Heir of Hope (Follower of the Word Book 3) Page 29

  Cargan pointed across the room at Caleb. “Men, this is Caleb Tala, a prince of Temanin.”

  There was a small murmur between Endre and Juris, but before she could figure out why, Cargan pointed at her. “And lastly, this is Nierne, a former scribe from the Thyrian Monastery. A year ago she set out with Father Reth, a man many of you knew, to search for the Eldarans, a race believed to have the power to subdue the Shadonae. I have gathered you all here so we can hear her story, and whether she found these Eldarans.” He sat down on the bench behind him.

  Endre and Juris sat down as well. Regessus looked at Nierne with a thoughtful expression before sitting down.

  Nierne felt like she was on trial instead of simply sharing her journey. She took a deep breath to steady herself, and sat down. Caleb and Lore sat on either side of her.

  Cargan’s head barely appeared above the flames from where she sat, making him appear like a fire phantom with a stolen face. “Now, start from the beginning.”

  A ball of ice formed inside her middle. She fought the urge to twist the edge of her cloak. Instead, she cleared her throat. “As you know, Father Reth and I went in search of the Eldarans over a year ago. We made our way across Kerre, the wetlands, and into the Ari Mountains. Unknown to us, we were being pursued by . . . shadows.”

  Breathe. Just Breathe.

  “The . . . shadows . . . caught up to us in the mountains. And Father Reth”– she gripped her cloak and focused on the fire–“Father Reth died saving me from them.”

  “How?”

  “What?” Nierne looked up and found Cargan staring at her.

  “How did Father Reth save you? No one can stop a shadow.”

  “Father Reth told me to run. He stayed behind. And the shadows . . .” She shook her head. “They . . . consumed him. And the earth shook.” Her voice grew quiet, that horrible morning coming back in vivid flashes of memory. “The mountains moved, crushing both Father Reth and the shadows beneath boulders and dirt. Afterward, there was no path left back to Kerre. It had been buried beneath the mountains. I had no choice but to continue to the White City and finish the task Father Reth and I had set out to do.”

  “You traveled through the Ari Mountains alone? And Anwin Forest?” It was Endre who spoke this time, a look of amazement on his face.

  “Yes. I had the map Father Reth had procured for us. I traveled for weeks until I reached the White City.”

  “And did you find any information on the Eldarans?” Cargan said.

  “I found more than information. I found an Eldaran.”

  “And what happened next?”

  “She agreed to go with me and come back to Thyra.”

  “She?”

  “Yes, the Eldaran I found was a woman. A full-blooded one, or one close to it. She could still heal.”

  Endre murmured something. Juris stared at Nierne, his arms folded.

  She flushed and continued. “We started our trip back to Thyra by ship. When we reached the shores of Temanin, the captain turned on us. We were separated. I was sold as a slave”– her cheeks grew warm as she remembered the day Lady Meira bought her—“and the Eldaran was taken to Azar.”

  “Azar? So then you didn’t bring an Eldaran back. So it was all for nothing.” Cargan glared at her.

  “Not quite.” It was Regessus who spoke this time. “Is the Eldaran you spoke of still in Azar, Nierne?”

  She shook her head. “No. We believe”—she motioned Lore and Caleb—“that she is actually here, in Kerre, sent here by a Mordra who had infiltrated the Tala family.

  “Wait.” Cargan held up his hand. “There is a shadow in Temanin? How is that possible? People would have noticed.”

  “Not this one. This shadow could take on human form.”

  All four men stared at her with wide eyes.

  Cargan cursed long and loud. “These shadows can now look like us? It’s bad enough they suck our souls out. But now they can hide among us? How can we ever be safe? And how is this Eldaran you speak of supposed to help us if the Shadonae have her?” He shook a finger at Nierne. “What good was this journey of yours if it has left us with nothing?”

  She flinched, his words like a hand across her face.

