The Daath Chronicles- The Complete Series

by Eliza Tilton

  “Don’t,” Raven begged. “Whatever killed them could still be here.”

  The table lay splintered in half, chairs broken and wood thrown over the floor. Charred circles marked up the wood floor and walls, the stench of burning wood still lingering in the air. Giant teeth marks marked areas of the guards’ arms and legs where the limbs were ripped off. These were trained guards. What happened?

  I gulped back the fear, and ignored how fast my heart raced. The sword shook in my hand and I gripped it tighter, forcing myself not to be afraid.

  Behind the slaughter, an open door swayed in the wind rushing through the room. I glanced back. Raven stood just inside, the front door still open.

  “Avikar!” She hissed as I crept toward the far room.

  “Give me a moment.” I stepped over a body, careful not to touch or disturb anything. Blood slicked the floor, and the rusty scent curled my stomach. If we were lucky—and I was never lucky—whatever killed these men was already far, far away.

  The small room possessed a few bookcases packed with scrolls and a round table with six chairs surrounding it. I took one of the scrolls off the shelves and unrolled it, hoping to find a map.

  Blank.

  I searched two more scrolls.

  Blank.

  Blank.

  “We need to go,” Raven said more forcefully. She gripped her daggers, stance ready to fight.

  Anyone walking into this nightmare would never know the truth about who these men were or what they protected. I had to find their secret cache of crystals, but nothing here would lead me to that. From what I knew about the caverns, they were enormous. Even with my father’s clues, the chance of finding the right tunnel could take days, weeks, or even months.

  Raven tugged on my arm, pulling me back toward the entrance, and away from the carnage. “We have to leave now. There’s something looming in the shadows. We need to put distance between us and this place, and figure out our next move.”

  What were we going to do? But she was right. The smoldering ash from the fireplace meant someone or something had put it out, and not very long ago. The hairs on my neck stood on end and fear rolled through me.

  Don’t be afraid. Think. Think.

  “I need to think,” I said as we cautiously made our way back to the horses. I scanned the eerie woods for anything suspicious. “We need to make camp. We’ll head to the village we passed on our way here.”

  “Okay.”

  I took one last look at the desecrated home. Those men deserved better. It was too late and too dark to bury them, but I couldn’t leave them to be picked away be rats. I had to do something.

  I jumped off the horse.

  “What are you doing? Are you crazy?” Raven called after me.

  I raised my hand, my pointer finger extended.

  Inside, I grabbed one of the oil lamps and splashed the oil across the bodies, then took one of the remaining candles that still burned on the table and threw it onto the nearest body.

  “May your spirit rest.”

  Flames spread across the man’s clothing, drowning him in a blaze. Soon, flames would consume the house and the men within, and I prayed to The Creator that the stone walls would contain the blaze, protecting the surrounding woods from harm.

  Not a proper burial, but a burial nonetheless.

  Raven held the reins to my horse, waiting for me, her eyes wet and knowing. How many more people would die around us? Whatever man or beast killed those men could still be out here, and if it was just me, I’d hunt these woods all night long, but I would never put Raven in that kind of danger.

  Someone or something massacred those men. While Father said no one knew about the cache, this scene didn’t sit right with me. Roamers, bandits, no sane man or group would bother with a cabin filled only with furniture and scrolls. Even if the scrolls held vital information, and could be used for the war, their bodies had been so broken … could a human even have the strength to do such harm?

  We rode hard, leaving the horror behind us.

  After riding for a few miles without stopping, we came upon a toppled wagon by the side of the road, a figure moving beside it.

  Raven and I jumped off the horses, our weapons drawn.

  An old man hunched over by the wagon, examining one of the wheels. His sackcloth garb blew with the night breeze, showing off his bony legs, and bare feet in wooden clogs.

  Behind us, our horses whinnied, and I turned just as they bolted.

  Great.

  “Are you all right, sir?” I kept my hand on my bow, scanning the darkness around us.

  “Wolves scared my horses. Broke a wheel, and the horses got free from the carriage.” The old man stretched out his back. “Rotted old piece of junk that it is.”

  His long white beard reached the middle of his chest, and he wore a tan sackcloth type of dress, drowning in layers of cloth. His bony legs and arms stuck out, making me cold. The weather wasn’t warm enough to go without a cloak.

  “Maybe I can help?” I slung my bow on my back and inspected the wheel. Completely smashed. “You’re going to need a new wheel. A village lies not too far from here. We’re headed there to camp.”

  “Why don’t you camp with me here, boy? I’m tired, and don’t want to leave my merchandise alone at night. It is all I have left to my name.”

  I glanced at Raven who sheathed her daggers and shrugged. “We’re far enough away.”

  “Sure,” I said. “My name is Avikar, and this is Raven.”

  “Hello,” Raven said.

  “Nice to meet you two. You may call me Yoshi.” He tipped his wide-brimmed hat at us. His bright blue-gray eyes stood out against his wrinkled skin.

  Raven and I helped build a fire and we sat around it. Yoshi shared some dried meat with us. A cage of rats sat next to him, five white rats with blood red eyes.

