They made camp in a cluster of trees, shielding them from view. Jake searched the area and attempted to find dry pieces of wood. He succeeded in finding enough to make a small fire. They huddled close, enjoying the heat from the flames. They heated some water and Hailyn added some herbs, making a floral tea. Jake savored the tea, the first warm thing he had consumed in at least a week.
In the morning, they departed under an overcast sky. The temperature was cool, but bearable. Jake took the lead, the sword resting across his lap. He led them through the trees and back out onto the open hills.
Around mid-day, he reined in Dontas and signaled Hailyn and Anale to stop. Running across their path was a dirt road that divided the rugged ground. It was more like a wide path than a road, but it was clearly made by man. It ran east-west, disappearing into the wooded hills in the distance.
“What do you think, Hailyn?” Jake asked quietly as she rode up next to him. “Should we take it east for awhile? We may find another road to take us south. It could speed things along.”
“It doesn’t look well-traveled, but if it allows us to move faster, I think it is worth trying,” she replied. “We can always leave it if we need to.”
“I was thinking the same thing,” Jake said. Giving her a smile, he booted Dontas ahead.
Once they were on the road, Jake picked up the pace. He kept an eye on the packhorse, afraid it could not keep up, but it ran without apparent effort. They reached the woods quickly, passing under the overarching branches that provided a canopy over the road.
They had ridden for most of the day when they came across the overturned wagon. The wagon was lying across the road, blocking their path. Jake slowed down, stopping Dontas as he looked it over. He was going to motion the girls around when he detected a groan from somewhere in the wreckage. He gestured to them to stay on their horses as he dismounted. He started around the wagon, checking for the source of the sound. As he came around the edge, he saw a man lying on the ground.
Just as he began to kneel down to check on him, he heard the crackle of crunching leaves and twigs come from behind him. He leapt back to his feet, bringing the sword up and embracing his power. He saw a small group of men dressed in hardened leather armor and rough clothing advancing on him, swords in their hands.
He sent a blast of magic into them, but it did no damage. He grimaced; they were ordinary men. That meant he had to face them with only his weapons. Bringing the sword up, he closed with them, hoping to take the initiative. They spread out, trying to come at him from different angles. He chose the one on the right and charged forward, the sword moving. The man shifted away, bringing his sword to parry Jake’s attack. The sword sliced through the man’s blade as if was made of air. He cried out and leapt away as most of his sword fell to the ground.
Jake spun and parried a thrust from one of the other men. Again, the sword cut through the man’s weapon as if it was not even there. Jake counter-attacked, swinging the sword at the man, trying to slash him across the stomach. The man, who was too close to avoid the blow, flinched as the shining blade came close.
Both Jake and the man were startled when the sword suddenly stopped a few inches before reaching its target. To Jake, it felt as if it hit a solid barrier, nearly wrenching it from his hands. The man threw himself back and scrambled away, as Jake looked in disbelief at the sword.
He saw other men coming out of the woods towards him. He attacked, destroying their weapons, but he could not harm them. The sword simply stopped before it made contact with flesh. The men surrounded him, cautious of the sword, but began to close.
Jake was debating going to his own sword when the men charged and he was tackled from behind. He dropped the sword, twisting and striking out with his fists, making contact with someone as more men leapt on top of him. He felt the blows begin to rain down on him, his armor taking some of the impacts, but not all.
“Take him alive!” Jake heard a man’s voice call out.
Hands grabbed at him, capturing his arms and wrestling them behind his back. He fought as best he could, but he was overpowered. His hands and arms were bound behind his back with rough rope. His weapons were taken from him and his helm and armor stripped off. A few swift kicks to his side and stomach left him gasping for breath.
As he lay on his side, he saw the sword lying nearby on the leaf-covered ground. He watched as one of the men tried to pick it up. As soon as the man touched it, he cried out and leapt back, clutching his hand.
“What happened?” the same voice that called for his capture asked from behind Jake.