  “Wait, Cargan.” Regessus held his hand out. “I believe my story coincides with Nierne’s.” He looked at her from across the fire, which had now settled down to a soft burn. “I have met the Eldaran you speak of, the one in Thyra. It is she who freed us.”

  Lore leaned forward, his body rigid. “Are you saying you’ve seen Rowen?”

  Nierne sucked in her breath. That’s right. Lore wasn’t there when Simon had told her about the Eldaran saving him. He didn’t know.

  “Yes. And she is powerful. Even with her hand encased in a metal glove, she was able to free my mind from Valin’s influence.”

  “Her hand?” Lore tilted his head. “She still had her hand, the one with the mark?”

  “Yes.”

  Lore shook his head. “But how is that possible? I had a vision of Rowen a couple nights ago.”

  Nierne glanced at Lore. He did? He hadn’t spoken of it to either her or Caleb.

  The other men perked up and looked at Lore.

  He must have realized he sounded odd. He rubbed his face. “I’m sorry. My people have a connection to the sea. This connection can sometimes bring visions.”

  Endre studied Lore. “You’re Avonain?”

  “Yes, I am. Sometimes, during a great emotional crisis, that connection allows us to reach out to a person we are bonded with. It is rare, and the only stories I know of were between a captain and his wife. However, I believe I experienced that connection a couple nights ago.”

  “You and this Eldaran are bonded?” Cargan pointed a finger at Lore. His tone made Nierne bristle inside.

  “Yes, we are. We have not been bound yet by oath, but the bond is there.”

  Cargan and Juris glowered at Lore. Apparently neither of them liked the idea of a human bonding with an Eldaran.

  Regessus tapped his chin. “So what did you see in your vision?”

  Lore tensed beside Nierne. “Her hand had been cut off. The one with her mark.”

  Nierne felt like the wind had been knocked out of her. Rowen’s hand . . . had been cut off?

  Regessus frowned. “Are you sure what you saw was real?”

  “Not completely. But the vision was different than a dream. We were able to speak to one another. Near the end, I saw”–he paused and swallowed–“I saw the place where her hand had been. I think in the dream state, she portrayed herself as she was, whole, until she remembered what had happened. Then it appeared in the vision as well. Her hand was gone, just a bloody stump was left.”

  Silence hung across the room.

  Her hands shook and were cold, even though she was near the fire. How could they do that?

  Endre sat back, stunned. “What do we do now?”

  Regessus shook his head, a dazed look on his face. “I don’t know . . .”

  “Well that’s just great.” Cargan stood and began to pace in front of the fire.

  Nierne glanced at Lore, afraid of what she would see. He leaned toward the flames, his elbows on his knees, his face cupped between his hands. His face was hard with a look of determination.

  “Are you sure what you saw really happened?” Regessus asked again.

  “Yes. I feel it in my soul.”

  Nierne stared at the glowing embers left inside the fire ring.

  “Looks like we couldn’t count on Father Reth’s Eldarans.” There was a harsh edge to Cargan’s voice. “No one will save us now. We only have ourselves. And your trip was a complete waste. It might have been better if you had never come back.”

  Nierne looked up, stunned.

  He glowered at her. “That’s right. One more person draining our res
ources—”

  “I came with her.”

  Nierne had almost forgotten Caleb was there, a silent participant during the last half hour.

  Cargan looked at Caleb and sniggered. “A prince from Temanin. Really? And tell me, your lordship, what exactly can you do to help us? Do you bring forces? Last time I checked, Temanin was more about conquering countries than helping them.”

  Caleb stood and raised his hand. There was only a faint light from his mark, so faint that Nierne doubted Cargan and the other men could see it. “Rowen isn’t the only Eldaran here in the Lands.” He brought his hand across his body.

  The hairs along the back of her neck and arms stood. Was he going to draw out his sword here?

  Cargan smirked. “What are you doing? Drawing an army out of your hand?”

  Caleb did not say a word. Instead, he spread his fingers out, then slowly brought his hand back across his body. A thin ray of light emerged from his palm.

