Azra of the Burning Sands (Genesis Project) (20 page)

The man stood up and started for the door. Phips followed behind him. After a moment, John made his way back to the table and sat back down.

‘So, what was all that about?’ John asked.

‘Seems were going to be using an Archway to go home.’

John’s look of surprise reinforced how valuable this turn of events was. ‘But we don’t have a focus crystal, and the nearest one is days away.’

‘The Archway was moved closer to Nolmi recently, and I’ll be travelling to Sallock, and then to Minna, to get a crystal.’

‘So we’re going home this quickly?’

‘It would seem so,’ she agreed.

Despite her feeling of unease, she couldn’t help but think of seeing Dykyn again.

She looked forward to it.

‘You are a Prince, and my heir... it is not wrong to be afraid of the monsters that held you... what you went through was harrowing... but you must not let that fear control you. I will teach you, Dykyn, to stand strong and proud in the face of you fears... your enemies can have only so much control over you as you let them...’

-Aykyn, King of Paltia, teaching his son Dykyn

SALLOCK – BAZRA WASTES

S
hakla lingered in his cell. 

He heard a door unlock beyond, the creak of hinges. There were footsteps. The snake-man didn’t even have to taste the air to see who was coming... it would be Dykyn again, come to check in...

Shakla was weary of this game.

‘Satisfied to see that I am chained to the wall still?’ Shakla asked, pulling on the chains that held him, making them ring. ‘You’re so sure I’m going to escape, aren’t you... do you have trouble sleeping?’

‘Shut up,’ Dykyn hissed.

Shakla laughed.

‘What are you laughing at?’ Dykyn growled. ‘You, who thought you were so strong and bold are at our mercy... you’re chained to the wall!’

‘And why is that boy? Someone took pity on you, because I scared the delicate flower.’

‘I said shut up!’ Dykyn barked.

Shakla canted his head to one side, studying the Wyzard. ‘You hate me ssso much for what I did... has no one frightened you before...
boy?
Were you ssso afraid you had to be sssure I wouldn’t sssnap at you again?’ Shakla said, making a little bite motion with his teeth. ‘That’s why you went sobbing to the others to get me chained like this, because the poor boy has nightmares about...
sssnakess...’

‘You don’t know anything about me,’ Dykyn growled.

‘Maybe I know more than you think.’

‘Are you Rodnok?’ Dykyn snarled.

‘What if I am?’

Dykyn glared.

Shakla laughed again and he said. ‘I am not... though I have heard of them... savage beasts I heard. Did
they
scare you...
boy?’

Dykyn just glared.

Shakla shifted on his bed. The cold metal of the shackles on his arms and legs was uncomfortable.

‘And are you sssatissfied, boy?’ Shakla sighed. ‘A few little chainsss? Yet I ssstill live and breathe. You ssstill do not have the will for power.’

Dykyn turned and started away.

‘If you had the will for power, you would have ssslain me yourssself asss ssson asss I dared raissse a hand againssst you,’ Shakla called after him, raising his voice.

Dykyn turned back, his face twisting in revulsion.

‘If I did
that,
I’d be no better than
you
... a
lizard!’

There was venom in the boy’s voice.

‘You
are
no better than I,’ Shakla snapped. ‘You are my
inferior.
My lessser. You have
no
will. You lack resssolve. In my Massster’s armiesss, you would be already dead,’ Shakla chuckled, looking away.

‘Your Master’s done nothing but bring death and destruction to the realm... I would
never
serve someone like
that.’

‘Only the weak and powerlesss perisssh. The ssstrong sssurive,’ Shakla assured, looking back at Dykyn. ‘I have changed my asssesssment of you...
boy.
You would not even lassst in one of the weak armiesss on thisss world.’

‘And your opinion of things should matter to me... why... lizard in a cage?’ Dykyn snarled, his face twisted in hate, his red eyes becoming narrow slits. ‘And as I said before... you know nothing about me... don’t underestimate me.’

‘Oh, no... surely not... not
Prince
Dykyn of Paltia. He of the
powerful
Paltian people... who are
not
to be trifled with.’

Dykyn stared.

