The Rise of Isaac, Books 1-3, page 59
"Are you feeling alright?" William asked anxiously.
"Yes, quite fine. I just wanted a word away from her ears."
William frowned but waited for Isaac to go on.
"How much does she know?"
"Only what you told her just now. She doesn't know our son's in Glacio. She doesn't even know that he and the girl are aware of the other worlds."
"Good, and I suggest it stays that way. Her emotions may interfere with her decisions otherwise and I wouldn't want her to compromise our plans for the girl."
"Yes, of course. I'll say nothing."
"No more news, I suppose?" Isaac raised an eyebrow.
"None. Since they entered Glacio the Queen has locked everything down. I could travel there with Kogure to look for them but I wouldn't know where to begin. It isn't a world I've spent much time in."
"No, we might as well wait until they get to Brinatin. It'll be much easier then." Isaac said, grinning broadly.
41
The Marked One
Oliver was relieved to finally reach a road that had been cleared of snow. The fresh air cleared his head as they walked back towards the palace. Prince Kile was on his feet, frowning as they plodded on.
"Do you think Xen will come back?" May asked Oliver quietly.
"Yeah. We better be prepared for it," Oliver answered.
"He won't get back to the palace for days," Anna said with a shrug. "We'll be long gone before he shows up. The Queen is gonna be so grateful when she sees we brought her son back."
May gasped, abruptly throwing a hand up to her chest.
"What's wrong?" Oliver stopped dead.
Her breathing came in short, rasping breaths and she leant on him for support. She dropped to the floor, clawing at his arm and he went down with her.
"Someone help!" he called to the others.
They turned and came running back.
"What happened?" Larkin asked, hovering around them.
Hector and Kile stood several feet away, looking unsure of how to act.
"Move," Rogan commanded and he dropped to the floor beside her in the spot Larkin vacated.
"May? Where does it hurt?" he asked her clearly.
She clutched at her chest, her breathing escalating.
Rogan ripped opened her jacket and tore the material away at her chest, revealing the dark mark over her heart that was a permanent stamp of the curse.
"Try and slow your breathing," Oliver urged her desperately.
She nodded but the pained look on her face told him she couldn't. She could barely get a breath down, making her choke.
Rogan pressed his palm down on her chest, sending green light out into her skin. "Why isn't it working?" he asked after a moment, his voice strained and anxious.
"I don't know. Do something," Oliver begged him.
Quinn leant a hand on Rogan's back and Oliver spotted magic passing between them. The green light under Rogan's hand shone brighter, absorbing into his sister's chest.
"Wait! You can't heal the curse. Try and help her breathing," Oliver said in realisation.
Rogan moved his hands under her shirt, reaching down to her ribs. May's breathing slowed and she gasped a full breath of air down into her lungs.
"Better?" Oliver asked her and she nodded vigorously.
"I can breathe," she said with a sigh of relief and Oliver pulled her into a brief hug.
May pushed herself into a sitting position and Rogan looked away from her open shirt.
"Sorry," Rogan muttered to Oliver, his cheeks flushing pink. "Healing works best skin to skin..."
"It's fine. But only ever do that again if you're saving her life, yeah?" Oliver said, relief flooding through him.
Rogan laughed and Quinn gave him a stern look, making him stop.
May did up her shirt, her face bright with embarrassment. "Oh my god," she whispered, avoiding Rogan's gaze.
Anna helped her up and raised her eyebrows at Rogan and Larkin. "Maybe you could give May a few minutes away from your prying eyes?"
Rogan and Larkin suddenly looked anywhere but at May and headed off along the path at a jog. Quinn hung back with the other girls and Oliver patted May on the shoulder before hurrying ahead.
"For the record, I turned away," Larkin said earnestly though Oliver wasn't sure if he believed him.
"Let's just not talk about it," Oliver said, his fists curling into tight balls. He glanced back and saw May still clutching her chest in pain. "We need to get her to Ely as fast as possible."
They hurried on towards the palace, winding higher and higher until the city came in to view.
