Shattering Dreams

by Catherine M Walker

  “They also make the best trail food. Wait until you eat the pies. Beef and wild mushroom today, Evan told me.” Kyle licked his lips in anticipation, making Elizabeth laugh.

  All of them thanked the servants, who had handed them napkins holding the still-warm pies. Alex placed his mug on the trunk next to him and bit into the pie, savouring the taste. The crisp flaky pastry and pie filling was just as good as he remembered; nice chunks of slow cooked beef, a selection of wild mushrooms and gravy. Alex couldn’t help but notice that Alison was about to reject the offering and sighed. She was such hard work.

  Jess, noticing, shook her head. “You should try them, Alison. Megan, the cook, is the daughter of the chef that works in the King’s kitchen. She often gets called in to assist at the palace when some bigger functions are being held. Her food is divine.”

  Kyle shrugged and ignored Alison as she nibbled on the edge of the pie. He remembered the warning they’d received in town and gained Marcus’ attention, indicating to him that he needed to have a word.

  “Evan warned us before we left the tavern. One local succumbed to the madness and slaughtered his whole family the other night.” Kyle continued to speak, his voice low. “He said there have been rumours of attacks in the area by groups of Sundered.”

  Marcus straightened and glanced around the clearing. “We shouldn’t linger here too long then, My Lord. The King’s party should also be warned, although given how many are in it I think it’s unlikely that the Sundered will go anywhere near them.”

  Alex finished his pie and, licking his fingers, to all the world seeming unconcerned, glanced around the clearing. Kyle wasn’t fooled. He perceived the surge as Alex drew in more of the power of the veil and searched; he and Jess were doing the same. The problem was, even if the Sundered were nearby it was unlikely that they would detect them until it was too late. Just as they could all mask themselves from detection if they willed it so, he knew the Sundered could do the same.

  Marcus excused himself and went around alerting his own men and calling them in. Those not on guard duty packed up the few supplies that had been unpacked for the rest break. The servants finished cleaning up and Alex threw back the rest of his ale and handed the mug to one of them, murmuring his thanks as they collected it from him.

  Elizabeth looked at them, wide-eyed, and glanced around the clearing as if expecting one of the Sundered to jump out at them. “Surely the Sundered is gone by now. He wouldn’t still be in the area.”

  Alex was about to reply when he felt a surge nearby and spun his sword out before he even realised that he’d reached for it. He yelled, “Alison, run, now!”

  Alex didn’t wait for her to comply; he took the three steps to her and, grabbing her arm, flung the girl toward the guards. He spun, his sword rising in a defensive parry and caught the blade that had been sweeping to take off Alison’s head. Alex sensed multiple surges and the movement around him; he knew that the guards were reacting and that both Kyle and Jessalan were near him with their own blades drawn, locked in their own battles. He took a breath and drew in more of the veil and pushed with it, catching the shimmering figure of the Sundered, once a man, now consumed by madness. Alex had a moment to be horrified that there was more than one of them before he was too busy fighting to be worried.

  Even though the Sundered were stronger and more able to use the veil to their advantage, they hadn’t spent their entire lives swinging a blade or fighting alongside weapons masters. Alex felt himself struck by a solid ball of power and grunted in pain. His eyes widened as he realised they were using the veil as a weapon; until that moment, he hadn’t even thought of that application. Alex answered the feral grin of the Sundered that he faced off against with one of his own and, gathering the power, willing it into a hard ball, he hammered his opponent back with it.

  His opponent staggered. Throwing his head back, he screamed—it was primal and angry. Alex was shocked; the scream was mental as well as verbal. Rage and pain beat against him. He shook his head. Putting up a mental barrier between him and the Sundered, Alex lunged again, thrusting his blade through the abdomen of the Sundered. He brought his second, smaller knife up, stabbing him up under the armpit. Alex shoved him away, pulling his blade free as the Sundered slumped to the ground. He felt the Sundered’s attempts to use the power to heal himself. He could see the blood being held and the skin mending—the amount of power the Sundered was using was astounding. Alex’s eyes widened in shock, realising that a strong Sundered could heal what should be a mortal wound. He plunged his dagger into the creature’s heart.

