Deathbringer

by Tamara Grantham

  I tried not to let those thoughts bother me, but knowing someone would kill you wasn’t an easy thing to shake off. Kull wouldn’t really kill me—and I knew it—but he had admitted that if the thing inhabiting my body wasn’t me, he would have no other choice. Even after talking to Lucretian, I still hadn’t figured out how to avoid the prophecy. Either I would destroy the world or Kull would kill me—that still hadn’t changed—but at least now, with Lucretian’s revelation that time could be a factor, I had a place to start.

  Pushing my unease aside, I crossed the room to where Kull set up his sleeping arrangements. He looked up and smiled.

  “Hey,” I said. After unrolling my pack next to his, I laid down beside him.

  He turned to face me. Behind us, I heard the others talking in quiet conversations. Rolf was informing Brodnik of his wife’s extraordinary cooking skills, and Maveryck and Heidel spoke quietly. It was good to see them reunited, even if it had happened in a place like this.

  Kull took my hand, giving me a slight smile. When I looked into his eyes, my reaction wasn’t what I expected. Fear made my heart skip a beat. I knew it was Theht who feared him, but the closer we got to the prophecy being fulfilled, the harder it was to sort out my emotions from Theht’s.

  He kissed my knuckles, and I prayed he hadn’t noticed my reaction. His lips were soft, and the familiar scent of sandalwood came to me, helping to calm my fears. I shouldn’t have feared him. I knew better. But I wasn’t sure I was completely in control of my emotions anymore.

  “You know,” I said, “sometimes you really are one scary brute.”

  His knowing smile sent my thoughts in a completely different direction. “Do I scare you, Olive?”

  “Yes,” I answered. “Very much so.”

  “You shouldn’t be scared,” he answered quietly. “Not yet, anyway. Not until our wedding night.”

  I laughed, hoping to ease the tension. “Are you teasing me?” I whispered.

  His hands wandered, cupping my cheek, trailing around my ear, and then his warm fingers traced down my neck to my collarbone. “I want you so badly,” he said. “More than you can imagine.”

  “I can imagine pretty well.”

  His eyes lit up. “I could take you now.”

  “That might not be the best idea, seeing as how we’re in a room full of people… including your sister.”

  “You might be right, but I will have you, Olive.”

  “Is that a promise?”

  “Yes, it’s a promise.”

  I leaned closer, our faces only inches apart. “Then it had better happen soon.”

  He took my hand and slowly kissed my knuckles, his lips lingering on my fingers, making desire well inside me. “It will.”

  “Well,” Brodnik bellowed from the other side of the room. “What do you say, Kull, do you believe Rolf’s wife is the best cook in the kingdom?”

  “No,” he called back. “Olive is better.”

  “You’re lying,” Rolf’s voice echoed. “We’ve tasted what she cooks.”

  Kull propped onto his elbow. “She cooks in Earth Kingdom all the time.” He leaned toward me. “What’s the name of a dish you cook in Earth Kingdom?”

  “Something I cook?”

  “Yes, give me the name of something that sounds exotic.”

  “But Kull, I don’t cook.”

  “I know, but there must be some sort of dish you prepare occasionally, right?”

  “Okay, how about… Ramen noodles?”

  “Yes, that’ll work.” He turned to the men. “You haven’t tried her Ramen noodles,” he called to them. “They’re unequaled. Not even your Bryn can make a more delicious dish.”

  “Is that so?”

  “It is! I stake my reputation as king on it.”

  Good thing his reputation had been suffering lately.

  “Tell her to make this dish for us now,” Brodnik called.

  “She can’t,” Rolf answered. “She’d need ingredients from Earth Kingdom to do it.”

  “Is that so?” Brodnik asked. “That’s awfully convenient, isn’t it?”

  “Yes, it’s a shame, really.” Kull winked at me as the two men continued their conversation without us.

