The Obsidian Arrow

by Craig A. Price Jr.

  “Yes, my lord.” Arria bowed.

  She turned to face the others, who began cowering, with a smirk on her face. Her hands moved to her scabbard, where she rested her hand on the hilt of her flamberge. The men around her didn’t flinch or attempt to flee in any manner. Instead, they seemed to accept their fate, walking forward. Arria escorted them to the door of the cage as the necromancers opened it. As soon as they all stepped inside, Arria latched the door before moving next to Zergiel.

  The nacropi inside the cage suddenly stopped their attacks on each other, turning to face the new members of the cage. They seemed to inspect the new creatures with all five senses. Zergiel nodded to the necromancers.

  Valender, the necromancer in purple robes with the darkest hair, stepped forward. “Kill them,” he whispered with a chill of frost escaping his mouth.

  Without another second of hesitation, all the nacropi leaped forward to attack. In mere minutes the humans weren’t only dead, but torn to shreds. The creatures seemed hungry as they ate the flesh, leaving only bones scattered over the floor. Zergiel’s smile spread almost as wide as Arria’s.

  “I want one … can I have one?” Arria asked.

  “These are not pets,” Zergiel said.

  “Still … I want one.” Arria sighed, brushing her hair from her eyes.

  “Valender, give Arria a dead scorpion and the reviving powder.”

  The necromancer reluctantly obeyed, placing a dead scorpion into a red pouch and gathering purple powder in a small purple pouch. His grip held tight as Arria snatched it from his hand.

  “Be careful … this is not a toy,” Valender snapped.

  Arria stuck her tongue out as Zergiel grabbed her shoulder, taking her to a private area. The three necromancers whispered to themselves as they tossed cautious glares Arria’s way. The dark wizard cleared his throat and studied her intensely.

  “Arria … this strong warrior … tell me … what do you know about him?

  “I have not heard much, my lord. I have heard he comes from a village destroyed of all humans besides himself. There is also rumor that he lost his son and his wife to draeyks who raided his cabin. His sword … it glows crimson when he attacks.”

  Zergiel shivered. “He survived …”

  “My lord … surely you cannot be afraid of this mere human.”

  “No … do not be foolish. Yet he is not to be underestimated.”

  “Yes, my lord.”

  “Arria, I have a special task for you regarding this new threat of ours.”

  Arria bowed. “I am yours to command, my lord.”

  Chapter 33

  An eerie chill in the air caused Charlotte to shiver. The chill didn’t settle well with the scattered fog surrounding the afternoon sky. It seemed odd that such fog could still remain as it neared afternoon. Charlotte could barely see through it now to the meeting place four hundred paces in front of her. Snowflake wasn’t with her; she’d told the tiger to remain behind. Charlotte found it strange when the animal seemed to understand and obey her, but she assumed it had been saddened by the capture of Starlyn. Of course, it had always been Charlotte’s dream for animals to understand the commands and emotions of humans. A faded memory of faerie tales her mother used to tell her swirled in her mind. The memories transformed her expression of concentration into a grimace.

  She had lost her parents when she was young, barely at the age of five. She remembered the day the village was attacked. Her family wasn’t able to afford much, but they always seemed able to feed her. It hadn’t been much besides bread and cheese. And water could always be found in puddles after a rain. Her father would always find cups and bowls, often thrown out by nobles for imperfections, and they’d use them to store water. Thirst always took a person first. Charlotte knew that, which was why she clutched her steel canteen as she stared at the Ikchani camp. She held a spyglass to her eye, noticing Starlyn on stage. Charlotte regarded the defenses they kept on Starlyn. They seemed insignificant. They no longer guarded her as they once had. Charlotte could see the kheshlar grew weaker. Charlotte’s heart sank each time she saw it.

