Part 40 (1/2)

Talos' sword might work, Simon supposed. It was certainly worth a shot, if he could even find it and reach it before the chains completed their circuit and he spontaneously combusted, or whatever dire fate awaited him.

Where had he left it, anyway?

I'll guide you, Caela said. Follow my lead.

Valin had regained his feet and was holding his blade in both hands, waiting for Simon to attack.

Simon gathered himself up as if to rush forward.

Then, on Caela's direction, he turned and ran away.

Leah and Indirial had barely watched Simon dash off into the distance before a weak, wheezing voice called out from nearby. ”Say what you will about us,” he said. ”We know how to pick our students.”

The voice sounded strangely melodic, as though the speaker were more used to singing than speaking. Indirial's head jerked around, and he scanned the area quickly before spotting what he was looking for.

Leah followed his gaze to a man lying on the ground nearby. A white-haired man covered in blood, with a blue-dressed doll clutched to his chest.

”Master Kai?” Leah asked.

Indirial went to one knee beside his fellow Valinhall Traveler. ”What's wrong with you?” he asked.

Kai smiled and looked at Leah. ”Your brother's sword has quite the bite,” he said.

Indirial winced. ”Ragnarus. Well, don't worry about it. We'll get you into the pool.”

Kai held up an empty waterskin, of all things, shaking it in Indirial's face.

”I've done everything I can do,” Kai said weakly. ”I just want to hang on until I see Valin fall. It's myamy fault, after all. Just let me stay here and watch.”

Indirial nodded and rose to his feet. For a moment, he closed his eyes.

Then he raised his blade and began to slice open a Gate in midair.

”Wish denied,” Indirial responded. ”I'm getting you in that pool if I have to drown you in it.”

”I've tried that, Indirial,” Kai responded. ”Don't worry about me. I'm at peace.”

Ostentatiously, Indirial rolled his eyes and seized Kai by the scruff of his neck. It was like watching a twelve-year-old deal with a little brother.

”Listen to me, you coward,” Indirial said. ”You are not going to run from this. If you try and hide in death, so help me, I will go before the Maker himself and drag you back.”

Kai made a choking noise that could have been because he had nothing to say, and could have been because Indirial was actually choking him.

Indirial walked through the Valinhall Gate, dragging the white-haired swordsman behind him. ”This time, you're not strong enough to stop me. So get used to the idea of living again.”

Hey! a woman said, directly into Leah's brain. Don't leave me here! It sounded like a girl trying to talk through a chorus of distant whispers.

Indirial froze.

”Did you hear that?” Leah asked.

The Overlord looked down at the gra.s.s, where the doll in the blue dress had tumbled free from Kai's grip. It was facedown in the gra.s.s, its bonnet askew.

Yes, you did! You can hear me, I know you can. Pick me up, take me with you. Simon needs me here, and I certainly don't want to rot here in the dirt.

Hesitantly, Leah reached down and scooped up the doll in her arms.

”You'reaone of Simon's dolls, right?” Leah asked.

”You can talk?” Indirial demanded.

You know better than that, Indirial, the doll said testily. Simon! Left! Over here! I know you understand me, so get over here.

Leah traded glances with Indirial.

”They were my advisors,” Kai responded weakly. ”You knew that.”

With one hand, Indirial held Kai up by his collar. With the other, he pointed accusingly at the doll. ”We thought they could only talk to you! If they could talk to anyone, why didn't they? Do you know how often they would have come in handy?”

”Perhaps they just like me best,” Kai responded. His voice was growing weaker.

Indirial cleared his throat. ”Well, never mind. Maker, I swear you're just stalling me here so that you can bleed to death. Doll's all yours, Leah.”

He dragged Kai inside Valinhall, and the Gate shut behind them.

Leah looked down at the doll in her hand.

You can call me Caela, she said cheerfully. We'll talk later. For now, I've got to keep Simon alive.

Simon arrived a moment later in a rush of speed, his cloak snapping like a flag in the wind as he came to an abrupt stop.

Seeing Leah, he reached up to take off his mask.

Stop! Caela shouted. You know what happens when you take off the mask. You'll have to keep it on as long as you can.

Simon lowered his hand and looked at Leah through the slits the mask left for eyes. The odd thing was, she couldn't see his eyes through the mask. Only a sort of dim, sourceless light.

It was quite intimidating, actually.

”Leah, where's your brother's sword?” Simon asked. His voice echoed strangely behind the mask.

”I'm looking for him myself,” she responded.

The whole area has been destroyed, Caela put in. I'm not sure I would recognize the place where we left him. Well, we'll just have to look. There are about sixty-five swords lying on the ground nearby, so you'll have to split up.

Caela directed Leah and Simon separately as they combed the area for fallen swords. Simon covered about three times as much ground as she did, blurring with speed so that he had searched almost the entire clearing in a handful of seconds.

Still, she was the one to find the sword.