Shadow of the Unicorn

by Susan Skylark

6

  They entered the Lady’s presence with all the proper formalities while she studied them as if she were not quite certain what to do with them, for in truth she was not. Said she as they straightened from their bows, “I have been informed, Baye,” said she with only slight exasperation, “that you are in need of not one, but two apprentices, to keep you out of trouble. What ever it is you are up to, you had best take Adan with you.” Almost pleadingly, she asked, “and keep me informed as much as you can.” Baye bowed his acquiescence, feeling rather sorry for the Lady, who no doubt felt her authority trampled under foot by a certain intrepid servant with no further explanation forthcoming.

  As they retreated from the Lady’s audience chamber, Baye turned to his apprentices and said, “I am sure we’ll soon be off, as it is rare that I am in Astoria this long. That being said, Adan, there are things you must learn ere we leave.” Jace grinned like a fool, knowing he would get to help teach Adan at least one vital skill; Baye gave him a patient look but shook his head in amusement as they made their way out of the castle. Said he as they rode out of Astoria, “let us hope we have no more inadvertent witnesses, I do not need three apprentices!”

  Adan proved a far better student in the area of concentration than Jace, which was not surprising as he had always been the thoughtful, level-headed one of the pair. Jace unfortunately did not realize his hope of helping Baye teach Adan to concentrate, rather the moment they were outside the city, a unicorn in all his unveiled glory galloped directly up to him, terrifying his poor horse so much that the beast threw his rider and dashed headlong back to the city, leaving Jace to pick himself up and confront the creature. Baye said in farewell, “we’ll leave you two to get acquainted,” he grinned, “and maybe he can teach you how to properly sit a horse.” They continued on their way and Jace gave the overly amused unicorn a significant look, which he roundly ignored. With a sigh, Jace approached the wondrous creature, but the stallion easily sidestepped and avoided any contact with the boy. He gave the boy a teasing glance, tossed his head eagerly, and challenged the lad to catch him.

  Frowning in annoyance, but soon catching the creature’s playful spirit, he raced after the unicorn as he hastened for the woods. Only when they were well away from prying eyes did the unicorn stay his flight and allow the boy’s approach. The moment Jace touched the glorious creature a blinding pulse of light consumed them both. Blinking in wonder, Jace looked to the unicorn in befuddlement, wondering what it was that had just happened. The creature snorted impatiently, as if explaining something painfully obvious, causing Jace to smile in spite of himself; the creature was as impetuous and headstrong as he himself was.

  It seemed that that initial touch somehow did to the unicorn whatever it was that had happened to Jace during his vanishment into the Master’s very presence, happily the creature was not gone for several days and did not then require as much time again to recover his senses. The unicorn whickered his amusement but then turned eager eyes upon his companion, wondering why he wasn’t yet mounted. Jace shook his head in wonder, but did as the impatient creature bade him; they immediately set off to find their companions. By the time they trotted into the clearing where Adan and Baye had secreted themselves, Adan had proved himself an excellent student, at least in that particular discipline.

  Jace gaped in surprise, “it took me hours!”

  Baye grinned, “maybe that will teach you to think before you leap into action.”

  Adan chimed in, “at least he has millennia to learn such a useful skill, but it still may not be enough.”

  Jace gave them both a patient look as Baye suggested they ride back to the castle and see if the swordmaster had time for a private lesson. Jace grinned in anticipation, thinking this might be his chance to redeem himself, for if he were more heedless than Adan, at least they were an even match with the sword. Adan gave him a playful wink as his unicorn dashed off with all haste back to Astoria with Jace close on his heels, his stallion determined not to lose the impromptu race. Baye and his mount exchanged an exasperated sigh at the exuberance of their juniors, returning to the city at a far more sensible pace, easily catching the boys as they became mired in the midday crowds.

  Jace suddenly caught sight of Jay wandering dejectedly through the haphazard collection of wagons, tents, and booths that made up the open air market on the edge of the city. He dismounted, pushing his way through the milling throng, and approaching his friend with all haste. Jay caught his eye, but did not seem all that eager to see his companion of former days, but at least he stood still to await his approach. Said Jace as he drew to a stop, “why so glum my friend?”

