She gestured to the dark wood settee. “I will call Father.” She practically bounded from the room. After some time she returned looking a lot less cheerful, followed by Lord Almeida. He looked severe in a black formal suit with a thin golden line running down the centre of each leg of his trousers and sleeves.
He stood in front of me and held out a hand. “Let me see the sentinel.” I handed it to him and he inspected it with a looking glass held to his eye. After a few moments of silence, he held out his hand again. “And the box.” Again, he inspected it. He strode over to the other settee and sat down heavily. He exhaled long and slow. His eyes came up, first looking at Seran and then fixing me under his grey gaze.
“If you carry this then it means that you are the chosen one. The Preserver. It also means the Great Threat is once again stirring.” He looked at Alathaya with such sadness in his eyes that it was clear that he knew she must be part of it. He gestured for her to have a seat next to him. She had been standing by the door still. She sat down and he took both her hands in his. “Now, Alathaya, tell me, what is it that you have been hiding from me.” Shock clearly showed on her face and she writhed under his gaze. “It is alright, darling. I held some suspicions already. You have always been special.” I found myself sitting forward in my seat, curiosity burning through me.
She looked down at her feet as if there was something very interesting on them. “It is hard to explain. It started with Mother’s death. I kept thinking back over the days before it happened. Sometimes I would think so hard about it that I could feel exactly what I felt in that moment, I could see what I saw, I could smell what I had smelled, I could hear what I had heard. Then once when I was sitting thinking about that afternoon before it happened, I sat with my eyes closed, I wished so much to be back in that moment. I lived myself into it. Literally.” She looked up at him uncertainly and he nodded and smiled encouragingly. She looked back down at her feet. “Then, when I opened my eyes, I was there. Except, it was as if I was there twice. I knew I had lived that moment before and that I was coming back to it. I had no control over my actions, not really, it was like I was only there to whisper in my own ear.”
She shook her head. “The first time it happened I did not really understand it. I must have only been there for a couple of moments before the need to come back to myself pulled me back. But when I did come back to myself, my current self, I could remember that it had happened, but from having been the real me in the past… it gets very confusing, I do not know if I am explaining it well.” She again looked to her father.
He squeezed her hand. “You are doing well. Tell us what happened the next time you tried.”
She nodded, her expression firmed. “Once I knew what I had done, I was determined to go back… to…” her eyes flickered to her father and away. “I was determined to stop Mother’s death. I had to try many times before I managed to get back again. I warned myself that she should not go out riding the next day. That I must do everything in my power to stop her no matter what she said.”
Her father looked confused. “But, darling, Mother did not die while out riding.”
She nodded and tears were running down her face. “I know. I stopped her dying one way only to let it happen another way and then another and then another.” She shook her head miserably. “It did not matter what I said, how I tried, I could not stop it from happening.” A sob shook her.
Her father gave her a hug. “It is alright Ali. It was not your fault. How long after she died did you discover this ability?”
She thought for a moment. “Less than a season.”
He nodded gravely. “I had assumed that it was grief that made you so ill at that time, but it wasn’t, was it?”
She shook her head. “Every time I came back, I would feel unwell. Headaches, nausea, even fever on one occasion. It seemed that the longer I resisted the pull to come back, the more ill I became when I did return. Barely a minute there would have me confined to my bed for days. If I did not allow myself to recover fully before I tried again, it was worse the next time. ”
This was an amazing ability, the potential for it incredible. Her father’s gruff voice interrupted my musing. “Alathaya, do you understand what this means?”
Her face firmed. “Yes father. It means the Great Threat is returning. That I will have a role to play in what comes.” He nodded and smiled at her, but he looked grim.
He had not actually said where their family crest came from. “Sir, that symbol on the sentinel, your family crest, what does it mean? I think I know it from somewhere, but I have not been able to remember where I have seen it before.”
