Page 70 of Ryld's Shadows
Chapter Fifteen
Of all the wondrous things in this world, the little handheld computer and all the things it could do were one of the most amazing to Ryld. That he could read the message from Kai and know instantly they had succeeded in their task was a huge relief. Or, it should have been. The device did nothing to give him patience. Knowing they were safe and on their way back did not hasten their arrival.
He’d put paint to paper for a while but couldn’t focus. He’d paced every inch of the rooms. Nothing made the time go any faster. When the door finally opened, he couldn’t hide his disappointment that Hank and Kai did not walk through it, but instead Lady Jessamine.
“Ryld, my dear. I know you must be anxious for news of Kai and your friend. Their arrival was quite a shock, as you can imagine. Unfortunately, they had to leave again to investigate a matter of some urgency and so had no time to see you first. I do hope you understand. This whole business has been very distressing.”
“Hank and Kai left? Where did they go?”
“To speak to the drow queen and gauge her involvement in the despicable happenings at the orphanage. I’ve sent two of my best warriors with them so there is no need for you to fear. They should return soon. In the meantime, I thought you might be tired of waiting here, and would like you to join me. We can keep each other company while we wait.”
* * * *
It wasn’t the first time in his life that Kai had been carried as helpless baggage in front of someone’s saddle. It wasn’t even the first time this had occurred involving an aelfe saddle with the added indignity of being wrapped up in a blanket to keep him still and hidden. But he had thought those days were long behind him.Ha. They could have been if you hadn’t been so blinkered.
Liking someone caused instances of bias. He knew that. This wasn’t normally an issue since he liked so few people, but damn her eyes, he hadlikedLady Jessamine and hadn’t been able to conceive of her being involved in such vile goings on. Tenzin had liked her, too, which just illustrated how good she was at keeping her mask in place.
He tried to shift his shoulders to ease the ache in his back and head. No, that made things worse. Not that there was any comfortable way to lie with one’s head bumping along against a horse’s side.The north face in Pine Woods. To arrange for some sort of accident, yes, but what sort of accident would determine whether they had any chance to escape or to call for help.
They’d taken his phone, naturally, along with the spellworking items he carried with him out of habit—the salt, the chalk, the hemlock and the little scrying mirror he’d had for years. Never mind that he couldn’t reach his magic, though Kai didn’t feel at all comforted that they feared him so much.
“Pardon me,” he forced out in a choked rasp. Even speaking had become difficult. “Could you perhaps tell me how you’re planning on doing away with us?”
In answer, the aelfe warrior in the saddle kneed him in the stomach. “Shut up, drow scum.”
Ah, so we’re reduced to clichés. Wonderful.At least the blanket had slipped far enough that he could see where they were headed.
The method of murder became painfully obvious when the aelfe stopped at the mouth of a small cave and examined the surrounding rock.
“Shouldn’t be too hard.” The green-haired warrior pointed at spots in the rock above the opening. “Couple of good fireballs here and here.”
The blond one nodded. “We’ll hit it together. Looks about ready to come down anyway.”
Buried alive it is, then. Kai squinted in the sunlight, trying to get a good look at the cave. Depending on where they tossed him and Hank, they should be able to survive the rockslide. Then it would simply be a matter of time before they either managed to escape or died in there.
* * * *
“Sit here, yes. Now, you must tell me. You’ve had lessons with my mages, and I hear the drow court mage has visited with you twice now. Have you really made no progress toward learning to control yourself?”
“I—I am able to control myself, my lady. It’s the shadows that are difficult to control.”
Lady Jessamine laughed but Ryld had heard too much forced laughter in his life not to hear the ring of falsehood in the sound.
“The shadows are not living things separate from yourself, Ryld. I know Yarrow told you this, and you must come to believe it. The darkness that creates these beasts lives in your heart, even if you refuse to admit it to yourself.”
Ryld said nothing. There was nothing to say to that without flatly disagreeing. Which he might have done with anyone else, but she was a queen and he found it difficult enough to be in her presence. It struck him how opposed her theory was to what Dzev had told him that afternoon in the fairy glade.
Dzev equated the shadows to a force of nature, just like any magic. They were neither good, nor evil, and while his mind gave them shape it was no different than the way wind and water shaped a storm. The shadows could be destructive, but not evil.
Lady Jessamine patted his hand, and Ryld jumped.
“Don’t worry, we have time. You shall practice controlling the beasts every day. I predict we will do many great things together, in time.”
Ryld looked up at her. “My lady, your pardon, but I don’t intend to stay very long. As soon as Kai Hiltas completes his investigation we will go home soon after.”
She lifted her hand and patted his head. “Don’t be difficult, child. I insist you stay.”
Ryld kept silent. Better to let Kai and Hank tell her they were going.
