He paused for a moment. “You may have noticed that there are only women and children in the village. That is because we send our young men into the hills when they reach an age to serve in the Dark Ones’ armies. Not all, of course, or we would attract unwanted attention. We select a few to remain, so when the Dark Ones come, we can offer them up as tribute. In the last few months, however, the Dark Ones have been seizing boys who would not usually be taken. That is how Boci came to be on that ship.”
“So if there was a way to be free from their dominion, you would welcome it?” Dominic asked carefully.
“Most men would,” Celric said. “Why do you ask these things?”
“What we seek is simple,” Dominic stated. “We need a way to approach the demons’ fortress unseen.”
“For what purpose?” Celric asked, confused.
“We seek to put an end to their threat,” Dominic replied directly, his face suddenly hard.
Celric stared at Dominic as if he had lost his mind. In that silence, a muffled, but pitiful, wail came from the rear of the house. A haunted look came over Celric’s face at the sound. The wail came again.
“What is that?” Jonas asked, concerned. “It sounds like a child.”
“It is,” Celric said sadly. He looked over at Teci, who nodded. He slowly stood. “Come. I have named you guests of the clan, so I would not have you concerned while you are in my home.”
They followed him out the back of the house to a small building set under a tree. Another wail came from that building. Celric unlatched the door and slowly opened it. Inside the room was only a simple bed. The walls and floor were covered with thick blankets. On the bed, there was a small boy, only around four, with his arms tied down with soft clothes. There was a manic look on the boy’s face as he struggled against the restraints. Celric went over and gently untied the child. The boy immediately flailed around, wailing and shaking. Celric picked him up and held him tightly as he sat on the bed, humming a wordless tune and stroking his hair. After a few moments, the child began to calm. Once the boy was settled, Celric looked at them.
“This is Decan, the child of my only son,” he explained. “My son and his wife had gone to live in his wife’s village. They were killed during a raid by a rival clan, so the child came to me. Nearly a year ago, he was playing with some other children near the shoreline and fell, striking his head on some rocks. He was unconscious for several days, but when he woke, we immediately noticed changes. He began to have seizures and slowly lost his ability to communicate. His strangeness began to worry others, saying that this was the work of the Dark Ones. Some even suggested that he be killed, to rid ourselves of this burden.”
He held the boy tighter, a sudden fierce look on his face. “He is my blood, the last thing I have of my son. I will not allow any to harm him. I built this place, so he may be safe. It may seem cruel to keep him in here, but I have no better option.”
Jonas stepped forward. “Celric, I am a cleric of the One and wield His Light,” he said gently. “If you would allow me, I would like to examine the child. Since the injury occurred long ago and injuries to the brain are complex, I likely will not be able to heal him, but I may be able to relieve some of the symptoms.”
Celric looked questioning at Dominic. “You can trust that Jonas will not do anything that will harm the child,” Dominic said. “I ask that you allow him to proceed.”
Celric thought about it as he continued to stroke his grandson’s hair. Finally, he nodded.
Jonas approached slowly and knelt in front of the child. He reached out to place his hand on the boy’s forehead. At his touch, the boy began to shift around and a low whine came from his throat. Celric started humming again and the boy calmed.
The room was filled with golden light as Jonas called up his power. The boy stiffened as Jonas worked his healing. His body began to tremble and a concerned look came over Celric’s face. Jonas had his eyes closed as he sent his magic into the boy.
Jake felt a sudden warmth come from the sword. The runes on Jonas’ staff began to glow with a soft white light, causing Jonas to open his eyes in surprise. The boy suddenly relaxed in Celric’s lap. Jonas continued to send his magic into the boy for another few moments, and then released his power. As he stood, the boy’s eyes fluttered open. The boy looked around and then up at Celric. Softly, as if he was relearning how to do things, he spoke. Jake heard him say “Papa.”
Celric hugged his grandson tightly, his eyes full of emotions. Standing, with a satisfied look on his face, Jonas motioned for the others to leave the room, to give them some privacy.
