by Linda McNabb
‘Seth, don’t do this,’ Rem shouted as she backed away even further. The circle of death around Seth was getting larger and the dragon was in the middle of it.
After several seconds the dragon snorted one more time. It scooped the huge cat up in both front legs and snarled. ‘As you command.’
**
There was nothing to see back at the canyon. Eagan slipped off StarFire’s back and paced up and down the face of the barrier. Apart from a lot of paw and foot prints on the ground there was no evidence of a breach. There were no shadows on the other side to indicate any creatures were anywhere near.
‘The night-shadows just turned and left,’ Marrik said with a shrug and a shake of his head. ‘There was a roar and I can only guess it was some sort of a signal to retreat. They must have realised we had them outnumbered.’
Eagan doubted that was the case at all but did not offer his opinion.
‘They are gone,’ Darius said, staring through the wall as if he could see beyond it. Eagan wondered if he actually could.
‘They are far away,’ StarFire added and moved away from Eagan with a look of distaste. Clearly the truce was now over. Eagan shrugged, he had other worries on his mind right now.
‘I hear you caught one of them,’ Marrik said as they turned to leave the canyon. He patted one of the passing guards on the back as if congratulating him for a job well done.
‘Yes, it’s out by the river. Seth’s dragon has it under control,’ Eagan replied distantly.
‘Seth? The boy actually raised a dragon?’ The head guard looked surprised. ‘Can we take a closer look at the night-shadow?’
‘Sure,’ Eagan replied and swallowed hard. As they came out of the pass and cleared the still patrolling guards he looked over and saw Rem standing by herself.
‘Where is it?’ Marrik asked.
‘Where indeed,’ Eagan remarked. His expression barely changed as he realised the cat was gone. He scanned the sky and saw Seth and his dragon flying off with the black cat hanging underneath. He had no idea why Seth would take the night-shadow away but he didn’t really care right at this minute. Even the huge circle of dead plants did not raise an eyebrow.
He walked slowly towards Rem as Marrik was distracted by one of his guards. He gulped as the young girl ran towards him. He let her embrace him and then pulled away gently. His gaze slipped down to the talisman hanging from her neck. It had been pulled from under her armour in the battle and lay in full view. Now he knew where he had seen the symbol before. How could he have forgotten? He had seen it again not five minutes ago, stamped with a hot iron into the flesh of the hind quarters of a night-shadow. He stood back a pace so that Darius could also get a good look at it and he heard the wizard suck in a surprised breath.
‘Why didn’t you tell me about the talisman sooner?’ Darius demanded as Rem hurried over to where StarFire had landed.
‘I thought you saw it in the marshes when we found her,’ Eagan said with a sad shrug.
‘The mark of Yarris. You know what it means…’ Darius’ voice held a hint of fear.
Yes, Eagan knew. She was the enemy – she just didn’t know it.
Well of Life
Realm of Shadows
Book 2
By Linda McNabb
Chapter One - Return to Arrow Castle
Seth expected his service to Ryker to be over when he returned to Arrow Castle with the night-shadow. All he had to do was deliver the black cat to the apprentice and he would be free to go. Then he was going to find Rem and apologise – for everything.
Or so he thought.
That was several weeks ago but he was still stuck at Arrow Castle. He thought back to that day and wondered how he could have done things differently.
The huge black cat was still unconscious when they reached the secluded castle and the roof was open as if they were expected back already.
‘Where should we put it?’ Seth asked, thinking out loud.
Neras had spent the entire trip back leaning over the side of the dragon to stare at the creature. Seth supposed there was no real danger of the wizard falling since he couldn’t go far from the staff and even if he did, would it really harm him?
‘In the cage?’ Neras suggested.
As they came closer Seth could see Ryker running to look out of the open roof. Neras vanished instantly. Ryker looked stunned at their cargo and waved them towards the cage before backing off hurriedly.
‘I will not share with this creature,’ MoonFlame said with a snort of flame that narrowly missed the limp cat.
