The Undying Champions (The Eternal War Book 1)

by Brennan C. Adams

  “You’re telling me I can walk the streets of Tiro unharmed?” Raimie asked skeptically.

  “You both can! Come inside!”

  They meekly followed her past the stone doors and into the hidden city. Everywhere they went, people stopped what they were doing and inclined their head respectfully.

  “What exactly have I done to bring about this change in behavior?” Raimie asked, distrustfully eyeing the people around them.

  She gave him an odd look.

  “You brought down an Enforcer.”

  “I-I didn’t-”

  “Forgive Raimie’s modesty,” Kheled interrupted. “He’s always had trouble taking credit where credit is due. Not many could have challenged and lured Teron away from battle, knowing they’d have to face him alone.”

  Raimie stifled his protests. If his friend insisted on him taking credit, he’d never be able to change the Eselan’s mind.

  “How did you know he was dead?” he asked instead.

  “Oh, forgive me! I forgot to tell you! Oswin safely led your army in an organized retreat through the forest and to our doors. Halfway through, the Kiraak stopped attacking, waited listlessly for a few moments, and then wandered off without purpose. That’s how we knew Teron had died.”

  Raimie stumbled and would have fallen if Kheled hadn’t caught him. They were safe! The battle hadn’t ended in complete disaster which meant he hadn’t failed those who’d placed their lives in his hands.

  “Where are they?” he asked anxiously.

  “I’m taking you there now.”

  Eventually, they emerged into the same empty square where Riadur had persuaded his people to take in the displaced populace of Lindow. Now, it was crammed full of people wearing battered armor and in some cases, changed back into their navy-blue uniforms. Their number was much reduced from what Raimie had left on the beach, and he fought a lump in his throat at the thought of so many lives wasted.

  At the far end of the square, triage had been organized, and a single female healer from Allanovian hurriedly attempted to treat hundreds of injured men and women all by herself.

  “If you don’t mind, Raimie, I’d like to lend my aid to Chela. She looks worn ragged,” Kheled said.

  “Please do whatever you can to help.”

  Raimie had eyes only for his men. The reduced number was concerning, but he was relieved to see even this many still breathing.

  “You truly care for them,” Ren said softly.

  “Their support is what keeps me following this path I’ve been fixed upon. They look to me for leadership, but the truth is that I rely on them more than I’ll ever let them know,” he paused thoughtfully. “I suppose in that way they’re a bit like family.”

  Ren stepped in front of him, blushing deeply.

  “I’d like to try something,” she mumbled. “I hope you’ll forgive my presumption.”

  She interrupted his reply by standing on her toes and clasping his face in her hands. Her lips met his, and everything seized up. He twitched uneasily before letting the anxiety fade away to be replaced with something utterly foreign. For once, he felt right, complete, and warmth spread down every extremity.

  She began to pull away, and he hungrily seized her head, drawing those soft lips in one more time. He pulled her body close to his, attempting to merge their skin together and basking in that sense of oneness.

  Vaguely, he remembered where he was and that others might be watching, and he reluctantly released her.

  “Well,” she murmured. “That was much nicer than I’d expected.”

  Raimie bowed deeply to her.

  “Please forgive me, Ren. I’ve no idea what came over me.”

  “Don’t apologize!” she exclaimed softly. “You’ll ruin it. If you’ll forgive me, I’ve other business to attend to this day. Plus, I believe your assistant has found you.”

  Raimie leaned to the side and made a face.

  “Oswin can wait…”

  “But unfortunately, my business cannot. Perhaps I can help you settle into Tiro once we both find the time. I know quite a few nice locations that most newcomers seem to enjoy.”

  “I’d like that,” Raimie told her.

  “Until then,” she said as she ran off.

  Oswin approached with a sly smirk on his face.

  “What was that about, sir?”

  “That was none of your business, and you’ll keep it that way,” Raimie said shortly before allowing the silly smile to creep back onto his face. “But it was nice.”

