The Shadowed Land

by Ryan W. Mueller

  Josef took a few steps before Kara and Tobias started moving. Walking beside Tobias, Kara said, "How can you consider him a friend? Can't you see what he is?"

  "I can hear you, you know," Josef said.

  Kara cast a contemptuous look at the back of his head. "I don't care."

  "There aren't many sorcerers in the world," Tobias said. "Even if we don't always agree with one another, there's a certain kinship between us. It's hard to explain."

  There was no point continuing to pursue the subject. The other side of the bridge was just visible across the vast chamber. A low rumble came from somewhere. At first, Kara thought she was imagining it, but then it became louder, stronger.

  Soon the ground was trembling. Kara fell to her hands and knees. It was the only way she could keep the quake from sending her into the chasm. Josef and Tobias did the same.

  "What the hell is happening?" Kara asked, fearing the bridge would crumble.

  Josef glanced back. "I have no idea."

  "That's reassuring," Kara said.

  Tobias crawled along the bridge. "Come on, Kara. We need to keep moving."

  Kara followed the two of them as the chamber rumbled more fiercely. Bits of rock fell from the ceiling, and the two sorcerers cast shields so that the rocks would disintegrate before striking them. Still, shields would do them no good if the bridge collapsed.

  The trembling became so strong that Kara struggled to crawl. Larger and larger rocks tumbled down from the ceiling far above. There was still so much bridge left before they'd reach the ledge at the chamber's other side. How would they ever get there?

  The bridge gave way beneath her.

  She scrabbled frantically at the edge of the bridge, but it kept falling away. There was nothing to hold on to, and she felt herself plummeting into the bottomless abyss.

  Life was a game of chance, and she had lost.

  Chapter 58: The Nexus

  Kara screamed as she fell, certain she was going to die, but then she felt a great wind beneath her. Tobias floated alongside her atop a massive whirlwind. His expression was intense, and sweat poured down his face.

  Up ahead, Kara saw another whirlwind, which was carrying Josef to the other side of the chamber. Bastard. He'd only thought of saving himself.

  "Can you get us across the chamber?" Kara shouted over the swirling wind.

  Tobias gritted his teeth. "I can barely keep this whirlwind going. I might be able to get one of us across, but not both of us."

  "Then save yourself. You're a sorcerer. You're an important man."

  "No," Tobias said. "I took on the responsibility of getting you home, and I won't fail you now. Besides, a fall like this can't kill me. I may be stuck down there forever, but I'd rather take the chance. I may survive. You won't."

  "No!" Kara shouted, fighting against tears. But there was no point arguing. She could only watch as Tobias let part of the whirlwind die. He began to plummet, but the whirlwind beneath her grew stronger and began moving toward the other side of the chamber. When she glanced back, she could barely see Tobias fading into the dark nothingness below.

  Riding atop a whirlwind made her stomach churn. She closed her eyes, praying it would be over soon, one way or the other. When she hit solid ground, she opened her eyes. From there, she glanced back toward the abyss but could no longer see Tobias.

  She lay at the edge of the rocky legs, tears streaming down her face.

  "He's gone," Josef said. "There's nothing we can do for him."

  Kara felt sick to her stomach. Now she was alone with Josef. Would he confirm all her suspicions about him?

  He yanked at her arm, pulling her to her feet. "We need to get moving."

  "Can't I have a moment to pay respect to his sacrifice?"

  "No, there's no telling what other dangers might be lurking around here."

  She slapped him. "I don't care. I need a moment."

  His expression twisted into an ugly grimace, and he backhanded her across the face. "If you ever strike me again, I will kill you."

  She backed away from him. "I knew you'd show your true self at some point."

  "Oh, you don't know how long I've been waiting to end this act. Do you really think I volunteered for this quest out of some desire to get you home, or even because I was interested in seeing Krinir?" He barked a laugh. "I've seen Krinir many times. In fact, I'm working for him right now. I don't know why he wants you, but he does."

