by Jordan Baker
"It is a dark magic," Keira told her. "The soldiers who fought for Cerric were spelled in a similar way by the priesthood."
"It disgusts me what has been done to my people," Borrican growled, his eyes smoldering with anger. "Even if we kill the soldiers and this Duke Mirdel, we must find a way to free Kandara from the spell of the dark god."
Dala reached into a pouch that was tied at her waist, hidden beneath the silvergold armor she now wore, and she took out a clear gemstone, then she walked over to one of the Kandaran prisoners, a young girl who sat, staring blankly at her.
"Dala, what do you intend to do?" Ariana asked, as the woman crouched down in front of the girl.
"If it is magic that affects them, perhaps the stones will draw it out," she said, and she held the gem up and pressed it to the forehead of the girl.
The stone pulsed with light, then it turned a purplish black color and it glowed darkly in the dim light of the storehouse. Dala muttered something under her breath, and the girl's eyes suddenly went wide with shock and she gasped.
"What are you doing to her?" Borrican asked, taking a step toward the woman.
"It is all right," Margo said. "Look at her eyes."
As the milky white glaze receded from the girl's eyes, the stone Dala had pressed against her forehead turned completely black then it started to hiss. Dala pulled her hand away and the stone fell to the wooden floor and a small puff of white smoke rose from it, then it cracked down the middle and the hissing stopped. Dala pulled out her dagger and touched the stone and it crumbled, turning to ash.
"A dark power it is," she pronounced, stepping away from it.
The girl who sat upon the floor, bound with the others, but with her eyes free of the spell began to sob quietly. Her tears ran white at first, expelling whatever it was that had clouded her eyes, then they turned clear and she bowed her head and stared at the floor in front of her as she continued to weep.
"What is your name, child?" Dala asked in a surprisingly tender way. She knelt down and placed her fingers under the girl's chin. She did not answer, and Dala shifted her hand, tilting her face upward and her voice took on a firmer tone. "Look at me."
"Please," the girl said, her eyes squeezed shut. "Please, let me go."
"What is your name?" Dala asked her, letting go of the girl's chin.
"Jan," she said, her voice unsure, almost as though it was a question.
"You are safe here," Dala told her. "What is past is passed."
Jan finally looked up at her, with eyes filled with tears and she nodded. Dala crouched down and cut the ropes that bound her wrists and ankles together, the she helped her to her feet.
"Is it wise to let her loose?" Keira asked and Dala turned and looked at her and the others with an expression of suppressed anger.
"In the glass of the stone, I have seen more than I ever wished to see," she said, looking at the group. "This girl and her people will never be bound again."
"What did you see?" Ariana asked.
"That is not for me to tell," Dala said, then she nodded to her people and they spread amongst the captured Kandarans and repeated what she had done, helping to free them from the dark magic.
Ariana nodded to Jan, accepting that she would not press the issue, for she could surmise what might have happened to her. When she had visited the city with Margo and Keira, they had heard about Mirdel's plans for the people of Kandara, and it appeared that some magic had been worked upon them to make them more obedient. It was clear that Jan had been a court servant, which meant that she was likely a kind of pleasure slave to the duke and his soldiers. She glanced at the docile expressions on the other captives as Dala's people began to use the stones upon them, and she shuddered at the thought that all of them might have been used in such a way.
"We are sorry for taking your robes, Jan," Ariana said to the girl. "We must get into the palace."
"Take them," Jan said. "I wish to never see such garments again."
"Thank you," Ariana said, as Jan rubbed the tears from her eyes and stared at her.
"I have seen you before," she said, and she looked at the faces of the others in the room, then her gaze fell upon Borrican and her eyes widened.
"Prince Borrican," she said, falling to her knees. "You have returned."
"Please," Borrican said, and he held out his hand to her. "Do not kneel before me. The people of Kandara will never kneel again."
Jan rose to her feet and finally became conscious of the fact that she was unclothed. It had not seemed important when her focus was on Dala or the other woman who she recognized, though she looked very strange and different from before, but now that she realized how many people were present, and that the prince of her land was among them, she felt a little uncomfortable. Borrican noticed her unease and he averted his eyes.
