Darkblade Guardian

by Andy Peloquin

  He gasped for air, his lungs burning. What can we do? Fear coursed through him. He was trapped, with no way out.

  The ground bucked beneath his feet, and the sound of rattling stone echoed in the room. Whatever power Hailen had unleashed set the world shaking. Heat flooded the chamber with such ferocity the Hunter feared they would be boiled alive.

  Dust trickled onto the Hunter's face. A spike of fear slammed into his mind. The familiar memory of being buried beneath Voramis sent a shiver of terror coursing through him. He cast about in desperation, but he had no way out.

  With a monstrous groan, the walls buckled and cracked. The fissure raced across the ceiling and split into hundreds of tiny black veins. The Hunter's heart stopped. No!

  He had a moment to act. Scooping Hailen into his arms, he leapt toward the iron door. Before he crossed half the distance, an immense weight slammed into his back and bore him to the ground. The world collapsed atop him.

  Chapter Sixty

  He sat beside Her on a stone bench, amidst a lush green garden.

  She stared into his eyes. "I worry about the future—our future." She stroked Her belly. "What will happen if the Cambionari discover us? I do not want our little one to grow up without a father…"

  "Hush, Az'nii." He wrapped his arms around Her, and She sank into his embrace. He breathed deep of Her scent: honey, jasmine, cinnamon, and berries. "There is nothing to fear. We are safe within Enarium."

  "That is what the others believed, but look what happened to them! They were hauled away in iron chains, never to be seen again. Enarium is not safety—it is a prison. If the Beggar's army comes, we cannot hide from them."

  He kissed Her forehead. "Fear not, my love. I will protect you." He placed a hand on Her belly. "Both of you."

  Her strained smile returned. "More than anything, I wish you could. But we must be apart. It is the only way to—"

  "No!" Anger flared in his chest. "You are my wife. I will not be separated from the two most important things in this world. Nothing you can say will change that!"

  Her expression turned pleading. "Surely you can't—"

  "I will not be swayed." He squeezed Her hand. "Come what may, we must stay together."

  Her eyes took on a hard edge. "So be it. You have made your decision."

  He drew Her close. "All will be well. You will see."

  She nodded, then pulled away from his embrace. "We have yet to decide on the child's name."

  "If it is a girl, Jaia will be her name."

  She smiled. "And for a boy, Rivan."

  "Rivan." He returned the smile. "It's perfect."

  She stood. "Come, Hai'atim. I grow weary. Let us go to bed."

  Taking Her hand, he stood and followed Her from the garden.

  The image retreated, leaving the Hunter panting in the darkness. Sorrow squeezed in his chest as the memory faded. Darkness pressed in on him with an immense weight.

  What the hell? For a moment, his mind was torn between the memory and reality. His eyes saw blackness, but his hands still remembered the gentle swell of Her belly. He tried to breathe in Her scent one final time, but dust flooded his lungs, setting him coughing. The contraction of his muscles sent pain shooting up and down his spine.

  The present came rushing back: the tunnels beneath Kara-ket, the Sage, Hailen, fighting the Elivasti, the collapse. Panic buzzed through his thoughts. He was on his hands and knees, every bone and muscle threatening to crumble beneath the weight of the mountain atop him.

  But he could not. For the sake of the boy curled into a ball beneath him. He'd shielded Hailen with his body from the cave-in. If he succumbed to exhaustion, the mountain would crush them both. He had to stay strong, at least long enough to find a way out of their dire predicament.

  "Hailen? Can you…hear me?"

  "Yes." The voice came faint, edged with fear.

  The Hunter gasped in relief. "Are you…hurt?"

  "No. But I-I'm scared."

  "Me…too. But we'll…find a way…out."

  The stones atop him shifted, and he groaned beneath the increasing weight. Terror seized him like a rat in a trap. The shrieks of his inner demon set his head pounding, the creature's despair adding to his fear. He couldn't raise his head or move a hand. It took every shred of strength to stay upright. But if they didn't move, they'd suffocate.

  Fear constricted his heart and lungs, sent his mind racing back to that night in Voramis when the Serenii tunnels had buried him alive. But unlike then, the thought of surrender never entered his mind. He had to stay strong and find a way out. Grim determination coursed through him, and he pressed his lips tight against the agony. Though every muscle trembled with the effort, he held firm. Hailen's life depended on him.

