by J. B. Jenn
He hurried toward the door. “Galtrand,” the king’s soft voice stopped him. “This will stay between you and me. She doesn’t have to know.”
He gave the man a grateful look before leaving him. As he walked out into the hall, he knew he was fortunate to have what he did go no further. Janessa would hate him for it.
Apparently, he was no better than King Delane and thought Janessa should marry for the future of Cascade. In fact, he was worse than the king. Her father had declined the offer. Galtrand shook his head and started toward his room, disappointed in himself.
Maik
Galtrand closed the door behind him. Maik rolled his eyes. He understood the man’s intentions, but he’d no right. Janessa deserved to make her own decisions. She was Queen of a kingdom. Besides, he felt she deserved some sort of happiness in her life after everything she had gone through.
Maik shook his head at the man as he leaned back. The man had made a valid point though. He, too, wasn’t certain Janessa could rule Cascade in its current state. He hoped she’d surprise him though. There were people who could help her, too.
He sat there for a few moments before kneeling beside the fireplace. He started a fire using sandalwood one of his servants had found in Heltarn in an herbalist shop. Taking in a deep breath, he steadied his racing heart, telling himself he had to do this.
Two days ago, he had learned of a ritual to summon a Servant. In order to do so, he’d have to sacrifice something. The document had only made brief mention of it. Regardless of not knowing what he’d have to give up, today was the day he was going to perform it.
He refused to sit in his palace and wait for Urian to arrive. They would be able to do nothing against the demon. If he had to sacrifice his life to save the people of the Desert, he would. It was odd to think about, but he knew it in his heart. With the last few days, he realized it was the only thing he could do. These people looked to him for protection.
Maik closed his eyes, preparing himself to start the ritual, but a knock at his door interrupted him. He frowned at it. He had told the servants once Galtrand left, he didn’t want anyone else bothering him. Turning his attention back to the fire, he started to concentrate again. Once again, the knocking sounded.
Maik sighed and rose. He pulled open the door with an angry look, ready to berate whoever was on the other side. That was, until he realized it was Janessa. It was the one person he had given his guards permission to come see him at any time. His gaze softened and he gave her a small smile.
“Come in.”
She entered, wringing her hands. Even in her distress, she was stunning. Her pale brown hair flowed elegantly down her back and down the front of her shoulders. Even her brilliant blue eyes gleamed with beauty. Her skin was silky and smooth.
“Is there something you need?”
“I don’t know,” she whispered. She shook her head. “I’m not even sure why I came.” Janessa met his eyes. Maik swept his arm to the living area in front of the fireplace. She sat down. When he joined her, she sighed. “Maik, I feel helpless. There seems to be nothing I can do for the people in Cascade from here. Is it insane I want to gather what’s left of my soldiers and return to my kingdom to help others escape that monster?”
Maik stared at her, uncertain how to answer. She was everything he desired of a woman. He wished her father had agreed to his courtship of her. If King Delane had, things would be different. He’d be able to draw her in his arms and kiss her whenever he wanted, comfort her when horrible things happened. She would be married to him and the mother of his children. Sighing, he ran a hand through his hair.
“It is insane, Janessa,” Maik said. She opened her mouth to protest, but his soft smile stopped her. He grabbed hold of her hand. “The reason for wanting to do so isn’t. I’m not telling you to not do it. I’m not telling you to do it. However, I will tell you I’ve already sent some of my own soldiers down to help people find safety.” Janessa nodded. “I will also tell you, I don’t want you to go for many reasons, most of them selfish. You are the last leader for Cascade. Those people need you to remain alive.”
“What kind of leader would I be if I can’t even risk myself to save them?” Maik stared at her without an answer. “See? You don’t know either! I’m useless, Maik! Useless!”
He wrapped his arms around her. She buried her head in his chest and wept. He held her there for several moments, stroking her back, wishing he could do more for her. When she finally pulled away from him, she wiped away her tears.
