Chronicles Of Aronshae (3 Book Omnibus)

by J. K. Barber

  "What have I missed?" the female scout asked, looking around at everyone's somber dispositions.

  "Olivia, this is Tomas, former Administrator of Snowhaven's Sorcery School," Jared said, making the formal introductions. "Tomas, this is Olivia, our scout in these lands and Talas' wife."

  Olivia nodded her head respectfully to Tomas and added, "From what I witnessed outside of Simza, you are a great deal more than that I would guess, Master Sorcerer." Her keen eyes narrowed, as if trying to pierce his child disguise and glimpse what he really was.

  Tomas only smirked in response to her assumption, as he returned the courteous nod.

  "Tomas was just telling us how he intended to cure our Shadow Drake ally and my former mentor, Sirus," Jared concluded, while laying Gabriel down in a side area of the tent so that he could nap undisturbed by their discourse. Letting the side flap fall down behind him, the woodsman returned to his seat amongst the pillows in the main area.

  Olivia looked more than a little confused. She asked, "Jared: firstly, I thought the Shadow Drakes were not to be trusted, and secondly: how is it that you never mentioned that your former mentor is a dragon?"

  Jared laughed, "I see how that is a bit perplexing. You see, he wasn't always a Shadow Drake. He was human once, before Salamasca's servant Roane lured him away from his life as a hermit. When Sirus was human, he had my abilities. He taught me all I know about connecting with animals and convincing them to lend me their gifts."

  Olivia just shook her head. "I need a moment to process all that," she laughed as well.

  "Perhaps, I can shed some more light on the situation," Iluak offered, taking a seat next to Olivia and spreading his hands as if they would tell the story for him. "I am also new to the situation and have had to come to terms with its oddities."

  "Please, Iluak," she replied. Katya, Tomas, and Sasha also sat down, as this gathering would hopefully prove fruitful in planning what to do next as well as provide some much needed rest. Sasha caught Katya looking at Olivia's still burnt hand. She could sense her sister's frustration bubbling before her; Katya had not had a chance to rest, so the healing of wounds fully would have to wait yet again, if it happened at all. Her sorceress sister would need to be fully rested for their next attack on Salamasca. Guessing from their thirst that they were also hungry, Sasha handed her and Tomas what was left of breakfast, oatmeal and fresh dates from the palms of the oasis. Katya and Tomas eagerly accepted the food. Once all were settled and eating, Iluak shed some light on the circumstances for Olivia.

  "You have heard us speak of Salamasca," Iluak began, "and you have seen first hand how she attacks with dark magic. In Illyander, we called her the Ice Queen or the Empress of Ice. She enjoys subjugating the peoples of Aronshae, and when she is tired of doing that she likes to experiment within her dark arts. My people, therianthropes, have a village near her old Glacial Palace in the Frozen March. For generations, she has had my people captured to conduct tests on us, to find out more about our abilities to transform into animals. From what Katya has told me of the story, she did so with Sirus as well, although with him she wanted to know how his ability to connect with animals worked. When Salamasca is done with her tinkering, she," Iluak shivered as he spoke, "gets inside you. She takes your heart in her hands and turns it black. Everything she touches becomes tainted. She forced Sirus to try to connect with a dragon embryo," Iluak looked to Jared, hinting that he should be the one to finish the tale. The huntsman seemed grateful. Sasha could tell that, despite the bond that had formed by fighting side by side with the shape shifter, the woodsman was getting a bit irritated at his story being told by someone else; his clenched jaw visibly relaxed.

  "The connection was made, but because a dragon's mind is vastly more complex, even as an embryo, Sirus became lost," Jared said, finishing the tale. "Salamasca had Sirus' human body destroyed, when it went mad. The dragon mind in a human body, especially one so young, could not survive the transfer. It happens sometimes with people of my talents. If you try to connect with a crazed animal or force yourself upon it, the consciousnesses can be switched permanently."

  "I think I understand now," Olivia uttered lowly. "So how is cleansing Sirus going to help us?" she asked more audibly.