  Kara continued backing away. "What do you mean? Why would he want me?"

  "He must have seen you in the Webs of Fate. You are a Weaver. I can tell that much. But you did not bring us here to the Labyrinth. I did."

  "How?"

  He pulled a small blue stone out of his pocket. "Teleportation stone. It was designed to take us here to the Labyrinth. Designed by Krinir himself. He foresaw that we would have to come here. I don't know why, but it is not my place to question my lord."

  "You're despicable," Kara said, but most of the fight had left her.

  His mouth was a thin line. "I do what I must."

  "You let Tobias die."

  "Oh, I doubt he's dead. Trapped perhaps. Maybe even doomed to an eternity of starvation. But he isn't dead."

  Kara felt hollow at the thought of Tobias suffering alone in this place, but she couldn't worry about him. "You were going to let me die. If Krinir thinks I'm so important, why didn't you help me?"

  He barked a laugh. "Tobias and I were once friends. I know what kind of man he is. I knew he would save you."

  "You're the most disgusting man I've ever met." And that was saying something, considering that she had met Tylen. "I am never coming with you."

  "And what makes you think you can resist me? I am one of the most powerful sorcerers in the Shadowed Land. You are nothing but a woman who knows how to use a sword. There are many like you. There are few like me."

  Though Kara hated to admit it, he was right. She couldn't survive in this place without him. Nor could she hope to escape him.

  "For now, our interests are the same," Josef said. "You want to see Krinir. I want to take you to Krinir. I don't know what will happen after that, but I think we can at least be civil to each other until then. After all, you're the only one who will suffer if we don't."

  "I understand," she said, hating the words coming out of her mouth. She wished she could fight back, but this quest had taken too much out of her. In truth, she wasn't sure she wanted to see Krinir anymore. If he wanted Josef to take her to him, then he had plans for her, and she doubted those plans would suit her best interests. But how could she escape Josef before then?

  "I wish Krinir had given me another teleportation stone," Josef said. "Then I wouldn't have to lead you through this place or across half the Shadowed Land."

  "Why didn't he give you another one?"

  "I don't know. He has his reasons. He always does." Josef started walking. "Let's get moving. I think we can both agree that we'd rather not stick around here."

  "Do you know the way out?"

  "No, but my sorcery gives me a certain feel for finding the right path. It's not foolproof, not by any means, but it's better than nothing."

  Kara followed Josef out of the vast chamber and into a narrower passage. Before they entered the passage, she cast one last glance at the abyss behind them, hoping she'd see Tobias emerging from within. But he didn't appear. He was gone. She had to accept that.

  Now she was Josef's prisoner. She had to accept that as well.

  They traveled through the tunnels for days and days. Their food stores dwindled, and Josef didn't think they should eat any of the monsters in the Labyrinth. These monsters threatened them from time to time, but Josef handled most of them with ease.

  Kara often felt the urge to stab Josef from behind, but it wouldn't kill him. Conventional weapons couldn't kill a sorcerer. People had tried it on Warrick. Sorcerers could recover even from decapitation. Their healing powers were instant and extraordinary.

  And even if Ka
ra could kill Josef, she would leave herself alone in the Shadowed Land. As much as she hated to admit it, she needed his protection.

  For the most part, they didn't speak. Josef was civil toward her, but that was the most she could say for him. He still seemed a very distant man. Cold. Calculating. He didn't try to get to know her, didn't reveal anything more about himself.

  After a while, the silence bothered Kara, but she didn't say anything. Lost in her troubled thoughts, she often struggled against tears. She could think of nothing but everyone and everything she'd lost. And then there was the uncertainty. Would she ever return home? Was Nadia still alive? Had she managed to kill Warrick?

  The longer Kara spent in the Shadowed Land, the more she missed life in the Empire. In some ways, she almost appreciated the stable life she'd had under Warrick. She could never bring herself to think he was a good emperor, but perhaps he was better than some of the alternatives.