  “Ramen noodles, huh?” I said. “Just wait till you’ve tried those. I forgot to take them off the stove once. I almost burned down my apartment. You might change your mind about marrying me once you realize I’m a safety hazard.”

  “I’m marrying you because I love you, not for any other reason. And nothing you say will make me change my mind.” He squeezed my fingers. “So, what did the druid talk to you about?”

  I wasn’t sure how to answer, but thought it best to start from the beginning, telling him everything Lucretian told me. When I got to the part about black magic, he narrowed his eyes.

  “Does this mean you’re a witch?”

  “By Faythander’s definition, technically yes.”

  He grew silent. I wished I knew what he was thinking.

  “You’re sure about this?” he asked finally.

  “Positive. Ever since I started using the magic from this world, my own powers have felt more balanced. Lucretian said black magic doesn’t necessarily have to be inherited. It can be learned.”

  Kull nodded, though he still wore that emotionless expression, making it hard for me to decipher what he was thinking.

  “Also,” I said, “he explained the prophecy a little, but I’m not so sure how helpful he was. He said I was worrying about the wrong events happening, and that I should be more afraid of the part about mending the rift than I should about bringing death. No clue why.”

  “It’s a prophecy,” Kull answered. “Could be interpreted a hundred ways. I wouldn’t let it worry you. Not until you know more. What else did he say?”

  “He said that there’s one factor that can change prophecy. Time. Although, I’m not sure that helps us too much. Manipulating time has never been done purposely before. I’ve seen it happen once—when Mochazon was sent back in time two weeks by the Everblossom tree—but I’m not even sure how that happened, except that pure magic was involved. I’d have no idea how to do it myself. Lucretian also said you need an anchor to make it happen, and I have no clue where to find one. Even if I did, I still don’t understand how manipulating time could help us.”

  “What if you could go back and stop the asteroid?”

  “Yes, that’s one possibility, but doing something like that would change other timelines as well—things I didn’t intend to change. I’ll just have to steer clear of sports almanacs, and I should be fine.”

  His eyebrows rose. “Sports almanacs?”

  “It’s from an Earth movie. This kid goes to the future and buys an almanac, thinking it’s harmless, but then his arch nemesis takes it to the past and becomes a wildly successful mogul who basically takes over the kid’s hometown. It’s a fun show. I’ll have to let you watch it sometime.”

  He scratched his chin. “Movies are like pictures on those screens you watch, right?”

  “Right. You see? I’m making an Earthlander of you already.”

  He smiled.

  “The point is,” I said, “if I do learn to manipulate time, I’d have to be careful.”

  “I agree. For now, we’ve got a sword to reclaim.”

  Yawning, I felt the tiredness catching up with me. Kull took me in his arms, holding me close. As I rested my face against his chest, I felt the steady thumping of his heart under my hands. I fell asleep with the scent of sandalwood in my hair, making me almost forget I was still afraid of him.

  Chapter Nine

  The next morning, after gathering our supplies, we crossed through the portal Lucretian created. We stepped into a forest of twisted trees with blackened trunks. Although it was morning, it looked like dusk. A sky thick with gray clouds obscured the sunlight, giving the air a chill. Through the barren branches, the lights of the city shone, casting an eerie glow over the leaf-strewn ground. Even from this distance, the s
ounds of machinery echoed from the sprawling city as pollution filled the sky.

  I studied the plumes of smoke as they rose above the city. “Where’s the smoke coming from?” I asked Lucretian.

  “Factories,” he answered. “It may be hard to believe, but even on this world, the people have learned to be industrious. Below the city is an enormous machine that supplies all the magic and power. It also protects those inside the walls from the holes in our atmosphere and keeps the Regaymor away. Without the machine, the city wouldn’t exist.”

  Lucretian stood tall as he looked at each of us. “This quest will not be easy. Jeven is one of the most dangerous men on this planet. His magic is unequaled.”

  “Then how are we to beat him?” Kull asked. “When not even you could do it?”

