Deragan Sword Prophecy: Book 01 - Kainan

by Rosemary Lynch

  “Arweyn,” her mother cried. “My darling I am so sorry,” she called to her, desperately wanting to hold on to her daughter and protect her.

  Stepping away from her, Detaine grinned at his son. Soon between them they would take both the Glanber women. Lothar smirked back, he knew what his father was thinking, they had planned it for many years. They would be their queens and bear them sons with Faerling magic, and in doing so they would become the master race.

  “Can we get on with it now grandmother?” Lothar pleaded, he was desperate to turn, to rid himself of his Groundling body.

  “Yes. Bring the Ardor Crystal Lothar and put it on the altar.” Zarnora ordered. Picking up the sack he walked over to a large stone altar. In the centre was a metal holding device, with many different inscriptions carved into it. Carefully lifting the Ardor Crystal out of the sack, Lothar lowered it in place. Three metal claws closed tight around the Crystal, immediately it began to hum. Everyone squinted at the brightness as the Ardor Crystal began to glow; it was dazzling and extremely powerful. Turning to his grandmother Lothar begged, he was desperate to see himself in his true form.

  “Can we do it now, can we change?”

  “Of course my love.” Zarnora replied, walking over to him. Pulling out her wand and pointing it at her grandson she began to chant.

  “Be true, be seen, unlock your screen.”

  Lothar then began to shake violently as shimmers of magic covered his entire body; screaming his body began writhing and twisting as he slowly began to transform. His shoulders broadened, his height grew even taller. His face contorted, and his teeth grew. Ripping off his shirt wildly as it tore against his new body, his eyes glared fiercely towards her.

  “Look at me!” he screamed, his voice a deep menacing growl. Strolling over to her, he stopped, looking down at her. Arweyn stiffened in shock, and then was unable to stop her body from shaking. No wonder she had always been afraid of him, how her skin had crawled whenever he had touched her. His knarled, bony hand reached down to her. She felt her legs almost give way beneath her as he grasped her shoulder, he already smelled of death.

  “FEAR ME!” he yelled at her. Taking a deep breath she stood her ground.

  “NO!” she screamed back at him defiantly, although inwardly she was terrified beyond comprehension. Lothar laughed at her.

  “You will,” he promised, sneering. Turning around his grandmother passed him some clothing, smiling at him proudly. Taking the clothing Lothar walked away.

  Zarnora turned to Detaine who had stood proudly watching his son transform.

  “And now my son, after all this time.” She repeated her spell towards him and he too began writhing and screaming as his body transformed into Gorzar. Detaine turned towards Kainan. Taking in a deep breath and raising his height easily over seven feet, his eyes glared down at him, his voice deepening as he threatened.

  “You nearly ruined it all Kainan, Prince of Malgar,” he said, mockingly. “You see her, well take a good look. When all this is over and the Gorzars return, I will be their King and my son will take her for himself, she will bear him a child with Faerling power. I will kill your father and your mother and all the other Groundlings will become our slaves. Even now the Dark Elves are advancing towards your city, your defences are down and we will destroy you. We will have our revenge!”

  Kainan tried to lunge forward writhing with his bindings, trying to get his hands free.

  “You will not touch her or my family!” Kainan warned. Detaine raised his hand and struck Kainan back across his face. Gritting his teeth with awakened rage Kainan held fast, blood was oozing from his lips.

  Detaine laughed. “You’ve already lost one family Kainan do not think for a moment that I will not kill this one.” Turning he looked towards Gareion.

  “In fact I think I will start with him.” Detaine raised his sword towards his brother. Gareion shrunk back as the sword came towards him, shaking his head as fear overwhelmed him he looked desperately at his brother.

  Kainan struggled but Hadzor, stepping forward, held him back.

  “No Allaine not yet.” Zarnora ordered, passing her son some clothes. Detaine frowned his disappointment at her. “There will be plenty of time later; we must get on with the ceremony.”

  Detaine put back his sword, pointing to Gareion.

  “Later,” he snarled, as he turned and began re-dressing himself.

  Zarnora walked over to Arweyn, who still stood shaking with terror. How could he be a Gorzar? None of this made any sense.