  "Hailen…can you…try to move…some of…these rocks?" Every word came at a painful price, sapping his strength.

  The boy shifted beneath him. Hailen gave a childish grunt, and the crush of rubble shifted. Something slammed into the Hunter's spine. Numbness seeped through his legs as a spike of pain pierced his back.

  "Wait!" Any more weight, and he would collapse. "Try…the other…side."

  This time, the sound of clattering rocks reached his keen ears. Hope flooded him with renewed vigor. They were close to the surface!

  "Try…to dig…your way free." He winced as sensation returned to his legs. An immense weight pressed on his right foot, cutting off the flow of blood.

  The boy squirmed in the darkness, and the rocks to his right gave a slight shift.

  "It's too heavy! I can't."

  "You…have to." The Hunter grunted at the pain radiating from his ribs. "It's our only...way out."

  The boy sniffled. "I-I'll try."

  Once again, the rubble shifted. The Hunter grunted as Hailen's heel slammed into his ribs. The sound of clattering rocks grew fainter, muffled by the boy's body as he slithered through a small gap. Without light to see, the Hunter had no idea how far the opening went. He could only hope it led to freedom.

  "Hardwell?" Hailen's voice sounded faint, distant.

  "I'm…here!"

  "Aren't you coming?"

  "One moment," the Hunter gasped.

  The boy had crawled free of the collapse, but he'd have no chance of getting through those metal doors, much less surviving a trek through the Serenii tunnels. He couldn't give up yet.

  But how in the frozen hell am I getting out of here?

  He leaned his weight on one hand, but the movement sent a stabbing pain along his side. A growl of frustration rumbled in his throat. Perfect time for broken ribs. His mind raced. Now what?

  With an ominous groan, the mountain shifted atop him. Unable to bear the added weight, he collapsed. A scream of agony burst from his lips as a sharp boulder dug into his lower spine. Ice raced down his legs, setting every nerve in his right foot aflame.

  "Hardwell?" Panic tinged Hailen's voice.

  "I'm…fine!" He couldn't let the boy know how truly terrified he was. He'd survived mortal wounds and torments that would have killed any normal man. Yet faced with the limits of his immortality, he experienced the same rush of fear that had caused his victims to fall to their knees and beg for mercy. The mountain wouldn't heed his pleas.

  He drew in a deep breath, ignoring the sharp twinge in his ribs. If he succumbed to panic, he would die buried alive. He had to breathe to think, to find a way out. If he wanted to survive this, he had to fight.

  He wiggled his fingers and found his hands moved freely. The weight atop his shoulders and arms no longer threatened to pulverize him. He could move his left foot and leg without too much difficulty. His mind raced. When he'd collapsed beneath the weight on his spine, the shift of rubble must have formed a small cavity. If he could free his right foot, perhaps he could slither through the same hole Hailen had used.

  "I'm…coming, Hailen." He couldn't let the boy's panic and terror overwhelm him. He needed Hailen to stay calm if they were to get out of here alive.

  Easier said tha
n done. The slightest movement of his foot sent pain spiking up his legs. Crushed, for certain.

  Turning his thoughts inward, he focused on the sensations coursing through his body. He catalogued each injury: shattered ribs, fractured spine, muscles bruised and battered beyond their breaking point. He shifted his focus to the bones, muscles, and nerves of his right foot. The mess of shattered bone fragments and shredded flesh sent waves of agony radiating through him. Jaw clenching, he pushed past the pain and exerted his will on the foot.

  Lightning crackled in his head, setting every nerve alight. He bit back a scream as the bones in his foot shifted. But instead of healing the foot, he willed it into an unnatural shape. Cartilage and bone seeped upward, forming a too-large joint at the ankle. In the absence of bone, the weight of stone bit into the muscle and nerves of his foot. Even as he cried out, he willed the nerves to move and the flesh to part. The crushing stone slipped free.

  For one agonizing heartbeat, the Hunter held his breath, not daring to move. The burden atop him shifted but didn't collapse. Relief washed over him in time with the waves of fire racing through his mangled foot.

