Shadow Magic

by Joshua Khan

  “Tell me what?” He was desperate now.

  Please let Hades be all right.

  “Duke Solar was furious. He complained to Uncle Pan and…Uncle Pan’s weak. It’s not his fault.”

  Ice ran through Thorn’s veins. “Where’s Hades?”

  “He got rid of him.”

  “Rid of him? What do you mean?”

  Lily bit her lip. “You know what I mean.”

  Thorn shoved Lily aside and ran.

  Murk Hall was empty except for a few bats flitting high in the roof, as lost and aimless as Thorn.

  They were looking for Hades, too.

  A few minutes later, Lily stumbled in behind him. “I’m sorry, Thorn. I really am.”

  Thorn stared at the emptiness. He stared and stared. Stared until he felt dizzy, trying to gaze into the darkness, hoping to see the curve of a giant wing, the bristles of black fur, or the shape of a claw or fang. But there was nothing in the darkness now.

  Hades was gone.

  Lily hugged him.

  How could it have gone so wrong? He stood stiffly in Lily’s embrace, getting no comfort from her closeness. Hades was gone. The man who might be his father was gone. Tomorrow Lily would be gone. The day after that, K’leef would die, and where would that leave him?

  “Let me go home, Lily.”

  She looked at him; their faces were inches apart. “Tyburn will come after you. I won’t be able to stop him.”

  “Let me find my dad. He’s innocent, Lily. I can’t prove it, but I know it. Just like K’leef.”

  Lily wiped a tear from his eye and nodded. “Then you must save them both.”

  “There’s nothing I can do for K’leef. Tyburn doubled his guard.”

  “There are ways in and out of the cells that only I know about, Thorn. I’ll help you. Take K’leef and go.”

  “You’ll do that, for me? For K’leef?”

  “You’re my only friends, Thorn. You must know that.”

  He did, now. “I ain’t got none better.” Then he grabbed her hand as an insane idea sprang into his head. “Why don’t you come with us?”

  Lily laughed. “It’ll be hard enough escaping with Tyburn chasing after you. If I go, you’ll also have Duke Solar and his paladins on the hunt. No, I’ll stay and do my duty.”

  “You’ll be Solar’s prisoner, Lily. You said so yourself.”

  “But there will be peace.” She sighed. “The menagerie will be headed for Port Charon. The ship sails tomorrow night. Your father, if it is your father, will want to take that ship. It passes near Herne’s Forest on its journey south.”

  And if I don’t reach him, he’ll head home, not knowing that Tyburn’s men are waiting for him.

  Thorn still hesitated. “What about the scarred man? You ain’t safe here, Lily. Come with us.”

  “Not safe? The scarred man has a very unique face, so he should be easy to spot, if he is foolish enough to come within ten miles of here. I have my Black Guard. Baron Sable and all the other nobles of Gehenna, every one of them has sworn to protect House Shadow to the bitter end. And the Solars won’t risk me getting a hair out of place. Finally, there’s Uncle Pan. He’s always taken care of me.” She smiled, seeing the disbelief on Thorn’s face. “He may not be the hero he once was, but he still cares about me and my welfare.” She stepped back and fixed her dress. “Get two horses saddled. You’ll be leaving in a hurry.”

  Thorn still held her hand. “I have to say good-bye, but I don’t know how.”

  “Like this.” Lily kissed him. Her lips lingered on his long enough for him to take in her breath and her scent. It was dark and of roses. Then she stepped away.

  “Good-bye, Thorn.” Lily joined the shadows and was gone.

  Once again, Thorn didn’t pack much. Food and water for them both, some blankets, and besides that, he just went with the clothes on his back, a bow, and a quiver of arrows. They needed to move quickly if they wanted to catch up with the zoo. And save his dad. If the man was his dad.

  If, if, if…

  And if he wasn’t? They were still going home.

  It was an hour after midnight when the stable door opened and a cloaked figure entered.

  Thorn watched silently from the darkness.

  The figure searched around, then snapped his fingers.

  The lanterns hanging from the rafter flared into life.

  Only one person Thorn knew could do that. He stepped out. “I’ve been waiting.”

