Page 116 of Slaying the Shadow Prince
‘But I’ll bring you a reaper’s heart before long, Wildfire,’ Talemir murmured in her ear.
‘Can someone explain to me what the fuck flowers have to do with anything?’ Wilder demanded, his patience clearly wearing thin.
Drue suppressed a smile as she removed her cuff and handed it to the younger Warsword. ‘They’re a very rare species. They love the sun so much that darkness is their very opposite… I treated that steel with their essence and it recognises when they’re near —’
‘That’s how you knew about him,’ Wilder murmured in disbelief, looking between her and Talemir.
She nodded. ‘Yes. And when I finally told him about it, we discovered that he couldn’t touch it…’
‘I’d rather not demonstrate that unpleasant experience again,’ Talemir added. ‘But it burns to the touch… A weapon against them. There’s an entire field of these flowers.’
‘How far is this field?’ Fendran asked.
‘A few hours’ ride east.’
Adrienne scoffed. ‘You didn’t get very far when you fled.’
‘Far enough for someone who has never shadow-walked three people to safety before,’ Talemir retorted, turning to Drue. ‘Could we put the essence of these orchids into our blades? To weaken the wraiths? To defeat the reapers?’
Drue studied the blooms in her hands before handing them to her father. ‘What do you think?’ she asked the forge master.
He was quiet for a long moment. ‘I’ll need a fire,’ he said at last.
Drue saw Talemir and Wilder exchange looks. ‘What?’
It was Wilder who spoke. ‘Only Naarvian steel can actually kill a wraith or a reaper…’
‘Which means that we treat as many ordinary blades and arrows as possible with the supply of flowers Talemir brought and we gather more before we initiate the attack,’ Adrienne said. ‘Our forces will aim to beat back the wraiths, occupy them so the two of you —’
‘And me,’ Drue cut in, unsheathing her sword.
Everyone stared at her and her blade of Naarvian steel – Wilder looked like he was about to start another row, but Adrienne held up a hand.
‘And Drue,’ she said. ‘The Warswords and Drue will target the reapers. If Talemir’s theory is right, it’ll be enough.’
‘And if he’s not right?’ Baledor asked, pinning Talemir with a critical stare.
‘Then Naarva falls a little sooner to the impending darkness,’ Drue replied coldly.
Drue saidher goodbyes to Adrienne in the privacy of her tent. Her friend would lead the rescue mission with a small force she’d handpicked, while Drue would lead the diversion with Talemir.
Adrienne hugged her tightly. ‘Have I told you I’m happy for you, my friend?’
Drue squeezed her back and laughed. ‘Even amid all this?’
‘We take our happiness when and where we can. I’m glad you found yours, even if it’s in the middle of a storm of darkness.’
Drue fought to swallow the lump in her throat. ‘Luck be with you, sister…’ she murmured.
Adrienne answered with a grin. ‘Not if he’s been with you first.’
Even with theplan set in motion, it was not the first time Drue had to defend Talemir and his intentions. The Naarvians were wary of him, more so than Gus, who was still clearly a child. But Talemir… Talemir had displayed true darkness, had unleashed it upon their camp. They were scared of him, and she didn’t blame them. He was the very thing they had spent their whole lives fearing. To them, he represented the evil that had stolen their lands and taken their loved ones.
As they made their way through camp, Drue met their gazes with a hard challenge in her stare.He is no monster,she wanted to scream at them.
Talemir weathered the attention and wariness stoically, but she could see that it cut him deeply, that it confirmed the fears he’d carried inside himself for so long.
‘You don’t have to defend me,’ he told her quietly as they saddled their horses. ‘I understand their reservations.’
