Shadows of Home
Book Four of the Bound to the Abyss Series
By
James R. Vernon
A Three Moons Realm Novel
Copyright
The characters and events in this book are fictitious. Any similarity to real persons, living or dead, is coincidental and not intended by the author.
Bound to the Abyss Copyright © 2018
by James R. Vernon And Three Moons Realm Publishing
Cover Illustrations and Design by Matias Trabold Rehren
All rights reserved. In accordance with the U.S. Copyright Act of 1976, the scanning, uploading, and electronic sharing of any part of this book without permission is unlawful piracy and theft of the author's intellectual property. If you would like to use material from this book (other than for review purposes), prior written permission can be obtained by contacting the author at [email protected]. Thank you for your support of the author's rights.
Chapter 1
Beginning of the Freeze 184
Music played all around Ean Sangrave. The citizens of Lurthalan were working hard to enjoy themselves and warm up from the settling cold outside. Laughter and merriment filled the common room of the High Horse Inn. Wooden mugs thudded onto table tops in time with the beat of the musicians on the large stage. Forks and knives clattered onto plates as patrons of every class enjoyed themselves after a long day of work. The smells of roasted pork and freshly baked bread wafted around the room, mixed with the bitter-sweet smell of spilled ale. Outside, the last glimmer of the fading sun cast a dull glow through the windows, mixing in with the candlelight spread about the room.
To Ean, it was all a dull buzz, muted by the rage rising in his stomach as he stared down the man seated across the table from him. This was the man who had driven a bone protrusion through Ean's stomach almost killing him. This was the man who had sawed Azalea's wings from her back, scarring her mind as deeply as her body.
Sadiek Nidot—a man more evil than any creature from the Abyss.
Now that he knew it was the monster from his past that hid behind the face in front of him, Ean could see the shadow of Sadiek in his features. A hint of the older man's thick nose, a few wrinkles on a face that appeared too young to have them. His slicked-back, black hair looked out of place on a head that had previously been bald. A smile that at one time Ean had believed held happiness and friendship, now barely hid the malice in its grinding teeth.
When Ean spoke, his voice rumbled with his barely controlled desire for murder. "Tell me why I shouldn't reach across this table and kill you."
"My dear Ean," Sadiek tssked. Amusement touched his features, which just added more fuel to Ean's fire. Is that any way to greet an old friend. What chance do you think you'd have without your imp and that wingless creature masquerading as a woman? I'm much more powerful now than the first time you tried to kill me."
"So am I," Ean replied. "And, I'm no longer the naive boy you left dying in the mountain. I know exactly what you are, but you, on the other hand, have no idea what you're dealing with."
"Perhaps." The smile drained from Sadiek's face. "Perhaps not. Either way you won't attack me here." He waved his hand about the common room of the inn. "Not surrounded by all of these people. People who fear anything having to do with...the place where you get your powers from. And you certainly would not make a scene in the heart of the city the Seekers call their home."
Now it was Ean's turn to smile. "Maybe the Seekers don't view me as such a dangerous threat anymore." That was true for at least one of them. He hoped. Kaytlin was a hard person to read, and while they hadn't parted on hostile terms, she had taken a break from trying to kill him. He hoped it wasn't just a break.
"You want me to believe you turned a group whose sole purpose is to eradicate anything connected to the Abyss to your side? Come now, I'm not a fool."
A few of the people closest to them cast disturbed looks before getting up and moving away—a common reaction when either the Seekers or the Abyss were mentioned. Ean had begun to wonder which one the people feared more.
"Anyway," Sadiek continued. "I just wanted to say I'm happy you survived. It's going to make what happens next all the more interesting, I think."
"And what do you think happens next?"
"Oh, I don't want to ruin all the surprises I have planned. For one, I have some exciting things going on in the deep south. Do you know anything about the Savage Umdaer lands? If you can get past the Umdaer and find me, you are in for an amazing show."
