A Dark Tide (Book of One) (29 page)

"I think I can manage on my own," she said to the healers.

"We will accompany you," one of them said, and Ariana turned to the women.

"What are your names?" she asked. "I have not been myself and I would like to know who I will have to apologize to later, and thank for looking after me."

"I am Petra," said one, a pale, thin woman with honey colored hair, similar to what Ariana's had been like before she was changed by the dragon lands.

"I am Rene," the other told her, smiling from her dark brown eyes and dark tan colored skin, that was almost the color of the bark of a tree.

"Petra, Rene, please forgive my earlier rudeness," Ariana said. "I cannot promise that I will continue to be polite, for my emotions seem to have minds of their own, so I apologize if I do or say anything that might offend you."

"It is fine, your highness," Rene said. "Other than nearly setting your room on fire, you have been fairly reasonable compared with some we have attended."

"I promised the trees I would not use my fire in the elven forest," Ariana said. "But if I fall unconscious again, you have permission to dump me in a stream if need be."

"We will bring some water, just in case," Petra said and she picked up a large earthenware pitcher from a nearby table.

"Are you sure you can manage," Rene asked as Ariana stepped toward the door.

"Yes," Ariana said. "I will be fine, for now."

The healers followed her from the room and out to the palace grounds where they saw Laurana and the court elves emerging from the main entrance. With them was the girl, Ehlena, who had visited Ariana in the dragon lands, and she felt a pang of regret that she had not responded more kindly when she had brought news of Aaron. She was still conflicted about what she had seen in the vision, but she put aside those worries when she heard shouting from somewhere in the city and caught a glimpse of what at first looked like a dragon, but she quickly realized was one of the horrid lizard creatures that had attacked Kandara, in service of her uncle and the Xallan queen, Calexis.

"Princess Ariana," Laurana said as Ariana and her healers approached the group. "It is dangerous to be out of your chambers right now. The city is under attack."

"I can fight, if I must," Ariana said, looking up at the sky as another Darga flew by, dodging arrows from the city guards. "It seems the Darga have sprouted wings." Ariana glanced over at Ehlena. "It is good to see you again, Ehlena. You wear elven clothing very beautifully."

"Thank you, Ariana," Ehlena replied, glancing at her enormous round belly and her swollen breasts that protruded through the thin robe she wore. "I see that you are well."

"As well as can be expected."
Ariana laughed and she glanced over at Rolan, who had turned away. "Thank you for your kind and gentle concern," she said, hoping the elf might take note, even though she was doubtful words alone would change his mind. "I am well enough." Ariana turned to Laurana. "We must expel these lizards from the city. I can call for Borrican and Storm, with the permission of the court."

"We can defend the city for now," Ehlena said, cutting off Rolan before he spoke. "I see you still have your mother's blade."

"I do," Ariana said, noticing the jeweled swords that Ehlena wore at her hips.

"Good," she said. "Then, you and the queen stand in defense of the court elves. Rolan and I will deal with these Darga."

"Yes, we will," he said, gripping his sword tightly and doing his best to look determined, then he frowned. "One question, how do we fight them when they are in the air?"

"We don't," Ehlena said, then she reached out her hand toward several of the Darga who were flying just outside the palace grounds and a powerful sound, like that of a rushing waterfall, suddenly filled the air. Ehlena moved her hand, and with a gesture, the Darga plummeted from the sky. She started walking in the direction they had fallen and she glanced over her shoulder at Rolan. "Are you coming?

Rolan followed Ehlena from the palace grounds and through the outer gate. The city guards were already clashing with several of the other Darga on the far side of the city, and one of the Darga that had fallen nearby was already back on his feet. He brushed away several arrows that flew toward him, shot by elven guards a short distance away. The winged lizard snarled at them and looked as though he would leap back into the air, when Ehlena pointed at him and knocked him to the ground once again.

"Darga," Ehlena said as he rose to his feet once more. "You will fight this elf."

"You want me to fight him by myself?" Rolan said, his voice cracking, pitched with fear.

"You think yourself worthy to rule this land? Prove it."

"Fine," he said. "I will do just that."

