by Bri Sailor
Ehren grabbed Cora and held her close. She burst into tears. Atreyis took a step back.
“He was the one I saw that day. He was the scout at the gate that ran off.” She said in a low voice.
Ky shook off the remnants of the spell. “What? Him?”
Atreyis nodded. “I’m certain.”
“What does this mean?” asked Kova. “What are you talking about?”
Cora regained her composure. “I apologize. I did not think we would actually come in contact with such a being. That man was possessed with the essence of a Mälgrav. A demon. The Dark Priests are an ancient group thought to be eradicated thousands of years ago. They served the White Dragon and were connected with the demon realm. They were sided with evil during the Great War that happened between the gods and demons. After their lord was destroyed, they sought tirelessly to resurrect him. That man wasn’t just a scout for her. He was sent by them. Which means that the worst is happening. Béloneras is actively being resurrected as we speak.”
The room was deathly silent.
“So what do we do?” asked Taryn. “Do we get the crystals and stop it? Can we stop it?”
Cora rubbed her forehead between her eyes, the pressure building there was intense.
“I don’t know!” she lashed out.
Everyone took a step back.
“I’m sorry.” She rubbed her eyes. “I just can’t get a clear reading on this whole situation. We may have to forgo trying to restore the Wilds and just focus on getting all of the crystals.”
Vex stepped up. “I’ve seen what that witch can do. I can only imagine what will happen if Béloneras comes back. The crystals must be a priority.”
“No!” shouted Kova. “I don’t give a damn about prophecies, crystals, or dragons! My people are suffering! If you won’t help me drive those bastards from my homeland, then dammit, I will do it by myself!”
Kova’s nostrils were flared and she was breathing heavy. Her eyes had a faint green glow to them.
“Everyone needs to settle down!” shouted Ehren. “There has to be a compromise here. I agree, Cora that it is of the utmost importance that we get the crystals. But Kova has a point. We promised that we would help. And frankly, any damage we can deal to the Black Army now will save us the trouble in the future. Dare I hope, it may even be enough to cut them off at the knees.”
“Ky,” asked Riker. “Do you think you could send a message with your friend Doan to Toran? He needs to be aware of what is happening.”
“That’s a good idea.” Added Ehren.
“Yes.” She paused. “Actually, as much as I hate to say it, we could use his help. If he were to send a few legions of troops to the rebels’ aid, it would help us all greatly.”
Suddenly, lightning flashed brightly outside and the thunder shook the establishment like an earthquake. Then, all was eerily silent. A single raven could be heard cawing outside. The door to the inn blew open with a gust of wind. A tall, dark figure wearing a cloak stood in the doorway. Everyone tensed and prepared for a fight. The figure stepped forward and threw back its hood. Long blonde hair tumbled down.
Chapter 19
Nya stepped inside the inn and shook off the rain. Ky, still in shock, walked over to her.
“Mother? What—? How—?”
Nya smiled and gave her daughter a hug and held her close.
“After you left I had a vision one night. You were sleeping and a dark shadow stood above you. It looked like a giant raven. I tried to wake you, but I was too late. It snatched you away in its talons with the crystal in its beak. When I awoke I knew I had to come and find you. The Goddess spoke to my soul and led me here.”
Ky took a step back and gestured to the dead assassin.
“An assassin tried to kill me this very night. Had it not been for Atreyis.”
The princess came up to the Keeper and gave her a hug.
“Everything is alright now. It’s so good to see you.”
Nya hugged her back. “Thank you for everything.”
Cora stepped forward.
“It’s not safe for you to be here, Nya. That man was possessed. He was sent by the Dark Priests.” She said gravely.
Nya’s eyes widened and her face grew taught. “Impossible. They have been gone for thousands of years.”
“I thought the same.” Said Cora. “He confessed it himself. Did you not hear the raven?”
“No.” her face went pale.
Nya rushed over to the man. She turned his head and pulled down his collar. On his neck was a black claw tattoo.
“That’s her mark.” Said Ehren in a low voice. “I’ve seen it before.”
Nya didn’t seem to hear him. She pulled a small dagger from her boot and cut open the man’s clothes to reveal his chest. She dropped the dagger. Branded onto the man’s skin was a single line with four arrows coming off of it like wings.
“Th—the Pazu…” gasped Cora.
“What the hell is that?” exclaimed Taryn.
“The mark of the Dark Priests.” Whispered Nya in fear.
The raven cawed again and flew away. The scarred symbol on the man’s chest disappeared. Nya picked up her dagger.
“We have to get out of here. They must know.” She turned to Cora. “We have to get those crystals. That can be the only explanation for this attack. They know that you are going after them. There’s no time to waste.”
“We have only one so far.” Said Riker.
