Ashiyn gave the chronicler an annoyed look, then stormed toward the cave entrance. “Come on, Soryn. He’s being difficult now. Maybe another thousand years of isolation will improve his mood.”
“Wait,” Sia said, turning to them, looking stricken at that. “Perhaps you could free me from the cave, my King? I could follow you around and help.”
“You just said you have nothing to help us.” Ashiyn turned to glare over his shoulder. “Besides, you need your library to be any use at all.”
“It is all magic, my King. I can summon any book I wish at any time, from any place.” Sia floated down to them. “Please don’t leave me here alone for another thousand years, Ashiyn. I am going mad!”
“You were always mad, Sia,” Ashiyn continued out of the cave, only pausing to make sure Soryn followed. “If you find something useful, Sia, I will release you. Until then you will stay here.”
“But who will make you pay for your crimes, my King?” Sia called after them.
“That’s the beauty of it, Sia. No one exists who has that sort of power.” Ashiyn snorted as he left the cave.
He mounted Illusion, then stroked the winged equine’s neck. “Illusion, you need to let Soryn ride with me.” Illusion immediately pinned his ears and tried to nip at Soryn.
Soryn stepped back out of range, looking concerned. “I don’t think he likes that idea.”
Ashiyn scowled and used his magic to turn the winged equine’s head so he could look into Illusion’s eye as he spoke. “Listen. I don’t have time for you right now. You'll let Soryn ride or I'll feed you to Sihtaar.”
Illusion let out a disgruntled huff, but he allowed Soryn to climb up behind Ashiyn. Then, with a strong buck to try to unseat both riders, he leaped into the air. He tried to throw both riders the entire ride home, but Ashiyn and Soryn managed to hang on until they got to the safety of the castle and could jump off.
CHAPTER FORTY-SEVEN
Exhausted, Ashiyn and Soryn retreated to their separate rooms. With the knowledge that the castle was the safest place in their falling world at the moment and that Sihtaar was busy consuming the armies of darkness, they both slept through the night. The next morning Ashiyn saw to the normal routine of checking his castle, then wandered out into the stable.
Illusion glowered at him from the corner as he angrily ripped mouthfuls of hay from the hay bag.
“What is it now, you demanding beast?” Ashiyn crossed his arms, watching the winged equine. “I can’t have you trying to kill us every time we ride somewhere. Soryn’s griffin is lost now.”
Illusion threw up his head with a snort, then waved his wings at Ashiyn before turning his tail to the door.
Ashiyn walked into the stable and picked up a brush. He brushed the stallion’s dappled silver coat until it shone like moonlight. “I don’t think he can have his wings out like that often, Illusion. He can’t just fly himself. He’s my friend, understand.”
Illusion turned his head so he could consider Ashiyn with one of his large brown eyes.
“I know you understand. I brought you back from death because you were my only friend,” Ashiyn said, his voice soft, not wanting to risk being overheard by anyone.
Illusion nickered softly then rested his head against Ashiyn’s chest and stayed there snuffling as Ashiyn brushed his neck and mane. With an alarmed snort, Illusion pulled back and glared at the doorway, his ears pinned.
Ashiyn knew it was Soryn in the doorway. He didn’t bother looking. He put the brush away and pulled the winged equine’s head to him to rest forehead to forehead with the beast. “It will be well, my friend,” he whispered.
Illusion relaxed again and with a sigh, he pulled out of Ashiyn’s grip and went back to his hay. Ashiyn made sure the winged equine was tended before he walked out to join Soryn. He scowled at the look on Soryn’s face. “What?”
Soryn looked away but he didn’t hide his smile in time. “There is still good in you. You love that beast.”
“Illusion was once my only friend. After I raised him from death, Rhadamanthus did not waste his time trying to punish me by taking him again.” Ashiyn shrugged it off with a scowl.
They walked to the edge of the castle walls to look over the sea toward the ruined fortress. Sihtaar had grown so massive they could see the dragon in the distance now.
“He will only continue to grow the more he consumes until he devours the entire world,” Soryn said with a grim look.
“I think we should feed him the rest of them.” Ashiyn looked at his monstrous armies milling at the edge of the land near his castle. The ones he had gathered after destroying their commanders were the only ones left. All others had been drawn to Sihtaar to be devoured. “Let him destroy all the darkness in this world. Then none will be left when we kill him.”
Soryn remained silent until Ashiyn looked at him inquiringly. Then he shifted in place. “Not all the darkness, Ashiyn. You do know a great deal of the world’s darkness now rests within you?”
Ashiyn crossed his arms. “That is why you are here. Because the light can’t destroy it. Only darkness as powerful as that creature can, the darkness within me.” He furrowed his brow at Soryn. “Is that why you are here, Soryn? You are close to me now so that you can strike me down to save the world in the end? You are the only being on this world that could destroy me, aren’t you? Rhadamanthus and Rurik were right about that.”
“Yes,” Soryn admitted without hesitation. “That is why I was chosen as the vessel for the celestials. The only way you will be undone is by someone you trust.”
“Then why tell me?” Ashiyn tilted his head. Once again Soryn mystified him. He couldn’t understand the man’s motivations.
