They looked at each other, and there was a whole conversation there I wasn’t privy to.

  “We know,” said Greta. “Most of them don’t talk. There are a few of us who do, and who have decided that this—”

  “It’s too much! Fighting enemies is one thing, but this is wholesale slaughter. It’s wrong,” Sasha spat.

  “You’re turning on him?”

  “He turned on us,” Greta corrected. “He’s leaving, leaving us here with what is going to be a slaughter of our people. Yours aren’t going to let this go. They’re going to scour the tunnels as much as they can, killing every one of us they come across when this is over, and we all know it. More than that, though, he broke his promise. This isn’t a better world at all; it’s so much worse.”

  “Wait, leaving?” I asked, shocked.

  “He found some other city, Lithere. From what I hear, the tunnels there are extensive, enough that he’ll be impossible to dig out.”

  Lithere was the capital of our country, and while I’d never seen it, I’d heard stories. It had an underground that was legend, a city built upon a city, built upon a city a hundred times over. If half the stories were true, magic had to be involved, as the whole place was described as basically Swiss cheese. If he made it there, he would be entrenched in a way that wasn’t possible here.

  “That’s not possible. He’d either have to take a boat, which he’d never manage without people noticing, or—”

  “Or he’d take a portal. There’s one near the duke’s palace, is there not?” Sasha pointed out. “It’s public knowledge.”

  “I need to go, now.”

  “Wait, I know you’re rushed, but our people need help too.” Sasha pointed out. “Sure, some of them are guilty, but some aren’t. We need a way to keep the innocent safe.”

  I hesitated, unsure of what I could do here. Honestly, I had no real power on my own, but I could make introductions.

  “That’s beyond my reach,” I admitted, and they seemed to shrink visibly, “but I know someone. I can’t guarantee that he won’t kill or maybe even experiment on you, but he works for the duke, and I can put in a good word. Trying to speak with him might be the best you can manage.”

  They exchanged glances, seemingly bothered by what I’d said.

  “I’ll go,” Sasha said. “You know where to take our people. If I succeed, I’ll come for you.”

  The other girl gave me a long look through her many lenses. “Take care of her as best you can.”

  “I will,” I promised, but that didn’t mean much.

  Sasha left us, her sister reaching out a hand and touching my shoulder. There was a pop and a slamming wave of agony, and then everything felt right once more. Experimentally, I opened and closed my hand, moving the arm up and down a bit.

  “Thanks.”

  “Of course,” she replied. “Now, if you don’t mind.”

  “Right, let’s go.”

  She got in position to run, but I picked both her and Kaylee up; it would be much faster this way. The two girls looked across at each other but said nothing. Whether it was because they didn’t know what to say or had some form of enmity, I didn’t know and didn’t need to. I rushed along, for there really was no time to waste.As soon as I’d started, I had to stop. Behind us, a whole block of the city was being sucked in, seeming to collapse upon itself before exploding like a bomb. My heart sank as it struck me where that had been. My father must have been there, and there was no way he could have survived. Even blocks away, pieces of masonry and flaming rubble began to rain down from the sky. Kaylee made a shield with her bracelet that blocked most of it, and I wanted to stop and stare. I couldn’t though. There was still too much to do, and if I let my father’s sacrifice go to waste, what sort of son would I be?

  No, I needed to get Kaylee to safety. I needed to stop this monster that had called this death upon us. Once and for all.

  Chapter 46

  ✶

  Delivering the News

  Greetings,” Ignus said, meeting us at the entryway to the duke’s palace. He didn’t look particularly pleased.

  “Good day,” I said. “Before we continue, could you please ask your men to lower their weapons.”

  Behind the leader of the duke’s investigative squad stood a full squadron of men, all angry looking, all pointing various rifles in the direction of my small companion. Behind them were men who could only be magically empowered soldiers, looking no less unhappy about the whole situation.

  “I do hope you understand why that’s not going to happen, young Percival. Though I’m quite curious as to why you brought this … individual here.”

  “My name is Sasha, and I’m not here to fight you,” she said. “A number of us disagree with the current attack and would like to discuss … well, what we can do.”

  He sighed, scratching his head. “You’ve put me in a bit of a bind here, you see. I’m willing to hear you out, miss, but you’ll need to surrender to us. Do that, and it will certainly help.”

  That was not a promise of any sort, but Sasha didn’t seem to care, surrendering to them with a simple nod.

  “There are things we need to discuss urgently,” she said as the men moved forward to surround her.

  “Indeed, let me show the young lord here to his family, and I’ll be right with you.”

  A pair of men took the goblin by the arms and led her not inside the palace, but to the side. That set off alarm bells in my head, but I held my tongue for now, not wanting to make things worse.

  “With me,” Ignus said, turning and heading into the building.

  As we moved inside, I turned to him, frowning. “If you’re going to have her shot, you could’ve at least dropped the deception.”

  Without breaking his stride the man said, “I’m not, at least not yet. I really do want to hear what she has to say, but that one is the priestess, is she not? Do you know the damage they can do? Have you ever seen it first hand? I have, and let me tell you, boy, that even if she is genuine and the duke accepts, I won’t be letting her anywhere near him.”

