The Veils of Valoria

by Kirsty F McKay

  “I asked her for something to…”

  A crash from downstairs interrupted him and he cursed loudly.

  “What was that?” Rowan’s voice trembled.

  Finn met her gaze. “Two of the Fallen are inside. The others and Kane are almost here.”

  “Where is Bessie?” she asked, hoping for the best but fearing the worst.

  He shook his head and looked away, his hands balled tightly into a fist.

  Rowan forced back her tears. “Please don’t say it. She’s not…”

  “No, but she doesn’t want us to go downstairs, until she gives the order,” Finn said sullenly.

  “You are kidding me, right?”

  Finn didn’t reply.

  “So we are to just sit up here and do what? Leave her to those creatures?” Rowan cried.

  His jaw clenched. “I don’t like it any more than you do but she is very clear on this.”

  “But…”

  Finn cut her argument off. “Bessie is a powerful mage, she knows what she is doing.”

  Rowan stalked to the bedroom door. “We’ll see.” She turned the handle. It was locked. “Where’s the key?” she demanded.

  “I don’t have it.”

  “I don’t believe you,” she said and strode towards him.

  He shook his head sadly as she rifled through his pockets. They were all empty. Heaving a sigh, Rowan lifted her face to his, suddenly feeling incredibly stupid. “I’m sorry, I thought that…” Her voice trailed away.

  Finn took her hand in his. “I know how you’re feeling, but honestly it is no use. She won’t be reasoned with, believe me, I’ve been trying.”

  “Are you communicating with her now? In the same way as Mercadia?”

  He nodded. “I’ve been able to since we arrived. She didn’t want you to know of her origin, until we had completed our training in the Meridian.”

  “It’s alright, I should have made the connection myself the moment I realised she came from your world.”

  The sound of glass shattering below had them both spinning in the direction of the door.

  “Finn, we have to get out of here now, we need to help her.”

  “How? She’s locked us in with magic.”

  “Then we’ll have to use magic to break ourselves free,” Rowan said, freeing her hand.

  “Great idea, now why didn’t I think of that,” he muttered.

  She ignored his sarcasm and rolled her eyes heavenwards, calling for Charles.

  There was another loud crash from below, this time accompanied by a chorus of snarls and howling.

  “Do you know of any spells?” Finn asked, his voice full of desperation.

  Rowan raised her finger gently to her lips and nodded.

  She turned to address Charles and gestured across the room. “Can you get it open?”

  His energy instantly released. Seconds later he returned, only this time he was accompanied by a female presence.

  “It’s sealed with a spell, a pretty impressive one at that, but nothing that I cannot undo,” Aliyah said.

  Rowan beamed her relief when the door flew open minutes later.

  “How did you do that?” Finn asked incredulously.

  She slung the rucksack over her shoulder and grabbed his hand. “Never mind, let’s go.”

  “We’ll be with you,” Charles said.

  Finn held tightly to her hand as he led them silently downstairs and towards the kitchen. Bessie stopped them in the doorway. She dusted what appeared to be black ash from her skirt. “I thought I ordered you to stay upstairs until I was ready?”

  “We couldn’t leave you,” Rowan said peering past her. There were no other signs of movement. She grimaced at the overturned furniture and glass littering the floor.

  “Then you jeopardise all of our futures, dear. You must stay alive. I assume it is your two friends who assisted?” Bessie scolded.

  “You sensed Charles and Aliyah here now?”

  “My home is well warded, I know when others are here.”

  “A very gifted witch,” Aliyah murmured.

  Bessie turned her attention to Finn, their eyes locked. “It is time.”

  He shook his head. “I’m not ready to show her that yet.”

  “Show me what?”

  Her question was ignored.

  “I’m afraid you have no choice. The cottage is surrounded. I have enough power remaining to give you the time you need to escape from the Fallen, but it is impossible to do it on foot. Rowan will not be able to take her car, Kane is approaching from the front entrance. You’ll escape at the back. Biscuit will be going with you.”