"Come on, we're almost there," Oliver encouraged his companions as they began to slow.
Quinn stopped and pressed a glowing palm to her side to ease a stitch. She sighed and continued on.
They wound up through the town. People watched them from the small shacks that housed them and some pointed at Kile curiously. His clothes were in tatters and the material was filthy. He dropped his head down so as not to draw attention to himself.
At the top of the hill they reached the bridge to the palace, finding their way blocked by two guards.
"Halt," one of them said.
"Let us through," Hector said, retrieving a wooden token from his pocket.
"Are these all hunters?" the soldier asked, nodding to the rest of their group.
"One of them is the Queen's kidnapped son. So you might wanna let us through," Hector snarled impatiently.
Kile stepped forward.
"That filthy little brat? Who do you think you're kidding?" the soldier said, laughing with his companion.
"Watch your tone," Kile said, holding out his hand to present a gleaming ring with a crest upon it.
"By the Arc!" a soldier said in surprise, dropping to one knee. "My apologies, Your Highness."
The other soldier joined him. "Forgive us, Prince Kile."
They walked past them and Kile hurried ahead excitedly. They walked into the palace and Kile started running up the stairs.
"Stay with him for Vale's sake," Hector growled, running after the boy.
"Mumma. I'm home!" Kile called.
They hastily ascended and followed the Prince to the courtyard where Oliver and May had first met the Queen.
She was sat under the white, stone pavilion at its centre. Snow was falling on the flowering garden that seemed unaffected by the cold. Several guards stood around the edges of the courtyard. Kile ran over to her and fell to his knees, hugging her legs through the ice-blue dress that floated around her ankles. She jumped in surprise then gasped in recognition.
"My baby boy!" She knelt down and pulled him into a tight hug. "Oh, where have you been? Oh my poor baby."
Oliver put an arm out to stop Hector approaching, giving them a moment.
Queen Lacine looked up, tears trickling down her perfect skin. "Where's Commander Xen?" she asked, looking around. She spotted their group and frowned in confusion. She got to her feet and stared at them. "You?"
"Us," Hector said, his jaw clenching.
"It's not possible," she breathed.
They moved closer to her along the winding path that ran towards the pavilion.
"And why's that, Your Majesty?" Oliver asked in feigned ignorance.
She shook her head, her elaborate crown shifting a little, and turned to a guard nearby. "Please take Kile to be attended to."
The guard led the boy away but Kile stopped before disappearing out of the door. "They saved me, Mumma."
She looked at her son with emotion in her eyes and nodded as he disappeared out of sight.
"Ma'am, if you could just let me explain," Hector tried, dropping to one knee.
"No need." Her tone was sharp. "You will have your key Mr Rook. And the rest of you will all be permitted to take part in the Gateway challenge." She turned to another guard. "Reopen the Gateways and organise a feast for tonight. Tell the kingdom the Prince has returned and double the rations for everyone in the city tomorrow."
Hector sighed, breaking a smile.
Oliver ran his fingers through his hair, hardly able to believe they had pulled it off.
"Where's our grandfather?" May asked the Queen. "Ma'am," she added awkwardly.
An expression crossed the Queen's features that Oliver couldn't quite place. Queen Lacine blinked several times before answering. "He's with the doctor. I'll send my men to his room at once to check on him. Perhaps you can visit him later." She gestured to another guard who hurried off.
"Why can't we see him now?" Oliver asked suspiciously.
"Because, well, because I insist you all go bathe and change. You must be exhausted," she said. "Take them to the Sun Tower," she told a guard.
Although Oliver felt knackered he couldn't wait any longer to help May. "Please. My sister and I need to see him."
"And you will. As soon as you are tended to," she said, her tone final.
May tugged Oliver's arm and gave him a look. "It's fine. Come on."
Hector stepped forward. "Your Majesty, my key?"
The Queen nodded stiffly, reaching to her neck and pulling out a small purse hanging on a chain. She undid the drawstring and poured the contents into her hand. A tiny, sunshine yellow ball rolled into her palm, casting a golden light around it.
