Legends of Marithia: Book 3 - Talonsphere (17 page)

Everyone seemed drained. Vartan had hoped that Anakari would know something or even lead them there. He didn’t blame her, but was only disappointed that what they found that day had made no sense.

Vartan bit into the juicy deer meat and sighed. “I don’t know yet. It’s our first day out here and so far, we have only discovered Kassina and the forces of darkness making their way out to sea. That isn’t what we came here for, but can we just ignore it?”

Dryden looked toward the ocean. “What do you think they’re looking for out there?”

“Who knows, but I for one am not swimming after them to find out. We could have easily died out there,” Anakari said, laying her head on Yuski’s thigh.

Vartan chuckled before speaking his mind. “If you were truly in danger, then we would have seen Losa, and that would have given Kassina a good fright. We’re tired, but we have not even gotten started yet. Kai’En said that your symbols are the key to entering Daessar.”

“That’s right. Come on Kari, strip off again so we can take another peek,” Yuski said, batting her eyelids.

Anakari shook her head and slapped Yuski’s side, but a wide grin spread across her reddening cheeks. The others stirred to life, sharing a moment of laughter with the girls. Even though they hadn’t found any clues of Daessar, Vartan was glad that the girls accompanied them. They brought a sense of hope and innocence, as if the spilled blood hadn’t taken some humanity away from them.

“I know he said that, but what are we supposed to do? How do I know what my symbols are good for?” Anakari said.

Vartan stared at his metallic gloves and frowned. “Your symbols are as much a mystery right now as these gloves. I can’t believe they are so hard to figure out.”

He clapped them together and the symbols in their metallic surface glowed for a moment, and they heard a humming sound that soon disappeared.

“Oh Vartan, you’ve been messing with those all day. I’m sure that both mysteries will be solved soon enough. Shouldn’t we be worried about demons finding our campfire?” Dryden said.

Vartan grinned. “Usually I would say we should be, but we have two dragons, me, a hardened knight, a demon hunter, and a goddess. I think that demons should be afraid of us finding
them
.”

They laughed as they enjoyed their late dinner.

Vartan sighed and his voice deepened. “We may not get another moment like this for a very long time, so let’s make the most of it.”

Their laughs disappeared and faces hardened. Nobody spoke for a while and the crackling of the fire accompanied his thoughts.

Yuski broke the sombre silence. “You know, speaking of gods and goddesses; why is it that they don’t just come down here and sort it all out?”

Vartan looked to the stars. “I don’t think it works like that. But it sure would make our lives easier, wouldn’t it?”

“It looks like the gods are certainly doing their part to help us though,” Anakari said, her eyes getting heavier.

Vartan had been bothered by the revelations at Greenhaven, and figured that this was the best time as any to probe further. “Speaking of the gods and the ancients, what happened to that all powerful stone? And if Losa was reborn here, how were the other gods created?”

The group shared contorted looks and shrugged at each other before Karven raised his head. “Pertinent questions, young prince. The gods and their creations, as well as the stone, are all related. How were elves and dragons created? All by the stone, with an understanding that only the ancients seemed to grasp.”

“Wait, so they can create endless gods?” Anakari said.

“No, there are rules of balance and of the universe. They told me that only elders were able to ascend to the realm of the gods. They would die, holding the stone, and be reborn in the plane of the gods, their fates deciding who they would become,” Karven said.

“This stone, what if it were to fall into the hands of Shindar?” Dryden said.

Karven grimaced. “You don’t want to know what would happen, so we must ensure it never does. It would be the first thing he would search for if he knew where it was. Most Marithians forget that Shindar was created by the gods themselves, as a force for good.”

“He sure isn’t that anymore though, is he? How are you so certain that he cannot obtain the stone?” Yuski said.

“The stone remains in the one place I never expect him to find. It is the energy and power that keeps Talonsphere alive. Magic comes at a cost, and to activate such a weapon will absorb the power of the stone. It lies in Talonsphere’s chamber, which is where we are headed to.”

The shock was plain to see in the firelight. Vartan couldn’t believe it and a thought came to him. “That was never written into the prophecy, was it?”

Karven answered him. “Not in the one spread throughout Marithia. Do you really think that the prophecy and all of its details would be spread around for everyone to know? The only message they wanted to spread was one that would find the one of dragon’s blood. The old scriptures are far more detailed, and hidden in history.”

I can discuss details with you Vartan, but some things should be for your ears only
, said Karven, his voice calm in his mind.

“That makes some sense, and I guess some secrets are worth keeping, but who built She’Ma’Ryn? Was that using the stone too? I hear it connects to other worlds, but I’ve never been there,” Anakari said.

Vartan knew this conversation had gone too far, and there were some answers they would not be ready for. He had to stop it somewhere. After all, who knew who may have been listening in the shadows? “Alright, that is enough thinking for tonight. Let’s get some sleep before we begin our day tomorrow and we will see if we can get a clue for what we are meant to do to find Daessar. Keep your weapons close and minds sharp. We may be suddenly woken.”

