He touched her skin again, feeling the rough edges of her body masked by scars. Her black nightgown had been torn so badly, barely anything covered her. All the tears were from his whip. She would do well most of the time by getting him his meals and keeping everything tidy. Yet, every time he forced himself on her, she would fight back. She would claim, dead or alive, she would remain true to her husband. Such talk was pitiful when her husband’s body lay buried so far in the soil, even the rats would not want him.
He stroked her red hair behind her ears, rubbing his thumb on her freckles on her cheeks. She shivered with a gulp before closing her eyes. The fear radiating off her soothed Zergiel.
“Are you going to resist me this morning?”
She shook her head as tears fell from her face.
“Good …” Zergiel whispered.
Chapter 30
The whispers in the crowd in front of Starlyn ceased and everyone became silent. She looked at the women, and they seemed to blend together as one. Eagles took flight, scattering across the ranks of Ikchani. There had to be dozens of them soaring through the air. It was midday, but the sun wasn’t hot in the air. Instead, clouds covered the sky above them. Everything seemed darkened by the sky and the weather was chill to the touch. The cold weather didn’t seem to bother the hundreds of thousands of Ikchani who wore no top. Starlyn shivered slightly.
“I have come to bid a request. I have learned your politics from as many as could teach me. There are great ideas within them, but there are also flaws. I have discussed these issues with the nobles, and some have been agreeable while others have disregarded me. Instead, I come before you, the people of the Ikchani. A vote must be set forth to decide the fate of the Ikchani.”
The whispers began again, entwining like webs of a spider trying to trap small bugs who got caught between. She allowed it for a moment as everything sank in. It would be likely whatever she had to say would travel through one ear to shoot out the other. She was allowed to speak to everybody, and for that, she was thankful.
“I agree that these human kings need to be removed if there is to be any chance of unity between the nations. However, there is an alliance building between the humans to defeat a common enemy. They are our enemy as well. The draeyks and daerions.”
More whispers traveled throughout the group of Ikchani.
“Men are foolish and hardheaded. They do not have much sense for politics and leadership. There are few I have met who see reason. Still, they have forces for battle, and will be useful allies rather than enemies against these draeyks and daerions. I merely ask for an alliance until these dark creatures are destroyed once and for all. If not, then even if we conquer, we could fall to these creatures, who are growing strong. We must destroy them before they overrun us.”
Whispers turned to murmurs. An eerie chill caused cold bumps to form on Starlyn’s bare forearms. Only she shivered. Frost seemed to form around her; she silently wondered if it was the weather or her illness. Her face felt colder than ice as her entire body covered with chill bumps. Frostbite seemed to nip at her exposed skin. Kheshlars had pale blue skin, but hers seemed nearly snow-white. She remembered her mother in much the same state. Shifting slightly, she straightened her silk dress before glancing at the sorceresses behind her. Their faces were fierce, demanding, and she dared not ask for one of them to warm her. She wished she had Noraes to warm her. No, those thoughts needed to leave her mind for good. She would never see him again. Soon she would be dead, and nobody would see her again.
She raised a hand and the rest of the Ikchani went silent. “After we deal with this threat of dark creatures, when they are destroyed, we will march upon the lands of the humans to conquer. One by one, all men will bow before us, and women shall rule the land.”
The silence lasted only seconds before cheers erupted in the crowd. Soon everybody cheered besides those who stood behind her. She had accomplished what she set forth to do. These people had heard her concerns and opinions. Let them take from it what they would. Her task was done. She grew weak, her vision fading. Turning around, she began stumbling away. Adneiva caught her arm, keeping her steady. Starlyn nodded to thank the woman.
“Are you well, Lady Starlyn?” Adneiva asked.
“I feel weak. I need rest, could you please take me to my room?”
Adneiva nodded, holding Starlyn steady to help her through the camp to the tent. The path was empty since everybody had been standing in the courtyard to hear her speech. Her words were the last of a long line of various speakers. Starlyn had barely heard the others as she had waited. It wasn’t because she did not wish to hear, but with the pain tormenting her body, it had proved difficult for her to comprehend her surroundings. Adneiva remained respectful to her and knew of her illness. Starlyn had been able to confide some of her fears to the captain, and in confidence had learned the great captain had loved before. It was that love and a broken heart which drove her to hate men as she did now. Starlyn felt bad for the woman, who would never experience the deepest desires of returned love. Granted, Adneiva’s love had been for her brother. Starlyn felt haunted because she did not know if Noraes loved her. She didn’t even consider whether she loved him or not, but her feelings for him were definite.
Adneiva helped Starlyn into a small red tent with green lace flaps amongst dozens of others. It stood as the only tent with green lace in its front, symbolic of the forest. They had stitched it for her to define the tent as one holding a kheshlar of the forest. She did not wish to inform them their reasons proved false as she was not a wood kheshlar, but a high kheshlar. Instead, she kept silent as she knew her time with them would soon come to an end. Adneiva gently helped Starlyn to her bed covered in crimson satin sheets.
