40. Sunder

forty

Sunder

The portal is disorienting as we hurdle through magical tunnels, hoping it drops us near Valenfall. I swear I'll kill Tairyn if this is some kind of trap, Shard or no Shard.

In my left hand is Mira's, which I squeeze three times to let her know I'm here with her. In my other hand, is Bobble's. His grip is firm, his large hand practically swallowing mine. For a terrifying moment, everything blurs out, and the howling, rushing sounds of the portal fill my ears with a deafening roar. As abruptly as the journey begins, it ends.

In just seconds, the darkness of the tunnel fades to the last light of day. I fall into a pile of limbs on the ground. Callum and Bobble are beneath me as I yank Mira from the portal. I watch as it shimmers in the dusky light before fading away completely.

"I had no idea you could do that," Callum says. His voice is pure awe as he marvels at the disappearing shimmer. I almost grunt an agreement, but decide better of it. I don't want Mira thinking Tairyn is right. That I'm just a brainless beast.

"Where are we?" she asks, as I pull her to her feet. She looks over her shoulder too many times, a slight quiver in her voice. I don't need to channel my Chroma to feel the cocktail of nervous energy radiating from her.

On the ground, I see a smudge of what appears to be a slime, the different colors of our Chroma mingling into a stain of brown with swirls of yellow, blue, red, and green. I bend down to inspect it, knowing it's the same slime stain that Tairyn left the day he found us in the woods.

Green, though. I had not had time to consider the color of Callum's Chroma. I've yet to see him channel, even as the portal swallowed us in those last moments.

Interesting.

"Gross," Bobble says from behind me, pointedly staring at the sludge beneath us. "What do you think, Sunder? Do you recognize this place?"

Standing, I scan our surroundings for signs of life or a notable landmark. When I hear the rushing sounds of the river, I know I'm finally home.

"We'll sneak in through the underground tunnels. We never patrolled them before, lest we brought attention to our escape route."

"And then what?" Callum asks, but it's Mira who catches my eye sitting on a rock looking wistfully to the West. Towards him. The way she touched his face before we left is burned into my memory like a searing dagger. How can she miss him? He's a slimy eel who took her captive, lied, and manipulated.

But of course she does. It's Mira. The woman who forgave me despite all the awful things I did in the beginning. The awful things I continue to do. I slide onto the rock beside her, wrapping her with my arm. I let myself open my blue Chroma to her, let myself feel her feelings.

The weight of grief crashes over me like a tidal wave, knocking the breath out of my lungs and nearly sending me toppling backwards. My gut twists into a knot of guilt and regret, threatening to tear me apart from the inside out. And yet in the middle of that turmoil, a small light, warm and radiant, burns bright like a lighthouse cutting through the midnight fog.

Nuzzling into her neck, I breathe in her scent deeply. It calms me, a balm to the storm swirling inside. My voice nearly cracks as I whisper against her skin. "I'm sorry we had to leave him."

"It was the right call. We can't trust him." Though her voice remains steady, the rapid beat of her heart echoes in her chest, a chaotic symphony strumming the notes of her turmoil.

A thoughtful hum rolls from my chest as her feelings of self-doubt wash through me. "Have I ever told you that you are the bravest person I know?" She finally turns that critical eye on me. "Allowing yourself to be vulnerable again. Knowing the risk and choosing to accept it. That's true strength. I'd fight a hundred wars before I let myself risk emotional pain. I'm a coward. But that trust comes naturally for you. It's one of the things I admire the most about you."

Her face twists into bemusement, but she remains silent. I press a soft kiss into her shoulder before I return to where Callum and Bobble stand ready.

"Once we're in the castle, we will find Cor'than."

"And just knock on his bedroom door?" Callum asks with arms over chest, eyebrow cocked. My shoulders tense at his tone. I can barely keep the sneer from my lips. Before I can snap, Bobble saves him.

"Yes, let's come up with a more detailed plan. First of all, if we do encounter guards, subdue them but no injuries. I doubt Cor'than will take that well if we come kick in his door, figurative guns blazing."

"Cor'than will be staying in our parents' old bedroom. There's a balcony overlooking the river. We find a window on the floor below and scale the stone wall. Bobble will scout ahead in cat form to keep us undetected." I say with more confidence than I feel.

Callum doesn't argue, but his face says he's not convinced. My eyes brush over Mira once more, not listening to our bickering and a hundred miles away in her thoughts.

It was the right thing to do, so why do I feel so awful about it now?

It doesn't take us long to find the old storm drain outside the city walls that lead to the larger escape tunnels beneath the castle. My fingers brush against the hilt of my sword, a comforting weight at my side. "Keep close."

Bobble is already scouting ahead of us for any signs of life as we move slower than molasses through the pitch black tunnels. But any light might give us away. So, with one hand sliding along the stone wall, we creep further and further towards the main thoroughfare.

