Page 106 of Storm of Shadows
“Not since the first king sat upon his throne and rebuilt a broken Jektar after the Orcish Wars,” Natharius replies.
“Wasn’t this once a meeting place for the tribes?” Taria says.
“Indeed, the orcish tribes would gather here biannually, on Summer and Winter Solstice. They would also meet here to discuss any matters of importance, as their sacred stones were considered a place of peace.”
As Natharius speaks, I step toward one of the enormous stones and press my palm against the polished surface, feeling the energy hum beneath my skin. A sudden rush of electricity jolts through me, and I leap away, rubbing my now numb palm. I glance back to see the Void Prince raising a brow at me, as if to ask whether I really am that stupid. The others are watching me too, though their expressions aren’t condescending like Natharius’s.
“Is it aether flowing through them?” I ask him. “Or something else?”
“Aether, but not the kind you magi are used to.”
“I figured that much,” I reply. “Would you care to explain?”
“The constitution of each race differs. Orcs were once goblins, warped by the Void King into their current form. Though aether flows through their blood, so does dark magic—far more than elves and men. Their magic is tainted by shadows, even when drawing on aether.”
“But dark magic consumes and corrupts aether,” I interrupt. “How can dark magic and aether both exist harmoniously within their bloodstreams?”
“Even magi can harbor a small amount of dark magic alongside their aether. You should know that firsthand. Orcs can merely withstand significantly more, due to their origins.”
“And what of elves? Are they able to resist the corruption of dark magic for long?”
“No,” he says, “we cannot.”
Before I can question him further, he turns and continues through the ring of standing stones.
We continue after Natharius, weaving our way through the ragged landscape of crags. We encounter a few more rocky faces to scramble up before the terrain finally flattens. The wind now blows stronger than it did this morning, and I suppose it’s because we’re on higher ground. Before long, the sun dips into the horizon and sinks entirely. The moon rises, and the stars twinkle. With every step, my heart beats a little more restlessly.
Natharius claimed we would likely reach Gerazad either tonight and tomorrow. Maybe we’ll arrive in the next few hours, or maybe tomorrow morning.
Dread tightens its grasp over me. I don’t know what to expect when we finally reach Gerazad. Will Arluin be there? Or will he be long gone, having already besieged the orcish city days ago? Or maybe, just maybe, we will arrive there before Arluin does and have plenty of time to warn the orcs.
And if we do meet Arluin in Gerazad, will Father also be there? Will I finally free his soul from Arluin’s shackles and allow his body to be put to rest?
The questions gnaw on me, suffocating all thoughts. I stare blankly at the path ahead. Though my eyes see my surroundings, my mind doesn’t. Once or twice I stumble over a stray stone, and Caya steadies me, preventing me from crashing into Taria. Realizing Caya is the one assisting me is the most conscious thought which has passed through my mind in a while.
“Maybe we should stop,” Caya suggests, her gaze on me.
“No,” I say through clenched teeth. I won’t be the reason we stop. Not when we’re so close. Stopping now could mean failing to reach Gerazad before Arluin. Besides, it’s my mind that is exhausted from my thoughts. Not my body. I must keep myself walking for as long as I can.
“There is little sense in stopping now,” Natharius agrees, glancing back at us. “Gerazad isn’t far now. We should keep walking until we arrive.”
A fresh wave of determination surges through me, shaking away the exhaustion clouding my mind. “It isn’t far now?”
Natharius dips his head. “Passing the Ring of Thunder earlier this afternoon means we’re close to Gerazad. I am certain we will reach it before this night is over.”
My body trembles in a concoction of emotions: fear, determination, fury, and hope.
Even if we reach Gerazad soon, I don’t know what will await me. Whether everything will be in vain.
I suck in a sharp breath and focus on putting one foot in front of the other. The promise of vengeance drives me onward. It marches me across the grassy landscape. Justice is so close my fingers can almost touch it. I will not give up now. I have to believe that it won’t be too late. That Gerazad won’t already look like Nolderan.Broken, cold, and lonely.
Arluin. When I find him, I will destroy him. With his blood, he will pay for all he has taken from me.
With such vengeful thoughts consuming me, I barely pay attention as the terrain shifts. Out path climbs higher into the cliffs, and the ferocious wind whips across my cheeks. I’m slow to notice the amber lights flickering in the far distance, a stark contrast to the surrounding darkness. Natharius halts, and so do the rest of us.
The outline is faint, but I’m certain I can make out the silhouette of city walls.
I whirl around to Natharius. “That’s Gerazad? We’ve arrived?”