Conquering Fate

by Jennifer Anne Davis

  “I will.” Turning, I stepped over the threshold and into the Tower Room.

  The king stood in the center of the room with his cape on. The Krigers spread out in a circle around him, each one standing on a marking that corresponded to the marking on his weapon. I stepped forward, standing between Henrik and Marius, on the mark for choice. A tingling sensation whispered through me as the Krigers linked power with one another. When it came to me and I linked to it, magic slammed into me, more powerful than anything I’d experienced before. It reminded me of when Morlet shared his power with me. Only, instead of hatred, feelings of extreme joy and peace bombarded me.

  Morlet tipped his head back, his hood falling off and exposing his handsome face. His lips curled into an eerie smile as a crack of lightning sliced through the sky just outside of the room. He raised his hands, summoning his magic. I glanced at his eyes and only saw Morlet—no hint of Espen in there. My joy faltered for a second. My bo staff hummed with elation, and the hurt I’d felt vanished.

  Stein raised his bow and nocked an arrow, Henrik prepared to throw his ax, Harald held his dagger out before him. I kept my bo staff at the ready. The Krigers were all linked together. Our power should match Morlet’s. Now all I had to do was kill him. My hands shook. I lifted my bo staff, pointed it at the king, and connected to the power within me. I felt a piece of each Kriger in the power. I began directing that power to my bo staff so I could make the killing strike.

  Blue light exploded from Morlet’s hands, coming straight for me. I ducked, and it stuck the stone wall behind me, rocks flying everywhere from the impact. Marius threw his misericord. It froze midair, hovering level with Morlet’s heart. Reidar threw his spear. It also froze midair. A blue mist began to fill the room.

  Morlet’s eyes locked with mine. He chuckled, the sound dark and foreboding. He held his fist out before him, the blue mist swirling around me. He opened his fingers, and I felt my fingers open of their own accord. My bo staff fell to the ground. The power linking the Krigers together wavered, about to break. I clung onto it, forcing it to stay connected.

  And then all hell broke loose.

  The misericord and spear turned around and then shot toward Marius and Reidar. Marius dropped to the floor, his weapon skimming his back. Reidar didn’t move quickly enough and was impaled by his own spear.

  Oddvar, who stood behind Morlet, screamed and rushed toward Morlet. When Morlet broke eye contact with me to face his oncoming attacker, I reached down and grabbed my bo staff. Morlet formed a ball of power with his hands. He threw the ball forward and it slammed into Oddvar. Oddvar crashed to the floor, landing with a sickening crunch. Morlet flung his hands out, freezing the remaining Krigers in place. I couldn’t even blink. Feeling for my power, it danced with joy, still linked with everyone.

  “Is this all you’ve got?” Morlet taunted. “You’re not putting up much of a fight. The twelve—well, now there’s only ten of you—are pathetic.” He lifted his right hand and pointed it at Geir. Geir dropped his crossbow. Morlet raised his hand higher and Geir’s body lifted off the floor. Then Morlet pitched his arm to the right and Geir’s body slammed into the wall, tumbling to the floor, lifeless.

  Shock and terror filled me. We couldn’t afford to lose any more Krigers. Morlet moved his arm in an arc and a blue light formed around him, creating a dome that I recognized. It was a shield that would prevent us from striking him with our weapons. But what about my power? Could it get through?

  Morlet stalked forward, coming nose to nose with Marius, our leader. There had to be a way to defeat this blue fog that was holding us in place—otherwise Morlet wouldn’t have bothered forming the shield. I willed my power out of my body, coaxing it to form a shield similar to Morlet’s around my own body. Once it was in place, the fog receded around me. Movement returned to my body. I remained still, not wanting Morlet to know what I’d done. Gathering my power once again, I willed it out of my body and to my fellow Krigers. I formed a shield around each one.

  Morlet reached for Marius just as Marius regained movement and ducked. An arrow sailed toward the king.

  “You can’t kill him, Stein,” I cried as the arrow embedded in Morlet’s thigh. “It has to be me.”

  Morlet roared from the injury, but he didn’t stop his advance against Marius.

  “That’s why I shot his leg,” Stein said.

