A World Apart (The Jake Thomas Trilogy - Book 1)

by Tolle, Steven A.

  "To arms!" He called out, his men quickly securing their shields and drawing their swords.

  "At a run, forward!" Jeffreys cried as he drew his own sword and raced his men towards the Temple, praying they were not too late.

  ...

  Dominic and Jonas were sitting at the table in Jonas' residence, sharing a small pitcher of wine, discussing Dominic's findings after eating a light meal. Dominic had ridden up shortly before dark, after spending most of the day scouting.

  "There were some tracks, but with the rain, it was difficult to tell how long ago they were made." Dominic said, taking a sip from his cup. "I will head back out tomorrow to see if I can pick up any new trails."

  A distant scream carried into the room. Dominic was immediately on his feet and heading for the door. Jonas grabbed his staff and followed on his heels. They paused in the garden, listening, sharing a quick look when another scream sounded from the other side of the Temple. Dominic's sword was in his hand in a heartbeat and they took off at a run for the gate. As Jonas ran next to Dominic, he saw the flash of a cleric's yellow fire reflecting off the street, followed by the sound of clashing magics. He brought up his own might, his body and staff shining brightly with power. They reached the street, Dominic slightly ahead, and turned towards the palace, to be greeted with a nightmare.

  Jonas could see a large group of half-men were battling a smaller group of clerics and apprentices, some already down, their blood darkening the ground. Mixed in with half-men were several demons, their black fire wreaking havoc, striking anyone who got close.

  Near the Temple doors, Jonas saw Kansic standing in front of a group of children and their mothers, apparently caught up in this as they were leaving from an evening class. The children were terrified, their pitiful wails wrenching at Jonas' heart. Kansic was glowing with power, keeping the half-men nearest him at bay.

  As Jonas ran behind Dominic, he saw one of the demons engage Kansic, its black fire striking him. Kansic cried out as the demon's power collided with his own, knocking him back, burning his skin. He launched a desperate counter-strike, yellow fire lashing out at the demon. The demon laughed as it blocked the attack and struck back. The half-men started to move forward as Kansic fell back, body burning and face contorted in agony, but he was able to regain his feet. Jonas knew instinctively that Kansic would not survive much longer.

  "Dom!" Jonas cried, pointing towards Kansic. Dominic saw the danger and sprinted ahead.

  He rushed headlong after Dominic towards Kansic, his fear for him and anger at the death around him stoking the power he was holding. He shone like a fallen star, yellow fire pulsing, pushing away the darkness.

  Dominic reached the half-men first, barreling full speed into them, his sword flashing. It was as if an explosion occurred as bodies flew as he cut his way into their ranks, half-men falling around him. He was a whirlwind of death, made of hardened steel, unstoppable.

  Jonas lost sight of the demon as he drew closer, but sent his own might lashing out into the mass of half-men where he last saw it. His power reduced the closest to ash, while knocking others away, bodies smoking. He struck again, laying about him, desperate to save Kansic and his charges. But it was already too late as another bolt of dark fire struck Kansic, overwhelming his defenses, and he fell, the pain on his face fading as death took him, body smoldering.

  Jonas had no time to mourn as the demon turned its power towards Dominic. Jonas saw the demon's attack and released his own might to challenge it. His power collided with the demon's, sunlight clashing with the night, bursting the air, shattering it. He knew where the demon was now and he counter-attacked, a brilliant lance of yellow fire racing towards it. The attack knocked it down, flesh crackling and steaming. Jonas shrugged off the demon's return burst of dark magic, and hammered it again, this time his power tearing past its defenses and consuming it. With a high pitched cry, the demon exploded into ash.

  Jonas attacked the half-men closing with Dominic, scattering them. Dominic immediately charged into the opening, sword a blur as he found new targets. Jonas risked exposing Dominic for a moment as he quickly got the women and children to move into the Temple. He stood in front of the doors until they were inside, shining as bright as the noonday sun, forcing more power through his staff than he had ever wielded.

  Too late, the remaining demons realized that he was their greatest threat. They ignored the rest of the battle, combined their power and sent a wave of dark fire streaking toward Jonas.

