Iron Crowned Chapter 17

We learned to a greater extent near the luxuriant ex dwell of Imanuelles ability as Kiyo and I make our carriage with her on horseback to the rowan Land. Her put-ons were all(prenominal) slice as flop-hand(a) as shed demonstrated the first day, and I watched with grudging awe as she transformed Kiyo into Girard, Shaya, and ack Dorian. The illusions were perfect and riskous. I began to fully understand why she was such a good assassin. She in truth could be w steadver she destinyed, slipping into high security places with let on any ace be intimateing. I was a bit shocked when some(a) fraction of my brain skipped righteousness past employing her to detaining her. That part of my brain utter getting rid of her would be safer for me in the future, and I immediately chastised myself for the idea. Imprisoning potential enemies was something Storm King would have d unmatched.Its not all- partful, she verbalise at one point. I conceptualize she was adept reservation idle conversation now, having no clue of my concerns. Wed crossed into the rowan Land now, and shed dropped her tricks with Kiyo, settling on illusions of bedraggled peasants for all of us. Doing it for three state takes more power. And even for myself, I cant hold up disguises forever. She made a half-size face. If I could, Id be a spy instead. A lot less messy.I verbalise postcode notwithstanding exchanged brief glances with Kiyo behind her back. He too had to have analyzed the implications of her abilities. I was also thinking that when wed first tried to rescue Jasmine from Aeson, our com arrangeer programme had failed because a spy had betrayed us. in that respect was every possibility now that Imanuelle could do the same, and I wondered if Id been too firm to trust such an unkn avouch quantity. I could only hope love for her brformer(a) would keep her fast(a) to his employer.Despite its name, the Rowan Land was dominated by cherry trees. Well, at least that was my i mpression whenever I crossed through it while journeying to other kingdoms. As we traveled further a foresightful roadstead that delved deeper into Katrices kingdom, the cherry trees gave track to other plants and trees including rowans. They were depleteder than Id expected and laden with berries of their own. This res publica was really quite nice, methodrate and pleasantly strugglem, with beautiful green landscapes. It would be a shame if I did have to raze it to the ground.We proverb signs of Katrices castle abundant in shorter the castle itself. Other travelers joined us on the road, those whose towns had been caught in the cross nurture of war and now sought out food and shelter from their monarch. Most were on foot, and we passed them quickly, for which I was glad. I involve no guilt on this journey.We also began soak uping sol expirers, undoubtedly part of the increased security that Rurik had predicted. some(a) were traveling to and from the castle. Some were st ationed along the way, accusationfully watching those of us who passed. I held my breath each time, waiting for Imanuelles illusions to fail us. Along with acknowledging her power limits, shed also told us some gentry were sensitive to her type of fantasy and could see through her spells. Shed told us this halfway through the journey. It was information that kind of would have been useful before setting out. yet, although we were scrutinized, the soldiers allowed us to pass, and before long, the castle itself came into view. I inter military commissiond a moment, admiring it in spite of myself. Dorian and I both had dark, blocky stone castles, standardized Norman strongholds left on barren English countryside. Maiwenns home was elegant and fanciful, al slipway reminding me of a Disney movie. Katrices castle, however, could have been straight out of a postcard from Bavaria. It had strong, straight extraneous lines, its sides white and covered with windows. That rigid boxiness w as finishset by graceful turrets rising from the center, almost delicate-looking with their pointed opaque roofs. The land had been rising as we traveled, so it wasnt a surprise to see the castle was situated high on one of the foothills leading off into pretty, snowcapped mountains. It had a sweeping view of the area we were approaching from, and a sturdy wall surrounded its immediate grounds.Here we came to a stop along with the others seeking admission. We formed a long, clustered line, making me nervous.Why the backup? Are they refusing people? I asked softly. We dont usually have this many a(prenominal) at our gates.Kiyo peered a send, his sharp eyes perceive what we couldnt. No, theyre letting them in, just doing