James Islington - The Shadow Of What Was Lost

Suddenly the door was opening again, and Davian leapt up warily.

"Davian?" A scarred face peered into the room.

"Taeris!" Davian relaxed again, smiling. He gave a soft laugh of relief. "Is everyone I know at the palace today? How did you know I was here?"

"A friend mentioned it." Taeris made a face. "Word tends to get around when the man we’re depending on to defend us goes completely mad."

"Ah. Yes." Davian crossed the room, embracing the older man. "It’s good to see you again."

"You too, lad. Fates, you too." Taeris smiled, and Davian suddenly noticed a long, pink scar across his cheek, overlaid on some of the others. It looked fresher, newly healed.

"Where’s Caeden?" Davian’s heart suddenly dropped. "Is he okay?"

"He’s fine," Taeris rushed to assure him.

"And his memories?"

Taeris took a deep breath. "Nothing so far - but given how close the Blind are getting, I’m going to see if we can do something about that in a few hours." He outlined his plan to break into Tol Athian using the Travel Stones.

Davian gave a thoughtful nod once he was finished. "I’m about to go there myself," he said. "If there’s any way I can help keep them off your backs, I will."

"I appreciate that, lad." Taeris smiled. "So. Where have you been?"

Davian opened his mouth to reply, then hesitated. He didn’t believe what Driscin had told him, and yet…. the man from Tol Shen hadn’t lied.

"I’ll explain in a moment, but first I need to know something. When was the first time you saw me?”

Taeris blinked, surprised by the question. “The day you were attacked, of course,” he said, looking puzzled. “Why do you ask?”

Davian stiffened. It was faint, but it was there - pain in his temples.

Taeris was lying, and trying to mask it.

"I see." He was silent for a moment, trying to contain his suddenly roiling emotions. “Tell me… did you plan it? When I got this.” He raised his head, pointing to his scar. “Did you get those men to rough me up so that I would get scared, be forced to find my powers? Was it all a plan that went horribly wrong? Is that why you saved me?”

Taeris paled. “Of course not,” he said hurriedly. “Who has been telling you this? I’d never….” He trailed off as he saw Davian’s expression.

Once again, that faint but insistent throbbing. Another lie.

Davian couldn’t take it any more, couldn’t stand to be in the same room as this man.

"I have to go, Taeris," he said softly, hurt and disbelief making his voice tight. "Just… don’t follow me."

He walked out without another word, blocking out whatever Taeris called after him, emotions churning. He hadn’t found the allies he’d expected at the palace, but at least he had somewhere to go now. Something to do.

It was time to get some answers from Ilseth Tenvar.

Asha walked through the silent city streets as dawn broke, a smile plastered across her face despite the task that lay before her.

Davian was alive. She’d known it, but it still hadn’t truly felt real until she’d seen him, felt his arms around her. It had been hard to leave him again so soon, but she knew she couldn’t afford to delay in trying to contact the Shadraehin. The Blind were on the march, and could be at the city within a couple of days - maybe earlier. There would be time for a proper reunion once all of this was over.

Her smile faded. There would be time, if they survived.

The empty streets and hurriedly boarded-up stores around her were a stark reminder of what was coming. Last night’s news had travelled fast; nearly everything was closed, silent, and the few civilians walking the streets looked nervous and spoke to each other only in hushed tones. Even to Asha, who had only been out in the city a few times, the scene was surreal. There was a heaviness, a deep sense of impending doom hanging over everything like a thundercloud.

She headed towards the Silver Talon, one of the smaller taverns in the Middle District, and the only name she remembered from the note she’d burned a month or so ago. It was hardly a foolproof plan, but she didn’t know her way to the Sanctuary. This was the only place she could think of to contact the Shadraehin.

She soon arrived outside the tavern, a two-story brick building that, like everything else in the street, was closed and empty. After a minute of peering vainly through windows into the murky interior, Asha gave up and settled down on the doorstep.

It was a half-hour later when crunching footsteps indicated someone’s approach.

She looked up to see a thin, distinguished-looking man striding towards her, the black lines on his face stark against his pale skin.

"Ashalia Chaedris?"

She nodded.

"Come with me."

Asha scrambled to her feet, giving a silent sigh of relief. She followed the man through a series of desolate back streets, the echo of their footsteps often the only sound. Her guide ignored her for the most part, swivelling his head occasionally to make sure she was keeping up, but otherwise keeping his eyes fixed on the way ahead.

They made their way into the residential section of the Middle District, and before long the Shadow came to a halt outside one of the smaller houses. He opened the door, gesturing for Asha to enter.

Inside was dim, the curtains drawn, but Asha could see Scyner reclining in a chair near the window. He was flanked by two huge Shadows, who both gave her suspicious stares. Scyner gestured cheerfully for her to sit.

"Ashalia!" he exclaimed. "Very clever, asking half the Shadows in the palace directions to the Silver Talon. I had three separate reports saying you were on your way there."

"I assumed you probably had someone following me anyway, but I wanted to be sure," said Asha, trying to keep the bitterness from her tone.

"Indeed," said Scyner. He leaned forward. "I want to begin by saying that I had no knowledge of Teran’s and Pyl’s actions until after the event. It was… unfortunate."

"I think they would agree," said Asha quietly, forcing down the twist of fear in her stomach.

Scyner stared at her for a moment, then chuckled. "I suppose they would." He straightened. "So. It seems like an odd time to be delivering information, but I take it you have news?"

"No. Not about the Northwarden, anyway."

Scyner watched her for a few seconds, silent. "Teran insisted that you never meant to tell us anything," he said eventually. "He was telling the truth, wasn’t he."

"Yes," said Asha. "Once I found out the truth about you."

Scyner’s eyebrows raised a fraction. "Honesty. Surprising, but I can respect that." He scratched his head. "However it leaves me in something of a quandary. We made a deal, Ashalia. You have broken it, and you know what happens to those who break deals with me. Why not just lie?"

"Because I don’t have time for lies," said Asha grimly. "And I have something you’re going to want more."

Scyner sighed, shaking his head. "Maybe so, but I think I’d prefer to keep you restrained for now. At least until I hear what it is you have to say." He nodded to the two men standing either side of him, who started forward.

Asha stretched out her hand.

There was the briefest moment of Scyner staring at her in puzzlement. Then his two bodyguards, already halfway across the room, flew backwards and slammed into the wall, one shattering the window as his flailing arm hit it.

Both men collapsed to the floor, unconscious, as Scyner scrambled up from where his chair had been overturned by the powerful gust, his eyes wide.

"Now," said Asha, trying to keep her voice from shaking, " I would like to talk to the real Shadraehin, please. There’s something I need to discuss with her."