She admired Stiller’s calm in such a situation though, he looked down upon the panicking crowd with patient understanding in his eyes.
“Panicking about this will not help us prepare for what is to come,” Stiller shouted.
“And how can we trust this Ilk?” a woman retorted loudly from amidst the noise.
The murmuring instantly turned into a supportive chorus of the woman’s sentiment.
“Lord Cort isn’t just another Ilk, he is our brother. One of us, from the community at Armen. We can trust that he has our interests at heart.”
A dry chuckle could be heard nearby and Shadaya looked over to see a large man with arms folded across his chubby chest, shaking his head at Stiller. An exchange of sentiments passed between both men that could not be missed. Stiller’s wordless warning was clear enough that the man seemed to withdraw what he was going to say.
Markus leaned towards her, his arms still folded across his chest protectively.
“He sits on the community council of Arduway,” he whispered, “they don’t particularly like me.”
Shadaya looked up at him but his eyes were on the crowd, scanning every face. She was intrigued at how he seemed to be able to read her mind, it was the most peculiar trait she had ever encountered in another person.
“A dark storm is a serious matter for us as a kingdom,” the man said instead, “why hasn’t word come from the prince?”
“You know as well as I do Bogu that we will be the last to know of these things here in Arduway. We have an advantage with an Ilk on our side,” Stiller replied.
“An Ilk who eats with sorcerers!” someone shouted from behind.
“Yea! We know he sits with the prince, I have a cousin who works at the palace, she saw him sitting among them.”
A loud chorus erupted again, and Markus shifted uncomfortably from where he stood between Stacia and herself. His unreadable mask stayed in place, he was a perfect picture of calm and confidence. Shadaya on the other hand pulled her cloak closer together and lowered her head. What would they do if they found that she was among them? She had worn a hooded cloak as Stiller had suggested, to avoid stirring up the crowd with her presence. As she had decided to stay and send one of her men ahead to warn the people at her estate and to also bring back some of her own men to help the villagers. Now she was wondering if it was such a good idea, to remain behind. The threat of a dark storm was surely putting these people one edge.
She looked around and she saw how mothers clung to their young children, how men were tense with the weight of having to protect their own against a threat they knew they were no match for. And she felt angry towards the monarchy, their leaders who were supposed to protect these people and whose actions may have very well put them all in danger. She felt angrier when she thought of how willing they were to let the poor suffer while they secured themselves in their sealed off mansions, hiding behind their gods and laws which were convenient to them. For a moment she felt like she understood what these people felt towards her and the other nobles and royals.
It was then that Markus stepped forward, those perceptive eyes locking unto the men and women filling the small space as he left her side. It was almost like his gaze was enough to capture their attention as he took his place next to Stiller. The Markus she had met was polite and unassuming, he had made her feel at ease. But now he seemed to command an authority that did not need words, his demeanor spoke volumes about his authority on the matter at hand.
With the crowd quieted and attentive, Markus’ eyebrows dipped with concern as he started to speak.
“People of Arduway, your Waylord speaks truth when he called me brother. I am part of you. I take this time to remind you of what the community stands for, who it stands on. It stands on the source, a gift from the God we serve, the God whose words crafted the world in which we live, love and suffer. The source filled with the power of El himself, saw past the color of our skin, the blood of our ancestors and the borders of our nations. We are standing here together as one because of the light that binds us. Some of you have your suspicions about me, maybe because of how I look, maybe because of what you have heard… or even seen. But I stand before you here, with the backing of your wise leader, in all honesty, as a servant to you and to our God. My desire is that none of you should perish because of the heartlessness of your leaders. Hence, I have come to you with this news, this is why I came to you in the first place and to your king and now to the prince himself. His response told me that you are not his priority and it is why I am here and not rushing back to my own community. You can choose to believe what you have heard, or what your eyes tell you and return to your homes. Or you can let me help you stay alive. Our numbers are few compared to those who are against us as a community. I do not wish to see us diminished because we refuse to trust each other.”
His eyes found Shadaya’s and she could see the passion in them. In that moment she could see his Riboni blood strongly in him, pushing against the self-restraint that came with being an Ilk. She nodded in support.
“The dark storm is coming,” Markus continued, “I know this, for I have studied it and all matters pertaining to the darkness of this world. I have made it my life’s purpose to understand what holds us captive and my pursuit of truth has led me to light. Let us not act like those living in darkness and let our prejudices and biases darken our judgement. Let us stand as brothers and sisters, followers of the way and members of the community of light. You decide if you want to live or perish because of the carelessness of your leaders.”
The silence that followed was thick and pensive. Slowly a single murmur merged into two, then a unanimous hum of discussion among them rose. This time it was not in anger or disbelief or panic, it was a sound of reasoning, a sound of relenting. Shadaya smiled.
Chapter 23
“N
ow what is so urgent that you have summoned me from my work?”
Shadaya turned to an annoyed Henry and the moment he saw her face, his annoyance faded into concern.
“What is it?”
“We have a problem,” she said.
