Shadaya: Out of Darkness (Gemstone Royals)

by Kelly A. Purcell

  “How did you…”

  “No time,” Geoff interrupted, “we can’t go in that direction Haddin has men stationed there. Any ideas Shadow?”

  Shadaya looked about her, her eyes scanning the darkness. Hallways extended for miles before them. She could remember parts of the castle from when she often visited when she was younger but there was no way to know which way was best right now.”

  “I don’t know, but there’s always one option when a path isn’t clear.”

  “What?” Jasper asked.

  She pointed to an open stone window at the other end of the hallway, “we climb.”

  “Nope,” Geoff said suddenly, “I don’t do heights.”

  Jasper grinned and grabbed unto his friend’s cloak, “we do today!”

  Unlatching two climbing hooks she had attached to her belt, Shadaya handed one to Jasper and the other to Geoff.

  “I only have two.”

  Geoff quickly shoved the climbing hook he’d been given into Jasper’s hand, “I know my limits,” he said with wide eyes, “there has to be another way.”

  Jasper chuckled, Shadaya liked how he managed to remain calm despite their circumstances. That must have made him a great leader.

  “I’m afraid there’s no other way my friend, climb on my back.”

  Geoff took a step back then sighed, “fine.”

  “What about you?” Jasper asked, turning to Shadaya with keen interest.

  Shadaya smirked, “I don’t need climbing hooks.”

  She turned and bolted towards the window, it was now or never, she could hear their pursuers running in their direction. There was too much at stake if either of them was caught tonight.

  All around them the sounds of soldiers searching filled the air. Shadaya looked over at her companions. Geoff was hurrying to keep up with sluggish steps, while Jasper hobbled along like a good soldier beside her. She did not miss the fact that he seemed to favor his right ankle. And his lightheartedness seemed to have gotten swallowed up behind that tightly clenched jaw.

  He must have injured himself on the way down, which was a bit cumbersome with Geoff clinging to his back. She found that even more impressive than his skill with the climbing hooks. She continued to lead them along the dark areas of the city, along the buildings, through the alleys, she appreciated the fact that they didn’t ask her how she was able to guide them so well in the darkness. She didn’t want the prince to think she was some kind of Dravian sorceress… Aldorians already saw her people as freaks but for the first time she found herself concerned about how this particular Aldorian saw her.

  “We’re surrounded,” she said breathlessly, her trained ear confirming her damning statement.

  Jasper sighed, “you can get away,” he said.

  Shadaya turned to look at him, his face appeared to glow in her sight, it was how she tended to see people at night. A vision she had grown accustomed to since childhood.

  “I’m not leaving you two.”

  Jasper shook his head, “this is ridiculous my lady. If they capture me, it won’t be an easy decision to kill me. They won’t risk my father’s wrath. But you, you know you will be tried and executed for treason.”

  He took a step toward her and in the dark he must not have realized how close he was when he gripped her arms and tried to lean towards her ears, so she would hear him above the sounds of night and pursuit.

  “You can stay here with Geoff and once they have me, the two of you can get away. Get back to Arduway and send word to my father.”

  His grip tightened on her arms and she knew the sacrifice he was so eager to make was not an easy one for him. He knew that Haddin was unpredictable and cared little for the political ramifications of his actions. Jasper was brave and sacrificial, a royal heir willing to sacrifice himself for his enemy; it was a rare quality among men like him.

  Shadaya reached up and gripped his arms and pushed it off roughly.

  “In Aldor, you give the orders. In my kingdom you listen to me. And I say we are all getting out of here.”

  She stepped away from them and looked around her, spotting a small space between two buildings littered with barrels.

  “Come,” she said.

  “Here we are,” Shadaya announced proudly in a whisper, as Bertrand, Jasper and Geoff snuck into her father’s study in the early hours of morning.

