Kingdom of Shadows

by K M Reynolds

  Adelaide’s sniffles quieted and she asked, “You did? What was yours about?”

  “Honestly, I don’t remember much,” Cambria lied. “I just remember waking up afraid, with my heart racing. I was being chased by something, I think.” She chewed her lip, feeling terrible about lying to her best friend.

  “Oh, that is scary.” Adelaide wiped her cheeks and yawned. “Thank you, Cam. I feel better just having you nearby. You always know how to make me feel better.”

  “You are welcome, Addie.” Cambria planted a kiss on her forehead and dropped her voice to a whisper. “You want to know something special?”

  “What?”

  “The first frost has arrived!”

  Adelaide’s face lit up and she jumped from the bed, racing to the window. “Really?” she squealed, pressing her face to the glass. “The first frost! Finally! I was beginning to worry that it would be Summer here forever. Today is absolutely magical!”

  Cambria chuckled, drinking in the sight of her friend dancing at the window, her unbrushed red hair twisting out in all directions. “I think it is, too.” She stood, shaking off the lingering feeling of dread that hung about her like a cloak. “Today is magical.”

  After breakfast Cambria pulled Wynne aside. “I need to talk to you.”

  “What’s wrong?” Wynne took in Cambria’s clouded expression and reached out to take her hand. “Whatever it is, we can fix it. Tell me.”

  “Not here.” Cambria’s eyes darted furtively towards the kitchen where Adelaide and Charles were cleaning up. “This isn’t a discussion that I want overheard.”

  Wynne nodded solemnly. “I understand. I’ll meet you at the tree in an hour. We can talk there.”

  “Perfect.” Cambria cast another glance at the kitchen. “I’ll go get changed.”

  “Wear a cloak, it’s a bit nippy out today.”

  “Yes, I noticed the frost this morning.” Cambria smiled, the worry momentarily wiped from her face. “For Addie and I, the first frost of the year is something special. And this year is the first time we’ve spent it out of Redloch.”

  “You must miss it terribly.”

  “I do, but this place has really come to feel like home. Sometimes, Redloch feels like a dream from another lifetime. I’ve even forgotten what some of the buildings and people look like in detail.”

  “I would hope you feel at home here, since it’s been a few months! This is your place now, too.” Wynne turned to go, but paused. “But no matter how long you are here, you’ll never forget the love of your homeland. And that’s a beautiful thing.”

  “I agree.” Cambria nodded and took a step back. “See you in an hour.”

  Adelaide pulled the bowstring taught, her gaze never wavering from the rabbit on the edge of the clearing. She adjusted her stance, planting her feet firmly into the ground, careful not to rustle the fallen leaves as she shifted. After checking her sights once more, she narrowed her eyes and released the arrow, the fletching grazing her cheek as it flew past. The arrow found its mark, bringing a quick and painless death to the small creature. Adelaide rushed across the glen and knelt before the lifeless animal, gently resting her hand on the carcass.

  “Thank you for your sacrifice, so that I may eat. You have not died in vain.”

  She scooped up the small body and placed it carefully in a large satchel that was slung over her shoulder. She turned to leave the clearing, satisfied with her hunt.

  “Well shot!” Charles’ voice rang through the crisp air as he strode toward Adelaide. “You’ve really become quite the marksman, haven’t you?”

  “It’s all thanks to you!” Adelaide grinned, holding her satchel up. “I’ve got lunch!”

  “Perfect! Let’s head back and we can make stew. Cambria and Wynne are off doing their thing, so we’ve got the day to ourselves.” He reached her side and planted a kiss on her lips. “What would you like to do on this glorious day?”

  Adelaide grinned up at him, wrapping her arms around his waist. “I have a few ideas.” She returned his kiss and whirled on her heel. “But first, let’s eat! Hunting has made me famished.”

  “Agreed! And let’s get you warmed up, your nose was freezing,” he teased, lightly tweaking her nose between his thumb and forefinger.

  “If you think my nose is cold, you should feel my fingers!” Adelaide wiggled them threateningly, her eyes sparkling. “You don’t want these bad boys sneaking up on you until they’ve been thawed out.”

