Kaia’s voice cracked. "You don't relate to humans at all?"
"No." The magus turned his head away to the rain-streaked window.
Kaia studied the girl's portrait again—the dozens of shades of green that composed her eyes, the perfect tilt of her smile, the way the light shone from her face. Someone had spent hours upon hours perfecting it.
Her voice gentled when she spoke again. "Our connections to people in life and death, grief and love…they’re what make us human." The magus turned his unreadable coal black eyes to meet hers. "You won’t admit it, but it’s something you’ve experienced."
The magus rose suddenly, his book falling to the floor. He stalked up to Kaia, his face only inches from hers. Kaia felt the yanaa in the room charge around them.
"I’ve had enough of you and your infantile attempts at wisdom,” he spat. “You have walked this earth what, two decades? A pittance."
Kaia returned his glare as he seethed. The moment stretched on as anger swirled in the air between them. A wet nose nudged her palm. She looked down in surprise; she hadn't heard Gus come in. With a frustrated sigh, Kaia turned away from the intransigent magus and stepped towards the hall.
"It's the best I can do," she murmured. If Everard and Klaus couldn't convince the magus to help them, why had she thought that she could do better?
"Take down that picture before you go," the magus snapped. "I told you I don't want it displayed."
Hearing the catch in his voice, Kaia turned to him with a sad smile. "And yet you keep it," she said softly.
"It pains me every second I must be reminded of her." The magus’ words shuddered as he looked up at the painting. He passed a hand over his eyes. "If I can't fill my thoughts every second of every day, she'll find me…." his voice lowered to a whisper. "Gliding silently into my mind, tempting me towards a wonderful madness." He lifted his accusing onyx eyes to Kaia once again. "Even the sight of you, the poorest comparison, is enough to send me sliding back." The words were coated with venom, and yet Kaia couldn't suppress the smallest of grins. "It's that cheeky insolence!"
She shrugged. "Memories are to be cherished.”
"They are torture." The magus’ voice thickened with emotion. "When I remember her light, living without her in this darkness becomes unbearable." He stalked to the window once again, gripping his hands tightly behind his back. "If I had never met her, I could have been content."
Kaia’s heart swelled, and she walked over to gaze out the window beside him. For a moment they stood, not a hair's breadth away from one another, and watched rain fall through the tangled trees around the cottage.
"I knew bliss, and now grief consumes me," he whispered.
Hesitantly, Kaia reached out a hand and rested it on Dorinar’s shoulder. She wasn't sure how long they stood like that. The magus trapped in reverie, with Kaia as his anchor—a silent reminder that he did not have to grieve alone. After what felt like an age, the magus blinked and turned his night-dark eyes to her, as if surprised to find her there. He took her hand in one of his and turned it over once as if considering it.
Abruptly he stiffened, his eyes flinty once more as he released her hand and turned back to the room.
"You must go." Dorinar strode away from her, suddenly determined to put as much space between them as possible. "You have to go. I cannot stand it anymore!"
As he brought his hands to his head, clenching fistfuls of unruly hair, books began to fly off the shelves and documents swirled from their stacks on the desk.
Kaia's eyes widened at the spontaneous whirlwind. She swallowed, feeling the yanaa prickling her skin, but she could not leave yet. "We need the blade," she said hesitantly, looking at the portrait once more. "Teraeza would have helped us."
Dorinar turned his crazed black eyes to her, "Don't claim to know who she was!" he seized the frame and hurled it from the mantle. The glass shattered on the stone floor, but Teraeza's expression remained unchanged as it smirked up at them. A vase fell off the shelf and crashed next to it, and chairs began to scoot across the floor. Gus yipped uncertainly and brushed up against the back of Kaia’s legs. The door blew open wildly to the rain and slammed shut again.
Kaia held his gaze steadily and lifted her chin. "We are her people."
With a small cry, Dorinar turned away from her and the room stilled. The man’s heaving breaths were unnaturally loud in the silence. Errant pages fluttered to the floor like autumn leaves.
