“Well captain, that makes one of us,” Raehar said, tucking the pistol’s barrel into his pants.
Chapter 10 : A Sea Of Blood
“What is my purpose? I find myself in the midst of a war which I don’t truly understand, with a dragon. Maybe my purpose is yet to be discovered. At any rate, I am glad to have finally left Grenlees.
I must get used to flying. I don’t like the feeling of being covered in my own vomit, and I don’t think Niesha does either.”
(Adela)
The campfire flames licked the air and lit their faces. A deer’s carcass crackled on their makeshift spit. Karven lay near them. His eyes were barely open as he listened to their conversations. It had been a long night and nobody was ready for sleep. Finn had taken his turn to take watch overhead, and had been flying for hours without a warning signal.
“We’ve been around Mount Wayrin many times now, and found nothing. What do you think it all means?” Yuski said, stretching until her spine popped.
Everyone seemed drained. Vartan had hoped that Anakari would know something or even lead them there. He didn’t blame her, but was only disappointed that what they found that day had made no sense.
Vartan bit into the juicy deer meat and sighed. “I don’t know yet. It’s our first day out here and so far, we have only discovered Kassina and the forces of darkness making their way out to sea. That isn’t what we came here for, but can we just ignore it?”
Dryden looked toward the ocean. “What do you think they’re looking for out there?”
“Who knows, but I for one am not swimming after them to find out. We could have easily died out there,” Anakari said, laying her head on Yuski’s thigh.
Vartan chuckled before speaking his mind. “If you were truly in danger, then we would have seen Losa, and that would have given Kassina a good fright. We’re tired, but we have not even gotten started yet. Kai’En said that your symbols are the key to entering Daessar.”
“That’s right. Come on Kari, strip off again so we can take another peek,” Yuski said, batting her eyelids.
Anakari shook her head and slapped Yuski’s side, but a wide grin spread across her reddening cheeks. The others stirred to life, sharing a moment of laughter with the girls. Even though they hadn’t found any clues of Daessar, Vartan was glad that the girls accompanied them. They brought a sense of hope and innocence, as if the spilled blood hadn’t taken some humanity away from them.
“I know he said that, but what are we supposed to do? How do I know what my symbols are good for?” Anakari said.
Vartan stared at his metallic gloves and frowned. “Your symbols are as much a mystery right now as these gloves. I can’t believe they are so hard to figure out.”
He clapped them together and the symbols in their metallic surface glowed for a moment, and they heard a humming sound that soon disappeared.
“Oh Vartan, you’ve been messing with those all day. I’m sure that both mysteries will be solved soon enough. Shouldn’t we be worried about demons finding our campfire?” Dryden said.
Vartan grinned. “Usually I would say we should be, but we have two dragons, me, a hardened knight, a demon hunter, and a goddess. I think that demons should be afraid of us finding them.”
They laughed as they enjoyed their late dinner.
Vartan sighed and his voice deepened. “We may not get another moment like this for a very long time, so let’s make the most of it.”
Their laughs disappeared and faces hardened. Nobody spoke for a while and the crackling of the fire accompanied his thoughts.
Yuski broke the sombre silence. “You know, speaking of gods and goddesses; why is it that they don’t just come down here and sort it all out?”
Vartan looked to the stars. “I don’t think it works like that. But it sure would make our lives easier, wouldn’t it?”
“It looks like the gods are certainly doing their part to help us though,” Anakari said, her eyes getting heavier.
Vartan had been bothered by the revelations at Greenhaven, and figured that this was the best time as any to probe further. “Speaking of the gods and the ancients, what happened to that all powerful stone? And if Losa was reborn here, how were the other gods created?”
The group shared contorted looks and shrugged at each other before Karven raised his head. “Pertinent questions, young prince. The gods and their creations, as well as the stone, are all related. How were elves and dragons created? All by the stone, with an understanding that only the ancients seemed to grasp.”
“Wait, so they can create endless gods?” Anakari said.
“No, there are rules of balance and of the universe. They told me that only elders were able to ascend to the realm of the gods. They would die, holding the stone, and be reborn in the plane of the gods, their fates deciding who they would become,” Karven said.
“This stone, what if it were to fall into the hands of Shindar?” Dryden said.
Karven grimaced. “You don’t want to know what would happen, so we must ensure it never does. It would be the first thing he would search for if he knew where it was. Most Marithians forget that Shindar was created by the gods themselves, as a force for good.”
“He sure isn’t that anymore though, is he? How are you so certain that he cannot obtain the stone?” Yuski said.
“The stone remains in the one place I never expect him to find. It is the energy and power that keeps Talonsphere alive. Magic comes at a cost, and to activate such a weapon will absorb the power of the stone. It lies in Talonsphere’s chamber, which is where we are headed to.”
The shock was plain to see in the firelight. Vartan couldn’t believe it and a thought came to him. “That was never written into the prophecy, was it?”
Karven answered him. “Not in the one spread throughout Marithia. Do you really think that the prophecy and all of its details would be spread around for everyone to know? The only message they wanted to spread was one that would find the one of dragon’s blood. The old scriptures are far more detailed, and hidden in history.”