  Jay shook his head in dismay, “my father is not here. He promised and he has never broken a promise! It is exactly a year to the day since he left me here and he promised to return exactly a year hence.”

  Baye and Adan came up alongside them, the former saying, “perhaps he was just delayed, any number of things could have happened to impede him?”

  Jay shook his head, “no, something terrible has happened, I know it.”

  Baye tried to encourage the lad, “just wait a few more days, and if he still has not come, why not go to the Lady?”

  Jay frowned skeptically, “I suppose I can wait a few days before doing anything rash, but how will the Lady avail me? It is not as if she’ll send anyone to go out looking for him; I’ll just have to go myself.” He sighed in dejection and vanished into the chaos of the crowd while the Messengers exchanged a grim look, feeling there was far more to the situation than was yet apparent. They turned their steps back towards the castle, all their former enthusiasm forgotten in the sudden foreboding that weighed heavily upon each of them at the thought of Jay and his father.

  Said Baye quietly, “I think your first mission is imminent lads, but I fear your friend’s father may have found himself in dire straits. I fear for the boy if things have gone ill with his father.” Jace and Adan exchanged a grave look, knowing Baye had spoken only too true.

  By this time they had reached the weapons practice yard, wherein the swordmaster met them with a strangely bland expression. He eyed Baye curiously and asked, “so the Lady has finally saddled you with young ones, has she?”

  Baye smiled, “I am not sure who got stuck with whom, but yes, we have been ordered to keep company together for a time.”

  The swordmaster studied the pair anew, asking, “any particular reason she picked this pair to accompany you?”

  Baye’s grin deepened, “rather someone told her it must be so.”

  The swordmaster snorted in understanding, momentarily showing his right palm to the startled boys, who exchanged a look of astonishment, while their elders grinned amusedly at their expense. Continued the swordmaster in his far more typical gruffness, “we had best put the lads through their paces then, they can’t have much longer to loll about the castle if they’ve been saddled with such a wanderer as you, my friend.” He worked them harder than he had ever pushed them before and both might have come away permanently maimed were it not for their peculiar nature, but Baye felt this an opportune time to work on their self healing skills while the swordmaster felt he could push them as hard as they could go, for he now had no fear of either rendering themselves or the other any permanent harm. He even smiled slightly as they finished their workout, “not bad,” said he, “not bad at all.” He bid Baye a good evening and vanished from the yard.

  Baye nodded approvingly at the panting pair, “you lads don’t disappoint, but come, you had best get cleaned up and go in for supper.” He finished gravely, “I must speak with the Lady.” The boys exchanged a curious glance but immediately dashed off as they were bidden.

  The Lady had just dismissed the last petitioner of the day and was about to retire for her evening meal when a servant entered, asking after an audience for Baye. A quizzical frown flashed across her brow, but she said solemnly, “admit him at once.” But she was not about to sit in that chair one
moment longer, she stood and slowly paced the room, waiting for his arrival, intending to conduct the interview in a most scandalous fashion, at least as sticklers of protocol would see it, but the man and his comrades had thrown decorum to the wind so often of late that she actually relished the idea of doing it herself. She stopped suddenly and gave a rueful shake of her head, laughing at her own impropriety and enjoyment thereof, as if she were naught but a Student again and Baye the handsome boy that had teased her so dreadfully. She smiled wistfully in remembrance, was that really two centuries ago? She sighed heavily, turning to look directly into the eyes of her foremost Messenger. She caught a quick gleam of sympathetic understanding in his gaze before it was lost to his very proper bow.

  She gathered her tattered composure about her like a shredded garment, saying stiffly, “walk with me, please.”

  He bowed his head in acknowledgement and fell into step beside her, a curious light in his eyes, but he said nothing until she bade him speak. Said he at last, “my heart is uneasy within me Lady, I fear soon we will be leaving you.”

  She smiled slowly, as if his words came as no surprise, “that is true, my old friend, have you ever remained in Astoria for so many days together as you have upon this visit?” His wry smile was answer enough, continued she, “I know you have only remained so long, though it is hardly time enough to call a proper visit, merely for the sake of your apprentices. It is only natural that your skills and presence will soon be required elsewhere now that Jace and Adan are settled into whatever it is you have embroiled yourselves in.”

