“Tell me again where you come from?” he asked, leaning closer to peer into my eyes.
I held his gaze, willing the amulet to work. “We come from another country.”
“Another country?”
I nodded. If Jeven failed to believe our story, I would use my magic against him, although I wasn’t sure how effective I would be.
“I wasn’t aware there was anyone left except us. The people of this city have scoured the globe for years looking for others and found no one. Although,” he paused, and as he did, I felt the calming influence of the amulet reach out to him once again, gently clouding his mind, coaxing him to believe our lies. “It may be foolishness for me to assume we are the only people left. I am glad I am wrong.” His gaze softened. His words, once harsh and emotionless, became cordial. He reached his hand toward me. “Forgive me for not introducing myself sooner. I am High Governor Jeven Vonnguard Monturiel, Eminence of the Last Remaining Waste of the city of Slavom. Welcome, wanderers, to our city.”
He took my fingers in his hand, which was shockingly cold, and kissed my knuckles. It took all I had not to pull away from him. The feel of his skin reminded me of a snake’s scales. Chills prickled the back of my neck. I breathed a sigh of relief when he finally released my hand.
“Come,” he said, turning. “I shall show you around my palace. We will arrange a place for you to rest and eat, if you wish.”
We exited the room and followed Jeven through his palace. I unfisted my hands and attempted to breathe steadily, if only for a moment. He’d bought our story, and we were still alive.
The black-and-white tiles continued through the hallways. The lighting was sparse, but soft, coming from small chandeliers made of teardrop-shaped glass pieces hanging from the impossibly high ceilings.
We reached a room with tall windows spaced along the back walls. The smog-tinted light drifted through the glass, making the white tiles of the floors and marble walls look a yellowish color, the hue of pages in an old book.
Several couches and chairs were arranged around the room, and Jeven led us to a seat. Kull and I sat across from him as several servants stood behind us.
“Tell me,” Jeven said, “what do you think of my city?”
I glanced out the window at the skyline obscured by smog, not sure how to answer his question.
“It wasn’t always this way,” Jeven said. “Once, our city was a beautiful place—before the stones started failing, before Theht abandoned us. More than a century ago, Theht herself walked the streets, visiting our temples, giving her power to us, and helping us keep our livelihoods. But then, she disappeared. Her presence has not been felt in our lands in over a hundred years.”
I knew this world was dying. Was that why she’d left? Had she given up on this planet altogether in exchange for a better life in Faythander?
“But we have survived,” Jeven continued. “It is not a life any of us would choose. Some have made great sacrifices, and a shocking number of our population has not survived.” He looked out the window, his gaze detached, as if reliving memories. “Billions were taken by the Regaymor after Theht left us. I will not allow that sort of destruction to happen ever again.” He turned his gaze back on us. “That is why you must tell me more about the sword you seek from me. As of yet, no one has been able to access its powers. It is fueled by a strange blue magic that neither me nor my best warlocks understand. Do you know how to access its power?”
I nodded. “I may be able to help.”
“You are sure of this? It is not a power like ours, and it is not easily controlled. If I show you this sword, will you teach me to use it?”
I didn’t want to let my excitement show. This was the opportunity we’d been waiting for. All I had to do was agree to teach him to use the sword’s magic and he would show me where it was kept, but was it really that simple? What I was about to agree to didn’t sit well with me, although I had no other choice.
“Yes,” I answered. “I will teach you to use the sword’s magic.”
Chapter 10
Kull paced our room, becoming more agitated the longer we waited. Jeven had assigned us a room and given us both a change of clothes. We now wore drab colors. My dress had a high collar that was tight around my neck, and the black lace was itchy around my arms. Kull wore a gray suit that was clearly not made for him. His muscles made the fabric bulge, and the pants were several inches too short, but at least we fit in without having to rely on the amulets so much.
Evening came slowly, but finally, the sun began to dip below the horizon. I watched it through the windows in our room, thinking of our quest. Assuming Heidel and Maveryck were well on their way to removing the unicorn’s stone, we only had so much time left before the magic was down and we could take the sword from Jeven’s castle. The longer we waited to find it, the smaller our window of opportunity became.
“Kull,” I said. “You might as well sit down. You’re not making anything better by pacing like that.”
“I can’t sit,” he mumbled. “I don’t like this place or these people. You know how I get feelings about people, Olive, and I’ve got a horrible feeling about all of them.”
“The feeling is mutual.”
“Yet, you don’t seem concerned.”
I sighed. “I am concerned, but right now, we can’t leave until we have the sword, so
