Deragan Sword Prophecy: Book 01 - Kainan

by Rosemary Lynch

  Drew and Rufas rushed up to him and stood with their swords poised towards them. Never had they seen such anger in him.

  Kainan dragged the creature onto its feet, the adrenaline passing through his veins almost uncontrollable and he shook with rage. He rammed the creature’s body into the trunk of a large oak, pinning it off the ground. His teeth gritted as he spat at the creature.

  “Where is she? What have you done with her?” The creature stared back at him blankly. His hand clasped around its throat, squeezing hard until it began choking. “You know don’t you, tell me where she is! Where is Arweyn?” he screamed louder as his grip tightened.

  “Kainan, you’re going to kill it!” Drew yelled, stepping forward. Kainan turned, glaring at him, his eyes were glowing a menacing red. Drew flinched back in alarm; he spun a look at Rufas, who shook his head for him to back off. The young Prince turned back to the changeling, his voice now low and menacing. “I will ask you one more time, where is she?”

  “They have herrr,” it hissed, gasping for air.

  “Who has her?” Kainan yelled his face contorted with anger.

  The changeling’s eyes stared blankly at him, torturing him, till he could stand no more.

  “TELL ME!” he screamed with lethal rage. Kainan moved his knife down to its chest and began to push the knife in slowly. The creature howled as black blood began seeping from the wound.

  “The Gorzars,” it hissed with contempt. The Gorzars! Kainan’s face froze in horror, and he released his grip, the creatures feet dropped to the ground.

  Suddenly Drew screamed. “Kainan, LOOK OUT!”

  From the changeling’s hands emerged long claws which it was baring down towards Kainan’s back. Hearing his friends’ warning and without hesitation he plunged the knife deep into the changeling. It froze and Kainan looked into its black, cold eyes.

  “Go to hell!” he whispered, twisting the knife in still deeper and turning it hard; the changeling gave a deathly gasp, he let go of the knife and it dropped to the ground dead. Kainan stood staring at it. He looked at his hand; it was shaking and covered in black blood. Turning to Drew he nodded. Drew accepted his thanks with a knowing smile.

  Pernash stood frozen where he was; he was trying hard to understand what had happened. How could this creature imitate Arweyn to the extent that none of them had noticed, until now?

  “WHEN?” The young Prince demanded suddenly, spinning around to the others angrily. He could feel himself shaking uncontrollably with rage. His eyes glowed furiously red at them. “When did you leave her on her own?” They looked at each other blankly.

  “I told you all to watch her, not to leave her!” Bending over he pulled the knife out of the changeling. Standing up tall he walked right up to them.

  “When was this creature able to take her, to imitate her? I want to know!”

  Drew raised his hands. “Kainan please, we’re all in shock. None of us left her.” He stopped and looked at the others. “Did we?” He raised his eyebrow questioningly.

  “Wait,” Kainan stopped, thinking hard. “When I came out of the house with the Book Keeper…. Then, yes.” He turned to Drew. “Even you said didn’t you, that there something wrong with her?” Drew nodded as he remembered.

  “So it was before then, it must have been just after we arrived.”

  He marched over to Rufas, the knife still covered in the changeling’s blood in his hand. He pointed it accusingly at Rufas. “YOU, I left her with you when I went into the house. Did you leave her?”

  Rufas stood silent.

  “DID YOU LEAVE HER?” He yelled, inches from his face.

  Rufas nodded silently. The young Prince stared hard. Drew crossed over to him, slowly raising his hand to Kainan’s.

  “Kainan put down the knife, please. It’s not his fault. We will find her.” The young Prince ignored him and continued staring at Rufas.

  “Kainan!” Drew insisted. “You need to calm down.” Never in all his days had he witnessed someone’s eyes glowing like that. He looked like he was about to explode. Kainan shook his head, taking a deep breath. Pulling the knife away he looked at Rufas, his eyes piercing him for the truth.