Hector reached toward her and the Queen dropped it into his palm.
"Thank you, Ma'am," Hector breathed, stowing the key in his pocket.
She nodded and cast her eyes over the group, her gaze pausing on Quinn and Rogan then she returned to her seat at the centre of the courtyard.
They bowed and exited, pausing outside in the hall.
Hector held out a palm to them all, shaking their hands in turn. Oliver gripped his palm and felt almost sad at parting with him.
Hector moved down the line and finally extended his palm to Quinn who stood with her hands on her hips.
"Come on. No hard feelings, eh?" Hector said, raising his eyebrows.
She sighed. "I guess." She went to take it but he lifted his out of her reach. She huffed angrily. "I hate you."
Hector laughed loudly.
"When are you going to the Gateway?" Oliver asked him.
Hector frowned. "Tomorrow. I need to prepare tonight and organise some transport to get there."
"Transport?" May asked, glancing at Oliver.
"Yeah, the Gateway's kinda far away," Hector said, frowning as he looked between them.
"Could we come with you?" Oliver tried his luck.
Hector grunted. "I suppose."
May piped up, "It's just- we don't know where it is and I think we should get out of here before the Queen has a chance to change her mind about us and-"
"I said, I suppose," Hector cut her off.
May bit her lip and nodded.
"When should we meet you?" Oliver asked.
Hector slowly inhaled through his noise. "Just before dawn, by the stables."
"Thank you," May said.
He nodded and walked away then turned back. "If you're not there I'll be gone the second the sun shows itself."
Oliver nodded.
"We'll be there," Larkin confirmed.
Hector nodded and headed off.
A guard cleared his throat and they turned to him. "I've been asked to escort you to your rooms."
Oliver nodded and led the way, feeling unsettled by the presence of the man. He wasn't convinced that the Queen would simply let them walk out of the palace. But without Xen there to carry out her plans, he had to assume she would.
The guard led them up to the Sun Tower and bowed low. He held out two sets of gauntlets for Quinn and Rogan who reluctantly put them on. The guard left and they entered their rooms.
"Who gets the first shower?" Larkin asked.
"Me." Rogan ran to the bathroom laughing.
Larkin chased him and collided with the door as Rogan slammed it. Larkin growled angrily and turned around, frowning. Rogan opened the bathroom door, towel whipped him and slammed it again.
"ARGH!" Larkin shouted in shock, his body tensing up.
Oliver laughed and threw himself down on the fourposter bed, unable to resist the soft mattress. He kicked off his shoes.
"Ergh, you stink." Larkin grimaced.
Oliver leant down, picked up one of his gross shoes and lobbed it at Larkin. "Oh, do I?"
He laughed as he ducked it.
A knock came at the door and Larkin answered it. A man handed him a pile of fresh clothes, bowed then walked away.
"We seriously need these," Larkin said, smiling.
Rogan soon emerged from the shower and Larkin disappeared into the bathroom.
"Do you think we're safe here?" Oliver sat up, raising his eyebrows at Rogan.
He pulled on a shirt and shrugged. "For now, I think. We'll be leaving early tomorrow and she won't even realise we're gone until it's too late."
"What if she makes a move before then?"
"She isn't gonna do anything to incriminate herself that's why she sent Xen after us, so there'd be no evidence. And now Xen isn't here to do her dirty work. He won't be back for days." Rogan grinned and Oliver relaxed.
Larkin exited the bathroom and Oliver hurried into it. He stripped down and got into the stream of hot water, relishing the feel of the grime being rinsed away at last.
42
Pursuit
Xen awoke with a groan. He lifted himself up onto his knees and felt blood pouring down his face from his nose. He cast a ball of light into the dark room and spotted the red liquid dripping into his lap. Nex sat close by, eyeing him warily.
"Come here." Xen gestured to him.
Nex tiptoed over and Xen gripped the material of his coat and wiped his bloody face on it. He spat out a mouthful of blood that had seeped down the back of his throat and got up.
