The Dark Disciple (The Daybreak Saga Book 2)

by Dan Neil

  “Maybe it is; maybe it isn’t. You can’t worry about what’s meant to happen or what should happen. You did what you could for those people, and you should not think yourself foolish for doing so. Good people do what they can but always find reasons to beat themselves up over not doing enough.”

  She gave a slight smile. “I suppose. Not much of a choice now. Zel Xaen is excited to serve a king again. As much as I hate to admit it, some good might actually have come from your stupidity.”

  “I’ll accept that.”

  Anasia smiled and shook her head. “You’re a damned fool. Thank you.”

  “For what?”

  “For standing up for me when we were captured,” she said. “Fighting for me—even if it’s your fault I was in that situation. I appreciate it. Most men would have stood by and let it happen, too afraid of exactly what happened to you.”

  “I’d fight for you again—against any odds.”

  She met his eyes and scoffed. “Don’t smile like that.”

  “Smile like what?”

  “Like I’m the first woman you’ve ever seen.”

  His eyes sparkled with mischief. “You’re certainly the prettiest.”

  Anasia rolled her eyes. “Just because I thanked you doesn’t mean that you are not a damned fool or that anything is happening here.”

  “If nothing is happening, why are you still tending to me after my wounds are closed? All I need now is rest. I’m sure others could use the attention more.”

  She glared. “Because you’re still my patient. I see things through to the end.”

  After a brief sigh, he said, “Well, this fool accepts your help. I’m also hungry. I’m sure you must be, too.”

  “I have too many wounded to tend to. Once they are taken care of, then I will eat. I’m sure someone will bring you some dinner at some point today. Maybe it’ll be an even prettier woman.”

  Matalo chuckled. “I doubt that.”

  Just then, the flap of the tent lifted, and Scipion walked in. “Ho, Scipion!”

  “Ho, Matalo. It’s good to see that you’re feeling better. Your face looks as bad as mine.”

  Matalo covered his mouth in mock horror. “Impossible!”

  Scipion turned and bowed his head slightly to Lady Anasia. “Thank you for treating him. I would also like to apologize once more for dragging you into all of this—for everything.”

  She stood. “I accept your apology. Well, I have other wounded to attend to. Goodbye, Scipion. Heal well, Matalo.”

  She lingered for a moment before leaving. Scipion’s eyebrow raised.

  “I think she’s taken a liking to you.”

  “I almost got her killed,” Matalo replied. “How do you possibly think she could like me after that?”

  “You also acted to save her. Just don’t vomit on her new dress.”

  “Who do you think I am? You?” Matalo groaned. “I don’t want to think of that right now. I just want a piece of mutton in my belly and a nap.”

  “I can get you mutton, but the nap will not happen,” Scipion said. “How soon until you can ride a horse?”

  “I hope soon because I certainly can’t walk,” Matalo joked. “I’ll manage something. It’s just my face and entire body that hurt.”

  “We can have Denna carry you, if you’d like.”

  “Or she can throw me to our destination, and you’ll all arrive later.” Matalo’s expression turned serious. “Have you talked to King Logan?”

  “I have. He accepted our pledge of loyalty and delegated the task of hunting down Anton Day to us.”

  Matalo’s eyes widened with delight. “We get to kill him?”

  “Yes, we do.” Scipion flashed a rare smile. “And this time, we will have a significantly larger force. We will not repeat our mistakes.”

  “Of course not.” Matalo beamed with excitement. “When do we leave?”

  “As soon as you are healed. The sooner, the better,” Scipion said. “If we wait too long, he could meet up with Julius, and we would be destroyed.”

  “Not with you at the helm. This is exactly what we wanted, Scipion—what we prayed for all those years! The gods have heard us. What a stroke of fortune!”

  “I suppose you could call it fortune,” the Scorpion Knight replied. “Either way, I think you need your rest. We will set off when you feel well enough and bring New Dawn to justice for their crimes.”

  Matalo smiled. “I’ve never felt better, knowing that.”

