by Ian Gregoire
Through the splayed fingers of his hands, Vartan’s eyes flashed open, catching sight of his impending demise.
Kayden sensed the imminent Zarantar strike, so she hurriedly thrust her makeshift weapon down at Vartan’s throat… but not quickly enough. Struck by the invisible blast of her adversary’s invocation of Yuksaydan, she was propelled several feet through the air, crash-landing on her back with a splash. She found her upper body in the stream while her legs stuck out of the water. Eyes shut against the pain, and mouth open in a silent scream, Kayden felt as though she had just sprinted headlong into a brick wall. Coming slowly to her senses she knew she was in mortal danger. She tried to sit upright, but was instantly seized around the neck with her head forced below the surface.
Instinctively, Kayden fought to raise her head up out of the water. Her only hope for survival was to use her superior Zarantar, but she still had Josario’s collar around her neck. If she invoked any of her Zarantar-based abilities, the collar would detonate, separating her head from her body. She was a dead woman either way.
Her desperation increased. The more she thrashed about in the water, the harder it was to hold her breath. Through the churning waters of the stream, a dark figure loomed into her field of view. She couldn’t see clearly who it was, but she knew it was Vartan standing over her. Almost out of breath, Kayden’s life flashed before her eyes. After all the trauma she had endured to get to where she was, her short life was about to end in southern Anzarmenia, drowned in a shallow stream by Vartan Pazarian.
Fighting to the bitter end, Kayden reflexively gasped for breath and inhaled a mouthful of water instead. In her panic, she took in another mouthful of water, then another, and another. Finally, her struggle for air was over. Kayden’s body stilled in the water, and her world faded to black.
Nightfall had long since descended upon Nagornorak by the time Fay entered the city, and reluctantly made the decision to stay overnight. Though the communes established by the cult of Yosarian lay only a few miles southwest of Nagornorak, Shadow was thoroughly spent, after having been ridden so hard to reach their destination, and Fay simply wasn’t prepared to push her horse any further. The thick layer of foam that covered the grey mare’s coat, as she laboured through the lamp-lit streets of the city at a trot, was a clear sign that she needed to be well rested. Fortunately, the late hour would not be a hindrance to finding somewhere to spend the night. As one of the most populous cities in all of Karlandria, Nagornorak had a reputation for being a city that never truly slept, especially at weekends. Even though it was after midnight, the extensive network of street lighting allowed many establishments to remain open until very late, to serve the needs of those who worked through the night, or even a weary traveller and her tired horse.
An overnight stay in Nagornorak would obviously delay Fay’s rescue of her apprentice until the following morning—a possibility she had already shared with Kayden. This wouldn’t have been cause for concern, except for the fact that Fay had been out of communication with the apprentice since she had successfully established mind-to-mind contact the morning of the previous day. She’d made half a dozen subsequent attempts since then, and though the mental connection had been made each time, Kayden failed to respond. Not knowing the reason why had played on Fay’s mind for the best part of two days. However, the fact that there was no difficulty in detecting Kayden’s presence meant she was obviously still alive. But what if she had succumbed to Master Yosarian’s malignant influence?
Fay decided not to dwell on that idea. There was little chance that someone so wilful and headstrong could be seduced so quickly, even by the one-time Usurper King himself. For now, the priority was to get some rest, for herself and for Shadow, then reassess the situation first thing in the morning.
Making her way southward through well-lit streets, Fay soon came upon the Three Crows Inn on a thoroughfare in central Nagornorak. There was a smattering of men meandering across the thoroughfare as she dismounted and led Shadow towards the arched entrance to the inn’s stable. By virtue of the firelight emanating from the ground floor windows, and the small group of middle-aged men loitering outside the doors of the three-storey building with tankards in their hands, it was clear that the establishment hadn’t yet shut for the night.