  Alex shook his head, his breathing ragged. He came back to himself and out of the veil-induced battle rage. He noted that Jess and Kyle had dispatched their own opponents.

  Stab them in the hearts, they heal otherwise. Alex warned his friends before he spun around. His eyes tracked back and caught sight of Amelia and Elizabeth, blades drawn, standing in front of Alison, who was crumpled on the ground, sobbing, with Bennett, blade drawn, fighting on the other side. His eyes widened as he saw she was defending herself against one of the Sundered and he ran to her aid.

  Alex screamed, his own fury boiling to the surface to see her being attacked. Two of the elite lay unmoving and bloodied on the ground. A third was pressing a cloth he was certain had been ripped from Amelia’s own undershirt to a wound on his chest, showing he was in trouble but still alive. All of this Alex noted as he struck the Sundered who was about to attack Amelia and Elizabeth from behind. Kyle did the same, with Jess just a moment behind. The Sundered didn’t stand a chance and, stumbling, fell to the ground, dead.

  Once more, the world slowed down around him. Alex saw a few more of the guards and one servant were down or injured. Seeing that the clearing was free of attackers, he took a moment and, ignoring the blood, gathered Amelia to him, hugging her.

  “You fought well. I would lose my mind if anything happened to you.” Alex’s voice was soft and only intended for her ears.

  Amelia smiled up at Alex. “That was my first real fight.” She made no move to pull herself from his embrace, content for a moment to rest her head on his shoulder. She was relieved that it was over although astonished that everything had seemed to happen so quickly. She was exhausted beyond what she thought she should have been for such a short fight.

  Alex drew his wandering attention back and noted that Marcus was rounding up the rest of his men and they were applying hasty field dressings to those who needed them. He ordered everyone back on their horses.

  “I’m sorry, My Lord, we must leave dead for the animals, it’s not safe. We need to get moving and get to the King’s camp.” Marcus looked down at the wailing Alison, not knowing quite what to do with her.

  Jess turned and grabbed her sister’s shoulders, shaking her. “Alison, snap out of it. We need to get out of here. Move!” Jess hauled her sister to her feet and herded her over to her horse, showing her no compassion at all. She knew they didn’t have time.

  The wounded were strapped to their horses with a lead rope tethering them to another guardsman’s horse. With a final look around the clearing, they rode from camp without another backwards glance. Unlike the morning’s ride, they rode hard, making no concessions for those unfamiliar with hard travel or the injured.

  For the first time that day, there wasn’t a single complaint from Alison. She clung onto her horse and the only thing they heard from her was the occasional sob.

  19

  Protection and Recovery

  Alex kept their party going at a steady ground-devouring trot, with only a few short rest breaks to check on the injured and rest the horses. Alex kept a strong hold on the power of the veil, channelling more of it than he ever had, pulling it to him from every available source within his grasp. He pushed it out from himself, trying to obscure their path from anyone who might try to observe them, creating a shield around them at the same time. He didn’t know how successful he was; it was something he’d only practised with Jess and Kyle fo
r short periods of time. Alex knew, could feel, that both Kyle and Jess also drew power, although he couldn’t spare the attention or strength to work out what they were doing. At a guess, he thought they probably quested ahead of their progress, checking for danger and turning small groups and individuals to another path. They’d discussed contingency plans before, even though they had never believed they would need them.

  Despite the pace they set, it was dusk as they caught sight of the King’s camp, with little light left. Still, Alex continued his efforts, not wanting to drop any protection he could offer too soon. The burden he would carry if they were attacked this close to camp and lost a life was not something he cared to contemplate. Alex gritted his teeth and drew in yet more power. He couldn’t stop the groan that escaped his mouth as pain shot through his head, a sure sign he’d channelled too much of the veil already.

