Talis decided he should be the one to tell him. “The Nameless has escaped from the Underworld. It seems like the Starwalkers have been searching for her. They found her, removed the spell that we cast, and promptly found themselves her slaves.”
“What the hell?” Nikulo’s eyes widened in disbelief. “How could the Starwalkers be so stupid?”
“Is she coming here?” Callith asked, her blue eyes narrowing. She held the child even tighter.
“It depends on what Nikulo does.” Mara looked ashamed.
“What does she mean?” Callith stared at Nikulo.
His face went red as he clenched his fists. “She wants me to fulfill my vow of allegiance, doesn’t she?”
Talis nodded. “All of us. If we go to Darkov, she’ll leave Naru and the rest of the world alone. She intends on journeying to the Origin World. Apparently, she’s grown tired of this land.”
“I wish she would’ve left a long time ago.” Nikulo’s face softened into a look of resignation. “Then I guess I’ve no choice. But how can I leave Callith and my child? He’s so young.”
“This is ridiculous,” Callith said, fuming. “We’ve been preparing for war for over a year and you just give up like that? How do you know you won’t be killed if you go to Darkov? What if it’s a trap?”
“Rikar assured us that we won’t be harmed—”
“And you believe him?” Callith handed the baby to Nikulo and stormed over to Talis. “He’s lied before. Why wouldn’t he do it again? You betrayed the Nameless and her followers. How in all the names of the gods can you believe she won’t seek revenge and have you publicly executed in Darkov?”
“Look, we don’t know anything, calm down,” Mara said, placing a hand on Callith’s shoulder.
The girl slapped it away and faced Mara. “I’m talking to him. It’s seems so easy for you to run away from your responsibilities as a queen and protector of your people. But I expect more from Talis. Or is it your influence tainting his mind? You still wield those cursed daggers. Never once do you leave them. How do we know you’re not the one behind all this? Perhaps the Nameless is influencing both you and Rikar.”
The baby started crying. Despite Nikulo’s attempt at pacifying the poor child, it continued wailing away.
“Go nurse your child and stay out of it.” Mara’s voice was cutting and cruel. “And never again question my loyalty to my friends and my people. Nikulo has an obligation he has to fulfill. It’s as simple as that. If he stays, the Nameless will come and slaughter our people and raze the city down to rubble. Despite all the preparation we’ve done, you should know there’s little we can do to stop her… and Lord Aurellia.”
“What? He’s returning?” Nikulo asked, shaking his head in disbelief. “You can’t be serious? When will this end? We dealt with separate threats before, but now all three are united? Why would she even need us?”
“Most of her followers were killed in the Underworld.” Talis pictured the portal that opened to the great lava mountain. “She’s likely rebuilding her army. We’re lucky she hasn’t come here straightaway and slaughtered us. I doubt we could have done much to stop her.”
“But you could have at least tried.” Callith’s voice was softer now as if giving up on the fight.
“I would never do anything to bring danger here to you and the baby.” Nikulo wrapped his arms around her and placed his head against hers. She started crying, and the baby, instead of joining in, only looked in rapt attention at Mara and cooed. The child seemed enthralled by her.
“We have to leave.” Talis’ voice came out sounding harsher than he wanted, but he knew the urgency of their situation. The Nameless would waste no time in coming after them if they failed to arrive on time.
“So soon?” Callith seemed unable to hold her own weight. Nikulo held the baby and called for a nurse. A young woman soon came and plucked the baby from his arms, glancing worriedly at them as she left.
The padding sound of paws came from within the dense green foliage of the gardens. Talis looked over to see Charna, his pet lynx, stalking toward him. He smiled as she jumped into his arms, nearly knocking him over. Over the last year she’d grown strong and sleek. The cat had a mind of her own, coming and going as she pleased. She hunted out in the meadows surrounding the Temple of the Sun, where the spring still spread bubbling creeks to nourish the land.
“Why hello, girl. Have you been ravaging the streets, hunting mice?” Mara smiled at the lynx, unable to contain her joy.
