Finally, the fearful feelings diminished. I breathed deeply as I focused on my tasks. Find the sword. Steal it. Escape.
A quiet knock came at the door, and I crossed the room. Opening the door a fraction of an inch, I peeked outside.
The girl I’d met earlier stood on the other side. “Hello,” she said softly. “We’ve prepared an evening meal. Jeven himself has asked that you join him. If you’ll follow me, I can take you to him. Your companion is invited as well.”
She tried to glance past me, but I blocked her view. “Thank you. Your generosity is appreciated. However, my companion has requested we not disturb him. He’s not been feeling well, I’m afraid.”
Her eyes widened. “Does he need anything? I can bring food or water—”
“No, that’s not necessary. He needs rest more than anything.”
I stepped outside the room and pulled the door shut. She glanced behind me, but then looked away and led me down the hall.
“My name is Aluriel, by the way,” the girl called over her shoulder. “I don’t think I introduced myself yet.”
“And my name is Olive,” I called back.
“Olive?” she asked. “That’s an unusual name. I don’t think I’ve ever heard it before.”
“I don’t suppose you would have, but where I come from, it’s somewhat common.”
“Yes, Jeven tells me you come from far away. You must tell me of your lands when you get the chance.”
“Oh.” I’d rather not. “There’s not much to tell, really.”
She led me to a pair of wide double doors decorated with the same square patterns seen throughout the castle. After opening them, Aluriel led me inside a small chamber. A table took up the center of the space. The room was dimly lit, although a silver candelabrum sat at the table’s center, holding three candlesticks. Their flickering flames glowed over the bowls of brown liquid, platters of meat, and goblets filled with an unfamiliar dark fluid.
The smell wasn’t altogether unappealing, yet there was an underlying scent that I couldn’t describe, akin to the aroma of rotting flesh. Reminded of the jars I’d seen as we’d passed through the city, I wondered if a similar fare was being served here. If so, I’d have a hard time touching anything, and only hoped I wouldn’t be offending my hosts.
Jeven sat at the table. His eyes followed me as I sat across from him. Aluriel also sat at the table.
“I’m glad you’ve come,” Jeven said. “Is your companion not joining us?”
“No,” I said, then cleared my throat. “He wasn’t feeling well.”
“I see. That is a shame.” He took a sip from his goblet.
My stomach turned as I eyed the food, focusing on the meat, and wondering exactly what sort of creature it had come from.
“You must be hungry from all your travels,” he said. “Eat. We shall discuss the matter of the sword whenever you are ready.”
I picked up my spoon and stirred the soup, finding bits of flesh and stringy tendons within the brown broth, but I couldn’t bring myself to take a bite.
“Are you going to eat?” Jeven asked.
“Yes, of course.” I smiled, then forced myself to take a small bite of the broth only. It had a meaty, fleshy flavor, and the idea that I was consuming human flesh crossed my mind, making it nearly impossible to take a second bite. Still, I needed to be in good graces with Jeven, so I attempted to eat what I could.
Jeven and Aluriel made small talk, and I replied when necessary. As the meal concluded, two guards burst inside the room. Both removed their helmets as they stood at attention, breathing heavily.
“Your Eminence,” one of the men said. “We’ve had a breach in the tombs.”
Jeven’s eyebrows rose. “Another breach? Are you sure it’s not the outlanders trying to take refuge again?”
“We’re not certain who it was at this point, Your Eminence.”
Jeven sighed. “It was probably vandals or some such lowlifes. Still, they must be dealt with.” He turned to Aluriel. “Will you go and seek out these vandals? I’m sure it is nothing, but it would put my mind at ease to know our tombs are safe.”
“Of course,” Aluriel said. She gave me a sidelong glance as she stood, but then she left the room with the guards.
My mind raced. Had Kull broken into their tombs? If so, did Aluriel suspect him? The look she’d given me made me think she had.
