Shadow Magic (7 page)

Light flashed on Merchant’s Road. Drums echoed in the wind.

Mary squeezed Lily’s hand. “They’re here.”

P
ennants flapped on long white wood lances, and the armor of a hundred knights shone with the brightness of polished mirrors. Their horses were pure ivory with manes of silver.

“The paladins,” muttered Baron Sable. “The Solars’ elite cavalry.”

Then came the musicians and foot soldiers with spears and shields, and ladies in white fur cloaks and silk. Wagons rolled along the rear, drawn by massive draft horses. Wagon after wagon.

“Why are there so many of them? How are we going to feed them all?” exclaimed Mary.

“They want to dazzle us with their strength,” said the baron.

The procession wove its way along Merchant’s Road between two mounds: Lamentation Hill and the City of Silence.

The City dominated the eastern side of the road and spread all the way to the border of Spindlewood. It had never been measured, but Lily reckoned it was as big as Castle Gloom and within another hundred years would be larger. It was the family graveyard, and every Shadow was buried there, sometimes reluctantly.

Lily knew how the other Great Houses dealt with the dead. They cremated them in the Sultanate. House Typhoon performed sky burials, putting their dead on towers to be devoured by vultures and other carrion birds. House Coral tipped the bodies into the sea.

How could you honor the dead like that?

The Gehennish built tombs. Even the smallest hamlet had homes for the dead. Houses with tables and chairs within, beds made of stone, and portraits or statues of those that had passed into the Twilight and beyond. And the City of Silence had the grandest tombs of all.

Her parents were housed in the newest, along with her brother. Not six months had passed since she’d left food, drink, and gifts within and sealed the doors. The sound of the great stone doors closing forever still echoed her heart.

Bats flocked around Lamentation Hill. They hung off the spindly, twisted trees like so much rotten fruit. Even from this distance, Lily could make out the five tall poles rising up out of its summit and their dreadful decorations. She turned her gaze away.

What did it say about her kingdom that the only main road ran between a place of execution and a graveyard?

“A new age is dawning, Niece,” said Uncle Pan with a sigh. “An alliance between the House Solar and Shadow. Between light and darkness. We shall make Castle Gloom great once more.”

If you don’t squander it all on drink and wild schemes.

That wasn’t fair. It had never been easy for her uncle. As firstborn, he should have been ruler of Gehenna. But try as they might, no tutor had been able to teach him even the simplest of spells. Instead, his brother, Iblis, had become Lord Shadow.

Mary spoke. “I’ll need to send for more sheep. Two dozen at least, and the farmer will want double for the short notice….”

It would all go in the red ledger. The number of guests and horses, and how much they’d need for food, and what servants they’d be allocated if they hadn’t brought their own. She’d even count out every chest and crate, marking down what each contained and the value of every item. As well as the ledger, Mary carried a heavy ring of keys. There had to be a hundred of various sizes and shapes, and they opened every door in the castle.

Every door but one.

Mary ran the household now, and no one thought it strange that a nanny should be in charge of the ancient citadel. After all, few had lived here as long as Mary.

Oversight of the castle had been Lady Shadow’s responsibility. Lily had watched her work by candlelight making long lists within the red ledger. She’d often asked Lily to sit with her and help, but Lily had found it much too boring.

All that time she could have spent with her mother was forever lost now, never to be regained.

In rode the paladins, their horses’ hooves pounding on the old, thick wood of the drawbridge. Each man was tall and handsome, as if sprung fully formed from a maiden’s romantic vision.

Lily looked out over her own troops, her Black Guard. The men wore hand-me-down armor, faded tabards more brown than black, and there wasn’t a straight spear among the lot of them. She sighed.

But if the serving girls were swooning over the paladins, Custard was not impressed in the slightest. He was scurrying back and forth along the podium, teeth bared and growling his little growl.

“Someone take control of that animal,” snapped Mary. “He’s going to get trampled if he’s not careful.”

Lily bent down and looked sternly at Custard. “Now don’t be a naughty dog. You heard Mary.”

He leaped into her arms.

“Give him to a servant,” said Mary.

Lily hugged her puppy closer.

Mary glowered, but Lily knew she wouldn’t risk an argument while all the guests were arriving.

The next rider through Dead Man’s Gate was a plump, round-faced boy, the same age as Lily. Dark-skinned, with long, wavy black hair, he wore a long crimson cloak embroidered with wild images of phoenixes and fiery spirits. Gold and amber-studded rings covered his fingers. Surrounded by the Solars, he looked like a blood drop on the snow.

“Why’s he shivering?” said Lily. “What’s he scared of?”

“He’s not scared; he’s cold,” said Mary.

“Cold? Call this cold? It’s practically summer.” She peered more closely. “Who is he?”

Uncle Pan frowned. “That’s K’leef. He’s the fourth son of Sultan Djinn.”

“He’s from the Sultanate of Fire?” Of course. Look at all that red. Now she was really intrigued. The Sultanate was a thousand miles south of here. “What’s he doing in Gehenna?”

“He’s a hostage. The Solars captured him some months ago. The duke’s keeping him close until a ransom’s been paid for the boy’s safe return.”

“Poor child,” said Mary. “No wonder he looks so miserable.”

“Put him in the Eclipse bedchambers,” said Lily. They were the best guest rooms, and she felt sorry for K’leef. He might be a prisoner, but she could make him comfortable while he was here.

“I’ll prepare them myself,” said Mary.

“The duke,” whispered Pan.