“I’m sorry. I shouldn’t be here.” She started toward the door, but he grabbed her hand. “Please, Maik, let me go.”
“No. I want you to stay. I don’t want to try this alone. I can’t believe I was going to.” Janessa looked to him quizzically. “I found a way to summon Mercea Stoneshield.”
“What? Why didn’t you tell me?” She slapped his arm. “What if something happened to you while you were performing the ritual?”
“I didn’t tell you because there’s a provision to the summoning. One I didn’t want to tell you about. It wasn’t clear, but the person who summons a Servant has to make a sacrifice.”
“You should have told me. Were you just going to make this sacrifice on your own without telling anyone about it? How could you be so selfish? My people have died! I’ve been unable to do anything for them. It should be me making this sacrifice. Not you.”
“How can I be so selfish?” He gave her a cynical laugh. “If Urian comes here, it will be my people who die. I was trying to save them and you.” She looked away, making him sigh. “Besides, the idea was mine. If anyone is going to sacrifice something, it should be me. You’ve already lost too much.”
She stared at him angrily for several moments, shaking her head. “I’m not yours to save,” she said with deliberate slowness.
“Janessa, please. Don’t do this.”
She studied him for several moments. Maik wished he knew what she was thinking. She threw her arms up in the air in defeat.
“Fine.” She folded one leg across the other. Her right foot twitched back and forth with irritation. “You could have at least asked me to be here for it. You didn’t have to do this in secret.”
“I know. I’m sorry.”
Maik knelt in front of the fireplace and closed his eyes. The smell of the sandalwood was a strong pine smell, but at the same time held a smooth, creamy smell to it. Overall, he found it pleasant. He added a few pine needles and sage, watching it smoke.
“What are you doing?”
“Just be quiet.” She sighed at him. “Ye of the Old Gods, I ask Thee for a service. Whatever is required, I will bequeath. I request service from Mercea Stoneshield. Send me Your Servant.”
Maik glanced at Janessa. As he turned back to the fire, he fell back when it turned a dark blue color before flickering to a silvery gold color. It settled back to orange. Maik sat there, staring at the fire, heart racing, before he forced himself to rise. He sat beside Janessa and took her hand in his. He held it for several moments in silence as he stared at the fire.
“It’s done. They seem to have accepted.”
“Whatever the burden They ask of you, I will share it, if They will allow it.
Maik gave her hand a gentle squeeze. “Thank you.”
Arem
They were close to Dawn Stone. Arem looked toward the large, intimidating man, Thac. A grin kept trying to part his lips. The man had no idea how much trouble he was in. Just two more days and he’d allow Mercea to wake.
Thac called for a break. The two men carrying the Servant set her down. Arem looked toward Mercea. His face went white. Her color was returning. As he kept her asleep, her coloring had paled, as if she were dead. Now, there was a rosiness to her cheeks, and every once in a while, her eyelids fluttered. He hoped he could hold on longer.
“Please, just give me the time. Two more days. It’s all I need. Please.”
“The wytch is muttering something!”
Arem watche
d as the soldiers rose, drawing their weapons. He shook his head. Thac was standing over him, fists balled at his sides.
“What were you saying?”
“Paranoid?” Arem asked before he could stop himself. Thac punched him, knocking him onto his back. He could taste blood. He met the man’s eyes. “Go ahead. Knock me out. See if you can handle her on your own. She already has bested you a few times. Let’s see if she can do it again.”
Thac knelt beside him, placing a heavy hand on his chest. “She hasn’t bested us, Arem. She did the other group. Perhaps I should take you up on your offer. You’re starting to annoy me.”
Arem met the man’s dark eyes, wishing to set him on fire. Instead, he took in a deep breath. “Annoying as I might be, trust me, when I say you’ll do no better against her than the others. She killed every last man. She’ll do it again. Do you want to risk that when you’re so close to success?”
Thac studied him for a few moments. Arem could tell he was debating his options. When the large man’s eyes flickered to Mercea, Arem knew he had won.
