Shadows of Men (The Watchers Book 1)

by M. Lee Holmes

  Terryn, whose hands shook more now than ever, hastily bent down to one knee and began begging for forgiveness.

  “Forgive me, your Grace. I know the hour is still early but the Sorceress Myranda has bid that I wake thee.”

  “Why?” King Firion did not try to hide the fury in his voice. “What has happened?”

  “She has had a premonition and says it is most urgent that you go to her at once.” Terryn never looked up into the King’s eyes. He knew fear would get the better of him if he saw the anger there. I must remain humble and meek in his presence; that is what I was told to do.

  “Tell Myranda to wait for us in the great hall.” Queen Scarlet replied. She threw the covers away from her like a soiled bandage and stood. Terryn, whose eyes had now fully adjusted, could see that the Queen wore no clothing at all. She stood in the darkness facing him, completely naked. Her slender body was pale white against the blackness of the room- a ghostly figure that drifted across the empty chamber to find her silk robes. He hastily averted his eyes, bowed low to the both of them and raced out of the room.

  When he reached the corridor, he slowed his pace and held his chest where his heart was beating furiously. I am glad for the darkness. He thought as he quietly walked to where he had left Myranda. He knew if the King had seen his eyes graze the soft, white flesh of his Queen, he certainly would have had his head on a spike and eaten his heart for breakfast.

  ***

  Myranda sat quietly in the great hall waiting for the King and Queen to arrive. Her hands, though cold, were soaked with sweat and her head pounded furiously, making it seem as though her eyes would jump right out of her skull. The pain after a vision was always bad but when the visions were as vivid and real as the one she had just suffered, the pain was immense.

  She grasped the sides of her head and began to gently rub with the palms of her hands, attempting to rub the pain away but to no avail. I need a poultice for my pain!

  The door to the great hall was suddenly thrown open, causing Myranda to jump from her chair. She saw the King first, groggy and irritable as he clambered to his throne. His dark eyes flittered open and closed as he stared down at her, sending chills up and down her spine. Then the Queen emerged. Even when rudely thrust from the deepest of sleep she still managed to look radiant. Her dark burgundy hair was always glossy and though no light had seeped through from the outside world as of yet, it shone brilliantly in the candlelight. Myranda could not look upon the Queen’s beauty without jealousy. Her own hair always seemed so dull and wispy in comparison.

  “You better have something of great import to tell us, Myranda. This is no decent hour to be stirred from slumber.”

  Myranda bowed then looked up to them with troubled eyes. “I am afraid what I have to tell you is of great importance and could not wait until the sun had risen.”

  “Go on then.” Queen Scarlet urged. Myranda could detect a sense of urgency in the Queen’s voice and was grateful that she always took Myranda’s visions seriously.

  “I have seen in the city of Tyos, much destruction and death. A great wall of water and flame has consumed all who dwelt there and the waters of the Blood Sea have all but vanished into a cloud of smoke and ash.”

  The Queen shifted uncomfortably in her throne but the King merely peered down at her with hard eyes.

  “I care not for metaphors Myranda, you know that! Tell us what your dream meant and be done with it!”

  “It is no metaphor, your Grace. I was there! I saw it for myself. The water rushed in before anyone had a chance to flee and the fires burned the city to the ground. Then I saw the sea, or what used to be the sea. Nothing exists there anymore except a great cloud, as though it were the ghost of the cold water that has always been there.”

  The King sighed with frustration and turned to his Queen who gazed at Myranda with questioning eyes.

  “Are you certain this is what you saw?” She asked, already knowing the answer Myranda would give.

  “Yes, your Majesty. That is what I saw.”

  “I have had no reports from Merek of any trouble in Tyos. Nor has he mentioned the waters of his ocean dwindling.” The King said with complacency.

  “There would not have been time for a report to be sent to you, your Grace. It all happened in one night!” Myranda shook from the memory of the wave as it came crashing in on her. It was wet and yet hot like fire. She felt her skin burn and smelled the harsh scent of her flesh as it melted away.