  “What about the Guardian?” Finn asked.

  Bessie raised her brow. “Attuned but neither will awaken without the amulet.”

  “The Guardian? What are you talking about?” Rowan demanded.

  They continued their conversation. “I don’t want to frighten her,” Finn said.

  “You were meant to protect her, it is a gift.”

  Hello, I’m still standing here. Rowan resisted the urge to scream. She turned her thoughts to Charles. “Why aren’t they listening to me?”

  He placed a hand gently on her shoulder. “Wait a moment.”

  Bessie slid her gaze to Rowan and gave an apologetic smile. “I’m sorry, dear. We did not mean to exclude you, I…” She spun to face the front door. “Kane has reached the driveway. I’m sorry, there’s no time for goodbyes. Go.”

  Finn nodded and seized Rowan’s hand. Her protests falling on deaf ears, he pulled her along the narrow hallway and through a door situated at the back of the cottage. Biscuit was standing outside, his fur bristling and his gaze locked in the direction of the trees. Rowan pulled her hand free and turned to stare into the darkness. Ice travelled the length of her spine and her heart beat a wild rhythm in her chest. The creatures were watching.

  “What do we do now?” she hissed.

  “We wait for Bessie’s signal, but first I must choose.”

  “Choose?”

  “A form,” he replied simply.

  Rowan’s eyes widened. “Are you saying what I think you’re saying?”

  He nodded. “Can you ride?”

  “You mean as in a horse?”

  “Yes, can you?”

  “I don’t know, I’ve never…”

  Charles squeezed her shoulder and whispered, “You’re still my Anna. The knowledge is inside you. Trust me.”

  “Rowan?”

  “I’ll try,” she said and gave Finn a weak smile.

  He released a sigh and nodded. “I’m still me, please remember that.”

  “Wait, have you done this before?”

  “Yes, when Biscuit and I had our male bonding time as you put it.”

  A realisation occurred. “That explains it.”

  “Explains what?”

  “Your eyes that day.”

  “My eyes?”

  “When you arrived back from the Meridian, your eyes appeared a different colour.”

  “You noticed?”

  They both flinched as Biscuit barked furiously. Rowan could hear a high-pitched whistle and covered her ears as it grew in strength. Seconds later a brilliant white beam burst past them and rippled outwards. Dozens of reptilian-like amber eyes suddenly glared back at her, now exposed by the light that hurtled towards them. The creatures turned and ran for the darkness, their wails of agony and rage ricocheting through the trees.

  Rowan spun to Finn and released a loud cry as she found herself staring into the eyes of a stallion. It snorted and nodded its head repeatedly up and down.

  “You haven’t much time, Rowan,” Charles warned.

  She took a calming breath. “How do I even mount him?”

  “We’ll help you,” Aliyah said.

  “Wait a minute,” Rowan requested and unzipped the rucksack. Tipping it upside down, she emptied her clothes onto the ground. Kneeling, she called to Biscuit and opened the bag.

  As though attuned to
her thoughts, the little dog ran towards her and jumped into the bag. Rowan lifted the rucksack, Biscuit’s head poking free from the top. She slipped her arms through both handles and slung it onto her back.

  “I’m ready,” she said to Charles.

  “Hold onto Finn’s mane and raise your leg,” he instructed.

  She followed his directions and was immediately thrust upwards, her right leg automatically swinging across Finn’s back.

  “Move forward slightly… that’s it,” Charles said.

  “This would be a lot easier if I had a saddle,” Rowan muttered.

  “You’ve ridden before without a saddle or bridle, it will come back to you, I promise.”

  “Better get out of here before those things come back,” Aliyah advised.

  With the little dog nestled against her back, Rowan gripped tightly to Finn’s mane and leaned forward. “I love you.”

  The stallion gave a soft whinny and set off in the direction of the trees.

  A cold clammy sweat crept across her skin as they continued forward in silence. She flinched with every snap of branch underneath Finn’s hooves.

