Standing to leave, Jericho started dusting off his pants when the sound of metal clanging in the distance pulled his and Maya’s attention out into the field. Barely discernable in the darkness of night, she watched as the shadowy forms of Jaron and Jarod charged at one another in what appeared to be a heated sparring match. If she hadn’t known any better she would have sworn they were trying to kill each other. Sighing she shook her head. “Yeah, but what if the direction your heart keeps taking you is the one that causes you the most pain.”
Arching his brows, Jericho followed her gaze into the field. He watched the two beasts of men going at one another in awe. “Now that is a definitely a complication.” He mumbled shaking his head. Maya, unsure if he was talking to her or mumbling to himself, remained quiet until she grew tired of watching the match that had now attracted the attention of everyone in their group. Rising to her feet, she moved to head to her pallet on the ground a few feet away, wanting to get some rest before morning. But before she could take a step, Jericho’s hand wrapped around her arm. Turning to face him, Maya was surprised at the intensity in his eyes staring back at her.
“Nothing in life is easy, sweetheart, so if you think it is worth fighting for, fight… it’s the most difficult roads we travel that tend to lead us to the most beautiful destinations.” And with those simple words, he turned and left her standing there bewildered and confused.
*****
Laughing as Maya put the king of swindlers himself into check, Jaron stood, abandoning his station by the fire and headed across the field toward his brother. From the moment he had first laid eyes on her, Jaron had sorely misjudged her. One look at her back in Vicaris, battered and broken, and he had seen weakness; a pitiful creature that was seeking out his brother only as a means of escape from her abusive father. Someone as small and frightened as her would never be anything more than a burden for Jarod, he had believed.
But for as much as he loathed her back then, knowing the pain and torment she would bring into Jarod’s already miserable life, even he could see the positive affect her mere presence had on Jarod’s demeanor. Even so, Jaron knew how the Shadows worked. He knew, they would take one look at her and see the means by which they would finally be able to secure their hold over Jarod once and for all, and Jaron just couldn’t let that happen. That’s why when Jarod and K left the clinic that night to go hunting, Jaron decided to take a little trip of his own.
He went to the Inn that night with full intentions of putting Maya out of her misery before she could cause his brother any more problems. Justifying his actions by convincing himself that he was doing her a favor, freeing her from the lifetime of abuse she had suffered at the hands of her father and would most definitely endure at the hands of the Shadows. But what he found at the Inn that fateful night would not only completely change his impression of her, but of Jarod as well.
Using darkness of the night as a cover, Jaron slipped out of the clinic and made his way to the Inn. Needing to avoid the patrols who seemed to be out in unusually large numbers, he traveled on the rooftops, and easily made it to the Inn without being seen. There he leapt onto one of the second floor balconies and was pleased to find the door leading into one of the rooms unlocked. Once safely inside he gently closed the door behind him and frowned as the sounds of a struggle, accompanied by very loud yelling, echoed into the room from the floor below. Concerned that the patrols in the garden would surely hear all the chaos, Jaron stayed tucked away inside the room and waited. For several minutes he stood there, listening to the sounds of things crashing and breaking, but try as he might he couldn’t make out exactly what the disturbance was about. He had half decided to just leave and go back to the clinic, when suddenly a blood curdling scream stopped Jaron’s heart in his chest. A few seconds later he heard the distinct sound of the front door slamming shut, after which a heavy veil of silence descended over the Inn.
Curious as to what had happened, Jaron waited a few moments to see if whoever had left was going to return, then slowly pushed open the door. Cautiously he stepped out onto the landing and peaked over the railing into the room below. Wooden tables, well-worn from years of use, filled the open expanse, each one topped with a small flower filled vase. The rustic homey look of the place gave it a peaceful ambiance, very much in contrast to the mayhem he had heard taking place a few moments ago. Directly across from the landing, on the opposite side of the room, a long bar ran the length of the wall and behind it, Jaron could just barely make out a small door at the end. Since everything in the restaurant before him appeared to still be in order, showing no obvious signs of the struggle he had heard taking place, Jaron came to the quick conclusion that whatever had happened down there must have taken place on the other side of the unassuming structure.
Taking great care not to make any noise, Jaron descended the steps into the restaurant and slowly made his way behind the bar. Placing one had on the knob, he paused a moment to listen for any sounds coming from the other side, and upon hearing none, he twisted it, stepped inside, and froze. There, seated at an island in the center of the kitchen sat a lone figure. She was stooped over the counter with her head resting on top of her hands. Multiple bruises and cuts covered her bare arms, some old, some new and her clothing was spattered in so much blood it was difficult to tell if all of it even belonged to her.
“Did he send you to finish the job?” she asked, not even bothering to lift her head to look at him.
Jaron, caught off guard by the cold, detached sound of her voice, frowned. “I have no idea what you are talking about ma’am.”
Raising her head off her arms to take him in, it became very obvious to Jaron that this lady was Maya’s mother. Even though her face was badly swollen and he could see the start of a massive black eye beginning to take shape, her resemblance to her daughter was uncanny. Especially her pale grey eyes that stared back at him in much the same way Maya’s had back at the clinic; the same look that gave him the distinct feeling that they weren’t simply looking at him, but instead peering inside him and evaluating his soul.
