by Ian Gregoire
“Tylo, we’re going to have to make a run for it,” Kenit whispered, “or the rain will give us away.”
“I’m ready when you are.”
“All right. On my say, we’ll sprint the rest of the way. And whatever you do, don’t let go of my hand.” There was a distant rumble of thunder then the heavens opened.
“Now!” hissed Kenit, dashing forward.
Seconds later they were entering the forest undetected, sheltered from the deluge by the thick canopy of branches and leaves of the trees. They advanced several yards into the forest before Kenit pulled up, bringing them both to a standstill. He ceased his invocation of Raytandushay, making himself and Tylo visible again, then released the boy’s hand.
“It seems we weren’t spotted,” Kenit said in triumph, “so we can afford to walk from this point onwards.”
“Wow! The Order really did come for me,” blurted Tylo, his excitement obvious as he stared at his rescuer’s uniform.
“Kenit Darbandian, at your service.” He held out his hand to the boy. “It’s nice to formally meet you, though I would have preferred it to be under better circumstances.”
“I’m Tylo Solari,” replied Tylo, shaking Kenit’s hand enthusiastically.
“Well, Tylo, let’s get moving. There are a couple of horses waiting for us further in, it’s time to get you back to your parents, they’re worried sick about you.”
Kenit set off at a brisk walking pace that Tylo matched, falling into step alongside his Sanatsai saviour.
“All my life I have heard the stories of what the Sanatsai can do,” said Tylo, awestruck. “But I never imagined the reality would be even more incredible than all of the stories. What you did back there was absolutely amazing.”
Courtesy of Tylo’s high praise, Kenit’s ego inflated. It was the first time in his life anyone had described his actions as ‘absolutely amazing’.
“The way you dealt with those people, making the earth tear up beneath their feet, knocking them to the ground, and letting loose those fireballs to kill the ones floating in the air, causing the rest of them to run away into the forest. I’ve never seen anything so spectacular in my life.”
Instantly, Kenit’s ego deflated. There was no way he could take credit for Fay’s handiwork. “That wasn’t my doing, actually,” he confessed, awkwardly. “It was my colleague creating a diversion so I could get to you. She’ll meet up with us back where we left our horses.”
For the next few minutes Kenit silently led Tylo through the trees back to where he and Fay had left their mounts. Upon arrival at the remnants of the wall where the horses were tethered, Fay was nowhere to be seen. He decided there was no cause for alarm…yet. As she had already demonstrated, Fay was more than capable of taking care of herself. He instructed Tylo to climb up into the saddle of his horse while they awaited Fay’s arrival. Turning away from the boy to look back the way they had come, Kenit thought his mind was playing tricks on him when Fay appeared out of nowhere and casually walked towards him. Her sudden appearance was not in any way indicative of the invocation of Raytandushay. When Sanatsai used Zarantar to become invisible, they quickly, but gradually, faded from view. Likewise, when they became visible once again, the fading back into view was gradual, also. What Kenit saw—or thought he saw—was not like that at all. One moment Fay wasn’t there, the next moment she was. But he chose not to dwell on it. He was just glad to see her back in one piece.
“Any trouble recovering the boy?” Fay inquired as she joined Kenit.
Kenit shook his head. “Not really. We made it out of there unseen.”
“Well done.” Fay gave him an appreciative pat on the shoulder. “Now it’s time for you to get our young friend, here, back to his parents. Take both horses back to Relona, and once you reach there have the local Guard place a protective detail around the family until the morning—just in case.”
“What do you mean, ‘take both horses’?”
“I don’t know when I will return to Relona, so I don’t want to potentially leave her tied up in the forest all night.”
“Wait! You’re not coming back with us?” asked Kenit, slightly alarmed. “So where are you going to be?”
“I cannot leave Sharadi Forest yet.”
“Why not?”
“There are standing orders from the Council in regards to the presence of Saharbashi in the Nine Kingdoms: They are to be killed on sight, whenever and wherever they are found. Now that I’m satisfied the boy is in no immediate danger from his captors, I’m going back to kill the Saharbashi we encountered at the ruins.”
