Sea of Starlight (The Riven Kingdoms #2) - Shari L. Tapscott Page 0,26
the black tunnel, wishing I’d thought to bring a candle. I don’t have time to go back for one now.
I listen for shuffling or breathing—anything that might betray that something lurks nearby.
With each step, I silently tap my toe on the ground in front of me, knowing I must be close to the stairs. Even still, when I find them, I almost lose my balance and tumble down headfirst.
My fear grows the farther I go without spotting signs of something sinister. That means whatever it is has already left the tunnel.
I find the end of the corridor, and light shines in a strip near the floor, under the tapestry. The door is wide open, and I’m certain I closed it last night as well. Without taking time to question the wisdom of my decision, I shoulder past the tapestry, bow at the ready.
“No!” Braeton yells when he spots me, already in a battle with a curiper, wielding a candlestick like a bludgeon.
The creature is huge, far larger in person than they appear from atop the battlements.
It turns toward me, grinning. It’s a nightmare—a twisted, gnarled beast standing upright, with gray skin hanging from too-long, bony limbs, ears like a demon bat, and webbed fingers tipped with wicked talons.
It’s painful to look at, and I almost shy away before I let the first arrow fly.
The curiper shrieks when the copper penetrates its flesh, and the sound alone is paralyzing. I want to drop to the ground and cover my ears, block out the awful cry. But I resist the urge, nocking another arrow and sending it at the monster, this time piercing the creature’s chest.
As if it realizes it’s going to die, it lunges as Braeton, determined to take the prince with him.
The prince barely ducks out of the way and turns back, cracking the candlestick over the top of the curiper’s head. It clutches its skull and stumbles to the ground, falling with a loud thud atop the carpet.
I send one more arrow into the monster’s leathery hide, trusting the copper to finish it.
It gags, draws in one last gasping breath, and then falls silent.
Slowly, I lower my bow, breathing hard.
Braeton looks up, his face white. “What…what is that?”
“Curiper,” I say, breathless. The creature begins to sizzle and bubble. “You’re not going to want to watch this.”
I look away, closing my eyes.
Apparently Braeton doesn’t heed my warning because he lets out a horrified grunt and sounds like he might be sick.
When the room goes silent a few moments later, I peek an eye open. The creature is gone.
“They’re the worst,” I tell Braeton, setting my bow aside and stretching my back. “It’s not so bad when the tiraith’s disappear—they’re gelatinous to begin with.”
Braeton stares at me, looking like he’s in shock.
“They’re all just magic though,” I tell him. “They’re not actually real.”
The prince rubs his shoulder. “The bruise I’m going to have in the morning argues that.”
“Oh, that’s real enough. I suppose I should say they’re not as substantial as they seem. They’re a deadly illusion.” I pull an arrow from my quiver and hold it out for him to inspect. “The copper breaks the spell.”
“Copper,” Braeton takes the arrow and studies it. “It’s so weak.”
“Not against magic.”
He gives the arrow back to me and stares at the rug, thoughtful. “What happened here? Why are things like this?”
I shrug. “The creatures come from the Chasm. We assumed Renove suffered the same as us.”
The prince frowns as if he doesn’t know what to say.
“I should go.” I glance toward the tapestry that hangs askew over the open passage. “This isn’t a good night for me to disappear.”
“You were…impressive.” Braeton gives me a hesitant smile. “Thank you.”
“I’m sure you and your candlestick would have managed.”
No, he’d be dead.
The prince shakes his head, knowing the truth as well as I do.
I push the tapestry aside. “You need to lock the door. It’s not safe to keep it open.”
“I was expecting a guest,” he says with a charming smile that makes the butterflies flutter in my stomach.
“You certainly got one.”
Braeton laughs, looking away. “Knock twice, wait a moment, and then knock once more. Then I’ll know it’s you.”
The subterfuge is oddly exciting.
“All right,” I say, but I don’t leave.
After a moment, Braeton raises his eyebrows. “Have you changed your mind?”
“No…” My hand moves to my dagger.
The prince notices the movement, and his expression becomes skeptical. “Don’t tell me you saved me from the monster just to finish me off yourself?”