My heart thuds so hard I’m certain that Astralux can hear it at the top of the spiral stairs. It certainly wants to go to her the more that we separate, and I rub the outside of my leather armor over my chest. The anxiety alone is suffocating, nor does the gloomy darkness help, as I walk down into the depths of the Malum Palace.
Still, I do see some light below, and it gives me the courage to continue down. I keep one hand on the shortsword sheathed at my side, though I debate drawing it now. But I’m more likely to hurt myself than be effective, given my nervousness. And, I haven’t seen a soul inside the Malum Palace.
The light I saw turns out to be a single, low-burning candle at the bottom of the stairs, announcing the landing. It’s a dark stone here like the upper portion of the palace, and I peer down a long, ominous hallway. Besides for the candle at the landing, I see no other light ahead. I hold a hand over the flame of the candle, warming my fingers against the chill of the Malum Palace, before I walk down the hallway slowly, trying to step as quietly as I can. I hear nothing. The soft steps of my leather boots seem loud. I don’t even hear Astralux above, although I can feel her anxiousness, even at this distance. I try to send her a little calm, and feel a moment of relief from her before her emotions return to worry.
Coming up on a stone door to one side, I press my ear against it, straining to hear something. Certain that there’s nothing beyond, I pull the handle but it’s locked. Uncertain of whether to try forcing the door open, I continue down the hall. As the faint light from the candle grows dim, I’m surprised both by how well I can see from my dragon bonding, and also just how dark it is down here. I start to lose colors, although I can still pick out the red on the Vladykar banners on the walls as I pass.
“Light of Ariadna!”
The chiming voice of Ariadna’s Star rings from nearby, sending my heart up into my throat, and I hold a hand to my chest, gasping. Astralux had sent me a jolt of fear too, and I quickly send her assurance. Ariadna’s Star must be close by, and I press ahead into the growing darkness.
I come to a crossway of halls, and stare down them. There are stone doors everywhere. I don’t have time to check every single door. Unless there really are no Vladykars here, but I can’t believe that’s true. Surely one bonded pair is around here? Or even some trainees?
Deciding that my best bet is to go straight, I hurry on down the hall, now looking for a unique marker on one of the doors. Some sort of sign that they hold something different. Instead of a marked door, however, I spot double stone doors at the end of this hall, etched with the Vladykars coat of arms. Surprised, I head to them and put my ear against one. Faintly, I hear a pristine, delicate ring, a tinkling in the air. Now full of hope, I carefully pull the latch on the stone door open, cringing as it grinds a little. But as soon as the door cracks open, I spot a gleaming white light peeking through the cracks, and I peer inside.
Ariadna’s Star!
The eight-point diamond-like artifact is lying in the center of a small cage, suspended over a strangely shiny black circle in the middle of the stone floor. There’s an inky shadow to this otherwise empty room, a foreboding cold from the dark walls, and a set of double stone doors on the other side of the room. But Ariadna’s Star is shining brilliantly, its warm glow refreshing to my soul. My magic sparks a little inside me, and I take a breath to calm myself. I walk up to the edge of the circular black-glass floor, unsure of what it is. I can’t quite reach the cage from the normal portion of the stone, and I don’t trust the floor below.
Finally, I spot a pulley system for the chain to the cage, and I carefully unlock and rotate the wheel. The gears make a terrible clacking noise, but the cage lowers until I think I might be able to reach it. Securing the pulley system again, I head over to the cage. Now I can reach it by leaning over and pulling the cage to me, but it’s locked. And after looking around the room, I realize there’s no key in here. I try to pull the bars apart, but they hold fast—perhaps a stronger Ward than me could break bars of iron or steel, but certainly not me. Puzzled, and a bit frustrated to be this close and yet so far, I go back to the double doors to this room and look on the wall outside, to see if there’s a key. Seeing none, I go back to the cage.
Ariadna, help me, I don’t know how to get to your Star.
The light from Ariadna’s Star suddenly glints on something on the black circular floor, and I look down. Then I stare as I realize that there’s depth to it—below, perhaps a meter down, I see a key that faintly, barely glitters from Ariadna’s Star. I kneel beside the black glossy circle, pull my dagger loose, and touch the tip to the edge.
The first thing I notice is that black circle ripples—it’s liquid! But the second thing I notice is that the tip of the dagger frosts, and what drips off its tip turns into ice as it hits the stone floor.
It’s some strange sort of liquid that’s so cold it should be frozen, but it’s not.
