Chapter 1 #2
His face falls, and I wonder if he’s thinking about my abduction by the dark elf king.
The days I spent as his captive were the most terrifying of my existence.
I still have nightmares. But I refuse to ruin the moment and my day wasting my thoughts on King Adril Entrydal.
I move closer to Damien, caressing his back to the base of his spine, and lick my bottom lip.
“Besides, I would love to know what it’s like to have a tail. Yours is so much fun.”
“Mmmm.” He places a firm kiss on my waiting mouth. “Naughty little bird. I’ll show it to you now if you like. How fast can you make it back to our chambers?”
I pound his shoulder with my fist because he knows damn well I’d have to get there the old-fashioned way. He grabs my hand and tugs me hard against his chest, laughing in a way that makes my heart swell with love for him.
We’re interrupted when a young mountain dweller in a brown uniform bursts into the hall, waving his arms.
“Seamus! High alert! There’s someone at the gate!”
Seamus sets down his goblet and turns to the boy. “Did you get a good look at him?”
The boy grabs his head. “It’s the master of the guard, Banias, and six other uniformed soldiers from New Stygarde. They are armed, my lord.”
Seamus exchanges a knowing glance with Damien and me. We’ve prepared for this. With a nod of my head, I feel my tattoo tingle, and my bond with Phantom grows taut. I whisper an incantation, and a shield of invisibility comes over us. Beside me, Damien completely disappears.
Below us, Seamus thumps the boy on the shoulder and points his chin toward the front gate. “All right, then,” he says in his hearty timbre. “Let’s go welcome our guests.”
I find Damien’s hand with my own, and he pops into existence again. “As long as we’re touching, we can see each other,” I whisper. “Just don’t let any of the bad guys touch you, or the effect will be the same.”
“Noted,” he says. “Come on. We need to hear this.” Damien leads me down the narrow stony outcroppings that serve as stairs and hurries after Seamus.
He leads the way from the training hall toward the front, formal entrance to the mountain fortress.
Two enormous doors decorated with Stygian steel scrollwork wait for us.
When Seamus brought us here, he used a secret passageway and train system that previously was only available to mountain dwellers.
Built under the mountain, the passageway avoids the moat of lava and the intense, upward climb to these doors.
Invited in, as we were, our obstacles were few.
I get some satisfaction knowing that Banias had to reach this place the hard way.
With the turn of a crank that requires two men to operate, the three-story-high doors slowly swing open. Seven men dressed in white uniforms that sparkle silver in the moonlight stand at the threshold, swords displayed prominently on their hips.
Damien’s arms circle my waist, and he pulls me against his chest, then tucks us both into an alcove in the wall. Although we’re silent and unseen, Seamus knows we’re here. He knows we’re listening.
“Sir Banias.” Seamus bows. “What an unexpected surprise.”
Banias stumbles in. I do not miss the way his legs wobble or sweat trails in rivulets over his temples. The corners of Seamus’s lips twitch in a barely suppressed smile.
“My men need water, Seamus. Now! By order of New Stygarde,” Banias barks.
“Of course,” Seamus says, pointing a finger at one of his men and nodding for them to retrieve said water. The shade returns quickly with goblets and a pitcher and begins to pour.
Banias takes a sip and makes a face like he might vomit.
“You understand there is no way to cool the water here, I assume, and that the volcanic activity infuses it with the taste of sulfur?” Seamus strokes his beard and watches as Banias forces himself to swallow another gulp. His men follow his example, choking down the hot, stinking water.
While it is true that there is no refrigeration in Mount Damocles, I’ve had plenty of delicious water here.
The mountain dwellers are extremely talented craftsmen who long ago mastered filtration.
I can only imagine the flavor of the swill they’ve served to Banias and company and have to keep myself from laughing.
“Am I wrong to think you haven’t come all this way for a drink?” Seamus asks.
Until recently, Brahm used to brag that Banias rarely left his side. That changed after we broke free of the king and queen’s control. They’ve sent their best to retrieve us because they fear us. They should.
