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  Every. Last. Bit.

  Riley Trident was the reason Rendal had let Pat escape. She was the reason he let the man run south to New Perth. Because Rendal wanted Riley to come to him.

  Rendal opened his eyes, dashing the vision away and coming back to the room.

  Harold, his head guard, stood at Rendal’s door.

  “The new shipment is in, sir.”

  Rendal nodded. “Thank you, Harold. I’ll be down shortly.”

  The new shipment. This one was late, and Rendal understood why. It was getting harder to find people and bring them from one side of this continent to the other. The cities on the east coast knew something was wrong, even if they couldn’t say exactly what. It was an underlying knowledge that too many had gone missing over too many years.

  Rendal and his soldiers had to be careful. Being caught kidnapping citizens from Sidnie, especially right now, might be the worst thing that could possibly happen. Rendal didn’t want to battle Sidnie, only New Perth and the Prefect. At least right now. Eventually, though, Sidnie would fall too.

  So the shipments were late.

  And fewer.

  And the people he needed for their magic growing less and less.

  Heavy is the head that wears the crown, he thought, smiling a bit as he stood up. It would work out. It had so far, and just because things were tougher didn’t mean they wouldn’t go the way Rendal wanted. Especially now that she was coming—Riley. When she came for him, he would take her. She would give him a greater boost than all of the prisoners currently waiting for him below ground.

  Rendal took the stairs up to the compound’s surface.

  A group of ten men and women stood shoulder to shoulder facing him. Their skin was deeply tanned from their travels. Dirt covered them, and they looked beyond exhausted.

  “Welcome, friends.” Rendal’s guards moved away, giving him the room to walk where he wanted.

  The prisoners were not bound by regular chains, but by green necklaces around their necks.

  “I imagine you’re all wondering why your magic isn’t working here. I know in Sidnie, you all have free reign with magic. Perhaps you even asked some of my guards on the way, although I doubt they answered. You see, friends, what you have on your neck is a bit of technology I’ve developed over the years. I’m thinking about creating a brand name for it, maybe selling it in Sidnie. Something along the lines of ‘Magitech’ or ‘Magience.’ Get that one? Magic and science?”

  He smiled.

  “No, I didn’t think it was that great either. I suppose I’ll have to keep working at the marketing aspect. And truth be told, I didn’t invent it. I’ve got a crackpot scientist working for me, but you probably aren’t interested in him. Either way, the results are the same. You see the green lights on the necklaces wrapped around your brethren’s necks? That’s the technology at work, and it’s limiting your ability to use your magic.”

  “Get fucked!” one of the women on the end shouted. “Our Prefect is probably already looking for us, and when he figures out where we are, you’re a dead man!”

  Rendal smiled wider.

  “You Sidnie people always impress me with your gusto. Perhaps your Prefect is looking for me, but I doubt it. If he is, he won’t pass through the Badlands over ten people. And either way, it won’t matter soon.”

  “Let us loose, and you’ll see what matters and what doesn’t!” a man in the middle yelled.

  Rendal shrugged. “Okay.” He waved his hand in front of his chest and the green lights died away, the necklaces dropping to the ground.

  The eyes of those in front of him glowed red.

  Rendal’s did the same.

  Someone launched a fireball from his right. Without looking, Rendal simply raised his hand and pointed. Water droplets coalesced on the streaking fireball. They sizzled at first but grew more and more in number by the millisecond. The fireball vanished before reaching Rendal.

  Rendal flashed a look at the man, and flames burst out on his body. He collapsed to the ground screaming.

  “Who else would like a try?”

  The woman on the left, the one who had screamed first, stepped up. Wind started to sweep around Rendal, picking up quickly. The woman was obviously adept at such magic.

  “A noble try,” he said as the wind tossed his hair and jostled his clothes.

  He blew out, and the wind tossing harshly around him integrated his breath and coalesced into a thick, unseen force. It hit her in the chest, the hammer of air sending her skidding on her back across the ground.

