The Shadow Trilogy Complete Box Set

by Dayne Edmondson

  Dawyn assessed the man lying like a crippled animal before him. He eyed his blades. How easy it would be to deliver revenge, to seek vengeance, for all the men this giant had killed. He sheathed his blades. “You will die of your wounds if a healer does not see to you soon. Give me a reason to call the healer to you. Why should you live?”

  “I am strong,” the man said.

  “Not strong enough,” Dawyn said. “Try again.”

  “I have gold. I will pay.”

  “The beggars will have your gold when you die, for you will be unable to prevent them. I say again, why should you live?”

  “Because I don’t want to die,” the man whimpered. Dawyn reached down and flipped up the visor on his helmet before straightening. Tears streamed from his eyes, mingling with blood running from the top of his head.

  “Neither did the men you so brutally killed,” Dawyn said. “But unlike you, I will show mercy. Call a healer!” Dawyn shouted toward the viewing box. He leaned down close to the man’s head. “If you survive, remember always this day. Change your ways and use your strength for good or I will end you. Do you understand?”

  “Yes,” the man croaked, nodding his head.

  Dawyn nodded, satisfied that the man was sincere for the moment, and remembered that the melee was still going on. Alarmed, he spun and searched for his next opponent.

  Only one man still stood. The rest lay in pain or dead on the sands of the arena. The single man, short, bulky Galatian bearing a large battle axe, eyed Dawyn with caution. Dawyn reached for his blades but stopped as the Galatian threw his axe down and announced his surrender.

  A healer rushed out to tend to the big man, while another man came out to announce Dawyn as the winner. The crowd roared in triumph at his victory.

  Chapter 14

  The high wooden walls of the city of Rovark loomed ahead of John and his retinue as Chen and his riders led them toward the gates. A pair of riders at the gate saluted as the group passed and Chen led John and the rangers toward a large wooden structure set atop the hillock.

  Captain Hills ordered his rangers to remain outside while he dismounted. John followed suit.

  Chen led the two up the stairs. The guards flanking the door opened it as they approached.

  Inside, a handful of gray-haired men in robes stood near the front of the building.

  “Are these the elders?” John whispered to Captain Hills.

  Captain Hills quirked an eyebrow at John. “What gave you that impression?”

  “Oh, right,” John said, feeling foolish. Of course they were the elders.

  Chen stopped before the five elders and knelt. John and Captain Hills followed suit. “Revered elders, I bring before you John Edgerton and Captain Dacian Hills from Tar Ebon. They and their rangers came to our aid fighting a party of the demons from the north.”

  Demons? John thought. Well, if I didn’t know any better I would probably think they are demons also.

  “They call these demons 'Krai’kesh,'" Chen continued.

  The elders, who had turned to view their visitors, remained silent for a long moment.

  John began to fidget, looking at Captain Hills, who remained kneeling, out of the corner of his eye. Were they supposed to say something? John opened his mouth to speak…

  “Welcome to our lands, strangers. We thank you for your aid to Chen and his riders. Why have you come so far north to our lands?”

  Right to business then. John took the lead. “Well your, ummm, eminences, or eldernesses, the Krai’kesh aren’t just terrorizing your lands. We saw a large host heading south. We skirted to the west of their main horde, but by now Tar Ebon is under siege. The queen of Tar Ebon sent us to ask for your aid.”

  “Queen?” one elder asked.

  “Yes. Queen Coryn. Her father died trying to delay the Krai’kesh advance before they reached Tar Ebon.”

  “This is grave news,” another elder said.

  “How do you know your city has not fallen already?” a third elder asked.

  John paused. “Well, I don’t. But I have faith that it hasn’t.”

  “Faith in what?” the first elder asked.

  “Faith that Coryn wouldn’t have sent us to gather an army if there would be no city left to save.”

  “Perhaps she wanted you out of the way. To save you?”

  John shook his head. “No. She barely knows us. Dawyn advocated for us to be sent, not Coryn.”