He gazed around at the devastation in the room. The hunters and the teenagers were gone. He gurgled angrily in his throat, coughing up more phlegm and blood. The last of his men lay dead on the floor beside the grolls who had fallen too.
He lifted his sword, scraping it on the ground as he retrieved it. A pulse twitched in his temple as he gritted his teeth.
Xen let out a roar of fury that burned his throat. He swiped his sword from the ground and holstered it then shoved Nex ahead of him.
"Get the stone," he said in a deadly tone.
Nex rushed over to one of the dead solders, picked up his bag and shouldered it. Stowed within it was the scrivenstone, a prize Xen knew would make the Queen happy. He hoped it would be enough to appease her considering he had neither succeeded in killing the others nor rescuing the prince.
"Let's go," he ordered Nex. The boy nodded, waited for Xen to pass then hurried behind him. They exited the cavern through a narrow tunnel and Xen sent the ball of light ahead of them.
He paused at a fork, looking left then right. "Any ideas?" he glanced down at Nex who shook his head.
"Perfect," he growled, turning down the righthand tunnel.
A distant roaring reached his ears and he guessed at least three grolls were somewhere close by and they sounded angry about something. Or someone. Xen smiled.
Listening, he took a passage to the left and quickened his pace. The noise grew louder as he moved until he was sure he was just one passage away from them.
With his sword drawn and Nex at his heels, Xen crept down it. The sound of the grolls was deafening as he approached. There was a small recess to one side of the tunnel which he pushed Nex into.
"Wait here until I tell you to come out," he instructed.
Nex nodded, backing up further into the dark space.
Xen stepped right to the edge of the tunnel before it opened out into a large chamber. He chanced a look into the room and saw four grolls practically climbing on top of one another to get to something.
Just as he was considering whether it was worth taking them on, a flash of red dove out from between them. Xen ducked back a little to keep himself concealed but continued to watch the red-haired man whom he recognised.
There was no sign of the others but a little bubble of hope grew inside him at the thought that it might not be too late to catch them.
The hunter ducked what would have been a lethal blow from a groll's scrivenstone and sprinted across the chamber towards a narrow tunnel. He was hunched over as he went, clutching his side as if he were in pain. He dove forward into it and a groll swiped for his ankle, missing it by centimetres.
The grolls cried out in anger, stomping over to where the man had disappeared. As they vacated the other side of the chamber, Xen spotted a small space just big enough for the hunter to have been hiding in.
Xen knew his only chance of finding the others was following the hunter. He turned back down the passage and stopped where Nex was hiding.
"Come with me. Stay close, we'll have to move fast for this to work."
Nex hurried after him and Xen stopped at the end of the tunnel once more. "When I run, you run with me."
"Okay," Nex whispered.
Xen gathered a ball of purple fire in his hand, the sensation excruciating as the magic flooded his veins. He let out a hiss of air through his teeth then flung the fireball from him. It hurtled through the air and collided with the stone wall behind the grolls with a crash as the rock exploded in a cascade of rubble.
The thundering noise of the grolls ceased as they turned to investigate the source of the commotion.
Xen waited, one, two breaths. Then, as the grolls took a step away from the narrow tunnel, bolted across the room.
The pattering of Nex's footfalls followed him as he dove headfirst into the space.
When he was a few feet inside, he turned and snatched Nex by the collar and dragged him out of the reach of a large, meaty hand.
The beast's roar of fury filled the space with hot, putrid breath and a spray of spittle but they were safe.
Xen let out a ragged exhale then moved onwards, picking up the pace in case he lost track of the hunter. He exited the other end of the tunnel and found himself in a small space that he had to crouch down in.
Keeping low, he moved toward the wall opposite where there was a narrow crawlspace. A glistening, bloody handprint showed where the hunter had clasped to the edge as he climbed inside it. Xen could hardly believe the man had fit through the space. He turned back to Nex who was standing upright behind him.