Charna cocked her head as if insulted. She didn’t hunt mice unless there was no game outside to hunt, which rarely happened.
“She’s been coming around recently, looking for you.” Nikulo scratched the cat behind its ears. “Why didn’t you take her to Carvina?”
“I was hoping she could rest here and enjoy life,” Talis said. “After all the violence and danger she’s been through.”
“She’s a gift from the Goddess Nacrea.” Nikulo glanced at Talis, eyes thoughtful. “I think she meant to give Charna to you for a reason—to protect you, to protect us all.”
“You can’t be suggesting we bring her to Darkov?” It was the last thing Talis wanted to do.
“My feeling?” Nikulo bunched up his face, thinking. “I believe the Goddess Nacrea would want it. And, I have an idea. We can cast two runic wards around her, protecting her from spells and physical harm. At least that way it will provide her with some protection.”
“But in long battles?” Talis exhaled, feeling terrible at the thought of ever losing her. “I’m not sure if it would work.”
“I think we all need to trust the Goddess Nacrea.” Mara bent down and nuzzled Charna’s chin. “She came to us just now as we were about to leave. Maybe it’s a sign? When we open a portal to Darkov, let’s see if she follows. If she stays, then that’s the way it’s meant to be.”
Talis frowned, feeling eyes staring at him. “Ok, we’ll try, but I don’t like it.”
“We have to go now,” Mara said.
“Let me pack, at least.” Nikulo headed off into the house, his shoulders slumped, eyes downcast.
An hour later they were ready. Talis and Mara had changed into their leather hunting gear and packed dried meat and fruits into their backpacks. Nikulo tromped over wearing his travel gear and a long, black cloak. He looked depressed at the thought of leaving Naru.
Talis wasn’t even sure what they would find in Darkov or whether it was even a trap. And if the Nameless did manage to open a world portal to the Origin World, what would they find? From the stories the Starwalkers had told him, the place sounded bleak and cold. They’d have to fight to survive and use all the tricks and cunning they could devise.
He said goodbye to his parents, hoping they would try to stop him. But they stood tall and studied him with proud eyes. His sister Lia darted up and hugged him. She wept softly as he held her. He still couldn’t believe she had grown so much over the last year.
It was hard to leave home again, especially since he doubted they would ever return. But for those remaining in Naru, it hopefully would lead to good things and keep them on the path of peace. It seemed wherever they went, attacks and destruction followed. Maybe this time, their city might actually find some rest. Maybe the purpose of his life was to lead evil away from their world. He hoped goodness and light would take root here and blossom and mature into a lasting peace.
When he summoned a shadow portal to the city of Darkov, he felt exhausted, drained by his melancholy feelings. It felt like taking a step backwards—into his dark past, to a place he wanted to avoid. Darkov conjured doubts about himself and his reasons for living. The last time he had visited the city they’d been on a mission to find the Temple of the Sun. This time, he was acting out of obligation, fulfilling his vow to Aurellia and the Nameless. If it was a trap and Caisa planned to kill him, then so be it. But he worried whether the Nameless indeed planned to leave for the Origin World, or wanted to return to Naru and exact her revenge. He was prepared
to leave in an instant if he sensed malice against him or his friends and family. They had to be ready for anything.
Charna nuzzled his side and purred softly. He looked down and sighed. So the cat had decided to travel with them after all. Maybe Nikulo was right, it was the will of the Goddess Nacrea that Charna came with them. In the end, his faith caused him to trust the gods. There was a secret purpose in everything that happened. He believed that, but still worried about the lynx’s safety.
Nikulo sauntered up next to them and stared at the portal. He sighed, a tired irritation staining his face. Mara gripped Talis’ hand and sent him a worried look. They had to go, despite wanting to be done with it all.
Together, they leapt into the portal.