“What of the other two?” asked Nya.
“I was to return to Óhn and discover the location of one.” Said Vex.
“And I promised to help find the last one once my people are free.” Said Kova as she crossed her arms.
“We must set out for Óhn tonight.” Stated Nya firmly. “I believe I may know where it is hidden.”
“Hold on!” Kova put her hands up. “I was promised that we would go to my people first. It’s my people or no crystal. I will not negotiate otherwise.”
Nya whirled around and came face to face with Kova. “If we do not get all of these crystals, Wildling, it won’t matter if we save your people now. Everything will end. Everything.”
Kova glared at Nya. “Then I shall save them myself. And you can find your precious crystal on your own. And if it is where I think it might be, you will never get it without my help.”
“First Ultrek, then Lusha, now the Dark Priests. Don’t you see where this is all heading?” yelled the Keeper. “They could be unleashing Béloneras into this world as we speak! You have a better chance of convincing Ultrek to stop this war than you do stopping Lusha’s forces by yourself. We must work together!”
“Ultrek is dead.” Said Vex solemnly.
Nya froze. “What?”
The poor man looked as if he was tearing up. “She first forced a priest to perform a marriage ceremony and declared herself queen. Then I saw the witch snap his neck moments before trapping more than a hundred of my men in that damn palace.”
“She’s not the queen.” Nya’s voice broke.
“No one bows to her.” Sighed Vex. “But yes, she is the queen.”
Nya started pacing. “No. No she’s not. She’s not. Not even with that sham of a marriage. Blood surpasses marriage.”
She suddenly stopped and sighed heavily. It seemed that she was debating with herself.
“She’s not the queen. There is another. A true queen of royal Khennán blood that is the rightful heir.”
“Who?” Ehren stepped up. “Is she loyal to Ultrek or will she fight for us?”
Nya slowly looked up and made direct eye contact with Ky. Everyone followed her gaze.
“Her?” the prince was incredulous.
“How?” asked Atreyis.
“Of course.” Remarked Taryn.
“That would be about right…” quipped Riker.
Ky remained silent and Nya ignored the comments.
“I never told you the complete truth about your father.” Admitted Nya softly. “He was a great man
and a great warrior that was no lie. King Maxus was the elder brother of Ultrek, and a magnanimous ruler that had a vision for rebuilding the Khenná nation back to its former glory. It’s true glory.”
Ky dropped into a chair out of shock.
“One day a mysterious woman showed up at the palace and caught the eye of the younger prince.” Continued Nya. “This was only a few months before you were born.”
She teared up and sat down as well. “The day you were born your father and your uncle went out with a hunting party. There was…an accident. Ultrek had been attacked by a bear and your father tried to save him. In the end, both your father and the bear were dead.” She took a deep breath. “As I was preparing with the priests of Khá for the eclipse Ultrek’s messenger reached me with the news that you father was dead. Not long after that you were born and Lusha came after us. That is when your grandmother and I stole away in the night and disappeared. For four years we were safe. Then—”
“That was the day that she attacked.” Finished Ky.
“Yes.” Nya stood up. “The circumstances surrounding your father’s death had always seemed off to me. And her attacking us confirmed my fears. I can’t prove it, but I know she was the reason your father was dead. She wanted the throne for herself and knew that she would never have it as long as you were alive.”
Ky’s head was spinning. Her a queen? No. How could she? A hand on her shoulder snapped her out of it.
“You alright?” asked Atreyis softly.
Ky sighed. “I honestly don’t know. It doesn’t change anything. Lusha is still out there trying to conquer everything and now Béloneras is an actual reality, not just a possibility.”
“It does confirm what we had already suspected.” Said Atreyis solemnly. “Cora was right. It is you and I that she is really after.”
“After what happened to the two of you back at the palace, who could deny it?” stated Taryn.
Nya looked at Ky. “What happened?”
Ky glanced at Atreyis. “Atreyis and I were attacked through our dreams. Lusha dragged both of us into the realm of the gods. There, she attacked us, hell bent on killing us. She went after our souls.”
Nya’s eyes widened with fear.
“Thanks to Cora and Ehren they were saved.” Taryn spoke up. “That’s when things started to make sense that it was Ky, not Ehren, that was part of the prophecy.”
“So what does this mean?” asked Kova.
“You could show up at the palace and challenge Lusha in front of your people for the throne.” Said Riker from the shadows. “Or at least let your people know that you are their true queen. Which, in turn, could even cause a division that would disrupt the witch’s military forces, making them question who their leader is.”
“It’s a nice thought.” Said Ky. “But I don’t believe that it will work. Besides, how will I even prove that I am who I say I am?”
Atreyis looked at Nya. “Would they believe you? You were their queen once.”
