"What is this?" Will asked quietly.
" I know those tents. It's the Algaer," Rya said excitedly.
"Yes, it's true. The Algaer have arrived for battle!" Kellin yelled.
There isn't going to be a battle, thought Will.
“The choice to die alone, or with friends.”
Two men on horses raced up the plain to greet them. The first was an Algaer by the name of Kirac. His face looked gray, and he was obviously bothered by something.
"Kirac!" Kellin called.
"Kellin, it is good to see you." His voice sounded heavy.
The air was thick, and Kirac’s demeanor was dark and brooding.
Kellin had taken notice. "What is wrong Kirac?"
Kirac stared at both Kellin and Rya for a moment, and then finally responded, "You're father has passed, my brother."
Kellin stopped moving as his face slowly turned from joy to disbelief. Rya’s eyes opened wide and her jaw dropped.
"The one called Awad turned on us and demanded the death of all who follow Hiktar." He then looked at Will. "You."
Will didn't know what to say, Rya and Kellin were both crying beside him. Will just sat on his horse and stared off into the distance, trying to grasp the situation.
“The choice to die alone, or with friends.”
"At least twenty people died as we fled from the Ruik," Kirac continued.
"The Ruik are following Awad?" Will asked puzzled.
"Yes. He spoke our language as you do, Hiktar," Kirac explained.
Tripp stared at Kirac, completely confused. “How?”
“We don’t know. Do you, Hiktar?” Kirac said, almost interrogating Will.
Will looked up at him, angry at his tone. Both stared at each other, like two dogs snarling, waiting to go at it.
“We all know that Will and Awad didn’t get along,” Tripp said breaking the silence.
Still more silence.
“I don’t know how Awad was able to speak the language. He is not with me, and if he killed your Tareen, he definitely is not with me,” Will said, determined to stand his ground and prove his point.
“Fine.” Kirac ended the conversation. “Kellin, I must speak with you. With your father gone, you are next in line.”
“I’m coming.” Kellin said with all the strength he could muster, nudging his horse’s head moving him forward.
Kellin and Kirac left and headed toward the main camp, leaving the others to process what had happened.
Rya nudged her horse and took off to the west of the camp. Tripp and Will stayed next to each other. This was the first time that any of the Algaer had made them feel like outsiders. After the moment had passed, the two finally looked at each other and headed toward the outskirts of the camp.
They found a spot on the outskirts and began setting up a meager area to relax. Every passing Algaer gave them glares of contempt, even as they pulled out their poor excuses of camping gear.
“I don’t understand. I mean is everyone going to be able to speak Algaer but me? Did I do something wrong?” Tripp slowly pulled out a tattered blanket and laid it on the ground. He was clearly disgruntled.
“I don’t know. I believe the man on the ship has a plan, and I feel like we should trust it.” Will said reassuringly.
“Man on the ship?” Tripp looked at Will quizzically.
Will realized he hadn’t said anything since he was given the ability to speak Algaer about the man on the ship. Should I? he thought.
“What are you talking about?”
Will paused for a moment, trying to decide whether he should tell Tripp about the rest of his dreams.
“Will?”
“I’ve been having these… dreams.” Will said hesitantly.
“Like the one from the Algaer village?” Tripp responded.
“Ya, but I’ve had more of them since.”
“You said we should trust him?”
“I… Yeah, I guess I did say that huh?”
“Will, I know that you’re the silent type and you don’t like talking, but this sounds important. At least the way you first mentioned it, it did.”
“It’s just dreams, Tripp,” Will shut down and began pretending to look for something in his sack.
“Will, please let me help you. This can’t be easy for you. The whole world isn’t on your shoulders.”
Like you would know, Will thought to himself.
The choice to die alone, or with friends.
“I’m fine Tripp, seriously. It’s just a dream.” Will sounded frustrated and guarded.
“Alright… Well, if you do need to talk, or need anything, just know I’m here.” Tripp backed off, realizing that there was no point in pushing further.
Tripp and Will unpacked their things and laid down facing the ocean. The breeze was cool and the sun felt great. For the first time since the crash, it felt like they were finally getting a break. Will stared off toward the waves crashing onto the sand. One after another, the deep turquoise waves rose and fell.
That was life, right? He thought for a moment. At least that was his life; just one big wave crashing into the sand. At first he thought he rose so high, rising toward the heavens. Soon he would crash into the sand, never to be remembered but by the bubbles left behind that would soon burst.
Will reached up and stroked his chin. It had been a while since he had shaved. How long had he been on this island? A week? Will began scratching his head. It felt nice to just lay and stare off over the ocean. He looked over at Tripp and realized that he was fast asleep. Will turned back toward the ocean and let his eyes slowly close as the sun set.
20 Bayn
Awad knelt behind a large boulder with three of his followers beside him, his eyes opened wide. Night had set upon the camp of the Algaer, and the Ruik forces were set in the north. Four hundred Ruik fighting age males stayed silently behind the hill called Bayn. Awad’s eyes darted back and forth, trying to find weak areas in the Algaer camp. Most importantly, he looked for Will. Where had he gone? He searched frantically for hours to see if he could identify him amongst the Algaer soldiers. The Djinn had told him that it was his destiny to save this land from the false Hiktar. He knew that he would do whatever it took.
