Chapter 1

Being small sometimes came with advantages. No one saw Sam reach up to grasp the door handle and tiptoe out of the library, his lessons undone. Only a few moments later, he slipped through the door and down the steps to the dungeon, his small feet barely making a sound. Despite the oppressive stone walls and the gloom, he came here often. Grandfather hadn’t locked anyone down here in decades, and it was the one space Sam could play undisturbed, his secret place.

Sooner than he expected, he heard the sound of footsteps on the stairs, and Sam darted to hide behind a stack of storage crates, fitting neatly into the narrow space. When he peeked out, he recognized a member of the royal court, Halderan, an older man with a long thin face and gray hair, dressed in formal robes. It was best to keep out of his way. Sam had never seen any of the important people in the dungeon before. Halderan wouldn’t be looking for a small boy sneaking away from his lessons. There must be another reason he’d come.

Still hidden, Sam waited silently as a second person descended the stairs. At the sight of the tall form and familiar features of his uncle Adengo, Sam almost rushed out to greet him. But Halderan was still there, wearing an unpleasant look on his narrow face that informed Sam he shouldn’t be bothered.

“Well?” Halderan asked. “Why did you ask me to come down here, Your Highness?” He looked around, his face pinched in disapproval. “The dungeon, of all places.”

Instead of his usual easy smile, Adengo wore a serious expression. At his belt hung a dagger with a beautiful purple gem set into the hilt. Sam had seen him use it, only in practice, but Adengo knew how to fight. Sam wanted to be just like him when he grew up.

Adengo faced the older man. “I just received word that another two-dozen people in Kulin have fallen ill.”

Halderan stared back at him, his heavy brows drawn together. “That is indeed unfortunate. We are all gravely concerned in these trying times.”

Straightening his shoulders, Adengo faced Halderan, his eyebrows lowering in anger. “Unfortunate? How can you say that? You are well aware of the origin of this mysterious disease.”

Halderan took a step toward Adengo, anger etched into the heavy lines of his face. “What are you implying?”

Adengo refused to back down. “It’s you. They’re sick because you’re draining their hallan to increase your own power.”

At the words, Halderan trembled with rage. “How dare you?” His eyes never left Adengo. “After all I have done for you? I came to Kulin specifically to instruct you, and now you claim that I practice dark sorcery?”

Hidden behind the crate, Sam shivered at the sharp malice in his tone, pulling himself even farther out of sight.

Adengo shook his head. “I didn’t want to believe it. I hoped it wasn’t true. But the more I learn, the more signs point directly to you. I haven’t told the king yet. If you leave Kulin today, I won’t say anything to anyone.”

Halderan’s complexion darkened in fury. “I placed my hopes in you. We could have accomplished great things together. It’s been decades since I came across a student as talented as you are, and now you would betray me?”

“They’re innocent people,” Adengo exclaimed. “And you’re killing them to fuel your magic!”

Sam’s stomach clenched. He shouldn’t be listening to this. Was Halderan really killing people? Sam should tell his father what he’d overheard. He would know what to do.

“You have real power,” Halderan hissed. “Why should you care if a few of your unfortunate subjects fall ill? If you take a portion of their life energy, it’s all for the greater good. Think what you could accomplish with the extra hallan!”

“But it’s wrong. I’ll never do that!” Adengo protested.

They stared at each other for a long moment. “Very well, Your Highness,” Halderan said, lowering his eyes and his voice and stepping away from the other man. “There is no way we will reach an agreement over this. I will do as you suggest and leave at once.”

Without further protest, Halderan turned and went up the stairs, leaving Adengo standing alone in the middle of the room, a frown of deep thought on his face.

Sam squirmed in his corner, accidentally bumping against the crate.

His uncle’s gaze sharpened, focusing on his hiding place. “All right, Sam. Come out here.”

Sam crept out into the open.

Adengo met his gaze. “What are you doing down here? You shouldn’t have heard any of that.”

