Page 17 of The Night Prince 3
“I can see that Rhalyf believes this! But it’s… Well, I suppose it doesn’t harm anything if we treat it seriously. But truly, I don’t think the Night King is right here. I mean… in the dark. With us. Right now,” Elasha let out an uncertain laugh.
“He’s not here,” Declan murmured, which had Rhalyf’s head snapping towards Declan and searching his face for information. “But he’s waiting nearby. To see if we fail or succeed.”
Yes, it’s true. I feel it too. On the way here, I felt it. And now I feel him near. Did you kill my parents, Vex? Why are you here? What are you planning to do?
“Then we can’t delay any longer,” Finley said. “We need to not give him a reason to attack.”
I have a reason to attack though. I have many, many reasons. But… no, war with the Kindreth… no, no, no…
“I feel the same. That he is here. That he is… near,” Aquilan admitted quietly. “But even if I didn’t, I believe you. I believe all of you.”
Rhalyf winced when he said that. Aquilan frowned. But then Rhalyf was straightening and holding himself very tightly. His eyes were unreadable. He’d never seen his best friend like this. As if all hope was lost.
Elasha let out a slight moan. “It was bad enough when I thought that Darcassan risked being killed by Leviathan! But if Vex–”
“We shouldn’t say his name any longer. Especially if we get to Illithor,” Helgrom interrupted firmly. “It has power. It calls dire things.”
Without further discussion, all of them turned and headed deeper into the darkness of the Pedway. Declan led them, but Aquilan made it so that there was only a foot between them. He would not have Declan face whatever was coming alone. Not that Declan appeared afraid. In fact, the deeper they went, the darker it got, the more danger loomed, Declan seemed more self-assured. Almost eager.
Aquilan found himself only half aware of where they were going and what they were doing. He was distracted. More than distracted. Rhalyf believed that Vex was here. Had killed two of his citizens. Was looking for a reason to attack them. But didn’t Aquilan already have a reason to attack him? Two were already dead. Why? Why would Vex do that? Would the Night King just slaughter people?
Like my parents. Did he do that? Is Vex here? Is he watching? Why? Why is he here? Why did he come here?
His mind was in a tumult. He needed time to think. But there was no time. He felt time, in fact, sliding through his fingers like sand. It was escaping him.
Declan suddenly lowered himself almost down to his haunches and held up a hand to stop the others. They froze. There was a broad set of steps directly ahead of them with a dual handrail in the center. There was debris in the corners. Old crushed, styrofoam coffee cups, candy wrappers, creased pieces of paper and other random detritus. They stirred in a suddenly cold wind.
The smell of stone and old magic flowed over Aquilan. His eyelids fluttered nearly shut as that scent filled his nostrils and, for a moment, he had a vision. It was of soaring purple towers. Golden rivers of magma. Boats with crimson sails gracefully cutting through night shrouded water loaded down with everything from stone to build with, scrolls to murmur, and delicious food and drink to delight.
“We should move to become more self-sufficient,” a rich, warm male voice intoned. “All this need for trade makes us weak.”
“Not weak. Strong. Connected.” Another male voice answered, filled with affection. “Every boat that comes to Illithor’s docks sails from some far flung corner of the Empire. It connects us to them and them to us. Don’t you see? Silk from Shimmershield! Wine from Emberview! Fish from Clearcoast! Parchment from Elderhand! It is harder to go to war with people who purchase your goods.”
“Until we do not pay them enough,” the first voice answered, but there was a trace of laughter there. “But I see your point. I understand. And I am glad that you see things in such a positive light.”
“And you will continue to see the shadow,” the second voice answered sadly. “I know you too well to think otherwise.”
“Yes, but that will allow you to see sunlight in this undying darkness,” the first voice whispered.
Aquilan stumbled. But Declan already had a hand out to catch him. The young man studied his face for long moments.
“I’m fine,” Aquilan mouthed.
He was.
The moment was over. The strange vision… imagining… whatever it was… was over. Gone as if it had never been. The scent of old magic was still there. It was like icy water on his tongue. But the sights and sounds it had conjured were gone.
Declan made a movement with his fingers to indicate that he was going to scout ahead and would return to them. But Aquilan shook his head. Declan frowned and tried to indicate he would go alone.
“Darcassan will not know you,” Aquilan whispered. “He will not heed you.”
Declan stilled. Aquilan couldn’t see his eyes behind his sunglasses, but finally, the young man reluctantly nodded.
“Snaglak want smash,” Snaglak moaned. “Glom hungry.”
Declan threw a smile at the orc who frisked happily. He nodded. The orc and the naki would get their wishes.
“Smash, smash, smash,” Snaglak whispered.