  “My Lord I only went for a moment.” He turned to Tolwein. “Tell him, you heard her,” he pleaded. “My Lord I swear, she promised she would not move from that spot. I didn’t see her go. I didn’t see her.” Rufas shot glances between the young Prince and Drew. Kainan said nothing but turned abruptly and walked over to the river. Kneeling down on the bank he began to wash the blood from his hands.

  The burly man appeared behind him. Placing his hand on his shoulder he gave it a gentle squeeze.

  “Are you okay?” he asked. Kainan shook his head, throwing some water over his face.

  “I should have sent her back.” His expression grew pained. It was his fault she was gone, he was selfish and that is all there was to it. He wanted her here for himself; he wanted her to stay to be with him. Never mind whether or not it had been safe for her. And now because of him she was missing. Scrunching his eyes he fought back his tears; maybe even dead. Tolwein had been right; he could not protect her; just as he could not protect his own family. He was useless.

  “No Kainan, you shouldn’t. She belongs here with us, with you. You know that to be true. It was her choice just as much as yours. I would be dead if she hadn’t.” He looked over his shoulder. “So would you and Pernash.”

  He looked up at Drew. “You don’t understand Drew, what they are like, the Gorzars, they are animals….” He trailed off. “If they hurt her I swear I will not rest till I have torn each and everyone one of them to pieces with my bare hands,” he yelled angrily. Drew looked down at his friend hard.

  “None of us will rest Kainan, until we have her back,” he assured him.

  “How could I not see it was not her?” He shook his head and looked up at him. “I felt something wrong Drew and I ignored it, I thought it was Tolwein. Why did I not trust my senses, she might have still been nearby. When I was with Arweyn yesterday, after I killed the dragonere, I told her that I could feel changes in me. It’s magic from the Crown Drew I am sure of it. I sensed something in the forest yesterday, like we were being watched and I completely ignore it. I’m such an idiot! They must have still been there waiting for us to leave the inn.” Drew knelt down next to him.

  “Kainan something is happening to you, did you feel it just then?” He looked over to the dead changeling. Kainan followed his eyes and took a deep breath.

  “I felt power; all I wanted to do was rip its head off.” He looked at his hands and they still shook. Drew placed a friendly hand on his shoulder. “Your eyes were glowing; I have never seen such a thing.” The young Prince blinked. “What do you mean glowing?”

  “Just as I said, glowing bright red like a wild animal.” Goose bumps ran up Kainan’s arms and he shivered.

  “Do you think it is the power of my ancestors?”

  “I don’t know, no one has ever witnessed a full transfer in living memory.”

  Kainan closed his eyes for a moment. “I felt such rage Drew, when I realised she was gone.” He took a long deep breath and looked out across the river. Picking up a handful of pebbles from just beside him, and rattling them in his loose fist he skimmed them across the water.

  “I do love her Drew, is that so wrong?”

  Drew shook his head at him. “Of course it’s not wrong, it’s never wrong to love someone Kainan, but it is wrong to deny that love, you must tell her.”

  Kainan smiled sadly.

  “I was trying too. That is how I realised it was not her.” He put his head in his hands and mumbled. “I need her so bad...” He turned to Drew. “I don’t know what it is but it is more than just love, I have a deep down need for her soul to be part of mine.” He closed his eyes. “I know you will probably think I am crazy Drew but I feel like I have known her before, in some other time. If they kill her...” With the back of his hand he wiped a tear from his eye, the very tho
ught devastated him.

  Drew shook his head. “She is still alive Kainan, or they would not have bothered with all this.” He gestured to the dead changeling. “No they need her for something.”

  Kainan looked at him. His eyes were now desperately trying to fight back his tears of anguish, as he thought of all the sickening things they could be doing to her.

  “For what, what do they want her for?”

  “I don’t’ know, but I do know that you are destined for greatness, as is Lady Arweyn. It has been written.”

  “The prophecy?”

  Drew nodded. “The prophecy. Now come on get up, we can track them if we move fast; they cannot be too far ahead.” Kainan nodded, standing up he shook his friend’s hands and gave him a friendly pat on his back.

  “You are a good friend Drew I can see why my father relies on you so much.” The other smiled. To him there was no greater honour than to be by the side of the King, and now by the side of his son. His chest rose and fell with pride.