  Chapter 17

  Hunted

  Day 150 of the Season of Aion, 1020 YAR

  From the moment that Aliya and Friedrich entered Greerwood, horrible headaches plagued them. For a month they had pressed onward into the forest, feeling a dark presence hovering over their shoulders the entire time.

  One night, Friedrich said, “Maybe we should turn back.”

  Her head snapped toward him. “Turn back?”

  “Aliya, I—I’m scared. I don’t know if either of us will make it if you’ve got the same headache I do, which I think you do. I don’t know if anyone can make it through this forest in this condition.”

  “Carter did.”

  “Look at us, Aliya! This has been the worst month of both our lives—no sleep, no showers, the headaches...”

  A cold sensation had taken root in Aliya’s core. She knew what was out there. Staring at a spellstone on Guardian as it radiated warmth, hoping it would quell the chill in her veins, she said, “We have to keep going.”

  Friedrich shook his head. “I don’t think it’s possible. I see how you’re barely holding up. If we go in too much farther, we won’t have the choice of going back.”

  She gulped. He’s right. But I can’t turn back, and we can’t split up.

  “I’m sorry, Friedrich. I know you’re afraid. I’ll protect you, I promise. As long as we stay together, we have a chance. Right?”

  He frowned, then reluctantly nodded. “Right. You and me. Just like I always wanted.”

  Stifling laughter, she said, “I’m sure these aren’t quite the circumstances you had in mind.”

  He chuckled. “What are you talking about? Searching for your lost brother in a cursed forest while being hunted by some mind demon is as romantic as it gets.”

  She nodded. “Yeah. I’ve been thinking about that.”

  “About what? Romance?”

  “No. The thing hunting us,” she said.

  “Oh, right. That’s more important right now.”

  Aliya continued, “I think I can lure it out into the open with an illusion.”

  He stroked his chin. “Oh?”

  “Yeah. I’ve been keeping it off our trail for the past month—”

  “You’ve been what?”

  Aliya sighed. “I’ve been keeping him off our trail—illusions, mind magic, standard stuff to stall. The more subtle, the better.”

  Friedrich’s jaw fell open. “On top of everything else, you’ve been doing that, too?”

  “Yes. It’s been pretty rough. I don’t know how much longer I can keep it at bay. But I have an idea.”

  “What is it?”

  Aliya grimaced. “You might not like it very much.”

  “These are always your worst plans. Your worst plans follow that sentence every time.”

  “I think this one’s really good. At least, I hope.”

  Friedrich frowned. “All right, but I’m not exactly comforted.”

  —

  The Dark Disciple moved through Greerwood Forest with quiet efficiency. A vibrant orange light glowed from his gauntlet, killing the cold winds around him. By bending time, he was carried twice as far by each stride.

  How much longer until she runs out of tricks? he wondered. She can’t avoid me forever. Liars all face the truth someday.

  For
a month now, they’d waged mental warfare. The Dark Disciple was trying to lock onto her location with shadow telekinesis but couldn’t locate her precisely enough to grab hold.

  I’m getting closer. She feels it, too.

  The Dark Disciple felt something familiar. The sensation was like knocking from within one’s brain. He closed his eyes and kneeled. The world blurred and shifted around him. When he opened his eyes, he was in a dimly lit temple chamber. Tall marble pillars extended into the shadows above while two bright red eyes stared out from the darkened hallow in which a makeshift throne of crooked metal sat.

  The Dark Disciple reached, ‘My Master.’

  A deep, mechanical voice echoed through the chamber, ‘My disciple, I see things are not going quite according to your plan.’

  ‘It’s only a matter of time.’

  ‘I should hope so. Your first plan certainly failed—whispers brought the youngest to you. Yet she still lives.’

  ‘A temporary setback, Master—I did not count on interference, or her friend resisting my control.’

  ‘Just as you did not count on being evaded by the knight in your own forest.’

  The disciple grimaced. ‘She’s adept at mind magic.’

