Bessie smiled and placed three tiny crystals across Rowan’s forehead. “See you soon.” There was a sudden whoosh of energy and Bessie was gone.
The humming grew louder and louder. Rowan’s soul, free from its constraints, plunged into the dark void. A silence was followed by a burst of brilliant silver light. Shielding her vision, she studied the many constellations that gathered and moved around her until her gaze fixed onto one. Spellbound, she willed herself closer, eager to reach out and touch it. The other constellations blinked into darkness. Her father’s voice spoke softly. “Welcome home, Guardian.”
“Why is it you sound so much like my dad?”
“We took the voice of the one your heart yearns for the most.”
“I don’t understand.”
“We believe it is easier for you this way, to listen and accept our teaching. To trust in what we ask of you.”
“And what is it I am here to learn?”
“The Guardian must awaken.”
“Guardian of what?”
“That is for you to discover.”
“Why me?”
“You waste time asking irrelevant questions.”
“Perhaps I would have fewer questions and more relevant ones if someone would care to explain this all to me. You’re asking me to trust and yet I have no idea in what and who.”
Bessie’s voice broke through. “It’s a fair point.”
“You are not to interfere, Bessantia. We have allowed you only to observe.”
“My apologies but our time is short.”
“We are aware. Valoria’s Veil is thinning, and neither world will survive if the Guardian does not awaken.”
“Are you saying that my world is also at risk of harm?” Rowan asked.
“Yes, Guardian, and others like it.”
“What must I do?”
“Are you ready to trust?”
“Yes.”
“Then, we shall begin.”
Chapter Sixteen
North York Moors, North East England
“Commander,” Rivik growled, “we were not expecting you back so soon.”
Kane completed a quick surveillance of the camp, instantly suspicious. “Am I interrupting something?”
“No. You seemed to be enjoying your time with the girl so much, we thought you may wish to spend another night.”
Kane reached into his pocket and retrieved a book. “The girl has acquired what I need, I have no further use for her.”
“Then what are your orders?”
“If you mean, do I want the girl killed, not now.”
“Very well, but my brethren and I need to feed.”
“Then go, Rivik. I am tired after last night’s exertions and need to rest. When you return we shall make our preparations to leave. The Master will not allow any further delays.”
The Fallen nodded. “Understood, Commander.”
“When you return, do not wake me. When I am sufficiently rested, I will summon you.”
“Yes, Commander.”
“And make sure that Barrock knows under no circumstances is he or any of the others to disturb me.”
Kane didn’t wait for Rivik’s response and strode to his tent. Dropping the book to the floor, he collapsed onto his bed, closed his eyes and drifted into sleep. He groaned as he was suddenly jolted free from his physical body and catapulted into the void. Kane sensed the creature following close behind him. Ignoring Morbae’s call, he lingered purposefully in the darkness. “I know you’re there.”
It drew closer. “Yet, you are not afraid. Why is that?”
“I fear nothing.”
“Bold words, but we both know it’s a lie. You know what dwells here, Warlock. A fool you are not.”
Kane smiled and traced his fingers across the scar. “Perhaps. Tell me, did you intend to mark or kill me?”
“I meant to kill you.”
“And now?”
“Now, I cannot.”
“Why? What is it that you have done, to me?”
Its laughter rang through the darkness. “Too late, Warlock, too late.”
Kane lurched forward and landed with a sudden thud on the stone flags of the Great Hall. He stood quickly and slammed the dust from his clothing. “You had no right.”
Morbae cast him a cold glare. “You will immediately obey us, apprentice, and come as soon as you are summoned.”
“I am here now.”
Morbae tutted. “Not good enough. She knows that you lingered in the void and why.”
Kane faltered. “You’re lying.”
“I am many things but a liar is not one of them.”
The chamber doors crashed open, Kane’s retort dying on his tongue. Her voice ordered them both to silence. Morbae nodded and skulked quietly back to his chair, his eyes simmering with annoyance. Kane shifted uncomfortably underneath her intense scrutiny.
“When?” she demanded.
He feigned innocence. “When what? I don’t know what you’re asking?”
She stormed across the hall, her face a mask of fury as she seized Kane’s head in her hands. Pushing her lips against his, she forced his mouth apart with her tongue, the kiss bruising as it deepened. Without any care for his sanity, she delved further into his mind and searched through his memories. Kane fought against the unwelcome desire that stirred in his groin. His fingers sought her arms and dug deep into her skin. She flinched with the pain he inflicted.
Kane wrenched himself free of her embrace. “That’s enough,” he spat out.
Morbae rose abruptly from his chair.
“No, leave this to me,” she snapped.
Kane made no attempt to hide his smirk as the guardian slumped back.
“Don’t think yourself clever. She can kill you where you stand,” Morbae muttered.
He laughed. “She won’t kill me.”
“What makes you so sure?” she asked, her hand stroking his face. “You have no idea of what is to come.”
“I know that I do not fear it.”
“You should,” she warned and turned her attention to Morbae. “My suspicions are confirmed, although I don’t understand how this has been allowed to happen again.”
