Page 26 of Light and Shadow
“I can end all your worries, chosen one.” She’s beautiful, but something about her makes my stomach churn. “I am Venora Braddish. You should be honored I came for you personally. I wouldn’t make the journey for just anyone.”
“The witch queen,” I mutter.
Her smile reveals straight white teeth, but even they look wrong. “I am all-seeing, all-knowing. You wish to be released from this unfair burden these elves have placed on you. I can give you that. Come with me, and I’ll spare your world when the time comes.”
“I don’t believe you.”
Her eyes flash with rage, and for a second, she’s not beautiful. Her eyes are sunken black holes in a rutted face and her hair is wiry and thin. Then she’s again stunning. “You doubt my word?”
It’s a glamor. This is what she looked like before she gave in to the darkness growing inside her. I don’t even need to touch her to feel the putrefaction of her soul. “Everything about you is a lie, Venora Braddish.”
She lifts her hand, and dark fire shoots from her palms.
I duck and cover my head while holding my hands up and praying for strength.
The dark magic bounces off me and hits a tall tree behind me. The tree explodes, and raindrop-size shards of wood and bits of leaves rain down.
Screams sound from the village, and soon the sound of running feet reaches us.
Venora narrows her gaze on me. “What are you?”
“Nothing. I’m a woman.” I have no idea what she means or what I’m meant to say. I don’t know why her magic bounced off me, and if I’m honest, I have no business defending anyone against this creature.
“And you accuse me of lying. No one and nothing can stop my magic.”
Aaran, Nainsi, Bert, Jax, and Selina rush into the woods, followed by hundreds of armed elves. Aaran has his sword out and his other hand raised for magic. They stop short at the sight of Venora.
The way she shattered that tree, I fear for them. Standing between the witch queen and the people of Clandunna, I realize she could kill them with another blast, and maybe I could save a few, but not all. “What do you want from me, witch?”
Aaran steps forward.
Shooting magic at another tree, Venora backs him off and shatters the arbor to tiny bits. “Stay back, eldest of the Riordan. I will kill them all. This is between me and your chosen human. Let her decide how this evening of celebration will end.” She looks at me. “Come with me now, chosen one.” She practicallyspits out the title. “Or I will see this village razed to the ground. I will kill every living thing within the stench of this place. It will be nothing but death for as far as your feeble eyes can see. Choose.”
Aaran watches, his face stricken with pain and worry. Can he know my choices are untenable? He must know. Watch all these people I came here to save die, or go to my death with this evil monster. I focus my thoughts on his.I will hold on as long as I can. Keep them safe.
In return, I hear Aaran’s voice clear and true in my mind.I will come for you, mo chroi.
Gripping my hands together so she can’t see how they shake, I turn my back on the elves and walk into the shadowy portal with the witch queen.
Aaran
Jax and Selina have been arguing for ten minutes over the value of saving Harper, or if it’s even possible. Their four children, all boys, sit on the steps of the cottage, their blond heads turning as they look at their mother and then their father as if they’re at a sporting match.
Nainsi is attempting reason with a compelling speech about the fact that we’ll all die eventually if we don’t save Harper.
Bert remains silent but stays by my side. I have the feeling, despite his lack of magic, he knows what I’m planning.
It’s nice to have someone’s full support.
I’m only half listening. How can I get to the old city quickly and without being detected? Once I get there, how do I reach Harper without being turned into a shadow demon? No elf has ever returned from the old city since Venora and her followers overthrew my mother’s government.
Selina turns toward me. “I assume you’re going no matter what is decided here?”
“Do you have the means to speak to my mother?” My magic is not going to be enough. I have questions only my mother can answer.
After studying me for a long moment, she says, “I can call to her through the scrying bowl.”
Jax shakes his head. “We don’t know if the witch can intercept those messages.”