“I could try.” Replied Nya, not quite sure of herself.
Ky stood up. “It doesn’t matter. I have no desire for the throne. You were their queen once. You could do it again.”
Nya shook her head. “I can’t. Not until I know that the Seal is safe once and for all.”
“So where does that leave us?” asked Ky.
Ehren rubbed his face. “I think it’s time that we split up.”
Everyone looked at him.
“I figured that this would happen sooner or later.” He continued. “If we split up we make it harder for Lusha to track us. It also increases our chances of getting the crystals faster. Taryn and Riker will go with Nya and Vex to retrieve the Khennán crystal and free Vex’s men. The rest of us will help Kova and get the Xaemoan crystal.”
“Then what?” exclaimed Taryn. “What if we get captured?”
“You won’t have to worry about that as much as we will.” Said Ky. “She wants Atreyis and myself. Even if you are captured Lusha would most likely use you guys to lure us into a trap. Look, I agree with Ehren. We just need to split up. As soon as a crystal is retrieved we go back to the temple and wait for the others.”
“Are you sure the three of you should be together?” asked Taryn. “If she gets to you, that’s it. You are both right there.”
“It doesn’t matter.” Kova rolled her eyes from the corner of the room. “One goes one way and one goes the other. Odds are that someone will be captured anyways. It doesn’t matter how you do it. Better to just have both of you there so that you know Lusha will show up. Then we can kill her.”
“I agree.” Said Ehren. “We stick to the current plan. After what happened in the palace I think it’s safe to say that she knows who she needs. I would rather use that to our advantage.”
“Fine.” Stated Ky firmly. “We leave at once. Who knows how many more will be coming after him.” She gestured to the dead assassin. “I believe that Lusha will eventually find out our plans. She probably already knows. And I believe that we will be in for the fight of our lives. I will send word to Doan and have him take a message to Toran. He needs to know what is happening. And to ask Queen Joslette for whatever men she can spare. Lusha was trying to push for more troops to be sent north before I left.” She looked at Kova. “You guys must be putting up one hell of a fight up there.”
Kova squared her shoulders and stood tall. “You would know.”
Ky nodded at the slight and went looking for parchment and ink. She eventually found some and began scribbling her coded message. The others had gone back to their room and started packing. Ky woke up the inn keeper and paid off the damage and sent him with the message to the queen. Atreyis came downstairs and tossed Ky her gear.
“So…it’s really started.” She said solemnly.
“Unavoidably so.” Replied the warrior.
Chapter 20
“It can’t be!” gasped Arainya.
The quiet throne room erupted. A young page stood patiently before the king and queen. She waivered a bit, giving away her newness. As soon as Ky’s message reached Doan, the newly appointed general wasted no time in sending the message on to Toran. The sky outside was gloomy and cast a gray light throughout the room. Arainya’s chestnut brown hair flowed over her bare shoulders and down her light blue dress. Toran leaned forward and propped his elbows on his knees, his once dark hair was now streaked with gray.
“Yes.” Replied the king, his brow furrowed. “It is not Ehren and Atreyis. It would seem Ky is the other half of this prophecy.”
He handed the letter to Arainya who quickly scanned it.
“They were attacked in the Quinmor palace and taken to the realm of the gods. The Keeper, and former queen, confirmed it.”
“Nya is alive?” gasped the queen.
“Yes. And Ultrek is dead.” Replied Toran gravely. “Lusha is on the move and deadlier than ever.”
“I must prepare my men. No able-bodied fighter will be left out.” Said Rússe firmly. The former palace guard stood with the same air of authority that she had trained her daughter Taryn with. “All those that can fight, will.”
“I understand your earnest, General, but we must defend our lands as well. I cannot leave my people without any defense.” Said Toran. “You trained your daughter well. I have no doubts that she and Riker will be more than capable to aid the Keeper Priestess to retrieve the crystal.”
“We need to send some of our forces to aid this Kova and her people.” Said the queen. “At last we finally have an ally, but Queen Joslette can hardly spare any men at this point. Her rule is fresh and the wounds in her kingdom run deep. Many were lost during the coup.”
Toran stood up from his throne and began pacing. The page looked around, unsure if she should speak.
“I was told by Her Majesty’s General that he himself will be at the front lines to help his old friend.” Stated the young girl. “He also said that if you were unwilling to send assistance, then…” she stopped out of fear.
“Well?” Toran was getting mad.
“He said ‘then you will have surely sentenced your people to death.’”
A vein visibly pulsed in the king’s temple.
“We don’t even know if Lusha will be there!” he roared.
The page went pale and Arainya jumped up from her throne.
“Did you not just read what they are planning?” she yelled at him. “Atreyis and Ky will be there. She will be there. Why would she be anywhere else?”
