Robert Keller - The Heart of Shadows

"I'm well aware of my duties," Vannas grumbled. "But the Dragon is dead, the Hand of Tharnin is gone forever-along with Tenneth Bard. I just don't see why I'm needed here any longer. Furlus and Taris are polite to me, but they keep making excuses to keep me here. I'm being treated rather poorly! Now I hear these accusations against Shennen, and it makes me think everyone has lost their wits. I should have stayed in Borenthia and lived a life of luxury."

"Why didn't you?" said Jerret, looking truly perplexed. "Why risk your life fighting Goblins when you could have lived like…well, like the prince you are? Honestly, you should have stayed in your tree city."

"I don't know why I'm here," said Vannas. "Perhaps because I'm a fool? I guess I wanted to be a great warrior, respected throughout the land. Dremlock offered that chance. But things are not what I expected."

"You should be happy, cousin," said Aldreya. "You've received the highest honor given to any Squire in history." Her eyes were filled with envy. "You were given a living piece of the Divine Essence-our god and king. You possess the greatest weapon in all the land. So what is there to complain about?"

"You're right, of course," said Vannas, giving a big sigh. He frowned and drummed his fingers on his poetry book. "But I still feel I'm being treated like…like any common Squire. My nobility and accomplishments are not being recognized. I should have my own room, at least! No offense to you, Lannon."

"None taken," said Lannon, rolling his eyes.

Lannon was about to change the subject when Jace entered the room. The huge sorcerer closed the door behind him, then leaned down and pressed his ear to it. He stood like a statue, as the Squires exchanged puzzled glances.

"What are you doing?" asked Lannon.

Jace straightened up, then shrugged. "You can't be too careful around here these days…because of who might be listening."

"Do you mean Shen-" Jerret started to say in loud voice.

"Lower your voice!" Jace interrupted.

"What's wrong?" asked Lannon.

"Many things," said Jace, giving Lannon a strange look. "Or haven't you noticed? For one thing, we've run out of rice pudding. It has been a week since I've had any! Furthermore, I'm growing tired of that same fishy-tasting soup. I'm wondering when the next shipment of supplies will arrive. I think it's quite overdue."

Lannon didn't reply. He suspected that events had taken a new and important turn, but Jace revealed things in his own good time.

Jace sat down next to Aldreya. He glanced down at her and smiled. She glared at him, then rose and moved to the other bed, sitting next to Lannon. Jace's eyes twinkled with amusement.

"Still angry at Uncle Jace, huh?" said the sorcerer.

"You're not my uncle," said Aldreya.

"Yet you used to call me that," said Jace.

"That was before I got to know you better," said Aldreya. "You have no right to accuse Shennen of being a puppet of the Deep Shadow. And don't try to deny it. Lannon already told me how you feel."

"Lannon does not speak for me," said Jace. "I believe Shennen is playing a dangerous game, certainly. But I will say no more."

"It's because you're afraid of Shennen," said Aldreya, gazing at him defiantly. "That's why you won't say what you're really thinking."

Jace leaned toward her, a giant cloaked shadow that dominated the room, his pale face close to her own. "Of course I fear Shennen. What sane man wouldn't? He knows a thousand silent ways to kill."

Looking uncertain, Aldreya lowered her gaze. "I just meant-"

"I know what you meant," said Jace. "You were trying to suggest that I'm a coward, that I have no right to question Shennen's character because I'm clearly afraid of him and therefore somehow less of a man. Well, am I right? Is Uncle Jace a coward not fit to question the status of a great warrior of royal blood like Shennen?"

"I didn't mean it that way," said Aldreya.

Jace shrugged. "It doesn't matter, really. I don't demand respect. All I ask is that you Squires keep an open mind. I didn't come here to discuss Shennen or his Dragon bones. I came here to inform you that we will be riding out for Blombalk Fortress, the Blood Legion stronghold to the south."

"Are we going to invade it?" asked Jerret, eagerness in his voice and a grin on his face. When Jace gave him a concerned look, the grin vanished. "Um, not that I want bloodshed or anything," Jerret added.

Jace shook his head. "The work has already been done for us. Blombalk Fortress has fallen. Smoke rises from amidst the broken walls."

"Someone attacked the Blood Legion's main fortress?" said Vannas. "And it wasn't Dremlock? Who else would bother?"

"Good question," said Jace, fixing his gaze on Lannon.

"I suppose it's up to me to learn the truth," said Lannon. This task, at least, sounded more interesting and less terrifying than examining the Dragon bones. Like the other Squires, Lannon was weary of Dorok's Hand.

"Of course," said Jace. "Forget about Trenton Shadowbane. You, Lannon, are Dremlock's real Investigator. The Eye of Divinity will be used to determine who is responsible for the assault on the fortress. Of course, Timlin and his Legion will be investigating as well, if they don't already know the answer."

"Is this foe of the Blood Legion a friend of ours?" asked Jerret.

"Possibly," said Jace. "But I suspect it is a friend to no one."

"Why do you suspect that?" asked Jerret.

"I'll keep that to myself," said Jace, giving a wink.

"How soon do we ride out?" asked Lannon.

"I suspect very soon," said Jace. "The Knights are already gathering supplies."

Nothing interesting happened for two days, as the Squires remained under constant guard. Then one afternoon, just when they were about to be escorted to the Dining Hall for dinner, Shennen entered the room like a silent shadow, startling the Squires. He nodded to them and closed the door. Lannon exchanged a concerned glance with Jerret. Vannas and Aldreya bowed.

"Greetings, Squires," said Shennen. "We need to talk." He stood rigidly in his lightweight, dark-blue armor. Something about his stance seemed different, as if he were engulfed with an aura of importance. In spite of the fact that he was a Birlote and normally had copper-colored skin, his face was strikingly pale.

"Greetings, Master Shennen," said Vannas, smiling.

"Good to see you, Master Shennen," said Aldreya.

Lannon and Jerret said nothing.

Shennen's gaze fell on Vannas and lingered there. "I trust you're keeping the White Flamestone safe."

"I always carry it with me," Vannas replied, patting his cloak. "Even when I sleep or bathe. It's all I ever think about."

"That's good to hear," said Shennen, smiling. The smile seemed fake, never reaching his cold eyes. "You are guarding it as you should and bonding with it appropriately."

"Is everything okay?" asked Lannon. "You look…rather pale."

Shennen hesitated, then said, "Yes, my skin now possesses a lighter hue. It's from my work with the Dragon bones. The dark energy has affected my skin somehow. I suspect that eventually I will return to normal."

"Have you told Taris or Jace about it?" said Lannon. "Maybe it would be a good idea to get them involved with your research."

"Taris is not interested in my research," said Shennen. "And Jace is an outsider who believes himself more knowledgeable than he is."

"Still," said Lannon, "if I may speak freely, I'm worried about you. You say the dark sorcery has affected your skin. Has it affected anything else?" Lannon immediately regretted asking that last question.

Shennen's eyes narrowed. "Who are you to ask that?" The temperature in the chamber seemed to drop even further, as Shennen's hand clenched into a fist. "A mere Squire, interrogating the Lord of the Blue Knights?"