Before they could reach the tent, the ground jolted beneath their feet. Sorin looked at Shaye with confusion. “Did you feel that?”
Shaye nodded in response and then shouts came from the battlefield. Soldiers began to scramble away from the center of the valley as the ground quaked again. This time it was even more noticeable. The ground rolled and shuttered as it began to cave in. The men still left on the battlefield tried to run, but those closest to the quake disappeared as they were swallowed up by the opening earth.
The smell of fire and brimstone filled Sorin’s senses, and terror flooded his heart. He shouted to General Tyrell, “We need to get them out of there!”
Most of the soldiers who had been in the valley moments ago had now made it back to the camp. But no sound came from the men who had fallen into the cavernous hole. Shaye bolted to the valley and Sorin followed her lead. The earth had stopped shaking and the battlefield was silent once again.
Shaye was ahead of him as he shouted to her, “Careful! The ground could still be unstable.”
They slowed as they neared the hole in the earth. The grass surrounding it had blackened as if it had been burned, but there was no sign of fire where they stood. They inched closer, and Sorin sensed his men close behind him. He held up a hand to signal for them to stand back. He would not risk any of them.
He and Shaye crept further until they could see down into the treacherous depths that had opened up in the heart of the valley. Sorin felt dizzy, looking down. There was no sign of life. How could there be? The hole ran deep into the earth, revealing a thick, rolling liquid. It was red and popped with heat. Like liquid fire.
Sorin startled as he felt the ground rumble under his feet. He shouted, “Shaye! Get back!”
He was too late, loose rocks surrounding the hole began to crumble and fall. Shaye lost her footing as the land beneath her began to slide. She hit the ground hard and Sorin dove toward her. The ground was falling quickly, taking Shaye with it. He grabbed hold of her hand, gripping it tightly with both of his.
Shaye was hanging over the ledge and Sorin could see her struggling to find footing in the side of the earth. The soldiers that had followed them out onto the field came to Sorin’s aid. Two men joined him, grabbing hold of Shaye, and pulling her up onto solid ground.
They scrambled back quickly, trying to clear themselves of the danger. Sweat was beading on Sorin’s forehead and he wiped it away with his sleeve. He could hear Shaye trying to catch her breath beside him, and he put a steadying hand on the small of her back.
She swore under her breath. “That was too close.”
Sorin shook his head in disbelief. “I’d say that’s an understatement.” He patted one of the soldiers on the back as he added, “Thank you.”
The soldier gave him a lopsided smile. “Of course, Your Majesty.”
They all rose to leave, wanting to put as much distance between them and the falling earth as they could.
Sorin closed the distance between himself and Shaye as they walked. She was no longer shaking from the adrenaline of nearly falling to her death. He had to give her credit for keeping her composure. He paused a moment before asking, “Do you think this is the blight’s doing?”
“I think we are running out of time.” She stopped so she could turn to face him. There was fire in her eyes as she said, “Mavka was right. If we do not stop this, our world will cease to exist as we know it. If this isn’t enough to convince the council then I don’t know what will.”
It was quiet when they returned to the camp. Sorin called on General Tyrell. Giving the command, he said, “General, we need to clear the area. You need to get the men packed up and ready to head south immediately. Take any of the surviving prisoners and go.” General Tyrell nodded curtly to him and began barking out orders to his men.
Sorin spotted the councilmen in the crowd and noted their trembling hands. The quake had shaken them all, but it was his duty as their king to present a strong front. He set aside his own grief and fear as he faced them now. He gestured for them to follow him to an unoccupied tent, and they did so without argument.
The tent was set up simply, with a massive war table in the center of the room. The council entered soon after Sorin, Shaye, Bron, and his mother did. Chief Einar stood to the side, observing, like a fly on the wall. He eyed the generals who joined them next, warily. There was still distrust lingering in their eyes, and Sorin felt the weight of how important this meeting was. They would all need to band together for what was to come next.