Kane glanced to the guardian noting a flicker of recognition cross Morbae’s face.
“You’re sure, Mistress? There’s no chance you could be mistaken. To happen once is rare, to happen twice… well…” Morbae shrugged.
“You said yourself, he lingered in the void and the creatures did not attack.”
His irritation grew. “Perhaps you both would care to indulge me?”
Morbae ignored him. “If this is true, Mistress, you cannot know it will end the same.”
She frowned and turned to Kane. “When did you come into contact with it?”
“The night you seared your sigil into my skin. It attacked after I left you.”
Morbae laughed. “You know what this means, Mistress?”
Wrapping her arms around Kane, she pulled him close and brushed her lips briefly against his. “It means that this time is different; he belongs to me. The Nyrvallia will evolve.”
He seethed inside. I belong to no one, and you will tell me what you know.
Oblivious to his rising anger, she turned to Morbae. “We must prepare.”
“Yes, Mistress.” The guardian clapped his hands gleefully. “I forgive your previous insolence, apprentice. You are quite the marvel.”
“I have not said I forgive yours,” Kane muttered, impervious to the compliment paid.
Morbae hopped from his seat. “Mistress, you are permitted one visit. Should I arrange this now?”
“Yes, but it must be at the time of my choosing. I shall need to study the charts.”
“Of course, I will leave them in your chamber.”
Kane swallowed his anger. “You still have told me nothing. Why did you summon me?”
She reached into her robe and passed him a potion. “Drink it.”
“What is it?”
So, it is something I am to become? I must know more. He released the gold cap from the vial and sniffed the mixture. “There’s blood in here.”
She raised her brows. “Your sense of smell has developed. Indeed, there is. A few drops of my blood to ensure your obedience.”
He glared. “Why is that you both insist on inflicting your poisons to ensure my allegiance. Is my oath not enough?”
“I have not inflicted but openly given you the potion. As for your oath as you stand here, yes, but when you become the Nyrvallia, a different matter.”
Kane scowled. “What if I refuse to drink?”
“You claim to be loyal to me. Why would you refuse? Unless you have something to hide?”
Kane shook his head and tipped the contents into his mouth.
She moved towards the chamber doors. “Wonderful, well done, my apprentice. We shall speak again in a couple of days. Now I must consult the charts.”
“Mistress, wait,” Morbae croaked.
She spun, her eyes widening in horror at the sight before her. Kane’s arms wrapped tightly around his stomach as he doubled over and continued heaving. The vomit was a black sticky pool that hissed as it spewed onto the cold tile floor.
“What is this?” she shrieked.
Kane rose slowly and shook his head. “I don’t know.”
“Morbae?”
The guardian moved to examine the vomit. “I’ve never seen the like of it before, Mistress. But I do not believe he has knowingly rejected your potion.”
“The creature?” she asked, her voice shrill.
“Does not possess such ability.”
“What do you feel?” she asked, her eyes narrowed as she appraised Kane.
“Nothing, the pain has gone.”
She glanced down. “Lift your shirt, I must see.”
Kane immediately obeyed, small bumps appearing over his skin as she traced her fingers across. “I only see my mark. The Lyboria wound has healed. It couldn’t have possibly caused this. I do not understand.”
“Neither do I,” he replied.
“Leave me, I must think. Morbae, the charts.” She stormed to the chamber doors and slammed them closed behind her.
Kane opened his mouth to address the guardian, but the words didn’t come out. His consciousness catapulted back through the void.
Kane sprang to his feet, cursing the one who had disturbed him.
“My apologies, Commander, but the fire is prepared. The Master draws close.”
“You are?” he spat out.
“Dorgu,” the Fallen replied hesitantly.
Kane hissed an incantation and lifted the creature into the air. Dorgu wailed loudly. “Please, Commander, forgive me, I was only asked to deliver the message.”
“More fool you,” Kane snapped, and with a click of his fingers tore Dorgu apart.
Storming into the clearing, he glared at the others gathered around. “I said that I was not to be disturbed.”
“The Master is here, Commander, and as you are aware, he waits for no one,” Barrock hissed.
Kane stared into the flames.
The Master leaned back in his seat, hands clasped and face contorted in anger. “You have something more important than me?”
Fighting to regain his composure, Kane shook his head.
Rivik stepped forward and addressed the fire. “Our apologies, Master, the Commander was studying an important text that may lead to the girl’s whereabouts.”
Much to Kane’s relief, the Master’s interest had piqued, his anger forgotten. “What is this text?”
“A book that contains maps of this world. I was in the middle of preparing it for a location spell,” Kane said.
“I had not known you were so well versed.”
“My mother’s powers may have been taken from her, but her knowledge of the craft wasn’t. I discovered some of her spells before she died.”
The Master studied Kane for a few moments. “And how did you come by this book?”
“I had a human girl acquire it for me. She serves me well.”
“Be careful, consorting with these creatures.”
“I have no intention of impregnating any of them.”
The Master rose from his chair and stepped free from the flames. The Fallen retreated as he strode purposefully towards Kane. “Your shirt,” he ordered.
Kane obeyed for the second time that night.
