by Ben Hale
“If you want me to be sorry, I’m not,” Shadow said.
She cast him a soft look. “No. I always knew your mischief would be a part of you.”
“So why are we here?” Shadow asked, motioning to the room.
“Because there’s more to your assignment than I let on.”
Shadow tried to keep the excitement from his face. “And?”
“I suspect Wylyn’s son will seek the same map.”
“Why do you think that?” he asked.
“Because Wylyn needs answers, same as us,” Elenyr said. “She needs a power source and a certain ore to build her Gate. I doubt she’ll go herself. She won’t want to risk her own life. So I think she’ll send her son, which brings me to you. I want you to find the map, and then find Relgor.”
“Why not tell the others?” he asked.
While keeping secrets from the other fragments was not uncommon, Elenyr always had a reason. Shadow knew Elenyr rarely spoke the whole truth, a habit from her days as an oracle. Despite her secrets, he’d had learned early that she always spoke what needed to be heard.
“Our focus must remain on Wylyn,” she said. “And we cannot afford to be distracted.”
“So you’re sending me alone,” he said.
“Don’t pretend you’re not excited.”
He grinned and raised his hands in defeat. “I won’t. What do you want me to do if I find Relgor?”
“Whatever you have to,” she said. “But don’t get caught.”
Shadow glanced over Elenyr’s shoulder at the wall, realizing why the woman had chosen this chamber to meet. He wanted to dismiss her concern, but the reminder of all the times she had caught him was too bright to ignore.
“I’m not about to let the outlanders catch me,” Shadow said.
“That’s what you said about me,” Elenyr said.
He gestured to the wall. “How long did you know about my secret entrance?”
“I figured it out the day you stole a gear from the dwarven smith in Herosian.”
“That was the first week,” he said, shocked to realize that Elenyr had been watching him create his secret opening for months. “Why didn’t you stop me?”
“Because I wanted to see if you could escape and return without my notice.”
“I failed,” he said, and then smiled. “That time.”
She motioned to the secret entrance. “You could have departed the moment you repaired the mechanism, but you waited for weeks before slipping out. You waited for a night where the moon was dark, and your power would be at its greatest.”
“I had to make the most of it.”
“And that’s why you were caught.”
His smile gradually turned to a frown as he realized why Elenyr had caught him that night. She’d known the moonless night would be irresistible. He’d thought himself clever, but Elenyr had been wiser.
“What’s your point?” he asked.
“Most think of magic as power,” she said. “And it is, but knowing oneself is where true might is discovered.”
He folded his arms. “Is this another talk about figuring out who we are? We already know we are the fragments of Draeken.”
A faint smile passed across her features. “Despite all your talents, all your magic, shadows always give way to light.”
“I already know that,” he said, annoyed. “You’ve said it many times.”
“Then why do you think yourself weak during the day?”
He gestured to the sunlight streaming through the door. “Do you see many shadows during the daytime?”
“You are made of shadow,” Elenyr said. “But you stand in daytime as if it is night. Why do you suppose that is?”
“I’m not the one that knows magic,” he said. “That’s your domain.”
“You are more than your magic, Shadow. And if you do find Wylyn’s son, you’re going to need more than darkness to stop him.”
“I’ll be fine,” he said.
“Just don’t get caught,” she said. “These aren’t soldiers with swords, or bandits with bows. These are foes that will burn you to ash.”
“Don’t worry,” he said, unable to resist a smug smile. “They cannot catch what they cannot see.”
“I hope so,” Elenyr said, and then stepped into a warm embrace. “Because I need my Shadow.”
Surprised by the effusive display, Shadow hugged Elenyr back. When they parted, Elenyr regarded him for several moments and then nodded. She then turned and slipped out the door, leaving Shadow in the chamber.
Shadow looked to the wall at the back of the room, his thoughts shifting to the decades of training. He’d kicked against the rules then, but over time gained an appreciation for the boundaries Elenyr had set. He would never admit that, of course, and not just because he’d have to endure Water’s smug smile.
