Soul Render (Soul Stones Book 1)

by T. L. Branson

  This wouldn’t work. He couldn’t take all of them.

  He made a judgment call. The Revenant could kick him out if they liked. He tossed the pyridis into the air.

  “Run!” he shouted as he turned.

  Jade was helping Strike to his feet. Their eyes on the pyridis in the air, calculating its trajectory—and their eyes went wide.

  Strike seemed to find renewed vigor as they all scrambled away.

  The stone hit the lead wagon just as the enemy riders passed it.

  It blew apart in a flash of red and heat.

  The explosion threw Robert into the air. He came crashing down more than ten feet away. Instinctively he covered his head with his hands. Bits of wood and dirt rained down all around him.

  When the dust settled, he climbed to his feet.

  Men and horses were littered everywhere. A few of the horses kicked and wriggled until they had righted themselves.

  “What, in Iket’s name, did you just do?” Jade yelled out. “You could have killed us!”

  Robert hardly heard her through the ringing in his ears.

  Most of the guards were dead, but not all of them. One of the men in the back of the pack struggled to stand next to his horse. He looked up into all the faces around him. Into Robert’s, Strike’s, Jade’s, and Trout’s. Then he shakily climbed up on his steed and directed it to head for Shadowhold.

  No, Robert thought. If the man made it back to the capital, Drygo would know about the Revenant attack. They would be hunted until they were found and killed. Robert couldn’t let him escape.

  Robert ran and hopped onto the back of one of the surviving horses.

  “Where are you going?” Jade shouted. “Get back here. I’ll have your head for this!”

  Then so be it, Robert thought as he took off after the other horse.

  21

  Will’s eyes widened with shock. Red? The princess? She said her name was Priscilla.

  Just another lie to add to a growing list.

  She was Drygo’s daughter.

  Drygo.

  The man who killed his brother.

  Will’s friend—at least he thought she was his friend—was the king’s daughter.

  The pieces clicked into place. This was what he had been missing.

  She took the soul stone.

  She stole it for him. She had no intention of going back to Anima Sanctum. Those two guards Will killed the day he met her… they weren’t her captors but her protection detail. She was trying to give them the slip.

  As Will reflected on the past few days, he realized she hadn’t killed a single one of the king’s guard.

  She baited him into killing the first two, only she could see when to start the rockslide, and they avoided direct confrontation the whole time they were in the forest.

  Shaw.

  Is he here for her or me? Will wondered.

  “We’re leaving,” Shaw said to Red—Maya. “As soon as we find your boyfriend.”

  “He’s not my boyfriend,” she spat, screwing her face up in disgust. “He was just a tool I used to get what I wanted.”

  That’s all I was to her? A pawn? A means to an end?

  A branch snapped behind him. Before he could turn, hands grabbed him from behind. Will tried to break free, but they held him tight and carried him out into the open.

  “Well, well, well. Look what we have here,” Shaw said, a smug look on his face.

  Will’s eyes met Maya’s and she turned her head away. One of the guards bound his hands with rope.

  Will clenched his jaw, narrowed his eyes, and stared at Maya, but she refused to look at him.

  “Looks like he heard you, Your Highness,” Shaw said, chuckling. “I think you hurt his feelings.”

  A flutter in a nearby tree drew Will’s attention to a hawk sitting on a branch, staring at him. Was it the same hawk from before? Had it been following them?

  Shaw slapped Will across the face. Shaw must have been trying to talk to Will because he looked irritated. Will blinked a couple of times and stared at him.

  Tomas shoved Shaw out of the way and said, “You found your princess. I’m taking Victor back to Alexei.”

  “I’ve already told you, this man is not who you think he is.” Shaw said. “His name is Will Sumner, and he is an enemy of the crown. I must return him to the king at once.”

  “That was not our deal,” Tomas said.

  “Deals change,” Shaw said, smirking. “You will be compensated for your assistance, but the prisoner returns to the palace.”

