Soulblade: An Epic Fantasy Adventure Romance (A Dance of Fire and Shadow Book 4)
Soulblade: Chapter 27

I SIT IN SILENCE FOR a long time, leaning in to Marin’s touch, needing the comfort of his arms. I think about how many times I have wished to be free of the deadly binding that tied me to Shadow, and the many times I have been glad when that gifted power saved my life in a fight.

And I remember the many occasions he has intervened to save me.

If Shadow really has left me, I have to admit I will miss him––but more than that I can still remember the torment of trying to control his deadly gift and my heart aches with worry for my sister.

“Marin, please tell me what to do!”

He dips his head to plant a kiss on my hand.

“Nothing we can do until we get back to Samaran. Meanwhile, if Orlin here is helping you to gain clearer scrying visions, you would be wise to look again, to discover more. We must be as well prepared as we can.”

Eldrin discipline again I suppose. He always seems able to stay calm and see the bigger picture. I turn my gaze back to the flames but Alina is hidden once more. Perhaps I should try to be less self-absorbed and seek news of Marin’s father.

Another shock, although not entirely unexpected. Tandarion’s body lies in state, surrounded by mourning courtiers preparing to bear the coffin out into the city square of Corinium. Citizens are waiting there to pay their final respects.

Sarinder is standing formally at the head of the line of bearers, his face drawn and unreadable. A beautiful young Annubian girl stands close at his side. I last saw Varsha in the Khalim’s palace in Khotann when Falina and I saved her and the other women of the harem from capture by raiders of the Serpent clan.

Nem’s half-sister already looks like a Queen in waiting, her dark hair clustered with jewels and the heavy brocade of her robe gleaming softly in the glow of the lanterns.

Marin’s voice is soft and sad, and I know he will be mourning his father for some time.

“They will be married after one month, so that Sarinder can be crowned the following day. That is the law.” He shakes his head as if to dispel his own grief and focus back on his mission. “At least this gives us some time to work out what might have happened. And for you to search the flames for more information.”

I reach out for Orlin’s hand and stare at the pool, but nothing appears in the mass of swirling blue. She peels my reluctant fingers away from her own.

“It will become more reliable with practice. When you have rested you may have better luck tomorrow.” She moves to her feet in a graceful swirl of dark silken robes and walks back to the camp. Marin is deep in thought.

“If Shadow really has formed a binding with Alina, it must mean he sensed the moment you died? When you passed through the veil?”

“I suppose so. Zandar said he felt the moment that both of us died when we entered the realm of death. But Shadow and I were so close… it would have weakened him so badly.” I hesitate. “That is what I feared when I warned Jantian to post extra guards on Maratic, to stop Shadow breaking his word and stealing power from the source if I was killed in Rapathia…”

Marin finishes the thought for me. “And now you have seen him back to his full strength, fighting alongside Alina, you think that is what he has done?”

“I don’t know.” A shiver of apprehension runs up my spine. If Shadow has fought his way past the Eldrin guards at Maratic and left a trail of corpses in his wake, then all hope of peaceful co-existence is over.

Marin is right. Samaran is too far away for us to do anything just now. And it does not feel good.

Kariel’s anxious voice calls us back to the camp. As soon as we reach him he hands Marin his father’s sword.

“We took this weapon from the Rapathian when we captured him but Deris says it belongs to you. I think you will need it in the next hour or so.”

“What happened?”

“I just received a hawk-message from our northern archer guards. They have already slain the criminal band of slavers and freed their prisoners––but there is a patrol of a hundred Rapathian guards approaching and we are commanded to join the ambush, to ensure that none will survive to report who has done this.”

Marin frowns, darting a suspicious glance in Dragar’s direction. “General Dragar was part of the Rapathian high command for several years. He would know exactly where the patrols around the capital would be. I think his arrogant dismissal of your threats may be because he believed he would soon be rescued.”

Kariel’s green eyes narrow in fury. “Then I will spare his miserable life just long enough for him to watch his soldiers slaughtered to a man!”

Marin lays a calming hand on his shoulder. “Give me a few moments with him. There may just be a way through this.”

Kariel’s reply is terse. “I will be listening.”

He walks across the clearing with us to where Dragar is sitting, tethered to a sturdy tree.

Marin watches Dragar’s face carefully as he speaks.

“General, you knew where this Rapathian patrol would be, didn’t you?”

I notice the flicker of uncertainty in Dragar’s gaze. Maybe I am learning from Marin after all. The Rapathian is working out if blatant denial would be credible. He seems to decide it would not.

“What if I did? You cannot expect me to betray my own men. If that foolish Elf-captain begs for mercy, I may spare his life when your pathetic little band is wiped out.”

“Except, that is not about to happen. We are on our way to join an ambush of two hundred archers from the Elf-havens who have your soldiers surrounded. You have only one chance to save your men and broker a peace.” Marin pauses to let the message sink in. “Or you can watch them die to save your pride. But I tell you, if it were my command I would see no pride in being the general who sacrificed a hundred of his men to his own vanity.”

“I do not believe this ambush exists.”

Marin turns to Kariel. “Perhaps we should show him.”

The Elf-captain binds the gag over Dragar’s mouth none too gently before cutting him loose and keeping a firm grip on the end of the cord that still binds his hands. He pushes Dragar forward.

“If he tries to warn them he will feel my blade through his ribs before he can make a sound.”

All but a few of our party are following close behind us and we pass the lookouts for the ambush within the hour. From the crest of a low hill we can look down on the Rapathians making camp on a flat patch of land that looks a little drier than the surrounding marsh-pools. There must only be a few such places here. No wonder Dragar knew the patrol routes.

Kariel gives a rapid series of birdcalls which are repeated through a wide circle around the camp. He turns to Dragar.

“Do you need to see two hundred arrows replace your men before you are convinced?”

A long pause. Dragar shakes his head. I see the same look of defeat in his eyes as when he was forced to surrender back in Samaran. Kariel removes the gag but keeps his dagger pressed to Dragar’s throat. A trickle of blood runs down to stain the collar of the general’s red and black livery. Kariel tries again.

“Do I have your word? Be assured I can cut your throat before you can shout a warning.”

Finally Dragar draws a deep breath. “You have my word. As a Rapathian and commander of the Emperor’s army.”

Not exactly his current designation but I catch Marin’s eye and don’t interrupt. Kariel cuts Dragar’s bonds and signals him to walk ahead. I step forward to follow but Marin grabs my arm.

“No, Ariel. Stay back. Kariel is risking his own life to watch over this exchange. I have to go with him but if it all goes wrong down there, hundreds of arrows will be flying into that camp.”

“No! Only a few days ago I thought I’d lost you forever. I’m not letting you out of my sight from now on.”

“What can you do against a hail of arrows––”

“Marin. Just accept that I’m going to disobey your orders on this one.”

He gives a huff of impatience before striding after the other two, catching up with Dragar within moments. For the second time on this mission he offers his father’s sword.

“General, if this is going to work, I know you will need every bit of authority you can muster.”

I barely manage to stop Kariel’s angry protest at the very idea of arming our hostage.

Dragar only gives a brief nod of acknowledgement, but for the first time I start to see how he reacts to the way Marin has always treated him with respect. I think at first he only saw it as weakness but now…

The next few minutes will tell, one way or the other.