She went to the door to see if she could open it, but found it as steady as the wall, as if she had been sealed in. She couldn’t even make out a sliver in the wall for the door’s edge. After checking the floor for any sort of crack or crease she could exploit and finding none, she didn’t know what else to do. There didn’t seem to be a way to finesse herself out of the room. What else can I do? She tried brute force. Rushing the door, she hit it with her shoulder. It hurt. A lot. Set to try it again, she moved to the back wall, ready to push off, but the door opened and she was yanked back. Darkness wrapped around her like cold spider legs, and she screamed.
“Careful, dear. Wouldn’t want your queen to think I broke you,” Caligo said.
Nakia grunted and did her best to pack her fear away. She wouldn’t let him see her shake. “Let me go.” She was proud that her voice didn’t waver, and she gave him her best glare.
“I’ve got dinner for you. When you finish, I’ll bring you water for a bath if you’d like.” He put the food down on the desk and left without another word. The shadows released her as soon as the door was closed. She dropped to the floor, the thudding impact echoing through the small room, and an ache throbbed through her thigh.
Nakia picked herself up, wincing. She rushed the door, hoping it would move. She wasn’t sure why, but she thought the door would open now since it had just been open. It didn’t budge. It was silly to think it would when you just rammed it and got nothing for your troubles, but a hurt shoulder. With a growl, she scanned the room once more for some way out, but settled on the food, her stomach rumbling. It had been a long time since she had any food, and she needed to keep her energy up. Food might help your thought process a bit more and you won’t throw yourself at the door again.
It was a simple meal. Bread, cheese, a couple of hard-boiled eggs, and a small jug of wine with no cup. The food of a prisoner. Someone who didn’t deserve meat or fruit or flavor or variety of any kind. I’ll live my life going from prison to prison. No, she’d think of a way out of here after she ate.
***
Ashni rode Midnight Thunder through some of the bleakest landscapes she had ever seen, and she had seen much in her twenty-plus years of life. The crooked branches of the twisted trees seemed to reach for Midnight Thunder’s muscled form. Typically, with his size, her horse barreled through everything, but here he avoided the branches as best he could. Ashni could understand, not wanting to feel their scratch either, like they might curse her. She and Adira had separated from Layla and Naren after they had their meeting with Hafiz and the other generals, going off to Nex. They had with them only a few units, accompanying them into what might be the ends of the world.
Now, Ashni and Adira marched for Nakia while Layla, Naren, and Hafiz marched to show Dorian why it was never a good idea to cross her. Adira rode by, a frown etched on her face. They had a handful of light infantry with them, who never stopped scanning the area. Topnotch soldiers and handpicked for this mission, they were quite pleased with the assignment. Helping the queen meant glory and that was more than enough for them. Well, glory and bonuses.
“This is unnatural,” Adira said, coming a little closer to Ashni, so their voices wouldn’t carry.
“We’ve seen it before,” Ashni replied. Well, something like it.
Adira shook her head. “No, we’ve never seen anything this desolate. This is death.”
“No, I am Death. This is when you fool with matters you don’t understand on so many different levels,” Ashni replied. She could feel magic humming through the environment, but just as the terrain was dark and twisted, the magic was as well. It made her itch like there were tiny bugs crawling on her. The death around them, creeping closer, was all misuse, mismanagement, and mistakes.
Adira chuckled. “How much of this man are you planning to leave behind?”
“None if he touched my hellcat. If one hair is out of place, there won’t even be ashes left to blow in this poisonous wind.” Ashni growled, and energy popped throughout her body, causing a crackle in the distance. Midnight Thunder snorted and stood a little taller, bracing himself.
“Calm down. It’s bad enough we’re riding horses into this country, but do you want to let the whole place know we’re here?” Adira glared at her.
“You see the shadows as well as I do. He has eyes everywhere.” They were robbed of their element of surprise, but it didn’t bother Ashni. If a fool wanted to challenge her, she wouldn’t deprive him of the death he so keenly sought.
