The Rise of Isaac, Books 1-3, page 81
"Well, that's just it. This is going to sound crazy but we just went to see Eugene and, well, my dad was disguised as him. He told us it's been him all along. That Rimori killed Eugene not him and he took the blame in disguise so his family's own name wouldn't be soiled."
Ingrid's forehead descended towards her nose, creasing with concentration. She shook her head, making the tight, blonde bob on her head shiver. "What?"
"Our grandfather, Ely Fox was there too," May said. "You have to believe us."
"Oh I believe you. I've said from the moment William Knight turned up alive that something was off. But that. I mean, it's unheard of. The magic it must have taken to keep himself in Eugene's form for his entire prison sentence. I don't like the man, but that's dedication to a cause if ever I saw it."
"Does it really change anything though?" Rogan asked.
"I don't know if they planned for this but it's massively benefitting Rimori's cause now. People are actually believing he brought Knight back from the dead." She frowned thoughtfully then snapped her fingers, her eyes brightening with an idea. "Now we've got him. Just a moment." Ingrid turned and retrieved her Flash Screen from the desk. A repetitive noise sounded as she called someone.
"Yes? I'm very busy Ingrid if this is about that Quinn girl again-" Hadus was cut off.
"No. Hadus. This is about Isaac Rimori. I have information that could undermine his recruitment process in Theald," she said professionally.
"I'll be there in three and a half minutes." The line went dead.
"Have you got any news on Quinn?" Larkin asked anxiously.
Ingrid bit her lip lightly then released it. "Yes, I wanted to talk to you about that..." She looked concerned. "We've had an informant come forward who overheard a conversation. A girl in Barlin is believed to have been contacted by Hector Rook but, so far, the girl has eluded us."
"Who is she?" Rogan asked.
"And why isn't Hector contacting us?" Oliver said, shaking his head in confusion.
Ingrid sighed. "Look, I know you don't want to hear this but I'm starting to doubt this Hector Rook. The girl he contacted is called Fiona Lime. She's the daughter of an Arclite preacher. She's had run-ins with the law before, going by the name Fia. She took her father's speedboat out of the harbour and she hasn't checked into any of the larger islands since."
"So, what are you saying?" May asked in alarm.
"I think we have to start seriously considering the possibility that Hector Rook is holding Quinn Thorn hostage. We suspect the girl, Miss Lime, has connections with Rimori. Though there isn't yet enough evidence to arrest her for questioning."
Her words hung in the air. Oliver's chest constricted anxiously.
Anna shook her head. "Hector wouldn't-"
"Wouldn't he?" Rogan rounded on her, scraping a hand through his hair. "How much do we really know about him?"
Larkin swore loudly. "That sneaky, low-life scum!"
"Let's all keep a clear head," Ingrid said, commanding authority. "Today, I released their images to the citizens. Everyone in Brinatin now has pictures of them on their Flash Screens. Until we require further evidence, we cannot be certain that this is kidnap." She turned to Rogan. "No doubt this will leak back to the press in Aleva so you may want to make a statement."
Rogan nodded, his face taut with worry.
There was a knock at the door and Ingrid moved across the room to answer it. Hadus entered, ducking his head marginally to get through the doorway.
Anna placed a hand on Oliver's wrist and his stomach swirled.
"Hadus, before we start, there's someone you'd better meet." Ingrid turned. "This is Oliver Knight: your nephew."
Hadus didn't look like a man who could be easily surprised and his regimented demeanour held up while he gazed at Oliver.
Oliver was grateful that his uncle didn't resemble William, not wanting his appearance to affect his judgement.
Hadus thrusted out an arm in a straight line, holding his hand up to Oliver. He took it and shook Hadus's meaty palm.
"There are many things I'd like to know about you," Hadus said in his deep voice. "But I will ask them of you at a later date." He released Oliver's hand and strode to the window, gazing out across the city.
Oliver glanced at May and her mouth hooked up at the side.
Hadus snapped around, his silhouette illuminated by the brightness beyond the window. "Tell me everything."
