Chapter 9
The Shadow's Master

For Derek the days were torture and the nights were unbearable. It was a constant cycle of spending the day in some forced task, returning to his cell, and waiting for the next day to come and go.

But today, he could sense something was different. The guards looked nervous as they spoke to each other in whispers. Derek was unable to make very much sense of what he heard, but it was enough.

"Do you think…? What if…?"

He listened to a conversation going on outside his cell.

"There's no telling what he will do when he's angry. I hope that…"

They moved off, and the words faded.

Derek mulled over what he had heard. Obviously someone–an important person–was coming. But more than that he could not tell. The only thing left for him to do was wait.

~o~o~o~o~o~o~

Apprehension filled Derek as several guards entered his small, stone chamber. Roughly, they grabbed his arms, bound them, and dragged him out of the cell. Save for the ring of boots on the stone floor Derek and his jailors were silent. He did not attempt conversation with them–all his attention was on trying to figure out where they were going.

They made their way up a winding staircase from the lower levels, down twisting passages, and into the main hall. It was a large, but bare room, dominated by a raised seat at one end. And—to Derek's horror—someone was in that seat.

A tall, muscular man with jet black hair. Unlike most of the Shadow Warriors of Vincero knights he had encountered, Derek noticed this man was unmarked. He had no scars, no blemishes of any kind.

Dread filled him as he considered just who this man might be. Then, as a deep, guttural rasp filled the room, Derek felt certain he knew who this man was.

"Who is this?"

Derek noticed the fear on his guard's face as he answered. "This is the son of Lord Daylen. The one who betrayed you."

I've never betrayed anyone, Derek thought. Still, as the towering figure stepped off the raised platform and approached them Derek's apprehension mounted. With every step the man grew, until he stood directly in front of Derek. He looked down on him with deep hatred in his eyes.

"Do you know who I am?" He asked. Derek was tempted to cower, but an unexpected courage filled him. He knew who this man was, but was not afraid of him.

"You," he answered. "Are Lucius, the Dark Knight. You rule parts of Arrethtrae…for now. But your fall is as certain as the King reigns!"

For a moment a stunned silence filled the room. The guards — and even Lucius — flinched at the name of the King. One of the guards struck his face, a powerful blow that knocked Derek off his feet and sent him sprawling on the floor.

The Dark Knight roared in anger, and as Derek tried to stand he struck him again. "Never speak that name in my presence! You have four days to renounce this foolishness…before you die!"

As he was dragged away Derek had only one thought. He knew he could never recant.

What will happen to Derek now? Keep reading!