Devan Chronicles Series: Books 1-3

by Mark E. Cooper

  “NOOOOO!”

  Julia collapsed back to the bed and cried silently. That had been the worst one yet. God how she needed to sleep, but she was too frightened to close her eyes. She had followed Preston’s pointing finger and saw Athione burning. In the ruins all her people lay dead. Not Hasians, Devans! She stood upon the gate tower that seemed to float above the ruins and—

  “Don’t think! For God’s sake don’t think about it.”

  Julia kicked the covers away and padded to the chair near the window. She slumped into it and through blurring eyes watched the sentries on the North Link walking their assigned posts. It was well after midnight by her guess. The night watch would be handing over to the day watch soon. They would have a little breakfast and then be off too bed to dream of their sweethearts. How she envied them their ability to sleep. The stars were bright, the constellations...

  Julia stood and pressed her cheek against the cool glass. She had never noticed that before. She snorted. What reason would she have for walking around looking at the sky at night? The shapes in the heavens were wrong, but the moon looked normal to her eyes. The face was there and everything. Was it bigger than the old one or was she imagining it?

  “I have to get home before I forget what home is,” Julia whispered trying to decide if the moon was right or not. “This is not Earth right?”

  That’s right miss Morton. I must say you’re doing remarkably well.

  “Thank you, I do notice things when they hit me over the head with them you know.”

  Julia’s imaginary voice didn’t answer that. The voice was her form tutor from school. He had taught her history for three periods a week just a few years ago. She frowned, why choose Mister Frey?

  “This is not Earth, those are not my stars, and that’s not my fucking moon either!” she said harshly.

  Very good Julia, but why does it look like your moon then?

  Julia slumped back into the chair. She was weighed down with weariness, but she wasn’t going back to sleep. Every night it was the same—nightmares about her murdering thousands of people. Sometimes she would strike and then find it was her parents she had killed, other times it was the Hasians, but they weren’t soldiers—they were just people like any other. Tonight was the first time she had seen Athione destroyed along with her new friends. The dreams were getting worse.

  “Don’t think about it,” she said angry at the way her thoughts wandered and prodded at the pain like a tongue probing a bad tooth. “What’s going on with the moon?”

  Julia sat slumped in her chair thinking and watching the stars fade...

  A banging sound brought Julia awake with a start. The light streaming through the window announced a new day had dawned. She must have fallen asleep after all. If she had dreamed she didn’t remember it. She was sitting in the chair and her neck ached something fierce. She hoisted herself out of it—and that was another thing. Her backside was numb. She groaned. She felt worse than when she didn’t sleep!

  Bath... right now!

  Julia spent an hour dozing in the tub, which was foolish of her. Being so small she could easily slip under the water. She didn’t care. She dozed and awoke to find herself wrinkled like a prune and shivering. The water had grown cold, but that was easily fixed. Rather than climb out only to refill it with hot water, she grasped her magic and gently applied her flames to the stone. It took a while for the heat to penetrate and warm the water, but it worked. With flames all around the tub but still safely confined by her magic, Julia felt like a white hunter in a cannibal’s cooking pot. It was a strange experience, and she laughed. She enjoyed it, and did it again. Her mood began to lighten and she looked forward to a new day. Just because she had bad dreams every night since the battle, didn’t mean she would tonight.

  The room was full of steam when Julia doused her flames. The feeling of the magic roaring inside her was so sweet she failed to release it. Humming to herself as she washed, she revelled in the feeling that her magic imparted to her. This was the way it should be, the way it had been when she won a competition. The feeling of completeness was fleeting back then, but here was different. She didn’t have to let it go here. As long as she held onto her magic she could feel like this all the time.

  Julia towelled herself dry and dressed, but finally she had to release her link or have Mathius nagging her about the dangers of using it for too long. She wasn’t using it. She was just holding it, but Mathius must be wondering what she was doing and why she hadn’t let go yet. With a sad sigh, Julia released the magic and staggered to her knees as weariness hammered her down. This was the real Julia. This was how the real Julia felt all the time, and she hated it! If it weren’t for Mathius, she could hold her magic all day and none the wiser. It was his fault that she felt like this... but he was her friend. One of the very few she now had. It was not his fault that she didn’t know how to use magic properly. Maybe when she learned more she wouldn’t feel like this.

