A Kiss of Darkness (Gothos Series)

by Selena Wolfcastlin

  I.

  King Alther looked over the countryside that laid in ruin. The village was burning and bodies lay strewn across the grassland. It was a horrible altercation that he knew would have happened sooner or later. The Northern Territory of the land called Gothos by his ancestors who had come to this land by boat so many centuries ago just witnessed another great battle. His pride would not get the better of him on this day or any day for his knew that without the six mystical and powerful stones that protected his land and kept things in harmony he could not have crushed the rebellion in the Southlands. Reaching up he stroked his copper colored beard, the smoke hiding the great grief rising within him. His son the great and beloved boy prince, Robert Kalanus had been killed at the ripe age of fifteen and would never step into his robes and rule the land and keep the four territories at peace. There was always warfare, it was unavoidable but in his many years as king he had kept it to a minimum. The battle between the four territories was not the greatest threat at the moment. The Scythian race, beings that could be physically beautiful or terribly monstrous had shown themselves to be the biggest threat to the land. These creatures that drank blood from humans needed to be eradicated, but he feared it would not happen in his own time. The moon had reached its zenith and all had fallen quiet and hushed. Exhaling deeply his gloved hand patted his mount and started to trek down the hill back into the ruins of hell itself. The deep feeling of loss was palpable as he neared the huts that once held cheerful residence. A man of fifty-five and built like a warrior, the sight of such destruction aged him very quickly. His son had been laid to rest in the great hall of the largest building that had once been a tower keep. Upon the great table the body of the boy laid after being washed and dressed in clothing for his cremation. To their tradition the funeral would occur as soon as possible, lest his spirit haunt the place restlessly. Anger and despair were the only emotions his royal highness could feel as he stood firmly before the front of the table gazing down at the lifeless form of his only son. Emily, his dearest wife and queen had passed from this world giving birth to little Robbie leaving him with two sons. He was grateful and blessed to have two heirs, but he had hoped his youngest would be named his successor instead of his brother Damon. The eldest coveted his position and ignored the knowledge stubbornly that his father might not choose him to be heir to the throne of Golthos. Alther tried to comfort himself with the knowledge that Damon was loved by his men who he trained and fought with and would be rid of the Sythians and all other enemies that would take up arms against him. The king could not though ignore the fact that Damon was also known for his cruelty and calculated nature. The prince would have surely killed his father if he wasn't so sure that he would inherit. For now the young man now eighteen would be content in his stone fortress of Macglerk, raising arms for battle as often as possible. It was common knowledge that the prince has called together a group of warriors called the Gogothian Knights that would mount a crusade to extinguish the demons that howled at night for human blood. It would of been a great victory for the king in his years that he knew were now short he wished vainly that he had been the one to take on these creatures and not burden his son with the responsibility. All he wanted now was peace that deep inside he knew would not come. Shaking his tired head he turned from the body of his dear son and called aside his Captain, Lucrus and gave him orders to send men out to secure the area and send a message to the Guards of the Great Stones of what has transpired. Not being a man of words he didn't want to draft the letter himself the anger still hot in his veins at the loss of his son. The blame could not go to these men and women who administered their gifts and energy into protecting the overall health of the land. No, they could only do so much, the Guard of the Stone of War had been the council at his ear and he knew he would not have succeeded without it. The stars were bright in the sky as he stood at the entrance of the great hall awaiting the arrival of his only living son and heir, Prince Damon.

