“That won’t work.” My thoughts went to how Arik had refused to disobey orders. “Helping us would go against the council.” The farther we went, the tunnel narrowed and the ceiling lowered, and I suddenly felt claustrophobic in the tight space.
“They are loyal to me because we share the same beliefs.” Bastien had to turn sideways to avoid rubbing his shoulders against the walls. “When Augustin replaced my father as High Wizard of Couve, it became clear the council’s agenda was shifting. Augustin has always been on the side that’s for separating the wizard havens from the Mystik covens. After the high wizards of the other havens died, their successors aligned themselves with Augustin.”
“Except Uncle Philip,” I added. “And now he’s in danger. What will the council do to him?”
“They will execute him after his trial,” Edgar answered my question, his words rough on my ears.
My world suddenly felt like a wet painting. All the different shades ran down the canvas, mixing together and becoming mucky. The fear of losing Uncle Philip took all the color out of me.
“When will they try him?” My voice cracked over the question, and Bastien grasped my hand.
Edgar stopped at the end of the tunnel and searched the area. “A few weeks. Possibly a month.”
“Above your head.” Bastien pointed to the ceiling.
“Ah, a hatch.” Edgar wiped the sweat from his brow with the sleeve of his shirt. He grabbed the rusty handle, eased it open, and peered through the crack before climbing into the library.
I hefted myself up after him. Bastien came out next and closed the hatch. I straightened, taking in the beautiful sight of the library. The walls were a sunny yellow with white molding edging them. Three-story galleys, holding bookcases behind railings of intricate patterns, surrounded us. There were many tall, magnificent stained-glass windows, along with a stunning stained-glass dome over the center of the library.
I stretched my back and cracked my neck, inhaling the familiar smell of old books and imagining what the library would look like in the light of day. It would be heaven to explore the shelves and discover what titles they held.
“Where are we?” I asked.
“The public library in Port Elizabeth,” Bastien said. “In South Africa.”
Edgar wasted no time and quickly crossed the carpet to a bookcase. He pulled books in and out, seemingly in a pattern. The case inched open, and he stepped inside.
It immediately started closing, so Bastien and I slipped through. The tunnel to the haven was beautiful. I stood there, my mouth gaping. There were veins of gold and silver shocking the sandstone walls. I could almost see my reflection in the polished ground.
Bastien slipped his hand into mine.
“It’s so beautiful,” I said.
“Stop gawking. We aren’t tourists,” Edgar growled, stomping down the tunnel. “We haven’t all the time in the world.”
“Someone’s grumpy,” Bastien whispered to me as we plodded after him.
Nearly an hour later, we came out of a sandstone building onto a beach. The sea was so blue it sparkled like glass under the sun. The tops of buildings peeked out of the water, waves smacking their roofs. It looked like there was an underwater city just beneath the surface.
“What is that?” I raised my voice to be heard over the crashing waves.
Bastien turned his head to see where I was pointing. “It’s the Aqualian city. The sea is named after them.” Just as he finished, a large whale-like animal with a long, flat nose and whip-thin tail jumped the waves. A bald man with blue skin and gills instead of ears rode its back, clutching a silver chain fastened to its neck. “That’s a wallow. There are many unusual, creatures in the Aqualian Sea, some dangerous. For safety, the inhabitants of Veilig only swim in the bays.”
“Oi,” Edgar yelled, waving his hands over his head. “This way.”
Just behind him, massive cliffs soared into the sky. On the very edge of the highest one was a fairy-tale castle constructed from sandstone, complete with turrets and spires, and a village of matching buildings spread out behind it. Edgar made it to the base and headed up the stone steps leading to the top.
“We’re climbing those?” I stopped and glanced around. “Isn’t there an elevator or bucket with a crane?”
Bastien laughed before ascending the steps.
I breathed out a long sigh and headed after him. “But it’s such a long way up.”
A gust of wind hit the back of my hair, so strong it whipped my ponytail across my face. Suddenly a claw wrapped around my waist and lifted me off the steps.
Bastien caught my leg. “Gia!” There was desperation in his voice.
My body jerked up, and his grip tore away. The huge bird that had snatched me flapped its golden wings, carrying me higher into the sky.
I grasped the claw and screamed.
Chapter Fifteen
The side of the cliff sped past as the bird as large as a glider soared up, holding me in its claw. It hovered over the flat surface at the top of the cliff. Somewhere a high-pitched whistle sounded; the bird chittered and lowered me to ground, my feet barely touching when it let go of me. I stumbled forward and landed on my hands and knees.
I bent over, trying to catch my breath. My leather breastplate tightened with every heavy rise of my chest. It was like time halted and the world moved slowly around me until Bastien and Edgar made it up and rushed to me.
Bastien dropped down, panting. “Are you hurt?”
I held up my hand to signal that I wasn’t able to respond.
“Are you all right?” Bastien rested his hand on my back.
“I’m good.” I pushed myself up and tottered on unstable legs.
Edgar dunked his head in a modest three-tier fountain, then rubbed the water across his buzz-cut hair. I hobbled over, plunged a cupped hand into the water, and splashed my face, welcoming the coolness.
Bastien dumped two hands full over his head. “Ah, that feels splendid.”
“My apologies if Kiti scared you.” A woman’s soft voice came from behind us.
I whirled and came face-to-face with Akua, the High Wizard of Veilig’s wife. We had met briefly in Asile when the Wizard Council interrogated Bastien and me about Conemar’s disappearance.
“Kiti?” I looked up to the sky.
“She meant no harm,” Akua said. “All she wanted was to give you a ride up.”
Her kind brown eyes went from me to Bastien. She was beautiful in a cream linen sheath, her black hair tied in intricate braids that wrapped around her head. A thin crystal whistle hung from her neck by a silver chain.
“Bastien, I’m delighted to see you.” She smiled, her lips turning up slightly at the corners and pressing a dimple into her left cheek. “And Gianna. You take a risk coming here. There is a price on your head. We must get you out of sight immediately.”
Edgar shuffled over. “We shouldn’t stay long. If we were found, there would be tough consequences for your haven.”
Akua inspected him. “And who are you?”