The Legacy (The Darkness Within Saga Book 1)

by JD Franx

  “With them at the top of the stairs like that we have no chance of getting up that way,” Kasik mumbled, while leaning on his greatsword.

  “I’ll take care of these three; they don’t appear to be Reavers. They’re just low-totem grunts,” Yrlissa offered. “Giddeon, this is what you wanted me along for, right? We have one to question,” she nodded, towards Ember and the woman asleep on the floor. “We don’t need these three alive.”

  “I agree, but we do need Kiirein alive, though,” Giddeon said, with a touch of anger.

  “Of course,” Yrlissa said, clearly insulted. “Just watch and learn.”

  “Give her a shot, guys. You’re always talking about the legendary skills of the Broken Blade assassins. Let her show us,” Max said, smiling at her. After several seconds, Kasik and Giddeon both nodded. Yrlissa smirked and whispered something that none of them could make out. With a wink, black mist began to form around her body and rapidly creep up the stairs. Yrlissa smiled to herself as she felt the touch from Giddeon’s magical sight, but knew he couldn’t penetrate the dark miasma as it swallowed her. Only Saleece’s fading spell would show her location.

  With a nudge from Giddeon, Saleece renewed her spell as the black mist continued to flow up the stairs.

  The rest remained downstairs and watched as the life-spell allowed them to see Yrlissa’s form advance up the stairs like a pale blue wraith. The first pirate was pulled off his feet without breaking the silence at the same moment that her dagger slid into the back of his skull. Though the council had taken her enchanted wooden daggers after her “death”, steel killed just as easily in the hands of a skilled assassin.

  The dead body slid down the stairs, but Yrlissa had already moved on. She planted one foot on the wall and vaulted upwards into the rafters and hopped from beam to beam up in the ceiling. The other two pirates slowly backed away from the summoned black mist, not knowing it was harmless. They never saw her pass overhead as she jumped across the support beams to get behind them. Perched on the farthest joist, Talohna’s best assassin waited for her targets to back into range with a patience only granted to the best predators. Once they had retreated far enough, she dropped behind them in a crouch, her knees absorbing all the shock of the short descent. Making no sound as she stood behind them, the two pirates never knew she was there until they felt the sting of her buried daggers in the base of their heads. Giving both blades a vicious twist that severed the spine from the skull, the two pirates were dead before they hit the wooden planks of the second story floor.

  With a whisper and a horizontal wave of her left hand, Yrlissa banished the black mist and proceeded to free Kiirein as the others raced upstairs. Giddeon went straight to Kiirein and tried to bring the unconscious guide owner around. Max, however, was more interested in Yrlissa’s skilled take down of the three pirates.

  “Oh man, that was sweet. You moved like a shadow through those rafters.”

  She smiled at the attention. “Lots of practise, Max. And I am sorry, Saleece, that I couldn’t tell you what we were up to downstairs,” Yrlissa said, apologizing as soon as Saleece and Kasik were at the top of the stairs.

  “I should be the one to apologize. I lost my temper for no reason. I should have known something was wrong from the way you two were acting,” she burst out laughing. “Can you imagine what a night with him would be like, huh?” she mocked, as she made fun of Yrlissa’s earlier acting.

  “Assassin, not thespian,” she smirked. “Besides Kasik isn’t really my type. The other big hunk, maybe, if he could ever take a hint,” Yrlissa chuckled, as she bumped her hip against Max, his expression making her laugh even harder.

  Max threw his hands up in the air in mock frustration. “Hey, I can take a hint you know, but it’s not like we’ve been racing across the continent to get here or something. When exactly am I supposed to have time to romance you?” he said, looking at Yrlissa.

  She looked at Max and batted her eyes. “I’m terribly sorry, honey, but this isn’t the Cethosian royal court. Romance is the furthest thing from my mind.” Max blushed bright red as he turned to walk back downstairs.

  “I… I’ll go keep and eye out with Ember. At least she’s too depressed to make jokes,” he said over his shoulder.

  Giddeon finally decided he’d had enough as Kiirein started coming around. “Bloody jungle in here. I’m sorry, Kiirein, the children are a little restless today it would seem.”

