Deragan Sword Prophecy: Book 01 - Kainan

by Rosemary Lynch

  “You are joking, surely?” The King shook his head, and the wizard’s eyes widened.

  “How? Where did you get it, I thought the Faerlings took it back with them?”

  The King shook his head. “No, my father told me that the Queen of the Faerlings gave it to his father. She told him that he must keep it hidden in the armoury. When I took my sword as a young man I didn’t choose it. My father was disappointed because the Queen had said it would be needed again. My father showed me the sword so I knew which one it was; it has been hidden among the other swords all this time. The one who takes the sword must choose it for himself or the magic will not work. Even then if it is not the right person, the sword will not work properly as you know.”

  “Did he choose it?”

  The King nodded. Wizard Marton hesitated before he dared to ask.

  “Did it illuminate?” The King nodded again.

  “Do you realise what this means?” The wizard’s eyes lit up.

  The King nodding closed his eyes briefly as he thought.

  “He is the one John, without a doubt.” The King opening his eyes smiled back at the old Wizard, he already knew.

  “He has absorbed all the power John I am sure of it. Never in my years did I think I would live to see the Great One take the sword.”

  “I am scared for him Marton, he is only young, what if he cannot handle the power?”

  “John, he would not have been chosen if he could not handle the power.”

  “I know Marton, but magic is not something he knows about, nor does he have anyone to teach him. He will have to learn to control it, to use it wisely, and then what happens if he joins with Arweyn? Did you see the way he looked at her, she at him, it will happen Marton, I know it will.”

  “Yes I saw them. This is why I knew she would find her way to him. Detaine will not be able to stop them John, they are old souls that have found each other again. They will be incredibly powerful without any doubt and once they have learned how to harness the magic and control it; well let us just say I would not want to get in their way.” He raised a knowing eyebrow.

  The King rubbed his chin, thoughtfully.

  “I hope you are right Marton, I hope he knows what to do. I didn’t warn him properly, he has not been prepared.”

  “John, he will be fine. The boy is strong. Do not worry, everything will work out, but I still need to get that scroll back. What worries me more is why it is happening now; it means something bad is on the horizon; something that would need two people of such immense power to fight. Two people who have clearly, in my eyes, been with each other before, in some past life.”

  The King sighed; he was worried too. He knew Marton was right. Even before Kainan had come home, he had felt the magic stirring.

  “Marton we just do not know enough anymore.” The King paced. “We have rumours and stories of the Great One returning, but not why or what for. There must be something in this damn castle that will tell us. The scrolls must be somewhere on Malgar. I cannot believe my ancestors would have just fled Malgar leaving no clues as to why or what is out there.” The King frowned hard. He had spent years searching for clues as to what was beyond the boundary. Why his people had fled in such a hurry.

  “For goodness sake Marton we do not even know how the Deragan sword works or where it came from. And why is it so important? How can we expect Kainan to know how to use it in the way of the ancestors, when we do not even know? Why has no other knowledge survived apart from the fact that we must protect the Deragan sword at all costs for the day the Great One returns; returns from where?” The King let out a large sigh and rubbed his head with both hands, he turned to Marton. “Where has my son returned from?”

  Marton shrugged his shoulders. “I’m sorry John that I cannot help you with. The sword obviously didn’t work for me; all it succeeded in doing is taking away most of my power as a wizard. Hopefully Kainan will be able to answer that. We have to hope he will be able to understand how it is to be used, and for what purpose.”

  “Hope, what is hope, hope will not save him out there will it?” The King shook his head, he felt so useless, and he could do nothing to help his son.

  “John.” Wizard Marton shuffled closer to the King. “I do have big concerns about Lord Detaine though; I am not sure where his loyalty lies. I really do not think you should tell him that Kainan has the Deragan Sword.”

