Storm: Chest of Souls, #8

By Michelle Erickson

Brenna’s not herself. 
In Sogo, she’s discovered what she’s capable of – the streets are littered with living proof. All that keeps her sane is when she can meet Talon in dreams and that becomes impossible when Nez infects her with a Suque. Brenna comes to realize the Suque wants Talon more than it wants Nez and will do anything it can to have him. 

Talon’s getting bad news on all sides – the Ammonites refuse allegiance until the storm of prophecy rages, he’s uncovered old secrets that make him question Brenna’s loyalty, and the traitor is one step ahead, leaving Talon and his army to face certain death. 

In spite of outward appearances, Talon is sure that somewhere inside Brenna is the woman who loves him – the woman he will risk everything and everyone to free.
 

• Language: English
• Publisher: Michelle Erickson
• Release date: Apr 29, 2011
• ISBN: 9781536599275

Book preview

For my fans:  You give me inspiration, drive, and focus.  Thanks.

Cover Illustration copyright 2011 by StravenLite 

Cover Design by Michelle and Herman Erickson

First Edition, Copyright 2011 Michelle Erickson

All rights reserved.  No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any means without permission in writing from the author.  All characters in this book are fictitious and any resemblance to actual persons (living or dead) is purely coincidental.

ISBN 978-1-257-12479-4

Chapters

Prologue

1 For Loni’s Sake

2 Puppet

3 Island Lore

4 Stung

5 Swarm

6 Restoration

7 Librarian

8 Story within a Story

9 Suque

10 Quisling

11 Following Orders

12 Provisions

13 Blow

14 Signal Bell

15 Nipped

16 Liabilities

17 Win or Lose

18 Regrets

19 Treasure

20 Negotiations

21 Hail

22 Battle in the Cradle

23 Connected

24 Safety in Pieces

25 Bait

26 More than can be chewed

27 Up and Out

28 Healing

29 Walls Come Down

30 Digging

31 Festival

32 Details

33 Mynd Made Up

Books by Michelle

Character List

About the Author

Prologue

Brenna reached out and gently touched the roses that climbed the wooden trellis by the Ryn House gate.  She chose a rose and plucked it from a thornless stem, deeply inhaling the spicy fragrance that her Aunt Loni had bred the roses to produce. 

She was so content, so full of bliss that she knew she was dreaming.  The colors were brighter and the sun softer when she was wrapped in dreams.  She reveled in the ability to feel emotions as she looked back at the orphanage where she had spent so much of her childhood. Wreathed in a smile, she walked away from the roses and down the flagstone path that surrounded the house.

Brenna knew that in reality, Ryn House was hundreds of miles north and the soil had never willingly sustained the deep red roses.  In life, her Aunt Loni had insisted that Brenna help fertilize the beautiful flowers every year after the family returned from Belly-Band Lake. 

Family was a beautiful word.  It meant her parents, her aunts, her cousin Wyn, her pet Shee, Mee, and most of all, no, best of all, Talon.  His name filled her heart with the fever of a thousand glittering stars and her spirit soared with the idea that he would, in the near future, be hers.

Normally, the family spent three glorious days on the lake; fishing, swimming, and telling stories around the camp fire while looking up at the stars.  Mee would stretch over their laps and let them scratch her itchy spots and stroke her luxurious fur.  They would pack up all the fish and take them back to Ryn House.  Whatever wasn’t eaten was to be used as fertilizer.

After her cousin, Wyn, came to live at Ryn House, the practice of vigorously fertilizing her aunt’s favorite bushes became an effort the girls shared.  Brenna and Wyn would wrinkle their offended noses as her aunt would dump severed fish heads and guts at the base of each rose bush into a hole specially dug for them.  Her aunt had grown such magnificent roses, people constantly asked for cuttings and her secret to success for growing the thornless fragrant plants. 

Feeling her aunt standing beside her, Brenna sighed, You always grew the most beautiful roses.

Thank you, Brenna dear. 

In the way of dreams, her Aunt Loni was now walking beside her on the path that circled the house.  The path wandered by what Mee considered her personal crab pond back around the front.  Years before, Aunt Loni had a large rock placed in the center of the water especially for Mee to sit on and watch her favorite food scuttle across the bottom.  Mee had spent many hours on that rock eating crab and singing Shee lullabies to her tail.

