Shadow Magic, page 33
Blade smiled and reached into her pocket. She let the half a dozen silver flakes they’d scraped out of the fondue pot fall onto the tabletop.
“Here’s your tip,” Blade said. “Come on, if that’s Bobby the sooner we get out of here the happier I’ll be.”
Shara followed Blade out of the inn. She could almost feel the eyes of the giant bartender following her. Blade seemed to sense it too and she stopped in the doorway.
Slowly Blade turned and shot him one of her excellent narrow-eyed glares. Lugo immediately looked away and began polishing a glass. Blade smiled an evil smile and walked out the door. Shara followed close behind.
Chapter 64
They were only two days out from the inn and Shara already felt miserable. Of all the lands they’d traveled through, she found it ironic that the one she hated most was her home. They had left the coastal plain behind yesterday and entered the desert. A constant, steady breeze blew sand into her hair and left her itching all the time.
The meager robes Robert had purchased for them provided little protection from the sand, though they did keep off the worst of the sun. Riding as she was between Robert and Blade, she didn’t have to keep track of what she was doing so she let her mind wander.
The last time she’d traveled through the desert was on a short trip with her father about three years ago. She smiled as she remembered. On that trip she’d ridden in a covered howdah and hadn’t gotten sand in her hair. They’d returned to the palace before dark so she had no idea what the deserts were like at night.
They didn’t dare approach an oasis because they were poisoned. Their tents were sturdy enough but there wasn’t a silk pillow or soft mattress in sight.
She didn’t bother to complain though, after all Blade and Robert were risking their lives to get her home. She was about to heave another great sigh when Robert reined in his camel and waved them up to join him.
“What is it?” Blade asked.
Robert pointed. In the distance three twisters of sand kicked up a dust storm.
“Sand devils,” she said.
“Sand devils?” Robert echoed
“Air elementals that live in the desert. I read about them. They aren’t evil. They just like to play with sand, making whirlwinds and things like that.”
“So they won’t bother us?” Blade asked, fingering her sword.
Shara hesitated. “Well, if they see us, they may want to play. I don’t think they’d hurt us, not on purpose anyway, but they might stick us in a sand storm.”
“Let’s swing out wide around them,” Robert said. “Maybe we’ll get lucky and they won’t notice us.”
“Luck is one thing we haven’t had in abundance of late,” Blade said.
“That just means we’re due,” Robert countered.
Blade smiled and shook her head.
The wind screamed around them as they huddled in a hastily raised shelter. The sand devils had spotted them an hour ago and made a beeline in their direction. As soon as the devils turned toward them, Shara had insisted they dismount and set up a shelter.
That had turned out to be a wise decision as they could no more outride the devils than they could the wind. Four camels now anchored a heavy tarp over their heads. The tarp whipped and snapped as the devils tugged at it. Every so often a cackle of glee could be heard.
“So we’re due for good luck?” Blade said in disgust.
“Just because we didn’t get it doesn’t mean we’re not due,” Robert said in his defense.
Shara shook her head in amazement as she listened to them banter in the middle of the storm. Nothing seemed to faze them. She, on the other hand, was shaking so bad she couldn’t see straight.
“What now, kid?” Robert shouted over the howling devils.
“Now we pray they get bored before they manage to rip the tarp off us.”
“Wonderful,” Blade muttered.
The devils continued to howl and giggle though for how long Shara couldn’t guess. Suddenly there was a loud snap. One corner of the tarp had come out from under the camel sitting on it.
Robert and Blade both lunged for it as sand gushed in choking Shara and causing her eyes to water. They finally managed to get the tarp pulled back down, though not before the devils managed to deposit a foot of sand underneath.
After a while the wind let up, and then it stopped all together. They waited another few minutes before pushing the tarp up to look around.
Robert got to his feet and brushed off his robe. “That wasn’t so bad.”
Blade shot him a baleful look.
“What?”
He offered Shara a hand up. While Shara and Blade dusted themselves off Robert fetched a water skin from their pack camel. He rinsed his mouth and spat out a mouthful of brown water. The next mouthful he swallowed then passed the skin to Shara. Shara and Blade rinsed their mouths and drank while Robert cleaned off the tarp and repacked it.
When everyone had drunk their fill they remounted and got underway. Shara shielded her eyes and could just make out the sand devils playing in the distance. Pity they couldn’t fly around like that.
Much to Shara’s delight, the next week passed without much excitement. It was just after dawn on their ninth day out from the inn that they spotted the gleaming white walls of Sultan’s Oasis. Home at last. Shara’s throat tightened and tears ran down her cheeks. She had finally made it. It seemed like a lifetime ago when she vanished from the throne room. Now she was back and soon she’d be with her father.
“What the hell is that?” Blade asked pointing off in the distance.
Shara and Robert shaded their eyes to try and get a better look. There was a huge cloud of dust and she could see small figures moving in it.
“Looks like an army,” Robert said. “I heard in Port Dalton that there had been some trouble up this way.”
“The question is, are those the good guys or the bad guys,” Blade said.
