Landon was a prince? That explained how he didn’t seem to know how to do basic tasks. Why didn’t he tell her? What other secrets did he hide?
“By now, I’d spent too much time with everyone.” She sneered, but Mirhana thought she caught a glimpse of tears cloud her eyes. “I should have killed you that first day with the Troblin.”
“Deceiver,” Brock spat. “You cower before the Warloc’s horde. What’ve you done with Celeste?”
“I am my own master. The Warloc and his progeny paid for my services and I accepted. Yet, I made the choice; they did not force my hand.”
Brock raised his hand. Mirhana knew he would drain her for her treachery.
Mirhana cursed. She had left her weapons in her chambers.
“Careful,” Jeslyn whispered, “these jewels are not adornment. They mark my kills. Once an assassin has completed the rows to make the diamond upon our backs, we announce who we are upon our faces. But no one lives to tell.”
“What did you poison Celeste with?” Brock shouted.
What was he talking about? Perhaps this was a nightmare she’d wake up from and have a laugh with Jeslyn. After all, she’d shared a room with this woman for weeks. She would know if she was a killer … wouldn’t she?
“An assassin never gives away her secrets. I could’ve gutted you the first evening at the inn.”
“One way or another, I’ll get the answer.” Brock held a hand an inch from her face. “Tell me now, while you still have breath to do so.”
“My dilemma has allowed you to live. Whom should I take with me to my homeland as my bedmate? You or Landon?”
“The Warloc’s Sorceress demands Landon—she’ll not be merciful to your lust.”
When she spat, Brock lunged. Her blade pricked his skin, but his hands encircled her arms.
A cross between a gasp and a scream lingered in the air between them. Her blade fell away from his throat.
Chapter Twenty-eight
Mirhana shouted her brother’s name and grabbed him around the waist, hauling him backwards. His connection with Jeslyn was severed.
Jeslyn flayed her arms as Landon yanked her away. “Let me go, I’ll butcher him.”
“Don’t kill her. We need her alive to get answers,” Mirhana said.
“Traitor.” Brock jerked out of her arms. “She poisoned Celeste. She was paid by the Warloc’s progeny to stop the prophecy.”
“Madness!” Jeslyn screamed. “Did you not see how he attacked me just now?”
“She’s an assassin.”
“She helped us.” Landon sounded as if he believed her.
Mirhana didn’t know who to believe. How did Brock know all of this?
“Tell me then, why does Celeste not wake? Her wound has healed, and you can detect nothing else.”
Mirhana’s eyes flashed to Landon.
“And Gillespie never saw Jeslyn until after the Drows let us free. She reported to her mistress.” Brock continued.
“Lies.” Jeslyn sagged against Landon as though to gain sympathy.
“Perhaps you’re stressed from Celeste’s illness,” Landon said to Brock.
“You believe her over me? Search her chambers. She stuffed a pouch along the south edge where the stone wall meets the thatched roof. From my curse, her memories showed me that much.”
At Brock’s words, Jeslyn spun out of Landon’s grip. Her knife was in her hand as she rushed forward. Brock twisted away, but Jeslyn swung her leg and he crashed to the floor. Within seconds, she was behind Mirhana, with the blade against her throat. Mirhana stomped on her foot with her heel.
The traitor skipped back a few steps and drew her blades. Mirhana dodged her throwing knives.
Brock leapt forward. “Let me finish her. I may be able find how to reverse the effects when my curse feeds on her kajh.”
“It’s a shame you did not allow me to comfort you in your grief.” Jeslyn held one knife in her hand, while her other eased out a pouch from between her breast. “Then again, the Sorceress’s love potion should have worked on you or Landon, but neither of you succumbed to me.”
“Love?” Brock asked. “You do not know the meaning of it.”
“It took me a while to figure out that I couldn’t put it into your ale as I did Landon. I had to use a more direct method with the vanishing darts dipped in it. Stab someone with the dart tied to a string and yank it back. Sometimes they don’t even feel it. But it didn’t matter how much I used, neither of you fell in love with me.”
