Rise of The Mortokai

by D G Palmer

  ‘And what about in Almedia? It was you that rescued me against the Shade, wasn’t it?’

  ‘Yes. I was taken by your skill and warrior spirit. Those that can survive are strong.’ Again, the other Krez repeated it.

  Finn elbowed Tristan hard in the arm. ‘I told you it wasn’t a figment of my imagination,’ she said with a satisfied smile on her face.

  ‘We have to go and rescue Daniel,’ Trinity said to Tavisum.

  ‘We will do no such thing. You can do as you wish but the druids will not follow those traitors nor will we lift a finger to save the one that has murdered Cernounos.’ A gasp went through the druids as many of them had no idea that the symbol of nature had been killed. ‘Release the Shadow Dancers!’

  ‘When I make it to Daniel, in one piece, maybe then you’ll believe that people aren’t locked into their destiny, that they can change and forge a new one. Maybe then you’ll see how wrong this prophesy is.’

  Trinity, Finn and Tristan gathered their things and soon they were headed northwest towards the lair of the Shadow Dancers. Even after what she had said to the Archdruid, Trinity still had a sense of trepidation as they travelled the unfamiliar route led by the Krez elves and she made sure that she remained on her guard.

  Chapter Thirty-Two

  Daniel could feel something cold and hard against his face. His head was pounding and he struggled to open his eyes. The only sounds he could hear were a constant drip drip drip from nearby and a raspy breathing that at first, he thought was his own but soon realised it came from the same direction as the dripping.

  He finally got his eyes opened and he tried to focus his blurred vision on his surroundings. He was laying on a stone floor and as Daniel clamoured up to his feet, he discovered that his hands had been manacled and the chain attached was bolted to the rough wall.

  He was in a cell. A cell roughly hewn out of solid rock, but a cell none the less.

  Daniel moved closer to the bars of his cell, as far as the chain of his cuffs would allow. Wherever his cell was located it was a dark cold place, the only light source being a single flaming torch in a sconce down the corridor between the gaol cells.

  In the opposite cell, Daniel could make out the shape of a figure in the darkness. ‘Hello, are you awake?’ He called out. The last thing he remembered was being at the Druid Glade and he wondered if it was Trinity in the other cell since he was with her when they were going to see the Archdruid. ‘Trinity, is that you?’

  Suddenly, the fire torch was lifted out of its holding and was carried down the dark passageway. Daniel struggled to see who was holding it, their face obscured within the shadows. ‘No, Daniel, it is not,’ the person said.

  Daniel recognised the voice but couldn’t believe his own ears. ‘Ch’tan? Is that you? What’s going on?’ A thought flashed across Daniel’s mind. ‘Just who is in that cell?’

  Ch’tan lowered the torch and Daniel could finally see the other prisoner. Nyriel lay on the ground in a poorly state. He couldn’t tell if she was conscious or not but she was being barely kept alive by the drops of water coming from a contraption above her.

  Anger and disgust grew in Daniel. ‘You’re supposed to be her bodyguard. You’re supposed to protect her!’

  ‘And I will... when I marry her,’ Ch’tan replied. He watched Daniel begin to cast a spell. ‘Don’t bother. Those manacles are no ordinary restraints. They inhibit the flow of Essence. And as you know, no Essence, no magic.’

  ‘Why are you doing this?’

  ‘Why? Because my King, once strong against separation from the surface dwellers, was beginning to soften. How can he be so willing to bow the head and kiss the foot to re-establish a status quo with those that have repeatedly turned their back on us over and over again. We should be strengthening ties with the Atlantean elves, not the treacherous High Bourne. And there was someone willing to help strengthen my cause. All I needed to do was give them the Book of Azul. I couldn’t think how I was going to get my hands on it, since only the king can release it. But then you came along as if Zephyrus himself was in my favour. I should really be thanking you.’

  ‘The Book of Azul test back in Murias City had been your idea,’ remembered Daniel.

  ‘Exactly! The book was in the open all I needed was to steal it from you and that was where the Shadow Dancers came in. I would have simply hired them but my partner wanted no loose ends, so we have them mind-controlled to do our bidding.’