6. Return to Darkov
There was a thick haze in the air, blanketing Darkov in a dead feeling, like the gods were perpetually sneering at the city. The sun failed to penetrate the murk. Whatever remained of the sun was reduced to a blood-red stain set against a sky of bone-gray. Talis and Mara stepped onto a muddy stone street slick from a recent rain. Charna stalked alongside them, sniffing the foul air with suspicious eyes. They glanced around at all the people frozen in the street, casting terrified eyes in their direction.
Concerned murmurs and shouts of fear could be heard as the people fled. Whoever remained to gawk soon left to far corners and side alleys. Only a short soldier draped in a faded red cape remained. He couldn’t have been much older than Talis and seemed awfully nervous. The young man stood gaping at their arrival, and finally glanced down at the lynx, puzzled. When Talis released control over the portal, the young soldier jumped in nervous expectation.
“Who are you?” Instead of approaching them, he put a trembling hand on the hilt of his sword.
“We are expected by the master of this city.” Mara cast a withering stare at the soldier.
The young man looked confused. “But our master has been gone for over a year, and he has taken his elders with him.”
“Then who rules Darkov?” Talis felt a jolt of concern ripple through his heart. Was this merely a diversion to pull them away from Naru so the Nameless and her forces could strike his home? But if so, where was Rikar? He doubted he could betray them so easily. Not like before.
The soldier tilted his head. “The military rules the city—what’s left of us. Most of them went to join Lord Aurellia on the crusade to the other world.”
“But we were summoned here.” Talis looked to Nikulo for reassurance, but found nothing but his concerned and perplexed eyes.
“Have you encountered any newcomers?” Mara said to the soldier. “Certainly if the Nameless had come to Darkov, the military command would know about it.”
“Who is the Nameless?” the soldier asked, relaxing his grip on his sword.
“The master to Lord Aurellia. She also calls herself the Goddess Caisa and told us she has arrived in Darkov.” Talis had an idea. “Can you lead us to the pyramid where the dragon stands guard over the city?”
“You’ve been to Darkov before?” the young man said, surprised.
“We are sworn to Lord Aurellia. But he allowed us to return to this world after we finished the military campaign with him.”
Now, the young soldier appeared even more frightened and he took a step away from them. He opened his mouth, gaping at them in disbelief.
At that moment, a squad of soldiers marched up and stopped when they saw them. Their leader barked out an order and the soldiers settled down into fighting position, shields out and spears pressed forward.
“It’s ok,” the young soldier said, raising a hand. “They are sworn to Lord Aurellia.”
“Take us to the black dragon, where our master once stood watch over the city.” Talis’ voice was terse and commanding, and he stared at their leader with unyielding eyes. Thankfully, he was obeyed.
Not much had changed since his last visit to the massive gold and black temple. He was perched on a balcony at the highest point overlooking Darkov. There were no slaves and no alluring parties filled with Aurellia’s people. All that was left were the hard stares of old military men—generals among them—too old to venture out into the unknown with the dark lord. The very old and the very young. An aged general wearing a crisp uniform of red and silver strode alongside Talis and joined him in surveying the city.
“There is a strange young witch worshipping in the Temple of Mysteries. She came here yesterday with her retinue of sorcerers, but refused to speak. It seems she and her followers have taken a vow of silence.” He turned his pale gray eyes to study Talis, the deep crevices of his forehead crinkling in concern. “Are you truly suggesting that this woman might be the master of Lord Aurellia?”
“Do not doubt me. She is indeed the very same.” Talis sighed, wishing he could forever delay seeing the Nameless again. “Take us to her. We were commanded to come to her before the end of the day. Also, have you seen a young man, his name is Rikar? He would be traveling with a girl, Princess Devonia.”
The old man beckoned Talis toward the stairs. “They are all inside the temple. I will guide you there.”
Once outside, the man seemed to have a question lingering on his tongue. “Will Lord Aurellia be… returning? To stay?”
“No, not that I know of. He is only returning because his master commands it. But it is my understanding that we will all be leaving you to your peace.” Talis glanced around and realized the city was quieter and more relaxed than the city-at-war feeling that possessed Darkov before. “And I imagine this is much to your liking?”