  “Now come on my Prince, let’s go and get her.” Kainan took a deep breath and nodded. Running his hands down his face he shook himself together, he had to be strong for her. He stood tall, taking in a deep breath, and then walking over to the body of the changeling, he looked down at it. Kicking it hard, he let out his anger, but for him that still didn’t feel enough. Closing his eyes, his hand reached down and he pulled his sword from its sheath; and in one swift movement Kainan yelled with all his might, bringing the swords blade down across the changeling’s neck. He held it there for a moment, inhaling deeply through his nose. His arms were shaking with anger and power. Then raising his sword, bringing the blade to his face, he gently placed it onto his forehead, breathing in deeply.

  Lying next to the creature was Arweyn’s bag, bending down he picked it up. Holding it close he inhaled, it smelled of her scent. He closed his eyes, and relaxing he allowed his senses to breathe, to find her; she was still alive he could feel her. Wiping his sword clean, he ran his fingers down the edge of the blade, sparks of magic flickered across the steal and up into his hand, Kainan’s eyes widened as he felt the power surge into him, he would find her. Placing his sword back in its sheath, he opened his pack and placed her bag inside, then doing it back up he threw it onto his strong shoulders.

  He waited and watched as Drew and Pernash scouted the path. Dirt crunched under his boots as he shifted his feet impatiently. Kicking hard at a stone that was embedded in the earth, he was impatient to get moving. But he knew he had to wait until they found the right tracks.

  “There.” Drew said finally in a low voice, pointing at a set of tracks leading South.

  “They are still heading towards the mountain,” Kainan observed. Drew nodded in agreement.

  “Come on move it.” The young Prince yelled to the others as he set off, marching on ahead of them.

  ***

  She edged in to the forest. Arweyn turned and looked back towards Rufas; he obviously had not heard Kainan calling her. Suddenly a large hand clasped around her mouth. Frantically she tried to scream, but the hand held her tight. She kicked out with her feet, clawing at the hand as he dragged her deeper into the forest.

  As they came to a stop on the edge of a bank, she could see someone else waiting there, a shadow against the trees. She shook with fear as the hand pulled tighter across her mouth. His other hand grabbing her around the waist he began dragging her further and further into the depths of forest. Suddenly she felt her hands begin to tingle with magic but she didn’t know how to control it. Grabbing on to his hands she held them tight, the angrier she got the more she could feel them burning him. Her captive began yelling in excruciating pain and pulling his hands away from her he released her.

  Arweyn ran, darting through the undergrowth, desperately trying to find her way back to the others; but the forest was dense and it all looked the same. Stricken with fear and panic she leapt through the tangle of brambles and thicket that covered the forest floor. She could hear her captor yelling furiously, closing the gap behind her. Suddenly he was behind her. He cuffed her hard across the back of her head; she stumbled forward and lost her footing. Pitching forward she screamed as she tumbled and rolled down an embankment. Striking her head and shoulder hard on a gnarled tree root at the bottom, she lay stunned. Blood poured from her head and ran down her neck and across her chest, and her head spun dizzily. Then she saw him through a blur of blood, he was standing over her, staring at her. She tried to get up, but she was too dizzy and fell back down. She begged her eyes to open, but the last she saw was his hand as he reached down to her.

  When she awoke he had tied her hands behind her back, and she lay down on moss covered ground. Looking around she could see she was in some kind of make shift camp, a way back from the main campfire under a large oak tree. Then she froze as she felt eyes upon her, she turned her head and her eyes stared wide and horrified. He stood; hands on his hips staring down at her, her dress had been torn across her shoulder exposing her naked flesh.

  “Hello pretty!” The voice sneered, as he then knelt down on one knee next to her. She screamed, and his burned hand clamped down hard on her mouth. Quickly glancing around him, making sure no-one had heard her, he shook his head.

  “Now there’s no need for that pretty.” His other hand reached across to her exposed flesh. She flinched back and tried to scream again but the force of his hand across her mouth was too strong. The Gorzar had her!

  Straddling across her he pulled up her skirt and sat on her.

