The Legacy (The Darkness Within Saga Book 1)

by JD Franx

  The next few days passed in a blur of sleepless nights that evolved into early morning arguments and heated discussions. Though there was little for Max and Kasik to do inside the ruins, they spent their time with the local guards and the village hunters. Ember had been able, for some unknown reason, to grasp the Ancients’ language easier than most experienced scholars. By the third very long day she was helping with some of the less complicated translations. The translations of the tablet were completed on the morning of their fourth day in the Stillwater ruins.

  Giddeon, Salabriel, and to a lesser extent, Ember, all managed to agree that the first stone told a historical account of a war that the Ancients had been fighting against an enemy they referred to as bug-like. Giddeon concluded it meant one of the early DemonKind tribes. Ember didn’t agree, but her lack of experience with the language failed to allow for a strong argument. One of the Ancient’s words, ‘dosa’ had become a serious topic of tension between them.

  Giddeon made sure to take a charcoal rubbing of the tablets for their own use. Not trusting him, Ember took a copy for herself. The current translation disturbed her. She was certain there was more to what they had uncovered and she was determined to figure it out. It would take time; the other three tablets were carved with four times the amount of information than was on the first. Giddeon’s arrogance—caused by his vast amount of knowledge—seemed to make him overlook things, though her understanding of the language was not complete enough to argue. Yet. She folded the rubbings from the tablets and tucked them away inside her travel pack. As everyone gathered in the library, she sat down in the nearest alcove to work on the last few lines of unfinished translation.

  “All right. Is everyone ready?” Giddeon asked, as he gave a quick glance around the room. “We’ve pieced all the translations from the first tablet together and this is what we have. Plenty of it was too worn to read, so passages are incomplete. Luckily the other tablets are in better shape; unlucky for us that they have a lot more information. It’ll be slow work to decipher all of them. Ember will finish translating the last entry while I read what we have for everyone else. It contains more proof of the danger we may face when we find Kael.”

  Ember gave him a dirty look over her shoulder, but it was clear that he didn’t care. Even though he told them repeatedly to accept the truth of what Kael may have already become, it was something she’d never do. His voice drowned out her thoughts, so she refocused on the papers in front of her and his voice faded from her mind.

  Giddeon rearranged his papers, cleared his throat and began.

  1580 RR

  Communication between battle units is difficult. All commanders are reporting that supply and travel lines are under constant threat. The bugs(demons) attack, always before defensive measures are set. Our understanding of magic is superior to their weak forays into the arcane, yet still they persist. Reinforcements have been sent to all units. Several black fliers will join every unit. Victory should be close.

  1581 RR

  Many reports are not arriving here at the hidden mountain archive. Our history will be incomplete for the first time. New magic has plagued our warriors on the field of battle for many months; the enemy has sent magic users against us that we have no defence for. Magic from our darkest nightmares flood the field of every battle. Attempts to capture one of these creatures fails time and again. Reports speak of unheard of destructive power obliterating our forces elsewhere.

  1585 RR

  We have discovered that the Black Sun phenomenon heralds the birth of children capable of the powers that come against us in battle. The High Syddic has called them Black Sun Children. All soldiers are now ordered to terminate these bug(demon) children if found. Their powers will become a very real threat to our existence some day.

  1648 RR

  We continue to fight, but these Black Sun Children possess powers that seem to grow the older they climb in age. We have used our most powerful magics to balance the power of their coloured fliers, destroying many of the large bugs(demons). The Children, on the other hand, we have no defence for; they pester our troops day and night. They have a... relentlessness that borders insanity.

  1862 RR

  Most reports no longer arrive. If we get one every few years we are happy. The end of our race approaches, for reasons we, the sacred, do not understand. We never thought to be forced into full retreat. The next several years will be spent trying to consolidate forces for one final battle against our enemy.

  Giddeon finished reading out loud the translated sheets he had in his possession and looked at Ember. Finishing the last decipherable sentence, she stood and handed the paper to Giddeon. The sick look on her face told the story of what what she discovered.

