It had the glowing golden head and wings of an eagle, and the lithe body of a mountain lion. Its glowing talons flexed as it stalked forward, not disturbing the ground it walked on, or even so much as rustling a leaf as it passed. Its light illuminated the figure kneeling on the ground.
The hood fell back, and Alistair looked up, his face dark and drawn with despair. The creature sniffed him, moved forward, snapping its beak. His body went stiff and he leaned back an inch, cringing away from it. Arabel could see the ragged shreds of Alistair’s soul now, barely there, glowing only dimly. The beast snapped at them, dug its beak into Alistair’s chest, grabbed hold of a ragged chunk and yanked. Suddenly Alistair began to struggle. He pulled back, part of his soul tearing as he scrabbled away from the beast.
Immediately, the animal gave chase; where before it had been almost bored, now it crouched down, leapt for him, batted him to the side, knocking the glowing light from inside him. Alistair screamed and tried to pull the light back inside himself, tried again to run.
Without thinking, Arabel was on her feet.
“Hey! You!” she yelled; her blade was in her hand and she charged forward. Alistair gaped at her, his expression turning from terror to surprise. “Run,” Arabel said. She dove forward, aiming her sword for the creature’s throat. It passed straight through, her arm tingling as it connected with the ghostly body of the eidolon. Right. Shit. What had Naomi said? There were ways to fight them without—a rock sailed through the air, passing through one of the wings of the beast.
“Get out of here,” Alistair said, appearing weakly at her side.
“No. I told you to run.”
The beast lunged at them. Arabel felt its talon find purchase on something deep inside her, and the pain was worse than anything she’d ever felt. It wasn’t just pain, it was the deep sense of something important breaking inside of her.
“Hey!” she shouted at it, lashing out with her fists reflexively, but they had no effect on the creature.
Alistair threw himself in front of her, and the talon detached from whatever it was.
“Just—go,” he gasped out as the thing grabbed him in its beak again and ripped hard. His face went a horrible grey color, and his gaze turned inwards.
“Nope,” Arabel said. There were ways to fight them. They’d find them. They just had to do it fast. What had Naomi said? All she could think of was Naomi’s stupid face when she’d watched Arabel trying to figure out what she was supposed to give Oswald the first night here.
A bright shape came streaking in from the right. It whirled around the creature, nipping at its heels and wings, its long tail streaming behind it, its pointed ears alert and focused. It was the fox. Arabel grabbed Alistair by the upper arm and heaved him to his feet.
“Come on, let’s get out of here.”
He didn’t argue, only looked from her to the fox in surprise, then, limping heavily, threw himself after her into the darkness.
They careened through the forest, the light of the two eidolons locked in combat fading away behind them. They burst out onto the road and Arabel swore. “The door.”
Alistair shook his head and pulled a leather pouch from his pocket. Flipping it open, he chose a thin metal implement, like an elongated toothpick, and another with a small hook on the end; kneeling in front of the lock, he went to work. A moment later the lock popped and he turned it with a flick of his wrist. It was clearly a practiced gesture. He glanced at her out of the corner of his eye.
“Cool.” That was a useful skill. Especially for breaking into offices.
She wasn’t sure, but she thought she saw the flicker of a smile before it was replaced with the usual soul-crushing despair.
The door slammed shut behind them, the sound echoing loudly through the dark gardens.
Alistair sank onto a bench, his head bowed, his long, lank hair falling forward over his face, his breathing heavy. Arabel stood watching him, realized her blade was still in her hand, and sheathed it.
“What were you doing out there?” He didn’t answer. “Was it you who broke into Oswald’s office the other night?”
He shook his head. “No.”
“So, what were you doing out there? I’m guessing that’s not who you were expecting to meet.”
“No. It was what I was hoping for, though.”
Arabel digested this. “Um… did it go like you planned?”
He scrubbed his face in his hands. “No. Look, I’m sorry. Thank you for…” He trailed off. “What was that thing, by the way?”
Arabel assumed he meant the fox. “I’ll tell you if you tell me what you were doing out there.”
He looked at the ground, then back at the gates. “I… I was hoping to… let the eidolons finish what they started.”
“You expect me to believe that? I saw you run when the eidolon appeared.”
He looked bemused. “Apparently I want to live after all.”
“But… why wouldn’t you just throw yourself off a tower or something?”
“I didn’t want there to be a… problem for people.”
“And the next idea you had was death by eidolon? Seems like a horrible way to go.”
“I figured I’m most of the way there already. Might as well finish it.” He looked up at her, a strange expression on his face. Curious. “So. We had a deal. What was that thing?”
“A glowy fox.”
He raised an eyebrow. “A… what?”
“I don’t know.” She shrugged. “Sorry. Figured it was my bargaining chip.”
“Do all the eidolons act like that around you?”
“You saw the other one. It seemed happy enough to eat me.”
His eyes swept her face. “Well, thank you.”
“Sure, I guess.” Her mind caught up with the fact that he’d said he was trying to kill himself.