Tilting her head slightly, she narrowed her eyes and took a moment to carefully scrutinize him. “You look like him.”
“Like who?” he asked, perplexed by the odd statement.
Slowly she rose from her chair and began to approach him. “Like your brother, of course.”
“My…?” Furrowing his brows, Jaron began backing away from the small woman stalking toward him. Despite the fact she was half his size and as broken as she appeared to be, she radiated with a strength and self confidence that suddenly had him rethinking his entire plot against her daughter. “Ma’am, I assure you…”
“Don’t...” She warned, the bite in her voice silencing him instantly. “Don’t pretend you have no idea what I am talking about.” Taking one more step away from her, Jaron suddenly found himself with his back pressed firmly against a wall. With a narrowed gaze, Maya’s mother halted her approach, “You came here with every intention of causing my daughter harm. But you’re too late, my husband has beaten you too it.”
Jaron opened his mouth to speak, but swiftly shut it again, unsure of what to say. After all, it was one thing to intend to do an evil deed… he should know, he had done his fair share of them over the years… but it was another matter completely to stand here and confess his plans with the battered mother of his intended victim.
“Although...” Maya’s mother continued, taking another step toward him. “I suspect you wouldn’t have gone through with it anyway.” Taking another step toward him, she stood toe to toe with Jaron, her piercing stare daring him to dispute anything she was saying. Her closeness was making him extremely uncomfortable and Jaron wanted nothing more than to put some space between them. He was about to push her aside when she unexpectedly reached up and brushed a finger down his cheek. “No, you wouldn’t have done it, the darkness isn’t as strong in you as it is your brother.” Pulling her hand back, Jaron watched as a single tear fell down he
r cheek. “But still… it is there.”
Turning her back to him, she headed back to the counter and poured herself a drink from a bottle sitting on top of it. “Krev, it’s a mixture of formula and alcohol. Do you want some?” she asked holding up an extra cup.
“No, thank you. I don’t drink alcohol.” Moving away from the wall, Jaron headed for the door. “I actually think it is time for me to go.”
“You used to be such a good man, Jaron.” Her voice stopped him, as he reached for the knob. “The light you had within you was once as bright or brighter than the one my daughter has within her, but even as good and strong as you are, you were no match for the queen’s darkness.”
Dropping his head, Jaron released a ragged breath. “Ma’am please.” He begged, not wanting to hear any more of what she had to say.
Ignoring his pleas, Maya’s mother continued, “You sold your soul to her to save your brother and in the process, you have forsaken the both of you. And now your brother will drag my daughter down into the darkness along with you both, and there is nothing either one of us can do about it.”
Resuming her seat at the counter, she took a sip of the amber liquid and closed her eyes. “I have failed her, Jaron. I saw him coming for her and did everything I could to keep it from happening. Even enduring years of abuse, just because Sam had so much pull with the patrols. And it worked, for years he bought them off, moved us around if anyone got too curious, and kept us from having to go to the factories where others might figure out we were different. And yet he still found us.” Shaking her head, she wiped away her tears half laughing, “And he wasn’t even looking for her, just strolled through the front door one night, asking for a room.”
“You saw him coming before it happened?” Frowning, Jaron released the door and approached. Resting his hands on the edge, he leaned onto the counter across from her. “What else have you seen?”
“Nothing more.” She sighed, “The moment Jarod walked through that door the connection with my daughter was made. And now both their fates have become lost to me.” Rising her gaze to meet his, she smiled sadly. “Just know this Jaron, whatever it is they are meant to do, they are meant to do it together.”
Rubbing his hand across the back of his neck, Jaron pulled himself free of the memory and glanced at his brother standing in the field just a few feet away. Maya’s mother’s words had been echoing in his mind since the day the two of them showed up at Oasis. And though he couldn’t help but fear what those words might mean for the both of them, he couldn’t deny that to this point, Maya had proven herself to be nothing if not an asset to his brother.
He also knew that, even though he was being too hard headed to admit it right now, Jarod knew he needed her too. For as much as Maya claimed Jarod was her strength, Jaron had no doubt that she was his also. And watching his brother now, alone and withdrawn from the rest of the group, Jaron could tell he was struggling; torn between his need to protect Maya and his desire to be near her.
Because what Maya and the others didn’t know, was that the increase in Jarod’s strength back at the camp had also resulted in his darkness nearly doubling. And with every day that passed without some sort of release, Jarod’s rage only grew stronger.
“Care for some company?” Jaron asked as he neared the brooding giant.
“Depends.” Jarod answered without turning around.
“Depends on what?”
“Whether or not you’re here for the view, because if you are out here to try and get me to chat about my feelings, you can go back and join the others.”
“Well, so much for that idea.” Jaron half laughed as Jarod turned and glared at him over his shoulder. “Actually, I was thinking of something a little more physical.” Pulling his sword from its sheath, he grinned at Jarod. “Care to burn off some of that extra energy?”
Arching his eyebrows, Jarod grinned back. “You really sure you want to do this? I mean, I did kick your ass the other day back at Oasis.”
