Venom and Song by Wayne Thomas Batson Page B

Jimmy whipped the rychesword from his sheath, spun around, and slashed the air.
    â€œWHOA, Jimmy!” Tommy leaped backward and blocked with his own sword just before Jimmy would have carved a gash into his upper leg. “Watch where you swing that thing. You could have cut off my leg or something.”
    â€œI knew yu’d block it,” said Jimmy, quickly sheathing the sword. He winked but then whistled a nervous whew .
    Jett laughed and cinched his sword belt a bit tighter. The triangular chamber in which they now stood, indeed the whole castle, was cut from the same dimpled bluish stone that the entire underground city seemed to be built from. Silvery light radiated up from clusters of icy-clear crystals in each of the three corners. Jett wandered over to take a closer look. “These crystal things are cool,” he said.
    â€œYou are quite perceptive,” said Brennath. “We call those cold lamps.”
    Jett laughed. “That’s not what I meant by cool .”
    It was Brennath’s turn to be red-faced. “I’m sorry, m’lord. What did you mean?”
    â€œNo need to apologize,” said Jett. “I just meant these crystal, uh, cold lamps, they rock. They’re sweet.”
    Brennath stared blankly.
    â€œHe means he really likes the way they look,” said Tommy.
    â€œOh,” replied the flet soldier.
    â€œRight,” said Jett. “C’mere, Tommy, Jimmy. Look at it. There’s a tiny little fire burning down in the middle of these crystals. But it’s weird fire . . . kind of silvery . . . like . . . ish.” The others hustled over.
    â€œWow,” said Tommy. “It’s like fire made of mercury.”
    â€œThat is a single ounce of dremask vein,” said Brennath. “A peculiar metal to be sure—we discovered it at the bottom of some of the coldest underground riverbeds. Cold ignites it, and it burns cold.”
    â€œIt burns in the water?” Tommy asked. “Then how do you put it out?”
    Brennath regarded him gravely. “You don’t.”
    Someone knocked at the door. “Are the lads dressed?” came a muffled woman’s voice.
    â€œThe lords are garbed in their finery,” said Brennath. “Do come in.”
    Regis strolled into the chamber. “Don’t you all look dashing,” she said, making a big show of looking over the young lords in their royal garb.
    Jimmy stood up especially straight. Regis’s dark eyes gleamed mysteriously out between long wisps of black hair. Jimmy sighed. He’d had a crush on Regis ever since she took a job at the tavern back in Ardfern. Now that he knew that she was actually an elite Dreadnaught warrior, well, that just made her all the more intriguing. If only she wasn’t hundreds of years older than me , Jimmy thought.
    â€œThe sun is climbing high,” said Regis. “It is time for the ceremony.”
    â€œWhat about Autumn?” asked Jett.
    â€œAutumn . . . I cannot say if she will join us in Luminary Hall.”
    â€œWill Autumn be okay?” asked Tommy.
    Regis’s lips betrayed the slightest hint of a smile in one corner of her mouth. “Again,” she said. “I cannot say. Maybe you shall see for yourself, if Lady Claris allows more visitors for her charge. Come now, lads, many are waiting.”
    â€œRegis?” Jimmy spoke up.
    â€œYes, Jimmy?”
    â€œWould yu like t’know yur future?”
    â€œWell, that depends,” said Regis. She tilted her head, raised an eyebrow, and eyed him curiously. “Is it a good future?” Tommy, Jett, and Brennath looked on.
    â€œI think so,” said Jimmy, holding his arm in an L shape. “Yur future is to take me arm and walk me to the ceremony.”
    Brennath laughed. Tommy and Jett stared. Regis walked to Jimmy, took his arm, and said, “It is a good future indeed.” She promptly led Jimmy out of the room. Brennath followed,