The Catalyst

Chapter 3

As he crossed the bridge alongside Kemon, with his aides trailing behind, Noah tried very hard not to look down below, where the bottom of the moat was thick with long sharpened stakes.

On the other side, the fortified wall connected to a main gate with two half-towers and a portcullis in between. A guard on top of one of the towers, torch in hand, exchanged a few words of greetings with Kemon, and the portcullis was lifted for them.

They advanced onto a path lined with wind-rustled pine trees, softly bathed in moonlight, for some thirty yards then reached another wall and another guard post. Again, a look and a word from Kemon Clay and in they went through the gates.

Stable men carrying lanterns came for the horses. Noah unbuckled his saddlebags and slung them over one shoulder before handing over Shadow's reins. Then he fell back in step with Kemon, the white gravelly path crunching underfoot. The castle loomed before them, and Noah had to crane his neck to see the top of the keep.

They climbed the massive stone steps and passed the ridiculous high doors, using a smaller gate inset. Kemon led the way in silence, their heavy steps echoing across the halls, until they found themselves in a vast high-ceilinged room with marble columns and candelabras that didn't provide enough light to illuminate the dark corners.

"You may go," Kemon said to the three in black and blue.

They thanked him with synchronized bows and left.

"Not too keen on conversation, are they?" Noah pointed out.

"Just follow me," Kemon said. "And please be quiet."

They crossed the room, sidestepped a column and turned into a discreet side hall.

"So," Noah said, "what's it like having the name of a god?"

"It's just a name. We're almost there," Kemon announced.

~ I don't like him. ~

Apparently Kemon possessed the ability to differentiate one particular plain door from a row of identical ones running the length of a dim, narrow hall.

He knocked softly and a feminine voice instructed to come in. Kemon pushed the door open, gesturing for Noah to step inside. The small windowless bedroom became very crowded; two women stood waiting with two wolf-dogs at their feet, and a young man lay still on the bed.

What caught Noah's attention, though, was one of the two women, because he knew her. Very well. Kitera T'Sherazee, Mikael's eldest daughter and the closest thing Noah had to a sibling. She was supposed to act as a spy for their magic cult by posing as a maid at the castle. Except she didn't look like a maid.

Her uniform had clearly been tailor-made for her tall, athletic body. The high black boots, tight trousers and blue-lined jacket fit her like a second skin, with the blue star emblazoned on the left side of the jacket. Her long brown tresses were combed back and tied behind her head. Wide dark eyes stared at Noah, her surprise at seeing him reflecting his own.

"Highness," Kemon bowed, "it so happens that Master Victor Starborn regrettably passed away, but allow me to introduce his son, Noah Starborn, who is quite confident he can save Jaden."

Quite confident might be a bit of a stretch.

Choosing to ignore Kitera's raised eyebrow, Noah's gaze shifted to the queen. He had heard she was the most beautiful woman in Fellera, but he had labeled those the words of fools exaggerating everything for attention.

It was not an exaggeration.

~ Oh, so you've seen all the women in Fellera? ~

Queen Tessa Nightvale was lithe and graceful, her skin pale and smooth, her lips full, her eyes the deepest shade of blue he'd ever seen.