“Run, Cole!” Mira yelled.
The oncoming knights were closing in. The Rogue Knight stood protectively in front of Mira. Cole might not be able to defeat the Rogue Knight in a fight, but with the sword, he could probably follow him. But first he had to get away.
With the galloping horses almost upon him, Cole pointed the Jumping Sword at the trees along the edge of the field and called the command. He whooshed through the air, brush skimming by beneath him in a blur. Landing by the trees, he found everyone looking his way. Aiming his sword into the trees, he jumped again, knifing between hefty trunks. He landed far enough into the woods that he could no longer see any knights or the caravan. Crouching down, Cole waited to see who would come after him.
CHAPTER
16
DIVERGING PATHS
Cole waited tensely for knights on horseback to come crashing through the underbrush. He mapped out plans in his mind for where he could jump next. If he led his pursuers far enough into the woods, maybe he could loop back around and catch up to the Rogue Knight. With the Jumping Sword, he had a real chance of tailing him. If the Rogue Knight slipped away, he could probably follow any of his knights and eventually get back to Mira.
But nobody came.
It took about a minute of crouching behind a log with his heart rate gradually slowing for Cole to realize that nobody was in pursuit. He suddenly felt like he was still playing hide-and-seek after the other kids had gone home.
Staying low, Cole crept back toward the field until he could see beyond the trees. The knights were back to collecting valuables from the caravan. Jace was on his feet again. A couple of the knights were organizing the drivers of the wagons. The Rogue Knight and Mira were no longer in view.
Cole had seen which way they had initially gone. If they had continued in that direction, he could probably catch up and follow them. If he failed to find them, he could always double back and follow some of the other knights. The knights overseeing the wagons would be busy for some time.
Rushing to the edge of the trees, Cole pointed his sword and said, “Away,” keeping his voice low. Nothing happened. “Away!” he repeated, a little more forcefully, but he didn’t even feel a faint tug.
Cole studied the blade. There was no hint of the fire he had seen earlier. Those flames had faded once he’d started jumping. Why had the Jumping Sword stopped working again?
He had been really desperate when he’d run after Mira. Maybe the sword had reacted to his need. Cole pictured the Rogue Knight riding away with his friend. He had to help her! Back in Sambria, flames had never flickered along the blade before. Staring at the sword, Cole willed the flames to return.
No spectral fire appeared. The hilt didn’t hum or vibrate.
Holding his breath, clenching the muscles in his gut, Cole mentally commanded the sword to work. “Come on,” he muttered. “Away! Away!”
Still nothing happened. Cole slapped the hilt the same way he used to hit a faulty remote control. Nothing. Feeling frustrated and confused, Cole pointed the sword out into the field and growled the command with all the emotion he could muster.
Again, there was no sign that the sword was anything more than a length of sharpened metal. Cole began to feel foolish. If he hadn’t helped the sword work, then what had happened? Had it just been a freak accident?
No. He remembered how it had felt when the sword hummed to life in his grasp. Energy or passion or something had flowed from him and into the weapon. But now that feeling was totally gone. Some of the same emotions lingered, but they were not connecting with the Jumping Sword at all.
Cole withdrew back into the trees, worried he had made himself too visible and spoken too loudly when commanding the sword. If the knights came after him now, they would catch him easily.
Squatting behind a bush, watching the confiscated wagons start to roll, Cole had to accept that Mira was gone. He had tried to help her, but in the end it hadn’t been enough. Not only had he lost his friends from back home, he was losing new friends, too. Cole felt so sick and empty that he wanted to collapse and surrender.
But he couldn’t do that. He had to hang on. Mira didn’t need him to feel sorry for her. She needed him to help her. Jenna, Dalton, and the others needed him too.
If the Rogue Knight recognized Mira’s value as a hostage, hopefully he would treat her kindly. At least he hadn’t seemed unfair or mean-spirited. The Rogue Knight could have killed Jace, but instead just held him down. There had to be some decency in him.
