The Eden Series: The Complete Collection (63 page)

Aiden and Moose reached the summet where a small group of men were fighting, Hawk and Brutus among them. The two leaders were inching their way towards each other, faces streaked with blood and dirt. Time seemed to pause as the two men met for the first time since the fight had begun. Aiden watched in strained silence, their voices carrying to where he sat.

“The infamous Hawk,” Brutus laughed. “How distressing it must be for you now that your precious Avalon is unhidden. Look how your men struggle to protect their land. It is easy to claim you are fighters when no one can actually find you.” There was mockery in the man’s voice.

“My men will beat yours back, Brutus, just as I will do to you. I don’t know how this happened, but we do not need magic to protect our lands.” Hawk’s voice rang out high and clear, giving the men a new sense of encouragement. He was right, they could do this even though they had been caught off-guard. The other man just laughed before he lunged hard and fast towards the leader of the west.

Aiden could no longer watch to see what happened. Two men from the north came up on either side of him, their large blades ready. Something filled him suddenly. A sense of pride, of belief, that the Riders would finish this on
their
terms. Avalon might not be his home, but there was no way he would let it be destroyed.

A smile slowly spread across his face as he looked down at the two men. “Do you know who you are up against?” he said cryptically. Both men looked at each other, confusion and a sense of doubt in their faces. “I am the soldier from the other world,” he said, letting his smile widen. “Your blades cannot harm me.” Recognition hit them and they both took a hesitant step back.

“He’s always bragging,” a voice came from behind them now. Aiden looked up to see Moose. “You really shouldn’t let him distract you like that.” Without further warning, they both moved at the same time, each one taking down one of the enemy soldiers.

Aiden looked over and smiled. “Thanks.”

Moose shook his head with a smile. “You’re a cocky little thing aren’t you?”

Aiden shrugged, still smiling broadly. “I was just distracting them until you got here.”

“Sure,” he laughed. “C’mon, let’s go.” They kicked off towards the others, leaving their laughter behind them.

* * * * *

The heat of the sun was blistering; she could only imagine how the men fighting below felt. Lily sat high in a tree, hidden from view. She was quite a distance away from where the fighting was taking place, but she wanted to be extra careful. Her people did not know these men from the north. She could only imagine what they would do with her kind if they were ever found.

None of this had been expected. Even Lily had been speechless. There was old magic, great magic, which kept their neighbours hidden from sight, and yet these men saw past it. What kind of powers did they have that they could do such a thing? Many of the forest people ran away immediately, afraid of these large, magical humans. Lily didn’t think it was their magic. Something had happened. She could feel it in the air.

What needed to happen was for her to get closer to the village. This, however, turned out to be impossible as the fighting became worse. Both sides had been evenly matched for a long time. From her perch in the tree, she could see Aiden perfectly, his movements like a dance on the field. Despite the gore, there was beauty in what he was doing.

Finally both sides moved closer to the northern ridge. Lily took this as her opportunity. She moved lithely from branch to branch until her tiny feet hit the ground. A sound to her left caught her attention. Stepping out of the shadows, she was surprised to see she had company.

“Zachary,” she greeted, trying to keep the confusion from her voice. His pale blonde hair was pulled back from his face, exposing his bright green eyes under dark brows.

He nodded his head in greeting. “Are you going, then?” he asked. He smirked as he glanced at her. “I’m well aware of what you’ve been doing with your time, Lily. You watch that boy incessantly.”

Lily suddenly felt uncomfortable. Zachary was one of their best soldiers, and believed in staying out of human conflicts like the others did. What must he think of her, she wondered. “The Goddess told me to keep him safe,” she explained. “I intend to do so.”

He nodded, as if he already knew this. “Just make sure you do not put yourself at risk.” His cold tone sent a chill down her spine. Her people did not care for others. When she looked back at the fighting, she knew that there would be no risk too great to keep Aiden safe. If her mother thought it was important, then so did she. “He does not move like a normal human, does he?” Lily looked back at Zachary in surprise.

“He is different,” she confirmed.

