Archdruid

by Tiffany Shand

  The beast didn’t want to keep these men alive. It wanted to taste blood. Feel their bones crunch and break. Rip them apart.

  No, I’ve got to stay in control. Ed flew at the sorcerer and grabbed the man by the throat. “Who sent you after us?” he growled, voice low and guttural. “Tell me, or you’ll meet the same fate as your friends.”

  “Archdruid…” the man rasped. “Ordered it…”

  Urien. He snapped the man’s neck and dropped the body to the ground.

  Ed turned and saw Ceara grab a man by the throat and begin to strangle him with his own magic. And Ann thinks she’s weak.

  Ed blocked another man as he came at him, and quickly dispatched him.

  The beast growled, and his eyes flashed.

  Sage raised her hand, calling up vines that wrapped around one man, and knocked him off his feet.

  Ed felt his control slipping away once more. His fangs slipped out and his claws emerged. His sword fell from his grasp, clattering to the ground.

  Ann blasted two other men and Jax sliced the remaining two.

  The last sorcerer caught in Sage’s vines tried to crawl away. The vines held him in place. He called out to his fallen comrades to help. But they were all dead now.

  Ann raised her hand and power crackled around in a glowing dome of white energy as she trapped the sorcerer within a ward. “Ed, come back. Now,” she said.

  His fists clenched. “I can’t,” he growled.

  “Yes, you can.” Ann made a move toward him, but he backed away.

  “Stay away!” His eyes flashed with light.

  “Focus. Stop fighting it and calm your mind.” She reached for him. Ed took another few steps away from her. He wouldn’t risk hurting her again. This time he might do far worse than knock her to the ground. Just because she couldn’t die didn’t mean she couldn’t get hurt. He had enough blood on his hands already.

  “Come on, Ed. Change back.” Jax kept his staff drawn. No doubt ready to use it in case Ed tried to attack them.

  Ann glanced at Ceara. “Can you help him?”

  Ceara approached him. “Wow, you do look like a real beastie.” She grinned. “See, you are stronger than you ever were before. Stop fighting it and control it instead. It’s a gift. It’s who you are. Fighting it will only make it harder for you.”

  He snarled. If the beast wanted blood, he’d give it some. His eyes flashed, and he lunged at the Gliss.

  Ceara raised her hand, white light forming across her forehead as her power flowed free and her eyes widened. “What the…?”

  Ed felt a rush of exhilaration. She couldn’t use her abilities against him. Ceara dodged him as he made a grab for her. Power pulsed from between her fingers, her magic hit him like an oncoming storm. Ed shook his head, shaking off the feeling. “Your power is useless against me,” he hissed.

  Ann jumped between them, raising her hands. “Stop! I told you not to harm her,” she said. “Would you hurt me instead?”

  The beast didn’t want Ann. It wanted Ceara. It wanted the traitor’s blood. It remembered how she tortured him. Memories of pain, of his bones aching as they bent and broke flashed through his mind. The feel of a whip on his back and the stinging, burning sensation of a rod at his neck. She’d done this to him.

  “Are you going to hurt me?” Ann asked. “If you want to get to her, you have to go through me.” She lowered her hands to her side.

  He snarled at her as he let out a low growl. “Don’t come been between me and my prey.”

  Ann walked straight up to him, her face only inches from his. “Do you want to hurt me? Because that’s what you have to do if you hurt her.”

  Ed halted, remembered how he’d loved the feeling of holding her earlier. He’d never wanted to let her go. No, he couldn’t hurt her. How could he? She was a part of him, part of his own soul. Just as this beast was part of him.

  All at once the beast retreated inside. Breathing hard, he wrapped his arms around her and pulled her close. To his relief, she didn’t pull away. Instead, she returned his embrace as he buried his face against her shoulder for a moment. “Thanks.”

  Ceara breathed a sigh of relief. “Jeez, don’t do that again,” she muttered. “You’d learn some control if you didn’t stop bloody resisting the beast all the time.”

  Ed ignored her, holding on to Ann a moment longer before pulling away. “Did you just bind that sorcerer?”

