The Eden Series: The Complete Collection (134 page)

He trailed off, waiting for Aiden’s answer. Reluctantly Aiden nodded. Aziz smiled again. “I thought as much. You were always supposed to be stronger than Elex. Imagine what you could have been had you not been taken from me.” He shook his head in disappointment. “They stifled everything you are, Aiden. Surely you are as upset over this as I am.”

“Livid,” Aiden replied sarcastically.

“I should hope so,” Aziz continued, ignoring Aiden’s tone. “You are the greatest warrior Eden has ever seen. Those weak minds you call friends and allies know nothing of your potential. They have no idea the weapon they had in their midst. You, my son, are destined for great things. The two of us together, we will be like nothing the world as ever seen before.”

Aiden watched him carefully as Aziz started to pace, his eyes bright with what Aiden could only assume was madness. “That idiot witch sent you back before I could get you. I suppose I’m grateful since it saved you. That poison in large quantities is the only thing that can kill an Elite. Of course, you are so much more than those fools who consider themselves children of Gods.” Stefan’s story came back to Aiden at Aziz’s words. His thoughts were interrupted as Aziz continued.

“I really had to push Callum and Brutus to start moving again after you were gone. Those fools thought they had incurred too much loss from the first battle. They wanted to wait, regain their strength, but I knew I couldn’t waste time. I needed to give the Shaman his excuse for bringing you back over, so I pushed them to the west. And then you just kept slipping from my grasp,” he sighed. “Rather vexing, Aiden. I must say.”

“Sorry for causing you so much trouble,” Aiden commented.

Aziz smiled, clicking his tongue. “So satirical,” he said. “We’ll have to change that.” Aiden fought the urge to roll his eyes.

“There’s a whole army on your doorstep, Aziz,” Aiden said. “This is coming to an end. I’m not joining you. I’m here to stop you. All you’re doing now is wasting time.”

Aziz laughed. “That army you speak of might as well be back home twiddling their thumbs for all the good they’re doing. They’ll never find the entrance, and even if they did, there’s an army of my own waiting to welcome them. No one is coming to help you, son.”

“I don’t need their help,” Aiden countered.

They stared at each other, assessing the other’s resolve. “Perhaps you don’t,” Aziz finally said. “If you will not join me willingly then I’ll just have to take measures of my own.”

Aiden’s brows furrowed in confusion as he kept his focus on the sorcerer. A yell from Lily grabbed his attention just as he saw her fling her body in front of him. A dart embedded itself in her chest, just above her heart. Aiden’s ears pounded as his blood rushed. He darted forward catching her before she hit the floor. He looked down frantically, pulling the dart free. His arms cradled her head, stroking back the hair covering her face.

“Lily?” he whispered.

She smiled weakly, one hand reaching up to grip his. “I’m fine, Aid – “ Her words stopped as her body began to shake violently.

“Lily!” He looked up at Aziz, furiously. “What have you done?” he screamed.

“Oh dear,” Aziz said lightly. “I didn’t expect that. To be honest I have no idea how a forest person reacts to that particular poison.”

Aiden held her tightly so she wouldn’t hurt herself as Lily’s tiny body continued to convulse. He growled in outrage, his eyes flying up to find where the dart had come from. Ethan was already moving toward the soldier who stood just at the other doorway leading off the room. His sword was drawn as he watched Ethan approach with visible anticipation.

“Ethan, stop!” Aiden ordered. His eyes never left the soldier but he knew Ethan had listened. The soldier turned to meet his eyes. Aiden couldn’t see an ounce of fear in the other man’s gaze as he looked at him. “You will die for this,” he stated. A flicker of unease passed over the man’s face, but only for a moment. He actually had the nerve to smile, so Aiden returned it, aware how cruel it was. The man’s body was lifted off the ground, as if by invisible strings, and flew against the wall. He cried out once before crumpling to the ground. Aiden would have loved to drag out his death, despite what that said about it him, but he was still very aware of Aziz in the room and couldn’t afford to divide his attention.

