The Heart of the Ancients

by Elizabeth Isaacs

  “Don’t worry.” I patted her hand. “This time we’ll work together and pummel Weylin to dust.”

  Rena’s brown eyes glittered at the thought. “I would love nothing more.” She took a deep breath, her tense shoulders relaxed a bit. “I’ve trained with Weylin for years, and even though I cannot claim victory in any of those experiences, he has never openly bested me as he did today.”

  “What was different?”

  Her gaze, filled with worry, found mine. “There’s always been an agreement among warriors. We practice with the intent to strengthen so we may serve. As you know, the Alfar do not battle in the same way as humans. We fight on all fronts: physically, mentally, but most of all, emotionally. Until recently, we’ve never explored the darker side of psychological warfare.” Rena’s expression turned grim. “Humiliation weakens a warrior as much as grief or despair. To openly defeat someone is to completely dominate them, shaming them physically. The Prince has ordered practices continue until someone declares victory. When he changed the edict, he changed the intent. Our practices are now full-on battles.” She looked at her plate. “Those that are gifted in healing stand at the ready, waiting to assist warriors too weak to naturally recover from their injuries.”

  I blanched. “I knew Gavin was restructuring the Elite Warrior training, but I had no idea it was that brutal.”

  Rena grabbed my hand, leaning in. “The Prince is worried more than he lets on,” she whispered. “He wants the warriors prepared so that when we leave, they’ll be able to defend Kailmeyra without us.”

  Apprehension rippled through me. “I know. But if they’ve improved as much as I have these past few weeks, maybe it’ll be worth it.”

  Rena frowned. “You have improved, but tonight’s a different story.”

  “Why?” I asked. “I’m getting the hang of this, and Gavin and I work well as a team.”

  Rena scowled. “Nora, you don’t understand. You weren’t meant to train this way. Tonight is not just another exerci—”

  “Ladies.” Gavin’s voice came from behind, startling us both, and we leaned back. Rena and I had been so concentrated on our discussion we hadn’t noticed Gavin and Tark making their way across the room. The guard left.

  Chairs scraped as Gavin and Tark took their place by our sides, but other than Weylin, Micah and a few top warriors at our table, the rest of the hall was empty.

  “Where are the warriors going?” I asked.

  Gavin focused on putting his napkin in his lap. “They’re eating on the field.”

  Really? The warriors only ate on the fields before going into battle.

  “All part of the simulation,” Gavin muttered.

  Servants entered the hall; plates were set before our small group. Utensils clanked against delicate china, yet no one spoke.

  Finally, I couldn’t take it anymore. I turned to Rena.

  “I finished filling the energy caverns to the north,” I said, hoping to drum up some conversation.

  “That is wonderful to hear.” Her smile didn’t reach her eyes.

  Tark mumbled a lackluster congratulations before the atmosphere plunged back into a depressing quiet. Gavin reached over and took my hand, his thumb rubbing across my knuckles. I picked at my dinner.

  “How is Elias?” I asked Gavin. The Northern Forest had been burned during the last Dokkalfar attack, and Elias and Elaine, Gavin’s most trusted advisors, had journeyed with the horticulturalists in charge of healing the land. As Keepers of the beasts and sky, they would be a tremendous help. But Elias’ true intent in going was to find out how such destruction could have taken place so far from the southern plains of the abyss.

  “He and Elaine are doing well. Almost all the saplings have been planted. They hope to make their way home within the month.”

  Tark mumbled something, and Gavin mumbled in agreement.

  The rest of the meal was finished in silence.

  Gavin’s eyes blanked, and Tark stood and headed across the hall, but Rena stayed put. Gavin’s emotions burned with frustration. Tark waited by the door, motioning for Rena, but she seemed determined to have her say.

  She took a big breath. “Listen, Nora. I know Gavin would never place you in harm’s way.”

  “Be careful, daughter or Rill.” Gavin’s tone darkened as Tark started toward us.

  “Remember,” Rena hurried on, “to the Alfar, training on the psychological battlefield is as important as physical combat. Today, the Prince plans to put you through both.”