  “Dawyn Darklance?” the second elder asked.

  “Yeah,” John replied.

  “He yet lives?”

  John averted his eyes to the side. He had kinda made that obvious, hadn’t he? “Ummm, yeah, he’s still kicking.”

  “Kicking what?”

  “It’s an expression,” John said, kicking himself mentally. When would he learn that expressions from Earth might not go over so well there? “It means he’s alive and well. He was down in Selucia last I heard.”

  The elder who spoke looked at the other elders. “If Dawyn Darklance trusts in this mission, I trust him.” He looked back to John and Captain Hills. “Our riders will ride forth to aid you when you return to Tar Ebon.”

  John breathed a sigh of relief. Well, that was easy. Now the hard part - fighting the Krai’kesh.

  Chapter 15

  Anwyn stood beside her father as the druid council members filed into the circular room and took their seats at a semi-circular table facing the two visitors. The bark of the ancient tree the temple was built around sat at their back.

  Her father glanced at Anwyn before moving to his place at the table.

  “Council member Darryn, why have you asked us here?” the lead druid seated at the center of the table asked.

  “I have in my possession a letter, presented by my dispossessed daughter Anwyn, from the queen of Tar Ebon. Anwyn claims the king met his demise against a dark enemy from the north and that his daughter, Coryn, has taken the throne. The letter asks for the aid of Gallea in the fight against these creatures. The letter names these enemy as the Krai’kesh.”

  Two of the seven druids shared glances, while the head druid held out a hand for the letter. Darryn surrendered it.

  The elder druid read the letter at least twice before looking up and addressing Anwyn. “You risked punishment for breaking the terms of your exile to bring this letter here. Why?”

  Anwyn straightened and ran her gaze over the assembled druids, even her father, before settling again on the elder druid. “The message I carry is more important than any punishment dealt to me. The consequences for the world if Tar Ebon falls are dire. I was the only one who could arrive in time and with minimal challenge.”

  “You would have us risk the lives of brave Gallean warriors for a nation that we call only loosely an ally?” her father asked with a sneer. “What have they ever done for our land?”

  Coryn focused her gaze on her father. He, out of spite for her, would be the main challenger to the Galleans coming to the aid of Tar Ebon. “Tar Ebon is the light in the dark,” Anwyn said, jabbing her finger toward the west. “Right now they are the only thing standing between the Krai’kesh and the rest of the world. So you ask what they have done for you? They are holding back the darkness in the hope that more torches will come. Will you be a torch, or will you watch as the light of Tar Ebon is snuffed out like the moon behind the clouds?”

  Her father’s face had gone crimson. He opened his mouth to speak.

  “Enough,” the elder druid said, cutting off Anwyn’s father’s retort. “This council will deliberate on the matter presented. Anwyn, if you would wait outside please, we will ask you to return once we have reached a decision.”

  Anwyn bowed low. “As you say, honored elder.”

  ***

  The doors to the druid council chambers opened a while later and Anwyn was asked to return.

  “We have come to a decision, Anwyn. The druids will come to the aid of Tar Ebon. We cannot speak for the rest of the Gallea, but we will speak with the king
of Gallea and ask that he consider supporting us in our effort to aid Tar Ebon.”

  Anwyn let out a huge sigh of relief. “Oh, thank you, honored elder. Thank you all.”

  The elder druid nodded. “You may remain here, Anwyn, until our forces are prepared to march. Then you may journey with us.” He eyed her father for a long moment. “We will not be punishing you for breaking the terms of your exile, given the circumstances of your return.”

  Anwyn gave a solemn nod. “I understand, honored elder.”

  Chapter 16

  As Bridgette and the rangers were led into the city of Shar’Hai, Bridgette observed her surroundings. The people of Sagami went about their business purchasing and peddling goods, oblivious to the fact that one of their greatest champions had been slain. Some of the guards posted on each street corner eyed her, trying to determine the purpose for her escort, and Bridgette smiled behind her veil. No matter what part of the world she traveled to, men were curious to learn what they didn’t know.

