Warriors of the Heynai

by M J Webb

  We, are the Heynai.”

  Chapter 3

  20th August – Leagh Forest - Nadjan

  Jake West was struck silent by the incredible sight of the four ghostly beings that were now before him. He could see them all clearly, and yet he could also see right through them. He could see the trees behind the four spirits, illumed by strange light. They were hovering slightly above the ground and their clothes seemed to be blowing in a gentle breeze. But it was a still night and Jake could feel no wind upon him.

  “So, tell us, Keeper, why have you chosen to return to Estia?”

  It was the first of the spirits. He was closer to Jake than the rest. The others crowded behind. He spoke with the same deep, calm, tones that Jake had heard in the vortex. The question was a direct one which required a straight and honest reply.

  “Err, I… You’re the Heynai, aren’t you? Well, if that’s the case, you know why I’ve returned. I came back here to save Ben.”

  “Yes. But was that the only reason?” asked another.

  “What? No.”

  “Then why? Tell us why you came back, we need to hear your reason,” said the first spirit again. He spoke in a tone of voice which demanded an answer.

  Jake stared at them all in turn. As he examined every detail of the strange apparitions, he felt his confidence grow suddenly. Once again, just as he had felt in his grandfather’s kitchen when battling Sawdon, a wave of supreme confidence surged through his body. He gritted his teeth and stood upright.

  The four ghosts were all wearing the remnants of impressive robes. Faded by the ravages of time, they covered the spirits completely from head to toe. The heavy hoods shielded their faces from Jake’s view. He stepped in closer to get a better look.

  The shadows the cowls cast shifted. He could see their features. It was a horrifying spectacle for the young boy to behold. The spirits’ faces were comprised of thin skin and white flesh over bleached skulls. Their eyes, which seemed to protrude outwards for some distance due to the lack of surrounding flesh, were huge and dazzlingly white. They appeared to glow. The youngster was visibly shocked by their ghastly appearance and he instinctively recoiled a little. He had not meant to respond in such a fashion and he was embarrassed.

  “Srrr… Kraas, we are not what you expected to see, are we? Our appearance has shocked you, young Jake. Let us put that right for you. Is this better?” said the first spirit again. A frail hand of bone emerged from within his sleeve, he waved it slowly across his body and all four spirits were immediately transformed into the images of living beings.

  “There, that is more in tune with your expectations, is it not? We cannot have you being scared of us now, can we? This is what we looked like long ago, when we lived on Estia and breathed in the same air as you breathe now, when we last walked among our people.”

  The Heynai then removed their hoods one by one and Jake was able to see each of their features clearly. The first spirit, the one who was doing most of the talking and who appeared to be their leader, was dressed in a fine, dark red robe which was adorned with gold braiding. His long and straggly white hair was moving in unseen wind. His skin was dark. He had an extraordinarily thin face with straight lips.

  The second spirit was small in stature and had no hair on his head at all, but his bearing was nevertheless impressive. He stood proudly with his shoulders back and his chest puffed out, like a soldier in a military parade. His eyes were bright green in colour and striking to behold. He wore jet black robes, from which protruded two shovel-like hands which looked huge, and completely out of place on one so small.

  The third was fair-haired and her skin was incredibly white. She looked like a corpse to Jake, as if no heart could possibly beat within her chest and no blood ran through her veins. Her eyes were extremely bright blue in colour and she wore a permanent smile that never seemed to leave her lips.

  The last spirit was of medium height and build with long, grey hair. He looked ancient and very frail. His hands were trembling and he was far older than the others. His deep purple robes were very grand and worked with fine detail.

  It was the middle of the night in Leagh forest. The woods were silent; there was no wind at all now, the leaves in the trees and amid the undergrowth were still. Jake realised that he was absolutely exhausted. He was aching all over, and finding it hard to keep his eyes open. The monumental events of the past few days had finally caught up with him and he felt as if he could sleep for a week. He swayed where he stood.