  Tark reached her, grabbed her hand, and pulled her from her chair. “The warriors are waiting.”

  I smiled, trying to ease the aggression running through the room. “Really, Reen. Thanks for the warning, but I’ll be all right.”

  Adamant, she shook her head. “You don’t unders—”

  “Corina.” Gavin’s tone bit. A chill ran down my spine.

  Her deep brown eyes found his. “All right. I’ll go. But if the situation becomes dire, I’ll not leave her side.”

  She marched away with Tark close behind.

  Gavin reached over and took my hand again, tracing the lines of my palm. His emotions distanced even more, becoming hollow. He’d kept the full brunt of his feeling from me all day. I didn’t like it.

  “It’s time.” He laced his fingers with mine and stood.

  Time for what? And what’s going on between you and Reen? This past week she’d been downright aggressive toward Gavin, even though he had the authority to strip her of her seniority and have her exiled to the other realm. I’d only seen her openly defy Gavin once before, and that was when she thought he was making a mistake. She apparently thought the same thing now.

  “We must know,” Gavin mumbled, listening to my thoughts. He guided me through the tables and out into the long corridor that led to the front foyer.

  “We must know what? And what’s wrong with Micah and Weylin? Neither of them said a word at dinner.”

  Usually, Weylin joked, or at least teased me. Tonight he couldn’t even look at me. Gavin walked a pace ahead, completely ignoring my questions.

  My stomach churned. Snarky doubt ran through the back of my mind as I kept my eyes on the floor. Rena knows you can’t handle whatever it is the guard has in store. Maybe she’s right. Maybe you’re not meant to train this way.

  Gavin suddenly stopped, causing me to bump into him. His arms lashed out, bringing me to his chest. One hand palmed the back of my head while the other rested on my lower back.

  “If this goes wrong because she has planted the seed of doubt in your mind, I’ll have her head on a platter,” he growled.

  I startled at his intensity. “You’ll do no such thing. Rena’s my best friend. She made a vow that she’d tell me anything I needed to know to protect me and help you survive. You and I both know she’s trying to keep her promise.”

  He didn’t say anything else. He held me like he was afraid to let go. Finally, he kissed my forehead, his smooth palms skimming down my arms. He sighed, took my hand, and started walking. We made our way through the castle’s doors and into the courtyard.

  Torchlight danced and flickered along either side of the path as we walked across the yard and through the gates. Veering right, we made our way to the practice fields that bordered the castle’s protective wall.

  Gavin’s emotions grew distant, weak, and I desperately latched onto them, trying to calm my growing anxiety.

  We rounded the corner, and I froze. Massive pyres lined the perimeter of the field.

  Fear spiked, causing my pulse to drum in my ears. Images of Dokkalfar throwing wounded animals into flames while feeding off their suffering played in my mind. I gritted my teeth and beat down the memories.

  It’d be all right. This was only a drill, and the last time I’d been through something like this I was alone. But now, Gavin was with me. He wouldn’t leave me, not for a simulation.

  His hand tightened on mine. “Tonight I’ll be watching from the hill.”

  “
What?” I stood there, stunned. With Gavin by my side, I could keep the energy shield up for hours. Without him was a different story. “Why?”

  His eyes remained forward. “If we get separated, you must be able to defend yourself.”

  One of the youngest warriors ran across the field toting a heavy bag over his shoulder. He dropped it at my feet, bowed, and then jogged away.

  Gavin loosened the drawstring and lifted the breastplate from the pack. After Micah, the leader of the guard, accidentally broke a few of my ribs last year, Gavin insisted that I have some modicum of protection. He personally crafted armor made of the strongest metal. I grumbled at first, but tonight I was never more grateful.

  Without the armor, I’d be toast.

  Crouching before me, Gavin fixed the leg bracings. “You should know, in this exercise, I’ve added sights, sounds, and smells to recreate a Dokkalfar attack.”

