Blade of Darkness (The Duskhunter Saga Book 3), page 1
Copyright © 2021 by Sara C Roethle
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Contents
Prologue
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Chapter 22
Chapter 23
Chapter 24
Prologue
The night air in the mires was warm and balmy, scented heavily with grasses and muck. I waited with my back against an old abandoned cottage, the boards half-rotted and crumbling. It was unwise to be alone in the mires at night with only my horse, but I wouldn’t be alone for long. An ancient vampire was coming to meet me. Any ghouls hoping to tear me limb from limb wouldn’t stand a chance.
I looked up at the crescent moon, trying to guess what time of night it was. The letter had said midnight, of course. Asher, like many of the older vampires, had a flair for the dramatic.
The tiny hairs on my arms prickled as I sensed him out in the darkness, his presence like a second heartbeat thrumming in my head. I had hoped the week we had spent apart would lessen the bond between us, but I realized with sudden surety that it hadn’t. Our growing bond would not be so easily undone.
“Hello, Lyssandra.”
I turned toward the sound of his voice, peering around the corner of the dilapidated cottage. He stood framed in moonlight, his long white hair lifting in the wind.
A strange sensation tickled my skin as I stepped out into the open. “It’s about time.”
“It is precisely midnight.”
I rolled my eyes, then started walking toward him. In only a linen shirt, lightweight coat, breeches, and boots, I felt naked without my armor, but this was no official mission. No, I was going directly against my duties as a hunter of the Helius Order. “Sending a courier to Castle Helius wasn’t exactly subtle of you.”
I had moved near enough to see the corners of his pale lips curl upward. His gray eyes caught the moonlight as he looked me over. “Would you rather I had delivered the letter myself?”
I crossed my arms, bunching up my blue linen shirt and gray coat. “You would be dead if you had.”
He lifted one black-clad shoulder in a half shrug. “Perhaps.” He glanced around. “I had expected you to bring Steifan and Tholdri.” The glance was only for show. He would have scented them long before he arrived.
I tossed my red braid behind my back as I shook my head. “No, I don’t want them involved in this. It’s too dangerous. Neither of them would stand a chance against something that could murder an ancient vampire.”
“I’m glad to hear you think of it as murder.” He stepped closer, invading my personal space. “You’re free to begin tonight?”
I craned my neck to meet his silver eyes so near. “I can give you tonight and three nights after that, then I must return to Castle Helius.” It was a lie. I had no pressing mission, but I didn’t want this investigation to stretch on forever.
He moved a little closer and I put a hand on his chest to stop him. The Seeing Sword at my back didn’t utter a single warning. It really didn’t see him as a threat. I supposed neither did I, not anymore. “What is with you tonight? You’re usually not this pushy.”
Seeming a little startled, he stepped back. “Forgive me, I had forgotten what the bond feels like when you’re near.”
“It’s only been a week.”
“Time moves both slowly and quickly when you’ve been alive as long as I have.” He stepped further back and looked at my horse. “You will not need your mount for long. She’ll have difficulty reaching Evral’s lair.”
I lifted my brows at the mention of the murdered vampire. “What, did he live up a tree?”
“Up a mountain. A steep, rocky mountain.”
“Of course,” I sighed. “He couldn’t make things too easy.”
“I’m sorry his death is such an inconvenience.”
I gave him a poignant look. “That’s not what I meant and you know it. Now we should get moving. I don’t want to get stuck up on a mountain top when you have to flee the sun for the day.”
“We won’t reach the lair tonight,” he explained. “But you are right, we should start moving. I know somewhere you can stay and stable your horse.”
I glanced at my horse, feeling almost guilty for having taken her. She was bred and trained to carry hunters into battle. Not to carry traitors while they investigated vampire murders.
I hadn’t heard Asher move, but suddenly he was standing close again. “Your thoughts play across your face. You feel guilty.”
I sucked my teeth, irritated that he could read me so easily. “I take my oaths seriously, as you know, else I wouldn’t be here.”
“Have you figured out yet why the Potentate chose you to go to Silgard?”
I looked up at the moon. “No.”
“So you believe you weren’t intentionally sent and away just before Evral was murdered?”
“That’s none of your concern.” I stepped away, then started walking toward my horse, not wanting him to see my expression.
Because I hadn’t learned anything. I hadn’t learned how the Potentate had known to send Markus and Isolde to aid me when I faced Karpov. I hadn’t learned why he would give me a sword that would only awaken for a vampire or a vampire’s human servant. I hadn’t learned why he sent me to Silgard, or why he never questioned Karpov’s demise.
