by D E Boske
What am I thinking? What’s wrong with me? What is it about her that holds my attention? he thought, angry with himself for allowing these feelings to impair his judgement. He had a job to do; he must keep Darian safe and he couldn’t do that staring at Kylee’s ass. No matter how perfect it was.
Kelindril felt the pull on the Weave as the Mages cast their spells and almost stumbled. The power that ran unchecked in their tight grasp was terrifying in its strength and complexity. The Gor Li’ Khan leader did not want that power directed at him and shuddered involuntarily at the thought. Darian looked at him as if he could feel the elf’s discomfort, like he knew what the elf was feeling.
Darian’s gaze held the Gor Li’ Khan’s for long moments. Wait, how can he see me? He remembered in Ancient Mountain when they first met up with Kyler’s group. He’d been able to
see me then, too. More to the point, he’d sensed him. How was this possible?
Darian nodded at him and Kelindril shook his head, signaling that he’d found nothing. Kelindril was about to give up when a sudden feeling of crushing darkness nearly overwhelmed
him. He spun around, searching for the source, but could see nothing in the growing darkness. He saw a dark shape flit through the trees and went to investigate, but nothing was there. He
knew what he’d seen and he knew that something was indeed there. So where is it now?
With no warning, the shape came barreling into Kelindril, but the Gor Li’ Khan was not caught by surprise. His blades flew into his hands and to any that were lucky enough to see it, it looked as if they they’d just appeared there.
Kelindril blocked with his right while his left slashed up at an impossible angle, but all he hit was air. Had he been human, the force of the missed attempt would have knocked him off balance. The Gor Li’ Khan’s speed and agility kept him on his feet and in attack mode. Kelindril did not give the unseen force time to recover. He spun around, using his instinct to tell him where to attack next. He felt, rather than saw where the assailant was and was not disappointed when he felt the blow land on the back of his neck. But he was already moving, so it didn’t injure or impair him in any way.
The Gor Li’ Khan’s hands moved independently, attacking from each side, keeping the assailant at bay. There was absolutely no sound around them, almost as if the sound had been sucked out of the very air. Kelindril didn’t think it was the impending storm either. This being was magical in nature, it had to be.
As if the ethereal creature had heard him, the Wraith put its hands up, calling on its power and an invisible force reverberated out from the other worldly being and rocketed into Kelindril, knocking him back.
The form cackled, which sounded like dry leaves crumbling under heavy boots, and produced a long, ethereal sword. The Wraith attacked, coming at Kelindril with renewed fury. The elf ducked and rolled, coming up behind the creature. But the Wraith was unlike any other foe the Gor Li’ Khan had faced, it was cunning and extremely intelligent. It seemed to know exactly what the elf was going to do about the same time as Kelindril himself knew.
The Wraith spun and slashed, but the elf was too quick. The Wraith was blacker than deep night and hard to see in the darkness that had rolled in. Tattered black robes covered the spectral form and it smelled like death.
Kelindril knew his mortality was at risk and if he lost this fight, there would be no coming back and he had no intention of joining Shenna this day. Kelindril spun on his heel, looking for the spectre, but didn’t see it until it was too late. He barely got his sword up in time to block, but the Wraith was successful. Kelindril felt the ethereal blade slice his arm and felt the bone jarring cold of the dead creep up his limb. He could no longer control his muscles and he lost his grip on his blade. He froze in shock and fear as he felt his blade tumble from his grasp. He heard it hit the ground with a deafening thud. Everything slowed down and he felt himself falling. The cold was spreading throughout his body and he could no longer control his limbs. His head hit a fallen log with a sickening crack and he lay very still.
Kelindril waited for the killing blow. He never imagined he’d die like this. How ashamed
he felt at this moment. The Wraith laughed and struck, but the Gor Li’ Khan would not look away. If he was going to die, he would watch it. But the blow never came. Suddenly, a piercing shriek filled the air and simultaneously a booming crack broke the stillness.
