Deragan Sword Prophecy: Book 01 - Kainan

by Rosemary Lynch

  “Well King John got word from the Gardiners that the Dark Elves were going after you. Since you have been gone the remaining power from the Ardor Crystal has been failing and the portal at the end of the great forest has re-opened. Queen Adara sent Freelander with the Runners to get me. We went back to their city in the mountains. Anyway to cut a long story short, Freelander here and his friends, Caspella,” he pointed to the cat-like creature. “And Arnickle, they are Runners. They took me through their tunnels which run deep under Zyon in the hope that we would find you and be able to warn you. The Gardiners had information that you were around these parts somewhere. We came across the derelict huts where you had stayed. Arnickle and Caspella were able to pick up your scent and we tracked you here. The idea was to get here before the Elves and warn you, but,” he looked around at the mass of bodies. “We were obviously a bit too late.”

  “I would say my friend that you all arrived just in time,” Kainan assured them gratefully, nodding to each one in turn. He turned to Drew.

  “What happened at the clearing?”

  The burly man sighed and shook his head. “Not long after you left Tolwein disappeared for a while. We did a quick area search but couldn’t find him anywhere. Then all of a sudden we were jumped upon; there must have been about twenty of them initially. We fought back as hard as we could but there just were too many of them. Poor Rufas he didn’t have a chance.” He shook his head angrily. “The last thing I remember is that bastard Tolwein grabbing hold of Rufas and slamming him down hard on a branch, it went straight through him, he just left him to die in agony. I don’t remember much after that; I must have got knocked out. The first I knew was when Pernash cut me down and I saw you and Lady Arweyn.”

  Kainan patted his arm gently. “We found Rufas back at the camp but we were too late my friend there was nothing we could do for him. We will go back and bury him before we leave. Are you fit enough?”

  Drew nodded. “I’m fine my Lord.” He smiled sadly for poor Rufas; he had grown to like the quirky man.

  Kainan turned back around to Lord Porlock and Freelander. “Thank you all for your help. I don’t think Arweyn and I would have made it without you, will you and your friends join us?” He looked up ahead. In front of him through the tips of the trees rose Mennock Mountain, its top covered by a heavy cloud. “We are almost at the mountain, and we could sure do with your help, we don’t know what is waiting for us in there.”

  “My Lord it would be an honour to join you,” Freelander offered. Turning to his friends he questioned. “And what about you Arnickle, Caspella, will you continue with us?”

  The Runners looking at each other, nodded. “Indeed my Lord, we too shall accompany you. We do not want these Gorzars returning any more than the rest of you.” Caspella growled. “Besides I have not had so much fun for a long time.” He looked across at the dead Elves and bearing his teeth he showed his long sharp canines. Kainan looked at them stunned that they could speak and he shuddered. He was glad they were on his side that was for sure.

  “I am extremely grateful to you both. Now we had best get on with the grim task of burying poor Rufas before it gets dark. Then we can catch a few hours’ sleep and head on to the mountain at first light.”

  “Would a cremation not be more fitting for a warrior such as Rufas?” Drew questioned, stepping forward. Kainan placed his hand on his shoulder as he spoke in a compassionate tone.

  “Indeed, but unfortunately the fire might attract some unwelcome attention. We will give him a proper burial.”

  Drew shook his head. “Of course you are right, I didn’t think. I will go and dig the hole myself.” Kainan nodded as he watched his friend walk off towards where Rufas lay. He held out his hand, Arweyn took hold of it and squeezed it.

  “I’m so glad you are here,” he said as he turned and faced her. “Whatever happens up there know that I love you.”

  Her eyes on his, she gave him a smile. “We will make it Kainan I know we will.”

  “Yes I know, but even so I just want you to know how much you mean to me and I meant what I said about us getting bonded when we get back to Malgar. I know we are joined for eternity through the Deragan Sword but I want everyone to know how much you mean to me. I want to spend every single day of my life with you.” Arweyn ran her hand across his face and held his cheek.

  “I love you Kainan and being with you is all I have wanted since the first time I saw you. Whatever is there we will face together.” Slowly he leaned forward and kissed her passionately and with longing.