Shakla grinned.

He was getting some enjoyment out of this game after all.

‘My Massster knowsss of your people,’ Shakla went on. ‘He knowsss of your desssignsss in
thisss
corner of ssspace. Your need for a place of refuge incassse thingsss go poorly back on the homeworld... tensions, always tensions with the Loute Empire...’ Shakla leaned as far forward as his chains would allow him. ‘What need do the
ssstrong
have for refuge?’

Dykyn stepped close to the bars, glaring. ‘How do you know?’ he growled.

Shakla leaned against the wall and chuckled, ‘The Massster knowsss much.’ He smiled again. ‘But have no fear boy, your sssecret iss sssafe with me. The Massster will decide when it’sss time.’

‘How do you
know
?’ Dykyn hissed his face flush with rage.

Shakla closed his eyes and held his smile. ‘I grow weary now, Wyzard... let me sleep.’ Shakla opened one eye. ‘Unless you wish to kill me?’

Dykyn glared, turned on his heel and stormed away, from the cell, slamming the wooden door at the exit behind him as he went.

Shakla leaned his head back and laughed.

He had enjoyed their game.

*

ARCHWAY PLAZA – SALLOCK – BAZRA DESERT

Jahnyz stepped out of the Archway from Nolmi to Sallock. Kont followed behind her. The plaza was an open air arena with five Archways in a pentagon formation facing a central fountain. The five Archways represented the single largest representation of Sallock’s might and prestige. Only one other Kingdom on Halli, the Kingdom of Mina, had more than one Archway, and even they had only managed that through conquest, having seized it from Hallon during the Zharin uprising. The Wyzards of Sallock had managed to amass their Archways by finding them in ancient Zhakim ruins over the thousands of yehvs since their collapse. It was suspected that the Zhakim may have had a hand in their creation.

Others said the even pre-dated the Zhakim.

‘Now then, Jahnyz,’ Kont said, turning to the girl, ‘I have some things to attend to while you go and fetch the focus crystal. I’ll meet you back in Nomli.’

Jahnyz nodded, and she watched him walk off through the gate from the plaza, to the rest of Sallock. As soon as he was out of sight, she started towards it herself. She had a stop of her own she wanted to make.

She exited the plaza and started down the pathway towards the central tower. Meridon
Onari, Dykyn’s Master, would be in the central tower, probably near the Council Chambers, in his study. If anyone would know more about Kont, it would be him. Plus she might find Dykyn.

Her heart fluttered at the thought of that.

As she entered the tower, she became aware of the condition of her clothing, it was in a sorry sight. The Council Chambers were a place of pomp and prestige, to walk in dirty and harried as she was, would not reflect well on her.

She decided her mission was more pressing than her appearance.

If Kont was left waiting for too long, he may grow suspicious.

Moving to the centre of the main chamber, she paused, drew her Mahgic around her, and vanished in a pillar of blue flame, just as Azra had taught her.

She reappeared in an alcove of an upper floor.

A rather dour man, in a pointed hat, sat at a desk, writing with a feather quill. He looked up at her and took on an expression of distaste.

‘Can I help you Miss?’ he said unhappily.

‘I’m here to see Master Meridon, of Hallon,’ she said levelly.

‘The Councillor is not in. He met with a guest and left on business.’

Jahnyz sighed. Her plan had not gone as she had hoped. She thought she had best be getting back to her mission.

She teleported back to the main floor. She turned to the exit, but caught sight of someone coming out of a stairwell near the back.

‘Dykyn!’ she called, smiling more than she knew she could.

Dykyn turned to her, his face set... brooding, angry.

Upon seeing Jahnyz, however, he relaxed and managed a slight smile.

Jahnyz rushed over to him and wrapped her arms around him, resting her chin on his shoulder, hugging him tightly.

‘I’ve missed you,’ she whispered.

‘Me too,’ Dykyn responded, as he pulled away and looked at her. Concern filled his face. ‘You look rough. What happened?’

‘We went looking for a race called the Nehhom – because Shakla had said if Azra didn’t find them he’d kill his niece.’

Jahnyz saw Dykyn clench his jaw.

