The Elder Stones Saga Boxset: Books 1-3

by D. K. Holmberg

  28

  Daniel

  The market was awash with noise and vibrancy, and Daniel looked around, feeling the same unease he’d experienced his first time here. He shouldn’t. It wasn’t as if he were in any danger, not with a woman like Carth standing next to him. Every so often, he glanced over at her. She wore a strange black cloak around her shoulders, the hood covering her head.

  He couldn’t tell if the cloak was real or if it was made of congealed shadows. Now that he’d been around her a little while, he recognized her control over shadows. From what he could tell, Rayen had the same control, though perhaps not quite as exquisitely as Carth. All of the women within the city seemed terrified of her, and at first, he’d thought it came from something Carth had done to them. But the more he got to know her, the more it seemed as if they feared they had disappointed her.

  “Why did you want to come here?” Daniel asked.

  “You wanted to find your friend. It shouldn’t be so difficult—not in this city, not with my network—but unfortunately, much has changed.”

  “Kasha seems to think she’s not here.”

  “Kasha thinks a great many things. She also thinks my network has been completely disrupted and that I have no connections within the city. She would be wrong.”

  “I don’t understand. When I was meeting with Rayen, she said that she served under someone. I suspect that’s you, but what has happened?”

  “What happened is that I have been preoccupied. That preoccupation has taken me away from some of my other responsibilities, to the point where some believe that I no longer have a vested interest in them.”

  “What have you been doing?”

  She looked over at him. “The same thing Rsiran Lareth has been doing.”

  “The Forgers?”

  She smiled darkly. “He refers to them as the Forgers, and perhaps they are. His understanding of them is skewed because of what happened to him all those years ago. He fears them the same way he once feared the Hjan, though the real enemy is much more dangerous.”

  They weaved through the crowd, and Daniel didn’t know what Carth was looking for, only that she meandered from booth to booth, clearly intent on finding something. “All I’ve heard about the Hjan is rumors.”

  “Because you were born after they were destroyed.”

  “Is it true that Lareth is the reason they were destroyed?”

  “Rsiran was integral to stopping them, but then his grandfather was a part of something much worse, and I think he felt an obligation to defeat him.”

  “Is that how he got so powerful?”

  “Rsiran’s power comes from within, but he was also gifted his abilities, the same way you were gifted yours. The same way I was gifted mine.”

  “Your abilities come from the Great Watcher?”

  She looked over at him, a half-smile pulling on her face. “My abilities are a little different from those of the Great Watcher, but there are similarities.”

  “If it’s not the Great Watcher, what is it?”

  They reached the edge of the market. Daniel had to push through the crowd in order to keep up with Carth, and she stood with her back facing the market, looking down a narrow alleyway. Shadows stretched along the alley, leaving him wondering if she was somehow able to use those shadows or whether something else was involved.

  “What you call the Great Watcher is but one of the many Elders.”

  “Elders. By that, you mean the gods.”

  “I mean Elders. They are the power that existed here before any others. They have given themselves to these lands. The power of the Elders lives within the people. The people of Elaeavn know the power of the Great Watcher. People of my homeland know the power of Ihnish. Others know the power of Ras. Still others know—”

  She cut off as she frowned, moving quickly down the alley, practically gliding along. Was she using shadows? In many ways, her magic seemed even more powerful than what he possessed, and he could see why she was so widely feared throughout the city.

  “What is it?” he whispered as he followed.

  “Movement.”

  “There’s movement all over this city.”

  “Not the kind I’m looking for.”

  “What kind are you looking for?”

  “The kind that pulls on the shadows.” Darkness swirled from her, thickening as it moved, and it left him captivated. “Be ready.”

  “Ready for what?”

  “Ready to transport us from here if it comes to it,” she whispered.

  Daniel prepared to Slide. What sort of transport would be necessary? If he had to Slide them, would he be quick enough?

  Carth darted forward. There was a strange fluidity to her movements, and he couldn’t help but simply stand and stare. He shook himself and hurried forward, keeping up with her.

  At the end of the alley, she hesitated.

  The shadows remained thick, dense and difficult for him to See through, but then they changed, shifting and swirling, almost as if she were aware that he wasn’t able to See through them. He reached for his sword, unsheathing it. She stopped at a doorway and tested the lock. Shadows swirled around her hand, and she pulled on the handle, somehow unlocking it.

  “How did you do that?”

  “When we’re through with this, I can give you a primer on my abilities if that will make you trust me more.”

  “I wasn’t trying to challenge you.”

  She chuckled. “No. You don’t challenge me at all.”

  He didn’t know whether she meant that as an insult or not.

  Carth pushed the door open and strode inside. The shadows wrapped around her, cloaking her even from Daniel. At some point, she had unsheathed a pair of swords, and she held them gripped in either hand.

  No one moved within the building. It was a simple structure, little more than an open room. He looked around, searching for why this place might have drawn Carth’s attention, but saw nothing obvious. Something cautioned him to remain quiet, so he simply followed Carth.