  The house was deathly quiet as everyone was surely soundly asleep, but Shadaya couldn’t help being cautious. She knew there were people among her own servants who would betray her if they knew she was harboring the prince of an enemy kingdom.

  “No one comes in here without permission,” she said.

  “Excellent,” Jasper said wearily.

  Shadaya smirked, “told you, you could trust me.”

  “I will never doubt you again,” he said with a lopsided grin.

  In the light in the room she could see the weariness and bruises on all their faces.

  “One of you can sleep on the couch,” she said as Jasper took a couple steps towards it.

  “Don’t mind if I do…” suddenly he stumbled and slumped to the floor.

  Geoff rushed to him, “Jasper!”

  Shadaya was right behind him. When Geoff helped turn him over, Jasper was smiling up at them.

  “This may be a good time to tell you…I am in need of medical attention.”

  ✽ ✽ ✽

  “Is everything alright?” Eril asked as he passed her a plate of chocolate desserts. He was playing the role of her escort surprisingly well. If only she could stop his opportunist parents from staring at them across the room like expectant vultures.

  Shadaya smiled at his attentiveness and cut a small piece from the moist cake with her fork and lifted it to her lips, delaying herself from giving away anything. Her mind had shamefully been on prince Jasper this entire time.

  Nodding she replied, “oh I’m alright. This is very good cake.”

  “You’re having a good time?”

  “Surprisingly,” she replied, causing his forest eyes to dance.

  “It would be much better if your parents weren’t looking like they coveted the cake on this fork.”

  Eril chuckled, surprising her again.

  Shadaya froze with her fork inches from her lips as she saw her mother sashaying towards them from across the room. She wore a floral gown, flared at the hips and fluffed. So, it moved rhythmically as she walked. Her eyes were on their table and it was bright with excitement.

  “Oh dear,” Shadaya groaned, lowering her fork and drawing her hand over her eyes as if it could make her disappear.

  “What?”

  “My mother, she’s…”

  “Well hello dears!”

  Her mother’s shrill greeting rung out as she halted before them. Upon closer inspection Shadaya realized that she might have had a little too much Broqa already.

  “Mother, is everything alright?”

  “Oh, perfectly fine,” she crooned, keeping her eyes trained on an uncomfortable looking Eril.

  “Ahhh Lord Hatherbee,” she greeted.

  Leaning forward so that her bosom almost toppled out onto the table, she addressed the Hatherbee heir.

  “Mother,” Shadaya hissed, “what do you want?”

  “Just came over to say hi, that is all. I thought you would not show up tonight.”

  “Why would I not?”

  “Because it is something you would do.”

  Shadaya lifted her gaze just in time to see the captain of the guard, standing across the room. But there was no missing where his eyes were, he was looking right at them. His hardened expression unreadable. He unnerved her, even from a distance. By now he would have been alerted about her attempt to hijack the shipment, he may have been the one who orchestrated the whole affair. Those dark eyes fell on her in that instant and she thought she saw accusation screaming at her from across the room. Shadaya swallowed hard but covered it with a smirk. Pointing in his direction she addressed her mother.
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br />   “What is going on with you and captain cold over there?”

  Her mother snorted, “mind your business.”

  Even drunk she kept her secrets. Regardless, Shadaya’s attempt to make him uncomfortable worked. He slipped away, leaving the discomfort he stirred behind.

  “You should get home mother.”

  “In due time my dear. Someone has to do the networking for your father’s estate.”

  Shadaya rolled her eyes at her mother’s accusation. As the woman staggered away gracefully. She returned her attention to Eril who was grinning.

  “Looks like I’m not the only one with a dysfunctional family,” he said.

  “Even more reason why we can’t be together, our children would be quacks.”

  Eril laughed, “with you as their mother, they would be perfect.”

  Shadaya looked away, she could not believe she had said that. They last thing she wanted was to give Eril hope.

  “I should leave… shortly.”

  His smile drooped in disappointment, “Of course you do.”

