Silverwitch

by Tamara Grantham

  He took it from me cautiously, as if he couldn’t believe it was really his. Standing straight, he held the sword with reverence.

  “It looks good on you,” I said.

  He smiled. “Remind me never to bargain it away again.” He ran his fingers along the blade. “I’ve missed you,” he said quietly.

  I tried not to get teary eyed at the heartfelt reunion. Honestly, Kull and that sword.

  “Should we get back to the doorway?” I asked.

  “Yes,” he said. “Lead the way.”

  I started down the path that wound toward the staircase, expecting to find Maveryck and Heidel at some point, but as we navigated down the steep steps to the bottom floor, I saw no sign of them. After quietly passing by the enormous double doors, we crossed back toward the stacks of treasures where we had first entered.

  “Where are the others?” I asked.

  “Perhaps they made it to the door already?”

  “Yes. Maybe.”

  We made our way through stacks of jewels and coins, but my thoughts were elsewhere. Oddly, I thought of the elven door.

  “Kull, have you ever heard of a door like the one we passed through to get in here?”

  “No, but you know I’ve got little experience with magic.”

  “I know. I just find it odd that I’ve never heard of such a door. Wouldn’t it have been mentioned at least once in all the books I’ve studied?”

  “You’ve never encountered it once?”

  “No. Not once.”

  Kull clenched his jaw. “That is strange.”

  We had just rounded a corner when a crash came from behind us. Spinning around, we found smoke filling the chamber, followed by the enraged roar of a dragon.

  CHAPTER SIX

  Fire erupted through the vault as the head and shoulders of the silver dragon came into view. Screams came from up ahead, though Kull and I were far enough away that the dragon didn’t see us. I followed Kull as we raced through the stacks, fearing the worst. We hadn’t seen Heidel and Maveryck since we’d parted ways. Adrenaline fueled my movements as we ran toward the dragon. My heart dropped as the sound of another scream pierced the air.

  We rounded the corner, and the room came into full view. Silver scales gleamed as the dragon loomed over a squadron of elves armed with basita weapons. Green magic flared as bolts from the elven weapons struck her hide. The dragon lashed out with her massive tail and struck three men. They landed several feet away, their bodies hitting the stone floor with distinct thuds, their weapons scattering across the ground.

  With another roar, the dragon exhaled a fireball that struck the remaining elves. The sounds of their screams punctured the air. Some of the elves managed to take cover, but others weren’t so lucky.

  The body of one of the tail-struck men landed not far from where Kull and I were hiding. Blood oozed from his ears and spread in a dark pool over the ground. I debated on helping the man, but to crawl from my hiding spot meant death if the dragon spotted me.

  A blast from a basita went wide and struck a stack of rolled parchments near Kull and me, and the paper ignited. Blue and orange flames licked the air as they consumed the parchments and then spread to a set of wooden pillars.

  Dragon fire mingled with the blaze started by the bolt. Heat roiled from the flames, casting flickers of light through the chamber. Footsteps echoed behind us, and we turned around. Kull held his sword at the ready but lowered it as Maveryck and Heidel appeared through the smoke. Maveryck held a staff made of dark wood and carved in intricate detail. At its apex sat a blue jewel that glowed with a faint light. Cloud-like swirls moved within the ball, and ancient magic emanated from the entire staff—a power that tugged at my senses, calling to me. An old power with unknown potential.

  “You found the staff?” Kull asked quietly.

  “Yes,” Heidel answered.

  “How were you able to remove it?”

  Heidel glanced at Maveryck. “Ask him,” she said.

  Maveryck gripped the staff tighter. “I’m a professional reclaimer,” he said. “It’s my job.”

  A roar split the air behind us. The dragon thrashed as several elves shot a net from a spear-like weapon, wrapping the dragon’s head and neck in thick cording. As the dragon thrashed, the elves launched spears at her sides, tearing through her scales to impale her flesh. A fireball burst from the dragon’s mouth, igniting the net.

  “We must go while she’s distracted,” Maveryck said.

  “I agree,” I said.

