Page 66 of Heart of the Shadow King

Always before when I’ve wornjor, I’ve found it difficult to move my heavy, ungainly limbs. Something is different now, something I can’t explain. It is almost too easy to lunge, to catch my brother by the shoulder and heave him after me. He chokes on his own protests, forced to run beside me despite his wounded ankle. We race up the path, pursued by the remaining trolde. I’ve lost sight of Maylin. Did she survive that initial attack? Has she taken refuge in one of these houses? I cannot know and cannot stop. While the rabid horde might not be able to penetrate myjor, they’ll pulverize Theodre in a heartbeat. I won’t let that happen.

So, we run. My crystalized feet ring against the paving stones, while Theodre limps and curses behind me. The din of trolde voices swells around us, resounding against the cavern walls. I spy a doorway at the crest of this street. Something about it draws me. Choosing not to question the feeling, I drag Theodre after me and plunge through into the pitch blindness. There’s a door, a huge slab of stone. It swings on well-hung hinges and slams fast just as the first of the trolde reach the entrance. A hasty search in the dark, and I drop the bolt. Bodies hurtle against the door on the other side, voices screaming in rage.

I sag, trembling beneath the outer coating of crystal. Behind me, Theodre shuffles his feet, grunting and grumbling over something. There’s a crack of stone against stone, and light sparks. I turn to see him holding aloft a smalllorst, which illuminates his face in harsh, ghoulish lines. I straighten, pull my shoulders back. “We should retreat further in. They’ll break through eventually.”

My brother nods mutely, his mouth agape. He limps behind me in the darkness, up a short flight of stairs and through an arched opening. There’s another door, and we shut and bolt it as well.

“So, um,” Theodre manages eventually. “So, your gods-gift.”

“Yes?”

“It’s . . . it’s more than . . . it’s . . .”

“I know.”

We’re silent as we shut and bolt a third door. We’re quite deep into this cold, windowless space by now. Is it a temple? As I recall, trolde temples boast neither windows nor lights as darkness is sacred to their god. Let’s hope if any of the priests have survived, they won’t take offense at Theodre’s flickeringlorst.

Something stirs down under my skin-barrier, down close to the stone wrapped around my heart. I recognize it now: the pull ofurzul.It’s been calling me since the street, though I was unaware of it until this moment. Is it Maylin’s doing? Did she survive? Has she taken refuge in this temple too and now draws me to her?

“You don’t happen to know where we’re going, do you?” Theodre asks abruptly.

“I’m not sure it matters.”

“Why do all those people out there want to kill you?”

“It’s the poison. It’s driven them mad.”

“Poison?”

“Yes.” I don’t bother to explain further. It’s none of his business. I turn to him, staring at him through my faceted eyes. “Why did you come here, Theodre? You should have stayed behind in the palace.”

He looks uneasy, not liking the sight of my strange face. His gaze drops to the floor. “I told you before. I didn’t intend to abandon you. That night on the road, I mean. You don’t believe me, but it’s the truth. I figured I might . . . I don’t know . . . show you.” His eyes flash to meet mine, his expression more intent than I recall ever seeing it. “I may not be battle-gifted, but I’m not a complete coward, no matter what Father thinks.”

I stare at my brother. Were I not injor,perhaps I would know what to make of his words, would know how to feel, how to react. As it is I’m . . . cold. So cold. And so hard.

Turning from him, I look back the way we’ve come. Somewhere in the distance, there’s a deep, echoingboom.“The first door,” I say softly. “There’s no way out I’m afraid.”

“Couldn’t you just walk out?” Theodre waves a hand to indicate my crystalized self. “I saw that cleaver bounce right off you. Something tells me you could walk through them if you wanted.”

“Yes,” I admit. “I probably could.”

“Do that, then.”

I shake my head. “I cannot cover you in crystal as well, Theodre. Not without . . . well, not without killing you in the process.”

He shrugs. “It’s all right. I don’t expect you to save me. I’m sure I’ll come up with something.”

“I’m not leaving you behind.”

“Well, that’s nice. We can die together, secure in the knowledge that we’re neither of us quitters.” He snorts and lifts an eyebrow. “Don’t be ridiculous! You need to save yourself or the alliance will be off. If you’re dead, the contract is broken, and the Shadow King certainly won’t stick around to drive off our enemies. No, sister mine, there’s simply too much riding on your survival. So, why don’t you take your elder brother’s advice and—”

“What in the nine hells ishedoing here.”

Theodre barks and whirls about, putting weight on his bad ankle in the process and crumpling to the ground. With him out of the way, I have a clear view to the dark arch beyond him. There stands Maylin, wrapped injor, thelorststone on the end of her walking stick shining brilliant white and sending fragmented rainbows glinting off the surrounding black stone. “You’re alive!” I gasp, taking a quick step toward her.

She shifts a disapproving gaze from my cursing brother to me. “Took you long enough to find this place. Were you letting him slow you down?”

“I couldn’t leave him.”

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