He huffed, but couldn’t be irritated. His friend had that effect on a lot of women. It had to be the hair. Unlike Jael’s close-cropped style, longer on top, Xenos’ luxuriant mane fell down his back and had a mind of its own. Everyone always wanted to touch it.
Or it could be another unrequited crush. Echo was famous for them.
Echo drained her mug and wiped the back of her sleeve across her mouth. “Don’t get to do that very often.”
He hoped everyone else talking to her all over the world hadn't let her other drinks spill while she was mostly here. “Your message is easy enough to send. We’ll find Xenos. And your question?”
He leaned in close and lowered his voice. “Have you heard anything about the whereabouts of Jamshid?”
Echo did more flickering, fading as she concentrated more fully elsewhere. “Left his palace with his daughters. Last I heard, he was heading north.”
“Thanks, Echo.”
She slid a new token to him. “Bring Xenos to see one of me soon.”
CHAPTER THIRTY FIVE
VIKTORIA
SHADOW BARELY DODGED as Rainbow burst through the door to the sisters’ sitting room. White gown streaming behind her, slippers skating her across the smooth, icy floor, Rainbow careened around a settee and a low table, but right into Spring, Weaver, and Tides, sending them to the floor in a heap of blonde hair, arms, legs, and indignant squeals in front of the fireplace.
“Rainbow! You clumsy bear!”
“Get off me!”
“What's wrong with you?”
“Sorry!” Rainbow extracted her upper body from the pile of Pohjola Maidens and sat up. “He's loose!” She pushed her hair out of her face. “Surma's out!”
Shadow and the eight sisters not entangled dashed for the door. If they were lucky, the enormous dog meant to guard the gates to the underworld would venture close to a border and some of them would be kidnapped.
Her grandparents must have been drinking Beer of Oblivion again. They set the dog loose because his barking made their hangover headaches worse.
While sweet, Surma inadvertently caused chaos with his sheer size and the snake that formed his tail. It was bad enough when the dog rampaged through Pohjola, but if he made it into the human world, that was a nightmare. And not just for the humans.
Shadow sprinted through the forest to the east, dodging low branches as she raced ahead of Nature and Weather. One of the sisters’ favorite kidnappers lived in Rus and often lay in wait for a maiden to venture too close.
From up ahead, an earth-shaking bark, a tremendous splash and screams gave Surma away. Shadow sped up. “Surma!” She exited the forest and slid to a stop, waving her arms for balance before she plunged into the lake in front of her. The water formed part of the border between Pohjola and Rus. Surma was already halfway across, dog paddling straight for a group of rusalka at play.
“Surma! Come back.” Shadow raised her voice. “He's really friendly and won't hurt you.”
The enormous dog paused in his escape, turning in the water to face Shadow.
“Come on, boy. You scared them. Everyone’s out looking for you on this side. Plenty of friends to play with.”
With a final look toward his potential playmates, Surma returned to the Shadow’s side of the pond and exited. Water dripped from his grey fur.
“Oh, no.” Shadow backed away. Nature and Weather crashed out of the forest, saw the wet dog, and fled back into the trees.
He followed Shadow, tongue lolling out of his mouth, upright triangular ears perked forward.
Shadow took another step back, holding her hands up. “Good boy. Didn’t you see Nature and Weather? Go find them, boy. Get them!”
“We heard that!” two voices called from a safe distance.
Like they wouldn't sacrifice me to save themselves from the soaking I’m about to get.
Surma braced all four of his feet, cocked his head.
She turned to flee, but it was too late. An impromptu shower sprayed water over her, soaking her hair and dress. Shadow hunched her shoulders, but it didn’t matter. She may as well have jumped into the lake with the rusalka.
When the water stopped, she faced Surma, who wore a hangdog expression. She gave him a pat on his nose. “It’s all right. I know you can’t help yourself. Off with you now. Find my sisters.”
