Page 95 of Prince of Shadow and Ash

Chapter 35

THE PRINCE OF SHADOWand Ash spent the next two days preparing for the full moon. Thanks to that gratingly honorable mercenary-turned-lord, he could take his time. Make sure everything was exact. The roots and shells ground into powder. The flower petals plucked and dried. It was time consuming, but life had taught him patience and the value of doing things properly. He rubbed his scarred shoulder. It would be different this time. If he could find what he needed. Ironically, the same thing that had stopped him last time.

The full moon rose into a clear sky. He moved a table into the moonlight spilling through his window and placed the wide, shallow bronze bowl on top and filled it with water. He mixed in the ground root. Once the water was black, he used his sorcery to heat the black water to boiling. Next, he stirred in two handfuls of powdered shells. After the shells had dissolved, he forced the water to cool, making the bowl glow a dim green, then covered the surface of the water with the dried petals. He enchanted the silver circlet so it would float and positioned it in the center of the bowl. All part of activating the magic inherent in the items, or imbuing them with his own magic.

Last, he opened the vial. The enchantment he had placed on it as soon as Hargreaves had given it to him kept the blood as fresh as possible. He tilted the vial and three drops of blood dripped into the center of the bowl, staining the petals red. He held his hands over the bowl. Emerald light radiated from his palms. Steam and smoke rose from the bowl. The petals inside the silver circlet melted and silver bled into the water. He mentally reached out, drawing more energy to replenish his magic from the forest outside as green light swirled around him. He had to reach farther and farther each time he needed extra power.

The water inside the circlet shimmered silver with a greenish tint, then became clear as glass. An image shifted into focus and the sorcerer dropped his hands to his side and scrutinized the image.

An infant. He snorted in disgust. Useless. He waved over the bowl, and the image shifted. A scrawny young man stumbled out of a tavern, obviously drunk. As if this pathetic creature could possibly have enough control to do what he needed. Would not even be worth the effort to have him killed. He waved his hand again. A young girl no older than four with tight blond curls bounced on a middle-aged man’s knee.

“Curse my thoroughness!” The prince waved his hand again, rage boiling his blood.

A young woman. Probably noble, based on her fine clothing. Certainly wealthy. Her skin was dark for a Monparthian. Maybe Carasian or Khastallander. But she had to be in Monparth, since he had only searched within the kingdom. She smiled and laughed between sips of wine, looking confident and at ease. He held his hand over the water and pulled up, forcing the image to move in on her face. Bright, intelligent brown eyes. He pushed back down toward the water, and the image pulled back, showing more of her surroundings. A smile curled his lips. He stroked his beard and leaned back from the bowl.

“Interesting.”

Chapter 36

“HOW DO I LOOK?” REGULUSran his fingers through his hair.

Dresden rolled his eyes. “Like you always do.”

“This is a bad idea.” Regulus paced back and forth in the foyer, the clack of his boots echoing in the vaulted ceiling. Magnus padded along after him, tongue hanging out of his mouth and tail wagging. Two curving staircases rose on either side of the room, meeting at the top and leading into the great hall. The only decorations were a couple suits of armor on either side of the door centered between the two staircases that led to the wine cellar. He had never cared for ostentation, so when he moved in, he had cleared away the oversized vases and faded blue carpets that reminded him too much of his father’s wife. Besides, he had never had guests before.

“What if I can’t get her alone to explain? What if she doesn’t understand?”

Dresden leaned against one of the stone bannisters. “Relax.”

“What if supper is awkward?” Regulus stopped short and Magnus pushed his head under his hand. He scratched behind the big dog’s floppy ears. “I think Sir Gaius has mixed opinions of me. What if I do something he dislikes? Or worse, I do something that offends Lady Minerva?”

“You’re offending me with your incessant worrying.”

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