by Ian Gregoire
Ari briefly paused his narration and Kayden found she was holding her breath in anticipation, eagerly waiting to hear how the Rogue was ultimately defeated.
“It would be an understatement to describe the ensuing encounter as hard fought,” Ari continued. “Only three of us remained standing when the Rogue was finally subdued—down on hands and knees, head bowed in defeat, staring resignedly at the ground, just yards in front of me.”
Finally. The moment Kayden was longing to hear had arrived.
“With sword in hand I moved in for the kill.”
“So what happened when you killed the Rogue?” she interrupted, sounding more excited than she intended.
Ari gazed fixedly at her, his face looking sombre. “I didn’t.”
“What do you mean you didn’t kill the Rogue?” Kayden was confused. This wasn’t how the story was supposed to go.
“I couldn’t do it,” Ari confessed. “Not until I had looked with my own eyes upon the face that had been the harbinger of death to so many. ‘Look at me,’ I demanded. The Rogue looked up at me, and our eyes locked. What I saw staring back at me was difficult to comprehend. I had expected to see a monster, the personification of evil, someone hideous in every conceivable way. Instead, what I saw was distress, self-loathing, a longing for death…but nothing remotely ugly. I hadn’t anticipated this. Until that moment, I had lost sight of the fact that the Rogue was an actual human being.”
All of a sudden, Kayden’s senses were assailed by Zarantar. Whatever the cause, it was so close she involuntarily gasped with a discernible intake of breath.
“You can feel that, can’t you?” said Ari rhetorically.
“What is it?”
Ari slowly rose to his feet. “It’s the reason why you’re here,” he replied. “Stand up, Kayden.” Despite her apprehension she duly obeyed his instruction. “Now turn around.”
Turning around in obedience, Kayden unwittingly took a step backwards, on account of the sight that greeted her. When she had first sat down on the spot where she now stood, all that was behind her were rolling fields as far as the eye could see. Yet, she was now confronted by the sight of a vast forest, literally a couple of feet before her, and a dirt path winding its way through the trees into the darkness.
She peered back over her shoulder at Ari. “Master, what is this?”
“The Sisterhood call it many different names: the Forest of Revelation; the Forest of Enlightenment; the Forest of Reflection. These are just three such given names,” said Ari. “It can only be seen at night, and it is the reason why I brought you out here.”
“I don’t understand.”
“In the years before I founded the Order,” Ari began in explanation, “if a Jaymidari had concerns about a Sanatsai in her charge, but those concerns did not yet warrant the binding of Zarantar, she would bring the Sanatsai in question to this place.”
“Why?”
“The forest provided a final opportunity for troublesome Sanatsai to avoid the binding of their Zarantar.” Kayden did not like the sound of that. The implication was obvious. “The Sister responsible for guiding such a Sanatsai would send her charge into the forest to walk the path to the other side, in order to determine if the binding of Zarantar was the appropriate course of action.”
The explanation left Kayden confused.
“How exactly would sending somebody into the forest help a Sister make that decision?”
“Walking the path reveals the path of the walker.”
Kayden wanted to roll her eyes but settled for groaning on the inside. The cryptic response made no sense whatsoever—ergo it was less than useless. She averted her eyes from Ari back to the dirt path ahead of her, disappearing into the forest.
“If I am expected to enter the forest,” she said, “I would like to know what’s in there waiting for me.”
“I couldn’t tell you,” Ari conceded. “I’ve never entered the forest myself; it’s been almost a century since anyone has. But as I understand it, what lies within is different for everyone.”
Peering back over her shoulder at Ari again, Kayden asked, “So what do I do?”
“Just make your way to the end of the path. I’ll be waiting for you there.”
“That’s it?” Surely it couldn’t be that simple, she thought.
“Yes, that’s it,” affirmed Ari. “But I must warn you…”
Kayden listened attentively.
“It’s important you don’t turn back or stray from the path.”