  Julia climbed tiredly to her feet. She felt worse than when she had awoken in the chair. She poured herself a large glass of wine hoping that it would help. After drinking two glasses of the deep red wine she felt a little better—more able to face the day. Her collapse had been nothing to worry about. It was just her stupidity of releasing her link so suddenly.

  That’s all it was Julia was sure.

  At least her shoulder felt better this morning. It was still a little stiff, but as long as she kept it in the sling she could move about free of pain. She was pleased by that. She had a lot to do today.

  Julia made her way through the citadel. As she approached the sentries she nodded or gave them a quick smile. She was relieved to see that no one had noticed her tiredness. If they had they would make her go to bed. She wasn’t a child to be coddled all the time, and besides, the dreams were waiting.

  Julia reached the barracks and stepped inside. Athione used three like this for her guardsmen, but this was the one she needed. She knew that certain men were to be found here—those with injuries that Jessica had deemed trivial. Julia was careful to enter quietly. She didn’t want to wake anyone. The barracks was in semi-darkness. The beds and those asleep in them were shadows within shadows. Julia took a firm hold of herself and approached the first bed.

  The first man was burning with fever. His wounded shoulder was festering from days in the same dirty bandage. Julia shook her head at this fresh evidence of neglect. She knew Jessica had been wrong to send these men off without first seeing her. She quickly healed him and he didn’t even wake. The next one was easy and so was the man that followed. Julia soon fell into a rhythm. She didn’t notice until the end that there were more men in the room than when she’d started. She finished the last one and stood to stretch her aching back. All the guardsmen were awake and silently watching at her. Then she saw the crowd near the door. There were dozens of guardsmen staring at her—perhaps waiting for her to leave so that they could go to bed. They were the night watch and tired. When they realised that she had seen them, they came to attention and saluted her—right hand over heart and a small bow of the head in her direction.

  Brian stepped forward. “Thank you.”

  One by one the guardsmen stepped forward and did the same before leaving the barracks to go to their rest. Those she had healed whispered their thanks, but they didn’t rise. She was just as pleased they didn’t. Many of them slept nude. It was embarrassing enough to be caught in here without that. Talk about scandal! Jessica would have a cow!

  Brian escorted her back to the women’s apartments. He left her at the door with more thanks and a gentlemanly bow. Julia watched him leave then allowed her shoulders to slump.

  God, she needed a drink.

  Julia stood before the window in her sitting room watching the comings and goings outside and occasionally taking a sip of her wine. The sky was slate grey. It promised to be cooler than days previous, but rain didn’t seem likely. Clouds were visible running before the wind, but they were too high to drop thei
r much needed moisture on Athione. It hadn’t rained once in all the time she had been living in Athione. Mathius said the season was the driest for more than six years.

  Julia frowned. Crops would be in danger if the drought continued too long, but no one seemed worried about the possibility. Keverin had hoarded many times the usual amount of grain and other supplies below the citadel. There was more than enough to see the fortress through this year and the next if necessary.

  Julia scowled. Thoughts of Keverin she did not want, but they kept intruding whether she wanted them to or not—and it was not, definitely not!

  Keverin had thanked her for her healing but he hadn’t spoken two civil words to her since that day. It was as if he blamed her for something, but Julia had no idea what it could be. He certainly hadn’t told her. Whenever they met in the corridors all Keverin did was bow and take his leave as fast as possible. No smile, no small talk—nothing.

  “I’m not going to ask him,” Julia murmured. “He can go and soak his head in barrel of beer for all I care!”

  Julia grinned at the image of Keverin doing that. Moriz had used the expression when he told her about Marcus. Moriz had realised that Marcus wouldn’t speak up for himself, so he had taken it upon himself to speak to her she remembered...

