VOIDWALKER

by M. L. Brooks

  “You’re getting it. I think as your skill grows, you’ll find that the power of that sword grows too. You’re incredibly lucky they made that weapon for you. Protect it with your life. Also, tell Rose I said hello,” said Gildan as he leaned casually against his war hammer.

  “Thank you. Please thank the queen for me as well,” said Adair as she bowed to Gildan.

  Alfein handed her the gold silk the sword had been wrapped in and she bundled it back up before securing it around her waist. They took care of a few last minute loose ends such as gathering some supplies for their trip back to the surface, and then returning the traveler’s ring to Niligoth. When they were all done, the group headed back out of the city, following the same tunnel they took to get there.

  By the time they got back to the inn, four days had passed since they first embarked on their journey. At the inn, the smithy was still collecting dust, and the wagon they arrived in was still sitting out in front in the same spot. It was late in the evening so they went inside the inn to look for Rose.

  When they walked in she was lounged across one of the tables with pillows all around her as she told a story to the innkeeper and several men who looked like local farmers. She took a sip from a teacup that was sitting next to her and then continued talking to the rest of her group. She noticed Adair, Emin, and Alfein right away. Rose turned around so that her legs hung off the side of the table and using the men for support she eased herself down onto the ground.

  “Did you meet the weapon smith?” asked Rose.

  “Yes. I don’t think he’ll be coming back for a while. He took a job down there. Gildan on other hand wanted me to tell you hello,” said Adair.

  “He’s a good man. We used to adventure together when we were younger. I’m assuming he taught you a thing or two?” asked Rose.

  “Yeah he did. We didn’t stay very long though,” replied Adair.

  “Get your things packed up. I would like to get on the road as soon as possible,” ordered Rose.

  Adair didn’t argue. She just turned around and loaded her things into the wagon. Emin jumped into the driver’s seat with Alfein, and Rose came down with the innkeeper who was loaded with her luggage. They put everything in the back and then Adair and Rose sat in the carriage together while Emin drove South toward Rose’s manor.

  “What’s your plan Adair?” asked Rose.

  “What do you mean? I’m going to kill Ivor Ragan and then go home with his head,” said Adair.

  “We need to gather intelligence first. If he killed Prince Abel, it must have been sanctioned, otherwise the crown would have crushed Bosh Ragan by now,” said Rose.

  “Who would sanction the murder of Prince Abel?” asked Adair.

  “I can venture a guess or two, but remember our deal, you don’t get to go home after this is all done,” reminded Rose.

  “I guess you’re right. I’m not going back on our deal,” said Adair.

  “Then when we get back, I think it’s time to kill Ivor Ragan,” said Rose.

  CHAPTER 17

  Rose and Alfein had spent hours decorating their wagon to make it look like it belonged to a traveling group of entertainers. They painted it bright colors and built a sign across the top of that read “Troubadour”. They spent almost a week rehearsing different acts.

  Emin was dressed up by Rose in a gentleman’s suit and given a wig to disguise his normally bald head. His plan was to use his magic to create fantastical displays for the crowd. Alfein put on stage makeup to enhance his Fae features, making his natural appearance into a comical costume. Adair had practiced a sword dance with Rose that was sure to be as dangerous as it was exciting to watch. Rose just put on another one of her over-the-top costumes and planned on both leading their group and acting as the master of ceremonies.

  Once all of their preparations had been made, they departed from Rose’s mansion down to Bosh Ragan. The carriage careened its way down the dusty path to the city. They arrived in the evening, ochre red beams of sun drifting across the city as the sun just began its descent. The gates were still open but guards were standing out front and checking in with people as they entered. Seeing entertainers come into the city was not unusual, but Rose’s presentation drew attention.

  “What are you doing here?” asked one of the guards.

  Grabbing a thin and sparkly scarf from right behind her, Rose jumped down from the carriage and twirled around the guard. As she danced around him she draped the scarf over his shoulders. He stood there, not at all charmed by her display.