  ‘So that fight outside the Dirty Dog?’

  ‘Was all for show,’ Ch’tan smiled. ‘That would have been it, all done and dusted if it hadn’t been for that Tristan interfering.’

  ‘And what about Nyriel? Why are you doing this to her?’

  ‘When we left you, before the Beltane, I told her my plans, everything. The marriage, dethroning her father, my allegiances and eventual war against the surface. She said I was crazy and knew that I would need her to marry me to give my claim to the throne legitimacy. She refused to give me her hand, so now she is going through re-education until she accepts my proposal of marriage.’

  Seeing the depraved mind that Ch’tan had, Daniel suddenly made a realisation. ‘It was you, wasn’t it, that poisoned Cernounos.’

  Not by choice. That was something my partner wanted done. Now if you would excuse me, these caves may be damp and dank but I still need to break from the fires they use down here.’

  ‘WE HAVE ARRIVED,’ ANJU stated. They had left their horses half a mile away and came the rest of the way on foot, so as not to attract attention. Just over 150 metres away was the entrance to Anju’s lair. It was a large cavern entrance, at least 7 metres but because it was covered in brush and moss it blended in with its surrounds and the hill it was cut into. There were no paths to it and the terrain wasn’t easy to negotiate, so to come across the cave accidentally would be very unlikely.

  ‘I can see two guards,’ whispered Tristan.

  ‘And there will be two more that you cannot see,’ Anju added. Something weighed heavily upon the elf assassin and she turned to her clan members. She looked each one of them in the face before she made her address. ‘You should all know that we may be forced into having to kill our clan brethren because they don’t know their own mind. I know they are friends. I know they are comrades we have eaten with. I want it to be clear that I will be taking full responsibility and the consequences for this matter.’ The Shadow Dancers made to protest when they heard the words from their leader such was their respect for her, but Anju held up her hand stopping them. ‘Those that can survive are strong,’ she said and in unison that repeated it.

  ‘What consequences are you talking about?’ Trinity asked.

  ‘The Krez have strict edicts that we abide by. The hierarchy may decide that my coming actions are in breach of those edicts but only time will tell. The best thing would be to avoid contact altogether.’

  ‘Agreed.’

  ‘That’s why I should go in by myself.’

  ‘I don’t think that’s a good idea,’ Trinity shook her head. ‘It’s unlikely that Daniel will follow you without knowing that you’re not controlled anymore. So, I’ll be going with you. Finn and Tristan, you’ll remain here with the other Shadow Dancers, just in case.’

  Finn looked around uneasily at the group of assassins before turning to Tristan, ‘Don’t you vekting leave my side.’

  ‘Okay, let’s get started.’

  Anju pointed at four of her troops and sent them off. Within moments they were in position and with a quick discrete signal from the angel of death the four guards were despatched.

  With the way clear, they all moved to the mouth of the cavern. At that point Trinity changed herself into a fly and attached herself to the shoulder of Anjunel. Then the assassin entered her lair as an intruder, for the first time.

  Moss had grown all around the cavern entrance, as if the earth had tried to reclaim it after it was abandoned, so many years ago, by its previous dwellers, the giants. They had been forced n
orth of The Spine (or to give its full name The Spine of The Goddess) mountain range, after the Supremacy Wars. Few giants ventured south now, rarely spotted and never in communities. If giants were seen at all it was usually not far from their racial cousins, the ogres.

  Anjunel continued down the wide spiral steps. The moonlight that had brightly illuminated the entrance diminished the deeper she descended. She reached the bottom and froze.

  She heard footsteps coming their way.

  Quickly, she-side stepped into a recess and almost vanished into the shadows. A Krez elf walked by down the passageway carrying stores. Anju slipped out behind him, he was going the same way she needed to, but instead of waiting, she followed him with her featherlike footsteps, her reared back to strike in case he turned around. he didn’t and she eventually stepped off into another passage.

  She had only taken a few steps when more footfalls were heard. With her keen hearing she could discern that there were three Shadow Dancers, one of which was female. Again, Anju found herself pressed up against the cave wall in a darkened corner. Two male Krez passed them and the third was indeed a female. Someone she knew intimately as she was Anju’s second in command.