  “Now might be a good time to kill the king,” Henrik said to me.

  I nodded and gathered my power, this time willing it to my bo staff, knowing I needed to use my weapon to make the kill.

  “The four of you protect Kaia!” Marius shouted to Henrik, Stein, Gunner, and Jorgen who all stood near me.

  That left Einar, Harald, and Tor who advanced toward Morlet, surrounding him. Morlet turned in a slow circle, smiling. “It’s not easy to keep your power flowing to Kaia, is it?” he said. “It drains you.” He pulled the arrow out of his leg, tossing it to the floor. Blood ran down his thigh.

  Einar attacked, Morlet easily deflecting the blow. Tor kicked Morlet’s injured leg. He stumbled, but didn’t fall. I hadn’t realized that maintaining our connection would drain the Krigers so quickly. I finished sending all my power to my bo staff. I lifted it, aiming it at the king’s chest. A pulse shot through the room. I flew backward, landing on my back. Scrambling to my feet, I observed the scene before me.

  Marius rolled over, spitting up blood. Einar was face down next to him, his arm and leg severed, blood pooling all over the floor. I gagged. Henrik, Stein, Gunner, and Jorgen had also been thrown to the floor, but were unharmed.

  Harald and Tor weren’t moving. Marius crawled over to each of them, shaking their bodies. Neither responded.

  I cried out. We’d lost six Krigers. “How could you?” I screamed at Morlet, knowing full-well the evil magic of the world was controlling him.

  And that was when I felt my fallen Krigers’ power enter my body. My nerves tingled with the raw power. I closed my eyes, breathing in the sensation of it all.

  29

  As the remaining Krigers connected their power together and gave me everything they had, Damaris’s words came back to me. She had said we wouldn’t be enough unless I connected to the power within the world. I’d always been afraid doing so would kill me. Now, I had nothing to lose.

  Standing with my feet shoulder-width apart, I took our combined power and sent it down through my legs, out my feet, and into the floor. I closed my eyes and commanded the power to go deeper, searching for the magic within the world.

  I slammed into solid ground and fell. Pushing myself up on my hands and knees, I looked around. I was surrounded by bright, glowing light tinged with blue. I didn’t see anyone, but I felt the consciousness of others. I slowly stood.

  “My name is Kaia,” I said, my voice echoing. The light around me darkened and lightened in various places, as if responding to me.

  “I need your help to defeat Morlet. The magic of one of your kind is trapped inside him.” I considered asking that this power—magic—whatever it was, help me by restoring Espen. However, I knew he wouldn’t want that. “If you can guide me by loaning me your strength, I can defeat him.”

  Again, the light faded in and out in different places. I slowly turned in a circle, squinting from the brightness of the glowing light. I placed my hands on my stomach. “The child growing inside me is blessed with Grei Heks and Skog Heks magic. I will see that this child prospers. He or she will be the leader of my kingdom one day. He or she will make sure Heks are treated fairly. Your race will be saved. I promise.”

  Two spheres of light detached from the rest. They came and hovered before me. One sphere was darker than the other. Both circled me. I remained still, afraid to move.

  A whisper filled my head. “With this magic, you will be strong enough to defeat Morlet, but it won’t be enough to end the curse.”

  “I don’t understand,” I said. How could it not be enough?

  “Everything will make sense when the time come
s. There will be a choice. The choice will be yours. It is your choice that will end the curse.”

  I was about to ask another question when a slither of light came out of each sphere. The two slithers twisted together until the spheres disappeared. Then the light plunged into me.

  “Kaia!” Henrik shouted.

  I opened my eyes. I was standing in the Tower Room. My entire body hummed with an energy I’d never felt before. Good, bad. Peace, violence. Love, hate. The warring emotions filled me with confusion. Choice. It was my choice. Every action I took was a choice that I made. Even though I had thoughts of rage inside of me, I didn’t have to act on those feelings. I could choose to ignore them. It wouldn’t be easy. But it was my choice. Always my choice. And right now, I chose to end this curse by killing Morlet. Not with hate, but with compassion.

  Morlet lifted his hand and Stein rose in the air. I must have dropped my shields when I was communicating with the magic of the world. Stein frantically kicked his legs, trying to break free from Morlet’s magical hold.

