Cursed Bones

chapter 15



“That was almost unsettling, Alexander,” Jack said. “You were right there in front of me, carrying on a conversation, and at the same time you were right there in bed, lying still like a corpse.”

“It’ll work for now,” Alexander said. “I’ll be out for a while. There’s a lot to do.”

It took the better part of an afternoon to get used to seeing through the illusion. Then it just snapped into place and Alexander was there, seeing and hearing everything as if standing in the place his illusion occupied. He could move and talk and hear and be there in every way except the real way.

But it worked. He had the ability to act.

He methodically followed the well-worn path in his mind that led to the firmament and then he was in the endless ocean of creation—a moment later he was floating in a room half a world away, looking at his wife. He willed a perfect image of himself into place.

Isabel gasped, putting her hands over her mouth and looking at him with wide eyes as she stood frozen with a mixture of hope and surprise.

“How? Is it really you?” She reached out, taking a step forward.

Alexander shook his head. “Illusion.”

“So you’re still on Tyr, then,” Isabel said, then flinched like she’d been slapped. “Wait! Don’t answer that. In fact, don’t tell me anything of any interest to Phane. I can’t be trusted, Alexander.” She stopped again and looked at him with longing. Approaching slowly, she reached for his face but found only emptiness. A tear slipped from each eye as she closed them in pain.

“I’m safe, well and healing,” Alexander said. “Why did you leave?”

“I had to,” Isabel said. “I was a threat to you. I couldn’t live with myself if I killed you. I won’t, no matter what. This is how it has to be for now.”

“We could have found another way,” Alexander said.

Isabel shook her head.

“This was the only sure way.”

“And what if you get yourself killed?” Alexander asked.

“Better that than killing you,” she said.

“You can’t die,” Alexander said. “I need you.”

Isabel reached for him again, then stopped, turning around in frustration.

“I wish you were really here,” she said. “I miss you terribly. I didn’t want to leave, but I had to. You don’t know what it’s like, always second-guessing your own thoughts, questioning if it was really your thought. I can’t trust myself with your life right now, so I can’t be anywhere near you until I can.” She turned back around, facing him sternly with tears running freely down her face. “Deal in what is, not what if. This is what is.” She motioned to the locked room that had become her home in Karth’s secret fortress.

“You’re right,” Alexander said, drawing himself up. “Report.”

Isabel looked at him quizzically for a moment before smiling slightly and beginning a full accounting of her journey from Tyr to this place and time. She was thorough, yet concise, and delivered the entire summary without a hint of emotion.

“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.

“Dear Maker,” she said when he was finished. “The Sin’Rath are not entirely human. The Reishi Coven has had a long-standing agreement with them that we would not set foot on Karth if they didn’t set foot outside of Karth. Isabel has broken that treaty. There’s no telling how the Sin’Rath will react. They’re completely mad.

“By far the most immediately dangerous development is the doppelganger spell. Such magic links the two subjects of the spell at a very basic level. If the Sin’Rath witch dies, Isabel will die as well.

“Alexander, I must call the coven to me at the fortress island. Only with all of our strength together do we have a chance of dispelling the doppelganger spell, and I assure you that Phane will see through it. We might not have much time.”

“How long will it take you?”

“Several days to assemble all of the witches,” Magda said. “Sooner if you deliver the messages with your newfound and quite impressive talent.”

“Of course. I’ll spread the word. Once you help Isabel, would you be willing to help get Abigail back?”

“Absolutely,” Magda said. “Anything you need.”

“It may involve travel,” Alexander said.

“I’ll pack warmly.”

“Thank you, Magda,” he said. “Oh, one more thing, do you know what a Goiri is?”

Magda frowned, shaking her head. “I’ve never heard the term before but I will consult the coven’s library when I return to the fortress island. Perhaps I’ll find something there.”

“One of the Sin’Rath mentioned it to Isabel, then another silenced her like she was saying too much,” Alexander said. “Might be nothing.”

“Better to know for certain,” Magda said.

“My thoughts exactly,” Alexander said before he returned to the table and faced Prince Torin.

“We’re not acquainted,” Alexander said, “but I believe you are Prince Torin, brother of Princess Lacy.”

“I am, and I swear Fellenden’s allegiance to the Reishi,” Torin said.

“No,” Alexander said, “swear your allegiance to the Old Law, not the Reishi.”

Torin blinked, then frowned quizzically.