  Memories clouded her mind of her past with her parents. They had been so full of love, and her loss of them was a burden on her small fragile heart. She never thought to love again. She held only thoughts of survival. She believed deep within her soul she would perish like her parents had so many years ago. Often, there were times she wished she had been with them when they fell, instead of hiding. Sometimes she thought in death she could be with them again, wherever they were, instead of alone. Those thoughts had changed when she met Searon, but soon she became alone again. She survived the onslaught of the city. After which, she really found herself alone. Then Starlyn came into her life, restoring all hope, and no matter what happened, Charlotte knew in her heart of hearts that she would not let Starlyn fall. For she did not fear death anymore, only in life was she afraid, afraid of being utterly alone. The faces of her parents were still fresh in her mind as if it were yesterday.

  “Alas, Charlotte! There you are, my dear, come here, do come here, for I have something for you!” Her father spoke with cheer in his voice.

  She spun, gazing into his indigo eyes, a smile fighting its way onto her young dirty face. She rubbed crusty dirt caked to her cheeks. Her father fell to his knees to embrace her in a large hug, laughing all the while. He reached into his back pocket, withdrawing a dirty black handkerchief. He proceeded to moisten it with his saliva to clean her face.

  “Daddy, what do you have for me?” she asked with a glint in her eye.

  “Ah, do not be greedy, my child, for it is here in my hand.”

  From behind his back he revealed a soft scarlet teddy bear with only a few specks of dirt. Its chest was pink and bore the word “love” in scarlet letters. She embraced it, giving it a hug almost larger than the one she gave her father. Leaping into her father’s arms, she kissed his cheek gratefully.

  “I do love it, Daddy.”

  “I am glad, my dear. May it be a reminder that I shall always be with you, even when you cannot see me.”

  “Charlotte, dear, are you here?” came a motherly voice in the darkness.

  Charlotte turned, searching the shadows for her mother. Her father pulled her back to look her in the eyes. He seemed worried for only a second before a beautiful smile graced his face. He brushed his tangled black hair from his eyes before clearing his throat.

  “My dear Charlotte, please hide the bear from your mother. Keep it our little secret. For your mother would be displeased with me to find I spent my last gold coin on that for you rather than food. Promise me?”

  Charlotte leaned in and kissed her father’s cheek. “I promise.”

  Her mother appeared from the shadows as she stuffed her new scarlet teddy into the folds of her torn blue dress. She glanced up, smiling at her mother, noticing her fragile fingers carried a half loaf of bread. Charlotte gasped excitedly as she saw food for the first time in days. Her mother smiled brightly, lighting up the room. Charlotte glanced into her crystal-blue eyes and admired her tangled, yet beautiful, beehive honey hair.

  “It is old and hard, but there is still some good in it. Eat, my daughter, for your father and I have already shared some.”

  Charlotte nearly snatched it from her mother’s hands. She began gnawing on it with much effort. Even though it felt hard, it tasted good and settled her stomach. Her mother laughed at her efforts with serenity and joy before stepping over to her father. Both stared deep into each other’s eyes, smiling lovingly before embracing each other in a passionate kiss. They remained in each other’s arms to watch as their daughter ate.

  Suddenly, a large crash and yells came from outside the abandoned building. Her mother and father glanced at each other questioningly before making for the door. There was little in the room besides wool blankets they had found to keep warm, except for a short sword her father grabbed to attach to his holey scabbard hanging from his torn brown breeches. Her mother hasti
ly grabbed a dagger and looked after him.

  “Stay here, my dear. Promise me you will stay here,” her mother said.

  “I promise, Mother, but come back soon.”

  “We will.” She gently kissed Charlotte’s forehead before dashing away after her father.

  Charlotte sat cold and alone, but with a full stomach. Sounds of crashing and screaming surrounded her, echoing from all areas outside. It sounded as if there were skirmishes all about with the clattering of metal upon metal. Charlotte shivered, hastily using a brown wool blanket to cover herself from the cold. The sounds continued for hours, until at last the door crashed open ahead of her. She was near the brink of sleep. Charlotte awoke swiftly to look ahead, hoping to see her parents.

  Two men entered, muttering under their breath. They bore worn leather armor and swords in their hands. She cowered against the wall, holding onto her blanket tight.They stopped abruptly when they saw her shivering. One stepped close to inspect her.

  “It is a little girl.”

  “Come, she is no use to us,” the other said.

  “Perhaps not. At least not yet. Given time, she could prove to be all the useful.”

