Page 33 of Heart of the Shadow King

“Can you do that? Is this person you are right now what Vor needs?”

What’s the use in answering? We both know the truth. I am a liability not an asset to Vor and his rule. Where is he now? Somewhere dealing with his court, seeking to undo the mess I created by inserting myself into matters I don’t understand.

“I thought not.” The witch smiles mirthlessly. “You must become more, Faraine. You must become stronger, harder, if you hope to save your husband and this realm. But you’ll need to access your true power. And that’s where I come in.”

She turns abruptly, weaving between articles of furniture as she crosses the room to the window, which stands partly open. She pushes it wider and steps onto the balcony, which stands many stories above the courtyard. “Where are you going?” I demand. There’s no way out that direction, not unless she can fly.

The witch looks back over her shoulder. Herlorststone flares brighter than before, highlighting her face in a harsh, white glare. “I’ve said my piece. It’s up to you now. Make up your mind, and when you’ve done so, meet me at the Urzulhar Circle twodimnessfrom now.Your training will begin then.”

Before I can speak a word, the light goes out. The sudden darkness is so profound, it seems to cut off my voice, my very breath. For some moments I can do nothing but stand immobile, my lungs crushed inside my chest.

Then my heart throbs. I gasp a painful inhale and stumble across the room, fumbling for the nearestlorststone.“Hira!”I whisper, a troldish word of command. The crystal answers, glowing softly. I hold it out in front of me as I search the room, the balcony, every shadowy nook and cranny.

But the witch is gone.

14

VOR

It is nearlydimnessthe following day before I finally make my way back to Faraine’s room. Every part of my body and soul is exhausted. I’ve not had a spare moment to breathe since beginning the preparations for the journey to Gavaria. There have been more meetings, both public and private, than I care to remember. A great deal of shouting and long, cold silences. I’ve had ample time to regret every choice I’ve ever made in this life.

But the future cannot be forestalled. I and my forces will ride for the human world tomorrowlusterling. We will fight for Larongar, fulfilling the bond of magic to which I put my name. Leaving Mythanar and the Under Realm without a king to guide and protect it.

Many times throughout those seemingly endless meetings, my hand found its way to the pocket of my robe, touching the crystal hidden there.A life for a life.That was the bargain I made. Will payment for that bargain finally come due? Will I march for the human world never to return?

Hael stands watch outside Faraine’s chambers. The sight of her sends my heart plummeting. Her expression is harder than usual, almost as though thedorgaragcovering her neck and creeping up her cheek now spreads across the rest of her features. This woman has been like a sister to me for as long as I can remember. Now she has become something unfamiliar. Not an enemy, not a friend. Just stone.

“Has Sul gone from Mythanar?” I ask when I am near enough to drop my voice.

She does not turn to greet me or offer a salute. She merely nods. We are both silent for some moments. She loved him. I know it well. I never liked it, never encouraged it. But I couldn’t stop it. He loved her too, I believe. In his way. Possibly not in a way that would have ever brought them mutual happiness, but it was no less real.

“You have heard about Prince Theodre’s arrival?” I say at last.

Hael maintains her silence but nods. Once.

“Juk,” I whisper, the curse bitter as poison. “I have no choice. I put my name on that damned piece of paper. The magic is binding.”

She doesn’t meet my eye. I can almost hear her thinking the same thought which will soon echo through every living soul of this world:You did have a choice. Right up until the moment of consummation. You didn’t have to go through with it.What defense can I make? How could I begin to explain to Hael or my ministers or any of my subjects? How can I tell them that rejecting Faraine, that sending her back to her world would be like tearing my own heart from my breast? None of them would understand. Because I am their king. My heart is Mythanar. My body is the Under Realm. I am not a person, not an individual. I am an idea. A symbol. But in a moment of weakness, I forgot all this and became nothing more than a man in love.

Will it cost my people everything?

“We march for Gavaria tomorrowlusterling,” I continue, my voice empty of emotion. “We will rout Ruvaen’s forces within a month and return to Mythanar with the Miphates. Then we will see what the power of mortal magic may do for us.”

Here at last, Hael turns. The deadness in her eye shocks me like a cold blade through the gut. She does not blink but holds my gaze long and hard. “No one can stop the dragon, my King,” she says coldly. “The fire at the heart of the world will rise, and all that is not stone will break and burn.” Then she turns away from me again and sinks back down into her rock-clad stillness.

I draw a deep breath, hands slowly fisting. “You will remain here,” I say. “You will guard my wife in my absence.”

Her eyes flare a little wider.

“I need someone I can trust to protect Faraine. You will do this for me, Hael. Won’t you?”

A muscle in Hael’s jaw tightens. “I believed I would march with you.”

I shake my head sadly. “I would have preferred to have you at my side. But I cannot leave Faraine unguarded. Will you do it?”

“I will serve as needed,” she answers shortly. And I know from the finality of her tone that I will get no further words from her thisdimness.

Turning away, I approach the door to Faraine’s room, knock softly, and enter. The chamber is deeply shadowed. No lights are lit, neither a moonfire blaze on the hearth nor any of thelorststones in their holders. All is still, quiet. My heart constricts. Then I spy her lying on the bed, sound asleep, and my breath eases once more.

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