  The man wouldn’t survive, but the woman would, and Rendal needed as many people as he could get.

  He looked at the others, their glowing red eyes fading.

  “Ah, you’re seeing the truth of it now.”

  Rendal quit speaking for a moment, listening as the man groaned dying sobs on his right. The woman was slowly picking herself up off the ground, and she looked to have some broken ribs.

  “This is your home now, friends. There are many Sidnians here already, so you’re in good company. Guards, please take our guests below, and let’s get them hooked up to our technology. It’s time to start using them to their full potential, no?”

  Chapter Three

  “I cannot believe you,” William exclaimed.

  Riley stood at her door staring at him.

  “Did Prefect Ire tell you?”

  “Yeah, he told me, and I’m fuckin’ pissed,” William replied. “I don’t have time to go trekkin’ north for some crazy man. I know this was your doing.”

  “It actually wasn’t, William. This was Mason’s idea. He thinks we need to check on it.”

  A day had passed since Riley had gone to see the crazy man, Pat. Mason was as good as his word, having gone to his father and gotten permission for the two Right Hands to travel north.

  “We’re expecting you back in nine days. The man said it would take ten on foot, but by horse, you should be able to get there in four,” Mason had told her. “Four days there. Four days back. One day to look around. Make sure you’re back in nine days, or we’re going to think something is wrong.”

  Now, looking at William, she asked, “Are you packed?”

  “Yeah, I’m packed. Are you ready, Riley? Because I’m not slowing down for you or the crazy man. I got three horses downstairs, and if either of you falls behind you’re gonna be left. I’m getting north and then getting back, because this is all nonsense.”

  “Oh, calm down, chubby. There’s no need for all this anger.” Riley grinned as she stepped out of her room, enjoying seeing the big man all riled up. “Just think of it as a vacation.”

  “When I vacation, it won’t be with you or the crazy man we’re going to pick up.”

  “The crazy man and I are going to be a lot of fun. Just you wait and see.”

  “Fun as a damn disease,” William retorted, though she saw a slight grin on his lips.

  The two started heading toward the staircase, Riley intent on teasing William as much as she could on this trip. Riley had spent last night considering what they were doing. She still wasn’t sure she believed Pat; there was a good chance the man was delusional. Yet, if he wasn’t, between her and William, they could handle most anything that came their way.

  They loaded their bags onto the horses. William’s was a massive thoroughbred, necessary to hold the weight of the big man. His name was Broadsword. Riley’s was much more like her, a lithe creature, and Riley thought her beyond beautiful. She’d named her Wind Whisper.

  The third horse was for Pat, and not from the same stocks as the Right Hands’. Still, it was a solid, if nameless, horse.

  It took an hour to get to Mac’s, but both descended from their horses and looked at the two brothers playing what appeared to be the same card game.

  “Aye, Right Hand William Teller. How are you?” Mac stood up and put his hand forth. Mac had known Riley as a kid, but William had grown up in the castle.

  “I didn’t get that treatment y
esterday,” Riley teased.

  “You need to grow another foot, lass, and then I’ll stand for you too.”

  William shook the proprietor’s hand, his own enveloping the smaller man’s. Mac’s brother neither stood nor looked up from the game.

  “He still up there?” Riley asked.

  “Sure is. Ain’t left yet.”

  Riley looked at William. “Wait out here and let me go get him.”

  “Oh, no. We both know you’re not strong enough to handle him alone. You’ll need my help.” He gave her a little wink as he looked away.

  Riley chuckled, shook her head, and started inside. She was wearing her purple robe today, and would throughout their journey. This was official business, and the robe might help keep bandits and other ruffians at bay.

  They marched upstairs, and just as Riley was about to knock on the door, William pushed by her, banging it open.

  “Time to go!” he hollered roughly into the room, his bass voice echoing in the small chamber.

  Pat was sitting on the bed, but he jumped up at the sound of the big man’s voice. He stared at the giant, and Riley saw him actually start shaking.

