Everliving Kings (the Heroes of Darkness Saga) (21 page)

30

Anya squinted at the warn script carved into the rock, “Well I think this is it,
Clochoderick here; over here this is far too weathered to make out but here look…R…H…Y… I don’t know what this symbol is but it might be a double D for Rhydderch. So this must be the place.” She said with a shrug.

Shamus beside her laughed, “Well your night vision is even better than mine is! Even wit’ the moonlight, I didn’t see those four til ya pointed to them. Smells like we are too late though, did ya catch that?” he said as he sniffed at the shifting highland winds.

The Risen waved her head around trying to pick up the same scent, “Ah, yeah, fresh turned earth and old dry bones…I bet the grave is around the other side.” She said as she walked around to the far side of the huge boulder.

Sure enough, just as they expected to find, was an open pit dug under the stone to reveal
a three hundred year old grave.

“Aye,” Shamus said as he caught up to the
Risen, “An, there be ol’ Rhydderch his-self, but it looks like somebody got the blade already.”

“Yeah,” Anya mumbled as she looked off to her left, “And there she is.” she said pointing to a lone figure seated at a camp fire on the top of the hill and waving at them.

Both Vampire and werewolf exchanged confused looks before trudging up the hill to see who was waiting for them. As the wild highland winds shifted again they both picked up the scent of the woman, and stopped in their tracks.

“Did you…”

“Aye…let’s be careful.”

Once they got near the campfire they got their first good look at what looked a lot like a young woman with
pointed ears and cat like eyes. She had long flowing blond hair and leather and armored caps around her shoulders. Her shins were covered in some kind of metal plates over long black boots, and she wore bracers on her wrists; from the split leather battle skirt and chain mail to her exposed midriff it was clear her gear was made for movement in combat. Across her back was a wicked looking curved short blade, and beside her rested a dirt encrusted scabbard holding the blade Dyrnwyn.

Behind her was a large black horse with flames rolling around it’s hooves and eyes and a tail that looked as if it were on fire.

“Bout’ time you got here, I was afraid you wouldn’t show.” The girl complained as she tore a hunk of meat off of a jackrabbit kill and tossed it to the horse like creature, which snorted in appreciation and began chewing.

“Did The Morgan tell you we were coming?” Anya asked as she crossed her arms in front of her chest.

“Who?...Oh her, no, no I knew about you already. It’s actually more of a coincidence we were both coming here but I thought we should meet. Please sit, tea, mead, jackrabbit, can I get you anything?” the woman asked as she waved a hand at the logs perched around the small fire.

Anya shrugged and sat down saying, “A
nswers.”

The girl frowned for a second before laughing, “Oh, I’m sorry, I’m Soraya
, Soraya Darkhardt, pronounced like sore-a-ah, and you are Anya First Queen of the Risen Vampires,” she said as she stood and bowed from the waist, “And you my Lord, are Shamus O’Connor High King of the Irish werewolves. You’re Majesties, so you don’t think I am unworthy to sit with you I am Princess Soraya Darkhardt, only daughter of his Majesty Lord Agares the Demon Lord of Lust and Greed, ruler of the third Hell.”

“Well that explains the outfit, but not how
you know who we are.” Anya said with a smile.

“Oh, right, sorry, I’m new here. I have um…dreams you know? Well, I guess you could call them that, so to me we already met, oh, how’s Juls?”

“Juls? You mean Julnar? She’s fine thank you, look how much conversation are we missing here?”

“Oh, um I… it depends I guess on if…oh forget it
, let’s just start with what you want,” she said with a smile as she patted the blade beside her. “Just be careful with it and I want it back when you’re done, just like last tim…oh…well, yes you can borrow it.”

Once more the
Vampire and the werewolf exchanged confused looks. “I didn’t ask to borrow it.” Anya said as she leaned forward on her knees.

“No, I know, but I got here first and I collect them, magical weapons that is, so this one is mine but you can use it.” Soraya said with a shrug.

Shamus shook his head confused and said, “Well da legends always called him Rhydderch the Generous, and said he would loan the blade to any who asked.”

“Ok, slow down.” Anya said as she shook her head. “Soraya right? Ok
, so why don’t you pretend we never met before and start from the top, ok?”

The demon girl nodded her head and smiled showing her fangs, “Ok, well, I am new here on Arth, and I collect magical weapons. It’s a hobby I got into because of my cousin Nyarla, we grew up together and she became an assassin,
but that’s a long story, so anyway, she has a nice collection of weapons and I started one too. So that’s why I came here, there are a lot of nice weapons buried all over the place here! Oh, I also have a kind of a gift…Tresurevoiance or some folks call it cleptovoiance, but that would imply I am a thief and I’m not. Anyway it lets me…let’s say find something that will soon be the most valuable thing in the world. Let’s say for example…a lock pick, I will step on it or kick it or something and then either I will need it to get into or out of someplace, or somebody I just met will. It comes in handy, and I never know when I will find something.” She said with a shrug.

