Her last sight was of him crouched down, a knife already in hand, his attention on whatever was around the corner from him. Worry for him niggled at her, but she couldn’t afford the distraction right now. She needed to focus on finding and saving Aricia.
At the next landing, Terrwyn froze, listening hard. It was hard with her heart pounding in her ears, but she didn’t hear anything. She crept forward, staying low, and pausing every so often to listen. She took a page out of Zel’s book and stayed close to the wall as her eyes flickered all over the room.
The room was mostly empty, only a desk covered in odd things to her right. The three doors ahead and to her left had her interest. In a place no one ever came, why would you need heavy wooden doors unless you were trying to keep someone in? At least she hoped that was the case.
Pausing at the first door, Terrwyn pressed her ear against the wood for several seconds but heard nothing. The second door was the same. The third seemed a bit darker than the others for some reason, and she listened hard. She was about to curse and check the other doors again when she heard a faint rustling sound from inside. Pulse speeding up, she tapped on the door and prayed Zel had been right, or she was about to end up very dead. “Aricia?” she called softly.
More rustling came as shuffling footsteps approached the door. “Hello?”
Terrwyn clenched a fist so tightly it shook. It was Aricia’s voice, quiet and hesitant, but proof enough that she was alive. “It’s me,” she whispered back. “I’m going to get you out of there.”
She glanced around and only now noticed the small iron key sticking out of the lock. She’d have called the demon witch and Chayn idiots if this didn’t work in her favour. “Terrwyn?” she heard Aricia say, as she quickly turned the key and opened the door, wincing slightly at the faint groan of the hinges.
Blinking and looking pale except for the dark smudges under her eyes, Aricia was all in one piece. Terrwyn barely had time to register the fact before the princess hurled herself at her. She just caught her. Aricia wrapped her arms around Terrwyn and began to sob, her whole body shaking, though she made no noise.
As much as she would have liked to give Aricia the time to cry, to run through her emotions, they couldn’t afford that. Terrwyn gave her a minute, then gently pushed her away. “I’m sorry,” she said, feeling a fresh twist of guilt at the tears running down Aricia’s face. “But we need to get you out of here as quickly as we can.”
Aricia stared at her, then nodded, scrubbing at her cheeks and blinking rapidly as she tried to stop the tears. “There’s two of them,” she said, voice scratchy but even. “The man can use shadows and will know shortly that we’re gone and—”
Terrwyn held up a hand to cut her off. “It’s all right, we know. I didn’t come alone. Chayn’s being dealt with.”
The princess’s face visibly relaxed. “Kirja’s still here though,” Aricia said, tensing back up almost immediately. “She sold her soul to a demon by the name of Zarabahl and now she’s trying to release Slel so she can get out of her contract. That’s why they took me, and she’s promised Chayn Slel once she’s free of the demon.”
Ice invaded Terrwyn’s veins though she did her best not to show it. A demon witch was bad, the legendary monster that had nearly destroyed their kingdom centuries ago was worse. But if they needed Aricia to wake it, her duty remained the same.
“You need to get out of the Tower first.” Terrwyn grabbed Aricia’s hand and took a few steps towards the stairs. “I’ll tell you how to get to our camp while we handle the two here. Your safety is our number-one priority.”
Aricia bit her lip but nodded. They didn’t get more than another few feet towards the stairs before running footsteps from above had them freezing briefly in place. Red hair a halo about her, scarlet eyes blazing, and dressed in elaborate black robes laden with heavy gold jewellery, Terrwyn’s first sight of the demon witch didn’t impress her.
She moved in front of Aricia and dropped a hand to the hilt of her sword. Kirja stopped and stared at her, then sneered. “You’re what set off my alarm spells?”
Terrwyn tightened her grip on her sword. “I’m taking Aricia home.”
The witch laughed and held up one hand, igniting it. “You have no scent of magic about you. You are as defenceless as a babe against me. How exactly do you intend to escape?”
