David Wells - Cursed Bones

“You’ve been through a lot,” Alexander said. “Do you think you can trust Ayela?”

“My gut says yes, but I’m not entirely myself right now, so I don’t know what to trust.”

“Regardless, save that potion,” Alexander said. “If she’s telling the truth, it could make the difference. Reach out to her. See if you can get a better sense of her loyalties. That leaves us with questions. Who are the Sin’Rath? What’s a Goiri? And what’s a doppelganger spell?”

“What happens if it works?” Isabel asked. “I mean, what if the witch Clotus actually manages to kill Phane?”

Alexander frowned, shaking his head. “Phane will see right through her. Don’t underestimate him. This witch Clotus will die badly.”

“You’re probably right,” Isabel said, deflating somewhat, “but we can hope.”

“I’m sorry,” Alexander said, reminding himself how alone Isabel was right now. “If the witch kills Phane, I’ll send forces for you immediately and then we’ll sue for peace, courting the disparate factions within Phane’s alliance and pitting one against the other until they’re at war with themselves, while we withdraw and consolidate our forces before confronting them a piece at a time and bringing them under the Old Law.”

Isabel laughed. “That does seem unlikely. If Phane kills Clotus, he’ll know that I’m on Karth and that the Sin’Rath have me. He’s almost sure to act.”

“Agreed,” Alexander said. “You need to escape. See if you can get Ayela to help you. She’s defied her father already so she might again. Once you’re out, then what?”

“I go kill Phane,” Isabel said.

“No, you don’t,” Alexander said. “You find a way to come home to me, or at the very least somewhere safe while I get rid of Azugorath.”

“Phane is expecting me,” Isabel said. “I can get close. This may be the best shot we ever have. I have to take it.”

“He’ll see through you too,” Alexander said. “He’s a liar. You’re not. How do you expect to deceive him?”

Isabel clenched her jaw and shrugged. “I haven’t figured that out yet. I’ll know more when I get closer.”

“This is a very dangerous game you’re playing,” Alexander said.

“War is the most dangerous game there is,” Isabel said.

“So I’ve heard,” Alexander said. “I don’t like this, but it is what it is, and you’re obviously not open to reason at the moment, so all I have left to do is help you. I’m going to talk with Magda and Kelvin about your questions. I’ll be back as soon as I have answers. I love you, Isabel.”

“I love you, Alexander.”

He faded away, back into the firmament. A moment later his awareness coalesced in a large room. Nearly the entire general staff of the army on Fellenden was assembled there, with Conner sitting in the seat to the right of an empty chair at the head of the table. Magda, the person Alexander had been looking for, was there as well.

Alexander seemingly materialized behind the empty chair. He gave everyone a moment to notice him before he spoke.

“Where’s Abigail?” he asked Conner.

“Zuhl took her,” Conner said, standing. “How? How can you be here?”

“I’m not,” Alexander said. “I’m projecting an illusion of myself. I’m injured, but safe. How did Zuhl take my sister? And where’s Anatoly?”

“With a dragon,” Conner said to the first question. “Tore the roof off the room right in the middle of a war council, then a dozen of his minions, half-dragon, half-man, descended on us and took Abigail. Anatoly was severely injured in the attack and is currently recuperating.”

“But he’ll live?”

“Yes,” Conner said.

“I’m going to find Abigail,” Alexander said. “I’ll be back as soon as I do. We’ll consider our options when I return.”

Alexander let his illusion vanish, then focused his mind’s eye on Abigail … the world flashed by and he was in a circular room with his sister-she was pacing.

She stopped midstride when he appeared in front of her.

“Alex? How?” she said.

“Magic,” he said with a shrug. “I’m not really here. Jack says hi.”

Abigail smiled for just a moment.

“How do I know you’re not a trick?”

“You don’t, but I’m not,” Alexander said.

“All right,” Abigail said, “doesn’t really matter since you can’t tell me anything anyway. Zuhl claims to have a way of getting people to answer questions … some kind of ice slug or something. It’s supposed to make you truthful and forthcoming, so don’t tell me anything that Zuhl can use.”

“Fair enough,” Alexander said. “Tell me everything I need to know about how this happened.” He motioned to her tower-room prison cell.

“Zuhl showed up at the shipyard riding a blue dragon and started killing our Sky Knights, so I flew up and cut him in half …”

“Wait, what?” Alexander said. “How did you get close enough?”

Abigail hesitated before answering. “I jumped off my wyvern.”

“What?! Abigail, that was way too risky.”

“It worked, and I made friends with the dragon. His name is Ixabrax. The problem is, it wasn’t Zuhl riding the dragon-it was a simulacrum, a copy. The real Zuhl is still very much alive.

“He attacked Fellenden city a few days ago riding another blue dragon, an even bigger one than Ixabrax.”

“How many dragons does Zuhl control?” Alexander asked.

“Six, now,” Abigail said. “He has these collars that make the dragons obey him. I used the Thinblade to cut Ixabrax’s collar. He told me that Zuhl has enslaved his whole family.”

“Do you think Ixabrax might help us?” Alexander asked.

“He might,” Abigail said with a shrug.

“What does Zuhl want with you anyway?” Alexander asked.

“He wants a book, he called it a lich book,” Abigail said. “It’s supposed to make you into an immortal undead. Zuhl says he’ll trade me for the book, otherwise he’s going to sacrifice me on the solstice to prolong his life for another year.”

“That’s two weeks from now,” Alexander said.

“I know.”

“You’re not alone,” Alexander said. “I’m going to get you out of this. I’ll be back when I get the chance. I love you, Abigail. Oh … and be more careful.”

“Love you, Alex.”

He faded into the firmament, then appeared behind Abigail’s empty chair at the council table on Fellenden.

“Abigail is alive and well, but she’s being held in Zuhl’s fortress. Report,” he said.

Conner stood and proceeded to provide a detailed report of the army’s activity since they left the Gate, finishing with this very council meeting. Alexander listened patiently.

“Congratulations on your victory against Zuhl’s forces,” Alexander said. “Unfortunately, his counterattack could take a terrible toll. Abigail will be sacrificed on the solstice unless we can help her.”

“I was just recommending an attack by a full flight of Sky Knights,” Magda said.

“You’d lose far too many if Zuhl released his dragons against you,” Alexander said.

“We’re prepared to march through the Gate,” Conner said.

“Zuhl outnumbers us by a factor of ten,” Alexander said. “We have to do this unconventionally. I have an idea but I need to consult the Guild Mage first.” He turned to Magda. “I had originally come to speak with you, Magda. May I have a few moments in private?”

Once they were alone, Alexander explained Isabel’s situation. He told her how Isabel had traveled to Karth, how she had been captured and taken to the Sin’Rath, and finally how the witches had cast a doppelganger spell in an attempt to get close enough to Phane to kill him. Magda listened intently.