  “I agree,” Heidel added. “I don’t understand how we’re to succeed if this warlock is as powerful as you claim.”

  “I understand your concern,” Lucretian said, “but you do have an advantage over me. Lucretian has never seen you before in his life. He knows nothing of you. Tell him you are wandering nomads from a faraway city, that your home was destroyed by the Regaymor. Warn him that the Regaymor are trying to infest his city—he will listen.”

  “But what makes you think he’ll believe us?” I asked.

  “Because he takes seriously any threat against his home. Also,” he said, reaching into his robes, “you will have these.” He held up four amulets. The round pendants shone with a dim bronze luster.

  “What are those?” Kull asked.

  “A bit of trickery. They will help you blend in with the people of this world. There’s not much magic in them, certainly not enough to cause suspicion, but anyone who looks on you will immediately be put at ease and be more inclined to trust you.”

  He handed the amulets to us. We put them on, then tucked them under our clothes.

  “The magic in these pendants is not strong enough to protect you from physical harm,” Lucretian said. “Be warned—do not make an enemy of Jeven. While these amulets will help him to trust you, they will not save you from his sword. Enter his castle, earn his trust until you’re able to locate the sword, and steal it before he discovers you.”

  “We understand,” I said.

  Lucretian nodded, looking solemn. “Return quickly.”

  Maveryck gave Grace one final good-bye, then we followed him through the forest and toward the city. As we approached the edge of the forest, the clanking sounds of the machinery grew louder, a rhythmic, mechanical sound that must have been a constant fixture in the city.

  Tall black walls rose above us. Even from this distance, I felt magic powering them, warding off the Regaymor. Soon, we reached a tall set of gates.

  Groups of people filed into the city through the open gates. Some pushed carts or rode in wagons pulled by horse-like creatures that might have been Pegasus once, although only stubs remained where their wings had been.

  “Do we just walk inside?” Heidel asked.

  “Yes,” Maveryck said. “The amulets will help us to blend in, but keep your heads down. It would be best not to draw attention. Most of these people are refugees from the outer villages, and we would be wise to adopt the same story. If they discover our true identities, we’ll most likely be killed.”

  Glancing at Maveryck, I still had trouble comprehending that he was here speaking to us. I’d thought for sure the man was dead, but I was beginning to realize that even after a lifetime of experience, being raised by dragons, living in two worlds—among humans and fae creatures—and being trained in magic for my entire life, I still didn’t know much. There was so much more out there I didn’t know and had yet to learn. Some of it, I dreaded knowing.

  As we made our way toward the gates, the city came into view. Black soot covered the buildings’ walls and a layer of packed ash covered the cobbled streets, reminding me of eighteenth-century London, when smog and soot were commonplace and had become a part of everyday life.

  I couldn’t imagine that life in a city such as this was a great existence.

  We mingled with the crowd as we crossed over the drawbridge, steps echoing, until we reached the other side and entered the city. With our cowls pulled over our heads, I hoped we wouldn’t attract attention.

  Masses of people gathered around food stalls or inns. Tents had been erected in some places, where I saw people who looked starving huddled under dirty robes. Other people pushed carts or walked alone. Most people dressed in rags of drab grays or brown, though I spotted a few citizens dressed a little nicer than the others who were wearing purple or red with clean-shaven faces. A good portion of the people had the same red eyes as Lucretian. I did my best not to stare.

  We followed Maveryck to a town square, to a statue taking up the center of the space. As we approached, I recognized the stone façade carved to be Theht, although with large cracks through the marble and pieces chipped from its surface, the statue had seen better days.

  Standing near it, Maveryck pointed toward the tower looming against the horizon.

  “Take this path,” he said, pointing straight ahead. “It will lead you to Jeven’s tower. Heidel and I will meet you here after you reclaim the sword, and then we shall escape the city.”

  “How long will it take you to remove the unicorn’s stone?” I asked.

