The Light Unleashed

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The Light Unleashed Page 18

by Kim Stokely


  I don’t want to die, but my shield wavers as its droning causes my concentration to falter. Two of its clawed hands dig into my back, shocking my whole body with fiery agony. I refocus my will into holding the shield together even as the creature lifts me out of my blue cocoon. We both shriek. The creature wails because the energy I gathered from the Elderstone flows up its arms and throughout its body. I scream because its claws still remain in my back. With each of the beast’s convulsions, it shakes me like a rabbit caught in a dog’s mouth.

  Finally, its claws retract, releasing me. My knees smack the ground. Mustering my concentration, I close up the hole it punched through my protection. The demon steps away. Only his hooves are visible as he paces back and forth outside the blue perimeter.

  The searing pain in my shoulders keeps my brain alert enough to hold up my defense as he begins his endless recitation of my downfall again. While he drones on, I add my own chant. Protect me. Help me. Save me. How long can I keep this up?

  An explosion of green light engulfs me. A sound like cannon fire detonates in my ears. The impact hurls me against the dirt. A rock pierces my cheek. My barrier is gone and without hope of putting it up again, I wait to be torn to shreds.

  “The demon is gone, Your Majesty.”

  I barely make out the words over the ringing in my ears. A bright, yellow glow dances in front of my vision, leftover from the flash of green. The bouncing ball of light obscures the figure standing off to my side. I blink and try to focus again.

  The robes of an Elder. No . . . another Portal, only they wear a dark hood to obscure their face. How many does Braedon have? They keep coming for me like rats from sewers.

  He chuckles, the dry rasping sound of dead leaves. “I would prefer not to be compared with a rat. Especially since I have saved you from a gruesome death.”

  I push myself up, catching my breath and wincing at the throb across my back. “Won’t Braedon be mad?”

  He pushes his hood back to reveal the oldest Portal I’ve met. Older even than Geran. His white hair blows in the winter wind. His long gray beard reaches down to his chest. “This creature was not called by Lord Braedon. My master still desires to rule Ayden through a peaceful compromise with you, Your Majesty.”

  “His idea of peaceful compromise means turning me into a babbling lunatic if I don’t do everything he wants.”

  The old man tilts his head as if in agreement. “Nevertheless, he does not wish to see you dead. Yet.”

  “Then who sent the demon?”

  “Unfortunately, your enemies are numerous. This was an ancient evil. Whoever summoned it has knowledge of the Unseen World.”

  An Ovate? An Elder?

  “In truth, it matters not. This demon has not been destroyed, only banished for the moment. We should make our way to Lord Braedon before it returns.” He lifts a hand toward me. “I hope you will come willingly.”

  “As much as the thought of getting out of this forest tempts me, I’m not in any hurry to see Braedon again.”

  “Please.” I’m surprised by the compassion in the Portal’s light brown eyes. “I do not wish to harm you.”

  “I’m already hurt. Can’t we just leave it at that?”

  From his pocket he draws out another Elderstone. “I must bring you to my master.”

  I groan, shaking my head. “I promise, you don’t want to go there.”

  The wrinkles in his forehead deepen. “You know what pain this will cause you. Why subject yourself to it?”

  “You don’t understand.” I stagger to my feet. “I learned something about them today.”

  “And what is that?”

  “They like me better than you.” I concentrate on the crystal orb. I need your power. Please.

  The Portal’s eyes widen. “How?” His lips round into a perfect O as blue light meanders from the Elderstone into my outreached hand. “I have never seen this done before. Who taught you?”

  A sphere of light the size of a grapefruit hovers between my palms. “Does it matter?” Exhausted, I totter to one side. “You seem like a decent guy. I really don’t want to have to kill you.”

  The old man draws his shoulders back and thrusts the Elderstone out in front of him. I can hear the faint murmur of his mental command for the orb to attack.

  It does nothing. Instead of glowing with energy it rests on his hand like an ice cube. Cold and white.

