Page 72 of The Dragonrider and the Void
It’s working,she thought in amazement.The chamber is responding.
But before she could push further, heavy footsteps sounded in the corridor outside. The door’s locks disengaged with metallic clicks.
Lark instantly severed the connection. The runes faded back to normal just as the door swung open. The two Paragons entered, one a dragonrider in brismil armor, the other an elf with a Yogo-studded staff, followed by the short mage who’d used the mind probe on her.
“The King demands your presence,” the stout mage announced. “It seems you have information that might prove useful after all.”
Did they sense my use of power or is this about something else entirely?
“I’m afraid I’m rather comfortable here,” she replied dryly.
The mage’s lips twitched in what might have been amusement. “Nevertheless, you will come. We’ve received reports that your dragon has been sighted near the city limits.The King believes you might be able to dissuade him from taking any rash action.”
White Eye was close. The knowledge sent hope surging through Lark even as worry followed. If he attacked the Keep directly, it would mean his death, and possibly hers as well.
The guards moved to unlock her shackles from the wall, though they left her wrists bound. As they hauled her to her feet, Lark’s mind worked furiously.
If I’m moved from this chamber I’ll lose access to the gateway runes,Lark thought.
But being moved also meant an opportunity for Lark to gather more information about the layout of the Keep’s upper levels that had not been detailed on the plans the rebels had accessed.
If all else fails, this gateway could be my only chance to escape.
18
RISING FROM THE ASHES
His pain receded like a dark tide, leaving Venrick gasping on unfamiliar shores of consciousness. His eyes snapped open to a low wooden ceiling, the grain of the timber swimming in his vision before solidifying. Every heartbeat pushed the corruption further back, black lines retreating down his forearms as he watched.
“He’s awake,” Yarla’s voice, laced with relief.
Venrick turned his head, wincing at the lingering ache in his muscles. The elven woman bent over him. Her silver-white hair fell forward as she examined his eyes. Beyond her, Hardin paced near a shuttered window, pausing only to peer through the cracks at the street below.
“Did Edgar—” Venrick’s voice rasped, his throat raw.
“The boy delivered the page, remember?” Hardin asked.
Venrick hadn’t been sure if what happened after the Keep was all a dream or not, but now he knew it was all a reality.
“He already left with his family. But we’ve got bigger problems,” Hardin said.
As if on cue, heavy boots thudded on the street outside, followed by the unmistakable clatter of armored knights. Orders to shift into formation sounded in the street, followed by doors slamming. A gust of wind ripped at the clay shingles and boarded-up shutters as a dragon landed hard so close to the inn that the ground shook.
“Paragons,” Yarla whispered. “They’re systematically searching every building.”
Venrick pushed himself up on his elbows, fighting a wave of dizziness.I should still be under the effects of the corruption,Venrick thought, remembering how long Yarla had been affected by the rimeshade. He checked himself, seeing the black lines had withdrawn from his face and chest, but still marked his arms like fading bruises.
“How long was I out?” he asked, swinging his legs over the edge of the bed.
“Only a few hours,” Hardin replied, moving to help him stand.
“A few hours?” Venrick’s eyes widened.
“That’s incredibly fast,” Yarla said. “I wasn’t sure if you would make it since you’re not fully elven. I’ve seen this corruption kill humans within minutes.”
“But that wasn’t a rimeshade that attacked me. This spell was from the Entity,” Venrick said.
“Which is all the more unusual,” Yarla said. “The Entity’s spell should be more potent.” She shrugged. “I didn’t have much left in my Yogos by the time Cheyanne had to leave, so I wasn’t able to devote much healing energy to you. But now, it’s retreating as if it’s being pushed out rather than simply fading the way it did with me.”