  As the procession arrived at the palace, Bridgette, the rangers and her escort dismounted.

  The servants bowed as the group entered the palace. The interior of the palace had a distinct oriental feel to it, from what Bridgette recalled of the Far East from her time on Earth. Chances were the Sagami had descended from Founders with East Asian heritage.

  At last, they reached the throne room. The shogun sat atop a sand-colored throne, a painted mask covering all but his eyes - eyes that watched Bridgette and her rangers as they entered.

  The lead samurai warrior bowed before speaking. “Shogun, this woman,” he almost spat the word, “slew Captain Yoshida in combat. We have brought her here to face your judgment.”

  The shogun, whose eyes had not left Bridgette, was silent for several long moments. At last, he spoke, in a soft voice that carried the weight of power and authority. “You do not bow?”

  The rangers behind Bridgette, remembering their manners, bowed. Bridgette kept her back straight. “I bow to no one.”

  One of the men standing behind the shogun’s chair stepped forward, hand on the hilt of his blade. “She disrespects you, shogun. Allow me the honor of slaying you for this offense.”

  Bridgette appraised the man. He was young, perhaps in his mid-twenties. She snorted. “I would gut you before you could draw that sword, boy. Let the adults talk.”

  The young warrior’s face turned crimson and he stepped forward. “I will…”

  The shogun held up his hand, forestalling the warrior’s words. “Enough.”

  His soft yet powerful words stopped the young warrior in his tracks.

  The shogun spoke again. “You have disrespected my position and my house, child, but I will forgive you if you speak your name and why you are here.”

  Bridgette eyed the young warrior for a second longer, as if daring him to strike, before speaking. “Forgive me, shogun. My name is Bridgette, and I have traveled here on behalf of the kingdom of Tar Ebon to ask for aid from the kingdom of Sagami.”

  “Why do you ask for such aid?”

  “Alien creatures from the north have destroyed the army of Tar Ebon and laid siege to the city. The king perished in the fighting. We have been asked by his daughter, the queen, to gather forces from all the nations on this continent. I was sent to negotiate with your kingdom.”

  “Why should we help your nation?”

  “Because if you do not, your nation will be next to fall to these creatures. Only united do we stand a chance.”

  “Lies,” the young warrior spat out. “She wants to lure our armies to a foreign land so they might be destroyed.”

  Bridgette ignored the young man and kept her eyes on the shogun.

  “We have heard reports,” the shogun began, “of such creatures that skitter on four legs like an insect might. We will send our forces to the aid of Tar Ebon.”

  Bridgette let out a sigh of relief.

  “There is one condition.”

  “Name it,” Bridgette said.

  “Upon defeating this enemy, you must submit to Sagami justice for the death of Captain Yoshida. I would not deprive Tar Ebon one of its greatest warriors in their most desperate time, but you must answer for what you have done. Do you agree to our terms?”

  “M’lady,” Captain Osley began.

  Bridgette raised her hand to silence him. “I agree to your terms. Upon the successful defeat of the Krai’kesh army, I will submit myself freely to Sagami justice.”

  Chapter 17

  The customs officer had not disappointed - he had indeed forgotten to send the letter Jason gave him to the palace. Jason had instead sent his own, and received a reply almost immediately.

  Now he and Favio were being led through the Sea Palace, the heart of the rule in the Citadel, by the king’s chamberlain and a pair of guards.

  The Sea Palace had been built on cliff overlooking the ocean, with parts of the palace suspended above the ocean. A steep drop awaited any person foolish enough to leap from its balconies, or so Favio said. Jason realized what he claimed was true as he entered the throne room.

  Thick panels of glass lined the floor, providing an unimpeded view of the waves crashing against the cliff walls hundreds of feet below. The view gave Jason a sense of vertigo while at the same time instilling him with a sense of awe. The wall behind the thrones was pure glass as well, providing a view of the vast ocean. The view was only obstructed by the thrones themselves, and the man occupying the largest of them.