He gave me a measuring look. I wondered what was going on behind those steely grey eyes. “After the Severance there were two groups charged with keeping the Knowledge safe. One group of the Fae, and one group of the humans. The Fae are the Guardians and the humans the Alliance. We had to swear to ‘Preserve the knowledge, pass it on from generation to generation until the Protector arises. Prepare and equip him for what must be done.’ It sounds simple enough.” He shook his head. “The Dark One has put all of his remaining strength into finding us and eradicating us along with all knowledge of what had passed before. The Alliance was fifteen strong when we started. Fifteen men and women who swore the Oath of Preservation. Risking not only their own lives, but also that of their family. Now only seven remain and you make eight Kadin. Seven families have paid the ultimate price. Their entire families killed. Which brings me to my question.” It felt as though his gaze pinned me to my seat. “Why is it that you do not know these things? Your family must have been one of the Alliance. We always knew that the Protector would rise from either the Guardians or the Alliance.”
“I am an orphan. My father was killed a few days prior to my birth and my mother fled. She was pursued and injured. She died moments after my birth. I was adopted by the woman who was sent to find me. The Tretakai raised me, but I think only the Cha truly knew who I was.”
Comprehension lit his face. “They must have reasoned out that it would be you. I do not know how, but one thing is for certain, you were the target that day. That would explain your lack of education.”
I looked over at Seran. Speaking of the reason for my lack of education, I wondered about him and for that matter Trissa as well. Neither of them had ever mentioned the Alliance or being brought up with knowledge of what had been and what was to come. He looked over at me and I thought I saw shame pass behind his eyes before he looked away and it was replaced by concern. I followed his gaze to Alathaya’s face. It was curiously blank.
She was staring straight ahead with unseeing eyes. Her mouth worked furiously, but she said not a word. Master Almeida followed my gaze. “Alathaya… Alathaya.”
He took her shoulders in a firm grip and shook her. She did not respond. Her mouth kept twitching. Suddenly she gasped, her eyes wide in shock and terror. “We must go, now! They are coming. So many. We must run.” She swayed in her seat. Standing up, he put a steadying hand around her shoulders. “Follow me.”
We ran as fast as we could with Master Almeida half carrying a weak Alathaya. He led us out the back of the house to the stables. The groom was standing ready the moment we came out of the house. “Prepare their horses.” His voice carried a note of urgency, but with cool command. The groom sped away.
“Are you not coming?” I asked.
He looked at me. “Take her to safety. I must stay here. I cannot leave all the estate workers undefended. If it is safe, stay close by in hiding, I will find you. If by tomorrow evening I have not made contact, leave.”
“We can stay and help to fight.” I protested.
He shook his head once, firmly. “You three are too important for what comes. You are not at full strength yet. Run and live to fight a more important battle.” He helped Alathaya onto her horse and we galloped away towards town. I was worried that she might not be able to stay mounted. She was clinging onto the pommel of her saddle, her knuckles white with
the effort. Her head lolled alarmingly though.
We rode to our inn. I ran in and was greatly relieved to find both Brant and Trissa in their rooms. I burst into his room first. “There is an attack. Get all your things, get Teeka and meet us at the front.” He jumped up without question and disappeared down the hall.
I ran to the next room along and after a rapid knock let myself into Trissa’s room. Her mouth dropped open in surprise and she started to protest at my unannounced entrance, but I cut her off. I told her the same as Brant. She looked around the room. “But, it will take me a while to pack everything. I did not expect to have to leave in such urgency.”
My temper bubbled. “You have two minutes. If you are not out front we leave you here.” Without waiting for a response, I turned on my heel. Before the door closed behind me, I heard mutters of ‘ill-mannered brute’, but at least I heard her scurrying around to pack.
She appeared moments after Brant and as soon as she came around the corner, I urged Balder on to a gallop. I headed for a high hill just to the south of Andos. I reasoned that a better vantage point would be welcome and we would still be close to the town. We let the horses slow when we reached the uneven ground at the foot of the hill and made our way to the top. As soon as we stopped, Alathaya swayed in her saddle. I dismounted and helped her down and onto the ground. I was only half-surprised when Markai appeared. She had felt my urgency and the feel of danger. She trotted off to check around our perimeter to ensure that we had not been followed. Seran and Brant went about hobbling the horses and gathering firewood.
