Platinum Prisons: Book 4 of The Rose Tree Chronicles

Chapter Eight: Vincent Steps Backward

"One must first be registered with the Association of Slave Owners before purchasing slaves."

Chains anchored Vincent to the cold stone floor of the North Tower, his arms stretched wide, wrists blistered where the metal dug into his skin. The welts across his cheek pulsed hot with a perpetual throb that failed to subside even slightly. The gray walls loomed around him, lifeless and damp, the individual stones steadily blurring into a haze as the hours oozed by, distorted by deep ache.

At length, he felt certain the room began to sway. The tower's motion, real or imagined, rolled beneath him like the breath of some ancient creature. He gritted his teeth. A fall from this height would end him. And yet ... part of him clung to the fantasy that collapse might be his escape, that he'd awaken amid rubble, unchained and free.

But the stone held ... and continued to hold.

Vincent swallowed down the rising nausea, bracing himself against the dizzy ebb and flow of the world around him. He was soon distracted from his roiling stomach by a shadow which stretched beneath the iron door. It slipped across the cracks in the floor like a spill of ink, long and thin. He froze. No key turned, no footsteps followed. Instead, the ominous shadow whispered his name in a voice he had long forgotten.

"Vincent..." the shadow whispered a second time. Then it shattered into silhouettes of ravens. Dozens of them fluttered about the cell in a chaotic storm of feathers, calling out for him to respond.

"What is it?" Vincent cried as he ducked the vengeful birds and tugged at his chains. "What do you want?"

"Do you regret it yet?" one raven asked.

"Regret what?" Vincent snapped back.

"Leaving your flock."

"Do you regret it now?" another raven croaked.

"I regret nothing," Vincent grumbled.

"Are you certain?" A raven flew into the curved wall and became but another shadow against the dusty stones. "You never even said goodbye. That hasn't haunted you for all these years?" The raven inched toward the window above and disappeared into the world beyond.

"What flock?" Vincent hissed. "I was never truly part of a flock."

"But you suppose you're part of a people?" another raven asked as it brushed against Vincent's head.

"I'm part of an army, and we're achieving reform."

"You're a fool if you truly believe that," one raven jeered from behind. "You're an anomaly—a bird in the form of a human, and you can never be accepted among the people."

"I am both raven and human, which makes me unique," Vincent countered. "Much like Lady Ivanna, who is both of the land and of the sea. She understands and accepts me."

"She plays you like a lyre!" came a voice from the darkness of the ceiling. "She feels no loyalty to you!"

"She's proven otherwise on many occasions." Vincent gazed up into the black abyss above him where cages oscillated precariously over his head. "I am valuable in a critical operation."

Then the ravens lined up on the chipped and cracked stone floor in front of Vincent as the tower continued to sway. His stomach flipped again. Sweat dripped down his face, stinging his cuts, and he fought to steady his breathing.

"We'll see about that," one raven challenged.

The birds melted into vapors which shot across the floor and climbed up the walls. Bodies of fallen soldiers emerged from the shadows, groaning painfully while voices continued to taunt Vincent at his most vulnerable.

"Once she learns of all the mercenaries who fell under your command last night, she'll likely promote a more competent captain and leave you to rot in this cell."

"Casualties were to be expected," Vincent replied. "I am one of them. As long as the Rogue Assassins boarded the Dark Aurora, the mission was a success."

"You fail as a human just as you failed as a raven!"

"You're wrong!" Vincent shouted, trembling in his shackles. "I have a purpose now! And a future! I've led the success of many missions as mercenary captain beneath the marchioness!"

He watched in utter horror and disgust as limbs fell from the soldiers' bodies and shattered like glass as they hit the floor.

"Yet here you are."

"It appears those days are over."

"Your dream as a noble human ends in this cold, lonely cell."

"Leave me!" Vincent wailed, tugging madly on his chains.

The visions of bodies and shadowy ravens disintegrated into black mist, surrounding him with echoes of mocking laughter and raspy caws. Exhausted, he collapsed onto the stone floor and fell into a deep, restless sleep.

§

Late that afternoon, Ivanna sat rigid in her seashell coach as she made her way back to the coast of Aramycius. What was normally a relaxing journey was wrought with anxiety over the necessity of returning as soon as possible. Each curve and sway of the current stretched her nerves taut, her heart hammering with an urgency that pressed harder than the tide against her windows.

