“Seth! I knew you’d bring it to me!” Kyle turned to Izzy. “How many times did I tell you we don’t need Vukani’s help?” He glanced at Vukani who was now fingering his hand axe. “No offense intended, buddy. But like I’ve said every day since we got here, Seth’s the only Shadow Lord in the history of Shenaya who is also a Custodian!”
A hard-edged silence fell over the campsite. Kyle closed his eyes, and kissed the Stone, not seeing the shock and disbelief on Seth’s face at this revelation.
Izzy eased up to Kyle, rubbed herself against him like a cat, simpering, “My wonderful Overlord husband. You delivered, just like you promised you would.”
Kyle laughed. “Oh baby, baby! Big bucks, here we come.” With an extravagant flourish, he hung the Seer-Stone around his neck. “This calls for a celebration. I’ve got some beers.” He opened a solar-powered fridge. “So tell me, little brother, what do you think of old Gideon? Real pain in the arse, isn’t he, with all his stupid stories?”
Seth stood motionless. “You know him?”
“Of course. He visited me for years when I was a kid, bleating on about curses.” Kyle laughed. “Why do you think I always wanted to become an archaeologist? Diamonds, buddy, diamonds!” He tussled Seth’s hair. “Then the fire came and I had to take care of you. That put an end to all hopes of an expedition.” He grinned. “But I always knew you’d find us the Stone. And you did. Well done, little brother. Now here, have a beer.”
Seth took the beer without even looking at it. “So you knew, all these years, about all this – and . . . and you never told me.”
Kyle gave him a slow smile. “Seth, buddy. It’s not such a big deal. Gideon’s crap cost us all. Big time. The whole family. It’s only right that we should get pay-back.”
“Are you saying the whole family knew about this – except me?”
Kyle stopped smiling. He pulled Seth aside, away from Izzy and Vukani. “Seth, I know that sounds rough, but there was a good reason why you weren’t told.”
“Oh yeah? And what would that be?” Seth demanded, feeling a sudden belligerence that was totally foreign to his nature.
Kyle stepped back in surprise at Seth’s furious expression. “Listen, buddy. Chill. It was Mom’s idea. She refused to let anyone tell you about it. She threatened to kill us all if we mentioned a word.” He paused. “I don’t know how well you remember her, but she had a real temper. Not wise to mess with that lady.”
Seth had no memory of his mother being like that; to him she had always been fun-loving and kind. “I don’t get it. Why?”
“She wanted you to have a ‘normal’ childhood.” Kyle sniggered. “As normal as possible with a crazy father whose only interest was finding this rock. Every dollar he earned went into funding expeditions to find this beauty. But he never turned up a thing.”
Seth’s eyes flashed with anger at yet another disclosure of the truths his family had hidden from him. “What really happened with the fire? I’ve always sensed that you kept stuff from me. So many times I’ve wished that I’d been there so I could have known the truth.”
“Wished you were there, on that night from hell! No, Seth. It was better that you were at that friend’s birthday party. At least you were protected.”
Seth hand lashed out, smacking Kyle on the chest. “Stop protecting me from things! I’m not a kid. Tell me the truth. For once in your life. Did you and Liam fight?”
Kyle took a step back, eyeing this new Seth warily. After a few moments he cracked open his beer and took a long swig. “Why do you ask that?”
“Because that’s what the curse does. It turns father from son, and brother from brother. Even cousins aren’t spared.”
Kyle stepped into Seth’s personal space and grabbed his shoulders. “Well, it’s not turning us, buddy.”
Seth’s eyes narrowed; and when he spoke his voice was icy. “Answer my question.”
Kyle took a step back, and scratched his forehead. “Okay, Seth. The truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth.” He paused, his amber eyes focused on Seth’s. “Brother against brother, you say. Well, that just about sums it up. Liam and I never really got on. But, by the time that weekend came, our brotherly relationship was history.” Kyle waited for Seth to comment, but he said nothing, forcing Kyle to continue. “As you know, Mom had arranged the weekend at the cabin on the lake. Family bonding time, she called it. But you decided not to come. And Mom agreed. How weird is that? I’ve often wondered if she’d had some kind of premonition, because she was absolutely cool with you staying in Rochester. But she insisted that Liam and I come. And the old man. We all whinged about it, but she was set on it. Still, I think Liam only agreed so he could make trouble.”