With another of his joyful, ear-shattering barks, Surma bounded into the forest. Shadow sighed and wrung out her hair as she approached the lake. “Everybody okay? He didn’t hurt anyone, did he?” The rusalka didn’t seem injured. They answered her in their language, though, one she didn’t speak. Rus wasn’t a problem, but she hadn’t encountered enough of the water folk to learn any vocabulary.
A whirlwind spun across the snowy plain on the other side of the lake. It was him! Shadow straightened her dress and hair the best she could.
The whirlwind abated, revealing a wild man — huge and muscular, long, black hair tumbling over his shoulders, atop a red horse. He wore knee-high black boots, tight pants and a shirt open down his chest.
Koschei spoke with the rusalka as he studied Shadow. When their conversation finished, he guided his horse around the lake and stopped beside her.
“They say you saved them from a monster and want to repay your kindness.”
“Oh. Well, Surma isn’t a monster. He’s just excited when he gets free.”
“They would like to throw a party in your honor.”
“That sounds lovely, but I can’t leave Pohjola.”
“That’s right. Your rules.” He squinted at her from atop his huge horse. “You look familiar. Have I kidnapped you before?”
Shadow laughed. All her sisters raved about their kidnappings by Koschei. “No, but you’ve taken several of my sisters. We look alike. I’ve been kidnapped to Rus before, but not by you.”
“Well.” Koschei winked. “Today’s your lucky day.” His horse leapt forward, Koschei swept Shadow up in his muscular arms, and they raced away from Pohjola.
Being kidnapped was the most fun a girl could have.
Koschei called his winds again, and the whirlwind sped them toward the lone building in the area. It was more of a complex, with several towers ending in domes wider than their bases and spiraling to a point, dazzling her eyes with an array of bright colors and onion domes. So many colors! Each dome was striped — in blue and white, green and yellow, a third in red and blue dots on the stripes. The buildings, built of red bricks, all had white accents.
“The domes are so pretty!”
He chuckled. “Eh, they’re just so snow doesn’t pile up on the roofs.”
She ignored the boring practicality of that, preferring the whimsical architecture to have no reason other than to be beautiful.
The windows of the opulent room he showed her to overlooked a forest of green trees with snowy branches and an icy river winding from the lake. The furniture was all oversized, but there was still space around a bed, table, desk, and wardrobe.
Shadow smoothed her new dress down the front and spun to examine the back in the full-length mirror. As a Maiden of Pohjola, she didn’t feel the cold, even in the snowiest landscape or weather, but the soft, thick blue velvet made her pale blue eyes a darker shade and felt like a hug.
Black trim along the hem of the floor-length skirt and square-cut bodice matched the laces up the back. The black knee-high boots were something she’d never get away with wearing at home, where delicate white slippers and gowns were the only options.
Tonight she was the guest of honor at a feast and party. Dinner and dancing and a new dress. The perfect evening.
Sharp raps on the door announced her escort, and Koschei guided her to dinner. The banquet hall, lit with big bright chandeliers, contained three long tables arranged in a Ù shape. A hundred people in colorful clothing already occupied seats.
Koschei escorted her to a chair in the middle of the table at the head of the room and sat next to her. “We have some guests from far away to th
e south tonight. Wizards! After dinner, they’re going to give us a display of their magic.”
Shadow smiled happily. “You’re so considerate. I can see why my sisters like it when you kidnap us.”
“Well, I was taken once, and held against my will. Chained to the floor in the dark. All alone.” He drained his cup, which a servant refilled almost before the empty cup landed back on the table.
“You mean... there are kidnappers who don’t do all this?”
Koschei nodded. “Yes, you —”
A thunderous round of applause rose over his words, and Shadow turned her attention to the entertainers in the middle of the U between the tables. As they ate, jugglers, acrobats, dancers, poets entertained the guests, followed by a short play. Then, a man with a wild black beard streaked with white that covered him from his cheekbones down to his stomach, took the floor.
He wore a long white robe with a hood and sleeves that hung almost to the floor, and performed a series of illusions. Everyone clapped politely for him.
After dessert, a group of children gathered around Shadow to touch her pale hair. “Do you have magic, too?” one black-eyed boy asked. “The other girls with hair like yours did!”
