Journey to Queyon: The Innocence Cycle, Book 3

by J D Abbas

  The light of the moon reflecting off the rocks exposed the silhouette of a man as he entered the cave. He was shorter than any of the Guardians. Elena’s heart pounded. She couldn’t will herself to move.

  “F-fight for our lives.” Braiden pushed her up.

  The man’s head turned in their direction. He heard them. Elena realized if she didn’t move, Braiden would be just as vulnerable here as he would have been in the tent. There was no one else to protect him. She couldn’t let him die after all he’d done for her.

  She rose and nearly dropped the weighty sword. The tip clanged against the hard ground. It sounded like a thunderous gong in the silence. Elena gasped and gripped the blade more tightly, raising it to the initial engagement position. It was much heavier than her sword. It would take all her strength to wield it.

  Please help me, she called into the corridors of her mind and immediately felt the inner warrior’s presence.

  Elena scuffed her feet along the ground to draw the man away from Braiden. He stepped toward her. No longer able to see his silhouette, she closed her eyes and slid to her left. In her mind’s eye, she saw the man’s form. The flash of his sword thrust toward the place he thought she stood. He pulled back, puzzled, uncertain where his opponent had gone. Elena slipped behind him, both hands on the hilt of her sword, and swung with all her strength. The weapon hit its mark. Her body jarred when the sword struck his neck then sliced clean through, severing the man’s head. The body fell with a deep thud. Elena dropped to her knees breathing heavily into the tomblike silence.

  After a few moments, Braiden whispered, “Elena, are you all right?”

  She couldn’t answer. The reality of having just killed a man slithered through her body, coiled in her muscles, and nested in her belly.

  “El-Elena?”

  She shook her head to clear it. “I’m here, Braiden.” Her body was trembling so fiercely she couldn’t make it obey. Her knees gave way, and she crawled back to Braiden’s side, whimpering as she sat and curled into him still gripping the sword.

  “I-I killed him.” Her mind swirled. “His head ... his head ... is gone.” Even in the dark, the image was seared into her brain, as vivid as if it were midday in an open field.

  Braiden put his arm around her shoulder and pulled her in close. “Y-you did what you had t-to. He would have k-killed us without a h-hint of conscience.”

  Panicked tears and a snuffling sound wheezed out of her.

  “Shh,” he whispered in her ear.

  Distant shouts erupted. Dozens of tense voices called back and forth. Elena forced herself into silence, but her body was a quivering mess, beyond her control. She strained to hear some clue as to what was happening outside.

  All went silent. Panic rose, as did the bile in her throat. She pictured Silvandir, Mikaelin, Dalgo, and Haldor lying dead around the camp and the enemy searching everywhere for Braiden and her. It was not yet the middle of the night and the reinforcements wouldn’t arrive until morning. Had they already killed her adai?

  Heavy footfalls of at least a dozen men sounded above the cave. They were climbing down through the rocks. Elena forced herself to stand again, terrified, but ready to fight. There were shouts just outside the cave.

  “Braiden?” a voice called.

  “Y-yes, Lord C-Celdorn.” Elena heard the relief in Braiden’s tone. “We’re h-here.”

  When Elena heard Celdorn and saw his shadow against the wall, she dropped the sword and ran to him. “Ada!” She forgot about the body lying on the ground, tripped over it and stumbled into his arms.

  He caught her with a chuckle. “Hello, little one.” He kissed her head.

  “Are we safe now?”

  “Yes, we’re still searching for one stray, but he will soon be found.”

  “I-I believe w-we already did. H-his body is over th-there.” Though in the dark, they could not see if Braiden pointed.

  Celdorn straightened. “Well done, Braiden.”

  “In-in truth, it was Elena who t-took care of him, not I-I,” Braiden said.

  “Elena?” Celdorn’s voice was filled with surprise. “Do you have a lantern in here?” he asked Braiden.

  “Y-yes, I’ll light it.” Braiden shuffled in the darkness. “El-Elena was very brave.” There was a clang of glass and metal, like the lantern had tipped. “I-I’m sorry, C-Celdorn, I can’t d-do it. One of y-you will have t-to light the lamp.” His voice sounded so dejected.

