Shadaya: Out of Darkness (Gemstone Royals)

by Kelly A. Purcell

  “Yes, but look at how it affected Shadaya. She is an emotional wreck, always seeking, doubting, struggling to trust.”

  “Shadaya, Shadaya,” Haddin quipped, “it’s always about your precious Shadaya.”

  “You would do well to remember, that this isn’t personal. This is about Lord Maldeev, about restoring his reign.”

  Haddin’s sigh sounded like an exasperated growl.

  “You’re right. What do you want me to do?”

  “The Dark storm will be upon us soon. It’s our only opportunity. We miss this, we lose Shadaya. With that Ilk in her life we don’t know what direction her heart will turn.”

  “What then shall we do?”

  “It’s time to take the gloves off.”

  “Whatever happened to using the power of influence to get her on our side.”

  Henry narrowed his eyes in thought, “we failed to factor in a very important factor when we took that approach.”

  “What’s that?”

  “Mervin Quadin is her father. He knew what he signed up for when he asked for Luska’s help. But from that day he has been working against that child’s destiny. He even joined the rebels while serving our king. I underestimated the seeds he would have planted in that girl’s heart.”

  Haddin threw up his hands, “fine, just tell me what you need. If that’s what it would take to shut you up.”

  ✽ ✽ ✽

  2 Days after Princess Ruby’s rescue

  Prince Jasper was even more handsome when he was asleep. Shadaya blushed at the thought as she stood over her own bed where Jasper now lay. She held a cup of tea towards her nose, enjoying the warmth of it seeping through her fingers. It was a reminder that they had made it through what seemed like an impossible situation. Perhaps Stiller’s God had heard his prayers after all, she thought.

  Her inappropriate staring was interrupted by Geoff clearing his throat behind her. When she turned around, he was frowning with a knowing twinkle in his brown eyes. Geoff was so unlike any religious man she had ever known. He did not hold himself apart from others, nor feign unreachable levels of perfection. Yet when he called on his God’s power it was with an authority and certainty of a king himself. The Aldorians were truly odd.

  “I don’t think this is appropriate,” Geoff said with a smirk gesturing between her and the prince.

  Shadaya smiled, “I just came to check in on him. It is my room, you know. People will suspect if I don’t come in every now and then.”

  Geoff shook his head as he went to check on Jasper. He touched his forehead then proceeded to lift open his shirt to look at his wound. Shadaya jerked her eyes away at the first sight of Jasper’s bare cocoa brown chest. Unknown to them both, Jasper had sustained a wound at some point during the night’s events. He had lost a lot of blood and along with that twisted ankle, must have been in immense pain that whole time.

  She was sure she was flushed pink when Geoff chuckled, “when he wakes up, I will let you know.”

  Shadaya nodded and turned away. When she left the room, she leaned up against it and sighed.

  “Remember your rule Shadaya,” she whispered.

  Chapter 24

  “Y

  ou have remarkable powers of persuasion,” Shadaya said, as she stood beside Markus.

  “Somehow, you managed to convince the people of Arduway to believe you, even though they hate you.”

  Markus looked down at her and smiled warmly, “it is a secret Ilk super power,” he said with a wink.

  Shadaya frowned, instantly wondering if he had used those powers on her, “really?”

  Markus chuckled, “relax heiress,” he replied, “I was only joking.”

  Shadaya’s sigh of relief broadened his grin even more, “Ilks have no such power, except a forceful desire to pursue knowledge. It can be a blessing and a curse.”

  In the sunlight outside the Valens’ bakery, his gold flecked hazel eyes seemed to laugh. All around them activity was happening as people hustled to pack up their things or secure their homes. Shadaya’s men had been instrumental in speeding things up, helping carry supplies from the city which Shadaya had paid for. She was happy to help, it gave her a feeling of peace, almost akin to what she felt when she was leaping off a roof to tackle a wrong doer. The thought stirred up an instant hunger in her and she found herself shaking off the sudden urge to suit up and make someone bleed. She swallowed hard and turned away just as Markus’ gaze left hers and followed the movement around them.

  He looked pleased and relaxed now that the people were listening to him. There were still others in the village who did not believe him, others whose stubbornness was directed towards the community and not sound reason. Dorcy had rounded up her family of runaways and sent them ahead in the transport Shadaya had provided, but she had stayed behind at Shadaya’s side like her personal protector. Shadaya still didn’t know how she felt about that.

  “I simply spoke the truth, as I know they would understand it,” Markus continued, “I have learned that worry can drown out faith, dimming the light we cherish as followers of El. When this happens what we need is to be reminded, to be encouraged once more in the faith that we profess.”

  Shadaya nodded, “is it a curse or a blessing for you?”

  He frowned at her question.

  “You said the Ilk’s strong urge to pursue truth can be either a curse or a blessing. I wonder what it is for you.”

  Understanding softened his face, “ahhh, well. Trying to understand truth while in darkness only brings turmoil, fear, distrust. When I was consumed by my pursuits and a stranger to the light, knowledge was a curse to me. It made me bitter, angry and I felt utterly helpless in this damned world. But when El’s light blossomed within me, it illuminated my mind and I saw all that I knew through clearer lens.”

