Page 113 of A Wayward Movement

Chapter

Twenty-Six

Xavier had barely disappeared from view when the sounds of fighting reached the trio in the fissure. Alina’s heart pounded so ferociously, she was afraid her body might count it as exertion and give up altogether.

The continued clash of steel and the sound of raised voices told her that the men who’d magically bound her and Benji hadn’t given up even once they recognized the prince. Were Xavier’s musings right? Would they kill everyone—even Siqual’s prince—to hide their secret?

Fear coursed through her, and it was torture to be unable to do anything but sit still and wait. But she was incapable of even the smallest movement.

A cry reached her ears, and suddenly two combatants came into view in their section of tunnel. Alina’s eyes widened as she saw Xavier battling hard, his sword flashing. She could feel tension rolling off the guard behind her, as he debated whether to rush to his prince’s aid, or try to keep his charges hidden as Xavier had instructed. Zuzu was also displeased, puffing her feathers and making small hissing noises which were thankfully too quiet to be heard over the clang of the weapons.

Alina was inclined to think Xavier didn’t need any aid. She hadn’t seen him fight since he was an overconfident stripling, and his calm competence was impressive. Even in the confined space, he was master of every movement.

The man fighting him had some training as well, but she had no doubt Xavier could best him if it was simply a matter of swordplay. She realized with a sick swoop that this man had something else on his side, though. He was the one who’d bound her, which meant he had great skill with magic. At first she wondered why he wasn’t harnessing the Dust of his movements to enhance his attack. Then, when his sword came within an inch of slicing Xavier’s face, she realized he was.

It wasn’t enough, though, not with Xavier’s skill. The man would have to attempt a more significant magical attack rather than just amplifying the strength of his sword work. But she realized as she watched him that he was struggling with his energy. The enchantment he’d done to harness her to the talisman must have cost him more than she’d realized. He wasn’t going to be able to work significant magic.

He seemed to realize the same thing. With a growl of frustration, he plunged his hand into his pocket. The movement cost him. Xavier lunged swiftly, and the man’s attempt to parry threw him off balance. His hand jerked out of his pocket, the item in its grip slipping free and rolling across the floor.

Alina sucked in a breath, realizing why she could feel the object as much as see it. It was the wooden talisman that held the power she was harnessing. It had landed tantalizingly close to her hiding place. She crept her hand along the floor, her senses swimming from the movement.

But the man had seen where it fell, too, and he dove after it. Xavier, probably thinking his opponent had spotted the three of them hiding there, fell on the stranger with a cry.

The two of them fell to the ground, their combined weight landing on the talisman with a crunch.

Power flooded Alina’s senses, every particle of harnessed Dust breaking free from the item. She’d wondered why they didn’t make it from something more durable than wood, but now she understood. It was designed to be broken, and in so doing, to release the magic it held.

But just as she was rejoicing in the energy pouring into her, she realized with dismay that the shape of the enchantment wasn’t hers to command. The part that came to her in the form of energy was acting as expected. But the rest was already formed to a specific purpose, and she could feel it exploding with deadly force toward Xavier, the owner’s opponent.

Perhaps Zuzu, as a creature of magic, could feel it too. She launched suddenly into the air, Dust swirling out from the movement of her wings.

There was no time for Alina to weigh her resources. Harnessing two sources of movement at once was always a big endeavor, and she had no choice about harnessing the power now streaming angrily toward Xavier. But the magic emitted by Zuzu’s flight was more familiar. It felt like clasping hands with an old friend, especially when she formed it into the same purpose as their previous cooperation.

A shield burst into life in front of Xavier, the magic from the talisman breaking harmlessly against it. Alina let the shield drop immediately, fearful of overusing her energy. But compared to the deathly stillness of the last few hours, she felt full of vigor. She leaped to her feet, racing forward.

Xavier didn’t need help. His opponent had put all his hope in the magical attack, and with its failure, he had nothing left. Xavier overpowered him immediately. Alina saw the prince hesitate before he brought the hilt of his sword to the side of the man’s head. He crumpled, knocked senseless.

Xavier looked up, his face lighting at the sight of her standing.

“Alina!”

“Yes, I’m functional again,” she said cheerfully. “That was quite a show, Xavier.”

“You saved me, didn’t you?” Xavier looked between her and the anzu. “You and Zuzu together.”

Alina smiled. “Well, we’ve got the hang of working together.” Her eyes fell to the man on the ground.

“If he was awake, he could use magic,” Xavier said.

She nodded. “It was necessary. But they have talismans that can block people’s ability to harness Dust. We should find them and use them on him and the others.”

A shout met them, and Xavier tensed again. But it was just his other guards, one a little bloodied, but all still standing, racing to check on their prince.

“Are they—”

“We didn’t kill them, as you ordered,” one of the guards said. “They’re out cold, but it won’t last long.”

Alina strode past the guards, determined to act before the others woke up. Xavier hurried after her, taking her hand in his. She didn’t pull away until they reached the prone forms of the other conspirators.