  “Forgive me, Braiden,” Celdorn said as he let go of Elena and fumbled toward the lantern. Metal and glass clinked. Then with the click of the key, light filled the cave.

  Braiden let out a half-laugh. “El-Elena, I think y-you forgot I h-have your trousers.”

  She looked down at her bare legs, which were still trembling, then reddened and grinned sheepishly at Celdorn, explaining that they had thought Braiden might need them more than she.

  Celdorn grabbed a blanket and tossed it to her.

  “Are the others all right?” Elena wrapped the blanket around her chilled body.

  “They’re mostly unharmed. I understand they had some warning of the attack.” Celdorn looked at her sideways. “There are many things about you we’ve yet to fully appreciate.”

  “She s-saved my life.” Braiden struggled to rise and stand next to her. “Tw-twice. She had them bring m-me here, preventing me from b-being an easy target, then-then when I planned t-to protect her from that m-man”—he nodded toward the corpse—“I f-found I couldn’t grip m-my sword with either h-hand.” He paused and looked at his mutilated fingers; a wave of despair crossed his face. “Though m-my sword was far too b-big for her, she still m-managed to fell him w-with one blow, in the d-dark no less. He n-never saw it c-coming.”

  “You’ve become quite the warrior,” Celdorn said to Elena.

  “I couldn’t have done it had Braiden not demanded it. Once the man knew we were here and moved toward us, it all happened rather instinctively; I don’t remember moving. I’m just grateful that I didn’t fail Braiden.”

  “You did well, little one,” Celdorn said, kissing her on the head. “I’m relieved you are both safe.”

  “We heard the sound of many boots just a few minutes ago. Who was that?” Elena asked.

  “Those were the reinforcements from the keep. We didn’t expect them so soon, but fortunately they felt the need to press on through the night. We met up with them not far from here.

  “When we arrived, Haldor, Silvandir, and Mikaelin were trapped. They had killed many of the enemy and lured them away from the cave. They didn’t know, however, that there were others in the rocks ready to ambush them. Dalgo had climbed above and saw what was happening. He came upon the enemy from behind, killing many and warning our men. We arrived in the heat of the battle. With the extra swords, they were quickly defeated. We’re still searching for possible survivors.”

  Braiden swayed, and Celdorn caught him before he toppled. “You’re burning with fever.” He laid the young healer on the bed, grabbed a cloth in the nearby bowl, and tenderly wiped his brow.

  “He shouldn’t have been up,” Elena said. A wave of guilt washed over her as she watched Braiden’s gaze grow vacant and his swollen eyelids flicker and close. He was fading quickly.

  Celdorn held Braiden’s head and put the water pouch to his lips. The young man swallowed some, but most of it ran down his chin.

  Braiden’s mouth still seemed crooked even though Dalgo had done his best to straighten the jaw.

  Celdorn looked at Elena, his expression fierce. “Why did Silvandir leave your side and Dalgo his? Were my orders not clear?”

  “When Silvandir left, Dalgo was here. After my warning, Silvandir decided it was more important to keep watch with Haldor and Mikaelin. Dalgo intended to leave only long enough to bring cold water from the stream to help with Braiden’s swelling. He was in tremendous pain, Ada.” She didn’t want him to be angry with either of them. They had both worked so hard to keep Braiden and her safe and as comfort
able as possible. “We heard the fighting start just after he left.”

  Celdorn stood and popped his neck as if releasing his frustration. “You should be resting as well.” He nodded toward the blanket wrapped around her. “Do you have other trousers with you?”

  “In my bag, though I’m not sure where it is.” As Elena turned to look for it, she shrieked and covered her face with the edges of the blanket. Her whole body began to tremble again.

  She had forgotten about the dead man. His head was lying near her feet in a pool of blood. Celdorn picked it up by the hair and tossed it outside, then he dragged out the body.

  ~

  When Celdorn returned to the cave, Elena’s eyes, wide and dilated, were transfixed on the bloodstains in the dirt. She wasn’t moving, barely breathing. Then he watched her shrink to the four-year-old.

  Though her eyes and body seemed frozen in terror, she was slowly inching backward toward the wall. When she reached it, she slid down into a small, cowering ball. She pulled the blanket up over her head and swayed rhythmically. Celdorn knew she was lost again in another time and place.

