“Your power suppresses mine. How would that work?”
“It should work. I can read surface thoughts when I choose to.”
Nyx grasped his hand. Darius closed his eyes and the image of a shack flashed through his mind. He gulped. “I know where that is and it’s not one of the main islands.” Dread formed in his stomach.
“Where is it then?”
“Doringa.” He left it at that. Telling her it was an island where slaves were kept wouldn’t sit so well with her. Better to wait until they got there. “It’s in the lower realm.”
A small group of islands existed beneath the lands of Andovia. The slave islands, as some called them. Most of the fae avoided going there unless they were those who worked with slavery.
Darius signalled to Sirin to change course. The dragon banked left. His heart pounded and disgust twisted in his gut. He hated going to the slave islands. People there were treated as little more than chattel. All races had the right to be free – despite what his father decreed. He knew Nyx wouldn’t be pleased at going there either, but they had no choice. They had to keep track of any potential rifts.
“This is pretty barren compared to what I saw on Eldara and Avenia,” Nyx remarked as Doringa came into view. “What is this place? Is this where poor folk live?”
“Something like that.”
Doringa was a harsh place and one of the larger islands in the lower realm. It consisted mainly of fields to grow crops in. Crops didn’t grow as well in the upper realm due to the altitude and high winds. Plus, they had more flowing water down here.
Sirin’s wings grazed the water as they neared the island. Another much larger dragon loomed overhead and charged towards them.
Unlike Sirin’s silver skin, this dragon was all black with glowing red eyes. A ridgeback. Darius recognised the Dragon Guard’s favoured beast.
“Who goes there?” The rider astride the ridgeback called out. The man’s armour gleamed like bright silver fire, and he aimed his staff at Sirin. “No one is permitted on Doringa.”
“I’m Darius Valeran, a Captain in the Forest Guard.”
The guard guided his ridgeback closer; the two dragons circled each other. Sirin let out another cry, warning the ridgeback not to come any closer.
“Who is your companion?” the guard demanded.
Darius’ jaw clenched. “A servant. And who are you to question me?” He forced himself to put on his Archdruid façade. The Archdruid answered to no one and nor did his sons. At least that was what his mother had told him. Darius didn’t like to use his family name to lord it over everyone, but it did prove useful at times.
The guard lowered his staff. “Very well, my lord. I will escort you to the island.”
Nyx scoffed at the words “my lord”.
Darius waved his hand. “Return to your post. I can find my own way there.” He urged Sirin onward. “Perhaps next time you will have the sense not to get in my way.”
His dragon gave another screech then surged away. Darius couldn’t blame her for wanting to get away from the ridgeback. He didn’t like the beasts either; they were trained until they were broken, until they had no spirit left in them. It was one of the reasons why he had adopted Sirin due to her size and gentle nature and why he had refused to join the Dragon Guard.
As they came close to land, Nyx gasped. Below, people dressed in little more than rags tended to their fields. A few glances came their way, then people averted their gazes. Some looked as soulless as the ridgeback. “These are slaves, aren’t they?” Nyx hissed in his ear. “Good gods.”
Darius sighed. “Yes, this is one of the many slave islands. And before you say anything, yes, I disapprove of it. But like it or not, this is the way things are.” He guided Sirin down to where a row of small shacks stood then dismounted.
Nyx jumped down beside him and rubbed her legs. A guard glanced their way then raised his fist to his chest.
“We won’t be long, girl.” He patted Sirin’s head. Darius sent his senses out once more. No sign of the darkling, but that didn’t mean there weren’t nearby. He motioned for Nyx to follow him.
Neither of them said anything as they scanned the different houses. No one dared to look their way either. Most of the shacks all looked the same, wooden and roughly made, like they wouldn’t survive a strong storm.
They moved past the first row and away from the field.
“I still don’t understand this,” Nyx hissed. “Why is the Archdruid imprisoning fae when he is married to one?”