At last, the driver pulled up beneath her estate where she had brought Nadia a week prior. She shored and flew up the stone steps with no time to waste, simultaneously using her magic to dry and dress herself in black and red with her hair up in curls. She emerged from a recess into a corridor, and paid her guards and servants no mind as she hurried down the stairs. Then she made a bee-line to the large stained-glass doors which exited out to her rear courtyard.

"Lady Iva!" Ivanna turned. Aleda approached her with Rein on her shoulder. "Welcome home! Is everything all right? You're quite early."

Ivanna strived to remain calm. "It was a rough meeting with the emperor. I may not even return to Melnah Valley until Nadia is free. Have we received word back from Ariana?"

Aleda held an envelope up in her hand. "Only just now. She refused your offer, of course. Also, you have been invited to a birthday gala in the Kingdom of the People."

"Splendid. Make the necessary preparations to leave for the People. Before we get into details or any other affairs, I require time alone in my chapel. Please have no one interrupt me unless it's a matter of life or death. Inform Polaris of my return. We can all meet and update each other at his earliest convenience."

"I'll tell him right now," said Rein.

"No, I may require your assistance," said Ivanna. "Aleda can send a message."

"I'll send for him right away, my Lady," said Aleda with a curtsy. "May you find peace in your chapel."

Ivanna's chapel stood tucked in a secluded corner of her rear courtyard—a quiet, circular sanctuary built from aged brick and mortar. Snow fell in soft spirals around her as she moved down the path with haste, the light flurries dusting her rose bushes like pale ash. Not far above, Rein perched silently in the limbs of a leafless tree, her breath fogging in the winter air. The heavy stone doors groaned as they opened, echoing like a summons through the chapel's hollow core.

Inside, two narrow streams curled along the walls like silver ribbons, circling the stone floor in a perfect ring. Upon Ivanna's first step into the space, the water ignited in a sudden roar of flame, encasing her and the black altar across from the doors in intense flickering light. She dropped to her knees beneath the looming symbol of Iah-Ra—the golden relief of the moon accented with the two suns gleaming above her. In a single, fluid motion, she brushed her left fingers across her right palm, pressed her hands together, then pulled them apart—invoking her silent prayer. Her breathing slowed. Her mind reached outward. The flames dimmed as her consciousness stretched across the sea and land, far beyond the chapel walls toward the Helvetican Palace.

Ivanna found Vincent still knelt in chains in the North Tower, his skin pale, his posture slack. The venom clung to him like a fevered haze, dulling his senses, loosening his grip on reality. She feared if he wasn't rescued soon, Ariana would only subject him to more doses. She clenched her jaw and focused on the shackles. Her spark of hope was quickly snuffed out. Iron. Her magic recoiled from it.

Ivanna breathed deep through her nose, and out of her mouth.

Frustration would do no good now. She gathered her resolve and swept her awareness through the tower, searching, reaching beyond stone. She could not find the keys, inside or outside. Where were the keys to the shackles? She cast wider, scanning corridors and rooms, her energy thinning as the distance taxed her. Still, she pressed on until at last, she finally landed in Maurice's office. There, hanging on a single hook along the far wall. She felt her heart lift, only for it to fall again. They, too, were iron.

Another deep breath in, and then out.

"Rein!" she hollered.

Rein flew in and hovered above her.

"I need you to get the ring of keys out of Maurice's office and toss them into the North Tower. It's the ring with the least keys."

"Right away, my Lady."

After Rein flew off, Ivanna turned her focus to the barred window high above Vincent, but the iron cut through her magic like a blade. But the stone—that she could touch. She narrowed her thoughts and pressed her will into the walls themselves. The ancient stones groaned, resistant at first from the distance, but they began to tremble beneath her influence. Cracks veined outward like lightning across their surface, a low rumble stirring the tower's silence.

Then one by one, the stone around the bars gave way, tumbling inward in a cloud of dust and debris, and crashing to the floor beside Vincent. Ivanna leaned back from the altar, her shoulders rising and falling from the strife. She hadn't solved the problem completely, however. She was only getting started.