  He kicked dirt over the top of the blood, then walked to where Elena huddled. He sat on the ground next to her and lifted her into his lap, letting her stay curled up. Together they rocked. He spoke to her in Elnar, whispering words of hope. Then he sang a soothing Elrodanar melody of the ancient days and the great Qajh of light. He felt her body relax as they swayed back and forth. Soon she was asleep.

  Celdorn noticed Dalgo had slipped in and stood near the cave entrance, silently watching. Celdorn asked for his help in getting Elena to her bed. When she had relaxed, she returned to her full size, and Celdorn found his legs had gone numb.

  Dalgo lifted her and laid her on the bedroll. He pulled back the blanket that covered her to see if her stitches had torn in all her movement, but other than some slight bleeding, they seemed to be intact.

  Braiden, watching from his bed, asked, “D-do you think these shifts w-will ever stop?”

  “That is my hope,” Celdorn replied. “The sight of blood undoes her. I expect in time the trauma will lessen, and her need to hide will diminish.”

  Chapter 30

  After Dalgo got Elena settled, he collapsed onto his own bedroll. Stillness filled the cave again. As Braiden listened to the steady rise and fall of Elena’s breath, his mind shifted to the events earlier in the day. He wrapped his arms around himself and struggled to find the words and the courage to speak with Celdorn. He blew out a long, shuddering breath. “W-were you... able t-to find Shemeron or-or the place where I-I was ambushed?”

  When Celdorn looked up, the lantern’s light reflected off the tears in his eyes, and Braiden knew what was coming. “I’m sorry, Braiden. We found Shemeron’s body. He didn’t survive.”

  Braiden turned his face away. The Ilqazar had been with him from the beginning of his training five years ago. They had become fast friends and been through many adventures together. He’d shared his most intimate thoughts and fears with his stallion. Although he couldn’t hear him in the same way as Silvandir, there was an understanding between them. A hole punched through his chest, and all breath whooshed out.

  “And you were right,” Celdorn added, interrupting his thoughts, “we found four bodies near the water. Apparently, these men just leave their dead to rot.” Celdorn’s fists curled, but his face was soft when he turned to look at him directly. “Braiden ... you fought valiantly. I’m so proud of you.”

  Braiden felt a shadow pass over him. “D-don’t say that.” He swallowed hard. “Y-you don’t know ...”

  “I do.” Celdorn eyed him directly. “Dalgo informed me, and it only makes me admire you all the more.”

  What little fight Braiden had left in his body fled. “W-who else knows?”

  Dalgo sat up and leaned against the wall, massaging the back of his neck. “I’ve told no one else, but I suspect Elena and Mikaelin have a good idea what happened. They have a sensitivity to such things.”

  The room went suddenly chill. Again, Braiden was surrounded by his attackers. Again, he felt their taunts, their blows, their ...

  He struggled his way back to the present. “A-a true warrior w-would have fought to the d-death rather than allow them to-to do that.” Curled on his side, he pressed his wrists into his damaged eyes as his body heaved.

  “A true warrior would have fought to stay alive and return to warn the others, as you did,” Celdorn argued. “You were outnumbered, Braiden, which was my error, not yours. You should not have been alone. But you fought well and survived what many men might not have.” A growl rumbled through Celdorn’s chest when he paused, his anger spewing out into the very air.

  Celdorn rose and knelt beside his pallet. “Braiden”—his voice was quiet, intimate, much as he imagined a father’s might be in this circumstance—“their intent was to degrade and humiliate you, to destroy you on the inside, not just break your body.” He paused to clear his throat. “You fought. You survived. Don’t let them win now. Don’t give them that power. The assaults change nothing about who you truly are.” He clasped Braiden’s wrists and pulled them back, so he could see his face.

  Braiden’s chin quivered. “Y-you don’t understand. I... I...” How could he explain what it was like to have violence crush not only the outside of your body but to have it invade your most private places, to be completely exposed, helpless and vulnerable, with the certainty that your last moments would be spent surrounded by hatred, in unimaginable pain; that your body would be found and all would know what had been done to you?

