Ominous Odyssey (Overworld Chronicles Book 13) (15 page)

Xalara tapped a finger on her chin. "She already controls the Brightling throne. Who else must she tether to her will?"

"Maybe she wants to control the new leaders of the Darkling government once they elect another Trivectus." Elyssa's gaze seemed to turn inward for a moment. "Three bloodstones for three leaders."

I took another step back. "Are bloodstones a stepping stone, or her end game? The Brightlings have no way to fish Voltis without Mzodi ships, right?"

"That is correct," Xalara said. "They have no ships of their own."

"If Bloodstones are her endgame, I think she would've taken the
Falcheen
straight to Voltis instead of fishing the northern vortexes." I tapped a finger on my chin. "If bloodstones are a means to reach her endgame, then there's something else we're missing."

"In other words, there's something else in Voltis she's after," Elyssa said.

I nodded.

"Regardless of her intentions," Xalara said, "I will not stand idly by and let this breach of neutrality go unchallenged."

Illaena's eyes sparked with worry. "What are you saying, Muhala Kajeen?"

"The
Xanda
is in port in Zbura," Xalara said. "I will ask Captain Nin to speak with our official contacts there and lodge a complaint."

"Do you really think a complaint will do any good?" Elyssa said.

"Sadly, no." Worry clouded Xalara's face. "But I must exhaust all diplomatic means at our disposal before discontinuing trade with the Brightling Empire."

I'd really hoped she might go a step further and ally with us, but this was at least a step in the right direction for our cause. "Xalara, I believe answers to Kaelissa's plan lie within Voltis."

Xalara's eyes snapped to me. "Our ancestors journeyed into Voltis thousands of years ago. The great exploration ship,
Zhnosh
, sought to map every corner of the realm. When they returned from within Voltis, more than half the crew lost, the first Muhala Kajeen declared it a forbidden zone."

"What was inside?" I asked.

Xalara shook her head. "They never reached the core before they turned back."

My heart sank. Kaelissa had to know something we didn't. There might be more to Voltis than bloodstones. "What if the king of all bloodstones is in the core and allows Kaelissa to mind control everyone at once?"

"I pray to god that's a figment over your overactive imagination," Elyssa said.

All I knew was that we had to convince Xalara that passage to Voltis was a matter of life and death for the entire realm. "Elyssa, show her the map."

Elyssa set her phone on the table and projected the map with the Brightling troop concentrations in southern Cabala. In Eden it would be about a hundred miles east of Los Angeles, but in Seraphina, it was right on the coast since the land mass was smaller. Elyssa had drawn dashed lines to indicate possible troop movements, some leading into Voltis, others dipping southwest to head straight for Tarissa.

"Commander Borathen believes the Brightlings are gathering troops to invade Voltis." I traced a finger along the red line. "Elyssa and I found messages from Primarion Arturo, leader of the Brightling archangels, that indicate there is something in Voltis that will allow the Brightlings to control this realm."

Elyssa switched to the video she'd recorded of the messages.

"Inside Voltis," Xalara murmured. "What could possibly exist at the core?"

"Perhaps Kaelissa is simply mad," Illaena said. "There is nothing in Voltis but death. I have read the history and know it to be true. Let the insane Brightlings dash their army upon the fire and ice that awaits."

"This might be a stupid question," Elyssa said, "but why haven't the land dwellers built ships like yours?"

"They have tried," Illaena said proudly, "but they lack the proper gems and techniques to make them work."

"And if they ever tried to capture one of our ships, we can remotely destroy them," Xalara said.

"So you could preserve your monopoly on gem harvesting." I brushed an index finger across the top the other. "Shame on you."

"It would seem there is more to Voltis than what we know," Xalara said. "Kaelissa is one of the oldest Seraphim alive. Perhaps she knows the secrets hidden in the core. What she seeks may pose a threat to us all." She turned to Illaena. "I authorize an expedition inside the maelstrom."

The captain's eyes went wide. "We will be destroyed!"

Xalara shook her head. "The crew of the original expedition made a map."

Illaena blinked. "Why is there no mention of this in the history?"

"Because Voltis is a forbidden zone," Xalara said. "Why would we make public a map that might encourage rogues?"