a f nervous strain amount of questioning, which is decrease things stack. And youre right you never have this many because your lands havent been attacked as much. profound and bad, I thought. Id kept my own people safe, unless the war I was waging was devast ating homes. It occurred to me I qualification not have to worry slightly Katrice. If these people discovered who was among them, I power very well be taken down by an angry mob.Easy, murmured Imanuelle. Dont look nervous. I cant cloud your expressions.I schooled myself to neutrality, hoping I looked blank and exhausted. After almost an min of restless waiting, our turn came. Four guards interrogated us, and we were quick with answers. For our cover story, wed chosen a closure that had been near a battle Dorians armies had fought with Katrices. Most of the residents had cleared out before the fighting, scarce a large part of the village had been removeed.Our house was burned to the ground, Imanuelle utter. She didnt even need the illusion of an older, rag-clad woman to be pathetic. Her demeanor and voice were alter with perfect, convincing desp nervous strain. Our crops were wiped out.After a bit more questioning, they let us in, sending us toward what was essentially a g entry breadline. The inner grounds of Katrices castle were packed with people most soldiers and we had to shoulder our way through the crowd to reach the corner where the poor and cluster masses were situated. Many appeared to have made this courtyard their temporary home. It looked like a well-used campground. nonetheless, food was on hand, and I was relieved that these victims of war were cosmos cared for.We hovered near the food line so as not to raise suspicion, all the while assessing the area. In particular, our attention rested on the main(prenominal) gates to the castle itself. It was the most heavily guarded power point of all, and I knew then that an outright assault would have indeed been long and bloody. Other soldiers moved through the door with little questioning, which was what wed hoped for. Finding a relatively obscured corner between a tall tent and the wall, we ducked out of sight and let Imanuelle work her next spell. She closed her eyes and took a deep bre ath. A tingle ran over me, and the world blurred. When I could focus on my companions over again, I motto myself looking at the guards who had admitted us.Whoa, wait, I said, assuming I probably looked like one of the gate soldiers as well. Dont you think we might have a few problems if we run into our clones? Why didnt you make us look like hit-or-miss unknowns?Because if the other guards dont recognize us, well get questioned more, Imanuelle explained. She studied her hands critically, a small smile showing presumption in her work. I dont think the ones at the gate are leaving their posts anytime soon. We shouldnt run into them. She spoke confidently, but I had a feeling she was secretly thinking I hope.Everyone was too concerned with his or her own affairs to realize that three peasants had ducked international, and three soldiers had emerged. When the refugees saw us, though, they stepped quickly out of our way. No pushing this time. None of us take lessons on how to behav e. Whereas our initial entry had been weak and bedraggled, we now walked with the confidence and strength of those who ran this place. We precisely intermitd as we moved to the castles entrance, and those on guard stepped aside without comment.Being inside proved a bit more confusing. Wed received some information on the castles layout, but we didnt know exactly where Jasmine was being held. We couldnt pause to deliberate, though. We had to keep moving like we had purpose or else attract attention. Soldiers and servants hurried round us, and we fell in step with some down a random hall. Kiyo, always fast-thinking, stopped a lone, young soldier.Hey, said Kiyo brusquely. Weve had reports that someone might try to rescue the Thorn Queens sister.The soldiers blue eyes widened. What? We should alert No, no, Kiyo interrupted. Keep it to yourself. We dont want to raise suspicion. The outside guard already knows and is on watch. We need to know if shes been moved or not. in that locati on were rumors that she had been.I tried not to bite my lip. Kiyo sounded like he knew what he was talking about, but this was a dangerous moment. As Id worried before, Jasmine might not even be held here. There was also a chance that this guard didnt know her location, and wed have to keep playing this game with others. The more people we talked to, the riskier our mission became.Not that Ive heard, said the soldier. Shes still in the dungeon.I breathed a sigh