  Kaylee had said nothing so far, trying to fade into the background like she’d been taught, but what he’d just said seemed to make her stir.

  “You shouldn’t speak to him like that,” she objected.

  “Miss, while I understand you might find some kinship with this boy who saved you, I have a job to do. So I would ask you to keep out of it.” He then turned to me. “Now, I don’t suppose you know what caused that explosion earlier?”

  “I have suspicions, but not confirmation. I would speak to His Grace if possible, for there is much that I need to tell him, and it is urgent.”

  Ignus regarded me for a few moments, his steps still leading us through the lushly carpeted halls. We’d made it past the entryway now and into the castle proper, art displayed upon the walls. I didn’t know this place well, but it was clear we were getting deeper into the duke’s domain.

  “Normally, I’d hesitate to allow that, but seeing as you brought us a potentially willing source of information, and have proven yourself useful time and again, I’ll ask him.”

  “Thank you,” I said. “Sasha had a few things to say, and my father gave us a letter. He seemed insistent that it make it to the duke’s hands.”

  “I don’t suppose you know what it says?”

  “No, the seal is unbroken.”

  He led us on, and as we crossed into a hallway with small windows on one side, I heard a series of shots. A quick look through the glass confirmed what I suspected. Several goblins had made their way here, charging toward the building as if to continue their rampage into the castle. Soldiers had dispatched them with extreme prejudice, a mixture of spells, bullets, and armed men ready to meet the assault from every side.

  My sister looked out one of the windows but quickly turned around because she couldn’t bear to look at the bodies. I’d become almost numb to it, having seen a lot of death in this world, but her? No, Kaylee had never seen one of those things ripped to shreds, and they were very human-like. It was as natural as anything for her to be bothered by it; anyone should be.

  “It’s okay,” I told her as gently as I could, patting her shoulder.

  “No, it’s horrid, but it will be okay,” she replied.

  Soon enough, we’d reached the office I’d found myself in once before. With a look that told us we’d regret it if we moved, Ignus slipped inside. As he did I could hear talking, reports being given. When the door shut, though, it all went away, some magical effect enforcing privacy, it seemed, but limited in some way.

  Moments passed, and my sister and I smiled at each other. We were stuck here, waiting. I didn’t like it, not in the least, but she didn’t seem bothered. Had this been how she felt all the time, stuck on the outside while other, more powerful people made decisions she’d have to live with?

  “How are you?” I asked.

  “I’m … odd. I think something is going on with my eyes.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “Well, there are … weird shapes and colors all over the place, around people sometimes, and I feel sort of … odd? I’m not really sure how to describe it.”

  “Shapes and colors?”

  “Yes, you’re surrounded by bubbles. Isn’t that strange?”

  That was an aura, my aura. I’d met my fair share of casters over my lifetime, and that was always how they’d described it—odd bubbles, a rather unique-looking aura, if there was one. That in and of itself wasn’t too strange, though, as everyone was a little different.

  “Um … how about your mana?” I asked.

  “It’s fine.”

  “Even after all that magic?”

  She thought for a moment, and then blinked and looked down at her hand. With a look of concentration that made her brows furrow adorably she brought up a pointer finger and made a tiny flame dance around it.

  “It doesn’t feel like I’m even using it,” she said. “How odd.”

  “You’ve unlocked your magic; at least I think you have,” I informed her, almost laughing. “You’re a wizard, Kaylee.”

  “What?” Her confusion at the strange wording made her lose concentration, the little fire winking out. However, I could see her eyes growing as it began to register.

  “Don’t worry about it.”

  It was about this time that Ignus returned, motioning us in. He wasn’t alone. Duke Noct had several men and women with him, all surrounded by paperwork.

  “I’m told you have a letter for me?” he asked without preamble.

  I quickly pulled the sealed envelope from my coat and passed it over. “Father said to give it to you, and that you’d know what to do. While I have you, the goblin you took into custody and one of her fellows told us of some disturbing plans—”

  “It’s paperwork for legitimizing a girl named Kaylee,” the older man said. “Signed and sealed, important to be sure, but unrelated.”

  There was a small gasp behind me, this having apparently been one shock too many for my younger half-sister, who almost dropped, knees shaking.

  “One moment,” I said as I helped her to a nearby couch.

  “Miss Kaylee, or rather Lady Kaylee, I presume?” the duke asked.

  “Yes,” she answered squeakily, “Your Grace.”

  “Lovely, but not what we need.”

  “Sorry,” I replied. “The girl you took into custody … She and another were telling us that their leader means to go to the capital, to insert himself into the underground there.”

  The soundproofing enchantment only worked one way. I wasn’t the only one who heard the series of explosions as I spoke, causing panic throughout the room.

  Chapter 47

  ✶

  Portals

  Another strike?” one of the men nearby asked.

  “Much closer than the previous ones. That way?” I told them, pointing.

  For a moment I saw the duke pale, eyes following my hand. “The portal nexus is that way.”

  “Well, sounds like they won,” someone said.

