Shadow & Flame

by Mindee Arnett

  He managed to stick the jump though, and quickly engaged a new enemy. Corwin had lost sight of Kate in the initial attack, but he spotted her now, her gray mare standing out in the sea of dark armor. Although the horse had been bred and trained in Marared, same as his, the mare was fighting like a Norgard warhorse, kicking out and biting at any combatants that came near. Kate must’ve been using her sway to control the horse, and he hoped she wouldn’t deplete her energy too quickly.

  Then he no longer had time to worry about her as a new surge of enemies came toward them. These were no mere soldiers, but magists. They hurled spells at the Rimish forces, and whenever magic met magic it dissolved into nothing. At once the damage the wilders had been able to inflict lessened, many of them shifting to hand-to-hand combat.

  One of the magists took aim at Corwin, and he raised his buckler just in time to deflect the spell. The enchantment on the shield managed it easily, but it wouldn’t last forever. He needed to be careful. He charged the magist, the man’s face turning white at the sudden attack. He raised his mace again, a spell already lighting up, but Corwin deflected it with his sword this time. He swung at the magist before he could throw another spell, his sword sinking four inches deep in the man’s neck.

  But just as Corwin was pulling the blade free once more, his horse stumbled and let out an ear-splintering cry. Corwin tumbled sideways, falling as the horse fell, its weight crushing his leg. His head smacked the ground, knocking off his helmet. Yelping in pain, he managed to pull himself free, his gut twisting as he saw the blood pouring from the deep cut in the horse’s neck. The soldier who had done it rushed Corwin, and he raised his sword just in time to block the assault. The Sevan soldier was young, inexperienced, and Corwin parried his next attack easily. Then, pressing his own assault, he cut the young soldier down.

  As the boy fell, Corwin blinked sweat from his eyes only to realize it was blood from where his head had hit the ground. Fighting back dizziness now, he scanned the chaos around him, searching for Kate. He spotted Dal a few feet from him. He was bleeding from a cut in his arm, but it didn’t slow him down, his dual swords flashing through the air. He’d lost his helmet somewhere along the way, too, but didn’t seem to notice. He beheaded his opponent, then immediately swung in search of another.

  “Dal!” Corwin shouted. “Where’s Kate?”

  “Heading for the hole to the west!”

  Corwin turned his gaze left, straining to see through the throng of fighting bodies. Then he caught sight of her, battling her way toward the breach. She looked unharmed, no hesitation or doubt in her body as she charged through it. Relief rushed inside Corwin, and he turned back to the fight only to find Dal standing right across from him, swords raised—at Corwin. He only had a moment to react when Dal attacked.

  “What—” Corwin raised his buckler just in time to deflect the blow. “Dal!”

  He swung at Corwin again, his eyes strangely wide, like a man out of his senses.

  “Dal, what are you—” Corwin broke off, realizing the truth. He could see the struggle in Dal’s body, the strange jerky motion of his arms and legs as he swung at Corwin again, as if he didn’t want to but had no choice. “Who’s controlling you?”

  “I . . . don’t . . . know,” Dal said through gritted teeth, even as he swung again. Corwin blocked with his sword this time, but made no move to return the attack.

  But Dal didn’t stop, despite the hesitation in his body, the strain in his expression. He pressed forward, slashing at Corwin from the right and left and nearly catching him. Corwin’s mind raced as he thought about what to do. He couldn’t fight him off forever, and he couldn’t turn and flee. For a moment he considered giving Dal the vial around his neck, but Dal would cut Corwin down before he even got to him. And whoever was doing this would only seize control of Corwin next.

  But he knew who was doing this. There could be only one person, impossible as it was. Corwin’s stomach clenched with dread and hate burned through his veins. “Where are you, Gavril?” he screamed, the force of it ripping his lungs.

  In answer, three of the Rimish fighters nearest Corwin turned toward him in eerie syncopation, lining up next to Dal to form a wall of bodies. Then, together, all of them answered.

  “Right here.”

  30

  Kate

  YOU DON’T SEE ME. You don’t see me.