  “Look,” he began sharply, “what do ya want me to say? I came back here to save Ben, as I said. He’s my best friend and I couldn’t watch him die. Not when I could do summin’ about it. But, I was coming back anyway! Whatever happened to Ben, I was returning here, to restore the stones and defeat Vantrax, just as I promised I would. That’s why I left them with Tien, I…”

  “Rarr! Yes!” interrupted the first of the Heynai angrily. “I am glad you mention that fact. You left the stones behind! No Keeper has ever abandoned them in such a fashion, they would not dare! The stones have always been protected, they have to be. No Keeper has ever let them out of their sight before, not for an instant. And prior to that, you entrusted them to a boy, a mortal being not of this land. And, worst of all, one who has no powers!” he raged.

  Jake was really tired now, his fuse was at its shortest and he just was not in the mood to be lectured by anyone. Anger crossed his face. “Erm… Newsflash! What do you think I am?” he retaliated. “I’m just a boy if you hadn’t noticed! And you expect me to take on the world, alone! Look, Ben’s my closest friend, my brother. I trust him with my life. And Tien is your servant, if he hasn’t been corrupted by evil so far, in the hundreds of years he’s been serving you, he’s hardly gonna betray you now, is he?”

  The first spirit smiled at Jake’s forthright reply. Having satisfied himself that the young Keeper had not acted without considering the consequences, his attitude and demeanour changed.

  “Tah. What is done, is done. Come, you are tired, Keeper. Let me ease your weariness for you, it is the least we can do.” He lifted his right hand and placed his palm on Jake’s head.

  “Minniche varselass.”

  He spoke the ageless words quietly. Jake’s entire body was suddenly overcome with an overwhelming feeling of vigour and zest, his aching muscles and tired eyes were all of a sudden fresh and he felt wonderful, as if he had just awoken from a long and restful sleep.

  “Wow! Ha, ha… I feel great, thanks,” he said gratefully. “How did you do that?”

  “It is not important. Sit down,” replied the spirit. He waved his arm again and a transparent vision of a studded oak chair with hand carving appeared beside the teenager from out of nowhere. Jake could hardly see it but he sat down upon it gingerly, afraid that he would fall right through and end up on his behind. To his amazement though, it was solid and easily held his weight.

  “Good, now that we are all finally in one place, I will take care of the introductions and explanations. We do not have much time; half this night has already passed us by, you must listen to me now and try to understand everything of which I speak. I am Sereq, I am the elder here and as such I command, though in truth we almost always speak as one.”

  “The oldest?” asked Jake, surprised. “But what about…?” he began, pointing at the fourth apparition.

  “Charr… No, Keeper. You must not always believe your eyes and what they appear to tell you, they can easily be deceived, far better to trust in your instincts. That is Lapo, he is the youngest amongst us. This is Terristor,” the spirit continued, pointing at the apparition next to him, “and finally, this is Rutax.”

  Jake smiled cordially to them all, responding almost as if he was being introduced to his mother’s friends from the gym back home. It was a very surreal moment and almost like a dream, but Jake knew it was real and he knew that he had to concentrate hard and take in all he was told. He was sure that many lives would depend upon it.

  “We Hey
nai know the journey you have taken so far, Jake. We are aware of all you have achieved since entering this land. You have done well, far better than any of us anticipated in the beginning. But you, and your journey, have only just begun!” began Sereq.

  “Tien has already explained to you what has to be done, the task before you is as certain as the setting sun, you must restore the stones. There is no other path open to you and you have no choice but to complete your quest. Without them, Vantrax and his armies cannot be defeated. The wizard is very strong now, Jake. But, I am sorry to have to tell you, he is about to grow even stronger! We are powerless to prevent it. We can only guide you in your endeavours, we cannot fight. We have allowed Tien to see a small glimpse of the future, to stiffen his resolve and to warn you of the dangers that lie ahead, but we have kept things from him as well. Know now, that the evil one will soon obtain a weapon equal to that which we have bestowed upon you, that which you have broken.”