“Understood,” said Kayden, though she didn’t really understand. She returned her gaze to the path laid out before her and stiffened her resolve. Whatever obstacles may be lying in wait for her within the forest, she would overcome, just like she always did. She marched forward purposefully, setting one foot in front of the other, initiating her journey into the unknown. The Forest of Revelation held no fear for her.
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
To The Rescue
The thick, dark clouds made it impossible for Kenit to see the setting of the sun through the canopy of branches and leaves overhead. Nonetheless, he was still able to discern, from the increasing gloom, that night was falling. While remaining crouched behind Fay at the foot of a large tree, the only light visible was emanating from a dozen or so illumination orbs floating above the ruins of the ancient temple complex. During the wait for nightfall, there had been so little activity among the contingent of renegade Sanatsai gathered amid the ruins in the clearing beyond the trees, Kenit found himself having to suppress a prolonged bout of yawning that culminated in a whack to the arm from Fay, after he inadvertently dozed off on one occasion.
His mind wandered uneasily to thoughts of how the night would likely play out. The rescue he was preparing to pull off with Fay was dangerous, even if everything went to plan. And given his prior experience, his confidence that nothing would go wrong was pretty low. The only crumb of comfort he had to hold on to was that this time he was in the company of the legendary Fay Annis. Not only was she regarded as the most powerful Sanatsai of the Order, she was also, thankfully, going to be implementing the most dangerous part of the rescue mission.
He was jolted out of his ruminations when Fay muttered, “The guest of honour is arriving.”
He peered over her shoulder to catch sight of a short, middle-aged man dressed in dark robes entering the clearing from the north with four escorts from the Conclave.
Fay peered back over her shoulder at him, staring intently into his eyes. “Are you ready for this, Kai Darbandian?” she asked.
“Ready as I’ll ever be,” he replied, with as much conviction as he could muster.
“Repeat the plan to me.”
After a sharp intake of breath, he duly obliged. “Very well. You will move into position in the trees on the western edge of the clearing. Before the blood letting ritual commences you will create a diversion to induce the Conclave into pursuing you into the forest. Once the boy is left unguarded I will invoke Raytandushay in order to enter the clearing unseen. I will release Tylo, then lead him back to where we left our horses. You will rejoin us there, at which point we’ll swiftly depart Sharadi Forest and head back to Relona.”
“Very good,” said Fay. “But keep in mind I cannot guarantee they will all follow me into the forest. It may be necessary for you to fight off any stragglers in order to rescue the boy.”
That concern had already occurred to Kenit. “I know,” he acknowledged.
“I don’t know for certain how these people will react once we make our move. What I can tell you is that the original incarnation of the Conclave was very fanatical. Whenever the Order engaged its members, they always refused to surrender; they fought to the bitter end.”
“I understand.” If the worst came to the worst he would have to kill to save the boy. “I won’t let you down.”
Without another word Fay quickly rose from her crouching position and scampered away into the trees. Kenit slowly stood up to watch her depart until
she was out of sight. He then turned his attention back to the clearing to keep an eye on events unfolding amid the temple ruins, and await Fay’s initiation of their rescue plan.
As he watched proceedings, Kenit was surprised at just how calm the young boy appeared to be, standing on the dais, flanked by two hooded men. Clearly, Tylo had no idea what was in store for him. Either that or he was simply an incredibly brave kid. There was also the possibility he was already resigned to his fate.
Kenit tensed when the boy was finally forced to lay upon the weathered stone altar. Whatever Fay was planning to do to attract the attention of the Conclave was going to happen any moment now. He trembled involuntarily as he watched the Saharbashi ascend the dais while withdrawing a dagger from beneath his garments. In stark contrast to himself, the gathering of renegade Sanatsai were apparently looking forward to what they thought was coming. Every man and woman was standing uniformly, facing the raised platform, as still as a collection of statues.
He shifted his gaze from the spectacle to glance towards the trees at the western edge of the clearing. What was Danai Annis waiting for? he wondered. If she didn’t make her move quickly it would be too late to save the life of the boy.