Even in her dream it did not concern her that her beloved aunt had been dead for many years.  She continued to smile and took her Aunt’s hand as she had when she was a child. 

In mortality, Loni had been plain and more often than not, faded into the background like a washed-out version of the woman walking beside her.  Loni was no longer pale or slightly blurred.  She was so beautiful that Brenna enjoyed looking into her smiling green eyes and unlined face.  No one had ever been more loved by her family than Tahloni Ryn. 

Brenna, her aunt said as they walked on the path, do you remember when you were thirteen and you went with your mother to visit Hope House for the first time?

Hope House was another orphanage her aunt had founded.  It was in the country of Shugahauze.  Brenna felt herself blush. Wasn’t that the year I decided to show Talon I was worth his notice? 

It was intoxicating to experience such deep emotion.  Her smile widened at the unbridled pleasure of loving someone as dear to her heart as her aunt.  Yet, even more delicious was feeling the wick of passion for Talon ignite and simmer.  Her smile faltered; Talon was very far away from her right now in more ways than just physical. 

Her aunt smiled in understanding and gently asked. Do you recall the promise that you and Wynna made to me?

Brenna shook her head, too excited to see her aunt to care about a promise made as a child.

Please remember what I said about Catsfour, dearest, it’s important.

Brenna finally caught on to her aunt’s somberness and found if she concentrated hard enough, the memory returned.  She frowned and pushed the unpleasant memory back under the waves of her happiness. It was a bad place.

What did I tell you about it?

Brenna’s mind only peeked at the memory. You wanted to save their children.  She really didn’t want to focus on unpleasant things.  Reality was bad enough when she was awake.  They came to a stop back by the fragrant rose bushes, having completed a full circle of the house.

What did you and Wynna promise me? her aunt pressed.

Brenna felt irritation come to the forefront and its accompanying stinging surprised her.  She had really been enjoying this dream!  I can’t remember a promise.

"What do you remember?" Her aunt took hold of her other hand so she held them both.

Brenna looked at the hands that held hers.  In Brenna’s childhood, her aunt’s hands were rough and toiled endlessly helping others.  Now, they looked as smooth and young as Brenna’s own.  She had often held both of Brenna’s hands in effort to make her focus.

Ummm... Mee found some children in the irrigation ditch.  They were both very dirty and the little girl had a broken nose.  There was... a lot of blood.  Brenna pulled her hands away.  She didn’t want to remember.  The emotions that were fighting to surface told her the memory wasn’t happy and she spent so much of her waking time dead to emotions, that she didn’t want the negative ones overriding her momentary joy.  She plucked a rose.

Her aunt reached out and smoothed her hair, just as she had so often when Brenna was distressed as a little girl, Why did she have a broken nose?

Brenna tried changing the subject. Have you seen Talon?  She desperately wanted to see Talon in her dream, while she could still feel.  Her love for him was not a dim unwanted memory here, but deep, rich, and throbbing with life.

Her aunt doggedly pressed on with the conversation. What was different about the little boy?

Brenna eyes filled with sudden, unexpected tears, just as they had on that long ago day, He died.  It had been her first experience with death among peers.  She looked at the tips of her fingers that were wet from the tears and marveled at them.  She no longer felt sadness during her waking hours any more than she felt joy. 

Loni’s kind green eyes grew fierce. Why did he die?

Brenna remembered that Mee had come racing into the orphanage kitchen with her tail bushed out and her voice shrill, demanding everyone follow her to the small irrigation ditch (her favorite place to catch bugs). 

Suspecting the mischievous Mee of some prank, or worse, Aunt Loni, Wyn, and Brenna had all run after her.

Once she saw what was there, her aunt had jumped into the ditch and picked up the muddy boy and placed him on the grass and then placed his equally muddy sister beside him.  The little girl was crying inconsolably and the little boy had whispered the words, We’re free, just before he died.

Brenna unhappily looked up at her aunt. He wanted to be free.  The words made her think of Talon and her heart ached for the chance to explain her indifference to him.  It was not intentional on her part. 

