Island Shifters: Book 01 - An Oath of the Blood (42 page)

“Fire!” he screamed and Gage ran to him with a burning torch. The demon saw the fire and began to howl. Another detail they learned over the past terror-filled weeks was that the demons could be killed only by light or fire. As dwellers of darkness, light was fatal to them.

Taking off at a run, Beck grabbed the torch from Gage and sprang into the air, driving the flame directly into the open screaming maw of the demon. The red eyes glowered in rage and then the evil spirit disintegrated in an eruption of flame and ash.

Hands on knees, Beck let out a breath of relief.

It was hard to believe it was over.

The two dozen legionnaires who had been fighting side by side with him sprinted over. “Thank you, earthshifter,” said one with blonde curls who looked, if possible, younger than Rory. He was the same soldier with the familiar features who helped Gage escort him to his room after the debacle at the Rearing Horse. “If not for you and the Draca Cat, we would have many more dead on our hands.”

Beck nodded and looked at Bajan. “Do you sense any more of the demons nearby?”

The Draca hesitated for a moment and then shook this head.

“I think the city is safe for now, but continue to have people remain indoors at night. If any more wraiths appear, use fire to destroy them. They can be defeated.”

The blonde legionnaire shook his head. “We cannot stay. Captain Franck has summoned us to Starfell in Haventhal to meet up with the Iserlohn Army. Only a small detachment will stay here in Iserport, but we will instruct them properly.”

Beck reached out to shake hands with the soldier. “It has been an honor to fight by your side. Good luck to you.”

“To you and the other
Savitars
as well. Word has spread of the invasion, and it appears all of our lives depend on your success.” Surprisingly, the young man knelt down in front of Beck and held out his sword with both hands parallel to the ground. “My life before yours when we get to Starfell.”

“Legionnaire…,” Beck stumbled, moved by the declaration of fealty, “it is not necessary to…”

The young man interrupted him. “It is. As a shifter, you are bound by a blood oath to protect this island, which means you would lay down your life for me. But, as
Savitar
, it is more important that I lay down mine for you so that you survive to battle the Mage. As a man and a soldier, I can do no less.”

Beck stepped back in shock when every legionnaire standing on the deserted street knelt to the ground and offered their swords.

Finally, he bowed his head solemnly. “We serve each other then. What is your name?”

The young man stood. “Lieutenant Kirby Nash, sir.”

Beck tilted his head in question. “Any relation to Captain Colbie Nash of Nysa’s Scarlet Sabers?”

“Yes, sir, he is my brother.”

“He is fine man. It seems honor runs in your family.”

“Thank you, sir.”

Beck smiled. “Just Beck, Lieutenant.”

Kirby smiled back. “Just Kirby, sir.”

“Until Starfell then.”

Exhausted, Beck left the men and made his way to the Rusty Nail Inn with Bajan by his side. They moved from the Queen’s Lair a few weeks back when their grid search for Kiernan took them further west. He ran out of King Maximus’ coin early last week, but the innkeeper was grateful for all Beck and Bajan had done to protect the city and refused to accept any further compensation. It was just as well since he did not have any to give.

Bajan had developed a considerable amount of admiration from the citizens of Iserport, especially the children, but the Draca tolerated all of the attention without his usual pomposity. It had been more than a month now that Kiernan had vanished, and the toll on the Draca Cat was showing through on him as much as on Beck. Both had lost weight. Beck’s face was gaunt and stubbled from lack of shaving, and Bajan’s beautiful white coat had lost some of its natural luster. There was only a week remaining before Earthshine, which meant that the Island of Massa was going to have to battle Adrian Ravener, his Cyman Army, and his Demon Army, without aid of the weapon Galen Starr dispatched them to find.

He did not know what more he could do.

Suddenly, he thought of something he had been meaning to ask Bajan and looked over at him as they walked. “Bajan, how can you sense when the wraiths are near? Do you smell them?”

Bajan shook his head and then wiggled it back and forth like there was something inside his head, agitating him. “You sense them in your mind?” he asked, incredulously.

Bajan nodded and shivered, indicating that it was not a very pleasant experience.

“Beck! Over here!”

He turned. It was Gage, waving his arm to get his attention. “I am afraid I have bad news, Atlan.”

Every muscle in Beck’s body clenched.
Please, no.

“I found out earlier today but did not have a chance to tell you. Airron was poisoned by a venomous spider in the Puu Rainforest on his way to Sarphia. To be truthful, I am not sure if he is even alive. The legionnaire that relayed the information to me was sent by Captain Nash to Haventhal to look for Bret Schwan. As you know, he never turned up back here in Iserport.”

“Did the soldier find Bret?”

“No. But, that is not all. In addition to the spider bite, Airron was severely beaten. When he was found, his ribs were broken, he had a fractured skull, and had lost quite a large amount of blood. The Elven healers did all they could for him.”

The news shook Beck and he turned from the Saber for a moment to compose his emotions. Was it a random act or did Ravener know somehow that Airron was
Savitar?