Kenit didn’t have to wait long for Fay’s action. When it came it happened so swiftly it took him just as much by surprise as it did the Conclave. Without warning, one of the renegade Sanatsai standing at the rear of the gathering was lifted off his feet and pulled rapidly through the air—well over a hundred yards—into the trees at the edge of the temple complex. His disappearance was immediately followed by a blood-curdling scream that caused those close by to spin around.
From the edge of the clearing the ground began to erupt and tear up, swiftly cutting a number of paths towards the gathered renegade Sanatsai; it was as though a dozen invisible, giant ploughs were hurtling across the ground, shredding the earth in their wake. Almost half the contingent of Conclave personnel was bowled over onto the ground while the remainder were able to react in time, invoking Makfayshulat to levitate into the air and successfully evade the unconventional attack.
Their quick thinking was punished instantly.
From her cover in the trees Fay invoked Balatlaydan, unleashing a rapid volley of incendiary orbs through the air directed at the multiple floating targets. No fewer than a dozen of the enemy were blown to bloody, smouldering pieces.
Kenit was awed by the display of power. Fay’s diversion was devastating in its effectiveness. From start to finish the attack had taken no more than four or five seconds to throw the Conclave into disarray. Regaining some of his own composure, he returned his gaze to the dais and the stone altar. He was mightily relieved to see the Saharbashi being hurriedly escorted from the scene towards the line of trees at the eastern edge of the temple complex. During the commotion that ensued, Tylo, was forgotten and left alone upon the altar like a piece of discarded rubbish, though thankfully unharmed.
“The Order!” somebody yelled.
Turning his head, he saw that those renegade Sanatsai who’d escaped death or injury were all back on their feet, their initial disarray overcome. The Conclave was now preparing to retaliate. They stood, angrily facing the trees at the western edge of the clearing where the attack had originated. Several men and women unleashed a barrage of incendiary orbs of their own into the trees. Kenit heard the unmistakeable sound of the lethal orbs detonating as they struck against…
He couldn’t see Fay from his position, but he had to assume she was either standing inside a barrier sphere or behind a barrier shield, which should protect her from the onslaught; and now that she had the attention of the Conclave she would retreat as planned, hopefully drawing most, if not all of their number away from the ruins into the forest.
“I only see one person,” someone announced. “He’s fleeing.”
“Hurry!” yelled another voice, “We need to hunt him down before he can send for help.”
There was an almighty roar as the Conclave charged forward en masse into the trees in pursuit of their attacker. Kenit observed with keen interest to see how many would remain behind. He was more than a little perturbed by all the fanatical cries of, “Death to the Order,” coming from several of the departing renegade Sanatsai, but very relieved that nearly all the Conclave had decided to give chase into the forest. Only three of them remained amid the ruins. One was sitting down on the torn-up ground with a hand gripped around his ankle and a grimace upon his face, while a second male was hobbling on one leg, leaning against an uninjured female counterpart for support. None of the three were paying any attention, whatsoever, to the dais where Tylo had been left alone and unguarded.
The boy was obviously quick-witted, Kenit realised, for he was taking advantage of the disturbance to make an escape attempt. His hands were still bound in front of him, but he was able to remove the gag from his mouth before clambering off the weathered stone altar. He took the time to glance here and there to discern the best route for escape then cautiously descended the raised platform. Once on the ground, he began to creep forward through the ruins, while simultaneously manoeuvring his fingers to loosen the bonds around his wrists. He was heading steadily towards the trees at the eastern edge of the temple complex, which was the wrong direction as far as Kenit was concerned—in more ways than one.
Kenit pulled the hood of his cloak up over his head before invoking Raytandushay to make himself invisible. He dashed out of the trees into the clearing towards Tylo. If he could reach the boy before anyone noticed him trying to escape and, more importantly, before he disappeared into the trees where the Saharbashi and his escorts had fled, Kenit was certain he could pull off his part of the rescue plan without having to engage the Conclave at all.
