A curt nod was her only reply. He turned away, and Samantha watched as he strode off through the golden dawn. “Safe journey,” she whispered. “My love goes with you.”
Wiping away tears, she closed the door. She reached for her bloodied tunic with a sense of dread.
With Blair at his side, Wills hiked through the forest toward the tunnel. The strap of his knapsack was looped over his shoulder and a faery-made sword hung from his belt. Since Aurora had taken the Sword of Allinar, he was grateful the Fae had furnished him with a serviceable weapon.
There was a spring in Blair’s step. “This will be my first time leaving the Uncharted Region. I never felt the need to travel—until now.”
“And I’ve never felt the need to stay in one place.” Wills forced a laugh.
“How did you come to meet Princess Samantha?”
“Now that’s a funny story.”
As he told Blair about his charade in Paloran, however, the tale suddenly seemed less humorous and more pathetic. Here he was, a grown man who’d resorted to a ridiculous subterfuge to avoid an unwanted romantic entanglement. If he’d met his responsibilities head on, he probably would have left Paloran without having met Samantha at all. Duped, yes, but with his heart intact. On the other hand, had his life been so very grand before he knew what it was like to love? Despite Blair’s company, as Wills contemplated the journey to Insolitia, never before had it seemed so long, nor so lonely.
This is no time to lack resolve. She lied to me about her demon blood.
But had she really? Snippets of conversations they’d had about demons resurfaced. Samantha had shared his hatred of demons. She’d warned Joe to steer clear of demons when he went to the stream for water. Had that been deceit as well? What if his accusation toward her was unfair and she truly hadn’t known she was Aurora’s granddaughter? If that’s the case, I’m guilty of cruelty.
Blair pointed. “There’s the tunnel up ahead.”
Wills merely grunted in response. As he followed Blair into the tall granite passageway, a palpable chill was in the air. When they emerged at the Stairs of Tears, snow covered the ground and more was pelting down.
“A spring snowstorm? How inopportune,” Will said. “This must be Aurora’s mischief.”
Blair turned up the collar of his coat. “I suppose it’s to be expected, all things considered.”
The statement was cryptic, but Wills wasn’t really listening. As he waded through the snow, he noticed the waterfall and pool had iced over. As he remembered bathing there in water Samantha had warmed for him, he felt a sharp pang of regret. He stopped in his tracks, torn between continuing his journey and going back to talk with her.
“What’s wrong?” Blair asked.
“I was just wondering if my judgment of Samantha was too hasty. It’s entirely possible she had no idea what she is.”
“I expect she didn’t, but it makes no difference. She and her brother are still demons.”
“Only partly.”
“Partly is too much to my way of thinking. The only one I feel sorry for is Nicholas. Although he was a wizard, he was always a decent fellow.”
“Why do you speak of him as if he’s dead?”
“If he’s not dead yet, he soon will be.”
“What are you talking about?”
“Nicholas, Samantha, and Julian are battling Aurora. If this snow is any indication, they are in the thick of it right now.”
Wills was bewildered. “There’s to be no battle. All three are returning to Paloran in a day or two. Samantha told me as much this morning.”
“You’re mistaken. When I went to the smithy to pick up our weapons after dinner last night, Nicholas was there. He told me they’re planning to kill the snow demon today. I thought you knew.”
In the next moment, icy guardsmen rose up from the snow behind Blair, raised their bayonets, and ran him through.
Mara led Samantha, Nick, and Julian to the faery ring of toadstools marking the invisible gateway to Aurora’s kingdom.
“Let me give all of you a kiss on the cheek for luck,” she said. With Julian, however, she added a kiss on the lips. He responded with a long lingering kiss of his own.
“Don’t worry,” he murmured. “I’ll return soon.”
“See that you do.”
After Julian released Mara, he caught Samantha’s stare. “What?”
She bit back a smile. “Nothing.”
Her brother cleared his throat. “Samantha, you and I will step through first. Nick, give us fifteen minutes and transform before you follow us. If any guardsmen are still around, they won’t be able to tell the difference between you and an animal. You should be able to approach the castle without trouble.”