  Shadaya was so eager to leave that she left the ball room and made her way to the entrance of the courtyard to await her ride. It was there that she was approached by the man she had run into earlier.

  Shadaya took a deep breath, wondering if she could just get out of here without running into these wide-eyed men.

  “The answer is no,” she said flatly.

  The man who had introduced himself as Lord Cort, looked genuinely confused.

  “I am sorry my lady but are you speaking to me? For I am sure I have not spoken,” he said.

  Shadaya turned to look at him, those gold flecked hazel eyes searched her face eagerly. She frowned, her intrigue overtaking her exhaustion and annoyance.

  “What are you?”

  He did not seem to take offense, it must have been a question he got often. Those pointed ears twitched and Shadaya’s eyes widened.

  “That is very strange,” she said, pointing to his ear.

  He chuckled, “so I’ve been told.”

  “Can you hear better than most?”

  His pleasant expression did not falter at her impolite questioning. Instead he nodded.

  “So I’ve been told.”

  Her eyes narrowed in intrigue, “fascinating… are you an Ilk… of some kind?”

  He grinned then, “that is not people’s first guess, so congratulations. You’re partially right.”

  “What’s the other part then?”

  “Riboni.”

  “Fascinating,” she could not conceal her intrigue any longer.

  She extended her hand, “I’m Shadaya.”

  Warm hands wrapped around her own, much like he did when he had helped her up that day in the village, when she was posing to be a poor peasant. Of course, she knew now that the ruse was up, there was no way he did not remember her.

  “Markus,” he said, “pleased to meet you… again.”

  “Sorry for bouncing into you.”

  He waved dismissively, “it was I who was distracted. Dravian court is quite far away from Arduway. I came to make sure that you were not… lost.”

  Shadaya smirked, “so you do remember.”

  “I do not forget much.”

  “That much I know.

  They shared a pleasant moment of smiling and looking at each other.

  “How are you liking it here?”

  He shrugged, “it is an odd place I admit. I met your prince Haddin, quite the character.”

  “Hope he was not too distasteful. I apologize on behalf of Dravia.”

  He chuckled, “I believe we can… come to common ground. Regardless I do not find him quite as interesting as you. Peasant by day and titled noble woman by night.”

  Shadaya smiled, “we all have our interests.”

  “Maybe we can talk about ours over tea,” he said, looking hopeful.

  Shadaya drew back “I am not interested in any courtship right now.”

  His eyes widened, “Oh no, but I have no such interest in you.”

  He balked at her response to his words, “apologies I simply mean that I… I am not… I am an Ilk, understanding you is more intriguing to me than fanciful courting.”

  “Huh, well… that’s new.”

  “How much do you know about my people?” he asked.

  Her carriage pulled up and the guard who had been standing nearby, stepped forward to open the door for her.

  “I do not know very much,” she replied.

  “Then meeting can be mutually beneficial to us both.”

  Shadaya lifted her chin, “Alright Lord Cort, send a message to Quadin Manor when you would like to meet and if I’m free we’ll have tea.”

  Chapter 16

  Shadaya’s sword met the dull, inferior blade of her opponent with a loud ping. She pushed, drawing his blade into the crook of the hilt of her sword and shoved it downward. The man grunted, gritting his teeth as he realized that woman or not, the Shadow’s strength surely rivaled his own.

  His eyes widened in surprise when Shadaya’s boot shot forward and landed against his chest. He staggered back, despite his burly frame. Shadaya turned to his partner, who was edging toward her uncertainly. He looked scared, torn between what he thought was a bad idea and loyalty to his friend. He fidgeted with his sword in both hands as if contemplating whether he really should strike. Shadaya thought she would help him decide.

