Page 37 of Heart of the Shadow King

Theodre lets a blustering sigh through his lips. “All right!” he confesses. “So, no one was certain the magic would actually work, that he would—that you two would—that everything would be—”

“Consummated.”

“Yes. That. The last we’d heard, Vor was going to send you back unless the Miphates were dispatched to Mythanar right away. That’s why Father decided to send me. He figured if the Shadow King had the crown prince in his possession he would look on it as a sure sign Gavaria intends to honor the alliance.”

“Father won’t honor the alliance.”

“Sure he will.” Theodre crosses his arms over his embroidered gold doublet. “If he doesn’t, then I won’t . . . I mean, I’mhere, aren’t I?”

“My point exactly. We both know our father will never send the Miphates. They are his most powerful weapon, the means by which he holds onto his throne, his lands, his very life. Why would he risk sending any of them into another world? He might have done it for Ilsevel. I’m not convinced he would for anyone else. Not even for you.”

Theodre’s mouth downturns at the corners. “Not for mepersonally.But you know Father’s obsessed with continuing the family line and all that. Establishing his legacy for generations to come.”

“Are you quite certain you’re as valuable as you think you are?”

“I say, Faraine, when did you get to be so petty? I’m trying not to be offended here, but—”

“It’s not pettiness, Theodre! You may not be shackled or held behind bars, but make no mistake: you’re a prisoner here just the same. If Father doesn’t send the Miphates—”

“He will!”

I shut my mouth tight. What’s the point of continuing? We’re talking in circles. I don’t know what to believe in any case. Perhaps I’m simply not seeing the whole picture clearly. I let out a deep sigh and look down at my feet. Delicate beaded slippers peek out from under the embroidered hem of my red gown. The embroidery is patterned in a series of scales. Dragon scales. Of course.

“I say, is that the girl who was there that night? The night the unicorn riders attacked us, I mean.”

“Girl?” I look up, curious to see who Theodre could be referring to. “Gods, Theodre!” I gasp when I discover where his gaze is turned. “Please, don’t let her hear you call her agirl.She’s Hael, captain of the king’s guard. Or at least, she was. She’s now my personal bodyguard.”

“Really?” Theodre whistles softly, his eyes traveling up and down the mighty lines of Hael’s battle-honed physique. “I’d give a great deal to have a woman like that guardingmybody.”

My lip curls. Without a word I turn and stride on up the passageway, in and out of the patches of light cast by hanginglorststones. Theodre utters a yelp and hastens to keep pace with me. “Where are you off to in such a hurry?” he asks, a little breathless. When I don’t bother to answer, he continues, “We’d probably best stick together, right? To be safe? I mean, we’re the only two humans in a world full of trolls—”

“Trolde.” I come to an abrupt stop and round on him again. “They are thetroldefolk, Theodre. They are not nor have they ever beentrollsand prefer not to be referred to in such offensive language.” I cross my arms, fixing him with a stern stare. “And just because we are the only two humans, doesn’t mean we’re required to spend time in each other’s company.”

My brother blinks, surprised. He opens his mouth to offer more arguments or excuses, but I haven’t the patience. I’m not the meek little shadow princess he once ignored or pushed around according to his whim. I turn away, intending to leave him there. But I’ve not made it more than ten paces before he barks after me: “Faraine!”

I stop.

“About . . . about that night.” He clears his throat softly. I hear the scuff of his bootheels against the paving stones. “The night the trolls, erh,troldefolkcame to Beldroth. You remember?”

I grit my teeth. “Yes, Theodre. I remember.”

“I didn’t mean to abandon you.”

A rod of iron rams down my spine. I remember all too well how it felt when my brother sprang free of our carriage. First the burst of relief to my senses when he took his terror out of my vicinity, giving me a chance to breathe again. Then the rush of horror when I realized he’d left me alone and completely defenseless as our enemies closed in. My hands clench into fists. I draw a slow breath.

“I couldn’t very well swing a sword inside that closed space,” Theodre continues, the words rushing from his lips. “I thought I’d best get out and make a stand of some kind. But I’d no sooner emerged than I was knocked off my feet and sent careening downhill. By the time I got myself oriented, things were . . . well, mostly over and done.”

Excuses. Excuses which may or may not be grounded in truth. I don’t know. In this moment, I don’t care.

“Tell yourself what you must, Theodre.” I look back, facing him one last time. “But know this—you must tread carefully. If you’re knocked from your feet again, you cannot count on anyone else to ride in and rescue you.” I lower my voice, holding his gaze intently from beneath my lowered brows. “We are alone in the Under Realm, brother. So watch yourself.”

My words linger in the huge emptiness of that hall as I gather my skirts and leave my brother where he stands. Hael falls into step behind me, a silent shadow at my heels.

16

VOR

The journey to the Between Gate is far longer and more difficult than the last time I came this way. The riverways suffered under recent stirrings, diverged in some places, entirely blocked in others. We are obliged to take our morleth via indirect routes. These also show signs of damage, but we eventually emerge into Durgorim Cavern.

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