by R A Oakes
A new danger, something very alarming, was hidden within the darkness. Baelfire had felt this evil presence before. Will it never end? she asked herself while fighting feelings of despair and desperation.
The Black Scarlet Saga BOOK ONE
Black Crystal
By: R. A. Oakes
Blue Ridge Publishing
Copyright © 2011 by Robert Oakes
Published in the United States by:
Blue Ridge Publishing*PO Box 822*Stuarts Draft*Virginia*24477
Editorial Supervision: Dawn Rogers
Cover Design: Ellen Morris * [email protected]
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced by any mechanical, photographic, or electronic process, or in the form of a phonographic recording; nor may it be stored in a retrieval system, transmitted, or otherwise be copied for public or private use—other than for “fair use” as brief quotations embodied in articles and reviews without prior written permission of the publisher. In the event you use any of the information in this book for yourself, which is your constitutional right, the author and the publisher assume no responsibility for your actions.
ISBN 978-0-9888169-1-6 (Ebook)
1. Fiction – Epic Fantasy
2. Fiction – Action and Adventure
ISBN 978-0-9888169-1-6
1st Tradepaper printing in the United States of America, June 2012
Acknowledgments
I would like to thank Dawn Rogers, my friend and publisher, whose warrior-woman spirit infuses Black Crystal with a real-life woman’s attitudes and emotions from beginning to end. I would like to thank Ronna Rothenberger for asking, “Have you ever considered writing warrior-women books?” That one question changed my life forever. I would like to thank the faculty and staff of Blue Ridge Community College, in Weyers Cave, VA, and Dr. Audrey Perselay in particular, for being a never-ending source of encouragement and support. Also, I would like to thank Ellen Morris, a student at Bridgewater College, in Bridgewater, VA, for creating a book cover that’s vibrant and captures the spirit of the novel’s protagonist.
And most of all, I would like to thank my wife, Ann, who taught me the true meaning of love. My life began the day I met her. She has been my toughest critic and my most steadfast source of support. Without her, life would not be worth living.
Where stories come from is a mystery to me. I never know what my characters are going to do until they do it. I can only thank the creative process for allowing me to be a participant.
Black Crystal
Chapter 1
Charging up the mountain trail, the energy bursting from the leather-clad warrior woman and her stallion tore through the night, as unnerving as a clap of thunder, as piercing as a barrage of arrows yet more silent than a whisper. Rushing towards the imposing edifice of her uncle’s castle, Chen, the leader of a band of warrior women, and her guards whipped their warhorses into a frenzied state. There was no reason for pushing themselves and their horses so hard, they had no pressing deadline to meet, but Chen strove for intensity in everything she did, extreme intensity.
As their warhorses reached the castle’s drawbridge, the warrior women goaded their animals onward clambering across the thick, wooden boards. Then, reining up hard, Chen pulled her warhorse’s head almost back to her chest nearly causing the animal to stumble. But the stallion, having been bred for both speed and endurance, quickly regained its footing.
Before coming to a complete stop, Chen removed her feet from the stirrups, swung her right leg over the animal’s powerful neck and leapt from the saddle exuding athletic prowess as she flew through the air and hit the ground running.
The warrior woman’s personal guards strained to keep up with her knowing their master’s wrath all too well. Chen possessed a ferocious temper and to lag behind would be courting disaster. But the guards were in excellent condition, and they pushed hard trying to shorten the distance between themselves and their master with each stride.
After reaching the main tower, Chen burst into the dungeon brushing past her uncle’s warriors who didn’t even think of challenging her. Being Lord Daegal’s niece was not without its perks, one of which was everyone having to put up with her insufferable rudeness.
Running down the dungeon steps taking two at a time, Chen reached the bottom in short order, then sprinted down a narrow stone hallway stopping in front of one of the cells. With her chest heaving and gasping for breath, Chen smiled at her imprisoned friend who was enormous. His head almost touched the seven-foot ceiling, and his chest was so broad his sheer size made the cell appear even smaller than it actually was. The giant looked like a caged animal possessing such strength he could have ripped the bars apart, thus staying in the cell by his own choice, which wasn’t the case. Yet the jail cell couldn’t contain his energy, and it poured from him flooding the outside hallway reinvigorating Chen as it washed over her.
The brightness and penetrating nature of his eyes were almost unnerving. As the giant probed deeply into Chen, it seemed like he could feel what she was feeling giving the warrior woman the impression he could sense her motives and intentions, which indeed he could. There was even a certain arrogance about him, as if the giant believed himself to be better off than her, even though he was the one locked in the dungeon cell.
When Chen finally caught her breath and could speak, she said, “Sorry I wasn’t able to visit this morning, but I was out.”
“Out where?” Pensgraft asked, his eyes darkening.
“I don’t have to answer to you,” she stormed. Then calming herself, the warrior woman added, “I was out for a ride.”
“How many did you kill this time?”
“None.”
“How many did you have killed?”
