Heirs of Destiny Box Set

by Andy Peloquin

“But the map is just the first step in your quest to steal the Crown of the Pharus,” Suroth continued. “The Serenii tunnels will get you inside the palace, but they do not lead directly to the vault where the crown is stored with the rest of Shalandra’s relics. You will need to enter the Tomb of Hallar on the western side of the Palace of Golden Eternity.”

  Kodyn’s gut clenched. If it was easy, it wouldn’t be a worthy Undertaking.

  “The Vault of Ancients sits beside the holiest place in all of Shalandra: the Tomb of Hallar.”

  Briana drew in a sharp breath. “Truly?”

  Kodyn’s brow furrowed. “Someone important, I take it?”

  Both sets of eyebrows rose, and Briana’s eyes widened. “Did I never tell you about Hallar, Shalandra’s first Pharus?”

  Kodyn shook his head.

  “Hallar’s origins are shrouded in mystery,” Briana explained, “though it is agreed that he belonged to one of the tribes of the four mountains. He was a champion—of which tribe, no one knows—a peerless warrior that defeated every challenger sent against him. He was the one to unite the tribes into one, and under his rule, the city of Shalandra was built.”

  “Carved from the mountain, you mean.”

  Briana nodded. “Of course. He founded the Keeper’s Blades and the Indomitables, and, we believe, created the caste system, which has maintained order and prosperity in Shalandra since his days. His death is as much a mystery as his birth, but everyone in Shalandra knows that his body lies at rest in the Tomb of Hallar, at the highest point of the city, above even the level of the palace.”

  “In that stern-looking face?” Kodyn had seen the stony features of Hallar glaring down at him as he entered the Palace of Golden Eternity. “That’s his tomb?”

  “Yes, or…” Briana hesitated. “At least that’s what we believe.”

  “The Tomb of Hallar has been sealed for two thousand years,” Suroth put in, “and the key lost to time. Few written records exist from that long ago. All we have are the stories and legends passed down to us by our ancestors, and those carved into the tombs in the Keeper’s Crypts. My Secret Keepers and I have dedicated ourselves to uncovering as much of Shalandra’s history as we can.”

  “But the Vault of Ancients can be accessed, right?” Kodyn cocked his head. “It’s not locked up tight like the tomb?”

  “Of course.” Suroth nodded. “But, and this is a secret that no one beyond myself and a few of my most trusted priests know, the vault does not open on our command.”

  Kodyn’s brow furrowed. Briana had told him that Suroth was the one who brought out the relics from the Vault of Ancients for ceremonies. Yet the look on her face revealed confusion on par with his.

  Suroth glanced around, “The Serenii designed the vault door to only open four times a year. The Vault opens of its own accord—I alone know how to move through the vault safely without setting off the traps left by the ancient people. Only I can safely enter to retrieve the relics stored there.”

  Kodyn’s gut tightened. Serenii traps? That’s going to make things damned difficult. He’d heard his mother’s story of her escape from the Black Spire in Praamis. Only her skill combined with a healthy dose of the Mistress’ luck had gotten her out alive.

  “If this is such a big secret, why are you telling me?” Kodyn asked.

  “Because I need your trust if I am to trust you to keep my daughter safe.” Suroth fixed him with a pointed expression. “The vault will open in three weeks, on the day of the Anointing of the Blades. But if, for some reason, we fail to find a way to help you succeed in your efforts to claim the Crown of the Pharus, you will know that I am speaking the truth when I say that we can only try again in three months.”

  “Ah, of course.” Kodyn smiled, understanding dawning. “Trust is built on truth, after all.”

  “Precisely.” Suroth returned the smile. “With everything that we face—the Necroseti, chief among them, but I doubt the threat of the Gatherers is truly passed—I need to know that I can count on you to keep my Briana safe. I would give anything to ensure her protection.”

  Kodyn held out a hand. “You have my word that I will do everything in my power to protect her. And, as long as you need us, we are here to help.”

  “Thank you.” Suroth shook his hand, and once again Kodyn was surprised by the strength of the Secret Keeper’s grip. “I am father first, priest second, and Councilman third.” He shot a glance up at the sun and his brow furrowed. “Speaking of the Council, I am late for our weekly meeting.”

