Deragan Sword Prophecy: Book 01 - Kainan

by Rosemary Lynch

  “What do you see?” Arweyn questioned, staring hard into the ball.

  “I see Dark Elves, at least thirty if not more heading towards your friends.”

  “Dark Elves, no! How did they find us?”

  “I believe there is a traitor amongst your men.”

  “A traitor, can you see who it is?” Arweyn questioned, looking hard into the ball to see if she could see anything.

  “Unfortunately this I am unable see, but you and Kainan must leave now or your friends will perish.” Arweyn nodded gratefully.

  “I must find Kainan; do you know where he is?” Sharlinger waved her hand across the ball once again and turned to her.

  “He is in the courtyard hurry,” Sharlinger urged. Arweyn nodded and ran out of the room.

  Kainan was outside, sitting in the courtyard gathering his thoughts. He knew this was important to Arweyn but he could not help feeling he should be back with the others and getting on with the journey ahead of them. Time was running out and he could feel trouble.

  “Kainan,” she called, as she saw him sitting in the courtyard. Kainan looked up from his thoughts and smiled. Still he knew she needed this time and after everything she had done to help him he would not rush her. Then he saw her ashen face, and stood up as she approached.

  “What’s wrong?” he asked, grabbing her hands.

  “Sharlinger, she has seen Dark Elves approaching the clearing where we left Drew and the others! She thinks there are at least thirty if not more. Kainan what are we going to do?” Arweyn trembled as fear swept through her body. “Why now Kainan, when they have been still for all these years?”

  “It must be the Crystal. Because the power is failing all the banishment spells made by the Faerlings are weakening too,” he said, trying to remain calm.

  “Kainan, there is something else...” Arweyn hesitated.

  “What?” His eyes widening as he looked into hers.

  “Sharlinger says there is a traitor amongst us, this is how the Elves know where we are.”

  “A traitor!” Kainan sounded shocked.

  Arweyn nodded.

  “Tolwein!” Gritting his teeth with awakened rage he clenched his fists.

  “We do not know that for sure.”

  Kainan made a face and shook his head. “Oh come on Arweyn we have always suspected something was not right with him. I should have gotten rid of him when I had the chance.” He grabbed hold of her hand. “We had better hurry, the others will not be expecting them and they will not stand a chance against thirty Elves.”

  Sharlinger waved her hand across the waterfall and as before the water parted to reveal a footpath.

  “Farewell Arweyn.” She leant forward and embraced her. “I wish it could have been longer and under better circumstances, and I am sorry we cannot send anyone to help you at this time.”

  “It is okay I understand. Thank you for everything.”

  “Remember you are always welcome here. Here take this.” Sharlinger gave her a crystal ring. “Just think deeply when you need to contact us Arweyn, and rub the ring, and we shall show you the way. Now go quickly and save your friends, remember your power Arweyn it is deep within you always.”

  “I will, and thank you,” Arweyn said gratefully, putting the ring onto her finger.

  “Thank you Sharlinger for everything,” Kainan said, taking her hand and gently kissing it respectfully.

  “You too are welcome here Kainan. Now go quickly you do not have much time.” Kainan took Arweyn’s hand and together they hurried through the parted curtain of water back into the cavern where they had first arrived. Kainan picked up the torch and relit it.

  Twenty Two - Traitor

  Cautiously they emerged from the rock face, but it looked like they were too late. The camp had been wrecked, their belongings were scattered everywhere. The look on Kainan’s face said it all. He had let his men down. Where were they?

  “Oh Kainan, we are too late,” Arweyn cried, grabbing hold of his arm tightly. Kainan stood in silence staring at the decimation. Had he made the wrong decision to have gone with her? Maybe if he had been here his men would have stood more of a chance. And as if she was reading his mind Arweyn squeezed his arm.

  “It is not your fault Kainan.” She tried to re-assure him, but she knew it did not make a blind bit of difference, he would still blame himself.