  Gasps echoed across the room.

  Her lips parted, her breath quickened.

  Caleb continued until the ray of light was three feet in length. When the blade finished forming, he wrapped his fingers around the hilt that had emerged from his palm. He swung the blade and held it up.

  The light from the blade lit up his face and body, adding a fierce glow to his countenance like a warrior of light.

  Endre whistled softly and Juris had lost his scowl. Even he looked impressed.

  “I am also an Eldaran, a Guardian. I wield Veritas, the sword of light and truth. With it I banished Velyni, the shadow who had corrupted my country. And with it I banished the shadow that killed the people of Deraude.”

  “By all the Celestial Halls . . .” Regessus sputtered to a stop, his eyes wide.

  Nierne stared up at Caleb. In this moment, he did not seem human. Indeed, he looked like an Eldaran, an ancient one, one of the warriors of old, with power to protect the Word’s most beloved creation—mankind.

  Cargan recovered and folded his arms. “And how do we know we can trust you?”

  A stunned silence followed his words.

  “Cargan . . .” Regessus lifted a hand toward him.

  “No, senator, I want to know. We’ve all seen what powerful men can do with their palms, although drawing a glowing sword out is a first.”

  A hot ball of fire flared inside her belly. Nierne stared at Cargan. How could he say that, after what he had heard, and could now see?

  Caleb lowered his sword. “What do you mean?” The coldness had returned to his voice.

  “I mean the Shadonae. How are you any different? They can twist a man’s mind or summon shadows with their palms.”

  “I can do neither. And my sword cannot touch nor hurt a human.”

  Cargan snorted. “How do we know that?”

  Nierne jumped to her feet. “Because his sword went through me and I was not harmed.”

  Cargan looked from her to Caleb and shook his head. “I see how this is. You two are joined, aren’t you? Of course you are. And so you side with hi—”

  “I will vouch for Caleb Tala as well.” Lore stood and moved to Caleb’s other side. The three of them faced Cargan.

  Regessus sat back and smiled. Endre kept glancing at Caleb’s sword. Juris narrowed his eyes.

  Lore crossed his arms. “And I, more than anyone, would have a reason not to trust him. Caleb assassinated Lord Gaynor of the White City.”

  All eyes turned toward Lore.

  “Lore speaks the truth.” A hard, defensive edge crept into Caleb’s voice. “I was once an assassin, and the left hand of my cousin, Lord Corin Tala.”

  Cargan pointed a finger at Caleb. “I knew there was something about you. You can’t trust a Temanin after all. All more reason not to trust you.”

  “Once, I said. But I am no more.” His voice dropped a couple more degrees.

  Nierne mentally shook her head. Cargan had no idea who he was dealing with. And if he knew, he would not be speaking to Caleb that way.

  “The Word granted me a second chance. I chose to take up my mother’s blood, to become an Eldaran. I used my newfound power to free my country from the shadow Velyni. Because of that, I have been banished. I am no longer a prince; I no longer have a family name. Now tell me, Cargan”—he spit the name out—“what man would give up family name, land, and money just to come to a broken country like Thyra?”

  Cargan shrugged. “Maybe you plan on aligning yourself with the Shadonae.”

  Nierne gritted her teeth. The stubborn fool! She took a step forward. “What if he showed you?”

  Cargan harrumphed and looked away.

  Caleb growled under his breath.

  “What if he showed you his sword could do nothing to a human?”

  Cargan waved his hand. “Fine. Let’s see this.”

  She turned toward Caleb. “Do it,” she said softly.

  His eyes widened. “Nierne, we really don’t know—”

  “You said it yourself. It would not make sense to give a Guardian a weapon that could harm those he protects.” She looked fully into his face, focusing only on him and not Cargan, not Lore, not the other men. “Caleb, I trust you.”

  He closed his eyes. Nierne wasn’t sure if he was praying or just preparing himself. She had no fear. The blade would be warm, just like last time. It would not hurt her.

