Heir of Shandara (Book 4) (27 page)

“That’s why I’m afraid. I won’t become like him. But I can feel it inside. The ability to control things. I’m afraid I could become exactly like him. What if the only way to defeat Halcylon is to become like the High King?”

“You are wise to fear your power, and the same holds true for anyone regardless of their abilities. That’s what makes you better than the High King could ever be. Has it occurred to you that the energy you use is inside everything around us?” Tolvar asked.

Aaron glanced around him. “You mean living things?”

“Not just living things as you think they are,” Tolvar said.

Aaron bent down and scooped up a stone. “Are you saying this rock is alive?”
 

Tolvar shook his head. “Of course not, but it does have an energy all its own. Can you feel it… vibrating?”

Aaron looked at the stone but didn’t sense anything. “I’m not exactly sure what you mean. I used the bladesong to lift one of the boulders in Colind’s prison.”

“You’re on the right track. You used the actual sound that your blades emit to move the boulder. Now try it without your blades,” Tolvar said.

“But the sound is how it worked the last time,” Aaron said.

Tolvar just nodded toward the stone. Aaron took a deep breath and quieted his mind. He drew in the energy and sent a tendril around the stone he held in his hand.

“Just explore it. Feel what it’s made off. How it holds together,” Tolvar urged.

Aaron probed the rough surface of the stone. He allowed the tendril of energy to become infused into the hard surface. The rock warmed in his hand. The deeper he probed, the hotter it became. Aaron gasped and dropped the stone to the ground.

“That was wonderful,” Tolvar exclaimed. “I told you he was a quick learner,” Tolvar said to his son.

Aaron tore his eyes from the stone. “It got so hot.”

“To be expected.”

“Thank you for showing me this, but I’m not sure how useful it will be.”

Tolvar waved his comment away. “One more tool in your arsenal. Regardless, I’m sure you’ll see the benefits of this knowledge very soon,” Tolvar said.

“We’ve been rebuilding the Safanarion Order. Some of the old members have returned. We would be honored if you could help us.”

Tolvar frowned. “To fight the Zekara?”

“How you help is up to you. Just sharing some of your knowledge would help,” Aaron said.

Armel shifted his stance and stared pointedly at his father.

Tolvar took a draining swallow from the tankard he held. “The things I have to teach can’t be learned in a few days.”

“But it could mean the difference between life or death for some,” Aaron countered.

“Father,” Armel said. “I will help them.”

“Armel—”
 

“Not this time,” Armel said. “This is different, and you know it.”

Tolvar frowned but didn’t say anything.

“What’s different?” Aaron asked.

“We’ve taken an oath not to do battle unless we’re defending ourselves,” Tolvar said.

Armel grumbled something under his breath and stalked away from them.

“Oh, I didn’t know,” Aaron said, and paused. “I don’t mean to cause you and your people trouble.”

Tolvar shook his head. “It’s not you. When Shandara fell, we lost a number of our people, and Armel has never forgiven himself for not being there.”

The fall,
Aaron thought. So many lives had been ruined when Shandara fell.

“Shandara is being rebuilt—” Aaron started to say but was cut off by Armel calling for them.

They headed to the far side of the camp. Hovering above the ground was the
Raven
. His heart leaped in his chest. The airship was battered and beat up, but it was such a welcoming sight. The holes in the dark hull and the gaps along the railings only hinted at the battle the ship had been in.

Verona leaped down from the deck.

“Well, look who we found,” Verona said, and pulled him in for a bear hug. “I’m glad I told Morgan to bring us to that column of smoke.”

Aaron was too startled by the greeting to say anything. When last they spoke, Verona had blamed him for the city falling. Aaron knew Verona hadn’t meant what he said, but the words still stung. He should have been able to do more.

“My friend, I must apologize to you. I had no right to place Rexel’s destruction at your feet,” Verona said.

“You don’t need to apologize to me. I’m just glad you made it out of there alive,” Aaron said.