  The King's eyes were fixed on the horizon when a group of his men arrived on their horses with a young man perched upon his black stallion, armor gleaming in the moonlight marred with the blood of the poor and wretched soul that had crossed his path in battle. Upon getting closer the prince dismounted from his horse and gave a formal bow to his father and king. The crown prince was not a tall man but not a short one either. His build was medium with broad shoulders and well-muscled arms under the gleaming armor. As his younger brother had been fair haired and skin, he was dark with tanned flesh from being out in the sun. His dark brown hair was pulled back over the nape of his neck and his eyes were the color of onyx. Even as he rose from his bow he surveyed his father with that cold and calculated blackness. The men always compared the prince to a hawk with a slight curve of his nose down taking up most of his face. "My lord king and father. The rebellion has been quelled. I have made sure that it will take many, many years before they can mount another attack on us “The young man said, the corner of his mouth turning into a smile that would cause a shudder through a weaker man. Alther stood firm acknowledging that even through his grief that his elder son had been the bringer of this victory. It didn't lessen the blow of the news he would have to impart on his child. "My son, your brother has fallen in battle. You are my only living heir and will rule when I die" he said, his voice tight with emotion he was trying hard to keep back. To his surprise he saw an expression he did not expect from the child of his linage. He could see a glimmer of joy rising in the other man's eyes.

  It will soon be mine! Damon thought as he stood there gazing at the graven face of his father, the high king. Try as he might he could not keep his joy at bay. Seeing that his father had picked up on these emotions with all of his might he forced himself to look contrite, hoping his father would think himself mistaken if he had seen it at all. "My poor, dear brother. He was not a man of battles but that of court and of wooing ladies “he said silkily. “His body at once must be burned, lest bad humors and spirits fill this hall “he added solicitously. The truth is he had always since childhood despised his little brother. The creature that not only robbed him of his mother by taking her life in birth, but would have taken the inheritance that was rightfully his! Now fortune had smiled on him and given him the opportunity he had prayed for. When he became king he would appoint new guards of the sacred stones who he could mold and manipulate to use their powers for his own ends. In their fealty to him they would make him a god among men. The prince kept his thoughts and intentions hidden guarded close to his chest as the next day came and standing next to his father, surrounded by his men as a large pile of wood was built as a funeral pyre and his brother's body was laid upon it. Even as the torches were put to the logs, Damon was already plotting out the assassination of his father. HIs father was a doddering old fool if he thought the knowledge of being the next in line would satisfy him. It was his luck that his brother had died in battle and would save him the time and coin carrying out a similar plan for him. Robert was always astute even as a child and knew of his brother's nature and was always quick to protect his father, but now all of the doors were open to him. Turning his head he looked at his father standing solemnly at his side noticing the lines in his father's face traced by grief. The man was in good health, but with the death of his dear wife he had not been the man he once was, and now with the death of his brother his father would be an easy target. Hiring an assassin would be not needed in this case. In this case it was only a matter of when and where. He planned to bribe on of the maids to drop a bit of poison in the king's goblet the old man slept and make it look like he died in his sleep overcome with the stress of battle and the loss of his youngest. Unable to help himself he smile
d with his head bowed to hide it. Everything was going his way now. The only one who could of any weight in this was only an infant, a boy born by a village woman near their castle who was not legitimate. The woman named Eilan was greatly adored by his father and he planned on exiling her and the brat once he is king of the land. The prince turned his thoughts from his little half-brother and to the larger fish to fry. The Sythian beings who had once by legend been peaceful creatures, feeding on livestock were now humanities greatest enemy. Even now they encroached on the land like large bat winged monsters, swooping down when the sun goes down. They seemed fearful of the sun's rays and of fire. It was not enough; he would need to find a greater weapon against them. He hoped once he had the guardians under his sway he might discern this weapon. His fingers wrapped around the leather strap holding his sword in its sheath, stroking it lovingly with his forefinger as he watched the body of Robert burn away. It was seven whole years later that the king would die in his sleep. There were whispers that the circumstances were not nature, but no one in the court or in the palace could prove it. Damon, the Jackal as he was known by those who hated and feared him was crowned King of Golthos, lord of the Four Territories, and master of the land. After the great mourning of his father the new king's first order of business would be to cruelly exile his father's mistress Eilan and her son to the barrens of the Western Territory. This was the place rumored to be the home of the Sythian creatures. The king hoped that the simpering girl and her child would die out there if not from the beasts then from starvation. The new royal would unwittingly let his future enemy and destroyer through his grasp in his arrogance. At a later date his half-brother would walk right into his hall and dispatch him on the sword forged by his enemies. For now he gloated at his cleverness as his wife sat in the corner sewing, praying for an heir that would never come. The Golgothian Knights would wage their war on their supernatural foes and new guards of the stones would be trained to take the place of the predecessors who would pass on at the sacred place called Dragus Falls.

