Page 200 of Sword & Shadow
“Warriors and Mages are meant to be together.”
And while it changed nothing—when they walked out of the Keep, she would still be in great danger of losing him—for a moment, Evylin couldn’t care. Here, within the Time Keep’s walls, as magic coursed through them, she could pretend the future wasn’t uncertain. She could give in to the pull between them. She could let herself believe theyweremeant to be together.
Descending the staircase down to the Chamber, the space held sharpness and clarity. The ivory stone brightened. Their footsteps echoed loudly. She could smell their sweat and taste the salt of it in the air. She even felt the heat radiating off Deckard, pulsing with an energy unlike anything she’d ever felt.
And she knew that was how it was meant to be. A Mage and a Warrior, connected by forces beyond their ken. A united team, working as one with seamless precision. Powerful. Deadly. Balanced.
Auden glanced over his shoulder as they carefully walked down to the Chamber. “Once we’re inside,” he said, “I’ll need you with me, Jonn.”
Evylin’s grip tightened on Deckard. “Jonn and I are stronger together,” she said.
She felt Deckard’s fingers twitch between hers.
“Typically,” Auden said, “I’d agree with you. However, destroying the Guardian is what matters. That can only be done if we connect to Time itself. While you, Ilain, and Ethenn will distract the creature and head for the Relic, I’ll require Jonn’s assistance.”
Though Evylin didn’t like the idea of parting with Deckard, she accepted the plan. It was his job to be a Mage. It was her job as a Warrior to protect him.
The staircase led them down, opening into the wide Chamber, a snowy-white replica of the others. Evylin felt as though she’d been plunged into a vat of the creamiest milk. The glass floor reflected their figures like a mirror. At the far end, the dais glowed like a beacon in the brightness of it all.
Auden shifted near Deckard and Evylin, a hand still on Ethenn’s shoulder. “If you three run for the Relic and get it back to us, it’ll help us connect more quickly,” he suggested.
Ilain frowned at her brother. “I’m not exactly a sprinter, Auden.”
“You’ll be fine, just—”
A gentle hiss like the sound of rushing water or the rustle of a breeze tore Evylin’s attention away from Auden’s words. Her gaze jerked up to scan the Chamber rapidly.
“I don’t like the sound of that,” Ethenn said, raising his bow.
“Me neither,” Evylin said.
Ilain stared between them. “What sound?” she asked.
The Warriors exchanged a glance.
Evylin drew the sword hanging at her hip. “We’ve got company.”
At her words, Auden grabbed Deckard’s arm and released Ethenn. “Then we’d better get started,” he said.
Deckard gave Evylin’s hand one last squeeze. “Give it hell,” he whispered.
Evylin tossed him a smirk, then dipped her chin in a mock bow. “Anything for you,” she said, releasing his hand reluctantly.
Separating from her husband’s timeline, Evylin gripped Ethenn’s upper arm, his muscles already taut, prepared to draw his bow. “Let’s go,” she ordered.
Ever at the ready, Ethenn guided Ilain and Evylin forward into the Chamber. The rushing sound grew louder and faster. As it reached a crescendo, the Guardian appeared.
A giant, albino creature with glistening scales slithered into their view. Ivory horns protruded from its diamond-shaped head. Crystal-white slitted eyes slashed across the room. Its tubular body was one massive muscle, weaving into the center of the hall in coils.
Without warning, the creature attacked. Pearly fangs protruded from its giant maw as it struck out toward them on the Chamber floor.
Evylin yanked Ethenn and Ilain back, narrowly dodging the Guardian’s bite. Regaining his footing in a flash, Ethenn let out a flurry of arrows. Three hit their mark, embedding firmly in the beast’s neck, sand trickling out of the cracks. Evylin stared in awe. Never before had they injured a Guardian so easily.
“The Relics can hurt it,” she announced in awe.
“Well, in that case,” Ilain said, slipping the Fire Relic from her neck, “take this.”
With the ruby sword of Fire in her hand, Evylin released Ethenn and bounded toward the Guardian. Flames heated her back, Ilain’s magic whirling around her toward the snake at a slightly slower speed than it normally would. With the delay, the Guardian was able to recoil from the Fire and arrows, hissing angrily. Its white, forked tongue darted between its lips.
