Darkblade Guardian

by Andy Peloquin

  His mind raced. It didn't make sense. Master Eldor's hand on his shoulder snapped him from his thoughts. "Everything all right?"

  The Hunter turned to Master Eldor. "Sorry," he grunted. He'd had come to Kara-ket for answers and found only more questions.

  "Deep thoughts?"

  The Hunter nodded.

  "Troubling ones, by the looks of it."

  The Hunter rolled his shoulders. "Worried for the boy."

  "I understand that. I remember the day I left my own son in the enclosure."

  "Where is he now?"

  Master Eldor's expression turned stony. "Gone."

  The Hunter didn't push. The old Elivasti seemed disinclined to say more. Instead, he thrust a finger toward the standing stones. "Tell me this, what in the Watcher's name are those accursed things doing here?"

  "What?" He squinted in the direction of the Hunter's pointing finger. "Oh, the Dolmenrath?"

  "Whatever you call them! Why are they here?"

  "Why wouldn't they be?" Master Eldor's brow wrinkled in confusion. "The Serenii put them here when they built the temples."

  Serenii? The Hunter's heart thundered. But I thought they were used by the demons.

  Visibos, apprentice to Sir Danna, the Cambionari knight, had said the stones served as a focus for the power of the Abiarazi. The balding man insisted the demons used them to invade Einan, yet could the Cambionari apprentice be mistaken?

  If that's true, they're nothing like any of the other Serenii artifacts. The Serenii built graceful elegance and masterpieces of architecture. Their handiwork—the Black Spire in Praamis, the Bridge of Ilyerrion, the tunnels beneath Voramis and Malandria, even the twin temples of Kara-ket themselves—were beautiful creations that defied the very laws of nature.

  The obelisks, however, reeked of death and destruction. He'd encountered those standing stones in the Chasm of the Lost, and again in the Advanat. Il Seytani's men had called them "a place of evil". Even bloodbears, among the most vicious creatures on Einan, avoided the monoliths. The black obelisks seemed to emanate an aura of menace and malevolence that made the Hunter shiver despite the midday warmth.

  But Master Eldor seemed undisturbed by their presence. "They are, in large part, a reason we arrived in Kara-ket in the first place, so many centuries ago."

  The Hunter's head snapped around, his eyes narrowing. "Explain."

  "They are spread throughout Einan, hidden in places where no human would dare to travel. But we dare, for it is our only hope, the only way to escape the madness. The Dolmenrath were built by our forefathers, and they extend the shadow of the Serenii across the land."

  "So you travel between these Dolmenrath? They serve as a 'safe haven'?"

  Master Eldor nodded. "Indeed. We have scoured every corner of Einan in search of the Dolmenrath. That is how we discovered the twin temples, one of the greatest creations of the Serenii."

  "So you stayed, not out of loyalty to the Abiarazi, but because it is the only way to live?"

  "At the beginning, yes. Those who came before me took up residence in Kara-ket in order to survive. But when the Sage came, he proved himself worthy of our service. He has given us purpose. Because of him, we flourish when our very heritage has turned against us. We are safe in a world where we are unwelcome simply because we are not human."

  The Hunter knew that sentiment all too well. He'd hidden his true identity from the people of Voramis. Oh, he'd told himself it was out of a desire to avoid reprisals for his work as an assassin, but deep down, he knew it had been a lie. Even when he had no idea who—or what—he was, he'd always known he was an outsider. Hiding his identity had made it easier for him to blend in.

  "So to you, those stones aren't harmful?"

  Master Eldor raised an eyebrow. "Why would they be?"

  The Hunter hesitated. If he doesn't know what the stones can do, should I tell him?

  "I've heard stories, is all," he said lamely.

  He hated lying to Master Eldor, but he couldn't risk the Sage finding out the truth about Hailen's blood. Together with the Dolmenrath, it offered a power he wouldn't let the demon get his hands on.

  Chapter Thirty-Four

  An elegant fragrance—citrus, verbena, and oak—drifted toward him. A heartbeat later, the reek of rot and decay assaulted his nostrils, setting his stomach churning.

  Speak of demons and they appear.

  The Hunter turned, his eyes traveling to the top of the wall. The Sage leaned on the parapet, eyes fixed on the Hunter and Master Eldor.

