There Is No Elevator To Success
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It’s the day after the night before, and I can feel the weight of all that has happened on my shoulders. It is a lot to take in: one minute we are all just going about our lives as usual, with no inkling at all that anything could be wrong; then suddenly there was an entire army of demons marching up from the north.
Now the only thing that matters is finding a way to defeat them and get everyone back home again, safe and sound. The fact that I am even alive right now is down entirely to Aodhan’s intervention. If not for him…
But I’m getting ahead of myself. I have so much work still to do yet. I know where they’ve taken Aodhan—the old man who runs the local blacksmithing shop. And it shouldn’t be too difficult to get his help if I play my cards right. He’ll never forgive me, but he won’t be able to stop us either.
The Archdemon may have had something to do with this mess, but we don’t exactly owe him any favors. And anyway, I can see how desperately the poor fellow must want to save his son. It isn’t hard to convince him to join us against such a powerful foe.
Aodhan’s parents took us all to the local temple because the monks have healing facilities on hand. My leg still aches like nothing else, though thankfully it seems the worst of it is over—it should heal without further trouble soon enough.
Aodhan’s father has made arrangements to move both himself and his wife to safety elsewhere, and Aodhan will travel with them once my wounds are fully healed. In fact, we leave today already; we need to be out of the city by tomorrow morning, or there’s every chance our presence will give us away completely. But first I need to find someone I haven’t seen for some time now.
We’re waiting outside the temple’s gates when a familiar figure rides up on a chestnut gelding. We all watch him as he approaches. His face breaks into a smile and he pulls a silver-and-white headband from the breast pocket of his tunic. He gives a small nod to Aodhan’s father, who nods back in reply. Then we hear a voice behind me saying, “Well well! So you really did make it.”
I turn to look at Ryn. He looks more than pleased to see me, almost glowing with pride. He holds the headband above his brows, which is all very impressive, but I’m too busy trying to swallow the lump wedged firmly in my throat to notice.
I think about everything that went wrong yesterday. All those people dead, their blood soaking into the dirt; the Archdemon laughing and mocking my pain. This is what comes from being too trusting, and not keeping my eyes open.
The Archdemon may have had something to do with it—after all, she did lead us here. But the truth is that I should have been watching my own back instead of focusing solely on protecting others. I could have saved them all if not for my stupidity.
I don’t expect Ryn to understand that. He thinks the Archdemon wanted to save everyone, and I believe her. It’s all very confusing and complicated, but the Archdemon is always right. She knew what would happen to us here, and she told me it was inevitable.
The Archdemon knows how these things work better than anyone, and so I trusted her. I let my guard down and got caught, and I can’t say I regret a single second of it. Not even my own stupid, foolish death could keep me away from Ryn now. Nothing can come between us again. Nothing ever will.
I can tell Ryn feels the same way, because he smiles wide enough to show off all his sharp white teeth, and his dark eyes glow like polished obsidian. “You really did it, didn’t you? You found us.”
“Yes,” I breathe, taking his arm to lean closer, and kiss him gently. “And you’re coming with us, of course.”
The Archdemon might be a powerful force, but Ryn is stronger still. When I speak, my words ring loud and clear around us, like a warning bell. “Ryn, there’s one more thing we need to do before we go.” I look past him, to the Archdemon herself, standing on the other side of the road. Her cloak blows back from her shoulders, revealing the long, thin lines of her neck.
“What—” begins Ryn, only to be interrupted by an urgent, insistent rapping against the gate itself. A messenger waits outside; I recognize the lanky form of the same young woman who helped me earlier. I beckon her to approach, and when she does, I step forward to take the message from her hands.
A few quick twists of parchment later, we each hold our own copy of the same letter: a simple note that says, “Come at once—urgently!” Both Ryn and I read aloud the message several times just to be sure we’re reading it correctly, but no matter how many times we repeat the words, we cannot doubt their meaning.
My eyes return to the Archdemon’s face as I speak. “I have to go,” I say simply, and then I give the order that should have been mine in the first place. “Let’s go.”
***
We ride quickly through the city and out of the gates with a small army trailing after. It doesn’t take much to persuade most of the soldiers to come along with us, either on horseback or in carts pulled by animals.
They want to see this Archdemon that they’ve heard so much about, and perhaps she will be able to help them. And although I know it won’t do any good, I urge them all to pray and ask for protection while we journey north.
The Archdemon has never failed to answer a plea, and surely she can do nothing but aid me now, especially since her own power has already been drained by the Archdemon’s curse. Whatever happens, we’ll need every last bit of magic we can find.
A few people try to follow on foot, but most are too afraid or unsure of themselves to risk the unknown. The Archdemon has said she wishes to protect all of Tamwyn’s people, but what if she means the rest of them too?
What if she intends to destroy all those people she promised to spare? The thought makes my stomach twist in knots, but Ryn seems unfazed. The Archdemon will not harm us, he tells me. She would rather save us than destroy us.
When the city finally falls behind us and the ground turns stony and barren under the setting sun, Ryn slows our horses and lets the rest pass us up. He keeps his hand resting lightly upon my shoulder, though, and it’s comforting to have his warm palm there.
