Heritage- Legends of Shadear

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Heritage- Legends of Shadear Page 29

by Elina Vale


  Javid was also staring at her.

  Teron leaned close to him. “What do you think we should do next?”

  “It’s weird,” he muttered, “seeing her like that. I mean, when I was under the influence of the stone and Shea, I overheard her talking about Eavan Firestone like she was some elite senatai. Highly dangerous.”

  “To those she stands against, she’s both of those things,” Teron said. “Well... She was.”

  “It’s difficult to believe that when I look at her now,” Javid said, his face darkening. “We must put an end to this.” He shifted his golden eyes to Teron’s. “I could leave, you know. My family needs me.”

  “You could.” Teron smirked. “But you won’t.”

  “How do you know that?”

  “Because I know where Shri Moongale was taken, and I intend to go look for her.”

  Javid straightened up. “You know where to find her? What is she doing?”

  Teron glanced at Sambran. The old man had pulled a quilt over himself and was snoring loudly. Eavan sat in the corner, staring blankly.

  “She was taken by rogues, the Mairas,” Teron said. “I watched them grab her.”

  “Rogues...” Javid shook his head. “Wait, you mean the Rogues? Pirates? The scourge of the seas?”

  “Yes. They are called the Mairas, actually.”

  "Thieves and rapists!" Lunging forward, Javid grabbed Teron by the collar. “How could you let them take her?”

  “I had no choice!” Teron insisted. “It happened too quickly, and I stood no chance against them. But I saw them take her onto their ship.” He pushed Javid away. “Do you think I would have allowed it if there had been a chance to stop them? I care about Shri too!”

  “I’m sorry.” Javid sat back, considering the situation. “Can you scout her?”

  “I can’t. Something is blocking her. Eavan told me the Thunder Islands are protected magically. Shri is looking for something important, and that thing...” Teron pointed to the pendant on Javid’s neck. “...is meant for her.”

  Javid clutched the pendant. Teron could see that he didn’t want to let go of it. He looked defensive, even angry for a while. At last, his eyes softened and his shoulders slumped. “I know. It’s just... For the first time since the Gate Run, I felt free.”

  He started to remove the pendant, but Teron put his hand on top of it. “No need to do that. If you come with me, you can keep it until we find her.”

  Javid nodded. “Thank you.” He glanced at Eavan. “Well, my friend, it might not be how we planned it, but you’ve gotten the ghost you wanted.”

  Teron paled. “I could never experiment on Eavan Firestone.”

  “If she could, wouldn’t she demand it?”

  Eavan elevated her head and looked at Teron. There was no emotion in her eyes. She made no expression, but Teron’s heart flickered. Had she understood on some level? No one really knew what went on inside the mind of a ghost. Did Eavan know she had a chance to be cured, and was she willing to be the subject of the experiment?

  “You’re right,” Teron said. “She would. If she could be part of a cure for the ripping, she would do it. I could...” Teron tucked his hand into his backpack, pulling out a new artifact. It was a bluntly crafted rock carved with swirls, attached to a leather hoop.

  "What's that?” Javid asked.

  "It's a swimmer's rock."

  "What does it do?"

  Teron looked pensive, stroking it with his thumb. "It keeps my mind clear around mermaids, to avoid their lure. But before I left Senatai Island, I found out that I may be able to utilize it in other ways."

  "Like what?”

  "I might just be able to summon a mermaid with it." Teron smirked. "After the storm passes, I intend to test that theory."

  CHAPTER 28

  MERRILON AWOKE TO BOA’S SHAKING.

  Shea’s chamber was a wreck. Teron and his swarthy friend had fled, taking Eavan with them.

  “The boys and Eavan are gone” Boa said. “Shea has gated away, but she could return at any moment. We have to get away from here.”

  Merrilon tried to shake the dizziness away, stumbling up onto his wobbly feet. The haze of the Black Star had vanished from his mind when he was thrown against the wall.

  Must flee before Shea returns

  He followed Boa to the door, jumping over a pile of clutter caused by Shea’s explosion. Before he passed through the doorway, Merrilon noticed a curved blade on the ground. Feeling it call for him, he snatched it.

  A suffocated moan reached his ears.

  Summerhaze.

