The Shadow of All Worlds

by Shane Porteous

  Chapter 36

  The ominous shadow cast by the coveted stone covered the battlefield, casting all into shade. Rhaldan could feel its power tugging at his own Life Force pooling in his chest, blending with it, giving it strength beyond anything Rhaldan ever imagined. With this shadow giving him extra strength, he could easily defeat all who stood between him and his goals of ruling the Realm as the first priest king, Rhaldan was certain.

  Oos stood beside him, watching the battle raging from a safe distance. Rhaldan leaned closer to him. “It seems the battle is going well,” he said.

  Oos grinned widely. “Yes, indeed it does. Long have I waited for this day.”

  Rhaldan chuckled. “And now you have finally been satisfied. Tell me, has this shadow ever been unleashed before?”

  Oos smiled even wider. “Not in my memory. Once, 100,000 years ago my brethren and I had come to Ebulon’s aid. We were sorely let down then, and now I have the pleasure of watching them be completely eviscerated, because they cannot hope to defeat this shadow and the powers it brings.”

  Rhaldan looked around, trying to locate Morzu yet again. The boy had not appeared anywhere near the battle ground since the fighting started, and Rhaldan now truly had almost no time left to try and use his Life Force to force him to surrender the Shadow Stone to Rhaldan.

  His shadow-enhanced sight fell upon Kae fighting one of the Ulnath’s allies. The boy’s Life Force was a thick red cloud around him, all now bent upon destroying his enemy. Whoever he was fighting did not stand a chance. Fear grew in Rhaldan’s chest. Is the boy this powerful or is this heightened power only the result of the Shadow Stone?

  Sure enough, Kae’s opponent was on his knees as soon as Kae unleashed the full potential of his strength in the Life Force on him. He had applied a similar method to one called Aneeku, killing him like the dog he truly was. Rhaldan hadn’t lied; one of his men had really killed the hungry wolf.

  Such power was immense. But perhaps Rhaldan, his own power to manipulate the Life Force now enhanced by the shadow, might just be strong enough to bring Kae under his control once and for all.

  He let his separated self form and stand beside the boy. The separated self’s touch felt as real as though Rhaldan was standing beside Kae and gripping his arm himself. The shadow gave it this ability, Rhaldan was certain. He’d never been able to achieve such a seamless control of his own separated self before. The shadow would let him use his power of convincing on Kae now, from afar, something he had never before been able to do.

  You will cease working against our friends and return to my side, Rhaldan placed the order deep into Kae’s mind.

  No! Never! Kae answered him just as silently.

  You will obey me! Return to my side now! Rhaldan redoubled his efforts, the shadow lending his silent voice incredible strength of conviction. The surge he sent into Kae was stronger than any he had ever unleashed. Perhaps with the aid of the shadow he would be even strong enough to put the block back on the boy’s ability to use his Life Force.

  Rhaldan drew his focus away from trying to convince Kae to return, and instead focused on the core of Kae’s Life Force, bubbling red-hot in the center of his chest. He envisioned a black, stone tomb encircling the boy’s power, locking it tight in its thick walls. This was easily done to all Protectors when they were first brought to the Keep to train as boys of seven years old.

  The stone tomb he envisioned now was perfect, its walls hard, thick and impenetrable. Not a trickle of Kae’s Life force could escape this prison.

  Then the tomb shattered, bits of stone hitting Rhaldan’s separated self, making him reel and stumble where he stood beside Oos.

  Do not try this again, Rhaldan! Kae’s voice boomed in his ears. You will never control me.

  The boy’s voice reverberated inside Rhaldan’s skull, like the echo of an avalanche rumbling down the Mountains of Giants.

  Rhaldan quickly recalled his separated self from Kae’s side. The power of the Shadow Stone was not strong enough to subdue Kae. Or was it? As powerful as the shadow made him, he could feel that it was restrained within him, like it was contained in a jar with only a trickle of it escaping through a crack. But he could not shatter the jar.

  He glanced at Oos who was paying no attention to his glare. It then became clear to Rhaldan. The full extent of the power was purposely being held back from him!

  Glancing around the battlefield he could see the shadows of the Ulnath continue to multiply, continue to move at speeds that were hard to comprehend. It all made terrible sense now! This was the true reason why none of the Ulnath had been overly worried by the threat of betrayal! The power of the Shadow Stone embraced them fully, leaving all of the otherworld beings with only scraps of the shadow’s power!

  And if Rhaldan could not bring Kae under his command, if the boy was still stronger than Rhaldan, even when Rhaldan was aided by the Shadow Stone, his plans of taking control of the Realm were doomed to fail.

  What that also meant was that Rhaldan might not be strong enough to subdue Morzu. Especially if Morzu was the one wielding the full power of the stone.

  And Rhaldan would rather leave this abominable place alive and find another way to overthrow the monarchy than risk dying at Morzu’s hands. For all he knew, truly, the Shadow Stone might only ever recognize Morzu as its possessor.

  No, it was not worth the risk. Rhaldan and the Protectors had to leave this place while they still could.

  Come to me! Rhaldan ordered the Protectors silently. Cease fighting. We are going home.

  I am staying here to help Ebulon fight off these vile creatures! Came Kae’s reply on the air.

  I will leave no man behind! Agara’s silent message followed almost immediately.

  Rhaldan cursed. They’d only come if Kae would come, and Rhaldan had no way of controlling Kae. Or did he?

  Protector Kiyarran, the princess needs your help, Rhaldan said on the air for Kae alone to hear. I know you love her, and I know you will not abandon her in her moment of need. Return now or risk losing her forever.

  Silence. Kae did not reply.

  There is little time for you to decide. Come now! Rhaldan said.

  With his separated self standing by Kae’s side, he watched the boy scan the battlefield until his eyes came to rest in the direction of Ebulon.

  The people of Ebulon need me, Kae replied, his normally green eyes now grey, reflecting the shadow perfectly. And the princess...she can never be mine.

  With those words Kae raised his sword and lunged into battle once again, hacking down any enemy that stood in his path.

  Attack the vile creatures! Came Second Captain Agara’s command and the rest of the Protectors heeded it in earnest.

  Rhaldan had lost his power over them. But they would all be punished for this disloyalty once they returned home, if any of them survived the battle.

  He could tell that with the power of the Shadow Stone, that the Ulnath no longer had need for the other world beings. The members of the Red Army may have been too stupid to realize this and kept fighting, but Rhaldan wasn’t.

  He left Oos’ side, something the Ulnath leader didn’t even notice, and walked away from the battlefield, toward the place through which he could open the gateway back into the Priest’s Palace. He’d wait there for until the battle was over, just to see if any of them would survive. He doubted it, the Errent corps may have been the best of the best in the Realm, but even they couldn’t turn the tide of this battle, and the Ebulon forces were getting slaughtered like sheep.

  He laughed at this thought, Aneeku’s analogy was proving itself true in more ways than one.

  His sheep that survived this battle would certainly know what happens when they stray from their shepherd and none of them would ever think of disobeying the Head Priest again!