Kenit was unnerved by the idea of separating now: it made more sense for them both to return to Relona with Tylo. While it was unlikely they would be pursued all the way back to the town, sticking together was preferable to splitting up.
“Why not return tomorrow with reinforcements?” he asked. “Why risk going after this Saharbashi alone?”
“There’s no guarantee we would still find him here tomorrow. I have no choice but to take care of this tonight.”
Not yet ready to just accept that, Kenit felt compelled to try to dissuade her.
“Danai Annis, I realise you have your orders, but have you forgotten about the rest of the Conclave?” he asked. “You may have killed more than a dozen of them earlier, but that still leaves at least eighty or so more you’ll need to get through in order to reach your target. And even then…” He paused, recalling that fateful night five months earlier when Marit Katarnian was killed during their ill-fated mission in Anzarmenia. “I have seen first hand what a Saharbashi is capable of. What you are proposing is potentially suicidal.”
Fay smiled at him “I appreciate your concern for my wellbeing, but you have your orders: get the boy safely back to Relona. If I have not returned by midday tomorrow, you should assume the worst has happened and go back to the Sisterhood seminary. Inform the Sisters of my fate and have them send a message to the Council, then await instructions.”
Kenit realised it was pointless continuing to argue—not just because Fay had turned on her heels and begun walking away. It was clear to him now that she was completely committed to her obligations as a Sanatsai of the Order. She would carry out her duty or die trying, no matter what he said.
“That’s it, it’s time to leave,” he said to Tylo who had sat silently in the saddle of his horse, listening to the brief discourse between the two Sanatsai. “Please tell me you can ride a horse,” he added. “It appears I’ll be riding my colleagues mount back to Relona.”
Taking hold of the reins, Tylo replied, “Yes, of course I can ride,”.
“Excellent,” said Kenit, before swiftly clambering up into the saddle of Fay’s horse. He looked across at Tylo. “We’ll take it slow through the trees, but once we’re clear of Sharadi Forest we can pick up the pace.”
The two horses set off at a slow, cautious trot, with Kenit leading Tylo through the forest as the torrential downpour from the heavens subsided.
Half an hour later, the pair had ridden beyond the edge of the forest, out into open country, without incident; that was when they heard it. Deep within the forest came the noise of several detonations—the sound of Zarantar fuelled combat. Fay had presumably engaged the remnants of the Conclave in her quest to kill the Saharbashi allied with them.
Pulling his horse up, Kenit came to a halt to peer back at Sharadi Forest. In the night sky above the treetops he could see the occasional flash of coloured light accompanying the rumble of incendiary orbs detonating.
“We should go back and help your friend,” said Tylo, pulling up alongside Kenit’s mount.
“What?” he replied. Then, “No, I have orders to take you safely back to Relona, and that’s what I’m going to do.”
“But it looks and sounds like your friend might be in trouble.”
“She’s more than capable of taking care of herself.”
“But she’s just one person against dozens,” insisted Tylo. “You should never have le
t her go off by herself.”
“If you knew who she is you wouldn’t think like that,” Kenit retorted. “Believe me when I say she will be just fine.”
The sounds of combat within Sharadi Forest ended abruptly, much quicker than anticipated. Though Kenit didn’t wish to infer anything negative from the apparent cessation of hostilities, the worried look upon Tylo’s face caused him to consider the possibility.
“Do you really think your friend is all right? Or is that what you have to tell yourself to make you feel better about wanting to run away?”
Kenit resented the accusatory tone, especially coming from an adolescent boy. “I’m not running away,” he countered. “I’m following the orders I was given.”
There was a swift resumption of the sights and sounds that indicated the fighting was not quite as over as Kenit had feared.
“You might be comfortable with that excuse,” said Tylo, “but I’m not.” He tugged on the reins of his mount to turn the animal around. “I’m going back to help your friend.” He dug his heels into the flanks of the horse, urging it forward into a canter back towards the forest.