Ingrid filled him in, condensing the story down to the essential facts.
Hadus stood in silence, not giving away his feelings as she spoke. He nodded stiffly. "This changes things. We have an angle. We must attack Rimori's character. William has deceived the masses on his behalf, he is a coward and a trickster." He spoke in statements as if his opinions were facts.
"Yes, but how? I want to have a fully formed plan before we talk to Thrake," Ingrid said.
"We need hard, concrete proof that Eugene isn't alive," Hadus said.
"Could we testify in front of a court?" May suggested. "Ely too?"
Ingrid moved her pursed mouth to one side as she thought on the idea. "Perhaps. But is that good enough? Rimori will simply deny it. They could say Eugene has gone into hiding, it would be quite plausible that he'd want to start afresh considering the public's opinion on him. And that's much more believable than William Knight impersonating him for nearly ten years without anyone noticing."
"Maybe we could find some evidence at the house he was living in?" Hadus suggested.
"Err, that might be a problem," Oliver said with a frown.
"Why?" Ingrid asked.
"It kind of got destroyed. William fought with Ely. The house got blown up," Oliver said.
"And William might not have spent much time there anyway, at least not since Rimori returned," Anna chipped in. "They're using varks to travel between the worlds somehow. That's how they're avoiding the Gateways."
"How do you know all of this?" Hadus asked, narrowing his eyes and looking around at them all.
May stepped forward and took a deep breath. "It starts with me."
***
By the end of their story, Ingrid had slumped into the chair behind her desk and everyone but Oliver, May and Hadus had dropped onto the sofa.
They had explained about Truvian Gold attacking them in Aleva, Rimori sending the vark to push them over the cliff and William impersonating Truvian to give him an alibi. They had relived their time in Glacio and the attack sprung on them by Queen Lacine and her business relationship with Rimori. They had explained how Rimori had betrayed her trust, somehow giving Dead Xen powers and how he then killed the Queen and took the throne.
They told them about the group of mages that had been bound and shackled, seemingly being traded to Rimori and how, after surviving all of this, Hector Rook had now betrayed them and kidnapped Quinn before they could escape into Brinatin.
Ingrid opened her mouth then shut it, at a loss for words.
"Well, I can tell you one thing for certain. Hector Rook is taking your friend to Theald," Hadus said.
"What? How do you know?" Rogan asked desperately.
"He's selling her to Rimori. Mages have been going missing from Glacio for months. A Renic like Quinn Thorn is going to fetch a pretty hefty price, don't you think?"
Rogan set his jaw.
"That little sh-" Larkin started but Oliver cut him off.
"Then they could already be gone!"
Rogan stood up. "What?"
Oliver instantly felt guilty for worrying him. "Sorry, but Rimori can travel without the Gateways. If Hector's found a way to contact him then she'd already be gone."
His words hung in the air as shock spread over them.
"You're right, of course," Hadus said, nodding to him. "But I think we have a little time yet. Fiona Lime has a part to play in this. She is almost certainly the link between Hector and Rimori. As she's still yet to be found we can assume the trade has not yet been concluded."
"How can you possibly know that?" Rogan asked desperately.
"Years of experience and a million and one paid off hunches," Hadus said bluntly.
"That'll have to be good enough," Rogan said with a heavy sigh.
"No way. She's gone. It's too late," Larkin said, dropping his head into his hands.
Anna rested a palm on Larkin's back and Oliver stiffened. He turned his head away to look anywhere else, knowing he was being unreasonable.
"Hadus knows what he's talking about. We still have time," Ingrid said firmly. "Getting back to the matter at hand, I think a tactical news report to reveal William's guise is our best option. We'll word it as complete fact with no room for doubt in people's minds."
"How will we reach Theald that way?" Hadus asked.
"It's a start, Hadus. Word will spread from Brinatin, it's bound to. Once the news is out, I'll contact the president of the confederacy in Theald and encourage her to share the news with the world."