"How about instead, we wait for the inn to clear out, we both go out back, and I rip you apart with my bare hands."
"Wait for the people to leave? Bah," Sadiek scuffed. "You're stalling because you're not as confident about the Seekers, or your abilities, as you pretend."
"Maybe you're right. Then again, maybe my plan is to pay you back a thousand times the pain you caused Azalea, but without hurting any innocent bystanders."
"Even if that's true, you interrupted me before I got to the very best part." A smug grin appeared on his face as Sadiek leaned forward. "I wanted to tell you of my beautiful plans for Rottwealth, which coincidentally, happens to be your hometown."
Ean froze, his mouth open with a string of harsh words that had died on his lips at the mention of his home. The first thought that passed through his mind was an image of his subterranean home in the mountain and the variety of creatures he had freed from the Abyss that lived there. After a moment, his mind moved on to the dozens of small homes and families who lived in his valley outside the mines that his creatures currently occupied. The fact that many, if not the majority, of those people despised him had probably played a factor in the fact that he felt less concern for them as he did for the creatures from the Abyss.
"You bastard." Eddie's voice was quiet. Controlled. Not at all a reflection of the battle raging inside of him. His logical side preached caution while the rage that continued to build screamed for him to attack the man, to kill him on the spot regardless of who got caught in the after effects of his vengeance. Logic won out in the end. "If you go anywhere near my home, I'll have you praying to all the gods for their mercy by the time I'm done with you."
"Strong words. But who says I haven't already--"
A female voice cut into the conversation. "Excuse me, gentlemen."
A young woman tapped Ean on the shoulder, making him pause. Amber eyes stared back at him from a face framed by raven-colored hair. Close to his age, she wore a well-worn yellow cloak over a green outfit that looked as if it had seen its fair share of travel. The woman was pretty, but it was the intense look and tight smile that made him wary.
"Ean Sangrave?" Her voice held a tension that matched the look on her face.
"Yes?" He hadn't meant it as a question.
"I've been looking for you."
Her gloved hand caught Ean square on the chin. The next thing he knew, his head was striking the floor. Disoriented, he tried to get up. The effort send a sword of pain up his back. If he hadn't been holding so much Abysmal energy, the woman might have knocked him out. As he gathered his wits, she looked down on him with contempt.
"I've dreamed about this moment for a long time. Rehearsed what I was going to say." Her voice dripped with malice as she slowly opened and closed her fist. "It's been a hard road, but the thought of making you suffer has kept me going."
"Glad to be of help," he grumbled, testing out the hinge of his jaw at the same time. "Have we met?"
"Silence!" Her chest heaved as if she was fighting for emotional control. After a calming breath, she continued. "The sound of your voice offends my ears, so listen and don'
t speak." She turned her gaze on Sadiek, jabbing a finger at him. "Don't move a muscle. Tell me how you know Sangrave?"
"I assure you, we are not friends. In fact, it's quite the opposite. This man hates me. Was threatening my life just a moment before. Your arrival is most fortuitous. I have no idea what he would have done to me."
"Well," the woman looked a little taken aback by this, "you're welcome. Why don't you get out of here."
"Thank you." Sadiek shuffled out from behind the table. "I appreciate it."
Sadiek began making his way through the crowd. Some of the bar patrons were watching the argument with interest, but most weren't even paying attention. The musicians on stage had worked most of the crowd up to a roar, singing along with whatever popular song they were playing. Sadiek got more attention pushing his way through the crowd than Ean did getting knocked on his backside .
"So long, Ean," Sadiek said as pushed his way through the throng of people. "We'll have to talk again sometime soon."
"Oh, I doubt that will happen," the woman cut in. "Ean is going to answer for his crimes. After I'm done with him, I plan on seeing him locked up for the rest of his life."
"Wait," Ean finally managed to get out. "You can't let him go. He's a murderer." Trying to rise, Ean fell back again as he used both arms to block a kick from the woman.