  She turned her gaze, full of curiosity and cunning and amusement, upon him, saying with a slight smile, a hint of mischief in her voice, “keep your secrets my friend, I know I shall not be the one to ferret them out, but I must be allowed to muse upon the uncanny facts surrounding you. You are the best and oldest of my Messengers and have returned from missions that were suicide at best, there is far more to the tale than I have yet heard, but perhaps one day all shall be made clear. Take your apprentices and go whither your heart leads, the Master calls, or I shall send you. Farewell my friend.” He bowed deeply and left her to muse as she would, a wistful smile upon her lips.

  Baye found his apprentices in the dining hall, halfway through their meal; they smiled eagerly at him in anticipation of what he might have to say, but a hint of foreboding hung over them, like clouds covering the sun, dampening their otherwise exuberant greeting. Said he once they had quieted, “what is it lads?”

  Jace looked truly uneasy, said he in a pensive tone, “Jay did not return for supper.”

  Baye glanced about and noticed that the meal was truly over, with only here and there a scattered latecomer attending to a nearly depleted plate. Said he, “perhaps he has no appetite in his worry about his father?”

  Adan shook his head, “Jay never misses a meal, ever. Even had he word of his father’s death, he would not miss a meal unless he were physically absent.”

  Baye nodded grimly, “he would set out the moment he received word of the tragedy.” He frowned, “you think he left this evening in search of his father? He wouldn’t get far before full dark!”

  Jace said sadly, “it doesn’t matter, he wouldn’t be able to rest unless he felt he was doing something, even it was only to walk a hundred yards from the keep ere nightfall stayed his flight.”

  Baye grimaced, “but he seemed content to wait a few days.”

  Adan sighed, “he was telling the truth at the moment, but he probably changed his mind the moment we left him alone; he can be tempestuous at times.”

  Baye nodded, “we had best go after him then.” His apprentices exchanged a startled but relieved look, as if this were their greatest desire yet they knew it could never be. He continued grimly, “this may be a complete waste of time, but I think there is far more to it than that, that is why I went to speak with the Lady. We have her blessing to ride forth whenever we feel the need, and I think the moment has come. If so, your friend is in grave danger, for we do not ride forth on idle quests. We’ll leave as soon as you are ready.” The lads immediately vacated the table to prepare for their first true adventure, fear for their friend and eagerness for the quest fighting for predominance in their hearts. Baye watched them go with a grim smile and then went to make his own preparations.

  Talking to the head groom, Baye discovered that Jay had indeed gone in search of his tardy father, having taken a horse out of the stable within an hour of their meeting in the market. The man was far from pleased, not liking to have his charges out after dark or taken on adventures not sanctioned by the Lady. Baye assured him they would do their best to return both beast and boy as quickly as possible. The man withdrew with dark murmurs that did not bode well for Jay’s future with the stableman, should he return. They were soon in their saddles, navigating the nearly deserted streets at a swift trot, switching to a gallop as they left the city and took to the lonely road. The full moon was high and gave plenty of light, even for a mortal horse, to travel easily in the night if the rider kept to the road. They should soon overtake the renegade, for nothing can outrun a unicorn.

  Baye’s grim prediction seemed to find fulfillment when the unicorns whinnied uneasily and each of their riders felt a frenzied cry of anguish, fury, and grief echo in their minds. Baye said gravely as they pressed on, “some of our comrades are in dire straits this night, and they are close, what you just felt was their unicorns’ reaction to the situation; your friend is riding directly into it, whatever it is. Be on your guard.”

  The lads exchanged a nervous look, not fear of any foe they might encounter, rather an anxiety for the fate of their friend. The ride was interminable, though the miles passed swiftly beneath the feet of their mounts, for each was haunted by an oppressive feeling of dread and disquiet, knowing something far more insidious than an overdue merchant train awaited them. They caught their quarry on the very border of Astoria, the horror that confronted them was well worthy of the foreboding that had accompanied them upon the entire journey. Jay was correct, his father was a stickler for punctuality and would have made it to Astoria that day had he not been waylaid by disaster. Baye was aghast to see such a spectacle on the very border of Astoria. The scene was common enough in the untamed Wilds of the north or in the vast stretches of land unclaimed by any sovereign, but to have it happen upon the very border of a country known as the center of justice and peace in the civilized world was atrocious!

