Jak nodded. So there was some truth to the rumors that Gifters could mutate other humans into becoming demons.
“So, that being said, I’m going to ask you a series of questions. And you must be honest in your answers. If you are not, I will know.”
“Okay.” Jak felt rising apprehension. She hadn’t thought she could become more nervous, but her shaking hands betrayed her.
“What is your full name?”
Jak was almost taken aback by the simple question.
“Jaknilteksnewodheghoma.” She spelled out her full name.
“And Raelteksnewodheghoma is your father?”
She nodded, and worked up the courage to ask her own question. “How do you know him?”
Gabriel smiled. “Your father and I have had dealings in the past, before he came to Riverbrook. He’s a good man. Saved my life once.”
Jak blinked. She’d never met anyone who knew her father outside of Riverbrook.
“Now then, why do you want to be a Gifter?”
This, Jak could answer, “I want to learn everything I can about brands. I want to hunt for Holy Relics and find new brands we’ve never tried.”
“Those are some lofty goals. Many other Gifters have already tried and failed.”
“I will not fail.”
“You sound sure of yourself.”
“I am.”
He sat back in his chair. “Ambition is a trait we admire, but I warn you about letting it take you too far. I’ve known men and women who wasted away in pursuit of more knowledge.”
Jak nodded and inwardly winced. He was already telling her off. She would never be a Gifter at this rate.
“What are Salizon’s constants?” Gabriel continued.
Jak perked up, she knew this one. “Singularity: A person may only receive one brand. Consistency: All brands consist of the same black lines, and each one must be identical to work.”
“Very good, and the third?”
“Permanence: Once you receive a brand, it stays with you for life.”
“And what happens if you get the brand wrong, and it is permanently attached to someone?”
Jak swallowed, “They die.”
“Or worse.” Gabriel nodded. “Well you seem to know your stuff. I wonder—“
“Excuse me.” Jak felt bolder now, “But I’m not sure I agree with Salizon’s constants.”
Gabriel raised an eyebrow, “You don’t agree with something that has been proven time and time again?”
What was she doing? “Yes,” she continued. “I find all three of them to be based on circumstantial evidence. Also, they don’t fit the legends.”
Gabriel said nothing, so she continued. “First of all, don’t some of the ancient Relics have more than one brand? Also, has anyone tried removing their skin to get rid of the brand to prove its permanence? And how do we know that all brands have the same markings, if we haven’t discovered all brands yet. Maybe there’s some new kind of brand that uses completely different markings.”
Gabriel considered her for a moment. “You have an inquisitive mind. But do you think that someone, somewhere hasn’t already asked every one of those questions?”
“Well, yes, I suppose.”
“No matter, it demonstrates that you’ve put a lot of thought into this. With a little training, perhaps you could be an asset to us.”
“So you’ll let me become a Gifter?” Jak didn’t dare hope.
“Don’t be hasty. I have a few more tests for you. Can you tell me what this brand is?”
He took out a piece of parchment with a symbol painted on it. It bore several straight lines that led down to several other vertical lines, stacked to look almost like an upside down house. Jak smiled. This one was easy.
“Strength,” she said immediately. “The simplest of the brands. Maybe you should try something a little harder.”
Gabriel chuckled, and pulled out another card. This one Jak also identified with ease. The Gifter continued showing her illustrations of various brands, while Jak recited them one by one from memory. She never missed one.
When they were all done, the Gifter asked several more questions before finally saying, “Well, I think that will do for now. Before we make any decision, however, I want to talk to your father.”
Jak’s heart sank. She knew her father wouldn’t want her to become a Gifter, to leave the farm. He wouldn’t even let her go into the town alone. Would he simply refuse to let her go? But she nodded anyway and left the room. Her father waited for her, still standing in his corner. Jak could see the concern etched in his hard face.