  Jonas met the attack, undaunted, but was forced back by its intensity. He gritted his teeth and set himself to the fight of his life. He struck back at the demons, his power racing across the distance. The demons blocked it and fired back. Streaks of darkness and light danced across the street as they fought.

  Suddenly, the Temple bells started to ring. On the other side of the battle, Jonas could see a group of soldiers, shields and swords in hand, come running out of the night to fall on the demon forces' rear. They began to cut into the half-men, distracting the demons for a moment. Jonas took advantage, striking the nearest demon, overwhelming and destroying it.

  From the direction of the palace, Jonas heard horns blowing. That meant that the Royal Guards were coming. The demons heard it as well.

  Jonas heard one cry out in a cold, inhuman voice to the others. "We must hold! Nasran needs more time to capture the boy."

  Jonas felt himself go cold. They were here for Jake! Desperately, he sent his might into the demons and called out for Dominic, battling nearby. Dominic heard him, disengaging from the half-men, Jonas sending his fire into them to give Dominic cover.

  Dominic ran up to him, bleeding from numerous minor wounds. Jonas ignored the battle for a moment, grabbing Dominic's arm. "They're after Jake, Dom." Jonas said hurriedly. "More of them were sent to find him."

  Dominic immediately sprinted off into the night, heading back towards the Temple. As more clerics came out of the Temple, Jonas turned his attention back to the demons, surging forward into the fight, calling for his clerics to join him. He saw a formation of Royal Guards enter the battle near the soldiers, the half-men being pushed back.

  Since Jonas was directing the clerics' attack, he heard rather than saw Dominic racing by on Shadow, the horse's hooves ringing against the stone. Relieved by that sound, Jonas grimly gathered his clerics to rid the city of these demons.

  …

  Jake and Hailyn, sitting on Dontas' back, were moving at a slow walk back in the direction the Temple from the North Gate, talking quietly. Jake had to admit that the singer was good, though it was not really his type of music. However, it had been nice to spend that time with Hailyn, sitting close together in the little theater.

  As they were going past a tavern with a large group of people milling around the doors, one of the patrons noticed them and called out to Hailyn. "Sister! Will you please help us?"

  "What is the trouble?" Hailyn asked.

  "Neven was acting the fool, drunk and telling everyone how good he was with knives, and went and stabbed himself in the hand." The man told her. Some of the others laughed at that, shaking their heads.

  "Jake, stop for a moment, please." Hailyn said quietly.

  Jake halted Dontas and helped Hailyn down. She made her way over to the group, who respectfully parted for her. When they moved, Jake could see a young man sitting on the steps, in obvious pain, a thin dagger sticking through his hand, some cloth wrapped around it. Hailyn made her way quickly to him, her power suddenly shining. She removed the cloth, examining the hand. She told one of Neven's friends to pull the dagger out, Neven crying out at the new pain, then Hailyn's healing took over. Quickly, she was helping him up, chastising him to not drink so much and to be more careful.

  The crown parted again as Hailyn came back over, then took up teasing Neven, with some telling him they would buy him a drink. Most of the crowd went back inside.

  Jake was reaching down to help Hailyn up when a brilliant flash of yellow light erupted i
n the distance. They paused, startled by the display. The other people in the street saw it as well and turned to stare, all conversation ceasing. In the quiet of the night, they could hear the faint sounds of fighting and screaming coming from that direction. The darkness was lit by more flashes of light, coming rapidly together, strobing in the night.

  "It's coming from the Temple." Hailyn said, quiet and intense. "That has to be clerics' magic causing the light. We need to get there." Her form suddenly shone with power, lighting the area around them.

  Jake nodded, but before they could move, a group of five half-men came barreling out of a side street. They saw Hailyn's shining form and immediately started running up the street, slashing and striking the other people in the street still watching the display. The crowds immediately fled, cries of fear echoing along the street.

  Hailyn reacted immediately, sending her power into the half-men, scattering and knocking them back. They got back to their feet, their bodies smoking, and spread out, trying to limit Hailyn's effectiveness.

