Free The Reborn King (Book Six) by Brian D. Anderson Page B

forward, their movement causing the air to stir.
    Kaylia took a breath and banished all trace of fear from her eyes. “I will come with you.”
    Without waiting for a reply, she spun on her heels and went inside. Downstairs, she could hear Jayden cooing and Basanti humming softly to him. The moment she saw her son wrapped in his soft cotton blanket and being coddled by the Oracle, the tears she had been holding back burst forth and streamed down her cheeks. Basanti carefully handed Jayden over.
    Kaylia kissed his forehead and for a moment considered flight. But she knew it was foolish. This is for the best , she told herself. There is nothing else I can do.
    While handing Jayden back to Basanti she could feel her heart breaking. Her body shook from the sobs she could no longer contain. Jayden stirred, sensing his mother’s grief.
    “There, there,” comforted Basanti, her words meant for both mother and child. “All will be well. You shall see.” She smiled up at Kaylia. “Don’t weep my dear. You child will be safe. And soon…so shall you be. I will make certain of that.”
    Kaylia stifled her tears and dried her eyes. Something in Basanti’s voice was unusually comforting. She felt her courage rising. Grasping desperately for any source of hope, she forced herself to believe the words. Yes. All would be well. It would not end like this.
    With level determination, she turned away and opened the door. Without glancing back, she strode down the front steps and past the crystal statue, stopping only when she was a few feet away from the half-men. They regarded her with emotionless black eyes before moving aside.
    The Vrykol in the center hissed a whispered order, and in an instant Kaylia was surrounded by black cloaks.
    “You have chosen wisely,” it said.
    The stench of death caused her face to contort. “As long as you leave my son in peace, I will give you no trouble.”
    “Your son is of no interest to us at present,” the Vrykol replied. “It is you we need. Should our master require him after Darshan is dead, it will be a simple matter to fetch him.”
    When Darshan discovers what you have done , she thought, he will tear your spirit apart like wet parchment .
    “You have me now,” she snapped. “If you intend to take me, then lead on. Your words are empty and unwanted.”
    Without reply, the Vrykol spun around and started toward the gate. Kaylia felt an icy hand pressing into the small of her back. She loathed to be touched by these creatures, so she quickly matched her captor's pace. Again she wanted to reach out for Gewey, but even without Aaliyah’s block, she could feel that the Vrykol would have prevented it.
    “Do not bother,” said the Vrykol, anticipating her thoughts. “He will not hear you. By the time he learns of your fate, my master will have already placed his head on a pike.”
    Rage boiled up from deep inside, but she forced it back and remained quiet. Basanti would come to her aid, she was sure of it. And then they would pay dearly for their folly.
     
    * * * * *
     
    Basanti watched from the window as Kaylia and the enemy disappeared beyond the shattered gates.
    “What do you plan to do?” asked Linis.
    “I plan to rescue her,” she replied flatly.
    “How can we help?” asked Aaliyah. Her tone did not conceal her fury.
    Basanti looked down at the baby in her arms. “Linis can help by taking Jayden to Valshara. He should be safe there until Kaylia returns.”
    “You cannot hope to challenge the Vrykol and the half-men alone,” Linis protested. “I shall go with you.”
    Basanti handed the baby to Linis and shook her head. There was a sad smile on her lips. “I will not be alone. Aaliyah will assist me.” She met the other woman's eyes. “But only if you agree to do precisely as I say.”
    After a long pause, Aaliyah nodded.
    “But I still cannot understand how you hope to defeat so many,” Linis contended. “Even with Aaliyah’s help.”
    “There is much about me