Head held high as her plan clicked into place in her head, Terrwyn met Kirja’s gaze steadily. “By beating you.”
* * *
Zel glanced back in time to see Terrwyn’s boots disappear up the stairs. He silently wished her luck. He didn’t know what her plan was, cursed himself again for not asking her the specifics, but couldn’t do anything about it. They’d run out of time. All he could do was try to finish up as quickly as possible to help her. His only comfort was that she hadn’t been lying to him this morning. If her plan was as good as she could have it, he’d just have to trust her.
He refused to entertain the possibility she wouldn’t survive. Not Terrwyn. She was strong, well trained, and intelligent. She might be naïve, but that never affected her in battle from what he’d seen. She was full of delicious contradictions like that.
Zel pushed those thoughts aside as the shadows beside him passed back the information he’d been waiting for. Chayn is in his sleep-room. Biggest one at the back. He readies himself for the day.
Thank you. Deep in the pit of his stomach, Zel could feel the fire that had been lit the day Chayn had left surge inside him. It had taken a year to learn to suppress it, but this close to finishing things, it was impossible. Not when it was Chayn who had killed his parents.
The hand that held his knife trembled as memories of finding their bodies rose in him. Chayn had done it while they were sleeping, before even the other shadows of the village knew what he was up to. If Zel’s parents hadn’t already entrusted him with the Solidification Scroll, Chayn would have gotten what he wanted when he betrayed their village. Instead, Zel had lost his parents, and spent the last four years apart from his sister, hunting the bastard down.
But it ended now. He knew where Chayn was, and there was no escape. Every shadow except Chayn’s answered to him now. His only option to survive was to kill Zelek, and with the fire hot in his blood, Zel intended to make that impossible.
Staying close to the walls, more out of habit than worry that Chayn would suddenly come out and see him, Zel ghosted his way towards the man’s room. The door was ajar and he could see Chayn’s back as the man pulled on a shirt. He was facing the lone window, only him and the corner of his bed visible from outside. Zel inhaled deeply and exhaled slowly, waiting for the right moment.
When Chayn leaned over to grab something off the table in front of him, Zel moved. He sprinted across the distance, soft-soled shoes making almost no noise against the stone floor, free hand drawing another knife as he shoved his way past the door. It banged against the wall just before Zel could reach him.
Alerted, Chayn leapt to the side, one hand scrambling for his own knife. They stood on opposite sides of the room, staring at one another. Zel could feel his jaw tense as he got a good look at Chayn’s face. He looked much the same, maybe a touch older, but still the scheming bastard he’d been even prior to his leaving their village.
For his part, Chayn’s eyes widened momentarily then he glowered. “I should have known they’d send their golden boy after me.” He pulled out another knife, running his stare over Zel. “Don’t think I’m the same as I was back under the restrictions of the village.”
“You killed my parents,” Zel hissed.
“Your family has been profiting from using that scroll for years, cheated, and yet people considered your family to be one of the best. The other three top families are the same. All cheating and not letting those of us from ‘lesser’ families ever get a leg up. You should have all been taken out long ago.”
As much as he wanted to just rip his throat out, their laws made what he said next mandatory, even though it was almost physically painful to say. “Chayn, you are to be brought back to the village to pay for your crimes. Will you surrender or have your punishment handed down here?”
Chayn glared. “You’d like that, wouldn’t you? To parade me through the village and show everyone how the great Zelek handles things. Well, you can shove that idea down your throat. If you want to execute me, you’ll have to do it here. And here, you don’t have anyone to help you, it’ll be you and me.”
Zel’s smile was more a baring of his teeth, savage and promising violence. “Exactly.”
He didn’t give Chayn a chance to do anything else, launching himself straight at the other man. He slashed out at his throat, but Chayn parried the blow then twisted so he could lash out at Zel’s eyes. He ducked and turned so he could stab at Chayn’s stomach.
The other man jumped away, leaving them facing each other again, both realizing the other was more skilled than when they’d last met. Chayn spun and ran through the still-open door. Zel was right behind him, cursing himself for letting the other man get to that side of the room.