But I could admit, if only to myself, that my suspicions were part of why I was standing in the mires with Asher in the middle of the night. Because it was true, the Potentate had sent me away right before the ancient was murdered. Perhaps it was a coincidence, but I was beginning to learn that few things in life were actual coincidences. Not when powerful men shaped your fate. Not when ancient vampires stalked you from the shadows.
So here I was, prepared to solve a vampire murder, and to stop the other ancients from being killed. To stop a particular ancient from being killed, because if someone was trying to overthrow the old order, he had a target on his back as much as any of us. His death would end me too. I didn’t want to die, and maybe, just maybe, I didn’t want him to die either.
Chapter One
We traveled east through much of the night, ending up outside a moderate sized village I had never visited before. Most of my hunting brought me north, or to the mires, not to the desolate lands bordering the Silvercrag mountain range. The range itself was near impassible, though a committed climber could eventually reach the eastern sea several days past the other side.
I gazed out at those dark rocky mountains, feeling the coming dawn like a weight upon my bones. The air was cooler and thinner here than in the mires. I glanced at Asher standing on my other side, realizing I was sensing the heavy feeling from him. Usually dawn came as a relief to me.
“This is where I must leave you.” He glanced at my horse, held close to my side by my grip on its reins. “Your room is already paid for, and your horse will be well taken care of.”
I bristled at his words. “I see you already have everything planned out, don’t you?”
He gave me the ghost of a smile. “You’re the one who made me wait so long for your help. What else was I supposed to do?”
I couldn’t argue with him there. I observed the large whitewashed building at the edge of the village, smoke pumping heavily from its chimney. The stables were behind it, and I could hear the snuffling of a few resting horses. “What am I supposed to do all day until you wake?”
“Get some rest, have a nice meal. No one will disturb you.”
I wasn’t sure how he could make such guarantees when he’d be hiding somewhere for the day, but somehow, I believed him. This far east, no one would recognize me. No one would know I was a hunter. It was almost a relief. I turned to say goodbye, but Asher was already gone.
Cursing under my breath at his sudden disappearance, I led my horse toward the inn. I reached the stables to find a young man waiting outside to take my horse. Asher must have arranged it, because no one would be awake at this hour otherwise. He gave me a nod as he rubbed his tired eyes, then led my mare away before I could offer any coin.
Feeling irritated even though Asher had done me a favor, I walked toward the front of the inn and let myself inside. The warmth of the roaring hearthfire enveloped me, and I took just a moment to enjoy it as an older woman stood from one of the many tables to greet me. She didn’t look as tired as the young man who had taken my horse. No, she smelled like the bread she had already baked for the coming day, evidenced by the flour on her dark brown apron. She was used to being up this early.
She tucked a graying golden lock behind her ear as I approached, then held out a hand, palm facing upward. “You must be Lady Yonvrode. I was told you would arrive at first light.”
She bowed her head slightly as I placed my hand in hers. Just who did this woman think I was? What had Asher told her? There was no way to ask without seeming like a fool.
She didn’t seem to notice my hesitation as she released my hand. “I’ll show you to your room.”
I bowed my head. “Thank you.”
She glanced around. “Where are your things?”
I patted the saddlebag slung across my shoulder. It contained one change of clothes, a few rations, bandages, and three silver daggers. I had left my water skin with my horse. I would find a place to fill it in the morning.
The proprietress quickly erased her apparent confusion, gesturing for me to walk up the stairs at the other side of the room. I noticed her gaze shifting to my sword as I moved past.
“I know it’s early,” she said to my back as she followed me, “but would you like me to draw you a bath?”
I thought about it as I started up the stairs. If I had an entire day to kill, I may as well take advantage. “A bath would be lovely.”
She showed me to my room, a simple affair with a single bed, a wash basin, and a small fireplace, then left to prepare my bath.
I tossed my saddle bag onto the bed, put my hands on my hips, then glanced around the silent room, not quite sure what to do with myself. Free time was not something I was used to. When there wasn’t a mission, there was training, honing my skills and staying fit.
I was just starting to get used to the idea of an entire day off when an abrupt scream reached my ears. It cut off quickly, then all was silent. I drew my sword and rushed out of the room, heading down the stairs in the direction of the scream. I didn’t see the proprietress in the common room, so I went through an open door and down the hall, rushing into the bathing room.
She stood with fluffy towels clutched against her chest, wide eyed as she turned to me. Her jaw fell open, and she staggered back toward the wall.
I took a step toward her. I didn’t see any enemies in the room. “Why did you scream?”
“P-please don’t hurt me!”
I glanced at my raised sword, then quickly lowered it. “I’m not going to hurt you, I heard you scream. I thought you were being attacked.”
