The Apprentice In The Master’s Shadow

by Ian Gregoire

  His assault resumed, casting multiple lightning strikes from his hand towards her. The increased brightness of the streams lit up the underground cavity, indicating an increase in power.

  Once more Kayden’s body became rigid under the resumed onslaught. The pain was worse than anything she had experienced in her life, as she learned the hard way that the intensification of Josario’s invocation cut through the pain relief afforded by her earlier use of Zarantar Jist. It seemed to continue for eternity, until Kayden couldn’t remember a time when she wasn’t in agonising pain.

  Finally the torture ended, leaving Kayden hanging limp in her restraints and gasping for breath.

  “Tell me where to find my beloved.” Josario demanded.

  Jaw clenched, Kayden fought off the inexplicable impulse to answer truthfully. She held her tongue, staring daggers at the man she was growing increasingly desperate to kill. Her silence was punished as the torture resumed. The crackling lightning from Josario’s hand crawled all over her body once more, causing her to convulse uncontrollably. Her mouth opened in a silent scream, but there was no telling how long she could hold back the audible scream that wanted to escape. Every second felt like an eternity, chipping away at her will to live. If death was the only way to spare herself the unbearable pain then she would wish for it until it came, because she knew it was only a matter of time before she revealed the truth to her torturer. But she wasn’t ready to give Josario or Vartan the satisfaction of seeing her broken. Not yet.

  Again, the torture came to an end. Kayden felt no sense of relief as she hung limply, gasping for breath. She knew it was only a temporary reprieve.

  “Tell me where she is!” said Josario, more insistent this time.

  “Fuck you,” she cursed breathlessly.

  Her foul-mouthed retort brought about a resumption of the torture. Yet again, multiple streams of lightning from Josario’s hand crawled all over her, crackling audibly as they inflicted unimaginable pain. Kayden barely held her scream, but several indecipherable sounds escaped from the back of her throat as her rigid body convulsed. She was losing the ability to maintain coherent thought, and feared the prospect of being driven mad. Was it too much to hope that her heart would give out so she died before she lost her sanity? The thought flashed through her mind and was quickly subsumed by pain.

  The torture ended abruptly once again. This time, Kayden was certain she saw faint wisps of smoke wafting from her clothing as she struggled to catch her breath.

  “As much as I enjoy seeing you in pain, my pretty,” said Josario. “I will stop hurting you when you tell me where the Order is holding my beloved captive.”

  Losing it completely, Kayden yanked furiously at the chains restraining her. “She’s dead, you stupid son of a bitch!” she shrieked. “I killed that evil bitch just like I’m going to kill you. I cut off her head after making her beg for her life—”

  “Don’t lie to me!” snapped Josario. He thrust out both hands, doubling the streams of lightning unleashed against his prisoner.

  The resumption of her torment was too much for Kayden to bear. She didn’t think the suffering inflicted upon her could be any more painful, but she was wrong. As the Zarantar-induced lightning coursed all over her body, it felt as though she was being obliterated, mind, body, and soul. She simply couldn’t hold back the blood-curdling scream that escaped her lips and reverberated throughout her underground prison. The onslaught ended several seconds before Kayden’s screams subsided, but the intensity of the assault caused her to lose control of her bodily functions, and as she hung limply in chains her bladder emptied, unbidden. Breathing raggedly, she was unable to feel any shame or embarrassment when the urine seeped through her clothing, and dripped onto the ground beneath her feet.

  Vartan chuckled at the sight of it. “Ahhh! Has the little baby wet herself?” he said, affecting a childish tone of voice. “Did mama not teach you how to use the privy, little baby?”

  Turning her gaze to him, Kayden glowered bitterly. “I won’t be… In these… Restraints… Forever,” she intoned breathlessly. In her mind’s eye she imagined herself cutting off Vartan’s manhood with a dagger, stuffing it down his throat, and watching him bleed to death.

  “How very interesting,” mused Josario to himself. “Vartan, you may leave us. I wish to speak to her alone.”

  “What?” said Vartan in disbelief.

