Second Chance

chapter 21




Carrick had been in meetings all day at the Conclave Hall. He was pleased. The Commanders had all agreed on a uniform plan of attack, and with just two more days of training, they would be ready to march on to Kestevayne. As Carrick exited the Hall, he saw Bing running up the street toward him, barking like crazy. Instant dread settled in his stomach.

Bing ran right up to Carrick and just kept barking at him. He knew instinctively something was wrong with Ava. Carrick took off running toward her house, Bing following with his desperate barks. Carrick crashed through the front door, yelling Ava’s name. He got no response and ran through the house, quickly figuring out she wasn’t there.

Bing’s incessant barking was starting to panic Carrick. He had no clue where to look for her. He started for his house… maybe she went there. Bing followed, still barking. People around town were watching them as if they were crazy. Carrick quickly searched his house but no Ava. As he came back down the steps, he saw Sam across the street and ran over to him.

“Sam. Have you seen Ava today?” Carrick knew his voice sounded harsh and desperate.

Sam nodded his head up and down shyly, keeping his eyes downcast.

Gentling his tone, Carrick said, “Do you know where she is?”

Sam shook his head.

“Was she with anyone that you know?”

Sam finally spoke up. “She went fishing this morning with Quentin. She normally don’t like to take Bing with her but she let him go today. I saw them riding out of town on their horses.”

“Thanks, Sam,” Carrick said as he ruffled the child’s hair.

Carrick took off running for the stables and called for Bing who willingly followed him. Bing wasn’t barking anymore, as if he knew Carrick had some clue as to what was going on. After saddling Greta, Carrick knelt down before Bing and grabbed the dog’s head gently with his hands. Carrick’s baby blues met Bing’s chocolate drops.

“I don’t know if you can understand me Bing, but I need you to show me where Ava is. Please. Find Ava.”

Bing gave an excited yip and took off running. Carrick jumped in the saddle and wheeled Greta in Bing’s direction.

After twenty minutes of following Bing at a run, Carrick came up to a fishing stream. He saw poles lying on the ground, a brown blanket, and a picnic basket. He dismounted from Greta and walked up for a closer look.

Food was spread out but ants had overtaken the generous feast. There was a bottle of honey wine with about half the contents gone. Two empty wine glasses lay on the blanket. Carrick heard a nicker and turned to see King tied to a tree a few yards away. He had not noticed the big horse when he first rode in. Quentin’s horse was nowhere to be seen.

Carrick lifted the bottle of wine to his nose and sniffed. He recognized the bitter smell of millefolia and knew that a sleeping draught had been added to the wine.

Carrick untied King and mounted Greta. Calling for Bing to follow, he headed back to Clairmont. He made it back in record time and immediately called for an emergency meeting of all Royals and their commanders.

***

After moments of floating in and out of consciousness, Ava finally felt like she had her bearings. She wasn’t sure at first but now she knew she was in Kestevayne. She vaguely remembered being drugged with the honey wine. At first, she feared for Quentin’s safety, but not long after her first moments of consciousness, Quentin came into the room where she was being held and disabused her of her worry.

Ava had been lying on a cot in a dark cell. The walls and floor were made of dirt, not stone, which she found to be weird. Couldn’t someone dig their way to freedom? She sat up on the cot, and felt immediately dizzy. Her head hurt, but she was sure that was from being drugged and that she wasn’t injured.

Her first thoughts were of Quentin. She fervently hoped he had not been taken. And just as she was wondering about him, her cell door opened and Quentin walked in. He looked healthy and was smiling. She instantly knew he was a traitor.

“How are you feeling, Ava?” Quentin asked as he walked up to her cot. He reached his hand out to feel her forehead.

Ava stood up so fast the room spun on her, but she didn’t fall until she was able to draw back her right arm and punch Quentin in the face. She made solid connection to his left cheek. She vaguely recalled yelling, “Traitor” at him as she fell to the ground.

When she came to the second time, she was lying on the dirt floor and Quentin was sitting on a stool near the wall. She must not have been unconscious for long.

“Now, no hitting, Ava. You need to conserve your strength. So I’ll ask again, how are you feeling?”

“I’m feeling like you are an a*shole, that’s how I’m feeling.” Ava was glaring daggers at him.

Quentin chuckled. “I always did like your spunk, little twerp.”

