From Darkness Won

by Jill Williamson

At his side? Achan’s stomach sprung. How much had she heard him say about Sparrow? Then he remembered it did not matter, for Lady Averella had broken their agreement. “I’m off, Shung.”

  He banged a fist against his chest. “Shung will not leave your side.”

  Achan closed his eyes. When he rose up into the Veil, he found Duchess Amal on the couch beside him. Achan blew out a quick breath and offered his arm. Shall we?

  She smiled, sending a small jolt through his stomach. There was something about her smile that got him every time. He could not place the reason. She took his hand, and before he could ask where they might go, she pulled him through the roof of his wagon and into the bright sky.

  He held tight, knowing he was safe with her, but still unsettled by the sensation of flying. Especially when Shamayim’s pull tugged at his heart. The speed at which they traveled blew their hair flat as if they were drenched from rain. The land spread out below like a map. Achan could see his camp, his wagon a small dot below his feet. The prairie grasses covered the ground in a soft green blanket, edged with a sandy coastline. Straight ahead, in the distance, the Lebab Inlet narrowed between the two Reshon Gates. The southern coast consisted of rocky cliffs. To the left, Darkness painted the horizon like a layer of black ash.

  My lady, if we can see where Sir Gavin rides, won’t the Hadad see him as well?

  Certainly. But we hope Captain Demry’s diversion will distract the Hadad enough so that Sir Gavin can take the gate and lower the bridge. Our job is to deal with the tanniyn.

  Achan’s stomach tumbled. How will we do that?

  Storm the one who controls it and send it back to sea.

  Will the tanniyn listen to us?

  Tanniyns are peaceful creatures when left alone. It will be happy to leave. If not, we can influence it.

  But I thought we weren’t to control anything?

  It is not advised, but we are not doing so to use the creature for harm. We are trying to help it. Arman has given us dominion over all the creatures of this land. He will not fault us for returning them to the sea.

  Achan could see the gate clearly now. Two pillars of stone towered on either side of the water. An iron portcullis stretched across the sea between them. A small garrison sat beside the northern pillar. Behind it, a massive drawbridge stood erect like a door without walls. That was what needed to be lowered if the army were to cross here.

  From the air, it was easy to see both armies. Before the entrance to the drawbridge, Esek’s soldiers sat atop horses, side by side in rows of fifty or more, five rows deep. At the end of each line were two chams, saddled and each carrying a rider. The front row was made up of archers. Directly in front of the gate, at the back of the line, ten black knights stood conjuring orbs of green light that hovered overhead. A jousting field’s distance out from the gate, another three rows of black knights— or so it appeared—stood in a line across the prairie.

  How many of the black knights were flesh and blood, and how many were illusion? And since when could chams be trained to carry men?

  Another jousting field away, Sir Gavin’s army approached. They too moved in formation. Two long rows of men in red cloaks on horseback. Archers in front followed by men with lances. Then, fifty feet beyond, came three groups of soldiers in square formations, six across and six deep.

  The duchess and Achan approached the water. Across the inlet, the coast was a cliff of craggy orange rock. A yellow dirt road extended from the southern pillar into a thick forest and on to Armonguard.

  To the west, Darkness hid the second Reshon Gate and the city of Mahanaim. Achan knew it was there, though. Had Sparrow arrived? Or was she still on the road?

  Do you see the tanniyn? the duchess asked.

  Achan turned back toward the gate and searched the grey waves. At first he saw nothing. The waves seemed rougher here than on the coast of Sitna. Then, like a thread pulling through fabric, a dark loop ran through the water until the tip of a tentacle sank beneath the waves.

  Is it like a big fish? Achan stared at the place he’d seen it, then scanned the surrounding water for where it might appear next. He had seen drawings of tanniyns, but no two were the same. Some resembled chams with the body of a fish. Some looked like fish. Some water snakes.

  Duchess Amal tugged him closer. I will take you to it.

  They soared over the sea. The sunlight shone on the glassy surface, reflecting the clouds above. Achan and the duchess were invisible and produced not even a shadow.

  There! Duchess Amal pulled Achan to the right.