  “Your presence is no longer required.”

  It was clear as day that Vartan was more than displeased with the order, and had little inclination to obey. Kayden saw an opportunity to cause discord between cult leader and follower that she couldn’t pass up. “What are you… waiting for… underling? Be a good dog… and obey… your master,” she said weakly.

  The provocation seemed to do the trick; Vartan glared at her with fury.

  “You know I don’t like to repeat myself,” said Josario, drawing Vartan’s attention away from Kayden. There was an edge to his voice suggesting it would be unwise to antagonise him.

  “Fine! Just hurry up and get what you need from her,” snapped Vartan. “And make sure you don’t kill her. No one kills her but me.”

  In the blink of an eye, Josario disappeared in a burst of black vapour that instantly reappeared behind Vartan, and coalesced back into physical form. He seized hold of his startled lackey, pressing the blade of a dagger to his throat.

  “Mr. Pazarian, it almost sounded like you were giving me an order,” said Josario in a deceptively neutral tone. “Were you giving me an order?”

  Chest heaving, Vartan replied, “No, master. Of course not.” He pursed his lips and glared at Kayden. “I just hate her so much that having her here is driving me crazy. I will leave you alone with her so I can calm down.”

  “That would be a good idea.”

  Kayden watched, impassive, as Josario released his hold on Vartan before sliding his dagger into the sheath tucked beneath the hem of his long shirt. Vartan gave her one final hate-filled scowl as he walked past her, and disappeared from view. Feeling too weak, she didn’t attempt to look over her shoulder to satisfy her curiosity about the exit to the man-made underground chamber. Nevertheless, she knew when the dunderhead was gone once Josario moved to stand right in front of her. From somewhere, she found the strength to plant her feet flat on the ground again to support herself. Her legs managed to take her full body weight, easing the strain on her arms.

  “It seems I was mistaken in my assumption that the antagonism between Vartan and yourself was one-sided,” said Josario. “I see now that you want to kill him almost as much as he wants to kill you.” He leaned forward to speak quietly into Kayden’s ear. “If you play your cards right you may get your wish.” Leaning back slowly, he stood upright once more to add, “Hopefully that’s given you something to think about overnight while I’m gone. I will return in the morning to question you again. And just so you know, my pretty, you have got off lightly so far. Your body is still in one piece.”

  The final comment lingered in the air between them for a moment. Then Josario stepped away, disappearing from Kayden’s field of view.

  “Oh, one more thing,” Josario called out from behind her. “If you need to answer the call of nature again, be sure to yell. I have people nearby who will bring you a chamber pot.”

  After an extended silence, Kayden was certain she was finally alone once more. Her heart sank, and she allowed her body to go limp. There was no avenue available that would get her out of the current predicament. Slowly she was becoming resigned to the likelihood that she would die in the muted illumination of the underground pit. The prospect of being tortured again filled her with dread. Anger would only keep her alive so long. She knew she wouldn’t survive several more days of the same mistreatment. Fighting to keep her tears at bay, she closed her eyes and wished she was with her mother. In her mind’s eye an image of Fay’s stoic face appeared, unbidden, and she took comfort in it.

  Resuming her journey at first light, Fay departed
the village after thanking the family who’d generously offered their hospitality. She rode southward at a canter along the road to Nagornorak, feeling subdued. No longer was she able to maintain her high spirits about her purpose in Anzarmenia. It had been two days since she had last detected Kayden’s presence, and hopes of finding her alive had receded. There remained a remote possibility, but it seemed fanciful to hold on to that hope. In all likelihood the apprentice had already met her end, though Fay wasn’t ready to abandon the search until she knew with certainty that Kayden was gone for good. It was Sixthday morning, the start of the weekend, so she still had four full days before the Order’s mission was executed.

