Instead, the thing turned to Marisol and whispered her name. Marisol was frozen with fear. She stared back, speechless. She looked scared to death; her tan skin faded to a dull, lifeless grey.
The thing’s smile stretched wider across its face. Then it spoke to her, and its rasping voice made Jon’s skin crawl. “Remember all those nights you pulled the covers up tight over your head, and you were so, so scared you weren’t alone? You weren’t.”
Jon looked from Marisol to the thing, and the last of his fear vanished, replaced by rage. He stepped protectively in front of his girl. “Yeah, that’s old news. Shove off.” He grabbed the edge of the stone door to slam it closed. It was heavy, and met with resistance against the sand.
Marisol seemed to come to her senses. She joined him in the effort, pressing her weight against the door. Together they heaved it shut. The blue light winked out as the edges of the door sealed against the frame, generating a small puff of air that stirred the sand at their feet. They stared at the door for a second, and then Marisol threw her arms around Jon and kissed him. “Thanks,” she whispered.
Jon grinned. “Anytime.”
Abby sighed with relief and held the Sign of the Throne out to David.
“You can hold onto it if you want,” he said.
“I think it’s safer with you,” she replied. “Your powers have gotten stronger. You didn’t need the Sign to open the door.”
David slipped the silver chain around his neck again. “I think you’re right. I’m not even tired.” He kissed her cheek, then turned his attention to their surroundings. The door was set into a towering rock spire. To the west was nothing but sand dunes, and to the east was a city, far off in the distance. “Where are we?”
Cael craned his neck to look up. “The Eye of the Needle.”
“Guess the shortcut worked,” Jon said, squeezing Marisol’s hand.
“Thanks, Sol,” Abby said. “That was brilliant. You just saved us a whole lot of time.”
“Anytime,” Marisol replied, beaming at Jon.
David studied the stone door. What was strange was that the symbol carved on the Cai Terenmare side of the door was different than the image of Thoth on the Las Vegas side of the door. The human side, he corrected himself, feeling that increasingly familiar sense of disorientation that came from trying to reconcile his so-called human life with this one. It was funny how he still felt human, even though he had never been one. “Hey, guys—look at the symbol on this side of the door. Thoth has been replaced by a winged woman.”
“It looks like Erela, doesn’t it?” Abby asked.
Cael nodded. “The Daughters of Mercy guard this portal.”
“Or it could be Isis,” Marisol shared. “Protector of the dead.”
“So why Thoth on one side, and Isis on the other?” David asked.
“Maybe whoever made the door thought it was a passage to the underworld,” Marisol suggested. “To pass into the land of the spirits, Anubis had to give approval for entrance. Thoth was the keeper of knowledge, and also recorded the judgment of who was allowed to enter the underworld—in other words, he was the keeper of knowledge about who was allowed to pass through the door. It would make sense that his image was inscribed on the human side of the door. And maybe whoever crossed over to the Cai Terenmare side encountered a Daughter, and that reinforced the legend about Isis.”
“If they encountered a Daughter, they really would be going to the underworld,” David said. “And speaking of, where are the Daughters?”
“I don’t know,” Abby answered. “It’s a little too quiet, isn’t it?”
“It is,” Cael replied. “I would have expected to see them circling the Eye, guarding the portal from above.”
David tilted his head back to take in the narrow tower of stone. At the very top he could just make out the cave of the Daughters of Mercy. The rock spire reminded him vaguely of the Washington Monument, but perhaps a more primitive version of it, with rough granite sides rather than walls smoothed by a stonemason’s hand. He couldn’t be sure, but if pressed, he would have guessed the obelisk-shaped formation was at least five hundred feet tall.
The skies above the Eye of the Needle were empty, a bright, cloudless blue—the kind of sky that would have been cheerful if it weren’t arching over such a lifeless place. In the soundless breeze, wisps of sand drifted over the small dunes surrounding them. To the west, both the dunes and the sense of desolation grew.