Rolan hefted the sword in his hand and slid his mask down over his face. He approached the Darga and it growled and snarled like a beast, its powerful muscles flexing as it whipped its sword though the air. Ehlena could tell from the way he carried his weapon that Rolan knew how to use a sword, but she was surprised at the skill with which he attacked the Darga. He moved in on the creature, carefully circling around, just outside the reach of its blade, waiting and watching.

The Darga lunged, thrusting its blade toward Rolan, and the elf dodged and slashed at the Darga's arm, but his sword barely scratched the creature's tough scaled hide. He barely missed being cut in two by the Darga as it swiped at him with its blade, ducking just underneath its attack and returning with one of his own, slashing his sword at the side of the creature's neck. The Darga bellowed at the cut, which drew black blood, and it suddenly charged at Rolan, knocking him to the ground. The Darga leapt toward the elf as he landed on his back, and its blade drove toward him, faster than he imagined possible for such a large creature. Caught completely off guard, Rolan was unable to block or roll out of the way before the sharp tip of the blade came hurtling toward him. Eyes wide and shocked, Rolan winced, expecting to be killed, but the creature froze just short of him, with its sword barely a finger width away from his neck.

Ehlena walked toward the creature as Rolan scrambled backward, out from under the blade that had nearly killed him. Caught in midair, held by Ehlena's power, the Darga stared at her with animal rage as she pulled one of the swords from her belt, stepped up to him, and in one clean cut, took the creature's head clean off. She turned to Rolan, as he scrambled to his feet.

"Do you now see what your people face?" Ehlena wiped the acid blood from the blade on the leather piece that covered the creature's shoulder, then she released her power and its body fell to the ground.

"They are monstrous things," Rolan said.

"They are mad with the lust for power," Ehlena said. "For generations, these creatures lived in the lands to the east, out in the forests and the swamps, bothering no one, until the shadow returned and turned them to war. I do not like killing, for it is not my way, but if I am attacked, I will do what must be done. I suggest you consider the welfare of your people, and do what must be done, even if doing so might offend your pride. There is no value to pride if you are dead and your home is destroyed, Rolan."

Rolan nodded slowly, staring at the dead Darga behind her, and Ehlena could see that his arrogance had begun to cool, and his expression turned to one of resolve.

"How great is the threat, truly?" he asked, his voice calm and measured.

"Calexis and the power of the shadow seek the complete destruction of the elven forest and its people," she said. "These Darga number in the thousands with many thousands more enslaved Maramyrian and Xallan soldiers marching behind them. They are controlled by dark magic that has subverted their will, and it is unfortunate that many of them will die, for if they were free of the dark power they would likely defend this forest as the other Maramyrians have offered to do."

"Is there not some way to stop this Calexis and the shadow?" Rolan asked.

"There are those who work toward that goal at great peril, not just for Elvanar, but for all the peoples of the world," Ehlena told him.

"What can we do to stop this?" Rolan frowned, considering all the things she had told him.

"For now, you can defend your people and this forest," Ehlena said. "I will help you with these Darga, then it will fall to you to keep your people safe."

"You said there will be more of them, and soldiers," Rolan said.

"It will be up to you to find a way to deal with them," Ehlena told him. "Set aside your pride and use every power at your disposal. There is nothing cowardly about allowing your friends and allies to help you, and remember that many who attack your forest are not acting under their own will, and if they are released from the spell that binds them, they will no longer be your enemy."

"I will consider your words," Rolan replied, looking to another Darga that had spotted them and was fast approaching. "Let us dispose of these creatures. I will not underestimate them again."

Rolan felt the balance of his sword, then with a look of grim resolution, he walked past her toward the Darga, and Ehlena turned and followed after him.

*****

The many elves of the court stood just inside the doors of the palace, with Laurana and Ariana in front of them, and the two healers hovering nearby, all of them watching the movement in the city as winged Darga fought with the elven guards. They had seen several of the creatures fall from the sky and felt the familiar power on the wind, and the mood was one of relief and gratitude to the goddess, who had come to their aid. Ehlena's appearance was also the subject of much whispering among the court elves and Ariana found it irritating, but she did her best to keep her temper in check. She turned to Laurana and spoke loud enough for the court elves to hear her.

"If a Darga were to attack, I might not be able to control my fire," she said. "It is difficult with how my emotions are changing so quickly."

"You are surprisingly calm considering your state," Laurana said.