  Shaw turned back to Will and said, “Now, where were—”

  A wheeze and a gurgling noise from behind Shaw drew his attention. Will glanced over Shaw’s shoulder to see one of the guards with the tip of a sword protruding from his stomach. The body fell away to reveal a short, blond-haired woman.

  Adrenaline coursed through Will’s veins as he called out, “Riley!”

  From the other side, another guard went down as Ocken appeared, cleaving the man’s head from his shoulders.

  “Kill them!” Shaw shouted.

  Tomas came at Will, drew his sword, and killed the guard at Will’s back. He grabbed Will’s arm, signaled to his men, and shoved Will along, trying to flee the battle.

  The hawk soared through the air and attacked Tomas with its claws.

  He released Will’s arm and Will twisted away.

  Maya tried to disappear in the confusion, but one of Alexei’s men moved to block her. His mistake. She cut him down and ran into the forest, leaving Will and the others to their fate.

  Will turned back to Tomas and watched as the hawk shifted into the form of a man—no, not a man—an elf. The elf. He drew his sword and parried against a swing from Tomas.

  “Use your power!” the elf yelled to Will through the din of the fight.

  “I don’t know how,” Will said, running to him, his hands still bound behind his back. “I have no control over it.”

  The elf thrust his sword at Tomas, but the man jumped back, dodging it.

  “Concentrate,” the elf said.

  The clang of steel on steel echoed around Will, making it hard to do so.

  The elf continued, “Focus on your opponent. Then do it.”

  “Do what?” Will persisted.

  “Step out of your skin,” the elf said as if that should have been obvious.

  Tomas swung his sword. The elf caught it with his own blade and countered, but Tomas dodged, anticipating his move.

  Will tried to help him. Will tried to do what he said, but nothing happened. He was useless.

  “I can’t,” Will said, on the verge of whining, helplessness washing over him. “It’s not working.”

  “Imagine peeling a wet shirt from your body. It takes a little bit of effort, but it eventually comes free,” the elf said. “Separating your soul and body is not so different.”

  Before Will could try, a shout from Riley drew his attention. Two guards came at her. Ocken fought against Shaw and couldn’t move to assist. The elf was still engaged with Tomas. There was no one to help her.

  She ducked as a halberd flew over her head and jumped as a sword came in low. She spun and pulled her blade up just in time to block the downward chop of the first guard but she didn’t have time to dodge the other man’s sword swinging right for her.

  The soul realm appeared and Will’s body crumpled to the ground.

  In a blink, Will stood before the second guard. Out of instinct, he plunged his fist through the man’s chest. His soul blew into pieces. The sword fell, his body following it.

  The first guard turned his attention to his companion, confused.

  Riley took advantage of the distraction, shoved him off, and plunged her sword into his heart.

  Will moved to help Ocken. He swung his swordstaff at Shaw, but Shaw parried hard and knocked Ocken off balance. Shaw pulled back for the killing blow.

  Shaw’s soul glowed an erratic red. A small sliver of darkness swirled through his soul
.

  Will ran at Shaw.

  Shaw’s sword came down.

  Will’s soul collided with Shaw’s. The sword dropped from his hand as he mentally fought against Will’s attack.

  Will dug his fingers into Shaw, but his soul was solid as stone. Shaw tried to shove Will off, but Will held on. Pain coursed through him like lightning, but he would not let go.

  Wave after wave of energy washed over him as Shaw pushed. With each pulse, Will’s grip slackened.

  Will pressed forward, pounding his fist into the man. Yet Shaw stood firm, with hardly a flinch. It was like fighting the mountain that loomed behind him.

  Shaw bashed his head into Will’s, a splitting pain coursed through Will as he flew away from Shaw.

  Regaining his feet, Will ran at him again, but Shaw was ready for him. Shaw’s eyes watched Will, followed his every move.

  That shouldn’t be possible. Will had no body.

  Shaw’s fist collided with Will’s face and he went down. Somehow, Shaw could see him.

  Shaw pulled back to punch Will again, but a green glow tackled him from the side. It was the elf.