“I hate this place,” Abby said. “Bad things have happened here. I feel like something evil is watching me, and the air stinks.”
David scrunched his nose. She was right. The air smelled rank, like something dead and decomposing. “I don’t like it either,” David agreed, taking Abby’s hand. “Let’s get out of here.”
“The city is nearly a day’s walk to the east,” Cael said. “We should reach it as night falls.” He began walking toward the city in the distance. David and Abby followed.
Jon watched as Marisol took one more look at the carving of the winged woman, tracing the wings with her finger. He held out his hand, and when she turned toward him, she saw it and slipped her hand into his. He grinned.
“What?” she asked.
“You,” he said. “I like being with a girl who’s smart and hot.”
“Thanks,” she smiled. Then she eyed him seriously. “But…if you had to choose between being with a smart girl or being with a hot girl, which one would you choose?”
“But I don’t have to choose,” Jon said, confused.
“But if you did?”
“Is this a test?” he asked hesitantly.
“Maybe,” she smiled. “Humor me. So would you go with answer A, brains, or answer B, beauty?”
“Answer C. All of the above,” he countered.
“You can’t answer C. That’s not one of the choices.”
“Well, it’s not a fair question, Sol,” Jon argued. “I like everything about you. But if what you’re really asking is, would I still like you if something terrible happened and you were no longer beautiful, then the answer is yes. I would still like you. Do I pass?”
Marisol kissed his cheek. “Yes, you pass.”
“Good. Now let’s catch up to the others,” he said.
Jon started walking, suddenly aware that the others were far ahead, making tracks, and he and Marisol were still standing in a place that smelled like death. Even if the Daughters weren’t home at the moment, he felt like prey.
“Okay,” she began, matching pace with his fast walk, “but just for the sake of argument, what if something terrible happened and I wasn’t smart anymore?”
“Don’t push your luck, lady,” he laughed, pulling her into a jog.
As they caught up with the others, Cael stopped short, holding up his hand.
“What is it?” Jon asked.
“Riders,” Cael informed him. “From the city. They approach with great speed.”
In the distance, Jon could see a cloud of dust sweeping toward them. “That can’t be good.”
Chapter Eleven
CITY OF THE EASTERN ORACLE
Twenty riders were galloping fast in full armor, carrying flags emblazoned with the crest of the Eastern Oracle, a red dragon. They reined their mounts to an abrupt halt several yards away from the travelers, and the leader of the party dismounted.
David’s hand automatically dropped to the hilt of his sword. The man walked confidently toward him and removed his helmet. Then he dropped to one knee and bowed his head. “Hail, Solas Beir. I wish you peace and prosperity all the years of your reign.”
“Thank you,” David replied, surprised. “Please—rise.”
The knight rose to his feet. “Thank you, Your Majesty.” His shoulder-length, sandy-blond hair was secured with a black leather tie, and he had a neatly trimmed beard. A scarlet cloak was secured to the polished black chest plate of his armor with gold medallions, signifying his role as captain of the city guard.
In contrast, the un
iforms of his soldiers were more utilitarian, suits of dull black armor with the crest of the Eastern Oracle embossed in red on their chest plates.
“My lord, the Eastern Oracle, sends his welcome,” the knight said.
“How did he know we were coming?” David asked.
“My master sees much,” the knight replied. “He sends his apologies. He had wished to greet you personally, but his attention was required for urgent business in the city.”
“All is well, I hope?” David asked.
The knight nodded. “Very well, indeed. The oracle has asked that I escort you to lodgings prepared specially for your visit. We hope they will meet with your approval.”
“I’m sure they will. Thank you, Sir…?”
“Hedeon. My name is Hedeon. If it please you, Sire, we have brought swift horses to carry you. You must be weary from your travels.” Five of the riders dismounted and led the extra horses over, leashed to theirs.
