Deragan Sword Prophecy: Book 01 - Kainan

by Rosemary Lynch

  “What makes you think she has done something?” she asked in a hushed tone as she watched them.

  “She looked at them funny my Lady, but she didn’t speak, then their eyes….” He hesitated and swallowed nervously. “Their eyes seemed to glaze over,” he paused for breath. Arweyn bit her lip and scowled. So she had them under her spell too. She sideways glanced at Pernash; how could she be sure she had not got control over him?

  “It is okay my Lady. I know what you are thinking, but I didn’t fall into her trap.” He lowered his head again. “Her power is in her eyes. In my culture we do not look into a lady’s eyes.” Lifting his head he glanced at her briefly. “It would have been wrong for me to have stared so I turned away.”

  Her worried eyes looked to him. She had no choice but to trust him, she was going to run out of options soon. She looked back across to Tolwein, he still lay on the ground, and his eyes were firmly shut as he dozed. If she got to Tolwein as well they may all suddenly turn on her and Pernash. She sat back on her heels and seized his arm. “Can I trust you fully Pernash?”

  “Of course my Lady, my life is yours, anything just ask.” Pernash bowed his head. His chest rose and fell as he took a deep breath. He was by far a coward, he knew that, but she had saved his life earlier in the forest and with that he owed her his help.

  “Now I don’t want you to panic okay?” She raised her eyebrows at him as she spoke. Pernash swallowed and nodded his head sheepishly. “But, I think she just tried to poison me.” Pernash’s shook as he stole a glance at Nera, then back at Arweyn.

  “P..poison you,” he stuttered. Arweyn nodded.

  “I am fine Pernash; thankfully I carry an antidote to most poisons. But it has shown that this woman is dangerous. I don’t know why she has not tried to kill everyone yet. I can only assume that she needs Kainan alive for some reason. The poison she gave me was a paralysis, it would not have killed me, but I would not have been able to do anything to help the Prince.”

  “Why do we not just kill her?” Pernash whispered. Arweyn took a calming breath and shook her head.

  “We cannot; she has some kind of hold over the Prince.” She looked out towards Drew. “And now it seems also Drew and Rufas. I don’t know what will happen to them if we kill her. We need to break the spell that she has over them first. Now I need you to do something for me.” Pernash nodded. She took another calming breath. “When we next stop for a meal I want you to pour this vial of liquid into their drinks do you understand?” Pernash nodded again. Arweyn reached into her bag and pulled out the small bottle.

  “Give it to all of them Drew and Rufas too.”

  “What is it my Lady?” Pernash questioned as he took it from her.

  “It is a vial of magic potion that I have made. Now listen I promise it will not hurt them or the Prince and it will not hurt her if she is who she says she is; but if she is a witch it will release the Prince and the others from her spell and we will see her in her true form.”

  He placed the vial into his pocket, tapping it securely. “You can depend on me my Lady. I will not let you down.” Pernash bowed his head.

  “Thank you Pernash. Now you had better leave me before she gets suspicious.” Arweyn looked back behind her. The woman looked at her and watched as Pernash walked back over, but he did not go and sit down. Completely ignoring her he walked straight past and over to Drew and then stepped outside of the shelter of the tree. Sunlight began to dapple through the branches, the storm had finally passed.

  They travelled on for a few more hours; the path thankfully, was easy and straight. Arweyn glanced back at Drew and Rufas. They were striding along with no expression in their faces. Arweyn had no doubt that they had truly been placed under the witch woman’s spell. Kainan still had not uttered a single word to her and walked arm in arm with Nera in front of her. Every now and then however, he would look back over his shoulder at her, a quick secret glance that the witch woman did not see. It was like there was something deep within him that remembered what she meant to him. She held on to those looks, it kept her focused. She would get him back; get him away from that witch, even if it took every ounce of magic that she knew.

  Late afternoon they stopped to make camp in a small clearing that was littered with fallen trees. Drew had already begun to set a fire. Thankfully the rain had not reached this far so there was plenty of dry firewood close to hand. Arweyn took off her cloak, folded it up and put it in her bag; it was a surprisingly humid afternoon. She helped prepare the vegetables as Drew gutted and diced the rabbits he had caught earlier and in no time she and Drew had a hearty rabbit stew bubbling away. He was definitely not himself though. Arweyn had tried to make conversation with him, but got nothing in return. It was like he was in a state of automation and was just following orders.