  She arched a brow. “How did you know?”

  “I felt it in the air. How did you do that?” He and Ann had grown up together. Ed knew what she could magically do. Binding someone through sheer thought wasn’t one of them. Only Darius had been able to do that.

  Ann shrugged. “I just did it.” She moved over to the sorcerer, who knelt, frozen in place. “Who sent you?”

  Ed moved to her side. “I’d answer her if I were you.” He bent, retrieved his fallen sword and wiped away the blood on the grass. Ed kept the blade within his grasp in case the sorcerer tried anything.

  “I could get answers out of him,” Ceara offered.

  The man trembled. He appeared tall and slim, with a shock of black hair and blue eyes. “Please don’t hurt me,” he begged. “I-I’m just following orders. He said he’d kill our families if we didn’t agree to track down the pretender.”

  “Pretender?” Jax frowned, leaning on his staff and the orange glow around his skin faded.

  The man eyed Ann. “You. Urien says you’re pretending to be the archdruid and you want to—”

  Ann’s eyes flashed with power, and the man tried to back away but couldn’t. The binding still held him in place.

  “I’m the archdruid. Urien is the pretender.” She raised her hand. The man fell forward as the binding broke. “Take your family and leave,” she said. “Get away from Urien. I won’t be merciful if you attack me or my friends again.”

  The man scurried away, muttering a thank-you as he went.

  “Why did you let him go?” asked Ceara. “He’ll go running back to Urien and—”

  “I don’t kill people for the sake of it,” Ann said. “I scanned his thoughts and sensed he told the truth. He was only trying to protect his family.”

  Ceara scoffed. “Urien will guess where you’re going.”

  “Let him. I’m done hiding,” Ann said. “Pack up, we need to get moving.”

  Ed tried to ignore the feel of the beast clawing at the cage of his mind. It still hadn’t settled down after their last battle. “What do you know about this thing inside me?” he asked Ceara. “Why did Orla turn me into this?”

  “I told you, Orla let it out. She didn’t create it—although believe me, she tried,” Ceara replied. She knelt and gathered up her blankets in a messy bundle.

  “Yeah, she tortured and killed most of the Black by turning them into beasts,” Jax said as he shoved his canteen and some leftover food into his own pack. “Right after the revolution. They all died.”

  Ceara nodded, leaving the blankets in a pile as Ann and Sage dismantled the tents. “Orla wanted stronger, more powerful warriors for her armies. She planned on interbreeding them with Fomorian demons.”

  “Weren’t the Gliss powerful enough?” Jax scoffed, taking a swig from his canteen. “You can kill someone with a single touch. And you can deflect magic when it’s used against you.”

  Ceara shook her head and put her hands on her hips. “Gliss were Urien’s creation. He helped us to be—”

  “His harlots,” Jax sneered and swung his pack over his shoulder.

  Ceara glared at him. “Women withstand pain in ways men never can. That’s why Urien taught us how to be stronger. Stronger than any other Magickind and use our gifts in a way they’d never been used before.”

  “What did Orla expect me to do?” Ed persisted. “I’d never serve her. She should know that.” He still didn’t remember much about those months he’d spent as a captive of Orla. He knew she tortured him and held him for three months until he’d somehow escaped and found his way back
to Ann. Ed had had a few nightmares, but most of it remained blank.

  “She thought your beast-like nature would destroy the humanity in you,” Ceara said. “You were in a mindless rage for days—it surprised even Orla.”

  Ed tried to picture it, to remember what he’d gone through. Nothing came at him. All of it remained a blank. Strange, he’d remembered flashes of it during their battle earlier. Now, aside from a few snarls and growls, the beast remained silent inside the cage of his mind.

  “How did Orla even know this beast was supposedly inside me?”

  Ceara shrugged. “She didn’t tell me everything. Guess she sensed it somehow.” She glanced over at Jax as he helped Sage roll up one of the tents. “We always knew you were different. You were always stronger and faster than any of the Black.”

  What am I? Ed wondered. Why is this thing inside me? More questions buzzed around his mind, but no answers came to him.

