Hesitating for a moment she looked back at the portal. Perhaps she should return and tell her uncle so he could warn the King? Sucking her bottom lip as she thought she doubted very much that they would even believe her. She knew she was going to be in so much trouble for going through the portal, that they probably would not even listen to her. She had to get proof. Summoning all her courage she knew she had to find out more by getting nearer to them. Then if she had more information, hopefully they would be so grateful to her that she would not get into so much trouble.
Knowing that her life depended on the Gorzars not seeing her, she lifted the hood of her cloak and chanted to herself quietly.
“Invisa polosa ensarma.” And in an instant she was invisible. She could see him the stranger, he was talking to the Gorzars; this was really not a good sign. What could someone from Malgar want with Gorzars? Was he helping them to somehow find a way to get past the magic and get into Malgar?
Slowly and carefully she made her way down the uneven path into the valley below. She took it steady, she could see the stones were loose and knew it would be very easy for her to fall and injure herself and there would be no one here to help her. On reaching the bottom she edged as close to them as she dared. Crouching down behind a large boulder she strained her ears hard. She could almost hear what they were saying and soon found she could understand them. She had not realised they spoke the same language as her. They had never been told that in the stories the Elders had told them. They seemed to be arguing, shouting at each other. What was he doing with Gorzars? She looked across at his hands and what did he have in that sack that he was gripping hold of so tightly?
Suddenly jumping back startled, she held her breath. One of the Gorzars hit the man hard in the face. Watching in horror as the man fell to the ground, her eyes closed and opened quickly at the shock of the sudden violence and she shook. The Gorzar stood over him, shouting at him. Shrinking back behind the boulder she found herself in a state of panic. What were they going to do to him? Maybe he was not trying to help them after all. She didn’t know if she had the courage to look anymore, they were even more terrifying close up.
***
His leg twisting awkwardly as he hit the ground with a hard thud Kainan screamed as excruciating pain shot through it like a bolt of lightning. Hadzor kicked him hard in the stomach over and over again. Doubling up in agony he began coughing up blood; he looked up desperately at the Gorzar. Hadzor stood back from him gripping the sack tightly in his hands, his wart-infested face sneering down at him.
“Where is my mother?” Kainan begged in a desperate whisper, as he began spluttering and coughing violently, choking on his own blood. The back of his hand came up to his mouth wiping it away. Struggling to get up he cried sharply as the searing pain in his leg made him unable to stand, it felt like it was broken.
“She is not your mother; you are nothing more than a worthless piece of meat,” Hadzor spat, standing over him. “And not that appetising either,” he added, kicking him hard again in the stomach. Kainan’s knees came up involuntarily and his arms wrapped around himself as the agony in his stomach flared through him. The Gorzar stared down at him shaking his head.
“Did you really think we would let you walk away?” Kainan’s looked at him despondently he knew he stared death in the face.
Throwing his head back Hadzor laughed sarcastically at him.
“You stupid Groundling you have no idea do you?” Kainan looked up at him confused, his eyes streaming as he tried to cope with the pain. “We had you taken from your parents when you were first born. We knew we had to get an Elder Grounding to steal the Ardor Crystal. We cannot get into Malgar the portal holds a magical spell that stops us. We had some inside help of course. That woman was your real mother’s birth nurse. Of course she didn’t want to help us but we threatened to kill her family unless she took you and raised you until you were ready,” he growled impatiently. “It took so bloody long. We had to wait until you were twenty-one before we could send you back down.”
“Then why did you have to kill my family and all the villagers if you only needed me?” Kainan pleaded, wiping the blood away from his mouth. “They did nothing to you!” he screamed angrily.
“She was a foolish woman; she said she loved you as one of her own. She tried to run and hide from us. When we finally found her and told her it was time she refused to hand you over to us. That was not a wise move.”
Bending down he grabbed Kainan’s left hand roughly, turning it over to reveal the mark on the palm of his hand. “This is what we needed. We couldn’t just take any Groundling it had to be an Elder and they do not appear on Elder males until they are twenty one. This is the key that lets you back into Malgar and allows you to remove the Crystal without an alarm being triggered. And now thanks to you we have the Ardor Crystal and with that power we can open the gateway and bring back the Gorzar Empire that your people banished,” he laughed. “They thought they could hide through a portal. They have no idea that we took you or that we escaped the banishing. We have been waiting for the day we would have our revenge. And that day has come,” he crowed triumphantly.
