The Darkness Within
Book 2
(A Lythinall Novel)
Michael D Nadeau
Copyright © 2012 Author Name
All rights reserved.
ISBN:
ISBN-13:
For my friends that inspire me every Friday night.....
CONTENTS
Acknowledgments
1
What Has Gone Before/The Journey Home
1
2
Together at Last
17
3
Flight
36
4
Common Ground
53
5
Almost Home
83
6
All Paths Lead In
121
7
Reunions
161
8
Revelations
202
9
The Coming Storm
230
10
Epilogue
262
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
To my wife Sheila for putting up with Karsis the Bard, and my friends for always having faith in me. Our many adventures play out in my head as I write these exciting stories.
To Gwen and Lexi for continuing to inspire me with my faeries, Your energy and imagination is refreshing.
To Cookie P. for the ideas, and everyone else that gave me advice. Your criticisms continue to make me strive to do better.
What Has Gone Before
Once sealed away, The Incarnation of Death and Corruption is loosed, crawling his way out of his earthen prison. He has the power to cause things to wither and die just by being near them, and can pull power from the very earth around him. He marches towards civilization, and descends upon the frontier villages without mercy. At the same time, A young monk named Rhoe has a dream that he watches this evil being destroy a village and start towards his own; But it wasn't a dream. Strange powers have awoken within him and his life is about to change forever. It's then that the legendary bard Karsis comes for him, to train him in his powers and teach him of the world around him. They leave to travel south to warn King Arian of this great evil, leaving Rhoe's parents, Tierra and Gareth, to get as many people out of the city as they can before they fight this evil. During the fight, a set of twin boys sneak back and stumble upon the fight with the Incarnation. Everyone is left broken and dying and the evil continues on. Karsis trains Rhoe in magic as they travel, and they end up fighting a large group of Ogrann at night in the rain. Rhoe tries using magic to subdue one, but accidently kills it. They continue on and find themselves almost at the capitol; But the evil is right behind them. They hide off the road as the Incarnation runs with speed by them towards the bridge into Everknight.
Meanwhile, at the capitol city of Everknight, the Princess Allissana has dreams of this young monk, and sees him coming to her rescue. The Princess hears of the evil at a council meeting and takes it upon herself to go and fight this evil, so it does not come into the capitol. The High General Carana, who has trained her to be one of the best fighters in the kingdom, goes with her, sneaking out of the castle in the early morning hours. Her mother, Queen Maressa, chases after her and finds her in a hunting lodge being attacked by a soul devouring Gnome.
She uses her bardic magic to put her daughter to sleep and confronts Carana about being an Incarnation as well, and after a long talk, they agree to let the young girl go, but with the Queen's armor and sword, Deathsong. She goes to faces the Incarnation of Evil and Corruption on the bridge above the spring fed waters of the river. Then it happens. Assisted by magic, Rhoe runs right around the Incarnation and stands with the Princess. They fight the being, but after a short fight, his anger corrodes the very bridge they stand upon and they all crash into the roaring waters below, getting washed downstream.
They survive, and are found by faeries and the unicorn Avaryn, who take them to their Queen, Lurien. The Incarnation is washed farther downstream, but finally makes his way up and out of the water, heading towards the faeries. The Princess, now going by Liss, and Rhoe attend a revel in which they accidently get married. The next day, the former Queen of the faeries, Irilyn, chooses to fight the Incarnation with the combined power of the faeries burning inside her, but she also has a plan. Avaryn guides Rhoe and Liss towards a magical faerie ring and they are transported to the Misty woods, just Northeast of Everknight. Avaryn then rushes to Irilyn's aid, arriving just in time to see her fall into her own trap, a faerie ring that goes to a dead end. He impales the Incarnation in the back with his horn, and drops him into Irilyn's trap as well, then destroys the ring here so there is no way back. The faerie ring leads the two to the northern most part of the Northern Belt Mountain range, and here Irilyn attacks the Incarnation when he appears. She wounds him mortally, but is destroyed in the process, and the Incarnation collapses in the snow.
