Deathbringer

by Tamara Grantham

  Kull and I took the remaining two chairs at the table. He very visibly took my hand and held it tightly, then slowly kissed my knuckles. Heidel rolled her eyes.

  “Are you done?” she asked dryly as Kull placed my hand in his lap.

  “Yes, quite,” he answered with a smile. “So, what is this urgent news?”

  Heidel crossed her arms, displaying the silver arm bands around her biceps, looking like a true warrior princess. “The elven queen found Olive’s parents harboring the babies who possessed gray magic. She killed the babies, then imprisoned Olive’s parents and took them to the northlands where she searches for the sword.”

  My heart fell. Heidel had to be wrong. “But how is that possible? My parents took every precaution to keep those children safe.”

  Heidel only shrugged, but then Maveryck spoke up. “Someone close to the queen found them. Someone in her inner circle. We’re not certain, but the queen’s vizier, Veladon, had visited your father’s cottage only hours before they were found. It may have been him who discovered them.”

  “Veladon,” I said the name with contempt.

  Kull spoke up. “Veladon and an elven woman attacked us in Earth Kingdom. They stole the false sword from us. When they returned to Faythander, they most likely discovered it was a fake. They may have wanted to take out their vengeance on Olive’s father, only to discover he was harboring babies with gray magic.”

  “I agree,” Maveryck said. “Magistrate Pozin has been in disfavor with the queen for several weeks now. It was only a matter of time before she found them out. Magical spells can only protect them for so long.”

  In shock, I thought about what my parents were going through at the hands of the queen, at the brutality they’d witnessed as the queen killed the gray-magic babies. I squeezed my eyes shut, wishing away the images that formed of the infants being murdered at the hands of the queen. Honestly, I was surprised my parents were still alive.

  “So now they’re in the northlands?” I asked, trying to keep my voice steady.

  “Yes,” Heidel answered. “After the elves learned the sword they took from you was a replica, they were enraged. They sent a small squadron of elves to Danegeld and infiltrated our keep, and then they used a confessor’s spell on everyone in the castle in a desperate act to obtain the truth of the sword’s location.”

  “They did what?” Kull asked, fisting his hands.

  “They infiltrated our home, Brother, while you were here having your way—”

  “Yes, yes.” He waved her off. “But what did they do after they entered the keep?”

  “They found me. With the power of the spell, they stole the truth from my lips. They found out the location of the sword in The Hollows, where Geth hid the sword of Dracon. After they escaped our keep, they took Olive’s parents with them and traveled to the northlands. However, they cannot get inside The Hollows. Only someone who possesses magic of both worlds can enter the inner room. That is why they need you, Olive. To make sure you enter and obtain the sword for them, they’ve taken your parents as leverage.”

  I cursed under my breath.

  “There is still hope,” Maveryck said. “She wants you to retrieve the sword of Dracon, but you don’t have to give it to her.”

  “She does if she wants her parents to live,” Kull said.

  My heart sank even lower, if that were possible.

  “The queen wants an exchange,” Heidel said. “Olive’s parents for the sword of Dracon.”

  “But we can use this to our advantage,” Maveryck said. “The queen will use the sword to call Theht to our world, and then use it to control the goddess, but she is exposing herself to a great weakness. The sword is also the only weapon that can kill the goddess. We have to wait for Theht to return, and then we will use the sword to destroy the goddess once and for all.”

  “You make it sound simple,” Kull remarked.

  “It won’t be simple, or easy, but it may be the only opportunity we’ll ever get to stop the goddess from taking control of our world.”

  “And of stopping an asteroid from destroying us,” I added.

  “But how will we get there in time?” Kull asked. “We’re days away from the northlands.”

  “We’ll create a portal,” he said, nodding toward the staff he held. “Using this.”

  “You know how to control it?” I asked.