  “Your majesty,” the chamberlain announced as he led Jason and Favio to toward the throne, “may I present Jason Thorpe from Tar Ebon and his companion Favio.”

  The king, an aging man with long gray hair and piercing green eyes studied the two of them. “Welcome to the Citadel,” he said in a deep bass tone. “I received your message,” he held up the letter Jason had sent to the palace, “and understand your nation is in peril?”

  Jason cleared his throat before speaking. He had been around enough royalty since arriving in Tar Ebon that he was no longer nervous like he might have once been. “Your majesty, as my message alludes to, Tar Ebon faces a dire threat from the north. Alien creatures, known in legend as the Krai’kesh, have awoken and marched from the north. They have eradicated the Haguesfort and laid siege to Tar Ebon. The queen of Tar Ebon is asking for the aid of every nation on the continent.”

  “Even the Galleans?”

  Jason averted his eyes. “Yes, even the Galleans.”

  “I find it hard to believe the Galleans would agree to ally with us in this fight.”

  “Well, I haven’t received word of their assent to our request yet,” Jason said. “But I am confident that when they understand the gravity of the situation, they will put aside their hatred of your nation and join our cause.”

  “And you hope the same for me, yes? That I will put aside my…dislike for the Galleans and lead my armies to your nation’s aid?”

  “That is our hope, yes.”

  “How do you expect us to reach Tar Ebon, sir Thorpe?”

  Jason thought about protesting he was no “sir,” but decided against it. “Your city is the most renowned maritime port in the known world - surely you can use your ships to reach Tar Ebon.”

  The king laughed. “Oh, if only it were that easy, sir Thorpe. May I tell you a story?”

  Jason could not deny the king’s request. “Of course, your majesty.”

  “Five hundred years ago the kingdoms of Gallea and Allyria maintained a tense peace, much like it is today. The Galleans remained in their woods and…dissuaded any Allyrian from entering their realm, while our knights patrolled the wide open fields, deterring Gallean raiding parties.

  “That balance broke when a conflict arose between the crown and the merchant guilds. You are familiar with the seven merchant families I presume?”

  Jason looked to Favio before answering. “Yes, I've heard about them. They have an outpost in the Crossroads.”

  “An outpost, yes, but their true hom
e is here. The Crossroads are more like a summer home for many of them, a place to get away and show their opulence, but their true seat of power lies here, in the Citadel. Five hundred years ago the families staged a coup on the royal family. They thought that because they controlled all trade into and out of the Citadel they could rule the kingdom. In a series of revolts, the mercenaries and sell-swords hired by the seven families drove the royal family and their retinue of guards from the city. The king did not put up much of a fight, seeking to spare his city further devastation.

  “The king rallied his armies in the field and brought them to the hills north of the Citadel. There, at his royal villa, he waited. You see, the barrier between the Gallean raiding parties, and even their armies, and the Citadel had always been the cavalry of the Citadel. Armies on open ground had little defense against the heavily armored knights of the Citadel and often crumbled after the first charge. But without the knights to defend the Citadel, the Gallean warlord saw an opportunity.

  “The Galleans massed their armies and laid siege to the Citadel. The merchants, thinking they had won when they drove out the king, soon found themselves on the verge of losing their city as mercenaries and sell-swords deserted in droves. In their most dire hour, after the Galleans almost breached the walls, the merchant families sent a messenger by sea to the king’s villa in the north. They begged the king to come to their aid. The king agreed to come but on one condition. The merchant families would surrender their right to rule and would swear fealty for all time to the crown. The families, faced with little option, agreed.

  “So the king of the Citadel led his riders south and crushed the Gallean army. The open fields outside the western gate, to this day named the Blood Gate, were soaked with the blood of the Citadel’s enemies and their army, what was left of it, fled back to the woods. From that day on the balance has been maintained, both between the Galleans and the Citadel and the merchant families and the Citadel.”