“Yeah, well you had me at a disadvantage that day. I wasn’t expecting my little brother to show up out of the blue wanting to kill me.” Stepping away, Jaron dropped into a sparring stance and summoned Jarod with his free hand. “But now that I am ready for you, you won’t stand a chance.”
However, upon being reminded of his attack on his brother, Jarod hung his head in shame. “Jaron, I am really sor…”
“Jarod, stop apologizing.” Jaron sighed as he rose from his stance. “You had every right to be angry with me for what I did to you. Now, pull your sword so I can get started kicking your ass.”
Jarod hesitated a brief moment, studying his brother closely, before complying with his request. Once his sword pulled clear of its sheath, Jaron didn’t waste a moment. He charged him, swinging hard at his torso without holding back in the slightest. As expected Jarod blocked the attack. “Why are you really doing this Jaron?”
“Because you are holding in too much rage,” he answered taking another swing at Jarod, which he once again blocked with ease. Without pause, Jaron continued with his attacks, slowly increasing the speed until he had fallen into a steady rhythm. “And we are only two days away from the city, meaning contact with Lanorians is about to become unavoidable and the last thing we need is for you to fly off the handle over something minute and get us all killed. So, I figured a little workout was just the thing.”
“I am glad to know you have so little faith in my ability to control myself.” Jarod retorted, matching each swing he made perfectly.
Having little doubt that Jarod’s skill level far exceeded his own, Jaron continued attacking relentlessly. But no matter how hard he tried to anger him, to get him to go on the offensive, Jarod for some reason refused to submit to his tactics and remained unnervingly calm and relaxed, much to Jaron’s dismay. In order for this plan to work, Jaron knew he would have to do something to stir Jarod up, and he had a pretty good idea what would work. Lunging in for another attack, he decided to bring up the one subject he was certain would put a crack in his brother’s stone cold demeanor.
“Well, can you blame me? I can feel the rage radiating off of you from a mile away, and with you refusing to even speak with the one person who can help you control it, I figure this is the only other option.”
“Whatever is happening between me and Maya is no business of yours.” Jarod retorted, with more than a hint of venom. “Besides, you are the last person who should be giving someone relationship advice.”
Rising his sword over his head, Jaron swung high, catching Jarod off guard and forcing him to duck to avoid getting decapitated by the heavy steel blade. “What the hell is that supposed to mean?”
Recovering his stance, Jarod lunged with an attack of his own. Charging forward, he made a hard swing at Jaron’s torso, one he just barely managed to avoid. “It means, you have spent how many decades following K around and yet you’re still too afraid to admit to her and yourself that you have feelings for her.” Dodging an incoming attack, Jarod moved swiftly to come up behind Jaron. “Instead, you have sat silently by for years as she repeatedly left you behind to come to see the Lanorian king.” Letting his rage consume him completely, Jarod grinned wickedly at his brother, “Tell me, how did it feel to be left in the shadows while another is enjoying the happiness that should have been yours?”
Blocking another swing from Jarod and holding it, Jaron narrowed his gaze. “Are we still talking about K, or are we talking about something else?”
“We are talking about the fact that you are finally being man enough to do what you should have done over fifty years ago,” Jarod snapped. “Maybe if you had done something to stop her back then, none of this would be happening now!”
“You are blaming me for the Shadows’ betrayal?” Infuriated by the callous yet valid accusation, Jaron’s own rage surged through his blood like fire in his veins. “How dare you speak of things you know nothing about!” charging forward, Jaron’s attacks became faster and more relentless. “K is nothin
g more to me than my queen. I serve her and she uses me as her will sees fit, nothing more.”
“Liar!” Jarod growled, no longer holding back as he returned each blow of Jaron’s with one of his own. “I could feel your reaction back at the camp when you learned who had taken her. You were angry, but more than that, you were jealous.”
“Of course I was angry! Our only hope of defeating the Shadows had been stolen right from under our noses!”
“So the only reason you want her back, is to save our people?”
“Of course,” Jaron growled, as he blocked an attack and held it mere inches from his head.
Jarod, eyes now blazing red, glared down at him as he continued to increase pressure on his blade, forcing it closer and closer to Jaron’s face. “I want you to look me in the eye right now and tell me you don’t care for her. That every moment you spend away from her doesn’t pain you or that the thought of anything bad happening to her, doesn’t tear your very soul in two.” Leaning more of his weight onto the blade, Jarod grinned wickedly, “Better yet, tell me that the thought of another man’s hands touching her, holding her, doesn’t infuriate you to the core.”
“Are we still talking about me brother?” Jaron huffed through ragged breaths, as the sword crept closer and closer. In a battle of strength, Jaron knew he didn’t stand a chance, however he had never been one to rely on brawn alone. No, Jaron’s greatest strength had always been and would always be his ability to think clearly under pressure. With sweat beading his brow, Jaron grinned wickedly back at Jarod. “Or are we discussing the fact that right now your girl is over there having a nice conversation with a Wanderer? A Wanderer, I might add, that had his hands all over her back at their camp.”
Forsaken (The Shadow Chronicles Book 3) Page 24