Ifinally met their gaze. “Yousaw.He’sa shadow walker.”
Theylet out a long exhale accompanied by an elongatedfuuucccckkkk.“Justone godsdamned thing after another, isn’t it?IassumeAbraxas’ wards are fading?”
Inodded, and they scrubbed their hands over their face. “Guessthat’s whatIget for giving him so much shit for maintaining them over the centuries.Itwould have been easy for you to leave with him.Whydidn’t you?”
Ididn’t answer.Itwasn’t a difficult question; the answer was deceptively simple.Ididn’t want to go.Eventhinking it somehow felt like a betrayal.Buta betrayal to whom?
Thecommander andIheld each other’s stare until a small squeak of the door opening broke the silence.Iheard the pattering of eight small feet asSpinnerpushed himself up against my legs, looking for scratches.
Avlynlooked down at the beast and sighed. “He’sgetting way too big; he seems to like you.”Ireached down and scratched the beast’s head until he emitted those unnerving clicks of satisfaction.
Avlynsighed again and rose out of their chair. “Alrightthen, well, time to go.”
“Straightto the dungeons,Iassume.”
“No,Ihave something much worse planned for you…”Avlyn’sface didn’t match their threatening words as a slight smile played on their lips.Mystomach bottomed out anyway.Ideserved this punishment, butIwas still a coward, and my hands shook asIgripped my dress on top of my thighs.
“You’regoing to help me restore the wards,”Avlynfinished with a flourish.
“Isthat…punishment?”Iasked.
“I’lllet you be the judge of that onceIshow you where we have to go.”
“Why?”
Avlyngave me a quizzical look. “Yousaid yourself that they need to be restored.Notime like the present.”
“No,Imean, why me?I’mthe consort of the man you’ve declared war against.Icould sabotage them.”
“Idoubt you could make them worse than they currently are, besides…”Avlynheld my gaze with theirs, and it felt like they were peering right into my soul. “Areyou going to sabotage them?”
“No…”Isaid slowly.
“Well, there you have it.”
“Commander, that’s stupid.Icould be lying.”
“You’renot.”Avlynheaded for the door. “Comealong, my lady.We’regoing to have to get you a new outfit.”
Chapter 16
Hadeon
525 Years Ago
Everythinghad moved quickly after that old seer had spoken.Magicwas already fading, so even a prophecy from the seer of some minor temple was worth more than gold.
KingObionof theGoldenKingdomwas informed immediately and claimed me.Iwas hauled to his palace, and he stared down at me likeIwas some gutter rat who had run over his fine carpets.Itwasn’t far from the truth.Hislips pulled tight to show his glowing white teeth as he snarled, “Thispathetic boy, he’s theGreatHero?”
Icouldn’t even look up at him as he spoke, so allIremember was that dirt that was caked beneath my fingernails, so at odds with the fine rugIclutched in them.
“Takehim to the dungeon.Ifhe is worth something, he will show his merit.”
Fromone prison to another.Thepain was different than in the temple, but it was still pain.Theking had his men torture me.I’dstill been a youngling then, and my magic hadn’t emerged.Theking wasn’t interested in waiting.
Timeblurred in the dungeons under theGoldenPalace.Wasit day or night?Inever knew.AllIknew was when there was pain and when there was not.
Whenmy body was finally sound again, they dragged me out into a dusty ring.Sandcoated the floor, which was already pockmarked with black blood stains from the previous occupants.Theythrew me forward, andIlanded hands first in the sand, coughing as the dust stung my eyes.Stonewalls encircled the area, and above them rose several rows of seating, likeIhad been laid out on some great stage.
