Past of Shadows

by Colleen Connally

  She jerked her hand away from his grasp. So what Silas was doing with the whore was fucking! She forced her thought back to her problem.

  “You forget, to play my part in this farce, I have had to act the role of a page,” she said in a low voice. “I have not been sheltered.”

  “You should have been,” Silas said staunchly.

  His compassion for her shocked Kela. Her flame of anger faded into an ember. She pressed, “Who then is trying to split Cono and I?”

  “I will tell you once more,” he contended. “No one, if you are truly bonded. Twiten came to Grandfather…”

  “Twiten?”

  A sudden screech alarmed Kela. A high echoing cry.

  The ground beneath her feet began to tremble.

  Her instincts cried something was wrong.

  The days and nights she had trained, visualizing the fight with the Arachnidans. When she dreamed, she dreamed of battle. Yet, nothing prepared her for the fear that surged through her.

  She raced outside. Her heart beating rapidly.

  Warriors had done the same. The pathways teemed with men preparing to fight.

  Strong gusts of winds greeted them. Banners snapped; tents tore from their stakes. Warriors jostled each other to strap their swords around their waists. Others pulled their boots; swords were drawn from their scabbards.

  Fly! Fly! Fly! Orders resounded throughout the camp. It was bloody hard to hear. Through the stiff wind, Kela heard a muffled sound— sandstorm.

  Around her, men started tying scarves around their faces. Yet, with each attempt to take off Sordarins met a barrier. The winds had picked up.

  Her fear dissipated to resolve and determination. Nothing matter except protecting her people.

  The ground shook harder, knocking Kela down. Pushing back with her arms, she saw Silas emerge from the tent, armored and sword in hand. He switched his sword to his other hand and reached to help her up.

  Raising her hand to protect herself from the wind, she pushed herself up on one knee. A pull…a need called to her.

  Closing her eyes, she answered.

  She felt herself being sucked into an abyss. The pain was excruciating, and then she was thrown on the sandy ground.

  She opened her eyes.

  The pain was gone. Furthermore, Cono stood in front of her.

  He, too, was fighting the wind.

  Blinded by the sand, Kela rose. Blown backward for a moment, she stretched out her right hand and blared a shield. Immediately, those within her protection could move again, including Cono.

  “Come, my Euchoun,” he said.

  She intertwined her hand in his. Next, he whirled her into his arms and took to the air. She was in flight.

  “Hold the shield only for us for a moment.”

  Kela obeyed in wait for his order.

  “Now, Kela, extend your shield.”

  High above the encampment, she flung her hand toward the forcible, westerly wind. Hard gusts beat against her barrier, but she held and widened the shield.

  Down below, the warriors took to the sky.

  With only the moonlight to guide, she heard commands and wings fluttering. A moment later, her brother was by her side.

  Swing your shield to the right, Kela.

  For a moment, she doubted her shield would widen that far, but a surge of energy ran through her as the need heightened. From behind her, orders were called out. It was hard to see what was happening.

  The sky was filled with Sordarins, swooping down to the ground. From the corner of her eye, she caught sight of Silas gesturing to a band of Sordarin archers.

  Arrows flew toward the ground.

  Her arms ached. Yet, her shield held, though now the winds had eased. The storm was subsiding as fast as it had sprung up.

  “There,” Cono whispered in her ear. “They are coming from below.”

  Even from that distance, there was no mistaking the horrid creatures escaping from underground—large, reddish-brown ant-like monsters!

  Cono reacted instinctively, furled his wings, and hurled downward with a tremendous thrust. In his arms, Kela dove hard until he pulled up to land on the sands of the desert.

  The action broke Kela’s shield, but her attention turned to the shaking ground. Trembling, the land broke apart, hundreds of creatures spilled forth. At first, crouched and then they leapt forward on their back legs, holding weapons of destruction in their claws…

  Kela thrust them back. Yet, they still came.

