by Sean J Leith
Not only that, but it was the fact that he seemed so confident about his ‘work’ that made her so uncomfortable. The one she knew became something else. Something wrong.
But the cogs turned rather than halted from a wall of anxiety. She had a hunch about Asheron’s way of thinking. She glanced toward Vesper, remembering the day she watched his display, weaving element to element—and the one that could have killed her. Lira had an idea for how to make sure the Knight of Shadows couldn’t set the rules of engagement.
Chapter Thirty-six
The Half and the Whole
Lira Kaar
Lira and the others stood before the entrance of the Solmarsh mine. What was once a core piece of the economy there now lay dormant. She heard drips of liquid spilling through the cracks; the walls were wet with the sinew of ground water.
Vesper drew back, nervous as could be. He hadn’t used much magic lately, aside from his practices; Lira wondered why. Kayden didn’t seem to bother him much about it, as she would the others about their own skills. She badgered Lira constantly about her divine magic, probing and attempting to get her to work on it. Lira knew every magician had her ceiling, a height which she couldn’t surpass. The gods determined it, but everyone was different. Lira’s was low, and she knew it. Jirah was so interested in The Great Vesper, but Vesper dismissed him immediately. He did not seem that fantastic any longer—just a polite, mumbling middle-aged man who wished to help. With Lira’s plan, help he would.
“Are you kids ready?” Kayden asked, walking forward. “Keep back a little bit, flame-breath. No offense, but your hair might get us caught.”
Domika frowned. “I hate covering my hair. I shouldn’t have to.”
Kayden looked back with a glare. “This has nothing to do with your damn culture. It’s because we don’t want to be discovered.”
“Fine.” She sighed and wrapped her hair in a yellow shawl. Magnus cut in front of them, taking the lead. Kayden’s hands shook as she placed one on Magnus’s back. Humans were blind in the dark, but even Vesper seemed calmer than her now.
Domika rubbed the sides of her arms nervously as she looked over at Lira. “Are you sure you’re ready to do this?” she stuttered.
Lira was ready. She had to be. “Yes. Let’s get this over with.” I hope Noren is alive. She feared the power of Lornak was in this place and feared for her own soul. She feared for Noren’s even more. She slowly started into the dark mine. A hollow wind came from deep within. All that could be heard were their steps of plate and leather, and the drips of the cavern.
Lira could somewhat well in the dark, despite being Human. She could hear Vesper stumbling close behind Domika, who led him along.
“Which way?” Magnus whispered. There were several paths before them, splitting off into different mine shafts.
“Damn it, Mags, I can’t see. Damn it, damn it. Just find a path that has a light!” Kayden whispered harshly again.
Lira couldn’t see a single light but listened carefully for voices. She heard nothing. She wished Vesper could conjure a light but knew that would expose them all.
“Lira, are you sure he was talking about the disappearances and missing prisoners?” Domika asked.
“Yes. The prisoners were moved here, Callidan said. The people Calvin had contact with disappeared soon after, and it’s the way he was talking. He must be involved,” Lira replied. She couldn’t bear the thought that her brother may be part of the disappearing townsfolk. She hoped he was there, still alive, so she could save him.
“Well, you better be right, princess, ‘cause I don’t like this one bit.” Kayden hissed.
The source of the dripping water came from far down the path, echoing through the mine. They tip-toed through tunnel after tunnel. Iron veins cut through the rock walls with mighty gashes surrounding them on all sides, now left alone when all the able-bodied men left with the commanders. Lira could hear Kayden’s quickened breaths from in front of her, and saw her hands vibrating subtly, gripped into fists.
They passed by bags of stone and metal, and mining picks left behind by the miners in town. Jara, Matthew, Kari, Paul—so many miners taken from the town, taken from their homes. Lira missed Noren.
“Did anyone hear that?” Kayden whispered. She looked back, analyzing the mine behind them.
“Hear what?” Lira responded.
“I guess it’s nothing. I swear I heard something, though.”