  Please. Help me to control this. I don’t want to kill anyone else today. Instead of pushing the entire globe of light at the Portal, I point two fingers toward him. A bolt of electricity leaps the space between us and hits the old man in the chest. He gasps as he’s jerked upright, then crumples to the ground. The Elderstone rolls out of his slack hand.

  I flick another small bolt at him, just to make sure he stays down, then limp over to the empty orb. As I reach for it, the energy in my hand jumps into the stone like it’s being drawn by a magnet. The white sphere glows blue, then purple, as I pick it up. For the first time in a while, I notice the ring on my finger. The purple stone in it now dances with an inner light. I wonder if that’s the reason I can control the Elderstones but don’t have time to work through the idea. Morning has definitely broken and there’s no telling what will happen in the palace if they discover I’m gone. I consider taking a passage, but as I’m obviously not in protected lands, I don’t want to risk meeting the demon along the way.

  I shuffle through the forest, hoping to get some idea of where I am. Between the barren winter trees, I catch sight of smoke ahead and to my right. The field. I turn left, the direction I’d seen Kyran race off to earlier. Something snaps behind me. My body freezes, waiting for the demon to strike again.

  Instead, something snorts, then sneezes. I cautiously turn around.

  My muscles tremble in relief. It’s only the first Portal’s horse following me.

  I hobble over to it. Nice horsey. Good horsey. The animal nickers but stays still as I draw closer. I pat its nose. “Good . . .” I sneak a peek between its legs. “Boy. Good boy. Will you let me ride you?” The horse shakes its mane but doesn’t move away. “I’m going to take that as a yes.”

  I know it’s going to hurt like crazy, so I move as quickly as I can to mount. I have to put my weight on my ankle then lift my other foot into the stirrup. I tuck the Elderstone into my waistband and yank myself up, crying out with the effort, then let myself rest against the horse’s neck, panting while pain throbs from my ankle up to my knee. The wounds in my back still pulse with sharp stings as well. I steady myself before nudging the animal forward.

  The sun is low on the horizon. It could still be early enough that Tamra may not have entered my room. I ease the horse into a trot and set off to through the forest, hoping I can remain upright and somehow find my way back.

  Something startles a flock of black birds up ahead. They take flight with loud squawks and a sudden rush of flapping wings. My mount skitters. I wrap my hands in its reins, fighting to keep it under control. The effort reignites the throbbing pain across my back from the demon’s cuts. The horse paws nervously as the birds fly overhead. When they’re gone, I’m able to urge him forward again. We make our way down a gentle incline. I’m relieved to see a small stream at the bottom. It’s been ages since I’ve had anything to drink. Although it means putting weight on my ankle again, my parched mouth demands to be quenched. I stop the horse at the edge of the creek then slide off, keeping hold of the reins with one hand, just in case any more birds get frightened. I transfer the Elderstone into that same hand before I kneel down to slurp water with the other. The stream is clear and sweet, soothing my cracked lips and throat.

  The horse jerks abruptly, yanking my arm with it and pulling me several feet downstream.

  “Whoa!” I try to get my balance. “Whoa, horsey!”

  He snorts loudly. I struggle to get my arm freed from the reins as he skitters backward a few more steps. The Elderstone drops into the water, sinking to the rocky bottom. I manage to slip my ha
nd out from the tangle of leather ropes before the horse gallops away.

  “Alystrine.”

  Kyran slides down the opposite bank. I’m surprised to see him since he hasn’t tried to connect with me using Mind Speak. But then again, maybe my battle with the demon kept anything from getting through. “You found me.”

  “Of course.” He reaches toward me. “Let me take you home.”

  I pause to look downstream. “Can you call to the horse?” I shiver as my skin breaks out in goose bumps in the chilled morning air. “Yours probably won’t want to carry me again after the night he’s had. Where is Braga, anyway?”

  “Come to me.”

  I turn back. “What?”

  “Come to me.”

  I never thought of terror as a living thing until this moment. It’s as if some monster has crawled inside and claws at my spine. A prickling sensation runs throughout my body. My heart pounds. My thoughts race. I stare at the man in front of me. He looks like Kyran. But something is different. What is it?