  “What’s with the rats?” I asked, wondering why anyone would carry around a wooden box of rodents.

  “Snacks.” Yoshi grabbed one of the squealing rats, broke its neck and stuck it with a stick.

  The dried meat I chewed on instantly lost its flavor, and I spit it out on the ground.

  “Why are you two traveling these woods at night? War isn’t far from here. You children should be at home.”

  Children? This old guy had no idea what Raven and I went through. “I have family in Jehoia. I’m going to see if they’re okay.”

  “Hmpf. Your family is served better by you carrying on their lineage, not risking your life in such a dangerous place in the middle of the night.”

  He had a fierce look in his eyes as he glared at me from across the fire pit, an intensity that pierced through to the soul. It was hard to hold his gaze, but I didn’t look away. The old man burst into laughter.

  “Such spirit in so young a lad. You remind me of my last apprentice.”

  “Really? Where is he now?”

  “Dead.” The air grew colder as the word left his wrinkled mouth. The few teeth in his mouth reminded me of tombstones on a barren hill.

  Raven shot me a glance, and I read her uneasiness loud and clear. I didn’t like this man, and neither did she. We said little else to each other, and I watched the fire, throwing more twigs on it, and almost lost what little I had eaten when Yoshi crunched on the rat’s head.

  Chapter Fifteen

  Avikar

  Yoshi dug through the back of his wagon and a pile of scrolls spilled onto the ground. One rolled by my feet. I picked it up and unfurled the parchment. A map of the Crystal Caverns, the exact place I needed to go.

  “I’ll take that back.” Yoshi snatched the map out of my hands, surprisingly fast for an old man.

  “Do you sell maps?” I asked.

  “Some. Are you interested?”

  “Just that one.” I pointed to the one in his hand.


  “What would a boy want with a map of the caverns? It is no place for a novice armed with such crude equipment.”

  “That’s my business, and not everything I carry is crude and makeshift like your cart.”

  “That map isn’t for sale. You should thank me. Such an endeavor would surely claim one of your lives.”

  I glanced over at Raven. We needed that map to find the secret cache Red Hand kept. With the men dead, I only had my father’s vague clues to lead us. A map could at least keep us from being lost forever.

  “There must be some kind of arrangement we could work out.” I gave him a wide, friendly smile and opened my arms.

  Raven slipped her hands around her daggers while Yoshi picked up the other fallen maps. I shook my head. I wasn’t going to beat up an old man. I’d convince him, somehow.

  “Everything has a price,” I said nonchalantly.

  He tapped a bony finger against his chin. “What do you have to offer?”

  I slid out the sword I had purchased in Daath. “This.”

  The metal gleamed under the morning suns, highlighting the tree etched into the hilt, the edge still sharp enough to slice through almost anything. This sword had fought Lucy and the brutes, and retained its superior quality. I didn’t want to part with such a fine weapon, but it was worth its weight in coin.

  “Fine craftsmanship, but it’s merely a trinket when compared to blades I have seen. Besides, I have no use for such a mundane weapon.”

  The only other item I had on me was the dagger. How could I give up the only defense I had against magic? This dagger held my family’s history. A generational blade that was too important to be lost in a wagon of junk.

  Yoshi turned around and packed the scrolls into the back of his wagon. “Suns are up … I know I have … yes, here it is.” He pulled out a wheel. “I knew I had a spare. Excuse me,” he said as he pushed his way to the broken wheel.

  What choice did I have? I should’ve asked my father for more coin. Idiot.

  “We’ll find our own way,” Raven said.

  “No. We’ll get lost.”

  I took the dagger out of the sheath on my leg. The morning suns made the blood crystals shine. If I found the cache Father spoke about, we could have new weapons made. We’d be well protected from shapeshifters and anyone wielding magic. While this dagger held my family’s history, I knew that without a way to navigate the caverns, our family might not survive this war.

  Sadness slammed into my heart at the idea of handing the dagger over, but I had to be strong. Father will understand.

  “What about this?” I hesitantly held out the dagger.

  Yoshi’s bright eyes sparkled. “That … is no ordinary dagger. Indeed. Where did a child such as yourself acquire a treasure as vast as this?”

  “How can you tell?” Raven leaned over, inspecting the dagger as if she hadn’t seen it before. Didn’t she know it was magical?

  “I have a talent for spotting magical items,” Yoshi quipped.

  “Will you trade for the map?”

  “No.”

  What?

  “But, I will guide you there myself. You kids will be lost in the sands and never reach the caverns.”

  “The sands?” Raven glanced over at me and I shrugged.

  Yoshi snickered. “You two didn’t know you had to cross the Blighted Sands?” His cackle grew louder as he shook his head.

  What choice did we have?

  I really didn’t like this guy.

  “Fine, it’s a deal. But you don’t get the sword until after you take us there and back.”

  Yoshi pulled at his long beard. “You’ll need to give me some details boy, or are we to just wander the caverns?”

  “Get us to the northeastern tunnels. Once we’re inside, we’ll tell you the rest.”

  “You have a deal. Now, grab that wheel. We need to buy some horses and re-stock. It will be a long journey.”