  “My dear you do look somewhat confused, allow me to explain. I am Lothar’s grandmother. I have been living here in the blasted mountain for years.” She raised both her hands above her head. “All this time I have been hatching a plan to bring back the Gorzars.” Taking a deep breath she stood tall, looking proudly towards her son and grandson who had now changed into red and black leather, the uniform of the Gorzar Empire. “Now finally we are ready.”

  “Zarnora why? You are not a Gorzar.” Lady Elanor said, as she struggled to control her fear and think of a way to get them out of this.

  “No Elanor not entirely anyway, I was a pure royal Groundling. I am the King’s first cousin. Not your father’s Gareion, but your grandfathers. During the Great War I was taken by the leader of the Gorzars and impregnated. At first of course I was terrified.” She looked at Arweyn and smiled flippantly. “As I am sure you are right now my dear at the thought of my grandson taking you.” Arweyn looked over at Kainan, and tried to swallow the lump that was now in her throat. He looked desperately towards her; he would not allow that to happen.

  “Yes I see you are. Believe me afterwards you will learn to appreciate it. They leave part of them inside you.” She pulled the mask away from her face. Arweyn recoiled in horror, as she stared at her misshapen face.

  “After I was taken my blood was infected and I have become part Gorzar. I grew to love Allaine’s father. I grew to love the Gorzars.” She pulled off her gloves. Her arms and hands were knarled and mutated. Arweyn felt sick as fear overwhelmed her. She looked at Lothar, he was so gruesome and her eyes showed the revulsion she was feeling. If he took her, would this be her fate?

  “Because of this,” she said, raising her hand to her face and gritting her teeth in anger. “And because I fell pregnant with a Gorzar, the King banished me, calling me a traitor. Like it had been my fault! You see my husband, Lord Detaine, was killed in the war. So when my son was born I placed a spell on him to hide his true identity. The King, thinking he had no Gorzar blood, assumed he had been the son of my late husband. He said my punishment would be that he would take my child away from me, and banish me from the Kingdom. He said my son and his descendants would never be in line for the throne for at least five generations, but as he was family he would allow the boy to live within the castle as a member of the Elders. It broke my heart that day they took him.” Her eyes raged as she remembered. “I still managed to see him, in secret. That was until the King built the city on Malgar. Ten years after the war ended the people moved underground to Malgar, at that time my son was only eleven. It meant I could no longer see him, or touch him. He knew who he was; he knew what the King had done. I had given him a vision crystal so that we could still communicate. It was not long after that I had my encounter with Hadzor and the other two Gorzars. Somehow they had escaped the banishing. I managed to convince them of whom I was and who my son is. You see his father was the leader of the Gorzars, a great and powerful creature. I told them what I knew of the Ardor Crystal and of my plan. We thought my son would be able to take the Ardor Crystal and bring it to me, but those damned Faerlings….” She turned to Lady Elanor and glared. “They cast a spell so that no Gorzar or Dark Elf could cross through the portal without being destroyed. He couldn’t leave and I couldn’t get in. So we waited until he took a wife. They had a son, Lothar. Even then the bloodline had changed and my grandson was born a Gorzar, his mother died after giving birth. With my help Allaine was able to
cast the same spell upon my grandson, hiding his true identity. He brought him up as a Groundling. We hoped Lothar would be able to pass through to portal back to Malgar with the Ardor Crystal, but as his blood is pure Gorzar we could not risk trying to send him through either. We could not wait for another generation. It is obvious now that the Gorzar bloodline is far stronger than the Groundlings. That is when we decided to take Kainan. When we heard the queen was expecting twins we knew it was the only way.” She turned to Kainan.

  “Your nurse helped to bring up Lothar and was there at his birth, she knew exactly what he was. She knew better than to speak out. She had family on Zyon, family that we threatened to kill if she didn’t do as we said. She took Kainan and replaced him with a dead baby boy, one Allaine had taken earlier.”

  “You took someone else’s child?” Arweyn cried, horrified at the thought.

  “It was only an Outlander. The baby had already died at birth. We placed a freezing spell upon it until the Queen gave birth,” she replied coldly.

  Arweyn looked at her mother. “How did you know my mother was a Faerling, it was a secret, no one knew?”