Kainan’s brow creased. He could not take all this in. What were they saying that his whole life and future had been planned by them and that he had been nothing more than a tool to get them what they wanted? Everything he had ever known in his entire life was vaporised in an instant. If he was not Kainan Woodsman, then who the hell was he?
“Without the power of the Ardor Crystal your people will have to come back through the portal to Zyon, by then the Gorzar forces will be waiting for them, waiting to have their revenge. We will tear your people apart!” The Gorzar crowed triumphantly.
“You bastard, no!” Kainan screamed as fury welled up inside him; the realisation of what he had done, done to all those people back on Malgar began to sink in. He had condemned all those people to certain death and they would not even know it was coming.
“I will not let you do it!” he yelled. Rolling over onto his stomach he clenched his fist in anger and gritting his teeth against the pain he struggled pulling himself to his feet, but his lower leg throbbed with a searing pain and it left him unbalanced.
“What are you going to do? Do you think you’re going to stop me now?”
Hadzor shook his head at him. “Get him,” he ordered turning to the others.
“We don’t need him anymore.” The two other Gorzars attacked. Tarpel punched him on the side of the head, it was a glancing blow but enough to blur Kainan’s vision. Falling back, he hit the ground hard and raising his arms he tried to protect himself, but he had no chance. Elira kicked once, twice, three times to his chest and stomach; Kainan yelled out in pain, spitting out blood. Tarpel turned around searching the ground and then picking up a large stick he began whacking it hard in his hand, Hadzor nodded. Kainan shook his head at them, in that instant he knew he was going to die.
“No, please stop! I got you what you wanted!” Frantically he began trying to crawl dragging his leg behind him, clawing at the earth trying to get away, but it was no use. Tarpel stood over him raising the stick and then striking down hard on the back of the young man’s legs. Kainan screamed in agony as he felt the bones shattering in his legs with the force of the blow. Hadzor, throwing the sack over his shoulder turned to Elira.
“Tie him up and leave him, he isn’t going anywhere. Let the wolves rip him to pieces. We need to get the Book of Chants.” The two Gorzars nodded at their leader.
Elira, taking the rope that she had hung over her shoulder, passed it over to Tarpel. Kneeling down he pulled Kainan’s arms roughly behind his back. Kainan cried out with the pain.
“Shut up Groundling!” Tarpel growled, shoving his face down into the dirt. Pulling the rope he tied Kainan’s hands tight. Tarpel stood up kicking him one more time just for the sheer hell of it. Kainan lay in a heap on the ground, barely able to move. The pain was so intense he was struggling to stay conscious.
&
nbsp; “Hey Kainan, we wouldn’t want to leave you to die all alone out here,” Hadzor yelled to him grinning, showing his huge sharp fangs. He strained to open his eyes, desperately trying to see as they threw the body of his mother beside him.
“No!” Kainan cried, as he saw her lying beside him, lifeless. “Mother!” his voice fading into a mere whisper as the life began to drain from of him, he could no longer keep his eyes open. With a sickening laugh the Gorzars headed off into the forest leaving the wolves to finish their job.
Kainan lay in silence, bleeding heavily and in unbearable pain. The ropes were tight, his head spun and his body felt like every bone was broken. Struggling to open his eyes again he looked across at his dead mother. He had failed her. Tears gently flowed down his cheeks. He coughed, choking as blood trickled out of his mouth and seeped into the dirt. Gasping, he tried to breathe, but he knew he was going to die. In some way he was thankful, at least he would not be left here all alone with the torment of not knowing who he really was. His eyes rolled to the back of his head, he could no longer bear the pain. With the nightmare about to end, Kainan passed into unconsciousness.
