The Dark Crown

by S C Gowland

  Paying no attention and no heed to the direction that she was heading. Trusting Essa to follow the rest of the group.

  She slowly, but surely, lowered her pulse rate calmed herself down. The tingling in her fingers, slowly, slowly subsided and was replaced with a slight nervousness, a raw energy.

  An energy that she was uncomfortable with but felt that she could control.

  Movement stopped.

  She slowly squinted and opened one eye; imagery blurred.

  She opened it a little more.

  Her surroundings were now slightly less chaotic. Buildings were spaced further back, there were trees, much fewer people, some sign of nature in this horrendous place. A dusty pathway continued off in front of them offering views of a park, grass, flowers, bushes in the distance. She turned around to look behind her. The throng that they had just gone through disappearing into the distance, and with it the noise, the hustle and bustle and the barrage of smells.

  ‘Don’t look so miserable dearie..’ came a screech from further down the road.

  Romina frowned, head searching to find the origin of the voice.

  ‘I can help make you happier…’ followed by a cackle.

  ‘What are they talking about?’ Romina muttered.

  ‘Probably best not to ask.’ said a voice beside her; Kaoldan.

  She frowned again.

  ‘My, my you are a pretty one.’ the owner of the voice becoming clearer through the glare of the sun. It belonged to a stringy, blonde haired woman, dressed in just her underwear.

  Romina jolted. ‘Shouldn’t she be wearing some clothes?’ she said before her head had realise whom she was talking to.

  Kaoldan pursed his lips, suppressing a smile. ‘Maybe not given her line of work.’

  Romina’s face went slack. ‘Her line of work?’

  Kaoldan stiffened.

  Romina looked up at the woman on the balcony, cackling noisily to some unseen person within the building. A mass of trussed up curls and far more makeup than was ever reasonable, thought Romina.

  She looked back towards Kaoldan, shrugging her shoulders and shaking her head.

  ‘Never mind…’ he said, face reddening.

  ‘Be seeing you soon.’ the woman pointed at Romina with a heavily jewelled hand, rings clinking.

  Romina felt a shudder work down her body. Something about the look from that woman made her nervous and rather hot, but she wasn’t quite sure why. A slow wave of realisation washed over her.

  Kaoldan suppressed a smile.

  ‘And YOU even sooner.’ she said to Kaoldan biting the air with a snap.

  Kaoldan bristled uncertain where to look.

  ‘You know her?’ asked Romina face innocent.

  ‘He certainly does… don’t you my dear.’ winked the woman badly raising a wine glass.

  Kaoldan turned even redder. He made a sort of gravelly honking noise like a goose being strangled. Stretched out his neck, coughed, took a considered breath out and looked at the floor.

  ‘What? Kubrean?’ he pointed towards the old warrior at the front of the group, opening his palm. ‘He wants me for something.’ He shrugged rather limply, smiling apologetically and before waiting for an answer rode off.

  A small grin appeared on Romina’s face as she looked up at the woman on the balcony who pointed at a rapidly disappearing Kaoldan shrugged and mouthed ‘Who?’ Then she paused, and a smile grew on her face, eyes not moving from Romina; like a cat considering its lunch.

  That warm, nervous feeling returned, and Romina frowned as small ripples of electricity tickled at her chest.

  The noise from the balcony faded. Here in their new surroundings she felt relaxed, happier less as though the world was not trying to suffocate her. She looked up, skies were blue and white, clouds drifting slowly past; she breathed in deeply and exhaled slowly.

  ‘An assault upon your senses.‘ said Kubrean sat waiting patiently for her an eyebrow raised.

  ‘Something like that.’ she replied.

  ‘I remember the first time I came to such a huge city.’ he said ‘Scared the hell out of me. So much life. So much happening it felt like I was drowning in a sea of people.’ He frowned. ‘You will grow used to it. The noise, the throng of activity,’ he waved his hand ‘soon disappears.’

  ‘I don't think I'll ever get used to that noise.’ she said, looking around.

