The Royal Assassin: Shadows of Myst

by Shireen Nemnich

  I feel her quickly awaken and she rises, veiling herself. She shifts directly behind me shocking everyone that she can shift through shadows. Her hand slips around my waist and her other hand touches Shade. Instantly he leans into her and I feel his hand slide up to her hair and he gently strokes her silken threads. I feel his flood of relief and it’s the most calming balm I could have ever given him.

  Phantom hisses now that they both are under my protection. “You will regret this!” he hisses again to me then turns leaving inside a shadow. I turn to the twins and I wave them off. Shadowen parts a shadow dragging Shade through. I feel she has taken him to the parlor so she can talk with him.

  I nod to Kinrith and Azreal the Nightelf servants my father sent over and they both bow slightly before entering my home. I invite both the Royal Magistrate and the Royal Conjurer in for refreshments. They both come in and we meet in my private parlor. I’ve never spent much time with the Royal Conjurer before although I have met her occasionally.

  We are seated when Shadowen shifts in and promptly rushes over to me. I feel her excitement and I can’t help but respond to her. She doesn’t even care that there is company. She wraps her arms around my waist hugging me tightly. I stroke her back lightly and she finally releases me to shift right back to Shade.

  The Royal Magistrate’s voice is a little more relaxed, “I see you have worked out those issues from a few years ago.”

  I chuckle, “We have.”

  He chuckles too but the Royal Conjurer shifts her body weight in her seat. Her voice is soft and smooth now that she is no longer in the midst of casting spells. “Now that it's settled that Shade will reside with you. I would like to take him as an apprentice, he has agreed to this, so what are your thoughts on this matter?”

  “I have no thoughts on the matter. He should do as he desires.” I say.

  “I'm not sure you are aware, but Shade is very special.”

  “So is his sister, I assure you.” I say smoothly.

  “I'm sure she is, but I say that Shade is special because he will be my apprentice but not just for training to be a conjurer, but to become the Royal Conjurer. It is not well known but I cannot bear children so I've chosen him to be the Royal Conjurer.” I know instantly Mysteria is the one who chose him so I only nod.

  It troubles me though that another Mystic is unable to produce a child. I know the Royal House started an investigation about ten years ago when it was discovered that children are not being born to any of the houses.

  The Royal Conjurer stands up capturing my attention. Her voice is smooth, “At some point he will need to come stay with me but for now it is best he stays here. I believe he is in need of healing and I do not mean physically. I think we all felt his instant connection to his sister the moment she touched him.” The Magistrate and both nod in agreement.

  I watch her face lift to the left of me and I wonder if she is having a vision when she becomes quiet. But if she is she will not speak of it. She tilts her veiled head back to me saying, “Very well. I will expect him first thing in the morning to start his training.”

  We see her out and the Royal Magistrate turns to me. “Would it be an imposition to… see them before I leave?”

  “Not at all. I believe you will find them in the main living area now.” We move through the corridor and before the large glass doors that leads to the veranda, Shadowen is seated on the floor with Shade lying next to her, his head in her lap. Neither is speaking but both of us see their magic dancing and mingling with each other. I’m sure the Magistrate knows as well as I do that they are talking just not with their voices.

  He doesn’t move forward but stands there quietly watching them. I spent many hours watching the two of them when they were young and I always wondered about their connection but now I can feel it through Shadowen. She tilts her head back and I feel her magic sweep to me and I smile. She is filled with such joy and this joy is worth everything.

  I turn to the Magistrate, “Do you plan on telling them?”

  “Tell them what a foolish man I am?” he asks. “No. But I'm curious if you will.”

  I think it over a moment then say, “No. It's not my place, but I think in some way they know.”

  “Perhaps, but either way, let us not speak of it until they do.”