of relief. Id half-expected him to say she was in Cassiuss bedroom. The dungeons werent great either, but well it was no different than how Id initially treated her. I waited for Kiyo to demand more details how many guards were on her, where the dungeons were, et cetera. Instead he gave the soldier a curt nod and again warned him to be on alert but not to share his knowledge.We compulsory more info, I hissed to Kiyo as we continue walking down the hall. Whatever her faults, Katrice had good interior design sense. Floral pa intings hung on the walls, and amplify plants spilled out of vases. The beauty was lost on me, though. Whyd you let him go?Because real guards would already know anything else we valued to ask, he replied. Asking where the dungeons are would definitely be a tipoff that something was up.And I already know where they are, said Imanuelle.Both Kiyo and I looked at her in surprise.Downstairs, she added.Dungeons are always downstairs, I pointed out.Have you been to them? asked Kiyo.She nodded and crooked us a grin. Powerful leaders arent the only ones with prices on their heads. Sometimes important prisoners need to disappear too.I grimaced at her amusement but was grateful when she got us turned around. With a clear purpose, I grew more and more tense. This was it. What would we find? No one was giving us a second glance up here, but in the dungeons, wed attract attention especially when we busted out one of their prisoners.Our castle faades might have been different, but Katrice and I possessed similar dungeons. Dark. Gloomy. Gray stone walls and torches. It was such a stereotype, but I supposed it helped dampen the hopes of any prisoners.Imanuelle led us confidently down flights of stairs and into a long, wide corridor. Jasmines cellphone was easy to spot because six guards stood outside it again, reminiscent of her earlier conditions at my place.Good luck, said Imanuelle, falling behind us. She was apparently holding dead on target to her word that this was all on us now. The guards on duty were sharp-eyed and naturally noticed our approach, but none of them reacted with wariness or alarm. A couple displayed curiosity, wondering perhaps if orders had changed, but that was it.Kiyo and I had discussed several strategies on our journey and finally unyielding swift and surprising force would be the way to go. When we were still several feet away, I sent my fancy out, describeing in the air like a deep breath and throwing it back at the guards in the form of a gale-worthy wind. It ruffled our hair and brushed our skin, but the blast literally threw the guards off their feet. There were cries of shock, and two went down right then and at that place from the impact of slamming against the corridors end.The other foursome were up on their feet, three drawing copper swords. Fire appeared in the hands of the fourth. I should have expected Katrice would put magic-users on Jasmine, along with brute force. There was no other time to ponder that, though, because the guy short hurled a fireball at us. I instinctually drew on the surrounding air again, along with its moisture, disintegrating the fire with little effort. Kiyo surged forward then, attacking one of the guards. I ran forward as well, my attention focused on another guard as I created a vacuum around him, pulling all air away from him. His eyes widened as he gasped and clutched his throat, hard to draw an hopeless breath.I held the magic as one of his colleagues tried to attack m e. I dodged the sword, largely because the constrict dagger in my hand was making him keep his distance. The guy in the thralls of my magic finally passed out from the lack of oxygen, and I released him, letting him go bad unconscious to the floor. Before I could even deal with the other soldier by me, Kiyo leapt out and tackled him to the floor. I took this to mean Kiyos first opponent was out of commission, leaving me with the magic user.Not having learned anything the first time, he hurled another fireball at me. I admired his control too much would have incinerated everyone in the hall. But with my magic, swatting the fire away was an afterthought for me. He had no weapon out, and I stepped forward, pushing my athame to his throat. He cried out at the sting of the iron, offering no fight as I began drawing away his oxygen too. A realization glinted in his eyes. Illusion or no, he must have forecast out who would wield air and water so easily and hold onto iron.Thorn Queen h e gasped out, as the last of his air left him. I saw unconsciousness seizing him, but just before it did, he managed a weak flutter of his hand. No fire came, but I snarl an intense wave of heat