“Right.” Nick nodded. “Watch yourselves.”
Fear took hold of Samantha then. “Give me a moment.” She walked off a few paces to collect herself. I don’t want to die…but somebody has to destroy Aurora. A fire demon is the natural enemy of a snow demon. I was born to be a weapon, and it’s time to fight.
Julian put his comforting hands on her shoulders. “You don’t have to do this.”
Her chin lifted. “Yes, I do. And I’m ready now.”
She let him bind her wrists with a piece of rope. As the two of them stepped into the faery ring, their surroundings changed. In the kingdom of the Fae, the morning had dawned warm and beautiful. In Aurora’s kingdom, however, it was as if they were now in the dead of winter. Ice coated every growing thing, and the sky overhead was filled with dark clouds.
Julian led Samantha from the circle of toadstools and then began to kick the toadstools over, one by one.
“What are you doing?” Samantha exclaimed. “Stop, Julian!”
“Shut up.”
As the sharp point of a bayonet pierced her back, she gasped. Snowy guardsmen had silently filled the clearing and the forest beyond. Julian finished destroying the faery ring and gave the soldiers a baleful glare. “Make way. She’s my prisoner and I’m to deliver her to the queen myself.”
The soldiers parted, and Julian gave Samantha’s rope a cruel yank. As she sprawled in the snow at his feet, he laughed. “Little fool. You never should have trusted me.”
Nick checked the pouch of silver-tipped darts he’d had fashioned for him at the smithy. Now that he was about to go into battle, he wished he’d requested more. How many darts does it take to kill a demon? He sighed and gave Mara a smile. “I guess it’s time.”
Mara handed him the crossbow. “Stay safe, Lord Nicholas, and good luck.”
“Thank you. I have the feeling I’m going to need it.”
After he slung the crossbow across his back, Nick transformed himself into a horse. With a snort, he stepped into the faery ring…and nothing happened.
Mara’s eyebrows drew together. “Something’s wrong!”
Nick transformed back into his human shape. “The gateway’s shut! Is there another faery ring nearby?”
“No. You must leave the Fae kingdom through the tunnel, and return to Aurora’s realm from the Stairs of Tears.”
“I hope I’m not too late.”
He transformed into a horse and instantly galloped off, his pace spurred by fear. That the gateway was closed was not a good sign. Furthermore, the tunnel was ten minutes away at top speed. Once he’d returned to Aurora’s realm, the ice castle was at least the equivalent distance. Samantha and Julian were counting on him and he was in grave danger of being absent when they needed him most.
A burst of speed brought him to the tunnel faster than he thought possible. Without pausing to transform, he lowered his head and trotted into the darkness. As he reached the other side of the tunnel, cold air made his breath cloud. When he emerged, a strange scene lay before him. Wills was surrounded by Aurora’s guardsmen. Although the prince was wielding his sword at blinding speed, he would soon be overwhelmed.
Rearing up on his hind legs, Nick came crashing down on the nearest guard. The guard disintegrated, and then Nic
k used his forelegs to strike down the next. Together, he and Wills managed to vanquish the guards. Afterward, Nick noticed Blair lying motionless and bloody in the snow.
“It’s no use; he’s dead.” Wills’ chest was heaving with exertion. “Take me to the ice castle! Samantha’s in danger!”
The prince grabbed a handful of mane and leaped upon Nick’s back. With no time to lose, they sped toward the tunnel marked by a pentagram.
When at last Julian and Samantha reached the castle, she was so thoroughly chilled she could no longer feel her feet. No amount of her pleading would slow Julian’s pace, nor induce him to answer her entreaties. Her hands were scraped and bloody from falling on ice, and a large raised welt had formed underneath one eye when he’d struck her with the back of his hand. Although she’d planned to feign tears before, no pretense was necessary now. She sobbed openly for the loss of her brother’s soul and Wills’ friendship. At least Nicholas is safe with the Fae, and Wills is on his way home.
Julian dragged her into the throne room and shoved her to her knees. Samantha whimpered in pain, but Aurora showed little emotion.
