Shadow Cursed by May Sage Page 0,12

the best trainer they could possibly have, me included: Neb. Though she's twice as vicious and three times more agile than any other here, she hasn't earned the title of ranger, and if I have anything to do with it, she never will. She belongs here, where she's safe.

My sister glares at me from across the circular room. She has other ideas.

I ignore her, catching Erdun's eye instead. I tilt my head toward the exit; he follows me out.

"Well?"

The rangers are always eager to hear of what the lords have to say, though their answer rarely changes.

I realize that for once, I can give them some hope.

I won't.

I haven't heard of the plan to shield us, which means it isn't common knowledge, with good reason: should our enemies hear of it, they'd attempt to thwart it. They'd burn any old books they could lay their hands on, and call for reinforcements early. They may even attempt to build a portal between Alfheimr and Tenebris, risky as that may be. We can't chance it.

"No luck with that book. I've had an idea, though. I'll need backup."

"I can call Iola, or Nebula—" Catching my look, he's quick to backtrack. "I think Winse is available, too."

I shake my head. "You'll do. We aren't going out."

He's intrigued, but he follows me silently through the old field, now converted into a dark, handsome stone building housing the members of the Court of Ash, which is half composed of salamanders.

Black and red eyes follow us as we head to the glade.

The well, circled by stone, waits for us in a shadow of a willow. I approach it, and look down to the black pit. I can't see—more concerningly, I can't feel what's at the bottom. This is a place of shadows—it should feel like my dominion.

It really doesn't.

I undo the leather bag at my back, then retrieve a thin spider-silk rope, handing one end to Erdun.

"You're going down there?" He looks and shivers. "That doesn't look good, boss."

"That'd be why you're here." I hook the other end of the rope to my belt and tie four knots, to be safe. "If you hear me call, if I tug three times, or if an hour has passed, pull me up."

Erdun has backed me up a dozen times outside the walls, but now he swallows hard. "What are you going to do down there?"

I hop at the top of the circular stones. "Get answers, one would hope."

"Or lose your head," he mutters.

"Or that. A call, one hour, or three tugs," I remind him, before jumping down into the void.

Deep Down the Hole

Drusk

I fall, and fall, and fall, for so long I have to wonder whether I'll ever stop falling. There's a spell at work; until the master of this hole wishes otherwise, I'll keep falling.

Eventually, my feet hit the ground.

I've never been scared of the dark. When my eyes can't adjust to it, I still feel what's lurking around me. Darkness is shadow's friend. But now, I feel nothing, see nothing. My hair bristles at the nape of my neck, alerting me of danger close by.

"Who, say, come see old Traffatel," a frail, weak, high-pitched voice calls. From where, I can't tell.

I itch to pull the sword at my side, but I know it's of little use today.

"They call me Drusk."

"Do they now?" The voice changes, now stronger and more seductive. "We've heard of a Drusk, have we not? For years and years, we heard whispers. The girls talk. He sends their pretty hearts aflutter."

I lift a brow. "You've heard of me charming girls? I need to work on my reputation."

"Well said. I am in danger of being quite charmed, too."

A light appears right in front of me, held in the hand of a beautiful lady in a dress that seems to have once been white, though its lace is marred with dust and blood.

Her white hair is so long it surrounds us, covering most of the floor, but there's no other sign of age on her smooth, spotless skin, except perhaps the shadow of her pale eyes. Her ruby-red lips stink of blood.

"You flatter me, ma'am."

"I suppose I must. Now, tell me, little Drusk, what is your name?"

My heart rate increases, catching her meaning. I pretend I don't quite understand her. "Rystan, after my grandfather."

She smiles, her lips parting to reveal a mouthful of sharp, stained fangs. "Now, now, let us not play games. You know what I ask."

She wants my true name.

"And you know I'll die