"We will find you and the others some clothing," he said, looking to Margo. "Perhaps in one of the shops or in a nearby residence, there might be something."
Margo nudged Keira and the two women slipped out of the room.
"Thank you, Prince Borrican," Jan said, and she managed to turn her lips into a slight smile, though her eyes remained tired and sorrowful.
"You may thank Dala," he said. "She and her people have returned from the northern wastes. They are the Kandaran Watch, and they will help expel the darkness and protect the people of our land."
"You have my thanks, Dala," Jan said, then she turned to look at the other captives, who were now waking from the daze of the spell. "It will be difficult for many of them, but I will help them as much as I can."
It was not long before Margo and Keira returned with several bundles of clothing they had found in a nearby shop they had broken into. The captives freed and clothed, they agreed to stay in the storehouse under the protection of several of Dala's people, while their liberators donned the white robes and departed, traveling in small groups so as to attract as little attention as possible.
Ariana and Borrican, accompanied by Keira, made their way through the streets toward the palace, while Margo organized Dala and her people throughout the city, positioning them near the soldiers and shadowing their patrols, ready to attack once the signal was given. Jan had warned them that the palace was guarded both by the dead soldiers that Cerric had left behind and several dozen Darga, who had taken to randomly killing people for their own amusement. She had nearly been killed by them the previous day, simply because the lizard creatures were hungry and thought she might taste good, and she had only been spared at the last moment when servants had finally arrived with a prepared feast. Even though Jan had been unable to react to such things while under the influence of the magic that had enslaved her and the other Kandarans, her memory was clear and horribly vivid, and it had taken several tries before she was able to tell some of the things that had happened to her, and there were other things that she chose not to share. Borrican was outraged by what he had heard, but he did his best to keep his anger in check, for he could sense how fragile the girl was, even though she did her best to appear strong and helpful. Borrican could not wait to visit his wrath upon Mirdel and the Darga, and his thoughts weighed heavily upon him with every step that took him closer to the palace.
"Calm yourself, Borrican," Ariana whispered from beneath her white cloak. "You walk as though you are marching into battle."
"I am marching into battle," Borrican said, then he sighed impatiently and forced his shoulders to relax and slowed his gait, shuffling his feet along the ground to make it look more like he was walking in a daze, just another ensorceled Kandaran, on the way to serve the duke.
They passed through the gates without so much as a look from the guards, and made their way to the palace proper. The two guards outside the entrance to the throne room did not bar their way, though they leered and laughed when the three white robes approached. As they walked past, one of them reached out and smacked Keira on the backside, then gave her a squeeze, and it was all that the elven warrior could do to restrain herself.
<
br /> "Now there's some fresh meat," the guard commented to his companion.
"Not for long," said the other one with a dark chuckle as the three white robes continued on in silence through the doorway and into the throne room.
They were greeted by an unexpected and ghastly sight. The once austere chamber of wood and stone, empty save for the king's throne and a few wooden tables had been completely remade, and turned into a kind of den of iniquity. Dark red fabric was draped over cushions and carpets that were occupied by numerous soldiers having their way with ensorcelled Kandaran prisoners, their white robes scattered upon the floor amongst piles of refuse of constant feasting. Rich trays of food and goblets of wine were placed precariously overtop gnawed bones and rinds of fruit, and several servants in white robes entered the room from the servants' door, replenishing the supply of food and drink, while completely oblivious to the pleasure throes occurring all around them.