  Twenty Three - Mennock Mountain

  The journey had been exhausting, and the battles hard. Kainan glanced across at Arweyn as they made their way yet again through the forest. In a short while they would be at the mountain and what awaited them there? He feared for her. He loved her so much the thought of anything happening to her up there filled him with dread. She had shown so much courage over the last few days and he was so proud of her. She had fought as hard as the rest of them, yet she showed no sign of weariness. He smiled to himself; to him she meant more than life itself.

  The weather had started taking a turn for the worse. The wind howled blowing dirt and debris into their eyes. They tightened the hoods on their cloaks and trudged on. Thankfully it was not yet raining although the blackening clouds were looking ominous. Kainan suddenly raised his hand to his head; it was throbbing with a searing pain that sent him off balance.

  “Are you all right Kainan?” Arweyn cried, grabbing him as he stumbled, he looked in agony. “Wait everyone, wait, something is wrong,” she cried, holding him. Turning, Drew rushed back to him.

  “What’s wrong with him?” he asked, helping Arweyn steady him. “Kainan.” Drew urged, shaking him. Then he lifted his head and his eyes were glowing red.

  “Oh no not again!” Drew exclaimed. Arweyn shot a look at him.

  “It’s okay Drew. Kainan can you hear me?” The young Prince’s eyes stared ahead blankly and his body began to shake. What was it he could see? He stared trying to make sense of it as it swirled in his mind, the ground; the ground was shaking beneath his feet. The men were being grabbed one by one by a dark shadow. Suddenly as quickly as it had started the vision was gone. Rubbing his hands across his eyes, he shook his head then looked at her. She sighed relieved, when she saw his eyes had returned to normal.

  “Kainan what happened?” she asked. He took hold of her waist and pulled her close to him; he shook his head.

  “There is something waiting for us, but I don’t know what it is. I saw the ground opening up beneath us. There was a dark shadow grabbing us one by one.”

  “Have you had these visions before?” she asked. Kainan looked at her and shrugged uneasy. “I’m not sure, maybe. I had the same feeling back at the castle when I was on my way to the Chamber with my father. I stopped Alys and asked her to go to you, it was not a vision as such then but I felt something was wrong.” Arweyn swallowed, and nodded her head at him, he looked at her. “There was?” She nodded again and bit her lip as she remembered what Lothar had almost done to her.

  “What, what happened?” Kainan’s eyes looked at her desperately. She glanced at Drew and then back to Kainan.

  “Lothar,” she said, nervously. Kainan blinked hard as he listened. “He, he was attacking me.” Pausing she watched as the muscles in his face and neck tensed angrily. “She arrived just in time Kainan, she stopped him.” Kainan shook his head furiously. He knew that bastard was up to something. He should have gone and sorted him out then and there. He looked at her grim-faced.

  “I’m sorry I should have gone to you myself, but my father, he was...”

  “No Kainan it is okay, you saved me by sending Alys,” she interrupted, holding his arm.

  “There was something else,” he continued, and they all listened.

  “When Alys left, my mind did as it did then, it seemed to jump to the future. I could see Gareion he was with Alys,” he looked down at Arweyn.

  “She was lyin
g in a bed and she had just given birth to a baby, it was girl and Gareion was cradling her in his arms.” Arweyn’s eyes widened in disbelief and she arched an eyebrow at him.

  “Kainan Alys told me that very night.” She looked at Drew. “She is with child. Gareion doesn’t even know yet.” Kainan rubbed his hand across his temples. What was happening to them, magic, vision, power and ever since they had joined it seemed to be getting stronger and stronger.

  “Drew.” Kainan whispered, glancing around him. Drew stepped up.

  “Yes My Lord?”

  “We need to be really careful; there is something ahead of us this I am sure of.” He withdrew his sword. Drew and the others following Kainan’s lead, withdrew their swords.

  “I don’t know what it is, my vision is not clear, it is all blurry and muddled,” he said, shaking his head. Arweyn stared at the men with their swords and suddenly felt defenceless. Lifting her skirt she pulled Kainan’s dagger from her boot, holding it tight in her hand. That made a feel at least slightly better, although she really wished she had a sword, especially now that she knew she could use one just as efficiently as any of the men.