“Do you need help undressing, Lady Starlyn?”
Starlyn smiled, remembering the times Adneiva had pressed about spending the night in her bed for comfort. It was one reason these Ikchani needed men rather than each other, but none would admit it. The comfort of a woman could sometimes prove more effective than a man, but not on all occasions.
“No, I can manage. Thank you, Adneiva.” Starlyn brushed her fingers against the woman’s cheek.
“Rest well.”
After one last glance, Adneiva fled from the tent to leave Starlyn alone. Starlyn preferred being alone. She’d embraced solitude after she left Sudegam. There was one she could go to who would understand and might be able to help her. However, it wasn’t a possibility anymore. Instead, she was trapped within the ranks of the Ikchani. The room fell dark and quiet. She slipped from her silk dress, letting it fall to the ground. Ikchani did not make underclothing and so she lay upon her bed without. The cold air didn’t affect her anymore, and for some reason, her body burned up instead of feeling frozen. Shivers still covered her body, but they no longer burned of frostbite. Instead, it felt as though she were on fire. Pain tormented her and she began to weep. She closed her eyes as tears continued to fall.
Chapter 31
Searon massaged Anaela’s back with one of his hands as she clung to him tight. Relief flooded over him now that she had awoken.
“I thought I was dead … I thought she killed me,” she whispered.
“It was the poison. It gave you a fever and put you into a coma.”
“How long have I been out?”
“Four days,” Searon said.
She gulped. “How is everything?”
“The same as you last saw it. When I came, Arria fled.”
Anaela’s mouth fell open. She gazed into his eyes, becoming lost in a daze. “You saved me …”
“I only did for you as you would do for me. Despite what you say, Anaela … I can see it in your eyes.”
“I …”
She shifted in his arms before scrambling out of them. Her body remained weak, and she would have collapsed if Searon hadn’t caught her. With a glare at him, she welcomed his help only long enough to climb atop the bed.
“Arria’s dagger was laced with pois
on,” Searon repeated in a whisper.
Anaela bit her lip as she stared at the ceiling in silence. Searon couldn’t help but stare at her soft lips. He grew eager to push his own lips upon hers, but he knew she didn’t feel the same way. There was something about her which pulled him toward her. He couldn’t understand it. It almost felt like the force holding him to the ground. Yet, when he stayed around her, gravity seemed to cease to exist. Even though he didn’t float into the atmosphere, it felt like he did in his chest.
“Something doesn’t feel right, Searon.”
“What is it?”
He reached his hand out to touch hers, and to his surprise, she welcomed his hand in hers. Her warmth spread through his body like a wildfire that had long ago lost control. A smile spread across his chapped lips, which he quickly hid as she turned to him. A serious expression was plastered across her face. Anaela appeared to be contemplating what had happened.
“Why would Arria attack with such a small force? What does she have to gain from certain failure?” Anaela asked.
Searon pondered on it only a moment before his eyes widened and he glanced at Anaela.
“Time,” he whispered.
“She will be back with a stronger force now that she knows we are weak.”
“We are not weak.”
“Yes, Searon, we are. We have lost our king and she hit our spell casters hard. She tried to eliminate the strongest warriors after that.”
“True, but she failed to defeat you.”
“She would have if it weren’t for you.”
Her free hand rose to graze Searon’s cheek before sliding above his ear to gently tug at his thick hair. He flinched slightly before closing his eyes to inhale her scent while tilting his head backward. Shivers sprang across his body and along his spine. Yet, he felt in absolute comfort while she touched him. Suddenly, her hand withdrew; she turned away, blushing.
“You only look more beautiful when you blush,” Searon said.
She glared at him, releasing the color from her cheeks, returning to the pale skin of a kheshlar. She wasn’t as pale as her kheshlarn sisters because she was a wood kheshlar. She was the only wood kheshlar Searon had ever seen. He wondered if they all were as beautiful as her. He quickly dismissed such nonsense, knowing none could be as beautiful as she. No person could be as beautiful … except Victoria. The name hung in his head, but he chose not to dwell on it. Since Anaela had been on his mind, he had not thought much about his past love. He did keep Victoria close to his heart, but he had finally moved on. Deep inside, he knew she would want him to move on and be happy. There would be no true happiness for him until Anaela returned the feelings he held for her. Still, he was not unhappy, only content.
“We need help to defeat her next attack. She knows our defense now,” Anaela whispered.
It irritated Searon only slightly when she disregarded his comment to rekindle their previous subject. At least she had blushed at his way with words, but he still wished she would speak with him about it. The built-up passion he held for her burned his insides, and every time he lingered around her, he felt hot to the touch.
“We can reorganize our defenses and defeat her, no matter how many draeyks or daerions she floods our way,” he said.
“Searon.” She gaped at him with fear touching her eyes. “What if it isn’t only draeyks and daerions this time? What if the dark wizard returns with Arria? What if they return with an army of nacropi? The same army that Andron swore he saw brewing. They stay hidden as we saw none when they attacked the city.”