  “Why my dear sir we are here to bring sensuality, dance, prose, and all manner of delightments to your spectacular city!” Rose sung, extending her arms wide into the air to make a show of their introduction.

  “Just let ‘em in. We haven’t had fresh entertainment in weeks,” said one of the other guards.

  The guard who had stopped them grunted and then waved them through.

  Rose lead their wagon around to the market area, jumped out, and introduced The Troubadours to the crowd. She recited a poem for them and then brought out Adair. Adair and Rose performed their dance using cheap swords that Rose had kept with her. They clanked the swords together, the friction creating sparks and the swords lit up in flames. The crowd cheered at the addition of Rose’s pyrotechnical work. Rose swung her sword across at Adair. Adair dropped under the fiery blade, dodging it and continuing their dance. Each of their movements were executed with the ease of a highly practiced routine.

  Rose stripped down into a bright red corset and pulled out a whip from the wagon. She cracked it a few times, causing the audience to ooh and ahh. The crowd stepped back a couple of feet, creating a half circle around Rose’s wagon. Rose introduced Alfein as the next act. Alfein jumped off the top of the wagon, fluttering down just before he reached the ground. He introduced himself to the audience, pausing to make eye contact with the ladies he went by. He started singing a Fae poem to them. While he crooned to the audience, Rose went around the back of the wagon to talk to Adair.

  “Alright, this is it. We will distract the people here. You get into the resort with Alfein, do what you need to do, and then get out. When the show is over, we’re leaving. We’ll meet back up at the mansion,” whispered Rose.

  Adair nodded that she understood. After she had changed into a set of plain adventuring clothes and concealed her sword under her cloak, Alfein finished his act. He came around to Adair and threw a wool cloak on over himself and the two crept through alleyways to the back of the resort.

  The two went in through the back and started looking around the resort. There were people drinking and partaking in the amusements that the escorts of the resort offered. The dim lights of lanterns and candles and smoky rooms made it difficult to make out individual faces. Adair scanned the bar and didn’t see any sign of Ivor. Alfein fanned out away from her and kept searching for him as well. The two met back up a few minutes later, shaking their heads and went upstairs toward the suites.

  On the second level of the resort were two of the Sword Theater mercenaries talking in front of the main suite where the prince had stayed the last time Adair was here.

  “The boss wants us to send up Dahlia,” said one of the mercenaries to the other.

  Adair charged the hallway toward them. Alfein, seeing Adair running, took flight and kept up with her. The mercenaries turned to Adair and before they could say a thing she tackled the one on the right down and started beating him with her fists. Alfein efficiently dispatched of the mercenary closest to him. Once the mercenary beneath her passed out, Adair stopped and jumped back to her feet. She attempted to open the double doors into the suite. The handles jiggled but the locked door didn’t budge open.

  She drew her sword and without any resistance from the wood or metal, cut right through the lock in the center of the door. She kicked it open, the lock and handle mechanism falling to the floor, and the doors flying wide and slapping into the wall. Inside of the room was Ivor and a couple escorts. He was st
anding with his sword ready in his hands.

  The suite was a large and open room with a lavish four poster bed, a fireplace, and a table with a few chairs strewn around it. The bed was a mess, and the girls were undressed. It looked like they heard the commotion outside of the door and had clambered up to get their clothes on when Adair had stormed in.

  “You! Ha! Finally, we can finish this!” he shouted, almost happy to be seeing Adair.

  He swung his sword at her. Adair stepped to the side of his swing and then sliced the blade of his sword clean off. Her footwork was smoother than it had ever been. Ivor looked at his weapon in surprise. Adair swung her foot up and planted it dead center into Ivor’s chest. He crashed hard into the floorboards. The escorts squealed and inched around the edges of the wall.

  “I’m not here to hurt you girls, take whatever you can of value from this room and get out. Ivor won’t be coming after you,” commanded Adair.

