A Storm of Glass and Stars (The Oncoming Storm Book 4)

by Marion Blackwood

  “I still have my soul?” I mumbled.

  “Yes. That was two questions. Now go.” She pushed me into the chute.

  Darkness enveloped me as Maesia closed the metal plate while I slid further down the tube. I hadn’t sold my soul to a demon! It had just been a lie. An awful, awful lie.

  My stomach lurched as the metal suddenly disappeared beneath me and I flew out of another hole in the wall. Shade let out a surprised groan as I landed right on top of him. His muscles shifted against my body as he pulled me towards him before lifting me up and setting me down on the floor next to him. Utterly failing to keep a ridiculous blush from my cheeks at his touch, I scrambled to my feet in a hurry before he could see it.

  Candlelight flickered in an unadorned hallway. I squinted at the scene. For some reason, I felt like I had been here before.

  “Isn’t this the servants’ corridor by the ballroom that we checked out all those weeks ago?” Elaran asked.

  The memory clicked into place. “Yeah, it is.”

  This was where we had confirmed that the star elves used a network of these chutes for something and that if we could find the end of the one on our floor, we could get out. That is, before the Queen of Tkeister had interrupted our scheming.

  After getting to his feet as well, Shade dusted himself off and nodded in the direction of the banquet hall. “Let’s get going then.”

  The three of us sprinted through the empty corridor until we reached the plain door that separated the servants’ space from the glamorous ballroom. Pressing an ear against the white wood, the Master Assassin listened for trouble on the other side. After a quick nod in our direction, he pushed down the handle.

  There was no grand event tonight so the vast room lay deserted. None of the candles had been lit but the bright full moon cast its silver rays through the clear glass dome and illuminated the scene. We darted through the empty tables towards the main doors. With their long limbs, Elaran and Shade arrived first, with me skidding to a halt behind them a few seconds later.

  “It’s gonna be swarming with guards out there,” I panted.

  Shade cracked the door open and peeked out. “It’s empty right now.”

  “Then let’s make a run for it,” Elaran said.

  “We’re not even...” I began but the assassin and the elf had already slipped out the door.

  Silently muttering curses at their inability to stop and listen, I followed them. Out was out, after all.

  Raised voices came from down the hall and running feet closed in at an alarming rate. Shade whirled around and shoved us both back.

  “Go back!” he hissed.

  We sprinted towards the ballroom again but it was with growing dread I realized that we wouldn’t make it in time. The guards would round the corner before we got through the door and as soon as they saw us, it would be over. Panic seeped through my chest like ice. It couldn’t end like this after everything it had taken to get here. My heart thumped in my chest. It couldn’t.

  38.

  One more second and they’d see us. I threw a panicked glance over my shoulder and got ready to draw my knives. This was it.

  “Hey! What are you doing here?”

  The racing footfalls fell silent just on the other side of the corner, allowing another pair of moving feet to be heard. Silver skirts billowed in the corridor as the owner of the voice stepped forward from the other side. Princess Illeasia cast a quick look at us before turning back to the waiting soldiers that we couldn’t see.

  “They were spotted two floors up. Mother said to hurry.” She made a shooing motion with her arms. “Go!”

  “Yes, Princess Illeasia!”

  Smattering resumed as the guards ran back the way they’d come. Elaran, Shade, and I stared at the princess as she swung around and started towards us. She arched an eyebrow.

  “That goes for you too. Hurry up and get inside the ballroom!”

  Finally snapping out of our stupor, we darted the last bit to the door. Shade yanked it open and held it up for us. When the princess had made it through as well, he drew it shut. Silence blanketed the room.

  “Thank you,” Elaran mumbled and scratched the back of his neck.

  Illeasia continued striding across the room until she was right in front of him. Placing both hands on his shirt, she pulled him towards her. I barely had time to see the surprise flicker in his eyes before the princess drew the ranger into a passionate kiss. Elaran nestled a hand in her silvery white hair and for the two of them, the rest of the world seemed to have disappeared. A wide smile spread across my mouth.

