Soulblade: An Epic Fantasy Adventure Romance (A Dance of Fire and Shadow Book 4)
Soulblade: Chapter 3

THE END OF THE LONG healing session does not leave me with the same kind of deathly exhaustion I experienced when doing it alone, but the constant replenishment of power from Shadow brings its own disorientation. I feel as if a great river of energy has been flowing through me, washing away the weight of bone and muscle and leaving only a thin transparency instead of a solid body. I feel compelled to reaffirm that I still fully exist, grasping the handle of my dagger in an effort to convince myself that it will not simply pass through my hand.

“Ariel? You all right?”

Deris again. He seems to be taking his guardian role as seriously as ever. Constantly checking up on me to make sure I’m not about to go wild and inflict more death and damage where I shouldn’t. It suddenly occurs to me that he noticed the weapon in my hand and probably thought I was planning another deadly attack on someone.

“Deris, really, I’m not going to actually use the blade. I just need to feel sure I can still hold on to things.”

His expression shifts from anxiety to puzzlement. “You shouldn’t feel weak if Shadow has been supporting you.”

“Not weak. Sort of washed out, half wraith instead of solid human.”

He passes me a glass of water.

“Drink this. And you’re probably hungry. I’ll go and get you something to eat. But please, put that blade away first.”

I sheath the dagger. The water helps, but I still feel… not just light-headed, but light-bodied as well. Maybe Deris is right and I’m just hungry. But I can fetch my own food. I don’t need Deris waiting on me hand and foot even if he is my designated minder. I turn to follow him into the Eldrin living quarters.

Jantian blocks my way. “Ariel. Are you still hoping to be accepted into the Eldrin?”

I wasn’t expecting that. But after what has passed during these last two days, I am suspicious. Jantian could simply be using the offer as a way of flouting my desire to challenge him. For all my anger, I’m still intimidated by his aura of authority.

“Maybe. I feel less sure about it after the way you’ve been using us for the fight against the Rapathians. Especially the way you used Marin. And you delayed your offer for so long. Why now?”

He deflects my question with a vague answer that tells me nothing. “I think it will be a useful asset before I send you on this mission to Rapathia. Deris will give you all the answers you need about what is involved. After that, you may ask me anything you want. You have seven hours to prepare while I deal with some essential business elsewhere.”

I wrestle with a conflicting mix of feelings as I watch him walk away. I know I don’t have an alternative to accepting his offer unless I want to become a hunted fugitive for whatever remains of my life. But there are too many possible outcomes running through my mind to be able to think clearly.

I hardly notice the generous wedge of bread and cheese Deris shoves into my hands. I munch slowly and automatically, trying to work out what should be my top priority in the remaining time I have as a free woman.

“Deris, Jantian says you have to help me prepare for Eldrin initiation. But there are a few things I have to do first. Will you be here all day?”

“Yes. I volunteered to help with the wounded while they finish recovering.” He frowns. “What else could be more important to you than preparing to swear allegiance?”

“Better you don’t know.” Before he can stop me, I run outside to catch up with Shadow in the courtyard.

“Shadow, this is my last chance to talk to my sister before Jantian sends me on this new mission to Rapathia.” I glance back over my shoulder in case Deris is on my tail again, but he seems to have decided this might be one argument he won’t win. Maybe he has worked out exactly the same issue that I have. Once I am sworn to the Eldrin creed, the penalties for disobeying orders and sneaking off on personal side-trips will be severe.

Shadow looks round warily. I sense he is trying to make sure his help does not get taken for granted.

“I have no interest in your sister.”

“You should have. She is getting involved in a situation that could wreck the fragile rebuilding of Samaran. If your future involves being associated with the Eldrin, the elite guard of a prosperous kingdom, then it’s in your interest to make sure it is prosperous. And stays that way.”

“If this is another of your deceptions, you will regret it.”

“You can come inside the Manor with me and see for yourself.” I don’t mention the many deceptions he has inflicted on me. Starting another argument is not going to help persuade him.