"It takes a lot of effort," Ariana admitted, and she turned toward Laurana, so the court elves could see her a little better and hear her voice. "I am sorry if I said or did anything that might be upsetting."

"It is understood among our people, Ariana," Laurana said. "No one will hold it against you, so long as you don't burn down the forest."

"I would never," Ariana said, then she lowered her voice. "Not on purpose, anyway."

"Let us hope it doesn't come to that," Laurana said as a large, winged Darga appeared from behind a large branch just outside the palace gates and flew toward them.

"And, all of a sudden, I am in a rather irritable mood," Ariana said as she readied her blade but Laurana touched her shoulder.

"I will deal with the creature," she said and she stepped forward and raised her hands as the Darga flew into the palace grounds. The trees that surrounded the palace suddenly began to shift and change, growing new branches that shot toward the creature, ensnaring it like a fly in a spider web, just short of the palace entrance. The Darga bellowed with rage at having been caught in such a trap, then it glared at Laurana and all the people behind her. The creature took in a deep breath and Ariana caught a scent in the air, and she dashed forward, and stood in front of Laurana as the Darga let out a blast of acid fire.

Laurana stepped back as the flames hit Ariana, and she was shocked by the intensity of the heat and the fact that her niece had taken the full brunt of them directly. Laurana and the court elves were even more surprised when Ariana, covered in blazing fire, calmly walked forward toward the creature, her sword held with its point to the ground, dripping acid flames. The Darga snarled at her as she approached, its reptilian eyes intent on killing and its scent mad with rage, and Ariana knew now what afflicted the creatures, for it was very similar to the madness that had affected Borrican. The Darga were becoming wildlings. Ariana frowned, then she lifted her sword, holding it flat before her, and she drove it into the mouth of the creature, shoving the cold blade through its head. The Darga fell limp and Ariana yanked her sword free, then she turned to Laurana and the elves that were gathered behind her, and she noticed that she had left a trail of fire behind her.

"I didn't do that," she said, pointing with her sword, which dripping black blood upon the ground, and oblivious to the fact that her entire body was wrapped in flames and the robe she was wearing long since burned away.

Draxis pushed open the doors of the temple, which creaked and groaned on their ruined hinges, and he stepped into the vast, black chamber that was lit only by the glow of the crystals that pulsed with dark light. At the center of the temple, hanging from the giant glowing crystal, he saw a figure of a young man, his head hanging forward and his arms and legs splayed, blocking the dark light. Aaron slowly looked up as Draxis walked toward him.

"You would be Draxis," he said.

"And you are her prize," Draxis replied as he grabbed Aaron's jaw in his powerful grip and looked at his face. "I see nothing worthy in you."

Aaron coughed. "Worthy of what, exactly?" he asked, and Draxis let go of him with a look of contempt upon his reptilian face.

"It is said you have power," Draxis said. "I see only a pathetic fool who does not yet know his place."

"I am where I am," Aaron said. "That is my place."

"You speak nonsense," Draxis growled.

"I suppose you would think that."

"What is that supposed to mean?"

"It is your view, from where you stand," Aaron replied. "You are a willing servant of the shadow. That is the place you have chosen, so it is how you see things."

"I serve myself," Draxis said.

"Do you truly?" Aaron asked.

Draxis clenched his fist and slammed it into Aaron's ribs.

"I do as I please," he said as Aaron coughed and heaved, trying to regain his breath. Draxis laughed, then he smashed his fist into Aaron's face. "I do what amuses me and what gives me power."

Blood ran from Aaron's mouth and nose, dripping in a long stream to the floor. He drew a shallow breath and spat, then he took another breath, wincing from the pain in his side, where he could tell that several of his ribs were now broken.

"And yet you are weak," Aaron said, smiling through the blood.

"Weak?" Draxis scoffed, then he laughed, his deep, rasping voice echoing through the temple. "I am not the one who is a bound and tied like a pathetic animal."

"No," Aaron said. "You are the one beating upon someone who is bound and tied like a pathetic animal. That makes you a coward, and far weaker than I."

"Again, you speak nonsense," Draxis said. "I think it may be that you are simpleminded and do not understand true power."

"Perhaps," Aaron replied. "But tell me, Draxis, what is true power?"

"I was right," he said with a triumphant laugh. "You do not know."

"I suppose not." Aaron shook his head.

