As she pulled her hands apart, a teal beam of energy appeared between her fists, just like she’d seen Will do when he created his soul-rending energy staff.
“No way,” Will said, amazed, but then he drew in his features and said, “Is this just another illusion?”
“No,” Khate said. “I’d demonstrate, but I don’t think that would be good for any of us.”
The staff vanished, and a bald, shirtless warrior with chiseled muscles wearing a trench coat appeared beside Khate.
Ugh, Merva said. Let me talk to him.
Maya created the image of Merva standing next to her.
“Seriously, Xyrth,” Merva said. “Put some clothes on.”
“Nice to see you, too, Merva,” he said. “As you wish.”
Xyrth changed instantly into a fully armored demon of death from head to toe. “Better?”
“Anything’s better than having to see your thousand-year-old man chest,” Merva quipped.
“Do one of you mind explaining this?” Thallan asked.
“She’s projecting a physical representation of her god, allowing him to speak,” Will said. “First my power, then Maya’s, apparently she really can do what we can. Can you use all three—”
“No,” Xyrth said, shaking his head. “There are limits. First, I have to be close enough to duplicate your powers, and second, I can only imitate one at a time. Even then, I’m still limited to the same burnout you’re susceptible to.”
“But you could also mimic the enemy?” Maya asked.
Xyrth nodded. “If I’m close enough.”
That could prove to be quite handy. To fight a seer, they might need a seer.
Will smiled and said, “So this is what I had in mind… ”
39
Ocken was waiting outside the door when Khate exited the war room.
“What was that about?” Ocken asked.
“Nothing that concerns you,” Khate said, flashing him a coy smile.
“If Will calls a meeting, it concerns me,” Ocken said. “That boy gets into more trouble than—”
“You?” Khate asked.
Ocken chuckled. “It’s still hard to believe that Will’s your son,” he said.
“Why? Because he’s stubborn and bullheaded?” she asked. Ocken opened his mouth, but Khate raised a finger and said, “Never mind, don’t answer that.” After a brief pause, she asked, “What are you still doing here anyway? I thought Khal needed all hands to help train the men for war.”
“You can’t train an army in a handful of hours,” Ocken said. “He’ll be lucky to teach them how to hold a sword, let alone swing one. Either way, he doesn’t need me—it’s a group demonstration. I wanted to see you. I felt like we left a lot unsaid on the ship.”
“Not here,” Khate said, glancing over her shoulder and back into the war room
Will said something inaudible and Thallan frowned, but Maya burst out into laughter. She could hardly begin to describe the emotions she felt at having her son back—joy, relief… worry? What if she lost him again? She was a trained killer and a hardened warrior. She wasn’t supposed to think like that. Being around her children had a way of changing her perspective.
Leading Ocken through the castle, Khate retraced her steps back to the room one of the servants had shown her to earlier that day when they’d arrived. It was modest with a simple wooden dresser and queen bed adorned with plain gray sheets. Still, it was nicer than the inns she’d been staying in recently, and certainly better than the accommodations afforded her at sea.
Ocken followed her into the room and she closed the door behind them.
“Have a seat,” she said, extending her arm toward the solitary chair in the room.
“I’ll stand,” he said, his back rigid.
She plopped down onto her bed and said, “Suit yourself. So, you wanted to talk. Talk.”
“I’m not sure what to say, really,” he said, turning and staring at a painting on the wall.
“Oh, Khate,” she said for him in a swooning voice, “you’re the most beautiful, charming, and witty person I have ever met, and not a day has gone by where I haven’t thought of you since last we met.”
“That’s scarily accurate,” Ocken said.
Khate frowned. She wished she could say the same, but the truth was, until very recently she had forgotten all about him. Time went on. She had children to raise, chickens to care for, and responsibilities. If she was being honest with herself, before last week, any thought of Ocken only reminded her of the life she’d once had—a life full of adventure and mystery with excitement around every corner.