Hadus nodded. "I'll inform Thrake. Be prepared to attend an emergency meeting, Ingrid." He strode from the room with a nod to Oliver before leaving.
The door clicked shut behind him.
"Thanks for all your help," Ingrid said with a smile. She looked tired as if she had worked consistently for days on end. "I'll set up a press conference for you, Rogan. I should be able to organise it for a couple of days' time."
He rubbed his chin. "Thank you."
She nodded. "I'll send word when it's arranged."
Rogan lingered in the room as Oliver led the way out. They waited in the corridor until Rogan appeared a couple of minutes later.
"What were you talking to her about?" Larkin asked.
"I'll tell you in a minute let's just get out of here first," Rogan said, walking past them down the stairs.
Their footsteps echoed around the atrium as they hurried towards the bridge and out onto the street. The humid heat instantly swept over them.
Rogan sped up ahead of them and Larkin rushed after him, grabbed his arm and made him turn around. "What did you say to her?" he demanded.
Rogan turned and sighed. "I'm going to compete in the challenge. I need to go to Theald to find Quinn and I want to try and help my sister, I have to get her away from Rimori."
Larkin's whole face contorted. "Oh and what? You were gonna just slip off on your own and do that were you?"
"There's no need for anyone else to come. I can handle it myself," Rogan said.
Oliver frowned at his words.
"Oh and we can't, is that it?" Larkin snapped. "'Cause we're not mages right? Well, if your magic is so damn great tell me how a moron like Hector kidnapped your fiancé from under your nose?"
"Shut up! Don't you think I know that? That's why I have to be the one to get her back!" Rogan shouted, clearly not caring about the looks he was getting from passers by.
"Rogan we're your friends. You can't shut us out," Oliver said, moving towards him.
"You have about a thousand other problems to be worrying about Oliver! Do you think I want anything to do with compromising May's chances of breaking the link?" Rogan asked, glancing at her.
"I'm not your responsibility!" May shouted, surprising them all. "Any of you," she added. "I am sick of being everyone's little problem. You all look at me like I might drop dead at any second and I hate it! If you're competing in the challenge to go and rescue Quinn then so am I." She jutted out her chin.
"Are you insane?" Oliver snapped at her. "You're not going to Theald. Rimori's there!"
"You are not Mum, Oliver. You cannot decide for me. You think you're protecting me but you're just smothering me!"
"You'd have been dead about ten times if it wasn't for me protecting you!" Oliver retorted.
She expelled a sharp breath through her nose, gazing at him angrily.
"Woah. Everyone just chill out for a second," Anna said, grasping the brief window of silence. "We have to think about this rationally."
"Anna's right," Larkin said, his tense body relaxing. "I'll go with Rogan. You lot stay here. Done."
They all started shouting over each other and Anna screwed up her eyes as she screeched, "Shut up!"
She raised her eyebrows at them, challenging anyone to speak before continuing in a collected tone. "How about this? We contact Wallace and find out if he's close to breaking the bind on the rats." She raised her hand to stop Rogan speaking as he opened his mouth. "And if he is me, Oliver and May stay here and you two go to Theald." She held up her hand again as Oliver tried to chip in. "But if not we all go to Theald."
No one said anything.
"Deal," May said smartly.
Oliver gazed at her for a moment then nodded. "Fine."
Larkin shrugged and Rogan gave a small nod.
Anna exhaled slowly. "Good. I'm exhausted."
"Let's go back to the hotel," Oliver said and they began walking in tense silence back to the Merrymoon.
***
Oliver fell onto his bed after a long, cool shower, bringing his body temperature back to normal. He dressed in shorts but left his t-shirt off, enjoying the feel of cool air on his skin that was circling around the room from the ventilation system.
He reached for the Flash Thought earpiece that he had left on his bedside table and clipped it onto his ear.
The screen on the wall came to life as he focused on it. A cheesy romance film was playing and he soon got sucked into it. A knock at the door sounded and he answered it, finding Anna there.
"May's gone out, can I hang out with you?" she asked, casting her eyes over his chest.