“Indeed,” the man whispered, as if afraid of being overheard. “This is a relief to us all.”
“Though I can’t promise that Lord Aurellia won’t conscript more troops for our upcoming campaign. He likely will.” Talis thought of the young soldier whom they’d first encountered.
The old man shrugged. “I cannot predict the will of our lord. Though I can testify to his cruel and unyielding nature. I suspect that whoever his master is possesses an even harsher temperament. A rest from the madness of war would be a soothing balm to these tired bones. I’ve no more craving for bloodshed and vice. Believe it or not, I even dream of leaving this corrupted city, of going to a place free from the ghosts of the past. We’ve waited out of obligation and fear, but if your words are true, then we will most certainly board ships and leave for the mainland.”
Talis placed a sympathetic hand on the man’s shoulder. “I pray you will find peace, wherever you go.”
The general nodded and continued staring at the view. “If only your words prove to be true.”
Soon a young soldier came and led them away from the old man. They went downstairs until they left the building. Out in the streets once again, the soldier stopped at the entrance to one of the smaller pyramids. He bowed and motioned for Talis to enter the round opening. The door was held open by a temple priest in red robes.
Talis and Mara were forced to walk single file into a dark corridor lit by magical lanterns, with Nikulo traipsing behind and Charna padding alongside. Pushing through another door, they entered a massive room dimly lit by a strange red light. Ten kneeling figures prayed at a stone altar in the center of the room. The ceiling slanted upwards and inwards, matching the contours of the pyramid. A rose-colored crystal was mounted at the apex and a blood-red beam of light bathed the worshippers in gloom.
Talis and his friends shuffled toward the kneeling figures and stopped when the center figure—he presumed it was Caisa—raised her hand. She didn’t speak but pointed at several empty cushions on the darkly-stained wooden floor.
When the Nameless spotted the lynx, she paused and studied the cat. A flicker of confusion and irritation crossed her face, but then she sniffed and closed her eyes, returning once again to her meditation.
Talis, Mara, and Nikulo all kneeled and joined them in prayer, while Charna curled up next to Talis. The cat’s whiskers twitched in annoyance, studying the others. Talis caught sight of Rikar and Devonia’s somb
er faces. Together, they waited in silent meditation for over an hour until the Nameless rose to her feet.
“So it is you.” Caisa’s proud face studied Talis. “The boy mage. The disloyal apprentice. The traitor to your goddess. I should have you tortured and killed. That’s what I should do.”
He waited through a long, tense moment. Would she lash out at him? Talis remained ready for anything, breathing to stay calm and alert. Charna gave a low yowl, causing Caisa to glance at the cat.
Caisa cleared her throat, and continued, this time in a softer tone. “In any other situation I would immediately act in such a manner, but I will save my wrath for another day. There is a reason for my action in this manner, and the reason serves my greater purpose.”
The Nameless sauntered over and kneeled next to Talis, mindful of Charna’s raised hackles. The air in the temple was hot and humid, and a bead of sweat dashed down his back. She inhaled and exhaled slowly, in silent consideration, and finally looked up at him.
“Though you deserve to suffer.” She glanced at Mara. “Although I have a better idea. Making her suffer would inflict the worst kind of torment upon you, now wouldn’t it?
“Where we are going, you’re both likely to suffer, but not by my hands. Our foes on the Origin World are fierce, cruel, and cunning. Once you oppose them, you will discover them merciless and endless in their determination to hunt you down. This might prove to be the best kind of revenge I could exact against you—forcing you and your friends to be the vanguard in our assault against the rulers of that dark world.”
An explosion of silver light blinded Talis for a moment, causing him to throw up his hands in defense. Charna hissed, digging her claws into Talis’ leg. Even though it hurt, he resisted the urge to cry out in pain.
Soon the light soon settled and he heard the familiar churning sound of a world portal. His eyes adjusted and found a figure emerging from the swirling shape. After a few seconds, the portal closed and the rosy gloom returned to the sanctuary.
Origin Mage Page 5