  “Your Highness?” Marcus was riding close enough to hear the groan.

  “I’ll be fine, Marcus. I won’t be worth much when we get to camp. Try to get me to my tent before I collapse. Brief the King.” Alex didn’t recognise his own voice. His tone was low and rough, the fatigue obvious.

  Alex saw Marcus nod, then pass rapid hand signals to his men. He knew Marcus was far more aware of what was going on than anyone at court, outside of his family or Jess and Kyle; he had seen a lot and Alex suspected he’d also been briefed by William, if not his father himself. On this occasion, at least, Alex was glad that Marcus had pulled him out of trouble often enough and seen his near insensible charge to his rooms so many times he knew enough not to question.

  Alex nearly cried with relief when he heard Marcus’ voice, loud enough that he could hear, but he doubted others would.

  “Whatever you are doing, Your Highness, you can stop. We don’t want the archers to be startled and turn us into pincushions. Leave the rest to us.”

  Alex nodded and withdrew his compulsion and shield. It should, if he had managed it well enough, look like they had appeared out of the darkness, rather than just all at once. He heard his own trumpet blare a warning signal, and knew it was telling the camp they were approaching, that they were in trouble and the camp’s guard should stand alert. Alex let go of the veil. As he let go of the power, he felt his head pounding and fatigue hit him like a hammer. In a litany running through his brain, he kept telling himself to stay conscious and on his horse.

  Alex was aware, beyond the pain and the crushing fatigue, of the yelling, the movement of men and scrape of swords being pulled from scabbards, then the camp blurred as they passed. He vaguely knew that hands were supporting him, pulling him from his saddle. Voices he recognised as belonging to Marcus and James reassured him they were safe. The last thing he remembered was being carried before he lost his battle and sunk into unconsciousness.

  Alex struggled to regain consciousness, aware enough to hear fragments of conversation, ‘over extended’ being the most common, only to be compelled back to sleep, a soothing voice in his head reassuring him he and his companions were safe. As gentle as the mental touch was, he winced away from it, sinking into the black depths, unaware for a space of time.

  Alex became aware in stages and his fogged mind put together enough information to know he was rocking. A memory from his childhood told him he was in a carriage. Alex groaned as he noticed the pounding in his head, although it was not as bad as it had been. He felt hands support him and prop him up with extra pillows behind him so he was in a semi recline. He raised a hand and rubbed his temple before opening his eyes to see William on the bench next to him.

  “Sorry, little brother. Aaron tells me you need to wake; it’s not good for you to stay unconscious for so long.” William’s voice was soft and he looked concerned but not panicked.

  That observation made Alex smile. He wasn’t sure he’d ever seen William panicked. Alex knew he wasn’t all there, since the next thing that occurred to him was to be grateful that the light was filtered. He contemplated the information he wanted and decided what was most important to him right now.

  “How is everyone?” Alex relaxed back into the pillows and was surprised that he wished he was lying flat again.

  “Kyle and Jess are recovering, just as you are. We commandeered three carriages, so you’d each have your own. There are some very disgruntled lords and ladies, although their offspring are delighted. The healers assure me the guards who were injured will recover.” William sat, relaxed, although Alex knew he was being assessed.

  “How long?” Alex had a million things he wanted to ask but didn’t think he’d be awake long enough to ask them all.

  “You slept the night through and most of the day, some of it assisted and enforced by the healers. They said you overextended yourself. Alex, you know it isn’t good for you.” William wasn’t critical, only concerned.

  “I know, it was necessary. William, there were more Sundered than the ones we killed. I could sense them, I’ve never felt so many.” As the memory of the Sundered assaulted him, Alex shuddered. “William, what if I become like them?” Alex felt a tear slide down his cheek. It was a fear he’d had since he was a small boy that seemed an increasing possibility the older he got.

  William moved, sitting on the edge of his makeshift bed, gripping his shoulder. “Believe in yourself, Alex.” Despite his calm words, Alex could see William was concerned. He also knew the healers and his father must have been as well. It’s why William was here. Ever since he was a child, it was his big brother who had the uncanny ability to chase away the night demons from his dreams.

