Six of Ruin (Heirs of Irenwell #1)
Chapter 34: Vicious

After stuffing ourselves full of fruits and meat and liquor, we remained around the stone. Paradoxically, I felt both tired and restless at the same time. My eyelids desperately wanted to fall, but my mind wandered over every conversation I’ve had with Ace.

Why wouldn’t he tell us about the High Mage Soterios sooner? He saw him, he recognised him in the forest where G’Dertha mercenaries attacked us.

Ace wasn’t telling us everything. The things he had told us were worrying, but his secrets worried me more.

“So,” Nickeltinker patted his belly, “How about we give up on the mission and spend the rest of our lives here?”

Ace looked up from the ground, “You cannot stay here, floran, spirits would kick you out. You’re too corporeal for their taste.”

Nick raised his eyebrow, “Are you telling me spirit ladies wouldn’t want something more corporeal in their lives?”

“Do not mess with spirit ladies.” Ace warned. “They’re shifty cunts.”

“Language.” I murmured. “You are in their territory.”

Ace looked disinterested, “If there’s a spirit I haven’t yet pissed off, please, point me in their general direction.”

“You said there were a few stops along the way.” Danilo cut in, ignoring the conversation. “Where are we going?”

Ace pointed behind me, “See those two mountains? We have to cross one of them.”

I turned around, noticing two identical peaks touching the midday sky, surrounded by ranges of smaller mountains. The clear blue sky allowed a good look at the snow-covered rocks.

“Cross them?” Rixen frowned. “Aren’t we passing through the Aradda Tower?”

“What?” Nickeltinker sat upright.

“We cannot pass through Aradda.” Ace sipped his liquor. “I’m banned.”

“Excuse me?” I sighed, having no strength to express exasperation.

“What’s Aradda?” Nick asked.

The mage shrugged, “I’m banned. Aradda guards are ordered to kill me on sight.”

“Wait a moment,” Rixen cut in, “Crossing the Ghoul Peaks would take us days and there’s a merry group of mercenaries at our heel. If they pass through Aradda, they will be waiting on the other side.”

Ace’s gaze cut through the shadowman, “Which part of ‘kill on sight’ didn’t you understand?”

“The part where I care.” Rixen smiled.

The mage kept quiet for a moment, “Do you think the spirits would spare you if they caught me?”

Rixen’s confidence didn’t waver, “Let me remind you I’ve crossed this path already and the spirits were quite welcoming towards me.”

Ace’s jaw clenched, “According to my calculations, we’ll reach Aradda exactly on the summer solstice. Every single spirit in the territory will attend.”

Nickeltinker raised his hand, “You know, some of us are from the south and to us you’re talking gibberish.”

I nodded.

“Aradda is the Spirit territory’s... culture centre, for the lack of a better word.” Ace said. “And during the summer and winter solstices, they have a gathering. Which means we cannot just storm in, not with humans, giants and florans in our group.”

“Apparently not with a mage either.” I mumbled.

Rixen shrugged, “You go through the tunnels underneath. I will go through the Tower.”

“Fine.” Ace lifted his hands in defeat. “Maybe someone kills you and rids us of your annoying face.”

The shadowman chuckled, “You still need me, old man.”

“You know what’s your problem, shadowman?” Ace leaned in, “You’re so quick to proclaim everyone around you entitled and selfish, when you’re the most entitled and selfish of all, because you think you’re entitled to pity. You’re a victim, Rixen, and that’s why everyone despises you, including your own father.”

Rixen visibly flinched. I felt the strong urge to defend him, but I couldn’t un-hear the truth in his words. Also, I realised insulting people was his way of deflecting attention off himself.

The shadowman said nothing and through our connection I felt just how deeply Ace hurt him.

The mage didn’t care, he even seemed to revel in it, “Now pack your shit. There’s a cult after us and let’s face it, I am the only one here capable of protecting your sorry asses.”

We packed quickly, forgoing the grass-covered paradise and heading off into the unknown, once again. Walking in boots proved to be much easier and the warm weather made the robe obsolete.

Torvald and the warthog jumped ahead, playing fetch along the way, Rixen pouted somewhere in the distance and Nickeltinker and Danilo seemed to be talking about sports. Nick claimed florans could easily defeat humans in wrestling, because not everything was about strength. Danilo laughed out loud, but at the same time claimed humans could run faster than florans despite the difference in weight.

Their engagement in the conversation, along with the distance, allowed me some privacy with the mage. I had questions.

“Ace,” I caught up with him, “You said magic was inherited.”

“Ah, you pay attention to conversations that aren’t exclusively about you. There’s hope for you, Princess.”

I sighed, “Stop being a dick and answer the question. Does that mean someone in my family was a mage?”

Ace eyed me sideways, “Or someone in your family had an affair with a mage. I’m sure your family’s whoring line goes further than your magic line.”

