by D E Boske
“Oh, it’s you,” she greeted with a smile. “Darian’s not here right now,” she explained.
“I know. He’s asked me to watch over you until he returns. Where has he gone, then?” asked the visitor, striding into the room.
“I don’t know. He was gone when I woke up this morning,” she said. “Would you care for a drink or something?” she offered.
“That would be lovely, thank you,” said her guest.
She returned a few moments later with tea for two and set the tray on the table. When she turned to offer a cup to her guard, an evil smile greeted her as a knife slid home in her abdomen. Her attacker savagely turned the blade, ripping her open. Blood sprayed the walls and the teacup slipped from her hands to crash on the floor. The spilled tea mingled with her own dark blood, creating a grisly portrait. She collapsed on the floor, her lifeblood pooling around her as she grew cold. She was so shocked, she couldn’t speak. She just lay there trembling.
“You didn’t think we’d allow him any happiness, did you? A child, really? Don’t you think you’re moving too fast? No. There will be no future for you or for him. Everything will be ripped away! He will get his just desserts. Tynuviel was just the beginning of his torture.”
“He t-t-trusted y-y-you. H-h-how c-c-could y-you d-d-do this?” she stuttered, as blood spurted from her lips and ran down her chin.
“I hate him! I always have. I’ve been waiting for the perfect time to strike. He left you alone, no doubt thinking the wards would keep you safe. All they’ve done is mask your death,” her guard laughed evilly, watching the last flicker of life die in her eyes then slipped out quietly.
Darian ran to Galavad’s chamber and the guards let him in right away. He ran to the bed where the queen lay, holding her son, Taryn. Upon hearing Darian’s voice, the queen looked up, desperation in her eyes.
“Darian! Thank Shenna you’re here!” exclaimed Tiriel.
“Tiriel, what’s wrong? What happened?” the Mage asked, concerned.
“I don’t know. He just stopped breathing and I… I don’t know what to do! Please help
him, Darian,” cried the queen.
Darian moved to the bed and immediately cast out his magic, feeling for the babe’s life
force. He could feel it, but it was weak. He must move fast. His hands hovered over the boy’s body as he concentrated. He grasped the Orb of Healing and began to sing to it as it came to life in his hands.
He threw himself into his task and soon discovered that Taryn’s ribcage was cracked, piercing his tiny lungs. How the hell did this happen? That was a question for later. For now, he concentrated on healing the babe. He wouldn’t let anything happen to him.
After thirty minutes, he repaired Taryn’s lungs and was now working on the baby’s ribcage. His touch was gentle and he took his time. The baby’s breathing was beginning to return to normal as the Mage healed the elfling. About twenty minutes later, Taryn opened his eyes and cooed, grasping Darian’s finger tightly in his little fist.
The Mage picked up the boy and held him, placing the boy’s head on his shoulder. “Tiriel, his ribcage was cracked, which pierced his lungs. How did this happen?” asked the Mage. He knew Tiriel would never hurt her child.
“What? Darian, how is that possible?” the queen was visibly upset, the horror she felt was reflected in her eyes.
“Did anyone watch over them for you so you could rest?”
“Just Valdeira, Darian and she’s been with me for a long time.”
“Call her in here, please. I want to talk to her,” said the Mage.
Valdeira walked in and when she saw Darian, she froze for a minute. “How may I serve?” she asked, looking only at Tiriel.
“Valdeira, while you were watching the babes, were they ever out of your sight? No amount of time is to be considered insignificant,” Darian advised.
“What’s happened? Why are you asking me this?” she was clearly upset.
“Answer the question, Valdeira,” the Mage commanded.
“Only for less than two minutes. There was a knock on the door and when I went to answer it, there was no one there. Both children were sleeping, so I didn’t think to wake them and take them with me. Have I done something wrong?” she asked, scared.
“No, Valdeira. You’ve done nothing wrong,” responded Darian.
“Are they alright? Has something happened?” she asked, concerned.
“That will be all, Valdeira,” Darian dismissed her without even looking to Tiriel.
