The Dark Crown

by S C Gowland

  ‘It is here.’ said Kryst with a level of triumph. ‘It's definitely here.’

  The scuffed sounds of feet and chairs moving in unison filled the room.

  ‘I think you’ll find I found it.’ said Dalon, scowling at the dark skinned Walker.

  ‘Prove it.’ said Kryst rocking on his heals.

  Dalon muttered something and looked away, working his mouth from side to side.

  ‘I did find it.’ said Kryst, but his grin suggested otherwise.

  ‘Must you?’ said Tokel tartly.

  ‘It isn't dated, but it most definitely quotes a Dark Crown removed or being taken from a King or Emperor of some sort to be maintained and protected by the Order of Walkers.’ blurted Dalon, eyes fixed on Kryst.

  ‘I've only skimmed part of the text, but it also seems to give mention of Reng, also of his Dark Crown being brought back here to Zuivosal...’ said Kryst.

  Collective eyebrows were raised.

  ‘I knew it.’ breathed Tokel. ‘I knew it.’ wrapping her knuckles on the table rhythmically.

  ‘It is here.’ She said looking around the room. ‘I knew it, I could feel it. Nova said I was wrong.’ she shook her head.

  Questioning faces looked at her and then Kubrean.

  ‘We’ll explain later.’ he said calmly, eyes not moving from Tokel, face unreadable.

  Romina loved Kubrean dearly, but there were times…

  ‘We are not far off.’ Tokel said, almost joyously, ‘Bring that with you, we must tell my lovely husband.’ she playfully smacking Kryst’s cheeks, turned and started to gather her items before Kryst had time to respond. The look of disappointment on Kryst's face was obvious the book was large, heavy and leather bound; hardly the type of thing that one would choose to carry around.

  Romina sighed and pursed her lips, more questions than answer, as usual.

  She looked to the unexplored alcoves, at least they didn’t have to spend hours rooting through them, which was a relief.

  Her eyes narrowed.

  She leaned forwards, really looking, eyes taking in everything.

  There was something that had previously been hidden in shadows, only now illuminated by the rising sun.

  Dark stains on the walls and on the floor.

  Covered by dust and debris, but most definitely dark stains.

  They merged with the red of the walls, almost a perfect match. Then her eyes went wider, a cold sweat began to form on the back of her neck. That terrible moment when you see what has been in front of you all along.

  The stains were everywhere.

  Blood, the dark stains were blood.

  Splattered, smeared, sprayed against the walls, the furniture, on the stairs. Why would there be fighting here? Unless… She backed away, shrinking from it. Words got lost in her throat coming out weak and soft. The group too busy gathering their items to hear.

  Movement. Her head jerked towards it.

  Movement in the corner of her eyes, near the entrance to the room. She was about to shout out when a low rumble of footsteps within a matter of seconds, turned into an avalanche of noise.

  Shapes filtered out of the darkness in perfect formation.

  Boots thumping on the floor, like a roll of thunder.

  Shapes, dozens of dark shapes poured into the room covering the entrance and the three exits at quarter points within it.

  ‘Shields!’ shouted Kubrean, face grim as he watched the room flood with more dark shapes.

  The Walkers reacted in unison. Kubrean, Dalon, Tokel and Kryst reaching over their shoulder to remove the shields from their backs, there was a metallic clank as they connected and were pulled into place. The air glowed green as the shields flashed and expanded outwards to twice their original size. Round and reassuring. Green light flickered and rippled over their surface fading replaced by the silvery glint of cold, hard silver. On instinct more than training, they formed into a tight circle back to back, heads alert, eyes searching.

  The deafening noise around them subsided.

  They were now completely surrounded and heavily outnumbered.

  Heavy square shields banged into the floors of both the upper balcony and lower floor. By each shield bearer stood another figure; bows raised, arrows notched, strings drawn, pointing straight at them. All exits covered; they were trapped. Light shining in yellow stream began to illuminate these most unwelcome visitors. Black and red. They were dressed in black and red armour.

  Romina attempted to pull her blade from her side, her hands like jelly.

  ‘Wait.’ whispered Kubrean warm hand falling lightly on her wrist. ‘Not yet.’

