Page 63 of Crown of Briars
“It’s all right,” I murmured to him. “You’re safe, old boy.” I dug my heels into Zorben’s sides, urging him into a cautious trot. I needed to get closer, but if I got too close, the shadows would poison me, or even burn me. The old wound in my shoulder seemed to throb from the memory of the last time I’d gotten too close. Alporas were immune to the toxins of the Necro Shadows, but Zorben was still wary of them. He likely hated the smell.
I couldn’t blame him. It smelled like rotten wood, ash, and death itself.
“Easy does it,” I urged. We drew close enough for the putrid odor of the poison to sting my nostrils. I wrapped my cloak around my nose and mouth to help block the smell, knowing some people were poisoned just by ingesting the shadows.
As we progressed farther down the road, the roar of the storm grew closer, the wind howling and the trees swaying as if a hurricane had settled right above the village.
I jerked Zorben to a stop, then slid off his back before tying the reins to a nearby tree. He nudged my arm with his snout, his dark eyes full of fear and concern.
“I’ll be right back,” I promised.
He huffed again as if he didn’t believe me.
With a grimace, I turned to face the shadow storm. From within the funnel cloud, lightning flashed, and I staggered backward in shock, my pulse skittering.
I had never seen anything like that before. Shadows, yes, but lightning? How could the magic from the curse produce such a violent storm?
This had never happened. Not in the centuries since the curse had been cast.
A shout echoed from behind me. I whirled to find a figureatop another alpora, racing toward me. As the figure drew nearer, I recognized him as General Forsenn. He, too, wore a cloth to cover his mouth and nose. He waved me over, arms gesturing wildly.
I nodded and untied Zorben’s reins, urging him back toward the captain. The beast moved without complaint, clearly eager to put as much distance between us and the storm as possible.
Forsenn dismounted, his face ashen. “You shouldn’t have come this close.”
“I had to see how bad it was.” My voice was grim as I glanced back at the storm. The tornado was shifting, widening in size as it consumed a cottage, tearing apart the logs as if they were straw.
“Your Highness, we need to know what to do to fight this,” Forsenn said, his brows drawing together. “We have never faced a force this strong before.”
I nodded. I was at a loss as well.
With a storm this great, it would only gain momentum, devouring everything in its path. How long before it reached Agnarr Castle? Was my Lumen enough to hold it off?
Somehow, I doubted it. Already, the magic of the curse was proving to be stronger than I ever could be.
“Bring as many civilians to the palace grounds as you can,” I told Forsenn. “We will provide shelter for them. And with the revel happening this week, hopefully they will be preoccupied.”
“Families are already making their way to the castle now,” Forsenn said. “But it is a temporary solution, Your Highness. Do you have a plan for how to bring down this monstrosity?” He gestured to the howling storm, which was drawing closer.
I climbed atop Zorben, who was inching backward, looking as if he might bolt at any moment. “When you’ve finished with the evacuation, meet me at the castle. My sorceress and I will discuss our options. We will figure something out, Forsenn. I won’t rest until we do.”
He nodded, but his brow only creased further as he stared hard at the raging shadows. I followed his gaze, forcing myself to watch as the storm ripped apart a clock tower, the bell cracking and releasing a sharp, metallic sound that mingled with the screaming wind.
Forsenn urged his alpora into motion, and I finally tore my gaze away and followed suit. Together, we took off down the road, away from the Necro Shadows and the destroyed village.
After several daysof searching in the library, I still had no idea where the enchanted rose was or how to stop the Necro Shadows.
Ramia had helpfully offered to include my letters to Gerard and Eira in her response to Kendra, claiming it would be easy for the kitchen maid to deliver them for me in the Earthen Court. At least I wasn’tcompletelycut off from the outside world, and Eira would know of my whereabouts. This brought me a modicum of comfort, though I knew the post would take a while to reach the Winter Court.
I hadn’t forgotten about Varius’s request for my blood. I was still angry with him, but… if his people were dying and heneededmy blood, then how could I refuse?
But after reading Gerard’s letter, it seemed more important to find the enchanted rose. Instead of researching in the library, I decided to change tactics and explore as much of the castle as possible. Perhaps if I could find the enchanted rose on my own and destroy Varius’s magic, I could end the shadows for good. Then, he wouldn’t need my blood at all, and our courts would not go to war.
But exploring proved more difficult than I thought. Varius had been right: The castledidlove toying with me.
It seemed to only want to show me places I’d already been tobefore: the kitchens, the library, even the courtyard where Varius and I had exchanged vows.
Then one day, I finally found myself in an unfamiliar hall, this one lined with silver carpet instead of the amber I was accustomed to by my rooms. My heart jolted with excitement at the prospect of discovering new rooms in the castle.
