Free The Shadow Of What Was Lost by James Islington Page B

survivors.”
    The other man raised an eyebrow.
“You don’t think we should stick together?”
    Ilseth shook his head. “Whatever
did this, Kasperan, it's long gone. The danger has passed.”
    Kasperan nodded his
acknowledgement, and he and the woman left Wirr’s room. As they did, the cords
of energy holding Asha vanished; Ilseth put a supporting arm around her
shoulders, guiding her to sit on Wirr’s bed. “Now. I know this has been
traumatic, but we need to know everything you can tell us. Are there any other
survivors? We were in Caladel overnight; we only arrived a few minutes ago.”
    Asha swallowed. “I think… I think
my friends might still be alive. Wirr – this is his room – and Davian. Davian’s
room was empty, and neither of them were in the courtyard. I checked.” She
shivered. “They must have gotten away. But I don’t know about anyone else.”
    Ilseth drew a slip of paper from
his pocket, the wax seal on it already broken. He handed it silently to Asha.
It was addressed to Elder Olin.
    She opened it with
still-trembling fingers.
     
    Elder Olin,
    Davian and I have had to leave at
short notice, on a matter of some importance, and one I believe needs my
oversight. Send no-one after us – Davian is under my protection. Please tell my
father that if we are caught, I will use the name I used here. He can retrieve
us both at
his earliest convenience, and I will explain matters to him then.
    Torin.
     
    “I don’t understand,” she said,
looking up at Ilseth in confusion. “Who’s Torin?”
    Ilseth just nodded to himself,
glancing towards the doorway. Then he gently removed his arm from around Asha,
standing.
    “It can never be easy,” he
sighed, drawing a small black disc from his pocket. In a sudden movement, he
leaned forward and pressed it against Asha's neck.
    Asha tried to jerk away, but the
second the disc touched her skin it stuck like glue; she found herself
paralysed, able only to move her eyes. She stared at Ilseth as he crouched down
on his haunches in front of her, calm as he observed her for a few moments. She
tried to talk, to ask him what he was doing, but no sound came from her
throat. 
    “Becoming a Shadow is not so
bad,” Ilseth said quietly. “It is quick, and you won’t remember the pain. In
fact, you won’t remember anything since you woke up this morning. Almost a
blessing, given what you’ve seen today.” He stared into her eyes. “Regardless,
I can't risk anyone realising that Davian got away. I would ask you whether he
foresaw what I was planning, or whether he saved your friend through sheer dumb
luck – but I doubt you know. And if you don’t know about that, I doubt you
understand why the escherii spared you, either. But still… if it saw fit to let
you live, then I suppose I should do the same. There are always reasons for
these things.”
    Asha tried desperately to move,
to call for help, but it was no use. She watched in terror as Ilseth reached
forward, pressing his finger against the disc on her neck and closing his eyes.
For a few seconds a gentle warmth flowed through her body, relaxing every
muscle.
    Then the heat inside her became a
raging fire, searing through her blood as if she were being burned alive from
the inside. Every nerve shrieked in agony; her back arched of its own accord as
muscles spasmed and convulsed. The tiny corner of her mind not screaming in
pain watched as Ilseth nodded in quiet satisfaction, then turned and left.
    Eventually the room, and then the
pain, faded. She knew no more.
     

- Chapter 6 -
     
     
    Davian held his breath as another
group of blue-cloaked Administrators walked by, Finders glinting on their
wrists as they observed the preparations for the evening’s festivities.
    “They’re everywhere,” he muttered
to Wirr, keeping his eyes firmly on the road ahead as he walked.
    “Just ignore them. And try not to
scratch your arm,” said Wirr without looking at his friend.
    Davian grimaced, snatching his
hand