  ‘You’ll see.’ said Kubrean mysteriously.

  ***

  ‘It is so very good to be home.’ boomed Kubrean as they entered the compound of the Walkers chapterhouse.

  The surroundings that greeted Romina were very much to her liking - gravel paths, squares and rectangles of vegetables and crops being grown, surrounded by a handful of people carefully tending the plants. Gravel crunched as they approached the front entrance of a large rectangular building at the centre which Kubrean and Kaoldan both seemed immensely pleased to see. Even Dref was pleased, charging between the gardeners, seeking attention from anyone willing to provide it, and there were plenty willing.

  It was late in the afternoon and Romina was suddenly hit by a huge wave of weariness. The events of recent weeks had most certainly built up taking more out of her than she had realised.

  ‘Well, well, well…’ echoed a voice.

  Romina turned to her left caught off guard, half reaching for her Walkerblade. She stopped, stretching her fingers casually trying to make it appear as though that was exactly what she had intended to do. What was she doing?

  ‘Nice of you to come and visit.’ said a tall, dark-haired young man tartly, his hands on his hips.

  ‘I require less of your sarcasm and more of your help.’ said Kubrean to the young man. ‘Fetch some of your brothers and sisters to give us a hand.’ he said.

  ‘As you wish.’ said the young man, bowing before turning on his heals and jogging towards the house to get help.

  The old man slowly, with a low groan, climbed down off Max's back.

  ‘Thank you, my friend.’ he said to the big cat ruffling his ears. ‘Thank you for taking care of us and for returning me safely back.’

  The big cat looked at his Master in acknowledgement, apparently nonplussed by the praise.

  Kubrean turned and began to remove some larger bags from the front of the big cat.

  Max turned and leaned in, purring softly, slowly laying his not inconsiderable head on Kubrean shoulders. The big man wrapped his left arm around the neck of panthera and they embraced roughly.

  Romina felt a small twinge of jealousy.

  ‘That’s better.’ Kubrean said with a smile.

  The tramp of numerous feet announced the arrival of six young men and women all similarly dressed in grey and black moving towards the group

  ‘Thank you, brothers and sisters.’ said Kaoldan at Romina’s side as the other Walkers bowed and began to help remove bags and saddlebags.

  Romina took a sharp breath in and lowered herself from Essa’s back, the saddle creaking as she did so. Her legs felt weak and tingly; she stamped the floor trying to get the blood flowing.

  ‘Leave that.’ said Kubrean, raising his hand. ‘Zahara and Romina you are to go straight into that house.’ He pointed towards the front door. ‘Get something to eat and then bed to rest.’

  ‘No. I’d rather help.’ she said, determined to do her bit.

  ‘I don’t think he was asking.’ said Kaoldan quietly. ‘Best do as he says and take some time to get that journey out of your system.’

  ‘But we just sat and rode for a few weeks.’ she shrugged.

  ‘I think we did a bit more than that don’t you?’ said Kaoldan calmly.

  She was about to protest.

  He raised his hand slightly.

  ‘A lot has happened, just put it like that.’ he said.

  She looked at him uncertainly

  ‘I’m just trying to help here.’ he shrugged. ’And besides I’m not the one telling you to do it, he is.’

  She paused.

&nb
sp; ‘Go on, make an old man happy.’ he said creasing his eyes.

  ‘Him or you?’ she goaded.

  He smiled at that.

  ‘You.’ Kubrean’s voice boomed. ‘You will do as you are told.’ Kubrean leaned, looking around Kaoldan bag in hand. ‘Each word, I am the Grey and you will do as I say. Go eat, rest and ignore my bad poetry.’

  Kaoldan winced.

  Romina looked briefly towards her father, who nodded in agreement.

  ‘It would be wise.’ said Kaoldan. ‘We, old people, have done this before. This is still something new for you, no matter how much you may think you are okay. Trust me. You're going to sleep like the dead tonight.’ He turned his attention back to the bags on the side of Essa, the conversation clearly over.