Loni was exultant. I knew you wouldn’t let me down!

I don’t know what you mean, she said, twisting the rose she had picked so it spun between her thumb and finger.  What do you want me to do?  Brenna could sense her body was waking up.

Keep your promise.  Give that rose to Wyn once you get to Catsfour, and don’t forget to play.  Her Aunt handed a small box to her.  It was locked.

Play?

You’ll remember this conversation when the time comes, her aunt assured her.

In desperation to keep emotion alive, Brenna threw her arms around her aunt and for one brief instant, felt her aunt return her hug before she opened her eyes and emotion died. 

In one hand she held Wyn’s rose and the other, a gold heart-shaped box. 

Her vision seemed blurry so she blinked and felt the wet trail of a tear slide down her perfect - emotionless - face.

Chapter 1: For Loni’s Sake

Catsfour was the second-largest city in the country of Shugahauze.  It was situated on both sides of the Krymea River.  The name of the river was a tribute to the founders, who had an odd sense of the appropriate.  The city was divided by the river and politics, hence the name. 

The Minister of what passed for religion in Sogo, Nez Shavae, absolutely hated it.  His nostrils flared and his eyes narrowed, giving his face a pinched look as he looked around at the mulling citizens.

Brenna Tybar did not particularly want his company.  He was an inconvenience at best and a hindrance to her plans at worst.  What she was doing here did not remotely concern him or Sogo.  The reason was personal.

She had even given him permission to stay behind.  You can go back to Sogo, I’ll be there as soon as I take care of business, she said as she opened an airdoor to the bridge that connected the two halves of Catsfour.

The stone bridge spanned the river and was the busiest part on either side of the city because of that fact.  Wyn stood near it, wrapped in light and looking surprised and then disgusted.  Nez couldn’t see her so she stuck out her tongue at him.

I don’t understand what possible business you could have here, his tone was irritable and his voice tight. 

She lost patience.  Minister, there are many things you don’t know about me.

I’m willing to learn, he assured her, his eyes focused on her lips.

Her eyes sparkled with anger. In the interest of time, I offer you a temporary alliance.

He froze in place.  A what? 

I want your co-operation when I go to the officials of this city.  In exchange, I will return the pigment of your skin. 

Wyn was vigorously shaking her head in disagreement.  Brenna knew Wyn wanted Nez to suffer in every way possible.

Hope sprang into Nez’s green eyes. "And the blistering?"

She had expected him to ask for this.  It will make returning the pigment more painful, but yes, I could change that as well.

He was making the assumption that he would be cured.  It wasn’t true, but she was not in charge of his assumptions.  Have we come to an understanding then?

Yes, Nez instantly agreed.

Her eyes lit on some children pushing a heavy handcart past them, their gaunt faces tense and their small bodies clothed with rags.  On their necks they all wore the black and white collars that marked them as slaves in the city of Catsfour.  A burly man followed and when the children’s pace wasn’t what he thought it ought to be, he began hurling verbal filth at their cowering forms. 

Before Brenna could raise her fist to call down lightning, Wyn leaped up in the air, using a spinning back kick to gain his silence.  The man’s eyes crossed as he fell. 

Did you do that? Nez asked, looking amazed.

Does it matter to you?

It’s just that...I didn’t feel you call any light to you.

We need to be on our way, Brenna stated, noting that Wyn looked smug and the startled children hurried on their way.  Wyn winked at Brenna and helped the children push the cart until they were just out of sight, so no one would be able to accuse them of hurting the man.

When the time comes, keep in mind that I warned you returning your pigment will be painful, she assured him. 

Wyn, who had returned, mimicked clapping her hands.

Pain, at this point, would seem immaterial to him. Do whatever you must to fix this aberration.

We need a private place, she said.  The mayor’s office will suffice.

That would be a breach of protocol.

Are you breaking our treaty? she pursed her lips.

He shook his head.

Then follow me, she swept past him and with head held high, headed for the mayor’s offices in the center of the city.

Nez admired boldness.  He kept his cowl up and head down as if he were nothing more than her servant. There was a loud splash behind them and as Nez began to turn, Brenna called, Minister? 