  Charles threw up his hands in mock horror. “Aahh, the frigid fingers! Anything but that!” He laughed, throwing an arm around Adelaide’s shoulders as they re-entered The Tangle. “Seriously though, why aren’t you wearing gloves? Or a scarf? The air has a bite to it today!”

  “I wasn’t expecting to be out so long. I didn’t take into account that all the animals are snuggled up in their homes, not out and about, waiting for me to hunt them. I’m lucky I even found this rabbit!” She patted the satchel. “Poor thing, that’s what he gets for being brave in this weather.”

  “I see. Well next time, promise to bundle up? I don’t want to find you frozen like a human icicle. That would make me very sad.”

  She leaned against him slightly as they strode, drinking in his warmth. “I promise.”

  Cambria sat across from Wynne on the pile of cushions in the center of the room. Soft orbs danced above them, making the tree roots appear to writhe in the walls. Wynne had lit incense, and the heady fragrance filled the dim space.

  “What is bothering you, Shadow Keeper?” Wynne’s eyes were closed, her palms upturned.

  “I had a nightmare last night, and I can’t seem to shake it. It was horrible. There was fire, and blood, and people were being cut down right in front of me and there was nothing I could do about it.”

  “Did you recognize anyone or anything? Were these people you know?”

  “No, and that’s why I’m worried.” Cambria sighed. “I don’t usually have dreams, much less dreams that are that vivid. And when I do, they are always, always about people and places I know. This one is a total mystery to me, and that scares me.”

  “It scares you?”

  “Yes, almost more than the dream itself. I don’t like not knowing.”

  Wynne bit back a laugh. “Yes, I’ve gathered that about you. You don’t like a mystery.” She paused, her brow wrinkling. “Can you describe what you saw in your dream? Was it a village, a home, a palace?”

  Cambria sighed and shook her head. “I don’t think I have the words to do it justice. I wasn’t as focused on the surroundings as I was on the death and danger.”

  Wynne opened her eyes and leaned forward, her face grave. “Would you be willing to show me?”

  “Show you?” Cambria cocked her head to the side. “What do you mean?”

  “I mean share your memory of the dream with me. It’s magic you haven’t done before, but I can lead you through it. It will be similar to the vision quest, but you’ll be pulling from your own memories.”

  Cambria listened intently, swallowing hard. “Will I have to relive the dream?”

  “Yes, unfortunately. That’s part of the spell. But you’ll be in control the entire time, and you can end it if it becomes overwhelming.” Wynne reached out and took Cambria’s hands in her own. “You don’t have to do this, you know. I’m just trying to better understand what you saw, so I can help you interpret what it means, and why you dreamt it.”

  “I understand.” Cambria nodded, exhaling sharply. “Well then, let’s do this.”

  “The magic is simple, but it does require a lot of energy,” Wynne explained. She held out a polished crystal. “Take this in your hand, I have one as well. We will join hands, one crystal in each. Focus your energy on the one in your right hand, and I’ll be doing the same with the one on my right. We need to create an energy loop. When you feel connected, simply focus on the memory of the dream. It should allow us to step right in.”

  Cambria nodded as her stomach fluttered. “G
ot it. Sounds simple enough.” She hesitated, then asked, “And what do I do when I want to end the spell?”

  “Simply drop the crystal from your right hand. It will break the loop, and pull us out.”

  “Easy enough.”

  “But I must warn you—don’t drop the crystal in your left hand. That is my focus talisman, and if you break contact on that side, the magic may rebound, and there could be consequences.”

  Cambria’s eyes widened. “Understood.”

  “Now, shall we begin?” She held out her hands and looked Cambria in the eye.

  “Yes, let’s.”

  Cambria closed her eyes and took Wynne’s hands, grasping them firmly around the cool crystals. She imagined a circle of light enveloping them, spinning faster and faster as the memory of the dream came bubbling to the surface. In her minds eye she could see a doorway, standing alone just inside the whirling band of light. She inhaled deeply and stepped through.