“Well out with it. Is there a problem with the mask?”
“No… it’s perfect. We may have another problem, there’s a Dark Storm coming.”
Henry’s eyes widened then narrowed, “impossible.”
“Is it? Haddin is on the throne. Anything is possible now.”
Henry lifted his chin, “What do you want me to do? No one can stop a Dark Storm. It’s a natural occurrence, only the gods have power over it.”
“Do they really? After all these years of sacrifices, you would think the gods might consider holding that off.”
“Shadaya what is this about?”
If she was honest, she would explain to him that this was a two-part meeting, it was both a distraction and a genuine cry for help. If everything had gone according to plan Hesk should have breached Henry’s studio by now. She hoped he knew what he was doing because that place was most likely rigged with traps. But she was not being honest, at least not fully.
“What’s the point of all this power if it can’t hold off something like that!”
Henry looked at her suspiciously, “are you sure that is all that bothers you?”
Shadaya swallowed hard, “what are the dangers of a Dark Storm for a sorcerer. I’ve heard… that it can do things to a person who uses magic.”
“Without the right protection maybe… but that’s just a theory. If you are worried about that, I can protect you.”
“I want to stop.”
Henry chuckled and something about it gave her chills, “you want to stop? You think it’s that easy? This isn’t a commitment you can simply walk away from. Each time you use magic you build debt…”
“You never explained that to me!”
Hesk’s warning returned to her mind and she felt her blood boiling with anger against Henry for leaving that detail out until now.
“I did, you may not have
listened. You have a talent for this Shadaya, a calling. Stop being a coward.”
“This isn’t what my father wanted for me. And now that I have found Reeva, I have no need for it. You may take your mask…”
“You wanted power Shadaya,” Henry said almost pitifully, “this is the cost of power.”
“Nonsense, I can stop whenever I can.”
“Can you?”
Shadaya lowered her gaze. So, he did know about the hunger she struggled to quell.
“I care for you Shadaya, you are like a daughter to me. I will never lead you wrong, I only want what’s best for you and I want to see you live up to your greatest potential… to your purpose.”
“You can’t go back Shadaya, there is no way out. Like me you have made a commitment to a force neither of us fully understands.”
With that he turned on his heels.
“Henry!” she called after him, “how can I protect myself?”
His gaze dropped to the necklace she wore, “get rid of that.”
When he left, Shadaya dropped into a chair with a sigh. He wasn’t gone long when Eunice entered, a troubled look on her face as she wrung a rag in her hands.
“Shadaya what have you done?”
Shadaya looked up at her and shook her head, “So you heard everything.”
“I heard enough.”
“I don’t know Eunice.”
Eunice poured her a cup of tea and sat down on the couch beside her.
“How long have you been using magic?”
Shadaya held the cup with both hands, allowing the warmth to soak into her cold palms.
“Since I found my father’s sword,” she whispered.
Lifting her eyes to Eunice, “since I became the Shadow.”
Eunice’s eyes widened, “Oh my dear girl!”
“I just… needed to do something. I couldn’t stop thinking about father’s death. I had to do something. Don’t you understand?”
Eunice looked at her sympathetically, “of course I do.”
Shadaya took a sip of her tea. Hoping that Eunice would take it as a cue to leave her be. But instead the woman remained seated, wringing her hands. She hoped Eunice would not make this even more difficult than it was. She was already in way over her head, without having to bother about a lecture.
“There is something I should tell you,” Eunice finally said.
“I was entrusted with a secret many years ago, but I think it’s time that you know.”
Shadaya narrowed her eyes, “what secret?”
“Your father always feared you would be drawn to the darkness… to its power.”
Shadaya was looking at her expectantly, afraid to speak.
Eunice started, “you were born during a dark storm. Back then we used to have them often. The king would pass them off as a cleansing ritual exacted by the gods when we failed to please them. People like your parents would seal up themselves and their servants in their homes and ride it out. Survey the damage in morning light.”
“I never knew those were the circumstances surrounding my birth. I’m surprised father never mentioned it.”
“Oh yes,” Eunice replied, “why do you think they named you Shadaya. It means ‘light in darkness’ in the old language. You were a bright light to this household, during a dark time. It may have been that very night that your father decided that he would guard your innocence with his everything. And I guess part of that meant keeping this from you.”
“But why would he keep something like this from me.”
“Because… Children don’t survive Dark Storms Shadaya. A child born in a Dark Storm is cursed, with either death or madness. Either way they never live to be as old as you are.”
“Then how did…”
“Your father did what he had to do to save you. He went to the queen for help.”
“Luska, the sorceress?”
Eunice nodded, “I don’t know what the price was, but she gave up the last of her light stone. She crafted you that necklace.”
“Why would she do that? Why would she save me… with light stone at that?”
She reached up and touched the necklace, remembering each of her father’s stern warnings to never take it off.
“But Henry told me to take it off, that it’s the only way to be saved from the storm.”
“I wouldn’t trust that old man. He makes me uncomfortable… all sorcerers do.”