She sat next to him on the bench, scuffing her boots in the dirt in silence for several seconds.
“What made you want to…”
He let out a long sigh. “I’d rather not talk about it. Thanks.”
How did this keep happening to her? It was the second time that day that Arabel had found herself sitting next to someone who was clearly upset. Social skills. Again. She was really not the right person for this.
“You sure?”
“Yeah, thanks.”
“So… you’re… fine now?”
He grimaced. “I’m not going to try again, if that’s what you mean.”
“Yeah.”
“Well, then, yeah. I’m fine.”
Arabel breathed a sigh of relief. This was too much responsibility. “Are you sure that wasn’t you the other night? Did you really not break into Oswald’s office?”
“No.” He looked at her sharply. “I assumed that was you. You’re the one that broke into the vault, right?”
“I mean, it’s not that hard. Other people must be able to.”
“I think it’s harder than you think it is.” He paused. “Would you… mind not telling anyone about this?”
Who would she have told? Why would he even ask that? “Sure.”
He glanced at her out of the corner of his eye. “Well, I guess I’m going to go to bed.”
She shrugged and watched him walk off. After a few minutes she followed him.
15
The next morning, Arabel stood yawning outside the archguard’s office door, preparing for her second meeting with him. She lifted her hand to knock, then dropped it again. God, he’s just going to interrogate me all over again. They’d all been interrogated about the break-in over the last week. Avery hadn’t cracked, but it didn’t mean she wouldn’t.
She pulled her shoulders back and, instead of knocking, pushed the door open. Oswald was standing at the window, looking out through the leafy branches towards the mountains in the distance.
He turned, lowering a tea cup to the saucer he held with his left hand. “Ah, Arabel. Right on time.” He gestured to one of the chairs in front of his desk. “Please
, have a seat.”
She crossed the room and flopped down into the chair he hadn’t indicated. His desk was messier than it had been the last time she’d seen it. The glowing sculpture was missing from the shelf behind him.
He sat, interlacing his fingers on the desk in front of him, and leaned forward. Here it comes. What were you doing in my office? What is your father planning?
“Well, how are you getting on, then?”
She narrowed her eyes at him.
He sighed. “You are not here to be interrogated, Arabel.”
“No?”
“No. I believe that you don’t know anything about how my office was broken into, or the eidolon released into the castle.”
She pushed herself a little higher in the chair. “OK…That’s good, I guess.”
His eyes lingered on her face. There was still suspicion there, or something close to it.
“I’m sorry, Arabel. I know this is hard for you.”
That might have been genuine. It might also have been what her father called ‘tactical sympathy.’
Oswald sighed and looked out the window as a gust of wind whipped through the trees outside, scattering bright sunlight and shadow across the floor of his office.
“Your feelings are understandable. Is my position also understandable?”
He looked at her. She glared back at him, but for a moment she saw herself as the archguard. Cecil Fossey had sent his kid to be trained by her, and a week later a guardian was dead.
“Yeah.” She sighed. “I get it.”
“I am sorry that you seem to have to continually prove yourself. We are glad to have you here, for what it’s worth.”
Arabel’s complete failure in training flashed across her mind. “You’re that desperate, huh?”
Oswald steepled his fingers. “Struggle does not imply failure. Just because you are having a difficult time does not mean you are not capable. We both know you are. Speaking of that, have you given much thought to whether you would like to continue on here?”
“You mean do I want to be a guardian?”
“That, but more importantly, the initiation test is in less than a week. This is a serious commitment.”
“Do I have to agree to become a guardian to take the test?”
“No. Anyone may leave our order at any time, for any reason.”
She shifted in her chair. “I don’t know if I want to be a guardian.”
“Understandable.” He nodded.
“I do want to keep training, though. I want to learn how to resist the eidolons.”
“Because you wish to move about the various cities, through the world, alone.”
“You said you’d stop mind reading.”
“I’m simply responding to what I see in your expression. But… so I did. I apologize.” He waited.
“But, yeah… I guess so.”
He twiddled his thumbs briefly. “Even that small step is something. Whether you wish to join us or not, we are always happy to help one more person reclaim their eidolons.” He paused. “I do wish to caution you, however. Think carefully and make sure you are committed to the training. If you pass the test and take the death glimmer, you will have to go on the Rite, or you will die.”
“I’m not worried about it. I know I can do the Rite.” Being out alone in the world was exactly what she wanted.
“No… I can see that. But Naomi has mentioned you are not taking your training in the library seriously.” He looked at her, his gaze piercing. “I think you misunderstand what kind of strength it takes to fight an eidolon. No matter how strong you are, physically, if you do not take the time to understand yourself, you will fail.”
“I’m taking it seriously. Naomi just hates me.”
“Yes, well, she can be tough. She’s fair, though.”
“Fair? She makes me run twice as many laps as anyone else and refuses to answer my questions. Can I have another teacher?”
“No. This is your teacher. We do not always like our teachers. Work harder, and you will earn her respect.”
“I don’t think that’s possible. I think she just hates me.”