  Kate sent the thought out again and again, touching everyone in range with her magic, and the Sevan soldiers on the wall let her pass by as if she were invisible. She hated leaving so many enemy soldiers standing and able when she could so easily put an end to them—and any chance that they would harm her friends—but she couldn’t risk being spotted. And she didn’t want to use any more magic than she had to. It wasn’t an inexhaustible well, and there was no telling how much more she would need before this day was done.

  Once past the crush of bodies, she raced down the nearest street and darted into a dim alley, where she pulled a cloak over her armor and discarded her helmet. The more she could blend in, the better. Not that it took much. As she reemerged on the street, she found the city in chaos, messengers racing by and guards trying in vain to control the riots breaking out. It seemed the citizens of Norgard were in revolt. Seeing ordinary people fighting back lent Kate courage. She must not fail.

  Rounding a corner, she ran across a band of women attacking a Sevan guard with brooms and skillets. It was a bludgeoning, slow and cruel, and Kate knew that once the frenzy of the fight passed, these women would remember the suffering they inflicted here forever. Wanting to spare them that pain, Kate reached out to the women with her sway and forced them back. The decision was easier than it might’ve been, thanks to her brief but intense discussion with Signe before the battle began. Even now Kate felt the swell of relief at having received Signe’s forgiveness, and even more—her acceptance. Pushing the feeling aside, she approached the stunned guard, drawing her sword. A moment later she had put an end to him.

  “Go,” Kate said to the women, “be safe.” She resisted using her sway this time. If they wanted to fight, that was their choice, and she wouldn’t interfere.

  “Thank you,” one of them said, patting her arm.

  Kate nodded and moved on, deeper into the city. There was only one place Rendborne would be: the castle. She guessed Magnar would be there as well, giving orders on the battlefield from afar, relying on their pages and messengers. They wouldn’t risk going into battle themselves.

  The panic in the city lessened the closer she drew to the castle. There were fewer guards as well, most of the soldiers called to the battle. Even still, Kate had to use her sway twice more to get through the postern gate. But before long she had made it into the castle. She slowed down, considering what to do next. Getting close to Rendborne wouldn’t be easy. She needed to maintain the element of surprise.

  A diversion, then.

  Reaching into the small satchel hanging at her hip, she pulled out one of the devices Signe had constructed. All she needed was to strike the small piece of flint to the steel at its top and throw it as far as she could, getting herself under cover. The explosion would clear a path the size of a wagon. Or bigger, Signe had said. Holding the device lightly in her hand, Kate headed toward the throne room.

  Stretching out with her sway, she searched the minds nearest, looking for confirmation of Rendborne’s whereabouts, and Magnar’s. She would kill them both if given the opportunity. Soon, she made contact with one of the magists keeping watch near Rendborne. She searched the man’s thoughts to sense what he could see. Rendborne was indeed in the throne room, along with six guardsmen. It didn’t seem like much protection, but Kate knew Rendborne didn’t need any at all, not with his magic. There was no sign of Magnar. Kate gently probed the topmost thoughts in the magist’s head, but again there was no indication of the Godking’s presence. She didn’t dare press harder for fear of giving herself away.

  Easing out of his mind, she carried on down the corridor toward the
door into the throne room. If she could get in the right position, she might be able to take out most of the guards with Signe’s device, clearing her path to Rendborne. The armor she wore and weapons she carried had all been enchanted with spells of protection. They should be enough to let her get close to him. He wouldn’t fear her, not with the Hellsteel disguised as it was, and that would make him arrogant. She could use it to her advantage.

  Wanting to check the perimeter for more guards, Kate reached out with her sway again. But before she could get anywhere, a powerful force seized her mind. It was dark and shadowy, but with brightness leaking out from it, like the sun during a full eclipse. Thoughts and feelings that didn’t belong to her filled her mind now. For a moment she was so overwhelmed by it that nothing made sense; it was all noise and chaos. Then the brightness intensified and with it came clarity. This wasn’t some force, but a living thing, full of emotion and intelligence.

  The uror horse.