  “I’m sorry to disturb you, Lady, but I need help.”

  “You’re not disturbing me, Moriz,” Julia said then grinned. “Where’s Halbert? I’ve never seen you two apart before. I thought you were glued together!”

  Moriz grinned sheepishly. “He’s sitting on—he’s busy with Captain Marcus, Lady.”

  Sitting on Marcus? “I see. What can I do for you Moriz?”

  Moriz mumbled something that sounded like the captain could soak his head in a barrel of beer if he thought old Moriz would stand by and do nothing.

  Julia frowned; do nothing about what?

  “It ain’t my place to ask this Lady, but Marcus has been limping around the citadel something fierce these last few days. He wouldn’t tell you of course. He feels bad about the tower. We’re all sorry about that, but he was in command that day you see?”

  Julia certainly did see. Men! They were no better that children sometimes. Just because she had been hurt while Marcus was in command, he was punishing himself by not telling her that he was wounded. Stupid man! A small wound could become serious in a hurry here. Deva had nothing like antibiotics to prevent infection.

  “Where is he?”

  Moriz smiled in relief. “He’s in the armoury with Halbert Lady.”

  “Give me your arm Moriz. You can escort me down there.”

  “I would be honoured Lady!” Moriz said beaming in pride at her request.

  Julia blushed in embarrassment, but she wouldn’t take back her words—not after seeing how much it meant to him. They made their way to the armoury and found Marcus examining pieces of armour. Halbert was pointing to something on one of the racks and Marcus was shaking his head. Halbert’s eyes widened when Julia walked in on Moriz’s arm, but Marcus had his back turned toward her and didn’t realise she was there.

  “Excuse me Halbert, but I need to borrow Marcus for a moment.”

  Marcus stiffened and turned slowly toward her. Halbert grinned and with an inclination of his head left the room. Moriz made to do the same, but Marcus glared at him and he hesitated a moment too long.

  “Stand still!” Marcus roared.

  Julia fought the instinctive desire to snap to attention herself. Moriz made no attempt to disobey. Before Marcus could say anything further she took matters in hand.

  “I had Moriz escort me to you Marcus so that I might ask after your men. Are they all fit to do their duty now?”

  “Yes lady, everyone who could has healed well.”

  Julia winced at the quick stab of pain his reminder caused her. So many had died that it was hard to remember sometimes just how many she had saved. “That’s good to hear. Any still injured might fail in their duty when called upon by their lord. I am pleased there aren’t any like that,” she turned to leave. “I’ll be in the banquet hall if you need me—”

  “Wait, Lady. I hesitate to ask... it’s a very slight thing you understand, but I have a wound for you to heal.” Marcus glared at Moriz to keep him silent. “It would certainly not prevent me from doing my duty, but if you have a moment?”

  “Certainly. Small injuries can be quite painful I know. There’s no need to suffer when I can heal it with none the wiser. Where are you injured?”

  Marcus gingerly sat on a bench. “The leg, Lady... arrow just here.” He gently touched his right thigh about three inches above the knee.

  Julia frowned. The wound was in the great muscle of the thigh. It would be easy to fix—arrow wounds always were. “You should have come to me before, Marcus. You wouldn’t allow such behaviour from your men. Why should I allow it from you?”

  “I’m too busy for this nonsense,” Marcus said indignant at her chiding tone. He made to stand.

  “Sit still!” Julia ordered. “And take your trousers off.”

  Marcus went bright red, and gave Moriz a just you wait look. Moriz rolled his eyes and grinned. Marcus grunted as he pulled the leather of his trousers down over the thick bandaging. They were tight and sweat burst upon his forehead when his struggles disturbed the wound.

  Julia pulled the bandaging loose and grimaced at the smell. The wound was infected and must be very painful. Marcus pretended it was nothing of course, just as her previous patients had. She entered the healing realm and healed the wound with ease.

  Marcus pulled his trousers back up so quick she hardly saw him move. “Thank you, lady,” he said with profound relief at the lack of pain.