***
Arweyn shook from head to toe; never had she witnessed such violence. The poor man they were slaughtering him. She desperately wanted to help him but there was nothing she could do nothing but watch as they continued with their torture. Then they stopped and tied him up; her chest rising and falling as her breathing quickened, she glanced back around the rock, watching. He must still be alive or why else would they bother to tie him up? Then they dragged out the beaten body of a woman and threw her disrespectfully to the ground beside him.
She felt her stomach turn; looking away she held her hand to her mouth to stop herself being sick. The poor woman, what had they done to her? Forcing herself she looked back, they were leaving. Looking across at the young man she desperately wanted to go to him, but knew she had to wait until she was certain they were not coming back for him.
When she finally felt it was safe she removed the hood of her cloak and became visible to the world once again. Cautiously she edged forward towards him. Hitching her skirt as she knelt down on the ground next to him, she swallowed nervously staring at him. His face was turned down into the dirt. Reaching out with a trembling hand she gently prodded him but he remained still. She pulled a knife from the pocket on the side of her boot and cut the ropes binding his wrists. Putting the knife back and taking a deep breath, she reached forward turning him over onto his back. His face was covered in a mixture of dirt and blood, severely swollen and battered.
“Gareion?” she screamed and panic shot through her entire body as she unexpectedly recognised him. How could this possibly be?
“Gareion can you hear me?” the young woman cried, shaking him, trying frantically to rouse him. There was no reply, only a low moaning sound. She sighed with immense relief that at least he was still alive, if only just.
“Shush, it is all right,” she said, in a comforting voice as she began gently stroking his brow with one hand. Then a sudden shiver ran down her back, turning around she looked across at the dead woman. She felt un-nerved having a dead person lying next to her and the woman’s eyes were still open, staring into the nothingness. Slipping off her cloak she stood up, quickly walking the few paces to where the woman lay. Swallowing nervously she bent down onto her knees, glancing sideways at her and reaching her shaking hand forward she quickly closed the woman’s eyes. Wiping her hand down her skirt nauseatingly she shivered. Then placing her cloak over the woman’s body, she covered her face.
Hurrying she returned to him, kneeling back down on the ground next to him. Reaching into her bag she began rummaging inside frantically. Pulling out a cloth she carefully began wiping away the blood from around his mouth. Running her finger inside his mouth she checked that his airway was clear. His face severely swollen from the beating was barely recognizable.
“Oh Gareion,” she cried desperately as she realised the severity of his injury. “Don’t worry, I can do this. I am going to heal you. The Gorzars have gone, you’re safe now,” she reassured him, wiping her bloodied hands down her skirt. Putting the cloth down and reaching into her bag she pulled out a small bowl and some herbs from a pouch, and using a small pestle ground them in the bowl with some water from her flask.
“Here drink this Gareion it will ease your pain.” Lifting his head gently she held the bowl to his lips, pouring the liquid into his swollen mouth. He managed to drink it slowly, coughing as the herbs tickled the back of his throat. His eyes trying to open rolled around in their sockets.
“Who, who are you?” he mumbled, his breath was shallow and rasping.
“Gareion it is me, Arweyn, shush please do not try and speak, you have been badly injured. Rest, there will be time to talk later,” she comforted, gently lowering his head back down. His eyes rolled as he went in and out of consciousness. Undoing the buttons on his shirt she ran her hands over his chest. Shuddering as she touched his bare skin with her finger tips, she took a deep breath. She had never noticed before how firm and muscular he was. She shook herself. What was she thinking!
Closing her eyes she took another deep breath and pushing those thoughts away she began running her hands across his chest once more. She could feel that his ribs were broken. Running her hands down his body she felt his stomach. Swallowing hesitantly, she slowly pulled his shirt right open to get a better look, he was black and blue.
Looking at him with empathy she bit her lip, trying not to cry. She knew he must be in incredible agony, how many times had they kicked him? He was in a really bad way; she just hoped she had the strength and the power to save him. Next feeling down his legs, she shook her head despondently and sighed; they were both severely broken.