“Thank you, Hedeon, we would appreciate a lift.” David turned to Abby, smiling. Luck is with us, he thought. And then, as if he were hearing her voice inside his mind, he corrected himself. No, not luck. Light. The Light is with us.
Hedeon offered his arm to Abby, and she took it graciously, smiling at the knight. He led her to a beautiful mare. “For you, dear lady.”
“Thank you, sir,” Abby said, and climbed up into the saddle.
Cael found his mount, and Jon led Marisol to hers. In moments they were traveling again, quickly making their way to the city.
A towering wall encircled the City of the Eastern Oracle. Cael had confirmed the details from Abby’s dream at the Emerald Guardian, telling Abby and the others that the city behind it rose in tiers on the edge of a cliff, and the palace, perched on the highest tier, overlooked the Eastern Sea.
As they crossed the drawbridge at the city’s gate, Abby gazed down into the dark water of the moat and wondered for a moment what lurked beneath. Probably nothing, she decided, since it smelled of sewage. She hoped the rest of the city smelled better.
She was not disappointed. Just beyond the gate was a market more magnificent than any she had seen in the western region of Cai Terenmare she now called home. Spices and perfumes filled the air, and a rainbow of lanterns and banners hung overhead between brightly colored tents and carts.
The bazaar seemed to be a circus as much as it was a marketplace. All manner of entertainers walked about, enticing extravagantly dressed customers into various shops. The expensive-looking fabric and elaborate designs of their clothes were a sharp contrast to the simple, homespun clothes of the villagers Abby had met on the Great Plains. She turned to Hedeon. “Is this a festival of some kind?”
“Nay, my lady,” the knight replied. “I should like to say it was a celebration in your honor, but the market is always this festive.”
Out of the corner of her eye, Abby saw a large figure looming over a shopkeeper. She turned in her saddle to get a better look. The giant goblin had a twisted grin and looked as though it could devour the tiny man in a single bite. “A Blood Shadow!” she cried.
“Do not be alarmed,” Hedeon reassured her. “The Kruorumbrae live among us most peaceably here. You will find that the Eastern Oracle has managed to restore order in the absence of a Solas Beir.” He looked quickly to David. “I beg your pardon, Sire, but in truth, we have these many years been without a king.”
David shook his head. “No apologies necessary. I know that with my father’s death there was a vacuum in authority. I’m sure the oracle did what was necessary keep the peace.”
The knight looked relieved. “Yes, Your Majesty, that is it exactly. I have only the highest respect for Ardal. He was a great Solas Beir, as I am sure you will be. But in the days following his death, our people suffered. We are so far from your throne on the western shore, and our fair city was long plagued by the Darkness. The assaults on our walls increased tenfold when news of the Solas Beir’s assassination reached us. It was imperative that my master use a strong hand to bring the Kruorumbrae under the same law we serve.” Hedeon turned back to Abby. “Look again, if you will, my lady. Tell me, what do you see?”
Abby looked back. The shopkeeper was handing the Shadow a large goat, skinned and ready for cooking. Or for immediate consumption, if, as she assumed, the goblin would be taking his meat raw. The Shadow grunted his approval as he hefted the goat over one shoulder and gave the man several coins. Then the odd pair shook hands.
Abby turned back to Hedeon, shocked. “They are doing business. But how is this possible? I thought the Shadows didn’t eat the same kind of food we eat—that they prefer live prey.”
Hedeon smiled. “It is difficult to believe, but it is true. Under the new law, we are able to live among the Kruorumbrae. They have signed a pact not to harm our citizens, and thus far, the truce remains intact.”
“How long has the truce been in place?” David asked.
“Twenty years,” Hedeon stated.
“And with the return of Tierney, the pact still has not been broken?” Abby asked.
“No, it has not. The Kruorumbrae dwelling in our city have kept their promise,” Hedeon replied. “But I shall leave it to my master to explain the details of the law. We have arrived at our destination.”
The knight gestured to a columned building at the end of the road. It was three stories high with a domed roof and lavishly decorated with carvings honoring past Solas Beirs. Abby watched David’s eyes as he took in the carvings. He seemed to be in a state of awe.