At a motion from Gabriel, Jak’s father walked into the side room. The door closed, and Jak sat alone for what felt like hours. At one point the Lord Mayor popped his head in, opened his mouth like he was about to say something, then left as suddenly as he had appeared.
Jak began pacing the room. She couldn’t sit any longer. Back and forth, back and forth, trying to hear anything from the other room. But all she heard were low tones, muffled by the wall. No one raised their voice, so at least her father wasn’t mad. Or at least, if he was mad, he was holding it in well.
After what felt like an eternity, the door opened again. Her father and Gabriel stepped out. She looked at each, trying to read their expressions, hope evident on her face.
Gabriel spoke, “Your father has agreed to let you come with me to Skyecliff.”
Jak’s eyes opened wide. It was happening! She was going to become a Gifter! Tears of relief came to her eyes and she did the only thing that made sense to her in that moment: she hugged her father. He said nothing, but held her tight.
When she broke the embrace, she looked over at Gabriel. He stood there with one arm outstretched. She looked at him inquisitively.
“Your arm.” He prodded.
“What, now?” Jak didn’t know what else to say. “I thought it took years to become a full Gifter.”
“Did you see me wait to give brands to the others? You will have teachers just like them. So yes, if this is a decision you want to make, you must make it now. There will be no turning back.” His arm remained outstretched.
Jak glanced up at her father, whose face remained still as a rock. Then she offered her left arm to the Gifter.
“Be warned!” The Gifter’s cheery tone was suddenly gone. He grabbed Jak’s wrist and held it tight. “As an apprentice, you must only use the brand under careful supervision. Violation of this rule will result in severe punishment. Unauthorized use of magic on a living being, especially if it results in the death or mutilation of that being, will result in your own death. Do you understand?”
Jak nodded. She knew the rules. She didn’t worry at this stage however. Most students couldn’t learn how to use their brand until they had months of training. And she understood that the misuse of Gifter magic could have extreme consequences.
A severe pain shot through her arm. She gasped and looked down where the Gifter held her arm fast. The white lines of the Gifter’s own brand glowed with a bright light. Black lines began extending and stretching out across the back of her hand. It was the same symbol the Gifter had on his own hand, five lines joined together at the base, similar in structure to a hand, with a circle surrounding one of the fingers. After a long moment, the pain subsided, and the Gifter released her arm. She stared at her hand, seeing the black symbol etched there. The symbol of a Gifter. Jak almost couldn’t believe her eyes.
She let out her breath in a soft laugh. Then she looked up at her father and saw…nothing. What was he thinking? He was okay with this, right? He had to be if he was letting her go.
The Gifter spoke again, “I leave for Skyecliff tomorrow at dawn. I expect you to be ready.”
Tomorrow? That was so soon! Jak looked at her father, wondering what he thought of losing her so quickly. But his face gave away nothing. Jak nodded to the Gifter, who then left the room.
Jak and Rael left the Lord Mayor’s home. When they were outside, all of Jak’s friend
s were waiting.
“What did he say? Did you get it?” Marek ran to her.
Jak said nothing, only held up her left hand for them to see the brand. All of her friends stood in awe. No one from their village had ever left to become a Gifter.
Marek stared at the brand, then at Jak’s face, then back at the brand again. Quite suddenly, he turned and stalked off.
“Marek!” Jak called out. She needed her friend now more than ever. “Please don’t go!”
Marek didn’t respond, didn’t turn around. He just kept walking until Jak couldn’t see him anymore.
She turned to look at her father, the question in her eyes. But Rael only turned away, the same look on his face that Jak had seen in Marek’s. Jak’s lips formed a line. This wasn’t fair. All she wanted to do was be a Gifter, and people were acting like she had betrayed them.
Paul and the others were still admiring her brand, but it was Paul who eventually asked the big question. “So when do you leave?”
“Tomorrow morning, apparently.” Jak responded, not looking at her father anymore. If he wasn’t going to be happy for her, then she wouldn’t let that bother her.