A single stableman was on duty to greet her arrival at the stable. She quickly concluded her business with him, handing over the necessary payment to have Shadow thoroughly groomed, watered, fed, and stabled for the night. Taking her saddlebags, Fay departed and made her way into the Three Crows to check in. Upon entry, she found that there weren’t nearly as many patrons frequenting the establishment as she’d anticipated. At a glance, there were less than two dozen older men dotted around the mostly empty saloon who gave her long, lingering looks as she approached the serving counter. Presumably, they didn’t need to be up first thing in the morning when sunrise brought with it the start of a new week.
At the counter, the matronly barmaid on duty let out a raucous yell to summon the innkeeper. A short while later a man entered and introduced himself as Reznik Marezarian. She was surprised by his wary facial expression when she mentioned needing a guest room for the night.
“Is there a problem?” she asked. “The sign outside says you have vacancies.”
The innkeeper seemed to realise the unwelcoming signals he was giving, and his demeanour shifted again, accordingly. “Forgive me,” he said. “We have several vacancies. For a moment there I remembered the last foreign woman, dressed all in black, who checked in here. She brought a whole world of trouble to my door, and caused some damage to the premises, too. I’ve had the front doors repaired, but I’m still waiting for that smashed window to be replaced.” He gestured at something behind Fay.
Glancing over her shoulder, she noted the boarded-up window Reznik was referring to. Slowly, she turned her gaze back to the innkeeper. A stifled yawn prevented her from asking whether Kayden could possibly be the foreign woman to whom he was referring; she was simply too tired. Besides, what were the odds?
“If it puts your mind at ease,” she said, “I don’t anticipate trouble coming to your door on my account, and I promise not to engage in destruction of your property. I just need a few hours sleep, then I’ll be gone by sunrise.”
The light-hearted assurance seemed to eliminate any remaining misgivings Reznik might still harbour. He duly escorted Fay out of the saloon and up to the next floor of the inn. Though unconcerned about which guest room she spent the night in, Fay was pleasantly surprised that the first vacant room she was shown contained a bathtub, which she happily accepted.
“If you require hot water to have a bath now,” said Reznik, “you’ll have to wait a while for it to be boiled and brought to your room.”
“Unnecessary. I’m too tired for that,” said Fay, though she certainly felt in need of a quick wash, “but I will certainly take advantage of a hot bath in the morning.”
“You’ll find fresh towels in that drawer over there, and there’s a bathrobe in the tallboy.”
After thanking her host, Fay discarded her belongings at the foot of the single bed, then handed over the required payment. Once Reznik vacated the room, coins in hand, Fay decided she wasn’t too tired for a quick bath before bedtime after all. She drew a shallow bath, heating the water with her invocation of Shakbarilsan, then spent a few minutes washing away the grime and odour of a full day in the saddle.
Finally ready, Fay laid down to sleep, invoking Inkansaylar to enclose the bed with a barrier sphere. Making herself comfortable beneath the sheets, she wasn’t awake for long before slumber claimed her. As she slept, her night was disturbed by a strange dream about Kayden’s life slipping away.
Darkness retreated in the face of light. Kayden found herself standing in the most beautiful setting she’d ever seen. She appeared to be in a garden unlike any she had ever laid eyes on. It was the epitome of perfection. More real than real. Drinking in the sight of the immaculate lawn, the manicured flo
wer beds, the pruned hedgerows, the tall trees, the sparkling water fountain, and the sunless sky, Kayden marvelled at just how vibrant the kaleidoscope of colour was. The greens were greener, the reds were redder, the blues were bluer, and the yellows were more yellow.
Though there was no sun in the clear blue sky overhead, the air, with its heady blend of floral fragrances, was pleasantly warm. Looking down at herself, Kayden saw that she was wearing a shimmering white dress made of silk that flowed down to her ankles, while her feet were adorned with a pair of white satin slippers. She couldn’t remember the last time she had worn a dress, and as that thought crossed her mind, it suddenly dawned on her that she couldn’t recall how she came to be in the garden, or what she’d been doing before she got there.