  I raised my bo staff and struck Morlet’s hand. His magical hold of Stein severed, and Stein fell to the floor. More power flowed into me. I felt as if I could do anything.

  Morlet’s eyes widened. “What have you done?” he snarled.

  Henrik looked at me. “Kaia?” he asked, his voice wavering. “Your eyes are glowing blue.”

  “I won’t let any more Krigers die. We end this, and we end it now.” I lifted my bo staff, pointing it directly at Morlet’s chest.

  I would kill him for Nelebek.

  Morlet smiled. His hand shot out. I raised my bo staff to strike his hand, but not before a large blue ball of magic appeared. Morlet threw it directly at Henrik.

  “No!” I screamed. I pictured myself standing in front of Henrik, protecting him.

  Pain exploded through me.

  Morlet roared as I tumbled to the floor, in front of Henrik. How had I gotten over here? My body felt as if it was on fire. So much pain. My consciousness began to fade. I was going to die. Breathing became difficult. My vision blurred.

  “Nobody move,” Morlet said, kneeling at my side. “If I don’t heal her, you have no chance of ending the curse.”

  “He’s right,” Marius said. “Kaia is the only one who can kill the king.”

  Morlet touched my cheek. Magic flowed into my body, slithering through me, repairing the damage the fireball had done. Sweat trickled across Morlet’s forehead as my wound healed. Whenever he healed me, he drained himself, leaving him vulnerable.

  As my strength returned, I reached up, clutching onto Morlet’s arm. “Is the baby okay?” I asked.

  He nodded. “I can feel the heart beating inside of you.”

  “Thank you.”

  “Don’t thank me yet,” he replied. “This isn’t over.” He jumped to his feet, yanking me up with him. He wrapped an arm around my torso, using me as a human shield. He whipped out a knife and placed it at the base of my throat. “Everyone kneel before me.”

  The few remaining Krigers hesitated. “Do it,” Marius said.

  My hands stung with pain, warning me.

  Henrik, Stein, Gunner, Jorgen, and Marius knelt, placing their weapons on the ground before them. I felt each of us still connected although they no longer touched their weapons. I grasped onto that power, pulling it toward me, willing us to stay linked. I had to kill Morlet with my bo staff—any other weapon wouldn’t work.

  Morlet threw up another shield, this time around the two of us so the Krigers couldn’t reach us. He grabbed my bo staff, tearing it from my fingers, and threw it across the room, out of reach. Pinching my shoulder, he forced me to my knees.

  Staring at my fellow Krigers, I could see the hope diminishing from their eyes. Henrik jumped to his feet, pounding against the shield with his ax, trying to break it. Stein rose to his feet, doing the same with his arrows, as if they would be strong enough to puncture a magical shield. Gunner and Jorgen stood and did the same, each frantically trying to break the shield.

  Only Marius remained on his knees, staring at me. I felt our minds connect.

  “You were chosen for a reason,” Marius said in my mind.

  “My family was doomed from the day Linnea met Espen.” Tears slid down my cheeks.

  “No. I’m referring to you specifically. You’re the only one who has been able to see the good in Morlet. The only one able to reach him. Instead of fighting, talk to him. Talk your way out of this.”

  I’d never been one with words. Fighting made sense, talking and forming connections to other people was difficult for me.

  Morlet towered over me, pointing a knife at the base of my throat. I felt it pierce my skin, blood trickling down my chest.

  “When I die,” I said, “I will see Linnea. I will tell her Espen is still in there. I will let her know there is good in you still. I love you.” I stared into his eyes, willing for Espen to come through.

  Morlet’s hand wavered and his eyes flashed.

  “Thank you for our time together.” I slid my hands over my stomach.

  Morlet dropped to his knees before me. He tilted his head back and growled. “I can’t control the dark magic,” he ground out.

  The shield dropped.

  Henrik and Stein stood a few feet away, panting. Marius grabbed my bo staff, handing it to me. I didn’t take it.

  “Do it,” Morlet said. “Otherwise I will kill you.” His body jerked, the veins below his skin darkening. “Please, Kaia. I can’t hold off much longer.”