"This place doesn't feel right." Mira says into my back.

"There are some ancient wards here, placed long before my family ruled. Long before this was even called Valenfall. They only react to the use of magic, though. Just be on your guard and only use Chroma if it's life or death."

"Comforting."

I pull on the subtle thread to Bobble, feeling his direction. As soon as my mind brushes the soft thread, I'm struck by the intensity of his nerves. I yank back as if I've been burned, nearly stumbling into Mira.

"What is it?" she hisses in my ear. I shake my head before I remember she won't see the gesture. As blind as I feel right now, I know her human eyes are showing her even less.

"Nothing." I lie. No need to worry her. As we come to a crossroads in the tunnels, I know the way to the castle is left, but Bobble is to our right. I push down the slight annoyance. I'm sure he's just being thorough. Definitely not lost.

"We'll pause here to wait for Bobble to return."

Each agonizing second drags on like a weight tied to my ankles, pulling us further and further away from our goal. The desperation in my chest rises like a wave, threatening to drown me in despair as the seconds continue to tick past at an excruciatingly slow pace.

"It feels like he's just getting farther away," Mira finally whispers. "He's been gone for a while. Should we go after him?"

The shake in her voice sets my hackles up.

"Give him time," I say, my voice soothing despite the spike of fear in my chest. "He's good at this."

"Is he good at getting lost, too?" Callum chimes in from the shadows, the familiar sharp edge to his words igniting a thread of irritation in me.

"Quiet," I grit out, my hands balling into fists as I fight to keep my temper in check. I reach for the thread one more time, pulling it to me. Urging him back, but he's not responding.

"Something is wrong. I should go after him," I say.

"No." Callum interjects, his voice echoing off the tunnel walls. "We stick together and head into the castle. He'll find us."

"No," Mira says at the same time I say, "without Bobble?"

"The longer we stay in one spot, the more danger we're putting ourselves in. We go on."

"Go ahead," I spit back at him, my patience thinning as rapidly as my hope. "Because from where I'm standing, he's much more valuable to us than you are."

"Get over yourself, Sunder." His bitter tone cuts into the silence of the tunnels like a shard of glass. "Calling yourself the First Shard doesn't put you in charge."

I glare at his faint outline in the gloom, my chestnut eyes searing into his stony figure. My fists are clenched so tightly that I can feel my nails biting into my palms.

Before either of us can continue, hurried footsteps sound at the entrance of the tunnel. Flickering torchlight closes in around us. Damn it, we've been too loud. My heart pounds in my chest as a silhouetted figure rounds the corner.

"You lot!" the figure shouts, stopping dead in his tracks and unsheathing his sword with a sharp metallic clang that rings through the tunnels, echoing back in a chilling reminder of our precarious situation. He's alone. A scout, maybe.

That gives us a tiny window.

Before anyone can react, I'm rushing toward him, barreling at full force into the semi-darkness with my sword in hand. Chroma would only set off the wards, attract more guards.

He seems surprised by my fury as my sword plunges into his chest. His eyes widen, shock clearly etched on his face as he gasps, looking down at the wound spreading blood across his tunic. With one last shuddering breath, he drops to the floor.

Mira gasps in horror and Callum groans. "So much for not killing anyone. Now they're definitely going to execute us. Or worse."

I whirl on Callum, blood still scorching in my veins. "What other choice did I have? You want me to invite him to tea to talk everything over instead?"

Before Callum can step up to me, Mira pushes past me, grabbing the fallen torch from the guard. By the looks of him, he was just a young lad, probably just started his guard duties. I push down the welling guilt in my chest. "We need to find Bobble. Something isn't right."

She takes a left toward the Third, and we don't hesitate to follow her faster and faster through the tunnels, following the pull of Bobble. So badly I want to use my Chroma to reach out to him, feel him. Instead, we rely on the vague intuition through the mate bond.

It's not long until we hear a commotion coming down a larger tunnel, wide enough for ten men to stand abreast. I pull Mira back, quickly dousing our torch to peer around the corner.

When I see seven guards surrounding an orange tabby cat hissing and growling against a stone wall, my mind goes blank with red. I don't hesitate to charge from the shadows with a roar, drawing their attention away from Bobble. The guards turn, wide-eyed at the sudden intrusion, giving me valuable seconds to close the distance.

"Sunder!" Mira shouts in alarm, her voice echoing off the tunnel walls. But I pay her no heed. Seven guards, one of me. I can take them. As I race towards the group, already reforming into a defensive formation, Bobble shifts out of cat form using his yellow Chroma.

Fuck.

Maybe that trickle of magic won't be enough to break the wards.