  The room was quiet save the hum of bow strings and the creak of leather grips.

  They waited.

  Romina felt unable to speak, she grabbed Kubrean’s forearm gripping it tight, the black vambrace smooth and warm. Kubrean shoulders were tight, solid. He moved the shield in front of them, offering as much protection as he could.

  Silence.

  Romina felt her arms getting colder, the hand on Kubrean’s arm began to tremble she placed her other hand on top to stop it shaking.

  Nobody moved.

  Necks strained; eyes moved but nothing else. Cold tension rose up her back to her neck.

  ‘Surrender or die.’ a voice split the silence like an axe blade. The words bounced around the room. ‘The choice is yours.’ it came again, strong and confident.

  Kubrean’s arm tensed.

  ‘It is a simple choice…’ the voice continued. Kubrean let out a hiss under his breath. ‘You have ten seconds to drop your weapons…’He glanced at Tokel. She looked back, her face hard and pale.

  ’10…9…’ Tokel shook her head.

  ‘8…7…’ Kubrean worked his jaw.

  ‘6…5…’ ‘We don’t have a choice.’ hissed Tokel, face tight. Kubrean peered over the top of his shield, eyes searching for anything.

  ‘4…3…’ Bow strings creaked. Romina shrank in on herself.

  ‘Kubrean...’ Tokel said, ‘Now is not the time.’ He lurched upwards and dropped his shield on the floor with a sound like an anvil dropping from hell. The sound jolted Romina. Kubrean raised his hands.

  ‘Drop your weapons.’ he said voice cracking.

  Blank faces.

  ‘Now.’ he commanded, face hard. ‘We have no choice.’ Romina felt her body shudder, she swallowed shakily looking towards Tokel who reluctantly nodded.

  ‘There will be a time to fight but it is not now.’ she whispered.

  Glances were exchanged as each Walker stood hesitantly dropping shields and weapons to the floor, bangs and crashes of equipment hitting the marble floor ricocheted around the room.

  ‘Do it…’ said Kubrean. Romina realised that she hadn’t moved.

  His face softened, ‘Please…’ he said voice low. His look pierced her heart, she swallowed and stood, limbs like lead.

  ‘A wise choice.’ announce the voice from the shadows. ‘I commend you on taking the more practical solution.’ it continued, ‘It will make conversation much more civilised.’

  Romina frowned.

  That voice.

  ‘I’m so glad that we can speak properly.’ Something about the voice made Tokel stiffen.

  ‘It is so rare to be able to just talk.’ Kubrean’s fingers curled inwards, fists clenched.

  ‘Everyone is so keen to start fighting.’ said the voice jovially. The rap of hard boot heels on the stone floor echoed behind Romina. Tokel smirked, crossing her arms. Romina felt an icy shiver through her body. Kubrean slowly shook his head. Romina felt sick. Kryst’s posture stiffened. Sharp footsteps continued to approach behind her.

  Romina closed her eyes, body feeling numb. She felt her ears picking up every sound within the room. Heels on stone, the ragged breath of Lauden.

  ‘So nice that we should meet like this.’

  Romina turned slowly, clenching her fists - hoping against hope. She took a deep breath, then opened her eyes.

  The figure pa
ssed through the darkness between streams of sunlight, parts illuminated for an instant then fell back into shadow, as it descended the stairs. It was tall, lithe, and graceful.

  Romina forced her eyes closed, screwing them tight. Footsteps continued then stopped. She set her jaw and opened her eyes. As her vision returned, she saw first the boots black and shiny. Her eyes slowly rose up then seeing the same outfit as their attacker. Her eyes crept upwards, resisting the urge to turn away. She saw the outline of a tall, middle-aged woman with dark hair pulled back, black cloak unfurled behind. Romina blinked, shuddered, eyes fluttering. She now saw clearly. She saw the face. She knew the face. It was a face she had not seen for seven years.

  It was the face of her mother, Morveen.

  Chapter 26 – Answers

  Through the darkness, a whoop of joy echoed around the library.

  Dref jerked his head up, looked around, snorted then settled back down to sleep. Kaoldan eyed him jealously. He shifted in his seat, arching his back letting out a soft groan.