"The only dangerous person here that I know about is you. Even if that's true, that man is someone else's problem. You're mine."
Trying to rise again, he stopped as the woman wound up to deliver another kick. Instead, he raised his hands in a calming gesture. "I don't know why you think I'm dangerous. I don't even know who you are."
"My name is Esmerelda Ciantar." A murmur rumbled through the crowd around them. "Many of you might not know me, but my family's name is well-known and respected. It is because of this man, Ean Sangrave, that my father Meganan Ciantar, was killed in the Deadlands. Temple Law demands he pay for his crimes."
"Meganan Ciantar..." Ean's mind struggled to recall the face behind that name, but his memories surrounding his own "death" were fuzzy at best. There was one thing he did remember, though. No one had died by his hand. "I didn't kill--"
She sent another angry kick into his ribcage. When she brought her foot back to do it again, he grabbed her ankle with both hands. Giving a twist, followed by a hard shove, he sent her backwards. She stumbled over a few seats and landed on a table, knocking over various mugs of ale and scattering of plates of food, causing more than a few patrons to leap up and curse the person interrupting their night. Esmerelda was back on her feet in a matter of moments, but so was Ean.
The music had stopped. Now they had the entire patronage of the inn staring at them. Ean glanced around, hoping his friend Dao was still in the inn, but there wasn't a single friendly face in the crowd. Ean was on his own
"I didn't kill your father," he tried again. "The people of Ulundkin did, as far as I know. And now that town has been razed from existence."
Brushing a bit of food from her sleeve, Esmerelda took a step towards him. "So, you openly admit to destroying an entire town?"
"No, that wasn't me, either. You're twisting my words."
"So, you are free from blame from all the destruction that occurred in the Deadlands?" She took another step towards him.
"I..." He cut off as the realization that Sadiek was getting away screamed into his thoughts. Add to the fact that this woman had already made up her mind that he was guilty, Ean decided he didn't want to waste anymore time trying to reason with her. "I don't have time for this," he said with a grunt. "If you want to help catch a real murderer, follow me or get out of the way."
Turning his back on Esmerelda, Ean tried to push his way through the gathered crowd and leave her behind. He was met by two of the thickest men he had ever seen. Looking around, it seemed like everyone standing around the edges of the circle of people were muscular men and women, most with the body armor, scars, and hardened expressions of seasoned warriors. And all of them had at least one weapon strapped to their waist or back.
"You think you can just walk away from me?" Esmerelda's hands had balled into fists at her side. "You will answer for what you've done." Her eyes boldly traveled around the room of onlookers. "Hold him down and let me do the rest."
"Is there a bounty on 'em?" someone asked from the crowd.
The murmur of voices rippled through the crowd.
"I've never heard of Ean Sangrave or a bounty on his head," a bearded man chimed in. "But there's a hefty one on Esmerelda Ciantar."
"If you know about the bounty placed on me, then you know I'm a girl who should not be messed with. Besides, I can more than cover the cost of the bounty."
"How's that?" the same man replied. He had taken a step closer. Looking around, it seemed to Ean that a few men had moved in closer around them. "The Ciantar's coffers are empty. Your kin live like rats on a trash heap--"
Esmerelda struck the man so fast Ean barely saw it.
The room erupted as some rushed to Esmerelda's aid and others rushed to collect her bounty.
Ean saw it for what it was: a meaningless brawl while the true danger slipped away. He couldn't let Sadiek escape. While Esmerelda was occupied with the men trying to capture her, Ean squeezed through the crowd and made his way out the front door.