  Chapter Sixteen

  Avikar

  After two weeks traveling with the old man, I was convinced I had never and would never meet someone like him. His good traits were manipulation and trickery … as for his bad traits, well, those were many. He did, however, prove to be an asset.

  Upon reaching a small village to replenish supplies, Yoshi not only acquired new steeds, but magical ones. Slightly larger than a normal horse, these mares traveled at three times the speed for double the amount of time. Yoshi bought them for next to nothing, trading for a pelt he claimed was from a magical beast. This magical pelt, he said, could keep the wearer warm in even the harshest conditions, cloak a man from animal detection, and was stronger than a suit of mail. The perfect coat for a hunter.

  No creature like that existed.

  I didn’t interfere with the transaction, only sighed when he said magical blades were the only weapons able to pierce the pelt. He was really laying it on thick.

  After the first day of travel, the horses proved to be exactly as promised. We made great speed, and didn’t encounter anything in our passing. Yet, a feeling of dread shadowed over the journey as if something lurked in the shadows. The image of the broken men in the cabin plagued my mind day and night like a nameless beast preying on my fears. If we had arrived any earlier, that could’ve been Raven and me in there.

  Maybe Yoshi’s crazy tale of a magical beast had gotten to me. For all his games, he was a convincing old coot.

  Day after day, the stillness of our journey ate at my nerves. No birds flew in the sky, no critters skittering by. I liked Yoshi less and less. Why was he in the woods? Why was he so eager to guide us and not just sell us the map? Once we had passed through a demolished village … I assumed from war, but those strange black burns, just like in the cabin in the woods, had ruined homes and left smoking marks across the grounds. No bodies, not even a lost sheep.

  My stomach rolled and invisible cold fingers gripped my neck. The closer we traveled to the caverns, the more I wanted to run home.

  Chapter Seventeen

  Lucino

  From the ledge on the tree, I peered through the looking glass at the wetlands that separated us from the Kuuni. Large patches of dry land connected in various ways, defined only by the thin scraggly trees where the roots rose and fell like a rolling snake. Some areas contained only a foot or so of water, but others I knew would be just over our heads. While over the centuries we had raided this island, much was still a mystery, especially this far inland.

  The first line of Kuuni transformed into their massive, bear-like forms, and charged across the marsh in a furious blur of white. Water and mud kicked up around them, coating their fur in camouflage. Growls rose forward, meeting us in a roar of defiance.

  A roar we would quickly end.

  “Synergists,” I shouted to the men below. “Light the arrows and fire on my count.”

  I held up my arm, waiting.

  Using intricate hand motions, the Synergists created blue balls of lighting around the arrowheads.

  “On three!”

  Kuuni plowed closer. The ground trembled under the weight of their stampede.

  “One … Two …”

  On three, our archers sent loose the first volley. Lightning zipped through the dawning sky, landing in the charging beasts, stunning them. Few stumbled, some fell, but most shook off the arrow and quickly got back on all fours.

  “Jagged arrows, now!”

  The next volley launched jagged arrows into their thick hides. These couldn’t be shaken off. Howls lighted the air as Kuuni cried from the pain, the jagged arrows embedded deep into their hides. They shook their bodies vigorously in attempt to dislodge the weapons, but only managed to pull out their own flesh, creating greater wounds.

  “Again!” I screamed at my men.

  The second wave of arrows launched, and a few of the beasts slammed into the ground, falling
to their death while their comrades trampled over them, continuing forward.

  “Warriors! First line, go!”

  With each command, adrenaline ran through my blood, an exhilarating sensation fueling me with strength and a hunger to fight. Only the fact that I was a prince held me in place. Battles had an order; I would fight, only when the fight reached my line.

  Scanning the battle, I searched for the Kuuni commander. He could be in beast form, already in the first wave, or not yet here. The Kuuni fought in the center of chaos, a wild rage that only saw blood and death.

  I slid down the tree and handed the looking glass over to my second. “First and second wave are engaged. Move two side teams to cover our flanks. I’ll lead this contingent.”

  “On your command.” He sprinted off, warriors and two synergists with him.

  “Now we wait.” I paced around the other warriors who eagerly looked forward, weapons ready.

  “Prince Lucino!”

  I spun around, just heeding the warning in time. A large Kuuni beast vaulted at me, sending me on my back, tumbling down the hill into the marsh below.

  I shook the dizziness from my head and quickly rolled to the side. He swiped his claws, grazing the left side of my face. The beast roared and stood on hind legs, towering over me by four heads. I jumped to my feet and jabbed my swords forward, stabbing the front of its chest. The Kuuni roared louder and backhanded me with a vicious blow to my shoulder.

  At the top of the hill, more beasts descended on our warriors. How could this be? How could they have attacked our rear? Where were our scouts?

  I wiped mud off my face with the back of my hand and shouted from the depths of my anger.

  The Kuuni returned to all fours, charging at me. Right before it connected, I jumped and pointed my swords down, then landed on the beast’s back and dug my blades into its neck, twisting them deep. The beast continued to charge, slowing, and stumbling the further it rode. I held onto the beast as it slammed into a tree and fell over.