“Is it time, sir?” a burly man laying next to him asked quietly.
“No, no, no. For the last time I call the shots! Me! I am Hiktar.”
Awad’s patience had been lessening over the last couple of days. He found himself becoming irate over the smallest things. Was it justifiable? He didn’t care.
“Yes, Hiktar.”
“We will wait till morning,” Awad said slyly, turning to see his subordinates. “I want to see my enemy die. Tell the camp that if anyone spots Will, he is mine.”
Awad turned again to face the camp and search for his foe.
Will awoke to a loud ring, as if someone was smacking a bell. Looking up, he realized that he had slept the whole night on the beach. Will jumped up and looked toward the camp. A man stood in the center beating a large metallic ball with a hole cut into the bottom. It made a loud hollow ring that echoed against the mountains and hills to the north. Everyone started running toward the center of the camp, so Will followed suit.
The Algaer were rushing toward a tent close to the beach to the south. A large man stood in front of them all. Will thought to himself maybe they were handing out weapons.
Everyone quieted and stood in line in front of the man.
He raised a cut of meat into the air and roared excitedly. The man was one of the best hunters of the group and had killed a beast during the night. Another smaller man began handing out makeshift plates made of a hardened leather. On each plate was a small portion of cooked meat and some berries from the bushes on the northern hills.
Will received a plate and headed back toward the corner where he and Tripp had unloaded their gear. Tripp stood in line waiting for his plate.
Will sat on a pile of sand and looked out toward the rising sun, then back to
the camp. It sat in the middle of a field, with a mountain in front and the sea behind.
“This really isn’t a strategic location,” Will said to himself.
Will looked over at Tripp’s bag and saw the map of the island Kellin had given to him. He reached out and grabbed it to get a better look. To the south was the island of Thohg Rine, it didn’t even look that far. Will looked up from the map and to the south to try and see the island. Behind a thin mist the island was just visible. At the center was a tower and a building of some sort. It looked like a black castle.
“I saw that earlier,” Tripp said, returning to their corner of the camp. “Thohg Rine.”
A scream rose up from the camp, and Will turned sharply to see a horde of men coming from over a hill. Hundreds of Ruik poured into the field, shouting war cries and raising spears and swords above their heads. At the rear stood a black horse and a man waving a green flag.
All the Algaer threw their plates down and scrambled to don their gear. Their reaction was slow, but once they had their gear on they poured into the field and met the Ruik with a giant clash. Swords clashed and spears flew through the air as cries could be heard all over the beach. Will and Tripp grabbed their gear, and Will made sure to grab his crooked staff.
From the west, the Ruik circled around the camp, attempting to encircle the Algaer. Their warriors were faster and stronger than that of the Algaer, and they advanced quickly.
Kellin hastily rode in from the east and tried flanking the Ruik with a small band of fifty men. It was obvious that the Algaer were outnumbered, but Kellin made some headway with his warriors before they had to withdraw. Will paused as he watched the battle unfold.
“The choice to die alone, or with friends.”
Will turned and looked toward the south. Tripp was already throwing on gear, fixated on the battle. Another scream caused Will to turn around. Suddenly he knew what he had to do.
“WILL!” The scream came from the camp, where Rya stood calling out to him.
“Go!” The voice cried out in his mind urging him to hurry to the shore.
The Algaer had prepared small boats while camped on the beach. Will saw these and bolted toward the smallest one. If anyone made it out of the battle, he wanted them to have the best chances of escape.
He pushed the boat out past the low waves, jumped in and began rowing. As he sat watching the battle from his row boat, he saw another smaller sized group pop up over the western hills and rush in to join the battle.
It was a slaughter, and he left them.
21 Cyrik
The boat road the waves surrounding Thohg Rine and crashed against the rocky shore. Will reached out as he was being crushed by the waves and grabbed hold of the jagged dark grey rocks surrounding the island. Every wave smashed him and cut him against the sharp stones. In his left hand, Will gripped the crooked staff as his mind raced for a way to escape the shore.
Foot by foot, Will crawled, repeatedly cut and bruised up the steep 300-foot shore.
His body was weakening as he slowly made it to a plateau, from which he could see Thohg Rine. At the base was a stone structure similar to the rocks on the shore. Sharp and dangerous as they pointed toward the tower in the west. A slight mist hit Will and blanketed the castle, causing it to almost shimmer. Almost. From where Will stood it appeared as if Rine was made of volcanic glass and basalt. Just as beautiful as it was deadly. Will began walking toward what appeared to be the entrance.
There, at the entrance, stood two giants. Menacingly they watched him as he approached, though only their eyes moved. Their bodies were a dark gray, covered in small grooves as if made of earth and stone. They didn’t shake, move, or tilt their heads.
From about forty yards away, Will cried out, “Open the doors!”
The giants did nothing.
As he cautiously moved closer, both giants stretched their arms out toward the doors and opened them.
