“The scepter.” Juna indicated the tile to Rell’s left. “King Bartholomew.”
Again Rell gingerly touched the stone before giving it her full weight. Despite the chill in the air, sweat beaded on her forehead. She glanced over her shoulder at Siban and noticed the line of Bringers with their hands joined. He smiled at her and then closed his eyes.
…
The farther Rell moved onto the grid, the stronger the darkness grew. Siban opened himself to the oppressive blackness, trying to pinpoint its location. Like rotting fumes from a decaying carcass, the evil seemed to emanate from the stones themselves.
His Tell slithered across the area. Instead of recoiling from the darkness that had haunted him for the last year, he embraced it and absorbed the nuances of the malevolence. Perhaps by welcoming the obscure evil he could gain control over it.
“This is like a presence I’ve never felt before,” said Brita.
Siban opened his eyes and looked at her. “Pray you never have to endure it again.”
Rell took another step, the stone holding. A wave of blackness rose up and surrounded her. Siban felt her falter—sensed her desire to step on the stone directly in front of her. She raised her foot and shifted as if she would precede forward.
Juna paced along the edge. “Not that stone, Rell. The griffin.”
“Encircle her.” Though his order was brief, Brita and Meran appeared to have understood. They sent their Tells forward, encircling Rell. He sensed her hesitation. Vibrations from the other Tells intensified, sealing Rell inside their swirling barrier.
She straightened and stepped forward but to the right, settling onto the tile of the griffin. Relief stirred inside Siban, mixed with his anxiety. She was only twelve tiles forward, not even a third of the way across.
On and on the dance went, Juna shouting instructions, Rell struggling to obey, and the Bringer Tells trying to hold the darkness at bay.
After nearly an hour, Rell held up her hand. “There is one more row, and then I will be across.”
The last stone had been Arron’s, which meant the symbol she searched for would be Gregory’s.
“Do you see a symbol of the Arch?” Gregory asked.
“Yes.” She pointed to the ground. “It is directly in front of me.”
“That is my symbol,” Gregory said.
A feeling of wrongness rippled along Siban’s Tell. “Wait.” He opened his eyes. “What other symbols are there? Say them slowly.”
“There’s a sun to my far left.”
Siban looked at Brita. She shook her head, confirming his thought. “That is not it.”
“Next to it is a crown.”
“No,” Meran said beside him. “That is not it either.”
“A lion,” Rell said.
“That would be Icarus’s symbol if he were king,” Gregory looked at Siban. “Is it his symbol?”
“No.” Siban didn’t know why, but Icarus’s symbol felt wrong. “What’s next?”
Rell was quiet for a few seconds. “The Summoners mark.”
Gregory sneered. “That is it—isn’t it?”
“Yes,” Brita said. “Only one as arrogant as Ander would set himself up as the next king.”
“And only one too stubborn to admit they were not the heir to the throne would choose his own symbol.”
“That is what Ander believes you would do,” Juna said.
Gregory looked back at Siban. “You are certain it is the Summoners’ symbol?”
He hesitated a second, the weight of his decision pressing down on Siban. She was so close to the end. One wrong step and she would be lost to them, but he had to begin to trust his abilities. “Yes.”
Siban glanced at Brita and she gave him a reassuring smile.
“Move to the chaotic star, Rell.” Juna continued to pace along the edge, her body leaning as far forward as it could without her actually stepping on the stones. “That should be your last step.”
Siban sent a wave of reassurance to Rell and he thought he saw her shoulders relax. Her foot lifted and the breath froze in his throat. A prayer to the Sainted Ones slipped from his lips and he sent a wave of protection toward Rell. With the lightest touch, her foot grazed the stone. Nothing happened. She settled her foot squarely on the tile and leaned forward slightly, as if testing her weight.
If he’d told her wrong, he doubted the stone on which she stood would remain in place. Most certainly what lay underneath this puzzle of tiles was not something she could recover from—a perilous fall—or worse.
Forging ahead, Rell shifted forward to stand fully on the tile. None of the Bringers moved, each frozen, waiting for something to happen.
When nothing did, Rell hopped onto the far ledge and turned to face them. “I made it.”
Weakness threatened to buckle Siban’s knees. He released Brita and Meran’s hands and walked to the edge of the tiled floor. “Wait there,” he called to Rell. “We will follow your path.” The need to make her stay made him repeat his command. “Don’t move.”
“I won’t.” Rell wrapped her arms around her torso. And though her feet remained in place, she searched the area on which she stood. She looked back at him, the single word she spoke spurring him forward. “Hurry.”
Siban turned to Gregory. “Let me go next. Rell is scared and I can calm her.”
Their leader hesitated for a second and then stepped back. Following the trail of cleaned-off tiles, Siban crossed the grid. When he was halfway across, an intense wave of confusion washed through him, taunting him to step away from Rell’s path. He clamped down on his mental barriers, trying to block out the foreign presence that tried to sway him.
A few blocks separated him from Rell. Her expression was anxious, her hands pressed to her lips as she watched his every move. The square shifted under him slightly, but held. With a final leap, Siban jumped onto the ledge, wrapping Rell in a tight embrace.
She squeezed him as if she’d never let him go. He tilted her head back and claimed her mouth. Their tongues swirled in a powerful dance that had nothing to do with passion and everything to do with defying death.
When they finally broke apart, he crushed her to him again. “I’m proud of you.”
Rell gave a humorless laugh. “Me, too.” She looked into his eyes. “A dark presence tried to fill my mind and control me. I didn’t think I was going to make it.”
He nodded. “I felt it.” He brushed a stray lock of chestnut hair from her face. “But we beat it.”
She lifted on her tiptoes and kissed him again, this time more slowly—this kiss more about passion than fear.
It took another hour for the rest of the Bringers to cross the stones, but since Rell had cleared the way, there were no missteps and all arrived safely on the other side.
After Jade stepped safely onto the ledge, she launched herself at Rell, squishing her in a hug. “Did you forget that I’m the risk taker?”
“You have taken risks for far too long.” Rell smiled and hugged her sister back. “It’s my turn to protect you.”
“I’ve never been so scared in my life for you.” Jade released her sister and stepped away. “I think I like being the one in danger much more.”
“Sorry,” Rell said.
“Don’t worry, Jade.” Luc’s arm slid around Jade’s shoulder and he gave her a little squeeze. “I’m fairly certain we’re only getting started and there’ll be enough danger for everybody.”
Jade groaned. “Great.”
“Never fear, little sister.” Rell rubbed Jade’s shoulder. “I’ll protect you.”
“I’m more worried about who is going to protect you,” Jade said.
Rell smiled at Siban. “He’s done a good job so far.”
He shook his head, giving her a quick kiss. “She doesn’t make it easy.”