  The Hunter turned his attention to the weight atop his spine. He shifted his torso, and the mountain moved. A hiss burst from his lips as a rock struck his broken ribs. But the structure of his little cavity held. His questing fingers found the aperture through which Hailen had crawled. There was no way he could make it through without widening the opening. He hesitated, uncertain if he should risk it.

  Hailen's quiet sniffle made the decision for him.

  With every shred of remaining strength, the Hunter dragged himself forward. Hand over hand, one painful finger's breadth at a time, he pulled himself into the darkness. His heart pounded in his throat as he pawed blindly at the rubble, expecting the mountain to shift and collapse atop him once more.

  His fingers met empty air, and a small hand grasped his. Hailen tugged and pulled with all his childish strength. The valiant effort renewed the Hunter's determination. Clawing and scrabbling at the rocks, he struggled his way to freedom. His head slipped into the open, and with a desperation borne of hope, he wriggled the rest of his body free and collapsed against a wall.

  Hailen's little hands fumbled for him in the darkness. "Hardwell?"

  "I'm here, Hailen. We made it." His triumphant laugh rang out in the chamber. The movement sent a twinge shooting through his side, turning his laughter into a groan. "Just…give me…a moment."

  He turned his attention inward and focused on the pulverized bones, lacerated flesh, and torn muscles of his foot. Lightning crackled through his nerves, slicing into his brain as he willed the foot to heal. Sensation returned to the deadened nerves, and a scream burst from his lips at the rush of heat.

  "Hardwell!"

  Gasping, he clutched Hailen's hand. "I'm…fine!"

  He tested the foot. Flesh, bone, and muscle had returned to their normal form, though they had yet to heal. Though it felt like an army of fire ants devoured his leg, he could stand. Grimacing, he pulled himself to his feet.

  "Let's find a way out of here, eh, boy?" Darkness hid Hailen's face, but the Hunter's hand found tear-stained cheeks. "Come on, now. No time for tears. If we're going to get out of here, we have to be brave. Can you do that?"

  "Yes," Hailen said in a weak voice.

  "Good. Now let's see if we can find the door." He fumbled in the inky blackness until he found the stone walls. He ran his fingers over the Serenii symbols, but had no time to wonder about their meaning. The room grew hotter with each passing second. Already, the temperature approached unbearable. He could indulge his curiosity later.

  He drew in a deep breath. Dust and steam set him coughing, but beneath it, he smelled the reek of iron. He followed the scent, feeling his way along the wall. If he could reach the door, they had a chance of getting out of here.

  The skin of his fingers crawled as they touched iron. He jerked back, but the pain was welcome. He'd found their way out. Ripping off his stolen Elivasti tunic, he tore it in half and wrapped the strips around his hands. They made awkward gloves, but at least they prevented his skin from touching the poisonous metal.

  He felt along the door, and hope surged through him as he found a small crack in the upper corner of the solid metal panel. It must have gotten damaged in the collapse! The cave-in had nearly killed them, but now it provided them a way out.

  Digging his fingers into the crack, he tugged on the door. His forearms and back protested from the strain, but hope flooded him as the corner of the iron gave a tiny groan and bent.

  Yes!

  Determination renewed, he gripped the door and pulled. He screamed with the effort, but he wouldn't give up, not so close to freedom. He stoked his inner furnace of rage and hatred, adding the fuel of his sorrow and guilt over Master Eldor's death. The pressure mounted in his chest until his heart felt ready to explode, and still he struggled. They had to escape!

  With agonizing slowness, the door groaned and buckled. The mountain rumbled and shifted, and stones clattered all around him. The weight of the stones added to his efforts, bending the door further. A current of fresh air wafted across his face. He attacked the door again, heedless of the agony in his hands and arms. Placing a foot on the stone wall, he threw every shred of strength into the effort. His muscles corded, and the door slowly buckled inward.

  A low rumble came from the ceiling, and a trickle of dust hit his face. Hope fled, replaced by terror at the ominous growl of shifting stone.

  "Hailen!" He fumbled for the boy in the darkness.

  Hailen's arms wrapped around his legs. "I'm here."