Through the doorway, he cried out as a dart sliced through his shoulder. Zel dodged to the side to avoid the second one Chayn threw at him. Crouched low, he rolled the injured shoulder, hiding a wince at the flare of pain. It hurt, but not enough to stop him. The wound felt shallow so he was in no danger of bleeding out.
Zel switched one of his knives for a bigger blade, gaze locked on to where Chayn stood, another throwing dart in his hand. He would need every extra bit of reach if the other man was going to be throwing things at him. Zel had a handful of his own throwing knives, but saw no point in wasting them. Neither of their projectiles would cause a mortal wound. The most they could hope for was a wound deep enough to slow the other one down. Or, and the thought chilled Zel, wait for the poison to take effect.
Studying Chayn, he saw no smug satisfaction, only hardened determination. No poison then. Still, he needed to finish this quickly. He wanted to go help Terrwyn once Chayn was dead. And whatever else happened, he would ensure Chayn died, even if it cost him his own life. His honour demanded it.
Chapter Twenty-Three: Demon
“Beat me?” Kirja laughed and stepped towards them. “You can’t even touch me.”
Terrwyn shifted back, feeling Aricia move with her. She didn’t want to get close to the witch yet. “I might not be able to, but I know someone who can.” Her heartbeat skittered as she considered what she was about to do. If her gamble failed, if this went poorly, she wouldn’t just be suffering her own death.
“And who is that?”
Mouth gone dry, Terrwyn still forced the words out of her mouth. “With my true name, Terrwyn Delyth of Frostpeak, I invoke the demon Zarabahl!”
On the word demon, Kirja flinched, then screeched, hands balled into fists. “No!”
For a very long moment, nothing happened and Terrwyn felt her stomach sink. Her original ambush and distraction plans wouldn’t work now that she knew what Kirja was up to, and that the witch had seen Terrwyn. Kirja would only come after Aricia again until one of them was dead.
Then the floor in front of them seemed to explode soundlessly as red light filled the space. No damage was done to the Tower as the light condensed to the centre then burst out into the enormous figure now there. Massive black horns curled beside long pointed ears. A flat nose, burning red eyes and an oversized mouth filled with pointed teeth completed a face that could cause nightmares. Skin the colour of rotting leaves, a massive forked tail, and claw-tipped fingertips ensured no one would mistake the creature for anything except what it was. A demon.
He turned those scarlet eyes on her. “Why do you call on me, little knight?” he said, voice like fire and screams.
Terrwyn held firm, though she wanted to tremble and hide. She could feel Aricia shake behind her and that reminder of why she was here steadied her. Across the room Kirja was shouting at her to get rid of the demon, telling the demon to kill her, but didn’t directly attack them.
Her shrieks drew the attention of Zarabahl. “I see you, summoner. Your contract with me stands but I would hear what the other mortal says before I allow you to use your borrowed power.”
His focus back on her, Terrwyn straightened and nodded in Kirja’s direction. “She’s trying to get out of your contract. I want to fight her in a proper battle, where we’re evenly matched. With your power I have no hope of winning. Without it... I have a chance.”
“Mortals always try to get out of their contract. Why should I help you for nothing?”
“It won’t be for nothing,” Terrwyn said, ignoring Kirja’s continued yells to stop. “This will be a fight to the death. If I win, you will get her soul earlier than you expected to. If I die... I’ll give you mine.”
“No!” Aricia cried, her hands closing down on her arm.
Terrwyn didn’t move, eyes locked on to the painfully bright ones of the demon. A low rumble came from his lips and it took her a moment to realize he was chuckling. “You have spirit, little knight. And you don’t smell of falsehood. If you are willing to wager your soul, I’ll grant your wish.”
“I am.”
“You can’t do this!” Kirja screamed. “You have a contract with me! I’m supposed to be the most powerful mage, capable of beating anyone.”