When he turned, she employed her latest weapon:  a smile.  He blinked, forgetting the filthy slaves who looked frightened as they peered over the edge of the bridge into the river below.  Wyn was dusting her hands off and looking around as if choosing her next victim.

Once they arrived at the Mayor’s office, the bespectacled male secretary took one look at Brenna, ignored Nez, and convulsively swallowed as she leaned closer to him.  Brenna interrupted his apoplexy to sweetly ask, May I see the Lord Mayor?

The man blushed and Nez hid his smile as the man ran into the wall, adjusted his path and his glasses, and went down another hall.

When he disappeared Brenna turned to Nez, her smile gone and eyes cold. Agree to everything I say from this point on.

He nodded in silence to let her know he understood.  He did not like being ordered about as if he were an unschooled stable boy.  The sooner I have control over her the better.

The man returned, bowed several times, and led them to the Mayor.

Brenna entered the room and the Mayor, who moments ago was debating the value of skinning his silly secretary alive, became enthralled.

Nez tried to discern whether Brenna was using power on the Mayor, but could feel nothing. 

Mayor, please forgive me for this untimely intrusion, but I knew that you would want me to bring news of a visiting dignitary.  Someone as important as the Minister of Religion, I needed to bring to you myself.

Do I know you? his eyes flickered past her to the cloaked man and returned.

Brenna pretended to be slightly hurt, Perhaps you don’t remember me, but you have made several purchases from my father, who is a jeweler in your city.

The man’s eyes widened. "I would have remembered you, milady" he assured her, his eyes roaming in such a fashion that Nez took a step toward him with a dark glare on his face.

The Minister of Religion in Sogo wishes for you to alert the citizens that he is in the city and will be giving a lavish party in the largest building you have here.

Nez hid his surprise at this, but listened intently.

The Heroes Hall?

Naturally, Brenna smiled at him.  She had no idea what the Heroes Hall was – nor did she care.

That is very expensive, the Mayor unhappily mumbled.

Cost is no object, Brenna assured him.  Please make arrangements for the food, drink, and entertainment.  I will be posting news of the event all over both sections of your city. 

She leaned a little closer, and the Mayor blinked rapidly, his adams apple bobbing as she whispered, I beg a small indulgence, Mayor.  My servant is a buffoon and I must instruct him for a few moments while you leave the room to make the arrangements with your secretary.

The Mayor nodded and left the room, his face a work of sweaty puffed-up pride.

Sit and hold still, Brenna ordered Nez once the Mayor had disappeared, allowing Wyn to enter the room.

Nez sat in a chair against the wall and found he was gagged with air.  Brenna’s soft hands were placed on either side of his face, near his temples. 

He had no time to enjoy her touch before pain exploded in each cell of his body.  She finally took her hands away and as soon as he pried his fingers loose from the chair, he saw that his skin had returned to normal.

I will be displeased if you break your word, she warned him with an icy tone to her voice that made him look into her beautiful blue eyes. 

I will always keep my word to you my dear, he whispered huskily.  I’ll follow you to the end of life itself.

Brenna ignored him, but Wyn pretended to gag. If you insist on following me at all, do so in silence.  If you stay here, I suggest you change your clothes.

I don’t dare let you out of my sight, he said, still shaking with the aftermath of the healing.  The blisters the sun had given him had left red spots and were more painful. You aren’t safe here.

I’m not the one in danger, she bluntly pointed out.  I changed the pigment of your skin, not your allergic reaction.  The sun will be bright today.  It would be better if you stayed indoors with the Mayor. 

An armload of parchment appeared in her arms and Nez followed her out of the office.  His hooded cloak had disappeared and his clothing changed to silver and black, including his eye patch.

She caught the Mayor’s attention, which was riveted to the tall imposing figure of power next to her and said, May I present Nez Shavae, Minister of Religion in Sogo?  The two men slightly bowed to one another and the Mayor effectively cornered Nez for the afternoon. 

As Brenna left the room, Nez began to admire her strategy and even smile now and then as the pompous Mayor, delighted to have a guest who was well-heeled and powerful, bragged about his boring life and inconsequential title. 

