by Matt Heppe
“I…I don’t know the details.”
“Telea, what do you know for certain?”
Telea sighed. “The gate is guarded by powerful magic and a terrible demon. Only Forsvar can penetrate the magic and defeat the demon. Only Forsvar can get you over the East Pass. Without Forsvar, the journey ends before it starts.”
“And the Orb?”
“The Orb might be needed to close the gate permanently. It took a huge blood sacrifice to open the gate. It will take great power to close it. But that can’t happen until the demons are defeated.”
“Might?” Handrin asked.
“Some think a strong chorus might be able to close it. Even physically destroying the stones of the gate could do it.”
“I know that the Orb will help me unify Salador,” Handrin said. “I know that it will help defeat the Rigarians and these lyches.” He turned to Ayja. “If you must, take only Forsvar with you. Leave the Orb of Creation to do the good works it can do here. If it is truly needed in Belen, send word in the spring.”
“You don’t have to say yes,” Telea said. “You already have them both, Ayja.”
Ayja knew it was true. She’d feared this meeting, but Handrin had come to it in good faith. He didn’t have the power to stop her. If she wanted to take both, she could take them. If she wanted to be queen, she could be queen.
Am I victorious, Handrin had asked, or am I defeated?
She saw the concern in his eyes. He knew the choice was in her hands.
“You are the King of Salador,” Ayja said. “It was Helna’s wish that Handrin the Great should have the Orb of Creation. That’s impossible, but it can go to his heir.”
“No!” Telea cried out.
“I’ve made my decision,” Ayja said. “King Handrin, I give you the Orb of Creation. Rule wisely, and know that I am your faithful subject.”
Ayja approached him and held out the Orb of Creation.
“Princess Ayja of Salador, by this act I know that you were truly raised by Champion Nidon,” Handrin said. “There are few in the world who would willingly give up such power. May there always be peace and friendship between us.”
Ayja proffered the Orb to him and gently placed it in his hands. There was a brilliant flash of light and then it was gone, hers no longer. A profound sense of loss nearly undid her.
What have I done? I’ve given away Helna’s Gift.
Handrin stood, staring into the Orb. After a moment he looked up. “I can never thank you enough,” he said.
“Orlos and even Telea speak highly of you. You will do right by it, Your Majesty.”
“With Your Majesty’s permission, I will go to Belen as well,” Rayne said, breaking his silence. “If the Orb of Creation is truly needed in the East, I will be the messenger who brings word to you.”
Handrin looked as if to object but then nodded. “I will miss you, my friend. We will send a company of knights to escort the princess, and I name you Captain of the Guard.”
Cam took a deep breath. “I guess I’m going to Belen.”
“I beg of you not to,” Handrin said. “Without Rayne at my side, I need a strong right arm. You know the hardship Salador will face over the next years. Salador needs you, Champion Nidon.”
“I’m sorry, Your Majesty, but I can’t let Ayja go without me.”
Ayja touched his arm. “You are the Champion of Salador, Cam,” she said. “This is your place, and you’ve been away too long. King Handrin will need you by his side.”
“I’ve never spent more than two days away from you in fifteen years,” Cam said, looking down at her. “How can I let you go?”
She saw the concern in his eyes. She didn’t want to part from him either. But he’d already sacrificed fifteen years of his life for her. How could she ask for more? “You’ve lived in exile for fifteen years, Cam. Return to Sal-Oras and help King Handrin make Salador safe and strong. Telea, Rayne, and Orlos will be with me. We’ll end the threat of the Dromost Gate and be home before you know it.”
“My rule will be stronger with you at my side, Champion Nidon,” Handrin said. “I won’t hide it. Your name stands for honor in Salador.”
“You’re certain, Ayja?” Cam asked.
No. I want you with me. She held the words in check. “In Belen you would just be a bodyguard,” she said. “Here, you can do great things.”
Cam embraced her, crushing her in his powerful arms. “Come home soon,” he said in her ear. “When the world is a safer place we’ll go to Landomere together.”