“It was as if my hand was shoved into a fire,” the man who had tried to pick up the sword said, looking incredulously at his unharmed hand. “The pain is fading,” he muttered, clenching and unclenching his hand.
“Try again,” the leader demanded.
“Do it yourself, Orth!” the man snapped back. “I’m not touching it again. I have learned my lesson.”
Jake heard some muttering amongst the men as they looked at the sword, and then uneasily at each other.
“Bring the cleric,” Orth ordered. Hailyn came into Jake’s view, being escorted by one of the men. “Can you touch the sword, cleric?” Orth asked when she was close.
“Why should I help bandits like you?” Hailyn replied. “The sword is not for base purposes. You saw that there is a price to be paid for doing wrong.”
“That may be true, little cleric, but you will answer me or I will kill your protector,” Orth replied. Jake felt a hand grab his hair and lift his head off the ground. A sharp blade was pressed against his neck.
Jake saw terror cross Hailyn’s face and she held up a hand. “I can touch the sword,” she said faintly.
“You will take the sword and come with us,” Orth said. “If you try anything, the boy will die. Am I clear?”
“Yes,” Hailyn replied.
“Good. Pick it up and let’s go.” The blade was withdrawn and Jake was released. Hands pulled him up and then he was struck several times in the head and face. Disoriented and wobbly, tasting blood, he tried to focus on where Hailyn was when a rough sack was pulled over his head and he was led away.
CHAPTER TWO
The slightly musty smell of rotten fruit filled Jake’s nostrils as he stumbled along, unable to see. The rough canvas of the bag over his head rubbed against his face as he tried to keep his feet over the uneven ground. He was aware that at least two men guarded him, as they would grab his bound arms every time he tripped and lost his balance. A quick jerk to get him upright, and then they would release him.
He tried to stay calm as they moved further away from the road. He assumed they were heading deeper into the woods as he could feel and hear more leaves as they crunched under his boots. He heard the murmurs of some of the nearby men as they talked quietly, barely above a whisper.
Jake had no idea how long they walked, but he knew that the faint light that made it through the bag had faded by the time they stopped. As he was forced down to his knees on the cold ground, he made out the smell of burning wood. While his guards held his shoulders, the bag was pulled from his head.
Blinking against the canvas filaments that floated in front of his face, he saw Hailyn standing across an open space in the woods, the sword held in her hands, glowing softly. She wore an expression of determination, though Jake saw concern in her eyes when they met each other’s gaze. Anale was huddled next to her, fear etching her face as she looked at the men standing around the camp.
They were in a large hollow amongst the trees, ringed with small hills. Except for in the hollow, trees covered most of the ground, their branches intertwining to form a brown canopy. The branches from the nearest trees stretched into the hollow, but there was open sky above Jake. He glanced up and saw a few stars shine through the cloudy night sky.
He turned his attention back to the ground. The camp was a collection of rough tents spread around the hollow and under the trees. There were several racks filled with weapons pl
aced around the camp. A large stone fire pit was built near the center of the hollow, with spits for food spread above it. There was a small fire burning with several men standing next to it. Jake quickly counted nearly twenty men standing around, looking towards a large square tent, about thirty feet away from Jake.
The tent had a set of double flaps for doors, the flaps pulled back and open, revealing a rug covering the ground near the center of the tent and a wooden cot near the back wall. The tent was a dark green, made of finer material than the others. Jake saw the horses being tied off near the rear of the tent. Orth was standing near its entrance, his arms crossed over his chest and a self-satisfied look on his face.
Jake tried to suppress the sudden spike of anger when he saw the man wearing his swordbelt and weapons. He knew that it was stupid to be concerned about it, given his situation, but those had been a gift from Norlan. He clenched his bound hands into fists of frustration and tried to think of ways to get free.
Orth beckoned for Hailyn to join him, cocking a finger at her. “Come here, little cleric,” he called mockingly.