Back at the capitol, Karsis explains that Rhoe is born into prophesy, and anyone he embraces is immune to the Incarnations powers of corruption, so the Princess, as well as Rhoe's parents may still be alive. King Arian is attacked, more than once, by southern sorcerers, and in the last attempt, the old priest Ralavin saves the day, giving his life to slay the traitor. Karsis leaps to the priests side and gives him the Vial of Eternity, which not only restores the priest, but gives him back his youth as well. After the attacks, the King walks into the city on an errand, and finds some homeless children playing at being knights. He believes that he can give them a better home, and brings them back to the castle to train them to be the King's Messengers. Karsis leaves and goes to meet Rhoe and Liss at the place that prophesy says they will be, but is thrown off his horse when Irilyn dies. He was married to the former Queen of the faeries and feels her death keenly.
In the meantime, Rhoe and Liss make their way south towards River Vale, but are attacked by a Wolvren. They struggle to fight it off, but Liss is wounded severely. Rhoe places himself in the way to save Liss, clawing the things eyes as it shreds him. They are saved by Aeric, the King's Marshal, and his patrol and are taken to River Vale. Karsis travels behind, wondering if the Incarnation survived. He uses his Sight and finds him far to the north. He is alive but barely. It will take time for him to walk back, so they have time.
Chapter One: The Journey Home
He sniffed the cold, crisp air once more. He knew that the other animals were afraid of something, but nothing had ever spooked all of them at once......except him. Kanthalianar was one of the most feared creatures of legend, sweeping down out of the skies and devouring whole villages at a whim, or so the stories went.
In reality, the great dragon hated villagers. They were chewy and didn't digest well, and he hated all the screaming. No, he much preferred livestock, especially cows...Mmmmm, great now I'm hungry. He thought as he narrowed his eyes at the horizon. He hadn't flown over the countryside in well over seventy years, as he had been dozing comfortably in his mountain lair, but now something had awoken him, and he might as well see what it was. His great bulk stretched out in a magnificent sight, his glistening deep red scales covering his massive frame. Dragons scales changed color with age, and Kanth was indeed an ancient one. He climbed gracefully up the rocks, for one of his size, and looked out over the peaks.
His gaze stretched out over the miles as easily as those damned elven mages did with their Sight, and he saw clearly what was scaring the animals of the mountains. The thing that was approaching seemed like a man, walked like a man, but the power radiating off him was nothing like Kanth had ever seen. Well I have seen something like that, but that was a long time a
go, He thought to himself, as the creature came to a stop and was surely looking at him at the same time, even though the distance was still counted in miles.
The thing bowed to the great dragon, then advanced again, slower this time. Kanth had to decide what to do and very quickly if that thing was indeed an Incarnation of some sort. He either fled, giving up his lair, or he fought and quite possibly died in the process. Either way every creature in these mountains will know that I no longer hold sway.... damn it all to the Earth. He had no choice, he would have to fight this thing. He inhaled deeply, building his stores in his gullet for his breath, and beat his powerful wings, lifting into the air and flying to meet this creature.
Dar'Krist had been walking for days when he saw the dragon. He was momentarily stunned by its size, as most dragons he had known were much smaller. He stopped and used his Sight to get a better look at it and was surprised once more by the deep color of its scales. Another hundred or so years and the scales would darken to almost black, which was the oldest these things ever got. He started walking again, slower this time, to judge what this thing was going to do. He wanted to give it time to really think about its choices. Another fifty feet and he had his answer.