  “I used to meet the Gorzar’s near the entrance to the cavern. It was a half-way point between us. One time we were just at the right place at the right time. Your mother and father emerged; your mother was heavily pregnant. There they were, the Faerlings. I knew immediately by the way they greeted your mother that she must be one of them and important, as three of the Faerlings bowed to her. The other one looked fairly similar to her.”

  Lady Elanor breathed in deep, she remembered that day, that was her sister, Sharlinger.

  “They handed her a box. I described her to Allaine and he knew immediately who she was. So he kept a watch on her, got closer to your family. We knew there may come a time when we might need the power of a Faerling.” She turned to Lady Elanor. “But you never left Malgar again, until that time three years ago. Allaine told me you were going up to Zyon to collect herbs for Arweyn because she was extremely sick, herbs that only grow on Zyon. I knew it was my opportunity to get hold of a Faerling. As time has gone on I have become more Gorzar than Groundling, I have come to despise Groundlings.” She shot a vicious glance at Lady Elanor. “And all those that help them.”

  Detaine interrupted. “And now we have the Ardor Crystal. The power in and around the City of Malgar has failed. Finally we have been able to leave our prison.” Detaine mocked. “Your people are so insolent to think that you could destroy the Gorzars by banishing them to another realm. Well now it is our time,” his voice boomed.

  Zarnora nodded, smiling. Then turning to the others she raised the wand in her hand and pointed towards Lady Elanor.

  “Come my dear. It is time. Lothar bring them both here.”

  “No! You leave her alone!” Kainan yelled. Hadzor turning sharply punched him hard across his face. Kainan fell backwards to the ground, shaking his head as the dizziness overwhelmed him.

  “Kainan,” Gareion shouted, turning towards his brother to see if he was okay.

  “Oh no you don’t,” Tarpel growled, restraining him and pulling him back.

  Kainan drew a deep breath as he pulled himself to his feet. His eyes were full of lethal rage, and he glared at Hadzor.

  Lothar dragged the women towards the altar, pushing them forward.

  “Why do you need us?” Arweyn asked, shakily.

  “It seems we were deceived and the book the Gorzars took from the old man was a fake. Therefore my dear we shall need more magic than I had anticipated. We will have to try and create a spell of our own to open the portal, and...” She stopped and glared at Lady Elanor. “I am sure that somewhere in that Faerling mind is the spell we need.” Turning to Arweyn and running a long curved finger nail down her face. She continued. “And because you are special my dear, you are both Faerling and pure. You and your power will be the key that unlocks the banishment.”

  Arweyn threw a sudden anxious look at Kainan. He knew what she was thinking. After their night together she was no longer pure. His eyes widening he shook his head at her, warning her to say nothing.

  “Zarnora, she does not have that kind of power,” Lady Elanor pleaded.

  “Oh yes I think she does my dear. Bring her here Allaine.” Zarnora ordered. Grabbing Arweyn’s arm Detaine began dragging her to the altar.

  “Zarnora, she is too young. I will not do it, it could kill her!” Lady Elanor screamed at her. Zarnora frowned, her eyes dark and piercing. She raised her wand, and pointing it towards Arweyn, she hissed at her.

  “You will both do it or she will become my sacrifice and we will do it the old fashioned way Elanor. I have the power to summon help from the darkness!” She stopped to compose herself, straightening her skirt with her hands. “Of course I would rather not do it that way as you know demons can be somewhat unpredictable.” She glared at Arweyn. “BUT have no doubt Elanor; I will if it becomes necessary and your daughter WILL be their reward.”

  Lady Elanor looked at Arweyn.

  “It is okay. I will be alright mother,” she said, half smiling, trying to reassure herself as well as her mother. Lady Elanor pulled on her bindings.

  “You will have to unbind us or our magic will not work.” Zarnora raised her wand, pointing at the binds, and in a flash they were undone. Picking them up Zarnora tied them onto the altar, just in case she needed them again.

  “Do not try anything Elanor. If you do, the men will die,” she said, pointing her wand towards Kainan and Gareion.

  Lady Elanor nodding took her daughter’s hand and squeezed it. Arweyn looked at her nervously.

  “Now together we shall place our hands upon the altar and you will cast the spell. Do not dare to fail me Elanor or have no doubt I will kill you all.”