  I placed my hands on his face. “I’m so sorry it has come to this.”

  “I always said you’d be the death of me or set me free. Turns out you’re going to do both. Thank you.” Tears slid down his face, dripping onto my hands.

  “I love you,” I said.

  Morlet grabbed my bo staff, his face contorted in pain, his veins pulsing and his eyes turning black. “Hurry,” he said. He placed the tip of my bo staff against his heart. “Do it now.”

  I scrambled to my feet, taking hold of my bo staff. We both held onto it. Our eyes met. “I’m so sorry,” I mumbled.

  “Promise me one thing,” he said.

  “Anything.”

  He waved me closer to him. I leaned down, and he whispered his last request in my ear, shocking me.

  “Are you sure?” I asked.

  He nodded.

  “Then yes, I promise.”

  He handed me a small key. I shoved it in my pocket.

  “Thank you,” he said. “Now kill me and end my nightmare.”

  Power swelled inside of me. And in that moment, everything suddenly became clear. In order to end the curse, I needed Damaris and Norill. As if they’d known, both Heks stepped into the room. They came up behind me, each putting a hand on my shoulder.

  Once again, I concentrated on the task before me. With the steady presence of Damaris and Norill, the last piece of the puzzle fell into place. I had six Krigers’ power in me, and the remaining ones were linked to me. But that wasn’t enough. I needed their power. To harness and use their power, I had to kill them. Or, I had to give Marius my power by killing myself. I had a choice. My fellow Krigers or me. Only, it wasn’t that simple. If I killed myself, that meant I killed my child thus ending any hope the Heks had for repopulating.

  I turned and faced Damaris. “Why?” I asked, my voice hoarse.

  “I’m so sorry,” she said. “This is the way the original Grei Heks cast the curse. I think she wanted to bring our two races together. And this was her way of doing it.”

  I looked at Norill. “Why are you willing to sacrifice yourself?”

  Her top lip curled into a snarl. “I don’t want to,” she said. “But if I do, I may save my race. Even though I hate you vile humans, you may be the only hope we have. I don’t want to see my race perish.”

  I squeezed Damaris’s hand. “How can I kill my friends?” I shook my head. There was no way I could do it.

  “What?” Henrik asked.

 
I wiped the tears from my eyes. “You have to kill me,” I told him. “When I die, my power will go to Marius. He will then be able to kill Morlet.”

  “I don’t understand,” Henrik said. “I thought you were supposed to make the killing blow.”

  “She is,” Damaris said. “If she chooses to.”

  “Then I don’t see what the problem is,” Henrik said.

  “The choice isn’t that simple,” I said. I thought of everything we’d been through to get to this point, and it still wasn’t over. “It’s either you or me.”

  “The Krigers must die for Kaia to succeed,” Norill hissed. “And we are running out of time.”

  “Is this true?” Stein asked.

  I nodded. “And I choose you.”

  “No,” Stein said. “You can’t. If you chose us, then you and your baby die. You doom the Heks. Am I right?”

  “Yes,” Damaris said, “you are right.”

  “Then kill us,” Stein said.

  “I can’t kill the only friends I’ve ever known. You can kill me. I don’t want to live with the guilt of taking your lives. You’re no less important than me.”

  “That’s not true,” Henrik said. “You are infinitely more important than us. Not only are you Nelebek’s queen, but you are the only one who can save the Heks race.”

  “You want to help us?” Norill asked him.

  “I think we have a duty to. No one is blameless in what happened. We all have a responsibility to fix this mess. And Kaia can help do that.” He lowered his head. “I’m ready.”

  Stein lowered his head. “I am ready, too.”

  Without saying a world, Marius, Gunner, and Jorgen also lowered their heads. With the five of them kneeling, their weapons before them, I knew I had to make my choice. As always, it wasn’t about what I wanted. This was about what was right for everyone involved.

  “I’m so sorry,” I said, a sob escaping my mouth. While I wished I’d never been born a Kriger, that this wasn’t my burden to bear, I felt the rightness of it. The magic within me responded, urging me on. I took my bo staff and pointed it at my friends and fellow warriors. It wasn’t fair that I had to be the one to end this. “Thank you for being my friends.”