Searon gulped as realization struck him. He closed his eyes while his head sank. He did not know how he had not seen it before. Well, he did know, he was blinded by happiness with seeing Anaela awake once more. He hadn’t even considered another attack until she spoke of it.
“Who can we turn to? My brother is across the country, we could be too late. Are there more kheshlars?”
“I do not know where my ancestors have hidden. It would take too long to search, even for me, and I know the forest well. Wood kheshlars have become one with the forest, and their homes and cities would be transparent in this wilderness. They would only be seen if they wish for us to see it.”
“Who else is left to turn to?”
“I know of one. It is risky and almost impossible to convince their kind. Everything to them is a game. They cower away from battle, even though they are excellent warriors.”
“Perhaps we should make our need a game,” Searon suggested.
“Precisely what I was thinking.” Anaela smiled.
“What are they?” he asked.
“Faeries.”
Searon’s eyes lit up. His mouth closed for a moment as he processed the information. “So they are more than just a children’s tale. You are right about risky … and dangerous.”
“I know … but it may be our only hope.”
Chapter 32
Zergiel strode into the dungeon through the hidden hatch inside of his tent. The hallways underground were dark. His zylek glowed with a purple light, enabling him to see. He didn’t need too much light as he’d grown accustomed to dark places. The damp air made his hands clammy as he slowly made his way through the tunnels, using his zylek to guide him. He could hear swirls of magic, causing his face to alight with eagerness before he continued faster.
The path pressed hard against his feet as sharp stones pressed through the soles of his boots. Nobody knew of the secret passage, not even Arria. It was his secret alone. He crept through the last hall, which curved south until it ended with an enormous marble door. Smiling broadly, he pushed it open with swirling black magic from his zylek.
Inside he saw scorpions scattered across the ground everywhere, with a few even fighting each other. He treaded carefully to avoid the vicious creatures as he made his way to three necromancers who sat drinking ale in celebration. Behind them sat a cage with thick steel bars, holding thousands of nacropi scurrying around, fighting each other.
“Have we succeeded?” Zergiel asked.
“Yes, master. We have found the cause of their hostility lies in their instinct to kill anything threatening them. Normally, other scorpions would threaten them. Therefore, we’ve altered their perception of each other. They will still fight, but do not kill. If we had some humans, we could test their reaction to them.” Valender straightened the wrinkles of his sleek purple robes.
“I do believe Arria arrived with some new allies. Perhaps we could use their assistance in this matter.”
“Yes … that should do nicely.”
“Slevvik, go awake Arria and inform her to bring forth ten of our newest allies. Be sure the ones she chooses are the closest to humans.”
“Yess, ssire.”
Slevvik was an experiment gone wrong for Zergiel. The poor man stood only nine hands high and had a charcoal scaly face. His frame showed more human than draeyk, but he was a hybrid of the two. He had greasy straight black hair which hid his slit sandy eyes. With a slither of his tongue, the man left the room to do his master’s bidding.
Zergiel stepped forward to observe the cages holding the scorpions, amazed with the quality of work his necromancers had accomplished. They had received scorpions from all the regions of Calthoria, some even appearing as if not from the land. The dark wizard wasn’t a fool and knew there had to be other lands across the world, but nobody from Calthoria had been able to reach any. If there were other lands, they resided too far for travel. Zergiel regarded the desert scorpions, jungle scorpions, stone scorpions, fire scorpions, ice scorpions, and various others.
The stone scorpions fascinated him. They could appear transparent around any stone surface. They appeared quite the formidable foe, appearing nearly invisible. The fire and ice scorpions were his favorites because the elements surrounded them. Frost encircled the sapphire ice scorpions, while steam rose off the fire scorpions. Zergiel could only wish all the dragons hadn’t gone extinct in the war of the last century. Still, scorpions would make
a great addition to the races of the land.
His eyes became lost in a swirl of colors as the creatures fought each other relentlessly. They did not seem to tire, circling with those they fought. It almost seemed as if the creatures were training for battle.
“Impressive,” Zergiel whispered.
“My lord … Arria arrivess,” a draeyk said from behind him.
Zergiel spun around to see Arria give him a slight bow before gesturing her guests forward. The majority of the group was humans. There seemed to be a few with slight variations such as horns or enough hair to be considered more beast than man. Each bowed low—their heads nearly touched the stone floor.
“Welcome, my new allies. You have come to see if you are worthy to join my cause.”
“We are worthy, my lord.” A human glanced up to meet Zergiel’s eyes. The man’s eyes shone the deepest violet and appeared fiery to the core.
“You will fight for me?” Zergiel asked.
“Yes.”
“You will die for me?”
“Yes …”
“Then let it begin.” Zergiel shifted to face the cage, a smile appearing on his face at the sight of the fighting scorpions. “Arria, do not be rude. Invite our guests in.”
The Obsidian Arrow Page 13