  "That leads into the plan we were forming," Katya stated, finishing her breakfast and setting down the bowl of oatmeal she had been eating from on the nearby table.

  Olivia smiled, "I had hoped you would say that. Go on, please."

  "I will cure Sirus of Salamasca's corruption and thereby end her control over him as well," Tomas offered, handing his emptied bowl to Katya to also place on the table. "He will be free to cut off her retreat into the Ley Lines or the Void, as she has done in the past. It will allow you and your friends to finally end her miserable existence." Tomas' final words hid none of the disdain he felt for his former student. Sasha noted that the former Administrator was freely showing his emotion; she had never seen him angry. She always remembered him being stoic in the past. Mentally shelving the observation, she refocused on what he had said. His suggested plan would be a great help indeed. It is just the tactic we need, Sasha thought. Everyone nodded, agreeing with his words.

  "Alright, but what of the matter of the large army she has conscripted?" Olivia questioned, her stern tone edged with humor.

  "I can help with that," Tomas grinned mysteriously. "I can be rather distracting when I want to be." Sasha was happy to see the dragon's spirits lifted, finally being free from his oath and able to help when he could not before. It was also his home in the Snowhaven's Sorcerer's Tower that he had been forced to flee from. Not having been able to defend it must have been hard indeed, she thought. Her thoughts turned back to the matter at hand. His statement gave the Master Swordswoman a plan.

  Sasha spoke up, "Olivia, could I see that map you carry of the Eastern Kingdom please?"

  "Of course," the female scout said, producing a folded parchment from a worn leather pouch. Sasha opened it on the floor before them for all to see.

  "We know that Salamasca's main camp is here," Sasha drew her dagger from her belt and pointed just below a dot on the map, "a day south of Jal. We are here," she added pointing to a much smaller dot in front of a depiction of square looking mountains, “on the eastern side of the Aishe." Looking at each of her companions in turn as she spoke, she shared her idea with them. "Our element of surprise is blown. We might as well attack her at her main camp." Talas looked skeptical until she added, "With Tomas in his dragon form...," Sasha paused only for a moment, gauging her friends' responses to her statement of Tomas' true form. No one looked overly shocked, Olivia only a little, so she continued, "He can distract the army and draw it away. Sirus will lay in wait to ambush Salamasca. I propose the rest of us sneak through camp to her main tent. We assassinate her and get out."

  "A sound plan, I like it," Jared stated, a wide grin on his stubbly, unshaven face.

  "I have never been one to approve of sneaking about," Talas said. Sasha frowned, the priest's straightforward ideology of true honor interfering with a sound plan, but she did not interrupt him. "However, given the odds against us with her army vastly outnumbering the seven of us, I see it is necessary." The swordswoman nodded, grateful that Talas saw the need for subterfuge in this particular situation.

  "Even if we are spotted," Katya added. "Let them think we are just going to throw ourselves at their numbers in a suicide mission." Sasha quirked her head at her sister, but knowing her long enough to see where she might be going with these suggestions. "It would take perfect timing, but as we approach the camp, if Tomas would fly in, breathing his devastating lightning, we would catch them totally by surprise. We could then make our way to the main tent while the army is disorganized."

  "It could work," Sasha nodded, rolling the suggestion around in her head. "Anyone have anything else to add?"

  "Sirus and I will meet you there then," Tomas said. “Katya can give me a signal when you begin your attack. Jal is a great distanc
e from here though. When should we join forces? Say dawn in a week’s time?"

  "Sooner than that," Olivia grinned. "I have an idea of what to request of Simza's Tepey now." Without saying anything further about the details, she added, "We can be there when dawn kisses the desert in two days’ time."

  "Alright," Sasha said, confused by the scout's plan to shorten the journey but trusting her. "Is that enough time for you to rest, Katya, and Tomas for you to heal Sirus?"

  "Yes, sister," the sorceress replied. "As long as I can catch up on sleep along the journey.”

  "Two days is sufficient for me to heal Sirus," Tomas stated.