Darian watched Kelindril disappear into the trees and wanted to warn him. He saw the inky black shadow flit through the trees but couldn’t break his chanting. To do so would have sent knives of power careening around the camp and that was something they could not risk. Darian wasn’t sure what it was, but he knew the Gor Li’ Khan would need help to defeat this foe even though Kelindril would likely balk at the appraisal.
The Mage could sense the cold malice of the shadow, but could not break away to assist. He cursed his inability to communicate with the Gor Li’ Khan as he did with the rest of the elves. The shape dissolved into mist and reappeared behind the elf. Darian held his breath, he knew Kelindril had killer instincts, but he’d probably never faced anything like this, Darian was sure. He saw Kelindril duck and roll, but the being was too fast and sharp. It brought an ethereal sword to bear and Darian cursed inwardly. A Wraith! What in the Black Hells is one doing here? He motioned to Thimkur to get his attention. He knew Thimkur could handle the distraction.
When Thimkur saw what Darian was looking at, he nearly lost his grip on the Weave. A Wraith! How was this possible? To his knowledge, they never ventured this far away from the Haunted Lands. Its dead eyes found the Mage’s and a surge of dread raced through Thimkur. A feeling, he was sure, that wasn’t his own. He wasn’t afraid, but he knew that the spectre could instill such a malady. He knew they could not rush the wards, doing so could leave them vulnerable or worse. Neither option appealed to Thimkur and he knew Darian would not be happy unless everything was as strong as it could be.
Thimkur could feel the young Mage’s strength and was once more amazed at his power and skill. He should still be a novice or journeyman at his age, not the Shangmarrum. Thimkur wasn’t angry or jealous at the turn of events. He didn’t relish power and he knew Darian despised it too. He also knew that the young Mage had dangerous ideas where The Order was concerned. He’d only been privy to a few and those had left him with night terrors to be sure.
Darian watched in horror as the Wraith struck Kelindril and witnessed his fall. The resounding crack of the elf’s skull as it met up with a fallen log made him almost wretch. He was worried about the elf who had become one of his closest friends. The Wraith was about to strike when they finally finished the wards. They closed around the camp and violently expelled the
Wraith, sending it back whence it came.
Darian ran to the fallen Kelindril and only then did the others seem to know that a battle
had been fought right in their midst. Nymdal nearly bowled over Darian to get to Kelindril and
the Mage snagged his arm and whipped him about.
“Where were you! How could you let this happen?” Darian did not bother speaking further, he had more important matters to attend to. He withdrew the Orb of Healing, stroking it lovingly as it came to life in his skilled hands. The once glowing white orb was now a swirling grey, but no less bright and beautiful. Darian did not stop to question what this could mean. He passed it over the elf’s body and it remained smoky grey. Of a sudden, the orb glowed a dark red, quickly turning black, as it passed over the wound made by the Wraith. Darian winced as he felt the elf’s soul fighting to remain in his body. The Wraith was attempting to turn Kelindril!
Not if I have anything to say about it! He renewed his efforts and plunged himself deep into the Gor Li’ Khan’s essence, searching for Kelindril’s lifeline. He needed to sever the connection between the Wraith and the elf before he could attempt to heal him. He raced along the link, following it right back to the Wraith. Darian began his spell immediately and he coun
ted his blessings that the spectre was still recovering from its rapid egress.
The Wraith spun and faced the Mage and hissed angrily, but of course there was nothing it could do. It was outside the wards and could not get to Darian. The young Mage smiled wickedly as he finished the spell and severed the connection between the Wraith and the Gor Li’ Khan. The surprise in the Wraith’s glinting red eyes was complete.
“How have you done this, Mage? You do not have the power!” It rasped.
“And yet, I have done so,” said Darian, not taking the time to consider how exactly he’d accomplished this and severed contact with the Wraith. Darian would not let it witness what was to come. He brought the Orb of Healing to bear and sang to it fervently. He felt Kelindril’s soul fast fading and gave himself over to the power that he’d built within the Orb.