She relaxed her grip on the towels, then pointed one finger toward the corner of the room. “I saw a mouse. The stable cat has gotten lazy.”
My shoulders relaxed, leaving me shaky from the sudden burst of excitement. I sheathed my sword at my back. “You shouldn’t scream like that unless you’re actually in danger.”
The color was slowly returning to her face. She looked me up and down. “Most women scream when they see mice. Few women come running with swords when they do.”
My face heated. Here I had actually been granted a few days of not being a hunter, and I was already giving myself away.
“So you actually know how to use that sword? Who are you?”
I bit my lip. I wasn’t sure what Asher had told her, but I definitely didn’t want her to know the truth, especially if anyone saw me with Asher and realized what he was. “I travel a lot. It’s best to know how to protect yourself. I’m no one special.”
She let out a long breath, quickly re-composing herself. “Well since you’re here, your bath is almost heated. Is there anything else I can get you?”
I shook my head. “I’ll sleep after my bath, then I’ll have a meal later today.”
She gave me an odd look, but nodded. “I’ll leave you to it then.” She handed me the towels as she walked past me, then turned in the open doorway and gave me a bemused smile. “I appreciate you coming to . . . save me.” She walked out and shut the door, leaving me to take my bath.
I locked the door behind her, then glanced around the room one more time, taking comfort in the rays of morning light edging in through the small windows high up in the wall. My gaze hesitated on a vase of yellow daisies on a small wooden table next to the bath.
Glaring at the flowers, I moved closer to see a note held in place beneath the vase. I lifted the paper and unfolded it.
Until Tonight.
-A
I rolled my eyes as I crumpled the note, then started undressing. Asher hadn’t lied when he said he’d had too much time on his hands waiting for me.
My gaze drifted back to the flowers as I folded my clothes and set them aside. I could never tell if Asher was trying to romance me, or just enjoyed teasing me, making me feel like a foolish human. Either way, I did not appreciate his overtures.
Leaning my sword against the bath, I lowered myself into the steaming water. All of my perpetually tight muscles relaxed. Lavender oil wafted up from the water, calming me further.
I glanced at my sword just before closing my eyes. “I suppose if we are forced to work with him, we may as well make the best of it.”
My sword didn’t answer, not that I expected it to. There were many questions I would ask if it could actually hold a conversation. But instead it remained silent. I would just have to find the answers myself, starting with who had murdered the ancient, and who they planned to kill next.
Chapter Two
I waited outside for Asher as night crept in around me. The moon had taken the sun’s place well before darkness fully fell, leaving me in an odd suspended state of apprehension. Even well-rested and with a full belly, I was daunted by the climb ahead. My eyes scanned the rocky, barren mountains looming over the village. We were on the edge of civilization, heading toward the unknown.
All I knew was that if I climbed up that mountain and didn’t find anything to guide us on our search, I was going to be angry. I held my breath as full darkness closed around me like a fist, stealing a gasp from my lips.
“Are you ready?”
I glanced at Asher suddenly standing at my side, knowing his presence was the only reason darkness had hit me so heavily. “Let’s get this over with.”
“Good evening to you too.” He walked past me, stiff-backed in his black coat and pants.
I watched him for a moment, wondering if he could tell that I had just felt what he’d felt.
“Are you coming?” he called back to me.
Shaking my head, I followed him further away from the village, toward the base of the mountains. My boots crunching across small rocks and the gentle hooting of an owl were the only sounds. I scanned the mountain as we began to ascend. There were a few paths winding upward, and I wondered if one of them would directly lead to the vampire’s lair. Had the murdered ancient hunted in the village where I had spent my day? Had the killer done these people a favor?
I couldn’t think too hard on my questions. There was a greater scheme at play, a much larger risk to lives.
“Did you bespell the proprietress of the inn?” I asked to Asher’s back.
“You would not approve if I did.” He kept walking, his loose white hair swaying gently with his movements.
“I don’t approve of a lot of things. I highly doubt that stops you from doing them.”
He stopped and looked back at me. “If it is conversation you desire, Lyssandra, then come walk at my side and have it.”
I frowned. He was right. I didn’t really think he had bespelled anyone, I had just wanted something to break the silence. “I’m fine where I am.”
Without another word, he turned and continued walking.
In truth, he could have made it up the mountainside much more quickly than me. He might have requested that I hike throughout the day, and he could have caught up once night fell. Yet here he was trudging along at a human pace. Was he worried some ill would befall me? Or did he simply not trust me to come without him spurring me on?
“Fine,” I huffed, quickly tiring of my own thoughts. I hurried to catch up to his side, then kept walking, my thighs already burning from the growing incline. “Tell me what you know of Evral. Who else knew where he rested for the day?”