“I apologize,” Jeven said, bringing me out of my thoughts. “The city has devolved to chaos, I’m afraid, with the arrival of more villagers from the surrounding communities. As the only sanctuary safe from the Regaymor, it’s difficult to keep law and order in a place such as this. Even our tombs have been desecrated and used as asylum.”
“I understand.”
Jeven stood and held out his hand toward me. I hesitated before taking it. If Kull had broken into the tombs, I wanted to know why. Then again, Kull could take care of himself. Rushing after him would only attract unnecessary attention, so I turned to Jeven and took his hand.
He gave me a careful smile, then turned to the doors and led me outside.
“Where are we going?” I asked.
“You will see.”
I got the feeling that he wasn’t going to show me where he kept the sword until he was ready, and I had no idea how long that would be. Nervousness nagged me. I had to find the sword soon. Assuming Maveryck and Heidel were successful in disabling the magic, I’d only have a limited amount of time to take the sword and escape, and the more Jeven stalled, the greater chance I had of failing. But I didn’t dare rush him and make him suspicious of my motivations. The amulet’s spell didn’t seem to have as much influence over him as I would’ve liked, so I had no choice but to wait for him to be ready.
Jeven led me down a series of hallways. We stopped in an open foyer with a set of doors on the far side. He led me to the doors, opened them, and ushered me inside. When I stepped into the room, I gasped as I stared overhead.
We stood at the base of the tower. A large, black globe spun slowly overhead, and quiet whirring came from the spinning object. There were no cables or wires holding it up; it floated on a cushion of magic. As I scanned the tower, I saw a staircase winding up to a platform surrounding the globe.
“Come,” Jeven said, leading me toward the stairs. As we climbed, I noticed the globe’s surface was etched with mountains, lakes, and oceans. We reached the top of the platform and stood facing the globe, its steady rotation whirring quietly, the hum of magic resonating throughout the tower.
The faint glow of black magic tinted the sphere’s glossy texture, although in places, landforms had been etched in gray over the surface of the globe.
“It’s amazing,” I said. “I’ve never seen anything like it.”
Jeven’s guarded smile returned as he studied me. “Tell me,” he said. “What part of our world do you come from?”
My heart sped up as I studied the globe. I wasn’t prepared for this. Focusing on it, I studied the mountains and plains, the southern hemisphere, and a large continent to the north. Finally, I decided one place couldn’t be worse than another since the whole world was practically dead, so I pointed to a mountain range near the equator. “There,” I said.
He raised an eyebrow. “There?”
“Yes.”
His eyes narrowed as he scrutinized me. “You’re not from this world, are you?”
My heart rate shot up. This wasn’t good. “Where else would I be from?”
Jeven grabbed my wrists, then pushed me against the railing. Gasping, I felt magic in his hands. His eyes burned red. The power of the amulet reacted, but its magic was too subtle to compete with his rage.
He reached up and wrapped a hand around my neck, then pulled down my collar. His clawed fingers scraped my skin as he revealed the amulet’s chain around my neck. My heart pounded against my ribs as he pulled the chain from beneath my dress to expose the amulet.
Jeven removed it from around my neck and held it up for inspection.
“I thought as much,” he said, then tossed the necklace over the railing. It landed with a clatter on the floor far below.
“As soon as you and your companion entered my tower, I knew there was something different about you, but I didn’t know what. Whenever I tried to concentrate, my mind felt clouded. I knew some sort of spell must have been at work, but couldn’t focus long enough to figure it out until I brought you here. The magic in this tower negates all other magics, making your amulet a useless trinket.” He grabbed my wrists and pinned them to my chest, his claws cutting into my flesh. “Did you really think you could trick me?”
My heart pounded. I forced my mind to stay in control and not panic.
“Who are you?” he demanded. “Where do you come from?”
I had to come up with something convincing. “I’m sorry,” I said. “I knew you wouldn’t listen to me without the amulet. I used it only because I had to warn you. I lied to you about where I’m from, but I assure you, I’m not here to hurt anyone.”