§

The ringing crash of metal hitting stone startled Vincent. His gaze shot up to find the window wide open, and the bars on the floor. For a long while, steady silence followed, and he decided to forget the confusing incident, chalking it up to yet another hallucination. He had almost dozed back to sleep when Rein flew in with a ring of keys.

"Iva and I are getting you out," she explained as she got to work unlocking his shackles.

Vincent still wasn't convinced this wasn't simply another hallucination, but he didn't see the harm in playing along. With a grunt of strain, he forced himself upright, arms trembling as he pushed against the cold floor. He straightened slowly, fighting against the fog in his spinning head. Then, his body hummed.

At first, it was a whisper beneath his skin, barely noticeable over the venom's fading sting. But it spread fast, an electric tingle crawling through his limbs and coiling around his spine. He froze. This wasn't the venom.

Then came the growing pains, sharp and sudden as his bones began to shift, compressing with a sickening grind. Tendons tightened like drawn cords. Muscles twisted and reformed. His jaw clenched as his frame contracted inward, shrinking, reshaping. He had experienced this before, many years ago...

§

Ivanna clenched her fists and breathed deeply, heavily, almost painfully. "God give me strength..."

She focused all her energy on Vincent, channeling her knowledge from years ago when she had done this before, and now she had to do it again. She ignored how it had depleted her health afterward because this time, she had no choice. Of course, Vincent hadn't been so distant from her back then, but that was only something else she needed to ignore.

Her muscles ached, and her head pounded as she pressed her strength to it limits. Her pulse thundered in her ears, her stomach twisting against her forced effort. She poured her very life into it, her soul stretching thin against the weight of the transformation. It clawed at her insides, tearing through her magic reserves like a rodent ripping through walls. A sharp cry tore from her throat as she grasped the edge of her altar, feeling Vincent's transformation explode through her own body.

She viewed feathers spilled over stone. Wings curled tight against a shivering body. His raven form lay still.

It was done.

Ivanna leaned to her side and retched violently, her hands clutching her ribs. Agony laced every breath as black dots danced across her vision. She tried to sit up, tried to breathe through the crushing pain in her head, but the world tilted fiercely beneath her. With one last breath, darkness took her, and she collapsed over her altar.

§

Feathers rustled over flesh, and Vincent blinked against the sudden sharpness of his vision. Gradually he grew aware of the unique shape of his body, and the large scale of his surroundings. The unkempt plume of his right wing flickered in the corner of his sight, triggering his realization. After years in human form, he was a raven again. His chest ached with disappointment, but he understood this was Ivanna providing him means of escape.

However, his reshaped limbs felt hollow, his body much too frail for flight. He knew he would not make it all the way to Aramycius from the Helvetican Palace. Still, he would not sit in the tower until he was fully recovered, allowing the guards the opportunity to find him and lock him in a birdcage. With a rasping breath, Vincent beat his wings once, then again. He pressed himself up toward the open window, the strain setting fire to his weakened muscles. He almost didn't reach it. He fluttered wildly at the last couple of inches, then took a moment to rest on the sill where the bars were once attached to the stone.

He swallowed the thick saliva building in his beak, panting from over-exerting himself. Unfortunately, this wasn't over. He gazed out to the courtyard of the palace and spotted a tree heavy with leaves and branches, overgrown enough to provide sufficient cover in case any of the palace staff figured out what had happened. This would be his primary target for now. He gathered the last of his strength and flung himself from the ledge. He faltered in the air, bouncing toward the tree until he crash-landed into the boughs—heart pounding, chest heaving, but free.

Rein approached as he took a moment to catch his breath. "You made it!"

"Barely," Vincent breathed. "I won't make it back to Bloodrose just yet."

"No, of course not. You need to rest first."

Vincent nodded, and shortly thereafter he fell asleep. All the while, Rein sat beside him to keep watch.

§

Polaris arrived at Bloodrose Villa at Southern sundown, and Rupert led him and Drake to the parlor where Aleda sat reading a book. Besides her, the room was empty.

She stood for the Royal Advisor. "Welcome, my Lord."

Polaris glanced around the room. "Where's the marchioness?"

"The Lady stated she required time alone in her chapel."

"How long ago was that?"

"About the time I sent you a summons."

Vincent and Rein flew in through an open window, and Vincent perched breathless on the back of a chair.