  “You don’t have to lady me all the time you know,” Julia said with a laugh. “I’m not really a noble.”

  Moriz and Marcus snorted, but it was Moriz who spoke. “You be The Lady. Any be saying different will answer to me and the rest of Athione.”

  Marcus nodded and both men bowed to her before Moriz escorted her to Master-crafter Deneen.

  Julia shook her head at the memory. People believe what they want to believe. She had tried to tell people before that she wasn’t a noble in any sense of the word, but everyone—including Jessica—scoffed at the idea. Don’t be silly, they all said, it’s obvious by the way you move, the way you hold your head, and the way you talk that you are noble born. Julia had tried to explain about life in England, and how it was that everyone went to school and had a similar manner to hers, but the idea was alien to them. Even the guardsmen—who it seemed had claimed her as their mascot or some such thing, even they wouldn’t have it said that she was from peasant stock. All guardsmen were born of peasant families, even Senior Captain Marcus—though you would never know it to talk to him. Yet they all insisted she was noble not peasant. She had tried to tell them the truth, but they wouldn’t listen. If they wanted to treat her like a noble, she wouldn’t try to stop them. Not anymore.

  Julia sighed and turned away from the window. She put her empty glass aside and wandered her rooms. She wished Deneen would hurry and finish his work. Her healing magic wasn’t needed any longer—all the injured were back on duty. Her lessons with Mathius were not enough to occupy her time. She spent most evenings with Jessica reading by firelight. Brian had his duty to perform, and Mathius had his studies. What did she have? Maybe she could walk the walls like a guardsman, or help in the kitchens. She smirked at the image of Keverin having kittens.

  “No, he wouldn’t like that...” Julia’s brows lowered in discontent. “That settles it!”

  Julia left her room and made her way to the west courtyard. The citadel was bustling. Invasion or no invasion the fight against dust and grime never ceased. She knew how that was from her own experience, but cleaning an eight roomed house only seemed to take forever. Cleaning Athione literally did. Men and women were mopping the floors in a line as Julia stepped out of the corridor into the west entry hall. A good idea that. Even if it did take al
most two dozen people to extend the line right across the hall. They would be finished much faster. They would do it all again tomorrow of course, and every morning thereafter.

  Julia watched as a couple of strong looking men lowered each of the chandeliers for the younger girls so they might clean the crystals and replace the candles. Julia hadn’t seen them do that before, but she realised why it was necessary almost immediately. The candles were burnt completely down, which was her fault. Her magic was hard to restrict to the mere trickle needed to light candles. She had wasted the wax too many times when she lit the chandeliers. She vowed to be more careful from now on. She could see that it took a lot of work to replace all those candles.

  Julia continued out of the citadel and into the courtyard. How on Earth was she to climb to battlement now the towers were gone? There must be a way up there. The Founders would have built more than one way up she was sure. She glanced at the piled stone barricade then dismissed it. She had seen it before.

  Julia followed the line of the wall, or rather where the wall used to be and studied her surroundings with interest. She hadn’t been all the way around the citadel before. The wreckage of the west stables had been used to build the barricade, but she could still see the remains of walls and foundations. Much of the curtain wall had been destroyed with the gate. The west stables had backed solidly against the curtain wall and had suffered the same fate because of it. Mathius had explained that when the combined might of fifty sorcerers had struck Athione, Renard’s multiple wards collapsed instantly liberating all the magic used to build them. The multi-matrix of six huge wards had contained a great deal of energy, which when released had added its own destructiveness to that of the Hasians.

  Julia remembered the citadel shaking and groaning in the aftermath, it had felt like an earthquake. That was real power.

  Julia took a last look at the wreckage then moved on. Whatever the sorcerers had done, it had worked marvellously from their point of view. Having such a large hole in the defences meant the legionnaires could attack with more numbers over a wider area, or they would if not for The Gap. The towers were gone now, but that didn’t matter to Keverin’s men because with no wall or battlement, the defenders no longer needed them to ascend quickly to their posts.