It was two hours past dawn when Kenna sat up with her now black hair going everywhere. Alarm hit her face as she looked around then spied Ahnon looking at her by the fire. “We overslept,” she said groggily.
“I let you, sire. We are taking the day off.”
Kenna stood, wrapping her blanket around her, and walked over, sitting down beside Ahnon. She laid her head against his shoulder. “Thank you for being my sho-ka.”
Ahnon put his arm around her, pulling her close, “It’s my honor, sire,” he said, smiling.
“I can’t believe I’m really doing magic, Ahnon,” she said, looking up at him and grinning.
Ahnon smiled and turned her face away from him. “I’m glad, sire, but please brush your teeth. I think you ate some horse dung last night,” he said, and she slapped his leg.
“I do that after exercises in case I throw up,” she informed him, giggling.
Hearing giggling, Jedek sat up and noticed it was daylight. “Oh no, I overslept,” he moaned, sending the two into a chuckle.
“No, sire, I let you sleep,” Ahnon said, and Jedek looked at him.
Jedek walked over and sat on the other side of Ahnon then laid his head on Ahnon’s shoulder. “Ahnon, I want to make my first royal decree,” Jedek announced.
“Oh, are we invading someone, sire?” Ahnon asked, smiling.
“No,” Jedek said, grinning.
“Well, sire, what is this decree then?”
“You are to not call Kenna and I sire any longer. Just by our names,” Jedek informed him, laying his head back on Ahnon’s shoulder.
Ahnon froze in shock. “Sire—” he started, and Jedek lifted his head.
“You are more than my sho-ka, Ahnon. You are one of my two best friends and my savior, advisor, teacher, family, and now father. I talked it over with Kenna, and she agrees you are the same for her. Please, not anymore,” Jedek begged.
Ahnon’s whole body felt lighter than air as he pulled Jedek close then reached out, pulling Kenna up to him. “Jedek, I love you, and thank you.”
“Hey, what about me?” Kenna asked in a muffled voice with her face buried in his chest.
“Kenna, I love you too even though looking at you with black hair gives me the creeps,” Ahnon said.
“Ahnon, you changed it,” her muffled voice called out.
“Believe me, I know, Kenna. Jedek reminds me at least twice a day.”
“I do not,” Jedek said, and Ahnon looked at him with a blank face. “Well, I haven’t today.”
“You just woke up, Jedek,” Kenna called out with her face still buried. “Ahnon, can you let me up now?” she asked, and Ahnon quit hugging her. She looked him right in the eyes. “You need to wash that long coat and shirt or burn them.”
Ahnon let out a laugh. “Let’s eat and wash up,” he said. They ate and moved down to the lake, letting the horses follow. The horses ate grass as the three washed their clothes. Ahnon started laughing when Jedek informed Kenna she was standing guard while they bathed, then they would do the same. Her replies almost made Ahnon grab the soap for her mouth, but she turned around, standing guard.
After Kenna bathed, they went back to camp and lay down with Minos watching the horses and them as the three dozed off. It was noon when a stiff breeze woke them up to see Minos sitting on the edge of the knoll, watching the horses. “See, Ahnon, he’s not dumb,” Jedek said, calling Minos over.
“Play now?” Minos asked, looking at Jedek.
“Well, not all the time,” Jedek amended, getting up and playing with Minos. Kenna and Ahnon joined in the games until Ahnon broke away to fix them some lunch. The others came over and sat around the fire, watching him. Hearing movement, Ahnon looked up and saw the chestnut leading the horses and mules back to camp.
“Full already?” Ahnon asked.
“Horses coming,” the chestnut said.
“It’s the driving season. Racor is a cattle, horse, and sheep kingdom. They are nomads and drive their herds north to graze in the spring and south in the fall,” Ahnon explained.
“Horses ridden hard on road, not with a herd,” the chestnut replied, looking to the north.
Getting up, “Kenna, Jedek, get dressed now,” Ahnon said, walking over and pulling his clothes off the drying line around the fire.
“Ahnon, we’ve seen a lot of riders lately. What’s wrong?” Jedek asked, getting dressed.
“Look at the horses; they’re nervous,” Ahnon said, pulling on his surcoat on and checking his blades.
Jedek looked at the horses and could tell they didn’t like something. Kenna ran over. “What is it?” she asked the chestnut.