  “Maybe they are not dead, maybe they just took them. Or they have run away and are hiding,” she added, trying to convince herself as well as Kainan that there was some hope they were all still alive. As they wandered silently through the wreckage, Kainan kicked at the stew pot, sending it flying across the grass, he was fuming. What could he have done to prevent this? Arweyn stopped suddenly. She could hear a soft moaning coming from the undergrowth. She grabbed hold of his arm.

  “Kainan can you hear that?” Stopping, he listened.

  “Yes, it is coming from over there.” He pointed across the clearing to the undergrowth near a large tree. Dropping their packs, they both ran over to where the sound was coming from. Kainan stopped. He could see part of a body; gently gripping her arm he brought her to a halt. He turned to her.

  “Wait here, until I see who it is,” he said, pulling his sword from its sheath. She grabbed his arm.

  “Be careful.” He nodded and slowly approached where the body was lying.

  “Oh no!” he cried desperately. Dropping to his knees he began pulling back the undergrowth.

  “Who is it?” Arweyn called, as she ran towards him.

  “It is Rufas, and he is in a bad way, quickly.”

  Rufas rolled open his eyes and looked as he heard the young Prince’s voice. He had been impaled on a branch. Dropping to his knees, Kainan leaned in closer to catch the dying man’s words, he cradled in him in his arms. “My Lord…too... many …Elves,” he mumbled, his voice sounded distant, weak. Blood trickled both from his nose and his ears.

  “Lie still,” he hushed with all the tenderness he could gather. His voice choked as he tried to comfort the dying man.

  Arweyn shook as she bent down next to him, fighting to hold back her tears. He had been impaled on a sharp spear like branch. It looked like he had been slammed down on to it. She touched his chest and she shook her head at Kainan. They would never be able to pull him off alive. Rufas gasped, his hand reached up and grasped hold of Kainan’s cloak, gripping it desperately. Blood seeped out of his mouth as he tried to talk. “Kill them…My Lord.” He drew gasp of breath, then his life was gone, and he slumped back down, still.

  She looked up at Kainan and shook her head, her eyes now unable to hold back the tears. She could not do anything, all her power and she could not save him.

  “Oh Kainan, he has gone. I… I cannot do anything. I’m so sorry,” her voice trembled as she spoke.

  Kainan said nothing. He raised his hand to Rufas’s eyes, closing them. Then with all his might he pulled his body off the deadly branch and gently he rocked him in his arms, tears flowed freely from his eyes, as anger began welling up deep within him. Never had he felt the need to hurt someone so badly.

  “He didn’t want to come here, if we had gone to the mountain this would not have happened. It’s all my fault, I’m sorry,” she sobbed, holding her hands to her face.

  “No Arweyn, he knew what he was doing. It is not your fault and it is not mine. We had to take you to the Faerlings. The only ones to blame are the bastards that did this to him.” He laid Rufas down onto the ground, crossing his arms over he placed Rufas’s discarded sword between them. Standing up he began wiping away his tears with his sleeve. Arweyn looked up at him. She could see he was so full of anger that his fists shook. She could feel it too. It was not in her nature to be aggressive, but by joining with Kainan she had also taken his rage, and for the first time she felt that she wanted to use her powers to hurt or even kill the person that did this.

  “Arweyn we have to look for the others.” Bending down he helped her to her feet, he looked into her sod
den eyes. “Come here,” he opened his arms and pulled her in close, holding her tight. She rested her head on his shoulder. “It is alright honey,” he comforted. “We have been lucky this far not to have lost anyone. It was only going to be a matter of time. Rufas was a brave man, a good warrior and he died honourably. It is how he would have wished it.” He leaned back, “It’s not your fault, okay?” She nodded and smiled sadly.

  “Where do you think the others are?” she whispered, quietly looking around. “Please don’t tell me you think they are all dead too?”

  “I don’t know Arweyn, I hope not, but I don’t like this at all. We have not even been gone that long; they must have attacked soon after we left.”

  Quietly in the distance they could hear a voice.

  “Kainan can you hear that?” Arweyn whispered her eyes searching for the voice.

  “Yes. It’s coming from over there in the trees,” he whispered back, pointing to a small copse of trees next to the clearing. Slowly a man emerged from the trees, beckoning them.