"Savages, what is this?" Polaris asked.

"Iva had to change him back into a raven to free him from the North Tower," Rein explained.

"Curses!" Polaris bolted out to the rear courtyard.

"The Lady turned him back into a raven from that distance?" Drake asked in shock.

Rein glanced in the direction Polaris headed. "Where's he going?"

"Probably to check on Iva." Aleda pointed at Vincent. "That isn't easy to do."

Drake and Rein followed after the Imperial Advisor, who entered the chapel just as they emerged into the forest of rose bushes.

Polaris burst through the chapel doors, breath ragged. The scent of smoke hung heavy in the stifling air, mixing with the bitter odor of vomit.

Ivanna lay crumpled over her altar, her crimson and black gown shrouding her figure.

"Ivanna!" Polaris stumbled to her side, knees striking the marble floor. His hands trembled as he lifted her into his arms and searched her throat for a pulse. For a tense moment he found nothing. Then, the faintest flutter beneath his fingertips. "Thank God! What in the name of Adara is the matter with you, woman?"

He lifted her off the chapel floor and carried her back out into her rose garden where he met Drake, Rein, and Aleda.

"What happened to her?" Rein asked.

"She maxed out her abilities," Aleda answered. They followed Polaris back inside. "This almost happened when she turned Vincent into a human years ago, but she never actually lost consciousness."

"Probably because I was so far away this time," Vincent suggested.

"In addition to the stress of recent weeks, I imagine," Aleda added.

Polaris laid Ivanna on her settee and felt her forehead. "She's burning up. Ice, we need ice! One of her servants is a water elemental, correct?"

"I'll go fetch one, my Lord," said one of the guards standing at the doorway.

Aleda brought over the water basin. "I have water in the meantime."

Polaris wet a cloth and wrung it out to place on Ivanna's forehead. "Curses, Ivanna. Why are you always doing this to yourself?"

"Has she ever passed out from using too much power before?" Rein asked.

"No," Aleda answered. "But she's gotten close many, many times, and she always requires a few days to recover, during which she must use her power sparingly."

"One of these days she's going to kill herself," Polaris spat.

The guard returned with a bowl of ice and a rag. Polaris took it with thanks and applied ice to Ivanna's forehead.

"How long do you think before she regains consciousness?" Rein asked.

"I don't know," said Polaris, still clearly frustrated. "I don't imagine anyone does if this is the first time this has happened."

"She'll awaken," said Aleda. "I wouldn't still be here if she was to pass soon. In the meantime, let us all relax and enjoy the snowfall."

Polaris sighed and left the cold cloth on Ivanna's head to take a seat in front of her hearth. "Might someone pour me a glass of bourbon, please?"

"Right away, my Lord," said Aleda.

§

Ivanna spent the rest of the night and most of the following day recovering. On the afternoon of Miseria 24, she met Polaris at Thorncove Estate, where he had just completed Iah-Ra lessons with Prince Colton. Since they hadn't been able to exchange updates the day prior, this was the next most convenient time. Together they sat in the black and deep emerald parlor with Aleda, Drake, and Rein. Though Ivanna had grown to trust Colton to some extent, she continued to watch her words in front of him, considering he still knew Nadia as "Lila," and was not aware of her ethnicity.

Ivanna paced the parlor in her dark purple gown, and her anxious demeanor set most of those present on edge. "So, I've officially received an invitation to a birthday celebration in Amberline, the Kingdom of the People. I intend to make my journey the day immediately following my ... big reveal."

It took Polaris a moment to read her cryptic words. "Has something new come to pass, Iva?"

Garnet arrived with drinks for everyone. Ivanna sucked in a deep breath as she accepted her chalice of lona and answered Polaris. "Yes, actually. Marquis Rallian has set his plot against me into action."

"Oh, dear," said Garnet.

"Sir Rallian has a plot against you?" Colton asked. "What plot is this?"

The tension in the room rose as Polaris glanced at Drake, Rein's eyes darted about the walls, Garnet hugged her gold tray to her chest, and Aleda stared at the floor.

"Oh honestly, what use is it to keep this a secret any longer?" Ivanna asked. "Before the month's end, the entire empire is going to know."

"Ivanna—" Polaris began.

