A World Apart (44 page)

...

Jake awoke when Dominic came into his room, shaking his head when he saw Jake still in bed.  The sun was up, its light streaming into the room.  "Get up, boy.  We have been asked to eat with Tomaris this morning."

Jake got out of bed, last night seeming like a bad dream.  With Dominic standing there, watching, he quickly got dressed, then picked up his breastplate out of habit, letting it drop when he saw the gouges, remembering.

"We will find you a replacement when we return to Sanduas."  Dominic said.  "Just get your sword."

Jake belted on his sword and followed Dominic out into the hallway.  They went down the now-familiar way to Tomaris' hall.  When they entered, Tomaris was sitting in his chair, Captain Deepwood sitting next to him.  Dominic steered Jake into the other chair next to Tomaris, then sat down next to him.

"I hope you had a good rest, Jake."  Tomaris said, eyes sympathetic.  "Have you found room in your heart to forgive me?"

"Dominic and I talked last night, Tomaris."  Jake replied.  "Now that I have had time to think about it, I understand why you did what you did.  I still think I should have been told, but I don't hold that against you."

"Thank you, Jake."  Tomaris said.  "There is more to your power that we will need to explore, but as I mentioned, I have to leave today.  I regret that we must part, but I will send word to Jonas when I return, so you can come back to further your training."  He looked over at Deepwood and nodded.  Deepwood left the room, but returned shortly with a couple of soldiers carrying several pieces of armor.  They placed them on the table, then left.

"Since your armor was damaged, I wanted to present you with this to replace it."  Tomaris said, gesturing to the armor.  "You will need protection when you leave here."

Jake picked up the breastplate, its metal shining, marveling how light it was.  At Tomaris' urging, he put the breastplate on, the fit perfect, commenting on its lightness.

"It is made from a special alloy that I found in my readings."  Tomaris said.  "Despite its light weight, it is stronger that steel and will stop most blades and arrows.  Try on the rest."  He said, indicating the other pieces.

As Jake was putting on the matching vambraces and leggings, servants came in, bringing trays of food.  Jake stood up, belting on his sword, looking down at the gleaming armor.  Tomaris seemed pleased at Jake's reaction and pulled out an open-faced helm from under his chair and handed it to Jake.  Jake put it on, surprised it fit so well.  It also seemed to have no weight.  He took it off and put it down on the table as he sat back down.

"Thank you, Tomaris."  Jake said, enthusiasm in his voice.  "These are fantastic."

"I am happy that you like them, Jake."  Tomaris replied.  He gestured at the food.  "Please eat.  We all have long days of travel in front of us."

After they finished the meal, Tomaris rose from his chair, the others copying his example.  "It is here that we must say goodbye for now."  He said.  "I must attend to some things before I go.  I hope you won't mind that I will not see you off at the gates."

He came over to Jake, taking his hand.  "May the Light of the Creator shine on you, Jake.  Remember our lessons as you venture forth.  I will send word when I return."  He thanked Dominic and wished him well, then left the room.

Jake and Dominic went to their rooms to pack up their belongings.  They headed back down to the stable area to find that Captain Deepwood had their horses saddled and ready to go.  He also provided them with travel rations and extra feed for the horses.  Deepwood had his own horse saddled and rode with them to the gates.

As they stopped just outside the gates, Dominic reached over and extended his hand to Deepwood.  "Thank you for your support, Moshanna.  If I can ever be of assistance, please send a message."

"Thank you, Dominic.  I may take you up on that."  Deepwood replied, shaking Dominic's hand.  He gave a slight bow.  "It was an honor to spar with you."

With a final nod, Dominic spurred Shadow forward, Jake right behind.  Jake looked back at the Keep, fixed it in his mind, then turn ahead, glad to be heading back to Sanduas.

Standing alone on his balcony, Tomaris watched them go.

...

In the late afternoon, far to the south, Keria was sitting pensive in her carriage, fanning herself while listening to the sounds of the soldiers marching alongside, providing her escort.  She glanced out the window, bored, and saw they had entered the stretch of Forest that extended out to the southern highway.  She turned back, Nataly sleeping across from her on the other seat, and returned to her thoughts.  She was glad to be returning to Sanduas, despite the fun she had at her cousin's wedding.  She just wished they could travel faster.

