Page 127 of Sword & Shadow
Ilain scrunched her nose, a small wrinkle appearing on its bridge. She growled—actuallygrowled—at him. “If we die,” she said, “I’m blaming you.”
“If we die,” Thom retorted, “I won’t care.”
Ignoring his quip, Ilain turned, her dark skirts swirling around her. She pressed her lips together and stepped to the edge of the platform. The Guardian screeched its rage as more arrows and Day hit its gray hide. Closing her eyes, Ilain raised her hands. The wrinkle on her nose deepened as she concentrated.
Deckard, Evylin, Thom, and Rafferty stood by helplessly, only able to watch. Deckard wanted to do something, but he worried about tapping into his magic. What if Ilain used too much power now, and they relied on him to get out?
A sharpcrackechoed through the Chamber. The columns trembled. Ilain groaned and crumpled her hands into fists.Chunks of stone ripped free of the columns. Slowly drawing her hands together, Ilain arranged the large stones into a gaping path that stretched from the entrance platform to the floating dais.
Before they’d even fully locked in place, Evylin leaped onto the first rock. Deckard called her name worriedly, but she didn’t hesitate or look back. She hurried forward, jumping from rock to rock.
Deckard prepared to go after her, but the Guardian flapped its enormous wings furiously, sending a fierce gale through the group. It drove Deckard and the others back as Evylin stumbled on the rocks. She caught herself easily, continuing on her path.
“Jonn,” Auden called from the far side of the platform, “we need your help.”
Deckard stared after Evylin, afraid to take his eyes off of her. He wasn’t ready to access his magic, to feel that overwhelming sensation once more. But if he wanted to ensure Evylin’s safety, this was his best means of doing that.
Deckard curled his hands into fists, feeling for the heat that simmered under his skin. It prickled, subtle yet attentive—waiting. He tried to grasp hold of it, urging Day magic forward, visualizing the bursts of Day as Ilain had coached. He thought of the sun, glowing and golden, life-giving and warm. He worked to channel it into a flare of light, bright and luminous. His fingers flexed, willing the power to surface. Instead, the heat receded, the magic pulling away from his grasp.
“No,” he muttered. Desperation drove him to release the image of Day. The tingle returned, an almost intrigued sensation across his flesh. He let the magic guide his connection, forming a link to the first resource it found. It crawled over his scalp, tingling and whispering in his head.At last,he could almost hear it murmuring.
When he raised his hands, the crystalline shadows were there, dark and glittering.
Despite himself and all of Auden and Ilain’s training, Deckard gave in to the darkness. He released the shadows, sending the black shards toward the Guardian. It connected with the creature’s left wing, causing it to roar in pain.
Out of the corner of his eye, Deckard saw Thom and Rafferty run for the path of rocks. They followed Evylin, hurrying from stone to stone. His fear spiked, seeing his brother risking his life too. But he kept his focus on the Guardian with Auden and Ethenn. Ilain stood at the head of the platform, concentrating on the floating path.
Halfway across the expanse, Evylin landed on another rock as the Guardian bellowed and charged after her, its claws extended. As it neared, she slashed up with the Night sword, striking its paw. It screeched in pain, then circled the sky to try again.
Deckard sent another streak of black crystal after the Guardian. It grazed the feathers of its wing as it swooped toward Evylin. She ducked as the sharp claws closed around half of the stone chunk. The rock tilted in the beast’s grasp, and she began to slide down the side. Without anything to grab onto, Evylin dropped into the clouds.
Thom and Rafferty called out as they scrambled forward, but Deckard screamed her name, his vision turning dark. He charged to the edge of the platform, casting his hand out before him. The crystalline shadows knew his thoughts even better than he did, arcing through the air. They spiraled together, forming a bridge of shimmering, coal-like rock.
Evylin hit the bridge with athump. She nearly rolled over the side before catching herself. She pulled herself up and stared back at Deckard, eyes wide.
“Go!” he ordered.
Without hesitation, she ran, the crystal cloud forming the path as she went. Deckard could feel every step like an imprint in his mind. He focused every ounce of his will to ensure the shadows remained solid.
The Guardian swooped down again, ready to attack, and Deckard felt his attention slip. He pressed his lips together, reinforcing the bridge as he closed his eyes. He would trust her to make it across the expanse. Raising his other hand, he centered his attention on the bridge.
Somehow, Deckard could feel the pulse of the Night sword in Evylin’s hand as she ran. He latched onto it, accepting whatever magical connection they shared. He held the bridge until her feet leaped free. He opened his eyes as she landed on the dais. She sprinted across the platform, her fingers closing on the Wind Relic.
When she lifted it from its pedestal, it glowed with swirling silver light. Then it shifted into a double-ended sword.
Deckard’s jaw dropped at the same time as Evylin’s.
“Evie, look out!” Thom called from the rock path. He and Rafferty were closing in on the dais, but the Guardian was already there.
Auden, Deckard, and Ethenn sent their attacks with renewed focus. Golden light and dark crystals struck the beast, while the arrows merely ricocheted off its hide.
In one fluid motion, Evylin turned the Night sword back into a Relic to hang around her neck and spun with the Wind sword twirling in her grasp. She struck at the Guardian’s paws. It flapped its wings as it stomped at her, its claws scraping the dais floor. Evylin rolled away, coming up on her knees as she swiped up.
Thom and Rafferty finally leaped onto the platform, charging with their swords raised.
Ilain instantly sighed, releasing the rock bridge. The chunks fell out of sight. “Auden,” she said weakly, “I need help.”
In a heartbeat, Auden was there. He grabbed her hands and drew her close. They both closed their eyes, focusing their efforts on defeating the Guardian.