A few “ooos” and “ahhs” came from the small crowd of young people. It didn’t do much to improve her mood. Her best friend had left her, and her father wasn’t happy either. She didn’t care what anyone else thought. Eventually, she shook off the crowd of onlookers and followed her father to where the wagon stood. They proceeded to untie the horses in silence, neither saying a word to each other. Jak could tell that her father was hurt that she would be leaving him, but right now that mattered little to her. It was her life after all. She didn’t like leaving her father either, but she was dealing with it. He could deal with it too.
Finally, the horses were ready, and Rael began to hoist himself into the seat. He spoke for the first time since leaving the Gifter.
“I’m going back to the farm to pick up the rest of our belongings. We’ll need everything we have for the trip.”
Jak stilled. “Wait, what are you talking about?”
“I’ll be going with you to Skyecliff. I might as well, seeing as the farm is basically ruined. I know a few people, I’ll be able to find...steady work there.” He said it almost like he detested the idea.
All the anger Jak had felt boiling just underneath the surface, suddenly came rushing out of her. “I don’t believe this. You just can’t let me go, can you?”
Rael’s eyes darkened. “Watch your tone.”
Normally Jak would have shut her mouth upon seeing her father grow cold like that, but she didn’t care. “No, you’ve always told me what to do, ever since I can remember. You never let me do what I want to do. You never gave me any freedom.”
“I have my reasons.”
“Yeah, well maybe you should reconsider those reasons. I can’t be holed up by you any more, I need to have a chance to make my own decisions.”
She thought she saw her father’s face soften a bit, but only a bit. After a long, tense pause, he finally spoke. “Perhaps you’re right, perhaps I have been too controlling. I will try to give you the freedom you need once we’re in Skyecliff, once you’re part of the college.”
Jak highly doubted that he’d keep his word on that, at least he wouldn’t give her the kind of freedom she was looking for. “I don’t think you will. You’ve said things like that before, but you always hold me back when all my friends are allowed to come into town, or go exploring, or a half-dozen other things!”
“I’m sorry Jak, but as I said, I have my reasons. And besides, I have nothing to keep me here, I will likely starve over the winter if I don’t find work in a place like Skyecliff. I thought maybe Naman could help us out since I’d be training his son, but I don’t think that will work anymore. Broken Brands,” he cursed. “And now I have to go tell your friend that I will not be able to train him. With you starting a new adventure in Skyecliff, as a Gifter. You’re going to need me.”
“I don’t want you!” Jak knew the moment the words were out of her mouth that they had been a mistake. Her father’s face grew dark and...sad. “Father, I’m...I didn’t mean…” Just then she was all too conscious of townsfolk watching in the street.
Her father began turning the horses in the direction of their farm, leaving her standing by the side of the road. “I’ll be back early in the morning. The Gifter knows to wait for me. You can stay with Marek’s family.”
Jak didn’t want to mention that Marek also seemed to hate her at the moment.
Suddenly, her father froze, looking away towards the edge of town.
Jak looked at him confused. What was he waiting for? “Father, what…”
“Shh…” he said, listening intently.
Jak listened too. And that’s when she heard the first scream.
3
The scream came from further down in the village, near the open square where Jak had found Marek and Paul upon arriving. Everyone in the street turned to locate the source, and Jak squinted her eyes, trying to see something in that direction.
Rael, however, was already springing into action. Holding his hand out, his Telekinesis brand glowed and the leather-wrapped spear came flying to his grip. As the leather wrapping fell away, the spear glinted in the sunlight. Jak marveled at its perfect steel tip, still polished and clean. The body of the spear bore carved and painted red and golden circles, evenly spaced along its shaft. What it would be like to hold that spear in her own hands.
“Jak,” he yelled, pulling her out of her imagination, “I want you to get back inside Perram’s house. You and all the other young ones.” As he spoke, he set the spear alongside the wagon, swung his bow off his back, and nocked an arrow.