  “That is impossible!” The King shouted. The anger could be clearly seen behind his eyes.

  “I know it is hard to believe, your Grace, but I know what I saw and I sense a terrible darkness has gathered in the north. Something evil has emerged from the waters of the Blood Sea.”

  Queen Scarlet placed a hand on her husband’s arm. The anger left his eyes and he slumped back into his throne, contemplating her words. Queen Scarlet looked to Myranda and asked; “what is it you suggest we do, Sorceress?”

  “Someone must go and investigate. If darkness has risen, the realm must be prepared.” Myranda stood silently as she watched the King and Queen stare down at her with accusing eyes. They seemed to be telling her whatever had happened was all her fault and she would be punished for the deaths of the innocent people of Tyos.

  Finally, after what seemed a lifetime, King Firion averted his eyes towards the doors and pointed at the squire Terryn who had stood silently against the far wall, trying desperately to hide in the shadows of the darkened room until this moment.

  “Fetch the High Protector!” He shouted at the boy and Myranda felt another cold shiver rush down her spine.

  Chapter 5

  Outside of the castle, the first rays of morning light could be seen stretching over the vast green plains that surrounded the fortress. The world around him was bathed in a dull blue light, making everything that Terryn’s eyes fell upon seem dreary.

  In the castle, he always felt cold and afraid, like he was in a strange place, locked away with his enemies, but outside, freedom embraced him and he felt warm and at peace again; except on this morning.

  Only an hour ago he had been sleeping peacefully in his bed. His small chamber protected him from the evils lurking outside. He was wrapped comfortably in his feather-blanket, warm and unafraid of the troubles without, when he was woken to the horror of the morning he had lived thus far and did not wish to continue.

  I should just leave now. He thought as his eyes fell upon the edge of the Shadow Forest- an ominous wall of dark trees lining the castle grounds. A shudder ran through his body and he quickly threw the thought away. Patience. He told himself, and he continued across the yard towards his destination.

  When he was bidden to fetch the High Protector, his hands began to tremble in panic. Another enemy I do not wish to visit this morning. He had, at first, gone to her bedchamber- which he found empty. Turning back the way he had come, he headed towards the dining hall in which he found a few servants silently eating their morning porridge but the High Protector was not amongst them.

  Sighing in frustration, Terryn headed towards the only other place he thought he would be able to find her; the training grounds.

  Often, the High Protector participated herself in the training of new recruits for the castle guard or the army. No other High Protector in Kaena’s past seemed to have a care for who joined their forces but Rhada was different. She likes to keep a close eye on them. He realized one day as he was watching her train. She laughed and encouraged them gently but he knew in his heart she was sizing them up. She would wait until most eyes were off her and then one-by-one, decimate the weak. It was her trick, her way of gaining their trust; to not show her true self until no one feared her. She will get what she deserves in the end. The thought brought a small smile to his lips as he continued walking.

  Once across the yard, the training grounds came into view and Terryn was relieved when he saw that it was full of trainees, all brandishing blades and hacking away at the dummies. But w
hen he got closer, his shoulders slumped with frustration. Rhada was nowhere to be seen.

  “Hello there, Captain Mayvard.” Terryn said to the only face he recognized. Mayvard, upon hearing his name called, turned and found Terryn approaching.

  He had been leaning against the circular wooden fence that separated the training grounds from the rest of the castle grounds. His arms were folded tightly across his chest as he watched the young pupils with disappointment. He could not say if it was the fact that he had dragged them all out of bed so early in the morning and they suffered from fatigue or if they truly were so unskilled with the blade, but he knew that Rhada would not be pleased.

  “Morning, Terryn.” He replied in his gruff voice. He reached a hand up to pull away a lock of his dark hair that had fallen in front of his eyes and scratched at his beard. He did nothing to hide the frustration he felt at being interrupted.