  “The Fallen… can you sense them, Charles?” she whispered.

  “I sense a darkness ahead. But don’t worry, I have a feeling I know where Finn is going,” he reassured.

  “I hope so or they’ll be eating him first,” she hissed.

  After a few minutes Finn turned right and picked up his pace. They emerged from the wood and entered a field. Rowan’s relief to be in the open air, however short lived as several howls could be heard from behind them.

  Finn broke into a gallop.

  Rowan held onto his mane tightly and closed her eyes momentarily. She searched for Anna’s memory, her mind moving beyond the pain of Charles’s death and to the memory of the ride in the valley. Allowing the knowledge to return to her body and her instincts to take over, Rowan adjusted her posture and moved confidently in sync with Finn.

  The snarl and sudden snapping of teeth from behind had her head spinning. Three of the creatures were in pursuit of them. Their fangs gleamed in the moonlight and eyes focused on their prey. Rowan sensed their thirst for blood.

  The little dog growled and wriggled in the rucksack. “Stay, Biscuit,” Rowan ordered and facing forward, she nudged Finn with her feet.

  Acknowledging her urgency, he increased his pace, tearing towards the furthest edge of the field. Rowan gripped his mane and steeled herself for the jump that was coming. Finn leapt into the air and cleanly over the fencing. He didn’t stop. There was a familiar thrum of energy in the distance and she smiled briefly.

  Biscuit barked furiously from behind.

  One of the Fallen had gained speed and had closed the distance between them.

  Rowan turned her head at the moment of its attack.

  “No,” she screamed, the anger rising. Her hand swiped through the air. The creature released an agonised wail as it flew backwards and sailed straight into the other two. Swallowing her shock, she faced forward and continued urging Finn on. They leapt across another fence and crossed into the field. The hedging at the far end leading into the Meridian parted swiftly and eased their entry. It sealed behind them.

  Finn stopped running.

  Chapter Twenty

  Achavanich, Scottish Highlands

  A wind gathered and shifted the air around them. Kane lifted his gaze to the sky. The clouds were forced apart, exposing the moon. Did the woman summon it?

  Kane could clearly make out her features. There was something oddly familiar to him. Where have I seen her face before?

  “You’re too late. They’ve gone,” she called out.

  “Not possible. I have the cottage surrounded,” he replied.

  “Yes, and I took care of those miserable creatures.”

  He gestured for Barrock to leave. “Find the others,” he snapped. Turning his attention back to the woman, he muttered, “If you have that is quite an accomplishment.”

  “You almost sound impressed,” she replied.

  “Unexpected, that’s all, given the limitations of you humans.” Kane would give her no more than that.

  “Well then, since you’ve wasted your time here, I suggest you return. The Master will need his pet.”

  Kane’s brow arched. “Who exactly are you?”

  “No one to concern yourself with,” she replied.

  “We shall see.”

  Rivik sprang towards her and released a howl as she held out her hands and released a blast of purple energy. Rivik was sent crashing to Kane’s feet. He rose quickly and snarled. Kane shook his head in warning.

  “It is as I suspected. You are not from this world.”

  “I am not,” she confirmed.

  “Then you must realise you are no match for me, old woman.”

  “Do your worst,” she said, having the audacity to mock him.

  Furious, Kane raised his hand into the air and closed his fist. The woman sank to her knees, holding her throat. Her power invaded his mind. “Release me now, Warlock, or he will make you pay. We both know who it is that I speak of.”

  Surprised and confused he acquiesced to her request. “What is your name?” he demanded.

  “Bessantia,” she croaked.

  “That’s a lie. She died a long time ago.”

  The woman rose to her feet slowly and smiled. “Don’t be so sure.” Raising her hand into the air, she used the very same power he had summoned, against him.

  Kane’s throat constricted and he fell to the ground gasping for air. His hand fumbled frantically in his pocket for the dagger. Still holding his throat in a feeble attempt to release her grip, the other hand hurriedly carved a rune in the ground in front of him. The pressure instantly released and he rose to his feet, still gripping the dagger.

