Did he not know me at all?
Done with the conversation, I turned back to the wall. How was I to do this?
Shadows. Shadows. Shadows.
When thinking about them hard enough didn’t work, I paced to the nearest corner. Furthest from the dim light spilling in from the hole above where the shadows were at their densest. Closing my eyes, I offered myself up to them.
A second later, I collided with the cold hard stone of the wall.
“Ouch!”
Pain spread across my nose and the part of my face with which I’d collided into the stone surface. My pride smarting, I backed away, trying to ignore the peals of laughter coming from behind me.
“That was amazing,” Book gasped with tears in his eyes. “You actually thought you could simply walk into shadow and let it take you.”
“It works for Alches,” I mumbled.
Book wiped tears away from the corners of his eyes. “The hound is a being as old and powerful as this realm. It won’t work the same for you as it does for him.”
“How do you suggest I go about this then?”
A cagey look formed on Book’s face. “It’s easy. To slip into shadow, you must first call them to you. Think of it like donning a piece of clothing. You pull them over your head and let them settle into place. Once you’re in the shadow, you simply ride the wave and envision where you need to go.”
“That’s it? That’s your big advice?”
It was every bit as nonsensical as I’d expected. I felt ridiculous for thinking he’d have something more to contribute.
Footsteps sounded above.
“Looks like someone felt your tinkering. If I were you, I’d get moving. Noctessa has a rule about uninvited guests. They kill them.” Book arched an inquiring eyebrow at me. “Do you think they’ll make an exception for you?”
It depended on who was up there. If it was someone I knew, maybe. But from what I’d heard, the king had brought in a lot of new blood. None of whom were likely to recognize me.
“Tell me how to do this,” I hissed.
“I’ve already told you. Call them.”
Cursing under my breath, I faced the corner that had already seen me make a fool of myself.
Come to me.
Nothing happened. There was no sign of movement as the person making their way to my prison cell began to hum. A cheery little ditty that did nothing for my concentration.
“Better hurry,” Book mouthed.
I concentrated harder, glaring intently at the shadows. For a moment they seemed to move. A tiny squiggle. As if something inside them was alive.
“Little rat, little rat. You should have picked a better spot to invade than a dungeon.”
There was a clink from the prison door above as my visitor unlocked it.
I focused, pouring every bit of my attention into that shadow. This time I barked the command with the same authority with which my drill sergeant had told an entire platoon to drop and push until he told them to stop.
The shadows writhed, sliding toward me.
That’s it. Come to mama.
A thud came from behind me. Then a startled gasp.