  ‘Of course. Aliya Atlos is a master of deception, and so is Symon Del Gaddeaux. I’m sure he’s taught her quite a bit. But she still should not be evading you.’

  ‘I will find her soon. And if not, I have another strategy.’

  ‘Is that so?’

  ‘Aliya doesn’t need to be dead to worry her sister—only missing. Even if Aliya conceals herself from me, Keia will come looking for her. Her compassion will be their downfall.’

  ‘I see. Rather strong bonds tie them together. You’ll take advantage of that.’

  ‘I only need to get Aliya—the real Aliya—out into the open. But she’ll hide before facing me. She’s afraid. I wonder if she’s told that fool she’s traveling with that she’s spent every night, every waking moment, keeping me away. She’ll break soon. When she does, I’ll either find her, or she’ll make herself invisible.’

  ‘But if she does…’

  ‘If she wants to remain invisible, she’ll have to stay in one place—she can’t get back through the forest a second time, not now that I know her tricks. And when Keia comes along looking for her big sister, it’ll be nothing at all to capture her. Her magic is weak.’

  ‘Do not underestimate the youngest Atlos.’

  ‘I saw what she’s capable of. She had a seizure from using too much magic. I don’t think she’s a threat in her current state.’

  ‘Yes, I saw that. I also saw her defeat you.’

  The Dark Disciple twitched.

  ‘Does that anger you? I can feel it within; there’s no point in lying.’

  ‘You believe her true potential is greater than what I saw.’

  ‘I know it is. Her power could return if the seal is broken. I saw it bursting through when she fought you last.’

  The Dark Disciple bowed his head.

  ‘What will you do now?’

  ‘I’ll keep the pressure on Aliya—drive her further into the forest. If I see an opening, I’ll engage. Destiny’s promised day is coming.’

  ‘Make it so.’

  The Dark Disciple closed his eyes. The world spun around him as his mind was returned to Greerwood Forest. He stood with renewed purpose. He sensed something nearby—something familiar.

  She’s close. This must be some sort of trick.

  He carefully considered his next move. Her tricks are no threat to me. I’ll spring her little trap. And then I can finish what I started.

  —

  “Are you sure about this?” Friedrich asked as he faced his palms toward the fire.

  ‘Yes!’ Aliya reached. ‘Now talk to the decoy!’

  He turned and faced Aliya, who sat across from him. “I hate this place.”

  The illusion before him smiled and replied, “I do, too.”

  “We’re going to be all right, right?”

  The ‘real’ Aliya hid behind a tree on the edge of the clearing where Friedrich had made his fire. She was struck by his words.

  We are. For now, at least.

  She reached him, ‘Don’t worry, Friedrich. Nothing bad is going to happen.’

  Suddenly, she crumpled with her back against the tree. The severity of her headache intensified, as if spikes were being forced through her eyes and ears at a glacial pace.

  ‘He’s here.’

  Friedrich fell to one knee. Only the illusion Aliya stood, with her weapon drawn. The real Aliya peeked from behind the tree. Her blurry vision barely made out a shadowy figure stepping into the clearing. Just as suddenly, the pain subsided. Aliya and Friedrich recovered quickly from their headaches.

  The Dark Disciple stood before them with his gauntlet raised. A half-smile came over his face as a dimly lit spellstone faded.

  In a low, deep voice, the disciple said, “You’re a long way from home, Aliya.”

  The illusory Aliya replied, “So are you.”

  “I’ve finally found you. It’s been such a long time.”

  The illusion asked, “Did you kill Carter?”

  The Dark Disciple summoned a blade made of twisting shadows. “You know how this ends.”

  A shadow came over the illusory Aliya’s face. From behind cover, the real Aliya’s hand flew to her mouth to stifle a gasp. Her mind grasped at any reason her foe might have to lie, but it was all a haze. A cold, sinking sensation flushed through her core.

  The Dark Disciple twirled the wicked sword between his fingers. The harsh shriek it produced drew a flinch from Aliya, who took a deep breath to steel herself.

  For Carter, then.