They continued on. Lira hoped they weren’t too late. She couldn’t believe Calvin would do such a thing, but at the same time, she wasn’t very surprised. He always had an odd way about him, and it unsettled her a little. As nice as he was, something always felt off. She knew it was him—there was no doubt in her mind.
“Now I definitely heard something!” Kayden whispered. “Go forward. Tread light, Mags.” Magnus’s footsteps became strangely silent.
Lira saw a light down on the end of the cavern they traveled through. The dew shined with the glow of fire, far from them. They crept down the way and looked into the room.
Several large, natural rock pillars lined the vast cavern room, with veins of ore all around the outer wall. A stone altar sat at the end of the room, partially stained crimson.
The smell of death lingered across Lira’s nostrils as she noticed them. To each of the hundred pillars, there lay a man or woman chained.
“Holy hell,” Kayden muttered.
They all seemed lifeless, but their eyes slowly shifted over to the group. Their eyelids shook, as they struggled to even blink. Their fingers twitched and their breathing was hoarse and labored.
“Darryl, Terra, Matthew—” Lira ran to them. “Wake up, wake up!” she shouted, shaking them. Their pupils slowly drew to her. Their mouths did not move, nor their limbs. They were pale, veins fully visible beneath their skin, each black as the ore in the walls.
The harbinger comes by the path of life, Lira remembered. Their lives. Their souls. Innocent people from the small town she came from, and more from the towns surrounding it, like Deurbin. If Lira stayed, she could have been one of them.
She got up and looked around frantically, searching for her brother. “Noren? Noren?”
“Lira,” a hoarse voice said.
Lira saw him. It was Noren, after all this time, he was alive—barely. His dark skin paled to a bronze, his cheeks were gaunt and hollow, and so thin that she could see but a skeleton of what her brother was. His pupils were dark with black in the veins where red should have been. She gently cupped his cheeks with her shaking hands. “Noren, no. What happened?” She tried picking at the lock but didn’t know how. Noren’s wrists were caked with dry blood from the chains. “Kayden, open these. Pick the lock!”
“On it.” Kayden ran over without complaint and worked at opening the manacles.
Lira caressed his face, trying to hold back her tears. She finally found him. The two halves were whole once more. “What did Calvin do? What happened?”
“They’re—stealing our life. I don’t know why. Please, get us out. If you don’t—he said it would be—over soon.”
Calvin, how could you? Lira backed off from the pillars, dropped to her knees, and cried quietly into her hands while Kayden worked. Magnus tried cutting chains with his weapon. Domika was next to him, asking him what he thought. Is this Lornak? In her lessons, Lornak was imprisoned, but fated to return…
Noren struggled to blink. He closed his eyes and let out a slow, weak sigh.
Every emotion in existence flowed over her at once. “I’m so sorry. This is all my fault. If I stayed inside, this would have never happened.” She wiped what tears she could from her eyes. “Please, stay with me. Don’t leave me,” Lira pleaded.
“I’m here,” Noren said in a brittle tone. “It’s their fault, not yours. I would do—anything to keep you—safe—” He coughed hoarsely. He struggled with every breath. “I can’t believe you’re here but—I’m glad you are—please help. There were so many others, so many.”
&
nbsp; The patter of Vesper’s steps sped around the mine hall. “What do we do? Do we wait for him? Do we let them go?” he wondered tremulously. His hand shook as he bit his nails fiercely, scratching his head with the other hand.
Lira kept her hand on Noren’s cheek. “I won’t let them hurt you anymore. I promise,” she said, sniffling. She couldn’t believe she finally found him. But he was drained. “Please forgive me.”
Kayden opened the manacles. She placed her hand on Lira’s shoulder. “Hey, don’t worry. We’ll get them out of here. We just have to stop him, first. Maybe we can get a few others before—”
“Lira,” a shrill voice called from behind them. “Why did you bring these people here?”
It was Calvin. His clothing was decorated by sprays of crimson matching the splatters along the floors and wall. His hands shook feverishly, pointing to each one of the newcomers. “They—they are not—they are not welcome here,” he said weakly.