  My mouth felt like it had sawdust in it as he slipped the breastplate over my head, making sure the lower half fit snugly across my torso.

  “It’s the perfect night for a simulation.” He looked at the gray clouds blanketing the moon.

  “Are you sure we should do this? What does Elias say?”

  Elias was Gavin’s first advisor and leader of both the elite and lower guard. Even though he wanted me to train, he’d always taken a gentler approach.

  Gavin hesitated for a second before he put the helmet on my head. “He agrees it is necessary.”

  I lifted my arms, so he could tighten the elbow guards.

  His emerald eyes, confident and intense, found mine. “You must understand something—I will not interfere unless your life is in danger.”

  Startled, my hands shook as I secured the strap under my chin. At least I still had a small thread of his emotions. He might not be here physically, but as long as I could feel some part of him, I’d be all right.

  Gavin closed his eyes as if he were in pain. His palms warmed my upper arms, and he leaned in and placed his lips on my forehead.

  “I wish there were another way, but tonight you fight alone.”

  Chapter 2

  Rena’s Truth

  An empty feeling flooded my chest as my blood ran cold. “You promised I’d never fight without you again,” I whispered, suddenly panicked. “I can’t do this.”

  “Yes, you can.” He rested his forehead on mine. “Believe me. I’d rather crawl through glass before watching you fight alone. But we have no choice. We must be as strong separate as we are together. You must know your limitations before we go back to Earth. There is no other way.”

  “Stay. At least for the first round.” I clung to his shirt.

  Gavin hesitated, struggling. He scowled, which seemed to be a permanent fixture when we trained. He wore it so often the expression had left two telltale creases between his brow, turning his once youthful features older, cynical.

  The golden flecks, now permanently a part of Gavin’s irises, froze as his eyes turned to faceted emeralds. “You can do this, and you will,” he muttered before turning and jogging to the tallest hillock at the end of the field.

  A blanket of fog slept in the lowlands, making the scene surreal. The forest was silent as if suspended in time, and, for a moment, there was peace.

  That was until I saw the gleam of silver dancing in and out of the trees.

  “Ready your positions!” Gavin’s shout rang through the night.

  Taking a deep breath, I held it before slowly letting it out.

  The clouds thinned, allowing muted amethyst light to shine. A small frame darted from the forest, loping across the field with the grace of a gazelle.

  “I tried to warn you,” Rena said, coming to stand in front of me. “Are you all right?”

  “I’m peachy.” My hands shook as I tightened the chinstrap.

  Rena busied herself with checking the braces surrounding my legs.

  I took a deep breath. “Gavin just did that, you know.”

  “As the leader of your guard, it is my responsibility to ensure your safety.” She became petulant, and I realized that she must have repeated those lines several times as she ran here. “I had to make sure ... and to explain. I don’t doubt your ability. I—”

  “Daughter of Rill, are you quite finished?” Gavin thundered.

  “Listen, Reen, you better go,” I whispered.

  Frustrated, Rena glared in Gavin’s direction before heading back to the guard.

  Taking a deep breath, I closed my eyes and allowed my thoughts to focus solely on protecting Gavin’s source. I could only hope that the intent would keep the barrier strong.

  Gavin waited for my thoughts to settle before motioning for the simulation to begin. The roar of voices came from all directions. Hundreds of rattles hissed through the trees, and I realized the youngest warriors held handmade shakers. My heart raced as the sound rose to a constant drone. I fought to suppress images of demon creatures, black as pitch, rising from tar. Pyres around the field’s perimeter exploded into flame, licking and snapping at the night. The acrid smell of bitterroot choked the crisp air as branches and leaves were thrown on the fire. The Elite Guard charged, and I found myself in the middle of a full-on assault. Fighting back a scream, my amulet warmed as energy surged through, creating a barrier around me. I could only pray it would hold. The guard flipped, kicked, punched, pounced, and fought on all sides, and I took a deep breath, gaining confidence with each passing blow. Over and over, wave after wave, they came, trying to make it past my defense.