  K’leef lowered his hood and smiled. Then he crushed Thorn in a bearlike embrace. There was muscle under that padding of flesh. “Thank you.”

  “Thank me when we’re home.”

  “I can almost feel the sand between my toes already. My father will fill your pockets with rubies for this, Thorn.”

  “That ain’t why I’m doing it.”

  “I know, but it’s better to have gems in your pockets than air.”

  “Sounds like the sort of thing my grandpa would say.”

  K’leef spread out his arms. “I must look ridiculous. Dressed in this…color.”

  He was wearing a squire’s black hand-me-downs, just like Thorn.

  “It looks all right.” Thorn didn’t know much about fashion. He led out a beautiful pearl-white mare. “Your horse, m’lord.”

  “Isn’t this Gabriel’s?”

  “So?”

  “They’ll hang you, Thorn.”

  “They’ll have to catch me first.” Thorn led out Thunder. He was going to take Tyburn’s own horse. The executioner owed him that, at least. “Did Lily say anything about how to get past the gates?”

  “Yes. We’re to take Skeleton Gate. There are only two guards there at this time of night, and she left them a barrel of ale.” K’leef didn’t look confident. “Getting out is one thing, but the castle’s surrounded. There are thousands of people camped outside because of Halloween. Someone’s bound to spot us.”

  “Not if we go via the City of Silence,” said Thorn. “No one has camped anywhere near the graveyard.”

  “And for good reason. You know the stories, about Halloween being the night the dead walk out of their graves.”

  “Halloween’s tomorrow, K’leef, and by then we’ll be a long way from here.”

  Thorn looked around the stables for the last time.

  This weren’t meant to end like this. Me sneaking out like a thief.

  He wasn’t sad about leaving, not really. He wanted to get far away from the cruel people who had killed Hades. But he did have one regret.

  He wished he could write. He wanted to leave Lily something.

  He took off his acorn amulet. Thorn couldn’t remember a time he hadn’t worn it. He hooked it over a nail.

  K’leef smiled sympathetically. “Let’s go home, Thorn.”

  Halloween morning dawned bright and clear. Mary declared there wasn’t a cloud in the sky and it would be a beautiful night for the masquerade, deep with countless stars and crowned by a crescent moon. Lily dragged herself through a miserable series of pointless duties. Nobles were greeted. Presents accepted. The kitchens visited, and the cooks and chefs congratulated on the roasting sheep and pies and endless platters of cheeses, cold meats, cakes, and tarts. Now she stood up on a stool, arms spread out to either side like a scarecrow while Mary, pins locked in her lips, made a few more adjustments to her ball gown.

  Three maids fussed and whirled around the room collecting ribbons and threads. Each was more excited than the other. The whole castle celebrated the masquerade, and most would have preferred to spend all year preparing their dresses and making their masks.

  “We’ve cleared the bats out of the Stygian suites,” said Mary. “Lord Ebon and his family are staying there tonight.”

  “Lord Ebon?”

  “Yes. You know, the one who had that unfortunate vampire problem a few years ago?”

  “Didn’t Father stake half his family?”

  “I wouldn’t mention that. He’s still very sensitive about it.”

>   Lily looked around her room and at the chests filled with her belongings. Three massive oaken crates held all her clothes, and there were smaller ironbound boxes for her jewelry and other valuables. Half the furniture was already on wagons, the rest covered in sheets to keep off the dust and cobwebs. Mary had it all listed in her red ledger, now open on the dressing table.

  “I can’t believe I’m actually leaving,” Lily said. “What would Father think?”

  “He’d think you’re safe. For all his faults, Duke Solar will protect you.”

  Lily had once thought that magic would save her country. She had the potential to be a great sorcerer—more powerful than anyone else here, maybe even more than the duke. But what she’d experienced with Rose had scared her to her very soul. Magic wasn’t a gift; it was a curse. She would never use it again.

  Now she realized the best way to save Gehenna was to leave. Lily was the last Shadow.

  She wished she was dead. “Maybe they’re right. I can’t protect my people. Maybe the duke and his paladins will do a better job.”