Sorin took the lead, no longer the princeling who had sat idly by during a council meeting. “Today we changed the course of our world. Our forces have fought valiantly and defeated our enemies in battle, but we have not yet won the war. The blight still threatens our land and our way of life. What just happened out there may be proof of it.”
Nervous murmurs filled the tent, and Sorin gave them only a moment to register what he was saying. He held an authoritative hand high, “If we’re right, and the blight is growing more powerful, then it is only a matter of time before it reaches every corner of this kingdom.” He took a deep breath before continuing, “With that said... I will venture north to rid our world of the relics and restore the land, with the help of Shaye Wistari.” He gestured to Shaye, who stood beside him, and she gave him an encouraging smile.
“You mean to leave? Again?” Cerwin balked at him. He was dressed in his usual garb and it was clear that he had not taken up arms to fight in the battle. Sorin did not judge him, as he had many times before. This man was no warrior and likely would have gotten himself killed if he had gone into that valley.
Sorin had expected this reaction. “I mean to finish what I started. It is my wish that my mother continue to act as Queen Regent, and, with the help of the council, to begin the trials and the rebuilding of our country. With North Asterion in such a delicate state, you will need to find a way to set up housing for those who cannot return home.” He looked around at the faces of his councilmen, who bowed their heads in agreement.
Sorin took a deep breath, preparing himself for the next matter at hand. “Chief Einar, if you would?” He motioned for the Highland Chief to step forward. “This is Chief Einar of the Highland Forest Dweller clan. He is the one responsible for having formed ties between our forces and the Magi from the Raven Wood. He is a hero to this country, and we owe him a great debt.”
Queen Evelyn was the first to bow in respect, and the rest of the room followed suit. The air in the tent was tense as she stepped forward to take Chief Einar’s hand in her own. “There are many wrongs that need to be righted. Allow me to be the first to say that I am deeply sorry for what your people have endured.”
Chief Einar grinned at her. “It has been a pleasure to work alongside your son. Though, he has made promises to my people. Promises we do hope he will be able to keep.”
Sorin interjected, “Promises I will keep. In my absence, I have asked Sir Bronimir to coordinate relations between our peoples. Will the council support him?”
The military commanders in the tent bristled, and one of them spoke up, “Relations with Magi?” His face was battered, and he looked like he needed to be tended to.
Sorin needed to use his authority before the man said anything he might regret. “Yes. In case any of you missed it, these Magi fought beside us today when they did not need to. They have sacrificed their lives for Asterion, and for that we will show them the respect they deserve... The respect they have deserved all along, but have not received.”
The men around the tent listened in quiet respect for their king, as Sorin continued, “Things are going to be different. We cannot and will not go on the way we have been. The relic is broken, and with that, magic has returned to the Magi of Asterion. With the council’s support, I will see to it that a Guild be formed for the Magi. It is my hope that, with rules and regulations, they will be inducted into society for the greater good of all our people.”
Sorin’s nerves final
ly caught up to him as he waited for their response. This was what he had dreaded the most, having known it would be no easy task to change the minds of these people—they had been brutalized by magic in the past, and had faced the very worst of it only hours ago.
Larken, the fierce Skagan councilman, stepped forward. He scratched at his long, unkept beard, and huffed before he spoke. “It could be done, King Sorin; but I warn you, it will be no easy feat.”
“I did not expect it would be.” Sorin addressed everyone in the tent, “This is not about what is easy... It is about what is right.”
He saw a few reluctant nods in agreement in the small crowd. One step at a time, Sorin thought. Shaye must have agreed because she wrapped her fingers tightly around his and did not let go. Her hand was clammy, and he knew she had been as anxious about their response as he had been.
His mother raised her chin. “That settles it then. General Tyrell, you and your men will escort the prisoners back to the palace, where they will be held until their trials. Sir Bronimir will work diligently with myself and the council to set forth the preparations to integrate Asterion’s Magi back into society, and...” She turned to address Chief Einar, “I do hope you will join us. Repairing Magi relations will include mending the broken relationship with the Magi in the north.”