Six of the knights rode off escorting the wagons of merchandise. The other three, including the little one, galloped away in the direction the Rogue Knight had gone. One last time Cole tried the Jumping Sword, and again he was disappointed. If only he could follow them!
As the wagons trundled out of sight, Cole emerged from the woods. The coaches remained stationary. He hurried across the field to his friends, and Skye approached him, gripping him by his shoulders. “Are you all right?”
“I’m fine,” Cole said.
“How did you do that?” she asked.
Cole gave an uncomfortable laugh. “I don’t know. I’m not even sure if I did it.”
“You did it all right,” Skye said. “I’ve never sensed any enchanting ability in you, then all of a sudden you were radiating serious power.”
“It’s gone now,” Cole said with a sigh. “The sword is back to normal.”
“So are you, as far as I can tell,” she said, tousling his hair. “Has anything like that ever happened to you before?”
“Never,” Cole said. “Declan told me that one day I would probably develop shaping power.”
“I don’t know what you developed,” Skye said. “But it wasn’t any common type of shaping. That sword shouldn’t work here. What did you do?”
“I just wanted to help Mira,” Cole said. “I don’t get what happened.”
“And now nothing?” Joe asked, drawing near.
“Nada,” Cole confirmed. “After I went into the woods, I tried to follow Mira, but the sword went dead. Nothing I tried would make it work again.”
Staring at the woods, Joe stroked his jaw. “I’m going after her,” he said. “The knights didn’t take the extra horses. The dead mercenaries don’t need theirs.”
“I’m coming too,” Jace said.
“No,” Joe replied. “I appreciate the offer, but you’d slow me down.”
Jace looked like he wanted to protest, then dropped his gaze.
“I’ll go,” Twitch said, stretching his wings. “I was already planning to follow the Rogue Knight. You’ll need me.”
Joe paused, then gave a nod. “Sure, I could use your help.”
“We could all go,” Cole said. “There are enough extra horses.”
“No,” Joe said. He looked at Skye. “Seemings won’t do us any good against them.” He glanced at Cole. “Those knights can really fight. They’re more than a match for me, let alone the rest of you. It’s going to take stealth, and I’ll sneak better with just Twitch along. This isn’t over. Skye, take Jace and Cole and see if you can confirm that Honor is the mysterious prisoner at Blackmont Castle. Cole wants to rescue his friend. The boy works at a confidence lounge in Merriston. Maybe the friend has information.”
“Which confidence lounge?” Skye asked.
“The Silver something,” Cole said.
Skye gave an impressed whistle. “The Silver Lining—the oldest confidence lounge in Merriston. It’s the most prestigious in all of Elloweer. Would your friend help us?”
“Count on it,” Cole said. “I have to free him.”
Skye raised her eyebrows. “We’ll cross that bridge when we come to it.”
“Twitch and I need to get going,” Joe said. “We don’t want to follow too close, but we mustn’t fall too far behind either. After I get Mira, we’ll come find you. Where should
we meet up?”
“The Bloated Udder,” Skye said. “It’s an inn near Edgemont, in Harper’s Crossing.”
Joe took Skye by the hand. “If I don’t make it, you will be Honor’s last hope.” He looked to Cole and Jace. “Find her. Help her.”
Jace gave a nod.
“Save Mira,” Cole told him.
“We’ll get her,” Twitch said. “I’m faster than their horses.”
With that, Twitch hopped away, wings fluttering. Joe hurried over to Monroe. Cole couldn’t hear the words. Monroe scratched his head, then pointed toward some horses. Joe ran to a horse, climbed on, and rode away hard. Twitch had already vanished into the trees.
“Where’s he going?” a voice asked from behind them.
Cole turned to find Konley there, watching Joe ride away. The knight wore no armor and carried no sword.
“The Rogue Knight took my daughter,” Skye said.
