The Panids' Children_The Panids of Koa

by Lee M Eason

  “I searched,” Kellim choked. “I looked for years.”

  “It doesn’t matter,” Halleck responded half laughing half sobbing as they hugged each other and renewed the bonds of an age-old friendship.

  A painfully short time later Kellim reluctantly took leave of his friends. He turned away and stepping forward was at the wreckage of the Ildran sky ships. The last masses of men swept past him weapons falling to the ground in a cacophony of noise as they fled for their lives. The Blaze came to a halt behind him towering giants of light. He relaxed his will and they dissipated. The pass was empty, only the great Ildran war machines stood deserted and lifeless. Strewn amongst and beyond them the dead covered the ground in their thousands.

  “Will they never learn,” Kellim muttered his voice thick with regret as he looked back to the hand. Pausing to collect his thoughts he took a slow deep breath and turned to walk down the path through the wreckage. Casting his mind ahead, he found who he was looking for and with a fierce yank VaCalt appeared sprawled on the ground before him.

  Pure shock registered on her face as she scrambled to her feet defiantly facing him. She went to focus her will but found she was unable. She straightened, quickly turning her look of shock to scorn.

  “At last the fabled Kellim, greatest of The Panids, The Master of The Field graces the scene,” she mocked, her voice laced with contempt. “Arriving to save the day. Shouldn’t you have done that before your kind devastated the south a hundred years ago?”

  “Your knowledge of the past surprises me, you’ve clearly learnt nothing from the fools who went before you,” he said flatly.

  She spat at him. “I have learnt all I need from the past. You were betrayed from within by your own kind. The Ildran Order had no such inner weakness. We would have taken our place as rulers of the masses of talentless half-wits that infested this land. It was The Panids’ mistakes that have forced this burden on my Order,” she stabbed a finger at him.

  “You delude yourself,” Kellim responded. “You’ve been witless pawns manipulated in a game beyond your own understanding. Blinded by your own pathetic ambition.”

  If Kellim’s words pulled at her interest she hid it. “Release me and I will show you ambition old man.”

  “I’ve no hold on you,” Kellim stepped forward spreading his hands.

  VaCalt started back attempting to pull in her will. There was nothing, she sensed nothing! “What have you done to me!” she demanded.

  Kellim continued to walk forward, VaCalt, despite her bravado, stepped aside still trying to access the field.

  “Don’t turn your back on me,” she snarled and went to strike him only to find herself flat on her back in the dirt again.

  Kellim turned slowly and as VaCalt registered the look on his face a chill ran through her.

  “You will live a long life VaCalt,” he spoke with no hint of emotion in his voice. “A life long enough to regret everything you’ve done, every decision you’ve made that has allowed Segat and his armies to ruin the lives of hundreds of thousands. I’ve denied you the source of your ambition, the source of your misguided prided.” VaCalt’s eyes widened as the impact of Kellim’s words hit her. “You will never again access the field. Your skills are no more. Your Talent is gone!” Kellim turned and stepped away.

  VaCalt sat staring at empty space wholly devastated. The full impact and meaning of Kellim’s curse stretched out before her.

  When Kellim’s foot touched the ground again, he stood blocking Segat and a small group of Ildran soldiers. They were attempting to leave the camp amidst the confusion. Men and women ran, grabbing what they could. All sense of order gone, individuals focused on their own escape and survival. Tents and supplies where being ransacked, fights had broken out and feet trampled those unlucky enough to fall. Overloaded ships fled to the skies, people falling from their sides, rider less mounts bolted, crushing anyone in their way and the machines of war, once the focus of existence were abandoned.

  Segat’s soldiers automatically placed themselves between him and the stranger who had stepped out of the air before them.

  “Allow your men to go Segat,” Kellim ordered, making it clear he was not about to move.

  “Who are you?” Segat demanded taking a step back, nervously looking behind. “Who are you to ask anything of me? Do you have any idea who I am old fool?”

  “Indeed I’m quite aware of who you were.”

  “Were? Were!” Segat spat the word - the manner of its use unnerved him. “Is that a threat? Are you daring to threaten me?”

  One of the guards took a step forward. Kellim looked at the man shaking his head slowly. “Think my friend, is he truly worth the trouble?”

  Segat looked at Kellim and then incredulously at his guard as the man stepped back lowering his sword. The other guards looked nervously at him and then at each other.

  “His reign is over,” Kellim informed them. “You wouldn’t be breaking any oaths if you were to leave now.”

  “You’re insane. My reign, over? You don’t know what you’re talking about,” Segat ranted. “Kill him, hack his treacherous tongue out!” he pushed at the men’s backs. “Do as I say! Obey me. I am your king!”

  Kellim brought his staff to hand. The guards shifted uneasily, altering the grip on their swords, clearly undecided even as Segat screamed and yelled at them from behind. The man who had stepped forward turned as Segat kicked out at him.