“I didn’t think so.” He started to say more, but the words died in his throat. He looked over at the Servant, pale faced and wide-eyed. “Uh oh.”
Mercea
Her golden eyes snapped open. She blinked to rid the initial brightness. When her gaze found the men of King Barend, her eyes narrowed, and then her gaze fell on Arem. He was to blame for everything. She’d have to deal with him later. Right now, she had people who’d kill her if she didn’t kill them first. Arem was still an unknown. Whereas she couldn’t trust him, she felt he must have had a good reason to do what he’d done.
Mercea jumped to her feet, finding her body sore and stiff. Once again, her gaze flickered to the wytch. How had he managed to put her to sleep? The only reason she was awake now was from the calling she had heard, helping her fight through his magic. The fact he had overcome her with magic was surprising. She was resistant to it.
If you want to live, I suggest you turn around and leave. All I want is Arem.”
Thac laughed. Arem groaned. Mercea turned a fierce look on the large man.
“Do you really think you can take on all of us?”
Mercea looked toward the fifteen men. “Yes.”
Several of them took a step back. Good. Fear was on her side. Thac turned toward Arem.
“Put her back to sleep. NOW!”
Arem gulped as he looked between Thac and her. “I can’t. Something’s changed. She has more power now. I…” He looked to Mercea. “I don’t understand.”
“She should have been tied up! Why isn’t she bound?” Thac bellowed. “Damn it!”
Mercea smirked. Someone had summoned her and the Gods had accepted it. Whenever the people needed her, she gained strength. It was one of the many blessings of being a Servant, but it was something she hadn’t experienced in a long time. Many didn’t know she even existed. Not anymore.
When Thac turned to address her again, her hand rushed out, keeping level, and caught him in the throat. As he doubled over, trying to breathe, she grabbed the sword from his hip. She was surprised when Arem laughed. As of yet, the wytch hadn’t moved.
She turned toward the other two who were rushing her. Ducking under one of the soldiers’ swings, she thrust her leg out to trip him. The other man had his sword swinging down at her, planning to cleave her head in two. It was a hasty move. Mercea rolled to the side. As she did so, another of the soldiers rushing was skewered in the process.
Thac had gained his feet. He charged her. Mercea saw the two daggers in his enormous hands and wondered how good he was with them. As she brought up the sword, another man tried to wrap his arms around her, but he fell to the ground screaming. Fire bathed his entire body. Mercea risked a quick glance at Arem.
“If you won’t come willingly, you’ll die.” Thac drove both daggers at her. Mercea blocked one with ease. But the other dagger changed direction at the last moment and sliced open the top of her arm. She growled at him. “Either way, King Barend will honor me.”
Mercea spun away from him, pushing her sword into one of his men who had ventured too close. She turned toward Thac, blocking both of his attacks. For how large of a man he was, he was swifter than she had thought.
Behind her, she heard two more men screaming. Thac’s two daggers blurred as they thrust at her. Now that she knew his speed, it was easier to block them. Mercea went to make the killing blow, but one of his soldiers charged her, knocking her aside with the unexpected hit.
She grunted from the rough landing and rolled away from the man. She heard a sword strike the ground next to her, where her head had sat only moments ago. As she jumped to her feet, she swept the sword wide. The tip of it spewed the insides of two men onto the ground. She turned to Thac, ignoring their pained screams. Behind Thac, she could see Arem. He was deathly pale. Keeping her asleep had taken its toll on him.
All she had to do now was survive and make her way to the person in need. The moment he had summoned her, she knew who he was, where he was, and what he needed. And, it wasn’t good.
Thac was towering over her again. Mercea looked up, meeting his angry black eyes, wanting nothing more than to be done with this. These men had already stopped her too many times from completing her task. It wouldn’t happen again.
Mercea thrust at him, but one of his men grabbed her from behind. She threw herself back, making them both land on the ground. As she crashed on top of him, she grabbed the dagger sticking out from the top of his boot and jammed the blade into his side. He screamed.