  “I’m sure it was, sir.”

  Raimie shook his head to clear it.

  “Thank you for getting everyone to Tiro. You’ll never know how grateful I am for what might seem a small task. I wish I had some way to repay you…”

  “Your gratitude is reward enough, Your Majesty,” the spy replied sincerely with a bow, “as is your safe return. Never let it be said that I doubted your abilities, sir, but there were those who disagreed. They’ve been pushing for a change in leadership.”

  “Who?” Raimie asked sternly.

  He’d only recently accepted his role in this motley collection of soldiers. He wasn’t about to allow another to take it.

  “Well, there’s Riadur, of course. He’s abnormally eager to acquire such a large group of soldiers. Then there’s Eledis,” Oswin winced. “Rumors of your use of magic have spread, sir, and your grandfather is especially displeased with them.”

  “What do the men think of the rumors?”

  “Most everyone knows what you’ve done for them,” Oswin mused. “In light of that, I think the vast majority couldn’t give a rat’s ass whether you employ magic of any kind, primeancy or not. Sir.”

  “Good! What about Gistrick and Marcuset? Or,” and here he choked out the words, “my father.”

  “Honestly, sir, I believe the magic unnerves Gistrick and Marcuset, but they’ve sworn oaths of fealty. Knowing how seriously those men take such vows, I doubt a little primeancy will cause them to waver, especially when it shows no similarities to that of the old tales. As for Aramar, I’m uncertain what he’s thinking. He knows better than to speak his opinions out loud.”

  “In other words, I only need to worry about Eledis and Riadur at this point,” Raimie stated.

  “Yes, sir. What would you have me do?”

  “Do you have a rough estimate of Riadur’s schedule?” Raimie asked.

  “I’d be a pretty poor spy if I didn’t.”

  “Then we’ll start with him.”

  * * *

  Nylion must have lost his patience when the big man failed to light the candle on the second try. He easily lit his own on the table beside him, illuminating the study with a warm glow.

  “Do not bother drawing your sword or attempting to retrieve the dagger from the topmost drawer of your desk,” he advised calmly. “I would be gone before you had completed either task.”

  Riadur spun around, and his hand landed on his sword’s hilt even if he didn’t draw it.

  “What are you doing here?” he demanded angrily.

  “I wish to discuss a mutually beneficial arrangement with you, and this is the only time in your busy schedule when you are alone.”

  “As if I’d want anything to do with you,” Riadur scoffed. “You’ll be out of power soon, and I’ll have thousands of displaced soldiers in my city without a leader to direct them.”

  “And you badly need the soldiers, do you not?” Nylion asked, tapping a finger on their leg. “You have provided safe haven to an excessive amount of people, and your resources are strained to the breaking point. With my men, you could raid enemy posts for supplies, perhaps even the occasional unsuspecting town. You work toward freedom for the entire continent, after all. They can spare some of their crops to feed your own.”

  “I’d never do such a thing!” Riadur shouted, slamming a hand on his desk.

  “Perhaps. Perhaps not. Whatever the case may be, you plan to wrest control of my men away from me with the help of
my grandfather now that I have returned.

  “Were you aware that Eledis is my grandfather?” Nylion asked lightly. “I must say that of the two of us, you have chosen the more manipulative and cruel family member to work with, and of course, your plan will never work with him alive and breathing. Eledis will take control from you even if you can convince the other two to join your cause, which they never will.

  “Marcuset is too enraptured with honor and loyalty to turn against his oath, and Gistrick too wracked with guilt over what he perceives as a betrayal to commit another. At the moment, they are thoroughly my creatures.”

  “You’re just as despicable as I’d imagined,” Riadur spat.

  Must I avoid harming him?

  “We need him as an ally, Nyl. He probably thinks we plan on taking his city’s last hope away. Explain our plan.”

  Nylion was quiet for a long while, and Raimie could feel him wrestling to contain his rage. When he spoke again, his voice sounded as calm as it had at the beginning of the conversation.

