Every instinct I had told me to cower. I couldn’t, though. I’d gotten this far without being seen as weak; I simply had to keep my features calm.
Suddenly, orange lighting bolts jutted down from the clouds. One by one, they formed a circle around me. Instead of a quick flash, each bolt remained in an arc that dug into the ground, churning up stones and earth as it let off shower of tiny sparks. More and more of these little points of light filled the air, until I couldn’t see anything else. The sparks then settled on my skin, but they didn’t burn me. It took everything I had not to scream.
At this point, I considered that fact an accomplishment. Soon the sparks covered me in a glowing sheen of orange-hued brightness.
A pair of lightning bolts flashed right into my eyes. I could almost feel the sparkling fingers rooting around my head, finding the two memories, and ripping them out. My head turned woozy. White spots filled my vision. A sheen of sweat broke out over my skin. What memories were taken from me?
“Enough,” cried Mlinzi and Walinzi together.
The sparks faded. The lightning bolts fully burrowed into the earth, disappearing from view. The dark clouds rolled away. Once again, two suns burned in a pale orange sky. Mlinzi and Walinzi had cast a spell without using incantations. Interesting. Magick must work differently in this world.
I looked down to find myself wearing my Necromancer robes. These were ones that marked me as a Grand Mistress. I frowned. What were they up to? They wouldn’t change my clothing without a purpose.
“What memories did you take from me?” I gestured across my robes. “And why am I dressed this way?”
“You’re clever enough to figure that out on your own,” said Walinzi. “Eventually.”
I scanned my thoughts. I could remember growing up on Braddock Farm, learning Necromancy at the Zelle Cloister, and falling in love with Rowan. What else could be important? For the first time since I arrived in this strange place, I felt as if I could breathe freely. Perhaps these monkey gods were truly enemies of the Sire and Lady. The price was possibly the memory of some random flower or esoteric spell.
Only, Mlinzi and Walinzi didn’t seem like the types to make it that easy. I sighed. Soon enough, I’m sure I’d discover their full plan. “Now, tell me where the Sword may be found, as well as how to heal the gateways.”
Mlinzi let out a series of loud whoops. “Not yet! Not yet!”
“What my brother means to say is that we have more to tell you,” explained Walinzi. “To find the Sword, you must first seek out the exiled Necromancers. Find your friend Nan. She can help you locate the Sword’s hilt, as well as give you information about the Sire and Lady.”
I knew Walinzi had said many things, but all I could focus on was the name Nan. She’d been my friend while I’d been cursed. Agents of the Tsar had killed her.
“How can that help me?” I asked. “Nan is dead.”
“Oh, no. Far from it.” Walinzi chuckled, and I thought she was enjoying this far too much. Trickster. “Your Nan is alive and waiting for you. You didn’t know this because she doesn’t trust you enough to tell.”
I pictured Nan’s smiling face. She and I had been imprisoned at the Midnight Cloister so the evil Mother Superior, Marlene, could drain our power for Viktor’s use. No matter how horrible things became, Nan always had a sunny outlook and a plan. It would be wonderful to see her again. But why wouldn’t she trust me?
“That’s why we gave you the robes,” added Mlinzi. “Now you’re dressed properly to greet your friend.” He smiled more widely than ever, showing his mouth of extra-sharp canines. “And we did all that for free.”
Walinzi fanned herself. “We’re regular philanthropists.”
I didn’t believe that for a second. “And where will I find Nan, exactly?” I could cast a divining spell to get the precise location, but I was curious what the monkey gods would say.
“Ha,” called Walinzi. “That’s for you to discover.” She gestured back toward the arch in the mountainside. “You can return to your world through that gateway.” She rocked back and forth while chittering happily. “You’re quite the clever girl.”
Mlinzi face rounded into a smile that could only be described as evil. “Clever, clever girl.” The words made my insides twist with worry. They both seemed far too pleased with themselves.
“But what about the spell for healing the gateways? You haven’t said a thing about that.”
“This will aid you,” said Walinzi. An orange light flared on my hand. When it vanished, I found that my mating band had been transformed into an orange ring carved with the image of Mlinzi and Walinzi. Another totem ring. This was beyond belief. I raised my hand. “You took away my mating band and gave me your totem ring? What does this do?”
“You’ll see,” said Walinzi. “It will prove crucial.”
I stared at the band with new interest. “Will this ring help me heal the gateways?”
“No.” Walinzi rolled her eyes. “First, you must find the Sword. Once you have that weapon in hand, you’ll know how to heal the gateways.”
“Sword first,” called Mlinzi. “Remember that. Sword first and gateways second.”
I pressed my palms against my eyes. “That’s not as specific as what I’d hoped for.”
Without saying another word, Mlinzi and Walinzi leapt up into trees and disappeared from view. The only sign that I’d seen them was the torn-up earth by my feet. What had Walinzi called me?
Clever girl.
All of a sudden, I didn’t feel quite so clever at all. Mlinzi and Walinzi both seemed far too happy with our bargain, especially because they’d already betrayed me by only giving me half of what I need. That can’t be a good thing.
Still, I wasn’t sure what other choice I had. Mlinzi, Walinzi, and Jicho all agreed that Viktor was soon to arrive with an enemy army. There was nothing for it but to return to my own world and find the Sword of Theodora, as well as the truth about the Sire and Lady. I’d driven the best bargain I could.
Now, there was nothing left to do but go back through the gateway and hope for the best.
Chapter Eight
As I approached the gateway, the same strings of orange power formed a webwork under the open archway. I winced, remembering how it had hurt to pass through last time. Even so, I wouldn’t let a little pain keep me in this world. Needless to say, I didn’t trust Mlinzi and Walinzi.
I stepped past the gateway and felt the same overwhelming pain as before. Gritting my teeth, I walked into the darkened tunnel beyond. The pain vanished. Excitement sped my steps. My Necromancer training told me to keep my hopes tamped down, but I couldn’t help it. I felt like shouting my successes.
I’d found my first clue to finding the Sword!