“Tell me about your sister,” Alexander said.

Torin thought for a moment, then described Lacy in look and manner.

“I have good but troubling news for you,” Alexander said. “Lacy is alive, but she’s being held prisoner aboard a ship manned by Phane’s men disguised to look like Zuhl’s men. I believe they’re playing out an elaborate ruse to trick Lacy into opening the magical box she found in Carlyle Fellenden’s tomb. I can’t let that happen.”

“Lady Abigail sent a hundred men after her, led by Captain Wyatt,” Torin said. “They’ve clearly failed.”

“It could be that they just haven’t succeeded yet,” Alexander said. “I know Wyatt, he’s a good man in a fight and he doesn’t quit.”

“What do you propose then?” Torin asked.

“For the moment, we do nothing,” Alexander said. “I’ll gather more information and try to come up with a viable plan.”

“That isn’t very reassuring,” Torin said. “She’s all I have left. There must be something you can do.”

“I can’t project an illusion to speak with her because the man in the cell next to her works for Phane, although Lacy doesn’t know that. I can talk to her in her dreams, but I’m not certain I should. Tell me, is she a good liar? If I reveal a plan to her, will she be able to keep it from Phane’s agent?”

“No,” Torin said, shaking his head. “She’s a terrible liar. She’s probably safer if she doesn’t know what we’re planning.”

“Then we don’t have a move right now,” Alexander said. “We have to get our people closer first, then we’ll start to have options. We’ll get her back, Torin.”

“I’ve always been there to protect her,” Torin said. “It doesn’t seem right that I’m not there for her now.”

“I know exactly how you feel,” Alexander said.

He vanished from behind the chair and reappeared at the foot of Anatoly’s bed.

“Is that really you?” Anatoly asked, his voice weak.

“I’m not actually here, but it’s me,” Alexander said.

“I’m sorry,” Anatoly whispered. “I couldn’t stop them.”

“As I heard it, you prevented her from being crushed by a falling ceiling,” Alexander said. “You saved her life. How are you faring?”

“Healers say I should be on my feet in a few days,” Anatoly said.

“If you’re up to it, I want to send you after her,” Alexander said.

“I’ll be ready,” Anatoly said.

“Don’t push too hard, you don’t want to reopen your wounds,” Alexander said, “besides, my plan won’t be ready for a few days.”

“All right,” Anatoly said. “How are things going with you?”

Alexander gave him a brief synopsis of his travels to the Spires and his current state.

“Things are going to get ugly come spring,” Anatoly said. “Think you’ll be in fighting form by then?”

“I’m hoping,” Alexander said. “In the meantime, I’m going to make the most of this new magical talent I’ve developed and try to get us as ready as possible for spring thaw. Rest and heal. I’ll be back in a few days. Oh, who has the Thinblade?”

“I do,” Anatoly said, pulling the sheathed sword from under the covers. The hilt was tied to the scabbard to prevent it from being drawn. “I’ve got her bow, too. It’s under the bed.”

“Good man. Get well,” Alexander said before vanishing.

He went to Cassandra next, materializing on the plateau of the fortress island and sending a gardener to retrieve the triumvir. She arrived, a bit perplexed and wary but willing to hear him out nonetheless. Once he explained the situation, she donned the mantle of leader and began preparing her coven for the spell casting.

Bianca had her people saddling wyverns for all of her witches before Alexander vanished into the firmament again.

Constance was in a command tent attending a war council with the senior staff of Alexander’s Ruathan army in Buckwold. He appeared behind an empty chair at the table and waited for the room to fall silent.

“Hi, Dad,” he said.

“Alexander? How?” Duncan asked.

“I just figured out how to do this today,” Alexander said. “It’s good to see you.”

“You as well, Son,” Duncan said. “I’m assuming you’re not really here.”

“No, I’m on Tyr,” Alexander said. He spent several minutes explaining the situation they faced, Isabel’s predicament and Abigail’s abduction. Duncan took the news stoically, but Alexander could see the deep distress in his colors at the news that his only daughter was being held by the enemy.

“Do you have a plan to get your wife and sister back?” Duncan asked.

“I have a plan for Abigail,” Alexander said. “It’s risky, but it has a good chance of working, and it may deal a serious blow to Zuhl if it does. As for Isabel, Magda has called all of the witches back to the coven to dispel the doppelganger spell before Phane discovers the Sin’Rath’s ruse and inadvertently kills Isabel.”