“Melissa, come take Lily,” he instructed. Melissa stepped forward, taking Aiden’s place as he moved out from underneath her. Aiden stood, facing Aziz with a renewed sense of anger.

“If she dies, I will tear you apart,” he said slowly.

“From the look on your face I’d say you plan to do just that regardless,” Aziz replied evenly.

“Well, no one ever said you were stupid.”

Aziz chuckled. “You think you can beat me, son? Just try.”

Callum followed behind Jameson as the army made its way up the mountain. The fire had destroyed most of the trees, leaving charred foliage and trunks in its wake. The smell filled his nostrils. They had been following what they hoped was Aiden’s path all morning with no results.

“Are we sure we’ll be able to find the entrance?” Turk asked lightly.

Jameson’s face was determined as he pushed forward. “Are we ever sure about anything?” he replied. Turk grunted but didn’t respond. Callum kept his focus on the area around them, alert for any surprise attacks. He had no doubt that by now Aziz was well aware of their presence on his doorstep. In all the years they had been allies Callum had never really understood or gotten to know the eastern man. But one thing he had come to understand clearly about him was that he wasn’t one to hide in the face of war. Aziz might have been absent for the other battles, letting Callum and Brutus take the risks on their own, which Callum was certain now had been on purpose, but he couldn’t see him missing this one. After all, was this not what he wanted? A chance to cut them all down in one fatal blow?

Callum’s head shot forward at the sight of Hawk’s youngest son and the dark haired boy always with him as they came running back from scouting up ahead.

“Looks like we’ve reached the end of the road,” Hawk’s boy said with a grin. He reminded Callum so much of Jameson at that age it was almost comical.

“Why do you say that?” Jameson asked.

“Because just over that ridge is a lovely welcoming party just waiting for us,” he answered.

“They even brought out their little pets with their committee,” the other boy added.

They had all stopped, the rest of the army following suit. Callum looked to Hawk and his brother. “What is the plan?” he asked.

“We show them how much the King’s army appreciates their hospitality,” his brother replied calmly.

“Let’s finish this,” Turk said gruffly.

“Let the others know to have their weapons ready,” Jameson ordered. “I don’t think they’re going to give us time to position ourselves before attacking.”

Callum pulled out his sword, balancing the familiar metal in his right hand, his grip firm but not too tight, just as Brutus had taught him. He gave the sky a quick look, praying his old friend was watching out for him. Then he thought of Rose. His chest always constricted with he thought of her.
Just let me make it out of this alive so I may return to her,
he sent up to the Gods.

“Ready?”

Callum looked up to meet his brother’s stare. This would be the first time they had actually fought side by side. He wasn’t sure how to feel about that, to be honest. He had spent so many years considering this man his enemy rather than blood. It felt right, if not unfamiliar at the same time. Callum gave him a slight nod. “Let’s make father proud.” Jameson’s face lit up in a smile, clasping him firmly on the shoulder.

“He already is, brother.” He gave Callum a quick squeeze before dropping his hand again.

They moved on cresting the ridge to look down on what awaited them. Goose bumps rose along Callum’s arms as the opposing army came into view. Soldiers dressed in black waited, their long, curved swords at ready. Swordsmen from the east, he noted. Those who were still loyal to Aziz even after he lost Ramel to Hakim. Callum was actually surprised at this revelation, not that he should be considering what he knew now of Aziz. Not once had he mentioned he still had his guards under his rule.

An image of Brutus, dying amongst the green fields of the west rose in Callum’s mind. It was fabricated of course, considering Callum hadn’t been there to witness it for himself, but a clear image was always there when he thought of it. And here he stood with the man who had dealt that killing blow, fighting alongside him under one banner. As he looked down at the men, he couldn’t help but wonder if Aziz had lent his men to their aid, would Brutus still be alive? Would that extra bit of muscle have been enough to keep him from losing that fateful battle?

