The Rise of Isaac, Books 1-3, page 42
"What about the old man?" Xen called across the courtyard as an afterthought. She stopped and looked back at him.
"What about him?"
"He's sick. He isn't well enough to travel with the rest of them," Xen said.
Queen Lacine stood in thought for a moment before saying, "Send Doctor Fade to him."
He nodded, bowed his head and walked away.
Xen exited the palace and headed towards the barracks. He wanted ten men with him: his best and most ruthless. Nex would accompany him too. The boy had come on leaps and bounds since he had acquired him from one of the villages north of the city. There was a lot left to teach him but he would take pleasure in doing so. Nex had yet to see him execute an ambush and the thought of demonstrating one filled him with anticipation.
13
High on the Mountain
Oliver exited his room back in his home in London. A strange noise had caught his attention.
"Look Mummy, a bird." May was standing in the corridor. She was young, perhaps only seven or eight. A large, black bird sat on her arm, cawing at her loudly.
Oliver swung around, searching for his mother. He wanted to see her. There was an ache of longing in his chest as he eyed the doorway to her room.
"Mum?" he called.
The doorway was so heavy with darkness that it almost looked like liquid.
He took a tentative step forward, the shadowy space seemingly sucking and pulling him toward it-
Oliver awoke to the sound of a loud snore. Rogan and Larkin were both still asleep but Rogan's open mouth hinted to the source of the noise.
Oliver tiptoed into the bathroom to shower and, as the hot water flowed over him, the creeping feeling the dream had left behind dissolved.
He got dressed and snuck through the bedroom, deciding to visit Ely as he exited quietly and descended the stairs.
He walked along the corridor towards his grandfather's room and lightly knocked on the door in case he was still asleep.
"Come in," Ely called, his voice hoarse.
Oliver opened the door and found his grandfather sitting up in bed. Colour had returned to his cheeks and the sight made Oliver smile.
"How are you feeling?" He sat on the edge of the bed, sinking into the soft mattress.
"Much better, my boy," Ely replied. "I'm starting to heal myself now. I think my strength will have returned in the next few days. My magic was completely depleted by the poison."
"That's great," he said with relief.
"I'm already fed up of being in this bed, dammit. I want to get up. We need to get May to Brinatin."
"The Queen's sending a hunting party to get her son back."
Ely sighed. "If they even manage to bring him back we'll have been delayed by weeks. What about May, is she alright?"
"She's fine. The bind seems to be holding still," Oliver said, his throat feeling suddenly dry.
"Let's hope it lasts long enough."
Oliver got up. "Just rest. There's nothing more we can do now."
"You're right of course, though sleep hasn't been easy of late."
"Why's that?" Oliver asked in concern.
"I've been thinking about what Truvian Gold said to you."
Oliver swallowed. "About my father being alive?"
"Yes, and that Rimori is after May. I can't get my head around it. It's been giving me awful nightmares."
"It's been more than a month since what happened with Truvian. I think we're safe from Rimori here," Oliver said confidently.
"Perhaps. But I don't like not being able to keep an eye on the situation. I don't know why the Queen still insists on keeping technology out of Glacio. The only news they have here is local papers and they have no interest in what's going on in the other worlds."
"Do you think something is going on?" Oliver asked worriedly.
Ely's gaze darkened. "Just keep May close, Oliver. We don't want a repeat of what happened back in Aleva."
Oliver felt a flash of irritation. "Of course I will. I'm always looking out for her."
Ely nodded. "I know, I know." He sighed. "Would you stay with me a while? There's some boardgames on the shelf over there, we could play one?" His face was soft but his eyes delved into Oliver's hopefully.
"Sure," Oliver said, his annoyance dissipating.
***
A few hours later a knock sounded at the door. Oliver opened it to find May and Anna standing there.
"There you are, we were looking for you," Anna said, sounding relieved.
"Sorry, I just came to keep Ely company. Is something wrong?"
