by David Wells
What he saw caused him to recoil slightly. The city was on fire. The Ruathan army was surrounding the city in a cordon, but they hadn’t advanced; it didn’t appear that they were planning to attack so much as lay siege.
The fires appeared to be the result of a total breakdown in the government. Alexander’s heart ached for the innocent caught in the city, but he knew that Headwater must be taken and those allied with Phane must be rooted out and captured or destroyed. Headwater was situated in the heart of Ruatha and could not be allowed to support Phane.
Alexander pictured his father in his mind’s eye, and he plunged back into the formlessness of the firmament for only a moment before his awareness coalesced in the command tent of the Ruathan army. His father and mother were both there and they both looked tired. Hanlon and Emily Alaric were there as well. That was good news, as they would have brought the bulk of the Ranger army that Hanlon had hastily raised. General Markos was there, as was Wizard Sark.
“Commander Alaric reports that Rake has fled north into the wilds with his legion of cavalry,” General Markos said. “He’s also captured about half a legion of foot soldiers fleeing from Headwater. He’s requesting orders and additional support.”
Hanlon smiled and winked at Emily.
“Seems your son has done well, Hanlon,” Duncan Valentine said.
To General Markos, he said, “Have General Kern send a regiment of cavalry to support Commander Alaric. Detain the enemy soldiers on the spot and send sufficient supplies to keep them alive but not enough to make them fat. Have Duane send scouts to keep track of Rake.”
“Understood,” General Markos said. “Headwater is still refusing to surrender unless we recognize the authority of the trade guilds to govern the right to work.”
Duncan shook his head and sighed. “So be it. Wizard Sark, I’d like you to coordinate with Warden Alaric and develop a plan to kill the leaders of the trade guilds, in their sleep if possible. I don’t want to destroy the city; there are too many innocent people living there. Maybe if we eliminate the agitators, the rest of the people will listen to reason.”
Alexander withdrew out of the command tent and floated high above the city for a few moments, taking in the sweeping army of Ruatha. There were nearly a hundred thousand soldiers arrayed against Headwater. Legions from New Ruatha, Northport, Glen Morillian, and Buckwold were all working together under his father’s able command.
Satisfied with the progress he saw, Alexander shifted his focus to Blackstone Keep. His awareness came to rest above the bridge platform. He surveyed the surrounding area and saw a force of nearly three legions on the plains below. One was close to the base of the giant black Keep and the other two were camped in fortified positions around the Reishi Gate in the distance.
His message of warning about Phane’s threats had been received and heeded. When he turned his attention to the Keep, he saw the bridge was not present and the paddock was bustling with activity even in the dark of early night. Rangers were working to organize and distribute large stockpiles of supplies that had only recently arrived.
Satisfied that his allies were working effectively toward his goals, he directed his attention elsewhere. He thought of Phane and was suddenly floating high above a rough cove off a volcanic isle. What he saw next was difficult to understand at first. Thirty feet off the water, frozen in space, was a portal cut into the fabric of space with a small room behind it.
Phane sat in a comfortable chair, looking out the door as if he was waiting for something. Alexander looked around and saw a dragon perched on the lip of the volcano’s crater looking down toward Phane. Before Alexander could look closer, Phane suddenly looked straight at him. Alexander shifted his awareness back into the firmament and away from Phane before the Reishi Prince could take any action.
Alexander didn’t know for sure if Phane could hurt him when he was using his clairvoyance, but the Reishi Prince had been able to scatter his awareness before and it made him wonder if Phane could do even more if he wanted to. Better safe than sorry.
The last stop on his journey brought him to the camp of Commander P’Tal. He was surprised to see that the Commander of the Reishi Protectorate had only a large platoon of soldiers left and many of them looked bruised and battered. Alexander wondered what had done his enemy such damage. Unfortunately, P’Tal, Nero, Grudge, and Truss were all alive and well. There were also a couple of others at the fire with them. One was clearly a wizard. Alexander approached and listened to their conversation for a moment.
“They’re camped in a meadow a day away,” the wizard said, “and it looks like they have the assistance of a guide who appears to be taking them to the lake city high in the mountains.”
“I’d prefer to catch up to them before they make it there,” P’Tal said. “If their detour to the Dragon Temple is any indication, they will be well received by the druids in the lake city.”
Truss twitched a bit. “I never even believed in dragons. It’s hard to accept that one would attack us because the pretender asked it to. There has to be a better explanation.” Truss sounded afraid.
“I’m sure there is, Duke Truss,” the wizard said. “Dragons don’t take orders from men.”
“That seems like a pretty big coincidence then . . .” Truss said, but before Alexander could hear the rest of the sentence, his awareness slammed violently back into his body.
Chapter 25
He felt pain tear through him and a moment later he understood why. A mountain lion was on top of him, preparing to strike. His arms were pinned and he couldn’t breathe from the weight of the cat pressing down on him. He felt helpless and foolish. He saw in a glance the colors of the demon.
An instant before the big cat could clamp its fangs into Alexander’s face, an arrow buried deep into its shoulder, no doubt from Abigail’s bow. The cat flinched, but didn’t let up. In the back of his mind, Alexander was once again grateful for the armor shirt he wore. Without it, the cat’s razor-sharp claws would have already torn deeply into his chest.