  “I can’t say, as I do not know what we will be up against. However, you’ll know the moment we remove the stone because the spells protecting the sword will dissipate. Stay close to the sword so you’ll know when to remove it.”

  “Will Jeven let us get close to it?” Kull asked.

  “I don’t know. I’ve never met Jeven or been inside his tower, but I can tell you this, it would be best to heed Lucretian’s advice. I’ve got some experience in thievery, if you remember. If you want to get close to that sword, he’ll have to trust you. Tell him his city is in imminent danger from the Regaymor and that the sword is the only weapon capable of defending it, which isn’t too far from the truth. Jeven is terrified of the Regaymor, and you should use his fear to your advantage.”

  Kull crossed his arms. “I don’t like this. We’re supposed to just walk inside some warlock’s castle and ask him to show us his most prized possession? This has no chance of working.”

  “Do you have a better idea?” Heidel asked.

  “Yes, we sneak inside when he’s unaware and remove it when he’s distracted.”

  “He would know when you enter his tower,” Maveryck explained. “His wards will not allow anyone inside without his permission.”

  “Olive knows how to disable wards,” Kull said.

  “And if she did,” Maveryck said, “Jeven would immediately be alerted to your presence, and if he caught you disabling his wards, he’d kill you.”

  Kull sighed. “Then we’ll kill Jeven.”

  “Not possible,” Maveryck said. “The people on this world do not experience death as you are familiar with it.”

  “What do you mean by that?” I asked.

  He paused before answering. “I can only tell you that if you attempt to kill Jeven through traditional means, he will not die. Befriend him, if you must. Flatter him until you’re able to locate the sword, and then take it from him when the time is right. I wish you both luck.”

  We exchanged good-byes, and Kull and I took a different path from the other two as we headed toward the tower. It felt strange to leave them behind. I didn’t like the feeling. I’d felt vulnerable since we’d arrived in this city, and with Maveryck and Heidel gone, the feeling got worse.

  The lane widened, revealing shops with wares arranged on tables alongside the streets. I tried not to gape at some of the displayed items. Inside glass jars, preserved hearts floated in cloudy solutions. Other jars contained spleens or livers.

  “Do you see that?” I whispered to Kull.

  “Yes, it’s unusual.”

  “Unusual? It’s horrifying.”

  The clanging of machinery grew distant as we approached J
even’s tower. Behind a backdrop of black smoke and a smog-filled sky, we found the tower, a single spire reaching into the sky. A wall surrounded it, and I felt the magical wards making my skin tingle as we drew nearer to the barrier.

  An open gateway in the wall lay before us. There were no gates keeping us from entering, but I sensed powerful magic guarding the entry. A wrought-iron portcullis overshadowed us as we walked through the gateway.

  The wards searched me, exploring my magic, trying to detect whether I was a threat. After entering through the opening, we stepped inside a courtyard. A sprawling series of buildings crowded the area surrounding the tower’s base, some taller than others, most built of stone made black by layers of soot.

  We stopped when we reached a staircase leading up to the largest building. Beyond it, the black spire of Jeven’s tower rose overhead. Looking up, my stomach knotted with apprehension.

  We’d made it.

  “You sure you want to go through with this?” Kull asked as we stared up.

  “I don’t think we have a choice.”

  We climbed the stairs leading up to a pair of dramatically tall doors. Two guards dressed in black armor and carrying long pikes stood on either side of the doors. A group of people gathered around the guards, and raised voices echoed from the gathering.

  “…will not grant entrance,” one of the guards shouted, “to those from the outer lands without the proper authority—”

  “But we’re starving!” a man wearing tattered gray robes shouted back.

  “That hardly qualifies you entrance into the tower. Go back to the camps where you belong.”

  The man wearing the gray rags shoved the guard, and the two guards lowered the pikes and drove the man back. He fell to the ground, the two pikes in his face, and then scooted away. Cursing, the man got to his feet and stumbled down the stairs.