  “Do you see the door over there?” Carth said.

  Daniel glanced over. “I See it.”

  “I need you to travel to the other side of it.”

  “What’s on the other side?”

  She shot him a look. “Can you do this or not?”

  Daniel nodded. “I can do it, I just wondered whether there was anything there I should be aware of.”

  “Oh, I think you’ll need to be aware, but move carefully.”

  Daniel hesitated. He didn’t care for blindly Sliding, but if it meant finding Lucy…

  After rescuing her once, he hoped not to have to go after her a second time. At least he thought Carth truly intended to help him find her.

  For her, he would do this.

  Daniel Slid to the other side of the door. He half-expected to come across attackers, but there was no one there. He turned, ready to Slide, when movement caught his attention.

  A dark-haired man pressed his hands upon the door, seemingly unaware of Daniel’s presence. He cleared his throat. The man spun, and a knife came streaking toward him.

  Daniel Slid, moving away from the knife. He managed to avoid getting impaled, but the attacker charged him anyway.

  Daniel ducked back, holding his sword out in front of him. Rayen’s words stuck in his mind. There was a difference between fighting and training. This was fighting.

  The man grinned, seeming to sense his hesitation. “You’re the one who came into my home.”

  “Tern?” He said the name before thinking. He should have been more careful. If this was Tern, there was a reason for caution.

  “Yes. You are the one who came into my home. Did you really think you could break into my abode, take what was mine, and come after me like this?”

  “I’m not the one who came after you.”

  “You’re with her. I can tell you’re with Rayen. If she thinks to return and claim me, she is mistaken.”

  Tern lunged toward him.


  Daniel attempted to Slide but found he couldn’t.

  He slashed with his sword, but Tern ducked, ignoring the movement of the blade. He flicked a knife, and it went streaking toward Daniel.

  The knife stuck into his shoulder.

  Daniel cried out, dropping his sword.

  “You? You’re the reason my home was attacked? You don’t even look as if you know how to handle that weapon.”

  “I…”

  He staggered back, attempting a Slide, but whatever Tern had done prevented him from Sliding.

  Where was Carth? Wasn’t she supposed to help protect him? Was that not the point of her being here?

  Could she have intended for him to be captured?

  That didn’t seem right. Carth didn’t seem like she meant to do that to him, but then again, he had thought the same about Rayen. She was supposed to be helping him and instead had betrayed him.

  He had been able to Slide when he’d first come to this room, so it wasn’t the room itself. Was Tern doing something to prevent him? Could he Slide again now?

  Ignoring the pain in his shoulder, he attempted to Slide across the room, and as he emerged, he breathed out a sigh of relief.

  Tern spun toward him, grinning. “Interesting. I didn’t realize there were so many of your kind.”

  “What kind is that?”

  “The kind who can Travel. You see, your friend was able to Travel—that is, until they took care of that little nuisance. And then you went and took away their prize. Without her, what they hope to achieve is gone.”

  Tern lunged at him, and Daniel Slid off to the side.

  He staggered when he emerged. Something was off, though he wasn’t sure what. Was it simply the pain in his shoulder?

  Where was Carth?

  Tern watched him. “You feel it?”

  “Feel what?”

  “The effect of slithca. Your friend succumbed to it quickly, but then I had been able to administer a more concentrated dose. There’s only so much that can be applied to the surface of the blade before it becomes difficult to throw. One of your people taught me that.”

  “What do you mean, one of my people?”

  Tern grinned at him. “You don’t even know, do you?”

  “Know what?”

  Daniel’s eyes grew heavy, and when he tried to Slide, he couldn’t. It was as if his ability didn’t respond to him.

  No. It was as if his ability simply wasn’t there. Something had changed; Tern had done something to him.

  He tried to Slide again but failed.

  Tern simply watched him, unsurprised by his inability to Slide. “I believe they will pay well for the two of you. Once they recover her…”

  “Why?”

  “You have been holed up in your homeland far too long if you have to ask that question. If only you understood what we’ve gone through. There is a price for safety, and it’s one most of us are willing to pay. We have no choice.”

  Daniel sunk to the floor, the strength in his legs leaving him. He wasn’t out yet, but the longer he remained, the less likely it would be that he’d be able to do anything to oppose Tern. That time might have already come and passed.

  “I am surprised you came alone.”

  “Not. Alone.” Even his words were difficult to spit out now. Everything seemed to be strained.

  “No? You think your shadow friend will be able to overpower my friends?”

  “What. Friends?”

  Tern looked at him. “How do you think I held you here when you traveled?”

  His mind was foggy, making thoughts difficult, but how could Tern have held him here?

  His heart started hammering. Forgers.

  That had to be what Tern was talking about. But if it was Forgers, why would he have allowed them to come to the city?

  Because of him and Lucy. They were the prize. Tern intended to sell them, to use them, and when he did, what would he get?

  “You work with the Forgers?” Daniel managed to ask.

  “If I had any other choice, I wouldn’t. But there is no choice. Not if I want to ensure that I keep what’s mine.”