Ava ignored that comment, and simply asked, “Why, Quentin?”

“Why?” he repeated with a tone as if he couldn’t believe she even had to ask the question. “I did it for love, Ava.”

“Love?” Ava was genuinely bewildered.

“Yes,” echoed an icy voice. Entering her cell was Ralina. This was not the Ralina that Ava remembered. The woman standing before her had dark red hair instead of pale blonde. The irises of her eyes had turned to an eerie translucency, and the pupils were hell-fire red. Ava swore she could actually see flames dancing in them. Ralina complimented her look by dressing in a blood red gown. Odd, but Ralina actually radiated coldness. Ava thought it would be heat with her obvious favor of red.

“He did it for love, Ava. He did it for love of me.”

Ava gaped at Quentin. She was beyond astounded and she was still pissed. She pointed at Ralina and couldn’t stop herself from saying, “You love this piece of trash, usurper?”

Ava only had a second to see that Quentin was offended by her question but her attention was taken by the sudden lack of oxygen she was experiencing. Something was squeezing her throat and closing off her windpipe. Her eyes snapped to Ralina and she saw that Ralina was holding out her right hand, mocking an invisible grip she would have on someone if she were holding them by the throat.

Ava realized that she was being magically choked to death. But just as suddenly, Ralina released her hold and Ava clutched at her throat, gasping for precious air.

“I suspect you’ll watch your tone in front of me from now on. Come, Quentin, my love. It’s a bit dank down here for my tastes.”

Ava watched through narrowed eyes as Quentin and Ralina walked out of her cell.

That was yesterday. As best she could tell, she had been here a day. But then again, that was just a guess because she could have been unconscious for a full day. Regardless, she wasn’t in the cell anymore. Two guards had hauled her out last night after Ralina had left and walked her down several halls.

It didn’t take long for her to now recognize Kestevayne. This was the prison system. She had only been down here once, touring with her father, but she would never forget the darkness and desolation of the place. She obviously had not seen the entire prison, so it was no surprise that Ava didn’t recognize the room she was brought to.

This one was made entirely of stone and had several small windows up high that let in a good bit of light. There were sconces on the walls that when lit, would also provide illumination. Ava noticed a cross bolted into the floor in the middle of the room.

The guards dragged her to the cross and she fought with all her might. It was to no avail. They easily tied her arms to each cross post, and her feet to the bottom. After tying her up, they ripped and cut off her clothes, leaving her in nothing but a black pair of her sexiest Victoria’s Secret panties she just happened to be wearing. I’m sure that will come in handy…said no one ever who had been tied to a cross with nothing but black underwear on.

The thing that confused Ava the most was why they didn’t put her in iron. They left her with full control of her magical ability. She had not used it yet, because she didn’t want to call attention to the fact she was in full possession of it. She wanted to make sure she knew the best time to pull it forth.

Her machinations were interrupted when she heard the door open. She looked over and Ralina walked in. She was carrying a bowl and a knife. So not good. Ava thought she may need to pull out her magic right now. She watched with wary eyes as Ralina approached.

“Before you even begin to think of hitting me with a spell, let me show you a little treat I brought for you.”

Ralina reached into the bowl and pulled out a dull, black stone. She laid it on the floor and a projected beam of light emerged. Ava watched in fascination as an image formed in the light and gasped when she realized it was Carrick. He was chained to a wall, both of his arms in cuffs above his head. He had blood running down his face. The cell looked similar to the one Ava had first been in. They had Carrick.

“Yes, I have your beloved Carrick and he will enjoy, let’s say, fairly good health as long as you are obedient. But the minute you raise a hand against me or my guards, I will have Carrick lashed until he is dead.”

Ava sagged against the cross. There was no way she could risk Carrick’s life. She was going to have to try to figure something else out.

“What do you plan to do with me?” Ava asked.

Ralina struck out fast and with an open hand smacked Ava in the face. “Impertinent bitch! You have no right to question me.”

Ava’s head was slightly ringing. I thought it was a fair question.

Ralina looked at Ava for several moments, as if pondering her next words. “Do you realize how precious your blood is Ava?”

Ava didn’t respond. She didn’t want to earn another knock to the head if she said something wrong.

“Your blood is very powerful. That’s why you are not in iron. I can’t afford to have your power diluted until I am finished with you. I’m banking your love for Carrick will keep you… shall we say…docile.”