  ***

  Honey cakes, apples and milk were provided by the kitchen and the two women sat lazily in a large wood panelled room, a small fire licking and crackling in the background.

  ‘So what do you think of this place?’ asked Romina to her sister, sucking the honey from her fingers.

  Zahara stretched back in her seat.

  ‘Not really sure if I'm honest,’ she said, looking around the surroundings. ‘Not as grand as Vanguard, but certainly homely.’ she said. ‘I think I could grow to like this place.’ she said, considering each word.

  ‘I suppose this is our new home now.’ she said wriggling her toes towards the fire.

  That was a thought, in all the rush, all the journeys, all the activity of recent weeks. Romina hadn't really considered, this was her new home, to all intents and purposes unless Kubrean had somewhere else for them to go. This was it.

  Looking around; it could have been far worse.

  She only considered herself to have had two real homes. This would be her third. Her first home and the home of a family; the memories were somewhat washed away, dreamlike

  The second home had been the one she loved the most. It had been safe, secure, but made of hard, brutal, granite stones. Dull, bleak weather. The rain constant, but it had felt like hers. Hers and Zahara’s.

  Now this. She scrunched her mouth up, taking in the surroundings. Something entirely softer, somewhat alien to her. But that being said, the prospect of a comfy bed, plentiful food and a fire was appealing. And she had her sister by her side, she looked at her younger sibling ravenously demolishing yet another apple, this place could be something.

  She tapped at the side of her cup with her finger, it seemed comfortable, familiar somehow. She considered it, then with a small nod to herself that was it. This would be a home, a good home.

  The sound of footsteps at the side of the room made her reconsider this. The fleeting appearance of her father added in a note of caution at the back of her mind. Although the surroundings may be familiar and comfortable. The occupants within it were almost certainly not.

  Chapter 18 – Good Authority

  ‘Zuivosal!? Zuivosal…’ exclaimed Kaoldan.

  ‘Why on earth do we have to go there?’ he said irritably.

  ‘Because.’ said Nova rubbing the temples on the side of his head for the fiftieth time that morning. ‘We believe it may have the answers to many of our questions.’ He placed his elbows on the table and pressed his fingers together ‘Despite our best efforts, we still don't really know what is going on.’ said Nova.

  ‘Tell me about it.’ murmured Kaoldan under his breath.

  ‘Zuivosal is to be blunt.’ he emphasised to Nova, ‘the arse end of nowhere. It is a derelict place and from the best of my memory has been uninhabited for centuries and there is nothing.’ he shook his head with finality. ‘Nothing there.’ His head was beginning to throb. The meeting this morning had been long, heated and most of all unproductive.

  ‘I have it on good authority. That that is the place we need to go.’ said Nova, spreading his hands, smiling politely.

  ‘And what exactly is this authority?’ asked Kaoldan leaning on the table. His eyes narrowed, questioning his friend.

  ‘The authority is unimportant.’ said Tokel, dismissing him with a wave of her hand.

  Kaoldan clenched his teeth. He rose from his chair and walked over to the side of the room. Snatching a glass from the side table he poured himself a glass of water.

  ‘The authority says,’ continued Nova, ‘that Zuivosal contains information that we don't have. There is most definitely something happening and to be quite honest, we know very little about it. The death of this lecturer and your encounter with the Otan are probably the most obvious examples of whatever it is.’ He said waving his hands. ‘But Zuivosal is our next destination.’ he said simply locking eyes with Kaoldan.

  ‘I need some air.’ said Kaoldan, loudly placing the glass back on the sideboard. He strode across the room and the door banged closed behind him. He walked for a few minutes, mind rushing in no coherent order until he found the entrance to the wooded area of the Palace. He walked through purposefully, taking in several deep breaths, letting them out of his body slowly.

  Everything had made him angry today.

  The meeting.

  The lack of progress.

  The questions

  Nova.

  Tokel.

  And himself.

  Normally they and Kaoldan found it easy to work together, it was well established and unchallenging however today had irritated him immensely. He continued to walk deeper into the wood.