‘I’m not sure you have much choice for the moment,’ Seth said with a shrug. ‘If we give him what he wants, then he should let us go free and you can live wherever you wish.’
‘The apprentice does not control me,’ MoonFlame pointed out, circling slowly over the tower room. ‘And nor do you.’
Seth sighed. He wondered if he and the dragon would ever be able to work together instead of fighting constantly. ‘Just give him the night-shadow and as soon as he lets me go I promise I will set you free also.’
MoonFlame sank towards the tower at an alarming speed and Seth gripped as tightly as he could with both legs. The dragon stopped suddenly and a dull thud below made Seth’s heart continue to sink. MoonFlame had dropped the night-shadow. For the first time he hoped that the huge cat was indeed impossible to kill. That creature was his ticket to freedom and a dead cat was of no use at all.
Seth bit his lip to stop himself chastising the dragon as it dipped just a little lower then leaned sideways to tip Seth off. Seth landed next to the black cat and had the wind knocked out of him. He looked up and watched MoonFlame fly off and wondered if the dragon would ever come back. They were still bonded but Seth wasn’t sure if that really meant anything.
He heard a clang and realised that Ryker had shut him in with the cat. Seth propped himself up on one elbow and looked at the creature lying next to him. It looked harmless laid out on the stone floor but Seth remembered very clearly how it had been just a couple of hours ago. He glanced around the cage, looking for a way to climb out of reach of the great cat. Then he looked again at the long hind legs of the night-shadow and abandoned that idea. It would be able to jump almost as high as the roof and Seth doubted that this cage would hold him if the roof was left open.
Almost as if Ryker had heard Seth’s thoughts, the apprentice began to wind the roof closed.
‘You’re not going to leave me in here with it are you?’ Seth asked as he stood up and walked closer to the cage.
‘Is it even alive?’ Ryker asked. ‘I wanted a live night-shadow. If it’s dead you’ll have to get another one.’
‘Shouldn’t you be asking where he even got one?’ Oran suggested, drifting through the bars and over to the huge black cat. ‘Are there more? Has there been an invasion or did he find a way to go through the mountains?’
Seth moved back to the cat, purposely walking straight through Oran’s shimmering form. He resisted the frown that started to form as he realised he could see the wizard even though there were no shadows. Oran looked disgusted and moved around to the opposite side of the cat. Seth bent down and placed one hand near the creature’s nose. He sighed with relief when he felt a warm breath and was about to turn to tell Ryker when the cat’s deep-green eyes flicked open and stared at Seth.
Run! His brain screamed at him as he stared back but he didn’t move a muscle. It was a faster paralysis than the wizard’s bonding spell and he struggled to even gulp back a scream.
Several seconds seemed like a lifetime and he blinked as the cat leapt into motion. Seth’s brain was racing even though his body was almost motionless. He wondered if it would hurt when the cat killed him. Perhaps there was still time to try to run or could he try to draw life from it and weaken the creature enough to get away?
Before he had time to decide on either option the cat was up and spun away from Seth, snapping wildly at Oran. The creature obviously had no trouble seeing the wizard a
nd definitely didn’t like him. Seth wondered if there was any creature that actually liked wizards.
‘It’s not dead!’
Oran rose immediately to the ceiling even though there was no way the cat would do any harm to the washed-out image of the wizard. Seth’s gaze followed the cat as it leapt higher and higher in a frustrated attempt to reach Oran. Yes, it would definitely have been able to get out if the roof was open.
Seth rose from his frozen crouch and began to back away. Surely the apprentice would let him out now that it was obvious the cat was alive? As he reached the bars, keeping the cat in full sight, he gave the door a shake and found it was still locked.
‘Let me out,’ Seth said quietly, trying not to draw the attention of the night-shadow.
‘No,’ Ryker replied.
Seth flicked his gaze away from the cat and over to the apprentice. He was watching with fascination and didn’t even look at Seth.