As they stepped outside into the cool night air, Jonas looked over at Jake. “Did you feel that?” he asked.
“Yes,” Jake said. “The sword grew warm while you were healing him.”
“I felt a sudden increase in my power, but it did not do as I directed,” Jonas said reverently. “It went into the damaged area and healed those parts that had resisted my efforts. It did things I had not thought possible.”
Before Jake could respond, there was the sudden sound of movement from the direction of the village and a large group of young men, armed with spears, came around the house and confronted them. Jake pulled Hailyn behind him as Dominic stepped in front of Jonas. Jake rested his hand on his sword and took a breath, his mouth suddenly dry. They faced at least twenty men.
One of the young men stepped forward, his spear held ready in his hand. “What are you doing here, strangers?” he demanded shortly, his voice angry. He looked to be around twenty, was tall and muscular, with dark eyes and hair. “Speak or I will-” he started, but cut off when Celric came out of the small building, still holding Decan.
“What are you doing, Redric?” Celric demanded, voice hard. “Who are you to raise a hand against my guests?”
Teci and Boci came out of the house, but were stopped by a gesture from Celric. When Decan saw Teci, he reached out towards her with his arms. Celric went over to his wife and handed the child over. Jake saw tears in Teci’s eyes as the boy hugged her.
Celric stepped in front of Dominic and confronted the young man. “Did you not hear me?” Celric demanded quietly. “Answer my question.”
“We had word that strangers had come to the village,” Redric stated sullenly. “We came down to defend it.”
“Did I not order you and the others to stay in the hills unless I called for you?” Celric asked.
“Yes, but-” Redric began.
“Am I not the clan chief?” Celric demanded. He shifted his stance slightly. “Do you believe that you can now replace me?”
Jake saw Redric look around and notice the other young men looking at him. His eyes went flat a moment before he lashed out with his spear at Celric. Celric slipped past the blow, allowing the spearhead to narrowly miss his body, and moved forward. He captured the shaft of the spear with his arm as he kicked Redric in the stomach, knocking the young man back and stripping the spear from his hands. Celric spun the spear around as he swept Redric’s legs from under him. As Redric fell to the ground, Celric drove the spearhead down. The point pressed firmly against Redric’s throat, as Jake saw blood tricking from where it broke the skin.
“I did not hear your answer,” Celric said, voice hard as stone as he slowly increased pressure on the spear. More blood began to run. “Who is the clan chief?”
Redric looked up at Celric’s face and saw no pity there. Finally, as the spear pushed deeper, he said, “You are, Uncle.”
Celric kept the spear there for a moment longer, and then withdrew it. “Does anyone else wish to challenge me?” he asked the other young men, spear held ready.
Jake saw the others back away, grounding their spears. Satisfied, Celric turned to Dominic. “Please forgive this insult, Dominic,” he said apologetically. “Redric and Boci are the sons of my youngest brother. While Boci has taken after his mother, Redric has the same hardheadedness of my brother.” He smiled slightly. “I had to teach him a lesson or two growing
up as well.”
“Sometimes sharp lessons are the most informative,” Dominic said with a smile. “No apologies are necessary as no insult was taken.”
While Celric ordered the other young men to go and stand watch, Redric was given a cloth to staunch his wound and sent inside the house. Celric refused Jonas’ offer to heal the young man. “If you heal it, then the lesson will be lost,” he said. “A little pain will not kill the boy.”
Jake looked over at Dominic when Celric said this, recalling his training. Dominic simply gave him a look as if to say, “I told you.”
As they ate, with Decan sitting happily on Teci’s lap, Celric told Jonas, “I have heard tales of others that could do what you did, Jonas. The Dark Ones hunt all that can use this power. Somehow, they are able to detect it in people. To stamp it out, clans are required to turn over any who show signs of this ability. I know that a few escaped, heading into the hills and disappearing.”