“Ok, first off, it’s Earth, not Arth, second what did you say about being from hell?” Anya asked.

“Um yes, well I’m from what most people call Hell. It’s kind of confusing because there are a lot of worlds that fall in that category, and most are just like this one. Anyway my mother was a high priestess of a group of powerful wizards; they held a ritual and summoned my father. Well, when I was born they did another ceremony and were going to sacrifice me to gain power, or magic or something. For some reason my father stopped them and killed my mother instead, he then took me back to his kingdom with him and that’s where I grew up, Princess in the castle.”

Anya frowned at her, “I don’t want to sound rude but, I have never heard of a demon
Lord who likes kids.”

Instead of being insulted, the girl agreed with her, “Yep, my dad doesn’t understand it either, but he loves me.
Truth is… one of the things he has control over is…well, motherly love. I’m not sure how he got that power, and he would never admit it to anyone, but I don’t doubt it’s true. I mean he always gave me the best and made time to spend with me…Parades and birthday parties, trips to the zoo, all kinds of stuff. I know it’s weird cus’ I have seen how he gets if he gets mad at somebody, but with me he is sweet as can be. The only thing he used to say all the time was ‘you should only socialize with those of your own social status, peasants are beneath you’; kind of snobbish huh?”

Anya laughed at that saying, “My dad used to say the same thing! But mine never gave me a pony!” she laughed as she pointed to the creature still ea
ting its Jackrabbit dinner.

Soraya smiled back at her saying, “
His name is Aithon, my dad gave him to me for my sweet sixteen!”

“Are all the horses where you come from…on fire?” Shamus asked as the creature swished its flaming tail from side to side.

“No not all of them, most are regular horses, but my dad rides a big Crocodile named Mable, and she would have eaten a regular horse put in the same stables. She only messed with Aithon once when we first got him, after he spit a fire ball at her they have been best friends. We just have to watch them at feeding time so they don’t fight over the same scraps.”

“Not fer nothin’ love, I mean ya seem nice enough ta’ me an all, but here in…on earth, yer mount is bound ta scare the bejesus out o’ anyone who sees him
, an’ you look like a Shee...um, a Fayekin.” Shamus said as he shook his head in shock.

“Oh, no that’s ok, humans only see a normal horse, the flames you see are ethereal so they won’t burn you or start any fires, but he does spit fireballs if he gets annoyed,
even I look human to them so not to worry. Oh, I almost forgot, I tripped over this before, when I was getting kindling for the fire.” She said as she handed Anya what was left of a broken and aged iron knife. “I don’t know what you need it for but I know you will need it.”

Anya nodded as she accepted the odd gift. “Ok, thank you. Do you know anything about that sword?” she asked as she pointed to
Dyrnwyn.

“No, I
don’t know anything beyond what you do, it is powerful and made only for a woman. The rest you will need to find out when you use it, sorry. But anyway, like I said before, I’m new here, so far I don’t like the humans that much, they are not very nice, that is why I was looking forward to seeing the two of you! You see me as I am, and I see you as you are, so we already share some secrets. I hope this helps.” She said as she held the sword out for Anya to take.

Anya drew the blade and gasped in surprise, she had expected the sword to be rusted and pitted, but instead it gleamed as if it had just been polished. Once out of the scabbard the blade burst into flames
getting the attention of Aithon.

“Oooohhh, pretty, and it matches my horse!” Soraya laughed.

Anya dropped the blade on top of a large stone sticking out of the ground, and was stunned to see the blade sink into the stone as if it were water.

“Well, I think this will work,” Anya said with a wide smile, “I will get it back to you as soon as I can.”

“No hurry, I have a few places around here I need to check for things, I will catch up to you when I’m done, just be careful, ok? You are the only friends I have in this realm.”

“Aye, that we will love, we had better get back.” Shamus said before mumbling the return i
ncantation, and opening a shimmering portal of light behind them.

31

Julnar stopped running at a small clearing and waited. She had no doubt the werewolves had caught her scent by now, and it was just a matter of time until they arrived. The question was, could she get them to listen to reason or not.

She did not have to wait long before the bus
hes to her left crashed open, and a large hybrid wren stomped into view.

“Why are you back darkling?!” it grumbled at her.

“Oh, good, it’s you again; I need to know if you are with Robin Hood’s men.” Julnar asked as she held back a laugh. The creature growled at her but refused to answer. “Look, Robin Hood is going to be hanged tomorrow! The Lady Marion has also been arrested and no doubt will also be hung with him. She wanted to send word to your men to rescue him tonight, but she has been caught. I will now help you to rescue Robin Hood and the lady Marion.”

“Lies! You darklings always lie! You are wor
king with the Sheriff! I saw you on the royal platform when Robin was arrested! You don’t fool me! You are trying to capture all of us now!” the creature growled as it stepped towards the girl.

To the wolf-
man’s surprise, the Vampire made no move to defend herself or draw her blade.

