Page 110 of Storm of Shadows

“The Grandmage of Nolderan.”

The Orc King laughs again. “And now you claim your father is the Grandmage of Nolderan!” He turns to Taria, a sneer forming as he looks at her golden robes. “And I suppose you’re also the daughter of the Grand Priestess of Selynis? The daughter of a celibate priestess!”

“Actually,” Taria says hesitantly, “I am her first disciple, and the future Grand Priestess of Selynis.”

“By the Thunder God, it gets even better!” The Orc King’s gaze sweeps across to Natharius. “And you, demon? What ridiculous identity would you like bestow on yourself?”

As expected, Natharius doesn’t hold back.

“I am the Prince of Pride, the mightiest of the Void King’s seven lieutenants,” he says, returning Agzol’s stare.

The Orc King throws his head back and laughs so hard I’m sure I see tears rolling down his face. “While I can sense you are a powerful demon,” Agzol says when he recovers from his laughter, “I hardly think that such a scrawny band of travelers could summon and bind a Void Prince of the Abyss. At least you did not claim to be the Void King himself! Or else my side would split from laughter.”

“You must believe us!” I exclaim, taking a step closer to the Orc King. A step too close, apparently, seeing how dozens of guards soon surround me. Countless blades are at my throat faster than I can blink.

“And why must I believe you?” Agzol rebukes, starting down from his throne. “What evidence do you have for these ridiculous claims?”

I swallow.

“That’s what I thought.”

“Wait!” I cry, my racing mind constructing a clumsy plan. “Nolderan is destroyed. That is evidence enough.”

“And you expect me to take your word for it?”

“No, I can prove it. I can teleport you to Nolderan. Then you can see the state of the city with your own eyes.”

Agzol only sneers. “I am the King of Jektar. Do you really think I would agree to such a proposition?”

“Then choose someone you trust, and I’ll teleport them to Nolderan in your stead. When they return, they can tell you whether it’s true my home has fallen. Would that at least not confirm my story?”

Agzol pauses, stroking his white beard. “Magi are well known for their enchantments and illusions. What is to say you won’t cast a spell over the chosen witness and cause them to see that which you wish them to see?”

“I thought we were only a scrawny band of travelers who aren’t capable of summoning a Void Prince,” I reply, folding my arms across my chest. “If you send someone experienced with magic, they’ll be able to sense a spell being cast over them. Unless we really are as powerful as we say, which would make our identities true.”

The Orc King pauses. I chew on my lower lip as I anxiously await his response. I glance across at Taria and the others. The priestess’s expression is as worried. If King Agzol won’t agree to this suggestion, I don’t know how else I’ll make him believe me. And if he remains convinced that my warning is false, then the entire city will be left to Arluin’s mercy. And I know firsthand he has none.

“Lhorok,” the Orc King finally says.

My heart thumps in my chest. My palms are slick with sweat. Agzol can’t refuse. He can’t.

“I would have you as my witness. But only if you are willing to be teleported to Nolderan by this mage. I have no desire to force you, if it is not what you wish.”

Lhorok doesn’t hesitate for even a moment before bowing his head to his king. “I am willing to serve you at any cost, my lord. I could think of no greater honor than to confirm whether our kingdom truly faces a great threat.”

“If you are certain.”

“I am.”

“Then Lhorok, captain of Gerazad’s guards, shall accompany you to Nolderan in my place. Are you in agreement, mage?”

I give him a swift nod. While I’d prefer for the king himself to visit Nolderan and realize the gravity of the threat Gerazad faces, the captain of the guards isn’t at all a poor substitution. As long as King Agzol trusts Lhorok’s word to be true, it will be enough. “Of course.”

“Very well then,” Agzol says. “Lhorok will accompany you to Nolderan to see if what you say is true.”

thirty-six

Lhorokstepstowardme.Though King Agzol has agreed to my idea, I’m far from relieved. Never have I teleported across such a great distance. While this feat is possible for experienced magi, I’m uncertain I’ll succeed. It will take a great deal of strength and the toll on my magic will be costly. Teleporting Lhorok and myself to Nolderan and back could very well mean I’ll lack the strength to defeat Arluin if he begins his assault soon. And that’s assuming I succeed. If I fail and my teleportation spell is misdirected, we could very well end up at the bottom of the ocean.

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