Soryn watched him, his dark eyes full of emotion. Then he slowly turned away to look at the dragon again. “Because I have already decided I will fail in that mission. You are my friend. I owe you my life. I love you and cannot live without you. I cannot kill you to save this world any more than you can kill me to save it. The only hope I have is that I can appeal to the good in you and keep the darkness at bay once it is no longer needed.”
Ashiyn took a long, slow breath. “Sia was not wrong, Soryn. I killed Rurik to save you mostly because I was selfish and did not want him to take you from me. I am selfish now as I protect your life instead of sacrificing you to save the world.”
Soryn shrugged. “You are full of violence and hate. But often it is aimed in the right direction. Injustice angers you. I just have to convince you to direct your fury where it belongs.”
Ashiyn turned away and stormed over to look at his monstrous armies. When they turned to face him, he pointed to the dragon. “Go! Go and destroy the false god-thing that believes he has the right to this world. Do not fail me!”
The monsters screeched in fury at the command and surged from all around to charge toward their enemy.
“They will all fall,” Soryn whispered in shock. “You know this.”
“They are monsters. There is only room for one monster in this world now.” Ashiyn turned and stalked back to the castle. “Come. I am weakened without Sihtaar’s power. We must find another blade with power within it if I’m to destroy a demi-god. Rhadamanthus said Sihtaar was the last, but I do not believe him.”
“Perhaps this time you won’t take one from a crypt full of dead celestials?” Soryn said hopefully.
“That is why you are coming along,” Ashiyn agreed. He didn’t want another sarcastic dragon god in his head.
CHAPTER FORTY-EIGHT
Ashiyn grumbled to himself as he shoved a spider’s web out of his way and ducked under it into the dark corridor. The glowing ball of light magic darted to a split in the corridor and hovered back and forth between entrances, waiting for Soryn’s command.
“Which way?” Soryn asked from behind Ashiyn, sounding weary.
Ashiyn glanced back at his friend. It had only been the tenth ruin they’d tromped through today, was Soryn fading on him so quickly? He scowled a bit. “Left.”
“How do you know?” Soryn asked, raising a brow.
“Just go left,” Ashiyn grumbled and started down the left corridor after the light. It was more of the same. Rough stone, darkness, and a damp mildew smell that made him want to sneeze.
“I hate to be the one to say it, but you’re wasting a lot of time, Ashiyn. If this sword isn’t usable, we should consider other options,” Soryn said, as they continued. He let out a sudden scream and fell against the wall, clutching his chest.
Ashiyn turned and considered the dinner plate-sized spider hanging in front of Soryn. He saw his reflection in its shiny black eyes. Then he slammed a fist into it, shattering the spider as though it were made of glass. The tarantula’s parts flew everywhere as if it had exploded. “Soryn? Gifted with all the powers the celestials, and an extremely powerful magus, you’re afraid of a tarantula? They’re very fragile, you know.” Ashiyn pulled his hand back and shook the spider ichor off his plate glove. Soryn continued to lean against the wall, eyes wide, staring at Ashiyn in disbelief. “You’re afraid of spiders? Good thing Sihtaar didn’t take that form.” Ashiyn grabbed Soryn’s arm and shoved him into a walk again. “There’s not just one, you know. Better to keep moving before the others find us.”
“Others?” Soryn whispered then curled up behind Ashiyn’s towering form as they crept down the tunnel. “I don’t want to be here. The sword isn’t worth it, Ashiyn. Let’s go face the god-dragon instead.”
“Don’t be ridiculous,” Ashiyn chided, as he stepped into a cavern. A large bat swung down, wings wide and fangs bared. Ashiyn let out a startled noise and hit it with the common blade he carried and watched it fly across the room. “Damn it! I hate things with fangs.”
“Spiders have fangs, too!” Soryn huffed.
“Not that kind of fangs.” Ashiyn shuddered, rattled a little bit now, too. “Did I ever tell you the story of how I destroyed the vampires? Nasty bloodsuckers. I killed every last one. I have a chain of their fangs hanging down in the torture dungeon.”
“Wait,” Soryn said, and tilted his head. “You have a torture dungeon?”
“Of course, I have a torture dungeon.” Ashiyn gave him an incredulous look. “Doesn’t every villain?”
“I wish you wouldn’t call yourself that,” Soryn murmured as he stepped past Ashiyn and into the wide cave. There in the middle of the room lay a sword on a slab of stone. “Is that it?”
“It must be,” Ashiyn decided, as he strode boldly forward. He took the steps up to the platform two at a time. This blade lay on ordinary stone, no runes, no protections, no glass. Just a very plain looking sword on an equally plain slab of rock. So plain it was suspicious. Ashiyn stopped and considered it, stroking his smooth chin. “It’s going to be trapped isn’t it?”
“Oh, most definitely,” Soryn agreed, as he turned his back to Ashiyn and started to back up. “I hate to rush you to a dangerous decision, Ashiyn. But I must ask you to use some haste.”