Eunice reached over and touched her, seeing the shock and confusion written all over her face.
“Don’t you understand Daya, you are strong, you don’t have to be a slave to the darkness like the rest of them.”
When Shadaya lifted her eyes to Eunice, they were a daunting shade of green. Eunice gasped and pulled her hand away.
“I do understand Eunice,” Shadaya said, her voice sounding hollow and emotionless.
“Look at me, there is no coming back from this… maybe this is who I’m meant to be.”
Eunice was shaking her head frantically, “I don’t believe it, and neither should you. You may have been born in darkness, but the light is where you belong.”
✽ ✽ ✽
Haddin was standing over his desk looking down proudly at the plans for his next attack on Aldor, when he sensed a presence in the room with him. Immediately his senses went on high alert. He turned around swiftly, launching a ball of energy in the direction of the intruder. He watched the glowing red ball stop inches from scarred hands and hover in the air between them. A smirk slowly eased its way across his face.
“You still have it old man,” he said.
Henry rolled his eyes and with a flick of his wrist sent the ball spiralling towards Haddin. Haddin grabbed it with both hands and grimaced as he reabsorbed it. Once the ball of energy had disappeared from between them Haddin slumped slightly against his desk.
“Why do you always do that?”
Henry’s stoic expression remained, “I always tell you not to waste energy.”
“How could I forget.”
He remembered the first time Henry had returned his own power to him, forcing him to reabsorb it. He was a good sorcerer but a stingy one.
“To what do I owe this unexpected visit? What ever happened to… never being seen together?”
Haddin made his way to his couch and sat, trying to not show is old mentor just how much reabsorbing his own energy had taken from him.
“How does Shadaya know about the Dark storm?” Henry asked accusingly.
Haddin’s eyes widened, then narrowed, “it must have been the Ilk. He was responsible for thwarting our plans that last time. It must mean that they know each other.”
Henry walked over to his desk with his hands clasped behind his back.
“Yes, but it worked out well in our favour then, she wasn’t ready.”
“Is she now?”
“She has a special gift Haddin. She is grasping the magic even better than you had.”
The pride and excitement in Henry’s voice sent a pang of jealousy through Haddin. He hardened his jaw against his petty emotions, as he watched his three advisors sniff around Henry curiously.
Henry didn’t look at them but keeping his eyes on Haddin said firmly.
“Tell your imps to get away from me. Their stink is making me nauseous.”
They watched Haddin with their beady eyes and he nodded, affirming Henry’s request. Instantly they disappeared in a puff of smoke, causing Henry to scrunch up his nose in disgust.
“So, you released them.”
“I had to. I don’t have much support here. It’s because of them I have the council where I want them, and nothing goes on here without my notice.”
He brought his fingers together and then separated them causing a small ball to crackle between his fingers.
“And since then I have grown stronger than ever.”
“Yet you seemed to have missed an Ilk interfering in our plans.”
“So what?” Haddin replied, almost wincing at the whiny tone in
his voice.
Henry arched a brow, “Shadaya was in the making since the time of your mother. She was born in a dark storm, and she has lived to the age of twenty. She has a natural command of magic in a way I’ve never seen anyone have. She can be as powerful as Luska, or more. We need her on our side.”
Haddin stood up now, “how do you think mother will feel when she returns to find a sorceress who can rival her?”
“We don’t know if Luska will return, she created Shadaya, so that our plans can go on even without her. That’s the kind of leader you want to be.”
The accusation in Henry’s voice was clear.
Haddin glared at him, his hands balled into fists at his side, “so why are you here? What is the problem with your precious Shadaya?”
Henry did not show any emotion on his face, he appeared to be a simple man to most. But he was one of the most powerful sorcerers Haddin had ever known. He had worked directly with Luska himself and had trained Haddin from a young boy. His acceptance meant the world to Haddin then, as it seemed to now. That was why hearing him speak about Shadaya with such pride disturbed him.
“What do you know about this Ilk?”
Haddin shrugged, “he was advising my father… I think it was regarding the Element. I thought he might have been privy to its location, but it doesn’t seem that father trusted him that much.”
“And what about his affiliation with the rebels?”
Haddin arched a brow, “I don’t know what you’re talking about. Ilks aren’t religious, they’re incapable of it.”
“He’s not just any Ilk, is he?”
Haddin’s eyes widened as the pieces started to come together. Anger flooded him, he didn’t like to be taken for a fool.
“If he is part of the rebel cause and he has become close to Shadaya. It could mean that he has introduced her to their ways.”
“That is my concern. The way she spoke, it was like she was starting to consider an alternative to magic. Her faith in our Dravian gods have been shaky for a long time, thanks to your father’s rashness.”
“He had to kill Mervin, you know that. He knew too much, and he was going to great lengths to stand in the way of our plans. If you ask me, I think it worked out well. If Mervin was still alive, there’s no way you would’ve gotten her to even think about magic.”
Shadaya: Out of Darkness (Gemstone Royals) Page 23