I rolled my eyes, but ignored his remark, “You also said mages that weren’t pure-blooded couldn’t tap into their true potential.”

A ghost of a smile passed over Ace’s lips, “Does that bother you?”

“I’m asking out of curiosity.”

“Curiosity killed the princess.” The smile didn’t waver. “Of course there are ways to tap into your true magical potential. The cultists are just doing it wrong.”

“What do you mean?”

“They think they’ll be rewarded for their obedience.” Ace said. “That’s what the truly powerful want you to think – that the key to power is obedience, following the rules, following authority. It’s the opposite. You need to be vicious to be powerful, much like the lady we’re about to meet.”

A crease formed between my brows, “What?”

“You need to tie your lap dogs to a nearby tree, because this particular witch loves young magic-less flesh.” Ace’s self-satisfied smile caused nervous tingling in my spine. Swiftly, he turned around and halted, “Alright, boys, there is a problem we need to take care of.”

Our little group stopped and exchanged confused glances. One moment, I was breathing in the grass-scented air and in the other, something more viscose crawled through my throat. A frown gripped my forehead.

What was that? That familiar, oily smell I scented before.

“What now?” Rixen’s hand fell loosely by his sides in a relaxed, unconcerned manner.

Danilo leaned against a tree and Nickeltinker plopped on the nearby rock. The warthog relaxed on the grass with Torvald sitting besides him. Yet, I couldn’t shake the feeling that all of them needed to remain more alert.

“I am sending the message to the aether.” Ace’s voice oozed over my skin. “We need to let the world know we’re alive.”

As casually as possible, I came closer to Rixen.

Danilo shook his head, “No. We cannot let anyone know we’re alive. Those were the orders.”

“Do you want backup or not?” Ace narrowed his eyes. “Trust me, we cannot defeat dozens of mercenaries, cultists and a High Mage.”

My shoulder brushed against Rixen’s, Something is weird.

The shadowman’s brows slightly furrowed, What do you mean?

Danilo pushed himself off the tree, “I forbid you from contacting anyone.”

Ace’s throaty laugh reverberated through the forest, “Oh, please.”

“No.” Danilo’s neck vein throbbed. “King Bernard specifically ordered not to contact anyone after we cross the Bastian border.”

A strange, oily sensation crawled down my spine, so strong I almost forgot Rixen still waited for my answer. The air feels weird.

“You mean, after we leave Balr.” Ace’s mocking voice changed to angry ever so slightly.

“Of course!” Danilo raised his voice. “The entire point of staying in Balr was to pull off a ruse. The fact someone tried to murder us should be enough for you to realise it’s better if the world thinks we’re dead!”

“Here’s a fun thing we never thought about; who tried to murder us?” Rixen said.

Ace tapped his bare foot on the ground, “And the ruse worked, up to a point. There’s only one group following us now, coincidentally, it’s the most dangerous one.”

The bright, sunshine-sprinkled forest turned a deeper, darker green. At first glance, one might ascribe the change to a passing cloud, but the shade did not affect the higher leaves, only those surrounding us. Nickeltinker came closer to me and pulled at my sleeve. He felt it, too. Must have been the floran ability to understand subtle context.

“What are you trying to say?” Danilo stepped forward, dry branches cracking under his boots.

“I’m trying to say,” Ace smiled, “That I’ve been covering our tracks ever since we left Balr. Only those who knew we were alive would follow us. Only those who knew we were travelling across the continent.”

“So?” Danilo pushed. “Do you want more people following us?”

Ace’s smile didn’t reach his eyes, “I’m sending the message, knight.” He turned around.

“We were ordered not to send any messages after crossing the Bastian border!” Danilo shouted, his voice turning panicked.

The forest turned a shade darker, sweat broke through my pores as hot, moist air licked my skin. I squinted, trying to make something off the darkness.

Shadows. Shadows clawed at the veil between worlds.

I leaned into Rixen, my eyes widening, Ace is using magic.

“Step away from the shadowman, Princess.” Ace’s eyes landed on me, the usual wild green within stilling.

I had no time to react, though, because Danilo spoke again.

“We were ordered not to send any messages after crossing the Bastian border!” His voice turned panicked.

A small smile accompanied the icy green of the mage’s eye, “The moment you stepped in the Woods of Loria, you began following my orders, whether you knew it or not.”

“No!” Danilo drew his sword.

Ace stretched his fingers. The warthog jumped to his feet. Rixen pushed me away and grabbed the dagger on his hip. The hot air turned oily, like the mere particles gained shape an volume, sticking to the walls of my throat. I couldn’t breathe in. Pain bit my lungs.

And neither did anyone else.