Shadow laughed and extended her hands to create animal forms from shadows on the wall, earning laughter and applause from her audience.
“We have our own wizardess tonight!” Koschei raised a toast to her.
She basked in the attention. At home, all her sisters had magical talents, and they’d ceased being impressed by each other centuries ago. It was fun being appreciated.
One man, one of the wizards from far away, watched her using her magic with a smile that didn’t reach his eyes.
Had anyone ever looked at her that way before? She hadn’t done anything to him.
Koschei touched her arm, and she turned her attention back to him.
CHAPTER THIRTY SIX
JAEL
A SHADOW SWEPT OVER Jael as he hiked up a desert escarpment in the waning light of the day. The rocks and sand changed color with the position of the sun. Moments ago, the endless barren landscape below had been hues of black and grey, but as the sun set, sand in the wide canyon became shades of gold, red, and beige. Rocks turned tan and brown. Scant vegetation offered spots of green in an otherwise neutral palette. Sometimes not seeing in color didn’t matter much.
He put a hand up to keep his hood in place and drew a scimitar as he tilted his head back. Rocs sometimes hunted in this area. The enormous birds could fly off with an elephant clutched in their talons. One assassin wouldn’t stand much of a chance. Even one with two swords.
A black, winged horse with a white star on his forehead descended in circles, landing with heavy hooves in a trot on the hard packed earth, baked into unforgiving terrain by scorching sun over centuries.
“Xenos. You got here quickly.” Jael had only sent the message three days ago.
His friend dismounted, shouldered a small pack, and patted his mount on his neck. “Echo said Haestratos is here. I’ve been searching for him for two thousand years. Bu agreed to bring me.”
It was strange to hear people talking about doing things for thousands of years. Although Requiescere and her brothers were six thousand years older. “It’s good to have friends who can go high places.”
Xenos smirked, tossing his long hair over his shoulders as Bu galloped a few steps, flapped gigantic wings, and took to the air, the white star on his forehead gleaming.
“I’m glad you’re here.” Jael slapped his friend on the back and pulled his hand away. “What are you wearing?”
“It’s the skin of the Nemean lion.” Xenos plucked at the hooded shirt draped over his broad shoulders. “Excellent armor. Can’t be cut by anything other than its own claws. Keeps the sun off. Might even keep a stake out. Not all of us like I’ll kill you vibe clothing.”
“That may be, but you’ll never blend in wearing a dead cat.”
Hair whipping with his agitation, Xenos leveled a steely gaze at Jael. The Nymph’s eye color changed with the seasons, but they were all ice now in the middle of a desert summer. “I’m not here to blend in. I came to deal with Haestratos.”
“How do you want to do that?”
Xenos pulled a vial from his pocket. “Gorgon venom. I’m not sure what exactly will happen. Either paralyzation or petrifaction. Either way, maybe we can take him off the board for a while.”
Jael mulled that over. “If the body dies, the magic goes free. So if that poison turns him to stone, the magic will find another host, won’t it?”
“Maybe not.” Xenos tilted the poison back and forth, the viscous greenish-gold fluid coating the inside of the vial. “Mage magic is in the symbols they wear on their skin. If the body is turned to stone, maybe the glyphs are, too. Or it could be some of them are caught before the body dies, and the next incarnation is weaker.”
“If it works, how much more of that can we get our hands on?”
“This is the last of it. But any time we can hurt a mage, I’ll take the chance.” Xenos grew up knowing about mages, his parents having suffered at their hands of Haestratos.
“Zahhak is host to the Snake Mage now, but before the switch happened, Haestratos bit him twice. He’s got a snake on each shoulder now. They come out to defend him, and when they’re killed, regrow. We’ll have to deal with them first.”
“That’s fine. Snakes don’t bother me. Maybe they’ll turn to stone when he does.” Xenos glanced around. “What are you doing here?”
“Tracking someone for Zahhak.”
“I’ll help. The faster we do this, the faster you can show me the three-headed snake.” Xenos pointed at a faint series of tracks Jael had been following. “A group of people headed this way a few hours ago. They split up here. Seven went to the left, five to the right, two of them smaller and lighter than the others.”
