Henry tensed. “I could blind him. Or make him see a threat that isn’t there – people he cares about in trouble. He has sisters, doesn’t he?”
The nausea hit her in a wave. Illusion magic. Henry was suggesting they use Sebastian’s own instincts, his family, against him. She looked down, picking at the seam of her cloak. “I could never use magic like that.”
Henry’s expression didn’t change. “I’m not asking you to. But I’ll use it if I have to, Kara. Simple as that.”
A gust of wind blew through their camp, making the flames flicker, and Kara pulled her cloak tighter. She wondered how many others in the realm learnt magic like that in secret.
“It’s easier to bind someone in nightshade when they can’t see you coming,” Henry added.
“You brought nightshade?”
Nightshade bonds were enchanted to suppress Arcanth magic. They were reserved for criminals. A punishment rarely used – rarely needed in Vallenna.
“Of course I did.”
Kara wondered which Council member had suggested it. Or if Henry had simply thought of it himself – packed it like another supply. She wasn’t sure which was worse. She edged closer to the fire, though it did little for the chill that had settled inside her. It did even less for the guilt. Guilt was her constant companion now – guilt over telling Henry half-truths, learning his magic under false pretences, over what she meant to do to Sebastian if she caught him. She told herself she was the lesser oftwo evils. That her way was kinder – forced sleep instead of risking his mind. Henry’s casual talk of stealing someone’s sight – of twisting thoughts to make Sebastian see nightmares made real – it frightened her. She didn’t want Sebastian anywhere near that kind of power.
If it had to be done, better by her magic than his.
Before sunrise, they were riding again. Kara’s muscles screamed with every stride, but she pushed onward. Henry must be hurting too. He wasn’t an experienced rider, but he’d managed better than she’d expected. By late morning they were climbing through Henry’s shortcuts, winding through narrow valleys where towering rock faces pressed close on both sides. Steeper – the valmares were breathing in short, hot bursts – but faster. The mountains loomed close now – their tops dusted with light snowfall. They reached Highstone, a northern Caldris town by mid-afternoon, its main street winding between grand stone houses built to weather the mountain winds. A pair of scholarly-looking men bowed low to Henry as he approached.
“Lord Caldris,” the older of the two said respectfully. “Have you heard about the Shards?”
“Unfortunate business. The Council will catch the criminal,” Henry said, mildly.
The younger man glanced at his companion. “A Thorne rider came through about ten minutes ago. Alone. Said he’d heard reports the thief was heading this way and meant to intercept him.”
Kara’s heart quickened. Thornes passed through Caldris on guard rotation or peacekeeping duty, but rarely alone.
Sebastian.
The older man frowned. “He kept to himself. We thought it odd, but... better not to get in the way.”
Henry inclined his head. “Wise.”
Once they were clear of the gate, Henry’s easy expression slipped. “We’re closer than I thought,” he said, already urging his valmare into a canter.
The road narrowed as they climbed. Fresh hoofprints appeared in the earth – minutes old, untouched by wind or rain. Close enough that every turn in the path felt like it might reveal him – her heart thumping unevenly with every corner. They pushed on for several more miles untilthe track ended abruptly at the base of a sheer cliff. A staircase was carved into the rock itself, steep and uneven.
And hitched beside it – a Thorne valmare. Deep ebony, strongly muscled.
“He’s already here,” she breathed.
“We knew he would be.”
Kara dismounted clumsily, her legs trembling both from exhaustion and adrenaline. She ran a grateful hand down Whisper’s neck. “So, this is it?”
Henry nodded and glanced upwards. Eitherwift was the tallest mountain in the range. It would be a long climb. “The Air Shard’s shrine is up there.”
Her gaze swept the first few flights. Frost clung in the corners of the steps, and at the first sharp turn, a boot print stood out dark and fresh against the stone.
Henry approached Sebastian’s valmare and searched its pack, before throwing it to the ground.
“The Shards aren’t here. He must have them with him.”
Kara nodded mutely. She was still staring at the boot print on the steps. The next moment, Henry untethered the ebony valmare and slapped its hindquarters, driving it off. The creature cantered away down the slope.
“Henry–”