She blinked back tears. “Yes. Yes we will.”
Cam turned to Handrin. He was about to kneel when Handrin held out his hand and they clasped wrists instead. “Thank you, Champion Nidon,” Handrin said.
“I suppose, in a way, you are going in my place, Sir Rayne,” Cam said, smiling at the young knight.
“He’s spent much of his life trying to live up to your knightly ideal,” Handrin said. “And, although some might say I speak with the prejudice of friendship, I think he’s succeeded.”
Rayne shook his head. “I’m just a shadow of Champion Nidon,” he said to the king, although his eyes stayed on Nidon. “No one will ever be his match.”
Cam laughed. “From what Orlos and Telea tell me, I think you could thump me pretty good.” He paused a moment. “I’m proud of you Rayne…Sir Rayne…proud of the man you’ve become.”
Rayne’s jaw worked, but he seemed unable to speak. He managed only to nod his head in acknowledgement of the praise.
Handrin thumped him on the shoulder and said, “You deserve every word.” Then Handrin turned to Ayja. “Princess Ayja… cousin… if Champion Nidon vouches for you, then who am I to speak out against you? I place my trust in you that you’ll hold Forsvar in good faith as a Princess of Salador and that you will see this quest of arms to its completion.”
Ayja bowed to him and in her best High Saladoran said, “Your Highness, cousin, I swear to be your faithful subject, to bear Forsvar in your name, and to return having completed this task.”
“Orlos,” Handrin said, “Are you certain you wish to take up this task? Your family will miss you dearly.”
“I am the only free spiridus. I don’t think the Great Spirit will let me rest until this task is done. I’ll go with Ayja. How long could it take?”
“Months at least,” Telea said. “Maybe even a year.”
Orlos took a deep breath. “I’ll go. I have to go.”
“All would have been lost had you not taken Forsvar from the Queen Mother, Orlos,” Handrin said. “And then you returned to the battle at the most opportune time. I cannot in truth declare you Champion, but I can make you a Knight of Salador. Will you accept, Sir Orlos?”
Orlos beamed. “A knight? Mother will be very proud. I suppose I’ll need a different shield, though.” He removed Forsvar from his arm, and taking a knee, offered it to Ayja.
The moment she touched it, Ayja felt its power. This was different than holding the Orb of Creation—this was a weapon. Ayja’s awareness of her surroundings blossomed. The world appeared more intense, more in focus than it had before. She slipped the Godshield onto her arm—it was simultaneously lighter than any shield should be, and at the same moment as unyielding as if it had been crafted of solid steel. She let her vision shift into the aether, and the shield radiated power.
Ayja took a deep breath. If she was going to journey into a dangerous world of summoners and demons, she was glad she was doing it bearing Forsvar.
Epilogue
The thirty-eight riders were well above the tree line now, high on the East Pass. They’d left the escorts down on the valley floor a day ago. Only Ayja had any family to say goodbye to. Cam had come along, leading four lances of the Knights of the House. They’d shared a tearful farewell, and then she, Orlos, Telea, and Rayne had headed up the pass. The two Landomeri rangers, Calen and Sindi, had joined the group just after the battle at Sal-Oras. After failing in their efforts to convince Orlos to go home, they refus
ed to let him go to Belen without them.
Five lances of Saladoran knights rode with the party, volunteers who would escort Ayja and her companions into Belen. Two more Saladoran messengers came, their only job to let King Handrin know when the main group had cleared the pass. Five drovers had come along but would turn back when the horses could go no further.
On their fourth day they reached an impassible gap twenty strides across. “How long will this take to get across?” Orlos asked as they unloaded their horses.
“Not long,” Ayja said. She put down her pack and gave Forsvar to Orlos. She took a coil of rope and gave one end to Orlos. “Tie this off on that outcropping,” she said, pointing. “I’ll take care of the other side.”
“How—”
Before he could finish, Ayja dropped the coil, took up the other end, ran several strides, and jumped. Wind rushed up to take her, lifting her clear of the gap, and then she landed on the far side.