  “Hey, Pat, it’s okay. William here has no manners, but you can’t blame him. Wolves raised him.” She easily stepped between the big man and Pat. She smiled, trying to alleviate the tension. “We’re here to head north. We’re going to go check out what you told us.”

  Pat’s eyes went from Riley to William and back to Riley.

  “You serious?” he asked.

  “Yes,” William answered from behind her. “Get dressed.”

  A smile crossed Pat’s face as tears filled his eyes.

  He’s either crazy or right, Riley thought, because he believes this with all his heart.

  Given that Pat had almost no belongings, the three were downstairs in ten minutes.

  “Look who showed up?” Mac commented. “Missus ‘I Can’t Keep My Mouth Closed.’”

  “Maybe not mine, Mac, but if you don’t keep yours closed, I can do it for ya.”

  Lucie stood next to the small table that the unending card game resided on. She didn’t look at William or the man behind him. Her eyes were on Riley.

  “You’re goin’ north?”

  “Yes.” Riley nodded as her eyes narrowed. This was unexpected, to say the least. Riley wasn’t sure she’d ever seen Lucie outside her restaurant, except when she was at the market getting supplies. Yet here, in the middle of the day, she was standing at Mac’s.

  “I’m goin’ too,” she announced.

  “The hell ya are,” William grumbled. “I already have to watch after these two. I damn sure ain’t takin’ no old woman.”

  Riley turned slightly, trying to stifle a wicked grin. “Chubby, you barely have the lung capacity to lace your boots.”

  She looked at Lucie.

  “What are you talking about? You’ve got the restaurant to watch. There’s no need for you to go north with us. How would you be able to help?”

  Her questions were abundant because Lucie was making no sense. Riley couldn’t even believe the woman was here now. Who was watching the restaurant?

  “I’ll worry ‘bout my restaurant,” Lucie quipped. “I’m goin’ with you two, and that’s all you need to concern yourselves with.”

  William started to say something, but Riley moved her hand down to her side, palm out and facing him in a “stop” gesture.

  “Why, Lucie?”

  That was the most important question. Riley had grown up around this woman. Indeed, it was Lucie who had first turned her from a life of crime and then introduced her to Mason, the man she now served tirelessly. She trusted Lucie implicitly, regardless of what William or anyone else might think.

  “There might be things goin’ on here that you don’t know about, Riley. You either, ya big lug. If it’s what I think it is, then I’m comin’ along. If I don’t, the chances of you two makin’ it back are less than Mac here winnin’ this card game.”

  Her face was hard because Lucie didn’t care if she was talking to the city’s Right Hands or a street urchin. It was all the same to her. Humans were humans, regardless of what title they bestowed upon themselves.

  “Okay,” Riley responded.

  “The hell?” William bellowed.

  Riley turned to him whip-fast. “She’ll be my responsibility. For all your blather about having to protect people, we both know I’ll hold my own at least as well as you, so hush about that.”

  “And what about the Prefect? He hasn’t given his permission.”

  “I’ll take the blame if something happens.” Riley wasn’t giving in.

  William must have seen the determination in Riley’s face because he simply grunted and turned toward his horse. He grabbed Pat on the way, practically yanking him off his feet. Riley was kind and she was polite, but William knew the truth about her. He knew the steel that ran through her spine like those tracks they found sometimes out in the Wasteland.

  She turned back to Lucie.

  “You’re going to need to tell me what you think is happening. I’ll bring you along, but you can’t keep it a secret.”

  “I’ll tell ya, Riley, but not right now. I want to talk to that man over yonder for a bit. But before we get to where we’re goin’, I’ll let you know what I think.”

  Riley stared at her, measuring the woman’s words. There wasn’t any lying in Lucie’s character, and Riley sensed none now. Only a grim determination, and a feeling that something was very, very wrong.