  One of the escorts shrugged and grabbed a purse of money from Ivor’s night stand and the two walked out. Alfein shut the doors behind them and folded his arms as he watched Adair. Ivor, breathing heavily got back to his feet. As he scrambled up, Adair kicked him out at the knees. He fell again, and this time he was panicking.

  “I know it wasn’t just Nathaniel you were working with. Who hired you?” asked Adair.

  “I can’t tell you that!” said Ivor, looking around the room for something he could use as a weapon. As fast as he could, he reached for a letter opener that was on the table. In one smooth slash, Adair diced his hand clean off at the wrist.

  Ivor screamed and clutched his wrist as it gushed blood. After hearing Ivor’s scream, Alfein and Adair heard heavy footsteps from people running up the stairs. Adair rolled her eyes and stabbed Ivor in the chest. She wiped her blade off on his sheets and then headed to the window with Alfein. Mercenaries busted through the door behind them.

  Adair broke open the window and jumped out. Alfein caught her by the shoulders and started flying away with her in his arms. One of the mercenaries shouted to the guards who spotted Alfein and Adair flying by. The guards readied their bows and arrows and fired off as many shots as they could at Alfein and Adair. Alfein tried the best he could to weave around the arrows as he flew through the sky.

  When they cleared the gate, Alfein set her down in the forest nearby. He immediately collapsed on the ground. Adair checked him, startled when she found two arrows, one in his thigh and one in the side of his abdomen. Alfein lost consciousness. Adair pulled the arrows out of his body, blood spurting from his wounds. She took her cloak, cut it into strips, and tried to bandage him the best that she could. She threw him over her shoulders and started shambling up the hill toward Rose’s manor.

  She stumbled over rocks, roots, and fallen branches as she made her way up the mountainous terrain. With Alfein on her shoulders, the trip up was much more difficult than it should have been. She got through the gate of the manor and laid Alfein down on the ground. She cradled his head in her hands and started sobbing, not sure of what else she could do. She looked over to the house, trying to think if there was anything inside that could help.

  Before she could get up to check, Emin and Rose arrived in the carriage. Rose spotted them and jumped down to help Alfein. She put her ear down to his chest to listen to his heart. It wasn’t beating. She looked at the cloak, blood was spilled everywhere. Adair was visibly shaking. Rose jumped to her feet and ran inside the house. She came back down with a vial blue liquid.

  She held Alfein’s head back and poured the liquid into his mouth.

  “What is that?” asked Adair.

  “It’s potion to restart his heart,” replied Rose.

  Alfein’s eyes opened, he inhaled deeply, and then his body started convulsing. He looked up at Adair, his eyes black and empty. He coughed, some of the blue liquid spitting back up with his blood. Then his body went still again and was totally lifeless. Adair shrieked and put his head down. She crawled back to get away from his body, terrified at what just happened.

  “What did you do to him?” asked Adair.

  “His soul has already departed. It will return to the World Tree and he will be reborn when he is ready,” said Rose.

  “He’s still dead!” cried Adair as she ran to her room.

  She slammed the door behind her and then threw herself down on the cot. There she laid in bed and cried until her eyes burnt and her stomach turned. Eventually she was able to fall asleep. When she woke up the next morning, her body didn’t hurt anymore. She got up and went out into the dining room. The morning sun was cheerful and the garden outside serene. Emin and Rose sat at the dining room table.

  “Are you okay Adair?” asked Rose, standing up from the table and taking Adair in her arms.

  Adair laid her head down against Rose’s chest. Emin looked over at them.

  “It wasn’t real. Alfein is still alive. I have to say though, Rose, that spell has never worked so efficiently. You have a very detailed mind,” said Emin.

  “I know it wasn’t real. But every plan we’ve tried, using your stupid spell, has ended in one of us dying. I was so desperate to do this that I even tried Rose’s stupid troubadour group. That had to be the dumbest plan yet! I’m starting to think you’re deliberately sabotaging it, Rose!” accused Adair.