  “You coward!” Segat spat at him. “You miserable creature!”

  The guard swung his hand and struck Segat across the face, threw down his sword in disgust and with a glare that said all he needed walked away. Finally, the other guards sheaved their swords and left. Segat clutched his face somehow unable to comprehend what was happening.

  “Your reign is over. You will come with me to answer for your crimes before The Empress of Amaria, the Revered Essedra of Amar.”

  Segat visibly flinched as Kellim said her name. “Never,” he shrieked fumbling for his dagger and pointing it with a shaking hand towards Kellim. “Never.” He threw the blade badly and began running. It hit the ground short of its mark.

  Segat ran back into the camp, desperately pulling over equipment to block his pursuer’s path. He fought through the people he had once commanded, whose lives he had controlled, now just another body in their way. Out of breath and near hysteria he burst inside his ransacked tent. Segat scrambled over his upturned desk kicking at one of the prone bodies behind. “Protect me!” he demanded desperately. “Get up. I-I command it!” The body flinched and a withered hand fell from beneath the white covering. The field wave had almost killed it but its touch still had enough power to eat through his boot finding the flesh beneath. Segat screamed clutching at his ankle. The very thing created to protect him now brought about his demise.

  Kellim entered the tent, his eyes adjusting to the dim light. Segat fell back over the desk. The man writhed in agony on the ground, kicking and lashing desperately as his formfield was consumed. Kellim rushed forward, focused his will and drew on the field attempting to halt the process. The concentrated field energy stirred a second figure. Drawn to the source it lurched from behind the desk. Pitching forward, a hand caught hold of Kellim’s staff, corroding the metal and compromising the structure. Kellim had no time to react and the ensuing explosion flared like a sun, visible in the bright light of the day for miles.

  Chapter 22

  Ildra fell into chaos and in the coming months Hallorn and Amaria routed her armies. Perin and Essedra met at the head of their forces, a symbolic gesture of peace, restoring the freedom of the nations who had fallen to the ambitions of Segat. A new King was installed in Ildra and under the watchful eye of Hallorn and Amaria had begun to earn back the trust of his people and the world beyond. Order gradually returned, the two powers withdrawing to rebuild their own countries and the lives of their people.

  The Field wave had affected every Talent on the continent and many Orders found themselves reduced to
a few individuals. The Field’s Cap had been broken, changing the limits of what was possible and the way ahead was uncertain and daunting. Amar kept its promise and Gattick welcomed, once again, the Heads or representatives of every Order to Amar. The world had indeed changed.

  Carrick and Gwen stayed in Amaria to help reinstate the Amar Order, reluctantly saying goodbye to Kara before she headed south with Halleck on a last search for Mia Sara. Knowing the ultimate outcome of the journey did not dampen her determination to fulfil her own personal promise.

  With mixed feelings and promises to return, Carrick and Gwen left Amaria and headed for Hallorn and the state memorial services for Kellim, Durnin and all who had been lost. The grand, solemn ceremony contrasted with the simple and intimate one Gwen and Carrick attended for Jenna and Lewen at his parent’s farm. The rush of ripening crops stirred by the summer wind added a sense of peace and tranquillity to a quiet day of shared sorrow and memories, preparing them both for the journey north and a reunion with family.

  Meg met them at the edge of her valley. She greeted them with wide spread arms and felt the terrible ache in both as they embraced. Holding them for long minutes she comforted with words of reassurance and wisdom. Finally feeling the tension in them begin to ebb she led them through green woodland along the path that eventually wound its way to her farm. Flocks grazed in meadows beneath a blue sky that brought warmth and its own kind of comfort.

  Jac saw them first and came running full pelt down the track. He hugged them and for the first time they all laughed and joked, without feeling guilty for doing so.

  Bryn shouted from the roof of Meg’s barn, as they got closer, welcoming them with a mixture of relief and joy. Sliding down a rope he hugged Carrick before turning to Gwen. They looked at each other smiling, before Bryn took her hand and pulled her close. Their embrace was heartfelt.

  There was a clatter from the building at the back of the barn as Aaron descended its uneven stairs. Appearing from round the corner he paused, hardly believing that they had finally arrived, before dropping his tools and running into Gwen’s outstretched arms. They both laughed, tears of happiness and grief mingling in the greeting.

  “Family reunions,” Meg chuckled putting a hand around Jac’s waist. “What could be better?” He put an arm across her shoulder, giving it a squeeze and the two turned and led the others, talking and laughing to the house.

  Out across the fields the warm summer breeze stirred the meadow grass and above it the trees that surrounded the valley. In the skies above it spread the warmth of the sun and filled the wings of the birds that soared on the higher currents.

  Book 2 of The Panids of Koa

  The Panids’ Legacy

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  You can contact me at

  leemeason@icloud.com