“What does this mean, Darian?” asked the queen once her handmaiden was gone.
“Someone did this deliberately… Aslyn!” he said, taking his leave and running back to his
chamber.
Kelindril followed Nymdal into the forest where Nymdal showed Kelindril his grisly
discovery. A company of elven guards lay sprawled on the ground, their bodies twisted in death. Blood soaked the earth. Shenna was long gone. These were precision kills. Quick, deadly, efficient, and silent.
Kelindril bent to inspect each body, looking for the killing strike. They strongly resembled Gor Li’ Khan kills, definitely carried out with an elvish blade. Only an elvish blade could cut through armor and skin, so cleanly.
“Where is Jevlin?” asked Kelindril, looking at each of them in turn.
“Haven’t seen him, Kel,” said Nymdal, a knot of fear in the pit of his stomach. Could Jevlin be capable of such an offense? Would he go against Darian? He was the only Gor Li’ Khan not accounted for. All the others had been with him and Kelindril.
Each kill was precise and identical. The killer knew exactly where to strike. Could there be more than one? This must be the traitor that Darian had spoken of. Darian!
“Get back to Darian, now!” the Gor Li’ Khan leader commanded. He took off running without bothering to see if they followed. The looks of shock on their faces at the discovery was alarming.
When Darian opened the door to his room, he fell back in shock, landing hard on the walkway. Aslyn lay in a pool of her own blood. The blood mixing with the spilled tea, staining the rug a hideous and sickening color. Blood was everywhere. A bloody handprint marked the table and blood dripped off the edge to splash onto the floor, making a revolting sound. On the wall was a message written in her blood. It said:
Bar the gates and bind the memory
The Mage shall pay for his treachery
All hail the One in darkness rises
‘Til blood is spilled and night arises
Isolate him, rip him asunder
Make him believe there is no wonder
What ‘ere he touches, soon will perish
We take from him what he doth cherish
It looked as if she’d had company. The tea tray was a service for two. Rage boiled through him unchecked. His consort and his child were gone. Once more, the happiness that he’d felt had been fleeting. He was unable to move, he sat frozen in shock.
Kelindril and Nymdal came running up and knew it couldn’t be good when they saw the Mage slumped against the rail of the walkway. Kelindril did not hesitate, he ran into the room and found Aslyn’s crumpled and torn form. He saw the macabre message scrawled on the wall and berated himself for not ensuring at least one Gor Li’ Khan remained with her.
“Darian, I’m sorry. I have failed you. We should have been here with her.”
“Where were you?” he asked, angrily.
“Nymdal found a company of slaughtered elven guards in the forest. We went to check it out. The only Gor Li’ Khan unaccounted for is Jevlin,” explained Kel.
“Find him and bring him to me,” Darian commanded. He called Sigorna and did not have long to wait.
When the demon materialized, he knew instantly that something was amiss. He could feel it in the air. He could actually taste the evil. The scent of blood was strong. Darian was slumped against the platform railing, his eyes dead and empty.
“Darian, what happened?” asked the Falahari. He turned and mom
entarily froze at the sight of the beautiful elf ripped open on the floor. “Shit, Mage,” said the demon. “Who could have done this?” he asked.
“I don’t know. That’s why you’re here. We will hunt, together,” said Darian, his voice dark and cold.
Sigorna held out his hand for Darian and helped him up. Asa and Kiel came running up seconds later. No doubt alerted that something had happened.
“Kiel, don’t… don’t go in there,” Darian managed.
“Darian, what’s happened? Where is Aslyn?” asked Kiel, a cold dread gripping him.
“I… I’m sorry…” Darian said quietly.
Asa stepped around the Mage and the demon and walked into the horror. He needed to be impartial so he could glean as much information from the scene as possible. He touched nothing, but he bent to the ground many times, studying everything.
“Darian, have you used magic to try to discern what happened here?” asked Asa, returning to his friend’s side.
Kiel tried to get past Asa, but the elf prince stopped him. “No, Kiel. You are not to enter. I am so sorry,” he said, as he placed a hand on the Elflord’s left arm, but Kiel pushed past him and into the room.