  Shaw scrambled to his feet and away from the elf. He scanned the clearing, turned, and ran into the forest.

  Will stood again and made to run into the forest himself.

  “Let him go,” said the elf.

  Will ignored him.

  “Let her go, too,” he called out, “or have you forgotten you do not have a body.”

  Will’s step faltered. He stopped and looked at the elf.

  “You can return to your own body,” the elf said casually, as if this were normal conversation. “It is not dead.”

  Will tried to respond, but he found he could not speak in soul form. Walking over to where his body lay, he knelt down beside it. Its chest rose and fell with life. He placed his hand upon it and opened his eyes to find the sky above.

  As he stood, he surveyed the scene. Tomas was gone.

  Will said to the elf, “The man you were fighting. Where is he?”

  “I had to disengage in our battle. You were in trouble,” the elf said with a shrug. “He fled with one of his men.”

  Riley approached Will. Will extended his hand, but she ignored it and punched him hard in the shoulder.

  Will winced. “I suppose I deserved that,” he said.

  She hugged him in response.

  Will’s eyes went wide and he stood there awkwardly with his arms outstretched. Then he returned the hug and said, “Thank you.”

  Will looked at Ocken and gave a nod. That was enough for him.

  Will let go of Riley and stepped back at arm’s length.

  “How are you here? Why are you here?” Will asked, massaging his shoulder.

  “You left us,” she said, ignoring his question, a flare of anger in her voice. “Without saying goodbye. You just… left. I should kill you for abandoning your post.”

  All the guilt he’d tried to push away came back. He didn’t want to leave them. But she couldn’t possibly understand.

  Ocken cleared his throat.

  “But Ocken told me about that… thing,” she said, her anger deflating. “The shrieker. He’s dealt with them before. And he knew if it was after you then… well, I saw what just happened, but I don’t understand it.”

  “Will possesses the power of the goddess Lotess,” the elf said. “In short, he can destroy souls and steal bodies.”

  “You can what?” Riley said, blinking, mouth agape.

  “That guard that about killed you?” Will said sheepishly. “I obliterated his soul. It disintegrated at my touch. Then I attacked the burly one, Shaw, but he resisted me. He saw me in my soul form. I don’t understand it myself.”

  “His soul contained a piece of Iket’s power,” the elf said. “Presumably given to him by the king to hunt Will down.”

  “So Blake died because of you?” Riley asked, her ire rising again as she pulled back her fist to punch Will.

  “Blake died because of Drygo,” Ocken said, his face a wall, masking his emotions, but there was venom in his voice.

  Will did a double take. It was the first time he’d heard the big man speak. Riley glanced at Ocken and her fist lowered.

  “As soon as I left,” Will said, taking a deep breath, “I told myself if I ever saw you again, I would explain everything, whether you believed me or not.”

  “So… explain,” Riley said.

  “I stole a powerful magical artifact from the king, activated it, and now he wants it back. The day—”

  Riley raised her hand. “Whoa, hold on a minute. You got this power from something you stole from Drygo?”

  Will nodded.

  “Was it a glowing blue gemstone about this big,” she said, holding her fingers a few inches apart, “with a swirling cloud inside it?”

  Will furrowed his brow and cocked his head. “Yeah. How’d you know?”

  Ocken raised his eyebrows. Riley cursed then said, “Where is it?”

  “Drygo has it,” Will replied.

  “You just said you had it and the king wants it back,” Riley said, confused.

  “I misspoke,” Will admitted. “I meant that the king wants the power back. He has the stone, but it’s nothing more than a worthless stone. Well, not worthless I guess, it is a gem, but…”

  “Never mind that,” Riley said. “Keep going.”

  “Hey, hold on,” Will said. “How do you know about the gem?”

  She remained silent, her resolute stare drilling into him.

  “Her family has protected it for centuries,” the elf said.

  Riley turned in shock. “How—?”

  “Don’t ask,” Will said. “His ‘lady’ apparently knows a lot of things she shouldn’t.”