Mirhana saw a second pouch dangling around Jeslyn’s neck. Was this the poison or antidote for Celeste? Or was this the love concoction she spoke of?
“I’m prepared regardless.” The sack flew into the air and yellow powder fell in a cloud around them.
• • •
Though Landon couldn’t see, he heard Mirhana’s boots dragging along the floor.
“Mirhana will wait for you both at Cape Seyechell.” Jeslyn’s voice bounced around him. “Bring the witch, Prince. Perhaps the Warloc will trade both Brock and Mirhana for you.”
“Nay.” He strained his ears to catch the sound of her shoes sliding along the stone floor. Only silence answered him.
“The Warloc’s spawn will only give you death after you have done her bidding,” Brock’s voice echoed.
After what felt as hours, the yellow cloud dissipated enough for Landon to see. Why had the smoke affected Mirhana so, but not him or Brock? It only seemed to hinder their sight, not make them unconscious. Or had Jeslyn done something else to Mirhana? He couldn’t think of her hurt or worse.
He ran after Jeslyn.
Outside the keep, darkness greeted him.
“Where are they?” He snatched a guard from his post.
“S—she fled.” He stumbled backward, dazed. “Said the other woman had fallen under sickness and must flee before we were all contaminated.”
Blast. He tore past the man to the stables. With Shadowdancer, maybe he could catch up with them.
Inside the stables, Jeslyn’s horse was screaming. She had cut her own horse’s hamstrings. All of the other horses, including Shadowdancer were gone.
With a bellow, Landon reached down and then sliced the mare’s neck on his sword, ending her suffering.
Outside the stable, he slumped to his knees. Tracks of at least eight horses and wheels carved into the dirt. Even with Brock’s Elvin speed, he couldn’t run that fast.
“Forgive me.” Landon whispered to the gods above who apparently decided to punish him for wanting to be with Mirhana rather than Kavith—whom he had never met. None of this would have happened if he had stayed in his kingdom and awaited Kavith’s return and their marriage.
Why did the Warloc want him? He trudged back to the keep wondering what to do now without horses.
Inside, he stomped past the king who bellowed about his missing carriage, and into the garden.
Gillespie handed Landon a waterskin.
“Tell me, Prince,” Brock’s voice was laced with sarcasm, “why has the Warloc taken such lengths for you?”
“I—I do not know.” His voice sounded hoarse.
“Aggravating my patience is dangerous right now,” Brock said.
Gillespie raised his sword between Landon and Brock.
“Jeslyn has taken my sister. Cower if you must, but I will have answers.”
After a nod from Landon, Gillespie stepped back but kept his sword locked on the Elvin. “Prince Landon of Fafniron.”
“And why have you left your kingdom?”
“Undead attacked my people.” He took another swallow of the water. “I was threatened by the Warloc to leave my castle or all would die.”
“Why?”
“I do not know. Honestly. I’ve been asking myself that question and others since I left.”
“There must be a reason.”
“Perhaps he wishes to rule from our lands.” Gillespie lowered his sword.
“I don’t see what’s special about you. Nothing gives
me pause.”
Nervous about being scrutinized, Landon ran a hand through his golden-streaked brown hair. He fingered his dragon medallion twisted upon its body with a ruby as the center and eye.
“Does that have any significance?” Brock pointed to it.
“It’s from my grandmother—just part of our family crest. The other is a lion that … ”
Brock waved his answer away. “No trinket would help us. Gillespie has one too—a woman with a fish’s tail. It must be common in your kingdom.”
Not really, Landon thought and was about to say so, when Brock stormed off.
“Summon Arianah,” Brock said over his shoulder as he went to the gardener’s hut. “We need Celeste healed now more than ever.”
Chapter Twenty-nine
“You summoned my daughter?” The King’s face was red as if he had dipped it in a bucket of hot water.
Landon would speak with him as ruler-to-ruler if he didn’t agree to help. He must find Mirhana. See her safe. Then he’d disobey his father and marry her, after he dealt with Kavith and her father.