A family had tied her down in ways she hadn’t anticipated. She couldn’t go anywhere without first getting the kids ready. A trip to the market turned from a quick jaunt down the street into an all-day excursion.
Now it didn’t matter so much—the children were out of the home and she’d been on her own for the last three months, for better or worse. But when Ocken had shown up in Celesti with Riley, John was still nursing and Will was barely fastening his own shoes.
For weeks following, bitterness, anger, and resentment was all she could feel toward Ocken. She knew in her heart of hearts she wouldn’t have done anything differently. The joy her children brought was worth all the pain, all the suffering, and the worry, and the sacrifice.
But still, she couldn’t help but wonder “what if.” What if she hadn’t been pregnant when she’d first met him? What if he had followed her to Celesti? What if Evangeline had never ‘died’? In the end, it didn’t matter. She could play that game all day long and it wouldn’t change reality.
Did she love Ocken? Had she ever loved him? These were questions she couldn’t answer. But she knew there was something there. Whether it was a need left from the loss of her husband, or something that had been germinating from her chance encounter with Ocken two decades prior, she didn’t know, but she was willing to find out.
“You’re quiet,” Ocken said.
As she stared at him she began to ask herself whether she was having second thoughts. Perhaps too much time had passed, or maybe she just wasn’t meant to be happy. But it all seemed too real, too fast. After all, he’d just come back into her life a few hours ago.
Khate stood and moved across the room to open the door. “Maybe this wasn’t—”
As she walked passed Ocken, he grabbed her around the waist and pushed her up against the wall.
Her heart beat against her chest and adrenaline filled her veins. Who was she kidding? Smiling, she grabbed his head and pulled him in for a kiss.
Ocken shut the door behind him and leaned up against it, closing his eyes and sighing with a smile on his face.
“Oh, hey, there you are,” Will said, coming down the hallway. “They want us to come down to the armory—wait, did you just come out of my mother’s room?”
“Relax, kid, nothing happened,” Ocken said.
“Uh huh, right,” Will said.
“I’m serious!” Ocken exclaimed.
“I’m sure you are,” Will said sarcastically. Then in a serious tone he said, “It’s all right, you have my blessing. It’s not weird at all—one of my friends is courting my mother—”
“Can we stop talking about this?” Ocken said, growing uncomfortable.
“Whatever you want, big guy,” Will said. “Like I was saying, they’re looking for us at the armory—want everyone outfitted for battle.”
Ocken motioned for Will to lead the way, and the boy in the elf’s body spun and took off. Ocken struggled to keep up with him as they turned through corridor after corridor. He couldn’t get Khate out of his mind.
This was nothing new, Khate was often on Ocken’s mind, but now it was different. Now she knew how he felt and she’d reciprocated. If an army of bloodthirsty elves hadn’t been nearly on their doorstep, Ocken would happily mark this as the best day of his life.
Just when he thought it couldn’t get any better, they arrived at the armory. Wall-to-wal
l piles of various-sized weapons of leather, iron, and steel plate armor adorned the room. Leaning against the corner by itself sat the most beautiful sight he’d ever seen—aside from Khate, of course.
Ocken shoved his way past Will, stepped into the room, and went straight for the lone weapon in the corner. Hefting the big swordstaff, Ocken ran his hands along the smooth hickory staff and down the flat of the cold steel blade.
“Can I have this?” Ocken asked one of the attendants.
The man shrugged and said, “Sure, there’s no one here big enough to handle a weapon like that and it’s been here for years.”
Ocken beamed. He felt as if a part of him that had been missing was made whole. He moved out into the hall and gave it a swing. The blade cut through the air with precision and speed.
“Harmony,” Ocken said to Will as he emerged from the room with pieces of armor under each arm.
Will cocked his head and furrowed his brow.
“My old swordstaff was called Melody for the sweet sound she made sailing through the air and the sickening crun—”
“All right, spare me the details,” Will said.