Marcus had been furious when her father had forbidden him from accompanying her.  Her father felt that there would be too much temptation to allow them to travel together, far from the capital.  She was not going to argue with him since it had taken all of her persuasion just to get him to allow her to go to the wedding.  She liked Marcus; he was very handsome and had made clear his feelings towards her.  However, her thoughts had turned towards Jake.

She mulled that over as she sat there.  Jake was handsome, as well, but there was something about his bumbling innocence that attracted her.  He seemed so earnest, well mannered and polite.  Maybe it was the fact that he was an outsider, someone that could take her as she was, not what she was.  Maybe it was because she knew her father disapproved.  She had enjoyed the kiss they shared and hoped he received her letter.  Maybe he will have returned by the time she arrived at the city.

She was lost in those thoughts when the first scream sounded, a sharp cry of agony.  It took her a moment to realize what it was, then more sounded, the carriage suddenly racing ahead.  She looked out and saw that her personal guard had ridden up, surrounding her carriage, but through the small gaps, she saw the rest of her escorts fighting, the sound of weapons clashing reaching her ears.

As she watched, a flight of arrows came arcing in, raking her guard.  Both men and horses went down, their screams ringing in her ears.  The carriage continued to race ahead as men were dying all around her.

…

Captain Armartas was riding nearly a half mile ahead of the main caravan, scouting the road.  He did not trust this section of the highway, the gently rolling hills making it hard to keep the whole caravan in sight, with trees on both sides of the road.  He had sent his scouts into the woods on both sides, but he had not heard any reports from them.  He could see the edge of the Forest ahead, where the trees fell back and the highway went back into the open plains.

He only agreed to come on this mission after he was asked personally by the king.  He had not been thrilled about playing babysitter to the princess, especially since the king had sent dozens of solders, as well as cavalry and Royal Guards, to protect her.

He slowed down, his two escort riders matching his pace, preparing to turn around when he heard the faint sounds of screams and fighting from behind.  He wheeled his horse around and saw the caravan under attack, black arrows coming out of the trees on both sides of the road and half-men appearing, weapons in hand.  The soldiers in the caravan were trying to form up when the half-men crashed into them, shattering the attempt at order.  The cavalry was racing to their aid when arrows began to target them, horses and men falling.  He could just make out the glowing figures of the clerics, near the royal carriage, eyes drawn by the streaks of dark fire that raced towards them.

He was spurring his horse, charging back towards the caravan, riders at his side and sword in hand, when he saw one of the clerics take at least three arrows and fall out of her saddle, dead.  The other two clerics were still fighting, their magic flaring out to destroy the nearest half-men.  As Armartas raced closer, he saw a bolt of demon fire strike and consume a cleric's horse, the cleric tumbling to the ground.  The cleric had barely gotten to his feet when he was run through by a half-man spear.

Several half-men ran out of the woods in front of Armartas, weapons ready.  He did not hesitate, but rode them down, his sword sweeping right and left, taking out two of them while his riders fought nearby.

He started for another group close by when he felt a sudden burning, stabbing pain in his leg.  He glanced down to see a black shaft of an arrow sticking out of his thigh.  He tried to ignore the pain and spurred his horse forward when two more arrows flew out of the woods and stuck his horse.  The horse reared, screaming, and fell to its side.  With his leg injured, Armartas could not clear away from the saddle and the horse landed on his leg, shattering it and pinning him under its writhing body.

He tried to force himself to ignore the excruciating pain as he reached for his sword, which had landed next to him.  As he was stretching out his hand, a shadow fell over him.  He whipped his head around to see a half-man next to him, a bloody axe raised over his head.

Then the axe came down.

…

Keria was cowering in the carriage, terrified, when it came to a sudden stop and her door slammed open.  She stifled a cry when she saw Costuas, bloody, an arrow in his side, motioning her to exit.  She grabbed Nataly's hand and jumped out.

