The Allseer Trilogy

by Kaitlyn Rouhier

  The servant pulled open the door to the temple and ushered him inside. The inside of the room was just as plain, with high ceilings and a flood of natural light pouring in from rows of windows that ran the length of the hall. There was little furniture to be seen, just a row of chairs to his left and a raised platform in the back upon which rested a long wraith wood table. Sitting behind the table was Nyson, and to his right sat the woman that had given the temple its reputation. Herzin sat perfectly still, emerald eyes critical as she watched Garild enter the room.

  He felt the first flicker of fear catch fire in his heart when he met her gaze. He knew what she was capable of, the harm that she could inflict. He hoped his cooperation would lighten whatever punishment they had planned for him, that he wouldn’t have to suffer the same fate as Kirheen.

  As the servant led him to the chairs on the left side of the room, he gave a start. One of the chairs was already occupied. He’d missed Isa at first glance, looking so small and fragile with her knees tucked to her chest. She glanced up at his approach, her once luminous eyes dulled and ringed by puffy red skin. It looked like a single word, a single touch, would shatter her. She looked away without a sound and curled further into herself.

  They called her name first. She rose from her seat, her eyes glued to the floor as she shambled across the room. It hurt to watch her struggle, to see her falling apart at the seams. There was nothing he could do for her, no comfort he could ever offer that would make that pain go away.

  “Isa, I’m sorry things have come to this,” Nyson called to her, leaning forward across the table. “You have suffered greatly, and it pains all us to see you hurting so. The crime carried out by your bond mate was unforgivably cruel and his passing has shaken us all.” He paused, his expression softening. “We would like to offer you a chance to rest, a chance to work and heal away from this place. We want you to gather your strength so you may join the fight against the Darkness. Will you accept this offer?”

  There was a sinking feeling in his gut at the mention of the Darkness. Nyson spoke the lie as if it were as natural as breathing. It sounded so convincing, so welcoming. He was caught in between fear and longing, wanting to run but so desperately wanting to believe the lie, to sink into that pool so he no longer had to think or feel. He’d vowed to follow through, to commit to whatever was going to happen, regardless of the truth. None of it mattered anymore. Why am I so afraid?

  Isa nodded her head, silently accepting their offer. Herzin rose from her seat, her chair scraping loudly. She strode towards Isa, her eyes cold, her face expressing none of the mock sadness that Nyson so easily wore. Something changed in Isa, a brief flash of emotion rippling through her eyes. She raised her head, met the gaze of the Judge of Trials. “This is your fault. You’re nothing but a murderer.” There was no anger in her words, no malice. Grief had consumed such emotions, had left her an empty shell.

  Herzin tilted her head, regarding Isa with a withering stare. “Hush now, child,” she cooed, both hands rising and coming to rest on the sides of Isa’s head. “It’ll all be over soon.” Isa didn’t move, didn’t react to the touch of the woman that had murdered her bond mate. There was an uncomfortable feeling building in the air, the crackling energy right before a lightning strike. Isa went rigid, muscles coiled tightly, a small gasp escaping her lips. Blue eyes rolled back and then she went limp, sliding out of Herzin’s grip and slumping to the ground.

  Garild watched in stunned silence, his fingers gripping the arms of his chair. His heart beat wildly, each frantic thump flooding him with fear. “Isa?” he called across the room, half rising from his chair. She stirred and slowly pushed herself up off the floor, but she didn’t look his way. As she raised her chin, he caught sight of her face and the emptiness he saw in her eyes, in her expression, sent a chill up his spine. He’d seen that look before, had seen it in the servant that had led him to the temple. “Isa?”

  Without hesitating, Garild darted across the room and grabbed Isa by the elbow. He spun her towards him, but she didn’t react to the motion. Her eyes were blank, looking straight through him. “Isa, are you okay?” he asked, but he knew the truth. In that moment Herzin had touched her, something had happened, and she wasn’t the first to have fallen victim to such power. All those workers…

  “What did you do to her?” he demanded to know. He clutched Isa to his chest and drew her away from Herzin. “What did you do?”