  He let out his breath and opened his eyes.

  She focused on him and not the blade.

  Caleb lifted the sword and brought it parallel to her shoulders. He looked into her eyes.

  She stared back. She wasn’t afraid. Somewhere deep inside her mind she knew she should be terrified. But she wasn’t.

  Before she could take another breath, Caleb swung Veritas.

  The sword entered the base of her neck, leaving a rush of warmth as it passed through her. An image of the blade of light reflected in his eyes. It now hovered over her right shoulder. She let out her breath and gave him a small smile.

  Silence filled the cave.

  “Satisfied?” Caleb twisted around and looked at Cargan. Fire filled his voice.

  Cargan dropped his hands. “Yes.”

  Perhaps now Cargan realized who and what he was dealing with.

  Lore stepped forward. “Cargan, we have a lot to offer to you and your people, including a way to banish the Mordra. But if you don’t trust us, then it is time we left. We are here to stop the Shadonae, with or without you.”

  “Cargan . . .” Regessus said quietly. “Don’t be a fool.”

  Cargan huffed. “Fine, fine. I trust the Eldaran. But I will be keeping my eye on him.”

  Caleb brought Veritas across his body and sank the blade back into his palm until nothing remained except for the faint glow around his hand. “And I will be watching you as well.”

  Regessus stood. “Caleb Tala, Captain Lore, we want the same thing you do. We want the Shadonae gone from our city. We will welcome any help you can offer. In the meantime, you are welcome here as our guests. If there is anything you need, you may ask any of us. For now, I think we all need rest. Cargan, may we adjourn this meeting?”

  “Yes.” Cargan stared into the fire. “There is a lot of planning to be done in the next few days.”

  “If it is any help, I know a bit about battle strategy,” Lore said. “I was in charge of the White City’s defense. Although our tactics will be more offensive when it comes to Thyra, I might have some insight.”

  Cargan nodded. “I may take you up on your offer.”

  Endre and Juris stood. Endre stretched and Juris made his way around the fire toward the doorway.

  Nierne sat back down on the bench and placed her head in her hands, exhausted by the last hour. Lore moved across the room toward Regessus and the two talked quietly in the corner. Cargan left a minute later.

&nbs
p; She stared at the embers from between her fingers. Her whole body was drained. She wanted to find a spot to lie down and not wake up for a long time.

  Caleb sat down beside her. “Don’t ever do that to me again.”

  She looked up, surprised. “What? What did I do?”

  “I never want to harm you. If Veritas had pierced you . . .”

  “But it didn’t.” She dropped her hands. “I knew it wouldn’t. You are a Guardian. The Word gave you a weapon to safeguard mankind, not harm them. Besides, it didn’t hurt the last time, when you fought the shadow.”

  “That doesn’t mean it wouldn’t have hurt you this time.” His eyes moved back and forth. “Do you understand what I’m saying? You mean too much to me.”

  I—what?

  Before she could say anything, he stood and walked away. She watched him leave the room, a funny feeling inside her middle.

  Chapter

  34

  Days later Caleb sat in a small cavern and rubbed his face, working the tension and boredom away. He was a man of action. But planning needed to happen before action, or a mission would go awry. Still, sitting and talking was not how he had planned things in the past. Watching, spying, unraveling every detail of his victim—that was how he planned. Then he struck hard and fast.

  Instead of spying out Thyra, he sat at a large wooden table surrounded by the same men from his first meeting days ago.

  Endre sat to his right. The shipping merchant.

  Next to him sat Juris, former watchman of Thyra. He was also there that first day and reminded Caleb of a greasy weasel. Probably the type of guard who took money and looked the other way.

  Lore sat to his left, his hands folded across his lap, silently watching the room. There were bags under his eyes and his age lines were more pronounced. He wondered if Lore had experienced another vision.

  Senator Regessus sat between Lore and Cargan. The senator was long and naturally thin, like a Temanin. Perhaps there was Temanin blood in him.