The Obsidian Arrow

by Craig A. Price Jr.

  “No, something is amiss.” She sighed, shaking her head.

  As far as he could judge, everything was going according to plan. Each commander organized their men well and communicated with each other, and their enemy was still leagues away. A thousand thoughts crossed his mind, but they all faded when she looked to him and their eyes locked.

  Her gorgeous green eyes sank deep into his, and he saw genuine fear and concern in them. He knew her concern wasn’t for him, but for everybody, and that worried him. Anaela looked a mess, and he realized it was the first time he had seen her in such disarray. Her once perfect straight hair was tangled, and her smile that he adored so much seemed to be hidden under a layer of frowns. Yet, despite all that, he marveled at her beauty.

  Strangely, even without knowing her all that well, or very long, he felt comfortable in her presence. That made him crave her even more, and it seemed to be what she tried to stay away from. There were few women in his life who made him feel comfortable. There was always Starlyn, whose friendship he treasured after their long journey, but he didn’t feel the same way about her as he did about Anaela. With Starlyn, there was a strong friendship. She felt like a sister to him. With Anaela, however, there was something more.

  “I have been scouting,” Anaela confessed.

  Her comment surprised Searon. He’d figured she would be busy training with her fellow archers and designing a defensive plan for them. His eyebrow rose. He grabbed another chair and scooted next to her. Searon thrilled at the chance to get close to her. He could smell her watermelon aroma, and it set his chest on fire.

  “What have you found?” he asked, attempting to cough the scent from his nose.

  “Four missing kheshlar guards … even more missing humans …”

  “What?” Searon gasped.

  He wondered how so many could be missing and what could have happened to them. She was right, something was amiss and they needed to find out what. He stood fast and turned away, letting the news sink in.

  Searon brushed his long dark-brown hair from his eyes and sighed. He spun around to face Anaela, who stared at the desk, lost in thought. He treaded over to her, touched her face, and tilted it to meet his gaze. A conflicting rush of emotions surged through him, but he kept himself in control as he kept eye contact. He desired to kiss her, but knew it wouldn’t be appropriate. Instead, he put his hand behind her head and pulled her into him for a hug. She tensed at first, but quickly accepted it and embraced him tight.

  A strange, tingly feeling radiated inside Anaela’s body when she felt Searon’s strong arms embracing her with a hug. She knew the look he gave her, the look of longing for a kiss. Anaela felt weak in his presence. She didn’t understand why Searon made her weak in the knees, but she was relieved he respected her enough not to act on his emotions.

  The hug lasted too long, and she reluctantly pulled away. She took a step backward and tried to mask her warm cheeks. Searon knew exactly how to comfort her, and it scared her. With all the things that were happening, she felt scared, and Searon knew it. The last war Anaela had been a part of was with Starlyn, but it wasn’t as full scale as the new one.

  Anaela had a bad feeling about what was behind the disappearances, but she was scared to admit it. She wasn’t ready to confess to Searon what she thought if she wasn’t sure herself. All she could think of was that she needed to find out what was happening. She took a step forward, but Searon blocked her path.

  “Where are you going?” he asked, his voice soft and gentle.

  “I must … go,” she said.

  “You will do no such thing,” Searon replied.

  Bewildered, she glanced to him and got lost in his green eyes. She nearly forgot to breathe. She closed her eyes for a moment before looking at his stern face. Noticing his cleft chin, she bit her lip, realizing how attractive she found it. Kheshlars did not have indents in their chins, or their face, but Searon had a cleft chin and dimples when he smiled. It was rare that she saw him smile, but the one time she did, she was mesmerized.

  “What?” she asked.

  “Why did you come here?” Searon asked.

  She turned away and tried to get around him. He grabbed her left wrist and held her in place. She glared at him and snarled. His grip only tightened, creating shivers all over her body. For some reason, it made her weak in the knees, and a wave of flutters came over her. With no other choice, she reluctantly looked back to Searon, meeting his gaze.