“No!” shouted Kiel, as tears slipped down his cheeks. “Why? Why would someone do this?”
he asked.
“There is a traitor among us. They betray every detail to the Dark Mage. I am no longer safe here. I’m no longer safe anywhere,” said the Mage quietly.
Darian was visibly angry, angrier than Asa had ever seen him. He was worried that the Dark Magic would overcome him and he could not allow that to happen. He must make sure Darian remained close.
“That’s not all. Asa, I’m sorry.” The Captain of the Guard’s blood ran cold at his words and his mind went immediately to Tynuviel. “Nym found a company of elven guards slaughtered in the forest. He will take you to them,” the Mage explained.
“What? Kyler…”
“Is not among them,” explained Nymdal. “Follow me,” said Nym and did not wait for a reply.
“Kiel, I am deeply sorry for your loss,” said Darian quietly. “This should not have been allowed to happen. I…” The Mage trailed off, not sure of what else he could say to ease the Elflord’s pain. It was bad enough to lose his sister, but knowing the extent of the damage done…
“It’s your loss too, Darian,” he said. “Who could have done this?” he asked.
“I don’t know. There is no sign of a struggle, which makes me think she knew her attacker.”
“Are you saying you think the traitor is an elf?”
“Yes, at least one of them is. For I do not think one elf could accomplish all this. Nay, I think one was with her and the other was in the forest with the elven guard. I cannot rule out the Mages either. There has to be at least one of them involved, since a Mage of The Order is the only one that can summon a Falahari demon. Whether that Mage is here in Kiri A’ Nouell or is in Piri-Tuma, I am not sure. I am no longer sure of anything.”
Sigorna examined the room, making sure he didn’t overlook any detail, no matter how minute it may seem. He watched Darian closely because he wasn’t certain how stable he was. He’d suffered too much pain recently and the Dark Magic that was consuming him was doing so at an alarming rate. He needed to make sure the Mage remained sane so that he could…
“Falahari, we hunt,” said Darian. The demon grinned wickedly and licked his lips, tasting the air and sniffing. Unfortunately, there was no scent here but Darian and Aslyn. Whoever had done this, covered up their tracks with magic. He could feel faint traces, but wasn’t sure if it was Darian’s or the traitor’s.
“Darian, I sense magic here. Is it yours?” asked the demon.
Darian stepped back into his room and reached out with his birthright. His brow creased as he concentrated. Sigorna saw when Darian found what he’d been seeking. His face changed. His lips parted, as he called the magic to him. He smelled it, tasted it and smiled, but the smile was not one of pleasure or warmth. It promised pain to the owner of the magic, for Sigorna could tell by Darian’s demeanor that it was not his. The Mage would’ve known immediately upon
touching it. The fact that he had to envelop himself in it told the demon that it wasn’t his.
“It seems familiar to me somehow,” Darian confessed. “I know the one who did this, but I do not know their identity. I will know should they cast around me. I will not forget the taste of his magic.” Darian clenched his fists so tightly as he tried to reign in his temper. He wanted to rip the offender’s entrails from his body and hang him with them. He will pay for this. When I find him, I will kill him painfully. And slowly. Thought Darian.
“Falahari,” called Asa. The demon turned, hiding his surprise that the elf spoke directly to him.
“Yes?” he rasped.
“Do not let him out of your sight. I must alert the Monarch. I cannot accompany you. Please, look after him,” pleaded Asa, the worry evident in his eyes.
“He will not leave my side, Asa. I will protect him, do not worry,” said the demon.
They hunted long into the night but were unable to find any traces of the magic used in Darian’s chamber. Sigorna watched the Mage closely to see if he had a chance to escape his grip, but the young Mage’s magic was as strong as ever.
Once during the night, they came upon a darkness coalescing in the forest, near where the slaughtered elven guards lay. Without even being conscious he was doing so, Darian reached out with his hands and called the darkness to him.