“Look at them.” Darius motioned to the workers. “What’s different about them compared to the other fae you have seen so far?”
Nyx frowned. “They… they have wings and pointed ears.”
“Exactly. These are Andovians — an old race of fae which Silvans despise,” Darius explained. “But I know someone here who might be able to help us.”
“You’re friends with slaves now too?” Nyx scoffed. “You are full of surprises, druid.” She shook her head. “Nothing about you or these lands makes sense to me.”
“Yes, I am.” Darius raised his chin. He wasn’t about to defend himself to anyone, least of all her. He hesitated as they moved away from the fields and approached another row of shacks.
These were in better condition and could almost pass for a rural village. If Darius introduced Nyx to his friend, he would be showing her weakness, one she could use against him. He could have forced her to stay with Sirin, but she might have made another escape attempt. Besides, he needed her to identify the person she had sensed and to track the darkling if it was still somewhere nearby.
Darius approached the last house in the row and knocked.
After a few moments, the door opened, and a man with green hair emerged. “Darius. Good to see you, my boy.” He clapped Darius on the back. Pointed ears stuck out of his long teal hair and blue wings trailed behind his bony back like pieces of broken leaves.
“Nolan.” Darius gave him a grim smile. “We are looking for someone who we think may be in trouble. Maybe you can help us find them.” Nyx, can you see if you can sense the person you heard earlier?
Nyx didn’t acknowledge she had heard him.
He sighed. Darius would have to work on forming a mental link with her so they could communicate more easily.
Nolan’s smile faded. “Who?” He eyed Nyx. “Why is she here? You know how dangerous this place is for outsiders.”
“I’m not a threat to anyone.” Nyx crossed her arms.
“She’s… here to help. We are looking for someone who —”
Nyx pushed past Darius. “Come on, druid.” She took off running.
Darius and Nolan glanced at each other before they both hurried after her.
“Who is the girl?” Nolan puffed as he struggled to keep up. “You’ve never brought her with you before. She looks like one of my people except she doesn’t have pointed ears.”
“It’s a long story.” Darius picked up the pace so he didn’t lose sight of her. For all he knew, she might be making a run for it again. This would be the perfect place to escape from, and she could fly after all.
Darius stopped at Nyx’s side where she stood and stared at a small shack. This was the place she had shown him earlier.
“They’re inside, I can sense them.” Nyx craned her head towards the house. “They are still afraid, but I think they’re still alive.”
“Is the darkling still inside?” Darius frowned, and Nyx shrugged. “Nolan, who lives here?”
Nolan paled. “Lyon. Oh, by the mother, no.”
Darius rushed inside the house. On the floor lay a young man, his wings splayed around him. His eyes flickered. Darius knelt and placed a hand on him. Dark magic hit his senses. Marks were etched on the man’s neck where claws had dug in. “He’s still alive,” Darius gasped.
The room contained little more than a straw mattress and a few dirty blankets and, in the far corner, a wooden stool and a few cooking pots. That didn’t surprise him as all
of the slaves on the island were not allowed to keep personal possessions.
“What happened to him?” Nolan asked, face etched with concern. “How did you know he was in trouble?”
“A darkling attacked him — a spirit,” Nyx answered and came over to Darius’ side. “Can you help him, druid?”
Darius shrugged. He had never felt magic this dark before. “I will do my best, but I think we need to get him to Eldara. Ambrose is better equipped to deal with this than I am.”
“We can’t carry him back. I doubt Sirin will be able to hold three people.” Nyx shook her head.
“She’s right. He looks too weak to be carried by a dragon,” Nolan remarked. “But we can’t keep him here either. Radek kills any slave who falls ill.”
“Who’s Radek?” Nyx frowned.
“The commander in charge of this island.” Darius’ lip curled. Spirits, he hated Radek with a passion and did not want to run into him either. “We’ll do what we can to help him,” Darius assured his friend. “Help me carry him to his bed.” Darius and Nolan heaved Lyon up and dragged him over to a mat in the corner. “Nolan, do you have any herbs and potions that we might be able to use?”
