Page 126 of Stormvein
This isn’t your war.
But itismy war now, whether I chose it or not. It became my war the moment I entered that tower, the second I helped Sacha escape, the days when I watched him nearly die from torture. The moment I discovered the storm power inside me, and felt his shadows merge with my light.
Whatever awaits us at Blackstone Ridge, I’m committed now. To the Veinwardens. To defeating the Authority. To this world that has somehow become mine despite everything. And more importantly, toSacha.
Sacha’s raven finds Lisandra sometime in the afternoon.
“She’s moving fast,” he says. “Heading directly for Blackstone Ridge. She’ll reach it before nightfall.”
“And us?”
“Dawn tomorrow, at our current pace. Which gives Sereven ample time to prepare for our arrival.”
“Is there no way we can catch up to her?”
He considers this, then nods. “There is a way. A ravine two hours ahead that provides a shortcut to the ridge. We might be able to catch her before she reaches Sereven if we use it, and if she sticks to her current route. But it’s not an easy path. Even before I was imprisoned, it was avoided if possible. It could be even more dangerous now.” He looks around for Varam, and signals for him to come closer. “How bad is Scar Valley?”
“It’s been a long time since I’ve used it, but I haven’t heard any reports of rock falls or the pass being blocked.”
“Then that’s the route we’ll take.” He taps his heels to his horse’s flanks. “Let’s pick up speed. We need to get through the worst of it before night falls.”
The ravine is worse than I could have imagined. A narrow slash through mountain rock, its floor littered with fallen stones, which makes riding treacherous. We’re forced to dismount and lead our horses through the worst sections, picking our way carefully across the shifting scree and around huge boulders.
Shadows lengthen as the sun begins its descent, throwing the pass into premature darkness. The walls rise so steeply on either side that daylight struggles to reach us, creating a claustrophobic passage where sound echoes strangely.
“Stay close,” Sacha warns as we navigate a section barely wide enough for the horses to pass. “The exit is ahead.”
I keep one hand on my horse’s reins as I follow behind him.
The ravine eventually widens, opening into a small clearing surrounded by towering rock faces. Ahead, the passage narrows again before finally opening onto a broader landscape.
“Wait.” Sacha holds up a hand, signaling an immediate halt.
“What is it?” I whisper.
“Someone is at the exit.”
The men behind us tense, hands moving to their weapons. Sacha lifts a finger to his lips, as he edges forward, drawing shadows around him in such a way that he blends into the scenery.
I follow him. He glances back when I step on a branch, snapping it, but doesn’t tell me to go back. Instead, he extends his shadows to include me. We reach a position where we can get a clear view of the ravine’s exit. A figure stands just beyond the narrow opening, back to us, seemingly studying the path ahead. Even in the fading light, the silhouette is unmistakable.
Lisandra.
She appears to be alone. There’s no sign of Authority soldiers or Sereven. But her stance suggests she’s waiting for something, orsomeone. Her head turns occasionally as she scans her surroundings.
Sacha signals to the fighters behind us, instructing them to hold position. Then something strange happens … something I’ve never seen before. Hechanges.His solid form seems to dissolve into pure shadow. The darkness flows along the ravinewall toward the exit, moving against the natural direction of the light.
I watch in fascination as he moves, barely a ripple in the natural shadows, undetectable to anyone not specifically looking for movement. Even knowing what to look for, I can barely track his progress. There’s just the faintest disturbance in the darkness, like ink spreading through black water. This must be his power in its purest form. Not the violent manifestations I’ve witnessed, but subtle manipulation of darkness itself. Beautiful in its way, and terrifying in what it means he could do if he chose.
When he’s positioned directly behind Lisandra, the shadows recede. Before she even knows he’s there, his hand clamps over her mouth, his other arm wrapping around her, securing her hands against her body.
I reach the exit just as he drags her back into the ravine’s concealment.
“Did you really think you could escape me?” His voice is chilling in its calmness.
Lisandra doesn’t bother denying it. “I knew you’d follow me. You’re predictable in some ways.”
“As are you.” He doesn’t release her. “What was the plan? Run straight to Sereven, and hope he’ll spare your life in return for warning him I’m coming?”
