6
Jace returned to their room, wondering if his roommate would try and evict him upon his return, but he did not return until late that night, said he upon his arrival, “we need to settle this. Now.”
Jace rose silently and followed his companion once more to the practice yard, where a full moon hung heavy and low, as if waiting for something to happen. There was light enough by which to see and the shadows were a perfect accompaniment to Griff’s mood. They chose swords, this time the real thing, and faced off. Said Jace quietly, “we need not do this!”
Griff said gruffly, “perhaps you needn’t but I certainly do, if only to prove myself the superior. We’ll just cross blades for a bit, work off some steam, that sort of thing, nothing dangerous about that is there? At least not to those as skilled as we.” Then he lunged. Jace saw the blade coming, but when he tried to react, he felt as if he were moving through thick mud; his blade came up to block, but so slowly that his companion had pierced him through and withdrawn the weapon in horror before Jace was even halfway to parrying the stroke. Jace collapsed with a groan, the sword clattered to the ground, and Griff fled in horror and fear at what he had done. The moment Griff vanished from sight, Jace was on his feet, again in guise as himself, and giving chase. An astonished shadow ghosted silently after.
Jace found the lad standing perilously on the very log from which he had plummeted nigh on a century ago. Griff flinched, nearly falling in his surprise, to see that someone had pursued him; he perched there precariously, seemingly ready either to defend himself or jump to his death. Jace held up his hands and called aloud, “easy lad, the boy lives.”
Griff stared, “it was an accident, but I know I killed him!”
Jace took a step forward and the boy stepped back a pace, said Jace, “easy, this place is dangerous!”
Griff snarled, “I know the tale.”
Jace said wryly, “I lived the tale.”
Griff gaped, “but you vanished!”
Jace grinned, “and recently returned, now come down and we’ll talk.”
“No,” said the impudent boy, “you come to me.”
Jace shrugged and climbed up onto the log, said he as he approached, “it was an accident, the lad should recover, and you have nothing to fear.”
Griff shivered, “I have everything to fear, I am being pursued!”
Jace stood a pace from the boy and said, “are you so sure you want to run?”
Griff frowned, “how can I not?”
Jace said ruefully, “I once thought that way as well.”
Griff scowled, “and then you had a nightmare, big deal!”
Shaking his head, Jace replied, “nay lad, it was more real than waking life, even my sister thought as you.”
“The current Lady of Astoria!” said Griff in wonder.
Jace grinned, “the same, come lad, you are not the only one who has felt that particular Hound hard upon his heels. But the only place to avoid Him utterly is Nowhere you’d want to be.” He shuddered, “I spent a moment there and it seemed an eternity.”
“No!” cried the boy in dismay as he rushed at Jace, knocking him off balance and plunging him into the depths below. Griff barely registered what had happened before fleeing into the night. He did not hear the gasp of horror from a hidden throat as the man vanished into the chasm.
Scamp stood in the night dark clearing, a dying man at his feet; he knelt beside the mangled Brother and asked, “what happened?”
The man gasped out, “not quite sure...a shadowy villain crept into the camp as we slept, my unicorn made to intercede and was killed outright, which seemed to please the villain no end. Next thing I know there’s a great shriek, more eagle than lion, and then there’s a griffin in the camp! You can see what he did to me and I think he took my apprentice.” Scamp gaped but could say nothing in his horror before the man continued, “the thing talks! Save the lad...if you can...” He exhaled with a groan and said no more.
Scamp stood slowly, shaking his head and fighting back the tears. He could not do it! He glanced down at the mangled form and almost envied the man, knowing he was well and truly beyond all this horror, blood, and death. His memory flashed back to his time with Hawk before the boy had been called into the Shadow, the horror that had wrung his heart when he thought him dead at the hands of just such a villain, and the night the boy had struck out blindly in a shadow-induced nightmare and thought himself guilty of a sin akin to patricide! Now another innocent youth was imperiled, yet Scamp could not bring himself to follow in pursuit. He was tired, so dreadfully tired, of blood and death, horror and darkness; he could go on no longer.
He knelt in the center of the clearing, buried his swordpoint in the earth, and knelt with his head resting upon the hilt, praying quietly, “my Lord, I can go on no longer; tell me what I must do!”
There came a brilliant flash and Jace stood blinking in astonishment in the midst of the clearing, having just fallen off a certain log into a looming gorge in a distant forest. He saw Scamp kneeling over his sword and knew immediately what the man intended, even if he had never seen it before. Said he quietly, “you will Go?”
Scamp looked up, his eyes both sad and joyous, “aye lad, I weary of death and sorrow. Tell the others farewell, especially Hawk.” He smiled proudly, “he will do well.” Finished he, glancing at the dead man, “there’s apparently a griffin on the loose, he took the man’s apprentice and the creature apparently talks!”