“Wait, damn it!” yelled Kenit.
He brought his own mount around then set off after the impetuous boy. He was quickly alongside Tylo allowing him to reach across and grab hold of the horse’s bridle. He brought the brief pursuit to an end just a few yards short of re-entering the forest.
“What do you think you’re playing at?” He couldn’t keep the simmering anger out of his voice. “Do you think you’re going to go back in there and save the day? You’re just a boy who’s had his Zarantar for a matter of hours. Don’t start getting delusions of grandeur. What’s the matter with you?”
Tylo pointedly stared back at him. “If a stranger risked her life to save yours, wouldn’t you feel an obligation to do the same for her?” He sounded older and wiser than his tender years, Kenit noted. “So what if I don’t have the ability to offer any meaningful help? That’s not the point. What’s important is that, regardless of what happens, no one will ever be able to say I wasn’t there for her in her moment of need.”
Something in the boy’s voice shamed Kenit, then he remembered Fay’s words to him earlier on that night, “We do not abandon our own…ever!” The vivid memory only increased his sense of shame. In that moment his mind was made up.
“You’re right,” he mused quietly. “I will go back to see if Danai Annis needs my assistance. But I cannot let you come with me, you’ll have to make your way back to Relona by yourself.”
“But—”
He cut Tylo off mid-sentence. “Don’t argue. If the worst comes to the worst, the sacrifice will have been in vain if you don’t get back home. Just head southwest,” he indicated with his outstretched hand, “and you should reach Relona in under an hour. Be sure to report what has happened to the local Guard, and have them send someone out to the Sisterhood seminary outside town—a message will need to be sent back to the Order.” Kenit was unsure if his words were getting through to the boy. “Do you think you can do that for me, Tylo?”
Tylo looked reluctant to leave, but he agreed to make the journey back to Relona if Kenit was staying to help his fellow Sanatsai. He steered his horse away from the trees of the Forest, then set off at a gallop in a southwesterly direction.
As the boy swiftly departed, Kenit watched and waited until he was far enough away to feel confident he wouldn’t double back. Finally he urged his own mount forward, back into Sharadi Forest.
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
Close Encounter Of The Eerie Kind
Kayden was still pacing the winding dirt path through the forest with purpose, but her enthusiasm was beginning to wane. She had no idea just how long she’d been walking; it felt like a lifetime. Her journey thus far had been completely uneventful, which only added to her frustration. The other source of annoyance was the unshakeable feeling she was walking round in circles. The forest surroundings were so nondescript, no matter where she cast her eye everything looked the same. Even the call of nocturnal birds and the buzzing of insects sounded repetitive. Wherever it was the path was supposed to lead her, she seemed no closer to getting there.
After passing a gnarled tree she could have sworn she’d passed at least half a dozen times already, Kayden began to wonder if she was the victim of a petty prank. It was highly suspicious she was going nowhere fast. Had Master Ari played a trick on her, sending her on a wild goose chase to see how long it took for her to get a clue and turn back? If that was the case, she would have a hard time keeping a respectful tongue in her mouth when she next saw him. She really disliked being messed around by anyone.
Kayden was so preoccupied with her ruminations she initially failed to notice the forest becoming less dense as the trees started to thin. What finally brought it to her attention was her awareness of the unnatural, deathly silence that had fallen all around her. She could no longer hear the breeze rustling the leaves of trees, nor the sound of birds and insects. For that matter, she couldn’t hear her own footsteps on the forest floor. It was like being inside a barrier sphere formed for the purpose of blocking out sound, only this was eerie by comparison. She peered upwards to glance at the night sky through the canopy of branches overhead. It was pitch black. There wasn’t a single star in the heavens, nor any sign of the moon, so where was the soft luminescence emanating from? Kayden couldn’t work it out, the light seemed to be coming from everywhere and nowhere.