  The elf smirked.

  “We’ve been searching for the stone ever since we lost it to the king,” Riley said, indicating Ocken. “He’s moved it around so often over the years, trying to keep it hidden, trying to open its secrets. We take on work as mercenaries from time to time. It gives us access to Aralith’s cities, and more notably its taverns.”

  “Why go through all the trouble?” Will asked.

  “Because,” she said, “that stone is my responsibility. I’m sworn to protect it with my life.”

  “If the boy has the stone’s power,” Ocken said. “Then, by extension, we are sworn to protect him.”

  “Provided he’s not evil,” Riley said, narrowing her eyes. “Otherwise we’ll have to kill him.”

  “I would advise against that,” the elf said.

  “Why?” Riley snapped.

  “The only way to kill him, to truly kill him, is to destroy his stone,” the elf said. “Kill him now, and he’ll just go find another body. Maybe take yours.”

  Riley said, “But if we destroy the stone…”

  “You destroy the magic as well,” the elf finished. “And then there’s nothing left to protect.”

  “I guess we’re stuck then,” Riley said.

  Ocken knelt down, bowed his head, and planted his swordstaff on the ground. “I pledge—”

  “Yeah, yeah,” Riley said to Ocken. “Get up. You’re so noble. Pledge and all that.” She turned to Will. “We’ll protect you, not because of your power, but because you’re our friend.” Her lips curled up into a smile.

  Will’s heart warmed. For the last few minutes he didn’t know what to make of their conversation. Were they angry with him? Were they glad to see him? Did they want to kill him? All the tension he didn’t know had been building deflated and his shoulders sagged in relief.

  “How did you make it through the Wandering Wood?” Will asked, suddenly curious how they found him.

  Riley nodded at the elf. “He found us this morning. Brought us here as fast as he could.”

  Will turned to the elf and said, “You knew there’d be trouble?”

  “I have been following you for some time,” he replied.

  “The hawk… That day in the wood… that was
you,” Will said. It wasn’t a question.

  “Yes,” the elf said.

  “You possess a soul stone as well,” Will said, realization dawning on him.

  “Yes,” he said. “Come, we must be heading back to the temple.”

  “What about Maya?” Will said.

  “The princess?” Riley asked. “That was her?”

  Will looked to the elf for confirmation.

  “Yes. It was her,” the elf said.

  “Why didn’t you tell me?” Will asked him.

  “It is not my place to reveal the secrets of others,” he said coolly.

  “What about the task you gave us?” Will pressed.

  “You were successful, were you not?” he said.

  “Yes, but—”

  “Then you will be granted an audience with milady,” the elf said. “Her interest lies not with Maya, but with you.”

  “Why me?”

  “As I have said before, it is best if she answers these questions. Come along.” The elf turned and walked away.

  “Hey, wait,” Will called out. “You haven’t even told us your name.”

  “His name is Evindal,” Ocken said for him.

  Will and Riley looked at Ocken in surprise while the elf just turned around casually, not caught off guard by Ocken’s statement.

  “I’ve been here before,” Ocken said. “There is much I should tell you.”

  “Talk on the way,” Evindal said. “Come.”

  Will collected his weapons and pack and went after the elf. Riley ran up beside Will, Ocken following behind.

  “Where are we going?” Riley asked.

  “A place called Anima Sanctum,” Will said. “I found it on an ancient map of Aralith. It’s where the stones of the gods were created. We found the temple and then this elf found us.”

  “Us? We?” Riley asked.

  “Maya and I,” Will stated.

  “You were traveling with the princess?”

  “She… lied to me,” he said.

  “What goes around comes around,” Riley said under her breath.

  “Yeah, I guess. She told me her name was Priscilla. Fed me this story about her parents being dead. I should have seen through it. She used me to acquire a soul stone. Now she’s taking it right back to her father. I thought we were friends…,” Will said. Then he added, “Thanks again, guys. Now I know who my true friends are.”