  1. Mysteries

  The rain was pounding the marble floors making it slippery to the unwary. The young girls stood side by side with hands raised to receive the cold droplets that would cut the humidity that has rolled across the land of North Territory. Sera being nine- years old was almost identical to her twin sister Asura except the color of her eyes that was a dark blue well her sisters were light. Both girls wore blue orange tunics with matching loose trousers, their hairs done in four plaits, two hanging in front and the two behind their skinny shoulders. Their feet were adored with matching kid sandals made of imported silk from the Isle of Gralos that the feared King Damon ruled and used greatly as a port and trading market. After a moment they were standing hand in hand looking out at the breathtaking valley below them as they did when the weather was like this. It was strange behavior for two little girls to do, but since their dear mother passed on in a sickness and their father who died in the great Battle of the Southlands they only had each other in the entire world. The cold and rainy days was a reminder in spite of the relief it gave. The fate of the two girls would have been to begging and drudgery for them if the great astrologer of the king, Talbus took one look at the little lasses and knew they were special. After confirming his hunch he concluded to the king that they were to be chosen as guardians of two of the sacred stones. After that announcement from the wizen man the king had seized their assets; their father's land, home, and property for payment for the lessons and care the girls would undertake and thereby erasing their former lives. The residence they took up was called the Hall of Clothos, a structure of stone nestled on the edge of mountain protected by steep cliffs and one road leading to its entrance. The measure that the builders made seemed unnecessary since no one, even the enemies of the former king would dare attack this sacred place. Here the six great stones of Alympia lay in a silent circle and its hall is where the guards would be trained. The six children both male and female studied and learned in a palace filled with rooms for study and contemplation and vast gardens where herbs were grown for medicine and the sereneness was enjoyed. The children would learn the skill that was chosen for them for the good of the land.

  "Sera, Asura! Don't stand there gaping at sky like turkeys. All of the others are waiting for you" Amerus, their gray haired tutor chided them, standing in his crisp white toga and leather sandals. Asura let out a long sigh and squeezed her sister's hand and turned running up to the old man and standing there. "We were wondering where the rain comes from" Asura said her lower lip pouting a bit, her light blue eyes looking up at the scholar. He chuckled and studied her for a long moment. "They are mysteries that no one fully has to the answer to" he replied his light gray eyes flickering to Sera still standing there gazing out thoughtfully. He walked up to her slowly and placed a hand on her shoulders. Her eyes were soulful as she looked up at him pensively, always the more serious of the twins. "Amerus, I always wondered if they were the tears" she said very softly. Amerus bent down very slowly due to the weakness in his knees and looked at her. "If they are tears then who sheds them?" he asked her, studying her face. The little girl shifted slightly where she stood and gave a slight shrug of her shoulders. "Mysteries" she replied after a long pause. "Perhaps they are" he said, the corner of his eyes wrinkling with amusement. These moments were ones that made him question if healing was the skill best for little Sera. It was her twin who was the Guard of the Stone of Wisdom which was only somewhat fitting. Asura had a mind for studying, but she never questioned the world around her which was a pity in itself. He mused further as he led the two girls to the heavy wooden double doors that were open to invite the cool breeze from the rain. At the round table sat on lounging pillows were three boys and one girl, turning their head coming to attention as the teacher joined them with the two girls trailing. It was unusual that there were three girls and three boys to be Guards of the stones but didn't change the trials that would be ahead of them. Amerus went down the three steps and approached his cushion and sat down arranging his robe. The children were dressed all alike in orange robes, the color of initiation. When they were trained fully in their own specialties they would don the shades of the stones they were sworn to protect. These study sessions were to teach them history, geography, math, and other important learning before they would focus on their own skills. Asura plopped down next to a sour looking young boy with black hair cropped cut to the back of his neck. Emrick was destined to study and protect the Stone of Time to his irritation. At the age of nine he felt he had all the time in the world and couldn't see the wisdom that would come with his soon to be status. He would rather be Guard of the Stone of War, or slashing a sword in the training hall of the Gogothian Knights, the protectors of the land from its enemies. The other three were Retuna, a shy girl who would Guard of the Stone of Elemental. Next to her was Calus, a kind faced young boy who was to guard the Stone of War not yet fitting the role he was to take over in the future. Finally sitting across from Sera sat Talos, Guard of the Stone of the Unseen that would be a challenge of its own for the somewhat sheepish boy.