His grip tightened. “You didn’t answer my question—where do you come from?”
“Another world.” I gasped as his grip tightened. “The world where the sword was forged.”
“Such a place doesn’t exist.”
“Then how do you explain its magic?”
He was silent, lips pursed, his shrewd gaze boring a hole through mine.
“I come from a land where the blue magic is plentiful. I swear it’s the truth.”
“If that’s so, then how did you get to my world?”
“Through a portal,” I answered. His grip tightened, compressing my wrists, making my scars burn.
“I don’t believe you,” he hissed.
“It’s the truth! I’m not the only one who used a portal to get here. There was a creature, a bloodthorn, who also came here. And a man called Geth who traveled—”
“What did you say?”
“Geth, a powerful Spellweaver from my world, also came here through a portal.”
Recognition lit his eyes.
“Do you know him?” I asked.
His grip loosened the tiniest bit. “I know him. He crossed me, then disappeared, but it happened more than half a decade ago. None of my people could locate him. We searched everywhere.”
“That’s because he left through a portal. You never would have found him.”
“You’re telling the truth?”
“Yes, I have no reason to lie to you. My companion and I are here to help you overcome the Regaymor, like we said. We crossed through a portal to help you.”
“Can you show me these portals?”
“I don’t think that would be a great idea.”
“Why?”
“They’re dangerous. We had to wait until our spring equinox to cross, and even then, the portal almost tore us apart.”
He grasped my wrists a moment longer, but finally, he released my hands. “Why didn’t you tell me sooner where you came from? Why did you use the amulets and lie to me?”
“Because I never would’ve gained entrance into your tower otherwise.”
Heaving a sigh, he turned away from me. “You should have told me the truth sooner.”
“Yes, you’re probably right, but how was I to know if I could trust you or not? How was I to know you wouldn’t kill me for claiming to be a stranger from another world?”
“I wouldn’t have killed you.”
“How was I supposed to know? You have a reputation of being a powerful warlock. I was afraid of you.”
“Very well,” he conceded. “I suppose I understand why you didn’t tell me the truth, but using the amulets was a foolish and extremely dangerous move. You are lucky I didn’t kill you.”
I rubbed my wrists, the skin tender and most likely bruised. “Yes, I agree.”
“Tell me, what is the real reason you have come here?”
“I’ve told you—”
“No!” he bellowed. “You have told me nothing. I want the truth, or I shall kill you where you stand.”
I fisted my hands. I would fight him, but not unless I had to. “I have come here because the Regaymor have crossed from your world to mine. They tried to call Theht to my world.”
“Why would they do that?”
“Because they know she has abandoned you here. They know Theht wants a new life in my world.”
He glanced away. “So Theht is abandoning our world for yours.” His voice turned sad. “I should have known such a thing was happening.”
“She hasn’t crossed into my world yet,” I said. “She doesn’t have the power, and we’d like it to stay that way. If she comes to my world, she will destroy it, kill everyone, and make it her own, and she’ll bring the Regaymor with her.”
“But isn’t there a way to make her stay here? My people are dying, and those remaining are starving and suffering.”
“Perhaps,” I said. “If you prove to her that you can survive the Regaymor onslaught, she may come back. I don’t know that for sure, but it’s worth a try.”
“But we’ve tried to stop them and can’t! Their sheer numbers overwhelm ours by millions to one. Nothing but that sword has the ability to repel them, yet no one can control it.”
“Then you must show it to me. I can teach you how to use it.”
He locked his jaw. “I cannot. Its location is a secret that I dare not reveal to anyone.”
I should’ve known as much.
“You don’t have a choice, Jeven. This is the life or death of your people—of you! Let me teach you to use the sword’s magic so you can finally be free.”
He stood straight, seeming to mull over my request. “Do you really believe you can control its magic?”
“I know I can.”
“Very well,” he finally relented. “You will teach me to use its magic, but I cannot allow you to touch the sword.”
“Why?”
“Because that is the way it must be.”
