Page 14 of Sword & Shadow
“It won’t be easy,” Deckard warned. “We have no idea where they might be hiding or how many of them there will be. And we are now entering enemy territory.”
The memory of entering the Water Keep flickered through Evylin’s mind. She turned to Auden. “Can’t you hide us? With Night magic, I mean.”
Deckard caught on, nodding. “Yes, you became invisible in the woods outside of Virwoud.”
Rafferty’s silvery eyes went wide with excitement, but Auden’s wary expression immediately cast doubt on the plan. “A shroud, yes. But it’s Night magic, and I’m not particularly good at it,” he admitted. “I couldpossiblyshroud us with the Night Relic’s help, but—”
“Do it,” Evylin insisted, offering the sword to him again. “If it’ll get us out of here, do it.”
Auden looked reticent.
Ilain set her hand on her brother’s shoulder. “We just traversed a Keep,” she reminded him. “We’re too tired to fight our way out.”
“And after using Time and Night within, I’ve depleted much of my energy,” he replied, a pained expression on his face. “I’m no good with Night to begin with.”
“Can you try at least?” Deckard asked. “Even if it gets us a step farther from here, it’s worth it.”
Dropping his chin, Auden acquiesced. He reached up, but not to take the Night sword. “Here,” he said, lifting the Day Relic from around his neck. “I won’t be able to maintain a good grasp on Night if I wear this. And if we do have to fight, it would be wise for our Warrior to carry a weapon that will give us the best chance of success.”
In exchanging Night for Day, Evylin watched with amazement as the purple sword turned back into an amethyst necklace while the topaz talisman transformed into a golden broadsword. She wanted to ask the siblings about this phenomenon, but by their bafflement, it seemed they were just as surprised as she was. Her fingers tingled with joy as they clutched the leather hilt—a gentle warmth radiating from the blade, the feeling of life flowing through her veins.
“Are we ready then?” Deckard asked, drawing her back to the moment.
They prepared their weapons as Auden gathered his focus. Then they moved up the staircase to take their first steps into Wauld.
CHAPTER FOUR
Deckard struggled to believe that they were truly invisible. Even though Auden assured them the shroud was in place, he could still see each troop member. Granted, the edges of their forms were less solid than normal, like they wore a hazy fog as a cloak.
Still, Deckard insisted that Ethenn ascend first with Auden, his bow at the ready.
They climbed the staircase together, leaving the Keep’s antechamber. With their weapons drawn, the narrow steps forced them to rise one by one. Auden told them to stay close, as his grasp on Night magic was tenuous even with the Relic.
Deckard made sure to walk in front of Evylin in the procession. Even with the warm golden glow of the Day sword in her hand, he wanted to face whatever awaited them first. Perhaps it made him a fool. Evylin was more than capable of defending herself. He’d seen how the Relics enhanced her skills in the Keep. He did not doubt that she could also hold her own up above. But he would never forgive himself if she faced danger from which he could have protected her.
The moment they stepped out into the soft morning light, Deckard felt an immediate wave of exhaustion roll through him. He’d experienced this sensation before when they’d left the Day and Water Keeps. Each time, he’d felt fine while within themagical walls. But the energy he’d expended finally caught up to him the second they stepped free of the Keeps’ influence.
Exiting the narrow slit in the cliff face, the troop came to an immediate halt. Twelve Mages whirled toward them, muttering to one another under their breaths, hands raised. They’d felt it, Deckard realized, the Night Relic leaving the Keep. And they were prepared to attack whatever appeared.
Even in his exhaustion, Deckard held his sword ready. Their troop stood huddled together on the slick rock that abutted the sea. Auden lifted a forestalling hand to the soldiers. Immediately, Deckard understood why.
The Night Mages stood frozen, eyes wide and hands still raised, but with obvious uncertainty on their faces. “Where are they?” one of them grumbled.
“Hold steady,” another commanded. “They’ll emerge any moment.”
Suddenly, Ilain flicked her wrist. A large crash sounded off to their left, and all the Mages turned, alert. Ilain grabbed Evylin’s arm without warning and jerked her to the right in front of Deckard. The troop needed no more direction. They sprinted after the two women, barreling past the enemy Mages. Auden worked to stay in the middle of the group to keep his shroud over them all.
Mindful of their footing, they raced across the wet rocks of the coastline. Wherever they had emerged in Wauld, they were surrounded by moss-covered mountains and beaches of black sand. The sea foamed against the shore and the jagged rocks. With their weapons drawn, Deckard worried they would lose their footing and injure themselves in their desperate escape to safety. But they couldn’t risk stowing them, not when they might need to defend themselves.
Just as he’d feared, the Mages heard their sprint away. They called out to each other, sending blind surges of Night Magictheir way. The troop veered, and Auden screwed up his face in rigid concentration.
“I’m struggling to hold it,” he warned.
Instantly, Ilain grabbed her brother’s hand, offering her additional focus and power. Deckard couldn’t tell if it helped, but he refused to slow their pace.
The team curved around the side of the mountain, heading straight toward another group of Mages. Deckard diverted their path, leading them around the group and across the beach, their footprints embedding in the black sand.
The evidence of their passage unhidden, the Mages charged in pursuit of their path. More deep purple shadows streaked across the sand, narrowly missing their targets. Without warning, the water began rushing up the shore with sudden violence, rising to form a massive wall, ready to crash over them.
