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“Of course I know how teleportation works,” I snap. “Aether flows in ley lines through Imyria, and this allows us to teleport. Light and dark magic exist only in the atmosphere since they originate from the Heavens and the Abyss.” I’m not sure why I bother explaining myself; I don’t care what the demon thinks of me. “But if teleportation can’t be cast with dark magic, how do necromancers conjure portals?”
“I suppose you mean Death Gates, which don’t require ley lines. A caster must be at both ends to tear a tunnel through the fabric of time and space. They also require a sacrifice at both ends, though a soul-gem is sufficient. It isn’t dissimilar to the ritual you used to drag me here.”
“I see.” I lean on my elbow and rest my chin in my palm as I think. If we can’t teleport to Lenris Port, we need another way of reaching it. Maybe some ships will be left in the harbor.
I drum my fingers on the table. I know where Arluin is, and I might have a way to reach him. Now all that remains is destroying him.
“I read that every Void Prince commands their own legions. How many demons serve you?”
“A hundred thousand.”
I almost fall off my chair. A hundred thousand demons lie at his beck and call? Arluin and his necromancers won’t stand a chance, even if they can raise the dead.
“Then we will find these necromancers and unleash your legions of demons upon them.”
The Void Prince laughs.
“What?”
“Do you have a hundred thousand soul-gems?”
“No—”
“Are you willing to sacrifice an entire kingdom and use their souls to summon my demons?”
“Of course not!”
“Then those thousands of demons will remain in the Abyss.”
“There must be another way.”
“One soul, one demon. That is the price which must be paid. Unless you are willing to tear down the veil separating Imyria from the Abyss and unleash my brethren upon every mortal dwelling here?”
“Fine.” I slump back into my chair. “We’ll have to hope you alone are enough to defeat Arluin.”
“One of me is more than enough to destroy a necromancer too big for his boots.”
All I can hope is that his arrogance isn’t misplaced and that I haven’t sacrificed my soul for nothing.
“Very well,” I say, rising from my seat. “We’ll leave shortly. First, I have a few matters to attend to.”
three
Afterclearingawaymyplate, I head upstairs. Zephyr follows me, while the Void Prince remains in the dining room.
The first thing I notice when I step into my room are the violet robes draped over the back of my armchair. This is the uniform all Magi of Nolderan wear to distinguish our rank. I don’t know whether I deserve to wear them after everything I’ve done—whether I deserve to call myself a Mage of Nolderan—but I pull the robes from my armchair all the same.
Peeling off the bloodied and sweat-covered remains of my tattered dress takes me a short lifetime, and with every touch of the fabric, I relive the horrors of last night.
Once I’m free from the sullied silk, I turn to the golden full-length mirror in the corner of my room. My skin is marred with countless scratches and bruises, but it’s the crimson line across my neck which captures my attention.
I reach up and run my fingers across the wound. The scab is coarse and painful to touch. It’s the memories it stirs which hurt the most. In my reflection, I see Arluin beside me as he presses his dagger to my neck. As he drags it across my flesh. My father’s shouts ring through my ears.
I can’t bear looking at the bloody mark for a moment longer. I need it gone. I needhimgone.
I tear myself away from the mirror and haul the violet robes over my head. I leave the buttons at the top undone and pace over to the counter beside my bed and retrieve the silver tin lying on it.
The ointment inside appears to be made from thousands of crushed rubies. I slather a thick layer across my neck, and the Blood Balm seeps into my skin. Aside from the tingling, I can hardly tell it’s there. If only the ointment wasn’t transparent and concealed the wound. I could use an illusion to hide the mark, but my strength is limited, and though I loathe seeing the wound, it would be a waste of magic. At least my robes will cover it.
