Veiled Shadows (The Age of Alandria: Book Two) (13 page)

“Okay, so what about my sword?”

“I’ll go get it!” Finn took off running back the short distance to the cottage.

“Kaeleigh, when you held the sword what did you feel?” Daegan asked.

She shut her eyes to what surrounded her, focusing on the sword and how it felt when she held it in front of the caves and when she used it the first time on the vines that had captured her. “Well, I felt strong and empowered. I felt an energy not my own flowing through me almost as if it guided my movements with the sword.”

“Right. Which is why I wanted you to learn the basic steps and motions first, because that is exactly what your sword will do—fight for you. If you are ever without it, I don’t want you left powerless.”

Staring with what she was sure was her mouth hanging wide open, she managed to nod.

“Are you serious? Her sword can fight for her?” Chel interjected excitedly.

“Not exactly
for
her, but perhaps I should say
with
her. It is an ancient artifact that, until now, was thought to be lost in the first great battle many, many ages ago with the death of its wielder—most likely one of your relatives for it to have come to you.” Daegan stared far off as if remembering stories from the past.

“Wow. I’m not even sure what to say... So it’s a magic sword?” Kaeleigh asked.

“Way to make it sound cheap, Kaeleigh.” Chel rolled her eyes.

With a smirk, Daegan looked up at Kaeleigh, who was now basking in a nice blush. “You might say it is enchanted or spelled. What has been said is that it was forged with the combined magical energies from the Originators—also known as the first Orchids—along with a metal mined from the Shadow Mountain Ridges where no one has been able to find since.

“That is mostly true, Daegan.” Hunter spoke from a short distance away as he walked with Finn toward them. Daegan frowned, clearly confused. “In truth,
this
sword—
Nithylríth
is what she is called—came from the first realm Lenoria, created by the Council of Kings but brought through the portal by The Orchids.” Hunter stopped to look into the eyes of each of them. He wanted them to feel the heaviness of the history that he was sharing with them. This was not only the truth of what happened but part of his story he was imparting to them. Accurate history didn’t get passed down anymore. The history of Alandria was dying along with its realm. It weighed heavily upon his heart.

Finn stared in awe along with the rest of them, but his eyes held a hint of revelation that he hadn’t had before. “Not only are you...” He cleared his throat at Hunter’s sharp glare, amending his comment. “You are one of the Originators, aren’t you?” He didn’t wait for Hunter to agree or not; his mind was confident in this.

“Is this true?” Daegan spoke with great reverence as he inclined he head in Hunter’s direction. “There are not many of you left from what I have heard.” Both Kaeleigh and Chel were completely unsure of what was happening or what they should do as they looked back and forth between the three.

“For reasons I am not able to share at this point, I will not confirm Finn’s statement,” he said, giving Kaeleigh a pointed look, reminding her of their earlier conversation that day and causing her to flicker a glance at Daegan. He must have felt her sudden flare of anxiety as he slightly turned his head to her with confusion.

Hunter’s statement, of course, for Kaeleigh and Chel and apparently Finn too, was as good as a confession.

“So I am not positive of this, but that means you are really old, right?” Chel asked innocently while Kaeleigh stifled a laugh and elbowed her friend in her ribs.

“I am old. You already knew this.”

“But I mean like
ancient
old!”

To this, Hunter gave Chel a wink and moved on continuing his story. “This sword”—he held out the sword lying flat on the palms of his hands with care as he looked at it with great reverence—“was forged with great magic infused with the metal during its making. It was intended to tip the battle between the darkness and light toward the light. It’s made to pierce through the shadows.” He looked at his granddaughter. “Kaeleighnna, the one who wields it is one who has within herself the ability to constrain the magic, one who is pure of spirit. It was intended to be passed to your mother even though it had been supposedly lost—it always turns up when the time is needed—but the unfortunate happened before she could receive it.” Shadows of sorrow passed behind his eyes.

Reluctant tears filled Kaeleigh’s eyes as she listen to Hunter talk of her mother and what a beautiful soul she must have been. Her thoughts began to drift off when Hunter interrupted.