Kayden briefly pondered the quandary of her presence in the garden before being distracted by the overwhelming sense that something more important required her urgent attention. Something that lay behind her. Slowly, she turned around to find herself faced with the splendour of a stately manor house no more than two dozen yards ahead of her, the likes of which she had never seen. She stared in wonderment, trying to discern what kind of material it was constructed from. The masonry had the appearance of rectangular pearls, and the mortar glittered like diamonds. The panes of glass in the windows had a slight tint, while the double doors of the front entrance looked to be made from ebony. Above the entrance was a plaque emblazoned with the words ‘Jayta House’. The sight of it prompted Kayden to amble forward, realising that it was her home. Slowing to a halt a couple of paces from the entrance, she wondered if she should knock first, or simply let herself in. Before she could decide, the doors slowly swung open.
“Mama?”
Across the threshold of the open doorway stood Tan’dee Jayta, resplendent in a shimmering white dress that rippled like water, and a jewel encrusted circlet of gold upon her head.
“Kayden! What a pleasant surprise,” she said with her lilting voice. “I wasn’t expecting you so soon.” Her glossy raven hair flowed down almost to her waist, providing the perfect counterpoint to her flawless porcelain skin.
Seeing her mother before her, looking more beautiful than ever, caused Kayden’s heart to swell with love. How such a small organ could contain so much love for anyone was a mystery she didn’t care to solve, but what could never elude her knowledge was how overwhelmed by emotion she felt. It left her unable to speak as she tried and failed to keep tears of joy at bay.
“What’s the matter, my love?” asked Tan’dee.
“Nothing’s wrong, Mama,” said Kayden, finding her voice. “It’s just that I’ve missed you so much, but… I can’t remember why I’ve missed you.”
“Oh, my dear sweet baby girl.” A radiant smile lit up Tan’dee’s face. “I have missed you, too. But you’re here now, and nothing can ever keep us apart again.” She took three sedate steps backward, holding her arms out to her daughter.
With a smile on her face, Kayden took a step towards the open doorway to the Jayta mansion, eager to be reunited with her beloved mother, forever.
“Don’t go, Kayden. It’s not your time.”
Kayden stopped in her tracks and spun around at the sound of the familiar voice. “Master Fay! What are you doing here?” she said, surprised by the unexpected appearance of her master, standing just two arms lengths away.
“You cannot leave me now, Kayden,” said Fay, not answering the question. “I still have so much to teach you.”
“But…”
Kayden peered back over her shoulder. Still her mother waited for her on the other side of the open doorway, arms outstretched to welcome her inside. The pull of her mother was undeniable, yet Kayden found herself feeling conflicted. She turned her gaze back to Fay.
“Mama is waiting for me,” she continued. “We’re going to stay together, forever.”
“You still have so much to accomplish. You have the power to change the world for the better, and I want to help you traverse that path until you reach your destination.” Fay held out her hand to Kayden. “Come with me and fulfil your destiny. Your mother will still be here waiting for you at the end of your journey.”
In spite of herself, Kayden was stirred by Fay’s imploring words. Unable to speak, she stared at her master’s outstretched hand then slowly glanced up at Fay’s beautiful, stoic face, framed by the unmistakeable locks of her burgundy hair. In that moment, she realised Fay was more than just a mentor and teacher—she was also a friend. But not just any friend. Fay was her best friend. The best friend anyone could wish to have. Looking into Fay’s expectant eyes, Kayden’s heart sank. She was being asked to choose between the two people she loved most; but how could she make such a choice? It wasn’t fair. Why did she have to choose?
Fay’s statement that she still had so much to accomplish came back to Kayden. She mulled over those words for a moment that felt like an eternity. The assertion was true. There were numerous things she still needed to do—she just couldn’t remember what. But was that sufficient reason to take Fay’s hand and leave her mother behind? No, it wasn’t. Yet Kayden’s inner voice reminded her how important it was to make Fay proud of her. Why it mattered, she couldn’t recall. It just did.