  With his hands free Kiirein stood up and stretched his stiff body. “They saved my life, Giddeon. They can joke and laugh all they want. It is good to see you, my friend, how’ve you been?”

  Giddeon grabbed Kiirein in a hug. “I can honestly say that I have definitely been better. You?”

  “Things were going very well, until Bauro’s pirates started sneaking into the city. Now we must be careful who we hire, careful who we guide, we even have to be careful in our own establishments now, as you have seen for yourself,” Kiirein said, shaking his head.

  Giddeon saw the worry all over his friend’s tired face. “What did they hope to gain by holding you here?”

  “We have an escort leaving tomorrow for three big merchant ships. They’re carrying wines and spices mostly, but one ship of armour and weapons, headed for Soena. It’s Elloryan steel, Giddeon. It’s a full armament load; it has to be the main target. The men you killed hoped to keep me here long enough to leave with mostly traitors on board and then their orders were to kill me. You’ll need you to inform Dock-Captain Falaron before I’m seen outside this building.”

  Yrlissa stood up from searching the bodies. “If someone wants to finish checking the bodies I’ll go to the captain. I know which three pirates were watching us outside. I’ll let him know.”

  “It may be better if you take Max with you,” Giddeon said. “I think we’d better stay in pairs. When word of this gets out we’ll become targets for retribution. The Suns don’t tolerate interference by anyone. Fair enough?” Giddeon raised his brows as he looked for an answer.

  “Now how could I say no to taking my hunk of everything with me for the rest of the evening?” Yrlissa laughed. “I will grab him on my way out, Giddeon. Don’t worry.” Her response made Saleece laugh so suddenly she snorted with a garbled grunt. Yrlissa left to get Max, laughing harder than she had in the months she’d been with them. Giddeon shook his head at the behaviour of his daughter and their resident assassin. When he noticed Kasik smiling he just rolled his eyes and headed downstairs with the rest to see if their prisoner would give them any more information. No one saw his slanted grin as he turned away.

  The female pirate refused to give them any information about who she was or what ship she crewed on, and within a few hours Captain Falaron had sent a group of guards to remove the bodies of her fellow pirates. Two Elvehn high mages arrived with them to take her to the city’s dungeon where she would be placed in a magic-proof cell. She’d be transferred to the wizard’s prison, BlackWall Gulag, by week’s end. The guards also notified them of the couples’ capture and the escape of the man on the Lightfoot schooner Yrlissa had seen. She and Max returned an hour later after failing to find him as well.

  Once back, Giddeon told them all to go and get some rooms at the Red Dragon Inn while he talked to Kiiren. Smiling at the thought of rest and good food, they all quickly left, leaving the two wizards alone. Kiirein took a seat at the desk where the afternoon’s trouble began.

  “So, Giddeon, now that all the fun is over and done, what brings you to see me? Does it have to do with the attacks that have been happening on the smaller settlements?”

  Giddeon sighed and leaned his back against the wall beside the maps pinned there that showed the various nautical information the company used on a regular basis to help them plot different courses. “Actually, Kiirein, it’s much worse than that, and I… we… need a very large favour.”

  Kiirein’s face frowned at the way Giddeon had asked. “Gods, Giddeon, what kind of favour do you need that you would ask like that
? Everything we have been through together, after Father’s death and two wars, you know if I can help I will, right?”

  “Of course I know, Kiirein, but this favour may cost you business. We need you to take us to BlackFang Harbor. Wait until we’re done and then sail us where ever we may need to go from there.”

  Looking at Giddeon for several seconds he finally said, “Aegaus’ blood, old friend! No wonder you seldom ask for favours. That’s a big one. You know that no other flag is allowed to dock at BlackFang. They could revoke our docking pass just for bringing you uninvited. ArchWizard or not.”

  “I understand, but we must get there. You’re the only one who can sail a ship under the Dragon’s protective umbrella. So will you do it?”

  Kiirein sighed as he leaned forward with his head in his hands. “You’re lucky, Giddeon. If you’d have arrived one day later, both the schooners I have in port would have been gone. But then I might have also been dead.”

