Page 32 of Light and Shadow
“If it were a simple thing to destroy Harper, then Venora would have done it with all of us as an audience.” I give Nainsi anod. “She couldn’t destroy her with the magic she knows. That’s not to say she can’t hurt and ruin someone so pure of heart as Harper. Nor is it assurance that the witch won’t learn new magic and try again and again.” My heart is pounding, and I have to still my shaking hands. I have to get to Harper.
With a curt nod, Fancor sheaths his sword at his back. “I will go with you. If this human holds the fate of our world within her, my sword will be hers.”
Jax growls. “You have no need to spy on us, dwarf.”
Hands perched on his hips, Fancor faces the much taller elf. “Don’t I, elf? It was your kind who raised the witch queen, and then when she turned to dark, you allowed her to prosper. If the elves had stopped her all those years ago, you would have female babies. Your doom is counting down, is it not? Do not forget that it was your soft belief in reasoning with a witch that is the peril of all of Domhan. Dwarves have seen only sons all these years. We lost the dragons, who hide from this cursed place. I know the fairies, who keep to their own, have also been damaged by the incompetencies of elves to manage their own.”
“She is evil, but that is not our fault.” Jax’s conviction wavers, and his tone eases. He shakes his head. “We never believed she would go so far, and when she did, it was too late. All elves bear the shame of Venora’s betrayal.”
“Either I go with you, or none shall pass.” Fancor reaches for his sword.
Hoping for peace, I hold up my hand palm out. All this arguing and placing blame is taking up time. I need to get to the old city. “Your generous offer to assist is welcome, Fancor. Will you open the gate, or shall I?”
“This magic isn’t for the faint of heart, Aaran Riordan. Are you certain your heart is pure enough to wield such a spell?” Fancor’s voice is full of gruff warning.
“Perhaps that is the true test, friend.” Without waiting for more, I lift my hands and call the magic, all the while considering my mother’s words of warning. My magic must be pure. I know from my studies that the gates of the old gods can transport anywhere another gate is present. No one knows how many of these exist in Domhan and beyond, so I keep my focus on the old city.
In the center of my mind, the image of Harper alone, beaten and crying forms. Her pain echoes through me. She is my only goal, the source of my most powerful magic, and where my loyalties lie. I see nothing but her. I hear only her voice and sorrow. Within her, I feel hope and her belief that I will come for her.
“That’s quite good.” Fancor laughs and slaps me on the back. “For an elf.”
In the center of the arch, rainbow colors swirl, throwing wind toward us.
“This is going to hurt.” Bert grips Nainsi’s hand, and the two walk in before I can, planning to protect me from whatever might be on the other side.
Worried about whatever that might be, I jump through the portal. It pulls me in every direction at once. Light and dark come in waves. Images flash through my mind in random succession, first of my mother, and then of the witch queen. Harper glows with dark magic and screams in pain. Slashing with his battle sword and throwing magic, Fancor bullies his way past a crowd of dark elves. Bert ducks, a dagger barely missing him.
I can’t tell what’s real, or if any of it is. The images are disjointed. My stomach roils, as if I’m rolling down a steep hill in an out-of-control cart. Landing with a hard slam against the ground, I instinctively shield my face as thorns bite my skin.
“We’ve got you.” Bert grips my arm and yanks me from the briars.
Nainsi pulls back the tangled bramble, but not before Fancor tumbles through, effectively flattening out most of the thorn bush.
“What in the demons’ dark is all this?” He rips a thorn from his biceps. “I’ve not been through here before. I never wanted to get this close to that witch.”
“I’d say no one has been through in quite some time.” I help Nainsi pull the rest of the bush back just in time to save the warriors the pain. They still come through hard and grunt as they impact the limestone ground.
The portal took us across the Beò Ocean to the eastern continent of Ear Talamh. Night falls earlier here. In the distance comes the shadow demons’ wails. The castle spire and battlement in the old city peek over the ridge. My gut twists. Harper is in that terrible place. I am to blame, but those thoughts will not help her. It’s more important to get her out of there, and then beat myself up later when I beg her forgiveness.
Bert slaps my back, and I wonder if he’s thinking the same thing.
Fancor takes his place beside Bert, who guards Nainsi’s back as we march toward probable death. “You are neither elf nor dwarf.” He narrows his eyes. “What manner of being are you then?”
Always easy in manner, Bert grins. “I’m a human, like the woman we go to save.”
Fancor gapes. “Are you now? You’re the first I’ve met. So, if I understand such things, you have no magic in you? How do you live?”
Bert shrugs. “We don’t miss what we never had. Until I met Nainsi, I didn’t even know such things were possible. Humans managed quite nicely without what you call magic. We have anoccasional miracle, and we’re happy with it. Besides, where you have magic, we have electricity.”
With the rocky path getting steeper and the ground less forgiving, we’re forced to climb in single file. As the sun dips below the horizon, the shadow demons’ wails grow louder.
Fancor says, “I’d like to hear more about your world and its miracles, sir.”
Nodding, Bert grips a rock to keep steady. “I’ll be happy to tell you as soon as we have Harper safe, friend.”
My gut twists. She’s alive, I tell myself. Clutching my chest, I feel her there. Closing my eyes, I listen for the song of her soul, and it whispers weakly to me. Steadying my breathing, I pull myself together and focus on the job before us. Get to the old city, find Harper, and get her out alive. It’s hard to ignore my affection for her, but I have a duty that supersedes my desires.
As we crest the next rise, a clearer view of the second tower and shadow demons swirling around the old castle further darkens my mood. Attacking the tower at night when the demons are more active is suicide. “Stay low, but keep moving.”