He grinned. "Sure." He stepped aside to let her in and shut the door behind her.
"What are you watching?" she asked.
"Some terrible romance thing. But it's drawn me in and now I have to see it through." He threw himself down on the mattress and patted the bed beside him.
She kicked off her flip flops and dived into the space beside him, resting against his shoulder. She sighed contentedly. "Let's order room service and pretend we don't have problems. Just for tonight."
"That sounds perfect," he said, leaning down and kissing the light freckles on her cheek.
"Where's May gone?" he mumbled after a moment.
"Dunno. Somewhere with Rogan. Rogan said that Larkin's using the climate control settings on the Flash Screen to try and replicate Glacio's weather in their room."
Oliver laughed and Anna giggled lightly, the sound making his heart soar.
26
The King in Glacio
Ely stepped through the Gateway to Glacio and sunk into a foot of snow. A silent storm of cascading, white flakes were falling heavily from the sky. The snowfall cast the world in darkness so the flakes looked almost grey in the dreary scene.
A dim, orange glow was visible to his right where the Gateway Keeper's cabin stood. He gathered his heavy coat tighter around him and waded towards the light.
Hurrying under the shelter of the cabin's porch, he shook the flurry of white from his hair. He knocked a bare hand on the door, flexing his fingers to send warming magic into them.
The door swung inwards with a creak. A tall, cloaked figure stood in the doorway, their silhouette illuminated by the fire in the grate behind them.
"Enter," the man spoke, stepping aside.
Ely hurried inside and the man closed the door. The orange hue cast from the fire lit his features. He had a thick, grey beard and dark circles under his eyes.
He loomed over Ely and gazed down at him. "Name?" he growled in a gravelly voice.
Ely gave his name, a flicker of anxiety running through him.
"Fox?" the Keeper hissed between yellowing teeth.
Ely nodded. "I'm just passing through to Aleva. I won't be here for more than a day."
The man walked over to a tattered armchair with a high back and dropped into it, his body looking thinner than Ely had first realised.
"Take a seat Mr Fox," the man said, gesturing to an armchair opposite him.
Ely hesitated then moved to sit down. The fire flared between them and he relished the heat it emitted.
"There's a storm setting in. You won't get far in this weather," the man said. "My name is Keeper Hamish, I've recently been appointed here since the death of Keeper Jade."
Ely nodded with a creeping feeling fleeing up his spine. "How long before the storm breaks? I'm in quite a hurry."
"Mr Fox-"
"Call me Ely," he interjected.
"Ely," he said with a nod then lowered his voice to a whisper and leant forward in his chair. "I need to be frank about something."
"And what's that?" Ely asked, his fingers tingling with magic as his anxiety levels rose uncomfortably.
"I've been instructed to arrest you," he breathed, glancing to either side of him as if someone might be listening.
Ely's skin prickled. "Arrest me? But what for?"
"King Xen has left me a list of names. Names of people that I must bring to him if they enter Glacio."
"Oh," Ely breathed, sitting back in his chair warily.
"But I'm not going to do that." He glanced around once more. "Because I need your help."
Ely stiffened, gripping the arms of the chair. "Help? With what?"
"The King is sending mages to Isaac Rimori. I am only safe because a Keeper must be present at the Gateways by law. He has promised the safety of my family in return for my loyalty but he has ordered that they live in the palace under the watch of his guards."
"I see," Ely said slowly.
"I wouldn't risk their lives for anything but I cannot stand idly by whilst Xen sends every magical man, woman and child to the fate of Rimori. And I am not foolish enough to believe that I am beyond replacement."
Ely surveyed the man, keeping himself calm. "And what do you expect me to be able to do?"
Hamish sat forward, his watery eyes gazing at him desperately. "I know that you are against Xen because you're on that list. And those I can trust are few and far between so I am reaching out to you for help. There is a small, though strong-willed rebellion gathering in the city. We need every advantage we can get. And the fact that you have come to me can only be the will of the Arc itself."