Ariana stifled a gasp when a soldier's grey hand shot out from beneath a young woman who rode atop him, and he grabbed one of the servants, pulling her down to the cushions, spilling the jug of wine she carried. The girl did not even react to the mess or the shock of being yanked to the floor, and she simply joined in with the other girl, in giving the soldier what he wanted, as he tore the white cloak from her body. It was horrific to see and Ariana could feel Borrican's anger rising. She could hardly blame him since her own outrage and fury were quickly kindling into a blaze no matter how hard she tried to suppress it, and she was even more shocked when they passed another tented alcove where a female Darga was tearing a young man's flesh from his back with her claws, while he pleasured her. Ariana felt as though she might burst and she felt Borrican's fire begin to blaze through the link between their thoughts. She hoped he would not give them away, for they were almost through the sea of drapery and flesh to where they could see a large figure seated upon a cushioned litter at the head of the room. Ariana averted her eyes from the Darga, when the creature glanced up at her and sniffed the air, and she hoped they had not been discovered.
"Welcome, Akandar," a voice boomed from the head of the room as the group emerged from the tented area to see an enormous man sitting upon a litter that overlooked the remains of a banquet. The man laughed and his dead eyes glowed with unnatural light. "I wondered when you might return."
Dozens of Darga emerged from behind the drapes of fabric that covered the walls of the room. They were armored and armed, with their weapons ready, awaiting the command to attack.
"I suppose there is no point in hiding," Borrican growled as he pulled back the hood of his robe. "What have you done to the people of this land, Mirdel?"
"I have brought order and purpose to these people," he said. "As the servant of the one god it is my duty to keep peace in this land."
"This land was already peaceful before you came," Borrican said.
"Perhaps," Mirdel said with a smile. "But the people were without purpose, living out their little lives, doing as they pleased, with no true meaning. Now they serve the will of the one god, as do I."
"You call this meaningful?" Ariana yelled, no longer able to contain her outrage as flames burst around her, burning away the white cloak, which fell to the floor in a burning heap around her feet. "The people are become slaves. What meaning is that?"
"Now you are an intriguing creature," Mirdel said, leaning forward to look at her, and a strand of drool trailed from his mouth. "I wonder how you will taste upon the blade of my sword?"
"You and your god will pay for what you have done here," Borrican growled.
"Brave words, Akandar," Mirdel said. "It is too bad that you are too weak to follow them."
"You will see how weak I am," Borrican said and he ran toward the man, brandishing the sword that he had received from Dala and the people of her village.
The Darga leapt forward, defending Mirdel, and meeting Borrican with their own weapons, pushing him back and attacking the trio who had thought they could sneak into the palace. Ariana blasted the creatures with fire, but they were impervious to it and she barely managed to draw her long dagger when they were upon her. Keira blocked several attacks that were meant for Ariana, then she began to move with blinding speed, attacking the Darga, using the way of movement she and Margo had learned from the people of the village. The stones and steel embedded in her body glowed as their energy flowed through her, giving her far greater strength, and she was able to match the much larger Darga. The lizard creatures fell back at the unexpected ferocity of her attack, then they redoubled their efforts when they saw Ariana and Borrican pushing through their opponents as well.
Borrican was irritated at the small quarters of the throne room, and he wished he could use his dragon form to thrash the lizard men to pieces, but his target was Mirdel and he kept an eye on the duke while fighting his way through the Darga. So focused was he on his opponents, he almost did not notice the number of lizard men that flooded into the room, and within a few moments he, Ariana and Keira were completely surrounded, with points of steel at every angle.
"My flames do nothing to them," Ariana said. "And the creatures are stronger than before, much stronger."
"The wood of this room is too old and dry to command it with my power," Keira commented. "We are caught."
"Not if I can help it," Borrican growled, and his face began to change along with his body, not transforming completely, but enough that he could take advantage of his armored scales and the power of his dragon form.
He leapt toward the Darga, slashing their swords away with sword in one hand and swiping at them with the claws of his other. Ariana and Keira were about to dash after him when the Darga moved in on Borrican all at once, like a swarm, and they smothered him on the floor and began to hack at him with their weapons.
"Stop!" Mirdel yelled and the Darga slowly pulled their blades from Borrican and rose from atop him, revealing his bleeding body that was cut in dozens of places. The Darga growled and hissed but they moved aside as the duke stepped down from his litter and approached Borrican, with sword in hand. "He is mine."