“You heal quickly. There will be no further delay.”
“The skin has healed, but it still causes me some discomfort. I have not been well,” Kane said.
The Master nodded. “Your lesson learned. Do not disappoint me again.”
“I will not fail you,” Kane said.
“Good. However, I shall require proof of your loyalty.”
“What is it you ask of me?’
“Bleed for me.”
Kane immediately withdrew his dagger and slit his arm. Ignoring the blood gushing from the wound, he raised his eyes to the Master. “My blood.”
The Master seized hold of his arm and drew a rune; the gash healed immediately. “I’m glad we have an understanding.”
Kane gestured towards a log. “May I?”
The Master nodded and laughing, walked back into the fire.
Kane glared a warning across to the Fallen. They took note of his silent threat and remained quiet, none daring to move except for Rivik, who edged closer to the fire and watched the flames intently.
“What news have you on the scorpion’s tail?” Kane asked.
“Your mother was indeed gifted.”
“She was right? He possesses the ability of the Shade?”
“Yes, most pleasing.”
Kane could barely contain his excitement at the prospect. His mother, vindicated at last! You scoffed at such ‘a ridiculous notion’, Mercadia. You refused to accept my mother into your tutelage and instead stole her power and cast her out of Astyllis. The Council of Elders swallowed your lies and it ruined my mother. She died with everyone including her son believing her to be crazy. But you are the fool! These tiny red scorpions my mother discovered hold magic, absorbed from deep beneath Elyssia’s sands. The ritual she created to transfer the magic from the scorpion’s stinger and rebirth a Shade worked! No longer the crazy ramblings of my mother’s fever as you will soon come to discover.
Kane’s hands gripped tightly to the wood to steady his trembling limbs. He searched the Master’s face. “The Council do not suspect? They’ve sensed nothing?”
“Far too busy protecting the Selensia and saving their precious villages.”
A momentous day, for I have succeeded where my mother failed! The Chosen One arisen from the grave and sooner than my mother predicted. Could that be due to the additional magic that flowed through his veins? Did he carry it forward after his death? I must study him!
Rivik growled and rose to his feet as something moved quickly from behind the Master. Kane shifted closer. Had it been there all this time? Can it hear my call?
The Master’s attention turned towards the dark shape as it leant forward to whisper something in his ear. Kane strained to hear its words above the crackling wood.
The Master nodded and threw a final glance towards him. With a sharp clap of his hands, he extinguished the flames and disappeared.
Kane stared at the glowing embers, his previous elation smothered by the churn of resentment at how the Master had so easily dismissed him.
“What was that?” Rivik growled.
“I believe that was the Chosen One,” Kane said.
“You need to be careful of it, Commander.”
“Of him, and yes, I will consider your warning. I did not hear its words, did you?”
“No, Commander. It whispered in a foreign tongue,” Rivik replied.
They fell silent as Barrock walked towards them. “We are fortunate that the Master accepted your lie. I have completed a co
unt, and our numbers remain intact, apart from Dorgu.”
Kane sighed. “Dorgu was a necessary sacrifice, Barrock. Had I not, the Master would have seen the fullness of my anger. That would not have ended well for the rest of your brethren.”
“Forgive me for saying this, Commander, but you cannot blame us for his early arrival,” Barrock said.
“Then who lit the fire?”
Rivik released a growl. Barrock glared but noted the warning and swiftly retreated, the other Fallen following him into the trees.
“Explain, Rivik,” Kane demanded.
“You witnessed how easily the Master extinguished the flames, much in the same way that he created them. We were as surprised as you. Barrock sent Dorgu to find you as soon as he appeared.”
Kane considered for a moment. “You’re sure?”
“My brethren do not willingly choose to summon or be alone in the Master’s presence. Not even Barrock, he values his existence too much.”
Kane nodded. “Indeed, his powers are growing. We cannot afford to be caught off guard again, Rivik.”
“The Chosen one crawled from the ground. It is he who has something to do with the sudden change of power, I’m sure. You need to be wary, of both of them.”
“Do not concern yourself, Rivik,” Kane said.
“Very well. What are your orders?”
“I will study the text and complete the location spell. Do not allow any other interruptions. When I am ready, I will summon you and Barrock.”
“Yes, Commander.”
Rivik turned and sprinted into the trees. Alone, Kane released a deep breath and gathered his thoughts. He could not deny that the Master’s parting look had unnerved him, almost as though he had detected the undercurrent of deceit that flowed through Kane’s veins.
How long had the Chosen one been there, and what message did he whisper in the Master’s ears? Will he betray me to the Master? Was sabotaging the blood of the scorpion, not enough? He trusted that when the time came, his mother was right.
Stifling a yawn, Kane strode to his tent, eager for a glass of wine to take away the unpleasant taste in his mouth. There had been no conscious thought or plan to expel the potion he had consumed and nothing to explain his violent reaction to it. Perhaps the creature? Does it even possess such magic? And why? What was in it? Does she lie to me? Glancing down to the scar on his hand, he considered the night of the attack. Can it be the creature is warning me? Are we linked?
The Veils of Valoria Page 19