  Flames leapt up on either side of her, and she flinched away. Her gaze darted wildly about, searching for an escape. She was in a corridor littered with bodies, lying in gruesome form. She could feel bile rising in her stomach as the heat from the surrounding fire singed her neck.

  “Wynne! Wynne, where are you?”

  “I’m here.” Wynne’s calm voice came from beside her as she appeared and took her hand. “Don’t be afraid. This is just your dream. It isn’t real. You are in control.”

  Cambria drew a shuddering breath and shied away from a leaping flame. “I’m in control.”

  Shouting from the end of the corridor drew their attention, and Cambria watched as people emerged from a room, smoke billowing out behind them. There was a woman carrying a squalling newborn, and Cambria felt tears sting her eyes.

  “Wynne, what is this?”

  “I have my suspicions, but we need to see more. Where did you go next?”

  “I ran after those people. They…” Cambria’s heart leapt into her throat as she remembered. “Oh gods, they…” she couldn’t finish the thought.

  “Let’s follow them then.”

  Cambria agreed, clenching her jaw as they moved down the hallway toward where the people had disappeared. Screams rang out as they rounded the corner into a courtyard, and Cambria shut her eyes, bracing herself for what she knew was to come. Wynne gasped as she took in the mercenaries waiting on the far side of the stone yard, swords drawn. One by one the people fell, and as the baby’s final cries echoed across the courtyard, Cambria felt her knees buckle.

  “I can’t!” She sobbed, releasing Wynne’s hand. “Take us back!”

  “You are in control, Cambria. Release the crystal!”

  Cambria heaved, her stomach tossing tumultuously as she searched her subconscious for the doorway. Once she found it, she leapt through, dropping the crystal as soon as she reached the other side. Suddenly she was falling, being sucked through the darkness towards the cyclone of light that had enveloped them earlier.

  With a gasp, her eyes flew open. They were back in the cave, safely seated on the cushions. She leapt up on wobbly legs and made her way up the stairs as fast as she could. She burst into the cool air in the clearing and emptied the contents of her stomach into the grass. She heard Wynne come up the stairs behind her, gasping for air. She fell to her knees, wracked with sobs.

  “I never want to do that again. It was worse that time, because I wasn’t asleep, and I knew what was going to happen. And there was nothing I could do.”

  Wynne dropped to the ground beside her, and Cambria was surprised to see that her face was streaked with tears. The tattoo on her cheek glistened in the light and her lips trembled.

  “I’m so sorry you had to relive that, Cambria.”

  “Can you help me?” Cambria sobbed. “What does it mean? Why did I have that dream?”

  Wynne wrapped an arm around Cambria’s shoulders. “I can’t tell you exactly why you had that dream, but I can tell you what it means, and where it was.”

  Cambria stiffened at Wynne’s words. “You mean that was an actual place? That really happened? Where? Why?”

  “I hope we can uncover the reasons you had this dream, but for now, I can tell you this.” Wynne wiped away a stray tear and turned to look Cambria in the eyes. “That was the night that Echaria fell.”

  The abduction

  A delaide shivered as she crossed the yard to the barn, drawing her shawl tightly around her shoulders. Winter was approaching quickly, with each morning a little bit cooler than the last. The sun had not quite risen yet, and wisps of fog swirled around her ankles as she hurried through the darkness. She slipped into the warm barn and sighed, breathing in the sweet aroma of hay and wood. Juniper leapt from a beam overhead, purring as she rubbed against Adelaide’s calves.

  “Good morning, Juniper,” Adelaide whispered as she leaned down to stroke the cat’s soft fur. Senaris nickered from his stall, stamping his foot and tossing his mane.

  “I’m coming, I’m coming. Don’t be so impatient,” Adelaide laughed as she approached his stall.

  She paused to run her hand through his forelock and down his face before continuing to the grain bin. With a grunt, she hoisted a bucket of grain onto her hip and shuffled back to Senaris. Carefully balancing the heavy bucket, she swung the stall door open and stepped through. Senaris chuffed happily as she poured the grain into his trough. As he ate, she grabbed a brush and began to absentmindedly groom him.