"The Queen sent a message to our room. She wants to meet with us," May said, holding out a golden cloth.
Oliver took it and read the summons which was painted onto it in black, shimmering ink.
Rogan Ganderfield, Quinn Thorn, Oliver and May Knight, Larkin Pipistrelle and Annabelle King.
Her Royal Highness deigns to invite you for lunch in the Oval Courtyard.
She will expect you no later than noon. You are encouraged to dress appropriately for the Glacian climate.
HRH - The Queen of Galice and the Western Territory
"Rogan, Larkin and Quinn have already gone ahead," Anna said.
"I'm not feeling up to it, I'm afraid," Ely called from his bed.
"Oh, sorry Ely, your name isn't actually mentioned," Anna said with an awkward expression.
"Oh," Ely said.
"Probably because the Queen knows you're unwell," May said, clearly trying to soften the blow.
"Yes, no doubt that's the reason," Ely said with a slight smile. "Well off you go then."
Oliver nodded at him and followed the girls out into the corridor.
"I feel bad," Anna said as Oliver closed the door behind him.
"He's alright," Oliver said, eyeing their thick coats. "I better go get some warmer clothes."
"Okay, we'll figure out where the Oval Courtyard is and meet you back here," May said.
Oliver hurried back to his room, pulling on a few more layers and the snow boots that Ely had bought for him back in Aleva. He found that the ornate, oak wardrobe had been stocked with heavy coats and chose a dark brown one then returned to the hall where Anna and May were waiting.
"Did you find out where it is?" Oliver asked as he approached.
"Yep, this way. A maid showed us," May said, leading the way.
They headed through the palace, passing across the enormous entrance hall and heading toward the east wing. They climbed a spiral staircase that looked as though it were made entirely of green glass then reached a door of the same design that was flanked by two guards. Daylight shone through it, casting rays of emerald light across the floor.
Anna passed them the summons and they bowed, opening the door to let them pass. An oval-shaped courtyard was revealed beyond it that was rimmed by a stone railing and covered in a dusting of snow. It was set high up on the mountain evidently hewn from the rock itself.
A white, oval table sat beneath a pavilion that was covered in creepers, winding around the stone. Dotted between the leaves were little flowers in an array of purples and mauves. Snow was falling silently around them as they crossed the courtyard and stepped under the cover of the pavilion.
Larkin, Quinn and Rogan were already sat along one side so Oliver and the others sat opposite. A couple of guards dressed in grey uniforms were standing very close to Quinn and Rogan.
In the centre of the table was a circular hole where a fire pit was smoking beneath it. Oliver relished the heat that warmed his legs as he watched the smoke spiralling upwards. It exited the roof through another hole, dissolving any snowflakes that tried to slip through.
"Any idea why she called us here?" Rogan asked, looking between them.
"Not a clue," Oliver said with a shrug, eyeing the mouthwatering food in front of him.
"Her Royal Highness," a female servant announced then bent over in a low bow.
The Queen walked toward them across the courtyard, her elaborate lilac dress swishing about her feet as she moved. A man walked beside her, holding a white umbrella above her head so the snow didn't touch her.
Oliver followed suit as his friends stood up as she approached. She nodded to them with a small smile and gestured for them to sit as she dropped into her seat at the head of the table.
"Friends, thank you for joining me," she said, gazing around at them all.
They nodded, waiting for her to reveal why they had been summoned.
"Please, eat. You must be quite ravenous," she said, gesturing to the food.
They filled their plates in silence and Oliver felt the Queen watching them all as a servant made up a plate of food and placed it down in front of her.
"Some music would be nice, Raphael," the Queen addressed the servant who had carried the umbrella.
"Very good, Ma'am," he said, bowing and heading back into the palace.
They ate quietly until he returned with a man who had a large, silver instrument with strings running across it at an angle. He played it with his fingers, plucking the strings then thrumming them to make a haunting tune. Raphael took up a position under the awning while the musician remained out in the snowfall, his eyes closing as he lost himself in the music.