Jak bristled. She hated it when her father took that tone with her. Nevertheless, something was wrong, so she began moving back the way she had come, waving her friends over.
Suddenly, a dark shape leapt around the house, from the direction of the scream. It was massive, ran on all fours, but held a disturbingly human shape. Its skin was gray, but slicked with sweat. Its hands formed ugly claws and its jaws held unnaturally long teeth. Its eyes…it looked terrified. Those eyes found Rael and it sprinted forward.
Jak couldn’t look away, couldn’t run. She only watched as her father drew his bow, and fired. The monster howled and staggered, its momentum taking it almost to the wagon. It thrashed, still alive but in pain. Without pause, Rael drew his knife and embedded it to the hilt in the creature’s heart. It snarled but soon collapsed and lay still.
“GO!” Rael shouted at Jak.
She suddenly realized that the demon was not alone. More dark shapes were emerging from around street corners and across rooftops. Jak didn’t take a moment more to look. She sprinted towards the mayor’s house, yelling at her friends to join her. Paul, Ella, and many of the others who had attended the Branding had drifted out of the house, but turned around as Jak caught up to them. She spared one glance to see her father loosing arrow after arrow at the beasts, then throwing down the bow and reaching for his spear as they drew closer.
At the Lord Mayor’s house, Naomi waved them all in. A few moments later, and they were inside. Jak slammed the door behind her.
She took a deep breath, feeling the blood pounding around her ears, and tried to think. What was going on? What were these creatures? They didn’t look anything like any predators she had ever heard of. And besides, they looked far too…human, to be beasts.
“Demons!” panted Paul, as if reading her thoughts. “Those were…real demons!”
Jak could not argue. It was the only explanation that made sense. Everyone had heard of demons of course, humans perverted by the misuse of branding, but everyone always assumed that they were a rare occurrence, brought on by a tragic mistake. A small mistake in branding didn’t account for this many demons. It had to be from some kind of rogue Gifter creating an army. That was the only explanation.
“Where is Gabriel?” Jak asked Naomi. She didn’t
suspect the kindly old man, not when her father had known and trusted him. But perhaps, if a Gifter was responsible for creating the demons, another Gifter would know how to deal with them.
“I don’t know,” Naomi sounded out of breath, “He left the house a moment before everything started. The Lord Mayor went with him.”
Jak cursed. That meant they were alone.
They all huddled together, the older children comforting the younger. They could hear the commotion outside, screams and loud noises rang through the air. No one dared to look out the window, fearing what they might see, or what might see them. Time passed, and the screams continued.
A sound caused everyone to freeze: a crashing sound from something moving outside, behind the house. Something was there, something large. They grouped together motionless, not daring to breathe.
Another sound came, this time from the side of the house. Jak could faintly make out a soft sniffing sound. A demon was stalking them.
She pointed towards the kitchen, mouthing the word “knives.” Naomi nodded and they began to move, with the rest following close behind. But with that many feet moving, it was impossible to stave off the noise. Floor boards creaked, and the sniffing stopped. Jak waved her hands to tell everyone to stop moving. They obeyed, some visibly shaking. One of the younger girls was whimpering, looking like she was about to cry. Jak, Paul, and Naomi continued forward until they were in the kitchen one room over. Naomi found the knives and began to pass them out to Jak and Paul, who tiptoed back to the rest of the children. They handed knives to each of them.
Jak wasn’t sure what a kitchen knife would do to a demon, especially when wielded by untrained youths. Rael had taught Jak some basic self-defense, but she was sure it wouldn’t be enough against a demon. But still, it helped to be doing something while the demon stalked them outside. And perhaps they would get lucky.
They listened to see if they could still hear the demon. Another crash sounded outside, this time in front of them. It had circled around, and its sniffing increased, tracking them to the front door.
Out of Shadow: An Epic YA Fantasy Adventure (Roots of Creation Book 1) Page 3