The others gathered around, watching Darian intently as he attempted to pull Kelindril back from the Realm of Mist. They could see the internal struggle being fought between the elf and the Mage and Darian would not give up. It was obvious that Kelindril’s soul wanted to move on and the elves could feel Shenna’s pending arrival. Darian could sense her presence and with renewed fury, he delved deep into Kelindril, brushing aside the darkness growing within him. The Dark Magic surged to the surface and he could no longer fight it off. He let it overtake him, it was the only thing that could save the elf now.
What happened next stunned the others into abject silence. Shenna approached and the elves went to one knee, in reverence. She touched each one lovingly and even lay her hand on Darian’s shoulder. He did not acknowledge her, his full attention given over to Kelindril.
“Darian, let go of him, that he may return with me,” she said.
“No! I will not release him to your care,” he said darkly.
“His soul needs rest, Darian. If you care at all for him, let him go, that he may find peace,”
she said softly. She felt the young Mage’s pain and sympathized.
“I will not stop until I save him, Shenna! Now go!” he said, throwing his left hand out at her, expelling her from the camp.
The elves were mortified that he’d treated their goddess in such a contemptible fashion. They didn’t realize that a Mage had the power to expel a goddess? Kyler felt sick to his stomach and nearly retched. The look in Darian’s eyes was not his own and that’s when it became clear that the Dark Magic reigned supreme over his friend. They would no longer be able to tell when the Dark Magic was in control. His eyes remained silvery grey, but Kyler knew the Dark Magic commanded his friend. Darian would never have been able to do that otherwise. Right? How could he have such power over a goddess?
Darian’s attention went back to Kelindril, poring over him, the Orb glowing fiercely. The elf’s body began convulsing and Darian moved quickly to soothe the battered elf. Kelindril stilled and Darian continued, Orb leading the way. He gave himself over to the Orb’s power, listening intently to what the Orb was saying. The magic spoke, and just like when he was a novice, he listened now. He’d never stopped listening. The Orb told him what he needed to do and he did it, no matter the personal cost. Kelindril was his friend and he could not let the elf die because of the Dark Mage’s need to make him suffer.
Kylee was distraught. She was in love with Kelindril, even though she didn’t know him all that well. He’d built walls around himself that were thicker than any fortress. She knew he’d gone through something terrible and that he was desperate to never be vulnerable again. Nephraete comforted her the best she could.
Nymdal couldn’t believe that Kelindril was the only one to realize the danger they were all in. He couldn’t accept that they’d all failed Darian. Again. This was becoming commonplace and that was something the proud Gor Li’ Khan could not accept. Under any circumstances.
The infection had spread throughout Kelindril and Darian hit the elf’s solar plexus hard. From here, he could cleanse the poison and heal him completely. He didn’t care about the cost; nothing was too high. Kelindril was here because of him. This was his fault. He felt the sickness surround him. No, that wasn’t right. It was drawn to him, coming to him willingly and he pulled it from Kelindril’s limp form without a fight. Once the elf was free of the oily sickness, Darian healed the wound. Once done, Darian nearly collapsed from the strain, but he forced himself to remain upright. It would not do to look weak now, not until he cast wards of protection around
himself and his things. Only then would he consider giving in.
Nymdal, Stilhan, Gibron, Gavil, Melanor, and Whelan stood close to Darian. It didn’t matter that he was upset with them, they deserved it. Nothing would get close to him. They could see the strain that he hid from everyone. They doubted that most present could see it, but they’d gotten to know him pretty well. Even though Kelindril and Nymdal had pretty much been his main guards, the others had slowly infiltrated his chambers, on Kelindril’s orders of course. They all liked and respected him and that was why it was so hard to admit that they’d failed him. They were Gor Li’ Khan. They didn’t fail anything. Ever. And yet, they’d failed him more than once in their short time together. Why did he keep them around? Thelarki would have already disposed of them. This silent admission sent chills down their spines.