  “Did Orla know how to control it?” he asked.

  The Gliss frowned, thoughtful. “I doubt it. She liked to pretend she was more knowledgeable than she was.” She touched her chin. “Whatever Magickind you are, you must’ve come out of one of the other lands. Some parts of the five lands are either closed off with magic or cut off by the toxic mists left over from the dark times.”

  “Why are you really here?” Ed wanted to know. “Did Urien send you?”

  Ceara’s eyes narrowed. “Oh sure, pester me with questions, then turn on me. You men are all the same. You use women to get what you want when it suits you. My reasons aren’t your concern. I’m not a threat to Ann.”

  “Yes, you are, and the minute you make a wrong move—”

  “Who is more dangerous to her?” Ceara crossed her arms. “Me or you? You can barely control yourself. I’ve seen the way you look at her. The beast in you wants her too, doesn’t it?”

  Ed muttered a curse under his breath and turned away from her. Better to end the matter now. If he grew angrier, he risked losing control again. Better to ignore Ceara anyway. Sooner or later, she’d reveal her true nature. He was sure of that.

  Ann rolled up the tents and shoved them into her pack as she, Jax, and Sage headed over to the horses and climbed up into the saddles.

  Ed grabbed the reins of his own mount, swung up into the saddle and urged his stallion forward to join Ann as she led the way with Sage riding close beside her.

  “I need to know more about this thing inside me,” he said Ann. “You can help me remember more about my life before I landed on Trin.”

  “We can try later.” She swung her pack onto her back. “Ceara, do you know anything else about controlling the beast?”

  “If you gave me a shock rod, I’m sure I could get it into submission.”

  Ed scowled at her. “You’re not having any kind of weapon, much less using it on me.” His hands tightened on the reins and his stallion snorted, uneasy. Ignore her, he told himself. She’s trying to get under your skin.

  “You’ll need to create an alliance with the druids too,” Sage remarked as she rode up alongside Ann.

  “I am a druid,” Ann pointed out.

  “Yes, you’ve been a fugitive for the past five years,” Ed remarked. “They might not be welcoming toward you. You’ll have to regain their trust again.” And I’ll have to keep it together myself. He didn’t expect a warm welcome from the druids either when they found out he was a beast.

  He and Ann hadn’t sought sanctuary among them in their years on the run due to Orla’s spies being everywhere. Orla would have expected them to have gone to seek shelter among Ann’s own people.

  “The druids have been leaderless since your father’s death, and Orla has killed a lot of them,” Sage said. “I still kept in contact with your uncle over the years. The druid numbers are dwindling. Orla seemed determined to wipe our people off the face of Erthea.” She grimaced. “Your uncle, Blaise, has led the people of Trewa for the past decade. He is well-respected and works hard to keep our people safe.”

  Ann scowled at the mention of her uncle’s name. “I doubt they’ll be very happy to see me.”

  “Remember, we need the druids on your side,” Sage said. “Urien will be gathering to him any and all allies he can. You need your own allies, not just those among the resistance.”

  Ceara drew up closer to them, bickering with Jax as she went. He urged her to stay behind and seemed to want to keep a close eye on her. “Are we going to see the druids then?” Ceara asked, frowning when they all turned to stare at her. “What? I don’t understand why you don’t just tell me. I’m not going to go running and blabbing to Urien, if that’s what you’re worried about.”

  “Maybe not, but that doesn’t mean we trust you.” Jax grabbed hold of her reins. “Stay close don’t try grabbing any weapons again.”

  After the others had settled down for the night later that day, Ed led Ann away from the camp. If they were going to go digging around for bits of his forgotten past, he didn’t know how his beast would react. It would be safer for everyone if they didn’t find out.

  Ann drew a circle on the ground and put down protective runes. Each symbol glowed with fiery blue light. “Are you sure you want to do this?” she asked. “I don’t know what kind of memories will come to the surface. It could dredge up your time of being imprisoned.”

  “I have to do this. I need to know if this thing is really part of me or not.”

  “And if it is?” Ann touched his shoulder. “I know—”

  Ed shook his head. “Let’s get started.” He sat down in the circle.