“We should get to the palace,” Shara said. “If that’s the invader’s army, we can make our stand with my father. If it’s his army we can celebrate.”
“Whoever it is,” Blade said. “I don’t care much for getting caught out in the open when they arrive. It looks like we have a mile or two lead on them, let’s make the most of it.”
They rode hard toward the city, Robert and Blade in front with Shara half a length behind. They reached the gates well ahead of the army. Unfortunately, the gates they’d planned to hide behind had been blown off their hinges.
“This looks bad,” Robert said.
Blade shot him a no-kidding look and turned to Shara. “What do you think?”
“If my father’s here he’ll be at the palace. I have to see.”
Blade nodded and they started down the street. All along the main road bodies lay desiccating in the bright sun. Buildings were burned out, some still smoking.
As they approached the scene of a particularly large battle a flock of vultures flew up and perched on a nearby building. Their hideous bald heads turned to follow Shara and her friends. No doubt they were wondering if they were going to get some fresh meat soon.
They had hardly left the battle site when she heard the flutter of wings as the vultures settled back down to feed. It took all of Shara’s self-control not to turn around and chase the ugly animals out of her city.
“Does something seem wrong about all this?” Robert asked.
Shara choked on a sob. “Everything seems wrong.”
“That’s not what I mean. Shouldn’t the survivors be out cleaning up and rebuilding? Whenever this battle took place it wasn’t recent and nothing looks disturbed.”
“I don’t see any sign of activity,” Blade said.
Shara thought she sounded a little nervous.
“Let’s get to the palace,” Shara said more anxious now than ever. “Whatever answers there are, that’s where we’ll get them.”
They rode through the ghost city, fighting their camels the whole way. The smell of death was everywhere and whenever the wind swirled the camels got a fresh whiff and shied, trying to turn around and run. Shara didn’t blame them. She wanted to run from the horror that her beautiful city had become.
When they entered the nobles’ district, the damage seemed less evident. There were plenty of smashed buildings, but nothing burned and fewer bodies lay rotting in the street.
“A quarter million people lived here. Someone must still be alive,” Shara said.
“Considering everything that’s happened, the survivors are probably still hiding from any strangers they see, just in case,” Robert said.
“I suppose,” Shara said not believing it for a second.
No guards challenged them as they approached the white marble walls of the palace. The huge double doors lay in ruin just like the gates that led into the city. Bodies were scattered about. Many wore the uniforms of the palace guard.
Shara bit her lip. Whoever attacked the city had made it into the palace. What a horrible twist of fate to find her father dead before she could see him again.
She forced the tears away. Assuming the worst wouldn’t do any good. They would search the palace and if there was no body, then he was still alive. Robert and Blade were talking softly to each other.
“What is it?” she asked.
“I smell food,” Robert said.
“How can you think about food at a time like this?” Shara demanded.
Blade raised a finger to her lips. “It means someone’s still alive around here. We should be cautious.”
They continued up the path toward the palace. The once-magnificent gardens were in ruin. Signs of battle were everywhere. Arrows were embedded in trees; delicate ferns had been trampled and stained with blood.
Shara sniffed. “These gardens were Father’s joy. Sometimes, when there was a lull in court, he would walk for hours out here. Now it’s all ruined.”
Robert stopped and went to her. He laid a reassuring hand on her shoulder. “Gardens can be fixed. So can cities. When we find your father the two of you can set things right, but if you don’t pull yourself together, we won’t live long enough to find him.”
Shara swallowed the lump in her throat. Robert was right. She had to keep her wits if she was going to find her father. She could cry later when they were finally together.
“I’ll be all right,” she said trying to sound convincing. “Let’s go.”
Robert nodded and smiled. “That’s the way, kid.”
They reached the palace and found the doors intact but thrown open. Blade had her sword out but no guard challenged them. “Where should we check first?”
“The throne room is straight ahead,” Shara said. “Let’s check there first.”
The inside of the palace was almost exactly as Shara remembered. There was some minor damage but nothing like the rest of the city or even the garden. The statues that had lined the wall were gone, but that was the only major change. At the end of the hall was a set of closed double doors. Blade tapped them with her foot and they swung silently inward.
They entered cautiously but no one seemed to be home. Where could her father be?
“Father, are you here?” Shara shouted.
A blinding light flashed.
Shara threw her arm across her eyes.
Robert and Blade snarled in pain as the light seared their eyes.
“I’m sorry,” said a deep, vaguely familiar voice. “Your father isn’t here. He fled before me like the coward I always knew he was.”
Shara lowered her arm. A swarm of spots swirled in front of her eyes. As her vision cleared the first thing she saw was a loaded crossbow floating a foot from her face. A quick glance showed a dozen more weapons surrounding them.
“You all right, kid?” Robert asked.
“Other than seeing spots before my eyes I’m fine. How about you?”
“Fine,” Blade and Robert said at the same time.
“I’m thrilled to hear you’re all feeling well,” said the voice.
Heaven’s mercy it sounded familiar, but Shara couldn’t put a name to it. “If you wish to continue feeling well you should drop your weapons.”