  It was alive and nearby—and calling out to her for help. I’m coming, Kate answered, not hesitating for a moment, even though Rendborne was so near. She couldn’t ignore the horse. Its spirit called to her, compelling her forward. She hurried out of the castle and toward the stables. Every person she passed along the way she repelled with a thought. She headed down the aisle where she’d sensed the horse, but it wasn’t there. Checking again, she realized it was on the backside of the barn, in a narrow alcove that ran in between the stable and the perimeter wall.

  I’m almost there, Kate called out to it. Just a—

  She froze at the sound of a woman’s harsh voice. “Come on, you stupid horse, I’m trying to save you.”

  Kate rounded the corner into the alcove. Ahead the uror horse was pulling back on the lead rope attached to its halter, held by a woman wearing a dress far too fancy and expensive for a stable. Her long brown hair hung nearly to the ground, draped around her body like a silken curtain.

  “Stop,” Kate shouted, drawing her sword. “Let the horse go.”

  The woman peered around the horse, a frightened glare on her face as she spotted Kate. “No, I won’t let you harm it.”

  Kate blinked, taken aback by the response. The last thing she intended was to harm the uror horse. Perhaps this woman wasn’t an enemy after all, despite her Sevan accent. Kate reached out to the stranger with her sway, curiosity getting the best of her. Something blocked her way, a force like that which had protected Rendborne’s thoughts from her so long ago. Like the vial of blood that protected Corwin even now.

  “Who are—” Kate began, then broke off as the truth struck her like lightning. Horror slid down her veins. Her blood began to pound in her ears.

  This was Eravis Fane. There was no mistaking it. The picture of her in the Rime Review had captured her visage adequately, and Corwin’s memories filled in the rest. The Sevan princess was beautiful beyond measure, stunning to behold, with impossibly perfect features.

  Hatred ignited like wildfire inside Kate. No matter what Corwin said, she was the Sevan princess, as much a threat to Rime as her father or Rendborne or any of them. Mindless with her churning emotions, Kate charged forward, sword at the ready.

  A look of terror lit across Eravis’s face and clumsily she reached for the ornamental dagger at her side, pulling it free just in time to block Kate’s swing. The uror horse shied sideways as steel kissed steel in a shriek of metal. Kate wrenched her sword free with enough force to send Eravis tumbling backward, her other hand letting going of the uror horse’s lead as she fought to keep her balance. The horse backed up out of the way, but it didn’t flee as any ordinary horse would’ve done. Kate sensed it there like a hum in the back of her mind.

  She advanced on the princess, expecting her to run, but Eravis held her ground, raising the dagger once more. Kate lashed out with her sword, the swing hard and fast. It struck low on Eravis’s blade, and with a yelp, the princess lost her grip. The dagger flew out of her hands, crashing against the side of the stable. Kate lunged forward, pressing the tip of her sword to Eravis’s chest.

  Frantically, Eravis shuffled back, soon tripping over her skirts. She fell, landing hard on her rump. Her teeth caught her bottom lip, and blood blossomed over the side of her mouth. Kate lowered her sword toward Eravis, but the other woman kicked at the blade with one booted foot, knocking the tip of it aside. The sight of those boots took Kate by surprise; she would’ve expected fancy slippers to go with the fancy dress.

  Pushing the thought away, Kate swung again. Eravis deflected it once more with another kick, but she was too slow to stop Kate’s counterstrike. The blade slid past her defenses, and Eravis recoiled on instinct, uselessly covering her chest with her hands. Something about her defensive position stopped Kate cold. She could taste the woman’s fear on her tongue, and it made her stomach clench.

  Monster.

  No, she is my enemy. She is Sevan—

  The sound of raised voices nearby drew Kate’s attention. Keeping the blade pointed at Eravis’s throat, she stopped to listen.

  “Where is the horse?” someone shouted in a Sevan accent.

  Eravis let out a small cry. “They’re coming,” she frantically whispered to Kate. “He’s going to kill the horse.”