  Her name was Tessara and once news of everything that had happened came out, she would likely replace Anjunel as the chapter head. She may even be sent to assassinate her. Anju hoped not because it would not go well for her student. Anju had taught Tessara everything that she knew, but not everything that Anju knew. If it came down to it sentimentality wouldn’t interfere, Anju thought, even as she marvelled at Tessara’s wavy tresses as the young elf walked disappeared down another passage. She was always taken by how they shone like a golden dawn even down in dark caverns.

  Once it was all clear again, Anjunel Lynsu’unara continued her stealthy journey to the prison cells.

  ‘NYRIEL! NYRIEL!’ DANIEL was worried. He hadn’t heard anything from his neighbour.

  ‘I am here friend, Daniel,’ she said weakly. ‘I wish it were under different circumstances but it is still good to see you again.’

  ‘I agree. I have a present to give you. It’s a new, up-to-date encyclopaedia for your library.’

  ‘Oh, Daniel,’ she coughed. ‘I look forward to seeing it.’

  Daniel wondered how she was going to manage that. He knew she would never agree to marry Ch’tan. And he didn’t know how else they could manage to escape. Of course, Trinity and Finn would search for him, but how would they find him. ’You know, I came back to Ariest with the intention of becoming a Mage but I’ve been questioning that decision lately, ever since I heard about the Mortokai and this prophesy really.’

  ‘What prophesy is that?’

  ‘The one that says I will bring death and destruction and change Ariest forever.’

  ‘Change isn’t always a bad thing. One person’s revolutionary is another person’s freedom fighter,’ Nyriel replied in her laboured voice. ‘And don’t get me started on prophesies. I’m always being told about my destiny and I always tell them that I’ll make my own.’

  ‘Maybe you’re right. But maybe it would be better if I didn’t try to become a Mage then I wouldn’t have the power to destroy anything. Like they say, “power corrupts, and absolute power corrupts absolutely.”’

  ‘But only if you let it,’ she added. ‘Your personality, your character, they wouldn’t allow you to be any different than who you are. Unless you lose facets of your personality you will always strive to help people, Daniel Welsh, even if you don’t realise it yet. You’re fundamentally a good person.’

  ‘I totally agree with her,’ Trinity said as she flew from off Anju’s shoulder and transformed back into her normal self. ‘Leaders rise when they are most needed. Don’t you remember what you did when you were in the Shade?’

  Daniel couldn’t believe his eyes. ‘Trinity? Are you talking about when I ran?’

  ‘And then you did the right thing and helped save those people, and gave the spirits of those that had passed a chance to say goodbye.’

  ‘You helped my people, too,’ Nyriel reminded him.

  Daniel pondered over what they both said for a moment. ‘This is Princess Nyriel, of the Undany, by the way. So, how did you find me?’

  ‘You were right about the Shadow Dancer. Her name is Anjunel. She and the others have been mind-controlled all along. She knew that you would be brought here because this is her lair.’

  ‘It was Ch’tan. He’s behind it all. The kidnapping, the attempts to steal the spell book, mind-controlling the Shadow Dancers, even killing Cernounos. It was all Ch’tan and a partner.’

  ‘Then I would like to have words with Ch’tan,’ Anju said as she freed Daniel and Nyriel. Seeing the physical state of the princess caused concern for the elf and Trinity as they shared a look knowing that the weakened undine will hamper their escape. ‘She’s going to slow us down if we take her.’

  ‘No, she won’t,’ Daniel jumped in. ‘If I’m getting out so is she. All she needs is some water. Besides, Ch’tan has my satchel with both spell-books. We need to get it back.’

  ‘Great,’ Trinity rolled her eyes. ‘So much for our plan to sneak in and sneak out.’

  ‘There is a natural hot spring by my sanctum,’ Anju said. ‘Will that do?’

  ‘Perfectly,’ replied Nyriel.

  With Daniel and Trinity helping the stricken princess, Anjunel took the lead and after checking that the coast was clear led them out of the prison cells.

  She moved swiftly and silently like the predator that she was, using the shadows to hide her presence. They tip-toed past a room that had several Shadow Dancers sleeping. From there they took the first left into a passageway at the end of which steam could be seen.