  The King shook his head. “Marton I know he gets cross and he shouts but he is just worried about Arweyn that is all. Please do not worry yourself. Lord Detaine is my cousin and I know they have had problems in the past but we have forgiven them; their punishment being banishment on royal marriage that is all. We could have banished them from Malgar forever but my father chose not to and they are grateful for that. Lothar is too old for Arweyn anyway; I do not know what he is thinking. He will get over it. He will soon have his eye on some other poor girl!” The King half smiled. “But I believe you are right about the Deragan sword. I will not tell him yet; he will only go on even more about Arweyn being with Kainan. Go and rest you look tired, I will see that Allaine gives you back the scroll. It may finally hold some of the answers we are looking for.”

  Wizard Marton nodded and bowed to his King. “Be strong John.” The King nodded and watched the old wizard as he shuffled out of the room.

  The King rubbed his forehead; he had the most thumping of headaches. He needed to see his wife as she had the best touch imaginable and a massage would surely soothe his worries. Then the pain throbbed even harder as he thought. How the hell was he going to tell her about Kainan, about the sword and the Chamber of Knowledge? He shook his head as he left the room; she was going to be furious.

  Locking his door, the man wandered to a wooden box on his desk. Pulling out a key from under the sleeve of his cloak he unlocked the box, taking out an oblong shaped vision crystal. His hand waved across the vision crystal.

  “Bortor spekarta gor,” he chanted. The crystal glowed, and then a face appeared. “You incompetent fools!” he scorned angrily.

  “My Lord?” the Gorzar replied, lifting a vision crystal up in his hand, the face of the man glared angrily back at him.

  “You let him live, that was not part of the plan. All you had to do was get the Crystal and kill him! Now they know about him. He has been to the castle and the King knows that he is his son. Why did you not kill him, why did you disobey me?”

  “But we left him for dead my Lord; there was no way he could have survived. We broke both his legs, and beat him senseless.”

  “But he did survive Hadzor. Lady Arweyn found him and healed him. She brought him back to Malgar and now he has been sent after you and the Crystal.”

  “Don’t worry we will deal with him, he is nothing my Lord.”

  “You had better Hadzor, but do not underestimate him. He is dangerous. The girl, Arweyn, has gone after him, we must get her back. I want her alive Hadzor, you must not harm her in any way do you understand?”

  “Yes my Lord.”

  “Hadzor, I mean it, do not touch her in anyway. She must remain pure.” He gritted his teeth. “Or you will have me to deal with, do you understand?”

  The Gorzar growled. “Yes my Lord. What do you want us to do with the Ardor Crystal?”

  “Nera will come and get it from you and she will take it back to Zarnora. We will meet you at the mountain.”

  “You are able to leave?”

  “Yes, their power is already fading. Have Nera meet us at the old portal,” the voice continued. “Four days from now at sunset.”

  “My Lord.” Hadzor bowed his head.

  “Get the book, the girl and get to the mountain. They are heading for the Keepers Cottage, do it there. Be warned Hadzor Kainan is stronger now, he may have the power of his ancestors which could be a problem. The two men he has with him are dangerous too; they are the best in Malgar. Use the shape-shifter, I will send her to you.”

  “Yes my Lord.” The Gorzar placed the crystal in his po
cket. He kicked a body lying on the forest floor.

  “Get up,” he snarled at the other Gorzars. “We’ve got company on our tails, it is time to go.”

  The man waved his hand across the crystal again.

  “Bortor spekarta esura.” he chanted, and this time a different face stared back at him.

  “Arweyn has run away from Malgar I think she is probably on her way to him. The Gorzars will deal with it at the Keepers Cottage. Make sure you watch her, do not let Kainan take her as his do you understand. If you get the chance, kill him.”

  The face nodded his agreement. “Yes my Lord.”

  Twelve - Death Mountain

  Arweyn had not counted on the fact that she would feel scared, let alone terrified as she did on her own. Every noise in the forest filled her with fear. She had been positive that it was the right thing to do, but now, she just wished she could tell him she was here and join them in their camp. But she knew it would be too soon, and Kainan would send her back.