  “They are coming from tunnels below. They have to be,” Cono said. “The tunnels can’t be stable, not in this sand…”

  She understood what he wanted. Her arms heaved downward. The ground shivered slightly, but little else. Cono rounded her, taking her hand in his.

  “Now!”

  With his hand in hers, she laced her fingers together. The winds picked up once more, blowing fiercely. Cono refused to let go of her.

  Cono helped raise her arms over her head. This time, she plunged her hands downward with a powerful thrust.

  The ground shook with a violent force.

  Beneath her feet, the earth gave way.

  Frantic calls erupted to fly.

  She had no time to think, only react. Feeling Cono struggle to fly into the wind, she shielded once more the bombardment of the harsh gusts.

  Immediately, the two were back in flight. Cono lifted her high enough to hold back the winds. Down below, the Arachnidans were being picked off easily as their lair had been exposed.

  Beside them, Johannes arrived.

  “Take her.” Cono handed Kela over to the other Euchoun.

  The shield lessened when Cono dove back into battle, but so had the wind.

  How long Kela hovered over the battle, she knew not. Dizzy, she refused to give into the blackness. She saw nothing of the battle, determined to focus on the shield.

  She knew only when Cono returned.

  “Let go! All is finished! The storm is over. The battle won.”

  Weakened, she took comfort in her warrior’s arms.

  A sudden worry gripped her.

  She saw the sun rising over the horizon. She had no hat. Her hair undone, fell in a tangled mess down her back. All will know I am female.

  Cono laughed as if he read her thoughts.

  She knew nothing else. She was safe in his arms.

  Then all went black.

  SILAS

  Reap the Victory

  Flies swarmed the bodies littered across the battlefield. The dead and dying lay all around. The stench worsened with each step taken on the bloodstained sand.

  Silas’s gaze swept back and forth over the killing ground. He watched his men pick up the dead Arachnidans’ weapons. He himself stepped upon a huge double-bladed battle-axe. Leaning down with his hand still sticky with Arachnidan blood, he gripped it.

  Heavy and solid, blood stained the mallet.

  He handed the bludgeon killing weapon back to Totus. “See that goes to someone who can use it better than its previous owner.”

  “Yes, Sire.”

  Silas stopped. He could still hear the screams of the animals and the cries of fear echoing from the encampment as the ground shook beneath them. The crash of metal on metal rang in his ears. Hundreds of arrows whistled through the air at aimless targets.

  The Arachnidans had ambushed them at their most vulnerable.

  The understanding that their enemy had lured them here for just that reason burned in his soul. It had been he who supported his grandfather’s plan to chase the Arachnidans back to their lands after numerous raids into Scarladin.

  Cono had been the only one to express caution at the war council—only Cono had dared. Is it wise to commit so many of us to one area? Each raid disappeared at one spot. Do we not need to ask ourselves why?

  In last night’s most desperate hour, Cono had been the one to lead the men to victory in the midst of chaos.

  Their most dangerous enemy had intended a strike at the heart of Sc
arladin.

  It had failed. The Arachnidans had been vanquished.

  Annihilated.

  In a cloak of darkness, the Arachnidans attacked unaware that a powerful Euchoun was within their ranks. Under the Hawk’s golden banner, a Euchoun destroyed them.

  With the early morning sun, Silas saw for the first time the magnitude of what Kela had done.

  “Impressive victory,” Falco declared, walking toward his cousin with his great hawk helm under his arm. His armor and gloves were sprayed with Arachnidan blood. “I have sent a unit into the tunnel to follow it as far as they can safely travel. We will collapse it afterward.”

  Silas nodded. “Grandfather will be proud.”

  “There was a moment, I did not foresee such a win,” Falco confessed. “If not for the Euchoun…”

  “You need not say more,” Silas said. He waved his hand at Totus. “Go check upon the wounded.”

  Waiting until Totus was out of sight, Silas turned to Falco. “I dare not commend the Euchoun until Grandfather acknowledges it is for the best.”

  Falco grimaced. “Too many have seen. Not only Sordarins, but Arachnidans as well. We have to imagine a few vanished into the night.”