Darius and his contacts smuggled such things out here whenever they could. He even spelled the items to camouflage themselves so they could be hidden from the guard’s prying eyes.
Nolan shook his head. “No, Radek has his guards doing weekly checks. They confiscated what meagre supplies we had. Darius, you know what they’ll do if they find Lyon here. Can’t you transport him somewhere else?”
Darius sighed. “No, transportation spells don’t work here on this island. My brother put spells in place to ensure no slaves could use the rings to escape.”
Gideon had insisted it was to stop slaves from escaping but Darius knew better than that. Gideon didn’t want anyone getting supplies onto the island and helping slaves. Gideon always did everything he could to thwart the resistance’s attempts to help people. It also meant no one from the resistance could come and go from the island either. Their old escape plans had all been ruined.
One way or another, they had to find a way to save Lyon before it was too late.
Chapter 17
Nyx paced up and down the narrow length of the shack whilst Darius chanted strange words over Lyon. Light flashed from the druid’s hand, and he continued to cast different spells. She knew how to be patient from her days on the streets stealing coins, but she hated standing around feeling useless. She needed to do something. Anything. Nolan had gone off to see if he could find anything left over from his secret stash of supplies that had been smuggled onto the island.
Nyx sighed. “Is it working?”
“No. This magic is unlike anything I’ve dealt with. I have no idea if any of my spells will work.”
“Can’t Ambrose help?” Judging by how powerful the elder druid was, she thought he would be able to heal anyone. She didn’t know enough about druid magic yet to understand how it worked.
“Maybe, but it would be easier if he were here.” Darius rose.
Nyx couldn’t get too close to the man without the iciness from the dark magic overwhelming her. “Can’t he fly here? Or transport using those circles that you druids keep drawing?”
Darius shook his head. “The commander forbade Ambrose from coming here. He didn’t like Ambrose helping the slaves. I’m only allowed here because I am a Valeran.”
“Why wouldn’t —” Nyx shut her mouth. No, no one helped slaves. She knew that from experience. Slaves were cheap labour and used throughout the lower realm and beyond. Most people considered slaves dispensable too since there were always more to come by.
Harland had kept her and her sisters fed and sheltered so he could profit from their abilities. Nyx had only ever thought of her curse as a means to an end, a way of surviving and eventually escaping from Harland. She might have a chance to escape whilst she was here. She had eyed possible escape routes. Escaping here might be easier than getting off Eldara. She had considered taking Sirin but decided against it. Darius probably had a way to call the dragon back so that wouldn’t work. It didn’t look like there were any boats around either. How did these people get around if they had to transport slaves somewhere? Or more likely they didn’t move them. Ships came to bring people and no one ever left.
The iciness crept over her again, overpowering the constant buzz of thoughts. Was the darkling still nearby? If so, maybe she should go and look for it. It would give her a good excuse to look for an escape route. Escape would take time and planning – that much she already knew. So, she had better get started.
“I sense something,” Nyx said. “The darkling maybe. I’ll go scout around and see if it’s still here.” She would not ask his permission. Nyx might be a servant, but she wouldn’t ask him for anything. Her pride wouldn’t let her. Nor did she want to stand around feeling useless.
Darius narrowed his eyes. “I can’t leave Lyon.”
“I’m not suggesting you do.” She crossed her arms. “I can go and look. You do not have to come with me.” Nyx needed to do something or she would lose her mind, or more likely lose control of her power.
“And what if it attacks you? There are no other routes off the island except by dragon. Sirin only takes commands from me — so don’t think of trying to escape whilst you’re here.”
“You said I wasn’t a prisoner, yet you treat me like one.” Nyx gritted her teeth. “I’m not running away. I want to find the darkling because its energy is almost as annoying as being subjected to everyone’s thoughts.” Her fists clenched. “I can’t be around people for too long, druid. Or would you like a repeat of yesterday?”