  After a few moments, reality trickled back into the minds of the two elves and they broke apart. Both of them had a deep red color on their cheeks. Stifling a chuckle, Shade and I exchanged a glance.

  Princess Illeasia cleared her throat while Elaran spent another second gathering his wits.

  “I’m sorry I didn’t get you out earlier,” she said.

  Elaran ran a hand through his ruffled auburn hair to smoothen it. “You did try.”

  “No, I mean before...” Illeasia turned apologetic eyes on me. “Before everything happened.”

  Guards stampeded past in the corridor outside. We had to keep moving. The others appeared to be thinking the same thing because, without speaking, we all started towards the glass doors on the other side.

  Nimbly skirting around a cluster of chairs, I studied the princess. “Why didn’t you?”

  “Because she’s my mother. And my queen. I couldn’t go against her orders.”

  “But you did it anyway, in the end,” Shade observed. “Why?”

  Glass decorations clinked as Illeasia accidentally bumped into a table. Her hands shot out to steady them. Once she was certain they wouldn’t fall, she returned her focus to the path ahead while answering the assassin’s question.

  “This time, she took it too far.” The princess wove around a long table. “The other Storm Casters she’s brought in usually agree to give up their powers after she tells them that they sold their soul for it.”

  Since I didn’t want to bring unwanted attention to Maesia, I decided not to mention that I now knew it was a lie.

  “But not you,” she continued. “You’re probably one of the most resilient people I’ve ever met. And stubborn.”

  Elaran snorted. I rolled my eyes at him but didn’t interrupt.

  “My mother recognized it too. She has never gone to this length before. Never tried to break someone like this before. Making you think you killed your friend.” She shook her head, anger and disgust evident on her beautiful face. “It’s unforgivable. That’s why she kept us apart. I wanted to tell you that he was alive but she wouldn’t let me.”

  A dark blue sky glittering with stars appeared above us as we followed Illeasia onto the terrace. Jasmine and roses filled the air as we moved through the paths between the bushes.

  “And she’s wrong about the ritual for getting rid of your pain too,” the princess said as we drew closer to the railing. “Life is worth living. Every feeling you have is worth experiencing. That’s what life is about. Living. In every possible way.”

  I placed a hand on the cold railing as we finally reached the far end. “If you really think that, then why haven’t you done anything about it?”

  “Storm!” Elaran protested.

  Illeasia held up a hand. “No, it’s alright. She’s right.” Silver hair fluttered in the breeze as she turned to me. “I have let my mother do what she wants for far too long. I might not be able to do much to stop it because she’s still my mother and still my queen, but from now on, I’m at least going to try my very best.”

  Sincerity burned in her eyes so I gave her a nod in acknowledgement.

  “But now you have to go.” She motioned between the dark cliffs and the ballroom. “Before they figure out that I tricked them.”

  Pain flashed over Elaran’s features. Illeasia drew him into another long kiss that could’ve melted an ice cap. I glanced away and instea
d started climbing up on the railing.

  “This is what I mean,” the princess said. “The pain on your face now tells me that what we have is real.”

  Elaran cupped her cheek in a gentle gesture. “Of course it’s real.

  Illeasia placed her hand over his. “If only we had met under different circumstances.”

  “Yes.” Agony was evident on his face as the wood elf let his hand drop. “Is this it, then? Is this all we get? A few short weeks of stolen moments while our respective nations get ready for war against each other?”

  Tears dripped from Illeasia’s eyes. “Maybe it won’t come to that.”

  “You don’t believe that.”

  She swallowed back a sob and pressed her lips together but didn’t reply. Elaran drew her against his chest. Sitting on the cold white railing, I watched the normally so grumpy archer stroke a hand over Illeasia’s flowing hair while fighting back tears.

  My heart bled for him. For them. To find each other only to be forced into opposite sides of a battle that neither of them had chosen. Life. Such a cruel thing.