“
Nithylríth
was kept with the
Ehsmia—
the Hidden People—as I am sure you can understand why,” he said with a twinkle in his eyes, apparently proud of the humor he believed he was showing.

Chel and Kaeleigh rolled their eyes but smiled as they said simultaneously, “Because they’re
hidden
.” They both giggled. Kaeleigh appreciated the lightness her grandfather was attempting to bring, but she also could feel the weight of what he was saying... this sword came to her. It only revealed itself when it was needed, when it was time. Apparently that time was now and she was to be its wielder. The revelation of what that actually meant hit her with reminders of the vision flash she had not that long ago of a battle scene filled with a multitude of different beings warring against each other—the blood, the destruction, the death made her stomach turn. At the very end she had seen something glint at her like a light flashing off steel. Somehow she knew this particular sword had witnessed battle that day and it was to be hers. She felt faint, her body’s energy starting to hum to a panic.

Daegan was beside her, attempting to send calm energy her way like he had near the creek. He whispered for only her to hear, “Breathe, Kaeleigh. Just breathe. Slow... deep breaths.” She nodded but this one happened so fast, she began to sway. Daegan reached out his hand, holding her forearm, attempting to keep her on her feet while his other hand was at her lower back holding her steady.

Feeling the comforting energy that Daegan was infusing her with helped to calm her own energy while his hand at her back was clearing her head with entirely different thoughts that made the butterflies in her stomach take interest. She could feel the heat from his hand through the thick natural fibers of her shirt. She was sure he could sense her jumble of emotions, especially with his direct contact causing her to quickly pull her energy close to her core, locking up those confusing emotions that made her feel like a giddy teenager.
This is so not the time!
Feeling the fresh hint of pink crawling up her neck, she straightened her posture, letting him know she had it under control. She gave him a side glance and a genuine nod as she whispered, “Thank you.”

Daegan, wanting to keep the focus on the sword, took a step to the side, posture rigid as if nothing had just happened. Hunter quirked a brow but refocused on Kaeleighnna. He held out the sword toward her, but it was Finn and Chel who moved closer to get a better look at it.

“It’s... it’s amazing,” Chel whispered with a great awe that was unlike her normal exuberance.

“May I hold it, Kae?” Finn looked to her then to Hunter to see if he would refute it, but after Kaeleigh’s nod, he handed it to Finn. He had held it in the cave before but didn’t realize what it was he was actually holding. It held great weight this time. He took a moment and tested the point of balance, gripping it in each hand as he waved it at invisible foes like a child who just received a new gift...
a death-wielding gift
. Then he looked up and down the blade on each side examining the metalsmith’s work and the engraved wording that was in an ancient tongue he couldn’t read.

“What does this mean?” He looked to the only one in their group who could know.

“It is wording that encapsulates the ancient magic of all our people that sadly not many remember. It means
Never dull is the blade to sever the veil so light may scatter the shadows to drive back the darkness
. It is a sword of great power and should not be taken lightly.”

With wide eyes, Finn held out the sword hilt first for Kaeleigh. Unable to escape the heaviness of the burden she was meant to bear, she hesitated taking the sword. Her breathing escalated, though not to the point of a panic attack... yet. Daegan took a step forward, anticipating her need for the calm energy that he seemed to be able to provide her, but she held out her hand to make him stop. Kaeleigh wanted to control it, she did, but not sure this time if she wanted to. She looked to each of her friends seeking something from their eyes, from their very souls that told her she could... that she
should
do this. After all, this wasn’t really her home. She hadn’t lived here most of her life. She wasn’t connected to this land—this people—other than in lineage. Kaeleigh took a step back, afraid. What would it really mean? What would happen if she took responsibility for this sword, understanding what it stood for? Would she ever be the same again? Would she even live through this journey? Would her friends?

