The Outskirts: The Sky Raiders (Jace x OC)

Part 33 *

The big warrior increased his pace to a jog.
"Kendal? Cole? Mira? Is that you?"
Liam looked befuddled. "You guys know each other?"
"We've met," I said, bewildered.
Lyrus hustled forward and gave us an exaggerated bow. "I am astonished. How did you get here?"
"Through the cloudwall," Cole said.
"You know them?" Asia asked. "Are they Sky
Raiders?"
"Salvagers, yes," Lyrus said. "And Kendal is a proven hero."
"Proven hero?" Jace asked.
I nudged him. "There you go doubting me again."
"She slayed Gromar the Cyclops." Lyrus said, giving me a small bow. "The hardest challenger to prove yourself a hero in all of Parona. How is your leg healing?"
"It's pretty much healed." I said. Lyrus nodded.
"Anything suspicious about them?" Asia asked.
Lyrus shook his head. "I have only met Kendal, Cole, and Mira, but I believe they have good characters. Cole helped me awaken to my true nature."
"Why aren't you dead?" Cole asked.
"I was resigned to my demise," Lyrus said. "But I was rescued. They fully healed my injuries."
"Lots of semblances slide into the terminal void." Liam said. "We can lend a hand to only a small fraction of them. Our master sensed that Lyrus was unusually self-aware. We rescued him and decided he would be a good fit as captain of the guard."
"Can we please take this reunion to the castle?"
Asia begged.
Liam touched his forehead and gave a quick bow.
"As you wish. Follow me!" Tilting on his disk, he took off at a speed none of them could possibly match. His flying insects buzzed after him, rapidly falling behind.
"Stay with me," Asia grumbled. "Judgment has yet to be passed on you. We're off to meet the master."
The castle swept up from the ground, is unusual architecture dominated by concave curves.
Smooth walls sloped inward before flaring outward as they rose. The towers tapered, then widened toward the top. The subtle hourglass theme was echoed on the battlements and in the windows.
I spent most of the long walk in silence. Lyrus had been reluctant to converse, explaining that, technically, we were prisoners until the master decided otherwise.
Whenever I spoke to my friends, Asia stayed nearby, obviously listening. Left to my thoughts, I wondered about the identity of the person whom Asia, Liam, and Lyrus served. If the master were an enemy of the legion, hopefully he or she would be on our side. But not necessarily. The master could simply be a recluse who hated all trespassers. Obviously, the master wanted to stay hidden. Otherwise why live behind the cloudwall with lots of guards and a giant whirlwind to vacuum away any visitors?
The castle grounds had little light, and though the stars were bright, no moon was in view, making it hard to discern the hedges, lawns, trees, and fountains, except vague forms in the dimness. The castle was easier to observe thanks to lights in the windows and fires on the walls.
Full night had fallen by the time they reached the huge gates. As they neared the sloping walls, the gates swung open and a portcullis cranked upward. The group passed into a large courtyard lit by elaborate fountains of water and flame. Wavering shadows and splashes of light danced on the soaring walls. Heavily armed figures clanked around the area, armor glinting in the firelight.
As Asia led us toward the main castle doors, they opened and a figure emerged, head wreathed by curly brown hair, his body husky but not flabby. He wore a green robe and sandals, and he looked to be in his thirties.
"Welcome," the man said with a graceful half bow. "It has been too long since we have enjoyed the company of visitors."
"Don't play host to prisoners, Jamar," Asia scolded.
He raised his eyebrows. "Prisoners, are they?
That isn't how Liam told it."
"Since when has Liam known anything besides shaping?" Asia challenged.
Jamar gave an apologetic smile to the group.
"Asia takes the defense of this castle very seriously." He eyed me and the others in turn.
"The day may come when we are indebted to her wariness, but I suspect that will not be today. The master will have the final word. He is aware of your presence and wishes to meet with you at once."
Jamar stepped aside, and Asia motioned for Mira to enter. I passed through the door after her, entering a grand hall many stories high, with stairs at the far end and tiers of balconies and galleries along the walls. Glowing globes
spaced about the chamber provided steady luminance. Crystal trees with stained glass leaves transformed much of the hall into a sparkling grove.
Not far from Jamar stood a dozen figures made of white war, humanoid in size and form but faceless and smooth, like some department store mannequins I had once seen. Though they were all different sizes and builds, each one wore a green robe and carried some kind of weapon-a
sword, a spear, or a knife. They generally held still, but a few of them shifted, revealing that they could move. One took a moment to stretch, arms raised, back arched.
"Look at this place," Jace exclaimed breathlessly, eyes wide and bright, like a little kid. It was honestly adorable seeing him like this. I couldn't help but smile at the look on his face.
His eyes met mine. "What?"
I tried to suppress my smile but couldn't. "You look like a little kid in a candy store. It's kind of adorable." I smacked my hand over my mouth when I realized what I had said. I was glad everyone else was a few paces ahead and couldn't hear us.
Jace smirked at me. "I know I'm cute."
"Who said anything about cute?"
"It totally goes without saying. Don't even try and deny it."
I couldn't.
And he knew it.
And I hated it.
I was saved from a reply when Asia started talking again.
"Where will the master meet with them?" She asked Jamar.
"In the silent hall." He replied.
She raised an eyebrow. "Does hé want us present?"
"Only at first."
Asia shook her head. "He grows reckless."
Jamar gave her a chiding look. "He is the master. Our place is not to question him."
"My place is to protect him," Asia said firmly.
"Not here." Jamar corrected. "You control the external defenses. I manage affairs within these walls."
"Where does that leave Liam?" asked a deep female voice.
A giant pig made of stuffed quilts waddled into the hall from a neighboring room, short legs laboring below a rotund body. Even though it was bulky and ungainly, it was quite tall. I would have to jump to touch the quilted animal's snout.