  He didn’t care what memories rose to the surface. Ed just needed to know more about this thing that kept trying to take control of his body.

  Ann sat down and took his hands. Her touch seemed to calm the beast, as it quietened at the edge of his mind. She chanted words of power and a breeze whipped through the circle.

  Ed closed his eyes and the field around them faded. He reappeared sitting on the shores of Trin, staring at the tranquil waters of eastern sea. Its grassy embankments and the smell of salty air felt familiar to him. He felt at peace here, safe. This had been the first real home he’d ever known before he’d gone to live in Caselhelm. It was where Ann had found him.

  Ann appeared beside him.

  “I miss this place,” Ed remarked. “Everything seemed so simple when I first came here. Not like now.”

  “Let’s go back. What do you remember before that?” Ann said. “Let your mind wander. Back to before your life here, what you see?”

  Ed hesitated. He’d never cared much about his missing past. It hadn’t mattered. No one had ever come looking for him.

  Images flashed as he found himself submerged by water. The current dragged him down as he kicked and thrashed, trying to get back toward the surface. His lungs burned for air as he tried to get his head back above the water. The blackness of the water enveloped him like a heavy cocoon. Flashes of light danced above his head. In his mind, he felt another presence. Is that the beast? It felt different here in his memories. Not harsh and primal as it was in his waking life.

  Ed coughed, reappearing back on Trin. “That doesn’t tell me anything.”

  “I told you, you can’t predict what will come to the surface. What else do you see?”

  Trees flashed by, branches catching his clothes as he remembered being a boy. Something or someone chased him. Blood pounded in his ears as his heart raced. Unfamiliar scents assaulted his senses. Yet they seemed strangely familiar.

  Magic hissed on the air like a hungry bloodhound chasing him, trying to find him.

  When he reached the edge of the river, he jumped in. The current caught hold of him and pulled him away.

  “You can’t run forever, boy. I will find you,” a voice called after him.

  Ed opened his eyes, breathing hard. He found himself back in the field. The sky above him appeared like a blanket of darkness. Not a cloud or star in sight. “Something chased me. Someone with magic.”

  An
n sagged against him. “That took a lot more power than I expected.”

  He wrapped an arm around her as she rested her head against his shoulder. He wanted to go back in and find out more, but not at the expense of hurting her. “At least I’ve had a glimpse of my past. Do you want me to help you back to camp?”

  “No, stay here.” Her eyelids drooped. “Sorry I can’t help more.”

  He laughed and pulled her closer. You have no idea how much help you are to me.

  Her closeness seemed calm the beast again, and his heart ached with unspoken feelings. Now he’d finally glimpsed part of his missing childhood. But he still had no idea what it all meant.

  Chapter 7

  Ann spotted Xander in the gloom around her. To her relief, the spell had worked and taken her into the blackness of limbo. Darkness fell around her like a heavy blanket, creeping with silvery tendrils of mist. There were no buildings here. No life. Nothing substantial.

  “You’re here.” She threw her arms around him, but his form flickered. “By the spirits, I miss you so much. Are you alright?” It felt good just to see him again, to feel his familiar presence.

  “I’m trapped inside my own body, Annie. How can I be alright?” Xander asked and took a step back. “Urien knows you’re going to Trewa.”

  “That’s no surprise.” She sighed. “He’d know it’s the first place I’d go to.” She stared at him. “What has he been doing?” Ann knew she didn’t have a lot of time. As much as she wanted to stay here and talk to him, she couldn’t waste the precious seconds they had together. “What’s he planning to do next? I need you to tell me everything you know.”

  “Gathering allies. Trying to build his forces,” Xander said. “Is Ceara with you?”

  Ann hesitated. She believed this was her brother’s spirit, but she’d been tricked before. “Ceara escaped from Trin,” she admitted. “Urien sent sorcerers after me.”

  “He’s terrified you’ll find a way to banish him again.” Xander smiled. “I enjoy watching him being scared. Strange, I never thought him capable of fear when we were children. He never acted like anything scared him.”