Illaena didn't have a reply for that.

"The map, of course, does not go all the way to the center since the
Znosh
turned back." Xalara pursed her lips. "I know the loss of your first command weighs heavily, Illaena. If this is too much, I will find another captain."

"No." Illaena stiffened and her chin tilted up. "This time I will not fail."

Elyssa's troubled gaze met mine.

"You used to be a captain of another ship?" I asked.

"That is none of your concern, Minister Slade." Xalara smiled as if to soften her words. "Now, leave us so I may confer with my captain."

I nodded. "Of course. Thank you, Xalara."

"Do not thank me for a suicide mission," she replied. "May the streams carry you swift and safe to the heart of the storm."

I wasn't sure what to say to that, so I muttered a diplomatic, "Uh, thanks."

Elyssa gathered her arcphone and we left the cabin. Shelton, Adam, and Eor practically ran up to us, eyes eager.

"Will I finally see Voltis?" Eor asked. "If I could harvest but one gem from her stormy heart, I would die a happy seraph."

"Voltis, here we come," I said.

And lo, there was much rejoicing that day. Eor pranced and capered like a lunatic in celebration while the rest of us wondered if we should call a medic or an insane asylum.

Eager though I was to get to the bottom of the mystery, I hoped Illaena's captaining skills were up to the task. Knowing that she'd lost a ship before didn't exactly inspire confidence.

Adam tore his eyes from Eor's cavorting form. "What convinced Xalara?" Adam asked us.

I repeated the conversation, including my ultimate theory that a massive bloodstone capable of mind-controlling the entire world was at the core.

Adam's forehead wrinkled. "Man, I don't know what to think of all this. Why force this crew to fish for bloodstones if they're plentiful in Voltis? Something tells me Kaelissa is after something else."

I couldn't disagree.

"What's the plan?" Shelton said. "Are we plowing straight into the storm or checking out Kaelissa's troops in Cabala first? Maybe they know something we don't."

"I'll have to ask Illaena." It might make sense to look around before plunging headfirst into danger.

The captain emerged from her cabin after an extended period of time, her face a bit paler than normal. "Once we finish repairs and awaken the crew, we are ready for launch."

I decided to voice my concerns to her right away. "We should sweep the ocean between Voltis and Azoris to see how Kaelissa plans to get inside Voltis."

"That will not be necessary," Illaena said. "Xalara spoke with the captains of the
Xanda
,
Ptarn
,
Akata
, and
Dtirn
, all of which have recently passed through Brightling territory. They will be our eyes and ears."

I dared feel optimistic about our chances. "That's great."

Illaena scowled. "I do not like taking sides."

"Yeah, did you like it when Racha and her buddies took hostages on your own ship?" I gave her a hard stare. "The Brightlings broke neutrality first, Illaena. You have nothing to feel bad about."

Her eyes got a faraway look in them. "I nearly lost another crew to Brightling land dwellers. Now I fear to lose them to Voltis."

I didn't know what to say to that, but I sure hoped she was wrong about Voltis killing us all. "Where's the secret entrance to the maelstrom?"

Illaena swallowed hard. "The Voltis Maelstrom is a convergence of violent elements—volcanic eruptions, wind storms, lightning, ice, and massive water spouts, all made even more deadly by the aether vortexes. We will have to spiral inside the maelstrom to reach the end of the trail left by the
Znosh
."

"Spiral inside it?" I asked.

"There is no path straight through," she said. "We must enter on the southeastern side and weave our way through danger."

"Holy farting fairies," Shelton muttered. "I don't like the sound of that."

"It doesn't matter," Adam said. "This is a race."

I nodded. "And we have to win it."

"We will fish the five elements," Eor said excitedly. "The greatest gems in the realm will be ours!"

Illaena glared at him. "At least some of us are looking forward to the journey." She turned to her first mate. "Tahlee, set us down for repairs, and check on the well-being of our soldiers."

I gave a knowing look to Shelton and Adam who hurriedly excused themselves so they could unlock the room with the slumbering fighters inside.

Tahlee cried out orders to the deck crew and the ship shifted toward a bare stretch of valley.

