For several hours, she sat in the woods near Gordag-Ai, with her thoughts reaching out nearly the length and breadth of the continent in search of Gerrod. The hours became a day, the day two.
Three days of constant search finally took their strain. Despite herself, Valea dozed off.
When she awoke, it was dark. The enchantress guiltily rose. Her stomach rumbled, but before she could do anything about her hunger, she sensed something or somebody nearby.
Her personal shields and spells had remained active even during her slumber. Valea strengthened them as she noted the presence of magic.
Then, the enchantress exhaled as she recognized the unique signature of that magic.
“Gerrod!” Valea faced the darkness. “Gerrod! Where are you?”
“Valea.” He formed out of the darkness, his face hidden not only by the night, but by his deep hood.
She bit her lip and immediately stepped back. Her hand flared as she prepared a spell.
The warlock slowly and carefully drew back his hood.
The blurred features that marked Shade greeted her.
Before she could react, he took a step toward her. As he did, his features defined. Another step and the murkiness enshrouding his face disappeared, revealing familiar and very welcome features.
Valea let out a gasp. She leaped forward and kissed him. he reacted slowly at first, then returned her passion.
“Gerrod,” Valea breathed when they separated. “It is you...but you...you...”
“I perished, yes.” The warlock briefly looked away. “No one was more surprised than myself to find me alive again.”
“It was terrible to think that—” She caressed his cheek. “No. Forget I dared even start to say anything! Nothing could be nearly as terrible as what you suffered!”
Gerrod frowned. “No more painful than other times...that I recall.”
“At least we now know...at least we see that even though the curse still has you...you’re still you, Gerrod! Not Shade! Not really! You...” Valea’s heart pounded as her pleasure at that discovery was tempered by another thought. “But the pain you mentioned. The awful pain. I wish I could’ve at least been there when you reappeared! I could’ve given you some comfort somehow!”
“No...best that you were not there. It is never a pleasant sight, Valea. Besides, there would not have been anything you could have done.”
“I...I suppose.” Valea gripped his gloved hand tightly, as if intending to never let go. “You look and sound exhausted. We should head to the old cabin on the outskirts of the ruins,” she suggested, referring to the overgrown devastation that was all that was left of the kingdom of Mito Pica. The pair had come across it during their quest and had often used it as a refuge. A few adjustments had made it quite livable, although they had done their best to keep the outside virtually the same in order to avoid notice.
“Yes, that would be best.” Gerrod exhaled, then, to Valea’s concern, wobbled slightly. “If you could bring us there, I would greatly appreciate it.”
The enchantress wrapped her arm around his. “Take it easy. I’ve got you.” She squeezed his hand again, simultaneously casting them to their destination. “And I will never let you go again.”
The cabin had a mustiness to it, but the bed was fresh and quite comfortable. He allowed Valea to guide him to it, sitting back against the wall on the bed’s left while the enchantress turned to deal with food and water. The warlock watched as she moved with clear reassurance.
He would have to tell her...eventually. Tell her that he had changed. In a manner that made him fear even more what he was. All sense of decency would have demanded that he not only reveal the truth immediately to her, but also then run from her as far as his power could take him.
And yet, Shade remained. Remained and, by doing so, was certain that he endangered the woman he loved. However, he also believed that only through Valea did he at least stave off the danger he might be to all else.
With her back still to him, Shade felt his chest. He had done his best to use his power to shield what was happening from her astute senses, but he wondered how long that would last. Sooner or later, he would slip...and then she would sense the truth.
The founder device had continued its sinister purpose during the moment of his death, still combining and feeding out the power around it. In that last moment when the energies had torn his body asunder, the essence that had been Shade had been bathed in those other energies, had become one with them.
And so, when he had resurrected, while outwardly he had remained the same, inwardly Shade had been transformed.
The Elem had failed to escape...and yet, they had succeeded, too. The energies forming them were also now a part of the warlock. Even at this moment, odd, inhuman thoughts slipped into Shade’s consciousness, thoughts more akin to those what the guardians might have thought...or perhaps even the founders themselves.
But that was hardly all. The energies were shifting, trans-forming...but to what end, Shade could not comprehend. He only knew that he had no choice but to wait and see what all of it would lead to.
Valea glanced back to smile at him. Near enough to her to have a face, he returned her smile. She turned away to take care of one last thing for their meal.
The warlock grimaced.
Wait, Shade thought again watching her warily. Wait with no choice but to pray that he was not going to become something far worse a threat to the Dragonrealm and those he cared for than even what the Elem would have wrought...
END
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Richard A. Knaak is the New York Times and USA Today best-selling author of The Legend of Huma, WoW: Stormrage, and nearly fifty other novels and numerous short stories, including works in such series as Warcraft, Diablo, Dragonlance, Age of Conan, and his own Dragonrealm. He has scripted a number of Warcraft manga with Tokyopop, such as the top-selling Sunwell trilogy, and has also written background material for games. His works have been published worldwide in many languages.
Currently splitting his time between Chicago and Arkansas, he can be reached through his website: richardallenknaak.com, where more information on this trilogy can be found. While he is unable to respond to every e-mail, he does read them. Join his mailing list for e-announcements of upcoming releases and appearances. Please also join him on Facebook and Twitter.
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