Mercea ignored him as she gained her feet. By the time she was fully erect, his breathing had stopped. The other soldiers didn’t approach her, knowing she was going to kill them.
She looked toward Arem. “Do something with them! I’ll handle the big, dumb one.”
Thac’s soldiers started to flee. Arem waved his hand at them, catching all of them on fire. He watched them burn. Once their screams ceased, he stopped the fire. Only two others were left. When Arem slumped forward, kneeling, Mercea knew she was going to have to deal with the other two who hadn’t fled.
The three attacked her at once. Mercea leapt away from the two swords and the daggers coming at her. Still using Thac’s sword, she swept it toward him. The tip sliced open his chest. He growled at her. As she attacked him, one of the soldier’s sword tips grazed her shoulder. Before it could do any significant damage, she twisted away from it.
She looked to the two soldiers. She had to take care of them before she could deal with the larger one. They were interfering too much.
She threw her sword. The blade drove deep into one of their chests. The man fell back, blood gurgling from his mouth. He was dead before he hit the ground. Now, she only had the dagger she had used to kill the man with. She couldn’t throw it. The other soldier would expect it.
The man stared at her. She grinned and charged. Thac attempted to reach out to grab her, but only met air and stumbled forward. Mercea leapt at the last moment, landing on the man, driving the blade of her dagger into his throat. He didn’t even have time to scream.
She rose and turned to face Thac. Blood had sprayed across her face. Thac backed away, wide-eyed.
“Wait,” he pleaded. “I’m sure we can come to an understanding.”
“I believe the time for that has passed.”
Thac flinched. When the killing blow didn’t come, he stared at her. Confusion furrowed his brow. Mercea stood there, staring at him. Everything about her was calm.
“What are you waiting for?”
“This,” Arem said.
Before Thac had time to consider running, fire consumed his entire body. Mercea stood there, watching him burn to a crisp. The smell of human flesh hung thick in the air. She spun on Arem the moment the flames died. Her eyes were narrowed and she jabbed a finger into his chest.
“You have a lot of explaining to do.”
“There’s too much to explain,” Arem said weakly from where he n
ow sat on the ground. “You’re going to have to follow me to Dawn Stone and see what I’ve wanted you to see all this time. This time, you have to listen to me. Please. The only way you’re going to see what you need to see and live, is if I’m there.”
Mercea studied him. She had no idea what he meant, but she could see he spoke the truth. Or, at least what he believed truth.
“I’ll follow.”
Ogden
It felt odd leaving Yul behind. He was just a day or two outside of Kenokel now. His heart raced with thoughts of what he might find there. All he could envision was a monster, worse than any nightmare could conjure up.
As he continued toward the destroyed town, he kept his task in mind. He had come for information, so Yul could deal with what was happening in Hartland. That was it. He wasn’t here for heroics. Observe. Learn. Leave.
Briefly, he wondered how Casman was fairing. Maybe he had already learned what he needed to and was making his way back to King Zavad. Ogden doubted it. Their journey was about the same distance. If anything, he was further ahead than Casman. It was one of the reasons he was glad to travel alone.
The sun was starting to set, painting the sky in reds and oranges. He found a small cluster of trees and climbed into one of them to rest for the night. He had hoped he’d reached the city by the end of the day.
As he positioned himself on one of the thicker tree limbs, the sword at his hip jabbed him. He glanced down. Upon seeing the strange black and purple hilt, he laughed. He had forgotten entirely about the odd weapon they had found in the Spindle Mountains. He had even forgotten to show it to the king. Ogden wondered how he’d forgotten. It wasn’t like him.
Oddly, the sword gave him comfort tonight. Ogden patted the weapon. In doing so, he noticed in the dim light there were odd runes on the blade. He pulled it from the sheath. The runes ran all the way down the purple blade on both sides. He didn’t remember seeing them before. As he stared at them, he had a feeling he should know what the runes were. It felt as if he had seen them somewhere, but he had no idea where.