“Your forebears, Sire,” Hedeon explained. “On the other side of this great house is a space reserved for the chronicling of your reign. It will be an honor to bear witness to your noble deeds.”
David nodded. “I only hope I can live up to the precedent set by my father.”
“You will,” Hedeon said. “Of that I have no doubt. Please, allow me to show you the quarters prepared for your stay.” He dismounted and helped Abby off her horse.
Servants stood at the ready, sweeping tall double doors open to reveal an interior even more extravagant than the sculpted façades of the walls outside. In the center of the building was a circular room, and the underside of the dome was painted with a fresco displaying further exploits of Solas Beirs past. At the far end of the room were doors leading to a garden.
“There is a spring-fed pool in the garden for your pleasure,” Hedeon said. “And each of the suites on the third floor has a separate room for bathing. The second floor houses the library and music room. There are implements for writing in the library, and should you need a message delivered, you have only to ask. The kitchen and dining areas are on the ground floor. The staff will be happy to serve you in the dining area or bring food to your rooms, should you prefer that. Court-appropriate attire has been readied and awaits you in your quarters. Is there anything else you might require for your stay?”
“No, these are magnificent accommodations,” David said. “Please, give the Eastern Oracle our thanks. He has outdone himself in his hospitality.”
“He will be pleased to hear that,” Hedeon replied. “He looks forward to meeting you at court tomorrow. I will come at the tenth hour to escort you to the palace.”
David smiled. “Thank you so much, Hedeon.”
“Truly, the pleasure is mine, Sire.” With that, the knight gracefully bowed and excused himself.
David watched the servants close the doors behind the knight.
“Wow. This is amazing.” Marisol craned her neck, looking up at the fresco. “What should we do first? Check out our rooms?”
“All right,” Jon said. “But then we’re in the pool. Then food and sleep, in that order.”
“You got it,” Marisol agreed, and they scurried off toward a spiraling marble staircase, laughing like excited children.
“David, may I accompany you and Abby to your chambers?” Cael asked. “It is not that I do not trust our host, but I would like to make sure your rooms are secure.”
“Of cours
e,” David said. “Better safe than sorry.”
Abby and David had adjoining rooms, and Cael’s was several doors down. Cael was very thorough in his search for possible secret doors, traps, or poisons, even inspecting the rich, all white clothes laid out for the next day’s appointment with the oracle.
“I am sorry,” Cael apologized, completing his survey of David’s room. “You must think me paranoid.”
“Not at all,” David replied. “If the oracle wanted to trap us, showering us with luxury would be a smart strategy.”
“Razzle ’em, dazzle ’em,” Abby murmured. She was looking out David’s open window, her elbows on the sill.
David could hear Jon and Marisol laughing in the pool below.
“Yes,” Cael said. “I believe we are safe for now, and I will retire to my own quarters for some sleep. But, I have a word of caution you may wish to pass on to our friends.”
“What’s that?” David asked.
“Although I am confident there is nothing in our chambers to harm us, guard your speech and behavior. Whatever we say or do is sure to find its way to the oracle’s ears,” Cael warned.
“Duly noted,” David said. “Sleep well, my friend. We’ll wake you for dinner.”
Cael nodded and stepped out of David’s room, closing the door behind him.
“Feel like a swim?” David called to Abby. He held up a pair of silky, knee-length trousers trimmed in velvet ribbon, apparently the Cai Terenmare equivalent of board shorts. No self-respecting surfer he knew would be caught dead in floral pastels, but David had no other options unless he planned on skinny-dipping. Which he didn’t.
Abby burst out laughing. “Sure. Why not?”
David grinned, wondering what her suit would look like. Considering the formal manners of the Eastern Oracle, he had an idea their host had provided Abby with something modest. David imagined her arrayed like a Greek goddess, in a shortened gown that draped in all the right places.
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