“It would be an honor.” Chief Einar bowed to her.
She turned to Sorin and Shaye with the hint of a smile on her face as she looked down at their hands, which were still locked together tightly. “As for you two... Make haste on your journey. I do so hope to be able to retire from this duty as acting regent.” She winked at them. “It is quite exhausting.”
Sorin laughed, “Of course, mother.” He scanned the tent; the faces staring back at him would be the forefathers of the new society he wanted to build. It took everything in him to put his trust in them, but he had no choice. There was much work to be done; but here in their presence, he felt hope returning. They were on the path to healing and peace.
Before taking his leave, he bowed to the people he was leaving behind. It was a bow worthy of royalty, because he needed them to know how grateful he was to them. Many in the tent looked shocked at the gesture, and returned it with deep gratitude.
With Shaye’s hand still in his, they left the tent. Behind him he heard Anselem say, “May The Mother carry you both.”
Sorin squinted at the sunlight outside in the cramped encampment. Men were rushing around, packing their things in preparation for their return to the south. A hush fell over the crowd, and someone shouted, “Long live King Sorin!”
Shouts of triumph and respect sounded throughout the men and women standing around him, “Long live King Sorin!” The words hit him with an impact he did not anticipate, and he felt his cheeks warm with a blush.
Shaye nudged him in the shoulder and whispered, “Long live King Sorin.”
He smiled down at her, “With you by my side, I have no doubt about that.”
He closed the distance between them, pressing his lips to hers. When he pulled back, she laughed at the troops grinning and whooping around them. One eager soldier was even clapping in applause. Shaye blew a stray hair from her face and rolled her eyes. Anik was standing before them, with an injured arm. It was a superficial wound, and did not stop him from embracing both Shaye and Sorin in greeting.
Sorin was glad to see his friend alive and as well as could be expected. It had been weeks since he had parted with Anik at the Winter Palace and he had missed having the small, but fierce knight at his side.
Anik wiped the sweat from his face, leaving a smear of dirt on his dark skin in the process. Sorin patted him heavily on the back. “Well done, Anik. You executed the plan perfectly.”
“Ah, perfect enough to get a promotion?” He winked in Shaye’s direction.
Sorin laughed, “I’m sure we can arrange something when I get back.”
“Back? Where are you going?”
“To The Beyond.” Sorin waited for Anik’s reaction.
Anik laughed so hard that he winced from the pain of his wound. “You can’t sit still for a moment, can you?”
“One grand adventure after the next.” Sorin steered Shaye toward the horses that were awaiting them, packed and ready, beside Ingemar, who stood hand in hand with Signe.
He shouted over his shoulder to Anik, “Take care of Bron while I’m away!”
Bron, who had left the tent to join Anik and the others, shouted back, “He can help me work on my new ballad! The Tale of King Sorin and His Knightly Ass!”
Sorin laughed at the reference to their conversation, from when they had left the Summer Palace to collect Shaye at the spring festival. It was hard to wrap his head around how much had changed since then. They had battled deadly creatures, and had made new friends, forming unlikely bonds in the process. They had won and lost love, had defeated an army, and had changed the course of their futures. They had struggled with their own darkness, and had chosen forgiveness over vengeance.
If their journey thus far had taught him anything, it was that his and Shaye’s quest to The Beyond would be met with many challenges. But Sorin did not have a doubt in his mind that they would emerge triumphant, together.
He gave Shaye a moment to say her goodbyes—she was hugging Ingemar and Signe and thanking them for everything. Sorin shook their hands. “I do hope you will return to Aramoor one day. It would be an honor to host you in the palace.”
Shaye interrupted, “Before we go, there is the matter of breaking the magic that forces your people into granting wishes.” She closed her eyes and Sorin watched as she called on her magic. It was a wonder that she could still wield her power after the strain of battle; but when Shaye was determined, there was nothing that could stop her.
