Page 20 of A Shattered Kingdom of Steel

Tugging the reins, Asheros quickly steers us away from the road. The horse obeys, quickening its pace to a canter. We weave through trees, not stopping until we’re a considerable distance from the road, though it’s still in sight.

“What—”

My words are cut off by Asheros’s hand over my mouth. We dismount, and with one hand gripping my face, and the other wrapped across my abdomen, he pulls me to his chest. Moving so quickly that he’s practically falling backward, he slams his body against the nearest tree trunk. I feel him tilt his head back against the bark, and he slows his breathing until it’s barely audible.

Darkness seems to seep out from Asheros’s feet, clawing at the ground before us. Then it curves upward, the shadows reaching and stretching over our heads, forming a protective barrier around us until they swallow us whole. My vision goes darker from the absence of light, and I strain to see through the shadows. If I wasn’t restrained, I would hold out my hand to touch them.

He can conjure shadows.

I know the precious metals from each of the five Courts have their own magical abilities, with silver having the ability to conjure. But I’d never seen someone wield it before.

Until now.

Coming from the road behind us, the sound of galloping horses draws nearer, growing in volume. The clinking of metal armor and weapons meets my ears. Luckily, the shadows don’t dampen sound. Voices converse with each other, though the words are muffled by the horses’ movement. I can’t make out what they’re saying, but I’m able to pick up on the way they speak—it’s a smooth sounding dialect, with long vowels and flowing syllables.

Guards.

Those riders are guards. And judging by the way they speak, they’re native to this region.

My first instinct is to assume they’re from my mother’s Court, but with nothing else to go on, I can’t be sure. Members of the High King’s Guard come from all over Inatia. It’s possible Viridian could have sent them, too. If I could get a look at the colors they wear, I’d be able to determine who sent them with more certainty.

But regardless of where they came, they could help me. Hell, they might even be out here searching for me.

No. Though it may have been fueled by anger, my decision from last night is a sound one. I need to assess the full extent of Asheros’s deception. If there’s a threat to Viridian and Cryssa’s rule, then I need to neutralize it. I may no longer officially hold the title of Captain of the High King’s Guard, but my duty first and foremost will always be to uphold the crown. The only way to know what’s going on here, whatever traitorous scheme Asheros could need me for, is to stay.

And if I stay, I can’t let him think I’m here willingly or he’ll grow suspicious. I’ll let him think he has me—let him think the troilite cuff and his charm is enough to trap me.

He’s been deceiving me since the moment he revealed himself, and perhaps even before that.

It’s only fair I deceive him right back.

I scream and writhe against Asheros’s grasp, seemingly aiming to make as much noise as I can. He presses his palm down harder over my mouth, drowning out my yelling. I drop to my knees, as though attempting to throw him off balance.

“Not going to work this time, Bladesinger,” he huffs.

I roll my eyes. If he bought that meager display, then this is going to be child’s play.

He clings to me tighter when I go limp in his arms. Steadying himself against the tree trunk for support, he uses his body weight to keep me in place.

Asheros lets out a strained breath, and his shadows stretch a few feet beyond us to cloak our horse.

The voices get louder.

“Did you hear something?” a male asks.

“No,” another replies. A pause. “What did you hear?”

“I’m not sure,” the first guard says. “Perhaps it was an animal.”

“Over here,” I try to shout half-heartedly. “Help me!”

My words become nothing more than a garbled mess, caught in Asheros’s hand and his shadows. Wrestling with his firm hold on me, I throw my head back. I have to make this look realistic, after all, or he’ll question my motives. My skull collides with something—something that’s not a tree.

Asheros lets out a pained grunt.

Triumph flashes through me.

“What was that?” the first guard asks. “Surely, you heard something this time.”

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