  Briana’s face fell. “Must you go, Father? Those Necroseti wear masks of courtesy but they want nothing more than to see you gone.”

  Suroth shrugged. “I do what I must. My duty is to serve this city as best I can. And, after the Council meeting, I will find a way to speak to the Pharus and share my suspicions. He has no love for the Necroseti and the rest of the Council, either.”

  Briana sighed. “All the same, I’ll still worry about you until you return. Maybe Kodyn can—”

  “Kodyn’s place is by your side.” Suroth cut off his daughter with a firm shake of his head. “I am more than capable of protecting myself, Daughter.” He pressed a kiss to Briana’s forehead, and she threw her arms around his neck.

  Kodyn looked away—after the last few weeks, they deserved a private moment of tenderness. Suroth had made an effort to spend a few hours with Briana the previous afternoon, but his duties as Arch-Guardian of the Secret Keepers and a member of the Keeper’s Council had kept him busy.

  “I love you, Papa.” Briana’s words, spoken aloud, held a depth of emotion that brought a lump to Kodyn’s throat. He’d never had a father just as Briana had never had a mother. They’d both had to make do with one parent—one parent that cared for them with every shred of love they could muster. He’d been truly fortunate to have Ria there as well.

  A strong hand rested on Kodyn’s shoulder. He turned to find Arch-Guardian Suroth standing behind him.

  “Take this to the Black Widow.” The Secret Keeper held out a small pouch. “She will understand the meaning of the message.”

  Kodyn cocked an eyebrow, curiosity burning as he took the pouch. The object within felt round, smooth, and hard, small enough to nestle in the palm of his hand.

  “To face the Necroseti, we need help.” Suroth gave him an enigmatic smile. “The Black Widow makes a powerful ally–for the right price.” His expression grew stern. “But deliver it only to her and no one else. In the wrong hands, this can be used for truly terrible things.”

  Kodyn nodded understanding. “I will get it to her as soon as Aisha returns.” The ominous look in Suroth’s eyes inflamed Kodyn’s innate curiosity. He ached to find out what could be so important to the Secret Keeper, yet respect for the man stopped him from opening the pouch.

  “Good,” Suroth’s fingers said. “Time is of the essence.” He gripped Kodyn’s forearm. “She is my sun, moon, and stars. I could not bear to lose her again. Keep her safe, Kodyn.”

  “With my life.” Kodyn met his gaze.

  With a nod, Arch-Guardian Suroth released his grip on Kodyn’s arm, turned, and hurried away across the walkway that led through the rooftop garden.

  Kodyn glanced at Briana. Worry sparkled in the Shalandran girl’s eyes.

  “He’ll be fine,” he told her. “I may have only known him for a day, but I’ve met few people as capable as him.” Errik, Ria, his mother, and the Hunter numbered among the few he’d wager on against the Secret Keeper.

  “I know,” Briana said, “but that doesn’t stop me from fearing for him. Especially now that we know Councilor Madani and the rest of the Necroseti are against us.”

  “We’ll figure it out.” Kodyn placed a hand on her shoulder. “The four of us.”

  Briana squeezed her eyes closed and leaned on his hand, a smile on her face. “I feel much safer, just having you here. Both of you. I don’t know what I’d do without you and Aisha.”

  “You won’t have to find out, I promise.�
� Kodyn crouched in front of her and scooped up her hands in his. He spoke in an earnest voice. “We’re not going anywhere until we’re sure you’re safe.”

  Briana smiled, and suddenly Kodyn was aware of how close she was. Her hands were warm in his, her skin soft and fragrant with the smell of tiger lilies. The lines of kohl accented the dark color and almond shape of her eyes, and she’d painted her lips with a deep purple color that seemed to glisten in the sunlight. The fabric of her simple dress shimmered, the thin straps over her shoulder revealing an abundance of the golden mahogany skin of her slim shoulders, neck, and upper chest.

  Heat raced through him as his eyes locked with Briana. He saw that same glimmer of fire in her eyes, the flush in her cheeks. Her hands in his had grown suddenly hot. Her lips parted, her breathing speeding up to match his. For a moment, he almost thought she was leaning forward, closing the distance to—

  A sound from behind him shattered the moment. He stood and turned in time to see Aisha striding through the garden toward them. A momentary surge of disappointment, even anger, flashed through him. Yet one look at Aisha’s face wiped it all away.