  “Alystrine.” He thrusts his arm out. “Come.”

  My foot moves on its own even as panic draws me back. My mind wars with my body as I take another step toward him.

  Then I see his eyes. Kyran’s coal black eyes are unable to mask the deep red of burning embers hidden deep within him. The Portal told me the demon wasn’t destroyed, only fled. It must have found Kyran and taken possession of him.

  The Elderstone. I have to find the Elderstone.

  Kyran roars as I throw myself down on all fours so I can search for the orb in the stream. Its faint glow draws me even as he splashes into the water. I stretch my arm out, trying to grasp it with my fingertips, but Kyran’s arms are around my waist. He lifts me up. I ignore the agony in my body to thrash and kick and scream at him. He is immovable.

  “Fool. Did you think the Portal defeated me?” The voice is Kyran’s, but also the demon’s. The breath is like rotten eggs and dirt. “This plan will please my master even more. To kill you with the outlaw’s hands? None will suspect the truth.”

  “Who is your master? Who wants me dead?” I retch as I have to breathe in his foul stench. “I command you to tell me.”

  “I am not bound by you, child.” It drags me to the shore, throws me to the ground then straddles me. Kyran has always rescued me in the past. Now he looms over me and I am terrified. How do I kill the demon and not the man?

  Kyran! Can you hear me?

  The creature bellows in anger. It arches its back, arms flailing out as if looking to grasp onto something for balance. It drops to its knees, its weight on my chest. I’m pinned. Unable to breathe.

  The demon growls, then stiffens before his hand closes around my throat. “You will not stop me in my appointed task.”

  Kyran! If you’re in there, please stop him! Kyran!

  His grip loosens and I draw in a ragged breath. I squirm, his weight shifts on my stomach. I take another breath.

  Fight him, Kyran. I know you don’t want to kill me. Fight him.

  He pushes my head back into the muddy stream bank. “Stop calling to him. He is mine to control, not yours.” He draws a dagger from Kyran’s belt. “I’d hoped to savor your death.” He thrusts my head to the side, exposing my neck. “But at least I can drink your blood as it spills.”

  I can’t see the blade anymore, just Kyran’s fingers and a glimpse of blue sky between the branches of dead trees. I wish I could see my mother again. Tell her I love her.

  Kyran’s arm jerks up. I wait for the killing blow.

  He lets out an unholy scream then falls on top of me. His chest presses against my head. I sink further into the mud.

  His body convulses. I wriggle from underneath him. Kyran writhes as white, foamy spittle runs out of his mouth.

  “Kyran?”

  He continues his spastic movements, his eyes roll to the back of his head. The white foam is now tinged with pink. The handle of his dagger protrudes from his stomach.

  “No!” I scramble to my knees then pull it out. Blood spurts, coloring his shirt like spilt ink on parchment. “No, no, no!” I look at my mud covered hand and know I can’t press that against the wound. The front of my skirt is slightly cleaner. I tear a strip off, wadding it up into a compress. Kyran! Come back to me! Kyran! Don’t die!

  His spasms lessen. His eyelids flutter. I force myself to keep applying pressure. “Stay with me, Kyran. Stay with me.”

  I shriek as his bloody hand clutches my wrist.

  “It’s—” He gasps sharply. “It’s still here.” His fingers dig into my flesh as he convulses again. “Get the sto—”

  His voice breaks as his back arches off the ground. He gags, retches and I turn him to his side as black slime spews from his mouth.

  I push Kyran away from it, fighting to keep my own stomach from throwing up. The demon is reforming itself from the ebony puddle. Already the legs and torso have taken shape. I plunge into the stream, looking for the glow of the Elderstone, nearly crushing it beneath my sole of my boot before I spy its faint purple light. I pull it up from the water.

  From out of the slime, the demon has formed shoulders and a head, but no other details. It’s as if I’m looking at its shadow. The Elderstone blazes purple in my hand. “You aren’t strong enough to hurt me now. I command you back to whatever dark hole you came from.” The shadow shifts toward me. I am filled with rage at the thought that it has tried to kill me, might have killed Kyran. I draw all the energy from the Elderstone and heave it at the demon. “Die, you bastard!”