  “Yes,” he answered. “It took a bit of re-learning on my part. As you know, this was once my brother Zaladin’s staff, long ago. My elder brother and I were friends. He taught me to use it, but I had forgotten everything about it—until now. When we crossed through the portal from the dark world back into Faythander, this staff crossed with us, jarring some of my memories. I used its power to locate the both of you, and I was even able to create a portal to get us here.”

  “And you think you can create another portal to get us to the northlands?”

  “I’m confident I can.”

  “Then we can’t wait,” I said. “We need to get there as soon as possible.”

  “Don’t be so hasty,” Heidel answered. “We’ll need weapons, supplies, and warm clothing if we wish to traverse through the northlands. Although it is no longer crawling with goblins, we’ll still have the elves to contend with. This will not be an easy journey.”

  “But where will we get supplies?” I asked.

  “The elves will have the supplies we need here in Celestara,” Maveryck answered.

  “How do you know that?” Kull asked.

  “Because I’ve spent some time here, although it has been many years. The elves will aid us in our quest. I’ve no doubt of that.”

  “Very well,” Kull said. “Then what? We travel to the northlands?”

  “Yes,” Maveryck answered. “We travel to the northlands. And pray we survive.”

  Several hours later, Heidel, Maveryck, Kull, and I stood outside the elven village. The afternoon breeze stirred the tall grass surrounding us, the sound similar to waves on an ocean, bringing with it the faint scent of lavender. Beyond us lay the shimmering dome surrounding Celestara. My heart pricked as I stared at the village where I’d been married. Would I ever return here again?

  As I studied the sky overhead, the pale blue seemed dimmer, as if a shadow had fallen over the world. Maybe it was just my imagination, but was the approaching asteroid draining the light from the world? Conflicting emotions warred within me. Would I be able to stop the asteroid? Or would I do the exact opposite? I knew all too well what the prophecy said—but I also had a little knowledge now on how to manipulate it. Clutching at the necklace around my neck, I felt the smooth warmth of the bone fragment. Its presence gave me strength—that and the ring I wore. If time really could be manipulated, I knew the key to doing it lay in the pure magic of my ring.

  “You seem lost in thought,” Kull said, approaching me.

  I turned to him. “I was just wondering how we’re going to win this one.”

  His face turned dark, but then he took my hand, and the look disappeared. “We’ll find a way.”

  “You know, sometimes you’re optimistic to a fault.”

  “That may be true, but that’s the natural result of always being right.”

  “You’re also arrogant to a fault.”

  A sly grin tugged at the corners of his mouth. He pulled me to him and kissed my head. “We’ll get through this, Olive. There’s no need to worry.” But as he said it, I heard the doubt in his voice. We knew what the prophecies said. One of us would die, killed by the other’s hand. Even so, Lucretian believed that wasn’t the worst part. Mending the rift, to him, had seemed more dire. But what could that possibly mean? And why had it caused him so much alarm?

  From the city, two elves approached us. As they drew nearer, I recognized the two men as Wendolun and Eyrin. They wore dark green robes with golden stitching, and their high cheekbones and pointed ears gave them an air of mysticism.

  They stopped as they reached us, and each man fisted their hands
over the hearts. I wasn’t sure why they’d come. The elves had already been overly generous, donating an array of supplies for our journey, including food and heavy, fur-lined cloaks.

  “We have come to wish you good luck,” Eyrin said. “May our gods smile upon your journey into the harshest of places in our world. We do not envy you in this quest. We also wish you to know that if you ever need a place of refuge, our home is open to you.”

  “Thank you,” I answered.

  The two elven men nodded.

  “Olive, Kull, may I speak with you in private?” Wendolun asked.

  “Of course,” I answered, although I wondered what he could possibly have to say. Kull and I followed him down a short path that led through the tall grass and away from the others. When we reached a shallow pond, we stopped. Wendolun pulled something out of his pocket, though he kept his hand fisted.