  A half burned peddler’s wagon, still smoking in the moonlight, sat nearby while another lay on its side, its contents strewn about like a child’s toys. The tracks in the grass were witness to the scattered flight of the other wagons in every direction conceivable, save back towards the city. The three dismounted and began to comb the area, hands on their sword hilts. Baye was heartened to see signs that though their livelihood might have been destroyed or stolen, it seemed most of the peddlers had at least escaped with their lives, having fled afoot while their attackers commandeered their wagons and teams, scattering with their plunder while the former owners ran for their lives. But what would make bandits so bold as to attack a merchant caravan on the borders of a civilized country where a patrol might come upon them at any moment?

  They found Jay kneeling beside a prone figure at the base of an ancient elm, sobbing like one bereft of his soul. The Brethren knelt on either side of the boy and what must be his father, bruised and battered beyond recognition, but still alive, if barely. The boy was too caught up in his grief to take a fright at the sudden advent of the intruders beside him, but upon recognizing them, he scowled at their impertinent intrusion into his personal sorrow. Worse, Baye ruined what should have been a private moment between Jay and his dying father, as he began to question the dying man, asked he, “what happened here, sir?”

  At the strange voice, the man painfully turned his head. Seeing something he liked or trusted in the stranger’s face or voice, he gasped, “it isn’t just bandits,
someone far worse...looking for something...the Eye...the Eye of Phil. It’s a glass orb...strange, uncanny thing...it came into my possession over a year ago...I got rid of it as soon as I could, but I wouldn’t tell them where or how...they made it look like bandits, he had twenty such to help him...they fled with the wagons.” He smiled proudly but grimaced with the effort, “my folk fled...got away...they’ll start over,” he turned and smiled at his son, “got to see my son too...not a bad way to go.” He coughed, spasmed in pain, then continued, “I wouldn’t tell them...they tried to force it out of me...it cost me my life...but it was worth it.”

  He groaned, gasped for air, and then stared, studying Jace in the moonlight, as if seeing a ghost, said he in a breathless whisper, “your Brothers boy, they tried to help...but they were captured...seemed to please the head villain no end...he and two of the bandits drug them off into the trees...the fiends returned alone, smiling like the villains they are.” Baye exchanged a grim look with his apprentices, beginning to understand what it was that had happened.

  Baye put a firm hand on the man’s shoulder and said, “you acted bravely sir, and have not died in vain. Rest easy.”

  The man grasped his hand, grimacing at the effort, and pleading, “catch them, ere they find the orb, they must not have it.” Baye nodded and the man relaxed visibly. The Brethren stood and withdrew, leaving the furious and aggrieved Jay to his solitary vigil at his father’s side.

  They began a thorough study of the area, trying to decipher exactly what had happened that night. Baye had no doubts that they were dealing with the Brotherhood or of the fate that had befallen their comrades. But what was the Eye of Phil? Some arcane relic of the Brotherhood’s no doubt, but who would name it thus? He almost smiled at the thought, but the circumstances were far too grim for mirth of any kind at the moment. They found more signs of flight: trampled vegetation and various items scattered about in the chaos, but no sign of lingering bandits or lurking mages of evil intent. At last they stumbled upon a tragic, but expected sight. At least the two unmoving forms in the uniform of the Brethren were not unexpected, the third figure kneeling over them in careful study was a complete surprise.

  The man looked up as he heard their approach, his eyes widened in wonder and pleasure as he stood. Baye wore a grim smile as he too recognized the stranger, said he in astonishment, “Scamp! What are you doing here?”

  The incongruously named stranger smiled, “I could ask you the same Baye.” He briefly studied the trailing apprentices, raised an eyebrow in question, and asked, “and with these kids in tow besides?”

  Baye shook his head, “I was in Astoria briefly after my last mission and seem to have acquired an apprentice or two for my trouble. The lads here are friends of the son of the chief merchant. The boy was distraught when his father failed to return to Astoria on time so set off to see what had come of him. We felt an urgent need to follow.”