  Herzin had the audacity to smile. “Calm yourself. I eased her mind into a better place. She’s been through so much, and she needs this chance to heal. What was done to her was devastating, as I’m sure you are aware. She shouldn’t have to suffer because of what her bond mate did.”

  “This…this isn’t right. You took her away. Her light is gone. What did you do to her?”

  “I assure you, the girl will be just fine,” Herzin said softly, taking a cautious step towards him. “We’re just helping you through this difficult time in your life.”

  He thought he’d been prepared, that he’d been ready to leave everything behind. He’d committed himself to their judgement, had committed himself to his anger and grief. He thought they’d send him to the work camp, that time and toil would heal his wounded heart. He hadn’t expected them to strip him of his emotions to make that happen.

  It was a fate worse than death.

  I don’t want this.

  He wanted to live.

  “Garild,” Nyson called as he rose from his seat. “This transition will not hurt you. You need not fear this. The pain your bond mate caused you will settle in your soul, it will fester. Your bond was broken, your trust betrayed. We simply wish to ease you through this grief, to allow you to heal so you can face the Darkness. There is no permanence in this, only relief.” His voice was so calm, luring him into a false sense of security. Lies. It’s all lies.

  He wanted so badly to believe him, but he’d seen the truth. The change would not be temporary. His mind would be broken, and he’d spend the rest of his days as an empty husk. There was no Darkness to fight, no battle waiting for him. Nyson was nothing but a spider, his words a poison, and he’d spun a deceitful web that had them all trapped like flies.

  “I don’t want this,” Garild whispered and wrapped his arms protectively around Isa.

  “Speak up, boy.”

  Garild raised his gaze and looked to the man standing across the room, the man he’d trusted. “I don’t want this!” he shouted, his voice reverberating through the hall.

  “You don’t have a choice,” Nyson replied coldly.

  In that moment, Herzin dove towards Garild, arm outstretched. He focused his power and slammed a blast of energy against her barriers, not bothering to hold back. She stumbled as the pain hit her, and he used the temporary distraction to drag Isa towards the door. Halfway there, Isa dug her heels into the ground and forced them to a stop. “Isa, what are you doing? We need to get out of here!”

  He tugged on her arm, but she wouldn’t budge. She’d become a solid, unmovable object and no matter how hard he pulled, he couldn’t get her to take a step towards the door. He didn’t want to leave her, but he was wasting time and Herzin was almost within reach.

  He turned to flee when his muscles went rigid. He’d felt such pain before, in the battles when Vienna had used her unusual power against him. It was a different feeling entirely to experience it outside the confines of his own mind, and the more he screamed at his muscles to move, the more rigid they became.

  Herzin sauntered forward. Her emerald eyes bore into him, burning bright with annoyance. She’d never liked resistance, and Garild had taken her gift and shoved it back in her face. He’d earned her wrath and he was going to pay the price.

  There was nothing he could do, no way to break through the power that had him locked in place. He closed his eyes, waiting for the pressure he knew would come.

  Kirheen. I’m so sorry.

  Her hands were cold as ice as they slid across his face, the air growing hea
vy with the building pressure of her power.

  There was a moment of silence.

  And then chaos.

  CHAPTER 26

  Ian was dead.

  Kirheen sat with her head in her hands, trying to process what she’d been told. Her head felt like it was spinning, her thoughts swirling out of control. Everything she’d known about the world was shattering, breaking into pieces like one of their illusions. She could no longer feel the beating of her heart, just an empty, aching hollow where it had once been.

  “Kir, are you okay?” Tomias asked gently. He sat on the bed next to her, disheveled and sweaty. Strands of white hair clung to his damp forehead and there were dark circles under his tired eyes, a testament to the long nights he’d spent trying to save her. Trista and Fenir stood to the side, looking nervous and occasionally peering out the window as if they expected Nyson to come for them at any moment.