  Cautiously they emerged from the edge of the forest into a small clearing. It was covered in green moss and large irregular stones jutted out from the earth. Straight ahead of them was the base of the mountain. It was eerily quiet, the birds were silent and the wind had died down to a stark stillness.

  “Tread carefully,” Kainan warned, looking down at the ground, he was not certain but it looked like his vision. Caspella and Freelander took the lead. The cat-like creature sniffed the air, he too sensed something wrong but could not place where it was coming from, and his huge feet pounded the earth cautiously. The other five fanned out behind them

  Suddenly and without warning the ground shook beneath them. Arweyn began screaming as she saw Caspella and Freelander being dragged under the earth. Something dark and sinister; a shadow creature rose from the earth, grabbing and enveloping around them. Caspella roared furiously, lashing out with his giant claws as he went down. Then as quick as it started, the ground closed over them and no trace could be found of either Caspella or Freelander.

  “Where did they go?” Arweyn screamed. Kainan stepped closer and grasped her arm. His sword drawn; confusion took hold of them as they frantically searched the ground for signs.

  “Ahh!” Kainan cried furiously, shaking his fists in anger. What was the point of a vision if it didn’t help him prevent it!

  The scream sounded sharply through the sudden stillness. Spinning around Kainan rushed towards him but it was too late, whatever it was had him, a black shadow covering him dragged Pernash beneath the earth. Kainan frantically scrambled on the ground digging as hard as he could with his bare hands. Drew joined in with him but it was no use, the man had simply vanished.

  Arweyn stood not far away, trembling with terror, her knife held up defensively in a fist, her eyes wide. Then the ground beneath her began to move. She was petrified.

  “Kainan!” she screamed in panic, as the ground began opening up beneath her. A swirling black shadow began wrapping around her legs, swallowing her into the earth, dragging her down. Quickly using the knife she sliced at the shadow, but it went straight through causing no injury whatsoever. Panicking she dropped the knife and using her magic, she blasted the ground with an incredible vibrating force. For a second the shadow released its hold, and in that instant Kainan dived. Grabbing her around her waist and holding her tight against himself he pulled her free and they both fell backwards to the ground.

  “Kainan what is it?” she screamed frantically.

  He sat up stunned, “I don’t know,” desperately he looked around, but in the confusion Arnickle and Porlock had vanished.

  “Kainan get off this clearing!” Drew yelled, pointing to the edge of the mountain. “Get on to the hard rock.” Kainan jumped to his feet with urgency, bending down he helped Arweyn onto her feet, but she cried out in pain, hobbling on her left foot.

  “Oh my ankle!” she cried, quickly lifting her dress she could see her right leg was bleeding heavily above her knee and she was not able to stand on her ankle. Looking up at Kainan her eyes were full of fear. Before she had time to speak he lifted her up into his strong arms, and carrying her, he ran as fast as he could onto the solid base of the mountain.

  The two men clambered hastily up onto the side of the mountain. Stopping only when they felt they were safe inside a small crevice. Gently he lowered her down onto a flat rock. She sat shaking as they all looked down below them to the clearing. There was no trace of anyone left, no holes, no broken earth, nothing!

  “Do you think they are all dead?” Arweyn asked, grabbing hold of her leg and shaking as the pain throbbed continuously.

  “I don’t know; I don’t know what to think, it all happened so fast. I didn’t even see what took them.” Kainan knelt down beside her. “What is the point?” he mumbled before looking at her. “Tell me what the point of a vision is if there is nothing I can do to stop it!” He looked back down angrily at the clearing.

  “I’m sure in time Kainan your visions will be stronger, clearer to you. This is all new, new to you, new to me!” She cried out in pain as she tried to move her leg.

  “Let me have a look,” he took a breath, to gather his composure. Arweyn did as he asked and pulled up her dress. Wincing she looked away, already she could feel her ankle beginning to swell and she was covered in bloody cuts above her boot line.