"Look at the blade," Ariana said to Keira. "It is made from silvergold, and the gems are like those used by Dala and her people. It may be one of the blades of old, and some of the Darga carry them as well."
"If that is true, then we may be in considerable danger," Keira said. "There is no telling how powerful these creatures might have become since we last faced them."
"They have become very powerful," Mirdel said, having heard them and he kicked Borrican over with the heel of his boot. "As have I." He held up his sword. "This blade has drunk the blood of a thousand and my power has grown with every life I have taken. You are no match for me, Akandar, not as you are, and not even if you were to take your dragon form, though it is something I would like to see."
Borrican slowly got up to his knees, shaking his head, and his color began to return as his wounds closed up and healed over, a benefit of his dragon blood.
"You have killed a thousand Kandarans?" he rasped.
"At least," Mirdel said with a shrug and a laugh. "Truth be told, I stopped counting after a while."
"You are sick," Borrican spat.
"Oh no, my young prince, I assure you, I have never felt better," Mirdel said. "Now, if you will accompany me down to that lovely cavern you and your family made underneath the palace, we can get this over with."
"And what is it that you want?"
"A fight to the death," Mirdel said. "It will be quite simple. You will do that thing you do and change in to a big fearsome dragon, and then I will slay you and my blade will drink your power."
"What of the Darga?" growled one of the lizard men. "We should have the dragon's power."
"You can have the flaming wench and the elf," Mirdel snapped and the Darga backed away from him. "Akandar is mine.
Ariana found it odd that the lizard creatures would show deference to Mirdel, for they were powerful warriors in their own right there were at least se
veral dozen of them in the room. However, despite Mirdel's girth, he moved with an unnatural lightness of step that indicated a warrior's strength and speed, which was likely due to all the lives he had taken with his jeweled blade.
"Come, ladies," Mirdel said. "You may watch, and then you will die."
Mirdel smiled at them as the Darga closed in to take Ariana's and Keira's weapons, but a blade suddenly emerged from his chest, dripping in blood. Mirdel's eyes went wide and his bloated, oversized body began to shrink, like a bladder bag slowly being emptied of its contents. Behind him, a thin young man with silver hair, who looked to be barely more than a boy, and wearing armor of silvergold that was far too big for him, drove the sword deeper, his eyes wide with surprise as power flowed from the duke, down the blade and into him. The sword in his hands began to smoke and shake, enveloping him in a cloud as Mirdel fell forward with a lifeless thud upon the wooden floor. The smoke cleared and the sword shattered into pieces, and where the pale, skinny boy had stood, was the same young man, only he appeared to be far stronger now. He stared at the broken blade in his hand as the stones embedded in the hilt cracked and crumbled. He dropped the remains of the weapon to the floor and looked up at everyone in the room, then he smiled at Ariana, turned around and ran back the way he had come, dashing down the dark passageway to the cavern below.
Borrican was already on the move, having recovered from his wounds and he attacked the Darga, pushing toward the entrance to the passage. Both Ariana and Keira took advantage of the disruption and flew into action. The Darga tried to stop them, while several pursued the young man through the passage. The trio fought as hard as they could against the powerful lizard creatures. Ariana and Keira both drew power from the stones embedded in their bodies, pushing their strength and speed to even greater levels, and Borrican began to change once more, the fire in his belly burning hot as he cut and slashed at the Darga. It was difficult going, even more so with Mirdel's dead soldiers joining the fray, but the trio managed to cut their way to the entrance to the passage. Once inside, their enemies could only attack from two directions and the passage ahead was clear, the rest of the Darga having followed the young man down into the cavern. Bringing up the rear, Borrican killed another lizard man and shoved his body into the others, who were trying to follow, then he ran down the tunnel a ways and stopped, as the Darga tried to disentangle themselves and resumed their pursuit. Borrican slid his hand up and down the stone wall of the passage, and when he found the particular place he was looking for, he pressed upon it, and a heavy stone slab blocked the passageway. With the rest of the Darga blocked, he ran to catch up to Ariana and Keira who were already racing down the steps to the floor of the large cavern below.