I sat Alathaya down and gave her some water from a skin. She drank gratefully, but I thought more spilled down her chin than went in her mouth. She started dipping in and out of consciousness. Each time she woke, she said the same thing. “Where is Father? Why is he not here?” I worried that if something should happen to him, she would hate us. I had a thin blanket in my saddlebag and I wrapped it around her.
Dusk soon set in and Brant started making a fire. “I do not think that is wise. We may want the light and the warmth of it, but exposed as we are up here, it will light our position up like a beacon.” I pointed out the obvious.
After a moment, he nodded and sat down with a huff. “Now that the excitement of the moment has passed, do you mind telling me what we were running from?”
I told him what had happened after we left them at the tavern. He looked at Alathaya as if through new eyes when I told him of her Talent and his eyebrows rose at her warning. Trissa had been listening and she rubbed her arms as if suddenly cold. She looked at Alathaya with an unreadable expression.
We divided up shifts for the night watch and I tried to find the most comfortable position to sleep on the hard ground. After having satisfied herself that we had not been followed, Markai lay down tightly next to me and I was glad for her warmth. Try as I might though, I slept fitfully at best. It was almost a relief when Seran came to wake me for my watch. Everything was quiet in the depth of the night, but I could smell smoke every now and again when the wind changed direction.
Markai sat down next to me as I stared out over the sleeping town. I wondered what the morrow would bring. I looked over at Alathaya’s sleeping form. From where I sat, I could make out only a vague shape. There was something about her... I felt intrigued by her. For the hundredth time, I hoped to the heavens that her father was still alive.
I can go have a look for you. Sometimes it still surprised me how deep my connection with Markai had become. She did not only suggest that she would look on my behalf, but my worry was her worry. She felt my anxiety as if it was her own. I put an arm around her. The now familiar feeling of my skin on fire at the same time as having icy water running through my veins filled my being. The first time it happened, it had been a shock and even after that, it had felt strange. Now it felt invigorating. Like it was strengthening me. It is too dangerous Markai. We do not know what happened there. I will not risk you.
I went to wake Brant for his watch, but after several soft shoves, he only grumbled at me. I sighed and sat back down. I wasn’t going to be able to sleep in any case.
As the first rays of dawn lit the hill, Markai again suggested having a look at the Almeida estate. “At the first sign of danger, come back. Do not go too close. We only need to know if the attack is over and if there may be survivors.” She loped off, and after a few steps disappeared like mist in the morning sun.
∞ ∞ ∞ ∞
I cleared my mind and focused my Navitas. I put every bit of my awareness into my bond with her. I took several slow deep breaths and when I opened my eyes, I was looking through hers. We were within sight and smell of the estate. The smell of burning and blood was thick in the air. There were other smells on the morning breeze. The smell of dark creatures, but we could not name the one it came from.
The only noises were those of birds in the woods. This was a good sign, for if the Dark One’s pets were still close by, the birds would be the first to go into hiding. We carefully made our way closer through the trees and as we approached, the corrupt smell became stronger. We were sure that this was a diminishing smell, though, meaning that whatever had been there was now gone.
The estate came into plain view. The stately house was gutted by fire. Smouldering ruins stood where just the day before we had sat in a grand sitting room. Faintly we smelled humans as well. Some smelled of death, but we were certain that some were alive.
Markai started to trot towards the ruined house. I tried to pull her back and only succeeded in nearly pulling my awareness away from her. With wary eyes, ears and nose we approached, circling around to the back of the house. There were dead humans scattered around, but also what appeared to be Dark Children. They had no fur, but instead thick scales covered their bodies. Their tales were thin and long with, what I thought looked like a stinger at the end. One creature’s muzzle was long and thick, the mouth half open. It had several rows of extremely sharp teeth. The grass around its head looked to have been burnt. I shuddered mentally and was relieved when we moved on.