“To tell you the truth,” Julnar said as she put her hands out for him to see, “You make a good point. I had not thought of how it would look to you. I ask that you take me to your men and let them hear what I have to say, I will not fight you.”

“And if we decide to kill you? What then darkling?”

“I will accept your judgment, I have done what I have done in the service of my mistress, that is all that matters.”

The wren put a massive paw out and grumbled, “Hand over your weapon then.”

Without blinking, Julnar pulled her blade out and handed it hilt first to the creature.

“Follow!” it barked as it stomped passed her into the thick woods.

After some time, they came to a large clearing surrounded by a natural rise in the landscape that served to hide the encampment of the Sherwood band.

To Julnar’s relief, one of the first to greet them was Friar Tuck, who was as surprised to see her as she was him.

“My lady Julnar, what are you doing here?” he asked as the outlaws came out to surround the visitor.

Will Scarlet came up behind the monk and stepped in front of the girl. “What’s all dis about?” he grumbled.

Julnar stared straight into his deep red eyes and told her everything she had heard from the Lady Marion and the Sheriff, and finished with, “I am here to help.”

Scarlet had listened to the girl and could tell she was not lying, not once did she waver and her voice stayed steady the whole time. “And where is your Lady now?” he asked in a last attempt to see if she were lying
.

“I don’t know, she did not say.”

“Alright, with Robin not ‘ere, I’m in charge. Tom gives her sword back to her. Now, you said they won’t hang the Lady Marion tomorrow, are you sure of dat?” Scarlet asked as he began to pace.

Julnar nodded her head, “Yes, the Sheriff said Prince John intends on naming himself King first then they will execute the royal ward.”

“Much, Alan, Thomas, I need you to start rounding up Lords loyal to King Richard, have them muster up their regiments and march on Nottingham. Owen, take a few men and head to the bishop of Kirklees Abbey, I know for sure he will support the King, have him round up as many banners as he can. The rest of you will go with me to Nottingham castle….and save Robin Hood.”

************************

Anya was surprised to find out Julnar was not in the castle when she arrived. She could tell the moment she set foot into its echoing halls, her cre
ation’s energy was not there. Once she reached her room however she found the almost Risen girl’s hidden note for her.

Before Julnar had raced out to the forest to warn Robin Hood’s men of the newest of the Sheriff’s plots, she had taken the time to use her own body heat to scrawl the word ‘Sherwood’ in Arabic on the cold stone wall. Not only had she told Anya where she was going, but by the amount of heat loss on the wall, the
Vampire Queen would also know about when she had left the note.

“Clever girl.” Anya thought to herself as she touched the wall
. Before Anya could ponder why Julnar would venture into the woods after dark, she heard the unmistakable foot falls of Sheriff Brewer approaching her room.

“My Lady Anya, are you free?” he asked as he reached the
Vampire’s closed door.

She opened the door and bowed her head as she waved a hand for him to enter. “Of course, what pray tell do I owe for the honor of so late a visit?”

The Sheriff smiled from ear to ear, “Actually it’s a gift, is the lady Julnar here? I would like for her to see this as well.” He asked.

“No, actually I have sent her on a small e
rrand, she should be back by morning.”

The Sheriff’s eyebrows went up in surprise but he simply said, “Ah, well, she will just have to be surprised then. Here my Lady!” he said with a flou
rish as he produced what he had been hiding behind his back. In his hand he held a round glass oval with a dark brown object inside. The back of the locket was shining gold and all around the outside was two rows of gemstones, one deep red ruby, and the other sparkling diamonds, all held up on a thick gold chain. “This, my Lady is an early wedding gift from Prince John, he insisted I give it to you straight away! Here let me help you.”

Anya was stunned by the beauty of the object and she could tell it was old, but for some reason she could not feel anything else from it.
At least not until it was locked around her neck and the Sheriff stepped back from her.

All at once Anya felt light headed and it felt like she had gone blind and deaf all at once.

“Ah, it looks lovely on you my dear, I dare say you will make one beautiful bride. Is something wrong my dear?” he asked as Anya shook her head to clear it and rubbed her eyes.

“What?” she mumbled now not sure what she was doing.

“Anya, I need you to look at me, are you alright? Good, now do you see this man?” the Sheriff said as a villager was led into the room.

Anya was having a hard time focusing her eyes, but did see a blurry shape come into view so she nodded her head.

The Sheriff smiled and said, “Good, now can you kill this man for me?”

The
Vampire reached up and snapped the poor man’s neck before smiling back at the Sheriff.

“Good! You see my
Lord no need to worry she will do what we ask of her.” He said to the Prince who was waiting by the door. “Monsieur Tesouid, would you come here please?” the Sheriff asked as he smiled at the Vampire who was swaying as if she were drunk. “Anya, what would happen to this man if you gave him your blood?”

Anya frowned and squinted at the blurry shape in front of her, “He would be a
Risen.” She said with a chuckle.

The Sheriff smiled and then
said, “Turn him.”

Anya smiled before diving on the Frenchman and tearing at his throat.