Isabel arrived first. She hadn’t even taken the time to get her sword but instead dove at the big cat with a dagger in hand. With her left arm, she caught it around the neck and crashed into it with her shoulder as she drove her dagger deep into its ribs on the opposite side. The cat stiffened.
What Alexander saw next defied reason. The colors of Isabel’s necklace flared, and the demon possessing the big cat came free as the animal slumped over. But rather than running away, the demon slid toward Isabel and it seemed to be resisting.
She screamed a blood-curdling scream that made ice flow through Alexander’s veins. He watched in slow motion, helpless to do anything, as the demon flowed into his love. She stiffened and slumped over lifelessly. With his heart in his throat, he scrambled to her side, heedless of the wounds on his arms and legs.
She was trembling but still breathing. He shook her and tried to wake her, but she wasn’t there. Curiously, the demon’s colors weren’t there either. Alexander wasted no time. He gently laid her down and sat next to her, taking her hand in his.
“The darkness has her,” Alexander told his friends. “I’ll be back with her or not at all.”
With that, he closed his eyes and ruthlessly schooled his mind. He had become better at it but it still took longer than he wanted. Once he was floating in the firmament, he immediately coalesced his awareness above himself and plunged into Isabel.
This time he knew exactly what he was doing and where to look for the portal within her mind. He found it easily and lunged into the darkness, leaving a thread of light to follow back to the world of time and substance.
The netherworld was cold and lifeless, a place of unrealized potential where souls could imagine all of the possibilities life had to offer but never create anything more than a fleeting dream of what could be. It was a place of frustration, despair, and rage. The broken and hateful souls that swirled in the murky darkness lusted for life—to exist in that world or take it from
those who rightfully lived there.
This time Isabel was much easier to find. She was struggling with a creature of darkness and malice. Alexander saw at a glance that it was the grimthrall. She had somehow drawn it into her, and it had drawn her through the portal to the netherworld.
Now they were locked in a mortal struggle. Worse, there were a number of other broken souls stirring in the darkness, alerted to the prospect of feasting on the fear, despair, and hopelessness of a living soul unfortunate enough to have been cast adrift in the darkness.
Alexander wasted no time. He willed himself toward her and focused on his love of life and his love for her. In this place, light was the greatest weapon he had. His living soul was the source of it, and his love for Isabel and his own life were the fuel that powered its brilliance.
He joined the battle with fury, crashing into Isabel’s soul and once again joining with her in a way that was more profound and complete than words could ever convey. She embraced him and flooded into every recess of his being. He opened himself to her without hesitation. In their joining, they magnified each other’s light and the demon fled with a soundless shriek.
Alexander took hold of Isabel’s soul with his will and traced his path back toward the place where they had both entered the netherworld—the portal within Isabel’s mind.
But even as they fled the darkness, the darkness gave chase.
They burst forth from the netherworld into the confines of Isabel’s psyche and turned as one to face the portal. She needed no guidance this time. She saw it as a door and stepped toward it to slam it closed, but before she could reach it, three shadows of despair emerged from the darkness.
In that moment, Isabel’s eyes snapped open and Alexander slammed back into his body. She gasped as the three shades escaped through her psyche and swirled into the sky. With a shriek that could freeze a man’s heart, they vanished into the night.
Alexander had seen creatures from the netherworld before but never anything like this. These three demons were darker and more hateful than anything he’d ever witnessed. And they were loose in the world.
He turned back to a panic-stricken Isabel and took her in his arms as she wept.
“What have I done? Oh, Dear Maker, what have I done?” she cried.
Alexander tried to console her, but for a time she could only say those words over and over, so he just held her and let her cry. When she stopped, he held her at arm’s length and looked closely at her. Her eyes were as clear and piercing green as ever and her colors were strong and bright, yet somehow deeper and more complex than before.
“Are you all right?” Alexander asked, looking at her with deep concern. Lucky was kneeling next to him, scrutinizing her eyes.
“I’m safe, Alexander,” Isabel said with a sob, “but I fear I’ve doomed the world.” She started crying again.
“Shhh . . . it’s all right,” he said, taking her in his arms again. “Tell me what happened.”
“I made mental contact with the grimthrall when I attacked the cat,” Isabel said through her sobbing. “I’m not sure why I even tried it. I guess I was hoping I could push it out of my mind. Instead the darkness of the netherworld drew it in. As it passed through me, it took me with it into the darkness.
“We fought, but this time I was more prepared. I remembered the last time and I focused on our love to create light against the darkness. I fought against the demon for what seemed like a long time, and then you were there and you brought me back again.”
Before Alexander could speak, she put a finger to his lips and continued, “But this time, something followed us. They were waiting for us there, waiting for us to lead them here. The shades are loose in the world, Alexander.”
He felt his blood run cold and saw the despair and dismay in her beautiful green eyes.
“When they passed through me, I learned their names: Shivini, Rankosi, and Jinzeri. Oh, what have I done?” she said.
“You survived,” Alexander said firmly. “What of the portal? Is the doorway closed?”
