Page 38 of Lucifer's Mirror

It’s mid-afternoon, and my ass is killing me by the time our destination comes into sight. It still looks a long way off—high above us, on a flattened mountaintop, with blackened walls that look more like a ruined fortress than a city. It rises up like a twisted mirage. I nudge Stella a little closer to Khaosti. “Is that Zandar Aurion?” I ask.

He gives me a brief look and an even briefer nod.

“What happened here?” I persevere with my questions, despite suspecting that I’m not going to get anything useful from him. But again, he surprises me. He’s obviously feeling chatty again. I need to take advantage of these moments.

Zayne has come up beside us as Khaosti explains. “The city was besieged by an army of the shadowguard. It’s said that the people of the city fought fiercely for over a decade, but eventually, they fell.”

“When was this?” Zayne asks.

“Over a thousand years ago. It was soon after the shadowguard first appeared. They killed everyone, down to the last baby. The ruling family was massacred. There hasn’t been a king or queen in Valandria since.”

“That doesn’t sound good.”

He shrugs but says no more.

As we approach the base of the mountain, I notice that the ground is black and scorched. “It looks like the land around the mirror.”

“Shadowfire,” Khaosti said. “After an attack, they often scorch the land. Nothing will likely grow here for another thousand years.”

“And this is where you’re taking us?”

I’m not sure how we’re to get up there. The rock face looks sheer.

“Yes. We’ll find somewhere inside the walls to shelter for the night. Then tomorrow, we will find Thanouq. If we don’t find him, we’ll need to procure more food—maybe from one of the nearby farms. We’re running low on provisions.” At his words, my stomach rumbles. The bread and cheese we had for lunch seem like a long time ago.

He falls silent, and we continue on our way until the rock face looms over us. Then I spot the track, almost invisible until we’re only feet away. It winds around the mountain.

We all dismount and lead the horses. The track is steep, and my legs quickly feel like lumps of concrete. Occasionally it widens, and we pass jagged piles of rubble that might once have been buildings. As we climb, my heart grows as heavy as my legs. I am not getting a happy feeling from this place. I sense… so much death and suffering. Maybe it’s the ghosts of all the people who were slaughtered.

Finally, we reach the top and halt in the shadow of the city walls. They’re at least twenty feet high, split by a huge empty gateway right in front of us. The archway that must have once held up the gates has fallen into ruin. It’s just a dark, gaping maw leading to God knows what. But there’s nothing to stop us from entering the city, which is sort of a pity because I almost wish there were a great big impenetrable barrier barring the way.

So I wouldn’t have to go in.

But I do.

I swallow the dread rising in my throat and take a step forward.

Chapter 19

Mad Dogs and a New Friend?

Khaostileadshisprancinghorse into the gateway, and soon I’m passing beneath what remains of the archway. It must be ten feet deep, almost like a tunnel. Stella is no happier than I am. She nickers and sidesteps, and my hands tighten on the reins. A shiver prickles down my skin, and she senses it, dancing beside me.

“Quiet, girl,” I say, sliding my hands over her shoulder. She calms, and then we’re through and into what remains of the city itself. This is likely the main thoroughfare. The street is wide but lined with debris where the buildings have collapsed. I’m guessing it was once a beautiful place, but now it’s a travesty.

Zayne comes up beside me, leading his horse, and gives me a look, as if to say, “Do you really want to go?” The answer is a resounding no, but it’s not as though I have a lot of choices. Or any at all. If I want to find out anything, then I have to follow Khaosti’s lead.

Still, I need more information, so I call out to him, “What do you know about this man Thanouq?”

“Nothing. Except that he knows the way to the Crone.”

I glare at him. “Grrr. Why am Inotsurprised?”

He whirls around to face me with a snarl, and I can almost see the wolf behind his eyes. Sometimes I think he might be more wolf than man. “I know my brother thought you important. Therefore, I’m going to do my best to keep you alive and follow his wishes. Is that enough for you?”

Not really, but he’s already turned away again and is heading deeper into the city. I cast a sideways look at Zayne and shrug, then I follow.

We walk for about half an hour in silence. I can’t help thinking that we might wake something if we make a sound. I’m not sure I want to take the risk. Still, our footsteps and the clop of the horse’s hooves sound loud enough to wake the dead.