  Love and hurt mingled on their beautiful faces as they wrapped their bodies together and shared one final kiss. Afterwards, Elaran ran his fingers down her cheek one last time before turning around and jumping over the railing without looking back. A choked sob bubbled from her throat.

  Shade and I nodded at the princess in unison before following our elven friend into the darkness below.

  Tucking and rolling with the motion, I rose from the drop unharmed. There was no point in asking Elaran how he felt because the answer was obvious and the question would only cause the wound inside him to open up again so I kept silent. Shade appeared to be of similar mind because he said nothing either. Instead, the three of us took off across the dark gray rocks.

  “Head for the beach,” I instructed.

  We veered right and aimed for the path leading through the cliffs to the water below. Running out here on the rocks in this darkness was dangerous. One wrong step and either one of us could end up with a broken ankle. Using the path was a risk since it was more likely to be patrolled by guards but we were better equipped to deal with fights than broken limbs.

  Shouts rose in the air. A squad of star elves in white armor slammed straight into us from behind an outcropping. I drew my hunting knives.

  While ducking under a fist, I twisted out from the sword coming for my chest. The star elf guard who had swung the fist was engaged by Shade while the one with the sword recovered and swiped at me again. I threw up my blade to block the strike while aiming a kick at the side of his knee.

  He saw it coming and jumped out of the way at the last moment. An elbow connected with my side. Air exploded from my lungs and I stumbled sideways. With barely a second to spare, I threw up one arm to protect myself from another fist while the guard in front of me lunged again. I slammed up my other arm and managed to deflect the blow just as it struck. Steel ground against steel.

  I was only vaguely aware of Shade and Elaran also fighting two or three guards each while the two surrounding me renewed their attacks.

  Steel whizzed through the air. Bending all the way backwards, I brace myself on the ground and evaded the swiping sword. So as to not waste the motion, I followed through and kicked a leg upwards. My boot connected with a wrist and the sword flew from the guard’s grip.

  A hand shot out. I yanked my leg back and rolled to the side, barely managing to avoid getting caught by a strong fist. Metal dinged against the stones I had previously occupied. Whirling around, I sprang to my feet just in time to see a sword coming for my face. I threw up both hunting knives.

  Grinding steel rang out as the sword crashed into my intersecting blades. A boot hit my stomach. Gasping in air, I stumbled backwards and dropped my arms. Jagged rocks cut into my body as I slammed back first into the stone outcropping behind.

  Two swords sped for my throat. I threw up my arms to block them but I wasn’t fast enough. Metallic dings sounded as the blades reached the stone beside me, forming a cross and trapping my neck against the rocks. My heart hammered in my chest as hard violet eyes stared at me from the other side of the swords. It was over. I had lost.

  39.

  “Stop!”

  My eyes darted around the area to find the source of the voice. Shade and Elaran were still engaged in fights with their opponents but the battle staggered to a halt as the star elves lowered their weapons. Captain Hadraeth stood straight-backed in his white armor, staring at something in the distance. Following his gaze, I found what he was looking at.

  Up on the terrace, Princess Illeasia stood watching the scene. The sparkling dress gleamed in the bright moonlight and her long silver hair fluttered in the wind. For a moment, everything was still as the princess and the captain looked at each other. Then, Hadraeth tore his eyes from the beautiful princess and turned back to his men.

  “Let them go,” he said in a tired voice. “Let them go.”

  Dumbfounded, I stared at him while my mouth dropped open. Had he just ordered them to...? However, before I could ask what in Nemanan’s name was going on, another figure appeared out of the darkness.

  “Captain Hadraeth!” Lady Nelyssae called. Her elaborate dress billowed behind her as she rushed down the slope. “I saw you leave earlier. I knew you would find them.”

  Still trying to catch her breath, the elegant lady placed a hand on the captain’s white armor. Irritation flitted like flies over Hadraeth’s face.

  “Lady Nelyssae, you shouldn’t be here,” he said.

