Page 116 of Memory of Ashes

They were nowhere in sight. They’d disappeared back to wherever they came from soon after the army had left.

He crept through the trees, making his way towards the base of the mountain. He moved cautiously, scanning the trees and listening for sounds that would signal the creatures’ approach. Birdsong continued around him.

The base of the mountain was now visible ahead. He walked over to where the rift had been.

It should have been there. The rocky walls of the mountain stood where the window to the human world had been. The surrounding ground had become muddy from the army passing through.

He placed his hand against the cold stone.

“Amelia,” he whispered, as if trying to invoke her.

His eyes closed, he searched for the magic that veiled their world. Its power was a hum in his mind.

He didn’t have Amelia’s voiding ability, but he had his own power, and he forced his energy towards it, straining until it caused his head to pound.

Nothing happened.

The birds went quiet.

Something came crashing through the trees towards him. He drew his sword and turned as three Leshies burst into view. They had sensed his magic. He had drawn them here without realising.

The Leshies surrounded him, forcing him back against the mountain. The cold stone dug into his spine. There was no escape. He could hold off one, perhaps two, but three was too many.

They shrieked at the sight of him, causing the birds of the forest to flee into the safety of the sky. He prayed the guards camped nearby would hear it and come to his aid.

He swung his sword wildly at them as they slashed at him with their razor-sharp claws. His skills with a sword were unmatched, but they were faster.

He lunged and caught one of them in the chest. The sword sliced through its taut flesh and lodged in its ribcage. He yanked it free. That moment of hesitation was all another creature needed. Its claws sliced into his skin as it lifted him from the ground.

Thrashing wildly, he could not escape its grip.

A dark thought formed that perhaps this was what he had wanted.

He gasped as the creature plunged its claws into his chest and tore out his still-beating heart.

He stared down in horror as pain exploded through his body. Amelia’s face filled his mind as his vision turned black and he disappeared from the world.

*

When his eyes opened again, he could not see. He could feel his eyelids moving, yet everything remained black. He raised his hands to his face and moved his fingers upward, feeling his eyelids open and close.

Was he blind?

He moved his head around, but nothing changed.

He stepped forward and reached out, trying to feel his way through the darkness, but there was nothing.

Where was he?

There was no sound beyond his own body: his ragged breathing and the harsh click of his throat as he swallowed.

Something was missing.

He should have been able to feel his heartbeat.

A wail cut through his thoughts and turned his veins to ice.

This was the Shadowlands.