  “Tolwein!” he exclaimed angrily, gripping his sword. Arweyn grabbed his arm, holding him back

  “We don’t know for sure if Tolwein is the traitor.”

  “Oh it’s him all right, if there is one thing I’m sure of he is the traitor.” Kainan bit his lip, he could feel that adrenalin rush building up inside him.

  “What is he doing Kainan?”

  “He is calling us over. Look who is that….? It’s Pernash, he is standing behind him.”

  “What shall we do?”

  “It could be a trap Arweyn. You should wait here.”

  “No, you promised you would not leave me Kainan. I am not staying here on my own, we go together,” Arweyn insisted grabbing his arm.

  Kainan turned to her. “Arweyn please, I don’t want them to take you again.”

  “Kainan I understand, and I love that you care so much for me, but what chance do I have left here on my own.”

  “You could get back to the Faerlings.”

  She hooked a piece of hair behind her ear and looked over to Tolwein.

  “Kainan you know we cannot use that tunnel again, and if it is a trap they are most probably already behind us. If they wanted me dead they would have done it by now.”

  “What if it is the wrong decision and they take us, will you hate me for it.” She looked into his dark eyes and ran her hands down his face.

  “Kainan I could never hate you. Whatever happens we do it together. We have no choice you know that.” He looked away from her and back at Tolwein. She was right; they had probably walked straight back into a trap the moment they came out of the tunnel. He looked at her, he really didn’t want to put her in danger but what choice did he have?

  “Okay, but please keep close to me.”

  “I would not want to be anywhere else.” He stopped and looked at her. Grabbing her tight he pulled her in a close embrace and kissed her passionately. Releasing her, he smiled. “Whatever happens, know that I love you and I have loved you from the first moment we met and I will always love you.”

  A tear rolled down her face. “I love you too Kainan, but we will get through this. I know our destiny lies together. We have been given a great gift Kainan, we have special powers, powers that we have been given to fight this evil. We must do what we can to help Malgar and the people of Zyon.”

  “You’re right. I have had this strange feeling and I have been trying to fight it since we joined.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “I don’t really know it is just when I get angry I feel an incredible power flowing through my veins. Maybe it is time to find out what we can do?”

  She nodded. They picked up their packs and threw them over their shoulders.

  “Let’s go.” Taking her hand tightly they apprehensively walked over towards Tolwein who was still lurking behind the trees.

  “Quickly my Lord,” he waved with his hand. Kainan and Arweyn quickened their pace and soon were at the copse.

  “What the hell happened Tolwein, Rufas is dead!” Kainan demanded his hand firmly on his sword. He was trying hard not to withdraw it and strike the man down where he stood. Tolwein raised his finger to his lips to silence him. “Quickly they are everywhere, come with me. The others are in a safe place; I must take you to them.”

  “Where is Pernash? I thought I saw him behind you.” Kainan demanded to know. The uneasiness he was feeling was getting stronger.

  “Yes my Lord, he has gone back to the safe place, come quickly.” Tolwein urged, running on ahead. Kainan look hard at him, droplets of sweat were trickling down his forehead. His eyes began shifting nervously from one side to the other as if he was searching for someone. Kainan stiffened as they walked on; he looked at Tolwein then at Arweyn. He felt as if a trap was closing in around them.

  “Arweyn,” he whispered. “I don’t like this I think we were right about him.” She nodded, she had noticed him sweating too and it being a cool day didn’t seem right. She also noticed that he had removed his bandana and his hair was flowing freely. This she had never seen before, he had always worn the bandana. The wind suddenly blew a hefty gust and Tolwein’s hair blew back. Arweyn’s heart sank, as their worst fears were confirmed and she let out a small gasp. Kainan heard her and turned to her.

  “Kainan,” she whispered. “Look at his ears.” He moved in closer behind Tolwein just as another gust of wind blew. Kainan stared and cursed, he knew it! He knew he had been right about Tolwein, but he didn’t imagine for one moment that he was a Dark Elf.