Adira didn’t respond, scanning their path. Ashni looked around, too, wanting to see if anything reacted to her show of power. The shadows might be able to watch them, but that was probably all, unless there was more than Caligo around. By all accounts, he was the only inhabitant of this gods-forsaken place. He couldn’t be powerful enough to control shadows so far from his citadel. There was no way he was master of this stolen art.
But, still, something was off. It felt like the air rippled, like the magic shifted. There was something different. Ashni could feel it, much worse than bugs under her skin. It left a thick, bitter taste on the roof of her mouth.
“Hold on.” Ashni put her hand up as they came to a patch of freshly turned dirt on the road as well as off to both sides. It was fine and dry, almost like black sand, and set a frown across her face. If this keeps me from my hellcat, there will be hell to pay.
“A trap?” Adira guessed.
The rumble answered that question. Crumbled, discolored hands and rusted weapons erupted from the ground. Ashni sneered and turned to her soldiers.
“Prepare for dragon teeth!” Ashni called, resisting the urge to look to the sky for answers of why something irksome had been placed in her path. The gods had done this on purpose, either as part of the test she wasn’t sure about or because she was being punished. This would never stop me, but I still have to be quick about it. Every second counted for Nakia.
Adira groaned, dipping her head. “I hate dragon teeth. They’re such a waste of time.”
Ashni unsheathed her swords from her back just as dozens of undead warriors ripped themselves free of the shaded earth. Grey flesh hung from discolored bones covered in dented, fractured, rusted armor. They didn’t smell of death or dirt, but more of collected trash. It wasn’t right for dragon teeth soldiers, but that didn’t matter. Midnight Thunder neighed and charged forward as Ashni cut down the undead soldiers. Her troops followed suit as more and more undead foes sprang from the ground.
“Well, at least now we know what he had that was so tempting to Dorian,” Ashni called over her shoulder.
“It just had to be dragon teeth.” Adira scowled, drawing her sword.
Ashni slipped off Midnight Thunder, finding it easier to fight standing on her own legs. She cut through the undead as easily as she cut through the living. Adira stayed on her horse and watched with a bored expression, only cutting down any warriors that dared stumble too close to her. Ashni gave her a look, silently ordering her to get them out of this.
“What?” Adira said.
“I know you have it,” Ashni replied. Adira hated when they ran into dragon teeth warriors and never left for combat without a lure.
“Oh, you want me to save the day?”
Ashni grunted and put her foot through a warrior whose armor had rusted away. The warrior fell apart before she had a chance to take her sword to it. Several turned to dust from one strike. These were subpar dragon teeth warriors. The soil was too poor to raise them properly. “I want you to shut up and help move us along.”
“Maybe you should be prepared.”
Ashni’s expression darkened. “I couldn’t hate you more right now.”
Adira snickered and went into her saddlebag. She pulled out a stone, burning bright orange with an enchantment, and pitched it into the crowd. A dull ding rang out as the stone hit one of the dragon teeth warriors, who immediately turned on its undead brethren. One swipe lead to another, and soon, the dragon-teeth troops were fighting each othe
r, and Ashni’s group slipped by.
Ashni remounted her horse and gave Adira a scathing look. “Stop being insufferable.”
“Oh, I’m sorry, you mean you’d be able to get back your kitten without me?” Adira asked, a smile spreading across her face.
Ashni snarled and urged Midnight Thunder onward. She did need Adira, but her frustration boiled over all the same. She’d be more than enough. She had to be more than enough. I won’t even let the gods stop me from freeing Nakia.
Chapter Six
LAYLA AND NAREN ARRIVED SEVERAL miles from Phyllida after departing Ashni and splitting with the queen. They had almost the whole Roshan army with them as well as siege machines for what they expected to be a standoff. Of course, they would overrun the Western vermin and take their city before Ashni got back. With them was Hafiz Vivek, his mighty alphyn standing by his side.
