3
Watch Tower
Maeve closed her eyes and opened them, but it made no difference in the stormy sky. Clouds of mist hovered around her, wet and clammy, and the bolts of lightning that zigzagged across the sky were so close she thought the heat would burn the skin on her neck. But Yael avoided the lighting. Soon the clouds broke and the red glow appeared, vibrant and pulsing. Another mountain loomed before them, twice as high as the volcano Maeve had stood on mere minutes ago. As they neared, Maeve saw a tower had been built into the mountain. Yael landed on the top, which was flat, without walls surrounding it. Maeve felt a surge of vertigo as she stood in the open, buffeted by the winds that howled above them. The moment they landed, a light rain began, quickly turning into a heavy mist.
Instead of letting go of Yael’s hand, Maeve clenched it tightly, trying to get rid of the dark fear that the storm would sweep her over the edge, down into a darkness she could not fathom. But she need not have feared. Yael dragged her across the open space to a trapdoor and flung it open. “After you,” she shouted over the roar.
Maeve fumbled for the ladder and started down it, moving quickly to warm herself back up from the driving rain. Wet strands of hair flopped on her back and a mixture of dirt and blood slid down her legs. When at last she reached the last rung, she stumbled onto a stone floor and looked around. She stood in a wide-open hall. Unlike the fae Underground, this hall had arched windows that overlooked the dark valley, and the rain beat upon them, creating a steady rhythm.
Instead of torchlight, an inner glow came from the gray stone walls. Maeve turned in a slow circle, gazing at the ceiling which rose high above her. She looked for a door, but there was none, only other trapdoors, and a staircase curving down. The tower was a perfect circle on the inside and Maeve imagined if she took the staircase down she’d find another level much like the one she stood on, if only wider.
Yael landed beside Maeve, and Asim came down with a thud. His boots rang out with low echoes as he crossed the room toward the windows. “We have much to discuss,” he said, waving at Yael and Maeve to follow him. “The night grows old while we delay and the gates weaken.”
Maeve joined him and took a sharp breath. Even the driving rain could not hide the view, for down below the tower a cliff dropped off into a void. Just beyond the void was a mountain. At the base of it, a red glow shone, like a star on a bleak night. But the glow was violent, angry, like the stain of blood spreading across a pure white fleece. Maeve knew, before she asked, what she looked at, even though she could not see the gates beyond the glow. “What is that?”
“The underworld,” Asim explained. “We guard the gate, for if the demons should come forth, we are the first who shall stand against them, and keep them from overrunning the world. And if we fail. . .”
“Divine help us all,” Yael murmured.
Maeve examined the far off glow, and as she did, a wave of exhaustion passed over her. She wiped her face with a grimy hand, realizing it had been a long day, and her body hummed with a torrent of emotion. Sorrow and horror for Sandrine’s death, guilt for not being able to halt the dark fae, and surprise at the rise of the Dragon Queen. She shuddered to think of what the Dragon Queen was doing now. Flying across the Sea of Sorrows? Setting fire to everything and everyone she saw as she exalted in her freedom? Or maybe, like the fae, the Dragon Queen was shrewd and would wait, once again, biding her time. How many years had they already waited, hidden in the fae Underground, waiting for the seven shards? Surely they had a plan, but would they risk an all out war?
“Where are we?” Maeve asked. The very sight of those gates made her fingers tingle and itch to rip out her sword and run forward to slay the demons of the deep.
“The Island of Hades,” Asim said. “Set north of the Sea of Sorrows and beyond the watchtower over the fae Underground, this is an island no man can find, and the dangers of sailing here are far too perilous. Those who do arrive soon find themselves consumed by the rock creatures. They blend with shadow and rise out of the ground when the living come near. This is the last stronghold, and as guardians, we serve here, waiting until the last battle.”
Once again, Maeve wished for the knowledge of the Scholar. Sandrine would have heard about this place and could have explained it, but Maeve fought to wrap her mind around the fact that the Island of Hades even existed.
“This is the valley of volcanos, and beyond,” Yael pointed, “is the bridge to the gates.”
Maeve followed the direction Yael was pointing, but she saw nothing.
“The clouds and mist hide it, but it is there,” Yael dropped her hand back to her waist. “Long have we waited for this day to come, but you should not tarry here long.”
“Where am I going?” Maeve frowned, confused at what was happening to her. “I need to find the fae, get the crown. . .” she trailed off as another flash of lightning split the skies. This time she saw it, a high, arched bridge, leading down to the deep ravine where the hellish gates awaited.
“You will return to the world you are familiar with,” Yael proclaimed. “A hidden city of mages awaits you, and it is there you will find your allies. They have great magic and an army waiting for this day. The mages will help you find the fae and regain the Crown of Erinyes. But be warned, now that the relic is in the world, among the living, there are many who shall seek it. Not just the orcs, but humans, and. . . others. The fae are cunning, you will need all your wits to win against them.”
Maeve’s fingers tingled as excitement rose within her. The city of mages. Was it the true home that Imer had told her about? Her eyes went dark as she considered warring against the fae, and a thrill of blood lust surged within. She squared her shoulders. “I am ready. How will I find the hidden city of mages?”
“When the storm clears, one of the winged beasts will fly you through the portals.” Yael glanced at the skies, pressed her lips together, and shook her head. “It is dangerous to use the portals with the fae nearby, the taint of their presence stains this land and beckons the demons. But we have no choice. After you have regained the Crown of Erinyes, you must return here and use it to shut the gates, should they open. And when the gates are shut, the Crown of Erinyes will be destroyed. Once and for all.”
Asim shifted his impressive bulk toward her, and the gold on his armor flared brightly. Maeve blinked against the light and shielded her eyes. “Do not make the mistake of believing you can accomplish all of this alone,” he thundered. “Allies are given for a reason, and when the celestials return, they alone will choose which side to fight on. Do not give them reason to doubt you.”
“You aren’t the celestials?” Maeve blurted out, looking from Asim to Yael.
“Once,” Asim replied as Yael lifted her chin, her expression unreadable. “We were graced to dwell in the presence of the Divine, but we are needed here. Guarding the gates is not a task to be taken lightly, and we are honored to be the first to assist the created land.”
Maeve couldn’t be sure, but she thought his hand tightened around his sword hilt, as though he held back his anger. She wondered what it was like to be banished from the presence of the Divine. But she didn’t want to know, not anymore. The guardians were fearsome enough with their stone-like faces, impassive expressions, and unnatural height. They were giants, and their words made her feel insignificant. If they were not the celestials, who would come to assist them?