  “Now, now pretty be nice, don’t scream,” he drooled, running his bony finger back across her bloodied neck. He licked his finger.

  “Mmm you are so sweet,” he growled and his eyes rolled with pleasure. Arweyn kicked and writhed as she wrestled with her bindings. Moving his hand away from her mouth he held her tightly around her throat, choking her. With his other hand he ran the tips of his sharp fingernails across her breasts.

  “Leave me alone!” she croaked, gasping for air as pure terror consumed her.

  “Mmm such soft smooth flesh,” he drooled, licking his lips.

  Suddenly he was plucked off her and thrown violently across the ground. Growling he spun around and jumped up to face his opponent.

  Hadzor turned to him and snarled.

  “What do you think you are doing, I told you not to touch her?” The Gorzar hissed back at him.

  “Why shouldn’t we have her first?” He looked over to her licking his lips. Arweyn lay sobbing, she was unable to move, the realisation of the desperate danger she faced, the fear of violation or death overwhelmed her.

  “Because Tarpel, she belongs to the Master. Or would you like to explain to him that she is no longer pure because you couldn’t keep your hands off her. Without her how will they bring back the others you bloody fool?” he growled, baring his teeth at him showing his authority. “Didn’t you have enough at Sandstar?”

  “There’s never enough!” Tarpel growled, turning his back on him sharply and stomping away.

  Hadzor watched as he left, making sure. Tarpel was a big Gorzar and although he was the clear leader, no Gorzar really trusted one another, especially when the power of leadership was in question. It had just been the three of them for a long time now and they were all on edge with the prospect of the rest of the Gorzar Empire returning, so tempers were frayed, and it didn’t take much to rouse a Gorzar into a fight, especially over a female whatever their breed. Turning back around he sauntered back to her and knelt down on one knee beside her.

  “Well you were lucky. He does not like taking no for an answer that one.” He licked his lips as he looked at her. Reaching his long bony hand towards her, Arweyn whimpered as he touched her. Then as he ran his hand down the length of her body his eyes widened.

  “No wonder the Master wants you, you’ll make a good breeder,” his hand stopped on her breast, hesitating as he thought about ripping her dress off.

  “He is right though, that Tarpel, there can n
ever be enough.” He leaned forward, sniffing around her. Thinking of his master, he thought better than to strip her naked. The punishment he would receive for violating her would be severe, most likely death for them all. He looked at her, licking his lips again. Her eyes were frightened like a trapped animal and the fear he could smell coming off her was too tempting for the Gorzar.

  “Maybe just one small taste eh?” Looking behind him to make sure the others were not around, he then reached forward grabbing a fistful of her hair roughly. Arweyn was terrified, and her throat had constricted so much that her breath was caught in her throat and she was unable to get a scream out. She struggled to pull her arms free, trying to summon her magic.

  “It is no use trying to undo your binding’s sweet thing; it is carpelweed, bound with magic to hold magic, brilliant stuff.” Leaning forward towards her face, he breathed her in deep; and then slowly his tongue began licking away the blood that had seeped from the wound on her head, where she had struck it on the gnarled tree root. Closing her eyes she desperately tried to block out what he was doing to her. Thinking of Kainan, she called to him with her mind to come and take her away from this nightmare. His sickening tongue mopped up the blood that had seeped down her neck. Holding her down hard, she could feel his sharp teeth scrape along her skin, his breathing was getting heavy as he began licking away the blood that had run across her breasts. The smell of him was vile, he stunk of death.

  Suddenly he stopped and pulled back sharply from her. Licking his lips he then pursed them together and shook his head at her.

  “Now see how dangerous you are, you taste far too sweet.” His lips pulled back as he sneered at her. Arweyn shook within at the sight of his sharp fangs as he stared lewdly at her.

  “He’s a lucky bastard my Master, he’s been waiting a long time to have you.” A depraved grin crossed his lips. Arweyn shook at the thought of the fate that awaited her. “He would not like me doing this, and we do not want to upset the Master now do we?” She managed to swallow in a moment of relief as he removed his hands from her. Reaching into his pocket he pulled out a vial.