“Your daughter?” Konley questioned. “Who are you?”
“Somebody who wanted to travel quietly,” she said.
“I noticed that much,” Konley replied. “You were hidden by elaborate seemings. Why would the Rogue Knight show no special interest in the daughter of Alderman Cronin, or anyone else for that matter, then take your daughter?”
“He knew that wasn’t really the alderman’s daughter,” Skye said. “I have no idea why my poor child caught his eye. Why won’t Rustin Sage man up and face him?”
“That’s his business,” Konley said. “Who are you?”
“My name is Edna Vine,” Skye said. “I own a fine pottery and tableware store in Carthage.”
Hands on his hips, Konley squinted at the trees, then back at Skye. “I think I know the store. It’s called the Vineyard. Not really my kind of place. I don’t know the owner. Could be you. So the Rogue Knight is going to ransom your daughter for plates?”
Skye’s expression hardened. Tears shimmered in her eyes. “Is that supposed to be funny?”
Konley gave a chuckle. “Is that supposed to be acting?” He shifted his attention to Cole. “Who are you, kid? How come you can fly?”
“I don’t know,” Cole said. “Maybe because I wasn’t afraid to try?”
Jace looked away, a spasm of unreleased laughter briefly making his shoulders twitch.
Konley scowled. “Are you calling me a coward?”
“Were you hoping for ‘hero’?” Cole exclaimed. “You gave him your sword! I’m surprised you didn’t shine up his armor!”
Jace couldn’t hold it and laughed hard.
“The boy has a point,” Skye said. “Both of these children attacked the Rogue Knight. Where were you?”
“That’s not the issue,” Konley said uncomfortably. “I carried out my duty as I saw fit.”
“Every coward has his reasons,” Cole murmured.
“What was that?” Konley asked.
“Something a real soldier once told me,” Cole replied.
Konley placed his hands on his hips. “Some important people are looking for a group that matches your description. There was particular interest in the girl. An escaped slave.”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” Skye said. “None of us are slaves. The Rogue Knight wiped away our seemings. Do you see slavemarks on us? Did you note the freemark on my daughter? I’m living a nightmare, and you’re accusing us of . . . what?”
Monroe came over, a hand on the hilt of his sword. Apparently, the knights had let him retain it. “Is there a problem here?”
“These people were under disguise,” Konley said.
“Lots of people prefer to travel incognito,” Monroe said. “Two of the merchants used seemings as well. One of your party too. These people paid for passage under my protection.”
Konley sneered. “Fine protection you provided.”
“My men died to protect us,” Monroe said. “The one who lived only surrendered after a failed attack. Look to your own people. This remains my caravan. Don’t harass my clients.”
“I was asking after the girl the Rogue Knight took,” Konley said. “I can’t help without information.”
“If you want to help the girl,” Monroe said, “you and your men are welcome to ride to her rescue.”
“We’re not currently equipped to threaten those outlaws,” Konley hedged. “I’ll need reinforcements before I hunt the Rogue Knight.” Konley glanced at Skye. “I never caught your daughter’s name.”
“Eleanor,” Skye said smoothly. “After her grandmother.”
Konley gave a nod. “Right. Carry on, then.” He patted Monroe on the arm. “Let’s get these coaches back on the road.”
Konley walked off. Skye stepped close to Monroe. “I’ve had some involvement in the resistance. I think he’s aware.”
Monroe gave a nod. “Aye. He’ll make trouble if we let him. What do you mean to do about your daughter?”
“I sent two servants to try to help her,” she said. “It’s all I can do for now. We need to get to Merriston.”
“Do you require anything from your coach?” Monroe asked.
“Not anymore,” she said.
“Then take mine,” Monroe said. “I’ll tell the driver to push hard, and you’ll reach Merriston late tonight. After that you’re on your own.”
“Thank you,” Skye said.