Once Darian was settled, Renlyss brought him a cup of hot tea and a hot meal. The Mage looked like shit and he needed rest and sustenance. She knew he didn’t want to see her, but that was too damn bad. She needed to talk to him, get him to see sense.
“Darian, I brought you food and drink,” she began, but he cut her off.
“Renlyss, I have no wish to speak to you now, or in the future. You may leave.” His tone was hard, curt, and dismissive, and it cut her deeper than she cared to admit. She didn’t want to feel anything for him anymore, but it wasn’t that easy. She still loved him, so much, but there was no place in his life for her. She understood this and someday, he would too.
“Too bad,” she steeled her voice and sat beside him, offering him the bowl of hardy stew she’d made for him.
He almost knocked it from her hand, but it smelled delicious and his stomach reminded him that he was famished. He took the bowl hesitantly and began to eat as she watched him closely. Gods! He was gorgeous and he knew it. She had to get over him, but wasn’t sure if ever she could. She knew being with him wasn’t an option anymore and she didn’t want to be with him. I don’t! She reminded herself vehemently. But her body remembered his touch and her blood heated at the memories that his nearness evoked.
He took the cup of tea and drank it down, thirstier than he remembered being in a long time. She refilled both his bowl and his mug and smiled at his appetite.
“Thanks,” he said gruffly. She’d hurt him more than he believed possible. He hated her and resented her presence.
“You’re welcome,” she replied simply. “Darian, I’m sorry for all the pain I’ve caused you.
Walking out on you the way that I did was wrong. I know I can never make it up to you, but I just wanted you to know how sorry I am.”
His eyes turned hard and cold. “You didn’t hurt me, elf. That would imply that I actually cared at some point, which I did not.” He hoped his words cut her deep. He realized that most likely, she’d know he was lying, but the tears that sprang to her eyes told a different story. She
waited for as long as she could, then returned to her bedroll.
Renlyss pretended to be asleep, but the tears continued to fall long into the night.
22
The next morning dawned bright and beautiful, with no hint of the terrible storm that raged all night. Renlyss woke early, Ru Nay’ Sha had been fleeting and she didn’t feel rested. Darian haunted her dreams and she couldn’t rid herself of the disturbing images. She forced the pain and emotion away from herself. Despite his words, she knew she’d hurt him. His reaction last night only proved as much, though he fought hard to keep it from her.
He wanted her to think that he’d never cared for her, but she k
new this wasn’t so. He’d asked her to be his consort and he hadn’t done so lightly. She knew he hadn’t been in love with her, but he had cared for her, hadn’t he? They both needed to get past this awkward stage. They needed to trust one another and work together. She was an elven mage of considerable power and one main reason Darian had asked her to accompany him. Of course, that was before she’d walked out on him.
She resolved to keep talking to him no matter how much it hurt her to do so. They had to be civil because they worked so well together. That was how their affair started in the first place. They bounced ideas off each other and were able to categorize all the elven plants and herbs along with their properties. From there, they began working on spell components and learned how to combine them to make their spells and potions more potent. Darian was passionate about magic and it hadn’t taken long for their passion to spill over into his bed.
She decided she would make his favorite guilty pleasure, honey cakes. Her Nay Quehanna taught her how to make them and the recipe had been handed down for generations. She remembered when she’d taken Darian to her grandmother’s house and she’d made the honey cakes for them. She’d never seen the Mage devour anything so fast before. As a rule, he stayed away from sugary foods and drinks. You didn’t get a body like his from eating cakes and pies every day. She was hoping to begin building a bridge between them and mending the damage, if such a thing was possible.
Darian awoke to the delicious smell of honey cakes. His stomach rumbled and his mouth watered at the savory aroma. He rose, washed and dressed and went to find the source of his stomach’s passion. Everyone else was up and enjoying breakfast together. Kelindril sat propped against Kylee and she helped him to eat. Darian smiled at the sight because he knew that Kelindril was too weak to fight off her advances. When Darian joined them, the conversation flowed un-