Sword meets sword with a clang that reverberates in the narrow tunnel. I twist and duck under a swing from my left, pivoting to kick the guard behind me. The one on my right takes advantage of my momentary distraction. His blade comes down on my shoulder, slicing through leather armor like butter.

Pain flares, but I grit my teeth, swinging my own sword and connecting with his in a shower of sparks. Bobble charges, taking on two guards at once with a ferocity that belies his usual good-natured temperament. Callum moves into the fray, his lean physique weaving smoothly between the larger, less graceful attackers.

I see Mira out of the corner of my eye, her hazel eyes wide with worry. She's clutching her own small blade, knuckles white around the hilt. She looks terrified. Her eyes flicker to mine, as if seeking assurance.

"Stay back," I growl, but I catch a flicker of anger on her face at the command.

I should have known better. Mira is no damsel to be shielded. Stepping forward with a determined set to her jaw, she retorts, "Like hell I will."

She lunges at a guard who's just disengaged from Bobble. In the periphery of the chaos, a loud clang of metal stomps down each tunnel, so loud I don't know which direction it's coming from. I can barely pay attention to the sword in front of me, trying to find the source of the new threat.

My heart sinks as realization hits: we're surrounded. An army emerges from the shadows, filling every crevice of the large tunnel. The rusty tang of sweat and blood fills my nostrils, mixing with the sudden fear pulsating through our mate bond.

"Drop your weapons!" a guard orders, and I know what we must do.

"Yield!" I scream out, dropping my sword and raising my hands as high as my wounded shoulder will allow, the pain almost enough to make me black out. Hot blood rushes down my chest and arm. "Yield, damn it!"

As the skirmish ceases, I take a quick stock of injuries. Mine seems to be the only one, though. Thank the Gods. A quick succession of Dampening Shields fall around each of us from somewhere in the back of the army.

As an officer steps forward, his eyes immediately lock on me as the leader of this band of intruders. I hold his eye contact and take one step forward, placing myself just in front of the others. "I demand to speak to my brother, King Cor'than."

A few chuckles echo in the now lit tunnels. Shiny metal armor gleams against the uneven light. Others exchange nervous glances. Most, however, are well trained and don't react at all to the ramblings of a crazy common fae like me.

The officer's eyes narrow as he takes me in from head to toe. Bloodied and panting breaths, I try to keep the pain from lacing my voice with desperation as I announce to the room, "I was once called Dan'thiel before my soul was shattered into fragments. Surely this news was spread at the time? Now I call myself Sunder, the First Shard of Dan'thiel's soul. And I demand to speak to the usurper."

I can feel Mira's lips pinch into a grimace, her disapproval palpable even as she stands behind me. But I ignore it. My words pour out with a fierce honesty that cannot be tamed. It's the truth, raw and unfiltered, even if it's not what they want to hear or believe. Their king stole that crown through unscrupulous means.

The officer doesn't flinch at my bravado. Instead, he nods his head as if it were a simple request. The army clears a path as we walk through them, a few falling into step around us lest we be mistaken for anything more than prisoners.

I glance at Mira and Bobble, seeing determination mirrored in their expressions. With a resigned sigh, I nod my agreement, and we allow ourselves to be led deeper into the tunnels until we climb a set of spiral stairs that open into a servant hallway. Each step is agony in my shoulder, but I refuse to cradle the arm.

The guards march us through a series of opulent corridors, our footsteps echoing off the marble floors and intricately carved walls. I can't help but marvel at the grand staircases, towering columns, and ornate chandeliers that seem to drip with crystals.

It's exactly as I remember it, yet it feels completely different.

Memories flash at each turn. Chasing Eyveriel up those stairs, I fell and hit my knee against the sharp corner, leaving behind a permanent scar. Cor'than's favorite library as boy where he could be found hiding behind huge stacks of books.

Eventually, we're taken to the Great Hall, a receiving room for petitioners or minor nobles. A fire roars to life in the huge stone hearth beside the small throne set upon a subtle dais. I eye the tapestries on the wall, memories from a happy childhood emerge.

Eyveriel.

She loved the one depicting the wild horses racing across the plains of Valenfall.

A sudden hush falls over the guards as heavy footsteps approach. I tense, every muscle in my body coiled like a spring. The doors at the end of the room swing open, an imposing figure looms in the darkened doorway before stepping into the light.

Cor'than, framed by the soft glow of firelight, comes into view. The thin crown of our father resting atop his groomed black hair gives my stomach a lurch. His beard is cropped short, thin lips pursed as he eyes us.

The sight of him ignites an inferno within me, my blood boiling and frothing with rage. The memories of all the innocent lives he snuffed out flood my mind like a raging river, each one a sharp knife twisting in my gut.

He strides toward us, his authoritative presence commanding attention. Clad in dark, richly embroidered robes, he exudes power and control. His sharp eyes assess us in an instant, lingering on Mira and me with an unnerving intensity.