Rya saw Will jump into a boat and leave with his staff. They were doomed without his help. As he rode over the waves, she turned and saw the massacre of the Algaer. Over the eastern hills rode another army at a full gallop toward the center. It was the people of Mahfur.
Rya’s eyes filled with tears as she watched the people of the mountains pour into the plains, swords high. Tripp was standing beside her watching it all unfold.
Line after line was taken down as the Mahfur attacked from behind. Swords clashed and people screamed. The chaos was unnerving. It was hard to tell who was attacking who.
“Where’s Will?” Tripp asked, finally noticing his absence.
“Gone,” Rya stated solemnly.
“Where?” Tripp had figured he would be in the battle.
“He sailed away on a boat to the south,” Rya said, obviously disappointed in Will.
“He’s going to Thohg Rine by himself!?” Tripp shouted.
“Yes, he abandoned us Tripp.”
Tripp paused.
“We have to go help him.”
Rya looked at Tripp and simultaneously both their gazes turned toward the boats.
Will walked into the Rine deliberately looking for his attackers, but the temple of darkness was not well lit. Each step he took felt as if it could be his last, yet inch by inch he kept moving.
The ceiling was decorated with candle-lit chandeliers adorned with gold. There was a long hall before him, and above was the ceiling pointing back down.
There was movement all around him, but what and from where he couldn’t tell. Shadows in the darkness danced around him, taunting him, letting him know they existed and that they could easily take him.
The doors shut behind him with a slam, and just like that, all light was gone.
“Why are you here?” A gravelly ominous voice came from the end of the long hall.
“I was sent…”
“Sent.” The voice cut Will off. “By whom?” the last word was dragged out and became a low growl.
“By…” Will realized he didn’t know the man’s name.
There was an awkward pause.
“You mean to tell me that you came all this way for someone and you don’t even know their name?”
Will stood dumbfounded, holding his staff. He really didn’t know. If he didn’t know his name, what else about him didn’t he know? The thoughts began to fill his head with a crippling fear.
“This is the one who attacked me, my lord,” Pasultu cried out from the dark.
“Quiet!” came the voice again.
“Why don’t you go back to where you came from, son of Earth?”
Will didn’t know what to say. Every word escaped him.
Something sharp dragged against his calf, cutting his muscle. Will screamed in pain and leaned onto his other leg.
Another flash of shadows, and his second calf was sliced. Will bit his bottom lip, trying to hold in the screams as he fell to his knees.
A flame crackled as he landed. Candles were being lit all around him.
At the end of the hall stood a beast like nothing Will would have ever aspired to imagine. A dark soul entrenched in fire, stoically posed in front of a dark golden throne.
“Do you know my name?” asked the beast.
“No,” Will muttered through the pain in his legs.
“So, you come into my abode, not even knowing my name. What were you thinking?”
Will began to try to think his way out of the situation. Yet he knew there was no escape.
“The choice to die alone, or with friends.”
“My name is Cyrik of Thohg Rine. Lord of Djinn, Lord of the Thohg Behk, Lord of Pasultu, and Lord of Khafish the slain.”
Will stared at the ground, trying to work his way through the pain.
“You are Will. Will of Earth. I ask you again, why are you here?”
Will gripped his staff and attempted to pull himself onto his feet but couldn’t.
“My dear boy, you can’t even stand.” The voices in the shadows laughed a sinister cackle.
> “For the last time, why are you here?” Cyrik asked with malice. He was growing impatient.
Will lifted his face and stared Cyrik straight in the eyes.
“I am here to set a crooked World straight, and to bring light into a dark place.”
Cyrik’s face twisted as if the words were something sour in his mouth.
“Well…” Cyrik responded. “In that case, I’m going to have to kill you now.”
Will panicked and slammed the staff. Nothing.
Cyrik began walking toward him.
Will slammed the staff again. Nothing.
Cyrik was darting across the hall, fangs lowered and eyes burning.
Will stared at the staff in disbelief. Why wasn’t it working?
“Will!” Rya’s voice came from the entrance just thirty yards away.
Will turned to see Rya and Tripp hobbling toward him.
“No!” Will cried.
Will turned to see Cyrik only ten yards away.
In mere seconds, Will gripped the staff, closed his eyes and uttered four words.
“I believe in you.”
A burst of light filled Thohg Rine, setting it on fire with a flame that does not burn. Cyrik was surrounded in light, stopping his momentum. All the creatures in the shadows disappeared, and all the evil in the place was snuffed out.
“No!” Cyrik cried as he quivered in fear. Will watched as he imploded, bursting into a wave of energy which crashed over the room. Will was lifted off his knees and thrown back to where Tripp and Rya lay on the ground unconscious.
Will closed his eyes.
PROLOGUE
Will awoke to the sound of the waves crashing. Light poured in from overhead.
His head hurt and his legs ached with pain. He slowly tried to get a grip on his surroundings, scratching his head as he sat up. Rya and Tripp were next to him, both laying in hay atop planks of wood.
Will tried to remember how he had gotten here, but he just couldn’t remember. The last thing he remembered was the staff glowing and Cyrik exploding.
The Crooked Staff (The Chronicles of Will Book 1) Page 12