The Dark Crown

by S C Gowland

  ‘He’s stubborn, scared and confused. And because last time he nearly didn’t make it through. Fighting it makes perfect sense, but I can’t tell him that. To all intents and purposes, he really doesn't know what to do for the best. I don't suppose any of us do.’

  Nova rose making his way to his wife, placing his hand gently into hers. She smiled warmly.

  Nova frowned ‘But either way, he has to change. He has to learn, to trust that people are stronger than he thinks. Unfortunately, the longer he fights it, the harder this will be.’

  ***

  To say that Lauden was pleased to hear the news would be something of an understatement. A grin appeared on his face from ear to ear and Kaoldan could not help but be impressed by the young man's enthusiasm as he shouted in delight.

  ‘So I am really going?’ said Lauden breathlessly to Kaoldan his eyes searching the Red Walker’s face for any sign of mockery or lies.

  ‘You have no idea how desperate I am to leave this place.’ he said, gesturing to the surroundings.

  Kaoldan frowned, feeling exactly the opposite.

  ’I feel as though I've been trapped here forever. I completed my training at Vanguard many years ago and was then immediately posted to this chapter house. To all intents and purposes, it's all I've seen of the world for about 4 years.’ he said, somewhat embarrassed.

  ‘Just do me one favour?’ said Kaoldan, smiling helplessly.

  ‘Anything.’ said Lauden eagerly, ‘Name it…’

  ‘Firstly, never agree to “anything” until you know full well what “anything” is.’

  Lauden grinned sheepishly.

  ‘Secondly, do everything I ask. No matter how strange it may seem. So with that in mind; if you wouldn't mind helping me keep an eye on those two.’ He nodded towards Romina and Zahara who were sparring at the other side of the chapter house grounds.

  ‘Really?’ scoffed Lauden. ‘Why would I need to keep an eye on them?’ he snorted, ’Have you seen how good they are?’

  He turned to face the two young women as they fought and who appeared to be holding very little back judging by the grunts and the clashes of steel.

  ‘I think I'd be lucky to beat either of them.’ said admiringly,

  Kaoldan folded his arms and pondered silently

  ‘I very much doubt that they'll need any looking after at all.’ said the young Walker. ‘But,’ he held up his hands defensively, ‘if that is what you wish of me then that is what I will do. I promise not to get in the way, and I will do everything you ask. However, I don't think I need to look after them. I think they may need to look after me.’ A small smile began to grow on his face.

  Kaoldan bristled; it appeared his daughters may not only need protection from the dangers of the outside world.

  ‘Master’. said Lauden bowing before racing off towards the chapter house a trail of dust following after him.

  Kaoldan looked off in the direction of his daughters

  He looked again at the two young women who sparred furiously: chops, swings, parries. Neither giving any ground.

  Kaoldan stood and watched, old thoughts and new thoughts, sparring in his head.

  Chapter 20 – Suspicious Mind

  Something was going on.

  She couldn't put a finger on it, but without a shadow of a doubt, something was afoot, and she did not like it one bit.

  Ever since they had left Thura, Romina had noticed it.

  He was more distant. Not in a bad way distant, a more contemplative assessing odds and options kind of distant. It unsettled her, she wasn't quite sure why, but her father was most definitely keeping his distance.

  Wrinkling her nose, she looked up towards the sunshine, its warmth comforting on her face. She had first noticed it after the encounter at the Royal Palace. A break in meetings had provided a wonderful opportunity to get a breath of fresh air. Zahara and Romina had chosen to stretch their legs within the gardens of the Royal Palace.

  It was only upon arriving in the gardens that they had come across the clash between Aralorne and Kaoldan. They spotted the encounter from a distance, sounds of battle echoing around the greenery.

  They had thought - and quite rightly - given Aralorne’s clothing that another member of this Otan had entered the grounds. They had both charged forwards without really thinking about it. The fact that they had arrived just as their father had stumbled having lost his footing and very much appeared to be close to losing his head, had been both coincidental and fortunate.