“Calvin, stop this!” Lira screeched. “These people are being hurt! How could you?” She still couldn’t believe it. “Why do this, what is this for?”
“I am helping everyone,” he said. “With this, our town will be safe. This is for the greater good.” He pointed to a man with a thick mustache, and then a weathered woman with greyed, straw-like hair. “This man steals from family. This woman rips off newcomers and travelers. We are better off without them.”
How could he become this way? How didn’t I see it? His eyes were his normal ocean blue but flecked with violet; a new tint she hadn’t seen. “What about my brother?”
“Your brother won’t be harmed further, I swear it. He’s been here longer than the others. I’ve been sure to keep him safe."
She shook her head. Not enough. At all. “Let everyone go.” Lira stood strong. Looking over toward Kayden, who nodded, Lira said, “If you let them go.” She swallowed hard. “I’ll let you live.”
Calvin turned a shocked eye toward her. “You would kill me?”
She didn’t budge—only gave a nod that took all her courage.
He shook his head in disbelief. “How could you reject this, Lira? We can save the town. We bring the Harbinger, and the town is saved. Someone else would take over. If I hadn’t made the sacrifice, then the harbinger may be brought forth in the next town over, and he could have crushed us! How can you be so ignorant? Do you think I wanted to do this? Of course not! I never wanted this!”
“I’m ignorant?” Lira said in a shock. “These people,” she said, drawing an arrow from her quiver, “are innocent.”
The torchlight of the mine flickered amd waned. Slowly, a cold, eerie wind passed between them all among the tension that could break steel. A cold, resounding, and familiar voice echoed through the mine. “Innocence is simply a matter of perspective.”
Lira looked around for the source—but the tone was more than familiar. From the shadows emerged the dark armor of the one set to inspect these horrid deeds.
Captain Asheron Highwind.
Expected, this time. But he was alone. Lira wouldn’t be caught off guard. “You didn’t bring your brother?”
His visage turned as if to look toward Calvin. “Now what would you know of him, silly girl?”
Calvin shook his head.
Lira frowned. “I’ve seen him. Don’t mock me. You’re just a monster with nothing but evil intent.”
Asheron’s words came with a tone of jagged ice. “You know nothing of my intentions.”
“Then what are they, shadow-boy?” Kayden snarled. “You don’t have the benefit of surprise this time.”
“I see.” Asheron paused for an extended moment while the pits of his eyes analyzed each of them. “This is serendipitous. I do enjoy reunions—a shame our little fiery friend could not be here.” After a lengthy, horrifying silence, the Knight of Shadow spoke. “I am a fair individual. Back out of the mine, and you will live. Your brother will live, girl. Leave—”
“No,” Lira cut him off. It took all of Lira’s strength to keep still. To not shake in fright. To not be paralyzed. She wouldn’t. Not now. “I don’t want anyone else to get hurt, so I want you to leave and forget your plan.”
Silence took them for a moment, until Lira pointed toward Calvin. “He’ll be busy. You’re alone. You captured us once, but that was half a season ago.” She pointed toward the entrance to the sacrificial chamber. “I’m asking you now to leave.”
Asheron let out a laugh marked with befuddlement. “You wish to convince me, girl? Are you that foolish?”
Lira shook her head. “I give everyone a chance. This is yours.”
“Lira what the hell are you doing?” Kayden hissed.
“I’m waiting,” she said, eyes locked on the abyssal pits of Asheron’s helm.
“Seems even peasants have honor, unlike your leader, girl. But we’ve come too far for diplomacy—and I can smell your fear.”
Lira drew her hands into fists to keep from shaking. Lira swallowed tightly. Preparing. Praying. She knew this was to come. It was inevitable. “I’m not afraid of you.” She returned an icy tone. “I don’t fear darkness.”
Asheron let out a deep cackle that echoed through the hall. “You should.”
The subtle crack of Kayden’s neck echoed from across the harrowing hall. “So, are we going to wait?” she said, drawing her blades. Her voice turned low and cold. “Or are we gonna start?”