  Alex couldn’t help but chuckle. “You’ve always looked out for me, William; I know they are worried, otherwise you wouldn’t be here.”

  William smiled and nodded in acknowledgment. “Of course everyone is worried, Alex. You collapsed after being attacked by the Sundered. Trust me, the court remembers, so none of them are second-guessing why. They all think after what happened when you were a child it must have been traumatising and are praising your brave actions in defending everyone. Your guards and the servants have been spreading word about how the three of you defended all of them.”

  Alex closed his eyes again, contemplating that the court was happy with his actions, the first time in his life he remembered that being the case. His eyes widened and he tried to sit upright, only to be restrained by William. In his current condition, he did not have the strength to fight him.

  “Stop it, Alex; Amelia is fine if that has concerned you. She’s riding in the carriage with Father, surrounded by almost half the guard contingent. No one, not even a Sundered, is getting anywhere near her.” William kept pressure on his shoulders for a moment longer, then believing he wouldn’t struggle anymore, sat back. “Just relax, we’ll be in camp soon and we’ll get you into your tent. Then you can sleep, assisted by the healers if you can’t fall asleep yourself.”

  Alex knew that he was already drifting in and out of sleep, lulled by the rock of the carriage. He wasn’t sure how long they had been stationary, only that he knew they were. He sighed; the pounding of his head was almost a common feature, so it at least let him know it hadn’t been that long. William had been consulting with someone outside the door of the carriage, or rather, delivering firm orders to whoever was on the other side. Hearing the commands for people to move back, Alex gathered that William had been giving orders to the guards.

  “Joshua, we’ll get him out of the carriage now and into his tent and bed. I trust everything is made up ready.” The dim light of dusk flooded into the carriage and the rear was opened to allow easy access.

  Alex cleared his throat and spoke as William turned. “I can walk, there’s no need …” Alex stopped as William cut him off.

  “No, you won’t. You will stay in the stretcher, you will be carried into your accommodation and you will be settled in bed. Before you think you can try anything, by Father’s orders I’m staying with you tonight. It’s not that he doesn’t trust you, Alex. It’s just that he knows you.” William smiled, takin
g the sting off his comments. “We all know you well enough, little brother. Rest. You’ll feel better for it tomorrow.”

  Alex had a moment where he contemplated arguing but then sighed and settled back against his pillows once more. In his current state, he knew he wouldn’t win any argument he started. He wondered if he should be embarrassed to be carried into his tent on a stretcher but then decided that he was too fatigued, that it hurt too much to care.

  There was a little jostling as several of the servants manoeuvred his stretcher out of the rear of the carriage and Alex vaguely knew of the row of guards with courtiers being held back by their line. Then he was within the confines of his tent and the healer’s aids had him off the stretcher and settled in his bed. Even though he had done nothing to move himself, Alex was weary after the manoeuvring had been completed. He noticed that his brother hadn’t been joking—a second bed had been made up in the tent. Alex snorted, amused despite the circumstances. Just as well it wasn’t a traditional tent and was more like a small cabin, otherwise the second bed wouldn’t have fit in at all.

  Much to his irritation, Alex realised he must have drifted off again since the next thing he knew of was his brother talking with Aaron before they stopped, hearing his soft groan from the bed.

  “Aaron, isn’t there something you can give me to stop my head pounding?”

  Alex had pushed himself too far before but it had never been this bad. Aaron was at his bedside and placed his cool, competent hands on his temples.

  Relax Alex, let go of the veil, just let it wash through you.

  Aaron’s mind voice was cool, calm and familiar. Alex knew with those words the healer was compelling him to relax and using his own power to heal, but for once he didn’t object, since the pounding in his head receded. Despite everything he wanted to do and ask, Alex felt himself drifting off again, hastened by the healer’s firm compulsion for him to sleep.