  “Do you want to read the last of it?” he asked.

  “No, go ahead. It’s what you always wanted to hear anyway,” she said, testily. She sat down beside Yrlissa as Giddeon began to read once again.

  1880 RR

  WEEK’S END.

  It has been confirmed. We, the registers of our history, will make the last entry in the archives. One of the High Syddic’s guardians arrived this morning. Mortally wounded, he had life enough to tell us that three Black Sun Children were on their way, only a day behind him. He told us he was sent days before the battle ended as our forces fell under the onslaught of the Children’s dark magics. With no hope remaining, he was sent to report. The arrival of the Children will end our race and our reign. We have documented our empire and this struggle in stone to preserve our race’s downfall. I chisel the last to stone as I work even now. It is the first and last time an Archivist’s own words have been added to our history, but it is a must. The fall of this sanctum must be made known to those who may one day find my words.

  Week Anew.

  I return to enter the very last words of our race. The Black Sun Children attacked less than one half hour ago, but as men of documented history we cannot fight. We can only die. Our magic and power reigned for thousands of years, to finally fall at the hands of bug(demon) children. Our mistake for allowing the bugs(demons) to live and grow under our protection and care as we have all others. It is unclear how the final battle was lost so quickly. We will never know. Our sanctuary has fallen as well. May the old gods take us into their arms...

  As Giddeon finished the last translations, everyone sat quiet, not knowing what to say. It was no surprise, though, when Max broke the silence.

  “Guess we know what the black stains were covering the tablet’s mantle,” he said, in an attempt to lighten the mood. It backfired, triggering an outburst in Giddeon.

  “Yes, Max, it’s obviously blood. The blood of an innocent monk. Do you two finally see?” he yelled. “DeathWizards are responsible for the fucking extermination of the Ancients. What more do you need to see before you understand that Kael needs to die? If for no other reason than the safety of this world?”

  The outburst sparked the last bit of Max’s extremely short fuse. He exploded out of his seat with both swords drawn with such speed that only Kasik had time to respond. Though slower, he was just able to jump in front of Giddeon and meet Max’s swords with his own. As the two warriors strained against each other, the faintest whisper of magic trailed from Kasik’s enchanted sword, Still. A misty white essence crept from the massive great sword and coiled around Max’s blades. A sound like a loving mother shushing a tired child emanated from somewhere within Still. The deeply-embedded runes dulled the razor sharp Elloryan blades in only seconds.

  It wasn’t enough to make Max back down. “You really are a remarkable peace of human shit, Giddeon,” he shouted past Kasik, though his eyes never left the Northman’s. “Are you even aware of that through your haze of ignorance? You’ve absolutely no kindness or consideration for other people’s feelings whatsoever. You’re not fit to clean shit-ridden dirt off the bottom of Kael’s feet as far as I’m concerned.” With his anger running white hot, he turned to Kasik, pushing harder. “This is the person you c
hoose to follow? You’ve told me enough of your people that I know they can be respected. But I don’t think for a minute they would find what you are doing is honourable.” He growled in Kasik’s face, pushing against the locked blades to show Kasik that he wasn’t strong enough. The Northman slid backwards two feet, until fetching up against Giddeon.

  Livid at having his honour called to judgement by an outsider, Kasik growled and braced himself against the crossed blades, shoving back with everything ounce of strength he had. Falling well short, he couldn’t move Max an inch. “Many have died for saying less to me, newcomer, you had better remember that.”

  Max’s anger boiled as adrenaline pumped into his tensed body. “Then why haven’t you attacked, Northman? Because you know this is wrong. Kael has done nothing to any of you. You will hunt him down and kill him because of something he might do. That’s wrong, Kasik. Even you have to know that,” he said, calming slightly.

  Kasik refused to surrender the argument. “I am sorry, Max, but you cannot imagine what his kind are capable of. We do. Our way is safer for everyone. He has to die.”