“You take the five. I’ll follow the others.”
Xenos nodded. “Who are you looking for?”
“Jamshid. Older man, grey beard, brown eyes. Used to call himself ruler of the world.”
“I know the type.” Xenos flashed a grin. “If he’s not with my group, I’ll come back and follow you the other way. What should I do with him if I find him?”
“Bring him back here with you. If he’s not with my group, I’ll follow after you.”
A SMALL CAMPFIRE INSIDE a cave flickered. Jael slunk closer to listen, keeping to dark and shadows. Seven heartbeats — one fast, alert and set apart from the rest. The other six steady. Slower. Sleepy.
Jael drew his swords and stood., letting the sentry see him.
The guard leapt up, drawing his sword as he gave a shout that stirred his companions to wakefulness. Six soldiers and Jamshid blinked through the firelight. He didn’t resemble a ruler of the world anymore. Clothes filthy. Hair unkempt. Unwashed body rank. Gaunt face. “You’re here for me. Zahhak sent you.”
Jael nodded.
Jamshid waved his men back. “Don’t attack. He’s one of the Old Man of the Mountain’s. He’ll kill you all and take me, anyway. I thank you for your service. Now you are dismissed to find your own way. Do not throw away your lives for mine.”
The six men didn’t move.
“I make it my last order to you.” Jamshid turned back to Jael. “My daughters are innocent, though. Please save them.”
“Zahhak’s army is searching everywhere. Where are they?”
“I sent them away from me with three of my most trusted men.”
The two sets of smaller, lighter footsteps that went the other direction. Jael nodded. “We saw their tracks.”
Jamshid knelt and bowed his head. “Please. Will you help them?”
Years had passed, and since the deaths of his family, Jael had been killed himself, to become vampire with an unbeating heart. But love for his daughter survived where everything else had died. “I had a daughter I couldn’t save. I will do what I can for yours.”
“Then I won’t fight. I
’ll surrender to you.”
Jael extended one sword toward the cave entrance. Jamshid rose to his feet, squared his shoulders, and held his head high as he walked out of the cave.
THREE HOURS LATER, they encountered a contingent of Zahhak’s army. The soldiers cheered at the sight of Jamshid. Everyone could return to the palace now. No more of this hot, desolate sand.
The look in some of their eyes gave Jael an uneasy feeling. “I can stay to ensure your treatment —”
“No.” Jamshid shook his head. “My life is forfeit already. There are so many soldiers. My daughters are innocent. Find them. Please.”
Jael sprinted back the way he’d come and followed the path Xenos left. Two hours later, he sped past three bodies. Jamshid’s soldiers. Butchered. Xenos wouldn’t have done this. A confusing mess of footprints went in all directions, but the way Xenos had gone was clear.
Another hour brought Jael to Xenos, crouched behind a scraggly tree atop a rocky outcrop. He reached behind him with a flat hand, palm down, and lowered it. Jael went to his belly and crawled the rest of the way.
“By the time I found them, they’d already been captured. I’ve been following them.”
Jael peered over the edge. Twenty of Zahhak’s men surrounded two women, leading them to an even larger contingent.
“There are too many of them for us to take out here. We’ll have to free them later.”
CHAPTER THIRTY SEVEN
VIKTORIA
A HAND OVER HER MOUTH cut off Shadow’s scream as she woke
The wizard with the bushy beard leaned over her. How had he gotten into her room? He showed her a white knife. “Be silent, or I will silence you. Do you understand?”
Shadow nodded.
He pulled his hand away and moved back. “Get dressed.”
She rose and pulled her new dress on right over her nightgown, then shoved her feet into her boots. This was not starting out as a fun kidnapping. Shadow backed away. “I’ve already been kidnapped. If it happens again, I’m sure my sisters would be angry. They’ll think it’s two turns even though one interrupted the other. You could go to Pohjola. I’m sure one of them would be happy to have you as a kidnapper.”
Viktoria's Shadow: Jael Page 17