After dinner, Jake and Hailyn joined Teci in the main room, watching as Boci and Decan played while Dominic, Jonas and Celric spoke at the table. Sitting next to Hailyn on a short couch, Jake felt eyes on him and saw Redric leaning against the wall, the cloth still pressed against his neck, staring at him. When Jake met his eyes, he saw Redric smile smugly, a challenge clear on his face. Jake scowled at that, tensing.
“Jake,” Hailyn said softly, squeezing his hand. “Ignore him and pay attention to me.” Jake nodded, embarrassed by his reaction.
Suddenly, the front door flew open and one to the young men that had accompanied Redric came in. “Forgive me, Celric, but there is a group approaching along the road,” he said quickly. “It is a patrol of the Dark Ones accompanied by warriors.”
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
“How long before they get here?” Celric asked as he rose.
“Only a few minutes,” the young man said.
“What will you do?” Jonas asked. “We cannot allow word of our arrival to reach the demons.”
“You are guests, as I have named you,” Celric said grimly as he went to retrieve his spear. “I will do what I must to protect you.”
“Allow us to help you,” Dominic said, slipping around the end of the table. “We have experience fighting demons and the clerics can counter the demons’ power. We have no wish to endanger you or your village.”
Celric hesitated. “What do you suggest?”
“Since Redric and his group wish to fight, send them behind the rises on either side of the road,” Dominic told him. “Jonas and I will take a side and Jake and Hailyn will take the other, staying out of sight, in case they want to search the village. You can meet the patrol as you normally would. Perhaps you can send them on their way without fighting, but we would be ready to counter them if it comes to it.”
Celric nodded. “It is as good a plan as any.” He turned to Redric. “Gather the boys and do as Dominic said. You will wait for my signal before you take any action. Do you understand?”
“Yes, Uncle,” Redric said. Motioning to the other young man, he hurried out the door.
“Let’s go,” Dominic said. Jonas followed him out the door with Jake and Hailyn close behind.
“Jake, you and Hailyn go over there and stay out of sight,” Dominic said as he pointed to the southern rises. “Act only if Jonas or I do.”
Jake nodded and took Hailyn’s hand. They raced past the village buildings and behind the rise near the road. They crawled up to the edge, looking out over the road through the low bushes. Ten of the village’s young men crawled up to join them, spears ready.
The night seemed darker and more oppressive as they waited in silence. In that quiet, they heard the approach of horses along the road. Out of the darkness, two columns of riders rode in formation with their spears angled up. Before he saw them, Jake felt the chill of the demons’ presence. He then spotted two of the red male demons running between the horses.
On a sudden impulse, Jake reached out with this mind, touching those points of life energy of the men riding the horses. They all felt normal. Then, curious, he shifted his awareness to the demons, praying that they could not detect it. To his surprise, he found similar points of energy. However, the energy that emanated from the demons was wholly different. When he touched those points, it was like a wild immense flame, burning and savage. Startled, he withdrew his awareness, watching for any signs that the demons had felt him.
The columns slowed, and then stopped, as they entered the village. The demons walked forward, approaching Celric, who was standing alone in the courtyard, spear in hand. When they stopped, he bowed.
“How may I serve you?” he asked deferentially.
“Where are they?” one of the demons demanded, its cold voice carrying across the courtyard. The other demon was looking around the area, searching for something.
“They? Who are they?” Celric asked.
“Do not play games with us, mortal,” the demon said sharply, stepping closer to Celric. “We have encountered the scent of an artifact that belongs to us. We know it came through this village. If you do not answer me, I will kill every last human here.”
Jake held his breath. They can feel the sword.
Before Celric could respond, Jonas stepped out from behind the building at the edge of the village, his shining form casting away the night. “I am here, demon,” he stated defiantly. “Try your threats against someone who does not fear your dark power.”
The demons spun towards Jonas, their dark magic surrounding their bodies, darker than the night. They launched their power against Jonas, who deflected the attack with a brilliant lance of his own might. The collision of those powers shattered the night.