The dragon started beating its massive wings and came at him gliding through the air. Well thank the Dark One I fed my cloak last night, wouldn't want it to spoil my fun. He thought, as he started into a loping run. He was stepping quickly from one rock to another leaping ever upwards as he gained altitude as fast as he could. He could keep this up as long as there were rocks to hold him, and he had to move fast. He knew what was coming. The dragon took to the sky and banked up and around impossibly quick, turning on the currents it knew so well. This high up the wind was strong off the other peaks, and the dragon soared down towards him, intent on its prey.
Dar'Krist ran right at him. As soon as the dragon spread his wings to slow its advance, and drew in a great breath, Dar'Krist jumped once, twice, then surged off the last step with all his strength, cracking the stone beneath him. He soared up beneath the dragon’s head and grabbed his dangling claw, holding on tight. He smiled as the fire he knew was coming burned below. Now it was an even fight. It would take the dragon a couple of moments to build his stores back up for another blast, and he was hoping the fight would be over by then.
He waited for the dragon to realize that he wasn't down there any more, then he flared his power in a burst that would've killed any normal being. Hells below, it probably would've killed ten. It actually took a bit out of him to throw that much power out, but this was a dragon, and he wasn’t taking any chances. The Dragon shuddered and started to glide down and Dar'Krist looked for a good place to jump down.
Kanth soared around, seeing his quarry running from rock to rock, bounding higher and higher with every step. He had no idea what this curious creature might be thinking. The man was seven feet tall with a long mane of black hair and robes that looked tattered. He assumed that the powerful creature would either find cover or assail him with magic, why was he trying to get closer? Well this was easier than I thought. He spread his wings out to pull up quick and inhaled deeply, stirring the fire inside and belching it out at the big man in black. The fire spread out and bathed the rocks in flame, but there was no sign of the man! Kanth was so caught up in the easy kill that he didn't even feel the man on his leg, until it was too late. He felt a concussive force of death burst outward from the man, and it took all his fortitude to remain conscious. He glided down, his wings no longer working enough to support him easily. Even though he was resistant to magic, this was something else altogether. Now I know which Incarnation it is at least...and by all the gold in the mountain I am in trouble.
He landed roughly, hoping around to catch sight of his opponent, and saw him roll to his feet after dropping from the dragons leg. Tooth and claw it is then. He thought as he prayed that his natural healing would get him airborne in enough time to get in the air once more. Dragons healed a little faster than most beings, as they were one of the first beings, but still that would take a little bit, and he may not have a "little bit".
That power that the man hit him with was devastating, and he could feel it eating it away at him even now. He lunged forward, claws grasping around the huge rocks that made up their battlefield. He was at home in this terrain, and he thought that gave him the advantage. He swung his claw at the man and followed up with a bite that should’ve caught the man in his razor-sharp teeth, both missed. He swept his tail around in case the man was behind him, and even buffeted his wings to throw him off balance. His neck twisted around to search for him, and he kicked out with his back leg and caught the man in the chest. The Incarnation flew back and hit a rock, shattering it, then smiled at the dragon. Kanth spun to face his opponent, trying to keep the growing fear out of his stance, but something must've betrayed him, cause the man stood slowly and flexed his arms and neck, almost mocking the great dragon.
"Well, well. It seems that there is still some fight in you after all, I was afraid that my power would've ended the fight." Dar'Krist shifted his feet just a bit and leaned upon a rock casually, examining his nails as if bored. "You realize that this fight can only end one of two ways...." He started to say, but had to leap sideways as the dragon lunged impossibly fast and tried to catch him in his gaping mouth. The dragon only hit rocks, but pulled his head back in time to only catch a glancing blow on the snout by his agile opponent. Dar'Krist laughed aloud as he danced from boulder to boulder, looking for an opening. "One way is with your rotting carcass draping the mountainside, your great life ended prematurely." He rolled off of a ledge and came up under the great beasts chest with a powerful uppercut that should've done absolutely nothing, but with his power behind it, staggered the dragon.