The pounding of heavy feet running echoed through the halls as dark warriors clad in black armor appeared from the cavern walls. Asheron’s entourage. Expected.
“In the shadows,” Asheron said cooly. He swished his hand in a circle, causing a swift, black wind to soar around each light-giving torch. “You are blind.” He closed his dark-armored fist, and he stole the light from the room to leave them all in darkness.
All that remained was a profane command.
“Kill them all.”
Chapter Thirty-seven
A Simple Choice
Lira Kaar
As if she hadn’t considered shadows.
“Vesper, now!” Lira yelled.
She barely heard a mutter before snakes made of fire flew from Vesper’s hands throughout the room, passing each pillar and part of the wall, re-lighting all the torches, and staying on the walls to create light.
“And you’re powerless in the light!” Lira yelled.
With a vicious growl, Asheron said, “Clever! Finish it, boy! I’ll take care of them,” Asheron snarled. He vanished in a burst of black mist and appeared at Kayden’s side, slashing downward. She barely dodged out of the way and sliced the dark knight across his side in a gap in his armor. With a grunt of pain, he kicked her against the stone wall.
With a cough, Kayden steadied herself. “Nice try.”
Chaos ensued. Lira drew arrows to shoot them at the guards, taking extra care to avoid the prisoners. Vesper focused on the snakes of flame, coursing them throughout the room, ensuring the battle was in the light, as well as sending one or two off to strike soldiers attempting to strike an ally in the back.
Kayden fought toe-to-toe parrying Asheron’s blows. She sliced his right arm, causing blood to drip upon the stone, joining with that of the innocent. He roared out in anger, causing the room itself to shudder—and smashed her across the face with a gauntlet. He stabbed downward for her chest, missing as she rolled out of the way.
Domika circled and slashed the necks and legs of multiple dark-armored soldiers but grew overwhelmed. She took a slash on her arm, causing her to screech out in pain.
“Damn,” Kayden said. She rolled behind Asheron and jabbed the back of his leg, causing him to crumple—giving her an opening to dash for the others to aid them.
Calvin began speaking in a strange language with harsh twists of the tongue and guttural sounds. She didn’t recognize it.
Asheron’s force was quickly exhausted, but so were Lira and the others. Domika was barely able to rise from the ground, Vesper gripped his head and bled from the nose, and Asheron
took on both Kayden and Magnus—and he was winning. He punched magnus under the ribs, causing him to back off to catch what air he could. Kayden dodged his strikes left and right, but barely kept him off as he disappeared and re-appeared to strike.
Lira shot what soldiers she could, but Asheron pivoted left with incredible grace to keep Kayden and Magnus between Lira and him for cover against her shots.
The chanting grew louder, echoing through the mine. He’s summoning it. He can’t. I can’t let him! “Stop this! Now!” She drew an arrow and aimed for Calvin’s neck. “Don’t make me do this!”
She heard Magnus and Kayden exhale in pain and a bash against stone.
Asheron’s cold voice called out to her. “Shoot, and he dies.” The room broke into silence save for the chanting.
Looking toward the voice, Asheron stood with a blade across her brother’s neck. “Noren,” Lira stuttered. His eyes grew fearful with the blade near his neck. Help me, they said.
The hall grew still as a graveyard. Asheron’s brigade crumpled. But Kayden and the others were too far. Magnus was disarmed, Kayden stood twenty feet away without a dagger, and Domika was against the wall with Vesper.
There was only Lira, her betrayer, her brother alongside the knight of darkness—and an arrow.
Calvin didn’t stop. As he chanted, the prisoners began to gasp for air. Their skin paled further, veins turning black as night. After a moment, Kayden and the others crumpled to the ground as well alongside Asheron’s soldiers. The fire snakes began to fade, but the torches remained lit.
Calvin’s voice was almost mesmerizing, twisting from word to word. His arms spread wide as a small orb of violet mist appeared before him. Streams of white mist led from each person chained to the pillars into the orb, save for her, Asheron, and Noren. With each word, blood dripped from Calvin’s nose more and more.
Lira flinched forward.