‘Why not? I brought you the cat. Our deal is over.’ Seth could hear the cat’s claws scratching at the ground as it landed from each leap. They sounded a little closer but he stared at Ryker – demanding agreement on their deal and to be let out.
Ryker shook his head as he regarded Seth with a frown. ‘I still need to see the night-shadow in action. I need to see it draw life.’
‘Draw life?’ Seth echoed then he gulped as he realised what the apprentice meant. ‘Mine?’
‘Well, you’re already in there and when I can see it draws life, then our deal is done and you are free.’ Ryker shrugged as if it were a simple matter.
Seth’s mind raced again. He was so close to being free but at what cost? If he tried to defeat the cat by being the one to draw life first, then his own secret was at risk of being discovered. If he killed the cat he’d just have to find another one. There seemed no way to win.
‘I’m sure I felt several claws!’
‘Stop teasing the creature,’ Ryker snapped. Oran drifted over to stand beside Ryker and shrugged.
‘I just wanted to see how high it could jump.’
‘I’m not teasing it,’ Seth replied, keeping up the pretence of not being able to hear Oran.
Seth saw Ryker’s gaze move away from him and realised that he could feel a warm breath on the back of his neck. It was decision time. Did he save his own life and remain in Ryker’s bonded service forever, or let the cat kill him?
He turned towards the cat. Whatever he decided he wanted to be facing the night-shadow, not hiding with his back turned.
He gulped as the night-shadow was standing just two paces from him. The great creature’s head was level with his own and it stared at him, breathing heavily from its recent exertion. The green eyes narrowed as it appeared to be sizing up the human in front of it. It paced several steps to the right, nearer the cage, and hissed at both Ryker and Oran then turned back to stare at Seth. It bared its teeth and stepped closer.
Seth was holding back his gift but decided he would release it a little. Perhaps he could give the great cat a warning that would be enough without killing it? Before he had even drawn a mote of life from the night-shadow it blinked twice and backed away. Seth frowned. Could the creature sense what he was?
The cat stopped halfway to the back wall and settled on the floor with its front legs stretched out before it. Its ears were raised and twitched slightly as it listened to the creaking of the roof as the sun lost its warmth. It stared at Seth and those beyond him with an air of disdain, as if it was the one in control and had become bored with the situation. It looked just like a domestic cat surveying its domain.
‘Why doesn’t it take your life?’ Ryker asked with a snarl. ‘You will not be released until I see it draw life.’
He moved away and had a muttered conversation with Oran before turning back and smiling at Seth.
‘Perhaps the night-shadow does not wish to eat in front of an audience,’ Ryker said. Seth knew he meant Oran. ‘I will return in an hour. If you are dead you are released from your service.’
Seth’s eyebrow rose as Ryker chuckled at the irony of his own joke then the apprentice left the tower. He took his staff and, along with it, Oran. As the door slammed shut Seth sank down against the bars and faced the night-shadow.
What now? He could safely use his gift to subdue the creature without being caught but as he stared at the night-shadow it showed no hint of anger or intent to attack. In fact, its eyes began to droop as if it were tired.
As night fell Seth felt his own eyelids begin to sag and he rested his head against the bars. He might as well sleep. It wasn’t as if he could do much to stop the great cat attacking unless he wanted to kill it and he didn’t want to do that.
He heard a scrabbling and scratching of claws from above and a frustrated howl from MoonFlame as she settled down on the roof to sleep. She would not be in a good mood tomorrow, but at least she had come back.
‘It doesn’t look dangerous now,’ Neras said right next to him, making him jump and his eyes blinked open. Ryker had left a lamp burning and it gave just enough light to see the cat’s eyes crack open to a narrow slit at the sound of the wizard’s voice.
‘I don’t think it likes wizards or apprentices,’ Seth said carefully and watched the night-shadow for any signs of agitation but so far it seemed too sleepy to bother moving. Then he looked at Neras who sat next to him, relaxing against the bars in the exact same pose as Seth. The wizard was as clear to him as a real person and Seth was tempted to reach out a finger and poke at him to see if he could touch him.