  “Berendyl, no, leave her be. She is innocent in this.”

  “Very well.”

  With one last glance and a sinister wink at her, he spun around and the two of them sped out of the nearly empty building. She cowered there for hours, but it only seemed like minutes, before she dared move a step. It was nightfall, and the clashing of metal against metal had long passed. An eerie silence was all that remained, and yet, her parents did not return. Warily, she rose to her feet and took slow, cautious steps forward.

  She pushed the door forth to stare out into the night. It seemed darker than normal, with clouds covering the stars and moon in the sky. With each step Charlotte took, she shook with terror. Her fingers found the fold of her dress where her teddy bear lay unscathed. She removed it to stare blankly at it. She held it tight with a death grip as she shivered. She could hear no voices. Even deeper in the village there seemed to be silence. She dared not travel through those streets, keeping to the abandoned alleys near her home.

  Finally, she turned a corner to see what she dreaded, for what lay on the ground was none other than her mother and father. Neither held sword nor dagger in their clenched hands, as if the weapons had been torn from them. They seemed not to breathe, and a crimson liquid spilled upon the ground surrounding them. Charlotte ran over to them, crying out in terror. She didn’t care if anyone heard, for she had nothing to fear anymore. Her greatest fear lay before her in a puddle of fresh blood. She leaped into their arms, calling for them to wake, but neither stirred. Blood soaked her blue dress, turning it crimson, and her scarlet teddy soaked it in as well. Yet she dared not move, instead, staying there with them all night, weeping into the darkness.

  Chapter 34

  Searon held his striped horse’s reins loosely as he felt Anaela’s arms tugging at his waist. The black-and-white Stripes gave a dizzying effect to anybody trying to stare at the horse while it galloped. Searon kept his stallion to a light trot, though, so he could contain his thoughts as they made their way south through the sunset. It was a stunning sunset with shades of purple and pink hovering at the horizon across an orange sun. The sparse clouds lingered in the sky; the weather had only a slight chill to tickle Searon’s nostrils.

  He thought of everything that had occurred after he retrieved Anaela from the infirmary. They discussed with Karceoles and Sh’on about the dire need to leave and find more allies. They were reluctant at first, especially Karceoles, but they came to realize they could use all the help they could get after the last battle. The city remained in ruins, and no matter how quickly the kheshlars would rebuild it, it would still never be the same. Sh’on knew Anaela was weak and offered healing, which she gratefully accepted. Searon still saw she remained weak, though, and suggested she ride with him to rest. The expression on her face had been sour at first, but after a few steps of arguing, she complied.

  Andron had offered his assistance at their departure, but Searon respectfully told the young warrior to look after the anxious men for him. He knew Andron’s skill on the battlefield exceeded any of the other warriors’, his sense of battle outweighing the rest. Regretfully, Searon silently admitted Andron’s battle tactics might even excel his own, though he would never admit it out loud. It seemed the young man’s knowledge had only increased since he returned from the dead. At least it was what everybody thought when he reappeared to greet them all. Searon only hoped no corruption had reached the warrior.

  The biggest thing tugging at Searon’s mind, though, was Starlyn. He had no feelings for her besides that of a sister he’d never had. He had always wished he had a sister growing up, but instead he only had a brother. His brother could not be replaced though; Searon loved him more than anything in the world. Noraes was his only family left. Searon was proud of his younger brother with his accomplishment of being a duke of the city. Often, there had been times when Searon wondered what the young man was up to.

  He quickly dispelled such thoughts as he reminisced about Starlyn once again. She had taken off with barely a word. Starlyn spoke a few words to him, but he came to realize nobody else knew anything. She hadn’t even gone to Anaela, her best friend, to say goodbye. It was strange to him when she had just taken off. Never before had she done such a thing, especially in the midst of an upcoming battle. When she had been with the kheshlars, she pushed to raise the others to battle for what would be right, and when it finally happened again, she had taken off. He remembered her pursuing her sister in hope to bring her to justice. Searon still remembered the promise he had made to her that no harm would come to her sister. He would keep that promise, and if he had a chance, he would capture Arria for her.