  No more than an hour had elapsed by the time Fay caught sight of a military checkpoint. It was a group of six men: four mounted and two on foot in the middle of the road, holding the reins of their respective horses. She immediately thought it odd that the Anzarmenian army would set up a checkpoint in the middle of nowhere, with no significant population centre in close proximity. The nearest major town was still several miles away. As Shadow brought her closer to the soldiers, her suspicion spiked markedly. The men were attired in the livery worn by a brigade of the Royal Guard based in the northwest of the realm, and she couldn’t think of a reason for them to be present in central Anzarmenia, especially not this far south. She slowed Shadow to a brisk trot, preparing herself for potential trouble. Once she was close enough to make out their faces, Fay was surprised to see that she recognised one of them. Stepping forward to meet her was Lindo Karteris. She hadn’t come upon an Anzarmenian military checkpoint after all. It was the Order.

  “Greetings, Danai Annis,” said the Sanatsai in disguise.

  Pulling on the reins, Fay brought Shadow to a halt. “Mirai Karteris,” she said, addressing her subordinate formally. “What’s going on?”

  “A couple of days ago, in response to a field report sent to the Council, Rendai Shinadu issued orders for some of our people here in Anzarmenia to keep an eye on all the roads leading to Nagornorak, in order to intercept you before you reach the cult of Yosarian.”

  Frowning, Fay was confused by the news. It didn’t make sense that Ari would try to stop her from finding Kayden, having previously given his blessing. “Why?” she said. “Is there a problem?”

  “Rendai Shinadu wanted you to be informed of the content of the field report given to the Council, because of its implications for your personal mission here,” replied Lindo. “Two days ago, an advanced scout maintaining covert surveillance of Yosarian’s cult observed a young woman matching the description of your missing apprentice arrive at one of the communes. Several hours later, her body was seen being taken away by a small group of cultists. The scout couldn’t risk exposure by following them as they left the commune, but he felt it safe to assume that they departed to dispose of the body in the woods. I’m sorry to say your apprentice is dead.”

  Fay’s heart caught in her throat. She couldn’t speak. Despite her initial feeling of disbelief, there was no denying that the timing certainly fit. It was two days ago when she stopped being able to detect Kayden’s presence when casting out her senses.

  “Now that you know,” continued Lindo, “Rendai Shinadu has given you the option to return home right away, or participate in the pending mission against the cult of Yosarian. If the latter, you should come with us now and make the journey back to our designated staging area.”

  Silent for a moment, Fay struggled to gather her thoughts. But what was there to think about? If her apprentice really had been killed by Yosarian and his followers then of course she would join the mission to destroy the cult. She was obliged to avenge Kayden’s untimely death. However, was Kayden conclusively dead? The question nagged at Fay’s subconscious.

  “Mirai Karteris, was the scout absolutely certain that it was a dead body he saw being taken away from the commune?” she asked, more in hope than expectation. “Maybe she was just unconscious.”

  Looking dubious, Lindo replied, “Given that he couldn’t get close enough to be absolutely certain, I suppose there is a theoretical possibility that she was still alive at the time. But with all due respect, Danai Annis, I think you are clutching at straws. The cultists who took the body returned to the commune later that evening without her, and it’s doubtful that they simply released her.”

  With grudging reluctance, Fay had to accept that he was probably correct. Kayden was dead, and she bore responsibility for her death. If only she had trusted Kayden with the truth about the attack on campus that night, three and a half weeks ago, she would have been better positioned to dissuade the headstrong apprentice from pursuing the self-destructive course of action that had ultimately led to her demise.

  “You are right, Mirai Karteris. I’m too late to save her,” she said. “Now I need to focus on ensuring the success of the mission in mid-week. Lead the way, I’ll be joining you back to your staging area.”

  “As you wish, Danai.” He gestured to his five colleagues to make ready to leave at once. Turning back to Fay, he added, “The rest of my party is hunkered down in a copse of trees about a half-mile off the road. We’ll rendezvous with them right away, and have a bite for breakfast. Then we can begin the journey back to the farmstead we’re using as one of the staging areas.”

  Once Lindo Karteris had remounted his horse, the now seven-strong group vacated the faux checkpoint, leaving the road to gallop across open country towards their destination. Fay brought up the rear, with a lump in her throat and a tear running down her cheek.