  “I thought that …” She trailed off, not wanting to admit why she came. She didn’t even understand why. When she’d discovered the missing kheshlars, she’d run to his study, knocked, and only then realized she’d come. Why she chose to seek him was beyond her. The thoughts swirling through her mind didn’t add up. Surely, if Starlyn were still around, it would have been her who she would have gone to.

  “You came here because you want my help.”

  Anaela averted her eyes. She gulped and nearly choked. She coughed a few times before finally looking at him. She opened her mouth, but no words came. She closed her mouth and sighed. Searon was right, so she swallowed her pride.

  “Yes,” she said.

  “All you have to do is ask …” Searon said.

  She backed away, hoping he wasn’t serious, but his stare remained firm. Anaela realized he didn’t offer help, and he didn’t reach for his armor. He was indeed being serious. He grinned and crossed his arms.

  Anaela hesitated before speaking. “Will you aid me in my search for answers?”

  “I would be glad to.” Searon smiled, grabbed his claymore, and fastened it to his armor.

  Chapter 8

  Arria changed paths as she approached Sudegam. The way she traveled previously had too many kheshlars. She decided to find the humans instead, the weakest race of them all. They had the most in number, but they were scattered without a leader. She could smell them, and they left an awful taste in her mouth.

  She found five of them talking amongst themselves. She scouted around and found no others. She wondered what these few were doing out by themselves. She grinned as she crept closer to them, listening to their conversation.

  “So the kheshlars are letting us stay now?” a blond man asked.

  “It appears so. They’ve finally accepted the inevitable. They now know that the army is coming. Even they are not strong enough to stop as many as have been reported,” a black-haired man replied.

  Arria smiled. The humans didn’t realize how many were really coming. She remembered the human who discovered Zergiel’s forces. It was before she allied herself to Zergiel. She watched him and was impressed with his courage and strength, and at the time it wasn’t her duty to stop him. At the time, she hoped they’d overcome the old wizard, and when they were weak, she would strike. Instead, she’d joined the old wizard, for now.

  “I don’t like it out here, it seems too quiet. We should get back to camp,” a brown-haired man said, glancing around.

  “Are you scared, Kemrhon?” the blond asked, smiling.

  “I just don’t have a good feeling,” he replied.

  Arria decided it was time. She withdrew her flamberge and pounced on the blond, swiftly slicing his throat. She smiled at the remaining four. Three quickly pulled out swords. She balanced her attacks on them, fairly relaxed, and grabbed a dagger from her sash. She threw it into the neck of one, leaving her only three opponents.

  “Kemrhon, help!” yelled one of the men attacking her.

  She smiled when she saw the dark-haired man frozen in place, jaw dropped, eyes wide. He didn’t even attempt to grab his sword. She respected him. He knew they were all as good as dead, and found it useless to even try.

  She dodged another sword and responded with a few strikes, causing the men to back away. They came back with a calculated attack, one aiming lower and the other high. Arria knew she couldn’t avoid both of them and decided to slide her leg forward, dropping her right knee and raising her flamberge to block the low attack. The high sword
brushed the air above her hair. She licked her lips and thrust a dagger into the groin of the human in front of her. He cried out, tumbling to his knees.

  The other rushed at her. She blocked a few strikes before climbing over him and leaping to land on the other side. Arria smiled when he turned to face her. She decapitated him instantly.

  She sashayed over to the man bleeding from his groin and laughed. He attempted to fight with one hand on his sword, but she quickly knocked it from his grasp. He shrieked in terror. The scream was short lived. She struck fast, and his head rolled from his shoulders to land by her feet.

  She sheathed her flamberge as she strode to the last man, who continued to stare at her. He hadn’t moved since she appeared, and she silently laughed when he took a large gulp. She took her chain mail gloves off and tied them to her sash, revealing her charcoal hands and black fingernails.

  “Why don’t you fight, Kemrhon?”

  His jaw closed, and he took another gulp. “What is the point? I can’t win.”

  “Good point. I’m glad to see a human have some sense.” She grinned as she circled him.