Arianah stood beside her father.
“Aye. Celeste, who healed your daughter, has been poisoned,” Brock snapped.
Arianah frowned. “Mirhana found no taint in her.”
“This was a trained assassin. Poison from her lands, no doubt hidden from those with magic,” Landon said.
“Then how is my daughter to help?”
“Do either of you know Xron’yx?” Brock struggled over the words of the poison that his power had gleamed from Jeslyn.
“Nay.”
“Would you be willing to use your power over water to test the poison we found?” Landon asked. “Perhaps it would help you to discover an antidote.”
“I’ll try,” Arianah said. “Wait outside, I need to concentrate.”
Landon and Gillespie left, but hours later, Landon grew restless.
“I’m tired of waiting.” His boots crunched the leaves. “We must leave now and save Mirhana.”
“Surely she’ll be fine. Jeslyn wouldn’t jeopardize her bait needed to pull you in.”
“And you expect me to wait while her life is in an assassin’s hands? Even now, they could be in this Warloc’s domain.”
“We’ll leave as soon as Brock gives the order, perhaps … ”
“You forget your place. I take orders from no one.” He clenched his fists. “And I’m lost without Mirhana. She’s my match, the one my grandmother told me about.” After the words came out of his mouth, he realized they were true. He could never marry Kavith, not when he loved someone else.
A shuffle of a foot against the stone floor, and in the doorway stood the Drow Queen.
“What are you doing here?” Landon asked.
“I was summoned by the king’s daughter to heal Celeste.”
“Brock will not let you near her. And neither will I.” Landon placed a hand on the hilt of his sword.
“Then I guess she will stay asleep until her body decays.” She turned on her heel, but he grasped her arm.
“And we should just trust you? You don’t have the ability to heal, or you would have healed my arm instead of having one of your young girls do it.”
She jerked her arm from Landon’s hold. “No, I didn’t have healing, but when Celeste gave me part of herself, a fraction of her gift of healing transferred over to me. I owe her more than a blood debt for what she did. I will not betray her.”
Landon narrowed his eyes. “Do what you must, but if you harm her, you will answer to both of us.”
She nodded, and disappeared into the gardener’s hut. They heard arguing, then all went quiet. After a few more moments, she slipped outside. “She is awake, but I would give them some time alone before you barge in.”
“I will give them until we break our fast.” Landon nodded. “Then we will leave and track down Jeslyn.”
Chapter Thirty
Two days later, they waved goodbye to King Mar’kduke and Arianah. Landon sent a raven to Fafniron requesting to have gold sent to pay for the king’s hospitality despite his host’s protest that healing his daughter was all the payment he needed.
He had wanted to leave as soon as Celeste awoke, but she was so weak from her ordeal that Landon was forced to wait. The thought of what Jeslyn or the Warloc could be doing to Mirhana ate him up.
Mar’kduke gave Celeste, Landon, Gillespie, and Brock each a war horse from another village to the south. Sturdy, they would be able to keep up with the pace Landon desired. Their packs were stuffed with jerky, flatbread, figs, and the last of the harvested apples.
• • •
Autumn colored the leaves brown, gold, and red. Miles in the distance were hints of purple mountains that seemed a mirage. How long before they reached the Primora Sea, Landon could only guess. He had never been this far from his kingdom before. Another month, two at the most and winter would freeze the land.
“We’ll rest frequently so you don’t exhaust yourself.” Gillespie slowed his horse so Celeste and Brock could hear him.
Landon pressed forward in the lead. He didn’t want to injure Celeste, but he was anxious to reach Mirhana. Each night they made camp, he awoke to nightmares of her calling his name. When they had kissed, he sensed she had let go. Finally, she had opened herself and her heart to him. And now she was gone. He would bring her back, no matter what it took.
“Thanks to that assassin, I’ve had more rest than anyone would need for a lifetime.” She straightened.