“Trouble? Why would he do that?”
“Because he was a swine who wanted both my title as Shadow Lord and my girl. Aimee, remember her?” Seth nodded. “She was there too. And, as could be expected, Liam and I fought. About Aimee. But she got mad. With both of us. I told her I never wanted to speak to her again. Then I drove off in a huff. Bad, bad mistake.”
Although Kyle now spoke in clipped phrases, Erin, who had been listening to the conversation in the Mist of Time, heard real pain in his voice. “Liam must have tried to jump her that night. From what I’ve pieced together, she put up one hell of a fight. Knocked over a propane lamp, and the cabin went up in smoke. End of Aimee and family. And the beginning of trauma with police, who tried to pin the fire on me. Still, there was no proof that could stick. But social services just loved that. As you know, I spent the next five years persuading them that I wasn’t an unfit guardian.” Kyle mussed Seth’s hair like he’d done when Seth was a kid. “You were all I had left, buddy.”
It would have been so easy to leave the story there, but Kyle hadn’t yet answered his question. Seth stepped back and folded his arms. “Why didn’t you have the guts to tell me about the curse? And the whole Shadow Lord thing?”
Kyle rubbed a tattoo on his forearm. Although the image was familiar, the tattoo was a new addition to his collection. Seth studied it. His blood chilled. It was a perfect rendition of the Lightning Bird. He wanted to scream and to punch something. But, instead, he held the emotion in, waiting for Kyle’s reply.
“Seth, you were always Mom’s favourite. And that was cool, I had no problem with it. But when she saw how much Liam and I fought, she was scared it would affect you. So she worked Dad over to make us all promise – virtually on our lives – that we’d never tell you all this. She hoped that if you didn’t know, it would all just pass you by. The old man agreed, but on condition that Liam and I at least Pledged to him.” Kyle paused, looking beseechingly at Seth. “You were such a cute kid. How could I not obey?” When Seth said nothing, Kyle continued, “Then Mom died. What was I supposed to do then? Break my promise to her?”
“She made you promise and our Overlord father used it . . . Oh man, now I understand it all.” Seth shook his fist into the air, screaming, “Reuel, you bastard, you take what’s best in people and use it to curse them!”
Kyle grabbed his shoulders. “Seth, buddy. Cool it.” Seth threw Kyle’s hands off. “Please. You have to understand, I did it because I believed it was right.”
“And it cursed you! Just like my promise to you cursed me.” Seth dropped the can of unopened beer in the sand, and sprinted away across the pan.
Watching from the Mists of Time, Erin saw Kyle’s shoulders slump. Izzy took his hand. “He’ll come round. Just give him time.” When Kyle said nothing, she added, “Maybe Mia should go and talk to him. She has a way with guys.”
“Where’s she?”
“Gone for a run. You know her. Ballet dancer, fitness fanatic. When she gets back I’ll set her onto Seth.” She smiled at him. “Now come, let’s go back to the fire and enjoy our diamond.”
* * *
Seth stopped some distance from the campsite. The gathering darkness was now spreading like a shadow across the ghostly white face of the pan. Trembling with pain a
nd sorrow, he sank down onto the crusty surface. The stars appeared, one by one, in the velvet sky. In the distance he heard a hyena call. He looked around, suddenly conscious that he had no way of knowing who was watching him. His skin crawled and he guessed the Gefallen were breathing down his neck. He tried to ignore them. Slowly, painfully, he allowed the full weight of responsibility that came with the title Shadow Lord of Shenaya to seep through him.
Time slipped by. A bright, third-quarter moon patrolled the sky above. It was then that Seth finally exhaled a long, slow measured breath and turned to see the diamond, still hanging around Kyle’s neck. One of its facetted sides caught the firelight and winked at him, confirming what he already knew – what Gideon and Nathan had shown him months ago in the dreams that had brought him to Botswana, to Shenaya, to Erin.