“Well I lost her in the Battle of Shadowhold to an ugly brawler. So I decided to call this one Harmony—the perfect complement to my lost Melody,” Ocken explained.
“Appropriate,” he said, setting the armor down.
“Isn’t that a bit big for you?” Ocken asked.
“It’s not for me,” Will said. “It’s yours.”
“No, thanks. I’ve got everything I need already,” Ocken said as he turned Harmony over in his hands.
Will shrugged. “Suit yourself. I guess we’re done here.”
“What about you?” Ocken asked.
“I don’t need armor,” Will remarked. “I’ll probably never even use this body again after today.”
“Doesn’t it get… I don’t know, weird? Tiresome?” Ocken asked.
“I’ve had so many different bodies now that I don’t even notice,” Will said. “Unless I take one from an animal or an old guy like you.”
Ocken scoffed. “We’ll see if you’re half as spry as me when you’re forty-two. As far as I’m concerned, I’m still in my prime.”
Heavy footsteps drew near from the next hallway over. Five men ran past in a flurry, but one ran into a pedestal, knocking it and the vase sitting on top over, as well as falling to the floor himself. He scrambled to his feet as Ocken and Will reached him.
“What’s going on?” Ocken asked.
“They’re here!” the young man yelled. “They’re here!”
“Who’s here?” Will asked.
“The elves!” he shouted.
40
Maya stood atop the battlements of the wall around Derton, Thallan right next to her. A sea of elves filled the valley to the north, standing still a few thousand feet from the gates in perfect formation. Will came up the stairs two at a time and joined them. Ocken arrived a moment later.
Will took one look at the valley and frowned.
“What is it?” Ocken asked, seeing the same thing Maya had.
“Something’s wrong,” Will said.
“Of course something’s wrong,” Maya said. “We’re under attack.”
“No, that’s not it. There’s only, what? Two thousand or so?” Will said. “There should be more than this. I saw at least twice that many up in Luton. And how’d they get here so fast?”
“Does it matter? They’re here,” Thallan said. “It’s possible Ophi sent them ahead while the others broke camp. This works in our favor.”
“How so?” Maya asked.
“Ophi’s being impatient—she’s waited too long for this and now that it’s here she can’t restrain herself any longer,” the elf explained. “By splitting up her army, she’s weakened her forces and made our job easier.”
“Or she sent them to wear us down before she arrives,” Will countered. “She doesn’t care whether they live or die. They’re all pawns in a game to her—expendable.”
Thallan frowned, but held his tongue.
“So what do we do?” Ocken asked.
“Give her what she wants,” Maya said with a smile.
Will narrowed his eyes.
“What? You said it yourself,” Maya replied. “One of us is worth a thousand of them. So let’s do this. Let’s show Ophi what she’s getting herself into. You know she’ll be watching, wherever she is.”
“Works for me,” Will said, pulling out his soul stone and a pendant of some kind. “Hold on to these for me, will you?”
Maya took the stone and pendant and put them in her pocket, then Will jumped off the battlements. Maya’s heart leapt into her throat. Gasping, she grabbed the wall and leaned over. Will’s elf body lay on the ground, contorted at odd angles with a pool of blood growing beneath it.
Ocken groaned and said, “He would do something stupid like that.”
As Ocken ran down the stairs to chase after Will, Thirroul was coming up.
“The evacuation is complete,” he said. “All non-combatants have left the city.”
“Good,” Maya said. “Open the gates.”
Thirroul coughed and choked, “Excuse me?”
“You heard me,” Maya said. “Open the gates.”
“Are you sure that’s wise?” Thallan asked.
“What are these walls protecting? There are no people here except warriors,” Maya explained. “Now open the gates and let’s invite them to play.”
Maya waved off Thirroul and turned back to the battlefield, staring intently out over the valley
“What are you doing?” Thallan asked.
“Just watch,” she said, refusing to take her eyes off the elves.
An elf on the frontline keeled over and grabbed his chest.