Layla stared down on the city from a cliff top, rubbing her chin. Ashni mapped out every detail of the battle, but Layla wanted to be certain the conditions were right. If they couldn’t go with the plan, they needed a backup.
“They know we’re here,” Hafiz said.
“It’s not possible for us to hide an army our size,” Layla replied.
Hafiz nodded. “Those are thick city walls.”
Layla couldn’t call him a liar. Fifteen feet thick and twenty feet high, not counting the towers, which stood almost thirty feet. They planned for the walls, but a plan wasn’t the action. It’s too long and too much standing around. Neither she nor Ashni had the patience for walls, not the patience to go through or over them really. She tilted her head, taking in what she could. Wanting a faster way.
“What do you want to do?” Naren asked, standing at her side. His presence gave her strength and confidence. If something went wrong, he’d help her put it right.
“I’m going to let our people inside know we’re here. We’ll start the attack on the outside and they can go from within,” Layla answered.
“That is what the general and the queen want,” Hafiz replied.
“You want me to get into position?” Naren asked.
Layla tapped her chin. “Wait for nightfall, regardless of whether I’m back or not. The cover should hide you setting up. I’ll move the troops into formation in front. Hopefully, they’ll pay me all the attention and Hafiz can show them what we’re made of.”
Naren nodded and rushed off. Hafiz stuck around, eyeing her. Layla didn’t say anything as he stroked Yata with all the care one would a dedicated warhorse.
“Will your shadow beasts be able to handle this without you?” Hafiz asked.
Layla winced. This seemed like a mistake, not the casual hatred he was known for and maybe that was the thing. It wasn’t so much he hated outsiders, but didn’t know anything about them and didn’t want to know about them. “We are called Shadow Walkers.” And he should know that, but didn’t.
Hafiz’s dark brown eyes rolled. “Yes, yes, yes. But will they be effective without you?”
“My people can handle themselves regardless of my presence, which is why the Queen can use me in so many different ways.” She made sure her tone had bite, so he didn’t think he could talk down to her. He needed to remember that Ashni picked her. “I’ve got my part. You make sure you do yours.”
He stared her right in the eyes. “I will. I always do.”
“With Adira by your side. Make sure you don’t disappoint her.”
“I would never. I also would never vault over a wall without knowing what’s on the other side.” He snorted and walked away, like he got the better of her in their little exchange.
Yes, she was known for leaping before she looked, but she was also known for getting hard things done on her own. That was more than he could ever claim.
Layla’s eyes wandered to the horizon, waiting for the sun to disappear. She let Hafiz drift from her mind and thought of the task at hand instead. King Dorian’s gall didn’t surprise her, not after meeting him once. She was surprised he could rope others into his arrogance. It was like they missed what her sister wrought their first time on the shores of the West. Resistance was futile.
“And I know that better than anyone,” Layla said to the warm air, scratching her cheek in memory. Sometimes she could still feel the sting of Ashni’s punch from years ago as she halted Layla’s run on the Roshan’s army. She had been a girl then, wondering why her people were so frightened of the Roshan as she downed warrior after warrior. A teen Ashni floored her with one punch and she understood. “Time to get to work.”
Layla leapt from the cliff, wiggled a finger as a chill ran through her hand, opening a shadow. It swallowed her, transporting her into Phyllida. She should only be in the city for a few minutes, alerting any free high-ranking soldiers as to what was about to happen. It was up to them to rally their troops. If that went to pieces, it was more on Adira than on her, but she doubted it would fall apart. Well, unless the gods truly are displeased with Ashni to the point they’d even stop us to spite her. Hopefully, that wouldn’t be the case.
Slipping into the city was easy, as slipping into most places were for a Shadow Walker such as herself. As long as there was a shadow, she could go there. Teleporting was basic shadow magic learned at a young age. She learned it younger than most. It was a good way to annoy Ashni. She stepped out of a shadow into a villa, finding Captain Varaza Sur reclined on a couch, being fed grapes by barely covered slave men.