Jake saw a look of defiance cross her face, but she went over near Orth without comment, Anale staying right next to her. She stopped a few feet away.
“I claim you as mine,” Orth said loudly. He glanced around at the other men. “The girl can amuse the men until we can find someone willing to pay for her release. You will stay with us, providing healing, carrying the sword for as long as needed, and warming my bed.”
“We are not property for you to dispose of,” Hailyn said with anger in her voice. “I am a cleric of the One and I call upon you to give up your evil ways and embrace His forgiveness,” she said evenly, her voice carrying across the camp as she drove the sword’s point into the dirt for emphasis. The sword flared in response, the white light filling the camp, flashing like a bolt of lightning.
Jake saw many of the men look around, faces suddenly concerned. They glanced nervously at the sword and moved away slightly. Orth, however, was unmoved.
“I know of clerics and your ways,” he said dismissively. “You cannot use your power against us, or even try to physically harm us, even if you could use that sword. You must face the hard truth of this. You no longer control your fate; I do. You will obey me or I will be forced to show you what defiance will cost you.”
He gestured towards a hard-looking man standing near the tent. The man was short and stocky, dressed in boiled black leather armor, with several oddly-shaped knives around his belt. He had a cruel cast to his face, his dark eyes sharp.
“This is Enan,” Orth said smugly. “He once worked in the service of the Queen, providing encouragement to those in the dungeons to confess their crimes.” He laughed, though humor was not present in his eyes. “He was forced to leave Her Majesty’s service over a misunderstanding. Apparently, in his enthusiasm, he worked on the wrong man. The man came down with a case of dead, so Enan had to leave the city, just ahead of his former coworkers.”
“Fortunately, he has not forgotten any of the skills he learned there,” Orth continued mockingly. “Know this, little cleric. If you disobey me, I will turn you over to Enan. I guarantee that he will make you compliant and willing to please. Either way, you will never leave here.”
“Since I know that Enan will teach you to obey, I no longer need to keep the boy alive,” Orth finished. He looked over at Jake. “Nothing personal, boy. You simply no longer have any value, but I cannot just let you go.” He gestured towards Jake’s guards. “Kill him,” he ordered simply.
One of the men guarding Jake shook his head. “I’m no assassin, Orth,” he spat. “I joined your group to make money, not to act the butcher. I will kill a man in a fight, but if you want this boy dead, do it yourself.” The other man grunted in agreement.
“Are you women now?” Orth retorted haughtily, looking around the camp. “I thought that I had a group of men.”
An angry muttering rose from the men at that, many glaring at Orth. Jake saw Orth lick his lips nervously, realizing that he had overstepped. Orth raised his hand. “I misspoke,” he said quickly. “I know that you are not mindless killers. But the fact remains that the boy must be dealt with. Since you mentioned money, a gold mark to whoever does what must be done.”
Even the promise of gold did not elicit the response that Orth was looking for. Most of the men simply looked at each other, none stepping forward. Finally, Enan shrugged, drawing a knife. He looked over at Orth, who nodded, and then started towards Jake.
Jake heard Hailyn cry out, but as he frantically struggled against his guards and the bindings, he could only focus on Enan approaching. Seeing death come closer step-by-step, time slowed. In between heartbeats, his mind raced. As his options flashed in his mind, a memory appeared. Bruce was standing over him, that connecting thread like a wire in his chest, a willingness to do what he said. What had he said? Something about absorbing life energies?
Another image flashed in his mind. Tomaris coming closer as he lay on his bed, Jonas glowing brightly, that strange crawling sensation nearly overwhelming. Then, that brilliant white flash as he felt energy flow into his body, his strength returning. Suddenly, his mind went still.
As Enan stepped closer, his blade catching the firelight, a thought formed in that silence. Can I do what Bruce did? Tomaris had said he had absorbed Jonas’ life energy after the battle in the forest. That had occurred when he had been unconscious, so he had no idea of what he did. With only seconds remaining before Enan reached him, he had no time left to think about it.