“Mean masters,” he answered. Kenna ran back over and finished dressing. Ahnon threw water on the fire and turned the shield on, seeing the horses relax as it formed around them.
Ahnon looked at them. “We are half a mile from the road, so let’s just lay low,” he said, grabbing his saddle. Seeing that, Kenna and Jedek followed suit. As Ahnon moved to the edge, looking toward the road, they continued packing. When they finished, the two were out of breath.
“If those horses spooked us for nothing, I’m not brushing them tonight,” Jedek announced.
“I’ll do it,” Ahnon said, looking to the north.
“Ahnon, I’m sure it’s been over an hour since they told us, and we haven’t seen anything,” Jedek said.
“Horses can communicate over a really long distance,” Ahnon said, seeing riders way off in the distance on the road. “Company,” Ahnon said, putting on his mask, glasses, and hat. The two kids put on their gear as Ahnon looked at the horses. “No noise,” he said, and the horses lowered their heads.
Looking back at the road, Ahnon could indeed tell the group was riding their horses to death. “Twenty-one,” Kenna said beside him. Impressed, Ahnon smiled. To him, they were still just dots on the horizon, kicking up dust. The group drove their horses hard till they were less than a mile away and started to slow.
Ahnon just shook his head, seeing the leader veer off the road, leading the group to the lake. “Ahnon, it doesn’t mean anything,” Kenna said beside him. “This is the only water we see around us.” Ahnon looked up at the shield, and she followed his gaze. “They can’t get through,” she said.
“I’m not worried about that. If it shimmers blue and hums, they are using a locate magic spell,” he said, and Kenna’s heart froze. “If something happens, stay here till dark. Then, head to Nazar.”
Jedek grabbed his wrist. “Ahnon, let’s just go,” he said.
“They will see us now. We will wait and see what happens,” Ahnon said, walking over to the other side of the knoll, watching the riders moving to the lake. Ahnon sucked in a breath, seeing the leader wearing a red cloth over his mouth and nose. Looking at the riders behind him, Ahnon knew they were kytensa. All of them were wearing traveling clothes but carried themselves as warriors. Their horses were soaked in sweat with several frothing at the mouth.
Seeing the group closer, Jedek was filled with hate. “It’s Brytil,” Jedek growled.
“Who?” Ahnon asked, feeling the hate boil out of his amulet, filling his body.
“The one who killed Father,” Jedek said, gripping his sword.
“If we can, let’s let them pass. We can get him later,” Kenna offered.
“I want him dead now,” Jedek said through gritted teeth, watching Brytil’s steel-colored hair wave in the breeze.
Ahnon reached to his back and pulled out a handful of black powder. “Then it will be done,” he said. “Ugu de Ki an zal,” he spoke, and the powder flew toward his body, and he disintegrated into a black cloud of dust for a split second, and then the cloud dissolved away.
Jedek reached for his amulet, and Kenna grabbed his hand. “Don’t! You’ll affect Ahnon, and he will make a mistake if he hasn’t already.”
“I want to feel it when Brytil dies,” he growled.
“You touch that amulet, and it will be Ahnon dying,” she said. “I swear I love y
ou, Jedek, but if you touch that amulet, I’ll stab you in the leg and kill your dog,” she warned, taking out her sword. Jedek lowered his hand and stared at her in shock. “Calm yourself. Remember, he can feel your anger. It’s very intoxicating,” she said, and Jedek tried to take deep breaths, but it wasn’t working.
The riders followed Brytil in two columns toward the water when suddenly, in front of them, a black cloud formed then drifted away, leaving Ahnon standing in its place. With his hands resting on his staff, Ahnon just stood there as the group halted. Brytil looked around then back at Ahnon.
“I don’t need the services of a hunter no matter how good he is. I will find my own quarry!” he shouted at the figure covered head to toe. “Remove your mask so I may see who I talk to,” Brytil commanded.
“You wear a wrap and demand another to take one off,” Ahnon replied nonchalantly.
Brytil pulled his red scarf off his face. “You better kneel when you talk to me, hunter. Your magic doesn’t scare me,” he shouted.
“Oh, I think it does, Brytil.”
Hearing his name, Brytil jumped back in his saddle. “How do you know me, hunter?”