"It's fine, Polaris." Ivanna addressed Colton. "Your Highness, though my father was half fire elemental and half human, my mother was entirely mermaid."

Colton narrowed his eyes. "I beg your pardon?"

"It's true."

Colton looked to Polaris for confirmation, who gave a single nod. "So, Sir Rallian's theories were valid all this time. And he knows about you?"

"Yes, it was only just confirmed to him recently," said Ivanna. "He intends to kidnap me and reveal me to the empire."

"Savages! Does this mean that his suspicions about some of his slaves being seafolk are true as well?"

"I'm not sure about all of his suspicions, but he has confirmed at least four to be mermaids."

"Great griffins, don't tell me one's Nadia! I mean Lila—I mean..." All eyes were on Garnet.

"Wait, what?" asked Colton.

"Out, Garnet!" Polaris exclaimed.

"Yes, sir." Ashamed and petrified, Garnet curtsied and rushed out of the parlor.

Ivanna empathized with Polaris's rage, but what was done, was done. "Try not to be too upset with her, Polaris. God only knows how often we've all come close to exposing her."

Colton narrowed his eyes at everyone in the room, growing slightly frustrated. "Are you all saying that Lila is actually the missing Nadia, and she's a mermaid?"

The dots were connecting for Colton, and there was no way he would let Garnet's revealing words go without an explanation.

"Aleda," Ivanna addressed. "Could you please take the prince aside and explain everything to him?"

"Everything, my Lady?"

Ivanna sighed and nodded. "Yes, everything."

Aleda stood. "Might you follow me, Your Highness?"

She led Prince Colton out of the parlor so the remaining four could continue their discussion.

"I must confess," said Drake, "I'm surprised we managed to keep everything a secret for this long."

"Yes, I think we can all agree the truth would come out sooner or later and I'm beginning to feel the burden slowly lift from my shoulders," Ivanna replied.

"Are you really trying to argue that all this exposure is a good thing?" Polaris asked.

"I'm saying that in a way, it's a relief," Ivanna corrected. "Let's be honest, Colton isn't the worst person to whom our secrets can be exposed. Rallian is the worst, and yesterday Nadia confessed it all to him. I say it's about time we face facts: the marquis is never going to sell or free Nadia now that he's confirmed what she is and what we're up to. Rather than mourning the exposure of the existence of seafolk, I suggest we focus more on Nadia's training and making sure she doesn't sign up for the Annual Slave Arena prematurely. Once she wins the arena, we can send her to another country. Preferably off this continent. Especially considering our suspicions about the prophecy."

Polaris glared at Ivanna's words, but she ignored it.

"What about the prophecy?" asked Rein.

"Polaris and I are considering the possibility the Royal Dreams were more of a warning like yours," Ivanna answered.

Rein's eyes widened, and then there was a moment of confusion. "But the miracle worker was also aware that Nadia was supposed to go to the palace, and she supported it. Also, the Mystery Miracle Worker mentioned that Polaris must be around to protect Nadia's descendants, and that was why she provided him with the ageless serum."

Polaris looked to Ivanna who wore an expression of concern and confusion. She wasn't comfortable with this since it supported the probability that the prophecy was a report of what was meant to be. She did not like the idea of over-powered people ruling Noelle and the Five Oceans. But all eyes were on her, and she didn't want to reiterate her concern to Rein.

"I see," she said. "I'll look more into that angle then. Have you been able to look into it, Polaris?"

"Somewhat." He nodded. "There isn't much to research concerning prophetic dreams. Though, I have found that the warnings tend to come off as foreboding while what is meant to be tends to have an air of pleasantry."

"Mine are foreboding," Rein shared.

"And King Darren's reaction was that of excitement," Polaris added.

"Not Ariana's, however," Ivanna pointed out.

"Because it was mentioned that Nadia was purchased from the Slave Market and Ariana hates slaves," Polaris clarified. "Also, she took this as an opportunity to start a war."

Ivanna pursed her lips. "I don't know, something about it all still doesn't sit right with me."

Polaris paused. "... Either way, we're freeing Nadia. Whatever it takes."

"Of course. We're still in agreement in that regard."

"And I still plan to continue searching for other alternatives to the arena with or without your help."