  It’s all a lie…

  Tomias reached out a hand and gently touched her arm. Something about his touch broke down the damn holding back her emotions, and she pressed her hands back to her face and sobbed. The bed creaked as he slid closer. His arms wrapped around her shoulders and he pulled her tightly to his chest, whispering words of reassurance. His touch was firm but gentle and she found it strange how much comfort she took in the safety of his arms. “Kir, I’m so sorry this happened. I’m so sorry. If I had known…”

  “This is my fault,” Kirheen wheezed, fighting back her tears. “I was stupid and now Ian is… he’s… he’s gone.” He stroked her hair while she cried, great wracking sobs that shook them both. “What is going to happen to us? What do we do?”

  Tomias let out a lengthy sigh. “Nyson wants you on the Council, and he’s willing to forget your crime to make it happen. He wants your powers so he can strike back at the people that forced us here in the first place. The Darkness might be a lie, but in his mind, the threat beyond Sanctuary is just as bad.” He pulled away from her, tilting her chin up so she met his gaze. He looked frightened. “I’ve put you all in terrible danger telling you this, but I don’t want to sit by and let Nyson and Herzin get away with this lie. I also don’t want you caught in the middle of this conflict.”

  “What are you suggesting?”

  His eyes flickered, an edge of sadness creeping into his gaze. “I don’t know if this is a fight we can win, Kir. You might have to flee.”

  She was stunned by his words. “I’m sorry. You want us to run away? Where would we go? We don’t even know what is out there.”

  “I know, I know. I don’t even know if it’s safe. If Sanctuary was founded because our kind was in danger, there is no telling what we’d find beyond. We’d be running into the unknown. The moment Nyson finds out that we all know, things will descend into chaos quickly and there are still those that would remain loyal to Nyson, no matter the truth.”

  “It might be safer for just you and Garild to go, at least for a time,” Trista suggested. “You’re the most vulnerable here. If we sneak you out, I don’t think Nyson would risk revealing the truth over the two of you running away. It would ruin everything for him if people knew the lie for what it is.”

  Kirheen looked to Tomias, saw him weighing the suggestion. “No. Absolutely not,” Kirheen shouted. “You can’t actually be considering this!”

  “It may be the best option,” Tomias said hesitantly, his eyes filled with sorrow.

  “You can’t just send me away. I can’t leave, not after what he’s done. I need to help fix this!”

  Trista shook her head. “There is no fixing this, but we can at least salvage what is left. If you run, there is nothing Nyson can do, but if we confront him, if he knows that Tomias told us all the truth, it could start a war. We don’t know how many would remain loyal to Nyson if it came to that.”

  “She’s right,” Tomias said. “She’s right and you know it.”

  “This can’t be the only way,” Kirheen insisted, but hope fled as she looked into Tomias’ eyes. His walls were going up, she could see it in the way his eyes changed, a strange coldness settling over those dark depths. His jaw was clenched tight, and he took a deep breath before speaking.

  “It’s the only way you’ll be safe from Nyson. If you stay, there is no telling what he’ll do. It’ll give us time to figure out a plan, and you and Garild will be safe in the meantime. We’re willing to make that sacrifice, to play along with Nyson until we can figure this out, but I need you to make a sacrifice as well.”

  Her mentor, her friend, was asking her to leave them all behind, to leave them to potential danger while she and Garild huddled in the woods and waited for things to blow over. “You can’t ask this of me. I can’t leave everyone. I can’t leave you.”

  His hardened expression melted, revealing the conflicting emotions at war underneath. “You can and you will, Kir. I need you to do this for me. We’ve been living a lie, and I’ll see to it that it comes to an end, but I can’t do that if I’m worried about your safety. I don’t want Nyson getting his hands on you, or Garild for that matter. Please just do this for me, just hide out long enough for us to figure this out.”

  After everything she’d been told, she didn’t think her grief could consume her any further, but it came crashing through her soul, leaving her tired and wounded. “I’ll do my part,” she agreed, her voice barely more than whisper. She thought of Garild, of what he’d think of having to flee with her after what she’d done to him. Her being found with Ian had probably devastated his entire world, and there was little doubt in her mind how angry and hurt he’d be. As much as she wanted to shy away from it, she needed to face him, to apologize for the hurt and the pain she’d caused. “Where is Garild?”