Just as Kaia turned to leave, Dorinar’s shaky voice rang through the room. "Enough!" he blustered, bracing himself on a chair. "So be it. I hid the sword in the Tazgari caves for safekeeping, not five miles to the northeast as the crow flies. When you cross the brook, follow the current to find the cave entrance. The scabbard hangs in the back of the second chamber." His voice flattened. “Invisibility means nothing to the cobalan that lives there, and he does not take fondly to trespassers.”
Kaia nodded. She moved to leave but then paused. Turning, she picked up the shattered frame from the puddle of glass and set it against the wall. "I'm sorry that your memories pain you," she murmured. "But I believe you were lucky to know her." With that, Kaia stood again to go out.
"Wait" Dorinar rushed to his desk, yanked out drawers and overturned them, spilling the contents on the floor. He dug through the pile on the floor and retrieved a small trinket—a silver armlet with a black swirling pattern.
The magus grabbed her hand and thrust the band into it. "Forged from star silver by Ikrid, the third Time Heir. A poor replacement for a healer, but it does have minor restorative properties." Kaia gaped, speechless, as the magus stared down at her, her hand enclosed in his. "Now leave me in peace child, and do not return."
With those parting words, the magus stalked out of the cottage and into the rain.
CHAPTER TWENTY
Odriel's Tooth
“Shad, have you ever heard of the Tazgari caves?” Kaia said as their party followed the babbling brook the magus had indicated. The downpour had slowed to a fine mist as the misshapen sun neared its peak.
“No,” the cat said peevishly, trying to shake the raindrops from his whiskers. “I know it’s hard to believe, but I do not know everything.”
Klaus tapped his thumbs on his saddle. “What about cobalans?”
“Little. I have heard of a subterranean goblin-like race that fears the sun, but only in passing.”
Kaia fingered the hard armlet beneath her shirt sleeve. She opened her mouth to wonder aloud if they had missed the cave, when Klaus suddenly pulled Stormshade to a halt in front of her. Ahead of him, the shore ended in a mossy ledge. “Good thing I snitched supplies from Dorinar’s barn,” he said, dismounting. “We’ll have to use the rope to climb down.”
Kaia descended from Sunflash’s saddle and moved to stand beside Klaus. She looked over the slippery drop-off. “Earth below.”
The stream fell into a gaping wound in the swamp, a dark cave large enough for a horse to follow the trickling water and hanging vines straight down to its death. Kaia imagined slipping over the edge and plunging into blackness, and she took an involuntary step back.
We’ll need the lanterns, she thought, peering into the dark throat of the underworld. Tingles of trepidation buzzed in her fingertips as she scanned the rocky rim of the hole. The marsh trees leaned into the abyss as if being sucked into the navel of the bog.
“Why does Dorinar have to make everything so difficult?” Shad grumbled to himself.
Klaus tied a rope around a sturdy trunk. “Shad, you and Gus stay here with the does,” He yanked on the knot. “I don’t know how deep the stream will be down there.” After throwing the heavy coil of rope into the cavern, Klaus knelt to light the lanterns with the matches he had found in Dorinar’s barn. The stink of burning oil filled Kaia’s nose as he straightened, lamp in hand, and held one out to her. Kaia accepted the handle uncertainly. She couldn't remember the last time she'd held one.
Reading her thoughts, Klaus gave her a reassuring smile. “Don’t wo
rry, as long as we don’t get them wet, these lanterns will do just fine.” He hooked the light onto his belt and picked up the rope.
“Try to be quiet and quick,” Shad warned. “Who knows what kinds of creatures live in that pit.”
Klaus nodded and looked to Kaia. “Wait for the rope to go slack before you follow.” With that, he disappeared over the ledge. Kaia looked down to see him descending the slick cave wall with enviable grace until all she could see was his fragile lantern glow bobbing along in the dark. It only took a few moments more before the line went slack and Kaia followed suit.
The cavern wall wasn’t as sheer as she had first thought, and she too descended rapidly, the circle of cloudy sky shrinking above her. In minutes, she splashed down in the thigh-deep water next to Klaus. Taking the lantern from her belt, she held it up to get a better feel for her surroundings. The shallow water cut through a wide chamber with sharp rocks protruding from ceiling and floor, like a toothy maw. On the far side, she could just make out a narrow tunnel. Besides the gentle murmuring and dripping of the water, a muted silence filled the cave.