  Tern reached for him, and Daniel threw himself back. He needed time. Somehow, he had to find a way to allow the poison to wear off. Would it? Could he have enough time for that?

  Tern chuckled. “Even now you think you can get away? I’ve made alliances, and those alliances are enough to ensure that you cooperate.”

  “You’re making a mistake. You don’t know what they’re capable of.”

  “It’s because I know what they’re capable of that I have made my choice. And trust me when I tell you that it’s no mistake. I will ensure that Eban thrives when this is done.”

  “When what is done?”

  “Do you think your home is the first place that has been attacked?”

  “I don’t know anything about the attacks. I came here for my friend.”

  “You came here to be bait. And you have served your purpose.”

  “Bait?”

  “Perhaps that’s the wrong way of wording it. Maybe I should say that you came here to serve as an offering. Does that make you feel any better?”

  “Not really.”

  Daniel waited for Tern to grab him, to do anything to him, but he simply stood off to the side, waiting.

  “What are you doing?”

  “The slithca will take effect soon, or it will finish taking effect soon. I would rather not damage you any more than necessary before handing you over to them.”

  “I’m not going anywhere.”

  Daniel tried to stand, but his arms felt heavy and weak. He didn’t feel nearly as awful as he had when first dealing with the attack, but his attempts to Slide still failed him. Whatever Tern had done to him left him incapacitated, no differently than when they had done it to Lucy.

  Did it mean that he would be unable to Slide again? Could it mean that Tern had taken away his abilities, stealing from him that which the Great Watcher had given him?

  If that was the case, Daniel needed to resist. He needed to fight. He needed to do… something.

  Only, with his sword on the other side of the room, and whatever toxin he’d been administered coursing through him, there seemed to be nothing he could do.

  Tern had won.

  At least he didn’t have Lucy.

  He didn’t know where she was, though. Carth was supposed to help him find her, but even she didn’t have any way to help. It meant that whatever else would become of this, Lucy was lost to him.

  Again.

  Tern started toward him. “I can tell it’s beginning to take effect. And given the silence from the other side, it seems as if now is the time for me to complete this.”

  “You aren’t strong enough.”

  “Do you really believe that you’re stronger than them?” Tern chuckled. “For that matter, I’m not strong enough to oppose them. I’m aware of that, and I’m not afraid to admit that I have done all I can.”

  “She will beat you.”

  “She’s not the one they fear.”

  The door thudded open, and Daniel managed to look over. Carth had a bruise along one cheek and a gash in her shoulder, but she stood as if nothing were wrong.

  “Who do they fear, Tern?” she said.

  “You were—”

  “Dead? Unfortunately, they made the same mistake, thinking that I had been removed as a threat. I’m not so easily handled.”

  “And you made the mistake of bringing them to the city.”

  “I didn’t bring anyone to the city. They were already here. I only did what I did to ensure peace.”

  “There is no peace when it comes to them. If nothing else, I’ve learned that lesson well over the years.”

  It struck Daniel then that Carth was much like Lareth. He didn’t know what she’d been through, but she seemed to have the same anger toward the Forgers as Lareth did, and he could imagine her with the same obsession about stopping them.

  She glided
forward, moving on shadows. Somehow, Daniel still had his gift of Sight. Could he Slide again now?

  He tried but failed again.

  “Can you stand?” she asked him.

  “I think so.”

  “Good, because I’m going to need your help with these others.”

  “What others?” She didn’t answer but grabbed his hand and pulled him to his feet. Tern followed her, saying nothing, and he realized with a start that she had him wrapped in bindings, likely the same sort she had trapped him with when he had first encountered her. Those bindings had probably been nothing more than shadows.

  Back in the main room, there were four people lying on the floor, motionless.

  “These…”

  “These are what you would call Forgers,” Carth said. “These are the fools who thought they could eliminate me with such small numbers.”

  “You did this yourself?”

  She shot him a withering look. “They are not so much of a challenge.”

  Daniel thought of what he’d heard from the Forgers attacking in the Aisl. They were much more of a threat than what Carth was letting on, though maybe her braggadocio was more for Tern’s benefit than Daniel’s.

  “What are you going to do with them?”

  “There are questions that need to be answered.”

  “What about Lucy?”

  “We will find your friend. And when we do, we will ensure she is safe.”

  Daniel couldn’t help but think that there was only so much Carth would be able to do to help. And if she couldn’t help, what would happen to Lucy? If she had already been taken out of the city, and if whoever Kasha had sent her off to had already done something definitive with her, what could he do?

  Without his ability to Slide, there might be nothing.

  29

  Daniel

  The stone building had a dampness to it that made Daniel uncomfortable. Moisture seeped through the walls, leaving an odor hanging over everything. Moss and mold grew along the walls, and some of the stench came from that.

  He glanced over to Carth, who sat in front of one of the Forgers. The man was bound both with chains made of lorcith and a strange shimmery metal and with shadows that Carth pushed away from her. Their combined effect kept him from going anywhere.