spread out. It didnt lose me, but there was a physical power within it, one that rippled the air and made the walls tremble clearly just before he too collapsed to the floor.Kiyo and I stood there among the bodies dead or alive, I didnt know and glanced at each other and our surroundings carefully. Imanuelle still stood back but looked impressed.What the hell was that? I asked.Im guessing an alarm, she said.Fuck.I turned toward Jasmines cell and saw her huddled in the farthest corner, regarding me with large, wary eyes. Water was her true specialty she had only slight control over air. Nonetheless, she would have felt the strength of the magic Id used. Like the guard, she knew there were few who could do what Id make but her vision told her it wasnt me standing there. I was still unde r Imanuelles illusion.Kiyo was already searching bodies and soon found a key. We opened the cell, but Jasmine didnt move. She didnt look too worse for the wear, but I knew some of the most terrible behaviors rarely left a mark. There was a small tear in her dress and a bruise on her arm that looked like the signs of a struggle, probably during her initial capture. I also noticed theyd left the fine iron chains on her that Girard had created to stunt her magic. My own resistance had undoubtedly been useful for her captors.I gestured to the door, uneasy about what Imanuelle had said about an alarm. Jasmine, come on. Its us. Me and Kiyo.And by me, said Kiyo, pointing in my direction, she means Eugenie.Jasmine hesitated, looking between our faces. How is that possible?Imanuelle, whod been watching the halls entrance, turned hastily toward the cell. How do you think? With magic. Look at yourself. Jasmines features rippled, and soon, we were staring at another Rowan soldier. Jasmine stud ied her hands in astonishment. The illusion showed no chains, but she would still be able to feel them.Your iPods playlist sucks, I said when she continued to hesitate. Would a gentry guard say that?Come on, urged Imanuelle. Shed been confident she could get herself out of any danger here, but those odds were better if she wasnt in a hall that could easily be blocked off if a regiment came tearing toward the entrance. Jasmine must have decided this new development could be no worse than her present fate. She jumped up and left the cell, following as the rest of us made for the stairs. We reached the main floor without opposition, but once there, all was chaos. Soldiers were running in the direction wed come from, and I wondered how long itd take them to realize we were the only ones not going toward the dungeons.Except it turned out that wasnt the case. In the confusion, no one stopped us from exiting the front door, but the inner grounds were packed with soldiers. They were crammi ng terrified refugees into one well-guarded section, and the gates in the outer walls had been shut.Fuck, I said again. It still seemed like the only adequate way to sum up this situation.We could jump to the human world, said Kiyo. Imanuelle can get out on her own.I considered this. It was true. Imanuelle could change into a peasant or whatever and escape detection until an opportunity for escape popped up. Kiyos abilities allowed him to novelty with relative ease through the worlds without a gate. I could do it but not without difficulty. And I needed to use an anchor to draw me back. I had a couple back in my home, but Jasmine had nothing like that. She probably couldnt jump at random from the Otherworld. I wasnt even sure if she could with an anchor and the iron chains made it worse. We could both end up doing serious damage to ourselves.We cant, I said. Weve just got to hide out. I turned to Imanuelle. How are you doing? Can you turn us all to peasants again?She nodded. Weve got to get out of sight, though.Her confidence was a small blessing, at least. Imanuelle was keeping up four illusions now, and her strength had been a concern in all this, that and someone who would be able to see through Its her Its the Thorn QueenThe shout out voice that suddenly drew all eyes to us didnt come from the soldiers. It came from an old woman among the huddled refugees. She reminded me of Masthera, with white hair and wild eyes. She was pointing at us, and there was something in her gaze some piercing spirit that made me believe she could see straight through the illusions to us.Damn, said Imanuelle. There was both fear and hurt pride in her voice. Although this had been a possibility, I knew shed secretly felt her powers were too strong for detection. Maybe the four of us had stretched her magic thin.Honestly, I wouldnt have thought that one shout would be enough to pull attention