The demon watched in open horror as the darkness swirled around the young Mage. It curled around him like a lover and Darian welcomed its embrace. The Mage was fully aroused and it was a frightening sight. His eyes were their usual silvery grey, but his manner was not his own. This made Sigorna leery of Darian because he wasn’t sure if he could tell anymore when the Dark Magic overcame him.
The night was deep and dark when they returned. The Mage released the demon, wanting to be alone. He drank several glasses of Cryvellan Brandy before stumbling into his bedroom where he collapsed in his bed and fell into darkness.
19
In the early morning hours, Darian awoke to insistent knocking on his door. He opened his eyes slowly, looking for Aslyn and then memories flooded him. Kelindril stood watch over him on the right and Nymdal was on the left.
Melanor strode in with Jevlin in tow. “I found Jevlin, Darian,” announced Melanor.
The Mage jumped out of bed and did not bother to dress first. He wrapped his left hand around the elf’s neck and squeezed.
“Where were you yesterday? Why were you not to be found?” Darian asked venomously.
“I was tracking someone in the forest. Somehow, the assailant knew I was there. Before I even knew what was happening, they struck me on the back of the head and knocked me out. I was bound to a tree and I was only able to get free this morning. I came running right away. What have they done?” he rasped, genuinely scared. Darian noted the elf’s battered appearance, but did not let it influence him.
Jevlin could tell something horrible had happened. Darian’s demeanor told him as much. He’d never seen the Mage so angry and upset. He was worried Darian would blame him for this because he’d done nothing wrong. Except for his inability to complete his task. How had his attacker known he was there? He must be Gor Li’ Khan! That was the only explanation. How could he get Darian to believe him? The looks the others gave him were mistrustful. But the real traitor would do nothing less. They’d insinuate themselves into their lives so completely that no one would ever think to question their loyalty.
“Jevlin, I must look inside of you. It’s the only way I can be sure you are innocent.” Darian did not wait for the elf to acquiesce to his request.
Before he could even ready himself, the Mage’s magic rolled over him and he twitched and screamed in agony, as the magic knifed into his brain. He could feel Darian rooting around in his head and it hurt more than he would have believed possible. He c
ould not hide from the Mage nor did he try to. It would have proven pointless to do so. Darian was too strong. And angry as he was? Jevlin wondered at his power.
Jevlin slumped to the ground when the Mage finished. Darian spun on Kelindril and Nymdal next. “All of you will submit to me! Gather the rest. Now!” commanded the Mage.
Kelindril did not argue. Darian was angry, possibly angrier than he’d ever seen him and
he had good reason. He returned in less than ten minutes with the rest of the Gor Li’ Khan in tow. In their absence, the Mage had pulled on a pair of soft pants, which was a good thing. He may not feel uncomfortable with his nakedness, but that did not mean the elves wanted to be up close and personal with his…
Darian began with Kelindril and Nymdal as they had been his primary guards. If he couldn’t trust them… He did not want to believe they had anything to do with this. Because The Order raised him, he trusted no one. Not totally and completely. If Kelindril or Nymdal had managed to deceive him, they would do well to ask Shenna for a quick death, for Darian would not grant such a request. They would suffer, the Mage would see to it.
None of them saw the relief Darian felt at finding that neither Kel nor Nym were behind this. He ripped through the rest one at a time and with brutal efficiency. Each one screamed in agony, though they all tried not to. Satisfied, he returned to his bed, simply worn out from all the magic use.
He awoke later and he could see by the sun’s position that it was late morning. He was starving. He also noticed that Kel had increased the guards. He had all of them in his chamber and four in his bedchamber. He frowned, but knew it was necessary. Especially after the events of yesterday. Pounding on his door brought his attention back to the present.
Jevlin came to tell him the Monarch’s guards were outside to escort him to Galavad. Darian sighed, knowing it was inevitable. He shrugged, they’d have to wait, he needed to bathe. He still smelled of death and blood. He remembered hunting with Sigorna and finding the site of the slaughtered elven guards. The evil was strong in that place. He did not remember anything else. He knew, or rather felt, that he’d gotten in very late. He did not remember crawling into bed though and this distressed him.