‘What?’ she asked. She didn’t think she’d ever seen him so angry.

‘Nothing,’ Dykyn responded, shaking his head. ‘Go on... please.’

Jahnyz hesitated, and then said, ‘On our way to the southern port of Nolmi, our ship was attacked by a sea monster, and Azra was lost. We were rescued by a band of bandits, and Kia – Azra’s niece – refused to come back with us because she still believes Azra’s alive.’

‘Azra is gone?’ Dykyn asked, looking slightly dismayed.

‘We don’t know what happened to him. We just don’t know where he is,’ she said, softly.

‘That blasted
snake
!’ Dykyn snapped suddenly.

Jahnyz stepped back from him, surprised by the outburst.

‘I’m... sorry Jahnyz,’ Dykyn apologized, bowing his head, ‘I know he was your Master. I’ll find a way to make sure the snake pays.’

Jahnyz was taken aback. ‘How can you do that?’ she asked.

Dykyn stood a little taller. ‘Ahaki captured Shakla... he’s in the dungeon... right below us, and he’s not going anywhere.’

‘Shakla?
Here?’

‘Yes. Master Ahaki took him after he was driven off by his own allies,’ Dykyn explained. ‘After all he’s done, and now he’s
our
prisoner.’

Jahnyz wasn’t sure what to think. The thought of all they’d been through came flooding back to her, and she moved to the wall and sat heavily on a bench. Dykyn walked over and sat next to her. She stared at the floor and didn’t say anything.

Dykyn put an arm around her. ‘Hey, it’s okay,’ he assured, ‘we’ve got him.’

Jahnyz shook her head. ‘It doesn’t bring Azra back.’

The words surprised her.

She was shocked at the strength of her emotion. Azra and her had never gotten along well, but the thought that they had no idea if he was alive or dead hit her harder than she would have thought it would have.

She took a breath and calmed herself. She had a mission to do.

‘Do you know anything about Kont Reso?’ she asked suddenly, looking at Dykyn.

Dykyn looked confused. ‘Not a whole lot. Why?’

‘I’m trying to determine his motives. He’s helping the rest of us from the expedition to get home again.’

Dykyn leaned back against the wall and thought for a moment.

‘Kont Reso... my Master knows him. He’s from the Kingdom of Nedin if I recall. He’s a master of the energy aspect, with some particular talent towards living things. He’s quite the healer if I recall. I don’t know much about him really. He always seemed nice, when I met him,’ Dykyn said.

Jahnyz was disappointed. ‘Anything
odd
about him? Or his Mahgic?’

‘No not really... well... I’ve never really actually seen him do any Mahgic, but then, people don’t go walking around throwing fireballs while they’re in Sallock.’ He smiled sadly. ‘Unless maybe they’re Azra, I reckon.’

Jahnyz let out a quick laugh, but then went quiet.

‘Hey... I’m sorry, I know you’re worried about Azra. I am too. The man’s a legend. Especially to a young Wyzard like me. I hope he’s still alive, but I’ll tell you one thing... Shakla’s not going
anywhere
. He
will
pay for his crimes,’ Dykyn said with finality.

Jahnyz looked up at him and smiled softly. ‘Thank you.’

‘Anything... for you,’ he replied.

Jahnyz stood up. ‘I’ve got to get going. I’ve got to get my people home.’

‘Good luck.’

*

Dykyn watched his girlfriend walk off. As soon as she was gone, the smile faded from his lips.

Azra is gone,
he thought.

He knew that Shakla was responsible for this. Dykyn had looked up to Azra. His brash nature and bursts of raw power had appealed to the young Prince. He’d originally wanted
Azra
as his Master when he’d first come to this world. Unfortunately, Azra already had an apprentice, Jahnyz.

That was just as well too... he was glad Jahnyz was Azra’s apprentice... glad he’d met her.

Dykyn had wondered, occasionally, if he and Jahnyz would have ever got together if it wasn’t for Azra. Dykyn had originally been drawn to Jahnyz because of her closeness to the legendary Wyzard.

No. I...
love
her. She’s worth being with on her own strengths,
he thought.