With a deep, hollow-sounding voice Ahnon said, “From your wrongdoings, Brytil. The bounty on you is pretty high.”
Brytil and several of the others started to laugh. “You would dare attack me? Knowing who I am?”
“Oh yes. I would and intend to, but your friends may leave and live or stay and die. It does not matter to me. Your bounty is more than worth it,” Ahnon said, and the smile fell off Brytil’s face, and his hand dropped. “I know that attack, Brytil, and can still kill all your men.”
“I demand to know your name since you say you come to kill me,” Brytil said, trying to show strength in front of his men. Straining to see under the brim of the hat, Brytil could only see glints of light from the glasses the figure wore.
“Very well. My name is Ahnon,” he replied, and as the kids watched from over fifty paces away, the color drained from Brytil’s face. “Yes, I bested your masters, so you will be no chore,” Ahnon chuckled.
Several of the riders put hands on swords and grabbed spell components. Kenna looked at Jedek. “What is he doing? They are preparing?” she asked.
“He’s toying with them, tormenting them like they did Father and me,” Jedek said with a small grin. Kenna closed her eyes, focusing on the amulet, and her body was flooded with the ecstasy Jedek felt watching this. Slowly, his anger started filling her as she opened her eyes, looking at the group with the same little grin.
“The brothers are very put out with you, Ahnon. They have offered a reward for your head equal its weight in gold,” Brytil said with a forced smirk.
“See, they fear me, wanting others to try what they can’t do,” Ahnon laughed, and Brytil started sweating in the cool air. “Tell me; did Ental survive my little surprise? I hope he did because I really want to watch him die.”
“He…he was badly burned,” Brytil mumbled, feeling fear creep up his spine, and it spread to his men.
“You don’t know how happy I am to hear that. I killed hundreds of kytensa, wounded two of your three masters, and still got my sire out of an assassin’s siege.” Ahnon shook his head. “And Brytil, you come with just twenty. I’m really disappointed. It will barely be worth the effort to send your hearts back to the three,” Ahnon said, laughing.
Fear and panic gripped his hear as Brytil stared at the black-clad figure. The hat, now casting a shadow with the suns overhead, hid even the covered face as a chill went down his spine. This is death in front of me, he thought. Gripping his saddle, Brytil shouted, “Well, since you are here, the whelp can’t be far.”
Barely shaking his head, “Watch your tone and speech when speaking of my sire, Brytil. Ryetan made that mistake, and now, he knows what magical pain can bring,” Ahnon said in a hollow voice. One of the riders at the back kicked his horse and took off, riding hard north. “Well, you have one smart one.”
Without warning, the ground between the two columns exploded in a wave, pushing out to each side, throwing men and horses to the ground. Ahnon’s right hand flashed, throwing a knife into Brytil’s shoulder. Reaching up and grabbing the knife, Brytil let out a scream and held up his hand, leaving the knife in his shoulder.
Jumping up and hovering twenty feet above the group, Ahnon floated in the air over the men on the ground, throwing blades as fast as his hand could move. As he flung blades, from the middle of the group, a green, gelatinous ball of light shot at Ahnon, hitting him in the chest, knocking him out of the air, making him crash hard to the ground. None had time to celebrate as Ahnon jumped up, and like a gust of wind, he blurred, rushing into the group.
Jedek and Kenna watched spellbound by the violence as Ahnon plowed through the kytensa, wanting to kill with blade and hands. Several tried to throw a spell, but they couldn’t hit him; he was moving too fast. Kenna watched one run away from the group and point his hand at Ahnon. Then the man just melted into a green, glowing puddle.
Ahnon saw Brytil trying to coax his horse away as Ahnon raised his hand, sending a lightning bolt into the horse. The following thunderclap knocked down the few remaining kytensa as Ahnon blurred around them, slicing and stabbing, littering the ground with kytensa blood. Ahnon stopped and looked up in the sky then back to Brytil, who was trapped under his horse.
Calmly, Ahnon wiped the blade off and sheathed his sword as he walked toward Brytil twirling his staff in one hand. Raising his other hand, a glob of light shot out, hitting Brytil in the chest, and Jedek grinned. “See what it feels like,” he mumbled, stepping through the shield and running down the knoll. Kenna tried to grab him but was too late, so she followed him down.
