A Kingdom of Shadow

by Clara Johnson

  “King Fendrel, how may I help you?” I inquired, hoping he was on his way to Jared and had just happened to run into me. There was no doubt that he’d heard of the attack and wanted confirmation that the situation would be handled and wouldn’t spread to his lands. I imagined the conversation between the two of them would be much worse than our own, but maybe it was a good thing. Jared would be forced to think of Isilda as well of the danger.

  “Actually, I think I may be the one to help you, my dear,” he purred, placing the canteen on the railing. I wiped my mouth quickly.

  “And how is that, Your Majesty?” I adjusted my shirt, uninterested.

  “I know what happened in Mightrun. I know you killed your fair share of the inferniwulves. I also know that you’re ill. Very ill.”

  My mind raced as I tried to figure out who could’ve told him. The better question was: why did he know? Does he know the truth?

  “I have been for over a week, Your Majesty, but it’s just a bad cold. I’m getting better. It will go away with rest and time.” I assumed everyone in the palace probably knew about my illness, but it concerned me as to how he found out. Does he have a spy here at Jared’s palace?

  “I know the truth. You have your brother’s sickness. You will die soon here I believe. You have grown worse, especially since the battle. Your body has been through more strain causing your illness to accelerate,”

  My eyes widened. How could he . . .

  “How could you possibly—”

  “I know, my dear because I have been watching you closely.”

  My anger rose and my hands curled into fists. What business my condition of his? He had no right to invade my privacy. He was not my friend and he was not my ally. What could he have possibly gained? It is because of Jared’s life debt to me? I had no power over him and Fendrel will see that for himself if need be.

  “You—”

  He held up a hand. “I have no interest in arguing with you, Ellyn. I’ll explain everything.”

  I shut my mouth, but couldn’t help glaring at him. He’d better not waste my time or try to anything foolish.

  He let out a breath that told me he knew to be careful with his words. I crossed my arms, standing firm.

  “To begin, I knew about the inferniwulves that Jared was hunting. I was hunting them myself. Well, more like observing his hunt.”

  I raised an eyebrow.

  “You see, I have been arguing with him for over two years that they were getting out of control and that they would grow brains and find a way past his oh-so-perfect barriers. As you know, they did find a way through them and it cost your brother his life.”

  I winced at the memory then pushed it aside. I didn’t need to be reminded of what I’d lost right now.

  “You were hurt by them and survived. Not only that, but you suffered no ill effects from their bite. That has never happened before. You intrigued me, Ellyn.” A smile spread across his face.

  I suddenly had the urge to punch that perfect smile off his face. Instead, I scoffed, rolling my eyes.

  He pulled down the side of my loose shirt to reveal the old injury on my shoulder.

  “You see? It is as if it were nothing more than a nibble.”

  I shoved his hand away and moved my shirt back into place. How dare he? Had he no respect? If he touched me again, I will snap.

  How disrespectful. Can he not even respect a woman’s privacy to her own body? If he touches me again, I will snap.

  As if reading my mind, he spoke.

  “I meant no disrespect, my dear. I meant to only help you understand what my reasoning is for watching you. Anyone who suffers the bite of an inferniwulf is lucky to last a week. Your friend Jonas may not recover from his injury.”

  Jonas . . . he may die? But I saw him earlier, he was recovering! A week? No, no, I couldn’t lose him too. My eyes watered. No, not Jonas. I covered my mouth with my hand to hold back a sob and turned away from King Fendrel so he wouldn’t see my tears.

  “I want to help you, Ellyn. And I can help you. You’re scared for your friend’s life and as well as the life of others who will suffer the Darkness’s wraith. In truth, you may be the key to stopping it.” His voice had grown low as if he was talking to himself more than me.

  “What are you talking about?” I snapped.

  He took a deep breath, considering. “Like I said, you didn’t suffer the ill effects of the inferniwulves’ bite. It may be the sign I have searched for to bring down the Darkness once and for all.”

  I whirled, astonished by what he said. I didn’t respond right away, but I watched him carefully. Looking for any sign that he may be lying, but I found nothing. There was no twitch, no sign of deceit. Despite the suddenness of all this, I somehow believed him and that is what worried me most. If he was playing a game, I’d walked right into his trap, but there was nothing in his eyes to tell me so.

  I considered leaving right then and there, but my feet froze in place. He had a plan to stop the Darkness. He claimed to have been searching for a way to defeat it. Jared had only tried to deny that it was even an issue. Barriers to block them and keep them out of sight. Until now.

  “What are you suggesting?” I asked, trying to calm my breathing. If there was a chance I could end all of this before others got hurt . . . If I could find a way to save Jonas . . .

  His piercing blue eyes went straight to my own. His smile was long gone and had waited for me to ask. I waited patiently for his plan.

  “There is a fountain—well three to be exact—where if you consume the blood vial contained in them, you will gain the Darkness’s powers and potentially control it. It would also cure you of your illness. It protects its own and by drinking it, you would become part of it.”

  This plan was insane. I resisted the urge to laugh in his face. Did he think of me as a fool? A fountain? A magic vial that would not only cure me but potentially give me the power to control the Darkness itself? Perhaps I was not the mad one here after all.