Rixen dropped his dagger to the ground, his face turning slightly redder. Danilo lurched forward, but the mage twisted his hand and a thick, thorny vine burst through the ground and latched itself onto Danilo’s leg, pulling him down.

“Torvald!” Rixen squeezed through his teeth.

The giant was ready, axe in hand, his face red with rage and lack of air. Ace bent his other hand and an even thicker wine circled the giant’s axe and pulled it away. Confused, Torvald stumbled ahead, trying to slam himself into the mage.

Ace avoided the impact, his hand twisting again, sending another vine Torvald’s way. Danilo remained on the ground, the heavy, thick plant squeezing his torso.

My throat opened enough to breathe in, but I was already on the ground. A thorny vine crawled up my arm, cutting through my skin. A weak shriek fell off my lips. The vine climbed up my torso, squeezing me and securing me.

Desperate, I looked up. Vines closed around everyone. We were all safely held on the ground. My heart hammered against my ribcage and the thorns cut my skin with each breath.

The green in Ace’s eyes continued moving again, “That is how easy it is for a High Mage to kill you!”

Danilo trashed against the vine, blood oozing from the thorn-made cuts, “Let us go, you crazy bastard!”

Ace laughed shortly, maliciously, “You didn’t even feel it, you didn’t even blink as your throats closed. I’m not even that good with air magic! Ridiculous.”

“What do you want?” Rixen asked, finally managing to breathe in.

Ace’s grey eyebrow jumped up, “To prove a point.” His eyes trailed to Danilo again. “I told you you weren’t free.”

“Come on, man!” Nickeltinker whined, trying to cut the vine with his free hand, “I was good to you! I let you outdrink me!”

“Sorry, floran. I cannot discriminate.” Ace mumbled. “Now, the first question I have is, who knew we were travelling by land?”

The vines squeezed harder, thorns piercing my skin. Pain seized my temples. I gritted my teeth. If I moved it only hurt more.

“Did Rodrig know?” Ace’s voice pulled me back to reality.

Rodrig?

“No!” I shouted, the vine crawling around my neck. Thorns teased my skin, promising pain wherever they touched. I swallowed my heartbeat.

The mage came closer, “And why would I trust a liar?”

“He didn’t know.” I feared opening my mouth completely, the thorns were too close to my throat. “Danilo mentioned nothing. I didn’t even know until I reached Bastia.”

“Let her go!” Rixen commanded, trashing against the vines, not caring the thorns pierced his skin. “No one knew except for us!”

Nickeltinker let out a whisper, “And Kind Bernard.”

Ace cocked his head, “So... I was right.”

Danilo’s eyes bulged, “You don’t mean...”

Ace sat on the rock and crossed his legs, “King Bernard set you up.”

“He wouldn’t!” Danilo shook his head, thorns squeezing his neck. He let out a gurgling sound as blood poured down his shirt. “Ace... please.”

“Did you know?” The mage jumped to his feet, crossed the clearing in two angry steps and squatted in front of Danilo. He brushed the knight’s hair strand away from his red, sweaty face. “Did you know?”

“No.” Danilo uttered. “He wouldn’t... He...”

“Ace.” I called, “He didn’t know.”

“He hates other species.” The mage shrugged, his wild eyes searching Danilo’s. “He hates anyone who isn’t royal.”

“He doesn’t!” Rixen shouted. “Come on, Ace. He’s an idiot, but he’s not evil. He would never hurt innocent people on purpose. You know this.”

Danilo didn’t turn his head – he couldn’t – but his eyes dropped to the ground and his fists unclenched.

“No,” Ace spat his words, “He’s just blindly following orders.”

Still, the vine around Danilo’s neck loosened and his head fell down. Ace’s head snapped to Rixen and vines around his throat tightened, drawing blood.

“And what about you, shadowman?” The vines seemed to move in the rhythm of Ace’s steps. “You keep whining about your father, perhaps you thought there were ways to earn his love and devotion?”

Rixen rolled his eyes, despite the vines climbing up his face, “I knew nothing. But, if you tell me King Bernard has an evil master plan to kill us all, I’ll believe you.”

“Rixen, how dare you?” Danilo turned his head, thorns cutting his skin, “King Bernard gave you food, shelter-”

“And issues.” I murmured.

“You’re the only one who still thinks King Bernard is a good person.” Rixen told Danilo.

The vines around my body loosened.

“All of you are going to stay here and think about which of your actions enraged me.” Ace said right as the vines around me retracted to the ground. “Princess, you’re coming with me.”

Reluctantly, I stood up, blood oozing from the burning cuts on my soft skin. This would leave scars. I glanced at Rixen, having no idea what to do. The vines around his neck were gone. None of my companions were in immediate danger.

“Where are we going?” I asked, still staring at the shadowman.

Ace whistled and the warthog jumped to his feet, “To meet my favourite witch.”