“As you know,” Drakon boomed, “the Dark Legion has been without a commander.”
Mutterings spread throughout the cavern.
Drakon raised his hand. “Our commander isn’t someone who I select frivolously. This person has huge footsteps to follow in. Erebus was a great leader in his time, but his time ended.”
Drakon paused for a moment, and then continued, “My selection has been a difficult one to make and, over the years, I’ve had followers come and go but none have ever been as dedicated to me like the warrior I’m about to choose.”
Raven edged closer to Drakon. She held her breathe. The Fallen crowded around the podium, their eyes darting away from Raven. At the back of the amphitheatre, a tall man slid in and Raven caught a glimpse of his scarred face.
“The commander of the Dark Legion…” Drakon thundered.
The crowd exhaled.
“I give you… Nikolas.”
Pandemonium erupted as the warriors shouted in jubilation. The Fallen bounded around Drakon, searching for Niko among them. Drakon extended his arm and beckoned Niko from the masses. Niko made his way to the podium, his scarred face twisted in an awkward smile. When he reached Drakon, he stopped in front of him, not once looking at Raven. Kneeling down, he bowed his head as Drakon unsheathed his sword to honour him. The scene unfolded in slow motion in front of Raven and her heart thumped in her throat.
Drakon raised his sword to bestow the honour on Niko and a deathly silence fell over the crowd. But instead, as his sword dropped, he sliced the blade cleanly into the side of Niko’s neck with one swift stroke. Dark-red blood spread onto the pale marble podium. Niko toppled forward, his head lolling to the side. A gurgling sound rose from his throat.
Raven stepped back in horror, clamping her hand over her mouth. Whirling around, she raced out of the amphitheatre unable to comprehend what had just happened.
Chapter 39
The Guardian of Aer
Rachel and Elethea heard the raucous cheering in the distance from the amphitheatre. But as quickly as it had started, it stopped abruptly. An eerie silence followed. Outside the rain pelted down from the black-carpeted sky, darkening Rachel’s mood even more.
“Drakon—” Rachel reached out and gripped her mother’s arm. “—he’s done something.”
Elethea touched her daughter’s hand reassuringly. “It’ll be over soon, baby girl. By this time tomorrow our plan will be in full swing.”
“Should we follow through with it?” Rachel asked uncertainly.
“I’ve no doubt that it’ll work. Alexis will make sure of that.”
“Alexis… Dom… I almost forgot about them.”
“You’d better get going.”
Rachel released her mother’s arm but not before the familiar warmth radiated from beneath her hand. Dismissing it, she kissed Elethea goodbye and stepped out into the ominous mist.
She dodged lurking shadows between the stone houses. The hairs on the back of her neck prickled. Someone was following her. Rachel glanced cautiously over her shoulder, but only the mist churned behind her. She quickened her pace and her breathing came in short bursts. At last she turned down the street that led to the stables. Once there, she leaned against the outside stable wall. The tension released from her body as she gulped mouthfuls of cool air into her lungs.
Dom appeared from around the corner, startling her. “Don’t do that!” she yelped as she placed her hand over her racing heart.
“Sorry,” Dom apologised sheepishly. “I had to make sure it was you.”
Dom swung the stable door open and hauled her inside. With one last nervous scan over her shoulder, Rachel entered the stable before Dom shut the door. He led her past the stacked hay bales to a secluded spot near the back. Here he levered a latch, which released a trapdoor. Underneath it, a wooden staircase led down to a hidden basement. Rachel descended with Dom directly behind her while anxious faces peered upward, flickering in the candlelight. A mound of smuggled weapons glinted in the far corner.
“Wha’ took yer so long?” said Fergus, as he wiped his sweaty brow. “Yer had us all worried abou’ yer.” Flanked at his side stood two strapping young men, dwarfing him in size. Both had heads of shocking red hair. “Mae son’s… Finn and Quinn.” Fergus pointed at each, respectively.
Rachel bobbed her head in greeting. “Something came up.” She looked at the weapons dismally. “There aren’t enough weapons to fight with.”
