Beyond the Core (The Starborn Series Book 1)

by K. R. Cunningham

  “Rhielle and the man she’s with are tracking me for the treason I committed against the high scholar at the citadel, a very well-known man. He took the secrets I gave him to his grave. There’s still a chance for you to get away.”

  “Wait.” Owen stopped him. “Are you suggesting I leave without you?”

  “Yes. After we get to Edgewater, it may be better for you to go on with Colt.”

  “But I don’t want to go on without you.” When Amias looked over, Owen smiled painfully. “I’m sorry for not listening to you before. But I need you to be upfront with me from now on. I won’t run away. I just need to know everything.”

  “Then I’ll start with your father. I don’t know where he is, truly, but I know he is lost in his mind. If I could help you find him, I would. I have always been on the lookout for him.”

  A spark of hope ignited in Owen’s chest, something he thought he would never feel at the mention of his father’s whereabouts.

  “But there’s something else,” Amias said, rubbing his neck nervously.

  Something seized hold of Owen’s heart, stilling it. He held his breath. “What is it?”

  For a long moment, Amias did not speak. Then he sighed heavily and said, “Your father went through a Cleansing ritual, but his power remained.”

  Owen thought on his words, trying to make sense of them. “Then . . . father was . . .”

  “Starborn. Well, possibly.”

  They stared at each other. Owen’s lips twitched. It was like a story from his folklore book. It was too outlandish. Though he indulged in faerie tales, he knew at the end of the day that they were not real.

  “What’s wrong?” Amias cocked his head.

  “It’s hard to believe.”

  “I don’t blame you. This is coming from a man who’s lied to you. I don’t expect you to believe me. But I don’t want you to find out the hard way that you may be Starborn as well.”

  Owen’s heart jerked. “You’re going off a legend.”

  “I’ve been with the Legion long enough to know it’s no more a legend than your ability to harness power.”

  Looking away, Owen noticed Colt on the side of the road, relieving himself in the grass. He immediately looked back, meeting Amias’s eyes. “That’s why you hid me away?”

  Amias nodded and looked down. “I didn’t want them to find you and try to Cleanse you in case they discovered what you might be.” He scratched his thumbnail and glanced down the path. “And the dagger so far has proved a connection with your bloodline, something I wasn’t aware of until you used it to kill the Outrider.”

  “Then what should we do with it?” Owen rubbed the hilt. It seemed to hum gently.

  Before Amias could answer, the sound of a horse caught them off guard.

  Owen squinted and saw two figures atop horses in the distance. His stomach dropped when he spotted Rhielle, her blonde hair visible in the last rays of light. Beside her was a thin, tall man with short brown hair. He looked familiar, though Owen could not place him.

  “Amias, please tell me I’m dreaming.”

  Amias’s face grew grim as he looked into the distance. “It’s no dream, Owen. I see them there.”

  Rhielle and the man rode forward quickly.

  “Didn’t take them long to catch up,” Colt growled, his hand on the hilt of his weapon.

  “Hold steady,” Amias said. “Colt, do you remember what I asked you to do earlier?”

  Owen watched as his companions exchanged a wary glance. Colt nodded.

  Amias looked at Owen. “Should things go wrong, I’ll need you to go with Colt.”

  “Amias—”

  “Ah, Amias,” the man cut them off, his voice like a low hum. “Just the man I was looking for. You’re far from Alacor. Allow me to give you a ride back.”

  “He’s not going anywhere with you,” Owen spat.

  The man looked from Amias to Owen. A smile tugged at his lips as he narrowed his eyes. “Who’s this? Don’t tell me this is your hire?” He clicked his tongue at that. “My, I took you for a coward, but to use someone so young?”

  “He has nothing to do with this,” Amias hissed. “Take me but leave them.”

  “I can’t do that. Aiding a criminal through the country is a crime, and besides, they attacked Rhielle.”

  “Elian, I beg you to leave them. Please.”