“Princess!” Varaza jumped to her feet, towering over Layla. Her deep brown eyes focused on Layla at attention.
“Enjoying the hospitality?” Layla asked with a smirk as she made a show of gawking at the men.
The captain shrugged broad, muscular shoulders. “I’m on house arrest. I have to do something to entertain myself.” Months of sitting around hadn’t diminished her physical presence and she gained a relaxed glow to her bronze skin.
“I assume you’ve sharpened all your knives then.”
Varaza grinned, as easygoing as always. “Knives, spears, swords. Oh, and my words.” She motioned to the four men with her thumb. “Every single slave they left in my service will be with us. They look forward to the freedom of the Roshan military.”
Layla nodded. “Good work. Then, you can spread the word. We’re ready. How long have you been on house arrest?” The room was lush, cushions to lounge on, a variety of food, and plenty of slaves.
“A few weeks. Back when we sent word Dorian had a scheme brewing. Oddly enough, he only arrested the male officials. Me, he left in this sweet house and servants. You’d think he’d learn to respect women after what our queen did.” Varaza shrugged again.
“Some people learn the hard way. The officials he arrested, you have a way to get them out?” If not, Layla would have to pop into the dungeon before returning to the army.
Varaza scoffed, throwing her head back in her usual over the top fashion. “Yes, sir. We’ve bribed half the city. You wouldn’t believe how these guys treat most of their slaves.”
“Says the woman who has them in nothing while eating grapes from their hands.”
“You can kill a slave here with no recourse.”
Layla’s mouth dropped open. “And they call us barbarians?”
The Roshan could do a lot to slaves, especially war prisoners, but no one in the Empire had the right to kill anyone, not even the royal family outside of battle or outside of the arena. Even in the arena, there were rules, guidelines, and judgments that needed to be made before a warrior had the right to kill someone. Killing in combat seemed to be excused because the Roshan believed in any and all of their conquests, but once the conquest was over, no one had the right to another person’s life in the sense they could end it without consequence. “We’ll bring them rule of law.”
“They have laws. Murdering a slave just isn’t one of them.”
“Still, they’re the barbarians.”
Varaza shrugged once more. “Their library’s more extensive than anyone I’ve seen.”
>
“Then, it’ll be ours soon and we’ll have the more extensive library.” She might even read something to see what these barbarians thought they had on the Roshan. “Do you know what he was planning with allying himself to this Caligo Mor cur?”
Varaza shook her head. “No, sir. He played that one close to the chest. We haven’t gotten word on how that man can help Dorian. But he left with the Princess, so I don’t see how he factors in.”
Layla squinted and looked off to the left, storing the information away. “He had to leave something behind, unless he’s double-crossing Dorian, which I wouldn’t put past anyone.”
“It’s possible. You see what Dorian did to us.” Varaza motioned around them.
“Yes, you have to endure such great hardship.” Layla snorted.
“Anyway, let’s get this show on the road. I want this prick to feel us.” Varaza punched her fist into her palm.
“You’re not the only one.” Layla would never forgive him for hurting her sister. Beyond that, she didn’t like how he treated his daughter, even though she couldn’t stand Nakia. It was time to get the army into position. Summoning a shadow, she vanished into the void.
***
Nightfall in Nex should’ve been terrifying and probably was to lesser souls. Ashni could hardly stand still, so she didn’t have time to be afraid. They stopped to make camp, even though Caligo’s citadel was in sight, trying to loom over them like some vengeful god. She would’ve set fire to it, but somewhere in there was her precious hellcat.
“You should eat,” Adira said, calling from their tent.
“I fail to see what eating will do for me,” Ashni said, eyes locked on the place that dared hold what was hers. It seemed to glare back at her and part of her wondered if the eyes of the gods were on her. Would they side with this beast of a man Caligo? She refused to believe the gods could hold such contempt for Nakia. Maybe for her, but not Nakia.
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