  “Not sabotaging. What you need to realize is that no matter which plan you pick, it won’t go the way you want it to. The path to revenge isn’t a pretty one and you need to realize that either this isn’t for you or you’re going to have to toughen up. I told you that I would train you, and that means that until you admit you don’t want this, I’m the one responsible for making you strong. If any of us were to perish it might even be best if it was Alfein. Remember he’s a Fae, so if his body dies he can always come back,” lashed Rose.

  Adair stared at Rose in disbelief. She couldn’t believe that she was in a position of deciding which of her friends was the most expendable. Adair looked around the room, deciding she needed to get away. Seeing the garden, she ran out in that direction. Emin and Rose watched her leave.

  CHAPTER 18

  Alfein gasped for air as he awoke in a cold sweat. He clutched his abdomen, feeling for the arrow wound. His skin was intact without any sign of injury. He got up and took stock of his body. The spell granting future vision, which they had all gone under together, worked out the way it was supposed to. Through Emin’s magic and Rose’s imagination they had been able to live through a possible future that was put together by their combined consciousness, and he was fine.

  He threw on his clothes and opened the door to the garden. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Adair racing into the forest. He gave her a puzzled glance and then headed over into the dining room. When he got inside, he saw Emin pacing back and forth as he discussed details of the plan with Rose. They stopped when they saw Alfein. A silence fell over the room as if they were discussing something they did not want him to hear.

  “What’s wrong with Adair?” he asked to Rose.

  “It’s complicated. I set the spell up with Emin so that no matter what we did, something would go wrong with the plan. She has a lot she needs to come to terms with,” said Rose.

  Alfein ran his hand through his hair and sighed.

  “Why would you do that?” he asked.

  “She rushes into danger without a second thought, she doesn’t understand the value of a person’s life, and she doesn’t get that the path of a warrior is one of sacrifice. She asked Rose to train her, that’s what she’s doing,” defended Emin.

  “Ok, I get that, but… Look I’m just going to go after her,” said Alfein as he turned around and went back out into the garden.

  Trudging up the hill, Adair went deeper into the forest. She slammed her feet into the dirt beneath her at each step she took. She was angry and wanted to get out her feelings. After walking for a while, she came upon a small stream. It flowed down the hillside, as dark as the rocks and earth beneath it. Turning in its directi
on, she decided to follow the stream as far as she could.

  Most of the trees had given up their leaves for the winter and the forest had a barren feel to it. There weren’t birds singing or bugs flying around. The only sounds around her were the leaves and sticks cracking under her feet and the sound of the stream trickling by. Adair walked for several miles, reaching the end of the stream. It was dripping down from a crack in the wall of the mountains. The dripping swelled into pond and then the overflow fell down the hillside as the stream Adair had followed.

  Growing tired of walking, Adair sat down by the pond and gazed into its placid waters. The ground was hard, cold, and uncomfortably wet even though there wasn’t a cloud in the sky. She took a deep breath, ignoring the discomfort of her damp posterior. Over to her left she spotted a small rabbit scurrying across the ground to the other side of the pond. She stood up and followed it carefully. She was patient and stayed far enough away that the rabbit was never startled. The rabbit dove into a hole near the roots of a nearby tree.

  Adair looked around, realizing she had lost track of time and had walked much further away from the pond than she had intended. Dark seaweed green, glowing lights swirled around the trees in the distance. They reminded Adair of the fairies she had encountered in her travels. She headed toward them, feeling herself inexplicably drawn to them.

  Alfein shouted out “Adair!” as he walked through the woods.

  Hearing his voice, Adair shouted back, “I’m over here!” and she turned in the direction of his voice.

  The voice of her friend was echoing all around her, and she couldn’t figure out which way he was coming from. Adair turned around and decided to just follow a direction. The green lights floated behind her, always skirting around the edges of the trees and never fully revealing themselves to Adair. They were leading her somewhere.

  “Alfein!” she called out to him.

  “I’m here!” he replied, gliding toward her.