“Forgive me for taking so long, Your Majesty. Samantha escaped to the Fae Kingdom. I followed and won back her trust. Do with her what you will.”
A brittle smile. “And what of Prince Wills and Lord Nicholas?”
“Dead.”
A ray of hope began to warm Samantha from within. Julian knew Wills and Nicholas were alive. If he were truly under Aurora’s thrall, he wouldn’t lie about that.
Aurora nodded. “You’ve been a good and loyal servant to me in the past, Julian.”
“I would do anything for you, my queen.”
“Really?” A tinkling laugh. “Do you think I’m a fool?”
The tip of a bayonet appeared in the front of Julian’s tunic and then disappeared again as a guardsman ran him through. A red stain appeared and rapidly began to spread. Julian stared down at his own blood in disbelief before sinking to the ice. Samantha’s screams obliterated any guardsman within twenty feet. Flames freed her from her rope bonds, and she crawled over to her brother. Although blood was trickling from his mouth, he managed a weak smile.
“I’m sorry for hurting you, Sam. I was desperate to make her believe me.”
She clutched him to her. “I know that now. I love you so much.”
“This is so touching.” Aurora gave a happy sigh. “Suffering is what I live for.”
Live? The only reason she exists is that medallion. Thoughts, emotions, and pain warred with one another inside Samantha’s mind. Her first instinct was to destroy the medallion in the strongest blast of demon fire she could muster. Wait! If I can force Aurora to remove the medallion without destroying it in the process, maybe I can use it to help Julian.
Tears streamed down Samantha’s cheeks as she raised her eyes toward her grandmother. Her gaze fixed on the medallion, and she imagined it getting hotter and hotter. A look of confusion came over Aurora’s face…followed by a ripple of fear.
“Stop that this instant!”
Hotter.
“I command you to obey!”
“Not this time, Aurora,” Samantha said. “I’m already on my knees, my brother is dying, and I have nothing left to lose.”
As the temperature of the medallion increased, water began to stream down the throne room walls. The floor cracked and shuddered as the castle melted, but Samantha continued to heat Aurora’s medallion. Her grandmother fought back with a burst of frigid arctic air that nearly stopped Samantha’s breath. In the next moment, Aurora shattered her throne into lethally sharp shards which she flung across the room at top speed. Samantha threw herself across Julian to protect him. Several of the ice splinters pierced her skin, drawing blood and turning her veins to ice.
Chapter Nine
Unvarnished Truth
WILLS LAY FLAT AGAINST Nick’s neck as they emerged from the tunnel into Aurora’s kingdom. No guardsmen were waiting, but a thick blanket of snow hampered their progress through the forest. After a few minutes, the snow took on a slushy consistency, and droplets of melted ice were dripping off the ends of tree branches.
When the ice castle became visible, Wills was alarmed to see parts of the towers were missing, having cracked off and crumbled to the ground. On closer inspection, he discovered the previously icy moat had turned to water, the drawbridge was fully submerged, and the castle was now surrounded by a lake.
Nick skidded to a halt several yards shy of the waterline. Wills slid to the ground and kicked off his boots. “We’re going to have to swim across.”
Nick returned to his human form, a stricken expression on his face. “I-I can’t swim!”
“Can’t you turn yourself into a fish or something?”
“It doesn’t work like that. Most wizards can’t manage more than one animal form.”
Both Wills and Nick flinched as a mighty crashing noise indicated another one of the towers had fallen.
“The castle is coming apart. I’ve got to get Samantha and Julian out before they’re killed!” Wills exclaimed.
Nick thrust the crossbow and darts into his hands. “You’ll need this. If I figure how to cross, I’ll join you.”
Wills nodded and stuffed the pouch of darts into his shirt. He gritted his teeth as he ran into the icy water and began to swim. His sword—impervious to water—was secure on his belt, but he tried to keep the crossbow dry by swimming with one arm. When he was halfway across, however, he was dismayed to realize the bank up ahead was teeming with mud demons. He couldn’t enter the castle without the creatures attacking him first.