Thallan asked, “Is that—?”
Maya raised a hand, silencing him.
The fallen elf’s comrades helped him stand, and then he drew his sword and stabbed the soldier behind him in the throat. The others recoiled, and then bodies started dropping one by one around the elf, who had once again fallen, this time lifelessly to the ground.
Then all at once the formation broke and elves drew their swords, backing away from the center of the destruction.
After a few moments of stillness, an elf far to the left plunged his sword through the spine of the soldier in front of him. This prompted the elf beside him to cut off the head of Will’s most recent acquisition. Two elves over, it happened again—and again—and again. Heads turned, and bodies spun in confusion, desperately searching for the source of the attack.
That’s when the shouting started. Elves began attacking elves, probably thinking there were turncoats among them.
“This is—this is all Will?” Thallan asked.
In the dead center of the army, a bright blue explosion of magic burst through the ranks, dropping nearly fifty bodies in a perfect circle around a lone elf.
Will held up his sword and beckoned the nearest elf to attack.
The battlements shook as the great iron doors separated and started to open. The elves, seeing the open city, barreled in with swords raised.
Maya smiled and said, “Let’s give him a little help, shall we?”
Ocken zigzagged through the streets, heading for the city gates.
He knew in theory that Will couldn’t die, but he couldn’t help the feeling that Will was going to get himself killed anyway. If Ocken’s oath to Riley to protect the Soul Render wasn’t enough, now that he and Khate finally had something between them he knew she’d kill him if he let her boy die.
He might not have the powers of a god like the others, but he had been reunited with his beloved weapon of choice, which was pretty much the same thing.
Khal, Jade, and Robert were already standing at the top of the steps leading down to the city’s exit when Ocken arrived.
Ocken started to rush down the stairs, though he halted when Khal said, “Whoa, where are you going? You’re going to get yourse
lf killed.”
“Will’s out there,” Ocken said, glancing back over his shoulder.
“Will can take care of himself,” Khal said. “He’s got the power of a goddess on his side. You, on the other hand, must rely on strategy in addition to strength.”
Jade said, “The only way into this city is up these stairs. As the elves come in, we’ll be waiting to cut them down.”
Ocken looked around. She was right. The city’s main level was at least a full story above the foot of the gate. With walls on either side of the stairs, the elves had no choice but to go through the bottleneck if they wanted into the city.
Peering out through the opening in the doors, Ocken watched as Will stood in a ring of elves, dodging and slicing, and slicing and dodging. The boy was holding his own, and Ocken could be more useful here.
“All right,” Ocken said, climbing back up the steps.
Ocken walked along the ledge next to the stairs and pushed his back up against the wall of the city so that the entrance was right beneath him, but he couldn’t be seen by the elves as they entered.
As Kosta and his men arrived and fanned out, building a wall of swords and shields at the top of the steps, Khal and Jade took up position on the opposite side of the stairs, while Robert joined Ocken.
The first elves rushed through the gates, but Ocken resisted the urge to jump into the fray and held his position. More and more poured in with each second. As the frontline reached the top and engaged with Kosta, Ocken shouted, “Now!” and dropped down into the throng.
Sowena raced through the streets of Derton with the other archers. The battle was starting sooner than she’d expected and she wasn’t sure how to feel about it. She wasn’t a warrior. She hadn’t managed to do anything right since the day her parents died. Some people in her city would say it had been longer than that.
But when they tried to send her with the other children, she’d refused. She might only be sixteen, but she wasn’t some babe to be coddled. Her kingdom was in trouble, and if Queen Maya would stand and fight, then so would she.
Growing up on a farm, Sowena had learned to shoot a bow and hunt for small animals from a young age. She’d never fired at a person before, but she didn’t have time to dwell on it, as her targets would be a hundred feet or more away. If she was lucky, she’d never even have to leave the battlements.
Soul Shade (Soul Stones Book 2) Page 31