  Master Eldor followed his gaze and swept a deep bow to the Abiarazi. "He'll want to talk to you, lad," he said from his prone position. "Be wary what you tell him." When he straightened, his face had grown inscrutable, the sorrow fading from his eyes.

  The Hunter steeled his expression and, with a respectful nod for the Sage, strode toward the gate. The Elivasti at the entrance let him out without question. He turned his steps to a nearby set of stairs, climbed, and came to stand beside the demon.

  "Sage."

  "Hunter." The Sage raised an eyebrow. "Anything to report?"

  The Hunter shook his head. "Whispers and shared glances, but nothing concrete." He leaned on the parapet. "It'll take more than a day to gain their trust."

  "You and Master Eldor seem to have bonded."

  The Hunter groaned. "You came right after the tongue-lashing he gave me. I missed a particularly important thrust in training."

  "Ahh." The Sage nodded. "I have heard of Eldor's…draconian regimen. A necessary evil, given that his Elivasti face off against the Warmaster."

  "Why is that?" The Hunter turned to regard the Abiarazi. "From what I hear, the Warmaster isn't particularly concerned about teaching."

  The Sage grimaced. "You've no idea how many Elivasti I've lost to that brute. All part of the training, he says, but it's odd how many of the ones who sustain the worst injuries are the ones I can trust."

  "Seems a waste, one you'd be better off avoiding."

  "If only," the Sage said, sighing. "Remember that they serve all Abiarazi. They must obey his commands. Which means if he insists that he test their mettle, they have no choice but to face him across the training field at least once."

  "Has anyone bested him?"

  "Not even close." The Sage shook his head. "Though I would give all the fabled wealth of the lost city of Rach-chan-neth to pit him against Master Eldor in his prime. Now that would have been a battle for the ages."

  The Hunter nodded. Even at his advanced age, Master Eldor moved with the grace and speed of a greatcat, striking each blow with power and precision that seemed impossible from such a slim frame.

  "Come, Hunter. Walk with me." The Sage gestured toward the smooth walkway atop the wall. "From the lofty heights, one can so easily forget what it's like to live down here. Were it not for the Expurgation, I believe I would never visit the home of my Elivasti."

  The Hunter didn't buy the Sage's pretense. The demon didn't care how his servants lived—all that mattered was that they served him. The ritual of the Expurgation commanded his presence here tonight, nothing more.

  "How go our plans?" The Hunter inclined his head toward the Warmaster's temple.

  "Slowly," the Sage admitted with an uncharacteristic wince. "I have my men looking for a weakness in the Warmaster's ranks, but I fear they are not finding it. Short of a direct confrontation, we are having little success clearing a path for you to attack him when he is vulnerable."

  The Hunter clenched his jaw. His plan hinged on eliminating the Warmaster without killing any Elivasti. He had no qualms about killing Masters of Agony, but he doubted Master Eldor could talk down Elivasti hell-bent on revenge for the death of their own.

  "But do not despair, Hunter. We will find the right time to make our move." The Sage fixed him with that intense glare. "What will you say to him tonight?"

  The question caught the Hunter off guard. He hadn't given much thought to it.

  "If, as you told me, he is expe
cting you to find a chance to eliminate me, he will be expecting to hear from you. No doubt he will try to get you alone while I am busy with the ritual."

  "No doubt." The Hunter gave the Sage a wry grin. "And I will tell him precisely what he expects."

  The Sage cocked an eyebrow. "Which is?"

  "That I have wormed my way into your good graces and you are sharing with me every detail of your plans. By the week's end, I will have gained your implicit trust, and you will believe I am your best friend."

  The Sage chuckled. "He'll be pleased to hear that."

  "Then, when he inevitably asks when I intend to make a move, I will give him a convincing reason why I have to delay a few days. Something about increased security or some such."

  "Good, good." The Sage stroked his angular chin. "Do you think it'll work?"

  "He won't be happy about it, but I think I can placate him for a little while longer." The Hunter fixed the Sage with a pointed stare. "But not much longer."

  "My men will not fail me."

  Silence passed between them as they strode the wall. The Hunter was keenly aware of the Sage's eyes fixed on him with that unblinking stare. "What?"

