Page 9 of The Night Prince 3
Declan crept ahead to where the tunnel turned to the right. He cast one glance back and saw Rhalyf holding onto Aquilan as the Sun King clearly wanted to go after him. But Rhalyf held firm even as Aquilan appeared anguished. Elasha, who was near Finley, appeared completely confused that he had gone ahead even though she still thought him an elf.
If you were trying to pretend to be human, do you really think this was a good idea? The voice asked. But, then again, you’re seeing perfectly well in the dark with those sunglasses on. Rahven, Rahven, Rahven, you’re breaking all your precious rules already about keeping your head down and–
I know, but I have to do it, he admitted.
He could never allow Aquilan or any of his friends to head into the darkness first. He couldn’t do it. He just couldn’t. He had to protect the Sun King and everyone else who was in his heart. And he felt that this was one of those times that only he could do that though he had no objective reasons to think that.
Yes, I know, the voice whispered.
He reached the corner and pressed his back up against it. The walls were covered in tile. He could feel its chill even through his long black jacket. He slowly looked around the corner. His heart fell.
There wasn’t one Leviathan coiling there. There weren't even a dozen. The next hallway was so thick with them as to be more coils than floor, walls or ceiling that could be seen.
If Aquilan had used his magic it would have disturbed this whole nest, the voice murmured. Nasty. You’re going to have to do this quick and quiet, Rahven, but I don’t think Krith is up to the job.
It has to be. It’s all I have, Declan reminded him as he rose up on the balls of his feet.
No, actually it isn’t, the voice murmured. You see I’ve left you something. Right there.
Declan’s gaze was drawn to the opposite wall of the Pedway. A longsword was leaning against the wall. It was made of dark metal, almost black matte, and had a single red stone set in the vicious hilt.
Meet Sorrow’s End, the voice said. A gift. For you, Rahven. For you.
All Is Lost
“Rhalyf, I must go to him!” Aquilan’s voice was rushed and agonized to Rhalyf’s ears. “Declan is… is alone. He needs…”
Nothing, Rhalyf thought. Declan needs nothing.
He looked down the hallway to where Declan was picking something up that was leaning against the wall. Was it a pipe? It almost looked like a sword, but made of jet black metal like the famous Niri blades forged by Vex. But what would one of those be doing lying amongst the refuse in the Pedway? It wouldn’t, of course.
His eyes were playing tricks on him since he now had Illithor on the brain. His blood fizzed like champagne with the thought of seeing the shrouded purple towers full of mystery. And he swore he could almost smell the Under Dark down here. His old life pressed against his new one almost tantalizingly. There were rifts nearby. Lots of rifts. And maybe lots of Leviathan.
“He’s scouting ahead. We both have an eye on him. It will be all right,” Rhalyf insisted, even though if Declan had really been human he would have said nothing of the sort. If Finley had been poking his head out like that, he’d have dragged the boy by the collar away from the fight. But Declan…
Declan needs nothing from me or Aquilan.
“I know he’s capable. I should think otherwise, but he is,” Aquilan said with confusion mixed with certainty.
He senses that Declan is not like other humans. Not human at all. Even without red eyes and white hair, Declan stands out. Even among elves, he would stand out…
“Yes, I agree, as strange as that sounds.” He flashed a smile that he hoped was comforting.
“Strange? Yes, it should be strange. But it is not. Why is that, Rhalyf?”
Not wanting to answer that question at all, Rhalyf instead tapped Aquilan’s closed hand where sunlight leaked between his tightly clenched fingers. “He was right about you not using that Sun Stone. That kind of magic will attract–”
“Everything, I know. As many will be drawn as repulsed by it and we will have a massive fight on our hands. Not to mention that it might put Darcassan in greater danger.” Aquilan’s lips pulled back from his teeth in frustration. He was well aware of the danger and yet he had reached for the ultimate weapon against the dark. “It is just having two survivors down here with us and–”
“I know. Believe me, I understand. I’ve spelled Finley so much that he likely can’t feel his own skin,” Rhalyf realized.
In truth, Finley had delighted at the whole process, asking him tons of questions with each layering of protective magic. It confirmed, once again, that Finley really would make an excellent Mage. He was inquisitive, intelligent and unafraid of experimentation.
Aquilan smiled, but that quickly died. “I should have done the same to Declan, but he is so independent and he recoiled when I suggested it on the way here.”
Rhalyf wasn’t surprised. While Declan might not remember his past–or how the magic that obscured his true nature worked–he clearly sensed that allowing a powerful Aravae to cast anything on him or near him was a bad idea. But, then again, scouting ahead was a bad idea, too. Yet Declan was doing that as if he was compelled to do it.
And maybe he is. He is a hunter. I’ve seen his type in the Kindreth. They are compelled to go deeper and deeper into the darkness seeking foes and battle. I wonder if his memory is being tugged at just like mine is by the bitter yet alluring scent of the Under Dark, Rhalyf thought.