She let out a forlorn sigh. Intuitively, in her heart of hearts, she knew that choosing Fay meant choosing an existence of hardship and struggle, conflict and fighting, anguish and loss. Staying with her mother, on the other hand, meant leaving that all behind, for good.
With a heavy heart, Kayden knew the decision she had to make. She turned her back on Fay. Slowly, she walked towards the open doorway where her mother waited for her, confident she was making the right choice, despite the difficulty. She halted at the threshold of the mansion.
“Mama, I’m sorry,” she said. “I can’t stay. I have to go with my friend. I’ve left many things unfinished that I need to take care of before I can come back.”
Lowering her outstretched arms to her side, Tan’dee Jayta smiled at her daughter. “I understand, my love,” she said. “Go with your friend and accomplish all the great things you must. When you are ready to return home, I will be here waiting for you.”
Kayden felt so much better about her decision now that she’d received her mother’s blessing. It greatly softened the blow of having to part ways once more.
“I love you, Mama,” she said with a smile.
“I love you, too.”
The twin ebony doors slowly began to close by themselves. In that bittersweet moment, Kayden refused to tear her eyes away from her mother’s face until the double doors were shut, and Tan’dee Jayta was out of sight on the other side. Swallowing the lump in her throat, Kayden turned her back on the picturesque mansion. Fay still waited, one hand outstretched. Pursing her lips, she marched forward with purpose and took hold of her master’s hand.
Kayden’s eyes flashed open as she coughed up a lungful of water, gasping for breath. Strong hands rolled her onto her side, and she continued to cough up water from her lungs. In the pale blue glow of an illumination orb, breathing raggedly, she quickly became aware that she was laid out beside the woodland stream she’d arrived at in order to quench her thirst. Rolling onto her back, she found herself looking up at the unfamiliar face of a bearded, thirty-something man kneeling over her. Nearby, she heard Vartan’s familiar voice remonstrating furiously with someone, so she propped herself up with her arms to catch sight of the commotion.
An angry Vartan was being physically restrained by two burly men, blood dripping from his obviously broken nose.
“What the fuck are you playing at? You just saved her life!” he yelled at Zarina. “I had her, damn you! She was as good as dead. Why did you stop me from finishing her off?”
“You only have yourself to blame,” Zarina replied calmly. “You failed to keep up your end of the arrangement. Master Yosarian indulged your need for revenge, granting you this opportunity to kill her, with the proviso that you were not permitted to use Zarantar to make the kill. Ne
edless to say you violated that stipulation, so I had no choice but to intervene. Now it’s time for you to come to terms with that while I take Kayden back to the commune.” She gestured silently for the two cultists holding Vartan by the arms to lead him away. They duly dragged him from the scene, while she turned her gaze to Kayden sitting at the edge of the stream.
Clenching her jaw, Kayden realised she had been set up. How could she have been taken in so easily? She already knew Zarina was a liar, so why had she been so quick to believe that the treacherous bitch would help her escape Josario’s clutches?
“Help her to her feet,” said Zarina, approaching the man kneeling over Kayden. “Let’s get back to the horses right away. Master Yosarian wants her delivered to the commune before sunrise.”
Kayden was unceremoniously yanked up onto her feet by the bearded man, and a second cultist she hadn’t noticed previously. Too weak to break free of their grasp, she offered no resistance. “You bitch!” she intoned, sounding a little hoarse to her own ears. “If you had no intention of letting me escape, what was the point of almost getting me killed?”
“I simply follow orders. I don’t question their wisdom.” Zarina’s tone was as neutral as the expression on her face. “But be assured your life wasn’t in serious jeopardy. Master Yosarian wants you alive, regardless of how much Vartan may wish otherwise.”
With the memory of being drowned still fresh in her mind, Kayden was incensed to learn that she’d been subjected to such a traumatic experience on a whim. She couldn’t fathom what Josario had hoped to gain from the charade. But it didn’t matter. There would be a price to pay for the mistreatment she had endured as his captive, she thought bitterly. Fay was on her way, and when she arrived things would not end well for Josario, Vartan, Zarina, or any of the group.