  Six moons had passed since their arrival at Lake Lemange, and the group had fallen into a routine. In the morning, after the chores were done, Adelaide and Charles would practice archery and swordsmanship while Cambria and Wynne worked on magic. In the afternoon, there was time to relax a little, and work on hobbies. Swimming in the lake was out of the question now that the weather had changed, but Adelaide had taken up painting, while Cambria loved to experiment in the kitchen. Things were comfortable here at the lake, and Adelaide was content.

  The barn door squeaked as Charles slipped through. Adelaide dropped the brush and skipped to meet him, throwing her arms around his neck. He lowered his head, meeting her eager lips with a ready kiss.

  “Good morning, my love,” he purred, holding her tightly to his strong frame.

  “Good morning.” She smiled and kissed him again.

  “How’s Senaris this morning?”

  “Oh, he’s fine,” Adelaide laughed, gesturing towards the stall. “Just hungry and impatient, as usual. But he’s all set now.

  “Good.” Charles rested his chin on Adelaide’s head. “Wynne and Cambria are in the kitchen working on breakfast. I’d say we have about twenty minutes before we are needed.”

  Adelaide stepped back, taking his hands. “Twenty minutes, eh?” She wiggled her eyebrows, stepping backward and pulling him with her. “We can do a lot in twenty minutes.”

  “That we can,” he agreed, winking.

  With a playful growl he lunged forward, eliciting a feigned shriek from Adelaide. She scampered into the hay loft, with Charles right behind her.

  The sounds of the Redloch bell tower broke through the crisp morning air, and Chloe wiped the sweat from her brow. The sun was just beginning to rise, but she and Martin had been up for hours, preparing the bakery for the day ahead. She turned her attention back to the loaves of bread cooling on the countertop.

  “We really should consider hiring someone to help us in the morning,” Chloe mused softly. “We don’t know when Cambria will return to us.”

  “Now, Chloe,” Martin’s voice was deep and soft. “Don’t despair. Our little sugar bun will be back with us in no time, I’m sure. Just have faith.”

  “I’m trying,” Chloe sighed. She could feel a lump beginning to harden in her throat. “I just miss her terribly. What if something has happened to her? We don’t even know where she is, so it’s not like we can send someone to check on her, or send a letter.”

  “Keep the faith, sweetheart. Cambria is a resourceful girl, and so is Adelaide. They will be just fine.�
�� Martin crossed the floor and wrapped Chloe in his strong arms. “I miss her, too.”

  Chloe rested her head against Martin’s broad chest and closed her eyes. A sudden pounding on the door made her jump. She and Martin exchanged a puzzled glance. The pounding came again, but this time, with a demand.

  “Open up, in the name of Lord Bainbridge!”

  Martin cast a wary glance at Chloe before crossing to the door and flinging it wide. He plastered a smile on his face, gesturing to the soldiers to enter the bakery.

  “Good morning! What can we do for you on this beautiful day?”

  “Shut up and step aside,” snarled the captain as he brushed passed Martin and Chloe. The soldiers filed into the bakery behind him, creating a perimeter around the room, with Martin and Chloe in the center.

  “Please, sir, what is this about?” Chloe asked, her voice quivering. She reached for Martin’s hand and grasped it, squeezing tightly. “Is something wrong?”

  “That depends,” the captain sneered. “Do you have a child called Cambria?”

  Chloe’s knees buckled and she gasped, suddenly unable to draw a full breath. The room seemed to spin as she clutched Martin’s arm. “Oh no, oh gods… what happened to our baby?”

  “Your ‘baby’ is a wanted fugitive. A usurper who has been sentenced to death, along with her companions.” The captain’s eyes glinted as he stepped closer to Chloe, his body mere inches from her own as she shrunk into Martin’s side. “You will tell us what we want to know.”

  Martin pulled Chloe away and stepped between her and the captain. “We know nothing. Cambria left here nearly seven moons ago, and we haven’t heard from her since.” He glared defiantly down at the captain, his teeth bared. “Besides, I don’t believe what you are saying about her. She’s a good girl, she would never get herself mixed up in something like this.”

  “That’s where you are wrong.” The captain nodded almost imperceptibly to one of the soldiers standing behind Martin and Chloe.