing and bowed in respect as she passed. Their earnest and hopeful expressions warmed Sarah’s heart, but there were still many who didn’t know what to expect from her. She would make Khamearra great again, and they would know peace.

They came to the entrance of the great hall. Massive wooden doors, ornately carved by the finest craftsmen, swung silently open. There was another entrance near the throne more commonly used by Khamearra’s rulers, but this was different. This occasion was more formal.
 

She knew the people had rallied behind her claim to the throne, and she wanted to be able to walk among them. It also presented Rordan with an opportunity if he was within the crowd.

Sarah opened herself to the energy. She could sense the former Elitesmen interspersed throughout the great hall. She had a general idea where they would be. The guards had simply been told to keep on the alert. They knew Rordan’s face well and were ordered to signal for help rather than try and take him alone. The mirror shard was safely hidden within the folds of her gown.
 

She ascended the dais. The throne itself was carved from marble. The arms ended in two small Dragon heads with wings blending into the throne itself. The cushioned seat and back were wide enough to accommodate someone thrice her size. Laurel work adorned the top with rose petals gathered at the clawed feet of the Dragons. She had always thought the throne to be a beautiful piece of artwork and was delighted to find that it was comfortable to sit in as well.

The day drew onward as she listened to the petitioners. It was an unremarkably tame affair. Most still came to pay their respects. The sun made its trek through the sky, but of Rordan there was not a trace. Isaac kept a vigilant watch upon the crowd and occasionally caught her eye, shrugging his shoulders. More than once, her hand drifted to the mirror shard, and she’d even sent a tendril of energy into it, hoping for a glimpse into Rordan’s whereabouts, but she heard nothing but silence.
 

The day was drawing to a close, and Sarah rose from the throne. Having sat for so long, she was surprised she wasn’t stiffer than she was. Her retinue of guards gathered below the dais to escort her from the great hall. Sarah stepped down and took a few steps before glancing back at her sword. One of her guards detached himself from the group behind the dais and retrieved it. The guard carried the sheathed blade and held it out for her. As Sarah grasped the blade, the guard lunged forward, and she was sucked into a purple abyss.

***

Sarah gasped as they emerged inside a dark space dimly lit by the few orbs throughout the chamber they were in. The guard with the travel crystal quickly stepped away from her, taking her sword with him.
 

Sarah sucked in a torrent of energy, bringing a shield up around her. She raised the wrist her comms device was strapped around and pressed the button to activate it, but the device was unresponsive. Sarah pressed it again and saw the outlines of many shapes shifting just beyond the light.

There was a loud clapping sound as Rordan stepped away from the shadows. His deathly pale skin almost glowed.

“Oh, my sweet sister, I’m glad you could join us.” Rordan smiled hungrily.

Sarah gave up on the comms device. There would be no signaling the others.

Rordan took a step closer. “Don’t bother calling for help. Our new friend has blocked the signal, isn’t that right?”

The lighted orbs grew brighter, pushing back the shadows. She was surrounded. They were in a warehouse. She could smell the dampness of Khamearra’s river district. The wooden floor beneath her feet groaned as a Zekaran infiltrator rose above Rordan’s ranks. There was a mechanical whirl as the infiltrator stepped forward. Its powered armor glowed cyan along the edges in various places.

Sarah felt her heart sink into her rolling stomach. Not because she was surrounded or because her comms device didn’t work, but because she knew what the Zekaran infiltrator carried inside it.

“You’re a fool, Rordan. You don’t know what this thing carries inside it,” Sarah said.

Rordan laughed. “You call me the fool, yet here we stand with you in my power.”

If the Zekaran infiltrator released the Ryakul virus within the city, there would be chaos. Sarah made as if she were about to reply but instead leaped to the rafters high above them. The gown she wore was designed especially for her. The dressmaker had thought she was crazy when she requested a gown that could be removed quickly. Not to mention the additional cost, but it paid off today. She yanked the gown free, leaving only her dark breeches and shirt. Sarah tossed the gown aside and melted into the shadows. Elitesmen leaped to the rafters with their swords drawn, pressing in on her.

“No!” Rordan commanded.

The Elitesmen closing in on her retreated.

“Let’s see what our new friend can do,” Rordan said.

The infiltrator pivoted and raised its arm. The eye slots along the helmet gave off a greenish glow. The infiltrator scanned the ceiling and stopped on her position. A small shaft rose from its forearm and glowed orange before belching a bolt of energy. Sarah dashed away and returned to the ground. Pieces of the ceiling collapsed inside, and sunlight streamed through.

“You missed,” Sarah called, before darting away.

Sarah charged toward the Elitesmen, who scrambled to get out of the way because the Zekaran infiltrator tracked her movements with its plasma cannon.
 

Come on. Keep firing,
she urged in her mind.

The longer she could keep it firing, the greater the chance that the others would come investigate. She knew she couldn’t take them all on. Though Sarah didn’t carry a sword, she was hardly helpless. She was almost as deadly without a sword as she was with one. She twisted the arm of the nearest Elitesmen and forced him into the blast from the infiltrator. The blast incinerated a hole through the Elitesman.

“Stop firing!” Rordan howled.
 

Rordan bounded toward her with his arm outstretched. Sarah felt a massive force press in on her shield. The closer her brother came, the greater the pressure slowed her movements. Her legs tangled beneath her as she scrambled to get away, and Sarah went down. The mirror shard bit into her leg, and for a moment Rordan’s attack dissipated.

Rordan came to a stop a few feet from her, his eyes growing wide.