  Lady Elanor releasing her hand from Arweyn, swallowed. She knew even if she could open the portal that Zarnora would take Arweyn for Lothar and kill the rest of them. She could not allow that to happen.

  “BEGIN THE CHANT!” Zarnora ordered, yelling at her. Lady Elanor nodded. Closing her eyes, she took a deep breath. She thought hard, but she stood silent, trembling.

  “What. What is wrong?” Zarnora yelled at her furiously.

  “I… I cannot do it. I do not know the spell Zarnora,” Lady Elanor stuttered opening her eyes.

  “What do you mean you cannot do it? You are a Royal Faerling; you must be able to create the spell!” The sorceress screamed into her face. Pulling out a knife from her pocket and running it across her fingers to make sure it was sharp enough, she placed it across Lady Elanor’s throat.

  “Are you sure you cannot Elanor?” Lady Elanor swallowed. She could feel the cold steel of the blade against her throat.

  “I do not know it Zarnora. I had most of that power taken away when I left the Faerling city. That is why it was in the Book of Chants.” Lady Elanor shook as the knife began to cut into her throat, and blood began trickling down her neck.

  “STOP, what are you doing?” Arweyn screamed at her, as she saw the blade cutting finely into her mother’s throat.

  “If there is no book and no spell, I cannot bring back the Gorzars. Therefore I do not need her,” she said, matter of fact and begun pushing the knife harder. Arweyn hesitated, not knowing what to do. Then a tear ran down her mother’s cheek.

  “Stop. Please don’t hurt her,” Arweyn begged. “I have the book!” Zarnora stopped, pulling the knife away from her mother. Shoving her aside she grabbed a fistful of Arweyn’s cloak pulling her towards her. Putting the knife up against her throat she demanded. “Where is it, show me?”

  “It’s not in the book anymore. It’s in my mind.” Arweyn looked apprehensively at her mother. Raising her hand to her mouth Lady Elanor gasped, shaking her head at her. The Faerlings had given her daughter the transfer, at such a young age and without any experience or knowledge of how to use it.

  “In your mind, what rubbish is this?” Zarnora scorned looking at Lady Elanor.

  “Please Zarnora,
” she begged as she felt the blade on her throat. “The Faerlings, they transferred all the spells and enchantments into my mind. I can help. If the spell was within my mother’s book, I can find it.” Arweyn pleaded with her, grasping at her only chance, at their only chance.

  Zarnora pulled the knife away. “Well go on then show me. You had better not be lying child,” she threatened, spinning the knife back towards Lady Elanor. “Or I will kill your mother.”

  Nodding she looked at her mother fearfully. Then taking a deep breath and closing her eyes she thought hard. She could do this. Thinking of Kainan, she pulled on his strength. Reaching into the depth of her mind she searched, and soon she began to chant.

  “Esporia volartra spencara melantha. Esporia volarta spencara melantha!” There was a great rumbling sound coming from above them. Everyone’s eyes diverted upwards. The vortex was beginning to open;

  “It is working, it is working. She’s doing it! You!” she screeched, pointing and waving the knife at Lady Elanor. “Help her, give her more power.”

  Taking Arweyn’s hand, her mother squeezed it tight and together they continued with the chanting. “Esporia volartra spencara melantha. Esporia volarta spencara melantha. Elowah, Elowah!” A great white light emanated from the Ardor Crystal, and it began shooting sparkles of light and magic up high into the roof of the cavern, crackling and exploding as it connected with the vortex. The ground beneath their feet shook, and the noise was deafening. The portal was opening wider, swirling and shaking continuously.

  “Arweyn,” her mother whispered, breaking the chant. Turning to her daughter she lapsed into Faerling. Hoping that her daughter would remember the secret language she had taught her as a child. She had noticed Arweyn’s cloak, it was different, it was not the one she had given her. “The dragonfly, Arweyn use your dragonfly.”

  Arweyn looked at her mother momentarily, whilst still chanting and glanced down at the fastening on her cloak. She had understood what she had said, the dragonfly. But what did her mother mean? Lady Elanor looked at her daughter. “Arweyn, it is magical, just think what you want it to do, bring her to life. Your power is free, now use it!” she urged, looking back at Zarnora. “We cannot let them through.”