In desperation, he pictured a connection between him and the man, an imaginary cord joining the two. Nothing happened. Trying to stay calm against his rising fear, he continued reaching out with his mind, trying to will it to happen.
When Enan stopped in front of him and reached down to grab his head, Jake stiffened when he felt a little jolt of energy, like he had touched an electrical outlet. With his mind, he grasped that sensation and pulled it into him. As the energy flowed into him, he saw Enan’s eyes take on an unfocused look. “Stop!” he cried.
Enan’s hand stopped. Jake almost lost the connection at his surprise that it worked. He took a deep breath and said, “Drop the knife.” The knife fell to the ground. He heard the men near him gasp and a surge of sound as the other men started talking nervously.
While holding onto the connection to Enan, he reached out towards the men guarding him. It took a couple of moments, but then he felt that connection. More energy surged into him as he grasped those connections.
“Let me go,” he told the men. They released their hold on him and stepped back.
“What are you doing, you idiots?!” Orth shouted. “Kill him!”
“Free my hands,” Jake commanded as he glanced around the campsite. As the man to his right cut away his bonds, he saw fear and uncertainty in the eyes of the other men. “Go towards the fire.” The three men complied and started to slowly move towards the fire pit, Jake walking right behind them.
“This is some kind of demon magic!” Orth cried as he drew Jake’s sword. “We have to defend ourselves!”
The other men drew their weapons, but most seemed unsure of what to do. They watched as those who tried to approach Jake suddenly went blank and followed his orders. The other men began to fall back from Jake and the men he controlled.
Knowing what he was looking for now, Jake went beyond those closest to him and sought out more connections. Shortly, he had taken control of most of the men. He had them gather near the fire, keeping all of them in front of him. The only ones still free were Orth and a couple of the men near him. He glanced over at Hailyn, who was looking at him with disbelief on her face.
The energy flowing into him was a mental rush, pleasurable and stimulating. However, with the energy, he also felt a flow of emotions into his mind. Fear, frustration and anger surged into him, forming a tight knot of emotions in his chest. His thoughts turned darker, anger rising up. His whole body was tingling, his mu
scles shaking, rage threatening to overwhelm him while he was trying to stay calm and focused as he confronted Orth.
“Let us go and I will not harm you or any of your men,” Jake growled at Orth.
When Orth did not respond, he started forward, but the man suddenly moved. He leapt towards Hailyn and grabbed her before she could react. Pulling her in front of him, he held the sword to her throat.
“Release my men or I will kill the girl,” he said, desperation in his voice. The men near Orth looked over at him, then at Jake, and began to move away.
Jake gritted his teeth to keep the anger inside. Almost contemptuously, he reached out and found the connection with Orth and the other men. “Drop the sword and go over with the others,” Jake ordered crisply. Jake turned to watch the men complied and went to stand with the other men.
Hailyn came over to him, standing at his side. “Jake-,” she began, concern in her voice, but he cut her off.
“Go get the horses and find my armor,” he said shortly. “I’m not sure how long I can hold them.”
Hailyn looked as if she was going to say something, but simply nodded her head and moved off, Anale following her.
Jake stood there, watching the men as their energy and emotions continued to flow into him. He felt as if he were going to explode if they did not get away soon. Lost in the sensations, he jumped when Hailyn touched him on the arm. He glanced over and saw her holding his breastplate.
“The horses are saddled and ready to go,” she said softly as Anale stood behind her with the rest of his armor and helm.
“Help me into my armor,” Jake replied. With Anale’s assistance, Hailyn was able to quickly put his armor in place. When she slid his helm on, Jake gave her a nod of thanks.
“Get the sword and mount up,” Jake told her as he continued to watch the men. “I’m not sure what will happen when I let go, but you need to be ready to ride.” He saw her nod and move towards the horses.
The Eternal Darkness (The Jake Thomas Trilogy - Book 3) Page 2