  The Empire was certainly better than the Shadowed Land. This place had taken Aren from her, and that was a loss she still couldn't comprehend. He'd always been the steady presence at her side in this terrible place. The loss still hadn't hit her, not completely, and perhaps she had become numb to all the horrors of the world.

  "I feel something," Josef said, disturbing Kara's thoughts.

  "What is it?"

  "Magic. Very powerful magic." He started forward, gesturing for her to follow. They rounded a few twists and turns, then stepped into a larger chamber. In the center of this chamber was the strangest sight Kara had ever seen.

  It was a whirlwind of light and hundreds of colors, swirling in a random pattern. Every hair on her body stood up as if sensing the danger of this thing. Josef looked at it with wide eyes and a broad smile.

  "What is it?" Kara asked.

  "It's the Nexus."

  Kara didn't know what made her do it, but she darted forward. She didn't even care anymore if she returned home. She had to take the chance to escape Josef. He tried to grab her, but she was too fast, leaping into the swirling light.

  Her surroundings became so bright she nearly had to close her eyes, but she kept them open, watching as a stream of scattered images flashed by her. She saw green grass, a frozen wasteland, a barren and rocky landscape, a place crossed by rivers of lava, and so many more sights she couldn't quite identify. The air felt so hot it almost burned.

  Distantly, she thought she felt a hand grip her arm. Then the images coalesced into one. She tumbled out of the Nexus, landing face-down on a thick blanket of snow. The sky looked gray in the light from a sun that seemed far too dim.

  As she looked up at that sun, she could have sworn she felt something within her—a warm feeling like nothing she'd ever experienced.

  Then she turned to see Josef clinging to her arm.

  "The Nexus is still open," he said. "We have to get back."

  The swirl of light was fading around them, and panic seized her chest. Whatever this place was, she didn't want to be stuck here, so she clung to Josef, and they leapt back into the Nexus. Would it take them back to the Labyrinth, or to some other place entirely?

  The light flared into sudden brightness. The heat returned. She held on to Josef as if her life depended on it—and it probably did. A few moments later, she landed on the rocky ground. Her vision was blurry at first, but once she focused her gaze, she saw that they were back in the Labyrinth.

  Josef got to his feet, glaring down at her. "That was extremely foolish. I understand why you did it, but it was still foolish. You had no idea where the Nexus might take you."

  "I had to take the chance," Kara said, struggling to her feet.

  Josef's gaze was severe. "I trust you won't try it again."

  "I won't," she said, and she wasn't lying. Josef and Tobias had been right about the Nexus all along. It was not her way back home. There were so many worlds, so many possibilities. The only path home was through Krinir, however much she dreaded meeting him.

  Josef started walking. "The next time you try to escape me, you will regret it."

  There was ice in his voice. Kara had no doubt he'd make good on that threat.

  Chapter 59: City of Light

  More than half the crew had died in the battle aboard the ship. To Berig, it felt like Crayden all over again.

  Late that night, they held a funeral for all those who had fallen. As was the custom for men who died upon the sea, they cast their bodies into the ocean, then offered a few prayers for their souls.

  The ship was in no danger of sinking. Most of the damage had affected the upper decks. It would require a lot of work once they reached Luminia, and Darius wasn't sure if he'd ever have the money to repair the ship properly.

  Berig felt numb. He couldn't believe so many people had died. He still didn't understand what the pirates wanted with Danica. Regardless, Berig and the others couldn't abandon her.

  Darius stood solemnly at the stern, bearing a few injuries from the battle. He hadn't spoken much since the end of the battle, and Berig thought he understood why. Darius had refused to give the pirates Danica. If he'd done so, he could have avoided this.

  "I know how it feels to blame yourself for something terrible," Berig said, leaning on the railing beside Darius. No one else had found the courage to approach the silent and brooding captain.

  Darius didn't turn his gaze from the dark water. "Normally, I would think you're just trying to make me feel better, but I can tell there's great pain in your past."