  Shadaya lowered her eyes in thought, something about what he said resonated with her. She could relate to that sense of helplessness and bitterness. Often, it felt like no matter how much she did, she would still feel like she was not doing enough, she would see the evil around her even more.

  “What did you see?” she asked.

  Markus looked wistful, “purpose,” he replied easily.

  Shadaya arched a brow, Purpose. That word, it was what Henry had used to justify her use of magic. Yet it was what Markus said drew him to the light. Purpose. She blinked. Were some destined for darkness and others for the light?

  The question must have shown on her face, because Markus chuckled.

  “You think it’s ridiculous.”

  She shook her head quickly, “no no, not at all. I just have questions… about a lot of things lately.”

  Marcus lips parted to respond, but one of the council members called out to him just then. He gestured to the man and turned back to Shadaya with an apologetic smile.

  “I have to go.”

  Shadaya almost grabbed him by the arm, “wait!”

  He turned back with a concerned frown, “what is it?”

  She swallowed hard, “there is something I need to talk to you about.”

  Markus nodded, “that’s not a problem. Why don’t you go on ahead, and wait for me at the Cort mansion? I will meet you there and we will talk as you wish.”

  Shadaya waved him off, nodding her head. As Jasper approached her, with Dorcy and a small girl in tow.

  “Lady Quadin,” he said with a warm smile, “this is no place for a lady.”

  “Well I could say the same thing about…” she cupped one side of her mouth with her hand and whispered, “a prince.”

  He chuckled.

  Jasper looked like any other man lending a helping hand, his too big shirt was rolled up to his elbows and was wet with sweat. He dusted his hands against his trousers which were soiled with dirt and sawdust. The way he looked now, was in stark contrast to the night of Shadaya’s party, no one would guess that he was royalty walking among them.

  “You look very useful. Are my men being a good help to you?”

>   Jasper nodded, “they are, I can tell that the villagers really appreciate your generosity.”

  “Compared to the sins of my ancestors it’s nothing.”

  “Oh well, I can relate to that.”

  Sadness slipped into his eyes at that moment. She wondered if he was finally missing home. He had lingered in Dravia far longer than Shadaya thought was necessary.

  They stood in comfortable silence for a moment just smiling awkwardly at each other. Until Dorcy interrupted with a groan.

  “Okay this is getting really uncomfortable,” she said.

  Shadaya rolled her eyes, but she was sure her cheeks had turned into an embarrassing shade of pink.

  “I should uh… get back to work,” Jasper said, taking a few steps back, “be safe you hear.”

  “Always,” she replied.

  “Now we know that’s not true,” he shot back.

  “We ready to go? Or you gonna keep staring at that guy’s behind?”

  “Dorcy!”

  ✽ ✽ ✽

  Markus went straight to his home after his meeting with the community council, as expected they were all on edge over the pending storm. He stepped inside and made his way to the foyer where the heiress and her charge sat chatting. Even during conversation, he could see that something troubled her.

  When she finally sensed his presence, she looked up and smiled warmly at him, but it did not quite reach her eyes. Her sky eyes held a shadow of something within them that he could not quite place, but he knew it was different. Her gaze did not sparkle with intelligent intrigue as it usually did.

  “Thank you for agreeing to talk with me,” she said with a tired smile.

  “My apologies, for being late. I was very caught up with Community business and Estate business.”

  He smiled as he gestured in the direction of his study.

  “This way to my private study.”

  Shadaya asked Dorcy to wait for her in the foyer and followed him to his study. Now she looked even more uncomfortable as she politely perused his shelves of books. He went to his desk and took out a small box.

  When he approached her, she smiled, “why do you look so suspicious.”

  He chuckled as he withdrew his hand from behind his back and handed her a small box.

  “For you.”

  She took the box with a smile and opened it. Her face lit up at the sight of the Corin bark tea bags inside.

  “The ones you like, directly from Ilksvard,” he said proudly.

  “Thank you, I hope it wasn’t too much trouble,” she said.

  “Not at all. The Ribonian in me sees no cost to true friendship.”

  Shadaya gave a small smile and extended an arm for a hug.

  Markus smiled and obliged, although the whole practice of hugging was lost on him. He patted her back awkwardly before stepping back.

  They sat.

  “So, what troubles you my friend?”

  “Let me first make us some tea.”

  He watched her movements as she poured them some tea from the gift, he had given to her. Markus sat on the leather couch and she took her place on a single seater armchair, that seemed to swallow her small frame.

  He took a sip of his tea, while she looked thoughtfully into hers. For the first time he looked carefully at her. Without the flounce of her formal wear that first day he had met her, he noticed a muscular tone to her arms and build that did not quite suit her position as a noble woman. He wondered what other secrets were yet to be unearthed.

  “What is going on Shadaya?” he asked finally.

  She glanced up at him and sighed.

  “What else are you to do when everything that once made sense to you, that brought clarity to your world is suddenly rocking uncontrollably beneath your feet.”

  Markus placed his cup on the table and straightened up, “what are you talking about?”