  “Rulership wasn’t meant for you, Lily. You’re just a—”

  “Girl?”

  Mary scowled. “What I was going to say was that you’re just a child. By the Six, I know I couldn’t cope. Organizing a handful of silly maids is more than enough for me.”

  “Organize silly maids? You run Castle Gloom,” said Lily. “Ever since Mother died it’s been you, doing everything.”

  “I wouldn’t say everything.”

  “It’s true. I’ve passed your room late at night and seen the candles burning. You hunched over the red ledger, scratching away at sums and lists and who’s delivered what and how many sacks of flour goes to which village. How did you learn it all?”

  “’Twas easy, child. I just watched your mother.”

  Lily stifled a sudden spike of sadness. She’d relied so much on Mary her whole life and hadn’t really noticed. It was like air—you never think about it but need it more than anything. You only miss it when it’s gone. “You’ll take care of things here when I’m…when I’m not around?”

  “What nonsense is that? I’m coming with you. Never heard anything so ridiculous.” She patted the ring of keys hanging from her belt. “It’ll be a relief not to carry these anymore. Let the steward run things from now on.”

  Lily squeezed her nanny’s hand. “Thank you, Mary.”

  Mary added a few more pins to the folds. “Heard a strange thing this morning. The guards were all in a flutter. About the sultan’s son.”

  Lily put on her most nonchalant expression. “Oh?”

  “He’s escaped.”

  “Gosh,” said Lily. She glanced down at Mary and met a fierce, accusing gaze. She decided to inspect the ceiling. For cobwebs and such. “That is strange news. Look, I think the cleaner’s missed a bit.”

  Mary continued. “Disappeared. Poof, like a cloud of smoke. The jailer’s beside himself. Swears he saw the young K’leef reading a book at midnight. Then, at dawn, he brings breakfast and the cell’s empty.”

  “K’leef is a sorcerer. He might have used magic.”

  “You know as well as anyone that the cells are barred with cold iron. No magic can get in or out.” Mary shrugged. “And he took Thorn with him. Thought you might want to know.”

  “Really? Thorn and K’leef have left? That is news. To me. Because how would I know that? At all? I think it’s—ow!”

  “Sorry, did I stab you with this little needle? Oh, dear. My eyesight isn’t what it used to be.”

  “You’re a horrible old woman.”

  Mary took out a small wooden amulet and dangled it in front of Lily’s nose. “Thorn left this behind. I wonder why.”

  Lily laid it on her palm and drew her fingernail over the delicate acorn design. Thorn’s dad had made this. It was a single piece of wood, its surface oiled and shiny by constant touching. It meant everything to Thorn, and there was no way he would have forgotten it. She held it up. “Put it on me.”

  “Lily…”

  “Please, Mary.”

  Lily lifted up her hair as Mary knotted the string. The amulet rested just below her neck, where everyone could see it. “I’m glad they got away,” she said.

  Mary frowned. “It won’t do either of them any good. I saw Tyburn gallop off an hour ago.”

  “He’ll have a hard time catching them. They had a night’s head start.” Lily paused. “That’s assuming they left around midnight. Not that I would know anything about that.”

  “Those boys won’t get far, Lily. Them escaping like that only makes things worse.”

  “I doubt it. K’leef’s due to be executed tomorrow, remember?”

  Mary paled. “You’re right. Maybe they will get away. Let’s hope so.” She collected a fistful of pins from the dressing table. “Now turn around. We need to fasten your train and only have eight hours left to do it.”

  “That’s the third patrol in as many hours,” said K’leef. “Do you think they’re looking for us?”

  “What kind of fool question is that?” Thorn answered. “Of course they are.”

  “But you planned for that, right?”

  Thorn twisted around. “How come it’s suddenly all up to me?”

  “I’m a noble, Thorn. I delegate.”

  “You mean pass the hard work down to us peasants?”

  “Well…yes.”

  They lay in a ditch thirty yards off the main road, eyes on the Black Guard horsemen galloping past. Thorn rested his chin on his fist as he watched the horses kick up leaves and mud in their haste and disappear around the bend.

