Page 34 of Slaying the Shadow Prince
Drue nearly told him he smelt of rich cedar and dark florals, but she stopped herself. Instead, she started towards the door. ‘Have you ever heard of the springs in Aveum?’ she asked, pausing as she gripped the handle. ‘I’ve read stories of the Pools of Purity. People from all over go on pilgrimages to find them, hoping the water there will cure all manner of diseases and ailments.’
‘I know the springs you speak of. Upon passing the Great Rite, a Warsword is gifted a vial of such waters. But alas, not even the purest of springs can cleanse the darkness from me.’
‘You used yours, then?’
‘I tried. Perhaps I was already too far gone by that point.’
‘Perhaps you needed more than a vial.’
‘We’ll never know.’
‘If you say so…’ Drue allowed. ‘What else do they give you? When you pass the rite?’
‘Steel from Naarva, as you know. A stallion from Tver, armour from Delmira, poison from Harenth…’ He hesitated a moment, his eyes lingering on her wrist. ‘Now that we’ve bonded over my harrowing past and you’ve wrangled some secrets from me, why don’t you show me that cuff?’
Drue gave a dark laugh. ‘Nice try, shadow monster.’
She left him to his watch.
The night was long,punctuated only by the lashing of the storm and the trembling stone. Drue sat with the company, staying by Adrienne’s side as the men talked of war and women. She had heard much of it before; many of the rangers were inclined to share the same stories over and over, for the fall of their kingdom had left them with little else but tales of supposed glory long past.
What seemed like hours later, Talemir descended the steps, Baledor taking his place at the post. The Warsword looked deep in thought as he lowered himself to the ground beside their small fire and accepted a hunk of bread from his protégé.
It was Wilder who sensed that the mood needed lifting. He clapped the older warrior on the shoulder and turned to the group. ‘Have you ever heard about the dual sword wielding champion of Thezmarr?’ he asked animatedly. In fact, it was the most animated Drue had seen him since they’d met.
‘Furies spare us,’ Talemir muttered around his bread.
That only spurred Wilder on. ‘Here in your midst sits the undefeated, record-holding hero of the Guild Master’s Tournament!’
Talemir actually groaned as the rangers broke out in awed murmurs. ‘You’re going to pay for this, apprentice.’
Wilder smirked before turning back to his now captive audience. ‘You’ve no doubt heard of the tournament… The annual sporting event that determines the very best of Thezmarr’s warriors in a range of different categories. There’s jousting, knife throwing, and our dear Talemir’s specialty, dual sword wielding…’
Drue had witnessed the older Warsword brandishing both swords against the shadow wraiths upon their first meeting, and she couldn’t deny his skill… So she listened to Wilder’s tales of his former mentor’s triumphs.
‘For years, warriors and expert swordsmen from all over the midrealms have travelled to the fortress in the hopes that they’ll take the title from Tal… To no avail. He’s held the top place on all our record boards for six years now —’
‘Seven,’ Talemir muttered.
Wilder’s face was bright with passion and delight. ‘You’ve seen nothing like it,’ he told the men. ‘Tal wields those blades like they’re part of him. They call him the Prince of Hearts back at Thezmarr for all the wraith hearts he’s taken.’
Someone barked a laugh. ‘Wraith hearts or women’s hearts?’
‘A Warsword never tells,’ Talemir quipped.
Drue cleared her throat. ‘And yet little old me nearly had him when we sparred at the northern perimeter.’
Wilder snorted. ‘Hardly. And remind me, whywereyou trying to slay a Warsword?’
The group of rangers shifted in interest at that detail.
Drue threw Talemir a casual shrug. ‘Just wanted to be sure he was who he said he was.’
Talemir’s hazel gaze brimmed with amusement. ‘You lost that match.’
‘As I said, Inearlyhad you.’
The Warsword gave her a lazy smile. ‘I thought I made myself clear. You can have me anytime you like.’