  “The leader of the goblins is a death priest. That much is known.” Ignus didn’t hold back, making the whole room fall deadly silent.

  “I’ll go,” I said.

  “No, one of my people will go,” Ignus insisted. “You know these creatures best, and we cannot risk you at this moment.”

  Before I could argue, he popped into the hall and ran, seemingly searching for the right people.

  Within the room, though, the silence was grating. Nobody knew what to say or what to do. It held for moments, and we could all hear that the noise from outside had died down. Then the duke himself broke it.

  “The gates have safety measures; there’s little reason to worry.”

  “If they fail, if he gets into the capital, who knows how many could die in the fighting.”

  “He won’t make it to the capital. No publicly accessible portal goes directly there, hasn’t in over a century. Military ones, perhaps, but we don’t have one of those at this facility. Those goblins would have to survive leaving here, and then get from the nexus to one of the Central Duchies. From there some further transport.”

  “The what?”

  “Ah,” Duke Noct laughed. “Nobody uses the term anymore. The capital is surrounded by duchies called the Central Duchies. An old form of address, but they form the whole central region of the country.”

  “I see. Ignus will be here momentarily.” I could hear him in the hall, running back toward us.

  “They blitzed the guards,” Ignus announced as he entered. “About half made it through before the emergency measures took effect, but they’re moving. We need to contact the king now and alert him to what is coming, see if we can get more information.”

  “Can we follow?” I asked.

  “No, not for at least half an hour,” Ignus said, “and that is if the other side attempts to reestablish contact. Procedures are pretty sticky, and we’ll need to see what’s happening.”

  “Percival, I appreciate your work so far, but what comes next is state secrets you are not privy to, nor shall you be for some time. Please follow my aide here, and he will show you to your family.” Duke Noct spoke kindly but firmly, and though it stung, he was right. I wasn’t privy to a lot of things, and there was little help I could be for now.

  “Very well, Your Grace. Should you need anything I can provide, please let me know. I’m more than happy to help.” He nodded, and I gathered my sister before doing as he bade me.

  Kaylee, for her part, seemed to be in shock, and that wasn’t surprising at all. She’d been through a lot today. Truly, we all had, and it was proving to be too much for her to process at the moment. Did I worry? No, she was a smart girl, and dedicated. She’d get through this fine, eventually.

  My family, along with some of our closest servants were in a room deep in the castle. As the door opened I could see Mother pacing, stress written upon her face. Both sets of my grandparents were here, as well, and they looked bothered too. My two grandfathers holding themselves still, but too still, faces furrowed and dark. As for my grandmothers, they looked to be trying to calm Mother, both near her, but at a careful distance.

  “Percival!” she all but shouted when she saw me, blinking across the room faster than I’d ever seen her move and wrapping me in a tight hug.

  “Fool boy, what in the world were you thinking! Where’s your father? I’ve half a mind to give him a good beating!”

  My silence hung heavy in the air, and when she finally pulled back to look at me, I shook my head slowly. She froze, all the anger leaving her in an instant, eyes disbelieving.

  “Where, son? What happened?” she stammered.

  “He rescued us, and he was better than I’ve ever seen him before, told us to leave. Mother, the explosion was close, and the way he spoke … he knew he wasn’t coming back.”

  “But you didn’t see it?”

  “No …”

  “So maybe, maybe he’s okay, just hiding, or buried. We need to send someone to go and find him immediately!” she nearly screamed as she turned toward the aide, starting to move.

  I stopped her with a hand. She was strong, but over the years I’d gotten stronger. “Mother, stop.”

  “But he’s still out there; what are you doing!” Her shrill voice made the aide grimace as he backed toward the door, knowing full well this was not a good moment.

  “Enough!” The one word I shouted was all it took to stop her and draw her eyes to me once again.

  Acceptance of the truth hit her like a blow. Her muscles, only moments ago struggling to go, struggling to get someone to do something, went limp as tears began to fall. She stumbled, and I had to help her over to the nearest couch. My grandmothers moved to her side, whispering calming words. My grandfather, the ever unflappable Baron Shadestone, closed his eyes. To most of the people here it would seem as if he were silently waiting, but I could hear it. His teeth grinding and fist clenched; and I could see the muscles on his face tighten as he schooled himself before coming over and putting a hand on my shoulder. My father may have been an absolute mess, but he was still his son.

  “I heard about what you did today, son, and I’m proud of you,” he told me with a slight squeeze.

  All through the castle people were talking, holding one another, and reassuring each other. The atmosphere was heavy, with tears and people shaking from fear or stress. Men and women embraced trying to make sure their loved ones were all right.

  And the city outside? It was chaos. Pockets of fighting remained, with men wielding whatever they could use as weapons against the horde, while others huddled in terror in their homes, praying for rescue. Soldiers and officers began to gather in groups, going street to street, house to house, room to room, looking for enemies and survivors, each face a rictus of fury when they found one of the former.

  Hundreds lay dead in the streets, thousands more were injured, and soon there would be fury unlike any had known. It took time to fully mobilize fighters, particularly when they were so surprised, but soon, very soon, the city would be scoured, and woe to those who’d brought this calamity upon us.