  “What’s wrong?” he asked. A shadow hung in Aisha’s eyes, her shoulders tense, as if beneath a great weight. “Was there a problem with the Secret Keeper?”

  Aisha shook her head and, without a word, produced the scroll tube. Kodyn took the leather tube but his eyes never left hers. She was still the same young woman he’d known for years, but there was something else, something new that he couldn’t quite put his finger on. Something within her had changed.

  “I’m fine,” Aisha said. “Just tired. Didn’t sleep much.”

  A lie, but Kodyn let it pass. She’d been carrying a burden since the day they’d left Praamis, one she hadn’t chosen to share with him. Either she would do so in her own time, or he’d press her a bit when they had a moment of peace. Right now, if she wanted him to treat her as if nothing was wrong, he’d go along with it.

  He pried the lid from the scroll tube and pulled out the scroll—made from a pithy plant Briana had called papyrus. Eager anticipation coursed through him as he unrolled the thick paper.

  Excitement turned to confusion, and his brow furrowed as he stared down at the scroll.

  “What is it?” Aisha asked.

  Kodyn turned it over and held it up. “There’s nothing!”

  The map was blank.

  Chapter Thirty-Three

  Issa swallowed the acid surging into her throat. She, Etai, and eight Indomitable trainees faced sixty enemies bolstered by Kellas and the heavily-armored, stone-faced Invictus Tannard.

  There’s no damned way we can pull this off. Not against six times their number. Again, they wore padded jerkins and wielded wooden batons against sword-wielding Indomitables in solid half-plate mail.

  Yet her grandmother’s words from the previous night echoed in her mind. “That is how you have always been, Granddaughter. Stubborn as a farmer’s mule, yet as unstoppable as a runaway bull. Nothing can stop you, nechda. The only one who can stop you is you. You only fail when you stop fighting.”

  She gritted her teeth. I will never stop fighting. Anger burned in her gut as she fixed her eyes on Tannard at the rear of the line. I refuse to let you force me out of the Blades, you bastard!

  Tannard’s stony expression never changed. He simply stood ready, huge two-handed sword carried on his shoulder. An immovable obstacle she’d somehow have to surmount in order to succeed.

  So be it. Resolve hardened like shalanite in her stomach. Somehow, I’m getting past you.

  She turned to her small company—bloodied and beaten, but defiance shining in their eyes. Last time, she had nearly carried them to victory against impossible odds. Even Etai, the slim Mahjuri girl she’d helped in the Crucible, looked at her with mingled hope and trust. They wanted her to triumph. No, more than that. They expected her to.

  The realization bolstered her courage and determination. She was their commanding officer, and they counted on her to keep them alive in this mock battle. Issa wouldn’t let them down.

  “I’m dreading the words about to come out of your mouth.” Nysin’s tone dripped sarcasm. Clearly, he refused to let a few bruised ribs and a split lip dull his cutting edge. “Hopefully it’ll be a better plan than last time.”

  Issa smiled. “The same plan, actually.” Her grin widened as Nysin’s jaw dropped. “Almost.”

  “You got us all killed last time.” Nysin shook his head. “If it’s all the same to you, I’d just as soon skip the pummeling on my second day in a row.”

  “You should be used to that by now.” Viddan, another Mahjuri trainee, snorted. “You’ve taken a beating in just about every training session with Rilith.”

  Issa shot a glance at the tall, slender Earaqi girl. “You’re good with your blades?”

  Rilith shrugged.

  “Yes,” Enyera put in. “I may be lightest on my feet, but none of us can match the speed of her hands.”

  “Good.” Issa nodded. “Then you’re with Etai and me at the tip of the spear.” She glanced at Viddan and Nysin. “The two of you behind them, and the rest of you filling out the formation. And you,” she told Enyera, “I want you at the back again, ready to run.”

  Nysin rolled his eyes. “Because that worked so well last time!”

  “Put yourself in their place,” Issa said with a sly grin. “Would you expect us to try the same maneuver twice?”

  Nysin shook his head. “Given its spectacular failure last time, only an idiot would do that!”