  Shocked for a moment by their sudden appearance, Jake shook of his inaction and dropped off Dontas' back. He drew his sword and moved to defend Hailyn.

  "It is the boy." One of the half-men said, a tall and burly man. "He was reported to spend time with a girl cleric. Kill her and take him."

  As they began to rush forward, Jake leapt in front of Hailyn, sword moving. He engaged the closest half-man, meeting his attack, sword to sword, while Hailyn lashed out at the others, her power hurting them, driving them back.

  Jake tried to stay calm as he and his opponent traded blows, allowing his body to react as Dominic taught him. Jake was able to nick the man's sword arm, but narrowly dodged a blow that almost took his hand.

  "You idiot!" One of the half-men shouted, slapping Jake's opponent with the flat of his blade. "We are supposed to take him alive, with limited harm."

  Jake fell back next to Hailyn, his sword swinging as he engaged the half-men who avoided Hailyn's blasts. They were at a stalemate, the half-men having the greater numbers, but limited by their need to take Jake alive and unharmed, while Hailyn could not focus her power on one without exposing herself to the others. The groups continued to trade blows, but neither side could take advantage.

  Jake was desperately trying to figure out how they were going to get out of this when out of the dark, like an avenging angel, Dominic appeared on Shadow, riding hard. He did not slow down as he charged Shadow into the group of half-men, the impact sending them tumbling away, while he swung his sword, dropping one of the half-men with a blow to the head. Shadow lashed out with his hind legs, his steel-shod hooves flinging another half-man away. Even as Shadow tore through the group, Dominic leapt from his back, sword moving. The half-men struggled to gain their feet and regroup, but Dominic was on them before they could succeed, and that quickly, the fight was over.

  Dominic ran over to Jake and Hailyn, his face and body streaked with blood. Hailyn noticed that some of it was from wounds and she reached out to Dominic, her power shining, but he pushed her away. "Leave over, girl. None are serious." He growled.

  He turned to Jake. "They are here for you, boy." Dominic stated, voice calm and manner matter-of-fact. "You and the girl get on your horse. We will ride straight to the Temple. That will be the safest place for now." He started to move towards Shadow when he suddenly whirled around. At the same time, Jake felt as if an icy hand had seized his heart, freezing his blood, and heard Hailyn gasp.

  Out of the side street, a short figure stepped into the main road, its form seeming darker than the night. Jake instinctively knew that this was a demon, even before he saw the torchlight faintly reflecting off its black eyes and sharp teeth.

  Without hesitating, Dominic moved towards it, sword held ready. The demon smiled at that, raising a fist and a blast of inky darkness shot towards Dominic. Dominic dove out of the way, rolling back to his feet, the bolt crashing harmlessly into the side of a building.

  The demon, its dark power like a sheath around its body, was bringing its fist around to strike again when Hailyn reacted, her magic slamming into it, sending it reeling back, its form steaming. Before it could set itself, Hailyn struck again, her face set, knocking it over. It came up to its feet, launched its power back at Hailyn. She was able to deflect it, the powers colliding, sizzling and crackling the air.

  Before it could react, Dominic was there, swinging his sword with both hands. His blow severed the demon's head, its body dropping to the ground. Hailyn set a blast into the body and head, turning it into ash.

  Dominic quickly wiped his blade on one of the fallen half-men and ran over to leap onto Shadow's back. "Well fought, girl." He said to Hailyn. He gestured at Dontas. "Get on your horse now, boy. Move!"

  Jake ran over to Dontas, got into the saddle and pulled Hailyn up behind him. They rode past the fallen half-men, then past on-lookers as the horses got up to a gallop. As they rode towards the Temple, a woman's scream sounded down a side street, a cry of horror and pain. Dominic hesitated for a moment, then looked at Jake. "Go straight to the Temple. Do not stop for anyone or anything. Jonas will protect you until I return." With that, he turned Shadow and rode down the side street, headed towards the scream.

  The Temple grew closer as they sped along the street when Jake was struck by a terrible thought. He pulled on the reins, bringing Dontas to a halt.

