Jasper turned sharply and gasped in shock. Dark eyes looked back at him from a hideously marred face. Open black cracks in the shape of veins, set on greyish blood less skin glared back at him. It almost distracted him from the accusation in the man’s eyes.
Jasper tightened his sword and planted his feet, but the man didn’t move.
“You don’t recognize me, do you?”
Jasper frowned, “remind me.”
The man responded with an angry sneer, baring his teeth at Jasper as he stepped forward.
“Looking to save the day as usual… in true Aldorian fashion. I hate Aldor, I hate your father and I hate you!”
“Look at what you did to me!” he bellowed.
Jasper’s eyes widened, “Serin?”
“Serin’s dead and it’s because of you.”
“Oh no no,” Jasper replied, “you did this to yourself when you disobeyed your king and betrayed your people. You would think that by now you would learn to stop blaming others for your decisions.”
“Argh!”
Serin lifted his sword and brought it down hard, like an angry butcher. Jasper side stepped him and twirled his blade, glancing at the ongoing battle overhead. Frankly he was annoyed to have to be fighting off a disgraced soldier who just wanted to throw a tantrum, when Shadaya needed him.
His plan was to have this be over quickly, but Serin had gotten stronger somehow. It would seem that he had traded his good looks for some level of power. Serin was strong but his moves were still as repetitive as when he had been a pledge. Jasper dodged another butcher like chop.
“I won’t let you stop my master’s plans again,” Serin warned.
“Your master? I thought you would be indebted to Haddin.”
“I am,” he launched his sword at Jasper again and this time, the force of it was enough to knock Jasper’s blade from his grip.
Jasper doubled back, still maintaining his calm. He could hear the sorcerer still trying to reason with Shadaya. Could it be that the prince had been behind this all along?
“So this is all Haddin’s doing?”
“You ask too much questions, especially for a man without a sword.”
“I don’t need a sword to defeat you.”
Jasper ran towards him and then dropped into a slide that propelled him between his legs, from there he was able to hit him in his groin then pull him down from behind. When Serin fell backward, he fought to keep himself from falling flat, as he struggled Jasper reached for his own sword. Serin turned around just in time to see the handle of Jasper’s sword swinging towards his face. Serin’s head snapped to the side but immediately faced Jasper again. Serin was enraged now and Jasper was annoyed. Yet he fought the urge to bury his sword in the betrayer’s body. He dropped his sword and quickly encircled the dazed monster-man, wrapping his arms around his neck, while locking his knees against the floor. Jasper squeezed, though the noises above made him uneasy, he didn’t let go until Serin grew limp in his arms.
“Enough of this distraction. Have a good nap.”
He dropped Serin’s body and picked up his sword, then looked up and shouted.
“Shadaya! Shadaya Quadin.”
Two intense glares turned in his direction and he felt his stomach do a dip. He was not a man easily frightened but he had to admit that what he was doing, was insanity at best.
Shadaya cocked her head, then extended her hand and launched a power ball at the distracted old man. This launched him across the room into the wall on the other side. Then she dropped to her feet with the grace of a dancer and walked towards him. Her eyes were a flaming green, not the deep sky blue that he had grown too long to look into. She was looking at him curiously.
“What did you call me?”
“Shadaya, that is your name,” he said, as he took a bold step onto the arena.
“I know you’re in there.”
She blinked, then lifted her flaming sword toward him, “I feel like I should kill you instead.”
“You would regret it if you did. Because whenever whatever this is wears off, you will miss me.”
She frowned at his attempt to be funny in the face of death.
“You know me?”
“And you know me, we’re friends. And as your friend I can tell you that what you’re doing right now isn’t who you are.”
“Who am I?” she growled.
“You are a kind, selfless woman, the kind of person who would give up all she has for the life of another. Who would put herself in harm’s way for a stranger. The kind of woman who yearns for the light of El.”
Her eyes widened then, and she blinked. Jasper felt hopeful, he was getting through to her.
“Die intruder!”
He looked up in time to see a flaming red ball hurtling towards him, in those few seconds before he knew he would surely be incinerated, Jasper thought of Aldor. But Shadaya stretched out her sword and knocked the sorcerers ball off course. It bounced off and launched into the side of the underground lair, shaking loose stones from the walls unto the arena.
Jasper looked up and realized that he was fighting to breathe, his heart was pounding against his chest as if it wanted to escape and leave his body behind. What a strange feeling this was.
Shadaya was looking at him… with a hint of recognition. But then she turned to the old man and shouted.
“He’s mine!”
Jasper almost passed out when he realized that she was turning her sword towards him. He still had the good sense to step off the arena, he didn’t want his blood to be what turned her into a monster forever.
“Stop!” he heard a voice command just as long ropes like bolts of lightning wrapped around her, binding her arms to her side. Shadaya struggled hard at first but then Jasper saw her relax. He turned to see Geoff walking towards her, holding his staff out in front of him, his eyes focused on the in front of them. With a grunt Geoff lifted his staff propelling Shadaya into the air and back onto the floor and then released her, just in time to counter the old man’s attack. Geoff blocked, then pulled back and launched a burst of light towards the old man, it was sufficient to floor him; he dropped to the ground with a thud.
