Page 72 of A Fable of Riddles and Redemption

The frustration in his expression softened. “It is,” he acknowledged. “But we defeated dark versions of ourselves, Caliban, and so many other dangers this labyrinth threw at us. Surely we can take on this last foe together?”

Swallowing, she nodded, though fear still raced through her veins. “I’ve heard that their underbellies are vulnerable,” she added as the foul creature’s pincers drew nearer.

“And they’re susceptible to fire. Know any mages who can do that?”

At that, Zorina grinned. “Fire? Now that I can handle.”

As Herrick slashed at the hideous monster with his sword, Zorina gathered as much power in her hand as she could. This attack would likely take all the power and energy she had left until her magic could replenish, but if it was indeed the last enemy they had to fight, it would be worth it.

With a loud shout, Herrick yelled, “Now!” as he managed to force the spider to expose its most vulnerable belly.

Zorina didn’t wait. She shot all the fire she could at the foul creature in a blindingly bright stream. Then, when her magic began to fade, Herrick ran forward and stabbed the hideous beast.

The spider writhed in misery as it died. Just as it collapsed into a heap, dizziness washed over Zorina and she felt herself fading. Before she lost consciousness, however, strong arms wrapped around her protectively, holding her close and keeping her safe.

Herrick

Carrying Zorina back to Adael once they exited the maze after disposing of the vile spider was simple enough. Getting her situated in a castle guestroom was easy, too. But waiting for her to wake up after her ordeal? Torturous.

Herrick paced the floor of Zorina’s room while Madame Giry and Megail sat at her bedside. After three days, she had yet to awaken. How many times did he have to remind himself of everything she had been through and how physically, mentally, and emotionally taxing it had been?

Likely not enough, considering how desperately I want to talk to her rather than wait for her to awaken.

With few exceptions—like needing to use the privy—he had not left her side. Every now and then, Berenne would report back on how Anala kept trying to get through the city’s barrier. The tenderhearted guard visited the anxious red panda several times a day to inform her that Zorina was still resting.

Jurian visited each evening as well, bringing a freshly made pot with flowers for his employee.

Duke Armand and Captain Firmin had been more than a little relieved to hear that Caliban would no longer plague Adael, despite his uncertain fate. No additional women went missing, and there were no more ominous notes.

Could the masked piper, the Maestro, survive the fall of his own chandelier?

Herrick didn’t know—nor did he care, so long as the fiend left him, Zorina, and the rest of the world alone.

A soft groan suddenly escaped Zorina, and Herrick rushed to her side, dropping down to kneel beside her bed. He took her hand in his, whispering her name.

Her eyes fluttered open and she turned toward him. “Herrick.” For the moment, it seemed like she could say nothing else as her gaze darted around the room. “Where am I?”

One side of his mouth quirked up into a partial smile. “Adael Castle. I know you spurned the duke’s hospitality before, but…well, after everything that happened with Caliban, I made the executive decision to force it on you anyway.”

Zorina pursed her lips. “Of course you did.”

“I’m so glad you’re awake!” Megail cried, embracing Zorina quite unexpectedly. By the stunned look in Zorina’s eyes, she, too, was surprised by the affection.

“Don’t ever scare us like that again,” Madame Giry said. “Your poor guard nearly wore out the stone floor with his pacing.”

Zorina let out a light laugh, and Herrick’s heart flipped at the sound. What a relief to hear sounds of joy from her rather than ones of fear and weariness.

Her thoughts seemed to echo his as she peered up at him with a solemn expression. “And…what of Caliban?”

“No one has seen or heard anything from him since we left his labyrinth,” Herrick answered as he squeezed her hand. “And that was three days ago. We don’t know if he survived.”

With a visible swallow, she said, “He sacrificed himself to push us out of the way.”

Herrick frowned, not liking the direction of her observations. “Maybe so, but he’s the reason we were in danger in the first place. He may have done one good thing, but in the end, he was still a villain.”

A slight smile flashed across her lips. “True. I’m not saying he redeemed himself with that single feat, nor that he would continue in a better direction if he did in fact survive. But I am at least acknowledging the deed for what it was—and I forgive him.”

He squeezed her hand again, though he hardly felt as charitable toward the man himself. “Fair enough. I still don’t like him, and I doubt that will ever change after everything he put you through, but I am grateful we survived. And, after facing and defeating darkened versions of ourselves, I feel like both of us have found redemption.”