Chapter 9

"According to the darkings, she's on a street called Linden Way," started Taybur.

"Under the post office," Vitorcine inserted.

Yoyox started nodding his head. "We have to find her soon."

"Why?" Chenaol threw in.

"Because if the darkings only just now figured out where Aly was, things are getting worse and Aly can do nothing to stop it."

All of the Copper Islanders looked at the visual speaking spell. Baron George Cooper was rubbing his chin and looking thoughtfully at each person in the room.

"All the more reason to move now," Nawat said.

"Nawat, Linden Way is all the ay on the other side of the country. And in the middle of the strongest resisting city," Fesgao informed them.

"What about if Aly's pack went in for a snatch and grab?" suggested Raoul of Goldenlake, captain of the King's Own.

Taybur, Vitorcine, and Yoyox shook their heads.

"That's a very bad idea," said Yoyox.

"If Aly's the prisoner there it will be very well guarded. She's the only informant, as far as we know," Vitorcine put in.

"As soon as they go into the basement to get Aly, they are screwed. They won't be able to come back out," Taybur explained, pointing at Raoul.

Raoul shrugged. "It was just a thought."

"We have to get Aly back," Winnamine said. "For Nawat's sake," she whispered to Dove.

Dove nodded. "She is our spymaster, who knows all of our secrets. We cannot let the enemy have her any longer."

Everyone in the meeting room and across the visual speaking spell watched the young queen.

"Taybur. Organize a public meeting with my people. Fesgao, Nawat. Prepare to invade that city. Chenaol. We're going to need more knives. Vitorcine, Yoyox. I know you have people we can trust in the city, get them the knives from Chenaol. Ysul. Prepare the mages. We are all going to work together to get her back."

Dove looked sternly at every single one of her people.

"Share all the information you have."

XOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOX

Aly was breathing heavily. She was barely holding on to consciousness. She hadn't seen Trick in days. Or what seemed like days. Time had lost all meaning.

"Truthspell."

Aly couldn't put a name to who spoke, but she knew she recognized it. She wished she could remember.

The soft glow from a Gift lit the air around her. She shakily looked up at two blurred figures. She dropped her head again.

"Who is your informant? How do you get word out?" a different voice. Aly didn't recognize this voice.

Aly felt the now familiar tug of the spell on her tongue. She ignored it and focused on breathing. Like hell she was going to answer! They would have to kill her before she would answer the questions.

The tugging got more insistent as the unfamiliar voice asked the questions again, harsher this time.

The tugging was so insistent that she had to say something. Aly knew that she would just get beaten for her stupid answer. But the spell commanded that she say something true.

"I will never answer you."

Trick shrunk farther into his hiding place as he heard the familiar tone of Aly's voice. The tone that said she knew exactly what she was doing. That she knew it wasn't wise to say it, but she was going to say it anyway to piss Bastard off.

The screaming started.