  “That means you’ll help?” he asked.

  Kiirein chuckled as he nodded. “Of course, old man,” he joked, “though you will owe me an explanation as to why. I’ll captain her myself, of course, and you know Mother will want to come along as well.”

  Giddeon shook his head at the thought. “It could turn out to be incredibly dangerous. If something were to happen to Sorena I couldn’t forgive myself.”

  Chuckling to lighten the mood a bit, Kiirein got out of his chair and walked over to Giddeon to put both hands on the ArchWizard’s shoulders. “You know as well as I do, Giddeon, you can’t stop my mother from doing what she will, any more than I could. Besides I’m sure you’ll want only a bare minimum crew, right?”

  “Definitely the fewer the better,” Giddeon answered. “Secrecy is a must from when we leave until we’re back.”

  Removing his hands from Giddeon’s shoulders, Kiirein held them in the air as a little, spinning water spout appeared in the palm of each hand.

  “Then Mother’s magic will be one more help to defend the ship, but getting you there is the easy part. Do you have any ideas for crossing the Forest of Whispers? Showing up unannounced, I promise you that if they accept your tribute, you’ll be walking to the Crystalis City. The Talons won’t let you use the transport,” he said, calling the water spouts back from his hand.

  Looking up at the ceiling and closing his sore eyes, Giddeon could only shake his head. “I can only hope most of the stories are just that, stories to keep treasure hunters and such away from the DragonKin lands. No one has been to their realm for some time, right? Your company is the only one with a docking permit still? Well, except for royal dignitaries, right?”

  Kiirein replied, instantly, “Yes, yes, and yes. As far as I know, Giddeon, you were the last Human or Elvehn to step foot on Ver Karmot. You didn’t cross the forest that time did you?”

  “No, myself, and the bard... Ah, what was his name? Gaylen Sallus, I think that’s it.”

  “Garren, Giddeon. The bard’s name is Garren Sallus.” Kiirein laughed. Giddeon could never remember the poor man’s name.

  “Garren... right. He, I, and a few others were escorted into the Talon barracks. The next thing I knew we were in the main hall of the Crystal Palace. The DragonKin definitely have their secrets.”

  Nodding in agreement, Kiirein added, “They do, don’t they? We call the device that you experienced transports. Father suspected that they were a leftover or a gift from the Fae. It’s where the rumours about Fae teleportation obelisks came from. But in reality, who knows? It’s not like the DragonKin are going to tell you the truth.”

  “They have their secrets for a reason, I guess, though many from the Eye have tried to find out. I think more wizards have been killed on Ver Karmot for trespassing during my reign as ArchWizard than any other.”

  “That comes from years of peace, Giddeon, not through any fault of your own. ‘Peace makes for bored wizards’, Father always said.” Giddeon laughed out loud at one of Oripar’s favourite sayings.

  “Now, ArchWizard,” Kiirein began, with a gentle bow. “Our permit only allows for docking and offload, but if you have at least one full binding crystal, the guards will at least let you enter their land. Showing up without an invite, you will have to walk to Crystalis City, so be prepared for the forest. Oh, and they will check. Father said he took some guy once about sixty or seventy years ago when he was on a break from the university. I guess the binding crystal was a fake. Father refused to ever tell us the details, but the fool died quickly at least.”

  “It’s a good thing that both of ours are real then, and I’m praying we won’t need three. HellisKor almost killed us all and we still couldn’t destroy the WraithLord…” Lost in memories it took a few minutes for Giddeon to shake off the horrors of that day. “Why don’t we go join the others for something to eat?” he proposed with a yawn.

  It triggered a reflex yawn from Kiirein, as well. “Oh wow, what a long day. That sounds like a good idea, but let’s stop at the warehouse first so I can make the arrangements for tomorrow. I gotta tell my captains about the changes and make sure the Narwahl heads out with the merchant ships. The Baron’s Deep needs to be lowered from dry dock and prepared tonight so it can go as well, and Sorana’s Song will have to be prepped for a longer journey. We can leave with it in the morning.”