  "I find myself wondering why you choose to side with me rather than him. Surely a warrior like you must have recognized a kindred spirit in him."

  The Sage's words felt like a slap. "Because both wield a sword?" The Sage nodded. "If that were the case, I would consider the Cambionari among my friends."

  The Sage winced.

  The Hunter sneered. "I tell you this, Sage, the Warmaster may have the skill of a warrior, but he has the temperament of a bloodbear in heat! He is a savage, mad in his lust for power. While I am by no means a man of peace, I understand that there are times when a hot head is more dangerous to oneself than one's enemy."

  A grin tugged on the Sage's lips. The Hunter stifled the urge to ram his fist into the demon's smug face. You, too, are a monster, Demon. You just hide it better. He steeled his expression. It wouldn't do to let the demon see his true feelings.

  The Sage nodded. "I believe you speak the truth." He stopped suddenly and turned to the Hunter. "Tell me, what do you think of Kara-ket?"

  The mercurial shift in conversation surprised the Hunter. He studied the Warmaster's temple, which rose thousands of paces overhead. Sunlight glinted off the cool green-blue exterior, accentuating the perfection of sleek curves and towering magnificence.

  "A masterpiece of architecture," he said, truthfully. "In all my travels, I've only seen one building to compare—the Black Spire of Praamis."

  The Sage nodded. "I have heard of the Black Spire, though I haven't had the good fortune to lay eyes upon it myself. The Serenii truly were masters of their craft. But did you know that this temple was once a brilliant white?"

  The Hunter said nothing. Clearly the Sage was working up to a point.

  The Abiarazi's gesture encompassed the pristine blue sky. "They were intended to be a place for the Serenii to study the heavens. Only the most perfect white stone was used in the construction, brought here from all across Einan. Looking at it now, you'd hardly believe it."

  The Hunter studied the temple once more. Not a speck of white showed among the sea of cerulean stone. "As you say."

  "Therein lies my point. All of the greatest Serenii architects—the very hands that had constructed Enarium—collaborated to build Kara-ket. But one Serenii, a botanist, warned them that building atop Shana Laal would have dire consequences. Of course, the Serenii, in their self-important grandeur, ignored their companion. The construction of Kara-ket proceeded as planned. The temples were erected, and a truly spectacular creation they were, indeed."

  "But?"

  The Sage chuckled. "The botanist was right. Atop Shana Laal, there grew a species of moss found nowhere else on Einan. That moss spread across the surface of the temple almost overnight, and the Serenii could do nothing to stop it. In fact, they had to brick up all of the entrances to the temples in order to stop the moss from spreading inside."

  "The Serenii spent centuries trying to figure out how to eliminate the moss. But, by the time they did, the stones were stained. Thus, the pristine white temple of the Serenii was forever marred…forever changed to this. Kara-ket was abandoned by all but the botanist who had warned against the project."

  The Hunter scratched his chin. He'd faced arrogant enemies many times. None had lived long enough to regret their overconfidence.

  "An object lesson, then." The Hunter pointed to the Warmaster's temple. "Just as the arrogance of the Serenii proved their downfall, the same is true of the Warmaster. His hubris will be his doom."

  The Sage gave him a wintry smile. "Correct. And the doom of every Elivasti that follows him. Thus, for the sake of the people I—and all Abiarazi—have sworn to protect, I must remove him. And there above us lies the plan for doing so." He pointed. "See there."

  The Hunter followed the demon's finger. A bridge connected the uppermost levels of the twin towers. Though it looked frail from his vantage, if it was built from the same stone as the temple, it would hold an army.

  "That is your plan? Surely he has men guarding the door!"

  "No. The Warmaster is too confident of his strength. He fears no assassin, not when his temple is filled with Elivasti and Masters of Agony. He locks the door, but never sets a guard. It would be a simple matter to have one of my Elivasti slip into the Warmaster's temple and open the door for you. You could enter unnoticed. From there, it is only a few flights of stairs to the Warmaster's quarters. I leave it to you to decide the best way to put an end to him once and for all."

  The Hunter studied the bridge. "How do I access it?"