  Tomias’ eyes widened at her question, and he glanced towards the window. He stood slowly and Trista followed his gaze, looking to the light peeking through the curtains. “Oh no, no. What time is it?”

  Trista looked back at him in shock. “The trial!”

  Fenir was already moving towards the other room, Tomias on his heels. There was a muttered curse, the opening and slamming of the front door, and then they returned, looking like angry hornets kicked from a nest.

  “What is going on?” Kirheen asked, already dreading the answer.

  Tomias rubbed his temples with his knuckles, pacing back and forth in front of her bed. “The trial for Garild and Isa was set to take place this morning. We were so distracted trying to bring you back, we didn’t notice… Allseer. For all we know, he could already be there. We don’t have time to plan. Trista, I need you to get supplies together. Kirheen, Fenir, we’re going to have to rescue Garild.”

  “Wait,” Kirheen urged. “Isn’t that going to start the very conflict we’re trying to avoid?”

  “Yes, damn it, but what else can we do? We can’t just leave him there.” Tomias stopped pacing, looking defeated as he weighed their options. “Nyson is going to send him to the work camps, but we’ve all seen the workers. Something has been done to their minds and it’s going to happen to Garild if we don’t stop it. We’ll just have to figure this out as we go. Come on!”

  Days spent in bed had taken their toll on Kirheen. She groaned as she stood, muscles and bones aching as she stretched to her full height. Tomias and Fenir were already heading out the door, and she hurried after them, lungs burning as she tried to keep up. There was no time to rest and recover, no time to focus on the pain shooting through her skull with each step. She was driven by a need to protect her friend. She’d save Garild, no matter what. She owed him that much.

  At the edge of the Temple of Trials, they came to a stop. The air was heavy with a strange pulsating energy that raised gooseflesh on her arms. “Do you feel that?”

  Fenir grunted. “I don’t like this.”

  “Neither do I,” Tomias agreed. “Let’s get him out of there.”

  Tomias marched towards the door with confident strides. Kirheen trailed after him, trying to gather enough of her power to be of use if it came down to
a fight. On the count of three, they burst through the door and stumbled upon a very strange sight. In the center of the room, Garild and Isa stood rigid, as if they’d both been frozen in time. Herzin was bent down, her hands on either side of Garild’s head. The sound of the door startled her, and she glanced up, emerald eyes dancing with rage.

  The sight of Herzin filled Kirheen with a scorching fury. She’d caused so much pain, so much hurt, and Kirheen used that fuel to dredge up more of her power. She knew the damage Herzin could cause, and she wasn’t going to let Garild be her next victim. Bracing herself for the mental anguish that would follow, she sent a blast of power against Herzin’s mind. It struck true and Herzin staggered back away from Garild, wincing as she pressed her fingertips to her temples.

  The backlash was immediate and intense, and the pain forced Kirheen to her knees. Her body and mind weren’t prepared to control that much power, not after what had happened to her. Fenir was at her side, his strong hand gripping her arm and yanking her to her feet. He kept her tucked close to him, his arm draped across her shoulder protectively. With his other hand, he reached into his robe and fished out a vial filled with a fiery red liquid.

  Tomias looked alarmed. “Is that what I think-” He didn’t get a chance to finish. Fenir shook the vial, the liquid within bubbling and growing brighter, and then chucked it across the room towards Nyson. There was a high pitched whistling as it sailed through the air and then it exploded, sending plumes of red smoke to every corner of the room. The temple became a foggy dream world, her vision painted red. She lost all sense of direction, but Fenir tugged her along, keeping a hold of her arm.

  There was shouting, the sound of a scuffle, and then she was pulled out into the daylight, coughing and wheezing and blinking away tears. Tomias came running out of the noxious clouds a moment later, Garild right on his heels. “Keep running,” Tomias shouted. “Just go!”