Ahnon reached down and pulled Brytil out from under the horse. With the bind in place, Brytil could only look up with eyes pleading for mercy. “Oh, how rude of me, Brytil. Your master let my sire speak, so I shall let you,” Ahnon said, waving his hand, releasing Brytil’s mouth from the bind.
“Please, spare me. I had no choice,” Brytil begged.
“Oh, yes you did have a choice, Brytil,” Ahnon said, kneeling and putting a hand on his head. “This is even better. You have a family,” Ahnon said, standing up. “Know I will wipe Thanos of your seed, Brytil,” Ahnon said as Jedek ran up.
“Hey, Brytil, I told you I would introduce you to Ahnon,” Jedek said, removing his hat and mask.
Brytil looked at him, crying. “Please don’t, your majesty. Don’t let him go after my family.”
“Why not? You went after mine,” Jedek replied coldly, and Brytil started to wail.
“Masters, help me!” he screamed.
Ahnon removed his hat and mask, looking on Brytil’s neck, spotting an amulet. “Oh, that’s good,” Ahnon said, grinning. “Tell your masters I will be on a boat soon, coming for them. My sire will be safe in Nazar, and we can settle up,” Ahnon said, grinning. “Last words?” Ahnon asked, reaching over and pulling out Jedek’s sword.
“I want to do it!” Jedek snapped as Ahnon rested the tip of the sword on Brytil’s chest.
“No, Jedek, it will be done by me,” Ahnon commanded, and Jedek backed down from the tone.
“Ple—” Brytil started as Ahnon drove the tip into him then slowly rotated it, pulling it out.
As Brytil coughed up blood, Ahnon looked in his face. “Don’t worry; your family and masters won’t be far behind,” he said as the light faded from Brytil’s eyes. With a quick swing, Ahnon severed the head and reached down, grabbing the amulet. “Hello, traitors,” Ahnon said, closing his eyes.
“You’re a dead man!” Ahnon heard screaming in his head.
Ahnon let out a laugh. “Oh, empty threats. I like that,” he said.
“You will see how empty it is, Ahnon,” another calm voice said.
“You must be Abtec, the brother I haven’t met. I can’t wait to introduce myself,” Ahnon said, slowly seeing them in his mind.
“When we meet, you will be the one
begging, Ahnon,” Abtec told him.
“Ask your brothers how their first meeting went,” Ahnon laughed.
“You gutless pig! You mutilated me—my face!” Ryetan screamed.
Still laughing, Ahnon said, “Ryetan, it was a gift to show you what happens to those who move against my sire. I really thought you would like it.” Kenna and Jedek just stared at Ahnon, only hearing his side of the conversation. Then Kenna looked past Ahnon and saw a black form drop out of the sky over the rider trying to get away. Rider and the black form hit the ground, but the horse never stopped. The massive, black form stood up over the body and opened two enormous wings then jumped into the air and flew up. Kenna watched as the gigantic bird flew a lazy circle over them.
“I will take years to kill you!” Ryetan screamed in Ahnon’s mind.
“Well, at least I won’t be bored,” Ahnon said, smiling finally, seeing the scared face of Ryetan clearly. “How is Ental?” Ahnon asked.
Ental’s face filled his mind, and Ahnon had to make an effort to not jump back. His hair was gone, and his entire head was scarred from the burn. “Know this, Ahnon. I will kill Ryetan to have you!” he bellowed.
“Ew, sibling rivalry. Got to love it,” Ahnon chuckled. “How did you like the extra part of that dragon ball, Ental? The burn can’t be healed.”
“I will infuse you to keep you alive for millennia, Ahnon!” he screamed.
Ahnon laughed at him. “I must say this has been fun, and I hope the Gratu fleet continues burning your towns, but I have to run. You know, drop off the sire and come for you three, and tell the Overlord I will stop by,” Ahnon said, and the three froze with fearful expressions in his mind. “That’s right; I know he’s in the dark mountains and always have, but I was going to let him live. Now, I have no choice except to kill him slowly. But I want to tell you something just from me,” Ahnon said, throwing the amulet down. “Valde Poena!” he screamed, and a flowing stream of black shot out of his hands, hitting the amulet. Jedek and Kenna could feel the cold pain from the spell emanating from the black stream.
Dawn of Man (Thanos Book 1) Page 29