"Flee and hide in the woods, Princess."  Costuas said through gritted teeth as he pointed to the dark trees nearby.  "The caravan is lost.  Make your way north as you can.  I will stay and make them think you are still here.  Go!"

Keria started forward when she felt Nataly release her hand.  She looked back at her and saw her reach over to pick up a fallen sword.  "Go, Princess.  I will stay with Costuas.  Between us, we will give you the time to escape."

Keria turned back, tears streaming down her face, and raced into the woods.  She had only ran for a few moments when she heard Costuas cry out behind her, the ringing of metal on metal, then Nataly's wail of agony and the harsh laughter of half-men.  She ran on, terror taken over, oblivious to her direction.  She ran until she tripped over an exposed root.  Hearing the half-men behind her, she saw a large group of bushes ahead and crawled into them, cowering, praying that it would hide her, trying not to even breathe.

Suddenly, she went cold, an even greater terror rising up.  The bushes abruptly parted and an Imp's face leaned in.  "Greetings, Princess."  It said, lips pulling back into a cruel smile, pointed teeth sharp and bright.  "Get up and come with me.  If you don't try anything foolish, I can guarantee your safety."

Shaking from fear, Keria slowly stood up.  She tried to gain control of herself, but her tears continued to flow.  She shuddered when the demon grabbed her arm in its clawed hand, her flesh crawling where it touched her.  It guided her back out to her carriage.  She cried out and tried to avert her eyes as she saw the bodies of Costuas and Nataly, hacked and mangled.  The Imp pulled her past them and pushed her into the carriage.

"Stay here, Princess.  You would not like what will happen if I have to chase you down."  The demon said, then left to go over to a group of half-men, slowly torturing a couple of wounded soldiers.

"You idiots, I need one of them alive!"  The Imp yelled, striding over to them.  It backhanded one of the half-men, the man's head seeming to cave in, body collapsing to the ground.  It looked at the soldiers and selected the one that seemed the least injured, a young man not much older than Keria.  The demon made a sharp gesture at the other soldier and a half-man killed him with the swing of his sword.

The Imp had the half-men put the selected soldier on a horse.  Keria saw the demon say something to the terrorized young man, pointing to the carriage.  The soldier nodded, then turned and raced away to the north, as fast as the horse would go.

The Imp was joined by three more demons and their followers.  They had the half-men gather some horses to replace the dead ones on the carriage.  While the half-men complied, the demon that captured her climbed back into the carriage.  Shortly, the carriage was moving deeper into the Forest.

"Obey my commands and you will not be hurt.  Disobey and I will give you to my followers as a plaything."  The Imp said, sitting across from her, black eyes glittering.  "Do you understand me, Princess?"  Keria nodded fearfully.

"My father will pay you any ransom you ask."  Keria said softly, hesitantly.

The demon laughed, cold and cruel.  "I am sure he would, but what makes you think we want ransom, foolish girl?"

"Then why have I been taken, if not for ransom?"  Keria asked, frightened to hear the answer.

"Simple, girl.  You're bait."  The demon said, smiling that frightening smile.

"Bait?  Bait for who?"  She whispered.

The demon only smiled wider.

C
HAPTER
T
WENTY-
F
IVE

In the dim light of the candles, Keria was lying down on the stone bench in her windowless cell, trying to gather her courage, not knowing whether it was day or night.  In the silence, she heard voices on the other side of the door, coming closer.  A chill descended on her, her body shivering uncontrollably, and she knew that a demon was coming for her.

She had arrived the day before, after a three-day ride.  She had tried to leave clues behind, circumspectly pulling off some beads from her dress and dropping them on the ground, terrified that she would be caught.  Despite her fear, she had been treated correctly, despite the leering and comments of the half-men.

When she arrived, she had been placed in the care of female guards and taken to the cell.  The guards were like the half-men, with that slightly crazed look, clearly under the influence of the demons.  She had food brought for her.  She was given a bucket of water to wash up and a plain woolen dress and sandals as a change of clothes.

After ensuring that no one could see her, she had stripped off her clothes, dirty and stained with blood, and used the water to quickly bathe.  After her old clothes and bucket were taken away, she had no contact with anyone.