He turned and stepped outside, and watched Elenyr, Mind, and Fire, exit through the north tunnel. Mind paused on the threshold and looked back, and again their eyes met. Mind’s thoughts whispered into the corner of Shadow’s mind.
She’s right. Don’t let your arrogance get you killed.
You were listening? Shadow thought back, and made sure to insert his irritation.
Of course, Mind said, a ghost of a smile appearing on his lips. You were never very good at guarding your thoughts.
I am when I want to be.
Just be careful, Mind said.
I’m not going to get caught, he said.
She’s not worried about you getting caught, Mind said. She’s worried about you getting killed.
Shadow felt Mind withdraw, and then the fragment departed, leaving Shadow alone in Cloudy Vale. Shadow again ascended the stairs to the overlook, and shortly after, watched Elenyr, Fire, and Mind appear below. Shadow continued to watch them wend their way through the trees, his forehead creased with doubt.
Was Elenyr as concerned about the other fragments? Did she trust them as little as she did him? It rankled that they kept expressing concern for him, while they were the ones with the greater assignment. And what did Elenyr mean about knowing yourself being stronger than magic? He released a derisive snort and looked to the sky, annoyed at his own confusion.
Despite his annoyance, he found a thread of anticipation seeping into his thoughts, and by sunset he’d discarded the others’ fears. He was a fragment of Draeken, a guardian of power. No cage could hold him. No foe could best him.
When the sky had begun to darken he stepped onto the parapet and gazed down the long cliff. Several thousand feet below, the cliff turned into a valley, the trees casting long shadows, obscuring the creek. Darkness mounted until the sun relinquished its hold, and the rays of sunset dimmed. Shadow smiled and spread his arms wide, and then leaned into the fall.
Wind buffeted his frame as he plummeted down the cliff, but shadows were already gathering across his arms, coalescing into wings of smoke. He drew in the billowing magic and the shadows answered the call of their master, merging and shaping into bones and sinews, muscles and claws, until his dragon became whole and he stretched his wings.
The wind caught and he banked out of the curve, soaring across the valley, his large body barely visible in the gloom. He flapped for altitude and released a thundering roar, a challenge that went unanswered. There was nothing Shadow liked more than arrogant prey, and the hunt was just beginning . . .
Chapter 2: Ilumidora
Shadow flew through the night, winging his way north to the capitol city of the elven nation. Just before dawn, he descended through the trees of Orláknia and alighted on an escarpment. Dismissing the shadows, he descended on foot, breaching the tree line just as the sun appeared on the horizon, illuminating the city of Ilumidora.
Known as the City of the Sun, the city had become the wealthiest of all the nations, and members of every nation sought an excuse to visit, if only to behold its beauty once in their lifetime. Shadow stopped to admire the view, suppressing his distaste.
A thousand-foot tree rose from an island i
n the center of a lake, its enormous boughs reaching to the far shores. Other great trees grew on the banks, their branches extending to the center tree, intertwining to create upper highways and streets.
Columns of water flowed upward from the lake’s surface and fed the floating rivers, a network of glittering streams that ringed the central tree and expanded outward to embrace the branches of the outer trees.
Homes and taverns, inns, and factories, all were nested in the branches. With lightcast walls, aquaglass windows, and shaped branches for roofs, all three of the elven magics were on display, the upper throughways a beautiful labyrinth of floating creeks, graceful branches, and streams of light.
Small elven watercraft curved up the sweeping creeks, transporting goods and people, carrying them to the lofty perches above. Renowned for their artisans and enchanted goods, the City of the Sun could have been called the City of Gold.
The upper boughs of the center tree contained the queen’s castle, the branches holding the fortress of aquaglass and hardened light, the height and enchantments allowing it to shine for miles in all directions. Ilumidora was beloved by the people of every nation.