Jace shuddered in horror, nodded in farewell, and then the light consumed everything. When he could see once more, Scamp and the dead Brother were gone, but an anxious unicorn stood off to one side of the clearing, he whickered hopefully at Jace as the light receded and suddenly he knew what he must do. He called the creature over, mounted, and asked him to find his missing master, which he did with all eagerness. The boy was yet alive, though in the clutches of an unthinkable monster, and thankfully not very far away.
An hour of climbing in the rocky hill country brought them to the mouth of a cave wherein the unicorn said his master and the beast were secreted. Jace dismounted and bid the creature watch from a safe distance, as he drew his sword and entered the cave. A horrid screech, part outraged cat and part eagle’s shriek, rent the air and set Jace’s ears ringing in the enclosed space. He saw the griffin near the back, seeing easily in the pitch dark of the cavern, crouched over the trembling apprentice. Said Jace with quiet menace, “let the boy go, fiend, you have far more terrible things to worry about.”
The furry fiend scoffed, “like what, you?”
Jace set himself and hefted his sword, “precisely.”
The griffin yawned, stretched, and turned from his intended prey, “you are either a fool or far too bold for sanity. Either way, I shall happily rid the world of you. Why do you not tremble at the thought of a griffin, let alone one with a sapient mind?”
Jace shrugged, “I have faced the wrath of dragons, what have I to fear from a feathered cat?”
The creature smirked, “are you not even curious as to how it is I came to possess a mind of my own?”
Jace raised his sword, prepared to strike, “not in the least, you obviously used some sort of blood magic, trading the life of a unicorn to power whatever appalling wonder you have wrought, rent one of my comrades asunder, and made off with his apprentice. I do not wish to hear further details. I will strike true, have you a wish to repent ere all is finished?”
Scoffed the beast, “repent! Of what? You will be the one repenting of your folly soon enough.” He smiled wickedly, “have at me then, let us see if you can overcome the griffin!”
Jace raised his sword and charged the monster, he felt beak and claws tearing into his vulnerable flesh even as his sword made contact with the beast, the light stirred within him, illuminating Jace, sword, and fiend. The griffin shrieked in pain and horror as the light consumed it utterly, never having imagined a foe like this. Jace dropped his sword and slumped to the flo
or of the cave, for a moment overwhelmed but fully healed by the power that had poured out of him into the monstrosity. The cowering apprentice in the corner studied his savior with wide eyes, perhaps more terrified by the means of his rescue than by the beast.
At last Jace rolled to his knees and eyed the boy keenly, “ready to be gone from this place?”
The lad nodded eagerly but eyed Jace nervously, asking, “what happened, with the light and the monster? Is my mentor truly dead?”
Jace nodded sadly, “he lived just long enough to tell the tale; I rode your unicorn in swift pursuit. Are you injured?”
The boy shook his head, “just a few scratches and overwrought with grief and horror.”
Jace continued, “you have had a trying day, and I doubt it has even fully sunk in yet. As to what you saw, just know the Master still works miracles.”
Said the boy stonily, “why couldn’t He save my mentor?”
Jace shook his head sadly, “it was not that He could not, but rather He did not. I can offer no reasons or excuses on His behalf, for who are we to question His will? His ways are not our ways neither are His thoughts our thoughts. We must either learn to trust Him in all things or go our own way. It is not wrong to question but we must not despair. I shall send you back to Astoria, you will need time to recover from this tragedy.”
The boy sighed, “I am not up for such a ride.”
Jace smiled enigmatically, “who said anything about riding? Call your mount.”
The creature was eagerly reunited with his master and nuzzled Jace gratefully. The apprentice mounted and Jace touched the unicorn firmly on the shoulder; all three vanished in a blinding flash.
Jace found himself at the bottom of the chasm only a moment after he had vanished mid-fall, happy not to have had to endure the hard landing once more. He immediately began the long climb out of the gorge, glad of his uncanny strength, speed, and endurance. His unicorn met him at the top and they hastened back to the city with all speed, knowing they must arrive before Griff, who would undoubtedly be looking for a wounded but living Ace. They did not hear the quiet gasp of astonishment as he emerged from the gorge, mounted, and rode off as if the tragedy had never been.
Caire drew out of the shadows, wondering if he were dreaming; he had heard strange rumors from his homeland and had seen too many uncanny things this night for it to be a mere nightmare. He had seen a man change his face, a mortally wounded boy recover instantly, and a man crawl unscathed out of the abyss. He would get to the bottom of this, one way or another. Suddenly a great glowing form loomed out of the night before him and drove him to his knees, trembling in awe and terror, as a great unicorn towered above him.
Said He quietly, “child, you have seen things this night that must remain hidden. These things are at My behest, but they must not be broached abroad. Have I your word that you will not look further into this matter or speak of it to anyone?”
