Realm of Light - Deborah Chester [13]
With all her soul, she wanted to whirl her horse around and bolt out of there, away from the darkness flowing so cold and tangible around her. Yet she could not command her own hands. It was as though by drinking from that mysterious cup, she had accepted something worse than death.
Had she surrendered to Beloth?
She did not want to think so. All her life she had been taught to abhor and fear the shadow god, whose name was not to be spoken. Yet, was she not now taking the path into his hell? And had she not done it willingly, with the helpful trickery of Lord Sien, her enemy?
She tried to cry out, but her mouth would not open. She could not draw enough breath to utter a sound. But in her mind she screamed.
Chapter Three
Stepping through the portal took every ounce of Caelan’s courage. The darkness was a living force, something that pressed against him from all sides, seeking his soul. Sevaisin, his special gift for joining, brought him unwelcome awareness. He could sense the putrid evil that permeated the walls of the passageway and filled the darkness itself, an evil so strong and pervasive it comprised the very air he breathed.
Spell residues crisscrossed the chilly air. They were long expired and too ancient to cause harm, yet he could sense how powerful and dangerous they had been.
He drew in deep breaths, sensing unnameable things lurking unseen beyond the darkness, beyond the walls of the passageway. The things were aware of him. He sensed the shift and focus of their attention, the stirring and awakening of the evil force itself.
He found himself afraid, with a fear that bathed him in sudden cold sweat. His mouth went dry. He could not breathe. The hair on his arms rose in swift prickles, and his heart pounded in sudden, uncontrollable panic.
Get out of here, urged a voice inside him. Get out. Get out!
Yet it was too late. His sweating fingers gripped Elandra’s horse’s bridle, and he quickened his pace toward the emperor’s torch—very dim—blazing ahead of them. Elandra had hesitated too long, letting the distance between her and the others stretch uncomfortably far.
Behind them, the approaching Madruns yelled and cursed in their barbaric tongue, pounding their weapons on their shields in an unholy din that echoed off the cavern walls. The priest jumped through the portal with a gasp of fear.
Caelan danced back in time to see a bright flash of light. The air smelled suddenly of something burning, yet there was no fire. Without being touched, the heavy stone portal swung shut as though of its own volition, and the bolts shot home. Sparks burst from the hinges, setting off orange flames that burned impossibly in midair for a moment before gradually disappearing. The door, however, continued to glow faintly.
Caelan recognized the dark magic. Stark, primal fear twisted his entrails. He had seen much in the years he had lived in Impe-ria, yet never before had he willingly entered the shadow realm. Better to traverse this passageway quickly in the emperor’s wake, and pray that whatever lived within the darkness would let them pass unharmed.
Instinctively he reached for the warding key in his pocket. It should have been glowing and hot in response to the magic that had just been released, but the metal disk lay cold and lifeless against his palm.
Fresh sweat broke out across Caelan’s forehead. The warding spell that had been linked across himself, Elandra, and Kostimon must have exhausted all the power within the key. Once again he pushed down incipient panic and reminded himself to keep his head. Using sevaisin, he attempted to bring the warding key to life, but it remained unresponsive.
Abandoning it in his pocket, Caelan wiped his forehead and told himself the warding key would not be necessary. All he had to do now was catch up with the emperor.
Accordingly, he clucked at Elandra’s nervous horse, leading it forward.
The lady herself uttered not a word. He was not certain she could. As for himself, he had the uncomfortable feeling that this was no place for casual utterances. Words might draw