  Kayden’s eyes fluttered open. Slowly her vision came into focus, and right under her nose she saw a pair of boots peeking out from beneath the hem of a dark blue dress. For a brief moment she was confused about where she was, but the numb ache coursing through her body provided a timely reminder. She was still chained up in the underground pit that had served as her torture chamber since… It suddenly dawned on Kayden that she wasn’t sure how long she’d been held captive, though she could recall enduring five separate bouts of torture at Josario’s hand. Or was it six? Regardless, the experience had left her wishing for death, which still eluded her. Relief only came when she passed out from the pain, bringing visions of Fay mourning her passing.

  Hanging limply in her metal restraints, Kayden felt like a boneless rag doll—too weak to muster the strength to raise her head and see who was standing in front of her. If not for the certainty that she’d be dead sooner rather than later, she would have worried about losing the use of her limbs, especially her arms, numb from being chained high above her head. The brief moments of respite afforded to her came in response to her yells that she needed to answer the call of nature. On each occasion, three male Sanatsai cultists with a chamber pot and bucket appeared in the underground prison, to release her from her chains so she could endure the indignity of relieving herself as they watched. The first time it happened Kayden threw the contents of the chamber pot at the trio, and attempted to fight her way past them to reach the dark alcove in the earthen wall that she assumed was the way out. The effort was in vain. Without her Zarantar they easily subdued her, giving a savage beating before chaining her up again. She was left physically unable to make a second bid for freedom, and the complete lack of food or water in the meantime exacerbated her condition.

  The boots reminded Kayden that the last round of torture she’d been subjected to had ended with Josario saying he would return in the morning. If and when he did return, it would mark the second morning of her captivity, which would make it Sixthday.

  “Looking at you like this makes me wonder how I ever feared you,” said a familiar female voice. “I should have had faith that you’d be no match for Master Yosarian.”

  Mustering all the strength she could, Kayden pursed her lips as she planted her feet firmly on the ground, forcing herself to stand upright so she could face Zarina Lutrozian. The turncoat Jaymidari she’d encountered several days ago in Sevdanor was wearing a disdainful yet apprehensive expression. Kayden lu
rched forward as if to attack her, causing Zarina to visibly flinch and take a backward step. Taking a degree of satisfaction from startling the other woman, despite being shackled with metal chains, she flashed a mocking smirk.

  “You still seem pretty scared of me from where I stand,” she said, her voice a hoarse crack.

  Zarina retaliated, slapping Kayden harshly across the face. She quickly regained her composure. “I was surprised when I heard about your capture,” she said calmly. “After your departure from Sevdanor I had to resort to hiring assassins to kill you, fearing you were a threat to my master. And to think I actually paid them an exorbitant fee a few days later, after they assured me you had been killed in Nagornorak.”

  Finally, Kayden had confirmation as to who had commissioned the Guild of Assassins to kill her. “You bitch,” she intoned. “I knew it was you.”

  “Save your voice, Kayden. You sound more than a little hoarse,” said Zarina. “All that screaming last night has obviously taken its toll. Master Yosarian must really want your information. I suggest you refrain from any more needless talk so you don’t lose your voice before he arrives to question you again.” She reached out to gently caress Kayden’s cheek. “I do hope you will tell him what he wants to know without further delay so he can put you out of your misery. Those sounds I heard emanating from down here last night were truly awful, and I took no pleasure in hearing you suffer.”

  The feigned sympathy infuriated Kayden so much she wanted to kill Zarina where she stood, though she no longer had sufficient strength to lash out. Even if she hadn’t been restrained, the abuse she’d endured had blunted her edge. She had little fight left. The ongoing ordeal had left her almost broken. Josario had pushed her to the point where death would be a blessed relief.

  “How can you live with yourself?” she said weakly. “You betrayed your calling and the Sisterhood to serve a tyrant with blood on his hands.”

  “Master Yosarian is a great man. A visionary,” Zarina retorted emphatically. “He is going to make this world a better, fairer place.”