Page 121 of Tides of Shadows

They looked ordinary enough. I didn’t know why the Plague had not used them to spread. Perhaps Minerva had been right, and Durminas itself was a kind of shield.

Even so, I knew the one would have to be destroyed.

Only.

I felt the pull again. Stronger. My gaze was drawn to the black vase. I stared at it, too long, too hard. What stirred in me then? Curiosity, fear, desire. My feet began to move toward it of their own accord.

“Nerissa, no,” Aidenar tried to stop me.

He didn’t reach me in time. My hand came down upon the black bowl.

At once I saw a fortress of black stone in the midst of a dead, ashen desert. Torches and flames burned along the walls.

But the fire was wrong. Blue, perhaps, or violet. There was something unnatural about it. Was it Emberhold? No. It felt different.

I was flying above the stronghold. I saw towers and walls and courtyards. Within the walls men hammered at armor, helms and blades. Beyond the fortress, camp upon camp stretched out, tents and lines of men. Hundreds of them, thousands.

My gaze drew me inside the castle. To a large throne room. In the center of which stood a black vase.

I began to fall faster and faster, and all I saw were eyes. Black eyes. His eyes.

I tore my hand from the vase.

My gaze returned to the cave, my legs buckled beneath me. I almost fell if it weren’t for Aidenar. I had to gather my thoughts.

“Nerissa.” His voice was sharp with fear. “What happened?”

I tried to steady my breath.

“I saw…” I pressed my fingers to my temples, but the images clung there. “I saw a city. A fortress of black stone in the middle of a desert. And an army. Thousands of warriors. Armed, ready.”

“Emberhold,” he asked.

“No,” I answered, shaking my head. “It was them. The Lords of Plague. They are marching to war.”

Aidenar went still, his jaw tightening.

“Dricus... we have to warn him,” I said, my thoughts still spinning around the vision.

“We are going back to the castle,” he answered. “I will send men here to destroy the vase. Just to be sure.”

We rode back to Durminas. When we got to the main court we heard horns and a guard came running, breathless.

“My Lord... the Dorthals. They’ve arrived with an army.”

Aidenar stood for a moment, then said with all calmness, “Open the gate. Everyone leave the square.”

The courtyard emptied in a rush of fear. Doors slammed. People vanished into buildings and archways. An army. Was this war?

“Go upstairs,” Aidenar said.

I met his gaze with my stubborn resistance.

“Neri. Please.” His voice softened, just enough. “It’s my home. Let me take care of it.”

I sighed. Whatever he was planning I wanted to show him my trust. But I wasn’t sure he was ready for what was coming. I retreated to the lowest terrace, where a crowd of people had already gathered. From the corner of my eye, I spotted Minerva on her study balcony, watching.

Aidenar stayed on the front steps, alone.