They smiled to each other and placed their heads down. Anakari and Yuski snuggled up, and Vartan leaned against Karven’s side.

The cool night stood still as Anakari parted her lips and her voice slid over them like honey on bread.

Far in the meadows, I found myself be,

Hair blowing in the wind, I’ve ne’er felt so free.

Once you taste freedom; your heart yearns to be,

We fight in the darkness, with fond memories.

Is there hope for our children? It remains to be seen,

We band together, to defeat an evil queen.

Marithia; a world we still hold dear,

May we stop it from falling, and realising all our fears.

The world clung to her words as not a sound was heard but the deep breaths taken from everyone around her, and the soft crackling of the fire. A cold tear hit Anakari’s cheek and Yuski’s voice broke as she whispered in the elf’s ear, “That was beautiful, and almost as perfect as you.”

Anakari turned to see Yuski’s twinkling eyes as another tear rolled down her cheek, and she reached up to place her soft hand behind the demon hunter’s head, bringing her face down to her own. Closing her eyes, Anakari placed her soft lips on Yuski’s and parted them, slipping her tongue into the demon hunter’s mouth. Yuski moaned as she did the same, and they embraced in a deep, passionate kiss. After a moment, Anakari pulled back and stared into Yuski’s eyes. “I’ll never let anyone or anything harm you again.”

Kai’En slipped off his hood, wiped his sweaty brow, and paused to drink from a satchel of water. He winced and patted his head as he mumbled, “Old thing chafes too much.”

He dropped his oversized backpack to the ground and placed his lantern beside him. He strained his neck to each side and rolled his shoulders, his tired body groaning under his skin. Looking to his legs, he made sure that his coat concealed him from view.

He had heard them speaking last night and it was only a small amount of time lost. They were becoming far too aware of things, and that could be disastrous.

Knowledge is power, but that power leads to choices which may make them stray from their paths. The paths I know they must take.

Opening his backpack and peering inside, he muttered to himself, “The blade of souls is safe. Thank the gods.”

Pulling out a long piece of spiced beef, he tore a chunky piece off with his teeth and chewed furiously, enjoying the taste swirling around his mouth.

Swallowing hard, he chased the dry meat with a fresh swig of water and listened intently. A smile crossed his face as the breaking of ocean waves reached his ears.

About time
, he thought.

He stretched his tired legs and studied the Blood Red Moon’s position. It looked like the time he spent listening had come at a price. “Argh, I’m already running late.”

Pulling his hood back over his head, he knelt beside the lantern and prepared himself. He fumbled through his pack, retrieving a scroll in his trembling hands, and muttered the words under his breath.

The scroll burst into white flames.

He hated this part and hesitated before breathing in the wispy fumes. He tensed as the enchantment took hold and the searing pains shot through his face. A scream threatened to escape his control, and he gripped his skull as the skin on his face twisted and stretched. The pain was nearly unbearable, but he managed to restrain himself from screaming. Tears streaked down his face.

He hunched over and dug his fingertips into the moist soil as trickles of blood dripped from his nose. After a few moments, the enchantment had taken hold and he stood once more, retrieving an oval mirror from his pack and unwrapping the covering silk to examine himself in the green glow.

A stranger stared back at him, but one that he had grown to play well. His voice was hoarse, as if it belonged to someone else. “Ah but the pain we endure for our own protection.”

Living many lives was exhausting.

The moon’s glow lit up the mountains surrounding Mount Wayrin on the northern horizon. Turning around, he saw the ruins of Castle Praethorne far to the south-east. Uneasiness flowed over his senses and he turned away from it. He wondered what was happening there. He knew it was a dark energy emanating, but he had no time to investigate.

He swung his pack over his shoulder once more, taking care to cover it with folds of his coat, and grabbed his lantern before proceeding through the forest. He wrapped his coat further around him, only leaving a slit for a sliver of guiding light. The power to his cloak was running out, and it flickered before revealing him to the world, under the now crimson-red material.

The burgundy moonlight would have almost swallowed up the colour and provided camouflage, if it weren’t for the intricate gold artwork on its surface.

He took a moment to observe his surroundings, before drawing a short sword from his backpack and listening intently for any signs of demons.

“Matters not, as I’m almost there,” he whispered.

His pace quickened as the sounds of the ocean intensified. Two arguing voices reached his ears, and he immediately recognised them both. “No, it can’t be.”

Pushing his way through the foliage, he took an alternate route to observe his usual meeting point and blew out his lantern, peering through.

His eyes widened at the seemingly endless line of pirate ships, along with dark ships he had never laid eyes on before. He grimaced as he found the source of the disruption and spotted Kassina with Silvertongue.