  Arweyn watched Kainan and the woman as they sat together on a fallen tree trunk. Strangely the woman had said nothing to her. She didn’t seem to surprised that Arweyn was not paralysed. It had led Arweyn to think that perhaps she had managed to poison herself and it had not been the woman’s doing at all. Or maybe she was just playing it down, waiting for a chance to strike again. Still, it made no difference; she still had Kainan in her clutches. Picking up a bowl Arweyn ladled some hot steaming stew into it and taking a deep breath walked over to Kainan.

  “Kainan, some stew?” She handed him the bowl. He looked up at her and for a moment he stared, as if he remembered. There was something about her, he thought as he looked into her eyes. He inhaled.

  “Mmm, that smells good, thank you.” Reaching up he took the bowl. For a moment his eyes lingered on her, thinking. Arweyn bit her lip; her heart was pounding as he stared at her. She was sure somewhere deep in his soul he was still there and she felt like she needed to reach in and pull him back out.

  Scowling Nera reached forward to Kainan and began touching his knee, rubbing it quite harshly, breaking his thoughts. Arweyn looked at her, then pulling her hair back behind her ears defiantly, she turned sharply and walked away, offering her no food. Kainan looked at Nera, who returned the look with a pained hurt face. Kainan swallowed as he looked on after Arweyn. Nera frowned at him.

  “Are you going to allow her to treat me like that, are you not the Prince of Malgar, she is your servant not your equal?” she scowled, angrily at him. He was powerless, and had to do what she wanted, he could not help himself. He yelled after her.

  “Hey what about Nera, where is her food?” Arweyn spun around sharply and glared.

  “She can get her own!” she yelled back angrily, before stomping back to the cooking pot.

  “No. I don’t think so. You bring it to her now!” Kainan demanded, standing up sharply. His words cut through her like a knife and she was too shocked to speak. Stopping in her tracks she gritted her teeth angrily, he was actually defending her! She spun around, giving him a meaningful glare that closed his mouth and made him straighten his back to his full height. Raising an eyebrow at her, he glared and letting out a breath he lowered his voice.

  “Are you defying me woman?” he growled, stepping towards her. “I am your Prince and you will do as I say. Fetch Nera some food. NOW!” The muscles in his neck tightened. Even as he spoke the words to her, it didn’t feel right. Speaking to her like that felt so wrong, but for some reason he could not stop himself. Arweyn glared back at him, never had anyone spoken to her like that before.

  “I’ll get it Sire,” Pernash interrupted, running forward and bowing his head humbly. He stood in front of Arweyn. Kainan’s eyes were wide, and his heart was pounding furiously. He stepped forward further; still he could not help himself.

  “No, she can do it!” He looked past Pernash and straight at Arweyn, then raising his finger he pointed at her.

  “Or face the consequences of your insolence,” he added, with fire in his eyes. Her eyebrows went up in astonishment and she studied his face for a moment. She had never heard him speak with such authority, with such a demanding threatening attitude. Her breast
s rose and fell as she took a deep sharp breath. Then she reminded herself again that it was not Kainan speaking to her like that, it was her, it was the witch woman.

  “I am sorry my Lord,” she said, dropping to her knees and lowering her head. “Please forgive me. I don’t know what came over me.”

  Kainan considered her for a moment with a scowl, and then nodded. The tension in his neck muscles releasing, he was clearly relieved that she had complied. He managed a weak smile at her, and then turned, looking at Nera, who smiled back satisfactorily at him. Slowly his gaze turned back to Arweyn. What was it about her? He could feel something but he just could not grasp what it was. All he could think about was Nera; his mind was void of anything else. Calming himself, he sat back down next to Nera, and ran his fingers through his hair, watching as Arweyn picked up a bowl.

  Arweyn stood for a moment stirring the stew in the pot. Then angrily began ladling the stew into a bowl. Picking up a spoon, she stuck it into the stew and then strutted back over to the witch woman. With her arm outstretched so as not to make any physical contact with her at all, she handed her the bowl. Reaching out Nera took the bowl.