"Justin, once we make land, you will make sure our unwelcome guests are off the ship before we leave tomorrow morning." Illaena patted a dagger at her hip. "I would gladly execute them, but we have no time for trials or tribulations."

"I'll start their interrogations right away," I said.

"Eor." Illaena snapped her fingers to summon the seraph back from fantasy land. "Continue the sorting. Bring any bloodstones you find directly to me."

His eyes went wide. "To you? But we are instructed to discard them in deep ocean water at once!"

"Xalara wishes to set aside that rule for now," she said.

"I will have to hear it from her mouth," Eor said.

"Then contact her directly." Illaena thumped his chest with the back of her hand. "Do it now before I throw you off the ship for insubordination."

"Well, I never," Eor grumbled. "Just because you're captain doesn't mean you can toss me overboard like so much rubbish."

Illaena bared her teeth in a feral grin. "Actually, it does, gem sorter." She held his stubborn gaze for a long moment before he frowned and turned away.

Illaena stared at his back and said to me, "I will be in my cabin." With that, she vanished back inside.

Eor tapped his gem and waited for the chime. "This is Eor. I would speak with the Muhala Kajeen about an urgent matter."

"At once," the cheery voice replied.

Xalara's weary voice sounded from the gem. "I assume you have contacted me about the bloodstones, Eor."

"Yes, Muhala—"

"They are not to be discarded," she said. "Do I make myself clear?"

"Of course," Eor said uncertainly. "But—"

"There are no buts, Eor. Do as you're told." The gem chimed as Xalara cut the connection.

He harrumphed and planted his hands on his hips. "Rude!"

I led Elyssa away toward the aft ramp below decks as the
Falcheen
glided in for a landing. "We need to find out more about these bloodstones. I don't like the idea of someone being able to control my mind."

"It's terrifying," Elyssa said. "What do you think Kaelissa wants with them?"

"I don't know." We reached the bottom deck and headed for the main hold. "We need to check in with your father and make sure he's okay."

"I've been trying," Elyssa said. "I can't get through to him or Tarissa."

"I hope he made it." I went inside the hold and heard Racha shouting curses at the top of her lungs.

Elyssa grimaced. "This is going to be so much fun."

"Tell me about it." I steeled my nerves and headed for the five Brightling prisoners.

The sorters had wrapped each soldier in an individual net, binding their limbs tight and rendering them completely immobile from the neck down.

"You!" Racha's dark eyes locked onto me like homing missiles. "You will release me and my people at once, or I promise there will be blood."

I sat down on a stool and put on an easy smile. "You know, I almost regret not letting you cut off Eor's hand."

"It appears our Empress was right about the scum they allow on these
ships
." Racha sunk her teeth into the last word. "You are the boy who cheated our beloved Daelissa from her true destiny."

It seemed I wouldn't have to press her too hard for answers since she'd already confirmed who gave her the orders to seize the gem sorters on the ship. "Tell me, Racha, were you in Eden for the war?"

Her lips trembled with anger. "No, but my beloved husband was in the Zburan Legion. Your cowardly troops lured them into an ambush and murdered them."

I almost countered her accusation with logic, but saw the rabid loyalty burning in her eyes. Racha was the sort of person who didn't need a bloodstone used on them. Kaelissa owned this sera, lock, stock, and barrel.

Using a technique I'd learned from Elyssa's brother, Michael, I disrupted her thoughts with a sudden change in subject. "What's in Voltis?"

Racha flinched. "How do—" she clamped her mouth shut and shook her head. "I don't know what you're talking about, boy."

I shifted again. "Why does Kaelissa need three bloodstones?"

The soldier frowned and blinked as if confused, then stiffened and glared at me. "That is the business of the Empress."

I channeled a ball of Murk in my left hand and was immediately punished with stabbing sensations in my head. I repressed a wince and slapped an opaque barrier over Racha's face and ears, covering everything but her nose so she couldn't speak or listen. A scream grated in her throat and she flailed against the netting holding her in place.

"I'm going to give the rest of you a chance to answer." I offered the other soldiers a reassuring smile.

"Never," growled a short, beefy seraph with more hair than a big brown bear.

I encased his head with Murk and repeated myself to the others: "Why does Kaelissa need three bloodstones?"