  I nod. “Agreed.” The Magistrate nods to me and I see him out. I then turn my attention to the new servants and get things in motion. I know I will have to start training Shadowen soon. We've done some training but it's been very simple strengthening exercises. Increasing her endurance and slowing her thoughts but now more aggressive training needs to begin. Shade will be busy with his apprenticeship and there just will not be enough time to do the chores around the house.

  I also will need to visit the Royal Court and place my blade back up for the ready. While Shadowen and I were in such turmoil with Phantom I placed my blade on hold, which was very much understood. Her protection was very much warranted. But now things must move forward. She is my consort and we are growing closer every day. Nothing will stop or break our bond.

  Fourteen

  Months have passed since Shade and the new servants moved in. We seem to have adjusted to the new situation. I must admit I truly enjoyed it just being Shadowen and myself the last few years. Not having to walk around fully veiled in my home and not having to dress at all sometimes had certain advantages as well. However those days are gone, for now.

  I had forgotten what it was like to make love in a house full of people and I had to interrupt our first night together to rush down and sooth everyone before I could return and finish what Shadowen and I had started.

  Magical couplings can take an entire household right down the passion trail. It's not exactly bad, but if people are not coupled it can lead to disastrous effects. People linking together not because of their own feelings or passion but because the magic must be sated in everyone. I wasn't about to do that to my household with Shade and two new servants.

  Once I soothed them I cast a calming spell over Shadowen's and my love making. It should last for a few months before I will have to redo it. Now our love making is between us and doesn't involve anyone else.

  I notice this morning that Shadowen is restless. I can't exactly feel what it is that is making her so restless. But she is also avoiding me busying herself with house chores, which she rarely does. I decide to allow her some space. She will come to me when she needs me. I should allow her time and not always run and try to solve everything for her.

  She is back in her old room and I would not think anything about it because we gave this room to Shade to use, but he is out with the Royal Conjurer. I put down my papers and pull my veil down over my face. I touch a shadow and instantly I'm standing behind Shadowen. She has her veil in her hand and she is staring in the long-standing mirror in here. “What is it?” I ask.

  She turns slightly looking at her profile. “Do you think I look fat?”

  “Fat?” I ask at her odd question.

  “Yes, do you think I look fat?”

  “What an odd thing to say. You are perfect.” I say pulling her to me, but she presses me back.

  “I do not look the same in this mirror than the mirror in our room.” She turns again looking at her image.

  “This bothers you?”

  “Yes.”

  I run my hand along the mirror and reach out with my darkness. Just as I thought. “Shade has cast a spell on it.”

  “One to make me look fat when I look in it?” She asks and I can hear a note of irritation in her voice causing me to smile.

  I run my hand over it again to see if I can find the spell. I quickly lift my hand from it. “He's cast a seer spell on it. Don't look in it Shadowen.” I say pulling her away from it.

  “So I'm going to be fat?” She asks.

  “No little one. Come let us leave his room.” I wrap my arms around her basically forcing her to move out of the room with me as I walk. I move us to our bedroom and I close t
he door. She turns around as I remove my veil. “You are not fat and you were not seeing your body fat in that mirror.”

  “I wasn't? It sure looked that way to me.”

  “The seer spell is different and I can't exactly explain it but you were seeing your fear of the future. You are probably worried you are getting fat with all the swey-cakes I feed you and so the spell sees this as a future event.”

  “Do I look fat?” she asks.

  “No. You are perfect.” I touch her gently and she easily falls into my embrace and before I can stop myself my magic is removing our clothes and I have her under me on the bed. I would have thought by now my sudden need to be joined to her would ease. But it's not easing in the least. I touch her, taste her and suddenly I'm engulfed with need of her. She never hesitates or denies my hunger for her. She incredibly matches it with fire and passion that only encourages me more and yet she still holds this small part away from me. The part of her I want most is what I cannot seem to reach, her soul.

  I'm drowning in her sweet magic and her sweet body and I never want to come up for air. I will do more than drown within this beautiful woman and stay for eternity. Yet when I hear and feel her body screaming passionately in ecstasy she pulls me right along with her and once again I am amazed she is here with me and I have been blessed with her.