  “Mmm,” she murmured, inhaling slowly shaking her head side to side over the bowl. “Smells delicious, thank you,” she said, with a tone of sarcasm in her voice.

  “I am not doing it for you,” Arweyn sneered giving her a quick sharp look, and then turned to walk away. Nera laughed, shaking her head, the child was feisty. Kainan caught Arweyn’s arm stopping her from leaving. She turned abruptly to him.

  “Thank you,” he said, and a small smile twitched on his lips. There was definitely something about her that fired a spark inside of him.

  “You are welcome my Lord,” Arweyn replied, giving him a warm smile and a dip of her head. He was still Kainan deep down; she had to get him to see that witch woman for who she really was. He released her arm and she walked back towards the cooking pot, nodding at Pernash as she passed. They had to do it now.

  The young Prince turned back to Nera and smiled. “Do you like it?” he asked, as she took a bite of the stew. She nodded.

  “Yes it is fine, maybe a bit well done for my liking. What is this, rabbit?” she asked dubiously. He nodded.

  Pernash had gathered four pewter mugs, and turning his back to them he slipped the vial of potion into the mugs and then topped them up with wine. He handed one to Rufas and one to Drew, then he walked over to Kainan and offered it to him.

  “A drink my Lord, it is the last of the wine.” Pernash handed him one of the mugs.

  “Thank you Pernash,” he replied reaching up, turning his gaze away from the woman only for a moment, and taking the mug.

  “And for you my Lady,” Pernash offered, holding out the other mug to her.

  “No, thank you,” she declined with a wave of her hand. Arweyn watched from beside the fire, slowly stirring the pot of stew. Her heart thumped; she had to take the drink, she had too!

  “Please drink with me Nera, it is a fine wine.” Kainan assured her. Taking the mug from Pernash he offered it to her. Nera smiled warily.

  “Of course, if it pleases you my Lord.” She looked at Pernash, whose eyes were diverted to the ground, and then over to Arweyn. Purposely not looking at her, Arweyn continued stirring the stew, but the woman still eyed her suspiciously.

  “My Lord let us share a cup together,” she looked deep into his eyes. Kainan unable to refuse nodded

  “As you wish,” he replied, pouring his wine into her mug, Kainan gave him back the empty mug. “Here, Pernash.” The gangly man took the mug and backed away slowly.

  “Please you drink first my Lord,” Nera offered. Slowly Kainan drank the wine. Smiling he passed her the mug.

  “And now you,” the young price said. Taking the tankard from him, she sipped the wine slowly. He was right it did taste very good. Smiling she nodded pleased, drinking some more.

  Arweyn stared hard; she felt herself shaking in anticipation. Come on, it had to work! Then her heart began racing; if this didn’t work she was not sure what else to do. Suddenly looking down at her hands, she frowned. They were beginning to tingle. Her magic was stirring with her emotions. She sucked her bottom lip nervously; she had noticed it happening more and more often. She needed to control it, but she was not sure if she knew how. She took a few deep long breaths to calm herself down. That, she found, seemed to work the best. Watching Kainan and the woman from Sandstar intensely, she was pleading to herself for something to happen.

  Nera suddenly coughed, she smiled at Kainan. “Sorry,” she apologised. Then she coughed again raising her hand to her throat. Kainan raised his eyebrow at her, tilting his head slightly to the right as he stared. Something was definitely not right about this woman. He stared harder as his mind began to clear.

  She spun around towards Arweyn her eyes were piercing. Something was happening to her Arweyn could see that.

  “What have you done you bitch?” Nera yelled at her struggling to stand on her feet, coughing violently again and again.

  “I’m showing him who you really are!” Arweyn screamed back at her, her fists clenched by her side. It was working. She looked across the camp. Drew and Rufas stood up putting their mugs down on the ground; their minds too were beginning to clear.

  “What is going on?” Drew yelled, as he and Rufas both stumbled. Their heads began spinning with dizziness. Pulling out his sword with one hand and holding his head with the other, Drew rushed towards Arweyn. He couldn’t remember anything since they had stopped at the tree to shelter from the storm.