“I’ll gather the witches under my command and depart immediately,” Constance said. “Unfortunately, I have a witch in Kai’Gorn and another in Southport.”

“I’ll go there next and deliver their orders,” Alexander said. “How are things here?”

Duncan sighed. “We’re in trouble. Come spring, the Lancers will breach our lines and pour into the northern plains. From there, once they’re out in the open, they’ll be able to attack anywhere north of the Great Forest.”

“What do you need to stop them?” Alexander said.

“I don’t think there’s anything you can give me that will stop them,” Duncan said. “Our line is just too long to hold. We’ll probably stop their first attack and maybe even their second, but eventually, they will get through. Once that happens, I could really use a legion of Rangers.”

“I’ll see to it,” Alexander said. “Would more infantry help?”

“Couldn’t hurt,” Duncan said. “Archers would be useful, too.”

“I’ll send you a legion of each,” Alexander said. “Abigail cut Zuhl’s numbers on Fellenden in half and Prince Torin has rallied about four legions from Fellenden to add to our strength. Most aren’t soldiers but they’re willing to learn so we’re integrating them into our forces.”

“At least there’s that,” Duncan said.

“I have to go, Dad,” Alexander said. “I love you.”

“I love you too, Son,” Duncan said as Alexander faded into the firmament.

He went to Kai’Gorn next, then Southport relaying the message to the witches and briefing General Talia and Kevin on recent events.

He was floating on the firmament, considering his next move when he suddenly slammed back into his body. The pain was almost more than he could bear. His head felt like it was full of molten lead, searing agony throbbing with each beat of his heart. He nearly screamed, but couldn’t draw a full enough breath past the torment.

Jack stopped shaking him and stood as Alexander sat up. Blood from his nose dripped onto the blanket. He felt a tickling on the sides of his cheeks and found blood leaking from his ears as well.

“When we saw you bleeding, we shook you out of your trance,” Jack said.

“Are you all right, My Love?” Chloe asked, worry rippling through her voice.

He shook his head as he fumbled for a healing draught. After quickly quaffing the potion, he lay back, waiting for the welcome relief of unconsciousness.

He woke several hours later.

“How are you feeling?” Jack asked.

“Much better,” Alexander said. “Apparently, I overdid it. After I went blind, I had similar headaches while my all around sight expanded, though none so intense. I’ll have to be more careful in the future.”

“I’ll say,” Jack said.

“I have bad news,” Alexander said, closing his eyes. “Abigail’s been taken by Zuhl.”

“Dear Maker,” Jack said, slumping back in his chair.

“I have a plan to get her back, but it’s risky.”

“I trust you’ll do everything in your power,” Jack said. “I just wish there was more I could do.”

“I know,” Alexander said, willing the door to his Wizard’s Den closed. “Zuhl wants the book, the one that will make him into an immortal undead. He called it a lich book, says he’ll trade it for Abigail.”

“As much as I want her back, you can’t give him that book,” Jack said.

“I know, but maybe this is an opportunity,” Alexander said.

“You want to give him the other book.”

“I think the ruse has a better chance of working against Zuhl than Phane,” Alexander said, “especially since he’s already done the hard work for us.”

“What do you mean?” Jack asked.

“Well, we’d have had to convince Phane that the book exists,” Alexander said, “then entice him to come and steal it. Zuhl already knows it exists and he wants it badly enough to abduct Abigail to get it. The more I think about it, the more I like it.”

“So how do we get it to him?” Jack asked.

“We’ll have a Sky Knight come and get it,” Alexander said. “Bragador might be reluctant but I think I can persuade her, especially once I tell her that Zuhl has collared half a dozen dragons.”

“What?” Jack asked.

“Apparently, he’s very interested in old books,” Alexander said, “seems he’s discovered the process for enchanting dragon collars. In fact, he was riding one during the battle, or so Abigail thought when she jumped off her wyvern in midflight and cut him in half.”

“What?!” Jack said.

Alexander recounted the battle for the Fellenden shipyards to a stunned Jack and explained how Zuhl had cheated death. Jack sat listening, slack-jawed and shaking his head slightly until Alexander finished.

“And she tells you to be more careful,” he said.

“My thoughts exactly,” Alexander said. “I have to give it to her, though. It worked. If she hadn’t taken that dragon out of the battle, there’s no telling how things would have turned out for us.”