The short length of rope binding Tylo’s wrists fell away to the ground, discarded, as Kenit swiftly closed in on the boy from behind. Before he could reach the escaping, adolescent hostage, Tylo came to an abrupt halt about two dozen yards short of entering the forest. It was the emergence from the trees of two of the four renegade Sanatsai who had quickly ushered the Saharbashi away from the scene that caused the boy to freeze. It appeared Tylo’s presence on the site hadn’t been forgotten after all.
“Where do you think you’re going, boy?” taunted the taller, stockier of the two men.
Kenit stopped right behind his quarry. “Tylo, listen very carefully,” he whispered. The boy peered back over his shoulder; the confused expression that appeared on his face was to be expected—Kenit was still invisible. “Look straight ahead and remain calm. I’m from the Order.” Tylo returned his gaze to the two renegade Sanatsai. “When you feel my hand on your shoulder, we’ll back away from them, slowly and quietly.”
As he reached forward, Kenit remembered how strange he always thought it was that while invoking Raytandushay he was still able to see himself while being invisible to other people. Nonetheless, he placed his hand upon Tylo’s shoulder and gripped firmly. Immediately, the boy began to back-pedal slowly, so he did the same.
“Son of a bitch!” gasped the first renegade Sanatsai. “The kid shouldn’t have any control of his Zarantar yet.” It was confirmation that Tylo was now invisible, too.
“He doesn’t,” snapped the second renegade, angrily. “There is someone from the Order here.” He thrust a hand out in front of himself, casting it from left to right, and back again.
Kenit knew it was safe to assume his opposite number was invoking Yuksaydan in the hope that the ‘unseen hand’ would locate him and the boy. It might even be an attempt to neutralise the invocation of Raytandushay, making him and Tylo visible. So while he continued to amble backward with the boy, he strengthened his invocation of Raytandushay just in case.
“What’s happening?” whispered Tylo. “Can’t they see us?”
“No, they can’t. But we’re not safe yet.”
Fortunately, he was able to guide Tylo several feet away from the pair of renegade Sanatsai—back as far as the dais—without their invisibili
ty being compromised. He paused at the base of the raised platform in order to assess their situation. The other two Conclave men, who’d escorted the Saharbashi away, were emerging from the trees to assist in the search for the absconded blood sacrifice. Kenit glanced to the western area of the ruins to check the position of the three renegade Sanatsai who hadn’t joined the pursuit of Fay. They were far enough away not to pose a problem. Next he turned his focus to the line of trees at the southern edge of the clearing where he intended to lead Tylo to safety. He had a clear path back into the forest.
“Tylo, I’m going to take hold of your hand now,” Kenit announced in a whisper.
He let his grip slide from the boy’s shoulder, down his arm, taking extra care not to release his hold on him. The instant his hand found Tylo’s the boy’s grip tightened around his. “Be ready to move when I give the word. I’m going to lead us south into the trees.” He fell silent as one of their pursuers passed close by their position. He resumed his instruction once the danger had cleared. “Whatever happens, make sure you don’t let go of my hand. You will only remain invisible while I have a hold on you, so I’ll try not to move too quickly.”
He cast his gaze across the ruins of the temple complex one more time. Several of the Conclave renegades who’d left in pursuit of Fay were returning. He had no choice but to make his move with Tylo now, while their route into the trees was still clear.
“Now!”
Slowly, Kenit began walking towards the southern edge of the clearing, guiding Tylo along with him, making every effort to move as silently as possible.
They were more than half way to reaching their destination when Kenit felt a drop of water hit the end of his nose. A second struck his forehead, and a third landed on his cheek. Oh Shit! Being invisible ceased to be as much of an advantage in the rain; the outline of an invisible form could be discerned if it was raining hard enough. He peered up at the sky. The dark clouds overhead made a downpour seem inevitable.