  “It is not me you have to convince, Falco.”

  Silas said the words with conviction. He had witnessed Kela’s power. More importantly, he had seen what she had done with Cono by her side.

  “What of Cono? What say you now of the one you dismissed so easily?”

  Not in the mood for a confrontation, Silas shook his head. “You expect me to simply overlook his defiance.”

  “Perhaps you do not understand the pull one has to their Euchoun,” Falco retorted.

  “Because I don’t have one.”

  “Yes,” Falco stated bluntly. “Surely, you can’t believe that Cono would have ever touched you otherwise. He is a good, loyal soldier. The men believe in him.”

  Silas could not argue. “Does it not concern you?”

  “I find it comforting,” Falco replied. “How could you not have such a warrior fighting beside us?”

  “He would not be the first arrogant commander to try to usurp a ruler. Think of Tarrin.”

  Falco recalled Tarrin had a rebellion less than five years ago, which ended in the death of their king and family. “Cono has sworn an oath to serve the House Calledwdele. He will not betray it,” Falco said with certainty. “I hold faith in Cono as I hold faith in you.”

  Weary and tired, Silas laughed. “You are that confident in me?”

  “Yes,” Falco said simply. “Should I not be?”

  “Some may say it is best for the heir apparent to trust no one unwaveringly.”

  “Then what kind of leader would I be if I can’t distinguish whom to trust?” Falco challenged. “You are renowned for your service to your brother. Grandfather holds confidence in your judgment. More importantly, you value family loyalty.”

  Wanted nothing more than to end this talk, Silas said, “I am loyal to the Crown. In which, I have sworn my allegiance.”

  “That I know.” Falco smiled. “I remember our first meeting. I saw the devastation you felt at Axel’s death, the pain when we thought Kela dead, and how seriously you took your responsibility to your bastard daughter. You are a good man, one worthy of my trust.”

  Silas looked at Falco. He clasped his cousin’s back, repeating the Calledwdele oath. “Our country, our king, our life.”

  Above their heads, Sordarins circled. Their screeches announced the arrival of King Edulf. Their conversation had come to an end.

  Prince Silas watched Falco rushed to greet their grandfather, anxious to convey the complete and utter victory. Silas would play his part.

  Silas had done so since the night the Euchoun had been stealthily shuttled out of Yucca. He was the epitome of a true knight through and through. He had, as he had sworn, done as ordered…and her eyes haunted him every night.

  * * * *

  King Edulf strolled through the battlefield with Falco on his right and Silas on his left. Immediate behind them, Lord Lothar followed and observed the devastation the Euchoun caused.

  A large crater remained where the tunnels collapsed. There had been no attempt to dig out any of the causalities. The sand was not stable.

  The king was pleased. More so than Silas had ever seen. It was good to see. King Edulf was not often satisfied. Even still, the king had questions.

  “Why were we taken by surprise?” King Edulf’s request hung in the air.

  “Our scouts cannot see underground, Grandfather,” Silas said finally. “It was unavoidable. A unit followed the tunnels twenty miles to the Stone Hills. There was no way to have foreseen the attack.”

  “That is debatable,” King Edulf directed his words toward Silas.

  “We have since destroyed them,” Falco added.

  Pivoting on his heel, King Edulf stopped. “How many did we lose?”

  “We don’t have the final count. Presently, we have lost twenty-five warriors, another fifty injured,” Falco continued. “The Arachnidans lost three thousand. Twenty-five hundred in battle, another five hundred by suicide. Arachnidans do not take well to captivity.”

  “We did manage to contain seventy-five,” Silas finished for Falco. “They can be interrogate at will.”

  “So they shall be.” King Edulf rubbed his stubble chin in deep thought. “The Euchoun performed well against the Arachnidan.”

  “Cono was by her side,” Falco said proudly. “Never have I ever seen such power.”

  “I want you to report all you saw to the High Council,” King Edulf told Falco. “I ask only that you do not reveal the name of your sister. That needs to still remain a secret. What needs to be known is that a Euchoun lives…a Euchoun that will defend Scarladin.”