  He had never gotten on with Terryn. The two were completely different men in every way. Where Mayvard was stout and muscular, Terryn was short and thin. Mayvard’s face was hard and stern and Terryn’s was soft like a child’s. To Mayvard, Terryn was nothing more than that; a child with a man’s voice and he never brought with him good news.

  “I am searching for the High Protector.” He said flatly when he stopped in front of Mayvard.

  Mayvard reached an arm up and pointed towards the forest. “She is in there.” He replied disinterestedly. He promptly turned back to his trainees and sighed.

  “No!” He shouted at one of them, leaving Terryn standing in his horror-struck daze. “You act as though the blade has a mind of its own and your hands are its puppets!” He snatched the blade away from the young man and looked down at him in anger.

  “How many times must I tell you? The sword is a part of your arm, not a thing you hold in it.”

  The young man spouted apologies to Mayvard, who angrily thrust the blade back into his hands and commanded him to try again.

  “Mayvard,” Terryn began in dismay, “I cannot go in there.” He pointed towards the forest.

  “You must if the King and Queen have summoned the High Protector. It is your duty to inform her, is it not?”

  Terryn regretfully nodded his head.

  “Then go find her.” When he saw Terryn trembling, he shook his head in disapproval, walked over to the weapon rack and pulled down a long bow and a sheaf of arrows. He walked back to Terryn and handed them to the frightened boy.

  “Take these, in case you run into any trouble.” Terryn looked to the long bow with disgust. He was disgusted at himself for his fear and for the fact that he had never taken the time to learn how to shoot a bow. He took the weapon nonetheless, not wishing to admit his ignorance to the man before him.

  “What is she doing in there, anyway?” He asked curiously as he held fast to the bow.

  “She is hunting the shadow beast.” Mayvard said with a grin. “She swears this time she’ll be able to capture it.” Terryn shuddered again.

  As he walked away from the training grounds and towards the forest, the beating of his frightened heart grew louder in his ears and the thought of the shadow beast- which was much more frightening than the High Protector herself- flowed through his mind as an image of fury and death. What if the beast finds me while I am looking for her? His steps grew involuntarily slower as he approached the forest’s edge.

  The density of the forest proved to be just as terrifying and treacherous as Terryn had imagined. He knew many men before him had entered this forest and come out unscathed but there were those who trudged into the thickness of the trees, never to be heard of or seen again. Terryn had only heard stories of the beasts that lurked in the shadows of the dark corners of the woods. That is why it was called The Shadow Forest.

  As frightening as the shadow beast was, he had heard stories of much more frightening beasts being spotted amongst the trees- ghost wolves that howled menacingly as they followed your footsteps, insects the size of a person’s head that stung and paralyzed, and some claim to have seen shadow walkers, though Terryn was uncertain how much he believed that.

  With each step he took, Terryn looked all about him, focusing his vision on the dark corners surrounding him. He held the long bow tightly in his grasp and felt it quiver with his shaking hands.

  If I am attacked by anything, I doubt I’ll be able to use this thing. He thought, but he held onto it nonetheless, afraid to let go.

  After half an hour of walking, Terryn came to a small cliff side that jutted up before him, blocking the path he had been following. He stood motionless for a moment, contemplating which way he should go to get around it. It was in this moment, when Terryn was still, that everything around him grew quiet. At first, he didn’t notice the change but something within him was screaming the warning. A small and sudden chill ran up the length of his spine and his eyes darted up to the skyline. I could have sworn there were birds chirping a few moments ago. They had been singing joyfully with an almost deafening volume since the moment he had entered the forest. Now, however, they had all stopped and the only sound he could hear was the furious beating of his own heart.

  Terryn spun around when his heartbeat was joined with another sound- small footsteps coming from behind him. They were light but he could hear the crackling of dried leaves and the breaking of twigs underneath the feet that followed.

  Terryn tried to peer through the shrubs and trees but there was nothing but dark forest and cold stones.