  "Hailyn, if they are here for me, they may know that I'm staying with Norlan." Jake said over his shoulder to Hailyn. "I have to go check on them!"

  Hailyn hesitated for a moment, doubt on her face, then said. "If we are going to do it, let's do it quickly."

  Jake turned Dontas towards home and booted him into a run. They flew past homes and buildings, ignoring the shouted questions from concerned bystanders as they rode past. Jake could only think of the family, praying they were ok.

  There were some people gathered at Norlan's as they pulled up, Jake sawing at the reins to stop Dontas. Jake leapt off of the horse, pushing past the people he recognized as neighbors, Hailyn right behind him. When they reach the gate, they were greeted with a scene of horror.

  Five half-men bodies lay on the yard, some with gaping wounds and others looking crushed. Jake saw Maxis sprawled across top of one of them, his jaws bloody and a dagger sticking out of his side. On the porch, Norlan was lying on the ground, head cradled in Madalin's lap, his clothes rent and bloody, face pale, while a neighbor held a cloth on a large stomach wound. Next to him was the large maul he had brought out days earlier. Madalin, tears flowing and a lost look on her face, absently stroked his face, ignoring the large gash on her forehead.

  Hailyn rushed over to them, her power at the ready. She reached Norlan and took his head into her hands, concentrating. Her power brightened as she started healing. Norlan tensed and groaned briefly as Jake saw the wounds seal shut, then relaxed. Hailyn continued to hold his head for another moment, her power still shining. Satisfied, she let go and reached over to Madalin.

  "What happened?" Jake asked, his heart breaking as he surveyed the damage done.

  "Cherise was out front with the dog when I heard him barking." Norlan replied, his voice drawn. "I had never heard that kind of barking from him, then I heard Cherise scream. I grabbed the maul and went outside. Maxis had already savaged one of them and was attacking another, when I saw that they had Cherise." His voice broke, as a sob escaped him. He gestured towards the bodies with crushing injuries. "I did what I could." Madalin began weeping.

  Stunned, Jake could only stand there until he heard a soft whine come from Maxis. He rushed over to the dog, having thought he was dead. Maxis raised his head slightly as Jake stroked him, another soft whine coming from him. "Hailyn!" Jake shouted. "Maxis is still alive!"

  Hailyn was there in an instant. She laid her hands on Maxis, surveying the damage. "Jake, when I tell you to, I want you to remove the dagger. Try and pull it out straight." Hailyn told him. Her power began to flow into the dog. "Now, Jake."

&nb
sp; Using both hands, Jake pulled the dagger out quickly, Maxis shifting in pain. Hailyn's power flared and Jake watched as the wound sealed. Once Hailyn was finished and stepped back, Maxis shook his head, then surged to his feet, standing on unsteady legs. Jake felt a rush of relief at the sight.

  "They were looking for you, Jake." Norlan's voice said quietly. Jake turned back to the porch. Norlan had shifted into a sitting position. "I heard them talking about you. They sent one of their men to check your room."

  Jake glanced around, realizing something in the chaos. "Where is Cherise?"

  Norlan's face fell, tears coming to his eyes. Madalin threw her head back and wailed, her voice sounding as if her very soul was being torn apart. "They took her!!"

  Jake felt as if a hammer had been taken to his heart. His mind seemed to go blank as he turned and ran to Dontas. "Which way did they go?!" He shouted as he leapt into the saddle.

  "Jake, no!!" He heard Hailyn and Madalin cry out together, Hailyn running to reach him.

  "Which way?!" He demanded again. One of the neighbors pointed towards the south. Jake booted Dontas and took off after them, the thought of Cherise in the half-men's hands chilling him to the core when he recalled his treatment.

  He was able to follow their trail fairly easily. The half-men were desperate to get away and did not let anything stand in their way. There were groups of people along the way helping the injured or taking care of the dead. He came across a wagon team, the horses missing and the driver dead in the seat. That meant that they were probably on horseback now. Based on the path they were taking, Jake surmised that they were heading for the South Gate. Deciding to risk losing the trail for the opportunity to get ahead of them, Jake leaned over Dontas' neck and ran him straight for the South Gate.