Instead of feeling anger toward Hawk, it raged against Aziz and all his deceitful secrets. They had been doomed to fail from the beginning. If only Brutus had known, Callum thought inwardly. If only they had seen Aziz for what he truly was sooner. Standing amongst the men were the same beasts Aziz had sent them during the first battle. The eerie, yellow eyed, matted beasts on four legs. Their teeth gleaming in the morning sun, slobber spilling to the ground as if they were waiting for their meal to arrive, salivating at the thought. And the tall beasts, their massive horns rising up higher than any man’s height with dark, blank eyes peering out from grotesque faces. They stood on two legs, weapons in hand.

“The Gods will surely punish him greatly for his insolence,” the forest person, Zachary, commented from beside Callum. Callum looked over in surprise, having not heard the man approach. All the forest people moved that way, it unnerved him. “That he should play God to create his own beings,” he continued, shaking his head. “No human has made such an insult.”

“Then let’s get Aziz to them sooner, so that the Gods may deliver their punishment,” Callum replied. The man looked at him, the same expressionless face as always, and simply nodded. He had yet to see any of them really smile or laugh.

Angry growls from below let him know they had been seen. He looked over at his brother, waiting for the cue.

Jameson raised his sword in the air, his voice echoing across the space, “For Eden!” The answering cries from the army fuelled Callum and he joined in, his sword raised as well. They ran forward, their voices still loud in his ear. The two armies crashed into each other, new cries of the injured now rising above all else. Snarls of the unnatural mixed with the grunts and calls of men. Callum’s sword rose and fell in a dance of war, cutting his way through the dense ranks of the opposing army. Men, beast, it didn’t matter. All who came before him fell.

There were too many for him to keep track of his comrades, but he made sure to stay close to his brother. If anything, he would make sure Jameson made it out of this alive. Diana had approached him just before they had left and asked him to watch over the King. Callum would have done so anyway, but he made the promise to her regardless, and intended to keep it.

The land beneath their feet soon became slippery with the blood of the dead and wounded. Callum fought to keep his footing. Jameson fought just in front of him, his attacks swift and sure. Callum could sense another just beside him, assuming it was the Captain for he knew the two were never too far apart.

Blood pounded in his ears, muffling the sounds around him as he pushed forward. It felt like the other army just kept coming, an unending supply of foul creatures. One bit sharply into his calf. He cried out in pain, turning to deliver a killing blow but was beaten to it as another sword sank into the neck of the creature. Callum looked up into the sweaty, blood splattered face of Hawk.

“Thanks,” he breathed.

“No problem,” Hawk nodded. They faced forward again, continuing their struggle. Callum reached Jameson again just as his brother ripped his sword free of the chest of a man. He looked over, his hair sticking to his face with perspiration.

“Aziz is not here,” he said, his voice rough with exertion. “We need to find that entrance.”

Callum nodded in agreement just as he turned to slice his blade across the throat of one of the larger beasts. “A bit hard to look around when we’re being attacked,” he commented back.

“Always the reasonable one,” Jameson retorted sarcastically. They fought back to back now, the enemy continuing to push in their assault. Callum could feel the muscles in his arms begin to ache from the repetitive motions. He tried his best to look around and see if he saw anything that looked like an entrance to the fortress, but he could discern nothing. His anger was renewed at the thought of Aziz sitting this fight out as well. He wanted the sorcerer to show his traitorous face so that he might revenge the loss of his friend.

A loud crash behind him caught his attention. He looked over his shoulder and past Jameson to see the winged man come crashing through a spot in the rock face, where now a passage way could be seen. A small girl came running out after him and he heard Hawk call out, his voice rising above the chaos around them.

“Rain!”

Everything seemed to freeze as a pair of blue eyes looked over and met those of the Chief’s. They widened, her feet halting. The winged man looked over, his face hard.