Finally, he concedes. “I shall be watching what transpires between you and your sister.” He launches into the cold air with me, finally setting me down in a quiet corner near the edge of the Blackthorn maze, concealed from the guards. I scan the upper windows of the Manor until I notice one that has been left ajar, the edge of it just catching the moonlight.

“Security is more relaxed on the upper floors because the walls are too slick to climb. Can you get us to that window without being seen by the guards outside?”

“Yes of course I can, but how much cloaking will you need once we are inside?”

“Not much. There are hidden passageways. I know how tiring it is for you.”

Shadow gives a resigned sigh and the grey moonlight dims further as his wings fold around us. He hovers outside the window until I can open it further and climb through. He follows me inside and looks around at the stacked shelves lining the small attic room.

“You took a gamble that this was just a storeroom?”

“Give me some credit. I checked every corner of the house and grounds, back when I was on security detail here. Just follow me. If we do need shielding, it will only be for a few moments until I can replace an alternative route.”

I make an educated guess that Jantian will have moved Alina out of the royal apartment and into the room that Marin and I shared when we first stayed here. In the event, the inevitable grey-clad Eldrin bodyguard has been posted outside a door on the same side of the house, but on the second floor. The presence of a guard almost certainly confirms that Alina is in residence. In these uncertain times, Tandarion will want to make sure he knows exactly where my sister is until he can be confident of her loyalty. In her short interlude as Marin’s Queen, she became far too popular with the nobles to be left to her own devices.

I make a quick calculation for how long it has been since the security guard changed over. Less than an hour. I should be able to talk my way in there if I adapt my sister-swapping technique to a style suitable for Alina’s new official status as ‘useful warrior who is no longer royalty’. A quick warning to Shadow to be ready to follow at my signal and I walk over to the guard, covering most of my face by rubbing my eyes as if trying to fight off sleep.

“Hey. Please let me in. And please don’t tell anyone I slipped out to get something to eat from the kitchen.” I verify the message by munching on the last of Deris’ gift of bread and cheese I had carefully saved for this purpose. The food in my hand also helps to disguise my face. With any luck, the guard will simply identify me by my hair which is my main similarity with my sister.

He doesn’t sound too pleased, despite his respectful manner. “My Lady. Just this once, but no more. You should not wander from your bodyguards.”

I almost lose concentration with this new development.

My Lady? They made her a Duchess already? I thought Tandarion simply gifted her Lord Gullin’s estate?

I make a hasty upgrade to my response.

“Of course. Thank you, soldier. Leading the battle against the Rapathians was quite tiring and I need to recover quickly in order to maintain the confidence of the people.”

He makes a respectful dip of his head. “My Lady, we all appreciate your service to Samaran. But kindly remain in your room until we escort you to your new estate.” He pushes open the door.

Now I have to concentrate. This is the point where timing is critical. I step forward and then glance down the corridor, pointing anxiously into the flickering torchlight.

“Oh no! What is that?”

The guard turns instantly, his hand on the hilt of his sword, ready to defend me with his life from unknown threats.

“Where?”

“Down there. I thought I saw something move.”

I signal behind my back to Shadow and feel the breath of cold air as he slips through the doorway and into the room.

The guard turns back to me, a sharp edge of suspicion in his voice.

“I didn’t see anything.”

“It’s gone now. Maybe a rat. I really hate rats.” I duck inside the room and close the door behind me. I wait for an anxious few moments to see if he follows for more questions, but all is silent.

Until Alina sticks her head out from behind the couch, her hand clamped over her mouth in an attempt to stifle her laughter. It takes a few minutes of sister-hug before she has regained enough control to whisper.

“Ariel! A bit of warning would help. I heard your voice outside the door and guessed what you were up to, but I didn’t have time to replace a better hiding place––”

Her eyes go wide as she notices Shadow’s dark shape emerging from a dimly-lit corner of the room. I should have thought about the need to have a clandestine conversation in spite of the inevitable guards.

“Shh. Is there anywhere we can talk?” I glance anxiously over my shoulder at the closed door, hoping the guard’s hearing is not too sharp.

Alina leads me through into the bedroom. “They opened some internal doors to make a proper apartment.” She closes the door quietly behind us. “This is far enough from the guards if we keep our voices low.”