  Merrion turned around and scouted the room. “Where is Susu? She attacked while Shea was in the middle of a spell!” He spotted a pile of clutter moving. “There!”

  Boa and Merrilon started to remove the debris from atop Summerhaze. She groaned quietly.

  “Susu...” Merrilon whispered.

  She opened her eyes. “Papa... It hurts.”

  A shred of wood, broken from Shea’s shattered table, pierced her stomach. A pool of blood spread underneath her. No. Only a senatai could heal that kind of wound.

  “We must get away and find a senatai who can heal you!” Merrilon dropped his sword and started to lift her but felt Boa’s hand on his shoulder stopping him.

  “We can’t move her with that wood sticking out,” he said quietly. “Look, it’s attached to the table. If we remove it, she will bleed to death.”

  “She’s my daughter!” Merrilon shoved Boa’s hand away. “We are in the Spike; this place is filled with senatai who can heal her! Find us a senatai, Riverson! Find one!”

  Susu took small ragged breaths. “Papa... No. You must escape before she returns.”

  Merrilon’s heart clenched in his chest. “Sweet Susu. Keep fighting. Please.”

  "I am unimportant,” Susu gasped. “You must... help Shri. She’s the one... who can save us.” She squeezed her eyes, grimacing in pain. “Leave. Before Shea returns.”

  She reached out to him. Merrilon wrapped his steady fingers around her small, shaking hand

  “I love you, Papa,” she whispered.

  She was saying goodbye. Tears ran from Merrilon’s eyes as he placed his other hand on her soft cheek. “Brave, beautiful Susu. I will always love you, my girl.”

  Susu clutched the wooden shard. “Take it out.”

  “You’ll die,” Boa said.

  “I don’t fear death.” She winced in pain. “I’m ready to take the last trip. It is my turn to meet my demons.”

  Boa placed his hand on the shard and looked to Merrilon for permission. Sadness filling his heart, Merrilon nodded. Susu was suffering. It seemed she had been suffering her whole life.

  Slowly, Boa pulled out the wooden shard. Susu cried in agony. Blood soaked her shirt.

  “Tell Shri...” Susu mumbled, her eyes slowly closing. “Tell Shri... that I love her.”

  “Safe travels to the Underworld, Summerhaze Longhail, beloved daughter and sister. I will miss you, my child.” Merrilon’s voice crackled with emotion.

  Letting out one final gruff breath, Summerhaze died.

  Merrilon leaned down and kissed Summerhaze’s cheek, weeping for her passing. Pressing his forehead against hers, his body shook with uncontrollable sobs. Her life flashed before Merrilon’s eyes: how she had joined his family as a child, how she had always taken care of Shri and Leah. How she had lost her legs. How miserable she had been when Shri had left.

  How brave and noble she had been.

  “I’m so sorry,” Boa’s voice echoed behind him. “But we really must go.”

  Merrilon opened his eyes, stroked Summerhaze’s smooth black hair, and kissed her cheek one last time. Then he rose to his wobbly feet. “I will kill Shea.” He took the blade in his hands, determined to avenge his daughter. Anger burned away the pain of losing Summerhaze. “I will wait here until she returns, and I will slay that witch for good.”

  “You can’t defeat her!” Boa hissed. “Eavan has told me that on
ly your daughter can do that. She has seen it in her visions!”

  Merrilon faced him. “You and senatai and your magic are the reason for all of this misery!”

  “I know, “Boa said quietly. “But we’re the ones who can fix it Come on!”

  Merrilon squeezed the blade in his hand.

  Shri was still alive. So were Cemara and the children. All the people inside that wicked world. I have to help them, he thought.

  Sorrow and anger clenched his heart. He knew he had to leave.

  “Goodbye, Susu,” Merrilon whispered. Turning his back to his daughter, he walked out from the door.

  They rushed down the stairwell, then through the grand hall, towards the corridors which would lead them to the portals. The portals would take them to ground level and hopefully to freedom.

  “I hope the Spike is still the same, that the people still know and respect me,” Boa said while running.

  As they reached the portal room, Boa stopped. The gates were dark. “The tower is in lockdown.”

  “How do we get out?” Merrilon asked.