“Dorinar said the blade would be in the back of the second chamber,” Kaia whispered.
Klaus drew his blade and gestured towards the far tunnel. “Let’s go, then.”
The dark water hid jagged outcroppings and loose rocks, making footing treacherous as the pair stumbled through the cold water. Their splashing seemed deafening as it echoed. Kaia’s eyes flicked, looking for any sign of life. She flinched when the lanterns cast ominous shadows on the cavern walls behind them.
“Easy, Firefly,” Klaus breathed.
They had to stoop to enter the tunnel, but it was only a few paces before it opened into another room, even larger than the first. With no natural light, their lanterns did little to dispel the oppressive cavern darkness. Smooth rock formations grew up out of the ground like trees, and thick pillars of stone stretched from ceiling to ground.
The Heirs climbed out of the stream onto the loose shale floor of the chamber, the thin layers of loose rock grating together under their feet. Kaia stayed close to Klaus, drawing her blade as they weaved in between mounds of rock. In the smothering darkness of the cave, Kaia silently cursed Dorinar for hiding it in such an ominous place, and then doubly cursed herself for not being able to light their way.
“There,” Klaus whispered, “On the back wall. I see it.”
Not far ahead on their right, Kaia could see the glint of a gold-encrusted scabbard hanging from a rock, jutting out from the cave wall like a thorn. Klaus strode towards it purposefully, but before he reached it, Kaia saw there was a problem—the scabbard was empty.
Klaus scowled as he swung the empty sheath across his back and held up his lantern, casting about for the lost relic. “Dorinar tricked us,” he seethed.
“But then why is—”
A ghastly howl echoed through the chamber, cutting off Kaia’s thought. “Who trespasses on the Xar’s den?”
Klaus shifted his grip on his blade. “It is the Shadow Heir, Guardian Klaus Thane, come to claim Odriel’s Tooth.” His voice resounded in the enclosed space.
“You come to steal from the Xar?” the voice growled, a sound like metal scraping on metal.
“The blade is rightfully mine!” Klaus called, casting about for the source of the voice.
“But, the Xar has it. It belongs to the Xar.” Every time the creature spoke, the words seemed to be coming from a different location. Kaia strained her eyes against the dark but could see nothing. She heard a faint shuffling coming from the direction they had come and wheeled around.
“We need it to defeat the evil that threatens our land,” Kaia called.
“The one that slays the sun,” the creature said knowingly.
Klaus scanned the darkness, his stance tense. “Yes, Nifras brings darkness and death.”
“The Xar likes the dark. When the sun is dead, the Xar will walk the land.”
A shudder ran down Kaia’s spine as the dire words echoed about the cavern.
Klaus smacked his blade on the stone floor. “The Lost will rule the land!”
“But the Xar has the strong sword,” the grating voice hissed.
Face darkening in anger, the Shadow Heir opened his mouth to yell something else.
Kaia shook her head. “There’s no reasoning with it, Klaus.”
“Stay in the light. I’m going to try to find it,” he snarled, his features bunched with anger. He put his lantern down and blinked out of sight. Kaia’s gaze swiveled around the cave as she strained her ears for the slightest noise.
“The tricks don’t work on the Xar. You smell of the warm flesh, your footsteps sound like the prey.”
Kaia heard quick footsteps and then Klaus’ scream in the dark, a struggle, and the earsplitting howl of the creature.
“Klaus!” she yelled, running in the direction of the scuffle, only to spin around again at the sound of a crash behind her. Kaia raised her light to see that something had dashed Klaus’ lantern against the rocks.
A hand grabbed her shoulder from behind. Kaia leapt away with a twist, holding her blade at the ready.
“It’s just me!” Klaus said, holding up his empty hand. His shoulder oozed blood, but he looked otherwise unharmed. “One of those things bit me.” He eyed his injury. “But I think I managed to catch it with my edge.”
As if to confirm Klaus’ words, Xar’s voice echoed around them, “You have wounded the Xar. Now you will not escape.” The sounds of sliding shale surrounded them.