“Yer should have seen the pile before we distributed the smaller ones,” Finn said, indicating himself and Quinn. “Yer and Dom did a splendid job at smugglin’ so many right out from under their bloomin’ noses.”
Alexis walked over to the weapons and scooped up a sword. She studied its shiny blade. “It started off easy, but since the day the Watchers spotted Elektra in the sky, our distribution came to a grinding halt.”
“There’re enough weapons out there…” Dom said reassuringly. “…to help with our part of the—”
A scuffling sound came from above and the group fell silent. Alexis pointed to the roof and wordlessly questioned Dom if he was expecting anyone else.
Dom shook his head.
Alexis tiptoed to the base of the staircase with her sword held at the ready. The lever ground and the trapdoor creaked slowly open. Alexis leaned forward, the outline of her clenched jaw shining in the lambent light. A sword tip appeared at the top of the stairs and then a pair of well-built legs stepped onto the first step.
“So this is where the rebels have been meeting,” a gruff voice said. His bearded face stared down at them. “I’ve been looking all over for you.”
“What the heck!” Alexis exclaimed. Her sword clattered to the ground.
“You need to cover your tracks better,” the man said as he descended the staircase and looked directly at Rachel. “Have you forgotten already?”
“The shadow… it was you,” Rachel’s voice quavered slightly. “How could I forget? You taught us so well.”
“Stealth,” Hektor reminded her. “Agility, speed, stealth and strength.”
“Fight together,” chanted Rachel.
“Win together!” Hektor said completing their motto.
“Where’ve you been all this time, Hektor?” Alexis asked in a flabbergasted tone. “We thought you were dead!”
Across Hektor’s broad shoulders, a thick animal fur hung. Rachel stared at the fur curiously. Hektor noticed her stare and he tugged at the haphazardly stitched coat.
“I’ve been hiding out in the woodlands. After the war I escaped through the hole in the Wall. It’s been easy to avoid the barbarians while I was out there – they’ve no idea how to track anything. Bunch of morons that lot! They only know how to swing a weapon left and right.” Hektor laughed. “It’s been quite entertaining leading them in circles through the woods – I had fun while it lasted. And all this time they believed I was a white wolf.” Hektor chuckled even louder.
“How did you get back in?” Rachel asked.
“Thanos opened the doorway for Raven and one of the Fallen.”
“If I get my hands on that girl, I’m going to, going to—” Alexis said through gritted teeth. “All that time she had a hidden agenda… sometimes I wonder if she even likes horses and now she has Abrax.”
“Do you know where they were going?” Rachel questioned.
“They were on the path to the temple.”
“But the Watchers,” Rachel said. “No one can get past them.”
“They caused enough of a distraction.” Hektor winked at her. “And they left the doorway wide open for me to sneak through.”
Alexis waved her hand to attract Hektor’s attention. She waltzed over to the hay bales where she perched herself on the edge and invited him to join her by patting the spot next to her.
Hektor followed and sat down, but after a few minutes he opted for the hard floor. “I’m used to this, too prickly on that.” He leaned sideways and scratched his backside.
Dom cho
rtled and plonked himself down next to Hektor. “The Seraphians retell the story countless times of how you led the Arete Army during the Dark War and fought against the Dark Guardian. Unbelievable! I never thought I’d ever meet you in person and now I’m sitting right here next to you.” Dom said excitedly. “You’re a legend, you know!”
Hektor slapped Dom on the back as a thank-you gesture.
Finn and Quinn stood protectively on either side of the weapons, their arms crossed and feet braced apart. They silently eyed the visitor, not quite trusting him yet.
Fergus ambled over to Alexis.
“Have we met before?” Hektor asked, his question directed at Fergus.
“Nae, I don’ think so,” Fergus replied. “But I’ve seen yer leadin’ the Arete Army. Yer is a great commander, just as youn’ Dom has said. Great tae have yer back.”
“Strange accent you have?” Hektor said.
“I awakened here with it. Mae sons speak the same… Aether chose them for mae. Good match huh?”