  The purple glow turns orange as it hits the shadow. The creature howls. The light carves into it, slicing off slivers of darkness that dissipate into the air like wisps of smoke. I stare until every last trace of the demon disappears.

  Saying a prayer of thanks, I crawl to Kyran’s side and see he is still breathing. “Can you hear me?”

  Beads of sweat drip from his forehead. His eyes remain closed.

  Kyran? Can you hear me?

  I touch his face. “Kyran? Please, wake up.” I let out a halting breath. “I don’t know where we are.” The cloth on his wound is drenched with blood. A crazy kind of moaning laugh boils up from my stomach. “You have to wake up. You have to call Braga. Please, Kyran.”

  His breath is shallow. His blood leaks from my makeshift bandage.

  I set down the Elderstone then gently lift his head into my lap and stroke his forehead. Kyran? Wake up. I can’t carry you. I can’t take a passage. You have to tell me what to do. My chest heaves with sobs as blood continues to bubble from his stomach. My cries turn into wails of frustration and anger.

  “Don’t you dare die on me. Not after everything we’ve gone through.” My hand leaves his face, travelling down to his crimson-soaked chest. My fingers are soon covered in the dark red liquid. “You can’t die! Not like this.” It’s irrational, but I’m screaming at the unconscious man. “Not like this!”

  I yank his body against mine, rocking him back and forth. Ruahk please, don’t let him die like this. Please. Do something. I let out a loud howl before I sense a painful burning sensation in the hand still pressed against Kyran’s chest. I pull it away and gasp.

  The stone in my ring blazes with light. My hand feels as though I’ve stuck it in flames.

  Move it to the wound.

  I slide it down to his stomach and spread my fingers out to cover the most space. The purplish glow emanating from my ring radiates heat through my palm and onto Kyran’s skin. I instinctively draw the edges of his injury together. I hold my breath in shock as the purple light burns the flesh shut, cauterizing it like a laser. I keep my hand still until the radiance disappears.

  Kyran’s breathing deepens. Although his skin is paler than I’ve ever seen it, the blue tinge to his lips has faded. I start blubbering again, only this time in relief. Thank you, thank you, thank you.

  Fortunately, by the time he opens his eyes, I’ve stopped crying and managed to wipe the snot and tears off on the one square of my sh
irt not covered in blood or dirt.

  His brows pinch close together as he peruses my face. “Alystrine?”

  “Don’t you recognize me?” I chuckle, not even wanting to imagine what I must look like.

  “What happened to you?” He lifts his arm up feebly. It wavers in the air as if he doesn’t have the capability to move it where he wants it to go.

  I take his hand then rest his palm against my cheek. “Not as much as what’s happened to you.”

  He continues to survey me. “Is that blood?”

  He tries to raise himself up, but I stop him. “It’s mostly yours, but you’re better now.”

  “What? How?” I can see the gears of his brain struggling to put all the pieces together.

  “I’ll explain it all later, but we have something else to worry about.” His confused expression makes me laugh again, even in my exhaustion. “How are we going to explain this to my father?”

  CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

  Face the Music

  Kyran mentally calls Braga to him. I won’t let him do more than sit up as we wait for the horse. “You almost died. You have to rest.”

  He studies the blackened scar across his stomach and runs his finger over the ridge. “You did this?”

  I nod.

  He lifts his eyes to mine. “You saved my life.”

  “But you were dying because you saved mine. I still owe you.”

  “You owe me nothing.” A cloud passes over his face. “I should never have put you in this danger. There was a patrol out here two days ago. I never thought they’d send another so soon.” He shakes his head. “Look at you.”

  “It’s mostly dirt. And your blood.” I raise my arms out in front of me, turning them over to examine them. Black, tar-like flecks dot my skin. “Gross.”

  “What is it?”

  “It was a Black Guard.” I try and scrape away the remains of Weylin, but his blood is too sticky. It won’t come off no matter how hard I rub.

 

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