  The air grew colder, and I lost track of time keeping the shield up while watching my breath billow around me. The hollow emptiness aching through my chest became stronger with each passing moment. I hadn’t been this long without Gavin’s emotions since he was taken. That thought sent my mind reeling, and I refocused my efforts and strengthened the barrier around me.

  My body trembled from the combination of the heavy armor and keeping a defensive stance, and I looked to the amulet. The silver energy had lessened, but I was relieved to see it still was over half full.

  Hit after hit stopped a few feet from me, and as the night wore on, I eased into numb determination. Micah called over the constant noise, and the attacks grew worse as more guard poured onto the field. Clouds rolled in, and it was when the moonlight couldn’t break through the darkness the attacks became intense. Fatigue settled in my bones as we passed the witching hour, and yet not once did the guard let up or take a break.

  Despite the exhaustion, I smiled. They hadn’t made it through, which meant that I could hold my own. I rolled my shoulders as another group came from the forest. Pink and orange tinged the horizon. Dawn wasn’t far away. As long as things didn’t get any worse, I could keep this up until the morning finally arrived.

  As that thought passed through my mind, the warriors stopped. Micah glanced at Gavin, and then his faceted eyes met mine. He searched my face, looking for what, I didn’t know. He took a deep breath and heavily exhaled, his jaw set as if to say so be it.

  An unpleasant feeling crept over me.

  Massive sheaves of bitterroot were tossed on dying embers. Flames struggled beneath their weight, and soon dense, black smoke rolled toward the middle of the field. The shakers started back with a vengeance, the noise drowning out the sounds of life in the forests. The guard charged from all directions at one time, and I fought the instinct to run.

  I choked as the smoke rolled over me, making it almost impossible to see. Sweat dripped off my chin, and I struggled to keep everyone at bay. Stumbling, the amulet warmed, and mercifully no one made it past the barrier. I looked down.

  Only a hint of silver remained.

  Gavin, stop. I’ve done it. I made it through the night without you. I defended myself.

  The warriors increased their attack. My knees started to buckle, but I locked them in place.

  Please. I’m tired. We’ve been at this for hours.

  Gavin stayed on the hill.

  Weak, early morning light f
ought through the dissipating smoke, and the warriors parted, leaving a path. A lone figure emerged through the smog. His shoulders weren’t quite as broad as Gavin’s, but he stood a few inches taller. Copper skin and jet-black hair gleamed in the hazy sunlight. His turquoise eyes coolly assessed the situation.

  Weylin stopped a few feet from me, taking in every little detail. I swallowed past the lump in my throat. White noise sliced through the air, the sound lunging toward me as the young warriors with the shakers ran onto the field. The caustic smell of burnt bitterroot settled around me, and my eyes watered.

  “Princess. Surrender. You will not win.”

  You will not win ... Jakkar’s voice shrieked in my memory. The leader of the Dokkalfar had said that right before he tried to kill me.

  Weylin’s eyes gleamed in recognition. “I see you remember well.”

  I placed my hands on my knees, squeezing my eyes shut. “Don’t ...”

  The shield weakened. He took a step closer.

  “Don’t what? Remind you of your inadequacies?”

  “Enough!” Rena darted forward. “She has done what you asked!” She screamed toward Gavin. “This is lunacy!”

  Stunned, the youngest with the shakers stopped in their tracks. Thunderstruck, the guard openly stared. I glanced over my shoulder; Gavin still hadn’t moved.

  “Rena ...” I started toward her, but she shook her head.

  “Keep up your shield!” Rena yelled.

  I stumbled a bit but started focusing once more.

  Rena looked at Gavin and then again at Weylin. “Why must she endure this? She has proven her strength. Dawn is here, and still, she stands. She need not complete this task!”

  “That is not for you to decide,” Weylin growled. “Get out of the way, daughter of Rill.”

  Rena shook her head. “I will not. It’s too much like the last battle with the Dokkalfar... I’ll not allow you to do to her what you did to me. I’ll not leave her again.” With that, she crouched into a defensive position.