  Amerus snapped his fingers and a wordless servant brought him the large rolled scrolled then blended back into the scenery. With great care he unrolled it upon the round table, the scent of age wafted in the air. "This is a map of the world we live in that separates the civilized from the barbaric." he said in a quiet voice. He didn't need to raise his voice as the six children looked down at the old map. "The four provinces of the land, broken up by war and natural erosion" he told them, flattening the old scroll with his wrinkled fingertips. "We live in the Northern Territory that is protected by the Gogathon Knights. They have kept the peace and protected you children until you are ready to harness the power of the stones" he said stretching his hand out, pointing to the place on the map where they are. "The Eastern Territory is filled with simple people and fields that give us the goods we use every day. We must pay respect to the farmers and gardeners that provide the thi
ngs we need" he said calmly eyes sweeping over the young ones listening intently. He took a moment to make sure there weren't any questions posed before continuing. "The Southern Territory is a land of uncultured nomads and outlaws." he said. Calus leaned his elbows on the table, resting the side of his face against his cheek. "I have heard rumors from the servants that they are criminals and thieves" he chimed in his voice filled with curiosity. The elderly instructor peered over at the boy at the other end of the table with his pale colored eyes. "Yes, that is true. They are people who have been driven to the point of desperation after the great battle that claimed the king's brother Prince Robert the Kind" he said calmly. "I have heard that creatures live in the Western Territory that snatch people in the night “Emrick asked leaning forward a bit on his cushion, quirking a curious brow causing all the students to rise to attention, all eyes on the scholar. For a few minutes the room was silent as Amerus removed his glasses, polishing them with the front of his robe before replacing them on the bridge of his nose.

  "So you have heard the stories about the darker race. It is best that I tell you the true story to dispel any rumors you might of heard." the scholar turned his back to the group and stared silently at the mural of an old palace spiraling to the sky. "Centuries ago in this very city the old civilization lived. Sythians and humans lived together in harmony and understanding “he said which caused many whispers behind his back. “The story that has been passed on from our ancestors was that the Sythians started the battle which caused great bloodshed and fed their unnatural hunger for blood. Before that moment the Sythians fed off of animals and did not indulge in the arcane feeding on the blood of humans. This great change was a great and terrible event. The Sythians almost destroyed the human race until the great King Ursa called upon a sorcerer, a mage named Bulrius who told him to seek a great stone in the palace of the Sythians. That stone would have the power to weaken the Sythians. Ursa was given the map and created a small force of men. They stormed the castle and found the stone on the table under the great hall in a secret chamber. Using the spell that was given to him the king charged the stone and fought the Lord of the Sythians and killed him. The story goes that the Sythian priest, Darius took up the Lord's sword and with all his magic and skill shattered the stone into six pieces so it could never be used again by us humans. They were wrong of course because the six stones from that great stone became those that you protect and serve" he told them finally. All six children looked at Amerus with a look of absolute awe. "What happened to the Sythian Lord's sword?" Calus asked cocking his head to the side. "No one knows and those who have sought it have never found It." the teacher replied fixing them with a weary glance. "The sad part of this story is that the Sythian Lord and King Ursa were friends once. This great battle turned friends into mortal enemies."