  Scamp scratched his chin thoughtfully and said, “I was tracking a certain member of the Brotherhood, who seems intent on finding some artifact or other that had somehow come into the possession of the head merchant for a time.” He glanced down at their dead comrades, said he, “but I came too late. And it seems my quarry has gained himself some new allies.”

  Baye nodded grimly, “the dying merchant said as much, a pair of bandits accompanied the villain into the trees with our doomed comrades.” He sadly studied the pair: a Warrior and his apprentice, a lad of an age with his own, no wonder the merchant had looked at Jace askance. Each had had his throat cut to sate the blood price required upon an initiate joining the Brotherhood of the Serpent. He explained as much to his horrified apprentices, awkwardly trailing off as he caught a glimpse of Jay hiding in the bushes, listening with fascination and revulsion, but he had no time to react before they were all rather preoccupied with said villain and his new apprentices. Jay wisely vanished entirely into the underbrush as swords flashed in the moonlight.

  The villains had crept upon them unawares as they stood mournfully over their slain comrades, striking when it became obvious the fools had no idea where the Eye of Phil might be. When Jay had found the wreckage of the merchant train, the fiends had just determined that they would get nothing out of the doomed merchant, but the unexpected advent of the boy, obviously one closely associated with either the merchant or his folk, might prove useful. They abandoned their victim and hid themselves in hopes of hearing something to their advantage but only glimpsed the sentimental drivel that passes between a dying man and his only son. Then the Brethren had waltzed in, but still nothing of use was revealed, except that the man was telling the truth when he said he was no longer in possession of the Eye. The advent of a fourth Brother, one who had apparently been hunting them, only confirmed what they already knew. It was time to tie up the loose ends before a patrol happened along or the survivors brought word to the Lady and she mustered her forces.

  Scamp fell with a blade in his back before they even knew they were under attack. Adan and Jace proved an even match for the dark apprentices while Baye was not impressed with their master, who knew himself no match for the surviving Brother and summoned his vile reptilian mount to flee. Baye would have given chase, but he saw Jay peeping out of the shrubbery, watching in wonder while the vile man eyed the boy speculatively as he turned his monster and fled. Growling under his breath, he pursued the suddenly terrified Jay rather than the villain, emerging from the undergrowth several moments later with the sullen lad in tow. Ordering the boy to stay put, he then jumped into the ongoing fray between the apprentices and quickly settled the dispute, the vile initiates receiving far worse than they gave. Jace had been stabbed in the arm while Adan looked rather rakish with a dripping wound slanting across his forehead; neither of their foes had survived.

  After quickly assessing the situation, Baye turned grim eyes upon Jay, “how much did you hear ere we were interrupted?”

  The boy glared at him, all insolence, grated he, “what does it matter? Would you lock me up or kill me to ensure my silence?”

  Baye said quietly, “this vile group is known to but few, if word should inadvertently spread before the proper time, the results might be disastrous.”

  Jay sneered, “you Brethren and your secrets! I will do as it pleases me, thank you very much. How dare you interpose your fanaticism between me and my dying father and impose secrecy upon something that should not be hidden!”

  Baye shook his head, “I do not make the rules lad but it is unwise to thwart them, and as for coming between you and your father, he carried information that might be vital in preventing another such tragedy. I take it by your presence here that he is dead?” Jay nodded sullenly and Baye continued, “we have our own dead to see to, if you wish to bury him alongside our comrades you may.”

  Jay sneered at the fallen Brethren, “little enough good they did anyone, it is probably better this way.” He glared at Baye, “I can attend to my own affairs, thank you!” He turned on his heel and stalked away.

  Baye caught Jace’s eye and said, “you had best see to that wound lad, the blades carried by members of the Brotherhood are often tainted with vile spells. Afterwards, see what you can do for your friend, he’s in a very fragile state and liable to do something he might long regret, especially if he is as rash as you say.” Jace nodded and dashed off after his friend, the wound healing as he ran, leaving the others to bury their dead. Their haunting song of grief and hope eternal carried on the breeze, sending chills and an indescribable thrill up Jace’s spine.

  He found Jay sitting morosely beside his father; he glowered at his old friend as Jace intruded once more upon his grief. “Go away,” snarled he, “have you not already caused me grief enough?”

  Jace frowned, “how so?”