The castle was quaking and cold water was sheeting across the floor, but Samantha wouldn’t give up. With dogged determination, she fixed her grandmother with a steely stare. “Give me the medallion or you’ll burn along with your castle!”
With one final shriek, Aurora lifted the medallion from around her neck and flung it away. “You’re just like your father!” The glowing metal sizzled as it skimmed across the water-slick floor.
Ignoring the shooting pain in her muscles, Samantha crawled toward the medallion. Aurora snatched up a guardsmen’s bayonet and advanced. As the point of the weapon arced downward, Samantha escaped injury by rolling to one side. Her grandmother’s towering rage was turning the melted water on the floor to ice. Samantha grasped the medallion and struggled to stand. She darted toward Julian, but her feet slipped out from under her and she landed on her back. Stunned and winded, she was helpless to move. The bayonet raised up once more, but as it came down, a silver-tipped dart pierced Aurora’s side. The snow demon shrieked, and her bayonet faltered.
Sweet relief. Nick has come!
A second dart found its mark in Aurora’s throat. Moments later, a man rushed past with his sword drawn. Wills! He swung his blade at Aurora’s neck, separating her head from her body. As the silver sword passed through the demon’s body, the metal dissolved. Aurora exploded, sending a cloud of bitterly cold frost and fog into the air. Unable to see until the white mist settled, Samantha crawled across the floor until she found her brother’s body. He lay still and silent, and his chest was barely moving.
“Julian?”
No answer.
Trembling with fear, Samantha slipped the medallion’s chain over his head.
“Can you hear me?”
With a hideous cracking noise, the castle began to fall apart in earnest. Wills’ hand snaked around her arm.
“We have to go, now!” he shouted.
“Not without Julian!”
“He’s gone, Samantha!”
The groan that escaped her brother’s lips was the most beautiful sound Samantha had ever heard.
“No, he’s not. Help him!”
Wills dragged Julian toward the door. A winged horse suddenly burst into the throne room. Nick! Her cousin neighed as he struggled to stay upright on the slippery floor. Wills quickly threw Julian across Nick’s back.
“Get to safety!” Wills exclaim
ed.
An ominous creaking overhead made Samantha gasp. As the castle swayed, Nick bolted through the door. Wills grabbed Samantha and together they fled the crumbling castle.
On the bank of the moat, Nick launched himself into the air, narrowly avoiding a falling section of parapet. As he flew himself and Julian to safety, Wills pulled Samantha toward the water.
“The drawbridge is submerged. We’ll have to swim across!” he shouted.
Chunks of ice were falling everywhere, splashing into the water and gouging huge pits in the ground wherever they landed.
She shook her head. “We’ll never make it.”
A tugging on her pant leg made her look down. A mud demon was frantically trying to get her attention. When she realized what he was pointing at, a faint ray of hope pierced her despair. One of the ice walls had fallen at such an angle as to make a floating island in the moat. She grabbed Wills’ hand and tugged. “Come on!”
They sped toward the ice island as the last tower came crumbling down. With a mighty leap, they hurtled off the bank onto the ice, nearly sliding off the other side. The falling tower landed in the moat, and the resulting surge of water pushed the island close enough to the edge for Samantha and Wills to jump into shallower water. They waded out of the chilly lake just as the castle collapsed completely. A shard of flying ice would have hit Samantha if Wills hadn’t tackled her to the ground. Shivering and stunned, she tried to catch her breath.
“Are you all right?” Wills’ voice sounded weak.
“You came back for me and Julian,” she said. “You saved our lives.”
Silence. To her dismay, he had lapsed into unconsciousness. As she peered at him, she realized every bit of exposed skin was hatched with silvery scratches and riddled with puncture marks. Mud demons!
At Wills’ bedside, Samantha watched him sleep. Although Julian had been mortally wounded, with the infusion of life energy Aurora’s medallion provided, he had rallied. Wills, however, was a different matter. Mud demon poison had sent him to a place no ordinary medicine could reach. Once she was convinced Julian was out of danger, Samantha refused to leave Wills’ side.
Clash of Wills Page 9