  She had managed to get near enough to see Pernash lying on the ground; he did look very sick. The annoying thing was she knew she could save him. They all seemed asleep, except Drew who was on guard. She knew she had to risk it. If he were to die it would play on her conscience. Quietly raising her hood she softly spoke her chant. As before she disappeared to the world and quietly taking her bag she sneaked into the camp.

  Looking towards Drew she took a deep breath. He had not sensed her presence, and everyone else remained asleep. Bending down next to Pernash she could see he was sweating profusely. Reaching forward she lifted the lid of his eye and gasped. She could tell immediately by the fact that the blood vessels around his eyes had turned black, that he had been poisoned. Whatever the creature was that had bitten him had left a deadly poison in his blood. It was a good thing she had decided to help otherwise she knew for sure that he would have been dead by morning.

  Reaching into her bag she pulled out a small bottle of anti-poison; it was an ancient potion that her mother had taught her, she called it Elstweth. Thankfully Arweyn always carried a bottle or two on her, just in case. She looked over at Drew, but he was still sitting with his back to her. Undoing the bottle she opened Pernash’s mouth and poured some of the contents into it, he choked. Drew spun around, looking at him, and grabbing a torch he stood and walked over to check on him.

  Arweyn sat as still as she could, holding her breath. He held the light of the torch over him, checking that he was alright and when he was satisfied that he was okay he returned back to his post. Arweyn sighed, that had been close. Unbinding Kainan’s bandages she grimaced, the wound had already turned green. Looking up she checked on Drew, he was still looking the other way. Out of her pouch she pulled out some blue coloured leaves laying them on the ground. Opening another pouch she sprinkled what appeared to be herbs onto the leaves. Picking up the leaves she pressed them down hard on Pernash’s leg, he groaned in his sleep. Kainan stirred, but just stretched and turned back over. Placing her hands on Pernash’s leg she began to chant very quietly flowing her energy up and down his leg. Every now and then she looked quickly at Drew in case he saw the white light of energy, but thankfully he was still facing the other way. Slowly Pernash’s leg began to heal. Then taking a deep breath Arweyn looked down at his leg and smiled satisfied. Picking up Kainan’s old bandages she placed them back over his healed leg.

  She glanced over at Kainan; he was beginning to stir again. Turning in his sleep she saw the cuts to his face, illuminated by the light of the flickering fire. Replacing the vial back into her bag she gathered the rest of the leaves. Picking up her bag she slowly edge towards him and took a deep breath, did she dare to try and heal him whilst he slept? The cuts looked deep and without treatment she knew could become seriously infected, or even poison his blood. She had to risk it. Carefully she mixed some glarehawn and herbs into a paste, then added a few drops of the anti-poison.

  Quietly, trying desperately not to make a sound she knelt over him. Stirring he stretched out his arms, then pulling them back in toward his chest he settled back down. She looked longingly at his face, wishing that she could tell him she was here. Carefully and with the lightest of touches she applied the potion to the cuts on his face. Kainan flicked his hand as if an irritating fly was buzzing around him. Arweyn pulled her hand back; having done enough she decided to prevent any infection.

  Waiting till he settled, she picked up her bag and quietly edged her way back into the trees; making sure she was still within earshot of the men, just in case something was to happen. By staying close she hoped she would hear them when they woke up and not get left behind. Leaning against a tree she slid down into a sitting position clutching her bag. She felt better; she could not have let him die. Jumping as something ran across her foot she took a deep breath, trying to calm herself. The forest was so frightening! Pulling her knees back in close to her chest she wrapped her cloak tightly around herself.

  It was extremely cold without the warmth of a camp fire. Nibbling on some bread and cheese she kept her hood on, deciding she would be safer remaining invisible for now. She had never slept outside before in the open like this, and she found it quite daunting. There were so many different noises and quick scurrying movements across the forest floor. After she finished eating, she sat and starred into the darkness. Listening to every noise, every movement. Gradually her eyes dropped, until at last she fell fast asleep, exhausted from the hard days walking.

  Kainan awoke with a start. Sitting up he looked over to Pernash, and then smiled, he seemed to be breathing easier. Drew walked over to him.