When she turned, Telea was clapping while Rayne shook his head. “Forgive me, Princess,” Rayne said. “To know someone is an elementar is different than seeing one in action.”
“Ayja,” she called across the gap. “Don’t call me princess.”
“Of course, Your Highness,” he said, smiling.
“Quite the jester,” Ayja said.
Ayja drove pitons into the mountain face, but with elementar magic and not with a hammer. Then, using iron climbing rings Telea had described, and Sal-Oras smiths had forged, they ferried the party across the gap. Telea, despite Rayne’s objections, went first, having done it before. One by one, the others followed, until all but Orlos had crossed.
“This is amazing,” he said, as he dangled half way across the gap.
“Get over here, you fool!” Rayne said.
Orlos laughed with joy and joined them. “I love the mountains,” he said. “Belavil is just a hill compared to this!”
“There are higher mountains ahead,” Telea said. “And longer gaps to cross.”
“We’ll be in trouble if we lose you,” Rayne said.
“You certainly are a cheerful one,” Ayja said.
“It’s the truth.”
“Then you should do your best to keep me from dying.”
He nodded. “Sir Nidon and King Handrin said the same thing.”
Heavily burdened with ropes, pitons, and packs, they hiked higher and higher into the mountains, the air cooling and the wind picking up with each step. The effort of their climb kept them warm though, so that they shed layers as they went, only to put them back on with each pause.
It was late in the day when they came to a way station carved into the side of the mountain. They’d seen another before, but it had been partially destroyed in a rockslide. This one, however, was secure and even had a stock of ancient wood inside. It was also large enough to handle the entire group, if a bit cramped.
“There’s still some light left,” Ayja said. “We could press on.”
“Better to seek shelter here,” Telea said. “Night falls quickly in the mountains, and we’re high enough up that it will be bitter cold.”
Orlos walked a short way up the path. “Did you hear that?” he asked, cocking his head.
“I only hear the wind,” Rayne said.
“No, there’s something else.” The others followed as Orlos made his way further up the cliff road. Four Saladoran knights joined them. Orlos held up his hand. They all heard it now—a distant, terrible howl. “Is that…”
“The demon,” Telea finished. “The one I told you of. The guardian of the pass.”
“Is there any way around it?” Orlos asked.
Telea shook her head. “If we want to go to Belen, we must pass the demon.”
Ayja nodded. “And that is what we’ll do.”
Acknowledgements
I didn’t do this alone. I couldn’t have. Without the help of friends and family Shadow of the Knight never would have been published.
As usual, my friend, Mike Shultz must get first mention. Mike is my critique partner, sounding board, idea generator, stupid idea circuit breaker, and all around writing advisor. He was with me every step of the way and I can’t thank him enough.
Joan Shal and Carol Heppe served as my alpha readers. They provided the first round of editing and helped smooth out the rough edges of the first draft. It isn’t an easy job.
Ian Williams, Robert Sulentic, Kelsey Tarzia, Dan Joyce, Steve Callahan, James Latimer, Harvey Lapp, Shelley Uthgenannt, Jake Kirschenmann, Matt Kirschenmann, and Cindy Kirschenmann together eliminated dozens of errors and helped point out areas needing more clarity. A big thank you to all of you for your beta reading efforts.
If, despite our best efforts, you find an error, just shoot me an email and I’ll make sure it gets fixed. I want all of my readers to have an enjoyable, error-free reading experience.
Dallas Williams is responsible for the amazing new covers for all of my novels. He was wonderful to work with. Steve Sandford created the terrific map. I have incredible respect for their artistic talents.
Thank you to my mother, not only for the alpha read, but for instilling your love of reading in me. Thank you to my wife, for enduring this process once again. I promise it will all pay off one day. I’m sure it will!
Shadow of the Knight is dedicated to my father. He taught me the positive attitude and goal setting skills that have carried all of my novels to completion. Thank you!
You can find me on the web at:
mattheppe.blogspot.com
Facebook:
facebook.com/mattheppeauthor
Twitter:
@mattheppe
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