  “I realize we have not known one another for long, but I feel a connection to the both of you. What I said at your wedding ceremony was not something I say to everyone—or to anyone—ever. I believe you to be the future king and queen of our world.”

  Kull and I traded glances, and then Kull cleared his throat.

  “That’s very kind of you to say.” Kull spoke in a polite tone, but I thought he knew, as well as I did, that what Wendolun said was impossible.

  “I know my words must sound strange to your ears, but I feel that if you make the correct choices, you will both be rewarded beyond what you can imagine.”

  He opened his hand to reveal two rings. The afternoon sun made the silver bands sparkle, and it was then that I realized they were no ordinary rings. The silver gleamed with its own light—a shimmer that was almost indiscernible—but I felt the magic in the bands causing them to shine with a dim silvery luster.

  “These bands are made of celestarite,” Wendolun said. “It’s a rare mineral our forefathers found in these very ponds surrounding us. The metal has been tempered and worked with magic. They will be a protection to you. I hope you will accept my gift—and if it is not too presumptuous—perhaps they can also be a symbol of your marriage here in our village—to always remind you of the vows you made here.”

  “They’re beautiful,” I said, taking one of the bands. It was so light it felt as though it was made of air, but as I slipped it on, its magic combined with mine, weighing gently on my hand.

  Kull took his ring, but I gently pulled it from him to slide the band onto his ring finger myself. He smiled, then pressed a kiss to my lips.

  “Now we’ve got rings to prove we’re married,” I said. “Hiding this from your sister might not be so easy anymore.”

  “You’re right. Hopefully, we’ll be too busy reclaiming lost swords for her to notice.”

  We turned back to Wendolun. “Thank you,” I said.

  “Yes,” Kull added. “Your gift to us on this day will not be forgotten.”

  The elven man smiled. “It is my pleasure.”

  The three of us left the secluded area by the pond and made it back to where the others stood. Grace shifted as we approached. With the way she pranced at her master’s side, I could tell she was antsy.

  The elves stood aside as Maveryck walked to the center of our group. Holding the staff, he motioned for us to gather around him.

  “I will attempt to create a portal to the northlands. I will warn you, however, that controlling the staff’s magic has not been easy. Olive, I could use the aid of your magic to balance the spell. If you could place your hand on the staff.”

  I did as he said. Apprehension knotted my stomach as I glanced back at the elven village, the two elven men, and then at Kull.

  I didn’t know what the future held, but soon, the fight would end, and whether we still had our lives by the end of it, I couldn’t be sure.

  I only hoped we all had something left to live for.

  Chapter Twenty-One

  My stomach flipped as lights appeared in my vision. I gripped the staff, willing my magic to keep the four of us steady as we crossed the continent. Crossing from one world to another was my expertise, but traveling over the Faythander countryside without creating a portal to another world was something wholly unfamiliar.

  I felt Maveryck’s magic combine with the staff’s, but even so, we seemed to move at breakneck speed.

  A white blur surrounded us before the magic popped out of existence and we landed in the snow.

  Icy wind bit at my exposed skin. Glancing around, I found Kull, Maveryck, Heidel, and Grace all strewn haphazardly atop the snowbank. Our gear had landed with us, and some of it had fallen free from the packs and into the snow.

  Before our hands and faces went numb, we found our cloaks and put them on. I also pulled on a pair of leather gloves. After securing our supplies, we stood on the hilltop and scanned the horizon.

  The snowstorm gave us poor visibility, but as the wind died down for a moment, a mountain range appeared through the blowing snow.

  “There,” Heidel said, pointing to the horizon. “I recognize those mountains. We’ll find shelter in the caves that run through the mountains, then follow them through to the other side where the elves are holding Olive’s parents.”

  “I hope you’re right,” Kull said. “We’ll not last long in this cold, not when night falls.”

  We set off. As we walked, my mind was absorbed by the cold. The only thing I could seem to focus on was putting one foot in front of the other. Blanketed by thick gray clouds, the sun was barely visible. It only appeared as a faint white orb hovering in the sky.