Glancing at the double doors behind me, I close the one that’s open so that Ariadna’s Light isn’t still beaming out. Then I circle the icy black water, debating my options. My shortsword isn’t quite long enough to get the key. But if I could keep my arm warm enough, maybe….
Taking a breath, I draw my shortsword. Then I summon my magic to my right hand. At first just the handle of my sword erupts into orange and yellow flames with a red core. But as I release more and more energy, the flames creep along my arm. Breathing deep with energy and concentration, hoping—praying—that this works, I slowly lower my sword into the black water. The sword has no trouble. Then I dip my fingers.
The shock of the cold nearly quenches the fire, and I feel the horrible pain of frostbite on my fingers. I gasp and then summon more magic until the pain dulls enough that I can keep going. Sinking my arm into the water requires more magic, however, until I’m bursting with fire from my right hand up just to keep from losing all feeling and use of my right arm. Astralux sends me a rush of worry, but I can’t respond.
Yet the tip of the sword nudges the key at the bottom. Frantic, as I pant for air and concentrate on my magic, I scoot the key along until it hits the edge of the pool. Then I pull it up. Halfway up, the key slips off the side of the blade.
“No, no,” I whisper. I hurriedly maneuver the sword back under the sinking key, and then throw it up. Catching the key, I toss it up out of the water and into the corner.
Dropping the shortsword, I immediately hold my right arm to myself and drop to my knees on the stone floor, shaking with the cold, pain, and the energy spent. I try to assure Astralux I’m well, although I’m in so much shock I can barely think. But I do tell myself that if I can get the key, I just need to get the Star, and then we can leave. And that’s enough persuasion to get me back on my feet and over to the golden key. It’s so bitterly cold that after getting a touch of frostbite on my left forefinger, I summon more fire to my left hand and grab the key. It warms quickly, unlike the water, and I’m able to stop my magic after a second. Which is good because I’m exhausted.
Pulling the cage to myself, I undo the lock. Carefully, afraid to drop the Star, I reach in with my frozen right hand and grasp Ariadna’s Star.
“Light of Ariadna!” a chorus of crystal chiming voices rings through me. The comforting warmth of its radiant light washes through me, and not only does it drive back the frostbite on my hand and arm, but it restores my lost energy.
Tearing up a little with relief and joy, I clutch the Star to me. “I won’t lose you again,” I whisper.
“Just as I won’t lose you again, Ward Estelle.”
Startled, I spin in place, my heart pounding. And then I freeze with fear.
Standing directly across from me is Vladykar Lochan. A man that doesn’t appear much older than me, but I know has been bonded quite a few years, with dark brown eyes that are looking me over like he’s finally caught prey he’s stalked for months, and sandy-brown hair that’s still a charred white on one side from where I’d burned him.
But nothing compares to the man standing beside him. He has just the fewest gray strands in his black hair tied into a short ponytail behind him. His dark eyes—which are frightening black slits—stare hard into me, as if to squelch any light inside. He’s dressed in a gold-trimmed black overcoat, his hands crossed behind his back as if he were simply there to speak. Yet the power I feel from him is awe-inspiring, while the aura of evil that emulates from him is sickening.
It’s Vladykar Malyncor. It has to be.
I almost take a step back before remembering that the icy black water is behind me.
Vladykar Malyncor steps forward, his motions eerie, too smooth for a human, odd even for a long-time bonded. “Ward Estelle,” he says with a deep voice, strange haunting whispers echoing faintly in the air as he speaks. “What an honor to have you enter my palace. Of your own volition, too.” He smiles, his teeth sharp like many of the other Vladykars, but his upper cuspids are longer than the others, truly fang-like. “I’ve heard so many things about you. Yet the tales of your beauty—and your magic—did not do you justice.”
I step around the black water circle, holding Ariadna’s Star to me tightly.
“This is Vladykar Malyncor,” Vladykar Lochan says cheerily, as if he were introducing two friends to each other. “After much discussion, he thought it was best if some of us remained in anticipation of a visitor to retrieve Ariadna’s Star.”
“Indeed.” Vladykar Malyncor chuckles. “But to be honest, I did not expect that Ward Veremund would send his newest and prettiest Ward.”
I stumble backwards until my back hits the stone doors behind me. I’m still so frightened I can’t speak. Astralux is trying to send me emotions, maybe a warning, but I can’t respond except with fear.
Oh Astralux, what I wouldn’t give for an idea from you right now.
Tamara Rivers 