Shadow hated it.
He could not deny the city’s enchantments, but the sheer amount of light in the city—which endured throughout the night—made his magic nearly useless. Of course, even in a city of light, there were always shadows to wield.
Descending the slope, Shadow joined with a road thickened by travelers. Shadow had arrived on the western road, and Talinorians clogged the entrance to the city, the newcomers obvious for the shock in their eyes.
Two large trees were bent into an arch, with a host of smaller trees filling the gap to the neighboring giants. Archers dotted the branches above, the elven guard eyeing the new arrivals. On the latest trip to the city, Shadow had stolen a relic from a merchant, earning him a bounty. He spotted his likeness drawn on several posters fastened to the wall, pleased to see the reward had increased.
Being chased by elves was always fun, but Shadow slipped under a wagon carrying fruit from Keese and turned to his shadow form. Looking like any another shadow, he clung to the axle.
The wagon bounced over the city threshold and turned toward the nearest stream, and Shadow took the first opportunity to slip free. He threaded his way through the crowd to the edge of the road, where inns and taverns provided respite for travelers, the owners human and dwarven rather than elven.
The floating city of Ilumidora contained all elven structures, all fashioned of magic, while the structures that ringed the lake were built of stone and wood, crafted by other races that wanted a foothold in the city. All paid handsomely for the use of the land.
Shadow stepped onto the Outer Ring, the street that circled the lake. Inns and shops lined the space, their height restricted in order to provide a view of the road. Beyond them, a wall of trees surrounded the city.
The city’s beauty hid impressive defenses. The lake could rise up, becoming a wall of solid water connecting the outer ring of trees. The five-hundred-foot fortifications would deter even the most valiant attacker, but the enchantments had never been put to the test.
Shadow threaded his way through the crowd and up the street until he reached one of the trees that formed the outer wall. The tree reached to the heavens, its branches weaving into the boughs of its great neighbors, the wood flattened to become streets and paths, turning through floating taverns, shops, and homes.
A staircase wound its way around the trunk, and many commoners chose the route to ascend. Adjacent to the tree, a plume of water lifted boats into the floating waterways of the upper city. Those with coin opted for a ride, and boarded one of the small ships bobbing in the stream leading to the geyser.
A richly dressed noble settled into his seat, his companions and guards filling the watercraft. The ship curved away from the tree as the group relaxed and rose up a plume of water to reach a floating creek above. It flowed above another creek going in the opposite direction, where another boat glided, its occupants a pair of richly dressed elven maidens.
Shadow leaned against the railing of the stairs and watched the common folk ascend until a noblewoman came to the ship about to ascend. She stepped into the boat with her daughter, and the woman motioned the guards to a halt.
“I wish to speak with my daughter alone,” she said.
“Mother,” the daughter said, exasperated, “I just kissed him.”
“As you wish, my lady,” the guard captain said, and ordered the soldiers to the steps.
The noblewoman sat and looked to her daughter. The young woman appeared to be nearing adulthood, and her expression was one of defiance. Shadow waited for the boat to glide away from the dock and then leapt the railing, landing in the boat as it accelerated up the slope.
The two women leapt in alarm, and the guards shouted, sprinting up the stairs in pursuit. Shadow tipped an imaginary hat to the young woman as he settled into a seat, his silence drawing a scowl from the noblewoman.
“If you seek to harm me, my guards will punish you.”
“Relax, my lady,” Shadow said. “I’m just catching a ride.”
“Why don’t you walk like the other poor,” she said.
“Mother,” the daughter exclaimed. “The poor do not deserve your condemnation.”
Shadow nodded his approval and eyed the soldiers shoving their way up the curving stairs, rushing to get ahead of the boat. The ship rose up the plume of water and curved into a floating stream.
“You’ll see the inside of a cell for your thievery,” the noblewoman said.
“Who did you kiss?” Shadow asked idly.
The young woman raised an eyebrow. “A bold question.”