  Celdorn’s voice broke into his thoughts. “You’re right. I can’t possibly understand what you’re experiencing, and I have no way to heal those wounds, though I wish with all my heart I could.” Braiden tried to turn his face away, but Celdorn wouldn’t allow it. He stroked his bruised jaw with the lightest touch. “You once told Elena not to let the poison stay inside her, that she could choose the way of the Jhadhela and find hope. I ask you to ponder your own words now.”

  Braiden glanced at Elena, recalling her body after the attacks she’d suffered, knowing she’d been through that dozens of times before. How did she live with it? How could he live with this? An ache formed in his belly, a pressure that grew and pushed upward, until it burst, and he began to weep. It came from a place at the core of his being; his body convulsed with the sobs. Celdorn sat next to him and leaned Braiden into his arms, stroking his head. “I’m so sorry,” he repeated over and over, his lips pressed into Braiden’s hair. “Forgive me for sending you alone to face this.”

  Braiden tried to receive the comfort, tried to make room for light and hope, but failed. He was lost in a flood of emotion, drowning in waves of agony. The young man he’d been was gone, destroyed. And his own words mocked him. He worked to regain control, but in the end, gave up and let the flood take him.

  After some time, Braiden’s body quieted from sheer exhaustion. He could feel no more. Lying in Celdorn’s arms, he rested and was surprised to find he didn’t want to leave this refuge—one he’d never had as a child. Until Celdorn came into his life, he hadn’t experienced a father’s love. How he wished he were a worthy son.

  When Braiden finally struggled to sit up, Dalgo said, “I think we should focus on your physical condition for a bit.”

  Celdorn helped Braiden to ease back on his bedroll. Dalgo removed his trousers, and Celdorn winced along with him as Dalgo applied the cold packs he’d intended to hours before. His mentor said the swelling and bruising were much worse after all the moving, and Braiden felt the shakes of a fever setting in. Dalgo sprinkled some herbs into a cup of water and gave it to him to drink. Celdorn continued to stroke his hair as Braiden tried to relax and let the draught have its effect.

  Finally, Celdorn rose. “I need to go back to the camp and check on the others,” he said to Dalgo. “Keep watch until I return, then I’ll relieve you.”

  Dalgo gave an exhausted nod.

  Braiden watched Ce
ldorn leave with an ache in his chest. He wanted to beg him to stay, to keep the phantoms away, but he knew that was childish. He bit his lip and let the tears roll as sleep slowly crept over him.

  ~

  By the time Celdorn arrived in the camp, a dozen more tents had been assembled. He found Elbrion inside the one they’d set up for Elena, seated on a flattened rock, tending to the wounded.

  “Many injuries?”

  “Just a few. I do not stitch quite as well as Braiden nor as quickly as Dalgo, but I have been able to manage what is here. Most of the wounds have been minor. This man here,” he nodded toward the Guardian in front of him, “nearly lost an ear; if it were not for his quick reflexes, it would have been his head.” The young man shivered at the reminder.

  Elbrion glanced up from his work. “How are Elena and Braiden?”

  “No further harm has come to them, thankfully. Elena saved them from a man who stumbled onto the cave.” Elbrion arched a brow. “I think he was looking for a place to hide and found a tomb instead. Braiden was unable to grip the sword, so Elena battled with the man using a weapon twice the size of her own and in total darkness no less. She managed to behead him with one blow.”

  “Hmm. She wanted to be a warrior. It seems she has succeeded.” Elbrion wrapped a linen strip around his patient’s head, covering his ear. He wiped the blood from his neck and shoulder with tender care. “You may finish cleaning up but do not get the bandage wet.”

  Celdorn watched in silence, lost in his own thoughts, until the man stood, a bit unsteadily, then left with a nod toward Celdorn.

  While Elbrion cleaned up the soiled linens, Celdorn filled in more details. “Elena was horrified later when she saw the severed head and all the blood. I don’t think she realized how much blood a body can shed.” Elbrion gave him a piercing look, and Celdorn wagged his head. “I-I forgot. I suppose she does.” He heaved a sigh. It was difficult for him to wrap his mind around Elena having slit her lover’s throat. She was far too young to bear that burden, and now she must live with this man’s death, however justified, as well.