‘Well, I’m not really a wizard, and you’re not an apprentice,’ Neras said with a shrug. ‘Even your dragon doesn’t mind me around. Perhaps it’s because I never took an apprentice. I’m no threat to anyone or anything.’
It was Seth’s turn to shrug; he had no idea and nobody to ask either.
‘Ryker is coming,’ he warned Neras as he heard footsteps on the stairs. Neras nodded and vanished, leaving Seth wondering what it looked like where the wizard spent all his time. He made a mental note to ask him next time he saw him.
Neras’ departure wasn’t more than a moment too soon as the door to the tower room opened slowly. Seth twisted slightly and saw Oran’s rather solid-looking form float into the room. Obviously Ryker was too chicken to come in himself just yet.
The night-shadow’s reaction was instant. It leapt to its feet and launched at the bars, reaching through to rake at the wizard with surprisingly long claws. Seth drew away to make it look as if he might be the reason for the attack, and crouched in the corner in mock-terror.
‘It’ll have the boy in a few minutes. It must have just been resting.’
‘I’ll come back in the morning,’ Ryker said, peering round the door. Then Oran vanished through the door and it slammed shut once more.
The night-shadow growled at the closed door for a few seconds then made a huffing noise as if disgusted that its prey had escaped. It turned around, looked at Seth with a blank stare and walked to the back of the cage where it settled down to rest again.
It had been a very long day and Seth lay down on the hard stone floor and closed his eyes. He didn’t think the night-shadow was likely to attack or it would have done so already. He didn’t even notice the uneven stone under his shoulder as he drifted off into a sleep filled with dreams of battles and being chased by huge black cats.
The tower room was cold when Seth awoke. He groaned slightly as he rubbed his shoulder. It still ached in the cold where MoonFlame had cut him, and he knew it probably would for the rest of his life.
He sat up slowly, peering around the inky blackness of the cage but could not see much as the lamp had burned down and gone out. Was the cat still sleeping? He strained to listen and heard the soft, regular breath of the night-shadow.
‘It’s not asleep,’ Neras said, walking right in front of Seth and startling him. Even this close it was hard to see much but Seth did notice that the wizard looked almost solid. There was nothing wavy or indistinct about the you
ng-old wizard any longer. Seth heard the cat’s breathing change and come closer. He held his own breath a little as Neras stood beside him and a black shape filled his vision.
Bright green eyes blinked into view, only a pace away. Seth didn’t have time to let his fear build up as the huge cat stepped forward and nudged gently against his shoulder.
A purr seemed to resonate from deep within the night-shadow and the creature circled Seth twice before settling down with its huge paws resting across Seth’s legs.
Seth sat very still, and let out a long slow breath. There didn’t seem to be any danger from it at all. He tried to slip out from under the heavy paws but couldn’t. He sat still for a long time and finally he began to nod off, lulled by the rhythmic purring of the great cat.
When he woke several hours later he was surprised to find he was tucked up snuggly against the soft fur.
‘Well, Ryker is going to be disappointed,’ Seth muttered to himself as he reluctantly pulled away from his comfortable bed.
Daylight was creeping in the windows that ringed the tower room when Seth woke again. He stretched slowly and yawned before tipping his head to look around the cage. The cat was still asleep several paces away from him and looked harmless with its nose tucked under its paws.
All of a sudden the cat’s ears pricked up and it leapt to a crouching stance, ready to pounce. Seth shuffled back from the cat’s line of sight but its gaze did not follow. Instead it was staring at the door to the tower room. There was a slight shimmering next to the door as a very solid-looking Oran appeared in the room.
‘The boy is still alive.’
Oran moved further into the room but kept well away from the cage, as if he were truly in danger from the night-shadow. Ryker came into the room and scowled at the night-shadow as he saw that nothing had changed since last night.
‘Can I come out now?’ Seth asked, ignoring the cat’s hissing as it glared at Ryker with dislike. ‘I’m starving.’
‘Don’t let it out,’ Ryker snapped as he unlocked the door.