“Serania,” the woman said sharply, “do not speak to thieves.”
“Why did you kiss him?” Shadow asked.
Serania raised her chin. “Why’d you steal a ride?”
“Because I can,” Shadow said.
She grinned. “Because I could.”
“Daughter!” the woman snapped.
“It’s true,” Serania said. “And he was attractive. Not as attractive as you,” she said, pointing to Shadow.
Shadow smirked at her boldness, and at the anger on the noblewoman’s face. “What house do you belong to?”
“I’ll not have you—”
“Erlan,” Serania said, raising her chin slightly. “I am the first daughter.”
Shadow raised an eyebrow. House Erlan was currently second in line to the crown, with House Berania being the first. If the daughters of Berania perished, Serania could very well sit on the throne. Unlike most nations, the elven kingdom did not have a single royal bloodline, they had two, each rotating who had claim to the throne. Even though unlikely, it meant the young woman had a great deal of influence in the city, and it explained her mother’s insistence on decorum.
“A lady worth pursuing,” Shadow said.
“Come by anytime,” Serania said, to her mother’s fury.
“Perhaps I will,” Shadow said.
The boat slowed, the river carrying it towards a branch where a dozen soldiers had gathered with blades drawn. Panting from their ascent, the noblewoman’s guards stood with them. The captain’s smile was triumphant as the boat approached her guards.
“I hope it was worth it,” Serania’s mother snapped.
“It was,” Shadow said.
He took Serania’s hand and kissed it, eliciting a shocked gasp from her mother. Above, another boat glided, its passage briefly causing a shadow to pass over them. Shadow reached for the darkness like it was a rope and allowed it to carry him free. The noblewoman leapt back as Shadow soared away, a curse on her lips.
Shadow blew a kiss to Serania and willed the shadow rope to pull him up to the boat. As he appeared over the edge, the quartet of merchants recoiled in surprise, but Shadow was already jumping free. Catching the shadow beneath a tavern, he swung up to a higher branch and disappeared into the crowd.
; Entire taverns hung from giant branches, bordering an even larger bough that formed the street. Horses and wagons ascended the flattened wood, which veritably hummed from the volume of magic in the grain.
Shadow passed into a section of floating water, the buildings crafted of tinted aquaglass. One contained light orbs, each magically carved to form small creatures. The dragon glowed with inner light, while the green dragon at its side flapped its wings, the display visible through the wall. A current of water swirled above the structure, with large fish swimming over Shadow’s head, the water curving in a graceful arch that wrapped around the street.
Shadow passed beyond the water to reach one of the limbs of the queen’s tree. At thirty feet thick, the branch was also flattened, the bark a rough purchase for the soles of Shadow’s boots. Buildings hung suspended from large branches above, the structures thickening as Shadow approached the central tree. He paused and leaned over a railing, and through the maze of hanging buildings, he spotted the lake glittering beneath the City of the Sun.
Soldiers walked among the crowd, but their passage was lazy, their occupation more to deter thieves and bandits than fight in war. Not since the bloodthirsty King Hackor had the elven nation fought a war, and the people had grown complacent.
Shadow slipped around a pair of soldiers, their rich clothing marking them as captains. He slowed at their arrogant conversation and cut their purse strings with a tiny shadow blade. Then he strolled away, and smiled when they discovered the theft. With his newfound coin in hand, Shadow ascended to a large inn close to the queen’s castle.
Situated so the windows faced the aquaglass castle, the tavern catered to the wealthiest patrons of the city, and it cost one of the solder’s coin pouches just to enter. Shadow paused beyond the guards and eyed the vaulted space, the living limbs that supported the roof, extending into graceful beams.
Leaves were enlarged and hardened to shape the walls, and a breeze rustled the barrier, the air cooling as it passed inside. Nobles sat in chairs of wood, inlaid with gold and silver, their glasses filled with rich liquid , their personal guards lining the wall.