  She had always been protective of her little sister, kept an eye on her, even though Zahara was more than capable of taking care of herself. And if truth be told, her sister was a little tougher than she was too. But regardless of this, she was the big sister and certain expectations came along with such a title.

  She had felt it in the pit of her stomach; an urge, raw and primal, as she and Zahara ran towards their father. It had just happened without her giving it a second thought. She and her sister had reacted instinctively, and this was both a pleasing and slightly confusing response all at the same time.

  The bond between Romina and her father had always been close. She was very much daddy's girl, and this had been the case, right the way through to the events that had caused their family to splinter.

  Their long-enforced exile in Vanguard had created a distance between them, changing her feelings out of all recognition. He had gone from everything to nothing as the years had crept by, causing her to become closer to and more responsible for her sister.

  The very fact she had been able to save her father from what appeared to be a life-threatening situation had stirred long subdued feelings within her. She had wanted to protect him; it was in her nature in exactly the same way that she wanted to protect her sister.

  What she had not expected was the return of such feelings and in such quantity. Her relationship with her father had most definitely changed, she just wasn’t quite sure how. It was no longer father and small girl. It was now father and grown woman.

  She cursed his stubbornness and then her own stubbornness, which she got from him - so that was his fault too - but neither were willing to speak about the changes openly.

  In truth they’d had more than enough opportunities to do so. But as always, with anything difficult, it had been put off. It was a priority and yet it was not, distance and awkward silences were preferable to them both.

  She knew eventually they would have to speak about it, but for the moment, the unexpectedness, the thrill and excitement of their journey to Zuivosal had very much given her a very convenient - and at the moment very well used- excuse not to have much to do with her father.

  She held her reins loosely in her hands, glancing behind her at her father and Kryst sharing a joke in the distance.

  ‘We are going to have to talk to him eventually, you know.’ said Zahara, trotting along close beside her, almost reading telepathically the thoughts bouncing around her sister’s head.

  Romina winced at the prospect.

  ‘I know.’ she said wrinkling her nose again, glancing at him.

  ‘It's just…’ she struggled for the right words, ‘so awkward.’ she said shaking her head. ‘How do we do this? It’s not as if a book has been written about it. And it certainly wasn’t part of my training back in Vanguard.’ she said irritably. ‘It's just so difficult. He's changed. We've changed.’

  Zahara nodded sagely in agreement.

  ‘It's just so bloody awkward.’ Romina concluded.

  ‘It must be hard for him too.’ said Zahara, glancing at her big sister. ‘We are hardly the young girls he left behind, and equally I don't suppose there are books on this sort of thing as part of his training either. You’re more like him than I am, but I say just get on with it.’

  Romina grunted, considering the comments. Her sister was almost always right. She would have to have that conversation, and although she hated to admit it. The sooner, the better for all concerned.

  ‘How long have w
e been travelling for?’ said Zahara. looking around sprawling countryside. ‘It’s felt like weeks.’ she said, wriggling in her saddle.

  Romina grinned.

  ‘That's one trait you do share with him.’ said Romina with a small smile. ‘Your complete lack of tolerance for travel. He hates it, you hated, for me it's not so bad.’ she said, giving her hair a flick.

  Zahara looked at her sister and rolled her eyes.

  ‘It has been 15 days, but it has hardly felt that long to me. We still have a fair journey to go, but we are making good progress.’ She said with a satisfactory nod.

  She was about to begin a conversation about how good the weather had been when there was a bark from Dref, and an arrow whistled by.

  The surrounding terrain was rugged, hilly, scatterings of trees - dense and thick - good hiding places for small groups of people with evil intentions. It was only the incompetence of the archer that gave away their position and with it the element of surprise.