Nez had worked his way to the Mayor’s dirty window and watched Brenna until she disappeared down a side street, abandoning him to the over-enthusiastic Mayor of Catsfour.

Once they reached a grey fountain, Brenna and Wyn rounded a corner and headed down a flower-bedecked alleyway that was a dead end.  At the end was a green door with brass knob and hinges.  On the glass was painted in small silver script:  Jeweler. L. T. 

The door opened into a luxuriously appointed shop with a deep blue and white ‘Hauzian carpet, two chairs and a slightly dusty table stood next to a pale yellow wall.

Wyn unbent the light that cloaked her as they walked into the back.  Brenna reached into the stone necklace she wore around her neck and brought out a large weightless wooden box.  She floated it over to six fully-loaded shelves and said, We’re taking everything.

Does Uncle Lyon know you’re doing this? Wyn was immediately suspicious.

He’ll be glad to get his things back.  This city is going to be destroyed.  Brenna swept her father’s beautiful jewelry and loose or uncut jewels into the box.  She had not lied to the Mayor.  Her father, Lyon Tybar, had created many ornaments for the Mayor’s mistress to wear and even a few baubles for his wife.

Brenna silently opened a small door on the wall that was invisible to all but those of her family, and Wyn helped her pull the more precious and rare gems from the interior and they joined those already resting in the box.  Brenna looked around.

He made all of this?

Brenna forgot that Wyn hadn’t spent time in her father’s jewelry shops. Yes.

He’s a genius, Wyn fingered the jewel-encrusted Dega-dagger; a weapon specifically designed for women’s smaller hands.  In the right hands, it was lethal, but the women here thought it a conversation starter rather than practical.  Fools.

Hand me the chairs, Brenna said; Wyn sheepishly put the dagger down.

Once Brenna shrank everything, she placed the entire inventory inside the necklace.  Then she pulled clothes out of the stone.  We’ll put these on.

Now dressed as a child-slave, including a black-and-white collar, Wyn looked very young.  She tugged the collar, scowling.

Stop fussing, Wyn.  Slaves don’t notice it.  Brenna gestured and Wyn’s hair was chopped off unevenly and very short.

Well, I’m not a slave.  You’ll make it long again, right?

You know the slaves aren’t allowed to have long hair.  You’re the only person that knows more about Catsfour than me.

Wyn looked surprised.

I saw you studying about it after Aunt Loni died.  Hand me Edge, Brenna sighed.

Edge didn’t need prompting; the Chent leaf had been hooting his displeasure since Wyn’s long hair had disappeared.  He buried himself under Brenna’s hair, making his wind-through-grass noises.

Wherever they traveled in the east or west sides of Catsfour, notices had appeared on shop windows, the sides of blank buildings, and any other public place.  Notices were rare in Catsfour and the bright lemon-colored paper so shocking, it begged to be read. 

Are you sure they know how to read? Wyn grouched as they traveled around the city.

It won’t matter.  Just looking at it will make them have an uncontrollable urge to attend tonight’s function and tell every adult they come in contact with to go read the incredible news themselves.  The more notices they look at, the stronger the urge will be.

On the east side, the shop they entered was named Pan’s Pots and again, there was no one there.  A locked door was never an issue with Brenna.  Wyn was much more familiar with this shop.  Lux was the proprietor and creator of all the ceramic ware in the shop.  Her work had gained renown over the last few years.  She was also an Eye, one of the best among the women’s organization founded by Brenna’s mother.

Lux’s real name was Luxoria Pan-pan.  She considered it a curse and would get serious, if not violent, very quickly with anyone who used it.  Call me Lux was an order, not a friendly request.  Nyk Taym, one of Brenna’s childhood friends, had teased Lux once by using it and her reaction had ruined any chance he might have had with her. 

Help me gather everything, she said to Wyn. 

Won’t Lux get mad?

She won’t be coming back.  Her ceramics are extremely valuable and we’re going to need more plates at the orphanages.  Some of it will be going to the Ammon Islands.

Why?

It’s going to be a wedding gift.

I didn’t know Queen Tahlana was getting married. Wyn tugged at her collar again, in an irritated fashion.

