Shadow Cursed by May Sage Page 0,14

never said when."

This time, I do reach for my sword, gripping it, though I don't draw it.

She laughs again. "That's unnecessary, pretty boy. I don't like your kind. Too rough. I much prefer the hearts of maidens. Soft and sweet and filled with hope. I am quite the scholar, you know. Why else settle here, of all places? I do love teaching children lessons. Yours is that you're far too easily trusting." She reaches upward, and my rope appears in her hand. "On your way, Shadow King."

I take the rope, and tug on it. On the surface, Erdun starts to pull me up. I climb along the walls, my hands finding cracks in the mold-infested, spider-filled, bone-littered well.

Only when I can see the sky do I realize the hag has used my name, wasting her one chance at commanding me.

Though I know better than to think it wasn't intentional.

Fire and Water

Drusk

Still reeling from my encounter with the hag, I should have taken a moment to calm down, collect my thoughts, ruminate over the ramifications, and most of all, think of the price I paid. I said my name out loud. Though it may not cross Traffatel's lips again, she knows it. She knows me.

I realize that's the least important thing today.

I have the spell Liken wants. I have a tool we may use to end this invasion, and free our kingdom.

"I was scared for a moment," Erdun tells me. "The rope felt so light I thought I lost you."

I don't tell him he did.

"I'm here. You did a great job. I have another one for you. Recall all available rangers back to base."

Curious though he may be, he doesn't ask me why, nodding before drifting back to town.

For my part, I do the only thing I possibly can do. I head to Whitecroft Hall.

The two guards posted, a troll and a salamander knight dressed in the finery of the Court of Ash, aren't the same as those I encountered yesterday, but they also wave me through without question.

I turn to the knight. "Where might I find one of the high queen's representatives? I need to speak to the crown, in private."

I may be familiar with the old building, but I have no clue how they've organized it now. The only room I know is the one they set up Vlari in.

The knight turns to his companion. "Can you handle the door for a moment? I'll send someone to take my place."

The troll grunts his acknowledgement.

"If you'll follow me." The salamander is all courtesy, though I imagine I see some animosity in his amber eyes.

He's covered in silver and gold, heavy armor encasing him from the tip of his helm to the pointed toes of his boots. One of the reasons I never wished to be a knight is the outfit. Plain soldiers fare much better, donning supple leather and the occasional breastplate.

I suppose it must be difficult for him to appear anything but antagonistic in this metal casket.

We head toward the old assembly room on the ground floor, behind the grand staircase leading up to the higher floor. The knight could have just told me where to go, but I don't point it out.

When we arrive at closed doors, he tells a guard posted next to them, "Take my place at the gate for a few, would you?"

The guard, another salamander, pretends to sigh, though I can tell she seems excited at the prospect. There must be more to see at the gates than in a random corridor.

She rushes to the entrance, and we walk inside the assembly room, which is filled with at least a hundred folk. Ash folk, stone folk, star folk. Folk of meadows and castles. Gentries with great names and little sprites. They all wait in line to see the queen.

I wince. I told the knight I wanted to speak to a representative to avoid just that.

Before I can protest, the guard tells me, "This way."

We pass through the mob. I notice the crowd eyeing me with anything ranging from curiosity to hatred to awe.

We take a small unadorned door away from the great entryway leading to the queen's hall.

"We've met before, you know," the knight tells me.

I shrug. "I've met many a folk."

The polite thing might have been to ask for his name, but I've had enough introductions to last me a lifetime.

"And there's no cause for you to remember me," the knight guesses. "But I wouldn't forget you in a hurry. You were accompanying