Page 59 of Shadow Throne King

Finally, gruffly, he said, “The King of the Shadow Throne, Inor, head of Badger Guild, will see you now.”

“How did he know we were coming?” I asked, more to say something and thereby stave off having to enter a room of such oppressive darkness for a moment or two.

“There’s not a single thing that occurs in the Krustavian Mountains that the king does not feel and know.” Our guide turned, walking away from the doors and the darkened room in front of us.

I could feel eyes on us, but when I turned, there were no dwarves behind us. I didn’t like the feeling, the sense that their king didn’t need guards, that his power was so great he could crush us without them.

From the tension in their bodies, I could tell that Asahi and Sagam felt the same. Both of them were looking away from Tallu and me, their heads moving back and forth, and Asahi kept raising his hand to feel at his waist, even though his sword and scabbard were gone.

Tallu raised his chin, glancing at me out of the corner of his eye. I pushed my shoulders back, placing my hand on his armagain. I reminded myself that the king of the Shadow Throne had no idea who he was dealing with.

We walked into the dark, Sagam and Asahi directly behind us, so close that I could hear the unsteady sound of Sagam’s breath drawn through his mask and the too-calm sound of Asahi’s regulated breathing.

I was right. The small rocks that had so vividly illuminated our way through the caves below were not nearly bright enough to light the massive, dark room we found ourselves in.

Yet it was the only path we had to follow, and Tallu strode with the confidence of an emperor who had never found his footing wrong. I kept pace, lengthening my own stride to keep up with his longer legs.

The rocks ended in a semicircle, and we pulled to a stop. A voice boomed from the darkness.

“Who would see Inor, head of Badger Guild, King of the Shadow Throne?” The words were spoken in accented Imperial. They seemed to come from everywhere: behind us, in front, and so close on the sides that it was whispered in my ear.

I jerked my head, turning quickly, but there was nothing there.

“I am Emperor Tallu, patriarch of House Atobe, first Dragon Chosen Emperor of the Southern Imperium, here at the request of the Shadow King.” Tallu stared straight ahead, and I squinted, wondering if he could see something I couldn’t.

The floor under our feet rumbled, and I bent my knees, one hand forward, the other back, ready for an attack, but instead light sparkled above us, a thousand stars blinking on.

They lit an enormous room, illuminated columns breaking it up. Ahead, atop a massive dais, a throne sparkled with light, the glow growing slowly until it was so bright it might as well have been the sun.

It was made of solid gemstone, carved from a single rock. The dwarf sitting on it wore a crown of black stone, his dark hair curling over it. His pointed ears were accented by golden rings linked together by small chains.

When he smiled, the glow in the room brightened further.

“Welcome, Emperor Tallu. Shall we finally talk as men—” His lips curled even higher, turning into a smirk, and he raised a hand, knuckles gnarled from mining work, pointing at me. “—or do you require another headless corpse to understand my position?”

Fourteen

Tallu’s fingertips extended wide, and I reached out immediately, closing my hand over them, tightening my fist over his soft skin. His rings vibrated and sparked, but Tallu didn’t let loose the lightning he clearly wanted to send flying.

Tallu’s expression turned furious, jaw so tight that the words barely escaped his teeth. “Do not threaten my consort.”

“Oh?” Inor turned to me, tilting his head and resting his cheek on his hand. The delicate gold chains on his ear rang together. He spoke in Imperial again. “The northerner? And how are you faring in the south?”

“I find Tallu to be a most gracious host,” I said. “And a beloved husband.”

Inor raised his free hand, waving it back and forth. “Of course. Of course. How could you not love the Emperor of the Southern Imperium? The man who holds the fate of your small nation in his hand? Tell me, does it pain you to have to spread your legs for him? Or perhaps you enjoy the humiliation?”

Tallu’s hand shivered under my grip, but I held tighter, digging my nails into his skin. Lord Fuyii had taught Eonaî and me very little about other kingdoms. Even my mother hadn’tthought either of us would survive long enough to need to know the complicated rules of Krustau’s hierarchy and culture.

But I did understand the basics. The king had promised us hospitality. That meant that he could not hurt or kill us unless we broke first.

I didn’t dare look away from the Shadow King, but I could feel the electricity crawling between Tallu’s fingers. It seared my palm, burning lines into my skin. I showed no reaction because I couldn’t afford to let one be seen.

I have survived worse, I reminded myself.

Instead of remembering the time I had hung by my fingertips outside a window in freezing weather, I remembered the last time I had seen Eonaî and the pit that had followed when she left. I remembered Topi Bemishu curled over her own fist as though she was only half of herself without her sister.

I dug my nails harder into Tallu’s hand, forcing him to keep his fingers closed, keep the lightning contained.