  "Why didn't you give them Danica?" Berig asked.

  "You became part of my crew for this voyage. I will always protect my crew and any passengers aboard my ship. That is a captain's duty."

  "But you could have saved a lot of lives."

  "I know," Darius said. "I worry now that I made the wrong decision. Maybe I should have let Danica make the choice for herself, as she ultimately did."

  Berig put a hand on the captain's shoulder. "She would tell you that you can't change the past. You can only learn from your mistakes and hope you don't make them again."

  Darius chuckled without humor. "True, but that's hardly comforting."

  "How do you think the crew's taking it?"

  "I think they're in shock right now," Darius said. "It won't be easy for them. They trusted me as their captain, and I'm worried now that I've betrayed that trust."

  "Do you blame us?" Berig asked.

  Darius sighed deeply. "It would be so easy. They came for one of you. But, no, I made the decision to fight this battle." He ran a hand through his black beard. "Besides, it sounds like none of you understand why they wanted her either."

  "It makes no sense," Berig said. "There's nothing special about Danica."

  "They must disagree with you."

  Berig had no idea what to think about Danica's abduction. He recalled what Cyrus had told them before they'd left Mountainside. He'd seen Danica's importance back then. Had he known that this would happen? And if he did know, why hadn't he told them?

  So many unanswered questions.

  They set sail the next morning. Berig and Lara had to do some of the work the old crew would have done. It wasn't easy, but they pushed through their sadness and exhaustion. Aric had helped some of the sailors with their injuries, using his skills from his time as a doctor.

  The next few days were some of the most difficult Berig had ever endured. It felt as if a shadow clung to everything around them. No one spoke much. They went about their work without the usual jokes. Everything felt lifeless.

  Aric was taking Danica's abduction harder than anyone. After he'd tended to the sailors' injuries, he'd isolated himself in his cabin. Whenever Berig tried to speak to him, he pretended to sleep, snoring a little too loudly for the act to be convincing. At first, Berig tried to talk to him, but it would be easier to give Aric his space

  When they finally reached land, Berig didn't feel the joy he'd expected. It was a wondrous sight, however. The shore came into view at night, and the city of Luminia glowed like
a beacon. Everything else was dark, but it might as well have been daytime in the City of Light.

  Berig stood at the bow, staring at the city in awe. "Never seen anything like that."

  Darius was manning the wheel. "Quite a sight, isn't it?"

  Berig prayed they'd find a healer for Aric here. There had to be a purpose to all the torture they'd endured. Berig had hoped that they might get a chance to rest in Luminia, but that wouldn't happen now. They had to find Danica.

  Their departure from the ship was difficult. Darius wished them luck, but there was little cheer aboard that ship. Most of the crew seemed glad to be rid of them.

  They stepped into the city, amazed at the brightness. There were no magical torches or lamps. Instead, the glow seemed to come from the city itself.

  Even here on the docks, the workers wore clothes that looked like what nobles wore back in the Empire. Most of the people were too busy to take note of the new arrivals. Near the docks, they asked where they might find healers, and the woman directed them toward the Tower of Light, located in the center of the city.

  The city was still a wondrous sight. Buildings of stone stood all around, bearing no cracks or any other signs of age. The closer they got to the center of the city, the wealthier the people around them became, wearing clothes so extravagant that Berig almost felt sick.

  How could people live like this when so many were suffering?

  The Tower of Light was hard to miss. It stood much taller than any building in the city. Berig had never seen any building so tall. He swore it could rival some of the smaller mountains back home.

  A grand set of white steps led up to the glowing tower. Two guards flanked the entrance, wearing polished white uniforms. Berig had the feeling his eyes would start hurting soon. How could anyone stand to look at all this brightness every day?

  "What brings you to the Tower of Light?" asked the guard on the right.

  "I seek a healer," Aric said. "I have a condition that I've been told can be healed here."

  "The hospital is on the sixth floor," said the guard. "If you're feeling weak at all, you can take the lift."