Geoff was at his side then, and Jasper turned to look at him with outrage in his eyes.
“You were just gonna stand there and let him fry me!”
Geoff grinned sheepishly, “don’t worry if she didn’t protect you, I would have.”
“How did you know that she would have protected me?”
Geoff smiled, “I noticed something familiar in the way she looked at you. As powerful as your affection is for each other, it isn’t enough to cast out darkness, only light can do that. Good try though. You created the perfect distraction.”
It was then that he noticed the others had joined him. Markus went right to Shadaya’s side and Stiller stood a little way off from both her and the fallen old man.
“Now if you’ll excuse me, our work here isn’t quite done.”
Jasper watched Markus roll Shadaya over as Geoff created another light chain to bind her. He then stooped over her and rested his palm against her forehead, closing his eyes with an intense frown. Jasper watched eagerly willing Shadaya to be okay.
When Geoff opened his eyes, he looked up at Jasper and nodded.
“She’s under a spell of some kind. Don’t worry every spell can be broken.”
Without lifting his head, he extended his hand in the direction where the sorcerer had fallen. Stiller was tentatively walking in that direction, his sword outstretched and his lips moving in what must have been prayers.
“We’re going to need the sorcerer that cast it.”
Jasper nodded, “he’s out cold now, we need to move quickly,” he then pointed to the young woman still kneeling in the middle of the arena.
“And what about her.”
Geoff looked at her for a moment then sighed, “we can’t save them all. Come on, help me get her up.”
Chapter 28
“P
/>
rince Haddin, Prince Haddin!”
A frantic servant almost barreled into him as he stepped out of his chambers after a night shrouded in darkness. The bags under his eyes and fixed scowl on his lips were markers of the torment he had endured during the storm. But being tortured by the darkness in him was a small price to pay for the power that would soon be his. A power that would allow him to sleep through events like this with ease, even command it and bend it to his will. His mouth almost watered at the thought.
“What is it?” he asked grumpily.
The man doubled over, holding onto his knees as he fought to catch his breath. Castle Demeris was a large one, with a lot of ground to cover between quarters. He could understand the man’s exhaustion, but he did not care to wait for him to pathetically catch his breath.
“Oh, out with it you… paper weight!” Haddin demanded impatiently.
“We have… good news my lord, good news from the barracks!”
A wave of panic surged through Haddin. The last time he had a servant brings news about the barracks he had lost one of his most prized possession. He had had to start all over again, he couldn’t bear another loss. The council would surely turn on him now. He could not have that, not while he was yet to be officially made king.
“What is it?”
The boy smiled, “it works!”
Haddin’s eyes widened, all weariness gone from him. So, it did work.
“Let’s hurry then.”
As Haddin’s gaze travelled the length of his creation, his smile widened. He was sure that this feeling was akin to what a parent felt when they looked upon their new born child.
“What do you think Master?”
Odin asked. Haddin shook his head in awe.
“It’s beautiful.”
The lad who had brought the message stood among the other scientists who had participated in bringing his dream to reality. None of them seemed to share the same sentiment regarding its beauty. But Haddin knew what he saw, he saw potential, he saw success. After all these years of living in the shadow of his brother and hungering for the attention of his father. He had finally started to chart the journey down his own path of conquest.
“It’s not finished yet. We are still yet to figure out a way for it to penetrate the border, and for it to sustain movement.”
Haddin was still smiling, “that’s alright. It may be time for us to send a message to Ilksvard. I have someone there who can help.”
✽ ✽ ✽
He held her tightly as her sobs wracked his very soul. Her cries were the agonizing sound of a dam bursting fort. A wounded heart stopped up, now being forced open by the bitter tears of loss. He felt his own heart break as if it was his own pain. Yet he was not ignorant of the privilege he’d been given in being the shoulder upon which she now wept. He wrapped his arms protectively around her and lightly kissed her hair, if she felt it, she didn’t show. So he continued to hold her until the quakes of her sobs simmered into heartbroken sighs.
“I’m so sorry about Eunice,” he said, “all she wanted was for you to be safe.”
“It’s my fault,” she muttered.
Jasper rubbed her back, “no it’s not.”
After being laid up in her room for a day and a half, following Geoff’s spell breaking work, Shadaya had finally let someone in. They had taken her from the dark dungeon and returned her home, Geoff and Markus had stayed behind to deal with the sorcerer. While Stiller had helped him carry Shadaya back through the tunnels, in a rather vegetative state after her encounter with Geoff’s light stone staff. Jasper hoped that they had buried that evil place. He shuddered to think of how many lives were ruined on that arena-like altar. He was glad one of them was not Shadaya. They had given her time to recover, but what Serin had told him left him worried that Haddin would send someone after them or show up at Shadaya’s door himself
“You know that it’s not your fault that evil men persist in their purpose to destroy the light in each of us. You were betrayed and used, it wasn’t your fault.”
She looked up at him now with those sky eyes, wet with her tears and sighed.