  The illusory Aliya assumed her stance and engaged. The Dark Disciple stood and watched as the blades pierced him. He then turned toward the real Aliya and threw the Darkfire Blade at the tree she hid behind.

  Yelping, she barely managed to jump out of the way. The blade tore through the tree and disintegrated as the Dark Disciple summoned it back into his hand. He then descended on Friedrich.

  “No!” Aliya cried out. She jumped into the clearing and summoned Mirage. With her three blades and the illusion’s three, she surrounded their foe, hindering his progress. Friedrich took the opportunity to cast fireballs at him.

  The Dark Disciple extended his gauntlet and blocked Friedrich’s spells with an open palm. Crackling booms broke out as the flame fell helplessly against his hand.

  He then sidestepped to avoid Mirage. Sensing an opening, he unleashed a torrent of Darkfire from his gauntlet. Aliya narrowly dodged the hurricane of shadowy flame, which crashed into and tore apart several trees behind her. The black wave honed in on her, ripping apart the ground with a crack.

  With a cruel smile on his face, the Dark Disciple manipulated the stone beneath Friedrich’s feet; the ground climbed and twisted, trapping him in place. The disciple then aimed his gauntlet at Friedrich, sending the wave of Darkfire careening at the helpless soldier.

  Friedrich’s eyes widened, searching frantically for Aliya. When their eyes met, his were filled with fear. She jumped to intervene but was too far away. A scream exploded from her throat when the Darkfire impacted. Friedrich didn’t even have time to scream before he was disintegrated.

  Aliya froze in place, her grip tightening on Mirage. Her gaze widened in disbelief as ashes curled on the wind, taking what remained of Friedrich. There wasn’t anything left of her partner to hold, and no time to mourn. Her hands shook as she turned to face her enemy, who was laughing.

  “You should have known better than to involve someone else.”

  “Murdering bastard!” Aliya screamed, her vision turning red. She shot a beam of light from Mirage. The Dark Disciple raised his blade to block it. The spell intensified as it stru
ck the Darkfire Blade, extinguishing the cruel sword. The figure growled as the light spell struck his face. He rubbed blood from his cheek and smiled.

  Aliya gave a bloodlusty shout, ripping massive boulders out of the ground with telekinesis. The earth rumbled, dirt spraying like little needles on her face as she launched the rocks at high speed. Then she charged in.

  The Dark Disciple summoned walls made of living shadow to deflect the boulders and leaped at her. Mirage’s copies blocked his strike. They tried to lock his weapon in place, but he was too powerful to contain. She parried with her main sword and dodged a fierce stab from the crackling blade.

  The figure advanced with a salvo of hackneyed slashes. Every impact sapped at her remaining energy. Each attack seemed to arrive faster, leaving her with less time, less breath. Every muscle in her body screamed out in pain with each movement.

  Her heart was pounding, and fear clouded her mind. He’s too fast.

  She blocked and dodged two strikes before deflecting another. Gasping for air, Aliya summoned a ward. The Dark Disciple bashed it with his blade. Each hit created cracks in the ward until it shattered, forcing her to retreat further.

  Shouting in desperate anger, she launched a continuous gust of wind from her blade. He met her spell with a torrent of Darkfire that tore through her gale. Aliya jumped to the side, narrowly avoiding the same fate as Friedrich.

  The Dark Disciple snarled and leaped forward once more. She met his strike with Mirage but was knocked down by the force of it. He stood above her and leveled the Darkfire Blade at her throat before she was able to react.

  The disciple’s eyes were alight with a victorious spark. “Yet another tragic ending. This is over.”

  Aliya breathed heavily. “Go on and finish it, then!”

  The Dark Disciple pulled back his sword and stared at her eyes for a moment. Then he plunged the blade into her chest with a deep growl.

  Immediately, his eyebrow raised. Something was wrong. Aliya was smiling up at him. He swung to bisect her, but the blade phased through her torso. The Dark Disciple’s eyes bulged with anger.

  Her head tilted to one side. “If you can find me, that is.”

  His eyes narrowed as he withdrew the blade.