“Now, that doesn’t sound like your usual way of thinking to me. When have you ever been someone to accept things the way they are?”
“I didn’t say I was accepting it. I’m still trying. I just think it’s impossible.”
“That’s just another way of saying you think what you’re doing won’t work.”
She opened her mouth and shut it again.
He leaned back, glancing over at his brass clock. “We are out of time. I’m sorry that today was such a short meeting. You are talented, Arabel, and, as I said, we are glad to have you.”
Talented. It was nice that he still thought that, despite how terribly she was doing. Maybe she should try harder in the library. Maybe it wasn’t a waste of time. Maybe.
16
The next day there was no practice. There was an uneasiness in the air, and Arabel guessed it had something to do with David’s return. Ferne said she’d heard he had returned late the previous night. Alistair wasn’t at dinner that evening, nor was Naomi, and the guardians around them ate in an uncharacteristic silence.
They were just finishing up when Oswald himself strode into the room. The guardians rose to their feet, bowing in respect, and the room grew even quieter.
“You four,” he said, pointing to the aspirants. “Leave your plates and go to the vault. Now.”
He went to speak with another guardian, without waiting for their agreement or to answer any questions.
Eyeing each other warily, Arabel, Avery, and Ferne did as they were told. Charlotte crammed a whole sausage into her mouth and hurried to catch up with them.
“What do you think it’s about?” Ferne asked.
“It must be something to do with David, with whatever he was out doing,” Avery said.
“Yeah, but what?”
Avery only shrugged and picked up the pace.
When they arrived at the vault the door was already open, and a group of guardians stood at one end. There was the stone table in the middle of the floor, but this time it was David laid out on it. He looked pale, and his eyes were closed, his face covered in sweat. Arabel’s heart clenched.
A few feet from him there was a new addition to the room. A stone chair, with Alistair strapped to it. His eyes flicked to hers as she came in, and he gave her a brief smile before the deathly heaviness returned to his face.
Naomi stood with the knot of guardians, all whispering hurriedly to one another. She broke away from the group and came over to marshal the aspirants to the side.
“Stay back, all of you.”
“Is he OK?” Avery’s eyes were large and glistening slightly.
“He might be. If Alistair is strong enough,” Naomi answered. “Normally we would never let aspirants see this, but there are so few of us left. We’re losing ground out there. We need you ready sooner.” Her eyes met Arabel’s. “David went out looking for Alistair’s eidolons. You may have noticed Alistair is not doing well. It’s unlikely he would have lasted much longer. His eidolons are incredibly powerful, and David wasn’t able to confine them. So, David,” she shook her head and cursed, “David let one of them possess him. It’s eating his soul as we speak. And we can’t get it out.”
Avery was biting her lip, and a tear coursed down her cheek.
“But the eidolon belongs to Alistair. If he can call it back, reintegrate it, it may leave David. You are here to watch this process, because soon we will be sending you out to do the same with your own eidolons.”
Oswald careened back into the room, slamming the door shut behind him. The rest of the guardians came to stand in a ring around the two men, one on the table, one in the chair, both tightly restrained. As Arabel’s eyes rested on one of the guardians, she felt a flash of rage and intense hatred; the feeling surged up from her chest, making her dizzy, and then faded again as quickly as it had come. What was that? That was weir
d. She didn’t hate him. She had no idea who that even was.
She didn’t have long to think about it, though, because Oswald was now standing between the two men, in a circle of light cast by flickering torches. He was looking very seriously at Alistair.
“We are all here to help you, Alistair. There is a part of you that you have pushed away from yourself, and it is currently inside that boy there, eating his soul.”
Alistair’s sallow skin became even more pale.
“This is still very early on in your training, and we wouldn’t ask it of you otherwise, but this is the only option. You will have to learn, now, as we go. Are you ready?”
Alistair’s face was set grimly, and he nodded.
“Good. Now. Reach out. Open yourself up, can you feel the part of you that is there?”
Alistair licked his lips, and his eyes closed briefly.
“Can you feel it?”
Alistair nodded.
“Good. Now, you must accept it, accept that it is you.”
Alistair looked from Oswald to David and then closed his eyes again.
Arabel could see something dark inside him, shying away, and an answering red light in David. She could see teeth and claws and bright glowing eyes ripping into something grey and luminescent. Then the red shadow-figure turned and moved towards Alistair.
“Very good,” Oswald said. “It will try to possess you now. Don’t let it. Accept it. Take it in.”
“I—I can see—” Alistair gasped, and struggled against his bonds.
“Yes, you must see all the terrible crimes it has committed, every murder and possession and life it has destroyed; you must accept all of that.”
The red demon hovered in the air above him now, reaching in, through Alistair’s chest, pulling at the broken fragments of himself.
“I can’t.” Alistair said, shaking.
The demon solidified, glowing more strongly, its sharp teeth and claws flashing. It opened its jaws to tear into what was left of Alistair’s soul. Oswald reached out a hand, glowing with a blinding white light, and the demon slowed but did not stop.
The Eidolons of Myrefall Page 10