Ralina started walking around Ava, looking her up and down. Ava followed her with her eyes when she was in her line of vision. When she wasn’t, she had the creeps wondering what Ralina was doing behind her.

“I really just don’t get what Carrick saw in you.”

Ava held her tongue, wanting to save her face from another smack. She needed her head as clear as possible.

“Well, no matter. What’s done is done.”

Ralina came to a standstill in front of Ava. She knelt down and placed the bowl on the ground under Ava’s right arm. Standing back up, she held the knife in front of her face.

“I hope you can tolerate a little pain, Ava.”

****

Everyone had assembled at Conclave Hall. It had been a full day since Ava had gone missing and royal forces had been searching for her day and night. Now, the Royals and Commanders gathered together to discuss further strategy.

Carrick stood on the top of the dais and addressed the crowd of Royals and military commanders. He scrubbed a hand through his hair in obvious frustration. He needed to calm down. He’d been in vicious battles before but none that had put fear like this in his belly.

“I’m sorry to report but we’ve had no luck in tracking down Ava or her kidnappers.”

“Is this Ralina’s doing?” Baynor Sorin asked.

Carrick blew out a frustrated breath and nodded. “That’s what I’m thinking.”

“Then what is our plan?” the King of House D’Amuri asked.

Carrick had no answer so it was a good thing they were interrupted by a messenger running down the aisle to their meeting table. Coming to a stop before Carrick, he handed him what looked to be a black lump of coal.

“Sir, this was just delivered by a man claiming to be an emissary of the Empress Ralina. He said to deliver this to you.”

“Where is this man?” Carrick asked as he looked back toward the door.

“Sir, I don’t know. After he handed me the stone, he just… sort of… melted away. There’s a puddle of him left outside the Hall if you want to see.”

Carrick looked over at Heph. The look between them confirmed that this was Ralina’s dark magic at work. He looked down at the stone in his hand, but he had no idea what to do with it. He looked again at Heph, who shrugged his shoulders.

Suddenly, the stone started growing hot. Within a few seconds, Carrick was unable to hold it and dropped it to the floor. The minute the stone made contact with the floor, a beam of light shot up out of it. It stayed narrow at the base of the stone, but spread outward as it went higher.

Within the light, Carrick started to recognize something taking form. It was becoming clearer as his eyes adjusted to the glow. Then he realized what he was seeing. A vision of Ralina. Except this was a different Ralina from what he remembered. Gone was the blonde hair and icy blue eyes. She was red all over. Hair, eyes, clothing. She looked evil and deranged.

“Hello, Carrick. It’s been a long time. You’re looking well.”

Ralina’s voice drifted around the Hall. She was making an attempt to sound seductive but it only made Carrick shudder in disgust. Her voice seemed to be everywhere, bouncing off the walls, reverberating under his feet. He could see her lips moving in the vision from the stone, matching the eerie voice all around them.

“Ralina. It has been a long time. I wish I could say you were looking well too, but, let’s just say the dark magicks have not done any favors to your looks.”

Carrick thought he heard Baynor hiss, “Don’t antagonize her Carrick”, but he was beyond caring if he pissed Ralina off.

Ralina gave a cold laugh that sent icicles racing through his veins. “Baynor is right. Don’t antagonize me Carrick. You don’t want me taking my wrath out on your lovely little Ava would you?”

Carrick’s worst fear was confirmed. Ralina had Ava and he felt his rage building up hotly. He couldn’t stop himself from saying though, “If you harm her, Ralina, I will personally carve you up, an inch at a time.”

Ralina gave another icy chuckle. Everyone in the room seemed to be wincing from the pain of it. “You’re too late Carrick. I’ve already harmed her. See for yourself.”

Carrick watched with dread as the light changed and a vision came through of Ava. Most of her clothes had been ripped away and she was tied to a cross in an empty room, arms outstretched and bound with rope. Her head hung forward and her face was hidden by her hair. Carrick assumed she was unconscious. He would not believe, for a second, that she was dead. Worst of all, he noticed a symbol that had been carved into her upper right arm and was slowly leaking blood, being collected in a bowl below.

Carrick bellowed in rage. The vision changed back to Ralina.