The demons’ soldiers began to move forward, spears lowering, when Dominic charged out of the night, sword in hand. He quickly killed two men before the rest could react. He batted away spear thrusts as he created havoc in their formation.
With a loud battle cry, Redric and his companions charged down at the soldiers, spears flashing. Within seconds, the road descended into chaos as the soldiers were caught between two attacking forces. The screams of men and horses rose as a counterpoint to the loud claps of exploding magic.
Jake rose up, embraced his power and sent a vivid blast of cobalt fire into the nearest demon. The demon, focused on Jonas, was unprepared for the attack and exploded into ash. The other demon, rocked by the explosion, was regaining its balance when Jonas, Hailyn and Jake struck it simultaneously. Unable to withstand such force, it collapsed noisily into ash.
Jake quickly slid the Guardian’s sword off his back and handed it to Hailyn. He drew his sword and ran down into the battle. Directly ahead, he saw Celric moving with the grace of a deadly dancer as he moved amongst his foes, his spear striking quickly and accurately. When an enemy soldier, on foot and with a sword in hand, came up behind Celric, Jake charged him. The man was too late in recognizing the threat, spinning at the last second only to take Jake’s sword into his midsection. Jake jerked his sword free and slashed again, slicing across the man’s abdomen. The man fell to his knees, and then collapsed.
As Jake brought his sword back up, he saw that the fight was almost over. The enemy formation was gone, with dead men lying on the ground and horses wandering about. While Redric and his companions were finishing off their opponents, the one remaining soldier still mounted turned his horse and started to race away. Jake saw Celric heft his spear, take a few steps and hurl it at the fleeing man. When the spear struck the man, he gave a short scream and tumbled from his saddle.
With that, the battle was done. Jonas and Hailyn moved quickly to heal Celric’s wounded. Dominic came out of the fight with a slight limp, blood visible on his leg. Jonas went over to him, but Dominic attempted to wave him away.
“No, Dom,” Jonas said firmly. “We still have challenges ahead that will require us to be at our full strength. If your wounds slow you down, that may mean the ruin of us all. You will accept my healing.”
Dominic looked irritated at
that, but after staring at Jonas’ determined face, he finally nodded. Jonas reached out and took his hand, quickly healing his wounds.
Once that was done, Dominic went over to Celric. “What will you do now?” he said as he pointed at the dead men.
“We will collect the weapons and horses and bury the men,” Celric stated as he surveyed the carnage. “The patrols are infrequent, so all traces will be gone before another patrol appears. If one comes, we will simply tell them that the other patrol rode through after questioning us.”
“You could join us,” Dominic suggested quietly. “You could lead us to the demons’ fortress. We will need someone who understands this land.”
Jake saw Redric look as his uncle, with an anticipatory gleam in his eyes, but Celric shook his head. “I cannot, Dominic,” he said with regret. “I have an obligation to protect my clan. If I joined you and marched openly against the Dark Ones and you fail, then they will find and kill every last member of the Gabo clan. I cannot risk my people.”
“But, Uncle-” Redric protested, but was cut off by a sharp gesture from Celric.
“Do I need to teach you another lesson on who runs this clan?” Celric asked softly.
“No, Uncle,” Redric stated sullenly. Celric stared at him for a few more moments, and then turned back to Dominic.
“I understand, Celric,” Dominic said. “You have done more than enough. If you will give us directions, then we can be gone in case any more patrols come.”
“I will do you one better, Dominic of Sanduas, I will draw you a map,” Celric stated. He stared at the horses. “Since you cannot travel openly, the main roads are out of the question. To save you time, I give you four of the horses. Since he is so eager to do something, I will also send Redric to lead you safely into the hills. There are several trails that run the length of the hills. The journey will be slower, but safer, since few actually travel the hills.”
The Eternal Darkness (The Jake Thomas Trilogy - Book 3) Page 22