At least the heat of summer had passed. The mountains in the distance would have snow or ice at their peaks. Mar’kduke told them to go through the mountains that bordered the land. To ride around would add days to their journey.
Jeslyn would have gone around. Landon was sure of it. He could not see her dragging a carriage over them, much less have Mirhana cooperate enough to ride one of the horses. He expected that if she did detour, they had a chance to intercept her before she reached the sea.
“We’ll ride until dark.” Landon glanced back at Brock then added quickly, “unless Celeste tires.”
• • •
Dusk came swiftly. They made camp while Landon and Gillespie took care of the horses. Celeste stumbled and Brock reached out to steady her.
“I’m fine.” She whipped a piece of her light golden hair away from her face. “Just a little wobbly.”
“Do you need to rest?” Landon asked. The only reason he did not charge ahead was he knew he was no match against the Warloc’s or his protégé’s magic. He was human and must rely on others like Celeste for help. Still, he wanted to tear through the mountains and find Mirhana.
“Nay.” She forced a smile. “It’ll do me good to walk for a bit.” After removing a piece of jerky from her pack, she ate while they strolled.
“This Warloc’s protégé has stirred up more trouble than the Warloc himself.” Brock kicked aside a twig.
“He underestimated us. Probably thought Nivel was the greater threat.”
“What can the Warloc do?” Gillespie asked. “He’s imprisoned in the Forgotten Lands.”
“Until his soul and magic are annihilated, we’ll never be free. I don’t think he’s going to make the same mistake twice.” She shrugged. “I wrestled with his protégée for control of my body when the Drow Queen worked to heal me. I felt her emotions. Desperation, loneliness, and she craved him … his praise, his magic.”
“She seems more dangerous than he,” Landon said.
“In a way, yes. Her danger is that she knows who we are, and what happened last year. She knows she cannot leave prophecy to chance.”
Chapter Thirty-one
The next afternoon, they reached the mountain valley.
As much as Landon wanted to press on, he knew the others required rest. He saw the mountains’ jagged slopes. No way could they climb the mountains in the dark. Well, maybe Brock could with his Elvin sight.
He debated sending Brock ahead alone to find Mirhana, but pride a
nd the unknown made him hold his tongue. He wanted to be the one to save her and maybe she would see him as more than just a man and an untried prince. Someone she could trust. After he explained to her the reasons why he told no one he was a prince, he hoped she’d understand. Though he doubted she’d be pleased when he told her about Kavith.
He would figure something out; he had to. Landon had tasted the sweetness of love and he would not let her go. Even if it meant giving up his kingdom and all the gold and gems he owned.
These were the Gateway Mountains according to the map from Tamlon. Gateway to what, he didn’t know. They couldn’t even see the tops which disappeared into the clouds.
Even the king only knew their name, and nothing more. There were tales of monsters that lived at the top, and missing villagers who had journeyed too close.
Great, just what they needed. More monsters.
They had enough to worry about. They couldn’t afford to lose more time.
Again, he thought of Mirhana. If not for these so-called prophecies demanding her participation to defeat the Warloc and his protégé, he would prefer to leave this mixed band of humans and paranormals to their own struggles and have Mirhana safe with him.
Landon scrutinized wheel tracks to figure out how long ago Jeslyn and Mirhana were there.
• • •
After they ate, Brock took all of the watches, since he didn’t need sleep. It allowed the others plenty of rest for tomorrow. For awhile, Landon remained alert to every sound. He didn’t want Jeslyn sneaking into camp as they slept.
Brock climbed the steep side of the mountain for a few yards, elevated enough to see for miles around their campsite.
At a boulder that stuck out like a curved finger, he leapt under its groove.
Hours later, Brock trekked down the hill. At the campsite, Landon stirred at his approach. When he saw Brock, he nodded. Then he rolled over and jerked the edge of the blanket over his head. So the fire would not burn out, Brock tossed sticks into the flames.
The wind prickled Landon’s skin. He debated trading places with Brock, even though the cursed Elvin did not need sleep. Brock at least could hold his love, as Landon longed to do with Mirhana.
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