Beck turned back around to Gage. “Rory?”

The Saber shook his head in regret. “Missing. And, I must leave at once for Starfell. The Iserlohn Army is only a few days from the Valley of Flame and will be ready to engage the enemy.”

“What of the Dwarves and Elves?” he asked.

Gage shrugged. “That’s the strange part. There are no reports that either army is on the move. With the
Savitars
out of commission as well, it appears as though the Iserlohn Army stands alone in this.”

Beck ran his hands through his hair in frustration. He despised himself for what he was about to say, but he had no choice. The time had come. “I will be leaving as well. First to Sarphia to meet up with Rogan and then on to Starfell.” Without all four pendants, Callyn-Rhe would continue to remain undiscovered and the power they needed buried within her depths, but he would still fight. As long as there was breath in his body, he would fight.

Gage nodded and gripped Beck’s upper arm in understanding.

Beck gave him a small smile of gratitude. “Thank you for all you did to try and help find Kiernan. I owe you a debt you have only to name.”

“No debt owed. She was my Princess.”

The Saber’s use of the past tense when referring to Kiernan was not missed by him.

“However,” said Gage, “there is this demented Mage I would like to have help in killing.”

Beck nodded with bloodlust in his eyes. “My pleasure.”

Chapter 24

D
ESCENT INTO
D
ARKNESS

P
reoccupied with thoughts of the upcoming battle, Beck strode into his room at the Rusty Nail. Bajan went off to hunt before their voyage tomorrow, as it was uncertain when he would have a chance to do so again. Rumor of the invasion spreading quickly throughout Iserport made it a simple matter for Gage to convince one of the ferrymen to transport them to Havenport. From there, the Saber would continue on the Illian River to Starfell, and Beck and Bajan would travel through the villages of Haventhal to Sarphia.

Beck turned to the small basin by his bed and splashed his face with water. He leaned on the rim with both hands, unable to move for a moment as he contemplated his departure and all that meant.

He was leaving Kiernan behind.

Leaving her in the hands of a fate only the Highworld knew. He tried to convince himself that he would be back, but he knew that was not true. With Iserlohn standing alone, the Massans had very little chance of success in this war. Sighing in frustration, he suddenly froze at the shuffle of feet behind him and yelped in pain as an assailant stabbed him in the lower back. He spun around with a growl, magic igniting within his body. Standing in front of him with a spear in one hand and the other covering his eyes in dismay, was the Halfie Tribe Leader, Vinni Vee. He was dressed as one of the orphaned children who haunted the streets of Iserport.

“Pardon,
Savitar
!” he squealed. “You know it is in my nature to be wicked. Please forgive me!”

Beck reached behind his back and his hand came away with blood. “Hell, Vinni, did you have to stab me? What are you doing here, anyway?”

“I am here once again to give you valuable information,
Savitar
,” he said, shaking his blonde curls. “Honestly, I do not know how you manage without me.”

Beck retrieved a cloth from the side of the basin and reached around his back to hold it against the small wound. “Help that is a little less painful would be appreciated.”

Vinni stuck his tongue out at him, and it mystified Beck how Vinni’s impish behavior was so instinctive. The little Halfie did not seem to be aware of what he was doing until the vicious act was complete. And, sometimes, not even then. He just did what came natural and, unfortunately, that meant being ill-behaved.

“I came to tell you that the Princess of Iserlohn is going to be kidnapped!” Vinni’s apple-cheeked face screwed up in agitation and he hopped from foot to foot.

Beck was staggered. Maybe there was more to the Halfie’s foretelling abilities than he previously gave credit. “I know, Vinni…”

“The Gems will have taken her,” he declared.

Beck looked at the pint-sized terror quizzically. “The Gems?”

“Yes, the Gems,
Savitar
! The witches who live in Elloree! Goodness, you are a little slow for a
Savitar
.”

Beck’s heart soared at the news. This was his first solid—even if it was written in the clouds—clue to Kiernan’s whereabouts. Impulsively, he reached out and hugged the little Tribe Leader. “Thank you, Vinni! You do not know how much you have helped me. May the Highworld be with you, my friend!”

Vinni cocked his head at the show of emotion from Beck and tentatively returned the hug. “You know,
Savitar
, this feels kind of pleasant. Does it always feel like this to…to show kindness?”

He nodded. “Yes, Vinni, it does.”

“Hmmrf. Something to think about.” Vinni released him and headed for door. “Good-bye,
Savitar
.”

Beck held out his hands in question. “What? No kick in the stomach or another stab in the back?”

Vinni turned around slowly, his face pensive. “Not this time,
Savitar
. Not this time.” The Halfie lowered his head with a shake and walked out the door.

Rogan lay unmoving in the corner of his cell. He lost track of how many weeks he had been confined to King Rik Rojin’s cells. It really did not matter. He was never going to be freed. His friends would never know where to find him and, even if they came searching, the King would only mislead them with untruths.