The Crystal Mines

18 Rion

I thought for sure Erix's minion would have figured out that it was all a trap. Eliza placed the cloth that had the mixture to knock him out on the counter and together, we lifted him onto the empty bed. I searched his pockets and found the keys to my father's office and the tower only accessible though the balcony just outside it. Eliza and I took off at a brisk pace.

"How long will he stay out?" I asked her.

Her head turned and she smiled with pride. "With how much I out on that cloth, at least half a day."

"Remind me never to try to kill someone you know again."

She laughed, clear as day, as we rounded the corner to the masters' offices.

"Did you just crack a joke?"

"No," I bit out. She smiled all the more. God's, this woman.

At the end of the hall, Jakota and Ameer appeared through the door leading to the bridge that connects the university and the castle. They were only seconds behind us. Jakota had reached out to Eliza only an hour ago and together we devised the best plan we could with such little time. Wordlessly, the four of us unlocked and entered my father's office and walked out to the balcony. I led the way and used air magic to make the invisible stairs appear and climbed them to the tower. Erix would not be long on the island, he never was. We had until noon at most and we needed to be as far away as possible by then.

Ameer and Jakota gasped at the sight of my bother's slumped form. Dath and Erix had not healed him from the last session. His skin was scorched and bubbling. The blood on his back and front had since dried to large scabs and boils. His face remained unharmed at our father's request. For whatever reason, they had left him the mercy of allowing him to sleep. Eliza got to work, pushing as much Auramancy into my brother's skin as possible. With her free hand, she reached into her bag and handed me a jar of poultice. While I rubbed it on and she healed as quickly as she could, Ameer and Jakota, loosened his restraints.

Ameer met my eyes on the other side of my brother, "We need to get the students to safety."

"There isn't enough time," I argued, with remorse.

He looked down at Alden's scorched arms, thinking, before saying, "Then we need a distraction to get him out of here."

I nodded, knowing exactly what to do. I touched Eliza's back, only for a second. But it was enough for her to know the gist of what I was planning. She shooed me away with a flick of her chin and continued working on my brother's body. Leaving them to rescue my brother, I ran down the stairs and back through my father's office.

When I reached the courtyard again, Jorah was going on about the Malachite crystal in his hand, too distracted to see me slip by him. Of course, the extra boost of dark magic I used to avert eyes certainly helped. On the other side of the forest Nik had grown, was the massive stone gazebo with a small stream of the canal flowing around it. Syphor was very missed since they had run off with Emyr after the fourth trial. Now, my brother Evander taught Pyromancy. He was teaching how to form a basic ball of flame to a group of students. The only indication that he knew I had approached was the shift in his stance. He finished his demonstration and had the class get to work pairing up and practicing before finally acknowledging me.

As he began walking over to me, I led us away from the students to the edge of the canal behind the university. I was worried he wouldn't follow me, but when I looked to find him right behind me, I relaxed.

"What?" He demanded. He was more tired today than he normally was. He must have stayed up late again. When I didn't answer right away, he put a hand on his hip, impatiently. So, he was still angry with me as well as tired.

"I need your help with something, and it has to be right now."

Evander took a physical step back, stunned I had come to him for something. I deserved his hatred. I knew I did. But this was more than about our relationship. It was about saving our brother.

"What could you possibly need me for?"

I smiled at him. Truly smiled, dropping the mask I had worn for years. "Getting the fuck out of here."

"Alden?"

"Yes. Right now, little brother. We need a distraction. The grounds cleared, kids sent to their rooms, teachers sent too, something. Can you do that and meet me back here in about a quarter hour?"

He looked at me, studying my face and body, blinking. "You're completely serious," he whispered. It wasn't a question, but a statement of thoughts aloud. His breathing increased and he looked to his class who had managed a few balls of flame.

"I am. Use Talay. She's with Jorah and she will do anything you ask. I have to go."

I turned to head back to the tower before saying back to him, "And Evander," he watched me with glassy eyes, "It was all a lie. Everything I did, I did for you and Alden." He choked back crying laughter and covered his mouth in disbelief. Then we both ran.