  “Yes, Grandfather.” Falco bowed his head and withdrew.

  Silas watched Falco talk with Lord Lothar. Lord Lothar looked to King Edulf nodded and proceeded to camp with the prince.

  Turning back to his grandfather, Silas found King Edulf’s eyes upon him.

  “Tell what you witnessed.”

  Silas wasn’t surprised at the command. Over the last month, he had talked many hours with his grandfather about Kela.

  Unlike his father, Silas had the confidence of the king. Even when King Edulf had given him the most heinous of task, he had never questioned the order.

  After Kela exposed herself saving her sister, he had realized that Kela needed to be brought home. He was a student of history. Never in his studies had he known a Euchoun kept from their warrior.

  For the first time, he disagreed with his grandfather. Their conversations had become heated.

  “A Euchoun belongs with their warrior. She has been separated long enough from Cono,” Silas asserted.

  “You know she can never be acknowledged,” King Edulf countered.

  “She doesn’t have to be,” Silas maintained.

  Silas wasn’t certain his grandfather had listened. His grandfather had his reasons for hiding Kela. Silas felt the reasons were justified, but there was something he felt his grandfather was keeping from him.

  “I’m certain, you have heard all the details,” Silas said. “What more do you need?”

  “It is obvious you are still irritated with me,” King Edulf rightly observed. “You should be happy that you were right.”

  “I told Kela that it was Twiten that caused Cono to be called back to Yucca. I lied.” Silas frowned. The way I treated her, guilt should riddle me…but I have none.

  “Your words held truth. Twiten has reservations about Cono. He says Cono has a loyal heart, but there is something within Cono he cannot read,” King Edulf gestured to the dead Arachnidans. “Now, though, there is no doubt the two are bonded.”

  “None. She had come to me before the attack. When the need arose, she transported to Cono.” Silas relayed the scene. “She disappeared right in front of me.”

  “That I have never seen,” King Edulf said. “Tell me
more.”

  “She is like no Euchoun I have ever known. I have only read about the great ones. We were taken completely by surprise in the midst of a sandstorm. The camp was in chaos. Yet, she reacted quickly and precisely.

  “She shielded the camp from the wind…at one time, the whole of the camp, which allowed the warriors to take to the air. The Arachnidans were pouring up from the ground. The next I heard was the roar of the ground collapsing. Kela had blasted the ground which trapped hundreds upon hundreds of Arachnidans.

  “Cono gave her over at that point to Falco’s Euchoun. Cono attacked the remaining Astris with a fierceness I have rarely seen.”

  “A lingering effect from his Euchoun.”

  Silas stopped and studied his grandfather. His jaw was fixed firm, but the lines around his eyes had eased.

  If Silas didn’t know better, he would have thought his grandfather proud of Kela. He said, “You talk like you have seen this before.”

  “You forget I was lived through the Arachnidan Terror. We would not have won without my Euchoun.”

  He pressed the king. “Grandfather, I understand why Kela had to be hidden from all eyes…why you can’t claim her as your granddaughter. But why try to keep her from Cono?”

  “It truly would have been for the best if she stood on her own, not depending on Cono for her great strength.” King Edulf told him. “Perhaps I honestly didn’t want her to be a Euchoun. I know the life that she must live. The heartache.”

  Silas looked at his grandfather strangely. He cares for Kela.

  King Edulf must have seen the confusion in Silas. He placed his hand on Silas’s shoulder. “Out of all my grandchildren, you know me best. Truly, I see myself in you. But you do not know everything. Far from it.”

  “What does that mean?”

  “You want to know how I know so much about Euchouns. Why I’m not shocked that my own granddaughter is one and is so unearthly powerful.” He paused, looking over the battlefield. “I know for her grandmother was one— Althea was my Euchoun.”

  KELA

  Emergence

  Kela woke in a strange chamber. The stones of the walls told her quickly she was within a castle, exactly where—she didn’t know.