Ever Wrath (11 page)
Prince
Ursad
“THEY’VE ALL ABANDONED
me.” Ursad’s voice cracked as he lifted an aged wooden chalice of berry wine to his lips. It stained them a dusty pink, enough to make him look almost alive under his withering pallor. He was quite drunk, a state he’d indulged in often as of late. “When I betrayed Shade for you, my dear Father, they all left… my servants… my guards… all of them walked away, through the iron gates, to leave me to my desolation.” He lifted the chalice once more, splashing fat droplets from it. They trickled over the side, staining the intricate carpet at his feet. He paid no mind and instead lifted the cup to salute Corb. “Here’s to you, Father. A kingdom falls at your feet once more, just the way you’ve always wanted.”
Corb marche
d over angrily and swiped the goblet from Ursad’s hands, the berry fluid marking a poor old upholstered chair which had seen better days. The entire place was aging, faster than it should have been. Maybe it was a result of Ursad’s lack of caring. His miserable state had seeped into his surroundings, draining the life from the walls and furniture.
“You fool.
Always so pathetic. You could never run a kingdom properly. That witch ruined you the moment she cursed you with ugliness. Your soul is withering from your weakness. How you ever could’ve been my son, a true prince of Faerie, is unfortunate. Get yourself together.”
“Or what,
Father? I’m at your bloody service….” Ursad sat up. His long silver hair, unkempt and slightly ragged, fell over his shoulders and into his face. He shoved at it to get out of his eyes and tossed a nasty glare in Corb’s direction. “You always take what you want. Never give. Did you save me when she cursed me? No. You left me to rot even then. What’s so different now? Or do you need something else? What is it now, Your Grace?” He stumbled over to pick up the chalice from the floor, mumbling about finding more berry wine and traitorous servants. He wobbled precariously over to the bar lining one side of the room where he clinked the glass jugs clumsily together as he poured himself a new drink.
“
That’s enough wine for now.” Corb was at his side in a flash and snatched the drink from his grip. “I need you with your wits intact. Where can I find Camulus?”
“Why would you need him? He’s off
somewhere, I don’t know.” He waved his hands in the air, his brilliant green eyes glazing over toward the oversized windows taking over one entire wall of the room. The long drapes of fabric which kept the light out were not drawn, and the setting sun peered over the treetops like an accusing eye.
“Summon him. We ne
ed his gift to take us to Shade. Now.”
At th
e mention of Shade, Ursad sobered up, shifting his hard stare back to Corb. He glanced at Kilara for a moment, a sense of dread filling his features.
So this is what it all comes to
.
“What has become of Shade?”
Ursad’s voice was steady but low, as though speaking louder would be sacrilege.
“She’s imprisoned
in the Withering Palace again, sent to rescue Rowan, the Spring Ancient. If we don’t retrieve them soon, we’ll be forced to destroy the palace with them inside.”
“No!” Ursad gasped, stumbling back until he
fell against a sofa and sank pitifully down into it, exasperated. “Is she all right?”
“We don’t know. Our connection to Rowan would’ve told us that
, but there’s been a complication.”
“What complication?”
Kilara and Corb exchanged stiff looks, but didn’t answer his question. “Where is Camulus? We need him now, Ursad. Enough wasting our time.”
“I’ll get him.”
Ursad pulled a small blue orb from his pants pocket and rubbed it in his palms. It began to turn a soft, milky white, and he brought it to his lips. “Camulus, return to the Glass Castle immediately. Shade needs you.”
A
whirling flash of lights shot through the room, sending curtains and candelabras flying. Corb didn’t move from his position and waited patiently as Kilara shifted behind him to shield herself from the blast of tropic air surrounding the Elven-Pixie, now standing but two feet from Ursad in the room.
“You summoned me, M’
Lord?” He bowed and straightened, eyeing the two Ancients with contempt before focusing on Ursad. He knew who these strangers were; they reeked of old magic. “Where can I find Shade?”
“You will take us to the Withering Palace first. Then we will join our forces
with the Seelie troops there, on the outskirts of the Unseelie territory. We’ll then see what needs to be done to rescue her and Rowan.”
“But I can extract her right away if needed…
.”Camulus started.
“No.
” Kilara snapped. She strangled down her impatience. “We need Rowan, too. Do not go near the Unseelie palace until you’re told to, halfling.” Her eyes burned with a temper floating underneath them, wicked and unrelenting.
Camulus clenched his jaw tight, not looking
at all pleased. His reluctance never surfaced to his face, but he felt it like a stone sitting in the pit of his stomach. He hated helping the Ancients, especially since Corb had made him betray Shade and Dylan. It was unforgivable, and it ate away at him every day, even with Shade’s forgiveness.
He turned toward Ursad for further reassurance. “Very well. Are you coming along, Prince Lotinar?”
Ursad nodded, grabbing his coat off one of the sofas and slipping it on as he sobered up and slowly approached. “Yes. I won’t let her down again, ever.”
This made Camulus smile
, his eyes shining with a faint hope as he gripped onto Ursad’s wrist and held out the other for Kilara to hold. “You must hold on tightly. Don’t let go, or you’ll be thrown into oblivion.” He smiled wickedly as he said this. His orange fire eyes twinkled, making Kilara grab onto his wrist instead of the other way around, digging her nails into his skin. But she wouldn’t get the satisfaction of seeing him grimace. He let the pain etch itself into his arm, welcoming it. Punishment was good.