  This time he saw a greenish-grey body spin through the waves. Keeled scales roughened the skin and darkened its appearance until smoothing out into three separate tails.

  It has three tails?

  Duchess Amal smiled, her ivory skin greyed by the water behind her misty form. Do not panic. It cannot see us or hurt us while we are in the Veil.

  She dove into the water, dragging Achan along. The water instantly cooled him, though that was probably an illusion provided by his mind. Everything darkened.

  See there? Duchess Amal’s hair and gown floated up around her. She pointed behind Achan.

  He spun around just as a dark shadow swam toward him, a maw flashing four large fangs with dozens of spiked teeth between them.

  The tanniyn swam past. Its head and long neck resembled a snake attached to the body of a massive lizard. Instead of legs or a tail, it had five long tentacles. Its head was brown, but its skin was spotted brown and white. It was ten times as large as the cham bear that had attacked Achan.

  Had Achan been in his physical body, he would have blacked out from forgetting to breathe.

  I sense the presence of a bloodvoicer, the duchess said.

  Achan concentrated on the beast, detecting the faint pressure of a wall around its mind. I sense shields. How can you tell they are from a man?

  An animal is incapable of shielding its mind.

  Right. Shall we storm the influencer now?

  We wait for Sir Gavin’s order. He is expecting my report.

  Duchess Amal gripped Achan’s arm, and they floated out of the sea and back to shore.

  Sir Gavin Lukos.

  As they flew over Esek’s army, Achan opened his mind to Sir Gavin. Duchess Amal was relaying what they saw from their positions, the numbers of the enemy, and the location of the tanniyn.

  Your assistance is most appreciated, my lady, Sir Gavin said. Are you there, Your Highness?

  Aye.

  You and Duchess Amal will storm the mages who are conjuring spells. Once you take them down, we’ll know how many we’re really dealing with. Prince Oren will help.

  Achan glanced at the gate. His uncle was in the Veil? But what about the tanniyn?

  Leave it until it becomes a problem, Sir Gavin said. The mages are the bigger threat at the moment.

  Didn’t you say there were two tanniyn?

  Aye, there were. If you didn’t see a second, perhaps they moved it closer to Mahanaim.

  Come, Your Highness, Duchess Amal said. Let us have another lesson in storming, shall we?

  Achan followed Duchess Amal back over the enemy ranks. The black knights were evenly spaced along the back line. They wore their black painted wooden masks over their faces, so Achan had no guess who they might be.

  A knock came to Achan. Prince Oren Hadar.

  Achan opened his mind. Where are you, Uncle?

  Floating atop the end of the drawbridge.

  Achan flew that way, and soon could make out his uncle’s shimmering form just where he said he’d be. Achan had his uncle’s height, blue eyes, and dark hair, though Prince Oren’s had some grey in it.

  Prince Oren smiled. You look well, my boy. I see Caleb is dressing you in the latest fashions.

  Aye, Arman forbid I wear a red cloak like everyone else.

  Prince Oren chuckled. I understand how you feel.

  Duchess Amal floated up beside Achan. Good day to you, Prince Oren. How would you like to proceed? />
  What say I start on the far left, you start on the right, and Achan takes the middle? Do not let the green light touch you, Nephew. It can harm your physical body.

  How can their magic touch me in the Veil?

  Because they wield dark magic, Prince Oren said. Sir Gavin is ready for us. On my command. He floated off the end of the drawbridge and down the left of the enemy line.

  Duchess Amal also floated away. Achan let himself drift down over the center of the line of black knights. He sought out Silvo Hamartano’s slicked-back hair but didn’t see it.

  The sight of all those black knights and soldiers twisted Achan’s stomach. He recalled Duchess Amal’s words about storming. Combine your push with the element of surprise. Combine your push with the element of—

  Now! Prince Oren yelled.

  Achan dove toward the nearest black knight, focused on the shields around his mind, and pushed. His hands made contact as he soared past. He twisted around to see the black knight’s physical body crumple to the dirt road. The vague image of the black knight’s mind soared back and vanished through the drawbridge.

  Achan glanced down at the end of the line in time to see Prince Oren—without even moving—send the mind from a black knight up into the sky as if tossing a pebble.