“Yes, but how much? I don’t think he is what you think he is,” he said cryptically. “There is such a strange essence. Do you sense it?”

“Yes,” Lily answered. “I’ve felt it since he arrived.”

He didn’t reply right away. They fell into silence, watching the humans battle. Finally he moved to leave. “You realize it is him, don’t you?”

“What is?” she asked, confused.

“That feeling; that sense of wrong. It’s around
him.
It
is
him. I don’t understand what he is, but it’s not right.” He paused. “Good luck on your journey young one,” he offered, departing through the trees.

She looked at the spot he had disappeared through for another moment, before turning back towards the city with determination. Lily stepped out of the forest, her body low to the ground. In her green cloak, she was almost camouflaged in the tall grass. Her bow and quiver, as well as a thin blade, were strapped to her back. The village wasn’t far from where she was, but with every step her heart beat faster. It didn’t matter what Zachary or the others thought. She was going to help him, because for some reason it felt right. She picked her way over carefully, being sure to stay as low to the ground as she could. The closer she got, the more she could feel the presence of something; or perhaps, the absence of it.

A thought lingered in the back of her mind, but it was quickly forgotten as the cries of men filled the air. Something had happened. She was too low to the ground to see. Moving quickly, Lily backtracked towards a tree and climbed as fast as she could. From there she saw what was happening up on the ridge. As she watched, she remembered a thought she had forgotten before, and the truth settled in her stomach like a ball of ice.

CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE

All fighting ceased as a cry rang out through the field. It grew eerily silent. Brutus clung to the hilt of a sword protruding out of his chest. His massive hands grabbed feebly at the weapon in an attempt to pull it out. He fell to his knees before he could find the strength.

Hawk looked down at the slowly dying man. This was a great figure in Eden, one who had been feared by many. Now he grew weaker as the life’s blood spilled from his body. Would there be a sense of peace now that he was gone? Hawk doubted it, not with Aziz gaining strength and power, and Callum still out for vengeance. A sound startled him. It took him a moment to realize it was Brutus laughing, blood spilling from his mouth.

“Well played,” the dying man said, sitting back on his heels. “I never pegged you for much of a fighter, Rider.”

“Perhaps that was your downfall,” Hawk replied, coolly. “My father taught me never to underestimate my opponent.”

Brutus laughed weakly again. “Yes, well my father wasn’t the type to give fatherly advice.” The two men looked at each other silently. “He will not stop, you know.”

This surprised Hawk. “Who?”

That brought a small smile to his face. “Ah Callum, I doubt he will either, Goddess love him.” He seemed to disappear into his mind. He shook his head before speaking again. “No, it is Aziz I speak of. He will not stop until he destroys us all.” His speech ended in harsh, erratic coughing, the grass around him splattered with blood.

“May the God and Goddess guide your soul,” Hawk spoke softly. The other man seemed to hear him, and looked over with distant eyes. Then he smiled slowly, and fell onto his side. That smile remained on his face, even after his spirit had left this place and entered a new one.

* * * * *

Aiden watched with a mixture of horror, and relief as the legend from the north fell to his knees. There was no feeling of triumph amongst the Riders as they watched the man slowly die in front of them. Hawk and Brutus spoke a few words to each other, but Aiden couldn’t hear them from where he stood. The man he had been fighting was also watching the events unfold. No one dared to move – until the large red-bearded man fell to his side. Even from this distance Aiden could see it was the end. After that, everything seemed to switch on again, and all hell broke loose.

The man beside him cried out in anger, turning his wild eyes back on Aiden. It frightened him momentarily, this look of emptiness and outrage. The north fought with a new sense of ferocity. Clenching his teeth together, Aiden pushed back with a vengeance, causing the other man to lose his footing and tumble down the side of the hill. Quickly, Aiden caught up to him just as the man was standing. He pointed the tip of his blade to the man’s throat.

“Your leader is dead,” Aiden spoke in a steady voice. “Throw down your weapon and tell the others to do it as well, and we will show you mercy.” He thought the man was actually considering it, until his mouth turned into the most vicious smile he had ever seen.