"I suppose you're all quite curious to why I asked you here?" the Queen said, her blue eyes sparkling as she nibbled at the small amount of food on her plate.
Oliver nodded, placing his fork down on the side as he waited for her explanation.
"Well I'd like to ask a favour of you," she said brightly.
"And what might that be?" Quinn inquired with an almost imperceptible edge to her voice.
"Well, you see, I'm under quite a lot of pressure from the court to enforce a punishment upon you all, seeing as you broke Galician law," the Queen said with a sad frown.
Oliver stiffened. "But you said we wouldn't have to go back to Aleva."
"I know, and I'll keep my word on that, of course. But I must do something to make an example of you. Or others may be tempted to break the law, don't you see?" Her forehead crinkled into little lines as she looked around at them all.
"But you're the Queen. Surely you don't have to listen to the court?" Larkin chipped in.
"Yes but what kind of Queen would I be if I let everyone away with their crimes?" She looked around at them with a helpless expression.
"So, what's the punishment?" Rogan asked, taking another bite of food.
"Well, I thought perhaps, seeing as you can't attempt the Gateway challenge until my Prince Kile is returned that you could assist the hunters in bringing him home," she said, adjusting a strand of dark hair that had become snagged in her crown.
"Assist them how?" Anna asked with a frown.
"By accompanying them, my dear," the Queen said, blinking innocently at her.
"What?" Larkin snapped then hissed as if someone had kicked him under the table. Oliver suspected Rogan from the look on his face.
The Queen didn't seem to notice. "It will be dangerous, of course. But it wouldn't be a punishment otherwise, and you are guilty of entering my realm unbidden, are you not?" Her tone was somehow both sweet and icy at once.
No one answered and Oliver caught a wary glance from Rogan.
"It's settled then. Of course, I don't expect your poorly companion to accompany you. He can stay here and receive the finest care from my staff," the Queen said, standing. "You may remain here a while if you wish. Thank you for joining me, it's been just lovely. Tomorrow morning I'd like you to meet in the banquet hall at first light."
"For what?" Oliver asked.
"For your training. I wouldn't send you to the groll caves completely unprepared now, would I?" The Queen smiled around at them all and Raphael hurried forward, lifting the umbrella above her head once more as they returned to the palace.
Raphael snapped his fingers as he reached the door then the musician and the other servants followed him, leaving them alone in the courtyard.
Oliver's gut clenched tightly as the weight of what they had just been ordered to do settled on his shoulders. "She's sent two groups of hunters up to the grolls already and only a few came back."
"She can't seriously expect us to go?" May asked in alarm.
"What are we gonna do?" Anna asked, looking to Oliver.
His eyebrows knitted together as he gazed back at her. "Are you sure you want to go?" Anna had no reason to go any further with them, it was his fault that she was even caught up in their mess.
"Of course I do!" she said, looking outraged.
"But your parents-"
"Will be going crazy, I know. But I'm here now and, well, I wanna help," she said.
He gazed at her for a moment, considering arguing further, but her expression told him not to push the subject.
"And you?" Oliver turned his attention to Larkin.
"I'm coming." Larkin shrugged.
Oliver frowned. "Why?"
"Yeah." Rogan rounded on him. "Why not just go back to Aleva and wait until the Gateways reopen?"
"Because I want to go to Brinatin," Larkin said, staring Rogan down.
"Why would you risk your life though?" Oliver pressed.
"You lot have your secrets and I have mine, so unless you wanna tell me what Rimori has to do with May I think I'll keep my business to myself thanks."
May's cheeks flushed and no one spoke. Oliver didn't want Larkin knowing any more than he had to.
Larkin sneered. "Didn't think so."
"So we're all going," Anna clarified to end the argument.
Larkin nodded at her. "We just need a way to do it that won't result in death."