Banias reaches inside his armor and removes a sweat-soaked roll of parchment.
“I’m here by royal decree.” He straightens and announces in a loud, clear voice, “Damien Hymir and his mate Eloise Harcourt are traitors to the crown and enemies of New Stygarde. Anyone caught harboring these fugitives will be put to death.” He turns back to Seamus, his dark eyes finding the shorter man’s and holding his gaze.
“As clan chieftain of the mountain dwellers, you speak on behalf of all within these walls. Do you know the whereabouts of former prince Damien or his mate?”
Seamus snorts and pokes a sausage-shaped finger at the still-open doors. “No one comes through that gate without my knowledge, Banias, and I swear on my mother’s and my grandmother’s graves that neither Damien nor his mate passed through those doors.”
I tense as Banias studies the man for what seems like an abnormal stretch of time, then nods once. “You’re telling the truth,” he says, shoulder relaxing as he leans back on his heels. “Although, where they’ve gone is beyond me. We’ve turned over every territory in Tenebris.”
“Even Dimhollow?” Seamus asks.
Banias snorts. “Even Dimhollow. Those cursed witches allowed us into their weird, uncanny village.” He shivers. “They’re not there.”
“Perhaps they left Tenebris?”
I have to hand it to Seamus. The way he plants that possibility is as gentle as the first drops of rain on freshly tilled soil.
“Doubtful,” Banias says. “We interrogated the captain of every fleet in Aendor, and no one admits to ferrying them to other lands. No. If they escaped Tenebris, they did it on their own against unbelievable odds. I, for one, don’t think they’re capable.”
Seamus strokes his beard again. “So…given that they aren’t here, will you be returning to New Stygarde, then?” He gestures his stubby fingers toward the door. “I’m afraid leaving them open like this is against our security protocols.”
Banias snorts. “Close them if you like. It will take my men some time to search this mountain.”
“You plan to search the entire mountain?” Seamus laughs as if Banias must be joking, but the master of the guard does not break a smile.
“That’s exactly what I plan to do. My men must have access to all areas, both public and private, and we will expect meals and lodging.” Banias removes his leather gloves and drops them into Seamus’s hands. “I look forward to your hospitality.”
Amala eases into the room as gracefully as the wind.
“Wife, would you tell your lady’s maids to prepare our finest rooms for these gentlemen?” Seamus asks.
She bows. “I’d be honored.” She flutters her lashes at Banias. “Of course, we will have to clear those rooms first, as they are currently occupied by our elders. If you’ll please wait here, my servants will be with you in just a moment.”
Banias agrees, his face a mask of exhaustion as he attempts to acclimate to the heat.
Amala slips from the room, and we follow her, not uttering a word until she leads us to the trapdoor and the tunnel under the mountain.
We descend the staircase and drop our invisibility once the door is sealed above us.
“Your rabble beasts have been packed with everything from your rooms as well as ample provisions from our stores.” She wipes under her eyes. “Those filthy bastards. I hate that you must leave like this.”
We both embrace her. “We knew this day would come, my lady, and we can’t put you at further risk,” Damien says.
“I’m going to miss you so much,” I add, hugging her as tightly as I can.
“We’ll send word, when it’s time.” Damien squeezes her shoulder.
Amala releases me and sniffs, lifting her chin. “You will make a fine king one day, Damien Hymir, and justice will be served.” Her eyes drift toward the ceiling. “Now, I must go.”
We say our goodbyes and watch her ascend into the mountain palace.
“She’s prepared rooms for them at the back of the mountain,” Damien says with a chuckle.
I grin. “By this time tomorrow, their skin should be as crispy as a roast duck’s.”
As he leads me toward the underground car where our rabble beasts wait, any lightness I feel over Banias’s circumstances fades with my growing apprehension. Once again, we’ve escaped New Stygarde.
But no place is safe for us now.
Not until we win this war.