They didn’t say anything for a few moments. “I’m sorry about your uncle. Cyrus was a good man,” Aaron said, trying to keep his own emotions in check.

Verona drew in a shaky breath and nodded. “Nathaniel and I spoke at length after we were clear of the city… I just can’t believe Rexel is gone. When you spoke to me about your home being gone, I was sympathetic, but I had no idea what it was like to lose everything you’ve ever known.”

“We’ll rebuild it. I’ll help you,” Aaron said.

Verona nodded. “I’ll hold you to that, my friend.”

“Tell me what happened to you. How you ended up on the
Raven
,” Aaron said.

“I will, but first, who is this with you?”

Aaron was confused for a moment and followed Verona’s gaze. Tolvar stood a few feet behind them and gave them a friendly wave. Aaron apologized and made the introductions.

“I’m glad to finally meet you, Tolvar. Aaron has told me quite a bit about you,” Verona said, giving a small bow.

“You’re a friendly sort. We’ll share some ale with you, but I will tell you: you’re no princess,” Tolvar said.

Verona chuckled and looked at Aaron. “That reminds me. Is your comms device working? Sarah is in Hathenwood with Roselyn. She threatened all of our hides if we didn’t find you.”

“It stopped working. If Tanneth is with you, I’ll get him to look at it.”

“He’s with us and should be along any moment,” Verona said.

“What’s Sarah doing in Hathenwood? She was in Khamearra, hunting her brother.”

“She captured two of the Forsaken and brought them to Roselyn to examine,” Verona answered.

Aaron’s gaze hardened for a moment, and then he let his angst go. She was safe now, and that was all that mattered.

“You should speak to her,” Verona said.

“I will.”

“No. You really need to speak to her. The sooner, the better,” Verona pressed.

Aaron frowned. “Okay.”

Admiral Morgan came down the gangplank and gave Aaron a grim nod. “You have no idea how relieved we are that you’re all right. Sarah assured us that you were alive, but—”

Aaron was about to respond when he saw a familiar figure in white armor.

“You!” Aaron shouted, taking several strides.

Bayen glared at Aaron, and though he held his bladed staff loosely in his hands, Aaron knew Bayen was ready to use it at a moment’s notice.
 

“What is it?” Verona asked. “He retrieved your staff from the battlefield. We escaped the blast because of him.”

“He’s a traitor,” Aaron said.

“I’m the traitor?” Bayen asked. “It’s you who act without thought of consequence.”

“I had Halcylon by the throat. I was about to finish him off until you stopped me,” Aaron said.

The others all turned to Bayen, with some placing their hands on their weapons.

Bayen sprang forward, grabbing Aaron by his shirt. “I’m not gonna let you do it,” he sneered. “I’m not going to let you doom us all.”

Aaron shoved him back, and Bayen brought his bladed staff up. The others drew their weapons. He needed answers. Bayen was hiding something, but what?

“No,” Aaron said to the others, and drew his own swords, facing Bayen. “What happened to you? Did I wrong you in another life?” Aaron asked.

Bayen glared at him, his face a mask of some inner torment. His blue eyes, like liquid lightning, bored into him, full of hate. He growled and swung his halberd. The bladed end met the Falcons in a harsh metallic clang.

“Come on, Bayen. Let it out. You can do better than that,” Aaron taunted.

Bayen howled and threw himself at him. Aaron gave himself over to the rhythmic dance, taking everything that Bayen could throw at him and more. This was the only way. The others backed away, giving them room. Bayen charged. His attacks were precise and powerful at first, but the longer they fought, the more Bayen gave over to his emotions. Aaron needed to wear him down.

“What was done to you that made you this way?” Aaron asked.

Bayen kept charging at him, his eyes blazing. “Choices,” he snarled.

Aaron trapped Bayen’s blade with his own and kicked out, knocking Bayen to the ground. Aaron let his swords fall. Bayen abandoned his weapon and came at him with clenched fists.

The FNA soldiers that came from the airship kept their distance but watched intently, waiting to see if they were needed.