The approaching horseman wore armor that didn’t merely shine, but glowed. The breastplate was studded with diamonds fanning out from a silver heart, and sweeping white feathers crowned his helmet. A cloak of glistening silver rested across his shoulders.

Duke Raphael Solar.

No color blemished his skin, and his eyes were a pair of silvery mirrors. His mouth was wide, closed, and humorless, and even though Lily knew he was over seventy years old, he seemed like a young man: straight-backed, sure, and arrogant.

Mary looked around. “Where’s the herald? Give him the signal.”

Lily nodded to the old man waiting at the end of the podium.

The herald cleared his throat and bowed deeply. “Lords and ladies, may I present Lady Lilith Shadow, scion of the great House of Darkness. Mistress of Castle Gloom, ruler of Gehenna, guardian of the boundary between the lands of the living and dead. Daughter to Lord Iblis Shadow. Granddaughter to Charon Shadow, known as the Twilight Walker. Child of the first and oldest of all the six Great Houses…”

“He’s pouring it on a bit thick, isn’t he?” said Uncle Pan.

Mary spoke. “It’s important to remind our guests of who we are.”

Good old Mary. Lily smiled as she remembered her family motto:
First there was darkness.

The herald continued. “M’lady Shadow bids you rest and comfort. May your dreams be fulfilled and your nightmares soothed.” He bowed again.

The courtyard fell silent as Duke Solar dismounted and marched up to the podium. He lowered his head in a polite bow. “M’lady Shadow.”

Mary nudged Lily, who shook her head, blinking and bewildered. The lord of light was literally dazzling. Lily came to her senses. “Dear Duke, welcome to Castle Gloom. Consider our home…yours.” The words almost stuck in her throat, but she had to say the formal greeting.

“I was sorry to hear about your misfortune.” He made it sound like she’d lost a doll rather than her family. “Despite our history, I had immense respect for your father. Lord Iblis Shadow was a great man. I hope, one day, you will look on me as your new father.”

Lily merely smiled.
Yes, when I see pigs flying.

The duke turned to the knight beside him. “May I present my son, Gabriel?”

Gabriel Solar bowed. Some of her housemaids were giggling behind their hands as they gazed at him.

A glare from Mary shut them up.

The minstrels hadn’t been wrong.

All right, he’s handsome
.
Even beautiful.

Gabriel’s white-gold locks were held in place by a silver band, and his eyes were sapphire bright. Diamond earrings hung from his ears, and his armor was encrusted with gems. It wasn’t armor for a knight but for an actor, theatrical instead of practical. He reached for Lily’s hand.

Custard growled.

Gabriel backed away. “What a vile beast. I hope he’s not rabid.” Then he remembered himself and gave a courtly bow. “Lady Shadow, I am honored to meet you. I look forward to being your lord and master.” He coughed discreetly into a white silk handkerchief. “I mean…your husband.”

T
he Great Hall echoed with laughter, music, the voices of hundreds of guests, and barking dogs. The white outfits of the Solars mixed with the black of the Shadows, creating a moving checkerboard over the vast chamber. The feast was in full flow. Custard, the greedy pup, was wandering from table to table, looking up at the guests with his big imploring eyes until they tossed him a lamb chop or a sausage. All were enjoying themselves.

Except Lily. She felt like she was at a funeral: hers.

She sat at the high table at the head of the hall, right in the middle, with Gabriel on her left and Uncle Pan on her right. The suitor wore garments of perfect white, and a bejeweled longsword dangled from his hip. The sword was just like its owner: handsome, but useless.

“Imagine my relief when I finally saw you,” said Gabriel, smiling at her. “No one would call you truly beautiful. Your eyes are too large and your nose—a lady should have a small, delicate nose—but still, I am pleasantly surprised!”

Lily smiled even though she was screaming inside.

Gabriel made a sweeping gesture with his arm. “This will all have to change when I rule Gehenna. Windows, the castle shall have windows. Everywhere. And mirrors. Plenty of mirrors. It’s all rather gloomy.” He snorted. “Did you hear what I just said? Castle Gloom, gloomy? Rather witty, even if I do say so myself.” He laughed loudly.

“Very witty,” said Pan. “Don’t you think, Lily?”

“Half-witty,” Lily muttered.

Gabriel wasn’t finished. He inspected Lily from head to toe and let out a theatrical sigh. “And your outfit—I’ve seen better-dressed peasants. I shall have dresses sent from Lumina. I can’t have my bride looking like some farmer’s wife. They’ll be white, of course.”

“I am House Shadow. Our color is black, as you well know.”

Gabriel answered with a sly smile. “Ah, but you won’t be a Shadow once we’re married, will you?”

Lily gripped her fork so tightly her knuckles turned white. Would it be so bad if she stabbed him in the neck?

Others around the high table—those dressed in white—joined in with Gabriel’s braying. There was a group of white-costumed squires with him, and even though they couldn’t have heard him, they laughed long and hard. Gabriel rose and walked over to them.

Thank the Six Princes.

Lily relaxed and lowered her fork. The feast was truly awful, but it had given her a chance to make an important decision.

“I cannot marry Gabriel.”

Pan blanched and almost spilled his wine. “Why—why not?”

“I hate him. In fact, I really don’t think I’ve ever hated anyone quite so much, quite so quickly.”

“You’ve only just met. Give it time, and I’m sure—”

“I’ll only hate him even more.”

“He’s just tired after a long journey.” Pan offered a sickly, desperate smile. “Be patient. Tonight is merely the engagement feast. The actual wedding isn’t until you’re both sixteen, three years from now. By then I’m sure Gabriel will be a sensible young man.”