  We are lying in each others arms when we feel Shade return and to my shock he comes right into our bedroom. I magically pull the covers over us and he acts as if he doesn't even notice. I'm about to say something but he further shocks me by pulling Shadowen up and he hugs her so tightly that I think he might be hurting her. Her joy is apparent right along with his so I allow this. He's not speaking aloud and neither is Shadowen but they are definitely speaking to each other.

  Just as quickly as he arrived to our bedroom he leaves. Shadowen lays back in my arms her head against my chest. I feel her hesitation and just as soon as Shade is far enough away she relaxes and now she shares her fear. Fear of him leaving for the surface.

  “Shadowen, why are you so afraid?”

  “He should not go to the surface.”

  “He will be safe.”

  “I cannot go with him.”

  “Do you want to go?”

  She lifts her head up looking up at me and I see the lines along her brow. “I cannot go to the surface and he shouldn't go. Bad things happen on the surface.”

  “Shadowen, bad things happen everywhere.”

  “We die on the surface and can never come home.”

  “I very much doubt Shade or you will die on the surface.” She quickly rolls over and now anger is streaming from her. I reach for her but she pulls away sitting up. “Why are you so angry?”

  “You do not understand.” She moves away reaching for her clothes.

  “Don't be angry with me; explain it to me, so I will understand.” I move with her now because I feel her pulling away from me not just physically. “Shadowen!” I reach her before she touches a shadow. “Do not leave like this.” There is pain inside me at the ease at which she turns me away. “You're hurting me, Shadowen.” I say and this makes her pause. I slip my arms around her and she turns to look at me.

  “I do not wish to hurt you.” She says looking into my face.

  “Then explain this to me, don't leave angry. It hurts when you leave me, I'm your consort. You are just as responsible for me as I am for you.” I run my fingers through her hair. “It hurts when you push me aside so easily.” I place her hand over my heart. “It hurts deep inside here, in my heart.”

  “I do not mean to hurt you Reis.” she says her voice soft but almost empty sounding.

  “Then do not pull away from me. I'm here. I'm your consort and if anyone can understand it will be me and if anyone wants to understand it is me. You just need to help me to understand and running away is not the answer.”

  “I can't explain it.” She says frustration slipping into her voice.

  “I do not understand why you are so afraid of the surface. I recall when Darken left, your panic, and...”

  “Yes, and he's not returned either. He's still gone from me.” She says her voice and her emotions thick with pain at her loss. I could bite off my tongue for mentioning Darken to her. Why did I have to say that! Now she moves further away walking to the window.

  I want to go to her but now I have my own pain to deal with. I turn around and dress in my traveling clothes. I hate the love she feels for that boy. She keeps it hidden from me until I mention his name then it floods right up to the surface like a flash of light. I dress quickly because I feel her pushing all these emotions back under the surface so I will not know what she is really feeling. I'm not sure exactly what hurts me more, that she loves this boy or that she tries to hide everything from me. We should be past this and we aren't.

  I refuse to pull back my feelings from her though. I make sure I leave it all out in the open for her to know my own pain at her actions. I turn to look at her and she just stares out the window. I lean over brushing my lips to the side of her head. “I love you Shadowen.” I whisper then I don my veil slipping straight into a shadow. My turn to pull away.

  Fifteen

  The next few days have been spent quietly. I've accepted several assignments and I've been busy again and this has helped me a lot. Shadowen is aloof but I'm used to this too. Tonight this is going to change I've decided. I now know what must be done. Just as I enter the house I come within several feet of Shadowen. She is fully dressed and her veil is in place.

  I waste no time moving to her. I press her body to me and she leans in close her hand slipping gently into mine. I feel her reluctance to trust me fully and this still bothers me after everything we've been through. I have done everything I can think of to earn her trust and yet she still hesitates.