"Your Majesty," the officer says, bowing low and presenting him with a parchment that I crane my neck to see. It's the wanted poster bearing Mira's and my likeness for killing those Keepers of the Portal when we first arrived in Illuemera. "These intruders were found within the castle tunnels. They made some bold claims."

Cor'than studies the poster, then narrows his eyes at us. "Explain."

As I take a deep breath, the heavy weight of responsibility presses down on me. I know why we are here and what is at stake. My gaze shifts to Mira, who is anxiously waiting for my next move. The anger inside me threatens to burst forth, but I can't let her see that weakness. I have to remain calm, for her sake and the others'. But every civil word that comes out of my mouth is like a betrayal to myself and those he slaughtered in his quest for power.

"King Cor'than," I say through gritted teeth. "I am Sunder, the First Shard of your brother Dan'thiel's soul. Bobble, the Third and Callum the Fourth." I gesture to each of them in turn. His eyes betray nothing as he follows my introductions. Silently listening, assessing. Bastard always was too calculating. "We've come with information that threatens the safety of Valenfall."

"And you've brought a human with you to tell me this?"

The skepticism in his voice is practically mocking us. I can't tell if he believes us or not. I wish I could use my Chroma to detect his emotions, if he has any.

It's Bobble who responds though. "Mira is our bonded mate, your Majesty."

"Your Majesty," Mira interjects, her pleading voice trembling, "We only want to help."

My voice steady despite the pounding in my chest, I say, "We have everything to lose by coming here. We risked our lives to reach you because we believe it's necessary."

"And you killed one of my guards in the process, attacked more. Two Keepers of the Portals are also dead because of you." His voice grows more fierce with each word until it ricochets off the walls that feel like they're closing in.

Cor'than's gaze remains fixed upon us, his eyes piercing like ice. Tension crackles in the air, and I feel the weight of uncertainty pressing down on my chest. With the king's authority hanging heavy around us, all our hopes for convincing him of our noble intentions rest on our ability to lay bare the truth.

"Your Majesty," Bobble adds, his deep voice resonating with sincerity, "we speak the truth. Please, just hear us out."

For a long moment, the king regards us in silence, his expression unreadable. Finally, he nods. "Speak your piece. But know this: any attempt at deception will be met with swift and severe punishment."

"Understood," I reply, relief flooding through me as we're granted the chance to explain ourselves. Now, all we have to do is convince Cor'than of the truth.

Now that he's agreed to listen, I take a step back and let the others explain what happened with Yurghen in the tower and our journey to this point. I note that Mira leaves out the part about traveling in the portals, simply that we left the Second behind in the Western Slopes.

Cor'than is attentive, hands behind his back like a trained soldier receiving instructions. His face betrays nothing as he silently takes in our tale. I expected him to have grown fat from lounging all day on that throne he stole, but his body is still like that of a soldier. No remnants of the male who once planned to dedicate his life to the druids remain.

My eyes glaze over as Bobble explains, for the third time, Yurghen's plot to open the Great River. Finally, Cor'than cuts Bobble off with a simple flick of his hand.

"Enough. I've heard your story." His eyes turn back to me, and my spine straightens under his gaze. The pit of fire burns inside me as we lock gazes. Usurper, I want to scream as I run him through with my blade. Instead, I wait patiently for this royal cunt to address me. "Prince Dan'thiel is banned from ever entering this kingdom again upon penalty of death."

Nodding, I take a deep breath. We knew this was a possibility. I warned them. When Cor'than speaks again, his voice is barely audible. "When I heard the rumors of his demise…" He shakes his head as if to clear the wandering thought before refocusing on me. This time, his voice is stronger, more demanding. "On the day of my father's funeral, I sat alone on the banks of the river for hours until my brother found me there well past dark. What did he say to me?"

The question is clear. Prove who you are. But will that mean death if I'm telling the truth, or death if I'm lying? Perhaps it's death either way. I blink in surprise as my memories soar back to that day. The smoke of the funeral pyre still hung heavy in the air. The bells of the city rung in mourning. And a youth hung his head by the riverbanks. I swallow thickly, my mouth suddenly dry.

"I told you that grief is like the river," I respond, my voice almost too soft to hear. "It ebbs and flows, sometimes calm and other times strong enough to drag you under if you're not careful. I told you to swim hard."

Cor'than's gaze softens slightly, a hint of surprise flickering past his otherwise stoic gaze.

"Indeed," Cor'than finally responds, crossing his arms over his chest. There's a moment of silence that follows, stretching out until it's filled with tension. "The night grows late. We will continue this conversation in the morning. For now, they remain Shielded and heavily guarded until we can confirm more of their story. Take them to the Eastern Wing guest suites. And someone heal that one. He's bleeding all over my hall."