  “On to the arrangement I mentioned previously. I propose that you allow me and my men to make Tiro our base of operations. The city is well hidden and full of people that can dispel our ignorance about this land. I shall also require a lockpick to assist with missions as needed. Not many of us are skilled in that area, and my efforts to find one have been lackluster at best.”

  Raimie mentally rolled his eyes at his other half’s jab.

  “In return, we shall provide you and the good citizens of Tiro with any food that we acquire during our military campaign minus what we need for ourselves. I believe you will find that this arrangement would work toward both our benefits.”

  Riadur opened his mouth to reply, face bright red, but Nylion hadn’t finished.

  “Before you respond one way or the other, you should set aside your personal feelings for me and think about your city. Can it afford for you to refuse? I realize this is a difficult decision. I shall leave you in peace to mull it over.”

  Nylion wrapped himself in a shell of Daevetch, disappearing from view, and slipped out the open window. Once on the street, he shattered the shell.

  Acceptable?

  “It was wonderful, Nyl. The perfect balance of intimidation and reason. Thank you.”

  Why did you involve me? You could have handled that.

  “Not as well as you did. You know how I stumble over words when I get flustered, and you seemed angry. I can’t stand it when one of us is angry with the other.”

  You are correct. Perhaps I should deal with grandfather as well?

  Raimie’s spirit drooped. Nylion was angry.

  “That should be my problem, and it can wait. Without Riadur to back him up, Eledis can’t hope to gain control.”

  I think you fear him.

  “Does that change my assessment?”

  The world snapped, and he was the puppet master of their body again.

  Nyl? I’m sorry that I’m weak. I’m sorry that you have to protect us, and when you do protect us, I manage to mess that up and distract you.

  After a moment, reluctant reassurance popped up, and Raimie breathed a sigh of relief.

  * * *

  Kheled hesitated before making the last leap up into the concealing, wood supported ivy overhead. It was a long way down, and broken bones were an especially unpleasant form of pain. Gathering his courage, he jumped from the cliff wall and grabbed hold of one of the large limbs of the lattice framework. He shuffled further down the wood to an opening in the vines and hauled himself on top of the beam to lay belly first.

  The city of Tiro sprawled far below, and for a dizzying instant, it spun. He closed his eyes, hugging the support fiercely, and took a steadying breath. Keeping his eyes shut, he smoothly balanced on the support and inched forward.

  Crossing the canopy of the forest was completely different from this. In the trees if you fell, there were multiple handholds to snatch before you met the ground. Here, there was nothing but air.

  “May I join you?” he asked when he hovered over Raimie.

  “Make yourself comfortable.”

  Again, Kheled hesitated.

  “I’d be more comfortable resting on the stone overhang,” he suggested timidly.

  “I like feeling as if I’m suspended in thin air. It’s freeing.”

  Kheled carefully settled on the support where Raimie had chosen to lay.

  “More like terrifying,” he muttered darkly, freezing up when he glanced down.

  Raimie leaned forward on his elbows.

  “Why, Khel, are you afraid of heights?”

  “With good reason!” the healer retorted defensively. “Becoming a meat patty due to the impact of my accelerating body with an unmoving surface is one of my least favorite ways to die.”

  “I’d think it’d be quick!” Raimie exclaimed.

  “You would think that, wouldn’t you?”

  Kheled shakily reclined on the wood, folding his hands on his stomach.

  “But if we moved to solid rock, we’d have the mountain blocking our view of the stars.”

  “I was thinking about how the night sky is different in Auden as compared to Ada’ir when you joined me,” Raimie murmured. “They’re the same stars, but they’ve shifted a little. I wonder why that is.”

  “Maybe you can ask Alouin the next time you see him.”

  “Hopefully through a tear this time,” Raimie said with a snort. “I don’t like dying either. Twice was enough for me.”