  “You are the only person I can trust to not report me for the blasphemous things I am about to say, and you are the only one who may be able to help me make sense of it all.”

  “How can you be so sure of me? We have not known each other very long?”

  Shadaya shrugged, “there is no one else I can trust.”

  Markus perked up, he was sure his unruly ears might have twitched with intrigue.

  “Lady Shadaya, what happened?”

  Her eyes were bright with what might have been unshed tears, a look of vulnerability so foreign on the heiress’ face.

  “I need to know Markus. You are a half blood Ilk, yet you managed to find comfort and purpose in the God of Aldor. I just… I wonder if maybe I can too.”

  “Do you… believe Shadaya?” he asked hopefully.

  She shook her head quickly, “believe? I don’t know. This is all so confusing. It’s just Stacia has been speaking to me so much about her God, I have seen his power, numerous times. I just wonder if maybe he can help me.”

  “Then why not surrender?”

  Her eyes grew hard, “I can’t!” she said harshly.

  Markus drew back. A look of remorse flashed across her face and she looked away.

  “There is something you should know about me. There is this bitterness in my heart and a darkness within me, that is always pushing back. The truth is sometimes I feel the urge to surrender to it, the darkness in me. It’s like every day I feel this pull, this pull to let go. I have grown up hating Aldor, I have grown up believing that Aldor and their God was responsible for the deaths of so many of my people. But now I will do whatever it takes to be free from this…”

  Markus was at the edge of his seat now, following her gaze to a spot close to the fire place.

  “What do you need to be free from?”

  “I was born during a dark storm apparently,” she said with a frown.

  Markus’ eyes widened, “but how did you survive? Children born during a dark storm are sickly, cruel, heartless.”

  “So, I was told. My father wouldn’t have it though. Eunice, my maid, told me that my father went against everything he believed in and asked the sorceress Luska to help him. She crafted me this necklace made from light stone. Somehow it helped.”

  “You were born by light during darkness,” Markus said with fascination, “now your name makes sense.”

  She nodded, “I always wondered why my father obsessed so much about keeping me from letting the darkness in. Though the light stone worked, he must have worried that one day I would turn into a monster, become like the darkness that was supposed to consume me that night.”

  Markus was dumbfounded, he leaned back and frowned at Shadaya. As he fought for words, Shadaya got up and looked out the door, he heard her call Dorcy. Within minutes Dorcy handed her something carefully wrapped in cloth; he watched her wrestle to unbind it. When she turned around, she was holding in her hands a very daunting blade.

  Markus’ eyes widened, “what is that?”

  “My father’s sword, or you might know it better as belonging to the Shadow.”

  “Your father is the…” he paused, “but he is dead, you told me this.”

  “My father isn’t the Shadow Markus. I am… and for some reason, I can’t stop.”

  Her sky eyes darkened instantly and then flashed a threatening green glow. Instantly he knew that Shadaya was fighting against forces she could not even begin to understand.

  “Start at the beginning,” he instructed somberly.

  ✽ ✽ ✽

  Markus was shaking his head and Shadaya waited patiently for all that she had told him to sink in.

  “You have been through a lot,” he finally managed.

  “And you never got to the bottom of your father’s involvement, nor the reason for his execution?”

  Shadaya shook her head, “No, I found an old ledger linking him to the rebel movement and a journal written in a language I can’t decipher.”

  She frowned and pointed to a framed picture over Markus’ fireplace.

  “It looked a lot like that, now that I think about
it.”

  Markus looked at what she pointed at, “like that? You’re sure?”

  “Yes, what is it?”

  “It’s Ilksvardian. This says, ‘without knowledge, death’.”

  Shadaya arched a brow, “that’s morbid.”

  Markus smiled, “did your father ever have one like this?”

  He showed her a key attached to a string around his neck and Shadaya’s eyes lit up in recognition.

  “Yes! I thought that opened something.”

  “No, this is the mark of an Ilksvardian scholar. Your father must have completed some training with us. Some people do it. He must have been a brilliant man.”

  “Oh yes,” she said wistfully.

  “Does that mean you can interpret his journal?”

  “If it’s written in Ilksvardian, I can.”

  “I’ll go to the manor and bring it back for you.”

  Markus reached out and stopped her, “No, you need not return here. I don’t think you will be back in time.”

  “In time for what?”

  “Before the storm strikes.”

  “It’s coming.”

  Markus nodded, “I feel a shift in the atmosphere.”

  “But you said it wouldn’t be due for another day at least.”

  Markus looked troubled, “something must have changed.”

  “Oh dear,” she said worriedly.

  “What is it?”

  “Drayton, he hasn’t returned.”

  Markus looked intrigued, “you care for him?”

  Shadaya shrugged, “we once cared for each other.”

  Understanding flashed in his eyes, “I see.”

  “When he left, he said he wouldn’t stay long this time. I thought I would have time to make it up to him. Markus what if something has happened to him, or what if he’s out there, trapped with a Dark storm approaching.”

  “I want to believe the true heir is very much alive, whether he will survive the storm, only El knows.”

  A look of sadness descended on her face, “Drayton would have made a much better king. I always thought that under his rule Dravia would turn around. I wish I had told him now.”