In answer, he pulled forth a crinkled letter from his robes, and I reached to grab it. One glance was enough. I’d know that penmanship anywhere.
Jyuri,
I’ve been called to Val’Naeris on council orders. As I’ve been doing everything to prevent them from choosing Val’Naeris as their next target, I haven’t had a chance to write. This decision was likely designed to test my loyalty. I cannot let them corrupt my home, even if it costs me this ruse. I have already allowed too much by wrapping the Mages Consortium up in thisbusiness. Please keep Nairu safe. If things go poorly, you know where to take her.
Alandris
“What is this supposed to mean? I thought the council wanted me dead. What do they want with Val’Naeris?”
“They do want you dead. They want everything and everyone who threatens the sanctity of their Goddess of Light, Alessiantha, dead.” Jyuri’s eyes grew dark. “Much has happened since your last life. They have their claws in nearly every major city in Lustria. The Goddess of Light has amassed an enormous following in a short number of years. They won’t stop until she is the sole figure of the people’s worship. That is how the Cardinal intends to attain total power over Lustria.”
I scrunched my eyes, shaking my head. “That’s impossible. Many worship the old gods.”
“Everything is possible through enough bloodshed.”
“Alandris… he will not let them harm Val’Naeris. His estrangement from his family doesn’t change the fact that those are his people. His kingdom.”
“And you will not let them take him.”
I shook my head. “No. I will not.”
Jyuri shrugged his shoulders as if bored. “I assumed as much.”
“You will help me save Alandris and Val’Naeris.” I narrowed my eyes. It was not a question because I knew too well his weakness. His bargain. If Val’Naeris was at stake, Zorinna was at stake too. She would go there with or without Jyuri, and he would never allow the latter. “There is no question in your mind, so why have you come to me to ask? Why are we not there now?”
He pulled forth a bottle of liquid I recognized—the one to shut Zaelos out. “You will need to keep him locked away for the entire duration of our little adventure. I cannot afford to have him rise to the surface while I am slaughtering a thrall of zealots.” He paused, sighing. “I’m here because I cannot willingly lead you toyour death, and consuming so much of Amorphael’s concoction could very well kill you. You must accept it willingly.”
“Done.” I snatched it from his hands. “But I must ask… why did you wait for me at all? I would have expected you to have half the city burned to the ground by now.”
He sneered, sharp fangs on display. “The stupid worms are hiding. I needed bait.”
“Alandris will kill you for using me like this.”
“He can certainly try.” Jyuri smiled. “I take it you agree to my plan?”
I returned the smile. “Of course I do, but we aren’t going alone. You are powerful, but you are not omnipotent. I want the best shot at success.”
“Already done. Zorinna informed them of the circumstances, and they wouldn’t take no for an answer.”
I smiled. “That does sound like them.”
Jyuri rolled his eyes. “Mortals.”
Iwas the first to be teleported with Jyuri to the small cabin in the dense forest just outside of Val’Naeris. He could only take us one at a time, and the idea already irritated him, since it would drain more of his magic than he was willing, but Zorinna refused to spend the time traveling on foot to the capital from Nil’Faerith. Much to his detriment, Jyuri seemed incapable of telling her no. It was perhaps another facet of the bargain between the two of them, but I didn’t imagine he would tell me if I asked him outright.
Kaz was the next to arrive, and I couldn’t help the tears from welling in the corner of my eyes when I caught sight of him. His name rolled off my tongue in a strangled whisper. “Kaz.…”
He wrapped me up in one of his signature bear hugs, and today, I didn’t care that he was squeezing the air from my lungs. I hadn’t seen my dear friend in twenty-five years, not while knowing who he was to me, and I missed his affection more than I’d thought possible. Today, I squeezed him back extra tight, because I knew well what it was like to think you’d never havethe opportunity to do so again. The only reason I let go was to speak with him in private before the rest of the group appeared.
Sucking in a deep breath once he’d released me, I spoke. “I had hoped our reunion would be on better terms, but I’m so happy to see you, Kaz.” Try as I might to fight it, my voice shook with emotion, and a single tear wiggled its way free.
“Save those tears for our pretty little Elf. I shouldn’t be the reason you cry.” He grinned. “We’re going to get him back. You know that. I won’t let you down.”
I wiped at my cheek. “There is no one I trust more with his life. Do you know what the Divine Council has been doing to the cities they infiltrate?”
The smile fled his face as his eyes grew distant. “You need to see it for yourself.”
Lorian was the next to appear, followed by Kaelias and then Makatza. I waited until the three of them were together before I approached.