  “What are you?” he asked.

  “I am your worst nightmare.” She laughed.

  “Are you going to kill me?”

  She spun to face him. She stared deep into his hazel eyes. “Yes.”

  “Please … have mercy.”

  A smile pursed her lips as she stalked closer to him. She placed her hand gently on his face and felt his shivers. Such fear excited her, and gave her magic strength. She enjoyed the horror shining from his eyes.

  “Why should I have mercy upon you?” Arria asked.

  “I have children … and … and a wife,” Kemrhon begged.

  “Mmm … all the more tempting,” she said as she approached, her face nearly touching his. She could feel his warm breath upon her cool face. “How would your wife feel about another woman’s lips on yours?”

  Before he could speak, she leaned in and put her lips against his. His body trembled beneath hers. He tried to fight the kiss at first, but ultimately her power forced him. Arria knew she held power over men—even when she was a kheshlar, men swooned for her—but her power over men’s desire had increased tremendously.

  Arria pulled him to her, feeling his attraction. His eyes bulged, and his body grew weak in her arms. His skin darkened, and he tried to fight himself out of the kiss, but it was already too late. The life drained from his body until his skin was blacker than hers. She let him drop to the ground, lifeless. The power inside of her, the magic, pulsed, overfed and ready to be used.

  Arria smiled. “Your wife deserves better if you’re so easily drawn to temptation.”

  Chapter 9

  Starlyn’s eyes opened to a twilight sky. She blinked and focused on the half moon. A young child’s face appeared, blocking her view. Charlotte. Starlyn smiled at the little girl. Charlotte’s eyes were wide. Starlyn realized her body was exposed, her plate mail missing. If she’d had the energy, she’d have tried to cover herself, but with her weakened state, she could only stare at Charlotte in wonder. She felt the cool night breeze brush across her and realized how much pain she was in. She tried to get up, but collapsed back onto the ground. Charlotte steadied her, helping Starlyn to her feet.

  Her leather smallclothes were the only thing she wore. She inspected her body, finding black and blue bruises all along it, the worst just below her left shoulder. It was swollen and the deepest shade of violet. Starlyn exhaled as she sat on a log. She found her armor stacked in a neat pile waiting for her. She grabbed a few herbs from her sash, mashed them, and mixed them with water from her waterskin. She applied the paste to her left shoulder.

  After she was satisfied, she put her clothes and armor back on before sitting to gaze at the stars. A single tear fell from her right eye, and she prayed to the mother. She felt weak and helpless, and wondered if she felt as a human would. She once thought she’d enjoy being human, but she discovered she didn’t enjoy being fragile.

  “Please guide me,” Starlyn whispered to the stars.

  “Will you be all right?” Charlotte asked as she sat next to her.

  Starlyn glanced at the young girl and knew even if she didn’t make it through this, she wanted the human girl to survive. She had to be brave and strong for Charlotte if nothing else. Even with Starlyn being weak, she had to find the strength to find this little girl a better life. She deserved it.

  “Yes, I will be fine. Come, let us go. There is some place we need to find.” Starlyn smiled weakly.

  After mixing some healing herbs for Snowflake’s shoulder, they climbed on the tiger and headed out into the night. Starlyn could feel that they were close, she could even smell it. The scent of fresh running water filled her nostrils, and it brought hope to her heart.

  After another few hours of traveling, they reached a stream. Starlyn smiled, hope restoring in her mind. She directed Snowflake to follow the flow of the stream slowly. Starlyn enjoyed the scenery of nature surrounding them. Birds and bugs fluttered through the air, and small animals scurried across the ground. She watched as all of them carried on with their lives.

  When they reached a pond, she saw a half-naked woman sitting on a rock formation under a small waterfall. The woman smiled. As Starlyn got closer, she saw the woman had a skirt made of water lilies. She had lilies in her hair as well, but wore nothing else. Her blue hair glowed in the night, and she nodded at Starlyn.

  “Starlyn, you have arrived.” The woman’s voice echoed off the rocks.