Zarabahl looked down at her, sharp teeth visible as his lips pulled back into a distended grin. “Our contract still stands, despite your attempt to release yourself from it. You are the most powerful mage here. The knight has no magic.”
While Kirja only stared at him, mouth and hands rapidly opening and closing, Zarabahl stalked over to one side of the room, claws on his feet clicking with every step. He dropped down onto the ground with enough force that Terrwyn could feel it through her feet. Obviously making himself comfortable, the demon leaned back, gaze on both of them.
Terrwyn turned away from him, eyes going to Kirja. The witch looked older and paler but she didn’t allow herself to feel any sympathy. Not given what she intended to do to Aricia. She drew her blade and set herself, knowing that while she now had a chance to win, she was by no means certain to.
The sound drew Kirja’s attention. The witch glared and slid a foot back, one arm moving up. Terrwyn wasn’t about to let her complete her spell-casting. She threw herself across the distance, zigzagging her path in case the witch was quick with her magic.
Kirja fell back another step and shouted a word Terrwyn didn’t understand, slashing a hand in her direction. She swerved to the side, the ball of fire barely clipping her shoulder. She hissed at the heat, but it wasn’t strong enough to even catch her shirt on fire, let alone the leather of her armour.
From the expression on the witch’s face, she guessed she was used to it doing more damage. That gave her courage. If Kirja was used to relying on the power the demon gave her, she might not be as prepared as Terrwyn had thought. She lunged across the distance and swept her sword up. Kirja leapt back, narrowly missing the rising slash that would have cut her from stomach to shoulder.
Terrwyn recovered while Kirja hurriedly began drawing symbols in the air, the words she chanted faltering halfway through. Terrwyn danced around her, forcing the witch to keep turning with her, trying to break her concentration. Only then did she dart in for another slice.
But the witch finished the last word of her spell, and Terrwyn’s blade skittered across the shimmering bubble that appeared around Kirja. The witch grinned. Terrwyn struck out at it again full-force and noticed little cracks form from where she’d hit it, at the same time Kirja’s smile faltered. She began a rapid chant while Terrwyn hammered at the same spot on the shield.
Behind them, the demon only watched, grinning.
* * *
; Zel closed in on Chayn, catching the slice at his neck and feinting at his opponent’s eyes. When Chayn moved his other knife up, he slashed out at Zel’s stomach. He only just caught the other man’s side with a shallow gash. They broke away, panting.
Covered in a variety of small cuts and the larger one by his collarbone, Zel knew that Chayn was in a similar state. He hated to admit it, but they were evenly matched. Obviously Chayn had learned some skills since betraying them. He’d never been this strong when Zel had known him.
“Give up,” Chayn said, sweat sliding down his face. “You can’t win. And once I have what that damned witch has promised me, no one will be able to stand against me!”
Zel shook his head, forcing a smile he didn’t feel onto his face, like he wasn’t edging in on exhaustion. “You’re tiring. It won’t be long now before you make a mistake. You never did have much stamina, even as a kid.”
Chayn’s face darkened. “Don’t act like you’re not tired! And don’t act like you’re so superior when you’re younger than me!”
Glad to see his temper was still the same, Zel decided to keep stoking the fire, hoping anger would blind Chayn as it had in the past, and he’d slip up. He raised his eyebrows and smirked. “Seems to me I was able to take control of the shadows around here very easily, and that alone should show who is superior.”
“Shut up! The shadows are weak, and the power I’ll soon receive will far outstrip anything you could ever hope to do!”
Zel gave him a mocking smile. “You say that only because you’ve never been able to truly master working with the shadows. They’re plenty strong. But you always wanted to blame others for your own shortcomings.”
“Don’t act like you know me.”
“I know you better than you think. I’ve spent four years tracking you. You hire yourself out because you can’t survive on your own. Like now. You say she’s going to give you power, but we both know that’s a lie. She probably took one look at you and saw you’d be stupid enough to fall for it. Who would give away power? Would you?”
Enveloping Shadows Page 16