  The whoop continued from a room adjacent to Kaoldan. It belonged to Aralorne the tall, white haired man strolled through leather-bound book under one arm and three scrolls stuffed under the other, very much as though he had just won first prize in a competition.

  ‘I do believe.’ he announced with a certain flair. ‘That I have found part of what we are looking for.’

  He swept the table, wiping books and scrolls rustling and thudding onto the floor.

  ‘Hey…’ said Kaoldan hands raised. ‘I was reading that and you’re messing up my system.’

  Aralorne gave him a flat look. ‘System?’ he pouted.

  Kaoldan looked at the piles of books on the floor.

  ‘It’s a sort of system…’ he said defensively.

  Aralorne’s eyebrows said everything.

  ‘Read…’ Kaoldan pointed to the mess on the floor.

  ‘Not read…’ he pointed to another hill of books.

  Aralorne hummed and narrowed his eyes, then cleared the rest of the items from the table, Kaoldan slowly shook his head.

  Space cleared Aralorne placed the book on the table and unfurled the scrolls, weighing them down with candles.

  ‘I’ve found it.’ beamed Aralorne.

  ‘Found what?’ said Zalen entering the room followed by Nova and Zahara.

  Aralorne gestured to the items on the table.

  ‘Books…’ Zalen whistled. ‘And scrolls… Well done.’ he said, face thoroughly unimpressed.

  Aralorne snorted.

  ‘Look…’ he pointed.

  They followed his finger huddling closer around the wooden table.

  ‘He did exist.’ said Aralorne pointing to a section on the lower right-hand page of the book. ‘He most definitely existed.’

  Zalen leaned in reading, lips moving as he did so.

  ‘This is the first time I've seen anything written down about him.’ said Aralorne, smile wide on his face. ‘According to this, he ruled for 300 years, exactly as I predicted.’

  Nova looked on head tilted slightly to one side.

  ‘I found no detail about how it ended, but it does also mention a Dark Crown worn by the Lord of Shadows.’ he rocked on his feet, hands clasped behind his back.

  ‘Sounds rather spooky.’ said Zalen wiggling his fingers.

  Nova scowled at him.

  ‘Lord of Shadows?’ Zalen said, keen to move the conversation on.

  ‘Another name for Reng.’ said Aralorne squinting up at the ceiling. ‘That was the title that many of his followers used.’

  ‘Sounds rather...’ Zalen began.

  Nova shushed him.

  Zalen grimaced and shrank back.

  ‘Any suggestion about where this Dark Crown is?’ asked Kaoldan chewing his lower lip.

  Nova looked at him sharply.

  ‘If they want it, then we have to get it before them.’ Kaoldan shrugged.

  Nova inclined his head.

  ‘Ah Er, no.’ Aralorne sucking his gums over his teeth. ‘That is the one thing we are rather light on at the moment.’

  ‘At least that is one question answered.’ said Nova.

  ‘With several others replacing it.’ murmured Kaoldan.

  ‘The most critical question I suppose.’ said Aralorne.

  Kaoldan nodded. ‘’At least we have something to confirm our information is right. I still don't understand how this Dark Crown could sustain him?’

  ‘In my experience, everything dies at some point. How could some stupid crown stop it from happening?’ said Zalen with a shrug of his shoulders.

  ‘Anything is possible.’ said Zahara looking down at her hands. ’We don't know the full extent of the power of magic within the world. We know most of the things that Fajin can do to help the ways of the Walker. We manipulate it and use it to our advantage for attack and defence, but the full extent of its power and use is still largely unknown to us. Even the most skilled of Walkers cannot know everything and there are some of us who are more skilled than others.’ she cocked an eyebrow at Zalen, who caught the look and scanned the other faces, puzzled.

  ‘She was paying you a compliment.’ Kaoldan lied.

  Zalen’s face lit up.

  ‘As I was saying.’ said Zahara eyeing him with slight derision. ‘Anything is possible. Just think about all the knowledge that was lost when this place fell.’

  It was a good point. Kaoldan knew a considerable amount about the power and various uses of Fajin, but there were some Walkers he knew who could do extraordinary things: move objects with a gesture, jump great distance. Powers varied from person to person, but the main use was for attack and defence using their Walkerblade.