“How many are there?” Kaia tried to keep her voice calm. For the thousandth time, she tried to call the flames to her fingers. Still nothing.
“I don’t know.” Klaus turned to put his back to hers. “I didn’t even catch a glimpse. It’s just too dark.”
The shuffling got louder as the predators encircled them. Kaia could now see flashes of white flesh darting from rock to rock.
“We need to get out of here,” she whispered. “We only have one lamp left.”
“Not without the sword.”
Kaia turned to talk sense into Klaus, but her words froze on her tongue as her lantern illuminated a nightmarish creature crouched on the boulder in front of them. The cobalan was roughly man-shaped, with long ears and nearly translucent skin. It had snake-like nostrils instead of a nose, and hollows covered with white flesh where its eyes should’ve been. It stood shorter than her, but its thin, spider-like limbs ended in long, needle-like fingers. In one of its hands, it gripped a magnificent sword. The blade stretched the length of the creature’s body. Wicked spikes edged the hilt and pommel, and the sleek double-edged blade glistened black, polished to a mirror-like shine.
Kaia heard Klaus’ breath catch in his throat.
In a blink, the Shadow Heir launched himself towards the cobalan with a shout. Just as he reached the creature, two more of the pale-bodied cave dwellers leapt upon him from the dark. He knocked one away and slashed at another.
Kaia heard something approach her from behind and ducked instinctively. A screeching cobalan dived over her head, then wheeled and lunged at her again. Kaia rolled away, and slashed deep into the cobalan’s back, but was caught off guard as another fell upon her. The creature’s swift attack slammed her to the ground and smashed her lantern against the rocks.
Complete darkness swallowed them.
Kaia thrashed, kicking the creature off her and slashing blindly with her sword. With a shriek, the injured cobalan released her and fled.
Kaia leapt to her feet in the pitch black. She forced herself to focus despite the icy fingers gripping her chest. She had the power to light this place, to save them.
She concentrated on her ragged breathing, blocking out her surroundings and looking inward to her soul, the essence of her being, of her gift, just as her father had taught her. The dragon fire burned there—she could feel it within her, as familiar as her reflection. She summoned the flames up from her heart to her fingertips.
Nothing.
The sounds of the screeching creatures pierced Kaia’s concentration.
Klaus grunted somewhere nearby. “Kaia, call the flames! I know you can do it!”
“I’m trying,” she snapped, her voice cracking. A guttural growl grew around them.
“Prepare yourselves prey. The Xar comes for you,” hissed the cobalan, as the gurgling of its clan buzzed to a fever pitch.
“Kaia, if you don’t light the way—” Klaus’ voice was cut off by the clang of sword on sword. Kaia turned towards the noise, just as one of the creatures leapt on her back, clawing and biting. She shouted as three more tackled her from different directions, bringing her to the ground. Kaia heard Klaus cry out in pain as she lashed out at her attackers. In desperation, she tried to call her gift once more, and suddenly, the cave burst with light. A small sun had breached the cave and now hovered over the Heirs.
The light revealed a cave crawling with cobalans. They scuttled on the ceiling like spiders, perched on every boulder, and formed a ring around the Heirs. The new light fully illuminated the Xar as he stood over Klaus, Odriel’s Tooth raised high.
“Burning sun!” the Xar cried, lifting his arms to shield his face. Without a second of hesitation, the Shadow Heir cut down the cobalan and relieved him of the relic, sliding the great blade into the sheath on his back. The mob around Kaia writhed in agony as they crawled for the shadows. Deafening screeches of indignant pain from scores of cobalans echoed around the cave.
Klaus looked to Kaia for the source of the light, but she shook her head at him. It hadn’t come from her.
“Hurry, you senseless humans, I can’t hold them for long!” Dorinar yelled in his reedy voice from the tunnel entrance they had entered from.
Needing no further encouragement, the Heirs raced for the exit. Just as Kaia caught sight of the magus, Dorinar’s sun charm failed, and darkness swathed them once again. In comparison to the blinding spell, Dorinar’s lantern seemed as flimsy as a candle in a storm. Still, the Heirs blundered towards it. In mere seconds, the cobalan clan had recovered and bellowed a war cry.
Odriel's Heirs Page 18