  “It’s my ankle, I can feel it swelling, you had better get my boot off,” she said, her eyes watering against the pain.

  “Can you heal yourself, with your power?” Kainan asked urgently. She shook her head.

  “No. That’s one of the down sides of being a healer; it does not work on yourself and I have lost my bag down there somewhere.” She pointed to the clearing. “I think it went down with that thing, whatever it was.”

  “Well we have to do something. This is a really bad gash, and you may have broken a bone. You will never be able to walk otherwise.”

  Arweyn thought for a moment. “You can do it.”

  “Me? I am not a healer Arweyn.” Kainan shook his head at her.

  “I know, but remember what I said to you earlier. We have both got part of each other’s powers; maybe you will be able to heal to some degree?”

  Kainan shrugged his shoulders. Maybe she was right; after all he had managed to blast away half a tree.

  “My Lord, it’s worth giving it a go,” Drew encouraged with urgency in his voice looking around him. “Whatever took the others may realise we are still here. We really needed to move on. Kainan you must try.”

  “Okay, but you will have to tell me what to do.” She took a deep breath.

  “Firstly you have to think hard about what you want to do. I am sure that it will come naturally to you. Rub your hands together and when you feel the energy scan them over my leg and ankle. Close your eyes and see if you can see if anything is broken.”

  Kainan frowned, he was not sure he could do this. She looked at his face, and could see he was doubtful.

  “Please Kainan, you must try. Believe in yourself.” He saw the pain in her face as she tried to move her leg.

  “Okay, stay still Arweyn, don’t move,” he urged, waving his hands at her. Carefully he unlaced her boot and gently began easing it off, but her ankle had already begun to swell and she grimaced against the pain. Kainan glanced up at her.

  “Sorry honey,” he whispered, as he heaved her boot off and she cried in pain, closing her eyes she took a few deep breaths. Rubbing his hands together he closed his eyes, and began breathing deeply. She was right he could feel the energy in his hands. Slowly he ran his hands up and down her leg and around her ankle without actually touching her. He smiled, he could see, it was amazing! This is what she could see all the time, it really was incredible he could see right through the skin, and the flesh right through to the bones. He opened his eyes.

  “
You have a small break Arweyn, in your ankle.” He bit his lower lip as he looked at her. She sighed.

  “Okay. You can still do this Kainan. Now do exactly the same but concentrate hard on repairing the damage. See it in your mind and transfer your thoughts through to my ankle.” She placed her hand onto his arm and gently squeezed. “You can do this; trust in yourself, I do. Now relax and feel it Kainan, feel the power.”

  The young Prince nodded, he could do this, and he had to do this. He took another deep breath and rubbed his hands together till he could feel warmth coming from them. It was unbelievable; he could actually feel the tingles of magic at the tips of his fingers. Looking at her he smiled gingerly.

  “Ready?” She nodded. Feeling the power, a white light began emanating from his hands and he began to flow up and down her leg, his hands moving in a circular motion. Then he began concentrating on her ankle joint, chanting quietly under his breath, the magic tingling on the tips of his fingers, he began transferring it to her. Arweyn sighed with relief, she could already feel the warmth entering her ankle, and the pain was subsiding.

  After a while he stopped and opened his eyes. She was smiling, her ankle felt better already. “You did it Kainan. I knew you could,” Arweyn beamed, proudly at him.

  “My Lord that was truly amazing.” Drew praised, patting Kainan on the back.

  The young Prince smiled satisfactorily. “That was the most incredible feeling. I have absolutely no idea how I managed to do that,” he laughed, then looked at his hands and wiggled them about.

  “Amazing,” he muttered to himself, and turning to her he asked. “How is the ankle, can you walk now?”

  Arweyn stood up and jiggled about. “There, as good as new,” she remarked, raising her skirt to show him.

  “Those cuts are still bad,” Kainan said, concerned.

  Then he remembered, the vial, he reached into his pocket. It was the vial of oil they had used at the pool.

  “It’s the glarehawn oil from the other night down at the pool. I put it in my pocket; I must have forgotten to give it back to you.”