  “We can do this till dawn,” she said, her gaze sliding to the blade.

  Kane sensed a slight quiver in her voice. “You continue to lie to me, old woman.”

  “Do I? How can you be so sure?” she replied boldly.

  Kane sneered and strode towards her. A fork of lightning struck the ground in front of him. He sprang back, dropping the dagger. The old woman smiled and gave a nonchalant shrug of her shoulders.

  “Be careful, Commander,” Rivik warned.

  Kane appraised her for a few moments. “It truly is a convincing act but I’m no fool. I’m sure the Tracker has told you that.”

  “Not really, you were not that important enough for us to discuss,” she replied.

  Fury channelled into power, and energy exploded from Kane’s core. The woman was knocked off her feet and sent hurtling backwards through the open doorway of the cottage. There was a loud crash from inside. Kane spat his disgust and retrieved the blade from the ground. “She will soon see how important I am.”

  “Commander,” Barrock called, approaching them.

  “Well?” Kane snapped.

  “All but three of my brethren have suffered injuries, but they live. Gallo is unharmed, he has taken Grynn and Minious with him. They are in pursuit of the Tracker and the girl.”

  “Good. He may yet redeem favour with me,” Kane sneered. He glanced upwards at the sky and cursed loudly. “Dawn will soon be approaching.”

  “What are your orders, Commander?”

  “Go with your brethren and have them set up camp. They can begin their regeneration. Return with the coordinates once you are done, Barrock.”

  “Yes, Commander.”

  “Rivik with me. I shall deal with her.”

  The Fallen nodded and followed Kane inside the building. There was a loud scraping from a room to their right.

  “I scent no other presence,” Rivik confirmed.

  Kane entered into what appeared to be the remains of a scullery. The woman was seated in a large chair, her arms folded in her lap and posture relaxed.

  “You do not fear me?” Kane said, surprised by her nerve.

  “No, I do not.” She raised the sleeve of her c
lothing to expose her arm.

  Kane strode towards her and glared down at the mark on her skin. A knot tightened in his gut and his head swam with shock and rage.

  “Tell me, how is it possible?” he demanded, leaning in for a closer inspection.

  She didn’t falter, her eyes meeting his with an equal intensity.

  “You are not privileged enough to hold such knowledge,” she answered, suddenly rising from the chair and out of close proximity to him.

  Kane’s temper exploded once more, the windows shaking in their frames and shattering. Somehow the woman made a quick calculation and moved effortlessly out of the path of the rain of glass shards. He picked up the chair she had been sitting in and threw it against the wall.

  She didn’t flinch. “It doesn’t matter what you do, you still won’t get the answers that you are seeking,” she said, calmly rolling down her sleeve.

  “I can still hurt you, Bessantia,” he spat out, his blood boiled.

  “So, you’ve accepted who I am, have you?”

  “Yes, and you will tell me how it is that you have managed to live all this time, undetected?”

  “You couldn’t possibly understand the how. You neither possess the power or the ability. As for hurting me, you know that I can easily heal,” she replied, her voice unfazed by his threat.

  “Foolish woman, my bloodline is more powerful than you think.”

  “Really? Is that why your mother was stripped of all her powers, whilst you did little to stop it?”

  “I should have guessed, Mercadia! Was she the one to have extended your life, when he abandoned you?”

  She tutted loudly. “There you go again, you give me very little credit for one who claims to know who I am… who I really am.”

  Kane’s eyes narrowed. “What do you mean?”

  “The Master hasn’t told you everything, has he?”

  “The lies come tripping off your tongue so easily,” Kane hissed.

  “And yet you’re uncertain. I sense the doubt picking away at your insides and what remains of the wrinkled black prune you call a heart.”

  Kane slapped her hard across her cheek. A red welt instantly appeared and her eyes watered. Infuriatingly she stood her ground.

  “You don’t scare me. Both you and I know the truth. You cannot kill me, he forbids it.”