  “What is on your mind?” Anaela asked, gently tugging at his waist.

  “Starlyn,” he blurted without thinking.

  “Oh.” She sighed, removing her hands from his waist.

  Bewildered, he turned around to see her avoiding his gaze, staring at the ground. Her cheeks puffed a slightly darker green, making the freckles on her face sparkle. She appeared sad, regret in her sizzling green eyes. Her hands dangled to the sides of the horse for a moment before holding steady at the horse’s rear.

  “It’s not like that, Anaela. I am just curious as to where she went, and why she barely bid farewell.”

  “Yes … I am as well.”

  She still would not return her arms around his waist. His lips pursed as he recalled her touch. Before, he hadn’t given the comfort of her arms a second thought, but now with them missing, he couldn’t get their comfort out of his head. She avoided his gaze. It seemed there had been some discomfort when he had mentioned her friend’s name. Had she wanted the words from his mouth to be about her? He did not think kheshlars selfish in any way, but perhaps they could be when it came to those they cared about. However, it would mean she really did care about him.

  He observed her face, noticing how radiant she appeared. She shone more beautiful than ever. Something about her appeared different. He could not place it; he focused hard to bring clarity to his eyes. Finally, he gasped as he noticed the long braid of green and white beads hanging down the left of her face. The colors brought out her incredible eyes. Understanding dawned on him why they shone so bright. Even though her eyes blazed, they still seemed sad; he silently cursed himself for his foolishness. He had not spoken a word all afternoon about her beauty, or the marvelous design of beads draping along her cheek, but instead spoken aloud admitting he missed Starlyn. It was a wonder she hadn’t slapped him.

  “Anaela. I am sorry for not speaking during our journey. There is a lot on my mind. Do not think I have forgotten you. You are still as beautiful as ever, and that braid dangling next to your face makes your eyes light up brighter than the moon.”

  She blushed slightly, but did not say a word. Searon sighed, ushering his stallion forward at a sl
ightly faster pace. After a few minutes, he felt the graze of her hands sliding back around his waist. The comfort overwhelmed him, and his sad mood shattered, replaced with joy. He urged his horse at a faster pace. Soon, she clutched him tight, until her head rested gently on his back.

  He grinned.

  Warmth and comfort spread through Anaela’s veins like never before; she had no idea how to control them. Anaela knew she would be even less in control if she were in his embrace instead of having her arms clutched tightly around his waist. His horse began trotting even faster. She suspected it was an effort to get her to clutch even tighter at his waist to keep from falling off. The simple truth was she did not have to hold onto him to keep her balance on the horse. Kheshlars held more balance than any other race in the land of Calthoria. Yet, she did not have to divulge such information to Searon. There would be no need to admit to him that she held him for her comfort alone.

  She could still not believe what the fool of a man had blurted earlier. There she had been hoping she lingered in his thoughts as he stayed in hers. In fact, he had not left her thoughts since she awoke to him staring at her from the healing bed. The spark in his eyes, craving her, sank deep into her mind. She had to hold back the urge to kiss him right then. If she would have, she knew it might have gone much further than a kiss and she hardly had the mind to stop it. Then the fool of a man went and blurted that he had been thinking of Starlyn! After leaving the sickroom, she had changed into her armor and robes before deciding to add a braid to her hair. The moment she saw Searon again, she had hoped to hear a comment on it, but had only been met with silence. He still had not even noticed it until he realized he had upset her. Human men are no different than kheshlars. They are as oblivious as a mule.

  She had been reluctant to go to the faeries, but there seemed little choice for their situation. Many stories circulated about the creatures. Anaela had had a few dreams about faeries, and could only wonder if she had once met them, before she lost her memory. She could not deny that by seeking an alliance with the faeries, she might learn of where she came from. Perhaps the faeries knew where the other wood kheshlars resided, and why they had abandoned her. It filled her heart with loneliness to think of such things. There had to be a reason they never came searching for her. Surely she was capable of being wanted; Searon had proved that to her if he hadn’t done anything else. She just wished she knew why her heart went out to a human. She felt shame to want a human who would wither and die in a mere hundred years. Love would be unbearable if everything rested on a time limit.