  Like a well-oiled machine Romina and Zahara shouted a warning to the rest of the group and fell backwards into a tightly formed unit. All eleven of them pulling the Panthera's into a compact formation. Shields were removed from backs clamped firmly into sweaty palms. She risked a look to her side. Her father faced forward Walkerblade drawn and face grim.

  The attack came from four directions at once. Small groups of poorly armed mercenaries poured out of dense woodland scattered across the countryside towards the group. In total, it was a couple of dozen against eleven highly trained and very capable Walkers. It was doomed to failure from the star. Breaking into groups of three the Panthera's and their riders broke off to engage their attackers.

  Walkerblades flashed green and morphed into long spears and halberds. The Walkers with the advantage of superior training, equipment and skills; combined with the speed and power of Panthera made short work of the mercenaries who were badly organised and stood little chance of success.

  It was a short and dirty fight, Romina and Zahara both chose to remain in the saddle of their Pantheras.

  Romina's training kicked in and she felt nothing. Stroke after stroke of her sword, Essa back to her old self, assured and present. No skittishness, no sudden urge to run. She fought almost absentmindedly, safe in the knowledge that her skills were more than a match for their opponent, that and having eleven other Walkers by her side.

  A scream, a lolling head, blood spraying like a fountain. The orange glow of a orb.

  Next.

  And yet despite the speed and ferocity of the activity she found her mind wandering, feeling time slow.

  She thought how futile it was that they should choose to attack. Dispatching an opponent with a heavy backhand swing, her sword bitten deep into their armour metal tearing like paper using only the smallest amount of Fajin energy.

  It was only after the adrenaline rush, her head returning to her body that she was truly able to take in the carnage that surrounded her.

  Bodies strewn. bodies missing hacked legs and arms.

  Shields and weapons scattered about the countryside, red blood splattered over the grass and shrubs.

  She began to feel sick.

  She swallowed her throat swollen and sticky.

  Shouts between members of the group, checking everyone was ok and accounted for. She raised her hand and shouted.

  A second wave of nausea hit her as her father approached from the side.

  Romina slid down from her Panthera, grass heavy and thick underfoot.

  A groan, movement to her side.

  She moved towards it warily, her Walkerblade in hand, fingers tense, heart pounding.

  The moan, inhuman came again.

  Zahara had also heard the noise and had slowly moved up to her sister's side.

  She took several steps forward, in front of her lay a man, clutching his side body wrapped around his injury.

  ‘He may have some valuable information.’ said Zahara optimistically, glancing at the heap in front of them.

  ‘Maybe.’ agreed Romina ‘Might be worth taking him away for questioning?‘

  Zahara nodded.

  While Romina placed her blade at the back of the soldier’s neck, Zahara checked for weapons throwing away a small knife which disappeared into the shrub. After Zahara had finished her search, they each grabbed a shoulder and with effort, and a groan from the soldier, pulled him to his feet.

  They half dragged, half walked him to the main group before dumping him unceremoniously on the floor in the middle of the circle,

  Romina looked at her father and at Kubrean. This was her chance to show that she was ok. That she was worthy of a place within this group. To prove to her father that he need not worry or be concerned about her.

  She moved forward to lead the interrogation.

  Grabbing his neck, she hauled him up.

  He cringed.

  ‘Who are you?’ she shouted at him.

  A groan.

  ‘Why are you here? Why did you attack us?’ she yelled at him.

  The soldier lifted his head, his mismatching rust spotted armour did little to disguise the fact he was scared. Yellow haired caked to his head, his eyes darting around looking at each of the Walkers in turn assessing them.

  ‘I said,’ shouted Romina ‘Who are you?’

  She paused and then asked again pronounced every word, staring at him intently, her Walkerblade in her right hand. Her fingers trembled around the hilt of the blade, her head ached, she squeezed her jaws together, body pulsing with heat and nervous energy.

  ‘Who are you?’ she repeated slower this time.

  She felt anger. Anger at once again having been put in danger.

  Anger that her sister could have lost her life.

  Anger once again that she had been forced to take a life.

  Anger, once again.