  “They’re headed south to reinforce the crossing points,” said K’leef. “How are we going to get out of Gehenna now?”

  “I don’t know. Yet.” And why had he stolen Gabriel’s horse? The beast was so white it practically glowed. If any of the horsemen had even glanced to the right they’d have spotted it, standing among the trees and utterly failing to blend in with anything.

  He’d stolen it to spite Gabriel. Which now seemed pretty stupid. He’d stolen Thunder to spite Tyburn. Which made him stupid twice over.

  He glanced up through the canopy. The sun was out, rare enough here, and tipping over to the afternoon. Another two hours and the shadows would lengthen; another hour after that, darkness would hurry down out of the sky. Their head start had evaporated into nothing.

  That was the problem with escaping at night. Sure, you could creep out without being seen, but you had to move slowly. Galloping through woods in the dark didn’t promise extra miles; it promised a stumble, fall, and broken neck.

  “We need to venture farther into the woods. Stay away from the road.” He got up and brushed the leaves off his tunic.

  “But that takes us farther from the crossing.” K’leef gathered his gear and remounted the white horse. “I studied the maps of Gehenna once. The only way across the river is Bone Bridge, and it’s at the end of this road.”

  “And it will have fifty guards on it. No, we stay southbound and cross the river downstream. Either we find a boat or just wade across.”

  K’leef shook his head vigorously. “I can’t wade across. What if I fall in?”

  “So what? You just swim to the bank.”

  “Swim? When would I have learned to swim? I grew up in the desert, Thorn.”

  “You are not making this any easier.” Thorn mounted Thunder. He jerked the reins and faced into the deeper woods. “We’re wasting time.”

  The ride took longer than Thorn had planned, and the sun was dipping behind the horizon by the time they reached River Styx.

  K’leef sat on the white horse, staring at the churning white waters. “I’m not crossing that.”

  “I’ll admit it is a little fast-flowing,” offered Thorn.

  A tree trunk, ripped off the bank somewhere upstream, spun past and smashed against the rocks that jutted across the river’s width. The crack of the shattering wood was louder than mountain thunder.

&
nbsp; K’leef gulped loudly, and his horse skittered back from the bank. Its eyes rolled with terror, and it pulled fiercely against its reins.

  “That horse is just like Gabriel,” said Thorn. “Spoiled and a coward.”

  K’leef managed to bring it under control and brought it next to Thunder. The black warhorse stood as immobile as rock on the river’s edge, but Thorn felt a tremor through his flanks. Thorn patted his neck. “You can swim that easy, can’t you?”

  Thunder snorted. It sounded like a maybe.

  K’leef searched along the bank. “Let’s try farther down. Maybe we can find a kindly fisherman with a boat. Or a couple of beautiful mermaids to carry us across.”

  “We ain’t got time. Lily said the ship sails tonight. We’ve got two hours, maybe three, to get to Port Charon and find my dad.”

  “If it is your dad.”

  “It makes no difference. We cross here. Throw me your reins and I’ll wrap them around my saddle pommel. Thunder will lead. You just hang on.” He nudged Thunder forward. The horse hesitated, then slowly, carefully, picked his way down the bank.

  The noise of the river was deafening. It shook Thorn’s bones, and the water was freezing cold. He gritted his teeth as Thunder sank in farther, down to his chest. Broken twigs and branches flew past, and the horse fought against the fury of the current and the uneven, stony riverbed. Thunder slipped and neighed as he struggled to regain his footing. Thorn gasped as water crashed over him. He shook it out of his eyes and panted. His fingers were locked around the reins. He looked back.

  K’leef sat pale and terrified on the white horse that was tossing its head and tugging to break free. It bucked and K’leef bounced up and down on the saddle. Then he caught Thorn looking at him and gave a grin that did nothing to hide the terror in his eyes.

  White foam blinded Thorn, but he reckoned they were about twenty yards across. Another fifty to go.

  Maybe sixty.

  “Thorn!”

  K’leef’s shout came too late. The panicked white horse had pulled back hard on the reins. Thunder whinnied, slipped, and fell, taking Thorn under with him.