The boy blanched, knowing there was nothing he dared deny his Maker but also knowing he yearned above all else to look deeper into this mystery.”
He heard a slight smile in his Master’s voice, “this matter will trouble you deeply no doubt, curiosity is both one of humanity’s greatest strengths and simultaneously a trying weakness, yet I will give you the strength to bear this as all else. Have I your word?”
The boy quavered, “yes.” He looked up into those fathomless eyes for one glorious moment and knew he had answered correctly, such was his Master’s joy, and then He was gone. Caire shakily rose to his feet, summoned his unicorn, and raced back to Astoria, hoping he had the sense and strength to abide by his promise. He returned in time to see Jace exchange a few quiet words with Jared, who looked a little saddened but not surprised by revelations pertaining to Scamp, and then watched the man dash off in the direction of the practice yard. His own return was not so easy.
The servant eyed him sternly and asked, “what is an apprentice doing abroad at this hour?”
The boy studied his feet, “I saw something strange in the weapons yard, that and the rumors I have heard from home quite disconcerted me. I should not have followed but I did. The Master Himself has bidden me not to speak on this matter.”
Jared snorted a laugh, “well, if that be the case, I need reprimand you no further. Go to bed lad and sleep well.” Asked he with a frown, “what were these rumors you heard?”
Caire said in consternation, “that I had been kidnapped by one great lord only to be waylaid and murdered by another, but then another tale tells that the surviving great lord claimed to have had me quietly murdered upon my return to Umboria. It is all quite troubling.”
Jared shook his head amusedly, “nay lad, resign it all to the bin of things not to be talked of or thought upon, it will greatly spare your sanity and aid in upholding your vow. Thinking too much upon it will only lead to disaster.”
The boy sighed heavily but nodded, “I think you have the right of it, I shall retire now and hopefully dream of things quite dull.”
No sooner had Caire vanished than Griff approached, his horse frothed with sweat and blowing hard, having been ridden quite sorely as the lad tried to vent some of his confusion and frustration. He was near to panic as he stood at the gate, waiting to be let in. Jared took one look at the beast and was about to scold him, but a frantic light in the boy’s eyes stayed his tongue. Said he quietly, “you had best get to bed lad.”
The boy stared at him in astonishment, knowing he should have been scolded for both the state of his horse and the hour, but he accepted this bit of grace without a word, returned the horse to his stall, and crept around towards the practice yard. He found Ace sitting against the wall, slumped upon one of the benches that lined the perimeter, injured but apparently not mortally so. Said Griff in relief and confusion, “I was sure I had struck you a mortal blow!”
Ace looked up dully, weariness and pain in his eyes, said he, his voice clipped and breathless, “I little know, save that I live still. Help me to bed.”
Griff stiffened, “you dare command me?”
Ace frowned, “is it too much to ask of the man who has wounded me thus?”
Griff snarled, “it is your own fault! If you could block better or had not baited me into fighting, this would not have happened; I’m just lucky you aren’t dead, imagine the repercussions then!”
Ace said quietly, “what of the man that followed you in your flight?”
Griff paled, remembering suddenly what had actually happened to that particular fellow, but then shouted, “have him help you to bed, you insolent leech!” He turned on his heel and stormed away as Ace slumped once more against the wall.
“You certainly have a way with people,” said Hawk with a wry grin as he stepped out of the shadows.
Jace straightened from his slump, his side aching like fire but grateful that Hawk had been there to make the wound look authentic, said he gravely, “I fear the lad is in worse straits after my efforts this night.”
Hawk nodded, “but through no fault of yours. We can only do our duty, it is for others to make their own decisions, for good or for ill.”
Said Jace quietly, “Scamp has Gone, he told me to tell you goodbye.”
Hawk smiled sadly, “I will miss him but I cannot say I am surprised. Having me as an apprentice, an uninitiated apprentice, was hard on him. He was never quite the same afterwards. Was there a boy involved?”
“Exactly,” said Jace somberly, “a griffin, a talking griffin, had taken an apprentice captive after killing the lad’s mentor and the man’s unicorn.”
Hawk shook his head in wonder, “what will these blood magicians dabble in next?”
Jace shuddered, “I am afraid to ask.” Then he grinned, “want to help a poor invalid to bed?”
As Hawk helped Jace to his feet, he asked, “who will replace Scamp? We are certainly acquiring a fine collection of youngsters in this profession.”
Jared stepped out of the shadows,
his two comrades relaxing as they saw who it was, said he, “you forget that some of us have been at this for a very long time and thus are far more prone to retirement than you heady young adventure seekers. The Master will reveal Scamp’s successor in due time.” He eyed Jace significantly, “perhaps your current charge?”