  “Are you okay?” he asked.

  Kainan nodded. “Yes, it is just…. ” he shook his head. “I’m not sure Drew; I just get this feeling that there is someone watching us.” His eyes scanned the trees, but he could see nothing in the darkness. Yet he was sure, it was the same feeling he had felt once before, back on Malgar. Shivering he looked back across to Drew.

  “Go on, get some sleep, I will take watch till sunrise.” Drew nodded; he was definitely ready for some sleep.

  Kainan sat himself down cross legged by the fire. Leaning forward he picked up a flask of water, unscrewed the top and took a sip. Breathing in deep, he inhaled through his nose and closed his eyes. He thought it funny, he had been dreaming about Arweyn all night and now he could almost smell her perfume in the air. Shaking his head he opened his eyes. He really had it bad, he was desperate for her. How he was going to get through the next few days he just didn’t know. He felt so lost without her; Arweyn should be here with him. He should never have left her behind in that castle, waiting for that evil bastard, Lothar, to take her.

  Poking a stick at the fire he thought. Perhaps he could send one of the men back to get her. He shook his head, disagreeing with himself, now he was being stupid. She would be all right. Drew was right, his father would protect her. The quicker he got the Ardor Crystal back, the quicker he would get home to her. Wiping his mouth with the back of his hand he felt something. What the heck was that stuff on his cheek? Running the tips of his fingers across his face again he held his hand out and looked at it against the light of the fire. Rubbing the tips of his thumb and fingers together he tried to determine what it was; it looked like green herbs or something? Shaking his head, he wiped his hand across his trousers. Turning around he looked at the ground where he had slept, raising his eyebrows puzzled, and assumed he must have laid on something.

  The night slipped away and as the sun rose it sent shards of light dappling through the tops of the trees. Kainan stood up from his lookout point. Groaning, he stretched his aching muscles; lifting his arms over his head he shook them to get the blood flowing, and bending over he began stretching the muscles in his legs. Then he began to gather his belongings, including the small hand torches he had made during the night to keep himself awake. Walking over to Drew he kicked him, and threw him a couple of torches to put in his pack.

  “Come on wake up.” Drew moaned at him,
sitting up and stretching his arms outwards. He stopped mid-stretch and stared.

  Kainan looked at him. “What! What is that matter with you?” Drew raised his eyebrows at him.

  “Your face, the cuts, they have all gone!”

  “What!” Kainan exclaimed; he had completely forgotten about the injury to his face, and with his hand ran his fingers up and down; but there was nothing, not even a mark. Kainan spun round towards Pernash, and he was standing up, stretching! Gasping, Kainan called over to him.

  “Pernash, you are up! How is your leg?” He had almost expected to find him dead and there he was walking about. Pernash looked at him with a puzzled face.

  “My leg, it is fine. Why shouldn’t it be?”

  The young Prince walked over to him. “Do you remember what happened last night?”

  Pernash shook his head, thinking hard. “No. Come to think of it I cannot remember anything since we stopped to camp.” Looking down at his leg he saw the bloody bandage, and his face went deathly pale.

  “Ohh!” He cried sitting down on the ground with a thud. Kainan knelt on one knee next to him.

  “Let me have a look?” Pernash nodded and Kainan began to unravel the bandaging.

  “What happened?” Pernash asked, nervously.

  “Well unless we all hallucinated last night, you were attacked and dragged into the forest by some beast. Thankfully Rufas managed to kill it before it killed all of us. But your leg was badly mauled.”

  “I think I am going to be sick,” moaned Pernash with his hand to his mouth, warily looking down at his leg as Kainan slowly undid the bandage. Kainan’s face frowned in perplexity as the final bandage came off. Pernash looked at him for an explanation. There was nothing wrong with it. Kainan starred at Pernash his mouth aghast. What magic was this? Kneeling down Drew leaned in closer to have a look. Shrugging his shoulders he was as puzzled as Kainan.

  “Well that is just weird, how the hell did it heal by itself?”