  It could be a ghost wolf. He thought as his eyes darted from one tree to another. They are masters at hiding themselves. Then the horrible thought came to his mind; what if it is a shadow walker?

  Though his hands trembled with uncontrollable fright, he held the bow in front of him, pulled an arrow from the quiver and prepared to shoot anything that moved. He turned himself around, looking at the surrounding forest by the tip of the arrow. He turned again and then he saw them- two large round eyes staring at him from behind the bushes. They were dark and menacing and he thought he could hear the low grumble of whatever beast it was growling.

  Terryn nearly dropped his bow in panic but realizing it was his only means of defense, held to it tightly and tried his best to aim the point of the arrow at the beast- that’s when it emerged.

  He saw its massive head first, black and round as a boulder. The pointed ears stood tall as it listened to his panicked breathing. Its mouth was gaped open in a low growl and he could see its teeth, sharp and glistening in the early morning light. Drool dripped from the corners of its jaw in a bloodthirsty rage. The shadow beast stepped closer and its paws dug deep into the ground beneath it. Even from his distance, Terryn could see the claws that protruded from its feet. They were as long as his fingers and as sharp as blades.

  The giant cat put its head low to the ground as it stared at him, then let out a furious growl that rang in Terryn’s ears and threatened to deafen him.

  Without doing so on purpose, Terryn released the arrow he held so tightly strung in the bow and watched it sail through the air towards the massive beast, hoping it would strike the cat and kill it. It landed a few feet away from the beast’s paw and Terryn felt his body go numb.

  The cat roared in fury and leapt forward. Its paws pounded into the ground beneath as it charged towards him. He screamed, though he was vaguely aware of doing so, turned and began to run when he found himself face to face with Rhada. She held her bow up and let the arrow fly through the air with ease. Her eyes never met his but stayed focused on the beast running towards them.

  Terryn watched as her arrow struck the cat in the shoulder. It stopped running and let out a howl of pain. Then, as though infuriated by her arrow, the beast leapt forward again and raced towards her. She pulled another shaft from her quiver and loosed with a speed that Terryn could not comprehend. This time, the arrow struck the beast in its side and it fell to the ground with such force, Terryn thought he could feel the dirt beneath his feet shake.

  Rhada leapt forward and unsheat
hed her sword. She ran full pace towards the cat as it jumped to its feet once more. It roared in rage and swatted at her but she ducked and rolled away from it, landing on her feet and turning once again to face it.

  The cat jumped and Terryn let out a frightened cry as the beast landed on top of her, knocking her off her feet.

  Rhada cried out in surprise as her sword flew from her hands and sailed through the air. The cat opened its mouth and brought its teeth down to her neck but Rhada was quick. She grabbed the dagger that was strapped to her thigh and buried the blade deep into the cat’s flesh. It roared and fell away from her, allowing her to get to her feet once more and before Terryn knew what was happening, Rhada had her sword back in hand and she turned just in time to thrust it through the cat’s neck as it jumped at her again.

  The giant cat roared and fell, landing at Rhada’s feet. Its body jerked violently as the blood spewed from the gaping hole in its throat. It let out a low, guttural moan then all at once fell silent and still.

  Rhada breathed heavily as she stood over the dead creature then looked to Terryn as though seeing him for the first time.

  “No offense intended, but yours is a face I do not like seeing this early in the morning.” She said through exasperated breaths.

  Terryn was trying to control the shaking in his hands as he replied; “no offense taken.”

  “What are you doing out here?” She asked as she bent down to pull her blade free from the beast’s corpse.

  “The King and Queen sent me to find you. It is urgent.” Terryn watched as her cold eyes met his. They were gray and lifeless and he hated when she looked at him. He felt as though she could see right through him, right down to his soul. Her long black hair had been pulled back in a braid and the pale skin of her face was smeared with the black blood of the shadow beast.

  She walked over to him and handed her sword over. He took it reluctantly, knowing that his shaky hands would have a hard time carrying the heavy steel.