Ashiyn turned to look at the walls. They crawled with spiders of all sizes. Several looked big enough to eat a man. Ashiyn rolled his eyes and considered the sword again, using his magic to try to figure out what the trick was. Soryn whimpered as he backed up to the stone next to Ashiyn. “They’re going to eat us, Ashiyn. I’m going to die wrapped up in a web and sucked dry.”
Ashiyn gave him an annoyed look. Then he turned to face the spiders. With a shouted magical command, his magic broke loose from him like black flames and scorched the spiders to ashes that rained down around them. He wrinkled his nose against the horrible smell of burnt spider and turned back to the sword. “Help me figure out what’s wrong with this thing, would you? That’s why you’re here.”
Soryn gave him a skeptical look as the spider-ash drifted in the air like snowflakes. Then he reached down and picked up the sword. Ashiyn cringed, expecting a trap to spring. Nothing happened. They stood there for several moments, but still nothing happened. Soryn shrugged and handed Ashiyn the blade. “It’s junk, Ashiyn. Like the last five. It seems Sihtaar was the only real possessed sword.”
Ashiyn cursed as he shifted the blade in his hands. The rusted metal flaked away in his hands. He cursed and threw the sword. Darkness flooded the cavern and made Soryn’s light flicker.
Soryn grabbed the light and held it protectively in his hands, narrowing his eyes at Ashiyn. “Be careful uttering words like that. You’ve already caused two apocalypses. Don’t you know your power?”
Ashiyn turned to answer, but he caught movement out of the corner of his eye. The air rippled just slightly. He dodged, but still the gleaming silver elven blade still got shoved between the plates of his armor and into his flesh. He stumbled as the Harm stepped out of her invisibility spell, her pale eyes cold with murder.
“Harm, you fool. You know you can’t kill me,” Ashiyn wheezed as he fell hard against the stone slab and slid to the floor, blood pouring from the fatal wound.
“We will see how you fare if I take your head and lock it in a box, villain!” Harm declared, as she drew her other blade back to strike.
“No!” Soryn shouted from behind her, and a gale wind slammed against Harm and threw her across the room into the wall. She crumpled against the wall with a sickening crunch.
Ashiyn grunted, pulled the blade out and tossed it aside. He felt dizzy and light-headed from the blood loss, but as soon as the weapon was removed, his flesh and blood began to regenerate.
“Not so fast,” a voice warned, as more elves stepped out of invisibility spells and threw silvered magic ropes around Soryn.
Soryn cried out in pain and fell to his knees as the ropes bound tight. Harm dusted herself off, readjusting a few broken bones as she strode toward them. “Take them. Both of them. They will suffer now.”
Ashiyn coughed. Darkness swam at the edge of his vision, and he didn’t have the strength to fight her guards as they hauled him to his feet. “Let Soryn go. He hasn’t done anything. He’s a celestial. He’s on your side, fool.”
“He aids you. That makes him my enemy,” Harm growled and hit Ashiyn in the face with her sword. Darkness claimed him.
CHAPTER FORTY-NINE
Ashiyn woke to a world of pain. Every part of him ached in new and interesting ways. Chains jingled as he shifted his sore arms. He cracked an eye open to see a very displeased looking Harm sprawled over a chair. She tapped a whip against the floor with a scowl.
“Do you know that your immortality works even if your head is removed? Either your body regenerates from it or it regenerates too fast to separate,” Harm spat, as she glared at him.
So that was why his neck hurt the worst. Ashiyn fought a shudder. He hated being decapitated. “I told you. You can’t destroy me. No one can. Let me go. If you haven’t noticed, I have a world to save.”
“To dominate and destroy, you mean,” Harm threw the whip on the floor and got up to stalk over to him. “All you do is destroy!”
“Did you miss the giant god-dragon eating the world, Your Highness? Unless you want to kill it, you need to let me go,” Ashiyn said as his eyes narrowed at her. “I’m getting tired of everyone commenting about my destruction when that’s exactly what this world needs.”
“And who released that beast?” Harm growled.
“That was me,” Ember piped up from the doorway as he entered. He looked hale and healthy again, no worse for his death by Sihtaar.
Ashiyn was almost disappointed to see his son had revived. “See, it wasn’t my fault, after all,” Ashiyn said with a smug smirk. It earned him another fierce slap across the face from Harm. The blow stung but hardly registered with the way the rest of him hurt.
“It’s still your fault. You sired Ember and took the sword out of its prison!” Harm grumbled.
“You’re his mother. So, it’s your fault, too?” Ashiyn snorted and glanced to his son. Ember leaned against a wall and seemed to be enjoying this battle between his parents. So much for Ashiyn’s faint hope that Ember had come to help free him. Ashiyn pulled
back to dodge another slap, then summoned his magic. He ripped the chains apart as his magic enhanced his strength.
Harm scrambled back as he advanced on her. “Impossible. Your magic is supposed to be chained.”
Ashiyn ripped the bands from his wrists and tossed them aside, then he cracked his knuckles. “You think me fool enough not to anticipate you would someday capture me? Where is Soryn?”
“Somewhere you’ll never find him,” Harm said, her tone ominous. “You care about him, so I’m going to take him from you and destroy your life like you destroyed mine.”
The Darkest Sword Page 20