“And what about Eunice? She didn’t know what she was getting into. She didn’t deserve this.”
“Eunice chose to stay close to you even though she knew the truth about you. She made a promise to your father to protect you. And she did, if it wasn’t for her, we wouldn’t have found you in time.”
“Is it true what they’ve been saying? I heard some servants talking outside. Is it true that Eunice was a follower of the way?”
Jasper nodded, “apparently she was. It was recent according to Stiller…she saw protecting you as her God-given task in this life.”
Shadaya sniffled and eased up from Jasper’s shoulder, he straightened up, returning to a more comfortable position on the edge of her bed. She then laid back against the mountain of pillows behind her head.
“I’m so tired,” she muttered.
Jasper touched her hand gently, “you’ve been through a lot. Geoff said it would take some time for you to recover your strength and your memories. You need more rest.”
She smiled, “I would argue but I don’t have the strength.”
Dark circles cupped her eyes and her face was pale and drawn, like someone who was sick and hadn’t eaten for days. The level of power he had seen her wield must have demanded a lot out of her, and he knew he couldn’t let his guard down as far as her safety was concerned.
“Thank you for coming for me,” she said, “I don’t know why but I’m grateful.”
Jasper smiled, “I came because I’m your friend and that’s what friends do.”
She looked sad, “aren’t you afraid of me… I am everything that your people hate.”
“You were fooled by a man you trusted and made to do things against your will. That wasn’t you Daya, this is you.”
“Daya,” she repeated with a smile, “Eunice used to call me that…I like the way you say it… it’s your accent maybe.”
Jasper chuckled, “then that name will forever be on my lips.”
An awkward silence passed between them at the implication of Jasper’s words. He mentally scolded himself as he tried to think of something to say to disrupt the silence. Shadaya beat him to it.
“You shouldn’t be here Jasper. Your people need you.”
“With a king like my father and his wise council, I think they’ll manage.”
“You said it yourself Jasper. They don’t see El the way the community sees El. They deny the source of light and in a way, they too are living in darkness. They need you.”
Jasper pursed his lips.
“When I was… under Henry’s spell. I felt the darkness in a way I don’t even think I can accurately describe. But it was like it had a mind of its own, it’s not just a force, it’s a living presence and it has an agenda. An agenda to destroy… everything. It scares me even now to think about it. Jasper, the darkness won’t rest until all Saharia is consumed with it. Your kingdom is in trouble, their defense is futile without El’s light.”
Jasper felt his own heart grow heavy with the burden he always carried for his people but a part of him lit up at Shadaya’s words.
“You speak like one who believes.”
Shadaya smiled sadly, “oh I believe. You don’t go through hell and not come back with your eyes wide open. I can’t deny it any more, your God is powerful and very real and…” she paused, looking wistful.
“When Geoff hit me with that… whatever that was. I just felt so free. It was such a contrast to the darkness that was consuming me, while the darkness took hungrily from the me, the light only gave. I felt the weight of this curse shift and I saw a sliver of hope. It was only for a moment before I passed out, but it ignited in me a longing for something more. I want to stand on the side of light in the Great war, because the darkness is real and it’s coming, and we can’t defeat it without the power of El. This is what I believe.”
Jasper nodd
ed, “I believe you and I am glad.”
He was more than glad, he was elated, he was bursting at the seams with excitement over what this meant. Coming to Dravia had been eye opening for him too.
“Now you must get your rest,” he said softly, “I’m sure the others would want to see you when you are ready, and they would love to hear what it is you have told me.”
“Good. I need you to tell them to be very careful with Henry. He is a powerful sorcerer… I don’t know how I could have missed it.”
“You didn’t know… Daya,” he said gently.
This earned him a genuine smile and his heart beat faster.
“Oh, one more thing,” he turned and whistled.
Pit bounded through the partially opened door and leapt up onto Shadaya’s bed. Shadaya’s eyes widened as she opened her arms.
“Pit!” she cried, wrapping her arms around her old friend, “I feel like I haven’t seen you in ages.”
The dog wagged his tail and snuggled up to her. Jasper smiled at the energetic reunion as he slipped away.
✽ ✽ ✽
Daylight faded and darkness met Shadaya lying in her bed with her dog snuggled up beside her. Her mind was reeling with the memories of what had happened, she felt sick at the thoughts she’d thought when she was in that state. She tossed the covers aside and went to stand before the open window.
“This better not be a trap,” a voice said behind her.
Shadaya sighed, “If it was you would know.”
Hesk stepped forward so that the dim light of the moon could rest on the sharp angles of his face.
“What do you want Shadaya?”
“You were right,” she said, “there is too much corruption in this kingdom and Haddin is only making it worse. I have seen with my own eyes how evil Dravia truly is.”
“Shadaya why did you call me here?”
“You need to find Drayton,” she said firmly.
Hesk’s eyes widened at her request, “I’m not leaving here empty handed… I told you…”
“And you will get what you need. You’ll just have to get it yourself.”
Shadaya: Out of Darkness (Gemstone Royals) Page 28