  Pig snout. Achan had forgotten to throw his man. Should he chase him down and fling him as Prince Oren had done? And how did Prince Oren do such a thing without even making contact? This man was a true Veil warrior.

  A green fireball shot past Achan’s shoulder. He glanced down in time to see a black knight staring up at him.

  How does he see me?

  Move, Your Highness, Duchess Amal yelled. Now!

  Achan zipped toward the drawbridge, hoping to pass through it and hide, but the moment he did, he came face to face with his first foe, hovering over the water.

  The black knight punched Achan, sending him right back through the drawbridge. He flew backwards, passed through a person’s body, and slowed just above the ground right in front of the physical black knight who could see him.

  Râbah yârad! The knight opened his mouth. A green spear shot out like an arrow and grazed Achan’s right ear. Fire blazed on the side of his head, and he cried out.

  Your Highness? Prince Oren called. What is happening?

  Achan fled. He flew through the stone walls of the garrison house. Light vanished as he entered the musty interior, until another green ball of fire shot over his head. He zipped through the building and out the other side. The green fire burned my ear. Now he is chasing me somehow.

  Wake, Your Highness, the duchess said. It is the fastest way to escape. Return in another location and try again.

  Achan tensed. Wake? But he had failed to—

  Another green ball of fire shot toward his torso. Just before it hit, a shake of his arm brought him back to his body. He opened his eyes to see Shung standing over him. The right side of Achan’s head smarted. Something stank. Bitter, like burned wool.

  “Little Cham listens too slow to please Shung. Duchess Amal said wake. Yet Little Cham waits to be killed.”

  “Thank you for keeping close watch.” Achan touched his tender ear. His hair felt crusty and short. His fingers came away bloody. He sat up and swung his legs to the ground in one motion. “Is my ear bad?”

  Shung grunted. “Part gone. Hair too.”

  Achan stared at his bloody fingers. “Gone?”

  Shung walked to the end of the wagon and withdrew a length of linen from a basket. “Green fire ate it, no doubt. Let’s wrap head before Little Cham returns to battle.”

  “Hurry.” Achan gritted his teeth as Shung worked. His ear throbbed, and pressing it against his head didn’t ease the discomfort. When Shung finished, Achan lay back and returned to the Veil.

  He found himself in the spot where Sir Gavin had been. Only Sir Gavin was no longer in the same location.

  Achan shot into the sky to get a better view. Black and red capes swirled below in a mêlée. Achan was pleased to see a great deal more red moving than black. Maybe some had been apparitions conjured by the black knights. He floated slowly toward the gate, taking in the scene. Two orbs still hovered in the sky. His connection to the others was still open. Duchess Amal? Prince Oren?

  Your Highness! Are you well? Duchess Amal’s voice had never sounded so rushed and intense.

  My ear was damaged, but I can hear fine.

  Praise Arman, Prince Oren said. Come. Sir Gavin’s men have reached the drawbridge. Two black knights remain, and we must keep the chams at bay.

  Achan floated toward the battle. What should I do?

  Storm the chams on the east. Duchess Amal will stop the chams on the west. I will finish the black knights.

  Achan slowed until he was ten paces from the nearest cham. He clutched the claw at his neck and simply stared at the beast, never having seen one in daylight. It was twice the size of any full-grown bear. A tendril of smoke rose up from its nostrils. Its mouth of fangs made Achan’s shoulder ache where a different cham’s teeth had once bit down.

  The wall around the bear’s mind sent a chill over him. Achan pushed against it. His force paused, as if the man influencing the cham had placed all his shield power in one location. Achan pulled back, then darted forward in a new location. The shields caught him again. So he focused all his strength in one place as well and pushed through. The man’s shields tore like a tapestry that suddenly gave way.

  Now that Achan had breached the shields, he threw the influencer’s mind from the cham as easily as knocking a child from a haystack in a game of mountain king. The cham shook its head like a wet dog, then sank on its forearms and brushed a paw at the bridle on its face. It turned its head and roared, sending a burst of flame that just missed the rider.