“Oh Gareion, what have they done to you?” she mumbled grimly. She knew she had to act fast or he was going to die. From her bag she pulled out the piece of muslin cloth Mistress Cromer had given her and opened it up. Inside were some blue coloured leaves and herbs; she stared at them. Never before had she used the dacara leaves as only the greatest of healers were allowed them. Taking them out she placed them evenly across his naked chest and down to his navel; she then closed her eyes. This, she knew, was going to take all her strength. She began to chant quietly flowing her hands up and down his body, waving them in a circular motion.
“Alora mentoria escalida, alora mentoria escalida, espora healarta, espora healarta.” Her hands were shaking with the power as it left her and entered his body. Up and down his body she flowed, chanting over and over, the leaves and herbs slowly being absorbed into his body. Suddenly she stopped; she could not see him breathing! Leaning forward she placed her ear to his mouth, his breathing had stopped. She pulled her hands to her face in desperation as she thought and then sitting back and closing her eyes she mumbled another enchantment.
“Elpor bararia skelanta pretoria!” Taking a deep breath, she bent over him. With one hand cupping his face her thumb pulled open his mouth, the other pinching his nose; she then placed her lips on his and blew. Sitting back up she watched him. She touched her lips with her fingers, something felt very strange, they were tingling. She could not understand what was going on. She had never given any one the kiss of life before but this was Gareion, she was sure it should not have felt like that! She should not have enjoyed touching his lips in such a way.
Bending forward she listened. He was still not breathing; panic began to set in. It should have worked! She had done it exactly the same way as in the books she had studied, that she was sure of. Then she remembered there was one other way, albeit dangerous for her and for him, an ancient way her mother had taught her. Looking at him her body shook and she swallowed. There was no choice; she would not let him die. Quickly pulling up her dress she straddled across him, sitting on his stomach. This time leaning forward she took hold of his head in her hands, her thumbs on his temples and she began chanting fast and furiously.
“Elarta espara kit
ary, spelarma kilora!” Taking a deep breath she blew into his mouth, sparkles of magic flowed from her into him. Sitting back she banged hard upon his chest with her hands.
“Espira spartat eluviai!” she screamed, shaking with the power as the energy from her hands went straight into his heart.
“COME ON GAREION, COME ON DO NOT GIVE UP, PLEASE!” she screamed at him.
Suddenly Kainan’s body lurched forward as he drew a deep breath of life. Arweyn was thrown onto the ground and in an instant she spun around grabbing hold of him.
“Gareion!” she screamed with relief. He was alive! It had worked.
Kainan felt his body shake from head to toe as he drew breath. He could feel a strange electrical charge shake all the way through him. The pain throughout his body was disappearing and there was a strange tingling sensation running down his legs. Desperately he tried to open his eyes but he could not.
“Who are you..?” he whispered.
“Gareion it is Arweyn,” she replied, her voice barely audible as exhaustion overwhelmed her. It had taken nearly all her strength to heal him and she could hardly speak. Kainan’s eyes flickered as he tried to open them and look at the face that the beautiful gentle voice was coming from, but he felt so tired. Arweyn smiled at him.
“Sleep Gareion. You will be okay now, the medicine will work soon. We will talk in a while.”
She felt herself slipping; leaning forward she rested her head on his naked chest, listening to the steady beat of his heart. She had to rest, she closed her eyes. Together they slept all afternoon.
Five - Who am I?
His mind was in turmoil. Visions of the last week flashed vividly, repeatedly. His brothers murdered before him. His friends mutilated body, the village burning. The Gorzars; their evil faces grinning at him with contempt. Kainan suddenly jumped in his sleep, waking himself up out of the nightmare. Arweyn sat up sharp, her eyes were wide with panic, where was she? Then looking down she remembered and took a deep hopeful breath as she watched him trying to open his eyes. Kainan blinked a few times, it was still daylight and the brightness hurt his eyes. Gradually his eyes began to focus, and he saw looking down at him the most beautiful woman he had ever seen in his entire life. Her hazel eyes were filled with caring warmth, her long lustrous dark hair curled about her face, her lips parting in a charming smile. She was slender and shapely and wore a long clinging blue dress, cut low over a full bosom. Her hand was now gently caressing his brow in a soothing manner. He whispered as he stared at her, his lips barely able to speak.
Deragan Sword Prophecy: Book 01 - Kainan Page 6