It’s war. And whatever happens now, somebody is going to get hurt. He stood up and headed to the fire to confront his brother.
As he walked into the camp a shadow peeled away from one of the tents and stepped out in front of him. His mouth fell open and he sucked in a breath. Erin! She moved into the firelight and Seth’s joy-filled relief collapsed into disappointment. The girl standing before him, smiling at him, looked nothing like Erin. She was taller, sleeker and, although Vermeer would have killed to paint Erin, Seth had seen pretty girls like this in every school he’d ever attended. She held no charm for him. He nodded at her and started walking again, towards his confrontation with Kyle.
“Hi. I’m Mia,” the girl said.
Her voice made Seth stop and look at her with more interest. It was hard to describe; but if Erin’s passionate giggles sounded like a joyful, crackling fire, then Mia’s voice was like a gently bubbling stream. It was soothing, calming.
“Sorry I wasn’t here when you arrived, Seth, but I’ve been out for a run. One’s got to keep fit, even out here in the sticks.” For the first time in his life, Seth was tongue-tied. “The pan is beautiful,” Mia added. “Quiet. I was going to sit and watch the stars. You’re welcome to join me.”
Almost in a daze, Seth looked across the pan and then at Kyle. He was laughing at something Izzy had said. It made him angry. “Thanks, but no. I have something I need to do.” He pushed passed her and started towards Kyle.
Two steps closer, he caught the wicked gleam of firelight on sharpened steel and stopped. Vukani was watching him, his eyes steady, his fist clasped around the hilt of his ancient hand-axe. Seth shivered. He didn’t need a Guardian to tell him that it was probably the same weapon Opher had wielded just moments ago to hack a man to death. The scabbard on Seth’s belt had never felt heavier in its emptiness.
The touch of Mia’s fingers was light upon his arm. “Come,” she lured. “They’ll all still be here in the morning.” She flicked her blonde hair, cut into a short bob, and walked into the darkness.
Seth could hear her humming one of his favourite songs as she walked. The lilt of her voice was numbing, taking the raw edges off his emotions, dulling his senses. He was almost drowning in the sound, but he didn’t know it. Heart beating in unison with hers, he followed her away from the diamond, out onto the pan.
* * *
Erin slammed her fist against the crystal wall where the image of Seth and Mia played. “Forget this! I’m not going to just stand back while that soul-stealer rips Seth’s heart out.” She turned to Kate. “Help me fight her. Help me win.”
Kate grinned at her. “That’s the spirit!” She flitted into the swirling mist. “Follow me.”
With grim determination, Erin marched off after Kate.
END OF BOOK ONE
PLEASE LEAVE A REVIEW
If you enjoyed Pledged, please take a moment to share your thoughts on the website where you bought it because it will help other readers find and enjoy the book too. Also, I would love to read your views.
Gwynneth White
SACRIFICED
Loved Pledged? Then you definitely need to read Sacrificed, the second book in the SOUL WARS SAGA. It will be available from January 2013. The third book in the series, Saved, goes on sale in June 2013.
For a sneak preview of Sacrificed read on . . .
Chapter 1
SHENAYA
Caleb stared out of the window of his dead father’s office, his hands gripped behind his back. His soul was lost. Damned. And he knew it. He wished it wasn’t so, but simple logic, and his own sense of justice, convinced him that it had to be that way. He had murdered his father.
Well, perhaps murder was not quite the right word. After all, he hadn’t pulled the bow strings that had left the poison-tipped arrows quivering in his father’s chest. Bastion and Eli had done that. But that was academic. He had agreed to his father’s death. And, by condoning that act, had empowered the assassins to shoot his erstwhile best friend Jared too. Now Jared lay dying in the Fortress infirmary. And here he was, the all-powerful Overlord of Shenaya, powerless to help, waiting for news he knew would not be good. No one had ever survived shooting by poison-tipped arrows.
Caleb ran his hands across his face and sighed.