  Chapter Four

  William rode in front, followed by Lucie, and then Pat. Riley took up the rear, and she kept a close eye on Pat. The man was quiet but fidgety. His eyes were constantly glancing at the surroundings as if he expected someone to simply appear out of nowhere.

  The first day they rode without speaking much, the sun beating down harshly from above. They all sweated profusely, but William’s clothes were soaked through, matted to his gigantic muscles. Each shoulder looked like a boulder next to his neck.

  “Okay,” he finally remarked as the sun dropped beneath the horizon. “We stop.”

  Riley looked around the area, scanning it quickly to see if there were any obvious issues. The road they traveled was little more than a dirt path stomped down by endless horses. Riley knew that the ocean waited to her left, but she couldn’t see it from where she sat on her horse. To the right was dead yellow grass, and just a bit beyond that were the Badlands, an immense desert separating those who used magic from those who didn’t.

  A natural barrier, she thought. It’s kept us safe and allowed us to live without magic. But this man says that’s not the case anymore.

  William swung off his horse and Riley thought she could see the beast sigh with relief.

  “Come on, crazy man. Off.”

  Pat was still looking around, and Riley found herself growing more curious about him. He hadn’t said a word the entire first day of travel, yet he was the reason they were heading north.

  Riley helped make camp. There wasn’t any wood to make a fire with, so as the sun set fully, the group was in darkness—only the moon lighting their campsite. Both Riley and William had brought provisions, Riley bringing extra for Pat.

  Lucie had brought more than both of them combined.

  “Did you pack anything besides food?” Riley asked.

  “Hush, girl, ‘less you don’t want to eat.”

  And Riley hushed.

  They had cheese and dried meat, and raisins and baked apples. There wasn’t enough to stuff oneself, but Riley found she was surprisingly full.

  “I’ll take the first watch,” William stated. “You’re next, Riley. Are you going to survive on only four hours of sleep over the next few days?”

  “If I remember correctly, your Right Hand test took place years and years ago. Mine was pretty recent.” Riley smirked. “Are you going to be able to last on only four hours a night? I thought I saw you sleeping in the saddle today.”

  “
When you see me sleeping in a saddle, I want you to give my broadsword here to the crazy man, okay?”

  William didn’t so much as look at Pat, only stood and walked into the distance. Riley watched him go, not concerned with him.

  She wanted to talk to Lucie, and if Lucie was going to talk to Pat, then she wanted to hear it.

  Time passed with no one saying anything. Riley wasn’t going to rush it. Lucie had said she would speak when she was ready, and Lucie’s word was enough.

  Lucie unrolled a blanket and placed it on the dead grass, then laid down on it.

  She closed her eyes. Riley didn’t know if she was asleep, but she got the message clear enough.

  Lucie wasn’t saying anything tonight.

  Riley rolled out her own blanket and laid down, turning her head to first Lucie and then Pat. The first day had been easy enough, although three more on little sleep wouldn’t be a piece of cake despite what she’d told William.

  She heard Pat lie down on his blanket. Her eyes automatically found her sword, the hilt within reach if need be.

  An hour passed, with Riley falling deep into sleep.

  “He’s watching us.”

  The words snapped her from slumber, her arm reaching automatically for her blade. Finding the handle, she paused, listening.

  There was no movement.

  It’d only been Pat speaking.

  He’s watching us. Her mind recalled the words now that her instinct to defend was silent.

  “Who?” She sat up, leaving her sword at her side.

  “Him. The man who took me. The one we’re going to.”

  Riley scanned the horizon in all directions. Her eyes were hawk-like, able to see almost as well at night as during the day. It was one of the reasons she’d been given the Right Hand. She found William still standing with his hand on his large sword.

  “No,” She laid back down. “There’s no one here. You’re just dreaming. I have to sleep, Pat. It’s my watch in a few more hours.”

  “I can still feel him. It was the technology, I think. Whatever he hooked us up too. I think I’m still connected to him somehow, because he pulled my magic to him, and now it’s living inside him.”