We followed Markai’s keen nose. There were certainly people alive, but I reasoned that they must have had an underground room for we could not pinpoint where they had gone, the trail simply disappeared in the middle of the yard. Putting an ear to the ground, we could make out muffled voices. It was too faint to discern much of what was said, but we heard a gruff voice which Markai assured me, was the voice of Master Almeida. It took me a moment to realise that she had used my memory of our conversation to make that judgement. Satisfied she returned to our makeshift camp.
I was unbelievably relieved that Alathaya’s father was still alive. The others started waking up. Brant suddenly sat bolt upright. “You never woke me for my watch. Did you fall asleep on your watch?” He had an accusing finger pointed at me.
“No, I had trouble sleeping so I thought I may as well stay up.” I went over to the still huddled shape of Alathaya. Her eyes were half-open and she was shivering despite the sheen of sweat on her forehead. “How are you feeling Alathaya?” She opened her eyes a touch wider.
When she spoke, her teeth chattered. “I am s-s-so cold.”
I rubbed her arm. “We will get you some help.” Everyone was either sitting up or already packing up the few belongings that we had.
“The attack is over at the estate and Master Almeida is alive as well as some others. He said that he would find us by tonight if it was safe to do so, so I suggest we go back to the inn.” There was a couple of murmurs of agreement and nodding of heads.
I unsaddled Balder and put my saddle onto Alathaya’s horse. “Seran, I am going to have to double up with her. She will not be able to sit her horse. I am going to get up and then I will need you to help get her up in front of me.” He nodded. She was hardly able to help us in our effort at all and it was a bit of a struggle. Finally, she was on and I slipped a hand around her waist and let her body lean back against me.
We made our slow way back. The town seemed
to have been left untouched, but it was astir with rumours about the Almeida estate burning down. It did not seem that anyone as yet knew that there had been more to it than that. At the Happy Boar Inn, the groom looked worriedly at Alathaya. We got her down from the horse and I cradled her in my arms. “Can you send for a physician please?” He nodded quickly and scurried off. Another groom had come out and was taking care of the horses. I carried her in and up to my room, carefully laying her down on the bed. She was going in and out of consciousness and mumbling incoherently. I had been so concerned about what her reaction would be if her father should die, I had not even considered the possibility of her dying.
The physician showed up soon after and shooed us out of the room. I anxiously waited outside. It felt like hours before he came out and closed the door behind him softly. “She needs to rest. Give her plenty of water, as and when she will drink it and whatever food she will take. She should be fine in a few days.” His words were supposed to be comforting, but his grave face counteracted them. I simply nodded.
I sat with her through the rest of the day, having my meals brought to the room. Brant stayed with me through most of it while Trissa and Seran went out to get provisions for the journey. “You realise we cannot stay here for a few days more?” This was the third time he had said this.
I sighed. “I know, but I think we can afford to wait until morning. We must wait until this evening at least for Master Almeida to come, after all, we cannot leave him wondering if something has happened to us, to his daughter. We are certainly not leaving during the night.” He gave a grudging nod, but I wondered whether he would raise the subject again. He probably thought that I was going to do whatever I needed to in order to take care of her. Perhaps he was right.
I took out the Book of Remembrance and looked through it for the Twisted Ones that had attacked. I thought I had seen their picture before and it was not long before I found it. It was a Lakreay, a scaled beast with a venomous bite as well as venom on their claws and tip of their tails. It said that a single scratch or bite from it would kill. Slow acting venom, which spreads through the bloodstream destroying the body from the inside out. Further down the page the writer had added, ‘a favourite of Rakadamon, for its intelligence and brutality.’ I shivered, wondering what had happened the first time around. Clearly we had been attacked and Alathaya had risked her life to come back to warn us of it.
Book of Remembrance: The Forgotten Gods: Book One Page 20