I can discuss details with you Vartan, but some things should be for your ears only, said Karven, his voice calm in his mind.
“That makes some sense, and I guess some secrets are worth keeping, but who built She’Ma’Ryn? Was that using the stone too? I hear it connects to other worlds, but I’ve never been there,” Anakari said.
Vartan knew this conversation had gone too far, and there were some answers they would not be ready for. He had to stop it somewhere. After all, who knew who may have been listening in the shadows? “Alright, that is enough thinking for tonight. Let’s get some sleep before we begin our day tomorrow and we will see if we can get a clue for what we are meant to do to find Daessar. Keep your weapons close and minds sharp. We may be suddenly woken.”
They smiled to each other and placed their heads down. Anakari and Yuski snuggled up, and Vartan leaned against Karven’s side.
The cool night stood still as Anakari parted her lips and her voice slid over them like honey on bread.
Far in the meadows, I found myself be,
Hair blowing in the wind, I’ve ne’er felt so free.
Once you taste freedom; your heart yearns to be,
We fight in the darkness, with fond memories.
Is there hope for our children? It remains to be seen,
We band together, to defeat an evil queen.
Marithia; a world we still hold dear,
May we stop it from falling, and realising all our fears.
The world clung to her words as not a sound was heard but the deep breaths taken from everyone around her, and the soft crackling of the fire. A cold tear hit Anakari’s cheek and Yuski’s voice broke as she whispered in the elf’s ear, “That was beautiful, and almost as perfect as you.”
Anakari turned to see Yuski’s twinkling eyes as another tear rolled down her cheek, and she reached up to place her soft hand behind the demon hunter’s head, bringing her face down to her ow
n. Closing her eyes, Anakari placed her soft lips on Yuski’s and parted them, slipping her tongue into the demon hunter’s mouth. Yuski moaned as she did the same, and they embraced in a deep, passionate kiss. After a moment, Anakari pulled back and stared into Yuski’s eyes. “I’ll never let anyone or anything harm you again.”
Kai’En slipped off his hood, wiped his sweaty brow, and paused to drink from a satchel of water. He winced and patted his head as he mumbled, “Old thing chafes too much.”
He dropped his oversized backpack to the ground and placed his lantern beside him. He strained his neck to each side and rolled his shoulders, his tired body groaning under his skin. Looking to his legs, he made sure that his coat concealed him from view.
He had heard them speaking last night and it was only a small amount of time lost. They were becoming far too aware of things, and that could be disastrous.
Knowledge is power, but that power leads to choices which may make them stray from their paths. The paths I know they must take.
Opening his backpack and peering inside, he muttered to himself, “The blade of souls is safe. Thank the gods.”
Pulling out a long piece of spiced beef, he tore a chunky piece off with his teeth and chewed furiously, enjoying the taste swirling around his mouth.
Swallowing hard, he chased the dry meat with a fresh swig of water and listened intently. A smile crossed his face as the breaking of ocean waves reached his ears.
About time, he thought.
He stretched his tired legs and studied the Blood Red Moon’s position. It looked like the time he spent listening had come at a price. “Argh, I’m already running late.”
Pulling his hood back over his head, he knelt beside the lantern and prepared himself. He fumbled through his pack, retrieving a scroll in his trembling hands, and muttered the words under his breath.
The scroll burst into white flames.
He hated this part and hesitated before breathing in the wispy fumes. He tensed as the enchantment took hold and the searing pains shot through his face. A scream threatened to escape his control, and he gripped his skull as the skin on his face twisted and stretched. The pain was nearly unbearable, but he managed to restrain himself from screaming. Tears streaked down his face.
He hunched over and dug his fingertips into the moist soil as trickles of blood dripped from his nose. After a few moments, the enchantment had taken hold and he stood once more, retrieving an oval mirror from his pack and unwrapping the covering silk to examine himself in the green glow.
A stranger stared back at him, but one that he had grown to play well. His voice was hoarse, as if it belonged to someone else. “Ah but the pain we endure for our own protection.”
Living many lives was exhausting.
The moon’s glow lit up the mountains surrounding Mount Wayrin on the northern horizon. Turning around, he saw the ruins of Castle Praethorne far to the south-east. Uneasiness flowed over his senses and he turned away from it. He wondered what was happening there. He knew it was a dark energy emanating, but he had no time to investigate.
He swung his pack over his shoulder once more, taking care to cover it with folds of his coat, and grabbed his lantern before proceeding through the forest. He wrapped his coat further around him, only leaving a slit for a sliver of guiding light. The power to his cloak was running out, and it flickered before revealing him to the world, under the now crimson-red material.
The burgundy moonlight would have almost swallowed up the colour and provided camouflage, if it weren’t for the intricate gold artwork on its surface.
He took a moment to observe his surroundings, before drawing a short sword from his backpack and listening intently for any signs of demons.
“Matters not, as I’m almost there,” he whispered.
