Page 82 of To Dwell in Shadows
“All the really old and delicate stuff I’ve found is over there.” Selene pointed to a table stacked with the books she’d used while searching for clues on the Dark Sovereign. “Hang on—I think I might have seen a book of maps somewhere.”
Selene began sorting through the pile as Sam and Vanthee continued to talk.
“They will probably send us into the maze one at a time,” Vanthee said. “Perhaps if we run into each other we can work through it together.”
“Aha!” Selene cried, holding up an old atlas. She brought it over, and the three of them leaned in.
She carefully turned each page until Vanthee stopped her, recognizing the castle grounds. Though the map was centuries old, the River of Hatred and the cliffs leading to Spirit Veil Valley were still clearly marked. In the corner of the map, was a mess of geometric lines and jagged angles, creating a web of interconnected pathways.Only a portion of the drawing was visible, hinting that the rest extended beyond the page.
“This looks like a maze, right?” Selene said.
“Yes. What’s on the next pages?” Sam asked.
Selene flipped through the rest of the book, but it only contained interior diagrams of the palace. She returned to the map and Sam peered closer. “There’s something written here.”
Although it was barely visible, scrawled in looping calligraphic script were the words:
To navigate the Endless Path, heed the trail of the ever-turning sun.
“The sun? I’ve never seen it, but I’m pretty sure it doesn’t turn.” Vanthee scoffed.
“It must be a riddle.” Sam frowned, rolling the words over in his mind. “I hate riddles.”
“No, wait—I think I know what it means,” Selene said suddenly, excitement lighting her face. “I remember this from science class. The sundoesturn. Counterclockwise.” She lifted her hands, shaping them into a sphere and rotating them in a slow, deliberate motion.
“Really?” Vanthee asked, raising an eyebrow.
“Yes. It rotates just like the planets,” Selene said. “I wonder if this means… Have you ever heard of the right-hand rule for solving a maze? My siblings and I used it when we went through corn mazes at Halloween.”
Vanthee smirked. “Do humans only eat corn with their right hand or something?”
Selene gave her an exasperated look. “No, it’s a strategy. When you enter a maze, you place your right hand on the wall and never lift it. As long as you keep following that rule—always choosing the path that keeps your hand on the wall—you’ll eventually find the way out.”
She tapped the inscription again. “But this,” she murmured, a thoughtful look crossing her face, “this is telling us to follow the path of the sun. And if the sun turns counterclockwise, that means?—”
“To the left,” Sam finished, realization dawning.
Selene nodded. “Exactly.”
“It can’t be that easy,” Vanthee said. “Solve a maze just by keeping to the left?”
“I don’t think it will be easy, but at least it’s a starting point,” Selene replied.
“True.” Vanthee turned to Sam. “So, how are we going to help each other?”
Sam shrugged. “I’ll be sure to lose. They usually announce each winner, so I’ll stay inside the maze until I hear that you’re through.”
“But what if another demon comes out before me?” Vanthee asked, then paled. “What if Drath makes it out first?”
Sam stroked his chin thoughtfully. “It won’t matter at that point. The king’s champion is to be selected from among the trial winners. Just focus on making sure you are one of them, and I’ll handle the rest.”
“Are you sure?” Vanthee asked.
“What my parents fear most is that the realm will be without a ruler,” Sam said. “I’ll simply convince them that you are the best choice—and the solution to their problem. They know I don’t want the role, and my recommendation carries weight.”
Vanthee nodded and bent her head to study the map more closely. Above her, Selene met his eyes with a knowing look. They both understood that even if Sam couldn’t convince his parents with words,The Sovereign’s Reckoningwould serve as undeniable proof of Vanthee’s destiny.
Chapter 41