  It seemed such a drastic change to the magical elven village that my mind had trouble accepting this was my reality now. If I could’ve stayed back there forever, I would have in a heartbeat. I’d never felt happier in my entire life. Now that we were here, back on the path to saving the world from endless doom and with the threat of death hanging over our heads, I couldn’t help but think I’d taken a step backward. I never knew if I would get back to that place where I wanted to be—where I could be happy—ever again.

  If we failed in this quest, I knew the answer.

  The sun dipped lower toward the horizon, draining the light from the world as we finally approached the foothills and ascended the rocky terrain toward the mountains. As we climbed, I glanced up at the imposing wall of gray rock peppered with patches of snow. Beyond these mountains, I would either find salvation or death.

  With night approaching, the cloak and gloves weren’t enough to combat the icy sting in the air. My nose and ears had grown numb. If we didn’t get out of the wind soon, we wouldn’t last much longer. Snowflakes froze to my eyelashes, making it difficult to see anything.

  After cresting a small mountain, we faced the base of a much larger mountain. A dark spot stood out against the sheer granite slab.

  “There,” Heidel said, pointing to the dark area. “That’s the tunnel that will lead us through the mountain. On the other side, across a lake, is where we’ll find The Hollows.”

  Crossing the distance to the tunnel felt like the longest walk yet, as all my energy had been drained by the cold. I wanted nothing more than to collapse in the snow and be done with this journey forever, but I forced myself to move forward, feeling the breath turn to ice in my lungs.

  The tunnel rose before us, taller than it had appeared in the distance. I followed the others inside. Our footsteps, once muffled by the snow, now echoed as we stepped into the entrance.

  The temperature rose, humidity making my clothes cling to my skin. We pulled off our cloaks and gloves. The warm air slowly thawed my face and fingers, making them tingle, although I couldn’t be more grateful to be out of the cold.

  “This way,” Heidel called. Leaving the blowing snowstorm behind, we followed Heidel deeper into the tunnel. As we treaded through the cavern, our way was lit by magic sparking through the crystal formations growing along the ground and in the ceiling above us.

  “How far does this tunnel go?” Kull asked.

  “All the way thro
ugh the mountain, although it should not take us long to pass through,” Heidel answered. “Once we’re on the other side and across the lake, that’s when we should worry.”

  Water dripped somewhere in the distance. In a few places, we found evidence of goblins—a broken weapon here and a discarded cauldron there. In some places, we found bones or dead animals.

  We entered a larger chamber with several paths branching away from us, but Heidel led us without hesitation down the path to the left.

  “How much time did you spend in these lands?” Maveryck asked Heidel.

  “More time than I should have,” she said, then stopped and unsheathed her blade.

  Grace raised the hackles along her back and stood perfectly still, her ears pricked forward. Kull also unsheathed Gnat Biter and held it at the ready. Listening, I used my elven hearing to pick up the sound of breathing coming from up ahead.

  “There’s something up there,” I whispered.

  But as I listened, the sound soon disappeared, leaving us in silence.

  “What was that?” I asked after a pause.

  “Could be anything,” Kull answered. “Burbonski, grimwelt…”

  “Jagamoor,” Heidel interrupted.

  “You’re sure about that?” I asked. “I didn’t know they wandered this far north.”

  “They don’t,” Kull said. “Not that I’ve heard of.”

  Heidel only shrugged, then replaced her knife. “I’ve heard rumors.”

  “Rumors of what?” I asked.

  “The queen has been using certain breeds of animals in experiments,” Maveryck answered. “Jagamoors among them, including some she was creating to be larger, more vicious, and some that are more tolerant to the cold.”

  “Well then,” Kull said. “If that’s the case, it’s a good thing we’ve brought along the only person who has beaten the largest one on record—and happened to do it while tied up.”