“What choices?” Aaron asked.

Bayen swung and missed. Panting and exhausted, he still came. Bayen no longer had his rigid control, and his focus slipped.

“Choices were stolen from me. I deserved the right to choose for myself. It’s my life, but you stole it from me.”

Me?

Bayen’s blows pounded upon Aaron’s defenses. He grabbed Bayen’s wrist and pinned his arm behind him. Bayen struggled at first but eventually relented, his breath coming in harsh gasps. Then he stepped back while driving his body forward, tossing Aaron forward, too. The two them rolled forward and were on their feet in almost perfect unison.

“Tell me the rest,” Aaron said, waving him on with leaden arms.
 

Bayen was silent, his body rigid with cold fury.

“If it’s me you want, come on,” Aaron said.

Bayen strode up to him and swung his fist. Aaron let himself be hit. Blow after blow, they came, but Aaron didn’t stop him. He had to take what Bayen could give. It was the only way.
 

“He stole my life away. I should have been there!” Bayen shouted.

“Who? Tell me who stole your life away.”

His lips trembling, Bayen glared at him with bloodshot eyes. “
You
did. While everyone else died,
you
kept me locked away. Safe while Safanar burned around us. The Ryakul plague is your fault. Safanar dies because of your thoughtless actions.” Bayen collapsed to his knees, holding his chest. His face crumpled in pain.

“Me?” Aaron asked, kneeling in front of him.

“Warning. Temporal matrix is below 50 percent and falling,” a voice said, coming from Bayen’s bracer.

Whatever was causing Bayen’s pain lessened, and he opened his eyes.

“Who are you?” Aaron asked.

Bayen’s breathing evened out, and he leveled his gaze at Aaron. “I’m your son. You sent me back through time to prevent the Ryakul plague from happening. Only I keep failing,” Bayen said, biting off the last words.

Aaron’s eyes widened. “My son? That’s impossible. I have no son.”

The silence dragged for a few moments until he heard Verona curse from behind him.

“Aaron,” Verona said softly as he came next to him. “There is something you need to know.”
 

Aaron tore his eyes from Bayen.
 

“Sarah didn’t want to tell you because of everything else going on, but Roselyn sent word that I should tell you if the situation warranted. I believe this qualifies. Sarah is pregnant, ” Verona said.

Aaron’s mind raced to oblivion.
Pregnant? Sarah? A son… Bayen is my son? Impossible.
He stood up and called out to the nearest FNA soldier. “I want him bound and under guard. Take that bracer off, and have it analyzed.”

Verona’s eyes widened in shock. “Why?”

Aaron glared down at Bayen. “Because he’s a spy for Halcylon.”

Verona glanced between Aaron and Bayen. “How do you know?”

“This is something Halcylon could put together to fool all of us. He created a clone of me to fool all of you, remember? What’s to prevent him from creating another clone that’s a little bit different and with an imprint of false memories? It’s a little too convenient. Bayen shows up just when we first encountered the infiltrator, exposing us to the virus,” Aaron said, his mind racing as he stared down at Bayen. “No, this is exactly what Halcylon would do to spin us in circles. I won’t have it.”

“But Aaron,” Verona began, “what if he’s telling the truth?”

“He’s not,” Aaron said.

Verona reached out to him. “Hear me out. What if he is who he says he is? Just for a moment.”

“Those things overran Rexel. Before long the countryside could be crawling with the Forsaken. And Halcylon is going to head to Shandara next. If Shandara falls, there is nowhere else for anyone to fall back to. I could have killed Halcylon at Rexel, but Bayen stopped me.”

“That’s it,” Verona said. “Bayen stopped you. How could that be? My friend, as a warrior, you have no equal that I’ve seen. Yet here we have Bayen, who was able to go toe to toe with you. He fought at your side this whole day, and for what? You’re Ferasdiam marked. Elitesmen and the like have thrown themselves against you. The only way I can see it is that Bayen was able to stand against you because he knew how to face you. He was able to keep up with you? Now, how could that be?”