She nodded. “It’s not just closed, it’s gone, except I feel like I could bring it back if I tried to.”
“Well, don’t,” Alexander said. “I can’t see the taint of darkness in your aura anymore, so maybe you’re safe.”
“I may be safe, but I’ve let loose three of the most terrifying creatures imaginable,” she said with utter misery.
“No, you didn’t,” Alexander said. “I did.”
She looked at him with a hard frown. “What do you mean?”
“Could you have found your way back without me?” Alexander asked.
A look of realization ghosted across her face. “I don’t think so.”
“Isabel, I’m the one they needed. You were just the bait,” Alexander said. “What’s more, they were waiting for us. They were waiting for you to get pulled through into the darkness and for me to come in after you. This isn’t your fault. In fact, I’d wager that the shades were the ones who pulled the grimthrall into the netherworld in order to draw you in.”
“What do we do?” she asked with a small voice.
“We press on to the Fairy Queen,” Alexander said firmly. “I’ll see if I can warn the wizards. If Phane can see my presence during clairvoyance and if I can manifest within your psyche, maybe I can use my powers to communicate with one of the wizards somehow.”
“In the meantime,” Lucky interjected, “I must caution you all. Do not say the shades’ names aloud; they can hear you. The old stories say they will come as if summoned when their names are invoked aloud three times in succession.”
“What else do you know about them?” Abigail asked.
Lucky shrugged. “Most of what I know is from legend and story. The last Reishi Sovereign learned their names and discovered a means of summoning them to do his bidding. For a century during the Reishi War, the shades terrorized the world at the behest of Malachi Reishi. He used them to spy on his enemies and assassinate them when he felt it was necessary.
“Mostly he used them to sow the seeds of fear and distrust. The shades can possess people and even some magical creatures. One of the greatest instances of poetic justice in all of history is the death of Malachi Reishi at the hand of a creature from the darkness that he first introduced into the world.”
Isabel interrupted. “Why didn’t they possess me? They were already in my mind.”
“They are said to be limited in that regard,” Lucky said. “They can only possess by surprise or invitation. Since you were in the midst of a battle, your guard was up, as was Alexander’s.”
“What do you mean by invitation?” Jack asked. “Why would anyone invite a demon into themselves?”
“The word invitation has a very specific meaning in this context,” Lucky said. “The shades are drawn to the darkness within a person. If you act in a way that is contrary to your conscience, with malice, deliberate hurtfulness, or self-destructiveness, they see those character traits as an invitation.
“In short, if the darkness is great within you, they find it much easier to enter and take possession. A person of pure heart cannot be possessed because the light of their soul repels the demon. However, the shades are very cunning and manipulative. During the Reishi War, they often worked to sully the integrity of their ultimate target and lead them into corruption and evil. Those who are good of heart and stray from convictions they hold dear are the most vulnerable to invasion by a shade.”
“Since they’re loose in the world without a master, what are they likely to do?” Alexander asked.
Lucky sighed, “That I cannot say. Only two are known to have summoned a shade: Malachi Reishi and Nicolai Atherton. Malachi used them to great and terrible effect during the war and there is no record of him ever losing control of his summonings.
“Nicolai Atherton summoned a shade to kill Malachi Reishi and place the Sovereign Stone beyond reach by pushing him bodily into the aether, which resulted in Mage Atherton’s death, as you know. Left t
o their own devices, I suspect they’ll cause harm when and where they can.”
“What are the chances they’ll join forces with Phane?” Anatoly asked.
“That’s hard to say,” Lucky said. “Phane knows much more of them than I do. He may be able to bind them to his will.”
A terrifying thought occurred to Alexander like a lightning bolt. “Can the shades retrieve the Sovereign Stone?”
Lucky nodded gravely. “I believe they could if they wished to. A shade can move into the aether from this world and back again at will. If they stay for too long, they will be drawn back into the netherworld but they can shift back into the world of time and substance. If they went to the spot where Malachi Reishi was shoved into the aether, they could shift into the aether, grab the Sovereign Stone, and shift back.”
“Dear Maker,” Alexander whispered. “Phane has failed at the Temple of Fire. It seems that a family of dragons has taken up residence there and they weren’t too happy when he arrived. If he learns of the shades, he may try to enlist their aid.”
Marla frowned in confusion. “Perhaps it isn’t my place to ask, but how could you know such a thing?”
Alexander smiled. “It’s complicated. Suffice it to say that I’m capable of clairvoyance. I can project my awareness anywhere I like and watch what’s happening. When I was meditating earlier, I was looking in on our friends and enemies.
“In short: My father has Headwater under siege; Rake has fled into the northern wilds with Duane in pursuit supported by a regiment of cavalry from Buckwold; Erik is busy stocking and organizing the Keep; P’Tal is a day behind us and he’s lost a large number of his men, apparently to a dragon attack.” Marla smiled at that. “And Phane is stuck in a magical room floating thirty feet off the ocean about half a mile from the coast of the central island of Tyr. It looked like he was waiting for something, and it also looked like there were several very unhappy dragons watching him like a hawk.”
“A magical room?” Abigail asked.