Ivanna threw her hands up in surrender. "I suppose there's no harm in trying. I'm sure Emperor Jaskaran would also prefer I deliver alternative solutions anyway."

"Indeed," Polaris deadpanned, tugging at the hem of his purple vest.

"Forgive me, Polaris," Ivanna said humbly. "I am nearing a panic; it has been a while since I've felt this helpless as the world slowly closed in on me. Rallian knows something about my mother, Nadia wants to enter the arena as soon as possible, and her father expects me to have her ready for it in two years. It's all I can do not to walk into Aimonbay at this very moment and kill Rallian with my bare hands. I'm being completely honest when I say the only thing stopping me is the fact that he's made Orion, my former master, his successor. I wouldn't wish Orion on anyone ... besides Rallian."

"Two years?" Polaris asked.

"Yes, it seems impatience runs rampant in the bloodline. So if you do have any other options which I can sell to my emperor, I'm all ears. In the meantime, my focus is on Nadia entering the arena no earlier than two years and having her ready by then."

There was a moment of silence while Ivanna's words sunk in. Polaris lowered his head.

"Rallian won't be giving Nadia up, Polaris," Ivanna said softly. "Not with any plan we have developed. We would have to do something very questionable and risky to get him to do so. But while we do continue to devise alternatives, let's not forget our problems after Nadia is free. We absolutely need that correspondence, and I think it best that we see to it Darius takes the throne. Otherwise, Nadia leaves the country."

"I certainly like the Darius plan," said Polaris.

"Very well. I shall begin covert support for the Royal Order once I return from Amberline."

"Be sure you make it extremely covert," said Polaris. "Ariana learned from some of Maurice's resources that you're seafolk, and she has suspicions about your conquest in Vira. We need to figure out who's been able to get this information to her."

"What kind of suspicions?" Ivanna asked.

"She refused to say."

"Does she know about Nadia?"

"She doesn't seem to."

"Odd that she would know about me but not Nadia. I feel we speak more about her."

"That may help to narrow down suspects."

"Well I've already had my suspicions about a port operator," Ivanna said. "After the attack in the Mycius Woods, I've sent word to him that he's fired."

Miss Aleda returned with an overwhelmed Prince Colton, and it almost felt as though everyone in the room had forgotten the whole conversation. Aleda took her seat, but Colton continued to loiter in the doorway.

Polaris returned his attention to Ivanna. "Well hopefully the leaks will cease now that he's gone. What's your next plan?"

"First, I'm going to inform my staff of Rallian's plot so they're all aware. Chances are I will lose many employees, and word will spread through the empire. I will attend the gala in Amberline. When I return, I will begin those covert contributions for that ... organization. When I feel ready, I'm going to position myself vulnerably for Rallian's agents to take me. From there, it's all up to the marquis. Nadia's training will continue uninterrupted in the meanwhile."

Polaris and Drake hung their heads.

"Savages," Colton whispered.

"What about Makiar?" Rein asked. "Rallian's forcing him to take part, but he really doesn't want to play a role in this."

"What would he have me do?"

Rein paused and shrugged. "I'm unsure. He just told me he prefers you don't let it happen."

"Well, it must happen," said Ivanna. "His job as my agent is to do what his employer commands of him. But if Makiar comes up with another solution, I am most certainly willing to hear it."

"If you do make alliances at the People's gala, what do you plan to do when they learn of your ethnicity?" Drake asked.

Ivanna paused. "... I haven't had a chance to consider that yet. I suppose it's something to think about during my long journey there. Any more questions?"

There was one last moment of silence while everyone waited. When it seemed no one had another question, Polaris spoke up.

"Colton, you've been given much to process. How about you return to the palace and get some rest? Take some time to let this all sink in before you become too overwhelmed."

"There's plenty of time for that," said Colton. "I still want to make sure that Li—er, Nadia, is all right."

"Well, she's almost here anyway," Ivanna said. She addressed Polaris. "Do you mind if I trained her today?"

"Do you think she's well enough?" Polaris asked.

"I can help her condition, and I'm pretty certain she will feel up for lessons."

Polaris could sense Ivanna was hiding something. "You haven't been trained as a Iah-Ra Master though."

"I won't be teaching her Iah-Ra. I'll be training her on the Annual Slave Arena."