Bloodleaf (Bloodleaf 1)

I took a deep breath. “The wall’s protective magic is held in place by the three gates, each requiring three sacrifices to break its three seals. High Gate and Forest Gate have already fallen; King’s Gate is the last remaining, and King Domhnall’s death has already broken the first seal. Two more of the royal line must be sacrificed to finish the job. Zan—?Prince Valentin, I mean—?is the sole heir remaining. He now stands as the last obstacle between Toris and his totalitarian objectives.”

Fredrick spoke up. “But if there are three seals to be broken by Achlev’s bloodline, and there is only one descendant left, how can the wall possibly fail?”

“Marriage,” Simon spoke up. “The Achlevan marriage ritual is a blood-binding ceremony. It makes the two participants essentially of one blood. The only way for the prince to ensure that the wall will stand forever is for him to die without marrying or siring an heir.”

Cold fear stole over me. Oh merciful stars above. Lisette was still in the city. Lisette, who had been Toris’s choice for Zan’s bride from the very beginning.

“Our mission is threefold,” I managed to say steadily. “Evacuate the innocent citizens of Achlev, retrieve Prince Valentin and secure his safety, and apprehend Toris de Lena and bring him back to Renalt to face justice.” My voice dropped. “If we fail, there will be many thousands of innocent Achlevans who die as a result. And that’s just the immediate cost; imagine a future where the Tribunal rules and reigns with absolute power and impunity.” A weighty hush fell; it was a grim prospect, even to those who had never before questioned the Tribunal. “We simply cannot fail.”

Simon rose to his feet, still looking frail. “I thank you, Princess, for trying to help us . . . but the fact remains: those of Renaltan blood cannot enter the city uninvited, and such a thing requires the willing blood of a living direct descendant of Achlev. My sister was the queen, but I have no blood ties to the throne, so I cannot do it. How can you save the city if none of you can cross the wall?”

I motioned to Onal, who had been waiting on the sideline, a stack of folded paper in her hands.

“I have these,” I said. “Invitations issued by Prince Valentin and sealed by his willing blood. There are only nine. As I have already been through, we’ll have ten total in our party. It isn’t much, but it will have to be enough.”

Onal walked slowly in front of the group, so they could all see what I was talking about.

“I will lead these nine into the city, while the rest of you will be divided into two groups, one to be stationed at High Gate, led by Fredrick, and one at Forest Gate, led by Nathaniel. Fredrick and his company will create a diversion that draws the guards from their posts, allowing me and my nine to cross undetected.”

“What kind of diversion?” Fredrick asked.

“I happen to know where you can find a sizable store of bottled liquor on the outside of the wall near High Gate. Add a little fire . . .”

Fredrick nodded. “We can make some noise.”

“Try to keep your firebombs aimed at the wall, not past it. Don’t want to burn Achlev down before we save it. My group will work from the inside to get the gates open and go after Toris and the prince. As soon as the portcullises are raised, the companies at Forest and High Gates will assist in evacuations from the outside. And when that is done, I want you and all of the evacuees to get clear of the city immediately. After that, make your way back to the Silvis holding to rendezvous with the queen. Is that understood? Now,” I said, squaring my shoulders, “this is the time to choose: Who among you is brave enough to follow me across the wall? For Renalt, for Achleva, and for the unnamed number of those who’ve gone before?”

And to my everlasting surprise and gratitude, they all, one by one, rose to their feet.

* * *

It was quickly settled: Kellan and eight of his best fellows would go with me into the city, while Onal and Simon would take Ella and Conrad and journey immediately to the Silvis holding to reunite with the waiting queen. The rest of the soldiers were divided evenly between High Gate and Forest Gate. King’s Gate was on the water, so the plan was, after we freed Zan and Lisette and arrested Toris, we would acquire a boat at the docks and exit that way, taking along any straggling refugees we came across in the interim.

“I wish I could go with you,” Simon told me as we made the final preparations.

“You’re not well,” I said sympathetically. “And I am familiar enough with the layout of the city now. We will be fine without you, and I will be able to rest knowing that you are watching over Conrad.”

He patted my hand and surveyed its scars—?far more plentiful than they had been before. “It shames me to learn that Dedrick Corvalis was to blame for much of this.”

“What shame could you deserve?” I asked, startled. “It’s not your fault.”

“I tried teaching him for a while, when he was a young boy, but even then I glimpsed an uncomfortable way about him that put me ill at ease, and I ended our studies. Maybe if I’d given him the education he needed, I could have shaped him. Prevented all this . . .” Simon stopped with a shake of his head, his hand going to the chain around his neck. It was a habit—?hadn’t he done the same thing back in Renalt? But this time I noticed what it was he was clutching.

A vial of blood.

“Simon,” I said, “what is that?”

“It’s a tradition in the old Order of Blood Magic. When a blood mage moves from novice to master, he saves a little bit of his blood in a vial like this, so that even after he’s gone, some of his essence—?his magic—?is preserved. The vial is made of luneocite glass.” He pulled the chain out from under his shirt so I could take a closer look. “It’s almost like leaving one final spell.”

My thoughts were whirring like the gears in a clock. “And the luneocite . . . is what keeps it that way?”

“Oh yes. Luneocite is Empyrea-given. And the Empyrea is the creator and conservator of life. This blood belongs to Domhnall’s brother, Victor de Achlev, a gifted blood mage and the best man I ever knew. My partner. He died with many of our friends and colleagues at the Assembly”—?here Simon’s expression became soft and sad—?“but he gave it to me to carry long before his death, so that I’d have a pie

ce of him with me always.”

“Simon,” I said urgently. “I think I must ask of you a great, great favor.”

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