"Well we've got magic," Quinn said, glancing at Rogan. "She won't have sent mages up to the grolls before so maybe it'll give us an advantage?"
Rogan nodded. "It's something anyway."
"You might be mages but you aren't trained in taking on trolls," Larkin said, shaking his head.
"Hey, I studied defence at uni," Rogan said, puffing out his chest a little.
"Oh big deal! Did you actually have any battle experience whilst studying how to aim your fireballs in a classroom?" Larkin said.
In response, Rogan got to his feet and took off one of his gloves. He threw out his bare palm, sending a perfectly spherical ball of fire whooshing from his hand. It flew toward the palace and connected with an icicle that hung above the door so it melted in a flash.
Larkin rolled his eyes as Rogan returned to his seat. "Proves nothing."
"I dunno, it makes me feel a little better," May said, her eyes flicking to Rogan.
"Well we're going either way, aren't we?" Quinn said.
"Exactly," Oliver confirmed. "Now we just have to break it to Ely." He glanced at May and she grinned.
"He's gonna be so mad," she said.
***
"I am furious that you didn't consult me before agreeing to this!" Ely coughed a little at the exertion it took to berate them.
Oliver and May stood at the end of his bed near a selection of food they had brought back from lunch to try and appease him.
"Ely, we didn't have a choice," Oliver said.
"It is simply too dangerous. What would your mother think?" Ely said, his cheeks reddening a touch from his anger.
"Well she's not here to have a say, is she?" Oliver snapped.
"Don't get smart with me, my boy," Ely warned.
"I'm just stating facts," Oliver said and May stepped in.
"It's irrelevant, Mum's not here and the Queen has ordered us to go. It's either that or go back to Aleva where I can just await my inevitable death," May said, folding her arms.
"Oh don't be so melodramatic. I mean, really," Ely huffed.
May's eyes went skyward and Ely tutted loudly.
Oliver waited, sensing Ely was on the verge of giving in.
"Oh for goodness sake, fine. You can go!" Ely said in exasperation and Oliver felt a mixture of victory in winning the argument and concern at actually having to go.
May rushed forward and hugged Ely. "We'll be fine. The hunters will do most of the work and we can just tail along behind them." She stepped away.
"Good. And you two better look after one another. No foolish risks." He gave Oliver a hard stare.
"Me?" Oliver asked innocently. "When do I ever take foolish risks?"
"Ha. Ha," Ely said sarcastically. "I mean it, and watch that hot head of yours too."
Oliver chewed the inside of his cheek.
"We're not going up there completely unprepared. The Queen's laid on training for us tomorrow morning," May explained.
"Good. You better listen hard and take notes if you have to. And come by here tomorrow as soon as you've finished your lesson. I want to know exactly what they're teaching you lot."
"Sure," Oliver said and he backed slowly away towards the door. "Thanks Ely."
"Get some rest, we'll see you tomorrow," May said, following Oliver out into the corridor and walking back up towards their rooms.
14
A Message from Vale
Four Months Ago
William tightened his grip on Alison's wrist as they emerged on the other side of the Gateway. A cool breeze whipped around them in Aleva and the sun shone down on them from the centre of an azure sky.
William led Alison away from the ledge that overlooked Alevale and hurried off into the trees. His eyes flitted from tree to tree, searching.
"There!" he said triumphantly, hurrying forward to a tree marked with a subtle X cut into its bough.
As he pressed his palm to the bark, light shone between his fingertips then a large square appeared in the trunk and swung open. Inside the tree was a backpack. He dislodged it from the trunk and dropped it to the woodland floor amongst the dead leaves.
Alison frowned at it and William grinned.
"Supplies," he answered her expression.
"I'm not going with you," she said firmly. "I'll shout for help the second we see someone."
William released Alison's wrist. Her eyes narrowed as she returned her arm to her side.
"Just hear me out for a second."
"Why should I?" she snapped.
"Ali, please? For old time's sake. If you still don't want to come with me I'll let you go back to Earth."