  “We must take the stairs. Come.” Boa turned right and ran the white, luxurious corridors toward the stairs. When they reached the next floor, a bald, heavy-set man with wide shoulders obstructed their path. He greeted them with a steely gaze.

  “Senatai Podera,” Boa greeted.

  “Boa Riverson. In a rush, I see.” His eyes lit up with magical light and he lifted his hand. “The High Mistress clearly doesn’t want you to leave. I suggest you turn around and return to her.”

  “When did you sell yourself to Shea?” Boa asked.

  The blade pulsed in Merrilon’s hands, like waiting for him to strike.

  “I’m not on her side,” Senatai Podera said. A ball of energy formed above his hand.

  Merrilon squeezed the blade, and it sent a tingling wave through him. It was preparing him for battle, giving him energy. The connection seemed to strengthen each time he used it.

  “Let us go. You don’t want to do this. Eavan Fire—"

  “It’s a game of survival now, Riverson,” Podera interrupted. “Shea is the Black Star itself. Or the Black Star is Shea. Anyway, she can’t control it. But I know who can.”

  “You?”

  He let out a laugh. “No, not me. I would never want it. It’s too powerful, too unpredictable. Too unknown. But there is one who understands its mysteries.”

  “Don’t speak with riddles, Podera. We’re in a hurry.”

  Podera gave him a wide-eyed smile. “Tamarian will rise.”

  “Doria?” Boa sounded surprised. “Doria is a puppet, drunk on her own desire for power. She’s nothing but Shea’s toy.”

  “That’s what she wants you to think. But her intelligence surpasses even that of the old High Master. She is more powerful than anyone realizes.”

  “She’s a single-element senatai,” Boa said.”

  “Yet her fountain... It has no end.”

  “That’s impossible.”

  “We need to pass,” Merrilon said. “Stand aside or fight us, but make your choice.”

  “You are a threat to Doria, and to my own plans. Goodbye Riverson!” Podera tossed his magic at Boa. Merrilon acted with his instincts, like the movements came from a memory. Taking a step forward he pushed the glowing doha-blade between the magic and Boa, blocking the energy ball. Like water poured over burning coal, the sword extinguished the ball with a hiss.

  “Moongale,” Boa whispered. “That’s some blade.”

  His heart beating from the energy, Merrilon pointed the blade at the senatai. “Let us pass or taste the doha-blade’s true power, senatai.”

  “I will not be killed by some Pit-slave. I have bigger goals.” He took a step aside. “Leave this place When Shea is removed from her position, and the true Mistress has taken power, we will crush you and your senatai, Riverson.”

  Walking sideway, eyes on the traitorous senatai, they moved slowly past him to the second stairwell. When they had reached the stairs and were nearly out of senatai’s sight, Merrilon felt the sword sending a warning.

  He whipped around. “Boa, duck!”

  Boa dropped down on his knees and Merrilon pointed his miraculous blade at the senatai behind them. Podera had his hands up in the air, casting a spell. Merrilon tossed the blade like a spear, sending deep into the senatai’s stomach. Podera fell, his magic vanishing.

  “Nice throw,” Boa said, rushing to gather the blade.

  “No!” Senatai Podera moaned. “I will be healed... and I will hunt you down...”

  He coughed blood and gurgled in agony.

  “Kill him, Riverson. Please,” Merrilon whispered.

  Boa quietly finished Podera’s torment.

  The doha-blade belonged to Merrilon. It responded to him. It knew what he wanted to do, and even when he didn’t seem to know what he wanted, the blade already knew. Merrilon stared at the dead senatai who was dead because of him. What was this life making of him? He wasn’t a killer.

  “We must move.”

  Boa’s words interrupted Merrilon’s gloomy thoughts. As they raced down to the next level, they heard steps echoing in the stairs and corridors. Many steps.

  “Wait. What’s that?” Merrilon asked. “The pike holders?”

  Boa stood still for a moment, listening carefully. “No,” he responded, his face growing dark. “The drokashai.”

  “We’ll block them like we did that senatai,” Merrilon said.

  “They don’t have magic, but they have many other deadly skills. You must have seen them fight. They will kill us.”