  ‘Who are you?’ she said quieter this time, ripping his breast plate off with a flick of Fajin energy, it clattered to the ground and she pressed her blade into his chest.

  He tensed, sharp intake of breath, but no words came, just a nasally rasping of breath.

  No words.

  He looked at her eyes wide, offering the smallest of shrug of his shoulders, he was helpless.

  In that moment her patience evaporated. Without even thinking, she swiftly ran him through, shoving the blade into his chest. She twisted the blade, it cracked and popped as it slid deep inside him.

  She found herself smiling, feeling better, all her worries gone in an instant.

  He grunted, stiffened, a spasm ran up his body to his head his neck and head twitched.

  Green began to glow from his body. It rose slowly, shimmering taking the shape of his perfect, slumped corpse. The green colours swirled, sparkled, like glittering wine in a body shaped bottle. She felt her jaw going slack. He seemed to be looking at her eyes accusing.

  She jerked the blade out of his chest, desperate to back away from his stare.

  His body slumped to the floor; his green soul rose up, shrinking into a Orb.

  Slowly and steadily, like one of those huge bubbles she had seen street performers create back in Vanguard; silent and graceful.

  She took a step back, numbed by her own actions.

  A shout came from behind her. She turned towards it.

  ‘Why did you do that?’ said Kubrean accusingly, marching forwards. ‘There was no reason to do it.’ he said kneeling by the side of the dead soldier.

  She took a step or two back, her head empty.

  It was a good question. Why had she killed him?

  Her jawed tensed, head throbbed.

  ‘He refused to answer my questions.’ she stammered raising her head to meet his eye. Another voice echoed from over her shoulder.

  ‘Of course, he wouldn't answer your question.’ said Kaoldan, ‘He couldn't. Look at his throat.’ he pointed to the corpse she had created.

  She squinted, two jagged scars and a hole in the middle of his neck.

  ‘He co
uldn't speak.’ said Kaoldan shaking his head. ‘None of them can.’ He pointed towards the other bodies scattered through around the ground. ‘It was a suicide mission, and they knew it.’, he said as voice almost a whisper.

  ‘Then why should one more death make any difference?’ said Romina, turning to face her father.

  ‘Because it costs.’ said Kaoldan turning and slowly walking towards her, ‘Because it is unnecessary. Because it is beneath us; it is not who we are. We only take life when we need too. There was no need, and you had no right to take that man's life.’

  Romina took a step back, as if struck.

  ‘And it wasn't the only thing you got wrong.’ said Kaoldan.

  ‘Here we go.’ she muttered to herself. She licked her front teeth, ‘Somethings never change.’

  ‘But somethings do change.’ said Kaoldan seriously, getting to his feet and dusting his hands, brushing soil from his uniform.

  ‘This role gets harder, not easier. You should have been playing closer attention. A lack of focus could have got you killed.’ he said his face wrinkled with concern. ‘This is a dangerous world. Walkers were not invincible last time I checked.’

  ‘And what exactly did I do wrong?’ she flung back at him, eyes narrowing.

  He stopped. ‘A bit of everything’. he said less convinced this time. ‘But that most of all.’ he pointed to the corpse she had created.

  ‘I did nothing wrong, I survived. We all survived.’ she said.

  ‘No.’ he shook his head. ‘He didn’t. And that is down to you. We should have taken him with us to the chapter house, tried other ways of getting information out of him. But you lacked the foresight and the brain power to see that.’ he scowled.

  Romina's face tightened. ‘Now I know.’ she said petulantly, unable to think of anything more meaningful to say. ‘It didn't get me killed. Nobody was hurt.’ She said, gesturing towards the rest of the group who were busy examining the fallen. ’I'll do better next time.’

  ‘Make sure you do, or there may not be a next time.’ said Kaoldan. ‘This is hardly a profession where mistakes can be made twice.’

  ‘Okay.’ said Romina defensively, ‘What more do you want from me?’