But when I turn to speak to him, he looks ahead, staring straight ahead into the night sky above us. I think the Archdemon wants us to talk more privately, so I don’t ask questions. Instead, I sit back down and lean forward against my horse, letting my fingers brush the soft hairs of the animal’s muzzle.
I’m not going to lie. It’s nice, being alone with Ryn again. He’s been so busy lately with all of his friends and family that I haven’t seen him in days. Even before that, things were different between us after the Archdemon cursed him, and I know I wasn’t always fair to him. I’m sorry.
We can still have whatever life we wish, can’t we? No one else matters. Only you and me—we could run away and start over together. If I can convince Ryn to come with me, it will be just like a new beginning—one with no curses or oaths, or prophecies at all.
But even in the depths of my thoughts, I know such a plan is impossible. Ryn and I belong together, whether by fate or some kind of divine destiny, and I wouldn’t trade the time I’ve had with him for anything.
But when I feel his hand move slightly away from my shoulder, and notice the distance growing between us, I know there’s something else weighing on his mind. He’s thinking the same thoughts I am, and soon we both reach the same conclusion: Ryn has to go to the Archdemon first. She must hear the Archdemon’s curse for herself if she ever hopes to break it.
It’s an honor to serve the Archdemon in this way, and Ryn knows it well enough. At least that’s what I hope he thinks. But when I look deep into his eyes and see that familiar sadness begin to swell within them, my heart aches.
I can almost imagine his tears falling onto my cheeks, but I refuse to let myself fall victim to such a foolish notion. There’s far too much at stake here for me to cry. I’ve lived in fear and uncertainty long enough, and Ryn would hate to see me become a weak and pathetic figure like that other Archdemon.
Instead, I lean forward, resting my forehead against the horse’s muzzle. The beast snorts at my touch and begins to shake its head nervously, making the reins slip further down Ryn’s wrist. Ryn pulls the rein back around my hands to steady them.
He takes a deep breath and nods once more as if he’s giving up a great struggle inside himself. Then he gives another nod and smiles reassuringly. He understands that the Archdemon needs him in the North. And I understand, too. Ryn would never have gone to her in the first place without knowing the Archdemon’s curse had already been broken.
Ryn leans closer. “Do you want to wait for us at the Archdemon’s camp tonight?” he asks softly.
“No,” I whisper back. I’ve wanted to say this aloud for days now, and I’ve waited long enough. I don’t care anymore if I’m too bold for a prince of the land. Or a princess, if truth be told. “I’d rather be with you.”
Ryn nods again. With that, he turns his attention to the darkening sky above us. His face becomes stern, his lips drawn tight, and his jaw tautens until I feel as if I’ll snap apart if I attempt to look at him directly.
Then Ryn reaches out and touches my cheek, gently running his thumb across my skin. A wave of warmth flows through me, and for one moment I believe everything will be fine, that we’ll find a way to make things work, that we’ll escape these chains of prophecy and fate and learn how to love each other freely once more.
But when Ryn pulls away again, his brow is furrowed. He stares down at me as if trying to memorize every detail about me. I’m suddenly aware that I’ve been crying while riding, and my cheeks are damp and streaked with mascara. My hair feels matted and sweaty. I’m sure my appearance is not exactly the most appealing thing for Ryn to behold right now.
But when he moves to wipe my eyes with his sleeve, I quickly grab him by the wrist and stop him. “Leave it,” I murmur urgently. “Don’t worry about it.”
The corners of Ryn’s mouth curl upward at my words. Then he nods once as if he agrees with what I say—but then glances away with a grimace. As if to mask his expression, Ryn leans forward and kisses my forehead tenderly. Then, with a quick motion, he steps off his horse and kneels down before me.
“What are you doing?” I ask hesitantly.
He doesn’t answer but instead reaches up with his free hand to brush a strand of hair from my eyes. I close my own eyes, feeling the tickle of his fingertips, and allow myself to drift into a peaceful trance.
It’s a sensation I haven’t known since we’ve been together. In fact, I didn’t realize how much I’d missed such intimacy until now. But after only moments, Ryn pulls away again, looking troubled all over again. Without a word, he climbs back onto his horse and rides off toward the Archdemon’s encampment alone.
I sit on my horse, watching him ride off, and wonder why I couldn’t just be strong enough not to cry. Why I couldn’t hold Ryn’s gaze and smile and laugh and tell him how happy I am to have him beside me in all this. But I think perhaps there’s some reason that I can’t do any of those things. Perhaps I’m destined to spend the rest of my life wondering.
***
We reach the Archdemon’s army in the early morning hours, and the Archdemon’s presence is immediately apparent. She stands atop her throne within the central circle of the camp, surveying the area below with her glowing red eyes.
All the Archdemon’s forces are gathered here. Even so far from the border, the Archdemon has brought along soldiers from the southern kingdom and from as far north as the Ice Plains. There are hundreds upon hundreds of horses, and their hooves pound the earth beneath them as they move in unison.
They’re all black with white markings like mine, and though none of them look quite the same, every single one of them has that same gleam in the eye.