Unseen by him, Lucien, the crimson-cloaked Gefallen, brushed against his side, breathing in his mind. “Caleb, come now! Why this misery? You should be elated. You’re now Overlord of the Shenayan Family. And, what’s more, by agreeing to your father’s death, you saved your brother Daniel’s life – and your own – from your father’s murderous scheming. You know very well that was the first offence in the treachery that led to today’s crimes.”
But Caleb wasn’t elated. Although he had despised his father, all that hatred had not been enough to prepare him for the guilt, sorrow, and terror that now overwhelmed him. He took a deep breath. The best he could do now was to ensure he didn’t compound the evil by Pledging his allegiance to Reuel. That would be unthinkable. It would condemn him to an eternity as a disembodied wraith, a Gefallen, a slave to Reuel, ancient source of all his misery. Little better than his parents who had both tried to destroy him in their own way, or Lucien, whose voice was resounding in his head. Unable to bear the thought of such a fate, he turned and fled, knowing Lucien was shadowing him.
He let his feet race him away from the Fortress to the forest at the foot of Mount Sidon. Before he knew it he – and Lucien – was standing outside a wooden hut hidden in the shadow of a giant fig tree. It had been a year since he had been here, and it showed in the collapsing roof and rotting wall timbers.
Cursing himself for coming to yet another place that filled him with remorse, he hesitated. But the need to connect with the memories lingering in this dilapidated hut overcame him. He pushed open the door and stepped inside. There on the floor was the same straw mattress on which he and Talitha had consummated their love. It was covered with a fresh springbok pelt. That surprised him. Then he caught a whiff of wood-smoke.
Someone was living here.
That was absolutely forbidden in the Shenaya his father had ruled. Shenayans were only ever permitted to live where they could be monitored by Pledged, loyal to Reuel and the Overlord. Watched, controlled, and then eliminated if they dared to disobey the rules. That was one of the first things Caleb intended changing now that he was Overlord.
Starting right now. No doubt whoever is hiding here is an Outcast, escaped from one of the prison towns. He will be the first to benefit from the new freedom I will bring to Shenaya. Caleb turned to leave. As he reached for the door, a young girl stepped out in front of him. She regarded him through bright green eyes. Recognising his strikingly handsome face, framed with sable-dark, shoulder length hair, she smiled in greeting.
His eyebrows shot up to his hairline. After all, there wasn’t a Shenayan alive – or dead – who didn’t know who he was. But that didn’t mean his vision for Shenayan freedom was common knowledge. By rights, this girl should have been terrified of him. Instead she was now smiling as if he were a long-lost friend. He looked her up and down. About twelve, he guessed – old enough to be at Queen Camp.
So what is she doin
g here?
For almost four hundred years, no child in Shenaya had escaped the decree condemning children to six years of brainwashing at either Queen Camp if you were a girl, or Pledging Camp if you were a boy. But here this girl stood as if none of these rules applied to her.
Caleb studied her unusual face. One of her parents could clearly trace their lineage back to their common Semitic ancestors, but her other progenitor had come from the caramel-coloured people living beyond the borders of Shenaya. Children with mixed blood were almost unheard of in Caleb’s world. The only person he knew of who had taken a woman of colour to his bed had been his father – and he could because he was Overlord. Through that liaison, Caleb had two dark-skinned step-sisters serving their time at Queen Camp. Although family, he had never seen them.
Now thoroughly intrigued, Caleb took a step closer to the girl. Half !Kung Bushman, no doubt, given her slight build. “Who are you?”
The girl’s smile broadened, but she said nothing.
“You must have a name. Everyone has a name. I’m Caleb.”
She nodded, and then bobbed a curtsey, telling him she knew exactly who he was.
“Can’t you talk?”
She shook her head and opened her mouth, but no sound came out.
“A mute. But you understand, so that means you can hear.”
She nodded.
Caleb made a fist with just his thumb showing. “Is it just you?” He pointed to his thumb, and then held up two more fingers. “Or are there two or three of you living here? Your parents? Your family?”
Pledged Page 35