  “I was with your father when he named that ship. It was the first one he had custom built, the flagship for the company. You remember? You couldn’t have been twenty years old.”

  “I do, almost a hundred years ago now. We’ve never built another like her. She will carry Mother’s song until the day she joins the High Brethren in Paradise.”

  “Even beyond, I’m sure, but that’s enough of memory lane, Kiirein. Let’s go for some fresh air, it will do us both some good,” Giddeon said, as he led the way out of the office and headed to the warehouse.

  Chapter Thirty

  The year is 5025 PC and my name is N’Ikyah. This will be the first entry in my new diary. With the old one full, Mistress Arabella gave me my next. It is the duty of all Dead Healers to document our existence for the greater good of the coven.

  It is cold and dark here, deep within the Dwarven ruins of Arkum Zul, far below Tazammor Mountain. We are nearly three months into End-Winter, summer will be here in the same amount of time. I love summer, though it matters little because we are here. I have not seen the sun or sky in over two months.

  We are told to always tell the truth in our diaries and though I will be severely punished for this, I no longer care. Because of the diary’s magic I know that once it is written here the Cardessa will see it. It is my responsibility to keep Kael alive after countless hours, days, and now months of torture. He refuses to give up and my soul weeps for him and how much he suffers every day. Empathy is what helps us to heal with magic, but during times like these it is the worst quality to have. The longer he holds out against Mistress Arabella and the rest of her ternion, the closer she pushes him to death, trying to prove that she can break the last remnants of his staggering will. It is getting harder to bring him back each time she vents her anger against his body and mind. I fear that I will eventually be forced to graft my life force to his to prevent his crossing over into the afterlife. I will not hesitate to do so, even though it will mean the end of my own life. If I should die here at least the Cardessa will know that my mistress went too far.

  DIARY PAGE FOUND ON THE SHORES OF THE SEA OF STORMS

  SUMMER’S DAWN, 5025 PC

  RUINS OF ARKUM ZUL

  TAZAMMOR MOUNTAIN

  Kael smiled, admitting to himself that sometimes life could be pretty good. Stretched out on the swinging bench he built on the front porch of their small home in Sam’s Bay, he’d never felt better. Ember was lying against him with her head on his chest as birds chirped and crickets played their spring music. The rough times of the past were just a distant memory tucked away at the back of his mind. The love of his life was in his arms and they were home. As his fingers trail
ed through her hair, she slept wrapped secure in his arms, a gentle snore coming from her. Though he hadn’t moved for some time, hours maybe, he felt no desire to ever move again. He wanted nothing more than to be this happy for the rest of his life.

  But like most good things in Kael’s life, it didn’t last long.

  It surprised him how quickly he went from never wanting to move to an almost uncontrollable urge to shift his weight. All because of an uncomfortable pain that was digging at his chest.

  Though he tried not to, his gentle movements woke Ember and she leaned forward, yawning. She looked up at him, blinking her bright green eyes. “I love you, Kael. Don’t forget that, okay?”

  He smiled at her. “I could never forget that, Ember. Never.”

  She smiled back, but cupped her hand on the side of his face, and asked, “Kael, love, promise to fight, okay.”

  Stunned and taken aback by her words, he scratched his tender chest as the insistent pain seemed to dig a little deeper. He coughed, trying to dislodge it. “Why would I need to fight, Ember? We’re home. We’re safe now,” he groaned.

  Sitting straight up with a sense of urgency, Ember pleaded with him. “You have to fight. Kael, if you don’t fight you’re going to die!”

  The words coming from her mouth didn’t make any sense. He reached his hand out to pull her close, but black lightning sparked to life, jumping down his arms as it leapt from his hand. Crossing the foot of space between them in an instant, it ripped Ember apart. Black and grey ash—all that remained of her–scattered on the stiff evening wind. Kael screamed in horror as the pain in his chest erupted into fierce agony. He doubled over, his eyes clenched tight. An intense shrieking sound screamed through his head and his nostrils flooded with the stench of blood, burnt hair, and human filth. His eyes shot open to the foul discovery that the smell was coming from himself as he laid on a cold stone floor. Looking around, frantic with confusion, his memory came rushing back.