  Elian narrowed his eyes. “Resorting to begging now, are you?” He readied his saddle. “You may just be in luck. I can only carry one man on my horse, and Rhielle as well. It means I can let one of you leave.” He cut his eyes to Amias. “Which one?”

  Amias turned to Owen. “You go.”

  At a loss for words, Owen took a step back. Elian dismounted and detained Amias, while Rhielle got off her horse and pulled Colt around to do the same. As Owen backed away from the scene, the man watched him a moment before pushing Amias away and marching up to him.

  Owen faltered as the Wielder shadowed over him. He looked—and even smelled—familiar, but Owen could not place him in his mind.

  “There’s something off about you,” the man said.

  Fear stirred in Owen’s chest. He was not ready to give in to this man so easily, but part of him wanted to do whatever he commanded.

  Elian looked down at the pouch on his belt and removed a glowing Core.

  The blue light that escaped the deep lines in the sphere was so bright it lit the air between them.

  “By the gods!” the man said, a laugh in his voice. “Amias, you’ve been holding out on us.”

  Owen flinched at the sight of the Core, but found himself unable to move. The strange, spherical object glowing before him seemed to hum, as if it was speaking to him. His body trembled violently, as if he were shivering from a bitter cold, as the memory of the Wielder he saw as a boy flooded his mind.

  The one thing he’d spent his life outrunning was now before him. If this man took him into Alacor, he’d force him into a Cleansing. Or he may not grant him even that.

  What can it do to me?

  “You ride with me,” the Wielder said, grabbing Owen by the arm.

  He winced from the stitched wound in his shoulder. Things were happening so fast. He saw the look of dread on Colt’s face, and the color drained from Amias’s. He observed the area around them. Down the way, the cliff was too high to jump from, and the path was too wide open.

  Owen willed the warmth to flow through his veins. Though his fear was strong, he managed to summon his power enough to channel through his palms. Ripples of energy blasted from his hands, slamming the man into the dirt. Elian stared, wide-eyed, but Owen turned his attention to the woman, who threatened Colt with a long knife.

  He let the power flow from his hands. Colt moved out of the way just as Rhielle staggered to the ground with a thud. With each step forward he took, he channeled more power to her, making her roll farther and farther away, until his veins felt so hot he thought they might burn.

  The scene was almost humorous amid the chaos. The horses took off while all of them stood scattered and wide-eyed.

  Another force suddenly gripped Owen, holding him still. He looked over at the Wielder, who stood several feet away, his Core held out.

  “I can play this game as well,” Elian said.

  Owen withstood the surge of power. He noticed his companions had been forced to their knees, held in place by the sphere’s power. He fought against the control and managed to grab his dagger from its sheath.

  “You’re surprisingly resistant,” the Wielder said.

  Owen pointed the blade at him. The steel lit up yellow. Energy flooded through him, as if tickling his insides. It almost made him laugh as he channeled his power through the dagger. Like a magnet, the Core flew from the Wielder’s hand and struck the tip of the blade, which rammed through one of the lines. The Core instantly lost its glow, just like the Cores in the Outriders had.

  A strange feeling came over Owen as he held the brass sphere on the end of his blade. The Wielder�
��s face lit with shock. Owen tried to shake the object off.

  The Wielder came at him with a loud growl just as the Core fell to the dirt. Owen held up his weapon, but the Wielder was faster and backhanded him across the face.

  Elian kicked the backs of Owen’s legs, knocking him to the ground, and pulled out a small dagger. He crouched over him, placing the blade against his neck. “You. You’re the one who destroyed the Core in the Outrider. Who are you? How did you do that?”

  Owen swallowed, feeling the sharpness of the blade against him.

  “He’s not your problem, Elian,” Amias said.

  Beside them, Amias held out a new-looking Core in his hand. It was also brass-colored, with a low hum radiating, but there were no glowing lines etched into this model.

  Owen was briefly confused. Then he let out a breath, shaking his head as it dawned on him that if Amias held a Core, then he must be its Wielder. After all the lies the man had told him, it was believable, though shocking.