Surrounded as they were by loaded crossbows, Blade didn’t have much choice but to let her sword fall to the floor. Shara heard the clang but never took her eyes off the spot near the throne where the voice originated.
“Good.” Two men suddenly appeared. One looked completely unfamiliar and wore the robes of a wizard. He was obviously the one controlling the crossbows.
The second man looked like a more heavily muscled version of her father. His blond hair was cut short and he wore a sword on his belt, her father’s sword she realized with a start.
“Well, my beautiful niece, I assume you recognize me.”
Shara nodded. There was only one man he could be. “Uncle Nord, where is my father?”
“My miserable excuse of a brother fled rather than face me.” With a rueful glance around him Nord added, “I’ll admit he did a good job decimating my army. Now that I have you though, nothing else matters. Soon I will rule the High Kingdom as is my destiny.”
“You were never meant to rule,” Shara said. “My grandfather chose my father to succeed him.”
“A foolish decision made by a doddering old man.” Nord clapped his hands and eight guards armed with spears entered the throne room. “Escort my niece’s companions to the dungeon. They can keep Vilos’s soldiers company.”
Robert and Blade were driven at spear point out of the room leaving Shara alone with her uncle and the wizard. “I think we can dispense with the crossbows, Arkon,” Nord said.
“As you wish, my lord.” Arkon waved his hand and the crossbows floated over to the wall and lined up in a neat row.
“How is it you think having me will gain you a kingdom?” Shara asked.
Nord smiled, not a pleasant sight from where Shara stood. “Simple, I’m going to trade you to that crazy sorcerer for an army of demons. Then my brother will be destroyed.”
Shara went numb as she realized two things. First, her uncle was a lunatic and second, she couldn’t hide from the sorcerer if he told him where she was. “You’re mad. My father made a bargain with this sorcerer and look what he got.”
“Vilos broke the deal and got what he deserved. All I plan to do is renegotiate my current arrangement.”
Chapter 65
Daktari!
Nord’s mental voice rang in the sorcerer’s mind as he sat trying to study a tome in his lab. He frowned and looked up from the book. What could that fool want now? After his pathetic failures to date Daktari was tempted to kill the man just to rid the world of him, an act of charity on his part.
What?
He sent the thought with enough force that he felt Nord’s mind recoil in pain. After weeks of frustration that bit of pain brought him great pleasure.
I have the princess. We are in the throne room of the palace now.
Daktari marveled. Perhaps he’d spare Nord after all.
I will be there shortly.
The sorcerer summoned a shield of invisibility and teleported to collect his prize.
Daktari arrived a moment later, invisible, in the throne room. An instant after that, he felt the weak mental probe of Nord’s pitiful wizard. With a blast of mental energy, he bludgeoned the weakling into near unconsciousness, leaving just enough awareness to keep him standing.
Turning his attention to Nord he found the would-be king standing behind the princess with a dagger in his hand.
It seemed Nord had treachery in his heart. Just like every other member of his worthless family apparently.
A thought and gesture made the princess’s skin as impenetrable as iron. Now to see what the fool was about. He allowed the invisibility spell to fade and appeared before Nord.
“I see you do indeed have the girl,” Daktari said as Nord tried to recover from his sudden appearance. “Very good. Give her to me and I’ll be on my way.”
Nord brought the dagger up to Shara’s throat. “Not so fast. I think we need to renegotiate our deal. My army has been wiped out and I require a replacement. You will summon an army of demons to serve me or the girl dies.”
Daktari frowned. “There will be no renegotiation. Turn the girl over to me this instant and you may live to draw another breath.”
“You had your chance.”
Nord dragged the blade of his dagger across Shara’s throat. When the flesh didn’t yield in the slightest he tried to stab her. The force of the blow bent his dagger blade.
A razor-thin smile creased Daktari’s face. “You had your chance as well.”
The sorcerer flicked his index finger at Nord and a blast of magic lifted him off his feet and flung him ten feet through the air.
As soon as Nord was airborne, Shara took off toward the door. Daktari gestured again and this time a gentle force levitated her three feet in the air. Kick and struggle though she might, Shara couldn’t move an inch.
“Be still, Princess, I’ll be with you shortly.”
Turning to Nord as he struggled to his feet Daktari said, “We had a deal. If you captured the princess, you were to hand her over at once. There was no ambiguity. Yet still you felt you could try and betray me. Foolish.”
Nord ripped Heat’s Bane from its sheath and charged.
Daktari shook his head and pointed.
Nord stopped in his tracks, unable to lift his feet from the floor.
Heat’s Bane began to glow ice blue. Inch by inch ice spread over Nord until he was a giant icicle from the neck down.
Daktari snapped his fingers and Nord shattered. His head landed with a crunch on the broken ice. When the binding spell ended, Nord’s head screamed. His soul was still bound to his head and would stay bound for an eternity of suffering.
Heat’s Bane drifted obediently over next to Daktari. He spoke a word of power and the sword vanished.
Anguish radiated from Nord’s head in waves that washed over Daktari. He needed to leave before it strengthened the corruption lurking in his body so much that he couldn’t control himself.
Losing control in his current mood would be a disaster for everyone.