  Jay growled, “you really have no idea, do you? In absolutely everything you were better or stronger or faster than me; I was always second best. Even when you should have fallen to your death, no on
e was worried about me, only that the darling boy of Astoria might be injured! Then you took up with the Brethren, and even in your social disgrace, people still compared everything anyone did to how you might have done it, as if you had died at the peak of your potential. Even the girls, who knew they had absolutely no chance of winning your heart, looked at me askance in comparison to you! I am tired of standing in your shadow, of being overlooked, and of being second best and an afterthought.”

  He stood, knife in hand, casting one brief, miserable glance at his father before eyeing Jace hungrily, “I have lost everything this night; I have nothing left to me in Astoria. Thanks to you, I will never amount to anything there. I had hoped to return home to my father and take up his way of life, but that is gone too. But I heard things tonight, saw them with my own eyes, things that make me wonder if there is yet something for me to do. A way to make myself better than you.” He hefted the dagger, “perhaps those fiends were right in their treatment of your ilk. Is that why you keep their Brotherhood a secret? So people like me don’t go out looking for them?”

  Jace was not intimidated by the knife, knowing he was the far better combatant between the two of them, his curious nature not withstanding, but he was terrified for his friend, of what he might do in his grief and fury, but he was not left to linger in that mire of anxiety, for a far greater dread and terror suddenly fell upon them both. Somewhere a unicorn whinnied in terror and all about them the night became as black as the Nothing Jace had momentarily experienced after his fall, but it was not the Nothing that surrounded them, but a hostile darkness brimming over with feelings of dread, horror, hatred, fear, shame, sorrow, and despair: a horrid stew from which there could be no escape. But then came the Voice, and that was somehow even worse.

  It mocked them both, “what think you little mortals? That you can somehow escape that which is your deserved fate? You are mine to do with as I please!”

  Jay’s voice croaked desperately out of the dark, “please spare me, I will do whatever you ask!” He paused and then said in quiet fury, “I want power, glory, and revenge!”

  The fell voice laughed harshly, as if it came from the throat of a highly amused raven, “perhaps there is hope for you yet, wretch. But think you that this fool’s blood will suffice for the price?” The laugh was scornful this time, “behold! Yet more secrets and betrayal, for he is not what you take him to be. I demand life and blood shed on my behalf, but this pitiful creature has neither. He has sold himself utterly to my Enemy and is no longer possessed of either, being a mere ghost haunting the world in mortal visage.”

  As the voice gloated, Jace felt his disguise being stripped away and the carefully concealed light within him breaking forth, not in blinding intensity, but enough that Jay gasped in horror at his onetime friend’s otherworldly appearance and took a step away from his only companion in this unreal netherworld of darkness. Gasped he in fury and horror at the radiant Jace, “what are you? Why did you not tell me?”

  Jace met his gaze evenly, his own radiance their only source of light, “the Lady herself is unaware of the situation. It is a secret kept from all who have no part in it; I cannot say more.”

  Jay shook his head frantically in disbelief, “no! It cannot be true! Lies and more lies, secrets within secrets? Who am I to trust, what am I to believe?”

  “No one!” scoffed the vile voice, “not even me, most especially me! But I will give you what you desire, for a time, the end is always the same, but you might as well enjoy life to the fullest while it lasts. But I still require blood.”

  Jay’s eyes widened, “but you said his would not suffice? The others?”

  The voice laughed in scorn, “they are as pathetic and useless as this one. But yours will do.”

  Jace screamed in horror, “no Jay! It cannot be worth it, don’t do this...” He was suddenly silenced as great coils of blackness, like the arms of some tentacled sea beast, wrapped about him; they would have crushed him utterly were he wrought of anything but his Master’s light.

  Jay watched in grim delight, then faced the direction from whence the voice spoke, “do as you have said. Give me power in exchange for blood, even be it my own.” The triumphant laughter that followed was the most hideous sound Jace had or ever would hear, save for the horrified croak that escaped Jay as he suddenly convulsed in agony, his hands trying to stem his suddenly bleeding throat, his entire being growing suddenly dark and misty, fading into the whelming dark about them. Jace saw a furtive shadow dart from sight with a pathetic wail as he lost all control or sense of himself as the night-wrought tentacles crushed with all their horrid strength and the Light consumed everything.