Her brow furrowed and her breath quickened as she struggled to hold the magic she needed for such a big spell. Her body swayed with the strain and Sorin turned to Ingemar. He did not know the limits of Shaye’s magic and he did not want to find out. Ingemar must have read the fear on his face because she joined Shaye at her side.
Ingemar locked fingers with Shaye’s and gave her an encouraging smile. Their magic collided in a cloud of bright light and Shaye began to chant. Her words carried on the wind in a whisper, “G-em-free.”
The magic extended toward Signe and the other Ceasg, who were gathered in the clearing. Shaye continued to chant and Ingemar allowed her to draw on her for strength. Both women looked as if they were struggling to extend their magic out far enough to reach all of the Ceasg. Sweat was beading on their brows and their eyes were closed tight in concentration.
Sorin had an idea. He shouted for the old Sorcerer, “Anselem!”
Anselem appeared with rosy cheeks and a smile on his face. “Yes, Your Majesty?”
“They need help.” Sorin pointed to Shaye and Ingemar.
“Breaking curses, are we?” Anselem looked ecstatic. “I remember when the Ceasg were first cursed, you know. It was a messy business, a Sorcerer scorned by his Ceasg lover—”
Sorin interrupted his rambling, “Anselem, can you help them?”
Anselem looked offended at the insinuation that he might not be able to help. He scoffed, “Of course I can, young man.” He moved to join the women who were still trying to gather the power to do such an impossible thing.
As Anselem linked hands with the two of them, forming a circle, magic burst through the camp. It whirled around Signe and the other Ceasg who had survived the battle. It encompassed them completely, shining like stars in the northern sky. As the magic ebbed, Signe cried out in celebration.
Ingemar dropped Shaye’s and Anselem’s hands and ran to Signe, pulling her closer and holding her face. They looked deeply into one another’s eyes as Ingemar spoke, “We are free now...” She glanced over to Shaye and Sorin, “Thank you, friends. Thank you. Words cannot express what this means to us. Know that you will always have friends in the sea.”
Shaye argued gently, “We could not have done any
of this without you. We owe you far more than we can ever give.” She still swayed slightly, exhausted from the surge of power the three of them had called on together.
Anselem shook Ingemar’s hand and started in again on his tale of the scorned Sorcerer and the Ceasg who had turned him away. Ingemar looked at Sorin with wide eyes, unsure of how to escape what was sure to be a very long story from the old man. Sorin smirked at her and turned to give Shaye a boost onto Finn before mounting his own horse. His gaze lingered on their friends’ faces one last time. Bron and Anik, Ingemar and Signe, Brina, and even Thorsten’s motley crew; they were all there... all except one. Mavka had risked everything to help them, and they would honor her sacrifice through their actions moving forward.
Shaye clicked at Finn, and Sorin followed her lead. They rode up the hill, veering toward the east. They would ride along the coast of the Living Sea, around the Raven Wood, and into the North Pass.
He looked at Shaye, who had tears streaming down her determined face, and, raising his voice above the wind, assured her, “We’ll see them again, you know.”
She smiled sweetly at him, wiping the tears with the back of her linen sleeve. Sorin was glad that she’d had a moment to change once the battle was over. She looked like she had the day they had left Aramoor, strong in her leather jerkin and breeches. Her skin was no longer tainted by Bastian’s hold on her. She caught his eye, “I am still plagued by the black magic I used.” She lifted an inky hand to show him.
“One step at a time, Shaye.” He wanted to reassure her, but he knew it would take time.
As they passed the trees on the hill, Dwellers held hands to their hearts in respect and well wishes against the dangers they had yet to face. Shaye and Sorin continued on their way until they could see the Living Sea. It was clear and sparkling, and the sun shone brightly on the horizon.
But the air was still stinking with the smell of fire and brimstone. It was a humbling reminder of what they were leaving their people to face. The blight would not stop until they completed their mission. Sorin had no idea what would come next, but he prayed to the Fates that he and Shaye would pull through stronger than ever. He held tight to the hope blossoming in him, and kept his eyes on the path ahead.
A Legacy of Nightmares Page 18