"You are a fool," Draxis told him. "You will die a fool's death, and whatever pathetic power you have, it will be taken from you."

"As will you," Aaron said.

Draxis hit him again.

"Draxis!" Calexis stood between the open doors of the temple. "You were not to harm him."

"He still lives," Draxis said with a shrug, turning around as Calexis walked toward him.

With an open hand, she struck him in the jaw and Draxis slammed sideways, crashing into the stone floor.

"You will not disobey me again," she said as he slowly rose to his feet, in shock at her power and seething with anger. "Now, there is a war to be fought and you are wasting time here. Your Darga grow more powerful with every kill and if you do not return to the battle they will soon surpass you."

"It was you who called me away from the battle," Draxis said. "If the Darga become unruly, then they will be on your hands."

"Tell me, Draxis did your Darga kill the warriors under General Berant's command?" Calexis asked and Draxis looked away, refusing to meet her gaze for a moment, then he looked up at her defiantly.

"They took power," he said. "That is what you value most."

"I value victory, and I demand obedience," Calexis told him. "Now go, Draxis. If you wish to prove your worth, then you will lead our forces to victory as I have commanded you. Once you have killed every last elf and destroyed every scrap of leaf in their forest, then you can speak to me of power."

"As you command," Draxis replied, and he walked briskly past her toward the doors of the temple. "I will return to the battle while you dally with your plaything."

Once he had gone, Calexis walked over to where Aaron hung limply from the large, glowing crystal, his mouth dripping blood and his face beginning to swell.

"It is hard, isn't it?" she said. "Here you are, helpless, yet still so stubborn. And so easily you could have killed him with your power."

"He is your son," Aaron said, his voice parched.

"Draxis is a creation, to satisfy my curiosity," Calexis said.

"Then he is nothing to you?"

"Nothing?" Calexis replied. "Draxis is a powerful warrior, and an able leader of the Darga, so he is very useful to me."

"Useful," Aaron uttered the word. "That is all."

"Of course," she said. "You could be useful to me as well. It would be very rewarding for you to serve me."

"Draxis claims to serve himself," Aaron told her.

"As do all who serve me." Calexis gathered her power and rose up in the air until she was face to face with him. "You could rule with me, by my side. I would even let you govern some part of this world where you could see your friends can live out their lives. You think I am entirely heartless, but I am not."

"You would do that?" Aaron asked.

"If you embrace the shadow and join your power with mine, I could perhaps see to making a few exceptions," she said and she rested her hand on the side of his face.

"I will have to think about that," Aaron said.

Calexis leaned forward and kissed him on the mouth.

"Consider what I might offer you," she said, licking the blood that had wet her lips. "For those who defy me, there will be only pain and suffering. Accept my rule and you will enjoy power and dominion."

"I will consider your offer," Aaron told her, and Calexis slid her hands up his sides and leaned her head against his shoulder, then she licked his neck and move up to his cheek.

"Do not take too long," she whispered. "I am not known for my patience."

"I understand," Aaron said. "It is difficult to think clearly with my head ringing."

Calexis leaned back and stared at him for a moment, then she slapped him hard.

"Fool. You could heal yourself with your power," she said as she pushed away from him and landed back upon the stone floor. "Do not expect any petty sympathy from me."

"I expect nothing," Aaron said.

"Good," Calexis said. "You are worthy of only that which you take for yourself."

Aaron nodded then he closed his eyes, trying to ignore the throbbing that ran up his jaw and into his head. Her slap was as powerful as Draxis' closed fist, but the pain he felt from before had already numbed him to it, and he had certainly felt far worse pain when his headaches used to plague him. Still, his vision swam from the impact and Aaron slipped into a half conscious stupor, barely aware of Calexis as she turned and walked from the temple, leaving him alone in the shadows and the pulsing glow of the crystals.

*****

Stavros and Calthas leaned over the table, staring at the crystal, which pulsed and glowed, but far less intensely than it had when it sat upon the peak of the roof of an inn at the edge of the city. It had been a risk to take it, but a necessary one, for they were now able to investigate the lines of magic that had been worked into its structure and compare it to the gemstones embedded in the godsword, but thus far they were unable to determine exactly how the magic worked. Finally Calthas gave in to his frustration.

"The crystal has power and the sword takes power," he said. "Why don't we try it?"