  “Not so long as I’m in this world,” Max snarled through clenched teeth, pushing on the crossed swords. The intense force drove Kasik into Giddeon and knocked them both to the floor in a crumpled pile.

  Ember jumped between them with a swiftness no one knew she had. “Enough! All of you! Stop it now. Max, no more please. You know Kael wouldn’t want this and neither do I. We’re better than this, than them. We’ll go our own way and find him, all right? We don’t need them.”

  Max nodded and lowered both his swords. Ember turned to Giddeon as Saleece and Salabriel helped him up off the floor.

  “Perhaps it would be better if we went our own way from now on. Yrlissa, will you please come with Max and I? Help us find Kael so I can at least see him before they track him down and kill him,” she asked, shooting a defiant glare at Giddeon.

  Yrlissa placed her hand on Ember’s shoulder. “Always, my friend. You have even not to ask. I promised you we would find him and we will.” Turning to Giddeon and the others, Yrlissa asked, “Give us a couple hours and we will leave. We will provide our own way. Fair enough? Thank you for everything. All of you.”

  Saleece glared at Max as she replied, “Maybe that would be for the best. You may keep the mounts and supplies you brought… Ember?”

  “Yes?”

  “I am sorry for everything. My father... We should have been more sensitive.”

  Her voice heavy with sadness, Ember tried to smile. “It doesn’t matter, Saleece. You will never see, nor will you ever understand. When your actions take the life of an innocent man, you will be called to pay. Some day and by someone. Mark my words, Saleece. You will remember this very moment when there is no one there to help you.” She turned and along with Yrlissa and Max, walked from the library without looking back.

  Once Ember’s group had left the ancient library’s room, Salabriel was the first to chew into Giddeon. “Gods above! You couldn’t try a little bit of tact or compassion? This is the poor girl’s husband you plan on killing.”

  “I know, Sala. He’s my son, too, or did you forget that?”

  She stormed up to him and looked him eye to eye. “Naseh Anah,” she barked in Elvehn, before repeating the phrase in the common tongue. “Don’t you dare. You know damn well it’s not the same thing, Giddeon Zirakus. He may be your son, but you didn’t raise him and you don’t know what kind of person he is. That is your daughter-in-law in there, torn from the love of her life and the only world she has ever known. I would bet you haven’t even asked her about Kael, have you? What he’s like, or what things he enjoys. Whether he is a good person. So don’t even try to make the same comparison to her. You are purposely keeping detached so you can do what needs to be done. You can’t imagine what she is going through unless you picture yourself riding along with the person that you knew was going to kill Aravae and the whole time you were doing that, that person kept reminding you why he was going to kill her. Do you think you would care why or what her ancestors did? The Valyndir bloodline was convicted of war crimes against the Tribals five centuries ago. Aravae is a direct descendant.”

  “It’s not the same, you know that,” he barked back.

  “It’s not? Did you care during the first Wildlands War? The Southern Tribes hunted the Elvehn because of the atrocities committed centuries earlier by extremists and their elemental magic. For Mistress Inara’s sake, Giddeon, you should be able to relate. How many Tribal assassins did you kill while helping your wife survive her ancestor’s crimes? You suffered for days at the hands of Kavis Blood-Drinker, one of the most vile witch doctors the Halotti tribe ever spawned because you refused to give up where she was hiding. You forget who helped you piece your soul back together after that animal shredded it, you old fool.”

  Giddeon sat down and rubbed his face with his hands, the rush of horrific memories returning. “Gods, what have I done? I never thought to look at it that way. I just kept trying to prepare her for what was to come. To show her the danger he would be.”

  “Giddeon,” Salabriel sighed. “He will never be a danger to them, you know that. His kind are capable of loyalty, he may never hurt them no matter how far the corruption grows. But you can try and fix the damage you have done here.” A calm silence hung in the air as everyone tried to absorb Salabriel’s words. Minutes passed before the silence was broken.

  “Giddeon?”

  “Yes, Kasik?”

  “We have something else to worry about while we’re at it. If you do convince them to travel with us again, you had better consider giving Kael that chance to come peacefully, before you try and kill him,” Kasik suggested.