  "Through my private chambers. There is a reason I took up residence there. Long have I had this plan in mind. The only thing stopping us is the Warmaster's paranoia. Only those Elivasti he truly trusts are allowed in his temple. It is proving difficult to get my men in the position to open the door. "

  The Hunter studied the bridge and grunted acknowledgement. It would be the perfect way to gain access to the Warmaster's chambers without having to climb twenty floors. "I will be ready."

  Savage glee flashed in the Sage's eyes, and he gripped the Hunter's shoulder with surprising strength. "You will not regret it, Hunter. When the Warmaster has been eliminated, there will be no stopping us. We will rule Einan, and you will command my armies as you were born to."

  The Hunter plastered excitement on his face, but inside he felt only disgust. The burden of responsibility had just grown heavier. If he didn't eliminate both demons, the whole of Einan would suffer as a result.

  He snorted inwardly. The Hunter of Voramis, a Watcher-damned savior. Bugger me with a cactus, who'd have ever thought it?

  Chapter Thirty-Five

  Something the Sage said sparked an idea. "You say I am to command your armies?" A similar offer had been extended by Queen Asalah in Al Hani, so it didn't take the Hunter by surprise. "But what will I command them to do? This is the first you've spoken of your intentions beyond the Warmaster's death."

  "Ahh," the Sage said, nodding. "And you wish to know my plans."

  The Hunter shrugged. "If I am to share in the conquest, would it not be best that I know how it will happen? Perhaps I may even have something of value to add." He gave the Sage a sardonic grin. "Beyond my ability to swing a blade."

  The Sage had given him the perfect opening. He had an excuse to come out and ask directly about the demon's plans for Einan.

  "Of course." The Sage inclined his head. "I fully intended to share all the details with you when the time was right." He lowered his voice. "And trust me, it will come sooner than expected."

  The Hunter fought to hide his excitement. If he could get the Sage to divulge information on his spies and envoys around Einan, it would make his job of hunting them all down significantly easier. It was the final missing piece to complete his mission to Kara-ket.

  The Sage straightened. "But now is not that time. We are here for
the Expurgation, the cleansing of the Elivasti. I believe you will want to witness this firsthand."

  The Hunter nodded. He needed to learn as much about the ceremony as possible if he was to find a way to cure Hailen.

  Horns blared nearby, filling the air with a deep rumbling akin to the roll of thunder.

  The Sage's eyes snapped to the sky. "Sunset approaches, and the ceremony must commence shortly. I must depart and prepare for my role in tonight's rites."

  "Of course." The Hunter gave a short bow. "And I must find the Warmaster and give him my report."

  The Sage sneered. "Get the unpleasant tasks out of the way first, eh?"

  "Always."

  "I will seek you out after the ritual is concluded. Perhaps we will have a chance to speak further on important matters. But first, a word of caution. I'd advise against saying anything about your boy."

  The Hunter raised an eyebrow. "Why?"

  "The Warmaster believes his men were unable to locate the lad." The demon fixed him with that intense, unblinking stare. "He has no idea your boy hides among the Elivasti in the enclosure. If he discovered the boy is here…"

  The Hunter's muscles drew taut. He'd almost forgotten. "He would seek to use him against me." Though he wouldn't trust the Sage as far as he could throw a cave bear, at least the demon's intervention had prevented the Warmaster from capturing Hailen and using the boy as leverage. Keeping the Warmaster unaware of Hailen's presence meant keeping the boy safe a while longer.

  "Precisely. For that reason, let him believe the boy has somehow slipped through his fingers. It will be safer for him."

  "So be it."

  "Until later, Hunter." With a nod, the Sage turned and hurried away.

  The Hunter watched the demon go, and the tension in his shoulders and neck diminished with the retreating reek of rot and decay. Every conversation with the Sage felt like dancing along the edge of a sword. A single misstep would prove fatal.

  But he'd learned a great deal from this encounter. The Sage had plans to conquer Einan, though no doubt less ferocious than the Warmaster's. The fact that the demon had offered him command of his army could indicate the Sage meant to keep him alive longer. Or, it could be nothing but a ruse to keep him placated, unexpecting of the dagger that would surely find a way into his back. Either way, he would play the loyal ally. If it convinced the Sage to reveal his plans, he'd act the part.