“I don’t know, not as many as I would have liked. Right after the battle started, a warrior woman appeared out of nowhere and cut down a lot of my uncle’s men. She’s the one who did most of the killing and appeared to be enjoying herself immensely.”
“And that justifies authorizing the attack?”
“I’m not trying to justify anything. I did what I needed to do,” Chen declared in a huff clenching her fists.
“Take it easy, all I did was ask a question.”
“Like you never killed anyone.”
“I’ve killed in self-defense or to save the lives of others, but you kill for sport.”
“There’s nothing else to do around here.”
“I don’t believe that. There are plenty of other things you could be doing.”
“Okay, there’s nothing else I want to do. Satisfied?”
“I got an answer, and it’s an honest one. But, no, I’m not satisfied.”
“Why not?” she demanded.
“Because you deserve better. You’re so angry inside that you only experience a sense of relief when someone else dies needlessly,” Pensgraft said sincerely worried about her.
“A lot of things happen needlessly. My father didn’t need to abandon me years ago, and my uncle, Lord Daegal, doesn’t need to climb into my bed every time he gets drunk!”
“Well, it’s hard to disagree with you when you’re right, at least in those instances,” he said in a soothing voice. “I’d heard, though, it was your father who abused you not your uncle.”
“It’s always been Lord Daegal, my father never did anything like that,” Chen said resting her hand on the hilt of her sword. If this man were anyone else, she told herself as she gritted her teeth, I would have rammed my sword through his insolent throat.
Why do I take this from him? she asked herself for the hundredth time. And the answer was always the same. Because I feel I can trust him.
Chen thought back to when she’d first met him. She’d been talking to the jailer
when she walked past Pensgraft’s cell. There was this giant of a man, and he was holding his head in his hands and looking terribly depressed. Given that she was often depressed herself, Chen’s heart unconsciously went out to him. “What’s wrong?” she had asked, not realizing how silly the question was given that the man was locked in her uncle’s dungeon.
“My daughter needs me, but I’m locked in here,” he had groaned.
“Every girl needs her father, god only knows I wish mine were still around.”
“I tossed my sword to her,” he had said.
“Great, hope she likes it.”
“It’s not that simple,” he’d lamented. “It’s a special sword, and there’s no one who has any experience wielding it, at least no one alive.”
“There are teachers around who’ll be able to help her,” Chen had said.
“You don’t understand, but why should you?”
She’d almost killed him then and there, but had stayed her hand. Worrying about his daughter was what had him so distraught and that was admirable in a way, but nonetheless, it was annoying. Her own father used to be concerned about her, up until he disappeared suddenly when she was 14 years old.
Now, pulling herself back to the present, the young warrior woman considered her current situation.
“What if I talked to my uncle and could get him to release you into my custody? Would you try to escape?”
“Of course.”
“You’d still be within the castle walls and most of the time restricted to my chambers. There wouldn’t be much opportunity for striking out on your own,” she chuckled. “But I do admire your devotion to your daughter.”
“Aerylln is very special,” Pensgraft said with
obvious pride.
“I’m sure she considers you to be rather special
yourself.”
“It’s nice of you to say that, but it’s the women in my family who are truly exceptional.”
“Do you think I’m exceptional?” Chen asked.
“Yes, exceptionally angry.”
“So what? I don’t care!” she said defiantly.
“Well, you should.”
“Why?”
“I think we’ll save that topic for another time.”
“Okay, I’ll come back later this evening. For now, I’m going to talk to my uncle.”
“Do you think he’ll listen to you?” Pensgraft asked, his hope rising.
“Oh, he’ll listen. The question is, how much will he make me pay for what I want?”
“Pay how?”
“You’re so naïve.”
“I don’t want you doing anything you don’t want to do.”
“Oh, it’s nothing I haven’t done before. However, at least this time I’ll get something I want out of it.”
“What if he doesn’t go for your little scheme?”
“Oh, he’ll go for it,” she laughed. “He’ll jump at the chance because I haven’t exactly been easy pickings since I got older.”
“Older? You’re in your early 20s.”
“Look at me Pensgraft, look into my eyes. I’m an old woman.”
“This is depressing.”
“Wait till you try living with me. This is a picnic by comparison.”
“You’re not so tough,” Pensgraft said.
“It’s not this half of me you need to be concerned about. But if you ever meet my darker side, you may lose what respect you have for me.”
“Things can’t be that bad.”
“Oh, yes they can be,” she laughed. “They can be a whole lot worse.”
“I’m sorry to hear that.”
Chen shrugged her shoulders, said goodbye and climbed back up the stairs. When she was gone, Pensgraft went over to his bunk and sat down. Suddenly, he realized how safe his jail cell had actually been.
He thought, Chen’s so full of inner turmoil that it could be like having a wounded tigress for a jailer. And an animal can be much more dangerous when it’s wounded, especially when it feels desperate. Chen’s clinging by a thread to what clarity of mind she still has. Sooner or later, that thread is going to snap.
As he closed his eyes to rest, Pensgraft vowed that he wouldn’t be around when it happened. He would be with his daughter, and she would have the sword.