  Surprised, Giddeon asked, “Why in all the Gods’ name would I do that?”

  “Because, if you use Ember and Max as a distraction to get close enough to kill Kael, our deaths will follow seconds later. There is no way I can protect us against Max. He’s stronger and faster than I am. A lot. I have never seen his like, and what happened here was just a warning. He meant us no real harm. His swords will be faster than my blade and stronger than any shield you can summon.”

  With utter disbelief, Saleece gasped, “How is that possible? The Northmen are the best warriors in the Blood Kingdoms. In all of Talohna even. You’re one of the best of them, you would be a GrandMaster of the Krigare if you were back home.”

  Nodding he answered, “Well… You’re right. But then, he’s not from this world. Is he?”

  Giddeon frowned as centuries-old memories struggled to surface. “He’s not supposed to be…” he trailed off, before shaking his head and refocusing. Unable to bring the image to the front of his mind, the ArchWizard forced his attention to the problem at hand. “All right then. We need to make this right. Anyone want to volunteer to talk to them?” he said, looking to the others. Getting no volunteers, he sighed with resignation. “I didn’t think so.”

  Giddeon would have to do it himself, as it should be, his stupidity had gotten them there. Everyone just needed to cool down first, though.

  It took a little work and some patience to mend the gap between the two groups, but Giddeon did his best to make sure everyone was over it before they left Stillwater. He apologized profusely to Ember and Max after what Salabriel said to him. She was right; Ember had spent almost every day of her entire life with Kael and she would know everything about him. Deep down though, Giddeon didn’t want to share that knowledge. It would make killing Kael that much harder.

  The next day they all said their goodbyes to Salabriel and Stillwater before they headed towards the Northern Forest Mountain Pass, located in northeastern Cethos. Having travelled extensively across all of Talohna’s kingdoms, Yrlissa served as an impeccable guide. She made a point of showing Max how to read tracks and to recognize signs of danger. She also did her best to show Ember where to find healing plants and how to safely harvest the dangerous ones, even though she herself rarely used poison. The troubl
e between the two distinct groups quickly faded away as the ruins were left behind.

  By mid-afternoon the mountain pass came into sight and they could see almost a hundred people coming out of the trail between the mountains. Giddeon couldn’t understand where such a large group of travellers had come from, so he asked Yrlissa to get them there as fast as she could. It took less than an hour to guide them safely past the northern edge and most dangerous area of the wetlands. As they approached the group of people, Giddeon saw two men step forward with their hands in the air showing they meant no harm.

  Though he had been badly beaten, Giddeon immediately recognized Gabriel Alatar’s young apprentice, Oloward Fletcher. The young apprentice, whom everyone called Olo, was considered a special teenage boy when it came to magic, but in the mundane tasks of life his mind was less than half his fourteen years. It was rare, but bonding with the earth power sometimes had vile side effects. With the mind of a child, Olo would become a powerful wizard in the centuries to come, but would always be assigned to a Master Wizard for his own protection.

  Olo and his current Master Wizard, along with several other wizards and an enhanced royal garrison, had been sent to Ipea as added security against the attacks taking place in the smaller villages in the Blood Kingdoms. The man with Olo was Ben Solwith, one of Ipea’s most respected town elders.

  “Ben. Olo. What are you doing up here?” Giddeon asked as the two groups drew closer together.

  Ben looked up at the ArchWizard before he spoke. His eyes carried a haunting sadness. “They attacked again, Giddeon. They took Gabriel and the others. Olo only made it because he was practising with the men in full armour. The assailants didn’t know what he was, I think. They took all the magic users and all of our healthy young men and women. The town’s finished.”

  Surprised by the news, anger stirred inside Giddeon. There had been five wizards, plus the apprentice, stationed in Ipea, all close friends. Gabriel and Kalmar Ibess were both Master Wizards. The others were almost as experienced. Galen Vihr was supposed to test for his Master’s standing during the upcoming graduation in four weeks’ time.