“We do not need your mercy!” he yelled at the top of his voice. The others from the north cheered back, pushing forward on the Riders. Before he could make another move, Aiden pushed the blade neatly through his throat.

“Your choice,” he said coldly, as the body fell limply to the wet grass.

“Aiden!” Moose yelled from atop the ridge. “My father needs help! Come on!”

Aiden started to run back up the side of the small hill, but he heard another voice that made his whole body freeze. Moose had already turned back towards his father, leaving Aiden to find the other person himself. It didn’t take long to see her.

“Aiden!” Rain yelled, waving her hand in the air. She was lying on the ground between two houses. Aiden quickly ran to her before any of the others could get to her first. He fell to his knees, searching her face urgently.

“What happened?” he said, his heart racing. She looked in pain, her face drained of any colour. “Are you hurt?”

Something passed over her face before she spoke. He didn’t understand it, but her next words made him forget the look all together. “It’s my leg,” she said, her voice wavering. He looked down to see blood soaking through the fabric of her dress. A knife lay near her, but there didn’t seem to be anyone else around. He didn’t understand.

Reacting only to the emergency he felt, he reached for the hem of her dress and lifted it almost to her waist. There was a large, deep gash in her thigh that was bleeding profusely. Stripping off his shirt, he tied the fabric tightly around her tiny thigh, hoping to put enough pressure on the wound to stop the bleeding.

“How did this happen?” he asked, throwing a quick look around him. The hairs on the back of his neck were raised in anticipation. Anyone could take him by surprise from behind if he wasn’t careful.

“One of the men jumped me,” she said, tears streaming down her face.

He looked back at her quickly. “Why are you out here?”

She hesitated. “I-I wanted to help.”

“Rain, this isn’t time to be brave. We need you to stay safe so we can concentrate on winning this.” He didn’t mean for his voice to sound so angry, but he watched his words hit her like a slap in the face. Her lip started to tremble. “I’m sorry,” he breathed, placing a reassuring hand on her face. “We need to get you somewhere safe.”

“The Shaman,” she answered immediately. “He can help me.” Aiden nodded. Standing up, he bent down and lifted her gently into his arms. It was too dangerous if she walked on her own. Looking around again before moving, he made sure no one was watching them, and then took off for the Shaman’s small cottage. But where had the man gone after he attacked her? Of course, this thought came too little too late.

With both hands supporting her weight, Aiden swiftly kicked in the door to the Shaman’s house, making a mental note to fix it when this was all over. The old blind man was sitting calmly by his fire. His face turned towards the door as they entered. The look that was there sent a cold chill down Aiden’s spine.

“Ah, you came,” he said, as if they had been invited for a friendly cup of tea.

Aiden’s brow furrowed in confusion. “Rain is hurt,” he explained lamely. “She needs your help.”

“Yes, yes,” he said slowly, standing up to walk beside the table. “Lay her down here.” Aiden walked quickly over to the kitchen and put her gently down. He came up to stand beside Aiden, working mutely on Rain. Pulling away the shirt Aiden had tied, he moved his slim hands along the wound.

“My dear,” he said, with an air of what sounded like admiration. “This was a bold move.”

“Thank you,” Rain replied. Aiden looked up to see her smiling at the old man. A feeling of dread began to descend upon him.

“You could have seriously injured yourself.”

She shrugged. “I knew what I was doing.” Aiden’s mind began to reel. He took a step back, causing them both to turn and look at him at the same time. Rain, with defiance and triumph in her eyes, and nothing but empty black holes in the other. Another voice filled the small cottage with laughter that made Aiden’s blood run cold. He looked around for the source, but saw no one but the three of them in the room. The Shaman’s body straightened to attention.

“My lord,” the Shaman said.

“I am pleased to see you have kept your end of our bargain,” the voice replied.

“Of course, my lord. I would never let you down.”

“Of course,” the other replied, sounding amused. “Bring me the boy immediately. Brutus is dead. There is no reason for the three of you to linger any longer.”

“Yes Aziz, we will be with you shortly.” The Shaman bowed slightly to the invisible speaker.