  Merrilon remembered seeing them during the rebellion, when he and his fellow men and women from Pit broke their way to the Fourth Ring. Fear set into his stomach. Boa was right: he could never defend himself against trained soldiers like drokashai.

  “Then we run,” Merrilon said, walking toward the next corridor. “Here? Is this the right way?”

  Boa nodded. “Yes. But I’m afraid it’s for nothing. We can run for a couple of stories, but we’ll never get away from Ironflare. Not if the drokashai reach us. Some of those drokashai might respect me or remember me, but after seeing Senatai Podera turned, I can’t trust in any of my old relations any longer.”

  When they reached the first floor, Boa stopped and listened. “They are in the eastern corridors. If we can reach the ground floor, we might be able to sneak from the kitchen doors like with Shri. I need to get us out from the kitchen doors.”

  Merrilon stopped. “Go, Riverson. I must return to the dungeons and find the magical portals.”

  “What?” Boa asked. "Why?”

  Merrilon’s shoulders straightened. “My people... The people of Pit are inside that horrid magical world.”

  “Shea has put them inside the Gates?” Boa whispered. “Why?”

  “I don’t know, but I need to get them out,” Merrilon said. “She’ll kill them once she realizes I’ve escaped. There are children, Riverson. They’re starving in there.”

  “I can’t help you,” Boa responded. “I need to follow the plan I have with Eavan. Even... Even if she has been turned into a ghost. There are big things to solve.”

  Merrilon nodded. “I understand. Which way are the gates?”

  “Merrilon Moongale,” Boa said and held him from his shoulders. “You are a brave man. Do you think you can reach the portals without getting caught?”

  “I will try. If you see Shri... tell her that I love her, no matter what. And tell her about her sister’s sacrifice.” Merrilon’s eyes filled with tears, but he wiped the emotion away. This was not the time to mourn.

  “I will, Boa said. “Take the righthand corridor and then follow stairs down. The door to the dungeons is to the left. The portals are three stories down, in west side of the tower.”

  “Will you go after Eavan?” Merrilon asked. “Do you trust her with the young boys?”

  Boa shook his head. “Eavan’s ripping also rips my very soul, but my job isn’t done. Fin
ding Shri and Eavan would ease the worry for both of them, but I’m needed elsewhere. I have to trust the boys. I do trust them.” He lowered his head and sighed. “I have no choice but to do what I fear the most: I must go back to the shining chandeliers of the Royal Palace at Sungarden and do whatever I can to stop the king from causing a senseless slaughter. Good luck, Merrilon.”

  “Good Luck, Riverson,” Merrilon said.

  He snuck off into the dark corners of the tower Spike.

  WHEN THE GATE FLASHED an Eavan vanished, Shea’s magic exploded with her anger. She unleashed an enormous energy wave that threw both Merrilon and Boa smashing against the walls along with all the furniture.

  “No!” she screamed. “They can’t have Eavan!”

  ...Find them... the stone whispered. ...Use your magic...

  She closed her eyes, reaching her mind out to the stone. Unfortunately, her efforts were in vain. Eavan’s energy had diminished when she became a ghost, and she could no longer be scouted. Javid must have had Boa’s necklace, because he could be located nowhere. And the random red-haired stranger was too unfamiliar for her to pinpoint.

  When her scouting failed, Shea opened a gate to Sungarden. She stepped out into the marketplace, sunlight nearly blinding her, twisting her head around to glimpse anyone who might resemble Javid or others.

  Nothing.

  Lost in her anger and frustration, Shea created a portal to Glasswater, then another to Mirgas, and one to Lotria. Nothing. She created portal after portal to every major chosen location around the kingdom, but still she could sense nothing. After her ninth gate, she realized that she was close to burning herself out. Even if the star had unlimited energy, her body didn’t. She needed to recharge.

  She needed to rip someone.

  Reappearing in her chamber, she collapsed to the floor. She trembled and shivered, sweat covering her body. Gradually, she realized that when the stone had whispered in her ear, it was the voice of Aldemar. Her old master had urged her to create all those portals, he had taken over her will. She had nearly burned herself out because of him. Aldemar didn’t want to lose Eavan. Even from beyond the grave he sought revenge. Ripping wasn’t enough; he wanted her dead.

 

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