Obsidian Ridge - Jess Lebow [119]
Korox shook his head, confused. "Why? Why you, Divian? Why would you do this?"
"Because you are unpredictable and cowardly, Korox. You had to stick your nose into our business. You had to form the Magistrates and start an Elixir war." Her eyes burned into him. "Did you think I just wanted to be near you? That I enjoyed your company?" She shook her head. "No, Korox. You had to be controlled and contained. And you played along so well. Pity it didn't last."
Korox did not loosen his grip. "What sort of magic spells give you access to my trust? What did you do to me?"
"No magic," said Divian. "Just a well-placed disease and a favor from a friend. A man grieving over the loss of his wife can be very easy to manipulate."
Korox was struck numb, his hands trembling from the realization. "You sent the queen into that tomb to die. You… you knew. You had this planned."
"You should not have meddled, Korox. If you had just had the good sense to mind your own business-"
A huge explosion interrupted the Matron. It knocked the king off balance, making him stutter-step to stay on his feet. His hand slipped, but he grabbed the front of Divian's robe to make sure she stayed put.
The blast pushed back the other soldiers, some falling over, others covering their heads. The dead leaves and grass rattled as if caught in a heavy wind.
"We've won!" shouted a soldier, pointing at the docks.
Over Shalane Lake, the Obsidian Ridge had blown its top. A plume of smoke rose from a newly formed crater. Massive blocks of black stone rained down on the docks and the crystal blue water. Orange light spilled from inside, clearly marking the cracks and holes in the outer surface.
The entire thing lurched sideways, drawing gasps from assassins and soldiers alike. Then it dropped from the sky, crashing into the lake. The resulting splash sent a ring-shaped wave out in every direction. Air rushed from all the openings in the citadel, hissing and spitting out detritus, as the orange light was extinguished.
"Mariko!" The king watched the Obsidian Ridge as it sank beneath the roiling surface of the water.
When he turned back, Divian had disappeared, leaving only her robe in his hand.
+++++
It had taken them some time, but Mariko and Evelyne had found their way to an open archway at the edge of the Obsidian Ridge. They looked down at the clear blue waters of Shalane Lake.
"That's a long way down," said Evelyne. "You know how to swim?"
Mariko nodded. "Yes." It was the first thing she'd been able to say without the aid of the mimmio.
Evelyne smiled. "Well then, what are we waiting for?
Let's get wet." Grabbing hold of her nose, she leaped from the black stone ledge.
Evelyne grew very small as she plummeted to the water. Then she disappeared in a tiny little splash, far, far below.
Mariko waited until she saw Evelyne pop to the surface. Petting the mimmio on the head, she put it down and watched it scamper away down the passage. When it disappeared from sight, she stepped to the edge.
The next thing she knew, she was falling-not toward the water, but through the hallway inside the Obsidian Ridge. A huge, rumbling explosion rocked the citadel, and the ground dropped away. Mariko tumbled backward. Above her she could see the sunlight coming through the opening where she had been standing. She could see the clouds and the bright blue sky. –
Then the citadel spun sideways, and she collided with the wall of the corridor, then the ceiling, then the second wall. The view through the open portal changed from open sky to cleat blue water, and then the Obsidian Ridge clashed into Shalane Lake.
Mariko was hurled back down the corridor toward the opening. She hit the oncoming gush of lake water rushing in from the opposite direction. One moment she was flying through the air, the next she was submerged, being dragged deeper into the Obsidian Ridge by a wild current.
Slamming through corridors, Mariko nearly lost consciousness. With no air and no way to see, she was along for the tide, helplessly at the mercy of the rushing wave of water quickly filling the