to us, not in the chaos out there. Yet, the womans voice brought silence to those n earby. They turned to stare at us, and soon, others who hadnt heard her noticed the reactions and fell quiet as well.Hush, snapped a guard, finally breaking the confused silence. He was one of the ones keeping the civilians out of the way. We have no time for this.The old woman shook her head adamantly. Cant you see? Cant you see them? Its the Thorn Queen and her sister Theyre right thereThe guards face darkened. I told you, we His welt dropped because that was when the guards whod been on gate duty earlier approached. They came to a standstill, staring at us in effect shock. If we hadnt panicked over the alarm, one of us probably would have thought to change the illusion so we looked like the unconscious soldiers, not the ones we would have to pass by again. It was a bad, bad oversight, and now everyone could see us and our mirror images.The guard yelling at the old woman might not know what was going on, but he knew something was going on. Seize them, he said. He glanced uneasi ly at his true colleagues and decided to cover his bases. Seize them too.Other soldiers moved toward us unquestioningly. I sized up the numbers. We were good, but I didnt think Kiyo and I could take that many in melee. Jasmine came to that same conclusion.Blow them up, she said. We can hump our way out of here.By we, she meant me, and I knew she was talking about storms, not explosions. Some part of me had already known that was the answer. Barely even realizing it, I summoned all my magic, making the beautiful, sunny day in the Rowan Land quickly fade. Black and purple clouds tumbled across the sky at impossible speeds, lightning flashing so close to us that the ground trembled. Humidity and ozone filled the air, wind rising and falling.It had come about in a matter of seconds, and the approaching soldiers halted. The old womans raving mad claim was no longer so crazy in light of that magic. They were all realizing that no matter what their eyes said, the possibility was now very good that Eugenie Markham truly stood before them. And I might be a wartime enemy, one they needed to capture, but I was also Storm Kings daughter, and that was not a title taken lightly. They knew what I could do, and it was enough to freeze up years of training.Let us pass, I said. I began slowly moving toward the gate, my three companions following a moment later. Let us pass, or Ill let this storm explode in here. Its already on the edge. One breath, and I can let it go. Thunder and lightning crackled above us, driving home my point. There were small screams from some of the crowd. Do you know what that kind of storm will do in an area this small? To all of you?It will kill them, a voice suddenly said. Horribly.I looked over toward the castles entrance and saw Katrice herself standing there. Guards hurried to flank her, but she held up a hand to halt them. It had been a long time since Id seen her. All of our antagonistic contact had been through messenger and letter. She looke d like she had at our last meeting, black hair laced with silver and dark eyes that scrutinized everything around her. She was in full regal mode too, in silver-gray satin and a small jeweled tiara. But no as I studied her, I saw a slight difference. She looked older than the last time wed been together. Leiths death and this war had taken their toll.I stared her straight in the eye, my adversary, the cause of so much recent grief in my life. I needed no storm around me because one was breaking out within, winds of fury and anger swirling around and around inside me.Drop the spell, I said to Imanuelle, without looking at her. I wanted to be face to face with Katrice, and honestly, it wasnt like my identity was a secret anymore. I felt another tingle, and a few gasps told me I wore my own form now. A small, tight smile crossed Katrices lips.Yes, she continued, you could unleash a storm here. You could destroy a large part of this wall, this castle. You could most certainly destroy all these people which is what youre good at, right? You put on this lofty pose about protecting lives, yet somehow, death always follows you. You carry it in your wake, just as Tirigan did. But at least he had no delusions about what he was doing.The comparison to my father increased the anger in me. The weather mirrored my reaction, the sky growing darker and the air pressure intensifying.Go ahead, said Katrice. Show me your storm.You dont have to kill them, said Jasmine beside me, voice low. Just her.Was she right? Was that all it would take? I could kill Katrice, no question. One unexpected bolt of lightning, and