Finn and Quinn bobbed their heads and their mops of red hair bounced.
Hektor smiled and clasped his fingers together. “So what’s the plan to overthrow Drakon?” His eyes skimmed the weapons.
Rachel stepped forward. “There’s something I have to tell everyone. It’s important as it could pose a problem.”
“What is it?” Dom probed.
“Aether’s chosen the Guardian of Aer.” Rachel’s face paled.
Silence descended in the stuffy basement, so much so that Rachel heard a mouse scampering across the hay-strewn floor toward the stairs.
“Who?” Alexis asked bluntly.
“My mother… Elethea,” Rachel announced. “But I don’t think she’s realised it yet. She probably thinks it’s me. Every time I’ve touched her, heat’s been radiating from her body.”
“Elethea?” said Hektor. “Our healer?”
Rachel nodded and swallowed a lump. She knew the danger that this posed for her mother as Drakon would soon find out. And because her mother didn’t know how to control her gift just yet, she wouldn’t be able to hide it. All it would take for the secret to be blown would be one small incident. Tears welled up in Rachel’s eyes; as much as it was a blessing to be a Guardian, under Drakon’s rule it was a death sentence.
“Yer must go straight away lass an’ tell yer mother,” Fergus advised. “Go with her…” He flapped his stubby hands frantically at his sons. “Finn, Quinn… go!”
Dom and Hektor jumped up from the floor. “In the meantime I’ll go over the plan with Hektor. We’ll make any changes that need making.” His eyes met Rachel’s eyes. “Will you be all right?”
Rachel wiped at the tears on her face and nodded.
After leaving the stables, Rachel, Finn and Quinn hurried back to the Region of Aer. They slowed their pace and cautiously approached the stone house. The front door was wide open.
Quinn entered first, followed by Rachel. Finn took up the rear and guarded the front door.
“Mother,” Rachel called, her words echoing in the emptiness.
No one answered.
Rachel scanned the living area. Her eye caught a broken terracotta bowl that lay shattered on the floor. The rug was askew.
A sudden flashback hit her. After the war her mother had been the one protecting her when the Dark Legion had invaded their home to arrest Rachel. Niko had struck her mother. And now Rachel hadn’t been there to protect her. She had failed her.
“They’ve taken her,” Quinn stated gravely. “They know.”
Tears streamed down Rachel’s face. Guilt racked her tiny frame as she crumpled to her knees. A wail broke the quietness as dawn desperately tried to break across the horizon, but the dark cloud above suppressed the sun’s rays.
Chapter 40
Drakon’s Gift
Raven stood alongside Drakon. The spectacle unfolded in front of them as the guards dragged Elethea across the amphitheatre toward them. Nearby, Dione waited in silence, her eyes glued on Raven. Raven noticed the oracle staring at her and she shifted uncomfortably. Her repulsion had transformed into loathing and a pang of jealously stabbed her heart – Drakon had founded a relationship with Dione.
“You’ll get your turn in Oblivion,” Elethea shouted. “I saved Raven and look how you repay me. You’re a calculating, callous murderer. I believed you had changed. We all believed it. But how wrong were we.”
She’s a fighter this one, Raven thought, it’s a pity that she’s only going to be a Guardian for one day.
Ignoring Elethea’s verbal attack on him, Drakon spoke calmly, “Do you know why you’re here?”
“You don’t have to do this – spare the Guardians.”
“In other words spare you,” Drakon said.
Elethea’s eyes widened. “How do you know?”
“Your little mishap the other day,” Dione said, “did not go unnoticed.”
“I won’t do it,” Elethea yelled. “I’ll never help you again.”
“Take her to the dungeon,” Drakon ordered.
Elethea’s cries disappeared into the labyrinth of tunnels.
Drakon turned to Raven. This was the first time that she’d been in his presence since he had executed Niko. And even though she despised his brutal killing of Niko, she had had to obey Drakon when he’d summoned her.
As if reading her mind, Drakon stated bluntly, “Niko was our enemy. He would have made a fool out of you.”