  I scoffed and tried to walk away, but he stopped me. “I know how it sounds, but the fountain is real. I have sent many men and women to drink from it and they all perished. You may be the one who won’t.”

  “Then why haven’t you tried? Why send your people to die for you when you clearly—”

  “Because of this.” He opened his shirt to reveal a mark. It was circular with a clear line marking in the shape of a distorted S. It looked as though it had been burned into his chest. “I can’t drink the vial because I was marked to never take the power of the Darkness. If I attempt it, I will die the moment it touches my lips.”

  “Why?” I asked reaching my hand out to touch the mark.

  He closed his shirt, gripping the material firmly. “I may tell you one day, but I must know if you will help me. If I’m right then it won’t only cure you but it would give you the power to save him.”

  I knew who he meant. He somehow knew what Jonas meant to me and it was irritating that he could hold that against me. But what if he was right? My wounds had healed but I assumed it was something Mia had done when she’d cared for me. What if he was right, and there was another reason?

  Jonas’s wound, though, had those trails of blackness under his skin. As if it were traveling through his own blood to the rest of his body. I’d assume it was an infection, but if King Fendrel was right, it was more than an infection—it was a death sentence.

  The inferniwulves must’ve had some type of poison in their fangs. A power to kill their enemies even if all it took was a single bite on their victims.

  “Let’s suppose that I believe you, what would I have to do?”

  “You would come with me back to my kingdom tomorrow so I may take you Gnotah Peak. It’s about a two-day journey. There is a cave within it. It’s hidden, but I know where it is. There’s one of the fountains where you’ll find the vial containing the blood of the Darkness. You’ll drink it and you’ll survive,” he said. There
was no disbelief in his voice.

  If I went with him, Jared couldn’t be told of this because if he knew, he’d lock me in my room for sure and blame King Fendrel for putting this in my head. No, this was a choice I would make myself.

  I’d have to leave my mother and Jonas behind. Drinking that vial could kill me, but there was a chance that it wouldn’t. There was no doubt in King Fendrel’s voice. He truly believed I’d survive. But if I died, I would’ve lost any remaining time I had with Jonas. I wouldn’t be able to tell him how I felt or the truth of my condition.

  Was it worth the risk? To save Jonas was without question, but in doing so I may get killed in the process and he would die shortly after me. We would both be dead by that point. My time was short as it is and I didn’t want to spend it laying in a bed waiting for death to reach its claws into me and take me. If I survived, I could save both of us. I would have the power to maybe save everyone else at stake.

  Would I be a fool not to take the chance? I would be dead no matter what happened—whether it be tomorrow or weeks from now. And even if I didn’t survive, I knew Mother would be taken care of, Jared would see to that. And Jonas . . .

  Jonas . . . he was all that mattered. If I must die, then I will die knowing I did everything possible to save him. His life was worth more than my own.

  “When do we leave?”

  CHAPTER 26

  I went to see Mother the following morning. After my discussion with King Fendrel, I wanted to give her one last goodbye in case the worst should happen. And if it did, my mother would be by herself, losing all of her children. Although, she hadn’t been a great mother to me, I still struggled to step near her door.

  I’d have to lie to tell her, telling her that I’d simply be gone for a couple days visiting King Fendrel’s palace. While it wasn’t a complete lie, I couldn’t tell her my reasoning behind it. If she had known about the severity of my illness, she may not let me leave. Or perhaps, she wouldn’t care. Either way, I didn’t want to see her reaction.

  Her bedroom door was cracked open, but I knocked anyway. She appeared within a moment, asked me to come in, and I sat in a chair beside her.

  When I told her about my leave, she took it gracefully, after I insisted I was well enough for it. A smile spread across her wrinkled cheeks. “When you return, we need to go shopping, Ellyn. I bet there are all types of things we could get to decorate our rooms. Perhaps we can find you a pretty dress or one of those books you like,” she said.

  “Maybe we can find you a pretty dress. Or fabric so you can make more of your blankets. I’m sure there is a merchant who sells them.”

  “Oh, that would be lovely!” She clapped her hands together.

  When I was ready to leave, I’d given my mother a hug. This could be the last time I’d be near her. My heart weighed heavier at the thought. She was my only remaining family, as I was hers. How would she feel if I was lost to her as well? What would become of her? I could trust Jared to take care of her, but he could do nothing to replace her children. As I tightened my hold, her lavender perfume filled my nose.

  “I love you, Mother,” I muttered. She said nothing for a long moment rubbing my back as if she knew I was leaving for good.

  “I love you, too.”

  We released and I stared at her, unsure of what else to say. The pull on my heart told me to say more, but the words failed to reach my lips. She’d given me a small, yet, sad smile. It seemed in her own way, she was saying goodbye as well and it made me want to take back my decision to leave. The last thing I wanted was for my mother to be left alone.

  And this was the first of several goodbyes I’d make today.