  ‘That was easier than I thought it would be,’ Trinity admitted.

  ‘That’s only because they are still ensorcelled,’ replied Anju. ‘That doesn’t mean that we should delay things though.’

  Nyriel quietly stepped down into the hot spring and was instantly feeling better. Anju’s sanctum lay behind the spring and they could hear a voice coming from within. With her extraordinary stealth Anju made her way to the place that was her personal quarters to investigate. Moments later she returned to the others with news.

  ‘Ch’tan is in there, in some sort of trance, talking to somebody,’ explained Anju. ‘Your bag is there too, Daniel.’

  He sighed with relief. ‘Do you think you can get it?’

  ‘Of course. As long as we get out before they find the empty cells. Once they do, the alarm is rung and everyone is alert and we have to fight our way out. Not ideal.’

  ‘Okay, new plan. Anju, you retrieve the books and I’ll lead these two out.’

  ‘Are you sure you know your way back?’

  ‘Of course! I’ll just follow my scent back out,’ Trinity replied as she transformed into a bloodhound. She was off, giving Daniel and Nyriel barely enough time to wish the Krez elf good luck.

  The door was slightly ajar so it was no problem for Anju to ease it open and slide silently and unnoticed into her chambers. Ch’tan still kneeled with his back towards the door and she could hear him whisper his side of a conversation but couldn’t quite make out what he was saying. But that wasn’t what she was here for. The satchel lay on a table to the left. She silently inched her way towards it showing why the Shadow Dancers were top of the pile when it came to spy craft and assassination.

  Unfortunately, a gong was suddenly struck repeatedly as the empty cells were discovered.

  Chapter Thirty-Three

  Finn let out another deep sigh. She hated all this waiting about; she wasn’t a patient person at the best of times but this was torture. She would much rather have gone in guns blazing, raising hell like only she knew how. ‘Can’t we just have a little peek inside?’

  ‘No,’ Tristan replied. He was getting fed up with Finn’s whining, even though he was as anxious as she was. Battle was in his blood as much as Finn craved adventure but he had a little more restrain
t, not much, but just a little. Finn on the other hand enjoyed letting everybody around her know her frustrations.

  ‘You know, the only reason I’m taking that job offer from Fungal is so I don’t have to do vekt like this,’ Finn said to an exasperated Tristan. ‘This is no fun. In fact, this is about as much fun as falling into the back of a giant’s pants. A sweaty giant. A sweaty giant that had been exercising. A sweaty giant that had been exercising doing squats.’

  ‘Vekt! Will you be quiet,’ Tristan said angrily.

  ‘What’s that noise? How long has that been going off?’ Finn asked.

  ‘I don’t know because of your incessant chatter,’ replied Tristan.

  ‘Well some people love my chatter.’

  ‘Mores the fool.’

  ‘Oi!’

  ‘That sound is the alarm,’ a Shadow Dancer revealed. ‘They have been discovered.’

  ‘Well, it seems like we will be seeing some action after all,’ Tristan said drawing his sword.

  ‘And about time too,’ Finn agreed giving her guns a final check. ‘Let’s get going before it’s all over.’

  TRINITY WAS MAKING good headway. In her dog form she could almost see the scent she and Anju had left. She had to stop every now and again, not only to make sure that Daniel and Nyriel were keeping up but also to avoid any Krez elves she would hear ahead of them. She had to wait for them to move on because, unlike Anju, Trinity didn’t know any other route out, she could only follow the scent they had left.

  It was during one of those moments that they heard the gongs.

  ‘That must be the alarm Anju was talking about,’ Daniel said.

  ‘I think you’re right,’ agreed Nyriel. ‘What do we do now?’

  Trinity changed back. ‘There’s no chance of sneaking out now, so instead of being a scalpel we can be a hammer. Climb up.’

  Daniel and the princess looked at each other, not a clue as to what Trinity had in mind. Then she turned into a short-nosed bear and it became clear. They clambered onto Trinity’s back and she charged into the growing number of Shadow Dancers filling the passages, sending them flying like skittles.