I eyed him. What did he think would happen if I touched the sword? But this was my chance to find out where the sword was being kept.
“Fine,” I agreed. “I won’t touch it.”
He nodded, then led me down the stairs. My broken amulet lay at the bottom of the tower, but Jeven steered me toward the doors, so I had no choice but to leave it behind. Not that it would do me any good now.
I followed Jeven back the way we’d come. When we reached a passage, he led me to an unfamiliar part of the castle. We came to a door, and he opened it. After entering, we saw a staircase leading down. Dim lighting illuminated the roughly hewn stone walls and floors. The damp air made me shiver. I followed Jeven down the stairs, and we stopped when we reached a wooden door.
I felt magic, a faint hum that pulsed from the worn wood. Jeven pushed it open and led me inside another hall that had several paths branching away from it. Mirrors hung in random spots along the walls. I sucked in my breath as I felt the magic coming from the reflective glass. There was powerful magic here.
We walked through the passageways, passing the mirrors as we went. I breathed deeply as the tide of magical power tried to overwhelm me. We reached the end of a hall where a large mirror took up the back wall. Its embellished golden frame surround the oval-shaped, onyx-colored glass.
This was no ordinary mirror. It didn’t look much different from the rest, yet its enchantment was strongest. I felt something else, too. A faint purplish glow came from the surface of the glass, making me realize that magic from the unicorn’s stone must’ve been fueling the spell.
“Through here,” Jeven said, “is where I keep the sword.”
I eyed the glass, not trusting the magic, not fully trusting Jeven either. Mirrors worried me. They could be tainted with spells or lead to any number of places, but I needed that sword, and my chances of finding the thing on my own were nonexistent.
“Is it safe to cross through there?” I asked.
“It is. Come.” He held out his hand toward me. With his other hand, he p
ressed it against the glass.
My mind raced. Could this be a trap? Did Jeven know I was here to steal the sword? If so, he could’ve been leading me into a prison cell. Or worse. Again, my choices were limited.
Trust him and find the sword. Don’t trust him and never find it.
Exhaling nervously, I took his hand.
A purple light glowed from the glass. Tendrils of magic, like wisps of fog, curled from the surface, wrapping around us, until they blocked out the light and sucked the air from my lungs. Gasping, I felt my body grow weightless, and then I was floating through the mirror.
I clung to Jeven’s hand until I felt the floor materialize beneath my feet once again. The magic cleared as the air returned to my lungs. Breathing deeply, I tried to get my bearings.
Behind us, the mirror appeared to float in empty space. Whiteness surrounded us. There were no walls or floor, though I felt I stood on a solid surface. A white void surrounded us, seeming to stretch forever.
“Where is the sword?” I asked.
“It is here, although hidden. I will have to call it using the old language—a spell word. Watch.” He lifted his hand and reached out, splaying his fingers. Power gathered around him. “Doculus loci,” he whispered. “Dormimue resus verna laculum.”
That was one heck of a spell word. I wasn’t sure I’d ever heard one so complicated sounding. As he said it, I tried my best to memorize the words.
A beam of light pierced through the mist gathering in front of us. Jeven kept his arm outstretched as he focused on the light. His hair—an unnatural shade of deep crimson—glowed in the light, as did his eyes. Wind gusted through the open space, coming from the magic, blowing strands of hair across his face until a sword began to take shape.
I wasn’t sure what to expect as the sword formed before me—perhaps a smooth, mirror-like blade, something with jewels decorating the grip and cross-guard, overly embellished and ornate. Instead, an unassuming weapon took shape.
A strip of leather, weathered and blackened with age, wrapped the grip. The once silver, double-edged blade was tarnished, though the metal was heavy and the blade sharpened. The cross-guard was a simple piece of craftsmanship, a single silver piece with squared ends. The only ornamentation embellishing the weapon was at the bottom of the grip, where a silver dragon claw clutched a sapphire crystal that glowed with magic. Symbols appeared along the center of the blade, blazing as if they were written in fire.
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