What Once Was One (Book 2) (38 page)

The large city was oddly quiet. There were no night services at the smaller temples we passed, no plays went on, and even the women who solicited us did so with half-hearted attempts. Romenia was a dead city. There were plenty of people about earlier in the day, but they seemed to have vanished, tired from the day’s activities.

“It’s a beautiful night,” Malik said, gazing at the night sky.

“I agree,” Captain Rebekah said.

Malik focused his gaze on her and smiled. “I’m sorry. We’ve not properly introduced ourselves. I’m Malik and this is Dylan. The sorceress behind us is Adriana.”

A sorceress? That explained why her magic felt different from the others. Stradus had told me of their kind and said that like different species of animals, we all shared similarities when it came to magic.

“This is Rebekah and Jastillian,” I said.

“A pleasure to meet you,” Malik said.

“Yes,” Dylan said. “Pleasure.”

Adriana remained silent.

I stared at the stars, trying to figure out a way to lead our conversation. Rebekah and Jastillian seemed content to let me, since I was a wizard, but I had no experience in these kinds of things. They might be better at it than me, but it was I who had to do it.

I needed to ask questions about them, the council, Fairhaven, and Southern Shala without giving away that we were from Northern Shala and that the barrier was down. I was going to have to do something I was terrible at—lie.

Before I could open my mouth, one of the bright stars I stared at grew larger. It hovered and floated to us. The three of us were stunned, but the others paid it no notice.

“Ahhh, Serena,” Malik said, holding out his hand. “I wondered when you’d be back.”

The star landed on Malik’s outstretched hand. The glow disappeared, and a little person stood there. Her spiky red hair blended with her pink skin, and she wore clothing that barely covered her. She had a sweet, enticing, magical feel to her.

“A fairy?” Jastillian said in awe.

“Hi, Malik. Who are these strangers?” Serena took off, and that shining brightness reappeared. She hovered around Jastillian. “I haven’t seen a dwarf in ages.” She darted to Rebekah. “Pretty blond hair.” Serena flew up to my face, her light green eyes full of wonder. “Who’s he? He’s cute. Very cute.” She giggled. I had a hard time concealing my red cheeks in the darkness.

“Serena, leave him alone and don’t try anything on him,” Malik said in a stern voice.

“Awww, but I’m sure he’d like to visit my kingdom. He’d love it there! Humans always do.” Serena glanced at Dylan and Adriana. “Well, most humans.”

She swooped over to Dylan, who waved his hand as if Serena were a horsefly. Serena dodged it.

“What’s she talking about?” Jastillian asked.

“She’s talking about Fairie,” Malik said. “It’s a land that exists in another world. Although some consider it paradise, you lose all track of time and indulge in its beauty and...fascinations. When that happens the fairies there make use of your spirit and heart—among other things. You become lost in a stupor, never wanting to leave. Some say it’s worth it.” He shrugged.

Serena flew to Malik and stuck her tongue out at him. “It’s not that bad, if you remember correctly.”

Malik sported a sly smile. “I remember.”

“How did you two meet, Malik?” I asked.

“That’s a long story, best saved for another time. Serena, please sit on my shoulder and be quiet. We were just about to get to know our friends here.”

We continued our slow walk through Romenia, heading towards the center of the city.

“Where are you two from?” Dylan said. “Don’t say the south. We’ve been tracking you ever since you sent off the trap.”

“Trap?” I asked. “Then that storm
was
a trap? What was it doing in the middle of nowhere? We almost got killed.”

“That’s what traps do,” Adriana said.

“We’re in the middle of a war,” Malik said with a sigh. Dylan shot him a look. “But now’s not the time for that.”

“A war?” I asked, raising an eyebrow. That would explain the trap and why the people in Romenia seemed so downtrodden. Jastillian, Rebekah and I exchanged a look of concern for both ourselves and the others. As much as I wanted to find a cure for Krystal, learn more about my powers, and warn the people about Premier and Renak’s threat, we had to find the others and discuss what to do first. I wanted to press Malik on the matter, but he must have read my thoughts.

“Please, Hellsfire,” Malik said. “It will all be explained to you in good time, but we must know if you’re friend or foe.” He stopped walking, and he and Dylan faced us.

“Well?” Dylan said, staring down his nose at us. He and Adriana gathered in magical energy. Malik did nothing.

I glanced at the others. We had discussed not telling people where we were from, but they knew we were lying. We needed their trust, and to see the council. If I lied again, it could only get us into more trouble. I took a deep breath and made a decision.

“All right, I’ll tell you,” I said. “We’re from Northern Shala.”

Confused looks appeared on their faces, but they weren’t as surprised as I would have expected.

“That sounds familiar,” Malik said, scratching his cheek. “But I can’t remember where I know it from.”

“Where is that, and why is it named after the legendary Shala?” Dylan asked.

Jastillian stepped forward. “Because Shala was a hero to us, as well, and like the lad said, we’re from the north.”

Malik put a finger under his chin. “There’s nothing north except…”

Their calculating looks changed to ones of incredulity and dawning realization. Even Adriana lowered her weapon long enough figure it out.