  He flexed his fingers and shook his hands out. This helped, but his mind still raced. To his surprise recent events had taken on increasingly emotional toll on him. He found himself drained, hollow and isolated. Promising snippets of discussions as they had returned to the chapter house had proved to be a false dawn. The women had been allocated duties away from him in recent weeks. Their paths crossed, but always over a meal, or in a large group. And whenever he tried to start a conversation or to gather the courage to suggest a proper talk, he found had the words had not come.

  Strange how he had fought monster and enemies that most people would run a mile away from, but he could not say simple words to two women.

  He wrinkled his nose, the sun catching his eyes through the branches.

  In particular he had found the affectionate reunion of Nova, Tokel and his daughters had sparked a deep jealousy within him. He had watched from the side lines; an observer to hugs, smiles, kindness, and unabashed joy.

  Kaoldan felt a pang deep inside his chest. He was not normally the jealous sort, but something about the openness and the way that the reunion had taken place, deeply, deeply angered him.

  In fact, generally in recent weeks he had found himself becoming angrier and angrier. Further out of his comfort zone, more things to contend with, more issues that needed his attention, and in many ways issues that he felt ill-equipped to deal with.

  The attack by the mysterious Otan had unsettled him the most. The feeling of utter helplessness as he saw his two girls riding into the distance away from him with danger following close behind.

  They had gone into that forest as girls and emerged from it as women.

  As Walkers.

  On many levels he was pleased. Delighted that they had manage so well without him, but the end result had also hurt him. He had long suspected that they did not need him as much and this horrible cold reality had been confirmed on that day.

  This feeling of helplessness had manifested itself in anger.

  Romina had taken any and every opportunity to avoid him. And during any conversation between them, she had been as responsive as a rock. Blank faced, nodding when needed, she had done everything he had asked. As good as any good young Walker should be, but none of the things he really wanted to speak about had been discussed.

  She simply wasn't receptive and Zahara was no different, slightly more polite but no more willing to listen to what Kaoldan had to say. No more willing to show an interest of any sort. This too made him feel more isolated and redundant, and in turn angrier.

  He had come to the awful, inevitable and not
entirely surprising conclusion that their relationship was broken. And the worst thing was he had no idea how to fix it. His fathering skills seem to have abandoned him.

  He always used to know what to do, what to say, how to react and make the best of a bad situation. He had been given the respect he had expected of being a father but that seemed like a very selfish view he now reflected. Respect was earned not given, and he had very much overused it. But times had changed, and it was partly his fault he had to admit. He had hardly slept in recent weeks. The combination of a rough journey and difficult unresolved issues, all of which was beginning to give him rather a terrible headache. Lowering himself to the ground under a large oak tree, settling down on the floor, he sat cross legged. Taking in the surrounding view. Trees. Nothing but trees and truth be told, he was glad that this was the case.

  Movement out of the left corner of his eye caught his attention.

  He looked, squinting into the distance through the foliage. There was undoubtedly a black figure, hooded, moving quietly, but carefully through the woods.

  Kaoldan twisted and rose to a kneel. He studied the figure from a distance. There was something about it, something familiar, then realisation hit him. The assassin they had encountered at Prava.

  The similarities were undeniable.

  He crouched not moving not wishing to be seen. He moved slowly towards the figure carefully hiding behind trees watching where he walked so as not to make a noise. A danger, a fear rose within him from his feet through his legs through to his chest, a coldness.

  Why was it here? What possible purpose could it have?

  One thing was for certain as Kaoldan set his jaw, this time it would not escape. Kaoldan focused, reached and pulling the Walkerblade from his side. He paused behind tree, glancing around the edge of the trunk.

  The figure had stopped behind a small bunch of trees on the edge of the forest backing towards the entrance to the main palace.

  Multiple options rushed through Kaoldan's head. There was no way that he could reach the front door before the figure, no way that he could call for help; he was alone within the wooded area. He had to do something; irritation gnawed at him. He bit his lip, glanced again at the figure, it had stopped so there was only one choice.