  In a flash Shadaya’s sword glinted between them, cutting a clean slit across his stomach. The man cried out and gripped the minor cut, looking up at her with shock and growing outrage. His battle cry resounded as he lifted his sword over his head and brought it down on her, just as she noticed his partner coming from the other side. With her characteristic gracefulness, she sidestepped the angry man’s downward chop, launching a kick into his side. He fell sideways against his partner who managed to move away just in time, leaving his friend to fall, his sword falling from his hands. The bigger man ignored his fallen friend and launched another attack at Shadaya. He was almost frothing at the mouth now in outrage. Shadaya rolled her eyes as she twirled her sword in her palm.

  “Come on guys, at least make this challenging,” she said amusedly.

  This riled them up even further, she was about to chuckle when she felt a presence behind her. Instinctively, she turned and found herself facing a glinting blade, intercepted mere inches from her face by the Ribonian servant girl. She looked over at the girl who had saved her for a split second and saw a fierceness in her eyes that intrigued her, even while she cursed herself for letting her guard down. Quickly, she moved out of the way as the burly man came at her again. The girl shoved off the third attacker, a shaggy haired man dressed in peasant’s garb. She stood next to Shadaya, blade extended in a way that told Shadaya that she knew exactly how to use it.

  The third man seemed more sober than the other two men and by the way he held his blade, he appeared to be a better swordsman too.

  “Where’s your friend?” Shadaya asked.

  “Ran away as soon as she could,” the girl replied.

  “Why didn’t you?”

  The Ribonian scoffed, “and miss out on this.”

  Shadaya smirked behind her hood, “hmm stay behind me,” she whispered. The kitchen maid wasn’t far behind.

  Blade met blade in the quiet night of the town square, and Shadaya enjoyed every moment of it. The newcomer showed himself to be just the kind of opponent Shadaya longed for tonight. With every strike, block, dodge and kick, Shadaya felt her rage over Reeva filter out through the sweat of her brows. Even more when she allowed herself to think about what these men had intended tonight.

  The burly man was most determined, he launched after her again, even while his friends struggled to their feet. This time, his dull blade managed to get caught in her hood, so that it fell off her head. Panic whizzed through Shadaya in a wave of adrenaline, and for a moment she felt completely naked and exposed without her covering. She pulled her hood b
ack in place almost immediately and with a flick of her wrist, sent a burst of energy barreling towards the man. She gasped in shock and the ball died out inches from the man’s wide eyes. Her knees buckled slightly, and she shook her head. Almost missing the swift movement of the girl that relieved the man of his offending hand.

  Blood spurted everywhere as the man held onto his limbless arm, roaring in pain.

  “That will teach you not to touch a woman without her consent,” the girl said firmly.

  “Alright now,” Shadaya said, pushing the girl behind her.

  The other man looked up from where he was on all fours behind his partner, wincing when Shadaya’s eyes found him. Below her hood her unnaturally green eyes glowed with rage, she was still shocked at what she had done, but had no intention to do it again tonight. The man staggered to his feet and stepped back, casting anxious eyes at his bleeding friend.

  “This ain’t worth it,” he muttered, reaching for the bigger guy, “Let’s get out of here.”

  The shaggy haired newcomer narrowed his eyes at Shadaya, he was hunched over and gripping a wounded arm but fully capable of coming at her again. With a nod of his head, he conveyed his disinterest in another round. Her heart pounded in her chest, she had managed to return her disguise in place quickly, but she worried that one of them had seen her face, even in the dim light.

  “Leave us alone sorceress!” the smaller man shouted as he drew his friend away.

  Shadaya stood still, her chest rising and falling steadily from the exertion, as she watched them run away.

  The girl who had fought with her, exhaled when they were out of sight and dropped her arms, along with the sword she had taken from one of the men. Turning to Shadaya, she smiled.

  “Thanks, you really are like they say,” she said breathlessly.

  Shadaya nodded but said nothing.

  “You’re no man though,” the girl said.

  Shadaya turned to her, “and you’re no kitchen maid.”

  “You have your cause I have mine.”

  “What’s your cause? You’re a mere girl.”