  The rider tightened the reins, but the cham roared again and rolled. Achan winced. When the cham came back to all fours, the rider lay limp on the ground. The cham loped off, tossing its head and smoldering.

  Achan turned his focus to the second cham. Its rider wielded a longsword, fighting one of Achan’s soldiers on the ground. The cham spat a stream of flames at another of Achan’s men. The soldier cowered behind his shield, then dropped it when the wood caught fire.

  Achan looked into the bear’s mind and found the influencer. He easily pushed past the shields this time, but as he prepared to storm, the influencer lunged out of the cham, straight toward Achan. Just before impact, Achan recognized the man’s face. It was Khai Mageia, one of Esek’s guards.

  Khai struck Achan, and the two tumbled head over heels through the air.

  Didn’t you die? Achan asked. For I saw Vrell Sparrow stab you in the back.

  Typical of that woman. Khai gripped Achan’s throat and squeezed. She betrays you as well, but you cannot see past her pretty face long enough to figure it out.

  Achan pushed against Khai’s chin and dug at Khai’s fingers with his other hand. What are you talking about?

  Your mind may be stronger, orphan prince, but I know how to use mine better.

  An invisible force shot Achan into the sky like an arrow. He passed through a cluster of clouds and did not slow. What if he couldn’t stop? He felt Shamayim’s pull and flailed his arms and legs, trying to control his movement, doing all he could to reduce his speed. He was being pulled in!

  BE STILL.

  The heat from Arman’s voice calmed him instantly. He shuddered, wanting to obey Arman, yet still needing to try and stop himself from moving. At this speed he would fly right over the Pearly Gate. A little help?

  CONCENTRATE.

  Achan closed his eyes. He could feel himself still flying, but he pictured the drawbridge and opened his eyes.

  He hovered at the foot of the drawbridge.

  Praise You, Arman! Thank You! Thank You!

  But when he looked up, a black knight stood before him, a ball of green flame raised in one hand.

  Achan barely had time to widen his eyes before the black knight hurled the ball.
The thought to wake occurred to him, but before he could connect idea to action, Prince Oren appeared between him and the black knight.

  The fireball struck Prince Oren, and he vanished.

  20

  The dungeon guard slowed, hand on the sword at his waist. “What’s this?”

  Averella’s pulse throbbed, but she was determined to seize the moment and play her role. She lifted her chin. “Guard, I require your assistance.”

  The guard stopped. “What yeh doin’ down here, woman?”

  Averella continued to walk as if this were her home. “I have come to see my brother. I am Lady Viola Livna, sister to Sir Rigil Barak of Zerah Rock. The man at the gate sent me down, told me to find a guard to let me in. I suppose you shall have to do.”

  The guard’s eyebrows curved into two arcs. “Forgive me, m’lady. Course I’ll let yeh see yer brother.” He turned back the way he came. “I was just fixin’ to choose another prisoner t’execute. Good thing yeh caught me a-fore I did. Might-a picked yer brother to feed to the tanniyn.” He chuckled, as if executing a man were all good fun. At the end of the corridor, he banged on a door. “Back up, yeh roaches. Back, I say!”

  Shuffling carried out into the corridor. Grumbling.

  The guard peeked through the bars on the door. “Ser Rye Jewel? Come forward.”

  Averella glanced at Noam and Gren, who both had turned as pale as milk.

  “Lady Averella?” Sir Rigil’s voice.

  But when she raised onto her tiptoes and peeked through the barred window, she met a stranger’s face. Scruffy cheeks, oily hair, filthy clothes. “Sir Rigil! Is that you?”

  “Unfortunately, yes. Why are you here? Master Rennan said you were coming, but I could not believe it.”

  Averella motioned to the guard. “Open this door.”

  The guard snorted. “Woman, yer a loon if yeh think I’m gonna do that. Most those men are knights. And I thought yeh said yer name was Lady Viola. Why’d he just call yeh Lady Ava-whatever?”

  “Only a nickname.” Averella batted her eyes and stepped up to the guard. “Is there no way I could persuade you?”

  The guard scowled, though his ears turned pink. “None of that, now. Yeh can’t dally yer way past me.”