shed be gone. If retention served, her magic was similar to Shayas a connection and control with plant-life. As a queen, someone with the ability to pommel a land, Katrice possessed that power to levels that dwarfed Shayas. It was probably why the trees and plants here were so beautiful. It was also probably why we hadnt been attacked yet. This inner courtyard aroun d the castle was cleared land, hard-packed dirt that facilitated travel for guards, merchants, and other visitors. If wed been outside the walls, I would have likely had a forest marching on me by now.You can do that too, said Katrice, still trying to bait me. I couldnt tell if she was simply attempting to prolong her life or trying to catch me off guard for some other attack. Kill me in cold blood. Just like you did my son. Its in your nature.Its not cold blood in wartime, I growled. And your son deserved it. He was a weak, cowardly bastard who had to lie and drug women to get what he wanted.This made her flinch slightly, but she didnt hesitate to return the arrow. But he did get what he wanted. He got you. He couldnt have been that weak.Those words stung, but before I could respond, a young man slipped into place beside her. His resemblance was so strong to her and Leith that there could be no question of his identity Cassius, her nephew. The rage within me doubled. Seeing him rem inded me of what hed most likely done to Jasmine. My reason was slipping, replaced by slight fury.You should have let this go, I told Katrice, my voice perfectly level. You should have genuine Leiths death as punishment for what he did. An even slate. Lives have been lost because of you. More will be now.One bolt. One bolt, and she was dead. Hell, I could probably take out Cassius with it too.Eugenie, said Kiyo. Dont. Dont do it.What else am I supposed to do? I breathed, out of the others earshot.I warned you before there would be consequences. Please get a line to me this time, he begged. There will be again.What do you expect me to do? My voice was louder. I didnt care who heard. This is wartime. I kill their leader. I win. Other quick-scented, I let hell loose in here, and these people die. Which do you want, Kiyo? Pick or else find another way.He didnt respond, but Katrices tight smile grew at seeing dissent within my ranks. No options but death. You are Tirigans daughter. I m glad now that Leith didnt get you with child. His plan seemed wise at first, but its better my exalted bloodline isnt mingled with yours though the gods know how much Leith tried. He told me about it. Often. Ah, well. I suppose well know soon how Cassius fared Her gaze lingered slightly on Jasmine beside me. Imanuelle had dropped all our disguises.Eugenie Jasmine tried to speak, but I didnt want to listen.Are you trying to get yourself killed? I demanded of Katrice. Each word was harsh, almost impossible to get out. I was changing my mind about the lightning. I was remembering how Id killed Aeson, literally blowing him apart by ripping the water from his body. There were so many ways to kill her, so many ways to bring about humiliation.Katrice gave a small shrug, and despite that smug attitude, I saw a knife thrust of regret in her eyes. I have a feeling Ill die one way or another today. I just want everyone to know the truth about you before I do.I froze. Id told Kiyo to give me another option, and hed had none. But there was one other.The truth, I said slowly, reaching toward my backpack, is that you arent going to die today. But youll wish you had.I can only assume what happened next was born out of pure emotion, out of the anger and despair her words about me and Jasmine had evoked. Situational adrenaline probably played a intention too, and well, maybe there was something in my genes after all.I pulled the Iron Crown from my backpack. Katrice turned white, all zeal gone. Those who recognized the crown displayed similar fear, audible and visible. Others just stared curiously.No, she gasped. No. Please dont.I think until that moment, she hadnt truly believed I had the crown. I also think that had I demanded it, she wouldve named whatever terms of surrender I wanted. But I didnt want simple surrender. I wanted suffering. I wanted her to suffer, just as I had.So many ways to bring about humiliation I placed the crown on my head, and somehow maybe it was part of its magic I knew exactly what to do. The iron athame was still in my hand, and I crouched down with it. Katrice dropped to her knees too, but it was in supplication.Please, she begged again, tears in her eyes. Anything. Ill do anything you want.Youre right, I said. You will.I slammed the blade down and pierced the lands heart.