  We turned and followed Maveryck away from the stacks and toward the elven door. Pain-filled shouts came from behind us, making my hair stand on end as the sounds of ripping flesh accompanied the screams.

  The elves had royally pissed off the dragon. Perfect. Just what we needed.

  We sped toward the cavern’s back wall, though I felt as if I couldn’t go fast enough. Smoke fogged the room, its acrid scent making my eyes water. The stacks of jewels and coins blurred in my vision as we raced from the dragon.

  Not soon enough, we made it to the far back wall, though I saw no sign of the doorway. Maveryck stopped at a blank space along the wall and pressed his hand to the stone. Blue light glowed around his fingers, then spread out around the stone until the outline of a door formed.

  Something grabbed my ankle, and I fell, hitting my knees and elbows on the rough stone floor. Looking behind me, I saw one of the elves, his face half-burned, holding my leg.

  “The staff,” his voice rasped. “Give it to me!”

  I tried kicking him, but he held my leg in a vicelike grip.

  Behind him, the entire cavern had erupted in flame. The flames spiraled toward the ceiling as they engulfed the cavern, almost hot enough to singe my skin.

  “The staff,” the elf shouted as he focused on Maveryck.

  He let go of my leg and leapt for Maveryck, but Kull apprehended the man, knocking him backward before he could reach the thief.

  The elven door opened.

  Heidel looked back frantically as Maveryck stood beside the door.

  “Hurry!” she yelled.

  Leaping to my feet, I raced with Kull toward the door, but the dragon’s roar resounded, closer than it had been before.

  Kull rounded. His eyes widened as he stood his ground, not moving, holding his sword between us and the dragon.

  “Kull, what are you doing?” I shouted.

  “Go!”

  The dragon drew closer, her breathing loud and raspy in her chest. “Thieves,” her voice hissed.

  “Go now!” Kull yelled at Heidel and Maveryck, who still stood at the door.

  I stood shocked, unable to move or process the situation clearly, but the panic only lasted a moment before Theht’s presence reacted.

  You’ve awoken me, it said.

  Spirals of blinding light crackled from my fingers and engulfed the entire room. Pain spread from my fingertips to my elbows and shoulders, a burning heat that seared my nerve endings. I tried controlling Theht, tried burying her in the place where she’d been before, but she’d taken hold of my magic and I was powerless to stop her.

  Sounds of human screams mingled with the dragon’s roar. I saw Kull stagger as the light engulfed him, and he lost his grip on the sword. It fell to the ground, but I didn’t hear the sound of its clatter. The pain of the sudden release of my magic spread to my head. My knees hit the ground as blackness engulfed me.

  And then came silence.

  My mind went to a strange place—a dreamlike state that made no sense. Sounds came from somewhere, drums of some sort and running water. But the most persistent sound came from Theht. I heard her whispers in my head, though it wasn’t one voice, but many. With my magic already released, she had no power left to control me, so I focused on sending her presence back to the dark realms of my mind where she would be locked away. For now, at least. After that, I knew that I had to wake up.

  Had Kull been hurt? Had Heidel a
nd Maveryck escaped?

  Light filtered through my eyelids.

  Where am I?

  I pried my eyes open, and a room came into view. A single torch burned in a sconce near me, making the rest of the room hard to see, but I was able to make out a domed ceiling soaring overhead. The same winged-skeleton motif we’d seen in the vaults had been carved on the beams and pillars supporting the walls, yet the room was smaller, and I knew I must have been inside the witch’s castle.

  Something moved in the corner. As my eyes adjusted, I noticed several creatures slinking through the shadows, but I couldn’t make out their forms, other than that they looked fairly humanoid. The room had several doorways, and although the light was dim, my gaze snagged on the woman standing under an arched opening on the opposite side of the room.

  “Silvestra,” I whispered, my throat dry.