  “Arweyn we were right, it’s a trap,” he whispered, taking her hand. She squeezed it firmly as they both stopped in their tracks. There in front of them stood a band of Dark Elves. Kainan shot a glance behind him. Arweyn had been right, they had already been surrounded. In cages to the side he could see Pernash and Drew. Drew hung by his hands inside the cage, his body battered and bleeding. Kainan knew Drew had fought hard, his eyes were closed, but Kainan hoped that his friend was still alive. Pernash was bound and gagged lying at the bottom of the cage. He looked towards Kainan; his eyes were wide and desperate with fear.

  The young prince cursed himself again angrily. He knew it was going to be a trap, he should have thought of something else. He should have protected her.

  Tolwein spun around and for the first time he smiled, a dirty evil smile. He took a band from his pocket and tied back his hair, showing off his pointed Elf ears. He then removed his cloak, showing off his Elven war clothes. He wore the same uniform as the Elves that had taken town the King’s battalion back on Malgar. His sliver chest plate reflecting the afternoon sun, glared into Kainan’s eyes. His dark piercing eyes stared hard at him and Kainan stared unflinching back at him; he could feel the adrenaline coursing through his veins. Since joining with Arweyn he had developed this strange feeling of immense power that just took over his entire body. He had been able to control it, but not now, now he just shook with rage. He just wanted to rip Tolwein apart. His hand gripped the Deragan Sword; he urgently needed to pull it from its sheath, and to strike now! Kainan looked sideways at Arweyn, and she knew what he was going to do. She nodded. She was scared, but she knew they had to make a stand now. Yelling furiously, Kainan raised his sword and began charging towards Tolwein, his sword flashing through the air. Tolwein raised his hand and the Elves charged towards him. The young Prince at one with his sword began to strike, one after another his sword swinging high and low, he took them down.

  “Kainan!” Arweyn screamed as she felt her skin go cold; more Elves began to materialize all around them. One grabbed her, pulling a knife to her. She kicked him hard, dodged right and then left. Spinning around she saw the knife slashing through the air towards her, hitting her left arm it sliced into her, deflecting of the bone. With shock and pain Arweyn screamed as raged suddenly engulfed her. Her right hand came up sharp and caught the Elf by his throat; she felt her grip shut off his airway instantly.

  “Espella destora melanca,” she scre
amed into his face. Her eyes glaring, shock and pain igniting her rage she lifted him off the floor. Screaming with fury she threw him backwards with such a force that his back hit a tree killing him instantly. Blood ran down her arm to her shaking hand. Never had she felt such anger, such overwhelming power. The Elves closed in around her. One charged towards her and using her hands she lifted him up using an invisible force; she held him there and stared at him. Then pulling her arms back she drew on her power and threw him sideways and down hard to the ground.

  Using her powers she slammed hard into the bodies of as many as she could blasting them back one after the other. Kainan turned snatching desperate glimpses of her when he could as he battled on. His strength was immense, he fought five, six Elves at a time, ducking and diving, spinning and twisting through the air.

  Suddenly Arweyn screamed as they closed in around her. She was grabbed from behind, her arms pulled back harshly behind; she struggled trying to wrench herself free. An Elf drew a rope from his pocket and quickly tied her hands together. She struggled screaming, trying desperately to break the bindings, but something would not allow her to break it.

  Kainan spun around sharply, he could hear her screaming. He immediately stopped where he stood and looked across to see the Elves grabbing at her. The anger and the power surging through his veins were overwhelming him, and his eyes glowed furiously red.

  “Kainan!” she screamed, as they pawed at her.

  “Don’t touch her!” Tolwein screeched at them raising his hand. “Get the Prince.” He spun around pointing towards Kainan.

  Kainan glared at them as they pawed her. He started to walk directly towards her in a strong determined manner. The Elves flew at him from all directions, wrath exploded through Kainan’s veins. With both hands he raised his sword, without once taking his eyes off her. First his left then his right, he sliced and hacked at whoever came at him, his power flowing through the sword with incredible speed and agility. Twisting and somersaulting he brought his sword up defensively with lightning speed against his attackers. Tolwein trembled where he stood. What was happening? Never in all these past few days had he seen Kainan with this kind of power. He looked at Arweyn, then back at him.