Masking his pain, Kanth beat his massive wings, throwing up a small dust storm and used the burst to lift him up onto a higher ledge. "And what of the other way, oh powerful lord?" He spoke, his mighty voice echoing off of the rocks and hills. "Does it end with me slaying you and throwing your body off of the highest peak?" He swiped again, and caught the man in the arm, spinning him into a wall face first. Kanth was surprised to hear laughter after that hit.
"No, foolish beast, the other way is with you fleeing this fight and feeling your life ebb away anyways, it will just take longer." Dar'Krist licked the blood from his lips and shook his hair out, staring at the huge dragon. He showed no fear in his cold empty eyes. Usually Dar'Krist would be angry, but this fight was just what he needed to take his mind off of the long walk home, and how angry he was with that elfling boy and that cursed bard.
Kanth backed up a little, gaining room for his swishing tail, then came in with a claw to the man's left. As the man ducked the claw, he rolled under it, closer to the dragon's torso. The dragon knew he might do this and was prepared with his other claw. He beat his wings to lift him up momentarily, and swiped rapidly. This too met with only air. Now Kanth smiled. He saw the man roll backwards, kipping up to his feet, just in time to take the tail full on in the chest. His acute hearing heard bones snap and crunch under the impact, and the rag doll that was his opponent was flung high up onto an overhanging cliff. The dragon landed softly, taking a deep breath into his shuddering lungs. He was not without his own power, but it was taking all that his healing could do to resist this growing rot coursing through his scales. He felt a surge then, in the very rock around him, and his concern grew when he suspected what it may mean. He flexed his wings again, testing them, and was not pleased when he could feel the weakness still there.
Dar'Krist should've seen that tail coming. His ribs were telling him so, very loudly for the past twenty seconds or so, and his sternum wasn't even speaking to him. He rolled over, biting down at the pain that flared up. Let the beast think he was down, it would be his last mistake. He closed his eyes and pulled power from the rocks underneath him, seeking that deep power that rests within old foundations. Deeper and deeper he pulled, gathering it into him, then he sat up
quietly as his bones began to knit together slowly. He heard the flapping of great wings and saw the dust kick up, so he rolled painfully into a somersault and when the dragons head crested the cliff edge, Dar'Krist lashed out with a powerful two fisted blow to its head.
Kanth's world exploded! The blow that came against his head felt like the mountain itself had come down on him. He tried to roll with the hit by whipping his head with the force and following with his whole body, but it still blurred his vision badly, and sent waves of corruption straight into his face. The dragon roared, albeit weekly, and landed over one-hundred feet away. He cursed the Incarnation under his ragged breath. The man was right, he had to flee and hope his own power was enough to hold off the destruction eating away at his very soul. He heard the man chuckling behind him, up on the cliff, and when Kanth turned his badly bruised head towards him, he saw that this powerful man was standing straight, showing no signs of pain.
"Well, that was a good fight, but I'm sort of in a hurry and this has taken long enough. I'm truly sorry that I have to slay such a magnificent beast, but you can't be trusted not to come after me and delay me further." His cloak was fluttering in the breeze, and Dar'Krist hopped down onto a boulder just mere feet away from Kanth's tail.
He saw the great dragon gather himself up and collapse once more in a shudder, and honestly thought it was over. When the beasts leg shot out and rammed the cliff behind him, he was truly surprised.
Kanth saw his only recourse. He waited for the man to come down and finish him off, and when he did, the dragon had one more chance. This wouldn't be victory, oh no. This would be survival only, and that was if his wings would hold him aloft long enough. The man jumped down, and Kanth made like he was trying to get up. As his body fell down again, he positioned his leg just right, then.......he lashed out at the cliff behind the man with everything he had left. The rock shuddered and then came raining down on top of the man, burying him under almost the entire cliff side. As the dust settled, Kanth felt that familiar surge deep inside of his gullet. His flame was almost ready. He may have a shot at escape after all.
The Darkness Within (A Lythinall Novel) (Book 2) Page 1