Page 155 of The Shadow Wand

Surprise lights like flint sparks on steel in response to this revelation.

“How long have you known about a portal?” I ask.

“Not long,” he says as he pulls into the lead. “I read its location in your rune stone.”

“Is the portal close?” I ask.

“A day’s ride,” he answers, his tone that of someone ready to face down an army of demons to get us out of here.

“Well, let’s find that portal, then,” I say, as we pick up the pace and a fierce determination rises within me. “Let’s get the hell away from Vogel and all these trees.”

We head due north throughout the day as we skirt the imposing side of the Caledonian Range, its snowcapped peaks becoming visible through the forest’s canopy. The trees seem to be ignoring us after being hit by Vogel’s spell, their hold on my lines diminished to a loose sting.

Hold on to me while you can, I fume at the trees.Soon I’m going to step through a portal and rip myself clear out of your grasp.

As a steel-gray twilight is taking hold, I follow Lukas’s lead as he veers out of the woods and onto a forest-bracketed road, the shadows of encroaching night rapidly lengthening as we take off at a faster clip.

After a time, the faint thud of galloping hoofbeats sounds behind us, rapidly growing louder.

Fright spears through me, but Lukas doesn’t deviate. He glances back once and stays the course, but I notice he holds the reins in one hand and keeps the other close to the wand sheathed at his side.

My pulse racing, I glance back and see two cloaked figures astride dark green Uriskal Thoroughbreds, closing in on us with what seems like an unsettling aura of purpose.

I pull in a tight breath, wishing I could wield the Wand in my boot.

“Lukas,” I say in a coarse whisper as we speed forward, but before I can get more words out, the riders are upon us, one drawing up on either side, their faces obscured by their cloaks’ hoods. My lungs constrict, all my muscles tensing as I ready myself for flight.

“Hello, Chi Nam, Valasca,” Lukas calmly calls out, relaxing his hold on his wand.

Shock takes hold as one of the riders pulls down her hood, and I realize, in a harder explosion of surprise, that’s itisValasca, her spiked hair glistening blue and black in the dim light, her pointed ears and blue, sharp-featured, rune-marked face lit with an expression of amusement. Her dark eyes, full of mischief, meet mine.

“Why, hello there, Elloren,” she says playfully as we all slow to a brisk canter. “Fancy meeting you here.”

Heart pounding, I whip my head to my other side to find Chi Nam’s hood now down, as well. The Noi rune sorceress’s wizened, deep-brown face and shrewd black eyes meet mine briefly, a small smile on her lips as she rides up beside Lukas, her white hair tied back in a coiled braid, her rune staff wrapped in a black cloth sleeve and secured against her horse’s side.

I turn back to Valasca. “Ancient One,” I gasp as I’m flooded with relief. I glance at the hilts of Valasca’s rune blades, the weapons briefly visible as her cloak shifts, the runes on them glowing Noi blue and Amaz scarlet. “How did you find us?” I ask, stunned.

Chi Nam gestures toward Lukas with her thumb. “This one. He contacted me through the rune stone I gave you.” She gives Lukas a calculating smile. “So, Mage Grey, what do you think our chances are of keeping her alive, hmm?”

Lukas laughs. “Better now.”

His tone is shot through with more relief than I’ve ever heard him express, and I realize that finding Chi Nam and Valasca in time was a long shot that Lukas took.

Because it was likely our only shot.

Chi Nam’s smile widens as she looks him over. “You’re finally coming over to the right side, I see.”

Lukas gives another short laugh. “I’d say we’re on the universally unpopular side at the moment.”

Valasca makes a dismissive sound. “Long odds are more interesting.”

“I’m so glad to see you,” I say to Valasca, still breathless with surprise.

“You do know the Amaz sent me to kill you?” Valasca wryly returns, and a streak of unease races through me.

“I can’t believe the Amaz are after me too,” I say, the whole situation feeling more surreal than ever.

Valasca cocks a brow at me. “You definitely know how to make an entrance onto the world’s stage.” Her mouth quirks into a grin as she glances around at our small party, then sets her irreverent gaze back on me and shakes her head. “Well, Black Witch, this is certainly nothing I could have ever imagined.” Her gaze flits down to take in my fast-and Sealing-marked hands. Her gaze flicks to Lukas then back to me as she shoots me a knowing smile. “Difficult times make for interesting bedfellows, wouldn’t you say?”

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