  “Are you talking about the two times I saved your life?” Kheled asked. “Because I hate to burst your bubble, but you were quite alive when I worked my magic on you.”

  “But Alouin said… never mind,” Raimie dropped it. “Add that to the list of things I need to ask if I ever see his face again.”

  Talk of Alouin stirred Kheled away from the peaceful contemplation he’d experienced while star gazing to resentment. He swiftly changed the subject.

  “I heard that Riadur agreed to let us stay. Was that your doing?” he asked.

  “I had nothing to do with it. My guess is that he saw reason.”

  Kheled smirked, holding back a guffaw with difficulty.

  “I doubt that man could ever see beyond his anger to logic without another’s help. Maybe Eliade spoke with him.”

  “Whatever the case may be, I don’t look forward to dealing with that man when…”

  “When what?” Kheled asked, latching on to the sentence with singular intensity.

  “Ren kissed me,” Raimie answered haltingly, “and when she tried to pull away, I kissed her back.”

  The Eselan burst out laughing.

  “I knew it! I knew there was something there!”

  “You’re not angry that I kissed your sister?” Raimie asked hesitantly.

  “Hardly. Ren’s more than capable of defending herself if someone she doesn’t like tries anything with her, and if she’s decided she’s interested in you, there’s nothing I can do about it.”

  “Does that mean I can see where this goes without worrying about whether her deathless brother’s going to murder me if I somehow hurt her?”

  “You won’t hurt her,” Kheled asserted without any doubt, “at least, not intentionally. You’re too sincere, and you care too much about others. Besides if it does work out, then I gain another brother…”

  He trailed off, remembering a long line of brothers in the past. Pulling them out of trees, gathering their body parts, burning the remains; he choked on the memories.

  “I’ve never had a brother,” Raimie murmured into the stretched silence. “I’ve had someone similar, but never an actual sibling.”

  “Who are you so close to that the relationship’s like that of a brother?” Kheled asked curiously.

  “You’ve never actually met him,” Raimie said with a mysterious smile, “and I don’t think you’d like him if you did.”

  The rustling leaves of the forest filled the air with noise for them.

  �
�You’re planning on sleeping up here, aren’t you?” Kheled asked after a while.

  “Already tied myself to the beam. If I roll over while I dream, the rope will catch me before I plummet too far.”

  “Why up here?”

  Raimie didn’t answer at first, and Kheled thought his friend may have fallen asleep.

  “I can’t be with them right now,” he eventually whispered. “They stare at me with expectant eyes, asking what the plan is now that we’ve survived our first week in Auden. When I’m with them, I playact that I’m confident, that I have a plan, when the truth is I have no idea what I’m doing. I’m crushed beneath the weight of the statuses of ‘hero’ and ‘fearless leader’ that they’ve tagged me with, and I know that, at some point, they’ll figure out that I’m nothing special, just a scared human being caught up in something bigger than himself. This was the only guaranteed place of escape, somewhere they won’t be able to find me.”

  “I found you,” Kheled said.

  “You’re different. I don’t see expectations I’m sure to dash when I look at you. I see a friend. I didn’t mind the chance that you would use Ele to get up here and join me.”

  “You’re wrong,” the healer informed him. “I do want something from you.”

  Raimie wearily sat up, clasping his hands in his lap.

  “I’ll do whatever I can for you, my friend. I owe you more than I can ever repay. I don’t know how much more I can carry of other people’s hopes and dreams, but I’ll do my best. What can I do for you?”

  Kheled laughed hysterically. He sat cross-legged on the support, gripping the wood to keep from tipping over the edge. This selfless attitude, this was why he was proud to call Raimie friend.

  “What?” Raimie asked, eyes wide. “What did I say?”

  “I don’t expect you to take full responsibility of my fragile hopes, my friend,” Kheled gasped. “I can seek out my goal on my own if it’s required, but it isn’t. I have a friend from whom I can ask a favor. I’d merely request that you help me achieve my goal. I’d enjoy your company at the very least.”