  Kate stared down at her, confusion clouding her mind. She pushed it away and reached out to the soldier who’d shouted, gleaning his thoughts. He’d been sent by Rendborne to bring the uror horse to the throne room. The soldier didn’t know why, but Kate did. And so did Eravis, it seemed. Questions rose up in her, but there wasn’t time for any of them as the soldier stepped into the alcove entrance ahead.

  “What goes here?” the man said, mouth agape at the sight of Kate and Eravis. He started to shout for help, but Kate grabbed hold of his mind with her sway, and in a second she rendered him unconscious. He fell, just as another guard appeared around the corner.

  “Get the uror horse,” Kate said to Eravis, and then she rushed the soldier. She cut him down easily, his surprise working to her advantage.

  Three more of them followed the first two, and these Kate put to sleep with her magic as well. Then she dispatched them all one by one with her sword, unwilling to risk the possibility that they would wake and warn Rendborne.

  “Who are you?” Eravis said from behind Kate, fear palpable in her voice.

  Kate turned to face her. Eravis had taken hold of the uror horse’s lead once more and had retrieved her dagger. She held it out in front of her in defense. Seeing her that way, willing to defend the uror horse at the risk of her life, eased the tight knot in Kate’s heart. Corwin said she had saved him, and that she had given him emotional comfort to survive his ordeal. Kate couldn’t hate her, not knowing that.

  Then again, she didn’t have to like her either.

  “My name is Kate Brighton,” she said at last.

  “Oh.” Eravis’s mouth fell open in surprise, but she closed it quickly, giving a quick nod. “I know who you are . . . the Wilder Queen . . . and . . . Corwin’s true love.”

  “He told you about me?” Tears pricked Kate’s eyes at the realization.

  Eravis nodded again, something pinched in her expression. “He thought you were dead, but even so he couldn’t stop loving you.”

  Kate swallowed hard, getting her emotions in check. This wasn’t the time or place.

  Eravis must’ve thought the same. “We need to get this horse away from the castle. Will you help me?”

  Kate frowned at her. “Why do you care what happens to it?”

  The question seemed to take Eravis by surprise. Her brow furrowed in confusion, as if she didn’t fully understand her own motivations. “Because it’s important, isn’t it? To Rime?” She gazed at the uror horse, a look of tenderness crossing her face. “Besides,” Eravis said, looking up. “If Rendborne wants it dead, it can’t be for anything good. Nothing good comes from that man.” Hatred deepened her voice.

  Enemy of my enemy, Kate thought grimly. “Follow me. I can get the horse out of the city.” She tu
rned and headed down the alcove.

  “Wait,” Eravis called, and with a sigh, Kate turned back to her. Eravis set her lips, a pained look on her face. “Please, will you help me escape as well? Rendborne killed my father. It’s only a matter of time before he does the same to me.”

  Kate’s eyes widened in shock. “The Godking is dead?”

  “Yes,” Eravis replied, a glare darkening her features. “The moment the fighting began, Rendborne killed him. My father’s been making trouble for days, ever since he realized that Rendborne stole the protection of our godsblood. Without it, Rendborne was able to force him to sign documents naming him as lord regent of Rime. Rendborne has already blamed Magnar’s death on Rimish spies to infuriate the Sevan troops.”

  It made sense, and Kate had expected such betrayal from him. Still, there were questions she would’ve liked to ask, but before she could the sound of hurried feet filled the courtyard. “Yes, I’ll help, but we need to go. Now.”

  Kate led them down the alcove the way she’d come. The horse appeared perfectly calm, and when Kate touched it with her sway, she sensed its approving warmth.

  As they hurried out of the stable, Kate made up her mind about what to do. Although the last thing she wanted once the battle ended was to have Eravis hanging around for Corwin to find her, she could see no other way to keep her safe. She owed Eravis that safety for what she’d done for Corwin. And with it the debt will be repaid.

  “The uror horse will carry you safely around the battle to our encampment,” Kate said as she darted down an alleyway, one that would lead them straight to Raith’s shade door. “You’ll be given my protection there.”

  “How?” Eravis asked, something haughty in the question.

  “You’re just going to have to take my word for it.”