No. This is too much. I can’t do this. I won’t do it. It’s not worth it! There’s too much at risk!
Another step back she took. The silent resolution on Finn’s face and the confusion on Chel’s caused her to pause, but the hurt and disappointment that shone in Hunter’s eyes caused a hitch in her gut. What made her feet stumble, though, was the mask of hardness that settled on Daegan’s face. Then the faint buzzing sounds at the edge of her mind began and the voices she had heard indiscriminately before were getting stronger and more individualized. She could hear them... The Orchids. They were humming a hauntingly beautiful sound that turned into to voices singing a song in an ancient tongue as the images of the battlefield she had seen before flashed quickly before her. One image after another began slowly making its way into her view after that:

Land. Terrain. Mountains. Rivers. Stone. Trees... lots of trees. The inside of a large dome that was bright as if the sun was contained within its very space. Then faces. Faces she’d never seen before and some she had. One after another... hundreds of them: old and young. Faeries, Elves, beings morphing into animals: Shifters, and others she hadn’t recognized. Their hearts... their souls, were crying out through each of their eyes pleading for her. Not only for her help, but for her heart to join them, to take her place and become who she was meant to be.

Kaeleigh could
feel
them... all of them, and it drove her to her knees sobbing. Sobbing not only afraid to let them down, not only fear of the unknown, not only for the devastation of Alandria, but for what she lost not growing up here and what she’d gained... a place to belong.

After several cleansing and healing moments of crying release, Kaeleigh was able to breathe again. Suddenly, Chel was by her side on the ground surrounding her with love and acceptance. She felt Finn also move closer reaching down putting his hand on her shoulder. She was loved. She had family. Slightly ashamed of her outburst, she was hesitant to look up, but before she even could, Hunter was there lifting her chin to see his face full of love, encouragement, and even pride. She jumped up and hugged him, to his surprise.

Once Kaeleigh was released from Hunter’s arms, she turned to Finn expectantly as he held out her sword once more. “You sure?”

She nodded, extending her own arms, accepting what had been given to her to whatever unknown outcome. As she gripped the hilt, Kaeleigh could once again feel the life of the sword excite beneath her palm. The strength and power she felt amazed her again even more so now that she understood more of what it meant. She marveled at its beauty.

Clearing his throat, Daegan positioned himself back where they had been practicing. “Back to work,” he said shortly with no expression.

“Right now?” Chel complained.

“Kaeleigh needs to be familiar with her blade; how it feels, how it moves, how it responds to her own energy.” He responded to Chel but his eyes never left Kaeleigh’s, eyes that held the only expression escaping his stone barrier. But what that fire she saw said, she couldn’t quite define.

Kaeleigh stepped forward, ready to learn the part of her heritage that held Ferrishyn—the part that could fight. As the yearning grew and stirred the energy within her, her own magic responded. Looking him directly in the eye, even challenging his nonresponsive response, she nodded. “Show me.”

⚔⚔⚔

The rest of the day was spent learning technique, footing, parrying, blocking. All of them practiced together, helping each other, working toward a common goal against their invisible foes. Finn and Daegan would take turns shouting out techniques that the girls would then have to perform. They were getting more comfortable with each term and their bodies’ instinctive response to them.

After a water break, they paired up to practice with an actual “opponent.” Finn grabbed Kaeleigh off to the side so she could learn against his short sword while Chel paired up with Daegan to the other side of the clearing they were using. The sounds of the metal clashing rang through the air along with the beautiful songs of the birds and the mystical sounds entwined with the breeze that seemed to always be apparent. The clearing was not far from Hunter’s cottage and surrounded by tall trees full of foliage that still had life within them. The illness that the darkness infected Alandria with had not yet affected this far from the main territory of Adettlyn yet.

“Ouch! You sliced me!” Chel came walking away from Daegan, cradling her arm. As she walked past Kaeleigh and Finn she shot Kaeleigh a look. “The big oaf can’t control his strength apparently.” She went over to pour some water over the cut that really didn’t look that bad.

Kaeleigh looked on slightly confused. She knew Chel could whine, but she really was a tough girl and no way would she have made a big deal about such a graze.

“Finn, can you do your voodoo magic and see if he nicked an artery or anything important,” Chel asked as she looked for something to bandage her “wound” with.