  My next was with Mia. I’d tell her a similar story, but insist that I was ready for traveling. I didn’t look forward to the ride to Isilda, but there was little choice at this moment. We’d have to ride on horseback to prevent any unwelcomed parties and with the state I was in, time was of the essence. We had to get there as soon as possible.

  Mia brought simple sandwiches and tea to join me for lunch in my room. When I told her I was leaving, she wasn’t happy about it. To say the least.

  “You can’t just up and leave when part of you is all stitched up!” she yelled. She put down her tea, glaring at me as if she was deciding whether to choke me or slap me again. I understood why Jonas was scared of this woman.

  “I’ll not have you traveling in your state. You could’ve died during that attack on Mightrun and I will not let you get hurt now.” She placed her hands on her hips.

  “Mia, I will be with King Fendrel. He has a doctor at the palace waiting for my arrival. He thought it would be a good idea for me to leave for a bit while I try to recover. That way I’m not here when further reports come in.”

  I lowered my gaze from hers. “A lot of men died that day and I can still see them—screaming as the inferniwulves bit down on their flesh. See their faces. Their blood splattered on the battleground.”

  I prayed to the Goddess that they’d found peace within her kingdom and that their souls were free from any pain. I prayed that their families would have strength in this perilous time. It wasn’t enough. No amount of my prayers would help their families. All I could do was find a way to avenge them.

  Mia remained silent, crossing her arms.

  I met her glare. “I have to go for the sake of my health. I have been through too much death lately. With my brother and now Jonas . . . I can’t bear to see him suffer. It will only be for a few days while I recuperate.”

  “You’re being selfish,” she snapped. “I know that boy has his eye for you. Are you going to leave him to die while you run off to get some relaxation with His Majesty?”

  I flinched, even though I knew it wasn’t true. If only I could tell her the truth that I was doing this to save him. For the chance to save Jonas, I’d do it even if it cost me my life.

  “I don’t share his feelings towards me,” I lied, my voice threatening to crack. “He’s a good friend and I doubt he would want me to stay in the palace being haunted by ghosts. King Fendrel wants to help me adjust to what all has happened.”

  Mia stood her ground, unmoved.

  She knew I was lying, and any other lie I could conjure would fail before it left my lips. She proved to be more stubborn that I’d originally thought. I had to tell her something of the truth.

  “Okay.” I sighed, setting my tea down.

  “The truth is that Fendrel says he may know a way to save my life.”

  Mia’s eyes sparked. She sat back down in the chair beside me.

  She would think me mad if I told her how this potential cure would be administered. I had to come up with something else.

  “He told me that he has a doctor who may know how to cure me, but he needs to see me to administer the tests. If I’m lucky, I will gain, at least, more time in my life. Yes, your right, it is selfish of me, but I don’t want to die in a few weeks, Mia. With the blood loss, I suffered there is a big chance that my time got cut even shorter now. If there is a chance, even a small one—”

  “No, I understand now,” she said. I looked up at her, and she took my hand, gripping it gently. “I understand the desire to live, but just remember that the boy in that infirmary saved your life.”

  “We saved each other.”

  She sighed. “He loves you, and if you’re gone when he wakes up, he’ll want to know where you are.”

  “I plan to come back as soon as possible. He doesn’t know, Mia. Please don’t tell him. Don’t tell him about my condition,” I begged.

  “And why not? You think he will love you less if he knew? It would only—”

  “I don’t want him to know. Not yet, anyway. If this doctor manages to give me more time. I will spend it by his bedside. Even if it’s just to talk to him or read him a story. I swear, I don’t plan on abandoning him, Mia,” I said.

  She looked at me curiously as if considering something.

  “You
love him as well then.”

  Without responding, I got up to walk to the door. She watched my every move as if that would tell her my answer. I gripped the handle, hesitating. I’d come here to say goodbye. To thank her for everything she’d done for me. To tell her that I loved her as a mother and would forever be grateful for her. This should never have been a debate about my feelings for Jonas or the situation, but somehow, I couldn’t find the words. I mentally kicked myself for my stupidity.

  “Mia,” I began, “please inform His Majesty of my journey. I imagine he’s too busy today to meet with me on such short notice. He’s not aware of my condition, but you may tell him. I suppose he has a right to know.”

  “It will be done, my lady,” she said.

  “And Mia,” I added.

  “Yes?”

  “Thank you . . . for everything.” And then I left.

  ~ * ~

  I made my way to the infirmary to see Jonas one last time before I left. My legs moved despite the anxiety that crept within me—and the guilt. My stomach turned at the thought that I was abandoning him to his fate, even though I knew it wasn’t true. I was doing everything possible to cure him. And there was nothing I could do for him. All that could be done was to make sure he was comfortable.

  Jonas had a full-time nursemaid by him to monitor his progress. She asked about my wound. I showed it to her and she complimented Mia’s handiwork. She applied some ointment to it, stating it would help the healing progress. I thanked her and asked for Jonas. He had stayed asleep for the most part. He awoke once then passed out within seconds. I walked up to his bed side. He laid there, unknown of everything around him. He looked worse today. His skin was paler, his lips lost its color, and his forehead was covered in sweat, glistening in the light. The injured leg bandaged with a new cloth.