"And if the crystal is rendered useless by the sword, what then?" Stavros asked. "Our investigation would come to an end."

"We can steal another one if need be," Calthas said. "But we do not have much time, and there is no telling how long Aaron can delay Calexis."

"Yes, it already seemed like we might be too late when he used his power earlier," Stavros commented. "I still can't believe he would take such a risk."

"He wants to save the people of the city," Calthas said. "I would not wish to be in his place and have to make such a choice."

"Well, let us try to solve the riddle of this magic so he won't have to choose and he will be free to do what must be done," Stavros said.

"I say we test the sword," Calthas suggested.

"If the crystal is ruined, then you can go get the next one," Stavros replied.

"You have the humor of a bard," Calthas told him sarcastically as he picked up the sword and touched it to the glowing crystal.

"You must desire its power," Stavros said. "It is a matter of willing it."

"But I don't want its power," Calthas said. "I want its power to flow into the sword."

As he said the words, a flash of energy leapt from the crystal to the blade, then it seemed as though the metal absorbed it. Calthas looked at the gemstone in the pommel of the sword and saw the energy swirling around inside it, then he placed the sword on the table and stood from his chair and backed away from it.

"That was very uncomfortable," he said.

"In what way?" Stavros asked.

"It is as though the sword wanted me to take the power from it." Calthas tried to articulate the sensation he had felt. "It was almost like it was trying to make me take the energy."

"Then it appears that your will proved stronger than that of a sword," Stavros said. "You always were something a willful fellow, Calthas."

"I will try to take that as a compliment, old man," Calthas said.

"Please do," Stavros replied as he leaned in and looked more closely at the gemstone, which now glowed with power.

There was a noise outside the workshop and they both turned toward the door.

"Someone is here," Calthas whispered as he cast a glamour over the work table and doused the lamps with a flick of his finger.

"Does our uninvited guest seek entry to this room?" Stavros asked, keeping his voice low and quiet.

"No," Calthas said, gently testing his warding spells to see if he could discern any movement outside the room. "The spell that obscures my workshop and its entrance would tell me if someone were to search the house for signs of magic. Oddly, I do not think whoever it is, has any interest in this place."

"Whoever it is, we are effectively trapped here until they leave," Stavros pointed out. "Can you tell what it is that they are doing?"

"Nothing, it seems," Calthas replied. "Sitting at my kitchen table, if I am not mistaken."

"That does not make any sense," Stavros said. "I will take a look."

The elder mage obscured himself with the most powerful ward he knew, then he quietly left the room, while Calthas waited in the dark, hidden by his own magic, and using his warding spells to listen for movement outside his little workshop. It was not long before Stavros returned, reigniting the oil lamps in the room himself, and Calthas saw that he had someone with him, an old woman, who was strangely dressed in a simple cotton smock, the sort of thing a child would wear.

"Please," she said, her eyes wide with fear. "I mean no harm. She said I would be safe here."

"Who said this?" Stavros asked, standing behind the woman, and holding her with his power.

"The blue girl," the woman said. "She said you would help me."

Stavros glanced over to where he knew Calthas stood, still hidden by his magic, but detectable if one knew what to look for.

"A blue girl? What was her name?"

"She called herself Lexi," the woman told him. "She was very strange, but she helped me."

"Lexi." Stavros was only half surprised. "Did she say what she was doing in the city?"

"I don't want to say it," the woman replied, her voice shaking. "I fear the worst will happen to her."

"If she sent you here, then you can trust us," Stavros said

"She said she was going to kill the queen, Calexis," she told him.

Suddenly, Calthas suddenly appeared and he walked up to the woman and looked closely at her face.

"Goodness, Coraline, is that really you?" he asked.

"I don't know," she said, her expression obviously confused. "Who are you?"

Calthas looked up at Stavros and the old mage nodded and released the woman. Calthas caught her as she fell forward and he helped her over to one of the chairs next to the table, which appeared to be empty.

"It is you," Calthas said. "I am sure of it."

"Then you know me?"

"Yes, very well," Calthas said. "You say Lexi brought you here?"

"Yes, she said that was her name," she replied with a nod. "She was sort of like the lizard men, but she was different and she was kind to me. She carried me here."

"And she wants to kill Calexis." Calthas shook his head in frustration.