Jace shook his head, “not without a radical change of heart. It will take more than falling off a log to convince him of his wrongheadedness.” He smiled wryly, “he even managed to kill two people accidently this night without pausing to contemplate the moral reality of the situation but rather was only concerned with the potential consequences to himself.”
Jared shook his head grimly, “this does not bode well for the lad.”
Hawk said in wonder, “I heard him berating Jace for asking for help in getting back to their room, blaming him for his injuries and refusing to help him even so!”
Jared whistled quietly, “do what you can lad, but I fear there is not much to be done.” His brow furrowed, “you were followed.” Jace blinked in astonishment as Jared continued, “that former prince, Caire, had heard some disturbing rumors pertaining to his apparent fate in his homeland and also saw what happened in the practice yard, then followed you out to wherever you went following Griff. The Master Himself bid the lad not to speak of the matter or to look further into it, to which he agreed but he is a curious one and will no doubt wrestle with it all his life.”
Jace grinned, “much like the former Lady.”
Jared shook his head, “but he won’t have even a smidgeon of the knowledge she possessed; it will be very hard on the lad I fear.”
They nodded their agreement and Jared took over for Hawk in escorting Jace to bed, it being a task far more suited to a servant than to the swordmaster, who should not even be awake at that hour. Jared knocked quietly on the appropriate door but there came no answer, so he pushed it open and lay the injured Student on the bed. Griff apparently was asleep in the other bed, for he neither moved nor spoke, as Jared settled Ace in his own bed and then retreated from the room.
Said the still form in the other bed, “so you found someone to help you then? You could not make it back on your own? Some hero you will make!”
Jace barked a laugh but hissed in pain, wishing that he had not, “who said I will ever be a hero? What about you?”
Griff said darkly, “who wants to be a hero? To die before time in some quest soon to be forgotten by all and sundry, if it is ever widely known in the first place? I will live to please myself and no other. If all men are doomed to be forgotten, at least I can enjoy life in the interim. Save me your protestations of what comes after this life, little enough do I care to know.” He growled, “perhaps you would have done the world a favor by going forth to find out, instead you will lie on that bed like an invalid for days on end until you either have the decency to die of your wounds or get over them.”
“How can you be so heartless?” gasped Jace, suddenly feeling dizzy and rather short of breath, “perhaps you will get your wish sooner than you think.” He lay back, panting.
Griff sat up with a frown, “what are you muttering incoherently about?”
Said Jace grimly, “something is wrong, my condition is worsening by the moment.”
“Do not be ridiculous,” snarled Griff.
Said Jace through gritted teeth, “did you really mean what you said about the world being better off without me?”
“What does it matter?” snapped Griff.
Jace groaned, “I may very soon either prove or refute your point.”
Griff grew slightly nervous, but was still rather annoyed, “quit goofing around, this is not funny.” Just then he looked up and saw Caire standing in the doorway, horror written on his face. Barked Griff, “have you ever heard of knocking?”
The apprentice frowned, “you two are loud enough to keep the entire hall awake, some of the Students you wakened came to me and asked me to investigate.” He eyed Jace warily, recognizing him as the miraculously recovered Student who was now inexplicably wounded again, wondering if he could fulfill his duties as an apprentice while still keeping his promise to the Master. Said he quietly, “please keep it down or I will inform one of the Brethren.”
Griff mocked, “by all means, highness!”
Caire eyed Jace curiously but asked only, “might I be of any assistance?”
Jace shifted uneasily but said, “no, I doubt there is anything to be done.”
Caire said skeptically, a slight knowing smile threatening to break forth, “we shall see, shan’t we?”
Griff snarled, “out!” Caire gave them both a proper bow and vanished from the room.
Griff turned back to his annoying and overly dramatic roommate, only to find him dead. He silently studied the limp form with its glazing eyes, feeling neither panic nor horror, simply a vague curiosity. So this was death. He had never had much experience with the concept, at least on a personal level, not even with an animal. Gone was the initial terror that had assaulted him the moment he thought the boy fatally struck; he had had time to grow used to the idea, thus seeing it at last fulfilled no longer terrified him, rather it intrigued him in a way he found a little disturbing. He felt no pity or remorse, the pathetic creature could hardly be counted as human, at least as one worth worrying about; in Griff’s estimation, he was about the only person on the planet that really mattered.
He thought back to the unfortunate accident at the gorge and wondered what the Lady would think when she discovered the ironic end her brother had found. He was disappointed he wouldn’t be there to see it, but he certainly couldn’t remain in Astoria after this. One accident might be explained away, but two in one night? At last fear stirred in his heart, but it was only for his own fate that he fretted, not for either of the lives he had had a part in cutting short. He smiled ironically down at his dead roommate and said, “have you figured out what lies beyond all this then?” There came no answer and Griff scoffed, “that’s what I thought.” He gathered up a few necessary items and quietly left the room.
Shadow of the Unicorn Page 29