Serena flew to my face and asked, “You’re from the land past the Great Barrier?”

I nodded.

“That’s impossible,” Adriana said.

“It was,” Jastillian said, patting my back. “Until the lad here brought it down.”

I cringed. It was bit much for Jastillian to tell them that part. The shock did work to our advantage, though. Their eyes widened with a momentary fear, their muscles tightened, and they all took a step back. Adriana clenched her weapon tighter and Dylan summoned his magic.

“We’ve got to hurry then,” Dylan said. “Malik, go and wake them.”

Malik shook his head and didn’t move. He had a sour look on his face.

“Adriana?”

She glared at Dylan.

“Fine, but you
both
owe me.” Dylan turned and ran in the direction we had been heading.

“Where’s he going?” I asked.

“To wake the council,” Malik said. “Someone has to do it. We were going to introduce you to them in the morning, but this is too important to let them sleep.”

Malik rushed us to the center of the city, where there was a small castle. The top half had been blown apart; black, burnt marks streaked the remaining stones. There should have been towers in each of the four corners, but only one remained intact. We walked under an arch and past a few guards. A red banner, torn to strips, flapped in the night breeze.

As we traversed the curved corridors of the castle, I couldn’t help but feel let down. I had expected to meet the council in Fairhaven. From what Stradus told me, they were in charge of a prestigious magical school. People came from every corner of the land to study with them and learn to use and control their magical abilities. The council also made and enforced the magical decisions for all of Southern Shala. They prosecuted those who used their powers for ill, and helped those that needed it.

My former master also told me that the school in Fairhaven was a beautiful and wondrous place filled with magical artifacts and mesmerizing enchantments. There was nothing like that in this drab castle.

We passed by a mural that incorporated the symbols of mana, but the colors had smeared down the wall as if it once cried. I put my fingertips to it, carrying away a smudge. I passed in front of a statue of Shala, but he was missing his left arm. He stood proud and was supposed to look heroic, but with only one arm, he looked ridiculous.

As broken and run-down as the castle was, it did have one thing remaining—magic. Residual magic crawled all over the place. Neither Rebekah nor Jastillian knew it was there, but the force was in every room and on every stone. It was in the mold in the cracks and on the cobwebs hanging from the low ceilings. It reminded me of
 
Renak’s stronghold in Masep, but not as disorienting or scary. The magic in Romenia didn’t linger like a ghost that haunted the place. It was strong magic that was used daily, like that of Malik and perhaps the council.

It wasn’t long before Malik led us to the center of the castle. Dylan stood with two guards in front of a large set of double doors with bright protective wards moving over them.

“About time you showed up,” Dylan said, looking agitated. “Did you take the scenic route?”

“I take it they didn’t like being woken up,” Malik said.

Dylan glared at him. “Come on. We’ve got preparations to make if what these three say is true.”

“Good luck, Wizard Hellsfire,” Malik said. He spoke an incantation, and the wards around the doors vanished. “Go through that door and you’ll get a chance to talk to the council. I must warn you, they’re bound to be in a grumpy mood.” He spoke to me, but his eyes settled on Rebekah. “I hope we meet again.”

Rebekah smiled and nodded.

Dylan, Malik, and Serena departed. I turned my head, looking down the hallways to see if there were more guards, but I saw none. We could have left, and the two guards wouldn’t have been able to stop us. We didn’t, though. We needed answers and help.

We huddled closer, discussing what we should and shouldn’t tell them. I forced my hand to stop shaking and placed it on the door handle. I took a deep breath. This was what I had come down here for. Although I’d expected to be in Fairhaven and have Krystal by my side, and not be in the middle of a war.

I was going to have to do this and be strong without her. I could do it as long as I remembered why I was doing it.

I pulled the doors open, and we entered. Torches illuminated a giant, hollow chamber—a perfect wizards’ place. A low haze of magic settled around me. It was strongest here in the central chamber because of the council’s constant presence. A huge stone table sat on an elevated dais, and behind it, three wooden chairs. There were no windows to let natural light into this artificial cave, nor were there any guards. Not that the council would need them, with all their magical might.

I stared at the chairs, wondering why there were only three. There should have been six chairs, one representing each of the six manas. Did they divide the council so that each side ruled from a strategic area, or so that they would not all be vulnerable to one attack? Or was it something more?

I clenched my fists in frustration. There was so much I was missing that I had to know. Without the proper information, I could foul things up. I took a deep breath and let my hands relax, reminding myself that that was what I was here to see the council for.

Three people filed out from an open doorway behind the chairs, their hoods draped over their faces. The three wizards were each clothed in the color of their strongest mana: white, red, and green. Their robes swirled with life, the colors crawling over the fabric. I had never seen such a thing before. Stradus was right. A wizard’s robes become part of a master wizard. I briefly grasped the sides of my black robes. My robes weren’t alive like theirs, and I was supposed to be some kind of chosen one. Yet Stradus’s robes hadn’t been like theirs either. He was a powerful wizard in his own right. How much more powerful were these three?