She’s not, it’s just something I saw in a sandpool, Brenna could feel Wyn look at her, but she didn’t answer.  As Brenna wandered around the shop, every plate, cup, or artistic piece disappeared into her necklace.  The room she placed all the goods in did not exist in the ‘real’ world so it didn’t weigh anything and the space was unlimited. 

Once, she had even put Mee inside her stone for a time-out.  It had been disastrous.

What are we doing this for?

To keep the promise we made to your mother.

Wyn’s eyes narrowed, then she seemed to remember and her face hardened. What else do we have left to do? 

The words Aunt Loni said in her dream, Don’t forget to play came back to her, as Loni had told her they would, along with some instructions that had Brenna reaching into her stone for something she had never put there. A heart-shaped box made of silver.

Chapter 2:  Puppet

She and Wyn looked inside the magnificently wrought box at the same time.  Brenna knew human hands were not capable of such fine details on the outside of the box, nor were they capable of manufacturing what was inside.

Lying on blue velvet was a small glass puppet that looked so fragile a small sneeze would shatter it.

The puppet sat up, held onto the edges of the box, pushed itself up to a standing position, and stepped out onto Brenna’s hand, handing to Wyn an impossibly long glass pipe it pulled from the box.

The most astonishing thing of all was that the puppet looked like Loni – complete with apron.  It curtsied and Wyn smiled at Brenna as she watched the small glass duplicate of her mother reach up toward Brenna’s face.

Brenna felt a pull of power as the puppet touched her cheek and then lightly jumped over to Wyn’s unoccupied shoulder and touched the flute.  Wyn’s eyes filled with wonder as the instrument in her hands began to play.

What’s that music? Wyn asked in wonder.

After Brenna had a dream about walking around Ryn House with her Aunt Loni, she’d composed a song called For Loni’s Sake, but she had never shared it with anyone.  That was the tune trilling from the exquisite glass flute.  It was cheerful and powerfully magical.  There was something...compelling about the notes.

We can talk later.  Follow me, play the music you heard, and watch the adults.  They may think you’re a child and try to order you to go back to work.  If you have to wrap in light to get away, leave the flute.  I’ll make it play.

The puppet jumped to the floor of Lux’s store without breaking, and began to dance.

It looks like mamah found a way to come here after all.

Wyn’s wistful tone reminded Brenna that in life, Loni had been tempted beyond her ability to maintain a safe distance from this city.  Brenna’s mother had been forced to use her power to freeze Loni in an attempt to squash the suicidal mission.  One of Aunt Loni’s goals was to free the children of Catsfour; the only goal Brenna was aware of that Loni didn’t live to accomplish.

Now they would be able to keep their promise and do what her aunt had not been able to finish:  remove the children – all of them – from Catsfour so Talon’s men could destroy it.

Satisfied that all was as ready as it could be, Brenna began to dance out of the store, following the moves the puppet showed her while noting the many children in the street. 

Most were under the watchful eyes of adult servants who were currently reading or looking at the bright lemon-colored notice and leaving the area with vacant-eyed stares. 

The children all wore the same hopeless look of slaves everywhere and Brenna knew her Aunt Loni would have felt as appalled, angry, and as vengeful as Wyn looked.  It would not end well if Wyn left her flute-playing before the plan could have a chance to work.  Brenna could tell her cousin was already at her breaking point.

Brenna stood in the middle of the large square and watched the silent children smile the moment the puppet began to dance over the flagstones, weaving under or between their feet in effort to secure their notice. The shadows of defeat etched into the young faces and the hopelessness of their situation slowly began to fade from their eyes as Wyn played the small glass pipe. 

At first, the children shrank away from the adults that drew near, expecting a beating for not working.  To their surprise, they were ignored and more shockingly, the adults did not seem to see the puppet.

*

Wyn looked at Brenna.  The puppet was copying Brenna’s moves – or was it the other way around?  Wyn’s eyes went wide in recognition of the new tune... the Na-un!!!

The Na-un was a special dance the Eyes performed for assassinations.  Only this time, there was no head-of-state to take out.  Her eyes went to the Mayor’s office...well,