  Of course, Owen thought. He became one of them to protect me.

  A cry filled the air. Owen glanced from Amias to Rhielle, who fell to her knees.

  Elian stiffened, as if Amias’s Core had gripped him, and Owen scrambled away.

  Out of the corner of Owen’s eye, a shadow darted within the rocks. He heard the sound of an arrow flying fast. He looked back at Amias in horror, noticing the arrow wedged in his right shoulder.

  Amias fell to his knees, the Core dropping from his hand.

  Rhielle dived for it, but Colt pushed her back to the ground.

  “Get off!” she yelled at him, brandishing a dagger from her belt. She made a swipe at Colt, and the blade caught on his leg.

  Colt faltered with a painful growl, managing to grab the Core, but Rhielle jumped on his back and locked her arm around his neck.

  The world seemed to slow down. First came the panic rising in Owen’s veins, then his frozen state of shock. He blinked his eyes over and over in the waning light, hoping to see anything other than an arrow piercing through Amias’s shoulder.

  Elian grabbed Owen by his collar, his hands rough. Owen punched him, trying to gain the adrenaline to channel again, but the power would not flow through his veins like before. It was as if he’d used the bulk of its charge.

  “You’re coming with me,” Elian said, seething, and kicked Owen in the groin.

  Owen grunted and doubled over in pain.

  “Leave him alone,” Amias said, getting slowly to his feet.

  Another arrow whizzed through the air, striking Amias down again, this time through his other shoulder.

  Owen let down his guard as he looked from Amias to Colt, who was still engaging Rhielle in what seemed to be a whirlwind of wrestling. She had managed to get him to the ground, but Colt was relentless and elbowed her several times. Still, she did not let up.

  Two more arrows shot from out of the fading light of the sky, and Owen finally managed to follow their trail. A man perched on some rocks in the distance, carefully calculating his strike.

  He fired one more arrow their way, and Rhielle yelped, falling to the ground. The arrow had grazed her leg.

  She whirled around on the ground and shouted, “Who are you shooting at, you idiot?”

  Elian made a mad dash for the Core, but Colt got to it first.

  The two of them froze. Elian straightened slowly, and Colt held the Core out threateningly.

  “You don’t know how to use that thing,” Elian said. He walked toward Colt, then stopped when spirals of electricity emerged from the sphere.

  Owen clutched his stomach, standing slowly, watching as Colt made his way around to him.

  “Go, Colt!” Amias demanded, his eyes serious as he panted on his knees.

  “You’re coming with us,” Owen said.

  “Run!”

  Bolting forward, Colt grabbed Owen’s hand and pulled him along in a sprint.

  Pain tore throughout Owen’s body, but his feet pressed forward, toward the gorge. He pushed himself to keep up with Colt, tripping along the way.

  Arrows whizzed past them, shooting at their trail. One flew near his face, and he whirled around, stumbling.

  “Owen!” Colt faltered, steadying him before pulling him along once more.

  Nothing but rocky land and cliffs lay ahead of them. And not far away, the waterfall.

  Muscles burning, Owen ran as hard as he could, willing his heart to stay strong. The stretch to the gorge dragged as his blood pumped furiously.

  His side aching, Owen chanced a glance behind him. To his horror, Elian had mounted his horse and was riding toward him. Owen tripped over his feet, losing Colt’s hand.

  Colt held out the Core, trying to channel its power at Elian, but nothing happened.

  “Colt, do something!” Owen yelled, ready to run again.

  “I’m trying! You’re the one with the damn power!”

  “I can’t think!”

  When Elian neared them, the sparks of electricity curled around the Core like before, and a flash of light crackled between them and Elian.

  Colt cried out, dropping the Core as if it had zapped him, and Elian pulled on the reins, momentarily stunned.

  They ran again, desperate to outrun the Wielder. They had no chance against him or the others. When they came to the gorge, Colt jumped across the ravine, barely making it to the other side. Owen stopped suddenly, knocking loose stones off the cliff. The drop was too high to survive a fall.