Raven never answered. She cast her eyes downward, staring at the floor.
Drakon continued unabated, “Niko was on Thanos’s side all this time – spying for him, actually. He’d have eventually murdered me… and you.”
No, it can’t be true. Raven’s thoughts flickered to what Maksimos had said before to Niko in the woods – You think highly of yourself – you’re not that important. You’re only one puzzle piece in this whole thing.
What had Maksimos been referring to? Was she herself a puzzle piece? Ash had also said that Drakon wasn’t telling her the entire truth. This she knew to be true, as he still hadn’t disclosed to her what the other prophecy was, even though Raven had guessed it already.
“I don’t know what to believe anymore,” Raven declared.
“You’d believe him over me?” Drakon responded irately.
“You said Niko was a spy, but he couldn’t have been. When he spoke about his past, he was angry at what had happened to him. He’d disowned the Guardians – he chose you, Lord Drakon. He was loyal to you.” But a knotted feeling deep in the pit of her stomach told her otherwise.
Drakon’s dark eyes softened and he touched Raven under her chin, lifting her face.
“There’re a lot of things that I know, Raven. Believe me, what I’m doing is not only for myself.”
“I know… you’ve said that before. You want to save us all.”
“I will. But the Guardians have to perform the ritual and sacrifice their powers.”
“But won’t Aether choose another five and then we’re back to square one.”
“It doesn’t work that way. Once the Spheres are connected, the Guardianship will disintegrate. There won’t be a need for it any longer. With the Realms united, a new era will be born.”
Raven shivered. It must be true. She had to confront Drakon now or this moment would be gone. “And… and when this happens, will Aether choose the One?”
Drakon stroked his goatee, a faint smile lilting at the corner of his mouth. “The One… I see you’ve been listening to others about those stupid tales, even after I warned you.”
Close by, Dione nodded her head objectively and her auburn-streaked hair bounced freely around her shoulders. “Many tales were written because the Guardians wanted to protect the Hecate.”
Raven clenched her fists. “Lord Drakon, do we have to listen to the witch?”
Dione vaulted forward, venom glinting in her green eyes.
Drakon intercepted her. “Stop!” he demanded. “This is no way to behave… both of
you. We’re on the same side.”
Dione stepped back reluctantly, smiling haughtily at Raven.
Drakon attempted to diffuse the situation by announcing, “I have a gift for you, Raven.” He rummaged deep inside his cloak and extracted the snake Amulet. “Here,” he said, as he offered to place it on her arm.
Raven gasped. “It’s beautiful.”
Drakon coiled the Amulet around Raven’s upper arm.
Raven touched the two intertwining bronze snakes in fascination. “I have two of Elektra’s prized possessions,” she said.
“Keep it on you at all times – it’ll protect you,” Drakon advised.
“How… What does it do?”
“The Amulet went missing centuries ago,” Dione’s flamboyant voice interrupted them. “It’s believed to have been a gift from a Mountain Dryad. He fell in love with a Seraphian.” Dione eyed the Amulet avidly.
Raven trailed her finger over each emerald eye, intrigued by the stones. “Who was the Seraphian?” she asked curiously, her animosity toward Dione gone for the moment.
“It’s a long story…” Dione replied vaguely.
“…for another day,” Drakon added, as he turned his gaze toward the cavern’s opening.
Raven’s intuition kicked in. Drakon was avoiding the story about the Amulet. Why was it such a secret?
Dione’s shrill voice startled Raven. “The Pegasus and the Amulet – they’re somehow connected. And the guards believed that I had something to do with the dumb, flying horse.” Dione laughed.
“The girl on the horse? I’m told she has red hair.” Drakon frowned at a distant memory. “It’s not a common hair colour.”
Dione corrected him, “Her hair isn’t red, darling, it’s strawberry-blonde. There’s a difference you know.”
Drakon tapped his chin. “During the Dark War, there was this girl who aimed her arrow at my heart. One of the Fallen sacrificed himself to save me.”
“Elektra!” Raven clarified. “She’s a bullseye with her bow and—”
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