  Shade is leaving for the surface in a few weeks to help with the construction of a new castle. He's asked Shadowen to accompany him as I'm being called away for an assignment, which will leave her alone and vulnerable to Phantom. I know Shadowen would go if she wasn't so damn afraid of the surface. Phantom really put a fear of the surface in her and I have no idea why. The only reason I can come up with is its a way of keeping his control over her.

  I lean my body into hers and she relaxes into me. I was going to train her to protect herself as she has told me she will be fine alone. But I know I can't leave her alone, not ever. Phantom will be there the moment I do and this simply cannot happen. My plan was to have her shift with me and help her to mark her shadows so she can easily escape from Phantom should he follow. It's an assassin’s technique to lose another assassin. But now that she is pressed against me I have a different idea.

  I whisper, “Step with me.” I feel her intake of breath as she leans in further to me, allowing me to guide her. I step and feel her relax even further into me. It's amazing how unified our movements are. She gives me full control of movement and matches me perfectly. The shadows once again rush along her body excitedly. I don't think I will ever get used to the way they touch her or feel her become so sexually excited with their caresses.

  We step again and then again. We are moving slowly because I'm not in such a hurry. I like how her body feels with mine in this unity we share. I long to touch her so completely that she loses herself in me and me in her. To be united in such a way that my soul resides next to hers as one. But she is still keeping a distance. When we step however she allows some of this guard down and I'm not exactly sure why this happens. I'm not sure if it’s the caress of shadows that frees this inhibition of being close to me or what it is but right now I'm enjoying her soft breath and racing heart.

  We finally reach our destination and I gently release her body but I don't let go. I wait to see her reaction. It's exactly as I thought it would be... fear. “Reis!” she whispers in full distress.

  “It's fine. Just relax, you have nothing to fear, I'm right here.” I can feel her magic swarm into protective mode and I see her trying to figure out how to get
back. “Shadowen, it's going to be fine.” I try to reassure her.

  “It's not fine. You've taken me to the surface and we die on the surface!” She pulls away from me and I know she's searching for our wake so she can return home.

  “No that's not true!” I take her hands into mine and she pulls away and I feel her fear sweep through me. “Oh no. You will not return. You will face this fear of yours.”

  “Are you insane?!” She practically hisses and pulls from my embrace. I block her from stepping into a shadow and we end up tumbling to the ground with me on top of course.

  “Shadowen!” I scold her. “Stop this at once!” I feel her body stiffen so I slip my arm under her and gently touch her with my magic trying to soothe her. My voice softens, “Little one... I would never put you in danger. Don't you know this by now?” I cannot keep the hurt from my voice or the sweeping emotion from reaching her. I feel her regret but her fear is so strong and so embedded with her that it still overshadows everything else. I wrap my arms around her more fully and allow my magic to cushion her from the ground.

  I press my lips to hers but she doesn't exactly return my kiss between our veils so I remove both our veils and her soft protesting cry touches my heart. But not enough to make me stop. She has to face this fear.

  I whisper along her lips. “Open your eyes and face your fear my dearest one.”

  “No.” is all she says and I cannot help smiling at her stubbornness.

  “Shadowen... open your eyes.” I coax slightly.

  She takes a breath and then she opens her lovely eyes and looks into mine. I'm smiling down into her beautiful face. “See its night out and the sun is not even here to hurt you. Only the moons and the stars.” I say moving to lean on my elbow so she can actually gaze upward into the night sky.

  I stare at her face as she gazes upward. She doesn't say anything but she doesn't have to it's all written on her face. Wonderment, amazement mixed with questions and still her fear. I gently roll slightly away and she turns suddenly clinging to me. “It's alright. I'm right here.” I keep my arm around her, pulling her into the nook of my arm so we are both staring up into the sky. I point upward. “Those are stars that sparkle and you see those two round things. Those are called moons. The bluish one is called Oceanic and the yellowish one is called Lunaric. Surface dwellers have many different stories about them. They even name the stars but I do not know their names.