  The woman walked toward me, her heels clicking over the stone floor. She was a woman I had trouble describing. Her beauty was apparent in her flawless, pitch-colored skin, her dazzling white teeth, and her light, aquamarine eyes, but silver scales covered her arms and hands. They also covered her head, forming a dramatic widow’s peak. She clasped her hands together, and I noted that her fingers ended in claws with curved black nails. Silvestra had also discovered the magic word for beauty, a spell that made it impossible for me to find any physical flaws in her appearance.

  I sat up, realizing that I lay not on a bed, but on a solid block of stone. My wrists and ankles were bound with manacles attached to chains, making it difficult for me to move.

  As the witch moved closer, she pulled a knife from her robes. Blood was smeared and drying on the blade. My stomach twisted in knots as she stood over me, holding the knife for me to see.

  “Fan’twar’s ward,” she said, “you dared to enter my chambers unbidden. Why?”

  I tried to answer, but with my parched throat, I only managed a whisper. “The staff.”

  She raised an eyebrow.

  “The staff of Zaladin,” I clarified. “We needed it. Where are my companions?”

  Her eyes darkened. “Two escaped from my castle with the staff. One did not.”

  I swallowed my panic. “Kull?”

  She nodded.

  “Is he alive?”

  She held the knife closer. “Yes. He is alive. But he took the sword that I had rightfully claimed. That is a misstep he should not have made, for now he is in my power.”

  The tone of her voice sent a cold chill down my spine.

  “He’s in your power?”

  “Yes. He will become one of mine.”

  The creatures lurking in the room’s shadows came into partial view. An intense fear washed over me, coupled with the need to run as soon as I saw them. They looked as if a person had taken a human, meshed it together with a crocodile, and made it into a zombie. Their bodies were deformed and hunched over, with a large spinal column protruding from their backs, a skeletal, humanoid face with crocodilian teeth, and humanlike arms and legs that ended in claws. Rotting flesh composed of scales and flaking skin covered their emaciated frames.

  My stomach soured, giving me the immediate urge to vomit.

  “What…” I gasped, “what are they?”

  “They are called morrigun wraiths. My servants,” the queen answered. Leaning closer, she added, “They live an eternal life in this castle as my slaves. This is what becomes of those who break their bargains with me. This is what your friend will soon become.”

  I clenched my clammy hands into tight fists. This was not happening. This was a bad dream. I must have hit my head in the dragon’s vault and was now hallucinating.

  “No,” I managed. “Please, no.”

  “Yes. This is the way it must be.”

  “Why?”

  “Because it is the only way I can deal with those who wish to bargain with me. Law must exist. And for law to exist, punishment must be exacted. This is the way of things.”

  “Then take out your punishment on me,” I said. “Please. Don’t do this to him.”

  “No,” she answered. “He is mine. That is something you cannot change.”

  “Then why am I still alive now? Why didn’t you kill me along with the elves?”

  “Surely you must know.”

  She brushed a strand of hair away from my forehead, her scaled skin cold against mine.

  “You are a unique person, Deathbringer. The one spoken of in prophecy. I will not be the one to destroy you. That task is meant for someone else.

  “Your magic is a rare thing—both Earth and Faythander competing against one another. I could teach you to balance it.”

  “No.”

  “Think before you answer, child. I am offering you a great gift, one that could change prophecy if you accept my help.”

  Change prophecy? She had to be lying. There wasn’t a way to change prophecy. But even if there were the smallest chance, shouldn’t I take it?

  My mind wasn’t right. I couldn’t possibly be considering this. Her temptation wouldn’t sway me—right now, I couldn’t afford to be distracted. As long as she kept me alive, I would do everything in my power to save Kull. Nothing else mattered.

  “No. I don’t want your help,” I said, turning away from her.

  She grabbed my face between her hands, her nails cutting into my flesh. “Then you will suffer along with him. I will take your magic for my own, and there will be nothing left of you but an empty shell. Is that what you wish?”

  Panic made my heart beat wildly, but as I stared into her cold eyes, I knew she was deceiving me. I’d been raised by dragons, and although I was certain she was certifiably off her rocker, I prayed she had a little sanity left. If so, I would call her bluff.

