Kingdom of Shadows by K. M. Reynolds

Author:K. M. Reynolds [Reynolds, K. M.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781075026232
Published: 2019-09-07T16:00:00+00:00

Cambria sat cross-legged in the darkness, watching her parents sleep in the soft glow of a small orb she had conjured. She had been there for hours, watching them drift in and out of consciousness, weak from hunger and thirst, their bodies beaten and broken. She longed to hold them, to wrap her arms around them and heal their pain from the inside out. But in this ethereal form, she could do nothing but watch as they suffered.

Softly, in an almost imperceptible whisper, she began to sing a lullaby that her mother used to sing to her when she was sick or frightened. As she sang, her parents stirred softly in their cells. Chloe sat up, wincing as she rose.

“Oh, baby girl. You are still here?”

“Of course I’m here, mama.” Cambria’s eyes filled and she felt her throat burning. “I won’t leave you. I’m going to be right here for as long as I can, every day, for as long as it takes.”

“But this must be taking so much energy, you have to rest,” Chloe protested.

“I’ll rest when you are safe. Until then, I’m here with you.”

The sound of the dungeon door swinging open interrupted them, and Chloe motioned frantically for Cambria to hide. Cambria scrambled farther into the dungeon, extinguishing her tiny light and melting into the shadows.

The torchlight revealed the jailer waddling down the corridor, followed by Thanaeron, who seemed to glide effortlessly over the stones. Shadows danced around them as they stopped in front of the cells. Thanaeron glanced around, peering into the shadows. Silence filled the dungeon as Chloe and Martin waited for someone to speak. Finally, Thanaeron stopped searching the darkness and directed her cold gaze to the prisoners.

“Well, tomorrow is the big day. You both will be executed in the courtyard, with the gates open for any passers-by to see. Your daughter hasn’t revealed herself, and it’s doubtful she will arrive by tomorrow, but rest assured, we will catch her and her little band of traitors. And when we do,” she grinned, her black eyes glinting in the torchlight, “we will crush them like the vermin they are.”

“We are not afraid to die,” Martin spoke, his deep voice echoing off the stone walls.

“Not yet, maybe. But what we have planned for you two tomorrow… you’ll be begging for death before we are done with you.” Thanaeron cackled and turned on her heel. “I look forward to it.”

The entourage exited just as quickly as they had arrived, plunging the dungeon back into darkness. No one moved until the sound of the heavy door confirmed that they were once again alone.

Cambria flew back up the corridor, once more illuminated by her conjured orb. Her eyes danced with fire that burned through her soul. “You are being executed tomorrow!” she cried, whirling back and forth to look at both of her parents. “Why didn’t you say anything?”

“We didn’t want you to worry, baby,” Martin reached a hand through the bars before letting it fall back to his side.

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