Chapter 34 Devora
Devora
“Just one more snack for the road,” I said to the guard as he fit my cloak around my shoulders. I gave him my sweetest smile and held up a finger, then crossed to the table where Everett was cutting off slices of meat from the roasted boar.
“Get to the carriage,” I muttered to Everett, popping a small chocolate pastry in my mouth.
His eyes furrowed in confusion beneath his goat mask. “What happened?”
“Go. Now. I’m being watched. I’ll explain in the carriage.”
He nodded and turned, disappearing down the servants’ entrance.
I shook out the nerves from my shoulders and strode back to the guard.
We made our way through the twists and turns of the mansion and eventually arrived at the front.
There was my carriage, bearing the (illusioned) flag of Mysthelm prominently on top.
The guard bade me goodnight, and I had the carriage driver roll to a stop just outside the bridge leading to the manor.
Everett hauled himself into the carriage a few minutes later, his goat’s mask and sheer fabric replaced by his normal pants and suspenders.
“Why so urgent?” he asked.
“I need you to illusion yourself to look like me and go back to the Mysthelm base,” I said quickly.
“What? Why? Where will you be?”
“Following Scarven to the Hollow.”
He snorted derisively. “Absolutely not.”
I rolled my eyes. “Everett, come on. Scarven left because his men told him a caravan from the west is arriving at the Hollow. He’s going there right now.
What was the point of this whole thing if we don’t use the information?
If I can get my shadows to listen and find him, we’ll know where the Hollow is.
Don’t you remember that’s where he’s keeping the fatesprig, and—”
“Okay, okay, slow down.” Everett lifted his hands in the air. “If this is so important, then you should go back and I’ll find him.”
“Oh, sorry, I didn’t realize you learned how to shadow whisper in the last two hours.”
“Funny,” he deadpanned. “Fine. We’ll both go.”
My jaw twitched as irritation built. He didn’t get it. “You can’t. Scarven expects me to go back to the Mysthelm base. If the carriage is being followed, someone has to pretend to be me and lead them away from here.”
I moved to open the door when Everett caught my arm. “Devora, no. This isn’t another one of your improvisations. If you’re wrong, you’ll get yourself killed.”
“And if I’m right, we’ll find the Hollow,” I snapped, yanking free. “I need to act fast. We could lose the trail soon—it’s been almost twenty minutes since Scarven left.”
I could see the indecision warring in his gray and green eyes. What was best for the mission versus keeping me safe.
His chest swelled as he let out a sharp huff. “Write to Nox on your magical paper. He’s only a couple miles away. Tell him and Kieran to come meet you.”
I nodded. “I will, I promise.”
“This is the worst idea ever.”
I tapped my nose. “Or—hear me out—is it the best?”
“You’ve been around Tessa and Arowyn too long.”
“That’s neither here nor there. Are you in, or are you going to make us miss this once-in-a-thousand chance?”
He met my gaze. His eyes searched mine, hesitant and worried, and the column of his throat moved as he swallowed.
“Come on, Everett,” I said softly, all humor and frustration forgotten. “Those could be new prisoners they’re carrying. Don’t you want to help them?”
He inhaled slowly, and on his exhale, he nodded. “Alright. Send the message to Nox, and I’ll illusion you long enough for you to get into the forest. Wait for him and Kieran before you go running off.”
“Yes, yes, I know.” Not a chance. “We have to hurry. Is your illusion ready?”
He rolled his neck along his shoulders, causing his necklaces to rub together. “This is a bad idea. Alright, you’re clear. Go.”
I shot him a grin, threw open the carriage door, and jumped down. I made my way to the copse of trees bordering Scarven’s property as the carriage rolled away.
I didn’t lie to Everett—I planned on telling Nox and Kieran what I was doing. I just needed to wait until it was too late for them to make me turn back.
Staying within the shadows of the trees, I loosened my shoulders and took a few deep breaths.
I’d never tried to shadow whisper over such a large area.
I wasn’t even sure where to focus my attention—for all I knew, the Hollow could be miles away.
But I didn’t think Scarven would leave in the middle of the night to go “sort through” this new arrival if it wasn’t close by.
I pulled the hood of my cloak up to block the cold wind.
The night was quiet, save for the sounds of insects coming to life in the trees and the breeze rustling through leaves.
I closed my eyes and let my shadows come to life.
They billowed across my skin, their form expanding and contracting with my breaths.
Find Scarven, I urged them. Just the sound of his name made them coil into a tighter ball. They seemed to share my aversion to the man. But, little by little, my shadows flitted away from me, curling across the dark grounds and searching out other shadows to latch on to.
It was hard to describe what this magic felt like. They were a part of me, even when they were detached like this. I could still feel them moving in my mind. Like something brushing or scratching against my thoughts. Soon, other sounds began to reach me.
Hooves stepping on straw. Hard bars of soap rubbing against a washboard. Metal creaking and footsteps pacing stone. Hints of the late-night servants and manor guards going about their jobs, all echoing back to me.
And in the distance was that sound again, the same one I’d heard in the hallway with the paintings—rattling chains, mixed with a mournful wail.
“Get them in here,” a gruff voice said. So quiet, so far away, I thought I’d imagined it.
I sucked in a breath, willing my shadows to stay steady. I stretched my magic and felt them strain against my hold as if they were going to snap back into me like a bowstring.
The sound of hooves pawing the dirt was suddenly magnified. Several heavy feet plodding on straw, doors swinging on hinges, tails swishing, teeth munching on something.
Horses.
The stables. That was where I was hearing all this come from. The Hollow must be near the stables.
I hastily grabbed my parchment and charcoal from my dress and scribbled out a message.
Found the entrance to the Hollow. Meet me at the west stables on Scarven’s property.
A reply burned in my hand almost instantly.
Whatever you’re doing, stop. Kieran and I are coming.
I couldn’t help but grin. So predictable, these Shifters. I jotted one last message before tucking it back in my dress, throwing off my heels, and sprinting through the night.