  ‘Although not all users of Fajin are necessarily Walkers.’ said Aralorne.

  Another good point. Just thinking about the possibilities was beginning to make Kaoldan’s head hurt.

  ‘This is a development.’ said Nova. ‘We must keep looking. There will be other information. This is just the start my friends. Mark my words.’

  ‘Wonderful.’ Zahara dry.

  Kaoldan gave her a hard stare.

  She frowned and shrugged her shoulders. ‘Back to it.’ she said.

  ‘So, what were you saying about me that was so wonderful?’ began Zalen, wrapping his arm around her shoulder. He turned and winked at Kaoldan. There were times Kaoldan very much underestimated his friend.

  Another book and nothing of note.

  Kaoldan looked up at the ceiling and stretched out his arms, working the blood back into his shoulders. It was the early hours of the morning as far as he could guess. Bored, he spied Aralorne perched at the end of polished table.

  ‘Suppose this must be something special for you?’ he asked, clicking his neck from side to side.

  The white haired man hummed and nodded in agreement but did not remove his eyes from the page.

  Kaoldan shifted in his seat angling himself away from Aralorne and bit the inside of his lips. He was - Kaoldan had decided – a strange mix. He kept to himself and said very little until they had entered Zuivosal. Now he wouldn’t shut up.

  He was a more than capable fighter with the gift for Fajin. Indeed, he had almost bested Kaoldan back at the Palace. He was also highly intelligent and passionate about this subject matter. There was little he appeared not to know, and his reaction to the discovery of the book had brought him delight and also driven his curiosity to look deeper, harder and more intently.

  He clearly had a relationship with certain members of the Grey Council, particularly Nova and Tokel. Kaoldan rubbed his arm and picked up a book absentmindedly pulling it close and hugging it to his chest.

  That being said Kaoldan couldn’t honestly say that he completely trusted him, and yet without his swift intervention he would have lost both his daughters. He sniffed, bit at a fingernail, then looked at Aralorne.

  ‘I never thanked you.’ he said.

  Aralorne looked up. ‘Sorry?’

  Kaoldan wet his lips.
‘I never thanked you, not properly anyway.’

  Aralorne grimaced.

  ‘For saving my daughters on the ship.’

  Recognition washed over Aralorne’s face.

  Kaoldan shrugged. ‘Without your intervention.’ he let the words hang in the air. Aralorne shifted in his chair, pulling the book up – like a drawbridge – in front of him.

  ‘Just. You know. Thanks.’ Kaoldan offered clearing his throat at the end.

  ‘No worries.’ White hair disappearing behind his book.

  Kaoldan settled back into his seat, stretched out his neck. It reassured him somewhat, that despite still being a mystery Aralorne was capable of having thoughts and being socially awkward. Time would tell, but for the moment at least he would continue to keep a close eye on him.

  ***

  It was just after dawn as Kaoldan looked out of the window, he blew out a breath, as the sound of arguing caught his attention.

  ‘You tell them.’ a deep voice carried down a corridor to Kaoldan’s right.

  ‘No, you tell them.’ came a lighter, younger voice. ‘It was your wonderful idea to go off exploring.’

  ‘You didn’t find it.’

  ‘And neither did you.’

  ‘I was bored, and you chose to come with me.’

  ‘No, I didn’t.’ pitch slightly higher this time. ‘I was keeping an eye on you. Someone has to look after you.’

  ‘I’m quite capable of taking care of myself, thank you very much.’

  Kaoldan sighed. He removed his feet from the end of the table and rubbed the bridge of his nose.

  ‘That’s what you think.’ the second voice rang out again, dripping with sarcasm.

  ‘I can take care of myself and don’t need young girls, like you to do it for me.’

  There was a rustle of materials, a dull thud followed by a yelp of pain.

  Kaoldan groaned, placed his book on the floor and rose out of his chair. Nova - eyes smiling - watched with amusement over the top of his book.

  ‘That wasn’t worth a punch in the arm.’

  ‘That’s what you think.’

  ‘Something you want to tell us?’ Kaoldan asked turning into the corridor.

  Zahara and Zalen both stiffened – like children caught eating biscuits in the night.