“Least I can do,” Monroe replied, looking around. “Worst disaster of my career. Here’s to hoping the officials in Merriston make it right.”
Monroe led them to his coach at the front of the caravan. Cole and Jace climbed in while Skye and Monroe went to talk to the driver.
“You were brave back there,” Cole said.
Jace folded his arms across his chest. “Don’t.”
“What?” Cole replied. “You were!”
“I was no better than that Konley guy,” Jace said.
“He didn’t even try,” Cole said.
“No point in trying if you can’t get it done,” Jace said. “At least you gave the Rogue Knight something to remember you by.”
“I failed too,” Cole said.
Jace looked away. “I noticed.”
“This isn’t over,” Cole said.
“It kind of is for me,” Jace replied. “You heard Joe. I would just slow him down. I would have worsened his chances to help her. And he was right. That’s why I didn’t argue.”
“He just thought you’d be better at helping Honor,” Cole consoled.
“Yeah, right,” Jace huffed. “I bet her guards will be in terror of some kid who doesn’t even know how to use a sword. I’m useless without that rope.”
“Not useless,” Cole said. “Mira needed somebody, and you stepped up.”
“She needed somebody to save her,” Jace said. “Not somebody to get pinned down like a weakling. Do you know what the Rogue Knight said to the other knight who held me? ‘There is no honor in harming a child.’ And he was right. I wasn’t even a threat. I was a baby having a tantrum. If I had my rope, I would have shaken that knight like a bug in a can. They wouldn’t have held me down and shown me mercy. They would have been too busy dying to care how old I was.”
“Mira appreciated what you did,” Cole said.
“She shouldn’t have,” Jace said. “Good intentions aren’t enough, Cole. Remember the sky castles? How many of those scouts do you think intended to die? Here’s a clue—none of them. How many survived? Only a few. Your intentions don’t matter. All that matters is what you can do.”
“We’ll find a way to help her,” Cole said.
“I’ll try,” Jace said. “Even if my best is a pathetic joke, I won’t quit. She’s all I care about. But I’m not what she needs. She deserves so much more than me.”
“She needs people just like you,” Cole said.
“Knock it off! Don’t try to cheer me u
p. I know what happened. I know what it means.” He started to get choked up. “Mira’s gone, and I couldn’t stop it.” Gritting his teeth, his expression miserable, Jace regained control of himself. “If you want to help, stop bugging me and figure out how you charged up that sword. That might actually be useful.”
CHAPTER
17
LADY MADELINE
When Merriston came into view beneath three moons of varied sizes, Cole was no closer to understanding how he had made the Jumping Sword work. He had spent much of the ride trying to replicate what had happened in the field, but no matter how hard he concentrated, or what mind games he played, the Jumping Sword remained inert.
Jace had quietly sulked all day. He would respond to questions, but initiated no conversation, and made no jokes. Skye seemed extra sullen and contemplative as well.
Watch fires brightened the road as they neared the colossal wall. The mammoth gates stood closed. After the coach halted, Cole heard the driver telling a guard how they had been attacked by the Rogue Knight. A few minutes later, the gates groaned open.
“What’s the plan?” Cole asked.
“I told the driver to drop us near Fairview Gardens,” Skye said. “It’s a pleasant part of the city. I’m trying to decide how we can access your friend Dalton.”
The words gave Cole his first happy moment since they’d lost Mira—he was so close now! They were making plans to see him!
“We’re low on funds,” Jace reminded them.
“My main stash was in the couch,” Cole said. “I still have some ringers in my pocket. Just small change, but it might add up to a gold ringer or two. And I have a jewel I got from a sky castle.”
“There are places I can go for money,” Skye said.
“How much does it cost to get into the Silver Lining?” Cole asked.
“Six gold ringers a person, last I heard,” Skye said. “But that’s not the biggest obstacle. Not anyone can buy their way into the Silver Lining. It’s by invitation only.”
“Can somebody in the Unseen help you?” Cole asked.