Chapter 2
Ean stumbled out into the cold evening air, his feet thudding along the inn's wooden porch. The swinging doors closed behind him, smothering the sound of the melee inside. The cobblestone streets were still filled with people finishing their errands or returning home from work. A few men and women moved about lighting lamps and light posts as the sun finished setting behind the taller buildings of the city and behind the mountain peaks further to the west. The variety of people made it difficult for Ean to spot Sadiek at first; people dressed in stained and dirty clothes of dock workers and smiths mixed in with the plain smocks and simple clothes of shop keeps and other tradesmen, all their clothing dull in comparison to the garish colors worn by the priests, priestesses, and various rich citizens who blended together in a sea of different colors. It was like someone had dumped a set of paints onto a muddy road.
Something pulled Ean's sight through the crowds directly to his quarry. It could have been divine intervention or blind luck. All he got was a glimpse of the man's profile before Sadiek sank further into the crowd. Ean couldn't be a hundred-percent sure it was him, but it was enough to get him moving. If he wasn’t able to catch Sadiek before his enemy got deeper into the crowd--
Something caught his foot, knocking it into the back of his other leg. Ean tried to catch himself on the railing of the porch but only managed to smash his knuckle before tumbling down the stairs to land on the street below. The loose stones dug into his palms and a stabbing pain shot up his left knee. He was back on his feet a moment later, letting his magic deal with the injury. Eyes scanning the crowd, he was more concerned with keeping his eyes on Sadiek than on what had caused his fall.
That was a mistake.
Pain exploded in his back as something struck him right above the hips. Though unprepared for the blow, Ean was able to keep his feet as he stumbled forward. Mainly because the impact knocked him into a group of men who had been walking towards the inn. They all let out a few laughs as he steadied himself in their hands.
"Bit early still to be this far into the drink, don't you think, lad?" one of the men joked.
"He looks young. Maybe this is the first time he's had more than a mug or two with his parents."
"Uh, oh," another said with mock concern as he looked over Ean's shoulder. "Looks like his keeper is upset. And she certainly doesn't seem like the type you want to anger."
Ean pulled his arms free from the men and spun around. He had expected to see Esmerelda ready to launch another attack, but instead, he faced a monster of a woman. Literally. Easily standing more than a foot taller than him, the woman had human features but hints of some other lineage that were far from human. D
ark grey, deep-set eyes glared at him from a crimson-skinned face that was impossible to gauge in years. A pair of incisors peaked out from her lower lip, pushing her mouth down into a scowl. Perhaps Ean was the reason for the woman's facial expression, although he had no idea why. He didn't even know what race she was or why she had assaulted him.
His first thought, because of the woman's strange skin tone, was that she was a Yulari. As the woman stared him down, he reached out with the energy he held and tried to detect any trace of the Abyss on her. He found none. Her leather long-sleeved shirt and pants reminded him of the bounty hunters who camped outside the city near Avien'zia's temple. Why one would be after him, though, was a question he didn't have an answer for, and honestly, he didn't care about.
Behind him, the men continued to joke, most of which Ean ignored. All he cared about was catching Sadiek, and this woman was slowing him down.
"I don't know who you are, but I don't have time right now to deal with whatever issue you might have with me. Move."
"Or what?" Her voice was low and husky, which matched her more-than-athletic build. "Esmerelda Ciantar has been hunting you too long for a little brawl to get in her way. And while I won't insult her by taking you down myself, I will keep you from running away until she has the opportunity to do the job herself."
Fine, Ean thought, his temper reaching its breaking point. If everyone wants a fight, I'll give them one.
Letting the energy of the Abyss rage inside him, Ean stalked towards the woman. He thought he saw a slight smile touch her lips as he approached but by this point, all he really could see was red. She moved into a fighting stance Ean didn't know, with feet slightly apart, hands raised and open, ready to defend or attack. It was clear just from how she held herself that the crimson woman was a competent fighter, and she was muscular enough that she could clearly do some damage—a dangerous opponent who seemed confident in her own skills. Less than a season ago, he wouldn't have stood a chance against a woman such as this.
Shadows of Home (Bound to the Abyss Book 4) Page 1