“Now listen closely, Carrick. Ava lives and will continue to live, as long as you and your troops stay away from Kestevayne. It just so happens I need her alive for many years for what I have planned. So if you value her life, you will stay away from Kestevayne. I’ll even gladly let the other Royals there in the room with you swear allegiance to me and their past aggressions will be forgiven.”

“How do I know you will keep your word?” Carrick demanded.

“You don’t, silly fool. But if you want to test the truth of my words, come to Kestevayne with your army and I’ll hang Ava’s dead body from the palace walls.”

No one said a word.

“I see we have an agreement. As always, it’s been a pleasure.” The light in the stone vanished and it seemed the temperature in the room warmed by a few degrees.

The Commander of the Groucutt Army spoke first. “So, as long as we leave Kestevayne alone, Princess Ava will continue to live?”

Carrick sneered at that question. “Of course she’s not going to let Ava live. She’s clearly just trying to stall us.”

Heph started walking toward the Hall doors.

“Where are you going?” Carrick asked.

“I think I know what Ralina wants with Ava but I need to check something out. I’ll be back soon.”

Carrick watched Heph exit and he had a spark of hope that there was time to save her. Carrick turned to the rest of the group.

“We need to stand by the plan of attack we hammered out today but we may not have time for the training. I suggest the Commanders leave now, and start preparing for the possibility of moving out at a moment’s notice.”

“Don’t you think that is gambling with Ava’s life?” Baynor asked.

“I don’t see that we have a choice. There is no way that Ralina is going to let Ava live. Her magic requires the sacrifice of life. Ava’s blood is strong and there must be something big that Ralina wants to achieve here.” Carrick turned to the rest of the room. “Now is the time for you to start fearing for your own kingdom’s welfare. I’m guessing Ralina is just getting warmed up with Kestevayne.”

Everyone was silent for just a moment then it seemed everyone jumped into action at once. Within minutes, the Hall had cleared and plans were being put into motion.

Carrick turned and saw Kieran standing there watching him. “She’ll be okay, Carrick.”

“You don’t know that.” His voice was filled with anguish.

“I know that I have faith in you, and I know that because you love her so much, there is no way you are going to let her die.” Kieran walked toward Carrick. He laid his hands on his brother’s shoulders. “I know it.”

The confidence in Kieran’s voice raised Carrick’s hopes further. Carrick would be eternally grateful to Kieran for that boost of strength he had just given him. The normal anger and guilt that dwelled in him swelled up and rose, but it now seemed to have new purpose. Before, he thought the purpose was ending Ralina. But he was wrong. His purpose was to start a new life with Ava. He now needed to funnel his regrets into action that would make this right.

Carrick clasped Kieran by the shoulders and squeezed. “Thanks, brother.”

Kieran grinned. “Now let’s go kick that evil bitch’s ass.”

Carrick chuckled but was cut short when the doors burst open and Heph came running back into the Hall. He was carrying the book of blood magic he had given Ava. He was out of breath when he reached Carrick and had to take a minute to slow his pulse.

Finally, he slammed the book down and opened it up to a particular page. He pointed down and gasped, “There. That is what Ralina wants Ava for.” He was still breathing heavily from his run.

Carrick and Kieran glanced down at hundreds of lines of miniscule writing. It couldn’t be read with the naked eye but would need a powerful magnifier.

“Now I see why it took you so long to get through the entire book,” Carrick said in wonder.

Heph vigorously nodded his head in agreement. “So let me summarize for you what it says. This is basically a blood spell to transfer magical power. As you know, the Royals have the most powerful lines of magic, then the Warrior caste, then the Maiorns and finally, the regular citizens. But, what you don’t know, and what I just confirmed with one of our Conclave prisoners, is that the Royal lines are ranked as well. The House of Clairmont is the oldest and undeniably has the strongest magic within its line. And magic does not dilute as the line gets older. To the contrary, it strengthens and grows more potent. Which makes…”

“…Ava the most powerful sorceress in our world,” Carrick finished in awe.

“And Ralina is going to use this spell to transfer the Clairmont line of magic into herself. Once she performs the spell, it cannot be undone. And as you can guess, it is accomplished by sacrificing the strongest holder of the magic….which is Ava.”

“When will she do this?”

“She can’t perform the ritual until the new moon. That happens three days hence.”

Carrick turned to look at Kieran, a smile lighting his face. “And we are only two days from Kestevayne. We need to prepare to move out now.”