Chapter 2
Aerylln rubbed her eyes. How much longer will this take? she wondered.
In the great hall of her castle, Mistress Xan had been chanting for over an hour, Aerylln was certain of that. The young woman’s eyelids were getting heavy, and she dared not fall asleep, but it was becoming increasingly difficult to pay attention to the sorceress’ incantation.
Suddenly, there was a loud bang as the spell came to a conclusion, and the room filled with a mist that was alive with colors. As Aerylln watched, the colors separated forming six doors, each lavishly decorated with magic runes painted around the edges. Truly her mistress had summoned great magic this night.
“Choose a door, Aerylln,” Xan commanded. “It will determine the path that you will walk from this day forward.”
Oh, no pressure there, Aerylln thought, feeling nervous and taking a deep breath.
However, Mistress Xan did have a tendency to be rather dramatic, and Aerylln hoped that now was such an instance. But the young woman in her late teens had also learned to take her mistress seriously and do as the sorceress ordered.
So Aerylln rose from her perch, straightened her skirt and brushed aside her long, blond hair absently twirling a lock as she concentrated. The young woman’s deep blue eyes darted around the room studying the doors carefully. There were six of them, at least until all but one began fading away.
“Interesting, a scarlet door framed in black seems to have chosen you, and such colors clearly indicate that either you, or the women influencing you in the future, will be outgoing and dominant.”
Taking both women by surprise, the scarlet door burst open filling the room with the sounds of clanging steel and hooves prancing on rocky ground, and they saw two powerful warriors locked in battle. Aerylln’s eyes were drawn to one of them, instinctively feeling that she knew this man, but how, she didn’t know.
Turning his head, the warrior glanced straight at her, his eyes lighting up in recognition, but his opponent instantly exploited the opportunity striking a fierce blow. Falling from his horse, the warrior’s head struck a large rock, and he felt himself going unconscious. In desperation, he shouted, “This is yours!” and tossed his sword towards Aerylln, greatly relieved when he saw it sliding to a stop neatly by her feet.
Instantly, as if sensing danger, the scarlet door began closing but not before the second warrior noticed Aerylln and urged his horse towards the opening. Startled by his eyes, which were hypnotic and yellow in color, a chill swept through the teenage girl, and she froze. Acting swiftly, Mistress Xan shouted an incantation, slamming the door shut with a gust of wind and breathing easier only after it disappeared.
Looking down at the sword, Aerylln was awed by its beauty, her eyes, in particular, being drawn to a gemstone set in the top of the hilt. It was purple, then blue, green, yellow, orange, and now it was red. The jewel seemed ever changing with colors swirling around inside of it. Eagerly, yet trembling in anticipation, the young woman leaned down to pick up the sword.
“Wait!” Mistress Xan warned. “We don’t know what...”
But it was too late, the sword was already in Aerylln’s hand. It was much lighter than she’d thought it would be, and it felt right and natural in her grip. Admiring the exquisite craftsmanship, Aerylln was so lost in thought that she was startled by Mistress Xan’s voice when the sorceress said, “Well, it’s come down to this has it?”
Pausing briefly, Mistress Xan took a deep breath, and then added, “Aerylln, your path will take you far from my door. I know not the ways of the sword, and thus, by my clan, I’m now forbidden to teach you more of my sorcery. But clearly the sword has chosen you for a reason.”
What does Mistress
Xan mean, far from her door? Is it possible I’ll really have to go? the teenage girl wondered.
“Umm, can’t I put it away?” Aerylln pleaded.
“I’m sorry, my child,” Xan said. “You must leave in the morning. I can do no more for you.” Then, with a sweep of her robes, the sorceress turned away, sat down and began studying her tomes.
Aerylln was stunned. All she’d ever known was in this household. Her mother, before she died, had been a servant to Mistress Xan and planned on Aerylln entering into an apprenticeship when she was of age. Secretly, the young woman had yearned for adventures in the outside world but was terrified now that the opportunity presented itself. How will I defend myself? she wondered. I know little sorcery and have never been trained to use a sword.
Sulking as she entered her room, Aerylln was so angry and disappointed that she flung the sword at the outside wall. Sticking in the wooden frame of the window, it reflected the rays of the morning sun and, acting like a prism, refracted the light into all the colors of a rainbow. However, in no mood to be cheered up, Aerylln flung her cape over the sword and slumped down onto the bed.
Mistress Xan is overreacting! After all, it’s just a dumb sword! If I thought Mistress Xan might ask me to leave, I’d have slammed the scarlet door shut before the sword was even tossed to me, the teenage girl grumped to herself. I’ll bet that warrior wasn’t having any better luck with it than I am, and he just dumped it on me.
Maybe the sword got him into that fight with the yellow-eyed warrior to begin with. Maybe this whole destiny thing of the sword choosing me is hogwash. Yes, he looked straight into my eyes, but I’ll bet he hasn’t seen a pretty girl in who knows how long? Maybe he was shocked to see me, got caught off guard and tossed this stupid, overgrown knife to me as punishment!