  “Of course, you’re right.” She drew a hand through her straight hair and cleared her throat. “I just wanted to make sure that you were alright. I will go inform Queen Nimlithil at once that you have caught them.”

  My heart sank. Behind the two guards keeping me cornered against the stone wall, Elaran and Shade gripped their swords tighter and began raising them again.

  “No,” the captain said.

  Nelyssae jerked back in surprise. “No? What do you mean no?”

  “You’re going to go back to the castle like nothing has happened.” Hadraeth waved a hand in the direction of the gleaming jewel that was Starhaven. “You never saw us or them.” His dark violet eyes flashed with displeasure as he turned them on his men. “I said let them go! Don’t make me repeat myself a third time.”

  Steel whooshed through the air as the two swords disappeared from my neck. Instinctively, I ran a hand over my throat. No blood.

  “The same goes for everyone here,” the captain continued. “None of this happened. The area was clear when we swept it. Understood?”

  “Yes, captain.”

  “I understand.” Lady Nelyssae cast a longing look in Hadraeth’s direction before shuffling back up towards the castle.

  The stern Guard Captain jerked his chin at us. “Go.”

  Not wanting to give him a chance to change his mind, the three of us sheathed our weapons and sprinted into the darkness without another word. Only when we were halfway to the beach did I dare a peek over my shoulder. The dark rocks were empty. Captain Hadraeth had taken all his men and returned to the castle.

  “What the hell happened back there?” I blurted out as we reached the final passageway cut into the steep cliffs. On the other side, a hill waited. And then the sea. “Lady Nelyssae hates me and Captain Hadraeth hates me and you.” I looked at Elaran. “Why would they let us go?”

  Gravel tumbled down the hill as the three of us scrambled down it as fast as we could without tripping.

  “Wow,” Shade said. “Feelings really are a total mystery to you, aren’t they?”

  “What?” I threw my arms out, both to steady myself and as a show of exasperation.

  “Lady Nelyssae is in love with Hadraeth, so she will do whatever he tells her. And the captain is in love with Princess Illeasia.” The Master Assassin managed a shrug as we rounded the final bend in the path. “And the princess wanted him to let us go. So he did.”

  “
Oh.” I shook my head. “Man, feelings are so complicated.”

  Shade offered a slight chuckle in reply.

  Waves crashed onto the shore before us when we finally cleared the hill. The smell of seaweed and salt filled my lungs. I set course for the rowboat waiting in the sand. Home. Soon we would be home.

  A figure straightened in front of the boat. I skidded to a halt. Sand crunched underneath his boots as the lone star elf advanced on us. Moonlight fell across Niadhir’s sad face.

  “I suspected that you might be coming here. Why are you doing this?” Hurt dripped from his voice. “Why are you leaving me? We talked about our future! Getting married, having children, buying a house in the city. How could you string me along like that?”

  Having finally recovered enough from the surprise of finding him here, I shook my head. “I didn’t string you along.”

  “You have to stay,” he pleaded.

  Guilt twisted in my gut. “I can’t stay. I’m not happy here.”

  “But you have to!” His voice was laced with pain and tears glistened in his eyes. “I can never be happy without you. You have to stay. For me.”

  His words stirred up a torrent of guilt and deep feelings of selfishness inside me. How was I supposed to leave after he had said something like that? He obviously needed me. What kind of villain was I to put my own health and happiness ahead of someone else? I took a step towards him.

  “You were my happily ever after,” he mumbled between sobs. “Do not leave me. I will never be happy without you.”

  In a few rapid strides, I closed the distance between us. Hope glittered in his eyes.

  “Oh, Niadhir.” I punched a hard fist into his gut. “Emotional blackmail doesn’t work on someone who doesn’t have a heart.”

  The scholar crumpled to the ground. He sucked in a couple of deep breaths while trying to recover from the hit. I jerked my chin at Shade and Elaran who stood staring at me further behind. Surprise and a little admiration swirled in their eyes.

  “What a shame.”