  “You have no claim on me,” I said. “I haven’t made any bargains with you. Fan’twar would tear this castle to pieces if you harmed me.”

  She held my face for a moment longer, but then she released me.

  “If you refuse my offer, then I have no further use for you. I shall banish you from my mountain, and you shall never return again.”

  Two of the creatures approached me as she backed away. Rough, bony hands encircled my arms. I couldn’t let them take me away—once she banished me from her castle, it would be nearly impossible to get back inside.

  “Wait!” I called as she walked toward the door.

  She stopped and turned around.

  “Can’t we reach some sort of arrangement? If I allow you to train me, will you release him?”

  “No,” she said, her back still turned to me. “But perhaps we can work out another sort of agreement.”

  She turned around and walked back toward me, her quiet footsteps reminding me of a panther stalking its prey. Her eyes narrowed as she stared me down.

  “It has been a long time since I had a human in my fortress. Perhaps we will do this the proper way, as civilized creatures. My servants will help you get cleaned up, and I will provide you with a change of clothes. Then, you shall meet me in my chambers. We shall discuss what to do with you and your companion.”

  Her eyes grew dark, and I sensed the dragon lurking beneath her human skin.

  “Do not try to deceive me, Earthlander. I have placed you under no spells for the time being, but know this—if you try to escape this castle, I will kill him.”

  CHAPTER SEVEN

  My full skirt rustled as the morrigun wraiths guided me down a dark hallway. It had taken me twenty full minutes just to change into the dress the witch had given me, and I still wasn’t sure I’d figured out how to properly lace up the corset. The heavy petticoat beneath the midnight blue skirt was overly warm, and the bodice made it difficult to breathe.

  I didn’t know why the witch was making me wear it now, except I supposed it had been some time since she’d had guests, and I was sure she didn’t want to share her morning tea with someone wearing dirty questing gear.

  The wraiths led me down yet anoth
er hallway. Without their guidance, I was sure to have gotten lost. The castle was a maze of stairs and hallways, lit with torches placed in sconces that were spaced too infrequently to give much light.

  Our footsteps, coupled with the wraiths’ deep, rattling breaths, were the only sounds to break up the silence. Now, with the creatures so close, I was able to see them more clearly. Greenish scales appeared in patches over dead, flaking skin. I couldn’t look at them for too long—there was something so unnatural about them it repulsed me—as if they were created to mock humanity.

  “Can you understand me?” I asked.

  One of the creatures grunted. If they had been human once, I doubted they remembered their past. It was a sobering, disheartening thought. If the witch were capable of doing this to people, I didn’t want to know what else she could do.

  I wasn’t sure what to expect once we reached the witch’s chambers, although I had trouble understanding her motivations. Why did she want to train me? Did she really think she could stop a prophecy from happening? As far as I knew, there wasn’t a way to do it. She must have known something I didn’t.

  We turned down yet another hallway, and I gave up trying to remember the path we’d taken. Tall, dramatic windows framed the narrow corridor, and on either side were breathtaking views of the Dragon Spine mountain range. It was morning, and the first rays of pink and golden sunlight streaked across the sky, highlighting the clouds that spread out beneath us.

  We approached a set of tall double doors carved with images of dragons in flight. One of the wraiths pushed a door open, and it gave way slowly with the squeal of ungreased hinges. I wondered how long it had been since Silvestra had spruced up the place. I supposed her time was better spent in taking away people’s free will, making underhanded bargains, and generally being everyone’s worst nightmare. Sounded exhausting.

  We entered a domed room made of glass and stone. The wraiths closed the doors behind us, and we crossed toward the center of the space. Overhead, the glass dome glinted in the morning sunlight. I squinted as my eyes adjusted to the brightness. At the room’s center sat a round table with a marble top. An assortment of fruits and breads were arranged on its surface. Silvestra sat in one of the chairs at the table, her eyes narrowed as she scrutinized me. I wanted to shrink under her calculating gaze, but I stood tall instead. The last thing I needed was her thinking she intimidated me. She did, of course—she scared the living daylights out of me—but she didn’t need to know that.