  “The witch Drew, she enchanted you and Rufas. She had control over you both.” Arweyn cried, as he reached her.

  “What, how?” He rubbed his brow turning to look at Nera. “What is happening to her? He yelled. The witch was shaking and convulsing violently.

  “We gave you all, the truth potion it is revealing who she really is and at the same time releasing anyone within her spells and enchantments.”

  Nera looked at Kainan, her black eyes piercing into him; but Kainan was no longer under her control. He stood up, backing away from her. Looking at her dazed, and puzzled, he turned towards Arweyn.

  “Arweyn?” He let out a breath, and held his head in his hands, it was spinning. “What is going on, who is this woman, where are we?” he cried, totally fazed and confused. Grabbing her bag she ran to him. It had worked! Kainan could now see her for her true self, he was back! She took hold of his arm, pulling him to her, steadying him.

  “Kainan you have been under her spell. This woman is not who she appears to be.”

  “A spell, what are you talking about?” He frowned, as he tried to recall. His eyes shot to hers. “I remember. We found her under all that rubble back in Sandstar, but I thought something was odd, she seemed to know who I was.” He looked back towards Nera. She had begun to breath heavy, her nostrils flaring angrily. Her face began to change shape, it twisted from side to side, then she started to rise up, her back arching, her size increasing. Kainan and Arweyn began backing away. Suddenly great wings burst from her back, she screamed and then screeched as her body contorted, and she grew bigger and bigger.

  Arweyn screamed terrified, she was not a witch! “What is it, what is she?” she screamed repeatedly, grabbing hold of Kainan. He began backing away; grabbing Arweyn around her waist he pushed her behind him protectively. Pulling his sword from its sheath he raised it in front of him, pointing it towards the terrifying creature. He rubbed his eyes with his other hand trying to clear his mind. “I don’t know, but she is sure as hell no witch!” he shouted back to her.

  “Bloody hell!” Rufas yelled suddenly, moving backwards in a great hurry. “She’s a dragonere!” He raised his sword and looked at everyone and for the first time ever his face was full of fear. “She’s a bloody dragonere, run! Everyone take cover, she can breathe fire!”

  The dragonere continued to grow in size until it towered above them. She shot up into the air. She inhaled and then roared, sh
ooting out a massive flame towards the young Prince and his party. Kainan spun around and pushed Arweyn hard out of the way. He dived to the ground and rolled onto his back just as the flames skimmed over the top of him. Then arching his back he sprang to his feet, instantly reaching down he grabbed Arweyn’s hand, and yanked her back to her feet.

  Dragging her as fast as he could, they began running deep into the forest. Everyone had scattered in different directions in the panic, trying to escape the inferno of flames. The dragonere rose and soared above them throwing out flames in every direction, the tops of the trees burned like hells fire all around them.

  Hurtling through the trees, Kainan slashed his sword with great urgency through the dense undergrowth.

  “It’s coming!” Arweyn screamed turning to look behind her, urging him to go faster. The great black beast plundered through the forest breathing fire, she burnt and scorched the trees and undergrowth as she came up behind them. Suddenly Kainan stopped dead and Arweyn crashed hard into the back of him.

  “Why are you stopping!” she screamed, turning to see. There in front of them was a ravine. It was narrow but a good sixty foot drop into the water below. Kainan’s mind raced, quickly calculating the risk. It was too far to jump across, thirty feet or more, but the water was dark. It looked deep and it widened out at the bottom. Kainan took a deep breath; he had to trust his senses, his instincts.

  “Arweyn, do you trust me?” he asked. Arweyn’s heart was racing. Breathing deep and fast to catch her breath she nodded, her face full of fear.

  “What are you going to do?”

  “We are going to jump,” he yelled, placing his sword back into its sheath.

  “Jump, are you insane!” she screamed horrified; as she did the dragonere reared up behind them, drawing a breath. He shook his head furiously at her, he meant it, they were going to jump. Arweyn held her bag tightly in one hand, and in the other Kainan’s hand grasped hold of her.

  “NOW!” Kainan yelled, and together they jumped. The dragonere shot a blast of fire but missed them, and roaring with anger she soared off into the sky.