Moments later, she emerged into a large circular clearing. She could see how the dirt path—that stopped at the beginning of the clearing—resumed on the other side, disappearing into the trees. Whatever was responsible for the lack of sound was gone; she could hear the sounds of the forest once more, though the eeriness of the scene hadn’t let up. And looking up at the sky she saw that it remained an empty black canvas, devoid of all celestial bodies of light.
She proceeded to advance further into the clearing, though she did so slowly and cautiously. Something wasn’t right—something she wasn’t able to put her finger on. She felt threatened and vulnerable; feelings she was unaccustomed to experiencing. As she ambled forward her eyes darted from left to right and back again, hoping to catch sight of trouble before it could take her unawares. She saw nothing and no one, yet the sense of imminent danger was increasing. It dawned on her that she could hear her own heartbeat thumping in her ears—her heart was racing.
Half way across the clearing Kayden stopped. She was suddenly aware of the nearby presence of Zarantar, and to her surprise it wasn’t just the familiar Zarantar Shayd wielded by all Sanatsai. She could also feel Zarantar Jist, the art of the Jaymidari. But what alarmed Kayden was the sensing of a third variation she had never felt before. It could only be Zarantar Najist, the art of the Saharbashi, and the sensation caused her to shudder. The subsequent sense of impending doom closing in on her became so oppressive, it prompted her to invoke Inkansaylar to create a barrier sphere around herself.
And, not a moment too soon.
Out of nowhere a volley of half a dozen incendiary orbs shot across the clearing, striking Kayden’s translucent, protective bubble. The sneak attack hit with such power that despite her barrier sphere holding firm, the force of the detonation caused her to stumble slightly, and the vibration from the blast went right through her body.
Kayden realised with alarm that had she not reacted as quickly as she did the clearing would be strewn with multiple, smouldering body parts—her own. But she was given no time to dwell on how close she had come to being blown to pieces. A second volley of incendiary orbs struck her barrier sphere. This time she saw where the attack emanated from. The orbs had flown from the edge of the clearing ahead of her, about thirty feet in the air, though there was no sign of her attacker.
She braced herself for a possible third consecutive attack, but it failed to materialise, for which she was grateful.
Kayden recalled the level four test that required her to demonstrate her mastery of I
nkansaylar by maintaining a barrier sphere for as long as possible, while under constant attack from various Zarantar strikes. She remembered just how effortlessly she was able to maintain her invocation for well over eighteen hours—an unprecedented feat in the history of the Order—without her defences being breached. Her sense of smug satisfaction at easily fending off scores of fellow apprentices, not to mention a small number of full-fledged Sanatsai, when some of the instructors joined in, lingered long after the event.
But that was then.
The here and the now was an entirely different proposition altogether. Whoever it was invoking Balatlaydan to unleash the barrage of incendiary orbs against her was so powerful, Kayden doubted her own ability to prevent her defences being breached for even a full hour. With that in mind, the respite from attack was more than welcome. Her mystery assailant would have worn her down, sooner rather than later.
When her attacker finally came into view, Kayden’s eyes widened in disbelief. Directly ahead, at the edge of the clearing, floating thirty feet in the air, a figure became visible before descending slowly towards the ground. What she was witnessing was impossible. As far as she knew, invoking Raytandushay to become invisible meant it wasn’t possible to invoke any other application of Zarantar simultaneously. Yet there was no question her attacker had not only invoked Balatlaydan while invisible, but also Makfayshulat, to levitate above the ground. No Sanatsai had the power to do that.
Kayden observed intently as her assailant alighted on the ground in a crouching position several yards ahead her. The figure then slowly rose into an upright, standing pose. She couldn’t discern whether the hooded attacker, dressed from head to toe in black, was male or female—a determination made even harder by the hood of the cloak concealing the upper half of the person’s face, while the lower half was inexplicably obscured by shadow.
In the ensuing silence Kayden gathered her wits enough to finally realise what was happening. She furiously wondered how she could have been so stupid. During their conversation, prior to her entering the forest, Ari had essentially foretold what was to occur. She had been sent into the forest to die. At the hands of the Rogue.