  Jake blushed. The spirit’s words sounded more like an accusation than an explanation. “Err… Yeah, really sorry about that,” he replied coyly.

  “None of that matters now, Keeper. It is history and as such it is good for teachings only, it cannot change the future unless you dwell on it, unless you let it. And besides, it has brought you here to us,” replied Terristor firmly. “What matters right now, is that you have learned from it and you have kept your word. You have returned to us, to continue the fight. Now, hold out your hands.”

  Jake immediately did as he was instructed. Terristor closed his eyes and whispered something that was barely audible.

  “Treleq sedass ziac felon.”

  A round, metallic sphere suddenly appeared in the young boy’s hands. It was a solid object, roughly the size of a cricket ball, intricately engraved with beautiful patterns all the way around. It had no weight to it at all and it was as light as a feather. Jake was not sure what to make of it. He had no idea what it was and he was about to ask, but Lapo spoke to him before he could.

  “We have bore witness to your deeds, Keeper, as we have said. We were watching you when you defeated the Taskan with a bratiq throw, even though you had not been taught how and have no comprehension at all of the skill levels required to control the projectile. That took a level of concentration that was way beyond the powers possessed by your forebearers. It was only then that we knew for certain, it was the moment we realised that you are ‘the one.’ That, and your ability to master the art of travelling through time despite having no knowledge of mind control techniques, removed any lingering doubts that we may have had. You are surely he. You have proved that you are able to channel your thoughts in a way that has not been possible for others. Your powers already far exceed those of any previous Keeper. You are not to be underestimated, young Jake. You have hidden depths which will surprise and amaze you, so never give up because you believe a task to be impossible, the normal rules of existence no longer apply to you.

  Though, be warned, you were extremely fortunate to survive the light, you were as close to death as it is possible to go, and the next time you may not be so fortunate. Even for you, travelling through time is far too dangerous.

  Now, back to the present. This weapon will aid you in your fight. It will attach itself to any part of your body. You may summon it by raising your hand and speaking the command, ‘bratiq’, just as you did in Leagh forest.”

  “We… Weapon?”

  “Yes, weapon. Turn around and throw it at that large tree behind you,” replied Rutax, responding to Jake’s question and sensing that he needed a little demonstration.

  Jake was less than convinced by the metal ‘tennis ball’ he held in his hand, but he placed it on his hip as instructed. It stuck to him as if glued or magnetised. He jumped up and down violently to try and shake it off but it remained fixed to his side. Then he turned around to face the huge tree, he lifted his right hand purposefully and shouted.

  “Bratiq!”

  The metallic sphere jumped up in front of his hand even before his arm was aloft, hovering in the air just ahead of his fist for a split second. His first two fingers automatically extended to aim the strike. With a speed that was barely visible to the eye, six razor sharp and jagged prongs suddenly appeared on all sides and the ball began to rotate swiftly. It sped toward the forest. The weapon sliced through the trunk of the tree as if it were butter and continued its momentum into the darkened woods. When it was some distance in, it stopped abruptly in mid air. Jake could hear the hum of blades as it returned quickly to his hand. The prongs retracted back into the ball just before it reached him.

  “Ha ha. Oh yeah! Wow! That’s awesome! Now that’s what I’m talking about! Wait ‘til Ben sees this!” he shouted out loud at the top of his voice, barely able to contain his excitement.

  “Ka, yes. Good. I am glad you mention Ben,” replied Sereq, “look down at your feet.”

  Jake glanced down to find two sets of native clothing, two swords with belts and scabbards, a shield, and a long, wooden staff lying on the ground.

