Siban took a step forward. “Why did you save Rell? Because you owe her for your freedom?”
“Siban!” She turned and glared at him.
“Rell, what does Siban mean?” Jade asked.
Rell’s eyes searched the group. All of them watched her and she could see their understanding dawn.
“It doesn’t matter.” Meran stepped forward. “If Icarus hadn’t been here, Rell would have died.”
She was grateful for Meran’s words. Even though she had freed Icarus and had therefore enabled him to save her life, she couldn’t fight the feeling of having betrayed the group.
Siban leveled the sword at Icarus’s chest. “I find it too much of coincidence that you just happened to be here. Are you following us?”
“I am not here by chance. Sha-hera told me of your journey.”
“And you rushed to our aid?” Condescension laced Siban’s words.”
“Siban asked you a question, demon,” Rhys said, lifting the spinning ball in threat.
They stared at each other for a few seconds. Finally relenting, Icarus folded his wings behind him. “Yes”
“Why?” Ravyn asked.
“Because I wished to know what you do here,” Icarus said.
Gregory moved to stand beside Siban and placed a hand on his shoulder. “We are in your debt, Icarus.”
“That is not a place you want to be, Bringer.” The demon turned his head and stared into the crevasse. “Why are you here?”
Siban shrugged off Gregory’s hand. The group exchanged glances and then looked to Rell. She took their response as permission for her to speak for them. “We are searching for Vile and the Bringers he’s captured.”
“I am unfamiliar with this place.” The demon surveyed their surroundings. “I’ve never journeyed beyond my father’s sleeping chambers. These corridors are off-limits to all but Vile and his private guard.”
“I’m certain he didn’t want you here.” Gregory stepped forward. “We have discovered things I think you should know.”
The demon turned and looked at him, his voice thick with suspicion. “What things?”
Gregory looked at Rell, giving her an encouraging nod. Perhaps their discovery was best coming from somebody Icarus knew. Where did she begin? She pointed to Gregory. “Do you know who this is?”
Icarus’s eyes narrowed, his chin lowering a fraction of an inch to focus on Gregory. “I assume he is your leader.”
Rell tipped her head in a nod. “Yes, he is King Arron’s second son.”
“And why should this concern me?”
She looked at Gregory. This was his secret to reveal, not hers. He moved to stand next to her. “I am your half brother.”
Icarus didn’t move. Not even a flinch or shifting of his eyes. His yellow glare bore into Gregory for several seconds until finally looking at Rell for confirmation.
“It’s true, or at least we believe it to be true. You are Arron’s firstborn, Icarus. We think your uncle kidnapped you when you were just an infant and brought you through the Mystic Arch to Inness.” She mimicked his posture, not moving and barely blinking. “He changed you to a Bane before you could remember your Bringer life.” She swallowed hard. “And he’s kept you here ever since.” Silence stretched between them, but Icarus did not reply. “Do you understand what I’m saying?”
Icarus turned and walked to the edge of the ledge, peering into the darkness below. “You are saying that Vile is my uncle, not my father.”
“Yes,” Rell said.
“And that I am the heir to the Bringer throne.” He lifted his head and stared across the gorge. “That he stole my soul and forced me to serve him for these past thousand years.”
True emotion seemed to coat his words. On some small level she understood what he must be feeling, but the magnitude of realizing what he had suffered at his uncle’s hands could not be fully comprehended.
“I’m so sorry, Icarus.” Rell moved toward him, but Siban gripped her arm and drew her back.
She went willingly, realizing her actions were motivated by her own emotions not logic.
“We travel to confront Vile,” Gregory said. “To vanquish him.”
Icarus turned and faced the group. “Then you journey toward your death.” His gaze drifted over each member of the group. “And I journey to mine as well. I will confront my father.” He nearly spat the word. “We will travel together.”
“A truce, then?” Gregory asked.
“A truce.” Icarus gave a single nod. “Until such time as it is no longer necessary.”
“We know of the darkness that dwells inside you.” Meran glided forward, her eyes leveled on Icarus. “You have seen what we accomplished with Rell.”
Icarus cocked his head to the side, his gaze sliding down and back up Meran’s body to stop at her face. “You offer me my humanity?”
She stopped several feet from him. “It is possible. If we can locate your human form, we might be able to transform you back to Bringer.”
His laughter echoed off the cavern walls. “First I would need to possess a soul for you to save. I can assure you, Bringer, mine is beyond redemption.”
“I don’t believe that.” She drew herself to stand straighter. “And if you do not believe, then I will hold your hope for you.”
Icarus’s humorless smile faded. “Who are you?”
She cleared her throat, her hand gripping the hilt of her sword. “My name is Meran.”
With a great flourish, Icarus extended his wings. “I fear you will be gravely disappointed, Meran.”
“Then it will be my disappointment to bear,” she said.
He held her stare for a few more seconds before raising his arm and pointing to the far side of the narrow trail Rell had fallen from. “I can see a wide, flat stretch at the end of this path.” He lowered his hand. “I suggest those of you who can fly do so.” His yellow eyes traveled over Meran. “As a show of good faith I offer you passage, but I do not think you will accept.”
Meran walked toward Icarus, stopping inches away. “Then you are wrong.”
Rell could feel surprise and anxiety ripple through the group, though none seemed more surprised than Icarus. His eyes widened and what looked like a genuine smile tipped the corners of the demon’s mouth.
“You are either very brave—” He wound his arm around Meran’s waist and pulled her small frame against him. Her hands rested against his chest, but she didn’t fight his hold. “Or very stupid, Bringer.”
“I guess we’ll find out, won’t we—” she wrapped her arms around his neck—“Bane.”
Rell’s heart leaped to her throat when Icarus turned and launched himself and Meran into the air. A ripple of fear traveled back along her Tell and from the familiar touch, it was Meran who emanated the emotion. Though she’d appeared brave, the woman had put her life at risk in an attempt to anchor Icarus’s trust more firmly to the group.
They watched in silence as the two glided noiselessly along the crevasse, effectively avoiding any further illusions. Once they’d alighted on the other side of the trail, Gregory spoke. “The Shields can transport the rest of the group. We’ll do it in two groups.”
“I can fly myself,” Ravyn said. “But I don’t think any will want to touch me.”
Rell had to agree. Even though Ravyn was part of the Trilation, her strongest power was as a Shield. Unlike the other Shields, who transformed into dragons, Ravyn transformed into a phoenix. During training, Rell had watched her change and sweep the sky with fire. A blanket of blazing orange had streaked behind Ravyn as she flew. Impressive, but deadly.
“I will carry Jade across first and come back for whoever is left,” Luc said.
A groan that sounded like it came from the deepest recesses of her soul escaped Jade. “I had really hoped we were done with flying.”