  “Jump!” Colt yelled.

  Owen opened his mouth, shaking his head. He looked back at the Wielder drawing closer with every beat of his heart.

  “You have to jump, Owen! I’ll catch you!”

  With no time to spare, Owen backed up enough to run once more. With the Wielder a few yards away, he bolted forward, pushed himself from the edge and jumped.

  His foot hit the rocky ledge on the other side, and he lost his balance. Colt grabbed him just in time and pulled him up. Owen huffed into the air, his whole body shaking. When he looked back, he saw the Wielder pull on his horse’s reins, stopping before they tumbled over the side. The animal reared back, whinnying.

  The man glared at Owen a moment, then looked up and down the cliff’s edge.

  Owen and Colt did not give him time to figure out how to cross. They ran hard across the uneven ground until they came to a path that finally led from the rocky slope to safer land below. Then they ran for the trees, not stopping until they were completely out of sight of the cliffs and gorge, and out of sight of their enemies.

  Chapter 17

  When they finally came to a stop, it was completely dark. The trees provided them with cover from their enemies and the clouds passing across the moon helped conceal them. Owen leaned against a tree, panting so hard his chest hurt.

  After catching his breath, he ran his trembling hands through his hair. His mind was a jumble of thoughts as he replayed the scene in his head; Amias struck with arrows, on his knees, holding a Core in his hand.

  His breath came out in short huffs as he shook his head. He muttered to himself, stumbling over silent apologies to Amias that were long past due.

  “Owen, calm down,” Colt huffed.

  “Don’t tell me that,” Owen lashed out. “You left him!”

  “He told me to.”

  “But we could have done something!”

  “Are you out of your fucking mind? There’s nothing we could have done.”

  “You could have done something to save him. I could have!” Owen’s heart pounded in his head.

  “He told me earlier he was planning on splitting up from us to divert them. He told me to leave him behind if anything happened before then. I did what he asked me to.”

  “You didn’t have to listen to him!” Owen pushed him, but Colt caught his arms and held him still. When Owen fought against him, his companion pulled him into an embrace.

  “Dammit, Owen, I didn’t want to leave him either,” Colt said. “There was nothing we could do.”r />
  Owen stilled his fight and held his companion, fists clenched against Colt’s coat as warmth flowed between them. The gesture calmed him. Colt’s energy flowed to him with a sense of profound sadness.

  When he pulled away, Owen staggered back, his mind wavering. “He’s dead now.”

  “You don’t know that. Here, drink something,” Colt said, and handed him his waterskin.

  With shaking hands, Owen took it and gulped down the water until it spilled from the sides of his mouth. He swallowed hard and took a few breaths before handing the waterskin to Colt, who drank thirstily.

  “What do we do now?” Owen asked.

  “Continue on to Edgewater.” Colt winced as he shifted from leg to leg.

  “What’s wrong? Did you get hurt again?”

  “That woman cut me, but it’s not that bad. Come on. We need to keep going.”

  Taking in a deep, shaky breath, Owen straightened his back and followed Colt through the trees. He opened his mind long enough to sense their surroundings for anything odd nearby, then closed it for fear of shadows and whispers.

  Owen bumped into Colt from behind several times, shivering against the cold of the autumn air. Every sound and scuffle made him look all around, afraid the Wielder was there.

  The hours whirred by like a dream. He walked in a daze, thinking of all the things Amias had told him before the attack. Amias seemed to believe he was Starborn, but Owen could not take the assumption seriously. He hoped the whole thing was another of Amias’s fabrications. Bringing up his father did not help the situation. Rather than indulge in such fantasies, Owen pushed all thoughts of his father and being Starborn to the back of his mind.

  When they finally came to a stop, Owen looked up, his blurry eyes scanning the horizon. Hills rose and fell in the early twilight, and before them was a road. A signpost, labeled The Roadside, pointed left.