  "It is decided then," Sasha stated solemnly. "The Ice Queen will meet her end in two days’ time."

  "Or we will. Either way, we'll all finally be able to get some rest." Jared laughed at his gallows humor.

  No one else spoke; the woodsman's jest only earned a small grin from Talas. A gloom settled over the room that had been vibrant just a moment before, as each person realized what the final part of the plan would entail. The twin sisters would form Akor’shi-kai, who would kill Salamasca and then be gone. The girls would have to sacrifice themselves to save all of Aronshae.

  Chapter 11

  Jared’s ears caught the sound of angry voices coming towards the tent. Though he did not understand the Eastern language, he distinctly heard “jai-jin” and “jai” repeated heatedly several times. He also heard “Ahemait” spoken followed by the sound of someone spitting.

  “Get your swords,” Jared said, while simultaneously following his own advice.

  “What?” Olivia asked, looking confusedly at the hunter over some tea she was sharing with Courtan; she had heard nothing to be concerned about. Talas and the twins, on the other hand, had already grabbed their weapons, readying them for whatever was coming.

  “Wait,” Olivia said, setting aside her cup. “What are you…,” her voice trailed off as the voices finally reached her ears and she began listening more intently. After a moment, she looked at Jared. Her face wore several questions, but she set them aside as more pressing matters gathered everyone’s attention.

  The flap of Adraim and Courtan’s tent was ripped aside and a swarthy Easterner briskly stepped inside. The intruder looked around the tent, his eyes quickly finding Jared. The hunter was already standing, his sheathed sword in his left hand, his right hand resting on the hilt of his blade. Sasha, Talas and Katya stood in similar fashion, weapons at the ready but not bare. Iluak had hastily bundled up Gabriel and held him protectively behind the wall of Illyanders.

  The man pointed several times at the Illyanders, though mostly at Jared, speaking heatedly in the Eastern tongue. Though none of the Illyanders could understand him, his intent was clear. Interspersed amongst his angry words, he said the words “jai” and “jai-jin” several times. At the end of his tirade he spit, a globule of saliva landing on the toe of Jared’s boot.

  The hunter took a step towards the man, the blade of his sword beginning to slide from its sheath.

  “Wait!” Olivia yelled, repeating the word in the Eastern tongue. The hunter stopped drawing his weapon, but did not re-sheathe it, leaving several inches of bare steel clear of the leather covering. Jared did not take his eyes off of the Eastern man, whose own hand now rested on the hilt of his sword.

  “What’s going on?” Talas asked Olivia. Outside the tent, Jared could see a handful of other Eastern men, all of whom wore expressions similar to the one who had burst into their hosts’ tent.

  Olivia did not reply. Instead she responded to the man, and though Jared did not understand the words, the pleading tone of the scout’s voice made her intent clear. She and her companions did not want any trouble.

  The intruder showed no interest in Olivia’s words, instead launching into another tirade aimed at the Illyanders, his words punctuated by repeatedly tugging on his sword. The blade never left its sheath though. Even Jared knew that to bare steel in another’s home was the height of bad manners amongst the Easterners.

  Olivia tried again to get the man to speak with her; however it was not until Adraim yelled at the man, who was apparently named Kassim, that he turned from the Illyanders. Their host had been in his private chamber formed by the dividing sheets of fabric that hung from the supporting beams of the tent. Adraim had refused to share tea with Olivia, much less be in the presence of a jai-jin any longer than courtesy demanded. Courtan’s husband had been pulled from his seclusion by the ruckus of Kassim’s entrance.

  As the intruder directed his attention to their host, Jared was able to get a better look at him. He appeared to be roughly of the same age as the hunter and though it was hard to be sure because of the loose fitting clothing that all Easterners wore, Jared was fairly certain that the angry man was well muscled. He was certainly bulkier than Jared and the way the fabric stretched across the man’s arms as he raised an angry fist at Adraim, the hunter felt confident in his original assessment of Kassim.

  “What are they saying?” Sasha asked, casting worried looks back and forth between Kassim, Adraim and Iluak, who still held Gabriel protectively against his chest.