“I know how it goes.”
Kilara hissed.
Corb took
Ursad’s other wrist and clasped Kilara’s, throwing her a warning look.
“Ready.”
Fifteen
The Unseelie Woods
THE
LOOSE TREE
bark crumbled under his fingertips as he glared across the valley to the other side where the mountains crested up toward the sky and the scenery was marred by the massive scar of the Withering Palace jutting out from the treetops. Ursad studied the dark stones of the walls and wondered how far up it was to scale the sides. They were impenetrable, slick and steep, with no way in or out but the massive gates at the base of the mountain. The intricate doors rarely opened but to let the large Unseelie armies in or out. Black smoke smothered the skies above the castle, making it permanent midnight under the dirty pollution of dark magic.
It made him wonder how the Land of Faerie could tolerate such disruption of its beauty. This was Unseelie territory, specifically claimed by the treacherous faeries themselves. Like anything
beautiful in the world, there was always a corresponding ugliness to counter it. Ursad knew all too well about beauty and ugliness.
“Shade will pu
ll through.” Dylan clasped the prince’s shoulder like an old friend. The Teleen faery gave him a curt nod before turning back toward the campfire burning in the middle of the small group. Reinforcements would be arriving any moment, and he was finishing off cooking some dinner for them. Ursad wasn’t that hungry. In fact, he felt absolutely sick to his stomach. Having Corb around didn’t help whatsoever. He had been a father in name only.
Ursad’s fury at Corb made him switch his thoughts to other matters. From how Dylan was treating him, he knew Shade had
already forgiven him and Camulus for tricking them and leaving them at the Great Divide. Even so, his guilt was still eating away at him like a cancer. It added to the dark cloud hanging over his head that never seemed to quite dissipate. He hoped Shade was okay, imprisoned in Withering Palace. The place gave him the creeps, and he could feel the very edges of its dark magic, as if it was burrowing spectral eyes into him from afar. He’d tried to shake the dreariness, but it clung to him and wouldn’t come off.
A rustle nearby made him turn
to find Camulus approaching. “This waiting is the devil, isn’t it, M’Lord?” The Elven-Pixie looked somber, too. His fire orange eyes didn’t have their usual spark to them. His loyal servant and friend had never left him, even when he’d probably wanted to. For that, he’d be forever indebted to him, no matter what happened after today.
Ursad nodded sadly, flicking his eyes back to the scar on the mountains
which was the Unseelie dwelling. “Unfortunately, the Ancients don’t like to be defied. Especially my father, as you already know. I haven’t any idea about the woman with him, but she looks pretty dangerous, too. Most likely another one those Ancient faeries, like my father. As if one wasn’t enough.” He guffawed, almost choking on his spit. His head ached from the pressure of the situation. Rubbing his temples as he leaned on the tree, he wondered if it would soon be over, for better or worse. “If only there was a way to find Shade and bring her back without risking their tempers and our lives with the Unseelie.”
“Just say the word
, and I’ll get her.”
“Her brother is in there
, too, you know,” Dylan interceded. He handed a cup of coffee to Ursad, who looked like he needed it badly, nursing his hangover. “And the other Ancient misfit, Rowan. You can’t retrieve her without them. Shade wouldn’t allow it and would never come back unless she knew they were safe.” Dylan watched him down the coffee and replaced it with a plate of rabbit meat and fruit. Ursad thanked him and began to munch joylessly on the meal. He didn’t eat to satiate any hunger, but he knew he’d need his strength for whatever was to come. It worked quickly; healing magic was laced throughout the food and drink, making him feel renewed after he’d finished.
“What if we can get them all out?” Camulus had his arms crossed, staring intently a
t the castle in the distance.
“I’m pretty sure it’s well guarded
, and it won’t be easy to get in or out.” Dylan took a deep breath and scrunched up his face. “But we do have you, Camulus. Secret weapon number one.”
“We
need a plan, in case Corb and Kilara don’t get it together and extract them in time.” Camulus was looking hopeful as he waited for Dylan to respond. “Your call, Dylan. You know Shade better than any of us put together. What do you think she’d want?”
Dylan nodded, reaching down to rub the ring on his finger. He could
feel her near. She wasn’t in any distress, much to his relief. It was reassuring to have this connection with her, but the situation still felt off, not quite in balance. He hoped their bond wasn’t dulled by the Unseelie powers surrounding the palace. “We go in and get all three of them after nightfall. If Corb and Kilara won’t act until near morning, when they will surely destroy the palace, we should have time. I just don’t see them waiting for anyone to escape. I have a feeling Shade, Benton and Rowan aren’t as important to them as they are to us. We’ll act in the cloak of night.”
Ursad nodded, knowing full well
that he might have to join them in the retrieval team inside the castle. He didn’t like the idea—he wasn’t trained for such things, even though he was proficient with a sword. Yet if he could repent to Shade for all his betrayals, he would do it. He needed to make things right and kill the darkness that had been gnawing at him from the inside out ever since he’d betrayed her. So many mistakes had been made, and so many things could still go wrong. Still, nothing was going to stop him from going in there with—as mortals would say—guns ablazin’. In their case, it would not be guns, but magic, metal and blood.
With a new
determination, he resolved to do what was needed for this mission. He turned toward Dylan, his green eyes shining brilliantly in the afternoon sun with nothing but a calm focus.
“I’ll be ready.”