  “What are you?” Starlyn asked.

  “I am a naiad, and I have been expecting you.”

  “What is your name?”

  “Our names do not carry importance as kheshlars’ do.”

  “You know why I’m here,” Starlyn said.

  “I do,” the naiad said.

  “Am I sick like my mother?”

  “Yes. You know what it is that is weakening you. Your mother wasn’t strong enough to handle it, but you are. You have seen what it can do, and you are facing the same choice. You are strong, Starlyn … very strong. You can overcome it—safely—if you have the courage. Do you?”

  “Yes,” Starlyn responded.

  The naiad jumped off her rock and dove into the water, treading underneath until she reached the shallow edge of the pond. She left the pond and sauntered toward Starlyn, her beauty leaving Starlyn speechless.

  “Then I give you strength to continue your journey,” she said.

  Starlyn opened her mouth to speak and froze as a swirl of blue shot from the naiad’s hand to envelop her, sending chills along her body. The air became cold and her body trembled, but she wasn’t afraid. Instead, Starlyn welcomed the feeling and released her defenses, letting the magic settle inside of her.

  She felt stronger: not perfect, but several times better than only moments before. Starlyn watched her clenched hand. She glanced over to the naiad, who smiled at her.

  “Am I—” Starlyn started.

  “Yes, Starlyn … the path you travel is the correct one. I suggest you make haste. The strength I gave you won’t last, and when you reach your destination, you can seek more help. I suspect you know exactly where to start.”

  “Thank you,” Starlyn whispered.

  “Now leave. Make haste, there is no time to waste.” The naiad smiled reassuringly.

  Chapter 10

  Searon flushed as he stared at Anaela walking by his side. He imagined being with her, touching her, even just holding her hand. Searon didn’t know where they were going, nor did he ask. Instead, he remained silent, awaiting an opportunity to speak with her. She appeared more relaxed, but the worry in her face wasn’t totally gone. When she glanced at Searon, he smiled at her, and she would quickly turn away, blushing. Searon grinned every time he saw her dark green blush.

  The forest was too quiet. They were on the outskirts of Sudegam, where the birds and animals usually made noise, but this time it was silent. Chills ran along Searon’
s spine as he realized how much the war affected not only them, but all the animals of the land as well.

  A frightened squirrel darted across the ground, saw Searon, and scurried out of sight. Anaela knelt and held out her hand, whispering to the squirrel. It peered from its hiding place to stare at the kheshlar. For a moment, they looked at each other. Anaela smiled. The squirrel ran across her arm to perch on her shoulder. It warmed Searon’s heart to see a genuine smile upon Anaela’s saddened lips. She rose to her feet and continued leading the way with the squirrel on her shoulder.

  They found Aliqua. Anaela bowed before greeting her. Searon continued to watch the two beautiful kheshlars as he stood in the background. Aliqua’s chocolate skin and cherry lips were intriguing to Searon.

  “Have you noticed anything strange in the last few days?” Anaela asked.

  Aliqua’s face darkened with worry as she looked at her old friend. She tossed her hair back from her face and bit her lip. “A few spell casters have gone missing … and some of our magic traps were deactivated.”

  Anaela frowned and turned to Searon, a lump forming in her throat. Her eyes widened. Searon walked over to comfort her. Not knowing how to put her at ease, he chose to take her hand in his. Aliqua and Anaela glared at him.

  “Everything will be all right, we will find out what is going on … I promise,” Searon said.

  Instead of jerking her hand away, she loosened her grip and laced her hand with his, causing shivers throughout his body. She turned to Aliqua, who watched them with scrunched eyebrows.

  “Where was the last place you noticed a disturbance?” Anaela asked.

  “Nearly two leagues north,” Aliqua replied.

  Anaela shook her head, removed her hand from Searon’s, and turned to leave.

  “Anaela …” Aliqua whispered.

  Anaela turned around, biting her bottom lip, and glanced at her friend. It was unsettling for Searon to see her biting her lip as it was one of her more attractive features.