  Talas whispered in response to the redhead’s inquiry. “He’s very upset about Tepey Omar making some deal with us jai and especially that the bargain was struck with a ‘filthy jai-jin.’ No offense, Jared.”

  “None taken,” the hunter replied flatly. His gaze flitted back and forth between Kassim and the men outside. It wasn’t an ideal situation, but Jared felt good about their chances against such a small crowd, though he was concerned about Katya’s reserves at this point. The sorceress had been driving herself pretty hard as of late.

  Suddenly, Kassim threw his hands up and marched out of the tent, a murderous look on his face.

  “Glad that’s over,” Katya said, her body relaxing visibly.

  “It’s not,” Talas said, concern and sadness in his voice. The priest watched as Adraim walked over to a large chest in the back of the tent and retrieved a long bundle from within. As he began to unwrap it, realization began to dawn on the hunter.

  “He’s going to…” Sasha began, her mind reaching the same conclusion at the same time as Jared’s.

  “But, I’m the one…” the woodsman began before Olivia raised her hand, cutting off Jared’s words with a slashing gesture.

  “I don’t understand,” Katya said, looking to Talas for explanation.

  The priest turned to regard the sorceress, his expression an odd mixture of sorrow, anger, and resignation. “Kassim, the young man who burst in here, came to challenge us. According to the Hep, it’s his right.”

  “He wants to fight us all,” Katya responded, unable to keep a note of amusement from her voice. “Him, against all of us?”

  “It would have been one at a time, but yes,” Olivia supplied, still watching their host Adraim. Courtan also watched her husband, concern furrowing her brows deeply.

  “It would have been?” Iluak asked.

  “Yes,” Talas replied, now looking outside at the gathering crowd.

  “But Adraim stepped in,” Olivia continued. “Even higher than the Hep is the law of hospitality. Our host, by taking us in, is responsible for us. Anything we do while we are his guests reflects on him.” Katya looked like she was going to ask another question, but the scout continued before the sorceress could get the words out. “Conversely, our safety is his responsibility as well.”

  The sorceress stopped, mouth hanging open, her question unspoken.

  Adraim finished unwrapping his sword, sliding the blade through the thick cloth belt at his waist. He set his shoulders and walked towards the man waiting outside to kill him, pausing only to kiss his wife and daughter. None of the Eastern family spoke a word as Adraim stepped out of the tent into the blinding sun of the Aishe Desert.

  A circle quickly formed around the two men. Most of the sulta had gathered by the time Tepey Omar arrived. The tribe’s chief wore a black head wrap, but given the man’s thick gray mus
tache, Jared assumed he had matching hair as well. Despite being well into middle age, the Tepey remained vibrant and hearty, though his face was weathered and lined by years spent in the Aishe’s harsh climate. At his waist he carried a well-crafted curved sword. The blade’s hilt sported a curved knuckle guard, a large ruby in the pommel, and a well-worn handle. The weapon, though beautiful, had obviously seen some use. From his head wrap hung his utcha; a string of rubies and gold beads so long that it had to be worn in a loop that ran past the line of his jawbone and back up again to his temple.

  After a brief exchange, the chief’s look of concern rapidly became one of resignation and he stepped away from Kassim and Adraim, joining the rest of the Easterners.

  “At least it won’t be too expensive,” Katya said from beside Jared, earning a shocked and confused look from the rest of the Illyanders. “His utcha,” the sorceress explained, gesturing towards the younger of the two combatants. A medium strand of what looked to be painted wooden beads hung from Kassim’s head wrap; the Easterner’s lifeprice.

  “Katya!” Sasha gasped, shocked by her twin’s insensitivity.

  “No,” Olivia said, coming to the sorceress’ defense. “She has the right of it, at least by Eastern standards. This is how things are here. You may not like it or fully understand it, but you have no choice but to respect it.” The older woman raised her hands in a gesture of supplication. “To do anything at this point would be an insult to Adraim and the sulta. It would start a fight with the entire tribe; one that we have no hope of winning.”