Sam ran to Adengo, throwing his arms around his uncle’s waist. “I’m sorry. I only wanted to play, and I didn’t mean to hear. He scares me!”

Adengo hugged him, and then bent to one knee to meet Sam’s eyes. “I’m going to make sure he doesn’t hurt anyone else. Come on.” Together, they climbed the stairs back to the palace. “Go to your mother,” Adengo directed. “I’m going to see the king.”

Sam ran through the marble halls of the palace, passing by the room where he was supposed to be working on his lessons, to the suite of rooms he shared with his parents. Ignoring the two guards watching over the door, he threw it open and ran inside. “Maman?” he charged into the sitting room. Finding it empty, he crossed the room to his parent’s bedroom.

His mother lay crumpled on the floor in a pool of blood. Sam screamed, realizing a second later that his father lay just beyond her. Icy cold swept down his back, and for a moment, his entire body froze. He ran to his mother, dropping to his knees over her. “Maman!” he shook her shoulder, but she didn’t turn to look at him. Her eyes stared up at nothing.

Two guards ran into the room, their eyes wide in horror as they took in the scene. One of them ran to Sam’s father, searching for any sign of life. The other knelt beside Sam. He took in the still form of the princess, her staring eyes, and he placed his fingers under her chin, searching for any sign of a heartbeat.

More guards arrived a moment later. Sam heard his grandfather’s voice in the hall. A moment later, he burst into the room, Adengo at his side. Both their faces were deathly white, and their eyes wide in shock. There was a moment of silence.

His grandfather, Hashoreth Algorian, King of Ischar, walked forward, kneeling beside the still form of his son. He took a crumpled scrap of parchment from his lifeless hand. His eyes widened as they scanned the few words written on it. “You will never rule Ischar.” His gaze flew to Adengo. “It’s your handwriting.”

Shock froze Adengo’s features. He struggled to speak, but no words came out. He took a deep breath and tried again. “I didn’t write that.”

Grandfather’s eyes fixed on Adengo. “But your brother—it was in his hand. Is this about the throne? I never thought you were jealous of him.”

Adengo’s jaw clenched. “I’m not! I swear. No throne is worth losing my brother.”

King Hashoreth bowed his head.

“Adengo didn’t do it!” Sam cried. His strong, brave uncle would never harm his family for his own gain. In that moment, he felt sure.

Still bent over the body of his son, Hashoreth picked up something from the floor. He held up a knife with a purple gem on the hilt, the blade sticky with blood. Sam recognized the weapon immediately. Adengo’s dagger.

Hashoreth held it up and turned toward his second son.

Adengo’s eyes widened, all color draining from his face. “I didn’t do this. Father, you have to believe me! I would never kill my brother!”

The king’s eyes went to the empty sheath at Adengo’s belt. “You had this knife with you?”

Adengo looked down at his belt. “I thought I did.”

Sam stared at the empty sheath. Adengo had been wearing the dagger just a few moments ago in the dungeon, and now, here it was, covered with blood. Was it true? The king believed Adengo had killed Sam’s parents.

“Seize him,” King Hashoreth nodded to the guards, and they grabbed Adengo. The king nodded toward the door, and they dragged Adengo out.

“No! I didn’t do it! Father, please! I didn’t—”

In a moment, he was gone.

The king knelt beside Sam and put a hand on his shoulder. “Samanath.”

Sam shook violently all over. He couldn’t stop crying, and he clung to his mother, though her limbs were heavy and cold, and she didn’t respond to him.

His grandfather gathered Sam into his arms and held him as he sobbed. “I’m sorry, Sam. So sorry.” Sam clung to him.

The king stood up and walked toward the large windows. Outside in the courtyard, shouts and cries rang out. People looked upward, pointing at the sky. A shadow passed over the palace. From his place in his grandfather’s arms, Sam caught a glimpse of an enormous dark bird. Wide wings carried it swiftly away. Only a moment later, it was gone.