His pace quickened as the sounds of the ocean intensified. Two arguing voices reached his ears, and he immediately recognised them both. “No, it can’t be.”
Pushing his way through the foliage, he took an alternate route to observe his usual meeting point and blew out his lantern, peering through.
His eyes widened at the seemingly endless line of pirate ships, along with dark ships he had never laid eyes on before. He grimaced as he found the source of the disruption and spotted Kassina with Silvertongue.
I was right, but how is this even possible? These two shouldn’t be anywhere near each other.
Something had already changed and this was a vision he had not anticipated. They stood beside a large metallic box with glass sides. A mermaid struggled against her bonds and banged against its surface with her white fists.
“He said he’d be ‘ere!” Silvertongue said.
“The sun will rise, and you told me he always meets you far beforehand. I see nobody here. We can ill afford a setback of sitting around and waiting. Dragons now patrol these parts around Mount Wayrin, and if we are discovered, then we can be ambushed.”
Silvertongue spat in the sand and combed his fingers through his hair. “I s’pose yer right, and we best be leaving, but we will be one Bloodship down for our battle and that will cost us all.”
By the gods! I needed his coin to get me through this war and he always pays well. Kassina would see right through my disguise. She likely thinks I died at the Jade Inn. Best to keep it that way.
He sat quietly, safe in the knowledge that he couldn’t be seen in the thick foliage, and rolled out a woollen sleeping bag. He slipped off his coat and lay down inside the bag, wrapped it around his body, and covering the bag and himself with the coat. He took care to cover himself with fallen leaves. The rest of the bag fit over his head, and he closed his eyes.
His nerves were calmed by the pirates and vampires yelling commands and ships setting sail.
Nothing sinister will find me here, and once the coat regains its power, then I can find my way back home.
Things were already changing too much, and it makes me nervous, but what can I do?
There was only so much one could see of the hands of fate. The waves of the ocean helped him slip into a deep sleep.
Helenia stood on the same balcony where her father was murdered, its cool surface alien to her senses. She had hoped that her father would somehow connect with her here. It was a childish hope. She knew that, but she hoped none-the-less. Her face lit up with the soft colour of sunrise. She uncrossed her arms as her cooled skin warmed. She hated being alone, and Vartan wasn’t there to comfort her. She breathed out in acceptance of what she couldn’t change.
Messenger dragons uncloaked as they arrived at Greenhaven, their shining scales majestic on the morning’s canvas. The beauty of the morning removed the dark shadows from her heart, at least for a while. She looked to the floor, where Derian’s vampiric blood had eaten into its surface, and shed a tear. Not for her dead brother, for she hated his memory and wished she had killed him herself.
Nobody knew, but none ever stopped to ask. Sibling rivalry was the acceptable explanation for her bruises. They wouldn’t have believed her if she had told them the truth about Derian. He was her brother, and he was supposed to protect her, not touch her.
Her life had few regrets, but she wished she had told her mother and father what had happened. Her pain would be unresolved, as his death left all the things he had done unpunished. Just thinking back to those memories made her sick to her stomach, and she rid her mind of his filth.
Wiping the tears off her cheeks with the back of her wrist, she clenched her jaw and formed fists. Walking to the spot, she looked up to the stars and whispered, “I miss you, father.”
She stepped inside the royal bedroom, where her mother was already awake and preparing herself for another day. Andrielle’s hand servant was busy helping her get dressed as she watched her daughter through her mirror. Helenia managed an awkward grin.
“Happy morning to you. I didn’t know you were out there,” Andrielle said.
I should be completely happy, and I know it, but why can’t I shake the darkness?
Andrielle raised her hand to the servant and walked over to Helenia’s side, taking her wrist, and led her to her seat. The servant stepped over to a chair and awaited her queen’s commands.
“Look at you. You must have near frozen out there in your sleeping clothes,” Andrielle said, running her warm hands down Helenia’s arms.
She picked up a brush from the dresser table, and began to comb Helenia’s hair. “We’ve been so busy with the war, that we’ve forgotten what it’s like to be a family. I know you miss Vartan, but I am sure he will be all right. After all, it is written, isn’t it?”
She laid a soft kiss on Helenia’s head and continued brushing. Her mother’s affections made her close her eyes to hold back her sadness. The queen had enough to worry about, and she didn’t want to add to it all, even if she wanted to burst.
She knew she had to say something to relieve some of it, and there were some burdens that were safe to share. “I don’t just miss Vartan, although my heart yearns for his return, but I also miss father. This place holds too many painful memories.”
“Yes, my dear, it does. But this is also our place to make new memories.”
Helenia sighed and relaxed her shoulders. “I know you are right, but it’s hard to forget everything that’s happened.”
Andrielle reached down to gently pick up Helenia’s chin and stare into her eyes through the mirror. “Never forget what has happened. We draw strength from that pain, and forgetting them would make us weak. But know that things will get better.”
She has no idea of how true that is, and how much pain I endured, she thought.
Legends of Marithia: Book 3 - Talonsphere Page 12