  “Which is exactly why we’re going to do it.” Issa laughed at Nysin’s incredulous expression. “They’ll realize we’re trying to outthink them by doing the last thing they expected us to do, so they’ll have to adjust their battle lines. As soon as they see Enyera taking her place at the rear of our group like she did last time, they’ll expect her to run around them again.”

  “So they’ll have to expand their lines in preparation.” Etai’s eyes went wide as realization dawned. “And when their lines are spread out, we’ll have an easier time driving through them.”

  “Never mind that the lines are now fifteen men strong instead of twelve,” Nysin interjected.

  “They could be a hundred strong.” Issa nodded her chin toward their enemy’s ranks. “They’re still only two deep, and they’ve still got the same distance between the four lines.” Had she been the one in command on the opposite side, she’d have used the additional twelve to form a fifth line—making it truly impossible for her to break through.

  Confusion clouded Enyera’s face. “But am I going to run for the pennant?”

  Issa shot her a smile. “That’s what we want them to think. But I’ve got something else in mind. Something that none of them will expect.”

  She relayed her plan—utterly desperate, and impossible in full armor, but their only hope of winning this challenge—and Enyera’s eyes widened.

  “Damn!” The Earaqi girl shook her head. “You’re either insane or the cleverest person here.”

  “We’ll find out which soon enough,” Issa said with a grin.

  Her eyes traveled over the bruised, battered faces of her company. “We face an impossible challenge. No one could hope to succeed here, and everyone in that battle line across from us knows it.” A brazen grin split her face. “Let’s prove them wrong!”

  Nine pairs of eyes filled with grim determination, defiant. The Indomitable trainees gripped their wooden batons tighter, adjusted their padded jerkins one last time.

  “We do this,” Etai told Issa in a low voice, “you’ll only make things worse with Tannard. You’ll be defeating him personally.”

  Issa met the Mahjuri girl’s eyes. “I know.” The words came out in a low growl. “But it’s bloody well worth it!”

  Etai grinned. “May the Long Keeper strengthen your arm—”

  “—and guide your aim,” Issa finished. She saluted, right fist to left shoulder, and Etai returned it.

>   Issa strode toward their battle line and took her place at the tip of the spear. She tightened her grip on her twin batons and drew in a deep breath.

  This is for you, Savta.

  She charged.

  Batons held low, jaw set, eyes fixed on her first opponent, Issa pounded toward the enemy’s lines. Behind her, nine pairs of boots thumped in the sand. The Indomitable trainees facing her crouched behind their wooden shields, braced for impact.

  Issa slammed into the front rank with bone-jarring force. Instead of striking out with her truncheons, she lowered her shoulder and drove straight into the trainees before her. The force of her charge backed by the power of her muscles bulled through the first rank, then the second, and she burst free of the battle line with a cry of rage.

  Her momentum carried her forward, and she poured fury and determination into her muscles. She hit the second line seconds after plowing through the first. She, the tip of the spear formation, punched into the enemy like a dagger through parchment. Her batons crunched into outstretched arms and exposed heads.

  This time, she aimed for her enemy’s hands and arms. She couldn’t face Kellas or Tannard with wooden clubs. She needed a sword, even a shorter Indomitable blade. As one trainee struck at her, she dropped the club and reached out her right hand to close fingers around his wrist. She squeezed, her forge-hardened grip painfully tight. The trainee’s grip on his blade loosened long enough for Issa to tear it from his grasp.

  Her momentum had slowed in that instant, but Etai and Rilith on her flanks drove through the second line. With a gasp, she raced on toward the third line.

  Kellas held the center of the line, eyes fixed on her, two-handed flammard held at the ready. She could see desire written in every contour of his arrogant Dhukari face: he wanted to be the one to take her down this time.

  Let’s see what you’ve got, you pompous prick!

  “Now!” she shouted.

  Kellas’ face hardened, a smile curling his lip upward into a half-sneer, and he echoed her words. “Now!”

  Even as Issa and her company raced toward Kellas’ line, the fifteen-man company suddenly split into three. Kellas and four trainees held the center, but the ten trainees on the right and left flanks spread outward in expectation of Enyera’s desperate race toward the flag.