And as the Archdemon watches, her troops fall into an even deeper state of alertness. The air seems to vibrate with anticipation; every man, woman, and beast is completely focused on the Archdemon standing high above them.
It takes me several attempts before I manage to climb down from Ryn’s horse. I don’t know what to expect, or if I should even try to get past the Archdemon’s guards. But Ryn has already dismounted. And although I still feel a little shaky, I take my place beside him, and together we walk toward the throne.
My heart beats rapidly against my ribs, and my stomach sinks when I notice two figures sitting atop the chair—two people who could well be Archdemon’s parents. I glance at Ryn with a worried frown, but he just shakes his head at me, as if telling me not to worry.
Then Ryn bows low before the Archdemon’s mother as if he knows precisely what I’m thinking and wants to prove himself worthy of me. And despite the circumstances, despite how strange and awkward it feels, I decided to follow his lead.
I bow low before the Archdemon’s father, too, and I find myself surprised at the emotion that floods me when I see his face. He looks like a warrior, with deep brown eyes and sharp features, but his skin is smooth and his eyes are soft.
His hair is long and gray, and it hangs down around his shoulders almost like a veil. At least he isn’t wearing the armor he often wears during battle. Instead, he wears simple leather clothing, with wide sleeves and a loose tunic that covers his legs all the way up to his hips.
His fingers brush over the side of my cheek, and the sensation of his touch sends a shiver through my body. I close my eyes and let the sensation of his touch wash over me. It’s strange how much I can identify with that part of him.
With the Archdemon’s father. I always felt closer to him than ever to the Archdemon’s mother. And now that I finally understand why—because my mother died because of the Archdemon’s father—my feelings have shifted entirely.
I can sympathize with how deeply he must feel for his daughter. How helpless he must be when she does terrible things. Because even though she’s my Archdemon and my sister-in-law, I can’t help wishing that someone else would rule this land in her stead.
The Archdemon’s father stands back from me and nods. “You may come to stand by my daughter,” he tells me and then turns to speak to a guard stationed nearby. A moment later, another man steps forward to join us.
This time he bears no weapons, and his hands rest easily at his sides. His arms are slender and muscular, and he moves with such grace that it looks as if he were dancing. In fact, it seems as if he could barely contain his excitement for the task at hand.
Ryn doesn’t ask anything about the guard standing before us, and neither do I. The Archdemon’s father continues talking to him, and soon enough the Archdemon’s mother appears behind the Archdemon’s father, and the Archdemon herself comes forward next to us.
“This is Alaric,” the Archdemon’s father says as he points to the kneeling man in front of us. The Archdemon’s mother is silent until he finishes, and then she speaks without looking in our direction. “Alaric will guide you.”
A moment later, a pair of guards appear from the darkness, leading each of us through the camp and out of sight. The Archdemon’s father follows behind us a short distance away. I turn once to check on the Archdemon, hoping there isn’t some sort of trick.
But she’s watching me as she sits upon her throne. Her gaze never wavers from me, and I suddenly realize that she might very well be waiting for something more from me than just this meeting.
I wonder what she’ll want. What sort of favor she expects me to grant. And yet, even so, I have no idea what that thing might be.
Alaric leads us deeper into the woods, farther from any possible observers, and soon the trees become tall enough and thick enough that they hide everything from view. Then he stops and turns to me and Ryn.
“You will need to remove your masks,” he instructs us. I look at Ryn, but he just shrugs as if it’s no big deal.
I nod and reach up to pull mine off. My jaw drops open when I see his face underneath.
He smiles at me. “Well, at least my new body doesn’t make me seem quite as ugly as I imagined,” he whispers as he pulls off his mask.
For a second, my breath catches, and I forget that I should be trying to hide my surprise. When the Archdemon first described him to me, she told me how handsome Alaric was—but I had been expecting a different sort of beauty. Something more like Ryn.
Alaric’s appearance has always struck me as oddly beautiful. His skin is pale, almost albino white, and his lips are full and sensual. And yet when he smiles at me, I find myself wondering if I’ve fallen under the spell of those lips.
But then Ryn clears his throat, interrupting whatever thought I might have entertained.
“And you?” he asks Alaric. He lifts his own mask to show his face beneath, and I notice then that Ryn’s mouth is curved in amusement.
Alaric’s lips twist with an equally amused smile. “You look rather pretty yourself, Ryn.”
“Oh? You’re jealous?” Ryn teases him, and then he laughs and shakes his head. “No, don’t be. I’m sure my brother has a few more tricks up his sleeve than simply growing prettier than you.”
Alaric laughs at that, but I can’t tell what he’s thinking behind the expression on his face. Perhaps his eyes are trained elsewhere—on the Archdemon, perhaps.
Ryn chuckles, but he still hasn’t taken off his mask. “Don’t worry,” Ryn adds, “the Archdemon will be pleased when you take yours off.”
My heart beats harder, and for a moment I think I might faint from shock. Is it really that easy? Will the Archdemon really let me go once I take my mask off? Or is there some other form of punishment I’ll have to endure? I feel my cheeks heat at the mere thought. And yet I know I won’t be able to resist the lure of freedom for long.
The End