  Without hesitation, the Hunter lifted Hailen and shoved him through the small gap he'd opened in the door. Desperate, he threw his weight against the door, straining to pull it open enough to slip through. He couldn't risk getting cut by the metal. The clatter of falling rocks told him he had no more time. Biting back his fear, he clawed his way through the opening in the door. His skin screamed at contact with the iron, but he forced his way through. With a gasp, he collapsed to the stone floor of the passage. A heartbeat later, the chamber roof caved in.

  The Hunter leapt to his feet. "Run, Hailen!" Seizing the boy's hand, he raced down the tunnel. Behind them, the rumbling grew louder as the mountain collapsed. The ground heaved and bucked beneath them. The Hunter stumbled and rebounded off the wall. Fresh blood trickled from a wound in his head, but he forced himself on. They had to escape before the mountain collapsed atop them.

  Hailen cried out, and the boy's hand slipped from his.

  "Hailen!" The Hunter whirled. His hands fumbled in the darkness, searching for the boy.

  "Hardwell," Hailen wailed.

  The Hunter scooped up the fallen boy and rushed down the passage. The added weight set his lungs alight, but he forced his exhausted legs to keep pumping. Sweat stung his eyes and dripped down his back. Animal instinct and pure stubbornness kept him stumbling on through the darkness. He could see nothing, hear nothing but the thunderous rumble of falling stone, but he couldn't stop, not until he got Hailen to safety.

  Far too soon, he reached the limits of his strength. Slowing to a staggering walk, he half-dropped Hailen and slumped. He lay on the floor for long minutes, struggling for breath, fear coursing through him as the sound of the crumbling mountain echoed in the tunnel.

  Have to…keep going!

  He dragged himself up a wall, but his legs refused to hold him upright. Exhaustion seeped into every muscle. "Just…give me…a minute."

  "Hardwell?" Hailen's voice sounded beside him, and a small hand squeezed his. "I'm scared. I don't like the darkness." He snuffled.

  The Hunter gripped the boy's hand. "I know, Hailen. I'm scared too." He swallowed the lump in his throat. "But we're alive, and that's what matters. Trust I will keep you safe, no matter what." With a groan, he stood and pulled Hailen to his feet. "We will find our way out of here."

  "But how?"

  "I don't know. But we
'll do it together."

  The Hunter reached for Soulhunger. All of us. The blade hung in its sheath, the gemstone pressed against his bare skin. Its voice pounded in his head, a whisper of contentment. It had fed well.

  I have work for you, he told the dagger. Find your prey.

  The blade had the Sage's scent. Its gentle throbbing tugged him down the tunnel. Gripping Hailen's hand firmly, he strode down the tunnel. The Sage's heartbeat pulsed in his ears, a distant sound that beckoned to him. Soulhunger wouldn't be satisfied until it had found the demon and slaked its thirst with the Sage's. Even if the dagger dragged him across the face of Einan, he would not stop until the demon was dead.

  I'm coming for you, you bastard! Run and hide—you will not escape the Hunter.

  Chapter Sixty-One

  The burning ache in the Hunter's spine faded the moment he rounded a bend in the Serenii passages and saw the pinprick of light. Almost there!

  Excitement and relief set his heart racing. Against all odds, he'd survived.

  A lump rose in his throat. But at what cost?

  The gloom that settled over him had nothing to do with the lightless passages. Somewhere in the darkened tunnels behind him lay Master Eldor, the closest thing he'd had to a father. The old Elivasti had done everything in his power to prepare the Hunter for his battle with the Warmaster and the Sage. Too late, the Hunter discovered a way to turn the Elivasti against the Sage. The blademaster had died in vain, a senseless death caused by a millennia-old oath.

  He gritted his teeth. No, his death had to have meaning. He glanced down. Because of Master Eldor's sacrifice, he'd rescued the boy from Kara-ket and the Sage's clutches. It had to be enough.

  A worry nagged at the back of his mind. Taking Hailen from Kara-ket presented a new set of challenges. In time, the Irrsinnon would overtake Hailen, and he would descend into madness. The twin temples of Kara-ket had held back the curse of the Elivasti, but now, on the open road, he had no way to protect the boy.