  “These clothes will help you to pass more easily among our people, you are both far too conspicuous dressed as you are. The first sword is for you, Jake. The other, and the shield, are for Ben. The steel from which they are made is a form of Jinta, it is stronger and sharper than any metal we know of. The swords will cut through any armour and the shields will withstand strikes from any weapon. The staff is for Verastus, there are blades concealed in each end which will appear when they are needed. Use these things wisely in your quest, we will be there to guide you along the way, you will have all the help we can give. But, know that our influence is limited, and know this also; you may begin to hear us in your thoughts. As your powers increase with time, you may be able to communicate with us, and others, using only your mind. We shall have to wait and see how you develop because we have no way of knowing how far you can go, or how fast. There are many things that may be possible in time for you, Jake. If you fulfil the promise that you have already shown.”

  “I… Err… This is all too much. I… I don’t know what to say, except, thank you.”

  “Your gratitude is noted, but it is not required, Keeper,” replied Terristor. “You have chosen to return to Rhuaddan of your own free will, even though there are immense risks and the future is unknown to you. That took a great deal of courage and it proves to us that you are a man... I mean boy, of honour. These are dark times we face, we do not know now if King Vantrax can be defeated, it is only fair to make you aware of that from the beginning, much has happened in recent years and many things now conspire against us. But, you have honoured your vow to our people, the powers you seem to possess are surprising us all, nothing is written in stone and you are a living symbol of hope to all of us. Though you mean well, save your gratitude and your words for another time and place, a time when all our people are free to live their lives in harmony, and peace has finally been restored to this great land. As for the present, it is enough for us that you are here.

  No, Keeper. Do not thank us; it is we, who should be thanking you.”

  Chapter 4

  20th August – Near the City of Triess - Nadjan

  King Artrex had led his Rebel Army south in the hope of linking up with his prospective allies. They were heading for the war down there and the besieged city of Dassilliak. Artrex had pushed his people as hard as he had dared, conscious of the need for haste in order to evade the Northern Army of his brother, King Vantrax, which was pursuing him hard.

  The Dzorag hunters who had appeared occasionally on the horizon behind them and shadowed their every move were a constant reminder of the threat to their rear should they relax their pace and the King knew that in its current condition, his force of veterans, escaped slaves and freed prisoners, were no match for the battle hardened warriors and savage beasts that pursued them.

  To speed up their march as fast as possible, all those who were not riding horses were loaded onto the wagons and carts that were offered at every
farm, dwelling and village they passed along the way. A vast percentage of the local population had been secretly supportive of the rebellion and eager to help in any way. The nation was hopeful that Artrex would be successful and reclaim his throne, the route had been lined with cheering crowds in places and volunteers, stores and provisions had been given. After a while, the King’s worst fear of being caught in the open by his brother’s trained warriors had gradually diminished. As their pace quickened, he had relaxed a little and been able to turn his thoughts to what lay ahead of them, at the end of their long march.

  The rebels were fast approaching the battle lines of Vantrax’ much vaunted army of the south, a mighty force of fearsome mercenaries recruited by the evil wizard from across the continents of Estia and Mynae. These hired killers had exacted a ruthless and bloody war of conquest against the Estian Alliance for several years. They had taken large cities, towns, villages and forced the ragged and weary Estian army to retreat steadily southwards.

  The Alliance had been borne out of necessity and desperation. Somehow it had managed to hold the Southern Army at bay and even check its advance. It was a divisive force, comprised of factions who would normally be at war with each other, rather than King Vantrax. Even now, with a common enemy and cause, their leaders still argued and fought over every decision while their soldiers died in their thousands on the battlefield.

  At Dassilliak though, despite exhaustion, fatigue and low morale, the Alliance warriors had stood their ground and halted the latest Southern Army charge, aided considerably by the naturally defensive terrain in the region and the fortified city itself. Still, everyone was under no illusion, they knew that wars were not won by retreating; the enemy was getting stronger whilst their own forces were diminishing, and they knew that another attack would begin very soon.