"In charge of the skies and the spies," Asia answered. "Is he coming?"
"He's working," the patchwork pig explained.
"Is any of this work happening in bed?" Asia asked skeptically. "With the lights off? While he snores?"
"Maybe a little," the pig replied. "He sent me as his representative to help transport our guests."
I met eyes with Jace. I had to glance away in fear
his expression would make me laugh. The pig was pretty ridiculous.
Asia exhaled venomously. "They're not our guests yet. They're potential enemies. I shouldn't be surprised that Liam can't be bothered."
"He bothered to send me," the pig said.
"The master is waiting," Jamar reminded everyone.
The quilted pig knelt down. "I'm Lola. Climb aboard, if you wish."
Jace folded his arms across his chest. "I keep waiting for this to get less weird, and it keeps not happening."
I covered a laugh. I had to agree. We had witnessed some bizarre sights in the sky castles, but I doubt whether anything could have prepared me for a ride on the back of a quilted pig through the most opulent palace I had ever seen.
"We're with talented shapers," Mira said, patting Jace's elbow. "They can produce all sorts of strange semblances."
"I'm with the boy on this one," Asia said. "Liam shows little restraint with his imagination."
"I'm right here," the pig said.
"And you're charming," Jamar said. "A cozy, swinish pillow."
"That's a little better." Lola sniffed. "You kids climb aboard before my feelings take another beating."
Jace climbed up first, then held out a hand to help pull me up, and I gratefully took it. Once on top, I spread my legs wide to straddle the broad back just behind the head. Though understuffed enough to be cushy, the pig still felt relatively stable. The five of us fit on her without any trouble—me in the front, Jace behind me, then Mira, Cole, and Twitch in the rear. We would have had to squish together to add another rider.
"Comfortable?" Asia asked, her voice oozing sarcasm.
"Actually, yeah. What's this material? It's really soft, almost silky." Cole said.
"The boy has good taste," the pig said.
"Let's get this over with," Asia grumbled.
Jamar and Asia led them away from the cavernous hall.
The pig swayed as she walked, and I would be lying if I said I wasn't freaking out a bit. We moved through a room filled with musty instruments, including drums the size of hot tubs and gleaming pipe organ that took up most of one wall. We passed through tinkling curtains made of long strands of tiny bells into a chilly room where everything was carved out of ice the furniture, the statues, the fireplace, even the rugs.
"Yep," Jace muttered. "Weirder and weirder."
"It's cool though. But I feel like I'm going to fall off." I said, fidgeting on the pigs back.
"Here." Jace said, wrapping his arms around my waist. My breath hitched. "Better?"
I just nodded, not trusting my voice. This was the closest I had ever been to him. It made me nervous.
After more chiming curtains, we entered a spacious ballroom with a polished wooden floor and a gargantuan chandelier. Jamar waved an arm, and the center of the floor melted away to reveal a broad stair way going down and out of view.
"Whoa!" I called as the pig toddled to the top of the stairs. On the level floor the pig was fine, but I was worried about tipping forward down the incline. "Should we hop off here?"
"Don't worry," the pig said. "Stairs are a specialty of mine."
Lola leaned forward and started sliding on her belly. Gripping with my legs as best as I could and grabbing on to handfuls of fabric, I leaned back into Jace as we started down. He smelled like mint and vanilla. The smell was intoxicating, and I wanted to stay like this forever. He tightened his arms ever so slightly and I felt my face heating up.
"Nervous?" He whispered. I felt his breath on my neck, causing tingles to run through me. He just grinned wider at my reaction.
"I—" I started, but I was cut off by Cole.
"We lost Twitch." Cole said.
I looked back. Twitch was nowhere in sight.
"He slid off my backside at the top of the stairs," the pig said. "He'll have to take the slow way with the others."
After a few moments, Twitch came into view, walking down the stairs beside Jamar, Asia, and four of the waxy, robed guards. He waved sheepishly when he saw us looking back at him.
"You should have stayed on," Mira called. "It was fun."
"Fun? More like terrifying." I muttered under my breath and Jace laughed.
"I'm not big on unnecessary risk," Twitch answered.
When the others caught up, Lola crouched down and let Twitch climb back on. Jamar led the way forward.
At the end of the hall waited a large carved door. As they approached, it opened, and they passed through into a long chamber. Two rows of pillars supported the high, arched ceiling.
The pillars were carved like stacked heads, and
every head had four faces, one on each side.
Black veins swirled through the red marble floor, and dark draperies softened the walls.
In the middle of the chamber sat a small old man on a modest chair. He stood as they entered, using a cane in each hand. The pig stopped ten paces from him and crouched down.
"Should we get off?" Jace asked.
"Yes," Lola replied.
We all slid down the same side. The marble floor was hard and smooth underfoot. The quilted pig backed away. The little man walked forward a few steps, relying heavily on his canes. He was almost bald, with a thin fringe of white
around the sides of his lightly spotted head. His features disguised by wrinkles, he looked like he belonged in a hospital gown. Instead, he wore a plain green sweater and brown trousers. The slippers on his feet left a clear view of his pale, honey ankles
The old man paused. "Would you close the door, Jamar?" His voice lacked vitality.
The door swung shut.
The old man smiled awkwardly. He had very even teeth "Well, you have uncovered our little secret, haven't you? Happens on occasion, but not often, not often." He seemed to be waiting for them to respond.
"Are you the master?" Mira asked.
His smile widened, and he gave a weak chuckle.
"I suppose so, especially if we're still keeping this secretive. Welcome to Cloudvale, one of the least publicized hideaways in the five kingdoms. It's a small province, but it's free. We'd prefer to keep it that way."