Darius shook his head. “Doringa isn’t somewhere you can roam around. There are guards everywhere. I can guarantee one of them will stop to question you.”
“How else can we find the darkling? If I can track it, maybe you can banish it.”
He sighed. “Fine, but stay close. And, for the love of the spirits, don’t use your powers on the guards or draw any unnecessary attention to yourself. If you get overwhelmed, use your bracelet.”
“I may never wear that again. Also, don’t defile what few possessions I have. That was a gift.” Nyx turned and hurried out.
She took a deep breath and sensed someone coming towards her.
Nolan.
It didn’t take long for her to become accustomed to seeing someone’s energy.
Darius stepped outside. “Nolan, would you mind accompanying Nyx? Make sure she doesn’t get lost and keep her out of trouble if you can.”
Are you out of your mind? Nyx snapped and switched to talking in thought so Nolan wouldn’t overhear her. What if he gets attacked by the darkling? I’m not going to be responsible for someone else’s life. She had no idea what she would do if Harland appeared and tried to kill her again.
Darius arched an eyebrow at her. It wouldn’t be safe if you were alone.
Nyx frowned as Nolan came closer. There was something odd about him. Energy hummed somewhere deep inside him, but it somehow lay beyond reach. He’s bound, Nyx realised. No one here would be allowed to have magic. She had heard of such tales and always thought they had been an exaggeration. How had they managed to bind entire races?
Nyx reminded herself not to be surprised by anything. This place fell under the rule of the Archdruid after all.
How will sending me off with someone powerless help? She glowered at the druid. I can move around quicker on my own.
You’re getting better at communicating in thought. His smile only infuriated her further.
She scowled at him. Answer me, druid.
Darius rolled his eyes. You will draw less attention that way.
Right. She scoffed and headed out.
Nolan trailed after her. “Unusual for Darius to have a servant. He despises such things.”
“How do you know I’m a servant? I’m just a slave like you.” Her lip curled in disgust.
Nolan gave a
hearty laugh. “Darius would never have a slave. He despises slavery as much as every slave on this island does. No, you must be either a servant or an apprentice, although the latter seems unlikely. The fae court would never allow anyone like you to become an apprentice.”
Nyx narrowed her eyes. “Lucky me then. I am sorry you have to come with me. No offence, but I prefer to be alone.” His energy didn’t bother her since it was restrained and his mind sounded unusually quiet, but how could she look around with someone following her?
“Even more unusual to see a winged fae roaming free. Can you fly?”
Nyx ignored him. She didn’t have time for idle chatter. Iciness washed over her once more. That darkling had to be somewhere around here. She had to find it and get a sense of what it was.
“Do —?” Nolan began.
“Quiet. I have an evil spirit to find. Then I can help the druid.” Nyx sprinted off in the opposite direction. The iciness intensified. “Where are you?”
No sign of anything.
She didn’t know how to focus her power. Instinct didn’t tell her what to do either.
Nyx hurried along the trail, dirt crunching underneath her boots. Where are you?
“Looking for me, Nyxie?” Harland’s spirit emerged from behind a tree. “You didn’t think I would stay gone for long, did you? Look at you, trying to act like a hero.” He gave a harsh laugh. “These people won’t be fooled by you for long. They will soon see what a little rat you are. So stop trying to pretend you can help them. No one can help the people on this island. They were born slaves and will die that way. They are as worthless as dirt.”
Oh, good gods, not now.
“Go away,” she hissed. “You are not welcome here.” Nyx knew she had to find a way to get rid of him once and for all, even if it meant telling the druid about him.
“I told you you’d soon be joining me.”
Nyx furrowed her brow. “What do you mean?”
Harland laughed and leaned back against the tree. “You’ll find out soon enough.” With that, he vanished.
Nolan puffed as he jogged to keep up with her. “Wait. There are other dangers on this island apart from the—”
The Calling (The Andovia Chronicles Book 1) Page 15